"Are you sure this is going to work!" asked Thunderchild from his place on the helm of the ship.
"No…but it's all we've got." Replied Domino as she produced a red and white ball from the backpack she had fetched from their room.
Thunderchild watched Bahamut fireball the Enterprise, the rear half of which was on fire.
"Let's hope we're not too late." He said before handing over the wheel to Funaho.
The Thunderchild smashed her way through the choppy seas towards Bahamut the ships twin funnels belching forth smoke and fire as her engines worked far over their safety limits.
"Ok…let's get everyone off this ship." He said, and turning to a voice pipe on the bridge, much like the ones that he had used on the Cleyra back on Gaia and shouted down it.
"All hands abandon ship! I repeat, all hands abandon ship! This is not a drill…this is not a drill."
As the genomes left the bridge and joined their colleagues entering the lifeboats on the side of the ship, Thunderchild took the ships wheel from Funaho and said to her.
"Go now! Join the genomes and get out of here."
Funaho turned to face him, her long light blue hair whirling around behind her.
"I can't…I can't lose you after finding you again…father will be angry."
Thunderchild placed his hands on Funahos shoulders and whispered to her
"I'm not dead yet sister…Our paths will cross again, I promise…"
Funaho wiped a tear from her eye and nodded before giving Thunderchild a brief kiss on the cheek and leaving.
What was that all about? asked Domino
Thunderchild grinned as he took the ships wheel in his hands
Funaho is my sister…
She's what!
My sister…by my fathers side…there is much I don't know about her…for example, she keeps calling Jara 'Mother'…gods alone know why.
Domino gave him a strange look
You know love, just as I get close to understanding you something like this happens…how many more secrets do you have?
Thunderchild shrugged and changed the subject
What was it you called that ball thing of yours again?
A Pokeball
Thunderchild frowned…he'd never heard of anything like it before, turning his attention back to the main windows he saw that Bahamut was hovering in the sea a little way in front of them, almost challenging them to attack it.
Where'd you get it from?
Domino stood beside him.
On the same adventure that I gained Trance x2 I had been transported to an alien world with monsters in it called Pokemon…this is from that world.
Transported? How?
Domino put her hand on his shoulder
Through a magic portal…god alone knows what happened to it afterward…I presume it's still out there in the Evil Forest somewhere…
Sounds like it could be something worth investigating at some point.
Domino nodded
Nagy sent another team of genomes to the rear of the ship to put out the fires that Bahamut had caused. Looking to his far left he could see the Defiant relatively unscathed despite the battle raging around it.
"Dammit Thunderchild…what are you doing…I need to fire on that thing!" he muttered to himself as he withheld the order to fire.
A splash of water to his near right made him look around, The Thunderchild stormed past creating a wake that almost spun the Enterprise out of control. He had never seen a ship move so fast before and as it steamed past he saw that it was on a collision course with Bahamut and behind it bobbing in the waves were several lifeboats.
"All stop, bring us around and prepare to receive lifeboats!" he ordered the helm as he watched the Thunderchild crest another choppy wave, fire mixing with the thick grey smoke coming from its funnel.
Shouting into the smokey air created by the steamships passing he yelled.
"Come on Thunderchild!" and punched his fist into the air.
Funaho watched from the swaying lifeboat as her brother headed off to tackle this hideous creature which had caused so much destruction within the fleet.
How could mother betray me? She asked herself
Why did mother betray me? Doesn't she love me?
Suddenly an explosion took her attention back to the Thunderchild, a fireball rose up from the midsection of the ship causing it to become momentarily lost in smoke.
"There goes the engines…" said one of the genomes with her.
Dammit, she thought I can't just sit here and do nothing.
A fireball smashed through the bridge, Thunderchild sheltered Domino with his body as the fire rolled quickly over them. When he turned around he saw that most of the bridge behind them was now on fire, and his cloak was burning.
"Bloody hell!" he swore taking the cloak off and throwing it into the flames where it flared up and begun to fall apart.
"What was that!" asked Domino blowing air quickly on her smouldering tail in an attempt to put out the painful burning.
"I think we pushed the engines a bit too far…," her husband replied "We've gotta get off this bridge…another engine is bound to go soon."
Domino nodded and they ran onto the observation deck outside the bridge and carefully jumped over the side onto the deck below. Domino cursed as she landed awkwardly on her tail.
"Ow…shit, that hurt!" she swore
Thunderchild picked her up and helped her jump down onto the next deck and then onto the sea deck as they jumped on to the sea deck Thunderchild slipped and fell face first onto the wooden deck, swearing loudly he picked himself up and ran with Domino down to the bow of the ship, passing the unused cannons on their way.
Bahamut was close now, she didn't appear to be taking any offensive action, she seemed if anything, confused that the ship wasn't firing at her.
Another engine exploded behind them showering them with planks and burning debris.
"Just a little closer," he urged the ship onward.
The back of the Thunderchild started to get lower in the water as water flooded into the shattered compartments, causing another engine to explode and rip up most of the stern decking and severely damage the stern half of the Thunderchild.
"Come on Big T…fly!" urged Thunderchild as Bahamut got ever closer.
Domino held the Pokeball in her hands and took a long look at Bahamut, she needed to try to talk to the beast first…or else her attempt stood a higher chance of failing.
Hear me Bahamut! she thought at the creature.
Thunderchild couldn't hear Dominos attempt at communication with Bahamut as she was using a special telepathic link between her and the beast but he could read the expression on her face. She seemed to be pleading with the beast.
Another engine exploded, blowing out the sides of the stern of the ship and causing the bow to ride up even higher.
"Domino, we have got to do this now!" he warned her as he grabbed onto the handrail in front of him with one hand and held Domino with his other.
"She's responding!" shouted Domino
Bahamut leaned forward bowed her head to Domino.
"I've broken through Jaras programming!" she shouted
"Good! Now get rid of her!" yelled Thunderchild as the ship sank behind them.
Another explosion ripped up the deck directly behind them and caused the cannon magazine to erupt in a fireball that rose up a good 90 foot into the air, it also threw Domino and Thunderchild headfirst over the ship.
Domino fell towards the water and took a deep breath in but before she hit it a large clawed hand grabbed her around her midsection and halted her fall.
She looked up to see Bahamut looking back at her and she smiled at the beast.
Thank you she thought to her
Not a problem Domino…thank you for returning me to myself…but Jaras programming returns to me…I cannot fight it for long.
It's ok Bahamut, get me onto one of the ships and I will use a Pokeball to keep you safe
Bahamut nodded and roared in agreement before flapping up into the air and heading for the Defiant as behind her the Thunderchild finally blew up in a massive fireball and an explosion which roared like thunder.
Domino wept for her love…she didn't know what had happened to him, but she couldn't fully grieve now, there was still much to be done.
On the Defiant Proeliator turned from his spot on the observation deck and shouted to Beowolf
"It's coming straight for us!" he warned, he had just witnessed the destruction of the Thunderchild and presumed that his friend had failed and now he had to take action to save the rest of the fleet.
Beowolf seemed to agree with him as he ordered
"Main cannons track target and prepare to fire."
The cannons of the steamship Defiant turned on their circular mounting and followed Bahamut as she flew towards them.
"FIRE!" ordered Proeliator when Bahamut had gotten to within 150 yards of the Defiant.
Domino saw the cannons erupt with fire and heard the boom which indicated that the Defiant had fired on her.
"Oh no," she muttered "They don't know Bahamut is on our side now."
She prepared herself for the pain she knew would come as the shell hit Bahamut but it never came as a silver blur flashed across her vision and intercepted the shell in mid air. As the impact made the creature slow down and stagger backwards Domino saw that the creature was a Silver Dragon.
"Silveria!" she shouted
Behind Silveria flew another dragon like red creature with insect like wings, they both flew low over the Defiant and the red insect-dragon landed on the front deck and transformed before Dominos eyes into the blue haired Funaho.
Silveria wheeled off and flew over to Bahamut, Domino could see Thunderchild riding on the feathery back of the dragon.
Sorry about that…a misunderstanding on the behalf of Proeliator no doubt he thought to her
Thank you…is Silveria ok?
The Silver Dragon turned its single horned head to look at Domino.
I will be fine…thank you for your concern Mistress Domino he thought to her
What's Funaho doing? Domino asked Thunderchild
Just stopping them from attacking us again.
You never told me she was a shapeshifter!
I didn't know myself until she flew beside me and Silveria. he assured her
And what are you doing here Silveria? I haven't seen you since the Cleyra battle. asked Domino
I was summoned by my master in his moment of need.
Domino nodded
Thunderchild…we've got to act quickly, Bahamut is losing control to Jara.
Thunderchild nodded back
I'll set down on the main deck, get Bahamut to do the same thing.
I will she acknowledged.
Silveria plummeted down below them and landed in front of the cannons in approximately the same spot Funaho had landed.
Bahamut…please set me down with Thunderchild. she asked the beast.
Bahamut roared in acknowledgement.
He is a strange person this 'Thunderchild' she thought to Domino
Domino nodded
Yes Bahamut…and getting stranger everyday…
Bahamut gently placed Domino down on the deck and then hovered in front of the Defiant.
Quickly Domino…I'm losing control! she warned Domino
Domino looked at Bahamut and opened the Pokeball directly in front of her.
I'm sorry… she apologised to the beast.
Bahamut roared as she was engulfed in a blinding white light which drew her into the ball, when she had been completely taken into the ball it closed shut with a quiet 'snap'.
Bahamut was safe and so was the fleet.
Domino walked onto the bridge to find Funaho at the helm and the rest of the bridge crew unconscious on the floor.
"What have you done!" she asked
Funaho turned and smiled at Domino
"Just a psychic stun blast…they'll wake up before long."
Thunderchild walked onto the bridge behind them and nodded at the blue haired genome
"Good work sister." He praised her
He walked over to the mirrors on the wall and selected the mirror for the Enterprise.
"Thunderchild? What are you doing on the Defiant?" asked Nagy as his image appeared.
"Silveria flew me here."
"Who?"
"My silver dragon."
Nagys eyes widened
"That dragon was yours!"
Thunderchild nodded and smiled
"Yes…he's mine, did you pick up the lifeboats from the Thunderchild?"
Nagy nodded
"Yeah…there's a lotta confused genomes here…but they're being put to good work, we took some bad damage on that last attack."
Thunderchild looked out of the front windows and could see the Enterprise on fire on their starboard bow.
"Do you need a hand?"
Nagy shook his head
"No…we should be ok, most of the fires are out now…thank god they never got to the magazine room…we'd be sitting on a cloud by now if they had."
"Yeah…the magazines going was what finally destroyed the Thunderchild…these ships are very well made."
"Very." Nagy agreed
Thunderchild made a brief check of the map next to him.
"We're nearly at Klatch…I estimate another two hours at this speed."
Nagy agreed
"How badly damaged is the rest of the fleet?" asked Thunderchild
Nagy looked at something aside from the mirror
"We lost three ships…"
"Just three? We were lucky…from what I heard that thing totally wiped out Queen Brahne's fleet on Gaia."
Nagy nodded
"Yes…it must have been holding back because it knew that Domino was on one of the ships…I've lost mirror contact with one ship but it's still sailing and we're attempting to signal it now…stand by."
Thunderchild turned around to Domino
"Everything ok?"
Domino nodded, there was a groan from the captains chair, Beowolf was starting to wake up.
"Dom, take the helm, Funaho make yourself scarce, you're not going to be very popular when these guys wake up…"
Funaho nodded and walked off the bridge as Domino took the ships wheel.
Beowolf opened his eyes
"What the hell happened?" he asked, clutching his head
"Yeah…sorry about that," said Thunderchild "I had to be certain you wouldn't fire on Bahamut again."
"What hit us?" asked Proeliator from where he had collapsed on the floor by the entrance to the observation deck.
"It was a telepathic attack by my sister Funaho."
"I didn't know you had a sister." Said Beowolf
"Neither did I until today."
Proeliator slowly stood up and held onto the window ledge until the world stopped spinning
"So…are we safe?" he asked
"As we ever will be." Said Domino
"Thunderchild?" came a voice from the mirror, Thunderchild turned back round
"I'm here."
Nagy nodded at someone off mirror and turned back to look at him
"Yeah…we've re-established contact with the ship…it was the frigate you fired on in the Thunderchild. The captain says…let me see now… 'Sorry for being such a fool'"
Thunderchild laughed
"Send a message back apologising for me firing on them…I didn't want to but the situation left me no choice."
Nagy nodded
"I'm sure he'll understand…one things for certain…he won't mess with you again."
Thunderchild laughed again and nodded
"Thanks for your help Nagy…the order stands, best possible speed for Klatch."
"I'll tell the fleet…and….well done."
Nagy bowed to Thunderchild and signed out.
"So…do you want to take over now?" asked Beowolf
"I see no reason to…besides, I think after all of these past few days happenings I deserve some time off with my wife," he smiled at Domino "Just keep this heading and maintain the same speed as the slowest ship in the fleet and let me know if anything happens….oh, and if you happen to come across a light blue haired genome, don't worry…it's Funaho, my sister."
"The same one who stunned us?" asked Proeliator
Thunderchild nodded
"Right…remind me never to tangle with her." Said Beowolf
Thunderchild creased up with laughter just as Funaho walked back onto the bridge making Proeliator and Beowolf jump as she said
"Is everything ok?"
"Yep…me and Domino are just off to find some dinner, do you want to join us?"
Funaho shook her head
"No thank you…I'm not hungry." She replied
"Ok…well, we'll see you in about two hours, that's when we're due to reach Klatch." Said Thunderchild
Taking Domino by the hand as Proeliator retook the helm, Thunderchild walked off the bridge moving carefully past genomes which were just regaining consciousness.
Funaho turned and ran her hand through her long blue hair as she walked onto the observation deck and stood watching the sea…thinking of her mothers betrayal and what she was going to do next.