7:
"Don did you find her?" Fina ran up to greet the New Hope's crew as they boarded the Crescent Isle docks.
She stopped abruptly a few feet in front of them. The four men were in shambles. The reek of loqua surrounded them, including Marco. Fina would have guessed that Don's red-rimmed eyes were due to drunkenness had it not been for the proud warrior Khazim weeping openly behind him.
"Don, what happened?" Vyse asked. The young captain could feel a knot form in his stomach.
Don stared past Vyse vacantly. Fina walked over to Don and gave his shoulder a squeeze.
"Don?" she whispered.
Don blinked and his eyes focused on her. He forced a smile, but it looked pained. Don drew Fina into his arms and pressed her firmly against his chest.
He swallowed hard. "Don't make me say it."
"Say what?" she asked.
Don didn't reply. He began to rock her slowly, trapping Fina in a cryptic dance.
"Khazim, what's going on?" Vyse urged. He didn't move to join the group. For the first time in his life he felt hesitant and it terrified him to the very marrow in his bones.
Khazim spared Vyse a pitiful glance. The Nasrad native hugged himself.
"Forgive me, my captain." he blubbered between sobs. "Forgive me. Forgive me."
"Forgive you for what?" Vyse gently pressed. "What did you do?"
"I was not fast enough." Khazim cried. "I failed to get there in time. There was nothing I could do; I would have given my life. Believe me, Captain! Forgive me."
"Khazim…"
Vyse's eyes darted around the group. Don had continued to rock Fina in his arms stiffly. Tears were streaming down Fina's cheeks, whether from sorrow or anxiety, Vyse couldn't tell. Marco's stare was blank. The only one who appeared fairly coherent was Pinta, and he was dry washing his hands.
"Pinta." Vyse said softly. "Please tell me what happened."
Pinta flinched at the sound of his name. The dry washing of his hands sped up. He reluctantly faced Vyse.
"We found the Salvation, Captain." Pinta cleared his throat.
"What about Aika?" Vyse whispered.
Pinta's eyes dropped to the floor. "The Salvation was destroyed, Captain."
"What about Aika?" Vyse repeated.
Pinta clenched his eyes shut. "She's dead, Captain."
"I see."
The life seemed to drain from Vyse's face. His eyes were a dull muddy brown and his face devoid of any expression. Vyse made a mechanical turn from the group and marched directly to his Captain's Quarters.
Once inside he made sure the door was locked. Vyse settled into his chair slowly and gazed at the empty room around him. He rested his face on the desk and tried to bury his head with his hands.
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Aika's funeral was a simple ceremony. Since there was no body, the crew gathered some of her most precious belongings and items that she loved in life. Fina refused to part with her friend's photo album and she put aside the other girl's diary for Vyse. Vyse didn't take part in the service.
A life raft was covered with a layer of white lily petals and strewn with yellow ribbons. In it, the crew placed Aika's favorite boomerang and comic books along with a necklace from her mother and her father's insignia ring.
Fina flipped through the photo album until she found a suitable picture. She kissed her fingertips and pressed them against the image of her smiling friend before adding it to the life raft.
After everyone had paid their last respects and shared a fond memory, the life raft was set adrift in the sky. According to the Valuan tradition, the raft would float Aika up to the heavens.
The crew headed for the tavern, while Fina walked towards the lookout ladder. In her arms she cradled Aika's diary. Vyse needed it, whether he wanted it or not.