Chapter 7
Sora slowly tip toed through the big open gates of the gummi station, keeping his eyes to the side to make sure the creatures didn't turn around and spot him. They were far enough to not notice his shaky breathing or his awkward steps, but even he could hear his own heartbeat banging in his rib cage and was worried they would too.
Riku and Kairi had already entered the station easily, slowly walking across the huge grounds and toward the medium sized gummi ship ahead of them. They were both carrying food supplies for the three of them; Riku carrying boxes and Kairi holding a couple bags in her right hand.
Sora was at the back keeping an eye out with the metal pole and Kairi worried for Sora, she didn't like the way he thought he could constantly play hero when in reality he wasn't as strong as he hoped he was. She looked ahead to Riku to see him far too eager to get on the ship and she huffed in annoyance. She slowed down and waited for Sora to get closer to her. If Riku wasn't going to make sure Sora was safe then she would.
Sora turned his head forward to notice Kairi closer to him than expected. "Kairi, keep going," he ushered her ahead with his hands.
"I am, I'm just waiting for you," she whispered back, walking closely ahead of him.
Sora paused and looked at the back of her head, grateful for her sudden bravery. He smiled and slowly quickened his pace, catching up to Kairi swiftly then walking to the side of her. She was slightly stunning for a second when he creeped up next to her, but Sora held her hand and smiled to her. "You don't have to."
Her heart suddenly pounded in her chest and she smiled at him softly, trusting his saphire eyes with her very life. Sora gave her hand a gentle squeeze, much like the time he did when he was asleep, and Kairi felt her heart flutter this time.
A hushed voice from ahead broke their stare, and they looked on to see Riku on the steps of the gummi ship, ushering them to hurry up.
Sora held Kairi's hand tight and gently dragged her forward hurrying them up like ordered.
"Whoa this thing is bigger than I expected," Sora remarked once they were all aboard the gummi ship and the door was securely locked.
The cock-pit was big enough to walk around in, and there were four seats at the front by the controls. The pilot's seat was next to the co-pilot's seat and the other two behind each of them. There was even a small room to the side where four small beds were placed with ready-made blankets and pillows. Then on the other side was a small bathroom, which Sora was more than happy to see.
"Dibs!"
"Shotgun!" Kairi called then headed toward the co-pilot seat and plonked herself in it. Sora frowned and regretted noticing the bathroom before the co-pilot seat.
Riku sat in the pilot's seat and scanned the numerous buttons and controls while Sora went ahead into the bathroom. Kairi watched his concentrated face, then to the buttons, not having a clue what any of them did.
"You reckon you can do this?"
After a few minutes Riku smiled confidently and looked at Kairi. "Piece of cake."
Kairi smiled in relief at Riku's words then relaxed into the chair. "Everything's going to change now, isn't it?"
Riku watched her and thought to himself, trying to figure out how anything could possibly get back to normal now. He tried to imagine all the creatures being killed off by a sudden raid of soldiers, tried to imagine all the people returning back to Destiny Islands, tried to imagine seeing his parents or any of his other friends again… but he was finding it extremely difficult. "Honestly, I don't know."
Kairi gave a small exhale of breath, looking out of the window screen and holding the handles of her seat. "Maybe Radiant Garden will be everything we've ever dreamed of. I know you've always wanted to go travelling, Riku."
Riku slightly laughed. "True, but this isn't exactly what I had in mind."
Kairi had to agree, this was more like escaping, not travelling.
"Plus, I've already been to Radiant Garden."
Kairi looked at him shocked with this sudden piece of information. "Really? When?"
"I was on a school trip with Tidus and Wakka, years ago, we went to study its history and stuff like that. We even got to meet Ansem the Wise."
"Who was he?"
"He was a great scientist and Radiant Garden's ruler, everyone respected and honoured him. Even I have to admit that he was a pretty honourable guy. He made sure the town was always safe and happy." Riku smiled fondly, remembering how peaceful the town was. "He lived in the castle we're supposed to be going to, so maybe he's still there, and that's why I'm so confident about this whole thing."
"Man, I hope he's still there too. He's got to be better than our pathetic excuse for a mayor."
"Definitely."
Riku fiddled with the controls, making sure everything was in place and correct for the lift off. He checked the fuel and noticed only half a tank was left in the engine. He cursed to himself then got up from the seat, walking to the back of the cock-pit.
Kairi watched him silently, not knowing what he was up to. "Uh, Riku? Is everything okay?"
Riku opened a big cupboard door that was next to the bathroom door and rummaged through all the ship's supplies. The door to the bathroom suddenly opened and Sora walked out, jumping a little when he noticed Riku right next to him. Riku carried on searching for something as Sora made his way over to Kairi, making her scoot up so she'd sit on his lap.
"Damn," Riku cursed, closing the cupboard. "I don't know if we have enough gas to make it all the way."
Sora's hands snaked around Kairi's waist as she sat on his lap. Kairi stared at Riku with a worried frown.
"So we're gonna have to make a pit stop," Sora announced.
Riku looked at him seriously, and then thought it over in his head, trying to remember what worlds were in-between this one and Radiant Garden. It didn't matter really; every world had a gummi station. "I guess we have no choice. But we'd have to make it quick."
Riku went and sat back into the pilot's seat and fiddled with the controls some more, preparing the take off. Sora watched him fiddle around, pushing button after button, testing the steering, checking the dashboard.
Sora squinted his mouth. "This is turning out to be quite the adventure, huh?"
Kairi smiled, glad Sora was trying to lighten the mood every time it got quiet. After all, this really was becoming some sort of adventure for the three of them, and something inside Kairi fluttered with excitement.
Riku just looked on out the window screen, seeing how much take-off space they had on the field. It seemed that there was just about enough, but he wasn't too sure. He was no expert at flying gummi ships, he just had enough experience to fly it when it was up steady in the air. He really didn't know how to take off or even land, he'd never done it before. When he looked down at the controls and steering, it seemed simple enough, but the actual practical side of it could be an entirely different thing. Riku closed his eyes, trying his best to remain calm and stable, for all their sakes. Sora and Kairi didn't need to know about his lack of experience, he didn't want to cause any panic… or hear any stupid over-optimistic remarks from Sora. The truth was simple; Riku had no idea what he was doing.
"Alright, let's do this," Riku said and pushed a few buttons that turned the engine on, giving off a gentle hum. Kairi got off of Sora's lap and sat behind him, tightening her seatbelt when she did. Sora did the same, and watched out of the window screen, hoping to give Riku any support or help if he needed it.
Riku pressed another few buttons and the engine grew louder. He held onto the steering controls tightly and the ship began to gently ease forward. Good, first part's over with easily, he thought to himself.
The ship began to line up to the run way, when suddenly that all too familiar shrieking could be heard in the distance. Sora's eyes widened at the sight through the screen, seeing three, no, four of the horrible pitch black creatures running toward the ship madly. Riku's face paled at the sight, not really sure what to do next, his hand ready on the gas.
"Riku, go…" Sora spoke, eyes fixed on the creatures ahead.
Riku felt the engine hum eagerly, almost waiting for him to push on the gas to bring these evil things to their doom. He thought sensibly though, remembering the car accident all those weeks ago. By simply wanting to run the damn thing over, look where that led him.
He frowned and his eyes focused on the run way carefully, his eye contact avoiding the creatures completely. He rammed the gas up with force before the creatures could get too close, and the gummi ship starting to move forward quickly.
Kairi held onto the arms of her seat in shock, startled at the sudden force of Riku's control of the ship. She looked at Sora, who looked equally startled. Kairi felt uneasy, remembering the car crash herself, hoping to god Riku was being himself and thinking safely and wisely.
The creatures snarled, drool hanging from their mouths as their pace quickened when the ship headed toward them. They were hungry, very hungry. After all, they hadn't found much in Destiny Islands lately because of the evacuation. They were each as desperate as the other as they could hear the pounding of the three human's heartbeats in their pointy black ears.
Riku's eyes turned to slits as he concentrated. The pressure was now on. He barely knew how to take off, let alone dodge the creatures in the run-way at the same time. One huge intake of breath and he prepared himself for the first dodge as the first creature was now close enough.
The small wheels of the ship skimmed to the left as Riku swung the steering wheel harshly, then swung it back again just as roughly to get the balance of the ship equal. Sora and Kairi held on tightly in fear, not knowing how this would work or whether Riku was with his true senses. Riku breathed heavily, noting how the wheels didn't run the creature down at all. He sighed in relief; one down, three to go.
He swung the wheel to the right, to the left, to the right again. He stepped on the gas a little harder, picking up speed, ready to take off and dodge the two left at the same time.
Big mistake.
The speed was enough to catch one of them on the wheels, and it splattered across the turf horribly, blood staining the metal of the ship. Memories of the car accident came back to them all instantly, and Kairi and Sora dreaded the worst, shutting their eyes in terror. The ship swerved slightly, but Riku managed to catch and hold the wheel to keep the ship just about steady. He looked ahead, noticing the path now completely clear. He decided to go for it as he didn't have much turf left before they hit the ocean ahead of them. He pulled the wheel back and the nose of the ship slowly started to rise. It was a huge effort, and Riku wasn't sure if he was doing it right at all.
Sora and Kairi opened their eyes at the sudden change of balance the ship had gained and saw no sign of monsters ahead, only screeches from behind them. Sora cheered, relieved Riku had managed to dodge nearly every one and lifted them off as well.
The ship began to fly, and Riku felt an enormous smile cross his face. He'd done it. The ship got higher and just passed the end of the run way, flying swiftly across the ocean with enough speed to get them even higher. Riku kept pulling back on the wheel, holding it there as the ship headed up, toward the massive sky above them and suddenly stars became visible to the three friends eyes.
Kairi stared in admiration at the perfect sky ahead of them, excitement taking over her entire body.
Riku kept the ship steady as it passed through the rough atmosphere. The ship began to shudder and quake, trying to brake through the boundary of their world. The three of them held on tightly, finding it hard to stay calm as it felt like they were stuck in an earthquake.
Kairi whimpered, not liking the sensation at all. She closed her eyes, wanting it to stop already, willing it to with her mind. She prayed that they all get through this in one piece.
Then right when they weren't expecting it, the shaking and quaking suddenly stopped, and the entire ship was flying smoothly again. The roaring sound had gone and left nothing but peaceful silence.
Riku, Sora and Kairi each opened their eyes to something utterly extraordinary. The big white stars shone brightly into their eyes, and the darkness of the sky brought their panic to a relaxed halt. Their breathing was now steady, and each almost thought they could cry right there and then. It was beautiful.
They'd made it.