Aaaaaaand I'm back again, on another holiday day! Happy New Year! (And yes, I am doing this on purpose). I was going to put this up yesterday, but then I thought it'd be cooler for me to do this today (I'm actually typing this on the 31st, so I'm having to think in the future tense. It's rather odd). Anyhoo, another chapter! Hooray!
Disclaimer: Apart from the plot and characters, I own diddly-squat (Did I spell that right? It looks weird to me O.o)
"So, this is our team?" Maya said incredulously. The four of them were standing on the upper deck of the ship Avery had loaned them, Keelan steering them carefully towards the opening of the Stormgate that would take them straight back to Skull Island. Keelan nodded.
"The Commodore's list only had three names on it. And they were the three of you." Maya snorted, leaning casually against the side of the ship with her arms folded across her chest.
"Still, that does seem rather ambitious of him, to concoct this plan with a team of three people. No matter how skilled he thinks we are, this mission is suicide." Iridian's eyes flashed.
"You chickening out, then?" The blonde girl shook her head.
"I never said that. I simply said that the likelihood of this mission succeeding with only the three of us is slim."
"You think we don't know that? We all agreed to come on this mission and do our bit to save the Spiral, even if the chances of us surviving are next to none!" Maya glared at Iridian, pushing herself off the low wall and striding forwards to stand in front of her.
"I know that, and I agree. We must all do what we can to protect the worlds and their people, but what you seem to fail to understand is that this mission was doomed to failure before it even began!" Iridian's eyes narrowed and she went to speak, but was interrupted by Alexi.
"Girls, please, stop! We all know that this mission will be difficult, but Maya, what you have to understand is that even with a team of one hundred it would not get any easier. We all made the necessary sacrifices by coming aboard this ship. We all accepted the fact that we will likely not survive, yet we came anyway. We know that the reward far outweighs the risk. Our lives are a small price to pay in exchange for peace." Maya and Iridian still didn't seem satisfied but they didn't respond, just glaring at each other before Iridian turned and stomped away. After a millisecond's hesitation Maya turned the other way and descended below deck, and Alexi and Keelan were left alone. Keelan smiled at the older man as he sighed.
"Well done, Alexi. That was nicely handled." He grinned tiredly.
"Thank you, but it shouldn't have been necessary at all. There's no point in doing this if there is no trust between us. That's what they don't seem to understand." Keelan shook his head, putting a comforting hand on Alexi's shoulder.
"Don't talk like that. I agree that we need trust, but that's no reason to nix the entire mission. Tensions are just running a little high right now. Maya was just surprised that the Commodore expects you to do this with so few people, that's all." Alexi snorted.
"Easy for you to say. You're not the one who has to risk his life trying to destroy that mechanical monstrosity." Keelan nodded.
"That's true, but just listen. You, Iridian, and even Maya...I consider you guys as my friends, and it hurts me to see you fight. Don't you think I feel terrible for getting you all into this mess? If it weren't for me, you guys would still be living your normal lives back at your homes, surrounded by your friends and people who love you. No, instead you're here, sailing towards your deaths. I would give anything to be able to turn around and take you guys back to where you belong, but I can't. This is for the good of the Spiral. Even if you succeed in destroying the Machine, the fact that I led you to your deaths will haunt me forever." He shuddered involuntarily as a chill went through his body, and he could tell Alexi was staring at him.
"...You're wise beyond your years, Keelan. I've been too busy focusing on my own misgivings that I never even thought about how this whole situation must be affecting you. I'm sorry, my friend." Keelan smiled hugely and held out a hand.
"No worries. Let's just let the girls cool off a little before we do anything else. I think they have some things to think about." Alexi nodded, smiling as he accepted Keelan's hand and shook it firmly. A feeling of sadness passed through Keelan as he took in Alexi's smiling face, and realised that he may soon be dead, all because of him. He shook the feeling off and turned his eyes forwards, and was surprised to see the Stormgate looming up in front of them. He took the wheel again as they passed through it and he could see the exit to Skull Island in the distance, but suddenly his vision was obscured by a large shape moving towards them.
"Do you see that, Alexi?" He asked, the older man peering into the distance.
"Yeah, I do...what is it?" As they moved closer an overwhelming feeling of dread washed over Keelan.
"I don't know, but whatever it is, I don't think we should be heading towards it..." He turned the wheel sharply to the right and tried to navigate around the strange edifice, but it mirrored his action exactly. Alexi frowned.
"What do they think they're playing at?" They drew nearer and nearer, still on a collision course and suddenly a sound reached Keelan's ears, a strange sort of hissing. To his horror he realised what it was.
"Get down!" He cried, leaping away from the wheel, grabbing Alexi's arm and dragging him down the stairs. The cannon fired, the huge metal ball slamming into the side of the ship and knocking it dangerously off course. Keelan stumbled and fell to the deck, still gripping Alexi's arm with white knuckles. The two boys scurried across the damaged deck as fast as they could, shielding their faces from an explosion of splinters which was the result of another cannonball. They reached the stairs leading below deck as another cannonball tore its way through the body of the ship and Keelan was sent tumbling down the stairs, landing in a heap at the bottom.
"Are you alright, Keelan?" Asked Alexi, kneeling beside him and quickly checking him for injury. Keelan nodded and managed to scramble to his feet, and found himself looking into a pair of wide, deep blue eyes.
"What's going on?" Asked Maya, shouting to be heard over the noise of the cannon fire.
"We're under attack! Quick, go and get up on deck!"
"What about Iridian?" Asked Alexi, staggering as another blast sent the ship lurching dangerously to one side.
"I'll go find her. You two steer us clear." Maya said, turning and sprinting back down the corridor and vanishing around a corner, leaving no time for either of them to object. They made their way unsteadily back to the wheel, and Keelan wrenched it to the right and steered the ship away from their unknown assailant.
"Can you see who's attacking us?" He called to Alexi, who was scanning the skies for a sign of the enemy.
"No, I can't see a thing. They must be behind us or-" He froze, staring forwards in horror.
"What is it? Alexi, what's happened?" The older male just pointed, so Keelan checked they were flying a safe course before running over to join him. His stomach churned at the sight before him. There wasn't just one enemy ship, there were at least four, sailing towards them slowly. Keelan frowned as they drew nearer. Their sails seemed to be...turning. As he stared, his stomach dropped right down through his diaphragm as he realised what he was looking at.
"The Armada." He whispered, and Alexi turned to him with wide eyes.
"What? Are you sure?" Keelan nodded, and then he managed to shake himself out of his daze and rush back to the wheel, looking for anywhere they could go that would get the Armada's warships off their tail. More cannonballs ripped through the hull of the ship, the sparks forming flames that ate through the wooden body swiftly. Keelan swallowed nervously. Maya and Iridian were still down there.
"Alexi! Look for an exit! I don't care where, just get us out of this Stormgate!" He shouted, and Alexi nodded and scanned the dark, star-spangled scene around them. Keelan tried his best to stay out of range out of the cannons, but with every hit the ship lost speed, and soon they were crawling forwards at no more than a snail's pace. And still, the fire continued to spread. Keelan looked up as Alexi shouted, pointing at something to their left. An exit. Hope warmed Keelan's heart as he steered towards it, but once they were on track he could do little else to ensure their safe passage. He stood on the deck with Alexi, watching as the Armada advanced far too quickly for Keelan's liking, and they continued to crawl towards the exit to the Stormgate.
In the thick of all the chaos, he thought back to Maya's words earlier. Were they really destined to fail in their mission before they even began? Was this how it was supposed to end for them all? Being chased by the Armada through a Stormgate on a burning ship? If they died in there, who would know? Who would come and find them and take their bodies back to their homes? No-one. They would be floating in space forever, surrounded by the wreckage of what was probably the only chance there was to save the Spiral. So wrapped up in his thoughts was Keelan that he didn't even notice until it was too late. The Armada were less than ten metres behind them, and from where he stood he could see the cannon aiming straight for the ship. He whimpered in fear and felt a hand on his shoulder, and looked up to see Alexi smiling down at him sadly. He'd completely forgotten he was there.
"I-I don't want to d-die...not...not here..." He sobbed, and Alexi nodded.
"I know." The cannon fired. Someone screamed. The deck caved in beneath his feet. They passed through the Stormgate.
...Well. That was a thing. I actually forgot what was in this chapter until I just read the last sentence, and I will admit I did a rather evil laugh. I am a fan of cliffhangers. Anyway, I personally don't celebrate New Year's, but if you do I hope you have a fabulous day and have lots of good funs. And I will be keeping up my trend of posting chapters on holidays/important dates, so look forward to that! Well, R&R, and goodbye! :D