Chapter 15: David takes flight, and Disturbing news…
Disclaimer: Not much to say now just gotta go the job done!!
It was a bright, windy day up on Canyon City. The cadets were finished. All of their training was complete and now it was time for their reward. All that was left for them was to ride a skybax, and they would be in the corp.
All lined up across the platform, with members from the senate, Marion, and some of the grounds crew watching, Captain Oonu stepped forward, sternly looking into the eye's of his cadets.
"This graduation ceremony will be your first, and only chance to qualify as Skybax riders. If a skybax dose not come to you when you call it, or if you fail to ride it, you will be dismissed from the sky corp. LET US BEGIN" he shouted. Glancing down the line of cadet's, his gaze stopped on Cadet Romana. "Cadet Romana" he called.
Nodding, she stepped forward from the line, and passed David, who had enough time to tell her good luck. Firmly walking down the platform, she stepped onto the balcony and gazed down at the cliffs. Inhaling, she firmly raised her right hand, signaling for a Skybax to come to her.
She paused for a few moments, praying that it would work. Then as if someone heard her pray, a squawk came from above. Looking up, she smiled as she saw a Skybax approach her.
Behind her, Oonu smiled proudly. She wasn't her father's daughter for noting after. Will Denison had no problem becoming a skybax. So neither would she.
Lowering her hand, and turning, she stepped down from the platform, and waited. The skybax closed in as it flew down low, and came up high, landing perfectly on the balcony. Glancing at Romana, it squawked at her to get on.
Smiling from ear to ear, Romana heaved her saddle over the Skybaxes neck. Placing a foot on its hind leg, she climbed onto the Skybax, and grasped the saddle. With a final squawk of acknowledgement, it took off into the canyons. Romana laughed as the wind rushed through her hair at high speed. She had done it!! Finally, she too, was a skybax rider, like her father!!
The crowd instantly broke into applause. Cheering her on for her success. Oonu also proud, stepped away from the platform, grabbed a saddle and said "Cadet David".
Stepping forward, David tensed up as he raised his arm, and allowed a saddle to be out on.
"Time to fly" Oonu said encouraging.
"You can do it David" called Marion from the crowd.
Glancing at both of them, David nodded fiercely as he laughed inside. He was going to fly!! For the very first time in his life!!
Walking past the other cadet's, they said they're congrats, and good lucks to David. David grinned like a fool, happy to have his friends behind him, and determined to fly!!
Marion watched, proud of David. He had defiantly improved since the day he first arrived. Not only in skill, but in attitude as well!!
"We miss something" came a voice to her left. Glancing, she smiled as Karl stood next to her grinning. "Karl" she laughed as she hugged him quickly. Feeling a tap on her right shoulder, she looked and laughed as she saw Samantha and Jake.
"Hi Marion, what's up" grinned Jake. Marion laughed as she gave Jake a quick hug as well.
"Samantha" she said shocked as her younger sister hugged her. "What are you doing here, you should be at home resting".
"I'm all better now, thanks to Jake," she laughed. Marion glanced at Jake who sheepishly scratched the back of his head and laughed.
"Aw it was nothing," he laughed as Samantha hugged him, whilst he blushed.
"I'm so glad you all made it, look, David's about to fly for the first time" Marion laughed.
David inhaled as he firmly raised his hand in the air, before exhaling. This was it!! All that had to happen now was for a skybax to approach him and he would be in business!!
So David waited…
And waited…
And waited…
And waited…
Nothing happened.
Slowly, David's grin fell from his face. "What the…why isn't anyone coming" his mind whirled rapidly. This didn't make any sense. He trained hard, and overcame his fears…didn't he?!
"You have been rejected Cadet, come down" called Oonu.
Slowly David lowered his arm in disappointment. Stepping down from the platform, his face filled with shame and defeat, he glanced at his fellow cadets. Their faces either head sympathy…or disappointment on their faces as well. "I've failed," he thought dejected.
Stepping in front of Oonu, he sighed.
Glancing down, Oonu for first time to David, showed sorrow for him. "I am sorry David……you will never ride a skybax, and your are dismissed from the corp. for with" he said.
Tear's threatening to let loose, David nodded firmly before power walking past his brothers and Marion.
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Inside his quarters, he firmly shoved his possessions into his bag. He failed huh?! FINE!! He never wanted any of this anyway. Rosemary had trusted this whole mess on him from the beginning. Hearing soft snoring, he stopped shoving as he glanced around the room.
Stopping his eye's on another bad, he peeked over and saw a baby Chasmasaur sleeping. Shaking his head, he resumed shoving his possessions.
Stepping out of his quarters, he sighed aggravated as he saw Karl, Jake, Marion and Samantha. All around, the other cadets were laughing and joking, congratulating each other on their success. So it seemed everyone except him had become part of the corp…peachy.
Not saying anything to any of them, David turned in attempt to walk away. He was SOOOO not in the mood for lecture, or jibs from his brothers.
"David wait" Karl called. He knew now was not the time that David needed grief. He needed support!! "Look…I'm proud of you," he said.
David's face flushed, as he half-shouted "Just…leave me alone, okay" he growled.
"You tried, you didn't quit……I wish Dad could have seen you" Karl said, hopping that mentioning Dad would cheer him up and boost his attitude.
If anything…it lowered it.
"HE DID"ENT NEED TO SEE ME FAIL AGAIN" he shouted. Who cared about Dad?!? Screw him!! Karl was always the favorite, he was nothing but a failure, and today had only proved it!!!
"David, c'mon your tried your best, don't get like this" Jake pleaded stepping forward.
Glancing at his little brother, he said, "You stay out of this, I don't need any of your damn sympathy, Mr. Athletic".
With this, David huffed and stalked away.
"David…c'mon David wait" Karl called after him.
"Leave him…he needs to be alone right now" Marion said softly.
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Stepping down into the training room, David huffed in anger.
"Not fair…IT"S NOT FAIR" his mind screamed!!
Stepping up the skybax machine that he had fallen off of so many times, he sighed in bitter anger.
"DAMNIT ALL TO HELL" he cursed.
Rearing back, he gave a frustrated kick to the machine's side. "I just don't understand it!! I did everything that I was told to do. I trained on the machine, I scaled the cliffs, HELL I CLIMBED UP INTO THE SKYBAX'S NEST AND SLEPT THEIR FOR THE NIGHT!! SO WHY THE HELL DID I FAIL?!?"
Silent tears fell to the floor, as David rubbed them away furiously. How could he fail?! It made no sense!!
"Wait" he said thoughtfully. He slowly began to remember something that Oonu had said at the very beginning.
"You cannot ride a skybax if you have fear in your heart, they will sense that fear and not approach you" he said sternly.
David did remember being afraid the first couple of times, yes. But eventually, his fear got better, as it became less and less frequent every time he did a drill, or exercise. So that ment…
David's eye's widened as he realized it!!
He had a negative attitude on everything he did!! Weather it involved climbing, or trying the flight machine, he would always be miserable about it!! The skybax detected that negativity, and rejected him. So…he made himself fail!!
"So…does that mean…I can fly a skybax" he said hopefully. A small grin came to his face, and then switched back to serious. No more! He wasn't going to grip or complain anymore!! He was going to fly!!
Stepping over to the rack with a firm resolve, he plucked a saddle off and made his way to the balcony. Haring footsteps, he glanced back too see Romana, staring at him with shock. The other cadets were there as well, staring at him in disbelief. For a brief moment, David thought they were going to try and stop him!!
"Fine, let them try, but I'm going to fly" David thought firmly.
Turning away from them, he half ran up to the balcony, and glanced down into the canyons below him. Almost instantly, his vertigo came back!!
"NO NO…I'm NOT AFAIRD, I AM NOT AFAIRD…I……AM…NOT…AFARID!!!" his mind screamed!!
Above him, watching from the cliff walls, were the other Cadets, his brothers, Marion and Samantha.
"I don't believe it……he's gonna jump" shouted Karl.
"DAVID, DON'T DO IT," shouted Jake. He wasn't going to commit suicide…was he?!?
"No, he's not…leave him for now" Marion said sternly.
Glancing back up, he trusted his arm into the air.
"Please come…I'm not afraid anymore" he thought wildly.
He waited for a few moments before lowering his arm down. Shot down again!! Glancing at the edge, it suddenly looked inviting…
Suddenly, a squawk came from his left. Looking there, David saw the albino Pteranadon flying towards him. "He's coming" David whispered.
His frown shifted into a grin as he firmly raised his arm up again!! Yes!! Yes!! He was coming!!
Backing up so he could get room, Freefall, landed on the platform, squawking at him to come on. David stood their shocked for a moment, before a wide grin spilt on his face. Dashing back up the balcony, he placed the saddle on his back.
"David" shouted Romana as she and the other Cadets raced after him. David stepped onto Freefall just in time as he took off low into the canyon.
"DAVID" she shouted again as she and the others looked down into the canyons. Where did he go?!
*FSH FSH FSH FSH FSH*
Romana backed up in shock as Freefall came into view, David riding his back!! He was doing it!!
David, high winds passing his face, glanced down at the others and felt absolute no fear at all!! Grinning again, he shouted "YAAAHHHHHOOOOO".
Below, Karl, Jake, and the others watched in shock. "You see that" Karl said excited.
"WAY GO DAVID" laughed Jake.
Captain Oonu, curious about all the commotion, stepped out of the shadows, and saw the sight. "My god" he said softly. David was flying!!! A slow grin etched on his stern face. In reality, he should be upset with him for breaking the rules, but couldn't find it in himself to punish him later.
"Good job…David," he whispered.
David was having the time of his life up there!! Zooming at high speed through the winds, doing flips. It was absolutely fantastic. Glancing at his new companion, Freefall, he whispered "Thank you……Freefall".
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"The Prime sunstone won't last much longer" David said nervously.
It had been a week since the boys had reunited, and had told each other about their hardships. Karl taking care of 26, David riding freefall, and Jake going with Backstop to the Blackwood Flats. David was stunned out of his mind when he Karl told him about what dangerous place Jake went off to and lectured him as well. Also, even though he could fly a skybax, he technically wasn't apart of the corp. anymore.
Not long ago, there was an argument in the trial room. Captain Oonu and some of the new cadets informed Mayor Waldo that they must protect the refugee's and bring them Waterfall city. Not long after, the refugees showed up, and took shelter. Zippeau made a suggestion that they made an expedition to the World beneath to find new sunstones, but was rejected. Now, David, Karl, Jake, Marion, Samantha, and Zippeau were at Zippeau's place, making a plan.
Karl was examining some of the old scrolls, when he discovered something interesting. "Wait a minute, this looks like the temple in the swamp".
Jake glanced down and didn't recognize the symbols. Only to remember he never went inside. "So what does it mean" Jake asked curious.
Karl shot Jake a quick smirk. "It means, I think we might have found our entrance".
Zippeau glanced down as well, as he said excited "Yes, according to the scroll, it is called the Temple of Korah, yes these cravings look very familiar".
Marion, wanting to take action, said "We must go back their, if this is one of the entrances to the world beneath, then that's where will find the sunstones. I'm sure of it".
"But that's also where we'll find those prehistoric crocodiles" David added.
"Yes, and my tail is only just growing back you know" Zippeau added.
Jake, shot them a cocky smirk as he unsheathed his sword. "Then we'll force our way through if we have too".
Karl gave Jake a weary look as he said, "Always eager for a fight huh Jakey".
Jake gave Karl an evil eye as he growled, "What'd you call me".
Samantha laughed as she patted Jake on the shoulder. "He's just kidding Jake, no need to get so pent up".
Jake grumbled to himself, as Karl then got serious, saying, "Suppose it's blocked or flooded, maybe it's not even an entrance, we're just guessing".
Jake shook his head, as he said "I'm not so sure about this Karl, you remember right Zippeau, you said that the entrances were guarded by carnivores, and I don't think those carnivores were there for the hell of it".
Remembering something from earlier, Zippeau quipped, "That horrible Cyrus Crabb had a scroll describing another entrance, beneath the sea called the diamond cave, I will go the library and research it".
Turning to leave, he was stopped as Marion sighed "We haven't got any time for more research, I mean what are we gonna do, just stand around and wait for the carnivores to come crashing through the city gates".
"Marion's right, we've gotta do something" Karl said firmly.
Samantha nodded, as she stood up "It's not like we have much of a choice anyway".
Marion, determined, stated, "I'm going back to the temple, even If I have to go alone".
"Well I guess where going back to the swamp" David said, not about to let Marion do it alone.
"Off too another adventure then" laughed Jake as he stood up.
Samantha coughed to get everyone's attention, as she said, "I'm coming too".
Marion sternly glared at her sister. "Oh no your not, it's too dangerous for someone of your age".
"But what about Jake, he's only a year older then me" protested Samantha.
Marion sighed as she shook her head. "Even so, your not trained enough to go out like this, even with us".
Jake then stood in front of Samantha, saying, "I'll protect her".
Everyone stared at Jake in shock.
"Jake" Samantha said, touched.
"C'mon guy's, all for one, one for all right" Jake laughed. Getting serious, he said, "Besides, we'll be safe in numbers".
Marion sighed as she stared into her sister's eyes. She couldn't treat her sister like this forever, she was growing up…
"Alright, you can come……but stay close to Jake at all times, I'm trusting you on this one Jake" Marion stated.
Samantha nodded "Thanks sis".
Jake nodded too. "Ill look out for her".
Aware of the snickering coming from his brothers, Jake turned to glare at the two. "Something funny, Moe and Larry" he said bluntly.
"Never knew you were actually gonna get a girlfriend Jake" Karl joked. He had never once seen Jake with a girl, and according to Samantha for how he acted the first time, it was pretty funny.
"Even I don't get like that," David laughed.
"Shut up you jerks," Jake grunted whilst his brothers continued to laugh. Seeing as how they weren't stopping, Jake smirked "I saw the way your were looking at Marion. Hope your thoughts of her are staying PG-13 rated Karl".
Karl stopped laughing, as Jake and the others started laughing at him. Shaking his head, he said "Someone's going to have to look after 26".
Zippeau stepped forward smiling "It would be an honor".
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Heading across the bridge, the five of them talked amongst each other of what to do if anymore of those crocs showed up.
Karl was about to say something when suddenly a long familiar cane blocked his way. Glancing at the owner, Karl growled silently when he saw Cyrus Crabb.
"Your going where I think your going, you better turn back," Cyrus laughed. Getting stern, he said, "You'll never find the entrance".
Slapping the cane away from him, Karl growled "I'm done taking advice from you" Cyrus turned out to be a dirty crook. According to Zippeau, he had stolen several of Dinotopia's prized possessions. That, and wreaking his boat made his stomach churn at the thought of the man…
"I paid three expeditions to explore that swamp temple, you know what, not one of them came back for their money" Cyrus chuckled.
"We're not afraid," Marion said sternly.
"Yeah, that's right," added David.
"Buzz off, I don't trust you" grunted Jake. Something about Cyrus made him sick to the core.
Samantha didn't say anything, but her stern glare was enough to show she didn't trust him either.
Stalking away from him, Cyrus limped to catch up. "There is another way Karl, it's a safer way". Satisfied that he had Karl's attention, he added "In a few day's, my plans will be sorted if you want to come with me".
Karl, however, was done with the man's lies and deceit. Fighting off a laughing fit of trust the wretched man; he growled "No way Cyrus".
Cyrus, allowed a touch of his own anger to creep into his voice, as he growled "Don't be a fool boy, I'm trapped on this island same as you, weather you like it here or not".
Forgetting that the others were present, Karl half-shouted "You sabotaged my boat".
Not losing a beat, Cyrus growled "Yes, and you gave me a rock instead of a sunstone, so let's call it even".
David, confused, asked, "What's he talking about".
Remembering the others were their, Karl quickly said "Nothing".
Jake crossed his arms, as he said, "Karl, what did you do now".
Karl glared back as he said, "I'll tell you later".
"Don't you understand, I want that same thing that you want" Cyrus pleaded. Switching back to the thief he was, he added, "I want to save this hell of a place, not because I like it, but because I want to save me own skin".
Not ever going to trust Cyrus again, Karl growled, "Forget it".
"Hey Karl" called Cyrus.
Whirling around, tired of him bothering him, Karl froze as he took out what looked like, a small pistol. Quickly recognizing the pistol as a flare gun, he relaxed.
"Here…I don't know if it'll work, must fifty years old," he said as he handed the gun to Karl, as well as some ammo.
"Keep your wits about you Karl…their's worse then Mosasaurus out their" he said concerned.
"Don't listen to him," Samantha said, speaking up for the first time.
Karl snorted as he shoved the gun in his pocket. "C'mon, you're just trying to scare us".
With that, the five walked off, not noticing the sinister smirk on Cyrus's face…
I know I'm cutting it short their, but I wanted the chapters to extend past twenty at least. Please R&R!!…