Chapter Fourteen

Descent

Major Kane looked out over the deck of the Hanedale. He could see almost nothing in front of him, as a thick fog of cold mist covered the air. He had a feeling that it wasn't natural. Nevertheless, he would soon reach Atlantica, and he would be one step closer to achieving his ultimate goal. Kane stepped away from the edge of the deck, and walked down the rusty stairs leading to the bilge. As he reached the bottom of the stairs and stepped down into the puddles of water that sloshed about on the floor, he clenched his fist, and the snake totem glowed red, illuminating the room. Over the course of his quest, Major Kane had grown more and more adept at harnessing black magic through the snake totem. It had been a great help to him during his battle against the warriors back in the Agrabah marketplace. Wielding the snake totem like an oil lamp, Kane walked towards the cages where he had trapped the merpeople. "I wish to speak to the one called Triton," he called out as he reached the cages.

Triton emerged from the water and signalled for the rest to give them some time alone. The merpeople disappeared below into the submerged parts of their cages, and Triton came face to face with his captor. "How much longer do you intend on keeping us here?" Triton demanded.

"That's what I came to speak with you about," Kane replied calmly. "Tell your people, your time on this ship is coming to an end. Just a while longer till we reach our destination."

"What destination?" Triton probed further, exasperated at his eccentric captor.

"Your home, Atlantica."

Triton's eyes widened, and Kane began to walk away. "Why? Why Atlantica? And why are you doing this?!" Triton shouted, grabbing the rusty bars of his cage. "Kane! You've got nothing to lose by telling us what you intend to do with us!"

Kane stopped and turned around. "I guess you're right. You might as well know, since you have a huge part to play in the coming conflict."

"Conflict?" Triton was confused.

"That's right," Kane walked back towards Triton, and stopped a safe distance away from the merman. It would not do to put himself at unnecessary risk. For all he knew, Triton might lash out and attack him suddenly. "You know, I understand how you feel, being a prisoner," Kane looked at Triton with genuine sympathy. "I was once a prisoner too on board this very ship."

"What happened?" Triton asked, hoping to learn more about Kane and his intentions.

"I was once in the military," Kane began. "My government sent us out to sea, and I led my men into a trap. We were tortured for hours, days, and weeks. Slowly, my men started dying, one by one, before my very eyes. And one day, while I was left on the deck of the ship, beaten and broken, I overheard the guards talking." he paused and looked at Triton. "About you,"

"Me?"

"Yes," Kane continued. "One of them told an incredulous tale about a sea king who lived in a kingdom called Atlantica, and ruled the seven seas with a magical trident, more powerful than any other throughout the ocean." Major Kane paused again, and he could see that Triton knew where this was going. "Anyway, as the days went on and as I continued to be tortured, for some reason, that tale stuck with me. Something inside me told me that I would survive all the torture, and one day, I would live to see Atlantica for myself." Kane paced away from the cage. "Maybe it was survival instinct talking. Or maybe it was belief."

"How did you escape?"

"Eventually, they got sloppy. There were only two of us remaining. One of my corporals and myself. One day, when the guards assumed that we were unconscious, I escaped and killed the guards with their own weapons. I found the captain hiding in his quarters and killed him for what he did to my unit." Kane explained, his expression slightly haunted when he mentioned his dead men. "With their captain dead, my former tormentors were lacking in leadership. I commandeered this vessel, the Hanedale, and its crew."

"But why?" Triton asked. "Why all this? You've become just like the men who tormented you."

"Because I learnt a very simple truth," Kane replied. "Back when I was still a Major in the army, I could never understand it. But my enemy taught me something on this ship, something that stuck with me till this day," Kane leaned closer to the bars of the cage, looking Triton in the eyes. "There is no right side in war."

"I've been in many wars myself, and I know a madman when I see one."

"Both sides fight a losing battle against their own souls." Kane ignored Triton's insult. "Humanity has gone awry with war, corruption, terrorism and senseless murder. I'm sure you can agree, having lost your own wife to barbarians."

Triton narrowed his eyes, angered by the mention of his late wife.

"My eyes were opened on this very ship," Kane continued. "Humanity cannot be saved or salvaged at this point."

"You're wrong," Triton refuted his claim boldly. "My wife might have been killed by a human, but not all of them are evil. I've seen what humans can be. Many are still good."

"But for how long?" Major Kane asked rhetorically. "Sooner or later, even the good ones grow corrupt. They won't realise it, until it's too late. Only after the purge will the survivors be able to usher in a new era of peace."

Triton kept silent, realising that it was futile to make the Major see reason.

"I'm the only one willing to do whatever it takes to restore mankind to its former glory," He pointed at Triton. "And you are going to help me accomplish my goal." Kane finished, walking away from the cages.

"And why would I help you? You're obviously insane, every bit like the people you claim to hate!"

"It's not like you have a choice." Kane walked up the stairs, leaving a confused and angry merman behind in the cold, black bilge.

###

Up on the deck, Santos paced the floor anxiously. The rest of the mercenaries were down in the lower parts of the ship drinking, playing cards or sleeping, but not Santos. Ever since he had arrived in Agrabah, he had grown increasingly conflicted. He had always known that what he was doing was wrong, but he was always too afraid to oppose the Major or defy his orders, as Kane had appointed him as his right hand man. However, meeting that girl on the rooftop put things into perspective for him. On the outside, the girl he had encountered looked like a scared, petite young woman, but on the inside, she was a warrior queen who had left her kingdom to fight against everything the Major stood for, risking her life to stop him. On the flip side, he, a trained mercenary, was fearful of doing the right thing. All that was going to change.

Santos noticed the Major coming out to the deck, looking like he had a renewed passion for his quest, and inhaled deeply, walking towards his master. "Sir?" Major Kane heard him and turned around. It was too late for him to turn back now. "Sir. May I speak to you?"

"What do you want, Santos?"

"I never asked, but why?" Santos blurted out.

"Why what?"

"Why didn't you return to the village after everything that had happened?" Santos swallowed hard and held his breath. "Do you remember the promise?" Santos asked, growing slightly bolder. "The promise you made me three years ago?" He was either going to find out, or have his windpipe crushed.

Major Kane looked at Santos with conviction in his eyes. "I remember everything," he replied. "But things have changed." He looked down at the snake totem on his ring finger. "Priorities have changed. The village, my family, my former life, everything from my past was a distraction," Kane began. "All of it. I had to leave it all behind. The quest was far more important."

"Listen to yourself, you never gave yourself a chance to grief," Santos said, gaining confidence. "To mourn your family and the men who died on the Hanedale." Santos continued. "Instead, for five years you went on a rampage, attacking and invading pirate ships across the ocean, amassing enough men to make yourself an army, training them to become your elite mercenaries, spending your time dabbling in the dark arts, chasing after mystical totems and things under the sea. Tell me, was it really worth it?"

"Yes it was," Kane growled, clenching his fist and the totem glowed red.

Santos found himself levitated off the ground. He clawed at his neck, gasping for air as his windpipe started to close. "Don't you dare question my crusade," Kane narrowed his eyes at Santos, whose face had turned pale. "You're trying to soften me up with sentiment, but it won't work. I'm too close to the finish line to turn back now."

The Major felt the bloodlust coursing through his veins, and this time, he didn't try to stop it. He basked in it, allowing it to control him. Tightening his fist, the totem that was glowing red shined even brighter.

Santos could feel his life slipping away slowly. This was it. At least he would die having stood up for what he believed was right and not have to die a coward's death.

"Sir!"

Major Kane turned his head to where the distraction had come from.

"We have arrived."

Kane nodded. He released his grip, and Santos fell to the ground, violently choking and gasping for air. "Don't get soft on me now, Santos," Kane looked at his right hand man with disdain. "Or you'll die just like the Atlanticans are about to." He walked away from Santos, turning his attention to the other mercenary who had informed him of their arrival. "Gather the men."

As the mercenaries gathered up on the main deck, Santos' blood started to circulate normally again, and he slowly stood up, clutching the beam for support in case he fell. He walked to the side of the deck, not wanting to be squashed by the crowd of mercenaries forming up in front of the Major.

"Gentlemen, we have reached our destination," Kane began loudly, looking at the men before him. "Though not all of us will be going to Atlantica, may I remind you that you all have a part to play in the restoration of mankind."

As Kane droned on and on about the details of his plan for the mercenaries in the upcoming war, Santos snuck away from sight, to the lower deck where no one could see or hear him. Since the Major didn't kill him and he had a second chance to live, he knew what he had to do to set things right.

###

Elsa sat in the galley of the ship alone. No one had used the galley since they first boarded the ship in Arendelle. They technically didn't need to use the room as Melody had brought combat rations for everyone and no one brought any supplies to cook. Elsa had decided that she needed some time by herself. Everyone had agreed that they needed to prepare for the next battle against the Major and his forces. Since she was solely relying on her powers to keep her alive, Elsa didn't really have any equipment to prepare, so she had decided to spend the time in a place other than the deck or her quarters while waiting for their next "adventure".

Come to think of it, she was actually quite tired from her time in the city of Agrabah. Jumping across the rooftops to get away from Santos had been rather draining. Taking a packet of combat rations from the counter top, Elsa ripped open the packaging and pushed the slimy contents upwards. She looked at the rations in disgust, and gagged a little.

It smelled and tasted horrible, but she needed the energy if she was going to head into another battle. It certainly would not do if she fainted from exhaustion halfway through the fight!

Shutting her eyes, she used the packaging to push the sludge into her mouth. As she swallowed them as quickly as she could, she could feel the cold and slimy substance sliding down her throat. Ugh, that was horrible.

She wiped her mouth with a paper napkin, and scrunched it up. Tossing it into a bin, she slumped back into her chair. Something in her pocket pressed hard against her thigh, and she reached into her pocket and fished it out.

It was the stone that the mercenary had given her, and she had completely forgotten about it for a while. She held it in her hand and looked at it. Why would he give it to her? Could it be possible that he had given her some magical tracking device, so that he would know of their location? She shook her head. The mercenary, what was his name? Santos. He seemed sincere about being different from his comrades.

There was something about him that made her feel like she could trust him. But then again, what if he turned out to be just like Hans, who had deceived her sister Anna and almost succeeded in killing them? Elsa didn't know what to make of it all.

Suddenly, the stone in her hand began to heat up exponentially till it almost scalded the skin of her palm. Elsa, who was already on edge yelped in alarm and dropped it on the table. It was glowing in an array of different colours. So it really is magical. She approached it cautiously and looked at it curiously. Was someone was trying to communicate with her through the stone? She poked it with a cautious finger, afraid of getting burnt.

"Can you hear me?" A faint voice could be heard from coming from within the stone.

Elsa couldn't believe what she was hearing. It was almost as if the stone was a mobile communications device. "Santos?"

"Look, I don't have much time," Santos whispered urgently, his device pressed against his face. "The Major's ship has reached Atlantica."

"Don't worry, we're right behind you," Elsa replied.

"What?"

"I mean, more like a short distance away," Elsa corrected herself quickly. "The fog shields us from sight."

"Oh, so you're responsible for the fog. Right," Santos continued. "Look, the Major is going to mount an attack against Atlantica now. I have to go with him, I can't blow my cover. You can ambush the Hanedale while he is gone and set a trap for him."

"Hanedale?"

"Our ship. Most of the mercenaries will still be on the ship so be careful."

"Thanks," Elsa said. "But why are you helping us now?"

"Because I realized that I do have a choice," Santos answered. "You helped me realize that. I have to go now, I'm sorry." With that, the stone went silent and the colours faded, leaving it as any other ordinary pebble in a garden.

###

"Prepare your gear, ten minutes before we move out." Major Kane finished.

Santos quickly blended into the crowd and the mercenaries knelt with their right knee to the ground, their right arm crossing to the opposite shoulder with clenched fists and heads bowed.

Kane lifted his hand and they rose, dispersing quickly. The deck was clear and Major Kane was alone once more. He reached into his jacket and took out the Lamp of Jafar. He rubbed the Lamp, and a black mist escaped from the Lamp's spout, and formed the image of Jafar. "Jafar?"

"Yes, Master." Jafar replied. "What can I do for you?"

"It is time for my first wish. At my command, you will transform a few of my men and myself into mermen. I want the spell to only last for an hour, as that will be all the time I need to get the trident from the kingdom."

Jafar raised his eyebrow. "As you wish, master,"

"Good. Wait for my command." Kane finished, and rubbed the Lamp again, causing Jafar to be sucked back through the spout and into his prison. He walked down the steps to the bilge for the second time that day, lighting up his snake totem again. He walked through the puddles of water towards the cages.

The merpeople who had re-emerged from the water looked at him in fear. Triton made his way forward to the bars of the cage to face his captor. "Come back to tell us more about your grand plan?" he asked boldly.

"No," Kane replied. He pointed his snake totem at the merpeople. The totem's light grew blinding, and red auras of black magic swept towards the merpeople in waves. "It's time."