Chapter 6 - Airship Attack
"Where is that book?" Hitomi asked to no one in particular. She was in her and Van's room on the airship, trying to locate a book she had packed for the journey. She was wearing her preferred travelling clothes: pants, boots and a light tunic. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail. It was the middle of the afternoon, the first day of their journey towards Keshia. They were travelling aboard the Star Seeker, a small, but fast airship. The crew consisted of the captain, eight crewmen, Van and Hitomi, and an armed guard of fifteen, at Allen's insistence. The journey had been quiet so far, so Hitomi decided to read, if she could ever find her book.
Her packing had been rushed, so she wasn't surprised she was having trouble finding it. Just the night before, Hitomi had regained her powers in a strange dream. Her trapped subconscious had called out to her and with the help of a gift from the Keshians, it had been set free. Hitomi had explained everything to Van as soon as she woke up. Hitomi smiled. Van believed her right away and said the best thing for them to do was to go to Keshia to find the answers they needed. It was only a few hours until dawn at that point and since neither of them felt like sleeping anymore, they started packing right away. Van had ringed for a servant and asked him to send a runner to wake up and fetch Lord Finkbone and General Schezar. It hadn't taken them long to arrive. Allen and Lord Finkbone arrived shortly after Van sent a runner for them, the former wide-awake and the latter stifling yawns. Hitomi and Van explained as quickly as possible what happened and what they wanted to do about it. Allen headed off to arrange an airship and an armed guard. Lord Finkbone went off to put together all the things they'd probably need during their journey, promising to let council know what was happening.
"Hello, hello...what's this?" Hitomi said as she pulled out a blue, silk scarf from her bag. "This isn't mine. It looks like...Lola's." Something deep within Hitomi told her so and she could sense something from the scarf. "Hmmm...?" Hitomi mumbled as she abandoned her quest for the book and walked to the small table in the room. I wonder if I can see thoughts or memories of Lola's through her scarf, the way I did with Van's feather and Marlene's diary. I don't want to intrude, Hitomi thought, as she sat down at the table, but I need to know if this is something I can do, not something that suddenly happens to me every now and then.
With her mind made up, Hitomi held the scarf in her hands, closed her eyes, and concentrated...
Lola was walking down the hallway carrying a pile of towels, to take to the hospital rooms. She couldn't see very well and hoped anyone in front of her would notice her and move before it was too late. She was concentrating so hard, she didn't notice someone come up to join her.
"Can I help you with those?" someone asked.
"Allen? Oh, please. I'm afraid I took too many." Lola said as Allen took half the pile from her and tucked them under his arm.
"That's just like you, always wanting to do more."
Lola blushed and slowed her walk. "I'm just like everyone else. We all need to do a little extra with the castle and city in chaos. Allen, do you know what's going on?" She asked, coming to a stop. They were in an offside hallway and for the moment, no one was around.
Allen's head dropped. "I'm afraid not. No one seems to know what this strange storm is or where it came from. All I know is that it's destructive and dangerous and causing lots of trouble. I hope that the dragons stay in the forest though, I'm not quite sure what we'd do if they came in to the city."
"Oh Allen, I'm so afraid for you!" Allen raised his head and looked at her and Lola blushed some more. "I mean, I'm afraid for everyone and usually I can keep a level head, but this is so strange, so unexpected! I don't know what to do anymore. I haven't felt this helpless since...since..."
"Shh. Don't bring that up." Allen said, gently laying a finger on her lips to quiet her. He let his hand fall and played with the blue scarf around her neck. "I'm trained to deal with the unexpected and we have some good plans being put into action as we speak. The city will be safe and I will too. And you are not helpless. You're strong and helping others, and you helped Hitomi through her ordeal, and you're helping me."
"Helping you? How?"
"By giving me the encouragement and inspiration I need. I care about you, Lola, more and more each day. I look forward to these rare times we can see each other."
Lola smiled. "Well, maybe when this is all over, we can put sometime aside for each other?" Lola asked, surprised at her own boldness.
"Yes, yes I'd like that." Allen said. He hesitated, but Lola didn't. She walked into him, still clutching her towels and kissed him. Allen's eyebrows arched in surprise, but then he kissed her back and wrapped his free arm around her shoulders.
They broke off the kiss and Lola took a step back. "That's my promise to spend more time with you when this craziness is over." Allen nodded in agreement, still a little stunned. "Now, are you going to help me get those towels to the hospital rooms or just stand there?"….
..."Wow!" Hitomi said as she came out of her trance. "I CAN do it! I wonder if I can use any object or just one that at least has some important emotional meaning to the owner?" Hitomi sat back and gazed at the ceiling going over what she had just seen. "And I can't believe Lola didn't tell me! I knew those two would get together!" Hitomi got up and walked over to the window to watch as they traveled over some mountains. She'd been on several airships since her very first visit to Gaea. Her favourite trip would have to be the trip they took back to Fanelia after Van and Allen had rescued her from Dilandau. She and Van had their first kiss then and it had been amazing. Sure, a few Valkries had attacked the ship and almost caused Hitomi to fall to her death, but that kiss...she'd never forget it. Now, hopefully this trip went smoothly and they got to Keshia soon.
There was a brief knock at the door and Van came in.
"Hi."
"Hi." Van came over and kissed Hitomi.
"What are you doing?" Van asked as he relaxed and sat on the bed. Hitomi walked away from the window and sat on a chair across from the bed. She made a mental note to herself that Van looked good in dark green. He was casual dressed in a light brown pants and a sleeveless, dark green tunic.
"I just finished experimenting with my powers and I figured out something new!"
"Really? What?"
Hitomi told Van about Lola and the scarf and she laughed when his first response was the same as hers, that Allen and Lola were good for each other.
"And so you did this by the window?" Van asked a little confused, looking from the window to the scarf on the table.
"No, I was just looking out the window afterwards and letting my mind wander."
"Did it go anywhere interesting?"
"As a matter of fact, yes." Hitomi said very slyly as she got up and made her way over to Van. "I was thinking about that trip we took in the airship when the Valkries attacked."
"Really?" Van said, a little confused, especially since Hitomi now was standing between his legs and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I was remembering our first kiss."
"Ahh." Said Van, understanding dawning on him. He wrapped his arms around Hitomi's waist. "That was a great kiss, wasn't it?" Hitomi nodded in agreement. Van pulled Hitomi closer and she fell on top of him. Hitomi giggled as Van rolled her over and started kissing her. She kissed him back and enjoyed the sensations of Van's touch, smell, and lips on her. Hitomi was starting to wonder how far they would go when the ship suddenly tilted and they rolled off the bed. Van hit the floor first and Hitomi landed on him.
"Are you okay?" Hitomi asked, quickly getting up and helping Van up.
"I'm fine, but what was that?" As in response to his question, there was a loud bang and ship tilted in the other direction. Hitomi lost her footing and fell into Van, but luckily his feet were firmly planted.
"I hope it's not Valkries again!" Hitomi said.
"We've got to get to the bridge!" Van said as he helped Hitomi steady herself. Just as Hitomi turned to face the door, Van grabbed her arm. "Wait! Hitomi, look! Your pendant!" Hitomi looked down and her pendant was glowing a soft pink.
"Something is causing it to react!" Hitomi said, astonished.
"Come on, let's go." Van said as they ran out of the room. The ship was hit a few more times as Hitomi and Van raced as fast as they could to the bridge while being thrown around.
"Captain, what's going on?" Van asked as soon as they came in. The airship's bridge was a large room with a second level in the back, where most of the instrumentation for flying and navigating were kept. All walls, except the floor, were made of glass for increased visibility. Van and Hitomi ran over to the front of bridge where the Captain was looking outwards.
"Some sort of energy orb is being hurled at us from below, Your Majesty, and its intensity is increasing every time. The orbs haven't severely damaged the ship yet, but if we tip, we're going down." Van and Hitomi looked out the main window and searched the ground. Off to their left, a black bolt of something shot up from the ground.
"Here comes another one! Brace for impact!" The Captain cried. The bolt struck the ship and it swayed violently again. Hitomi looked up in time to see another one coming from the right...and from ahead of them! She almost lost her footing again as they hit.
"What are those?" Van asked the Captain.
"I don't know. I've never seen them, let alone heard about dark weapons like that. TAKE US HIGHER!" The Captain commanded as crewmen ran around in a flurry.
Dark weapons? Hitomi thought. Her mind flashed back to her battle with Kilimbod. He had used some sort of dark energy bolts, but she was able to block it with her pendant, using the protection power. Was it the same sort of dark magic attack? Could she protect the ship? Hitomi didn't know if she'd be able to extend her shield over such a large area, but maybe...
"I have an idea, but quickly, I need a good view of the land around us!"
"The ships land-side lookout, over here, Your Majesty!" The Captain said as he ran her over to a depression in the ship, at the very front of the bridge. Hitomi jumped down the few stairs and was surrounded by glass so she could see everything below her.
"What are you doing, Hitomi?" Van asked from above.
"I think I can use the pendant to help us. I need to try. Trust me." And no sooner did she finish speaking as another bolt flew up from the ground and sped towards them. Hitomi gripped her pendant with her left hand and held her right hand ready. As she concentrated, the pendant's glowing increased. Just as the bolt neared, Hitomi's right hand gestured towards it and for a split second, her pink protection shield was in front of the bolt, outside of the ship. The bolt collided with it and burst apart. The crew cheered and Hitomi smiled that it worked. Three more bolts shot up from the ground and Hitomi's smile disappeared. She took a deep breath and steadied herself. One after another she used her shield to destroy them. She tensed herself as five more shot up. She continued to destroy the bolts from all directions with her shield, but it was getting harder. The last one she blocked wasn't destroyed, only deflected. Hitomi was getting tired. Sweat started to trickle down her temples.
"It's working, Hitomi! You're doing great!" Van said above her. Hitomi smiled and wiped her forehead. She would keep going as long as the attacks came, to protect the airship and the people aboard. Hitomi's jaw fell as several bolts shot up.
"Oh crap." She muttered as she prepared herself again.
Hitomi used all her reflexes to stop the bolts. They just kept coming with no sign of letting up. Hitomi concentrated and fought hard. She was not going to give up! Finally, the last one exploded outside the ship and Hitomi relaxed a little. She was shaky in the knees and realized that she was more tired than she thought.
"Is it over?" She asked.
"No, I can see one more, headed this way, and it's coming in fast." Van said.
Hitomi looked and saw the bolt heading their way. It was going faster, but she would stop it. As it neared, she sent out her shield in front of it, but the bolt seemed to jump over it. Hitomi gasped as she realized it was too late. It was going to hit the ship! She started to run back up the few stairs as she heard a crash. She looked up in time to see the bolt break through the window and collide with a crewmember. Hitomi's hands covered her mouth in shock as the wind blew in to the bridge.
"Rojen! ROJEN!" The Captain cried as he ran over to the fallen crewmember, but he was suddenly thrown backwards by a shock of dark energy. Hitomi and Van looked to the fallen Captain, who was already picking himself up, and then looked to the fallen crewmember. Rojen stood up gracefully and turned to face them. Hitomi gasped and grabbed Van's arms in shock. Rojen had black electricity in his eyes and a powerful aura pulsated from him. When he spoke, it was with a very deep, dark, and ancient voice.
"Stop now. You are interfering with destiny."
"Stop what?" Van yelled, taking a small step forward and reached down grip the hilt of his sword. "You stop attacking our ship! Who are you?"
"Do not go to Keshia. The pain and suffering must end."
"We're trying to stop the pain and suffering." Hitomi shouted over the wind.
"No. This is the way it is supposed to be. We will stop you if you continue this futile journey."
"We will not sit back and let Gaea be destroyed!" Hitomi shouted. She tensed as she watched the possessed Rojen frown. The evil then flew out of Rojen and straight towards Hitomi. A pink shield surrounded her and Van a split second before the evil reached them. It collided with the shield and tried to get through. It screamed in disappointment and vanished.
Van reacted first and turned to Hitomi. "Are you okay?" He asked.
"Yes. I think so." Hitomi replied. But then the room started to spin and the last thing she heard was the Captain ordering the hole to be covered up. She lost consciousness and collapsed in to Van's arms.