Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here is chapter forty-six of "Ride the Wind II: Justice Unbound." I am glad it took just five days to get out. This chapter has some Andros/Ashley and Zhane/Karone. I am really enjoying doing the throwbacks to the first Free Willy. I prepared to do Isabella's being released from captivity by watching Willy's release multiple times. It allowed me to imagine how I could do hers without copying too much from his. While they were in the same situation, she adjusted to captivity more than he did as a means to survive in hopes of returning home someday. It wasn't an easy thing for her to do, but she had to do it. This crossover has one chapter to go before it reaches its end. Stay tuned for chapter forty-seven.
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Chapter 46: To the Carwash
Brenda reached a less dense part of the forest fifteen minutes later. She moved her hands to the top of the steering wheel. She gazed out her window at a great-horned owl sitting on a branch near the top of a tree. It turned its head around completely before letting out a soft hoot. She shifted her attention back to the road. Andros put his arm around Ashley as Elvis leaned forward somewhat.
"We are near the end of the forest road," Brenda announced.
"Great," Andros whispered in relief. "I was wondering when that would happen."
"We probably would've gotten to this point sooner had we not had to stop and move that log," Elvis said, rolling his eyes.
"If that log hadn't been hollow, Andros, Zhane, and Karone would've used their telekinesis to move it. If they weren't with us, Brenda would've had to turn around and head back to the rural road. It would've been an hour before she reached it," Ashley mumbled while tensing quite a bit.
"The other road leads to the main one," Brenda commented and suppressed a yawn. "It would've taken us less time to get to Jackson Marina, but it would've been risky."
"Once we get off this road, we will have to be very careful not to be spotted with Isabella," Ashley said, her body shaking a bit.
Andros felt his heart beat a little faster. "That person could be a cop."
Brenda patted the wheel twice. "I heard a story about a lone orca named Julia living at the Oxforth Aquarium in Oxforth, Oregon."
"Really?" Elvis asked in surprise.
"If a cop spots us with Isabella, we'll just say we are taking her to be transferred to the Oxford Aquarium. It is very possible he heard the story, so he just might buy it," Brenda explained.
Ashley gasped in amazement. "That is a brilliant idea, Brenda."
"It sure is," Andros agreed.
"Some people are gullible enough to fall for crazy stories," Ashley added and giggled to herself. "That one is no exception."
Elvis shrugged. "Some stories sound crazy, but they are true."
Brenda spotted the end of the road coming into view. It turned onto the main one. She stopped at the stop sign and pushed the blinker bar up. The right blinker began flashing. She saw a car coming her way along with a truck and a van. Zhane and Karone looked over their shoulders. Jesse laid his hand on Isabella's nose.
"We've finally reached the end of the forest road," Zhane whispered, his voice showing much relief.
"Thank God," Karone added and swallowed hard. "I was beginning to wonder if we would ever see it."
"No kidding," Jesse commented and made eye contact with Isabella, who squeaked softly. "We're getting ready to turn onto the main road, girl. After we give you a nice rinse, then we are off to the marina. You will finally be free."
Isabella clicked in much happiness. Jesse stroked the middle of her eyepatch with the back of his hand. She opened her mouth, a whistle coming from her blowhole. He reached inside to rub her tongue. She let out a pleasurable squeak. He gave it a gentle pat before pulling his hand away. She closed her mouth while spouting air from her blowhole. He petted her nose very lightly.
"I don't know when Andros, Ashley, Karone, and I will see you again, but I hope you will thrive in the ocean," Zhane whispered, sniffling.
"I do too," Karone agreed. "Dial and Harry think they will be able to drag you back to the park. They are wrong. We won't let them."
Jesse nodded fast. "That's right."
Jesse patted the orca's nose, smiling as she clicked in a soft manner. Brenda observed three more cars passing before it was clear. She made a right turn. She pushed the bar down, and the blinker ceased its flashing. Isabella opened her mouth a tiny bit. She wiggled her tongue before closing it.
"How much longer before we are at the carwash?" Elvis wondered.
"We should be there in about five minutes," Brenda answered and cleared her throat.
"How much does it cost to wash your car at this place?" Ashley wondered, her eyes showing much curiosity.
"It costs one dollar and seventy-five cents to use the water hose for eight minutes," Brenda answered truthfully.
"That's not bad," Andros commented in much relief.
"I have plenty of quarters in my pocket," Brenda responded while patting her pocket. She returned her hand to the wheel.
"How many times have you visited this carwash?" Elvis asked and ran his tongue all over the inside of his mouth.
"I have visited it several times," Brenda admitted. "It does a great job cleaning any vehicle of grime."
"I am sure this truck is a little dirty from being on the forest road," Ashley murmured and smacked her lips.
"Yes, but I don't care about that right now," Brenda said while shaking her head. "What I care about is getting Isabella wetted down very good."
"So do the rest of us," Andros agreed while crossing his arms.
"Isabella isn't as big as Willy is, but she is still big," Ashley said in much awe.
"Pacific orcas are known for being quite large," Elvis said, laying his hand on the door. "Males can grow up to thirty feet long and weigh eighteen thousand pounds. Female orcas can grow up to twenty-eight feet long and weigh ten thousand pounds."
"If Isabella weighed five tons, the trailer would sink even lower than it is now," Andros replied.
"No denying that," Brenda yelled and laughed.
"For sure!" Ashley squealed and clapped twice.
"Amazing, huh?" Elvis said, a chuckle leaving his mouth. He started talking about the possibility that Isabella could become a mother earlier than most female orcas do.
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Brenda reached the Biggins Carwash within four minutes. She made a right turn into it. The areas had five vacuum stations and six carwashes. Each carwash contained two hoses. The first hose could spray water. The second one could spray soapy water. She made her way toward the fifth carwash. She went inside, stopping quickly. She turned off the engine.
"We are here, Isabella," Jesse announced eagerly and stood up with a loud grunt.
"It feels a little weird being inside a carwash with an orca," Zhane said, standing up along with Karone and Jesse.
"It might feel that way, but it is the best way to get Isabella wetted down," Karone replied and cleared her throat. She and her boyfriend climbed out of the back. They stretched their arms and legs, as did Jesse. "Besides, no one should be around."
Brenda, Elvis, Andros, and Ashley unfastened their seatbelts and exited the truck. They did stretches of their arms and legs. They headed for the back. Isabella emitted a soft squeak.
"So, who is going to hose Isabella down?" Ashley wondered.
"I will," Jesse said, holding up his hand. "Brenda can help me by keeping Isabella calm. Elvis can hold the hose."
"That sounds good to me," Brenda commented with a light smile. She reached into her pocket to pull out quarters. "I'm going to insert the money."
Brenda approached the coin slot. A timer and a sign saying how much money was required for whatever time needed for the hose was next to it. Another sign showed the setting of pressure. She inserted seven quarters, causing the hose to start up and the timer to begin counting down from eight. She set the pressure to medium. She grabbed it and went over to Jesse.
Brenda handed the hose to Jesse, who turned it on. He started spraying the front of Isabella. She climbed onto the trailer and proceeded to pet the orca. Elvis came over to take hold of the middle of the hose. Andros, Ashley, Zhane, and Karone came together. They backed up far enough to avoid getting hit by the water. They pressed their lips together.
"We are watching history repeat itself once again," Zhane said, a chuckle leaving his mouth.
"You said it, Zhane," Andros agreed while putting his hands on his sides. "It's been a long night, but it has been well worth it."
Karone shuddered in uncertainty. "There is a good chance Isabella won't move at first when we get her in the water. She has been on dry land for hours."
"Jesse begged Willy to get away as Dial's men were coming into the water. He, his parents, and his friends were pulled away by them, but they fought back. He made it back to Willy and encouraged him to go. Willy swam away, though his path was blocked by the nets. He went over them. Jesse guided him to the breakwater. He encouraged him to make the leap for freedom. He got on the wall and gave him the signal to jump. Willy leapt over him and landed in the water on the other side," Ashley explained, sniffling softly.
"I know Willy hoped that none of his offspring would find themselves in the same situation as he was," Karone commented.
"Unfortunately, it happened," Andros mumbled, frowning quite a bit. "Hunters tracked J-Pod down and encircled them with a net. They selected Isabella and hauled her from the water."
"Then they put her on a trailer and took her to the airport. She went to the Brighton Aquarium and spent two months there. Then Dial 'bought' her and brought her to Northwest Adventure Park. She became a star performer under the name Lilli. She became close with Jane and Izzy. She bonded with Brenda and her fellow trainers," Ashley added as she wrapped her arm around his.
Zhane sniffled. "She enjoyed performing for the public, but she missed her family. She realized they were in the nearby bay and began calling to them."
Andros emitted a soft sigh. "Now, we are taking her back to where she belongs."
"Though I am glad we are helping Isabella, I do wish the plan for her to stay in a seapen until J-Pod passed could've been carried out. It would've been less risky," Ashley whispered with a heavy sigh.
"All of us do, but that didn't work out when the police refused to help us," Andros said, giving her a kiss to her temple.
"At least we aren't far from the marina now," Zhane pointed out while putting his arm around Karone.
Ashley exhaled. "Amen."
Jesse moved the hose toward Isabella's dorsal and began spraying it. She lifted her head somewhat, a pleasurable squeak leaving her blowhole. Brenda scratched the area in front of her dorsal. She patted it multiple times. She proceeded to scratch it some more. The orca opened her mouth. She folded her tongue while squeaking eagerly.
"She wants a drink, Jess," Brenda said while moving her hands to Isabella's eyepatch.
"Okay," Jesse answered, pulling the hose back. "Here comes the water."
Jesse sprayed the inside of Isabella's mouth. He smiled at her squeaking in great joy. He moved the hose to her back after a minute. He proceeded to spray it. She kept her mouth open. Brenda reached in and rubbed her tongue. Isabella squealed happily.
"I wish I had a fish for you," Brenda said in regret and pulled her hand away. She sighed as the orca closed her mouth. She touched the area in front of her dorsal. She started scratching it. "I have no doubt Willy was happy when he had the inside of his mouth sprayed with water."
"Oh, he was," Jesse admitted. "I wanted to be the one to handle spraying him, but Rae said the hose would be too powerful for me to handle. She had me signal Willy to open his mouth instead."
"I can't help but wonder if Dial and his goons passed us as we were heading into the carwash," Elvis said nervously.
"They may have, but I don't care," Brenda said in much fierceness. "I won't let them blocking the gate to Jackson Marina keep me from driving Isabella into the water." She patted Isabella's back multiple times.
"I won't be surprised if Dial blames me for his park being shut down," Jesse said, rolling his eyes. "It won't be anyone's fault but his. He illegally caught an orca from the wild and paid an aquarium's owner to keep quiet about it."
"Some extreme pro-caps will act like Isabella's illegal capture was no big deal. They may even say she should've been sent to another aquarium," Elvis grumbled in anger.
"Isabella's illegal capture is a big deal. She is a member of a critically endangered orca population. They need her as a potential mother," Brenda growled and clenched her teeth.
"Extreme pro-caps are just as bad as the extreme anti-caps are," Jesse said, moving the hose back to the front of Isabella. He sprayed it while taking a deep breath. "They don't care if cetaceans live in less than ideal conditions."
"They dismiss horrible skin conditions as natural," Elvis said with a shake of his head. He scratched his ear. "I wouldn't call discoloration on a cetacean's skin natural."
"We could have multiple reasons why a cetacean's skin can become discolored. It can be illness or reaction to medication," Brenda explained and let out a long yawn.
"One thing is clear. It needs to be treated as soon as possible. Otherwise, it could get worse," Jesse murmured in much seriousness.
Brenda and Elvis nodded in agreement. They observed Jesse moving the hose to Isabella's tail. He proceeded to spray it. Andros eyed the timer as it reached six minutes.
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Jesse finished spraying Isabella within six minutes. He felt the hose cut off. He gave it Brenda, who jumped down from the trailer. Elvis let go of it. She approached the holder, slipping it inside. She returned to Isabella, smiling at her sticking her tongue out of her mouth. She pressed a kiss to it. She grabbed it and gave it a gentle tug. She released her hold on it, allowing the orca to pull it back into her mouth.
"She should be good until we get to the marina," Jesse said as he scratched Isabella's side.
"I agree," Brenda responded as she put her hands on her sides. "I am astounded at how calm she has been throughout the trip."
"Being surrounded by friends helped with that," Jesse said while rubbing the orca's dorsal. "Crews can't afford for whales and dolphins to panic while they are being moved to transport crates. If they fall from their slings, they die."
Elvis motioned toward Isabella. "I imagine her remaining calm as she was being moved to her transport crate at the Brighton Aquarium."
Brenda chuckled to herself. "Me too."
Andros, Ashley, Zhane, and Karone looked toward the sky. They could see it was beginning to get lighter. They returned their attention to the others, their bodies shaking a bit.
"Guys, we should get going," Zhane said and bit his lip.
"It won't be much longer before the sun comes up," Karone added, emitting a soft shudder.
"Okay," Brenda said, nodding at the quartet. "Let's go."
"Come on! Come on!" Elvis yelled in a drill sergeant's voice. "Let's go on the double!"
Jesse seated himself beside Isabella. Zhane and Karone went to the back of the truck. They climbed in while letting out light grunts. They seated themselves before clearing their throats. Brenda, Elvis, Andros, and Ashley walked to the front. The former two slipped into the front seat. The latter two got in the back seat. They fastened their seatbelts.
Brenda started the engine and drove out of the carwash. She turned right and went down the street. Jesse petted the area behind Isabella's eyepatch. She lifted her head a little bit while letting out a soft click. She laid it back down before spouting air from her blowhole. He moved his hand to her melon and proceeded to pet it. She folded her tongue.
"You are going to be okay, girl," Jesse assured and patted the orca's melon. "I promise."
Isabella squeaked in a soft way. She opened her mouth a tiny bit when she got a scratch on her nose from Jesse. Andros and Ashley looked out the window at them, Zhane, and Karone. They looked at each other.
"I pray to God that we get to the marina quickly," Ashley whispered, her body beginning to tremble.
"I do too, Ash," Andros said hopefully as he put his arm around her. He hugged her tightly. "All of us are ready to see Isabella get her freedom back."
"We will be happy to see her go free, but we will be sad too," Ashley said, wiping a tear from her eye.
"Once Dial, Harry, and their partners in crime are behind bars, she and her fellow Southern Resident orcas will finally be safe," Andros whispered, happiness showing in his voice.
Ashley kissed her boyfriend's cheek before settling into his embrace. Brenda proceeded to drive a little faster.