Chapter 15: Sink or Swim Part 3: Battle for Freedom

Jonathan, Lois, and Martha arrived at the ship's galley, led by one of the soldiers.
"Jonathan 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." Martha 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." Jonathan 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." Jonathan said with a sigh.
"Well, we'll do our best, sir." Jonathan 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, Clark was handing water to the soldiers.
"Get over here with that water!" The man called out.
Clark began walking to him when he saw a withered old man at the oars.
"Just a little sip." He begged. Clark immediately gave him some.
"Boy, I said over here!" The man called out and pulled Clark to him.

Back at the galley, Lois 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, Jonathan and Martha's finest as Lois pulled up a stool for him.
"Perhaps you should taste it and tell us what we're doing wrong." Martha 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." Jonathan said. "Take your time with the bread."
"Yes." The cook said as he continued to eat. "Yes, good idea."

As Clark 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!" Clark called out.
"If he doesn't row, he'll die of much worse." The man said darkly.
"I'll take his place." Clark said, pointing at himself.
"You?!" The man laughed.
"At least until he gets better." Clark said calmly.
"This I've got to see!" The man laughed. "Okay, Little Man. Row."
Clark 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 brown haired man said.
"I was only trying to help." Clark said.
"If you wanna help, keep silent and row!" The man said sharply.

Meanwhile, Jonathan and Martha worked on the soup while Lois kept the cook busy.
"Is this batch any better?" Lois 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 Clark.
"Must be nice to be free." The brown haired man said after awhile.
"It's not as nice as you'd think." Clark said sadly. "My dad is a slave, and I don't know where they are."
"Keep your back straight and bend with your knees." The brown haired man said helpfully.

Eventually, it was time for dinner as the slaves and Clark went to the galley.
"That smell." The old man Clark replaced said. "It smells wonderful."
"What is it?" Another man asked.
"It's dinner." Jonathan said as he opened to door. "Come and eat."
The crew eat the soup Martha and Jonathan made as Jonathan told of Jesus to pass the time.
"And then Jesus went back to Capernaum." Jonathan 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, Jonathan." The brown haired man said. "And an amazing dinner. He then helped clean up and walked up to Clark."
"Hey Clark." The man said. "The name's Jay Garrick. 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." Clark sighed.
Jay was about to continue when there was a ruckus above deck.
"All slaves to oars!" A guard called out.
"What's happening?" Bruce asked.
"We're under attack by the rebel ship!" Jay said looking out the window.
"And it's headed right at us!" Oliver added.
"Hold oars in!" Slade 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!" Slade 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!" Slade called out.

Back in the galley, everyone was ankle deep in water.
"Where'd the ship go?" Bruce asked. "I don't see it."
"I do." Oliver said as the rebel ship rammed into them again, catching Oliver in its wake.
"Give me your hand, Oliver!" Jonathan called out, now waist deep in water.
"Jonathan!" Oliver called out.
"Hold on, Oliver!" Jonathan said as Oliver was pulled out with the boat. "We'll get to you somehow!"
Luckily, the crew saw Oliver and pulled him onboard according to Clark's super vision.

On deck, the rebels boarded the ship and fought hard against Fyers' men.
"Allow me!" Oliver said as he charged forward and assisted in the fight, ending up fighting Fyers himself. "Hope you can swim!"
Oliver then tossed Slade 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." Jonathan said as they got there with Shelby standing there panting.
"Good old Shelby." Jonathan sighed. "As calm as can be."
Clark was relieved at first, but then he heard the call from the slaves.
"The slaves are still chained up!" Clark called out. "They'll drown!"
"I saw some keys in the captain's quarters while me and Conner were cleaning." Bruce stated.
"Let's go!" Jonathan said as they headed for the captain's quarters.
"It's locked!" Bruce said as he tried the door.
"What do we do?" Clark asked. "It won't budge."
"Look out!" Bruce called out as he pointed out Conner on Shelby.
"Ramming speed!" Conner called out as Shelby plowed through it.
"Good work, Conner!" Clark said happily as he ruffled his little brother's hair.
"Got 'em!" Bruce said as he tossed the keys to Clark.
"Martha, you and the kids get to the other ship." Jonathan said calmly. "Clark and I will free the slaves."
"Be careful." Martha said.
"We will." Jonathan said as he and Martha kissed.
Oliver quickly met up with the group on deck and led Martha and the kids to the other ship before looking up in shock.
"Clark, Jonathan, look out!" Oliver 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!" Clark said, pointing to a small opening.
"Give me your hand." Jonathan said as he lowered Clark down. "Easy. Easy."
"Clark!" Jay said happily as he was holding up the older slaves.
"Jay, I've got the keys!" Clark called out.
"Start with them!" Jay said, pointing to the other side, where the hole was. Clark quickly freed them as they were helped up by Jonathan and Oliver and rushed to the boat.
"Everyone, hold on!" Clark said as he unlocked the other side, but Jay was stuck, and the water was rising higher and higher.
"JAY!" Clark called out.
"Go, kid!" Jay said, but Clark managed to help Jay get free, and they all just barely made it onto the other ship just as Slade'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 Clark helped retold the story, but Clark could barely take any of it in. He had gotten his only chance to find his father, and he'd failed. However, Jay walked up with another man, a Martian.
"Hey Clark, I said I didn't know your father, but here's a man who does. Clark, meet our captain, B'arzz O'oomm."
"So you are the son of Jor-El, Joseph Kent." B'arzz said.
"You know my father?" Clark 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 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 Dad?" Conner asked.
"As a matter of fact, I do, Kell-El." 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, Slade clung to the board with the cook and the head guard.
"We've got to get to land now!" Slade 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." Slade groaned.

Well... That was dark.