Chapter 15: Sink or Swim Part 3: Battle for Freedom
Charles, Moira, and Jean arrived at the ship's galley, led by one of the soldiers.
"Charles Xavier 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." Moira 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." Charles explained.
"Bread?" The cook asked. "Good. I could use some help. Everybody loves my rolls, and they really came in handy against the Dominion."
"So I heard." Moira said with a sigh.
"Well, we'll do our best, sir." Charles 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, Scott was handing water to the soldiers.
"Get over here with that water!" The man called out.
Scott began walking to him when he saw a withered old man at the oars.
"Just a little sip." He begged. Scott immediately gave him some.
"Boy, I said over here!" The man called out and pulled Scott to him.
()()()()()
Back at the galley, Jean 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, Charles and Moira's finest as Jean pulled up a stool for him.
"Perhaps you should taste it and tell us what we're doing wrong." Moira 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." Charles said. "Take your time with the bread."
"Yes." The cook said as he continued to eat. "Yes, good idea."
()()()()()
As Scott 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!" Scott called out.
"If he doesn't row, he'll die of much worse." The man said darkly.
"I'll take his place." Scott said, pointing at himself.
"You?!" The man laughed.
"At least until he gets better." Scott said calmly.
"This I've got to see!" The man laughed. "Okay, Little Man. Row."
Garth sat down next to the unshaven man from before.
"Well gentlemen," the head guard stated. "Since we have some new blood, let's go at attack speed for a while."
"You're just determined to get us killed, aren't you?" The man said.
"I was only trying to help." Scott said.
"If you wanna help, keep silent and row!" The man said sharply.
()()()()()
Meanwhile, Charles and Moira worked on the soup while Jean kept the cook busy.
"Is this batch any better?" Jean 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 Scott.
"Must be nice to be free." The black haired man said after a while.
"It's not as nice as you'd think." Scott said sadly. "My dad's a slave slaves, and I don't know where he are."
"Keep your back straight and bend with your knees." The man said helpfully.
()()()()()
Eventually, it was time for dinner as the slaves and Scott went to the galley.
"That smell." The old man Scott replaced said. "It smells wonderful."
"What is it?" Another man asked.
"It's dinner." Charles said as he opened to door. "Come and eat."
The crew ate the soup Moira and Charles made as Charles told of Jesus to pass the time.
"And then Jesus went back to Capernaum." Charles 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, Charles." The black haired man said. "And an amazing dinner." He then helped clean up and walked up to Scott.
"Hey Scott." The man said. "The name's Logan. 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." Scott sighed.
Logan was about to continue when there was a ruckus above deck.
"All slaves to oars!" A guard called out.
"What's happening?" Kurt asked.
"We're under attack by the rebel ship!" Logan said looking out the window.
"And it's headed right at us!" Hank added.
"Hold oars in!" Shaw 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!" Shaw 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!" Shaw called out.
()()()()()
Back in the galley, everyone was ankle deep in water.
"Where'd the ship go?" Kurt asked. "I don't see it."
"I do." Hank said as the rebel ship rammed into them again, catching Hank in its wake.
"Give me your hand, Henry!" Charles called out, now waist deep in water.
"Charles!" Hank called out.
"Hold on, Hank!" Charles said as Hank was pulled out with the boat. "We'll get to you somehow!"
Luckily, the crew saw Hank and pulled him onboard according to Charles's telepathy.
()()()()()
On deck, the rebels boarded the ship and fought hard against Shaw's men.
"Allow me!" Hank said as he charged forward and assisted in the fight, ending up fighting Shaw himself. "Hope you can swim!"
Hank then tossed Shaw 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." Charles said as they got there with Howler standing there panting.
"Good old Howler." Charles sighed. "As calm as can be."
Scott was relieved at first, but then he heard the call from the slaves.
"The slaves are still chained up!" Scott called out. "They'll drown!"
"I saw some keys in the captain's quarters while me and Alex were cleaning." Kurt stated.
"Let's go!" Charles said as they headed for the captain's quarters.
"It's locked!" Kurt said as he tried the door.
"What do we do?" Scott asked. "It won't budge."
"Look out!" Kurt called out as he pointed out Alex on Howler.
"Ramming speed!" Alex called out as Howler plowed through it.
"Good work, Alex!" Scott said happily as he ruffled his little brother's hair.
"Got 'em!" Kurt said as he tossed the keys to Scott.
"Moira, you and the kids get to the other ship." Charles said calmly. "Scott and I will free the slaves."
"Be careful." Moira said.
"We will." Charles said as he and Moira kissed.
Hank quickly met up with the group on deck and led Moira and the kids to the other ship before looking up in shock.
"Charles, Scott, look out!" Hank 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!" Scott said, pointing to a small opening.
"Give me your hand." Charles said as he lowered Scott down. "Easy. Easy."
"Scott!" Logan said happily as he was holding up the older slaves.
"Logan, I've got the keys!" Charles called out.
"Start with them!" Logan said, pointing to the other side, where the hole was. Scott quickly freed them as they were helped up by Charles and Hank and rushed to the boat.
"Everyone, hold on!" Scott said as he unlocked the other side, but Logan was stuck, and the water was rising higher and higher.
"SCOTT!" Scott called out.
"Go, kid!" Logan said, but Scott managed to help Logan get free, and they all just barely made it onto the other ship just as Shaw's sank into the sea, and they quickly got onto the other ship, which headed back for Earth immediately to drop off Charles and the others.
()()()()()
On the way, the old man Scott helped retold the story, but Scott could barely take any of it in. He had gotten his only chance to find his father, and he'd failed. However, Logan walked up with a woman, a member of the Shi'ar.
"Hey Scott, I said I didn't know your father, but here's a woman who does. Scott, meet our captain, Lilandra Neramani."
"So you are the son of Christopher Summers." Lilandra said.
"You know my father?" Scott asked.
"Know him?" Lilandra asked. "I will never forget him. Your father saved my life during the Great Fire. Last I had heard, he escaped from his ship and went searching for your mother on the farms of the Kree home world. I've never met a braver man, and you are just like him."
"Do you have any stories about Dad?" Alex asked.
"As a matter of fact, I do, Alexander Summers." Lilandra 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, Shaw clung to the board with the cook and the head guard.
"We've got to get to land now!" Shaw 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." Shaw groaned.
Well… That was dark.
Also… YAY FOR MY FIRST USE OF LILANDRA!