Chapter 15: Sink or Swim Part 3: Battle for Freedom
Clark, Lois, and Imra arrived at the ship's galley, led by one of the soldiers.
"Clark Kent and his family reporting for duty." The guard said calmly. The cook turned around to reveal a hideous man with a bulging eye, a bulbous nose, and horrible teeth.
"Quiet!" The cook said. "I'm making soup for the slaves!"
"I thought he was washing the dishes." Lois said in disgust.
"Now that's one rotten tomato." The cook said to himself as he poured in ingredients. "One tiny slice of carrot."
He then grabbed a live chicken and dunked it into the soup before putting it back in a cage.
"And finally, one fresh chicken." The cook finished.
"Now what do you want?" The cook asked.
"We're here to help with the bread." Clark explained.
"Bread?" The cook asked. "Good. I could use some help. Everybody loves my rolls, and they really came in handy against the Gordanians."
"So I heard." Lois said with a sigh.
"Well, we'll do our best, sir." Clark said.
"Good." The cook said. "But remember, it's not just a roll, it's a military secret."
()()()()()
At the lowers decks with oars and the like, Garth was handing water to the soldiers.
"Get over here with that water!" The man called out.
Garth began walking to him when he saw a withered old man at the oars.
"Just a little sip." He begged. Garth immediately gave him some.
"Boy, I said over here!" The man called out and pulled Garth to him.
()()()()()
Back at the galley, Imra was working with the cook when he smelled something.
"That smell." The cook said. It's not supposed to smell like that."
The cook went to the bread, Clark and Lois' finest as Imra pulled up a stool for him.
"Perhaps you should taste it and tell us what we're doing wrong." Lois suggested.
"But I've got so much to do…" The cook said before he grabbed the bread and began eating it.
"We can finish in the kitchen for you." Clark said. "Take your time with the bread."
"Yes." The cook said as he continued to eat. "Yes, good idea."
()()()()()
As Garth continued walking around, he gave more water to the old man.
"I told you to stay away from him!" The head guard called out.
"He's dying of thirst!" Garth called out.
"If he doesn't row, he'll die of much worse." The man said darkly.
"I'll take his place." Garth said, pointing at himself.
"You?!" The man laughed.
"At least until he gets better." Garth said calmly.
"This I've got to see!" The man laughed. "Okay, Little Man. Row."
Garth sat down next to the blonde man from before.
"Well gentlemen," the head guard stated. "Since we have some new blood, let's go at attack speed for awhile."
"You're just determined to get us killed, aren't you?" The blonde man said.
"I was only trying to help." Garth said.
"If you wanna help, keep silent and row!" The man said sharply.
()()()()()
Meanwhile, Clark and Lois worked on the soup while Imra kept the cook busy.
"Is this batch any better?" Imra asked.
"No, no, it's still too soft." The cook went on. "Please pass the butter."
()()()()()
The rowing was going as well as could be expected with the head guard telling the others not to worry about Garth.
"Must be nice to be free." The blonde man said after awhile.
"It's not as nice as you'd think." Garth said sadly. "My dad and brother are slaves, and I don't know where they are."
"Keep your back straight and bend with your knees." The blonde man said helpfully.
()()()()()
Eventually, it was time for dinner as the slaves and Garth went to the galley.
"That smell." The old man Garth replaced said. "It smells wonderful."
"What is it?" Another man asked.
"It's dinner." Clark said as he opened to door. "Come and eat."
The crew ate the soup Lois and Clark made as Clark told of Jesus to pass the time.
"And then Jesus went back to Capernaum." Clark said. "People had heard all about him, so they came from all around the countryside to listen to him. He was teaching people about God's way, but the place was packed. No one could get in or out. Four men had brought a paralyzed man for Jesus to heal, but as they couldn't get in, they went to the roof and dug a hole just above Jesus and lowered their friend down.
"When Jesus saw the trust these four men had in him to help their friend, he said to the paralytic, 'Young man, your sins are forgiven.'
"'Why does the man say things like that?" Another man behind Jesus exclaimed. 'Only God can forgive sins.'
"'Is it easy to say to this man, your sins are forgiven or get up, pick up your mat, and walk?" Jesus asked the man before turning to the paralytic and continuing, 'Get up, pick up your mat, and walk home.'
"To everyone's surprise, the paralyzed man managed to get onto his feet. He picked up his mat and walked home with his friends."
"That was an amazing story, Clark." The blonde man said. "And an amazing dinner." He then helped clean up and walked up to Garth.
"Hey Garth." The man said. "The name's Oliver Queen. You did a good thing rowing for the old guy today. I'm sure wherever your father is, he'd be proud."
"Thanks, but I'm not even sure he's alive." Garth sighed.
Oliver was about to continue when there was a ruckus above deck.
"All slaves to oars!" A guard called out.
"What's happening?" Dick asked.
"We're under attack by the rebel ship!" Oliver said looking out the window.
"And it's headed right at us!" Kell added.
"Hold oars in!" Lex shouted from the deck. "Hard to starboard! Bring her about now!"
The ship moved as best as it could, but the ship slammed into them, forcing them down onto the ocean of another planet, with the hole getting filled with water.
"We have them now!" Lex said. "To port! To port now!"
"Sir, some of the oars were damaged in the pass, along with the engine room."
This was bad news for the crew as the ship quickly turned back around, with the ship stranded on an unknown planet's oceans.
"Prepare to be boarded!" Luthor called out.
()()()()()
Back in the galley, everyone was ankle deep in water.
"Where'd the ship go?" Dick asked. "I don't see it."
"I do." Kell said as the rebel ship rammed into them again, catching Kell in its wake.
"Give me your hand, Kell-El!" Clark called out, now waist deep in water.
"Clark!" Kell called out.
"Hold on, Kell!" Clark said as Kell was pulled out with the boat. "We'll get to you somehow!"
Luckily, the crew saw Kell and pulled him onboard according to Clark's super vision.
()()()()()
On deck, the rebels boarded the ship and fought hard against Luthor's men.
"Allow me!" Kell said as he charged forward and assisted in the fight, ending up fighting Luthor himself. "Hope you can swim!"
Kell then tossed Luthor over board as he held onto a piece of drift wood.
The kids used the cleaned out pot from dinner for a boat.
"We can get out through the kitchen." Clark said as they got there with Krypto standing there panting.
"Good old Krypto." Clark sighed. "As calm as can be."
Garth was relieved at first, but then he heard the call from the slaves.
"The slaves are still chained up!" Garth called out. "They'll drown!"
"I saw some keys in the captain's quarters while me and Ayla were cleaning." Dick stated.
"Let's go!" Clark said as they headed for the captain's quarters.
"It's locked!" Dick said as he tried the door.
"What do we do?" Garth asked. "It won't budge."
"Look out!" Dick called out as he pointed out Ayla on Krypto.
"Ramming speed!" Ayla called out as Krypto plowed through it.
"Good work, Ayla!" Garth said happily as he ruffled his little sister's hair.
"Got 'em!" Dick said as he tossed the keys to Garth.
"Lois, you and the kids get to the other ship." Clark said calmly. "Garth and I will free the slaves."
"Be careful." Lois said.
"We will." Clark said as he and Lois kissed.
Kell quickly met up with the group on deck and led Lois and the kids to the other ship before looking up in shock.
"Clark, Garth, look out!" Kell shouted, but too late. Just as they got to where the slaves were, a piece of flaming rubble slammed over the entrance to the oars.
"I think I can make it!" Garth said, pointing to a small opening.
"Give me your hand." Clark said as he lowered Garth down. "Easy. Easy."
"Garth!" Oliver said happily as he was holding up the older slaves.
"Oliver, I've got the keys!" Clark called out.
"Start with them!" Oliver said, pointing to the other side, where the hole was. Garth quickly freed them as they were helped up by Clark and Kell and rushed to the boat.
"Everyone, hold on!" Garth said as he unlocked the other side, but Oliver was stuck, and the water was rising higher and higher.
"OLIVER!" Garth called out.
"Go, kid!" Oliver said, but Garth managed to help Oliver get free, and they all just barely made it onto the other ship just as Luthor's sank into the sea, and they quickly got onto the other ship, which headed back for Earth immediately to drop off Clark and the others.
()()()()()
On the way, the old man Garth helped retold the story, but Garth could barely take any of it in. He had gotten his only chance to find his father and Mekt, and he'd failed. However, Oliver walked up with another man, a Martian.
"Hey Garth, I said I didn't know your father, but here's a man who does. Garth, meet our captain, B'arzz O'oomm."
"So you are the son of Joshua Ranzz." B'arzz said.
"You know my father?" Garth asked.
"Know him?" B'arzz asked. "I will never forget him. Your father saved my life during the Great Fire. Last I had heard, he and Mekt escaped from their ship and went searching for your mother on the farms of Winath. I've never met a braver man, and you are just like him."
"Do you have any stories about Daddy and Mekt?" Ayla asked.
"As a matter of fact, I do, Ayla Ranzz." B'arzz said. "Once off the atmosphere of Mars, he and I were exploring one of the old Earth space stations."
()()()()()
As the ship left the atmosphere, Lex clung to the board with the cook and the head guard.
"We've got to get to land now!" Lex called out. "Once there, we've got to get a ship and go after them! By the way, what do you think the port will have for dinner, cook?"
Just then, a giant serpent sprung out of the water.
"Oh no." Lex groaned.
Well… That was dark.
Also… YAY FOR MY FIRST USE OF GREEN BEETLE!