Chapter Three: Aluminum Wings
Disclaimer: Tomo Hiragizawa is my character, so don't steal him, alright? Now that we have got that settled, I'll continue with the story.
"I don't want to die," cried Toboe, now curled up in the fetal position. Blue put her hand on his shoulder, attempting to comfort the wolf boy. In the next second she fell to the ground, her eyes staring blankly up at the sky.
"Blue! No! Don't die!" Toboe sobbed, rushing to Blue's side. The woman didn't respond. Next thing he knew, Hige fell.
"Hige!"
Kiba, who collapsed to the icy permafrost, followed Hige.
"Kiba!"
Then it was Tsume's turn, succeeded by Cher, then Hubb.
"Tsume! Cher! Hubb!" Toboe looked around. The blizzard was kicking up, obscuring his view. "What's going on?" A sharp pain blossomed in his back. The world began to shift out of focus. Just as he passed out, he heard the faint whir of a machine.
"So, you've got them?"
"The wolves and the humans?"
"Yes sir."
Toboe's ears perked up, but his eyes refused to open. A small stabbing pain existed in his shoulder, and he rolled to his side to minimize the uncomfort.
"At this rate, we should catch up with Darcia in about three days or so."
"Three days? Even with the solenoid thrusters?"
"Well, Section Five needs to cool off. Anymore stress an-"
"Yes, yes. I get the point. Inform me when it's done cooling."
"Oh, our passengers, should I wake them up?"
"No. Let them sleep. They need to let the drug wear off."
"Yes sir."
"Where am I?" Toboe wondered. He opened his eyes, and discovered he was in a well-furnished room. Hige and the other guys slept on the floor, near an altar filled with a bright purple flame. Blue was fast asleep on a suede recliner, and Cher was dozing off on a couch of the same material.
"Oh! You've emerged from your slumber." Toboe spun around. A young boy, about ten, stood in the doorway. He had ruffled red hair and several freckles spotted on his cheeks. The boy wore grimy overalls and carried a wrench in one hand.
"Who are you? What am I and the others doing here?" interrogated Toboe.
"Before I answer any questions, you might want to remove that dart in your back," said the kid. Toboe pulled a short, stubby dart out of his left shoulder.
"So, who are you and what am I and the others doing here?" Toboe questioned again. The boy smiled a toothy smile.
"I'm Tomo Hiragizawa, the gun specialist and mechanic of this ship, the Saint Bovine. And for your information, I saved your guy's butts! You were all about to be bacon bits if you stayed out there any longer!"
"Sorry…thank-you," Toboe thanked, "I thought you were one of Darcia's men."
"Nope. Hey, I'll show you around the ship, ok? Come on, it will be fun," beckoned Tomo.
"Alright," replied Toboe, following the youngster.
A man stared out of the glass window of the cockpit. Anxiety and pain had tugged at this man's face for years, causing his skin and flesh to slope downhill. The lifeless grey sky reflected the man's ashen hair. "What lurks in the shadows of the future…either the door of salvation or the beast of nothingness…I just hope he dies. I'm tired of fighting…if only you were still here Maya."
To be continued…