So sorry for the delay, have been a little busy at work!
"A man-made cyclone?" Shore deadpanned.
"Yes sir!" came Fisher's enthusiastic reply.
"A man-made cyclone." the commander repeated, blank eyes locked with Fisher's. "You're telling me that because that hurricane's spinning in the wrong direction, it's been created by man?"
"A sea man, if you will." the young officer paused at Shore's raised eyebrow, then corrected himself. "A man of the sea?"
"You've been watching too much TV, Fisher."
Fisher felt a feeling of annoyance spike through his chest. His co-workers often disregarded his theories because he was younger than the rest of them, something he found incredibly irritating at times. "But sir, can't we at least look into it?"
"Fisher, I'm not in the mood. Three of my best crew are lost out there somewhere and all you bother to talk about is some cockamamie nonsense like that!" Shore took a sip from his coffee, trying to calm his nerves.
"But if we just checked what the sea temperament was like in the area it may give some inkling to why Stingray disappeared so suddenly!"
Feeling as defeated as he was, the commander was in no mood to argue with his young subordinate. He sighed. "Alright, Fisher, alright. What do you propose we do?"
"Check the local buoy and lightvessel information. If any strange readings crop up, we can analyse them and see if my theory proves true. Then we'll at least know the cause of their disappearance."
"Okay Fisher, okay. Get on with it."
Fisher saluted, a new-found spring in his step. "Yes sir!"
Gordon observed the guards who had just entered the ceremonial hall, his amber eyes watching their every move with a devious glint. He'd deliberately hidden behind one of the church altars so they couldn't find him, and he glanced over at Sequalibra who was across the room from him, ducked under an altar table of his own. Both watched as the Aquaphibians apparently checked the church over, either not noticing where their prisoners had gotten to, or more likely, not caring.
As the guards left and locked the door behind them, Gordon shuffled out from the side of the altar, urging the librarian to follow him back to the little trap they'd set up. Sequalibra had told Gordon what door the Prince would most likely be entering for the wedding and the pair had fashioned a tripwire out of some cable they'd found in a storage box at the back of the hall.
Securing it tightly and disguising it in a way so it wouldn't be seen when someone stepped through the door, Gordon went to finish preparing the second half of the trap when the back entrance flew open, a group of palace guards escorting two annoyed aquanauts inside the hall. Gordon and Sequalibra quickly made their way over to them.
"Troy! Phones!"
"Get off me!" Troy hissed, struggling wildly against his captors.
"Gee whizz, I never expected these guys to ambush us like they did." Phones complained, wincing as he was knocked on the head by a rifle butt.
As Gordon got nearer, he noticed both men had their arms tied tightly behind their backs. Before he even knew what was happening, he was seized from behind, three guards yanking him backwards and holding him still as they started to bind his hands together.
"Oi, get your mitts off me!" he growled, trying to wriggle away. One of the Aquaphibians held him in a headlock as the others worked on his wrists. After they were finished, Gordon was escorted to the pew he was originally sitting on, Troy, Phones, and a tied up Sequalibra following behind.
Their gurgled laughter still echoing through the church, the men shortly left, with two remaining behind to guard the doors from the inside.
"It's happening." Sequalibra muttered. "It's about to start."
"What, already?" Phones turned to the man in surprise. "Oh, I don't believe we've met-"
"There's no time for that now!" Troy scowled, "We've gotta break outta here and rescue Marina! There's no way I'm letting her marry this creep!"
"Relax, Troy." Gordon lowered his voice so the guards couldn't hear him. "I've got a plan. Everything's already set in motion. We just have to wait it out a little while longer."
"But that means we'll have to sit through this blasted wedding!" Troy replied harshly, eyes locked on the ceremonial alter. "I can't let him do it. I can't let her go through with this."
The back door opened with a creak. The guards lifted their rifles, allowing entry to the silver-faced agent of Titan's, X-20. The green haired creature ran his scaly hands through his spiked hair as he swept over to the prisoners, his emerald robes skimming across the marble floor. He grinned at the men, his mouth widening considerably after observing the steaming Troy.
"Good afternoon, terraineans. I see you have a new one in your midst." he acknowledged Gordon with a nod of his head. "I hope you're all ready for this momentous event to take place."
"Beat it, frog face." Troy snapped, causing Gordon to snort.
"Your insults have no effect on me, Captain." he smiled. "I feel rather satisfied with the knowledge that your death is approaching."
Troy just glared at him.
X-20 feathered his fingers together. "Perhaps we'll spare your friends out of spite." he glanced over at the others. "Our scientists are always looking for new subjects to experiment on, after all."
Gordon's eyes widened, taken aback by his implication.
"Enjoy the show, Captain." he smirked and turned on his heel, strutting away.
Troy raged in his seat.