16 Code Clara:
Gilder could see his breath. He didn't like it. His cook had made a large vat of koketa noodle soup for the entire crew and that had numbed his irritation some. Sadly, however, Gilder's numbed irritation was slightly less numb than his toes. The Purple Moon was a cruel mistress.
But he had received a tip. An incalculable wealth was hidden in the Lands of Ice. Called the Glacian Atarah, it was a priceless moonstone encrusted tiara that had belonged to a girl queen. Fortunately, being a frigid pit of despair, most treasure seekers passed over Glacia for more enticing lands. If only he could figure out a way to tie blankets around his feet without upsetting his mobility then Gilder would have been a happy man.
The Claudia had been a quiet place to live ever since Leo had been bedridden. As zealous as the boy was, he simply was no match for the chill winds that lashed beneath the Purple Moon. The last time Gilder checked up on Leo, the blonde haired boy had been weighed down by thick bedding up to his neck, while Rodney force-fed him the koketa soup.
Gilder wasn't worried. Leo had managed to live after he faced the fury of Aika, the boy could survive a dinky little cold. All of Leo's duties involving the life rafts were passed on to Aika and all was well.
Gilder chuckled at the image as he leaned on the deck's railing. The silver crystalline sky was a reflection of the icy civilization below, which had remained silent for centuries. Time to shake things up a bit, Gilder thought to himself smugly.
The plan was simple enough. They'd land on the surface, travel beneath to the frozen civilization of Glacia, uncover the Atarah hidden in a tomb behind the Throne Room and get out. Once back on board the Claudia they'd all drink loqua to celebrate and eat rich foods that smelled… strangely of roses and vanilla?
Gilder jerked his head up and took in a deep breath of the current of air. Definitely roses and vanilla. The man wanted to squeal in terror. Instead, he let the adrenaline carry him as he raced beneath the deck of his ship.
"Listen up, everyone!" Gilder cried out. "We've got a Code Clara on our hands!"
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Aika sighed and kicked the useless life raft. She had no idea what Leo had done to it, but it would only splutter out noxious clouds of blue smoke when she tried to activate it. For whatever reason, the raft wasn't optimizing its use of blue moon stones and a life raft not using its fuel source correctly only meant one thing: a downward spiral into oblivion for anyone stupid enough to try and use it.
Not that it mattered anyway. There were four other life rafts that functioned perfectly. Besides, she had more important things to think about.
Don had found her. Not only that, but everyone else thought she was dead. A fairly amazing feat to achieve in a few months time, Aika had to admit. But it wasn't what she had intended.
Aika scolded herself inwardly. She should have been more careful. If she hadn't chatted Polly up like nothing was wrong on Sailors Island, Don would have never discovered her. Of course, everyone on Crescent Isle would still believe she was dead regardless. They had a funeral for her and Aika missed it!
She should have asked Don about Vyse while she had the chance. See how he and Fina were hitting it off without her. Aika kicked the broken life raft again.
"Let's be honest now." Aika muttered to herself. "You really didn't want to know how they were hitting it off. That's part of the reason why you left. So you wouldn't have to watch that slop."
But would you consider it slop if it were you instead of Fina? The little voice danced around the inside of Aika's skull like laughter. She scowled.
"I wonder what this Glacian Atarah is that Gilder keeps raving about." she announced.
It was an attempt to block out all thoughts that involved the dashingly handsome Blue Rogue that sported an eye patch. It worked for the time being. Aika always did have a soft spot in her heart for enormous monetary wealth by way of treasure.
The little platinum tiara dappled with priceless stones did sound lovely, but it was a miserable thing to be venturing out beneath the Purple Moon. Aika's normally pale skinned knees that peeked out from above her leather boots were red-purple in protest of the weather.
It wouldn't be so bad once she settled in and burrowed deep beneath the layers of blankets in her bed, but first she had work to do. Aika sighed and applied more cleaning polish to her rag and continued to scrub the wall paneling.
The sudden eruption of screams and thudding boots made Aika snap her head to attention. Were they being attacked? Not possible, the crew members' screams were followed by laughter. Aika hopped to her feet and dropped her rag.
She crept cautiously towards the door, curiosity overcoming any hint of hesitation or fear. The door burst open and Aika squawked as she fell on her bum.
Gilder rushed through the doorway. He took a moment to give Aika a devious wink before he dove into a life raft.
"What are you doing?" Aika demanded.
"No time." Gilder cut her off briskly. "Clara's on her way! I'll meet up with you guys on Glacia."
"Wait!" Aika's eyes bulged in horror as Gilder hastily jettisoned himself. "That raft's broken!"
Aika threw herself into the nearest life raft and followed suit. She killed the engine to her raft and plummeted after the trail of blue smoke.
Gilder was up ahead. As the wind ripped his dark hair free of its ponytail, the captain of the Claudia was busy trying to light the cigarette in his lips. It wasn't going well for him.
"Gilder!" Aika screamed. "I'm coming!"
"Not so loud!" Gilder hollered over the screech of the wind. "Clara might hear!"
Aika gunned the engine of her raft and pitched the tiny vessel downward. Gilder offered a nod of approval as she reached the side of his rapidly sinking raft. With a slight flourish, he stepped onto the other life raft.
"That was some fancy maneuvering." Gilder commented nonchalantly.
"Don't thank me yet." Aika warned.
The girl grappled the nose of the life raft and pulled upward with all her might. It did little to right the hastening descent
"I could use some help." she growled.
"I thought you had it under control." Gilder raised an eyebrow.
"Now!" Aika barked.
Gilder's chuckle was drowned by the wind as he shuffled over to her side and began to help. Between the two of them, they managed to jerk the front of the ship up from its spiraling plunge.
Aika clapped her hands together gleefully as the raft was caught on a cushion of air and began to right itself. Aika's celebration was cut short, however, when Gilder tapped her on her shoulder.
She looked up at him and he appeared to be fairly disgruntled. Gilder merely pointed out in front of the life raft. Aika followed his finger to the menacing ice wall that loomed before them.
Once again, Gilder attempted to light the cigarette in his mouth. Aika sucked in a deep breath of air just in time to shriek as they crashed headlong into the dire landscape.