Chapter 14: A Daring Escape
I do not own One Piece! That will always belong to Eiichiro Oda! I only own my Ocs.
Destiny recalled the smoke that made her sleepy and her nagging headache. The silver hybrid groaned as she slowly opened her eyes; her vision still blurred, and the moment she tried to sit up, she almost felt like she was going to vomit.
"What the fucking hell?" she muttered.
"Destiny? Are you awake?"
"Who….?" Destiny turned her head toward the voice, squinting.
"It's Trapper."
"Trapper….?" She felt like her head was foggy as she struggled to think clearly.
"Trap, Destiny awake?"
"Yeah, but she's taking longer to recover," Trapper said. "How's Skie?"
Skie? The silver hybrid shook her head, clearing herself of the grogginess before she looked around. "Oh shit …" she said. "Where the hell are we?"
Destiny was sitting in a cage, an animal cage. The glass wall-mounted lanterns barely lighted the room as she looked around. She wasn't the only one sitting in cells. Still unconscious was Skie. Trapper, Kailueale, Longtooth, and Neeta were in cages. Then she heard crying and looked to see a smaller animal cage, Mo'o and Wailele. The babies were cold and hungry, wanting their parents.
"Who the fuck kidnapped not only us but babies?!" Destiny snarled.
"We aren't the only ones who got napped," Neeta said, jerking her head over to the larger cage.
"What the….? Sunflash?" Trapper said.
The velociraptor was lying on his right side, his hindquarters covered with dried blood, still out.
"Where the hell are we?" Destiny said.
"I think we're prisoners of the pirate crew that attacked us," Kailueale said.
"You think?!" Destiny snapped. "What was your first clue?!"
"Des, calm down," Neeta said.
"Calm down?! Neeta, we're in fucking cages!" Destiny yelled. "How am I supposed to remain fucking calm?!"
"You will," Longtooth said. "If you don't, we won't be able to escape."
"You gotta plan Longtooth?" Trapper asked.
It was then Skie regained consciousness. She tried to get up but couldn't, and seeing where she was, the Saw's doctor panicked. "LET ME OUT!" she screamed wildly. "I DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE CAGE AGAIN! I'LL BE A GOOD GIRL!"
"What the hell is wrong with her?" Destiny asked.
"I don't know," Kailueale said, stunned. "Skie! Skie, get control of yourself!"
Neeta was watching Skie. "She's suffering from a memory," she said. "Something horrible happened to her."
"Shut up! You're giving me a headache!"
Destiny looked as Pele entered, looking so annoyed from all the racket. The woman walked up and kicked Skie's cage, causing her to curl up in a fetal position as her body shook uncontrollably.
"Leave our doctor alone, you fucking bitch!" Destiny snarled.
"Doctor?" Pele's tone changed upon that information. "Hush now," she said sweetly, crouching before the cage door. "Would you like to come out?"
Skie mutely nodded, her face wetted from crying.
"Okay," Pele said. "All you have to do for me is take care of my new pet." She gestured to Sunflash. "Can you do that?"
"Yes…." Skie said, clearly traumatized still.
"Bring the medical kit and hurry up, you idiot!" Pele snapped at one of her men who had accompanied her.
The man nodded as he hurried off, returning quickly with the medical bag. Pele nodded as she opened Skie's cage. The pinkish-white female sawtooth hurried out and stood, shaking as she hugged herself. She had suffered some abuse somewhere in her life.
"Remember our agreement," Pele said, taking Skie by the arm.
Again, Skie nodded as she was taken over to Sunflash's cage. Pele opened the cage and, for a moment, Skie hesitated to enter. Something that Angered Pele, and she shoved Skie forward. "Do as I told you to do!" Pele said.
"Do that again, and I'll fucking kick your damn ass!" Trapper said, gripping the bars tightly.
"How dare you threaten me, you stinking fish!" Pele said, facing Trapper. "You're all my prisoners now and will do as told!"
Mo'o and Wailele wailed louder, which pissed off Pele. "Get rid of those annoyances!"
The man nodded, opened the smaller cage, and removed the twins. He had started to stand when Skie struck him across the face with the bag. The man fell before she snatched the twins from his arms.
"You little—" Pele said as she glared at Skie, who cradled the twins close to her.
Whatever Pele was going to do was interrupted by a throaty clicking sound, and she turned to face Sunflash, who narrowed his eyes as he painfully rose to his full height. The former Black Hunter Pirate took a few steps back, clearly afraid of Sunflash, and upon seeing that, the velociraptor shrieked as he spread his arms wide, claws spread open. Pele screamed as she turned and ran for her life.
"That'll teach her," laughed Destiny as Sunflash collapsed. "Sunflash!"
"Damn ya, Butch…." Sunflash said, looking weak as Skie turned her attention to her crewmate, crouching by his side. "They aren't hurt, are they?" he said, looking at the twins.
"They're okay," Skie said, holding Mo'o and Wailele closer.
"Hey, they left the key!" Kailueale said, pointing to the key still in the cage's door that housed Sunflash. "We gotta get that key!"
Ignoring the pain wracking his body, Sunflash removed the key, handing it to the tiger shark. Once freed, Kailueale quickly released Destiny, Neeta, Longtooth, and Trapper. Sunflash started to fall again, only this time Trapper caught him, holding him up.
"What are you doing?" Longtooth said.
"Waiting for you guys to make a bed of some kind," Trapper said. "Unless you want to help hold him up while Skie tends to those nasty injuries."
"Here," Neeta said, motioning to a crumbled pile of blankets in a corner. "We lay Sunflash here."
Trapper managed to slide underneath their injured friend, carrying him across his shoulders to where Neeta was.
Longtooth looked around. "Skie's going to need plenty of light if she's going to tend to Sunflash. Look for lanterns, but be careful moving them."
Destiny and the others did as instructed, and soon Skie had plenty of light.
"Are those….bite marks?" Kailueale said, staring at the injuries.
"That witch," Sunflash said. "She did something to Butch, changed him….my brother was trying to kill Riptide. I did my best to stop him; I did."
"What?" Skie paused in her work.
"Skie, stay focused," Longtooth said.
"How can I after hearing this?!" the female sawtooth said.
The old shortfin mako looked at her. "Because we all know Riptide," he said. "Odds are good that he knocked Butch out or made him come to his senses."
"We don't know that," Destiny said. "These bastards knocked us all out."
"I agree with Longtooth," Trapper said. "Something must have happened since we're the only ones on this ship."
Neeta looked around. "Something must have happened to cause this lot to run." The kuda female shuddered as she hugged herself. "My poor Long…."
"All of you calm down," Longtooth said. "Yes, we're in a damn mess, but we must keep our wits. I have no idea where we are going, but I won't sit around and wait."
"What's the plan?" Kailueale said.
"First, we try to see if there are weapons down here; if not, we'll make some," Longtooth said.
"After that?" Skie said, finally focused on tending to Sunflash.
"Pray that our Narkama finds fast," Longtooth said.
~~on the Wavecutter~~
Butch groaned as he slowly came to; his face hurt something awful as the moment he tried to move, pain shot through him. "Dang nabbit," he muttered. "Feels like I went through a damn old twister filled with barbwire and broken glass."
He felt something start peaking at him. It didn't hurt, but it wasn't enjoyable. Butch slowly opened his eyes and found a strange-looking bird peering at him from his right eye. The bird cocked its head from one side to another before it peaked the corner of his eye, making him roar in pain and anger. The bird took wing, landing on the mast as the Spinosaurus got to his feet. Butch stared at the bird. Hell, he didn't know if he could even call it that.
It was 2 feet long with a wingspan nearly 3 feet long, but its wings were broad yet rounded at the ends, with a long tail compared to the length of its body. It might have looked like a bird, but it had three claws halfway down the front of each wing, a long bony tail, and a beak with small teeth. It was black with red and white markings near the wing tips and ends of its long tail with a red and blue crest.
"Git down here, ya feather chicken, so that I can tear ya apart!" he roared. The bird clung to the mast, staring at him but keeping itself beyond his reach. It screeched at him, and surprisingly, Butch understood it. "What was that?! Ya wait until I git me claws on ya unless Sunflash gits ya first!"
Wait, where was his brother? Butch turned his attention from the bird to the ship's deck where the slain pirates' bodies lay. He saw Ryder, and farther back, near the stairs to the lower deck, was Riptide.
"Ah hell," Butch said, going to Ryder first. "Ryder? Ya still kickin' there, partner?"
The black tiger shark slowly came to the moment he saw Butch; he started screaming. "Don't kill me!"
"Kill ya? What in tarnation ya think I would do that?" Butch said.
"Butch….?" Ryder said, slowly and carefully getting his feet.
"Yeah, it's me," the Spinosaurus said, eyeing him oddly. "Where did ya git that idea that I would try to kill ya?"
"Try after that woman did something to you," Ryder said. "You nearly killed the captain and me. You almost killed Sunflash if the captain hadn't stopped you."
Butch looked shocked. "No, no, there's no way I would have done that, especially to my brother," he said.
"You did unless you have an explanation for those on your face and body," Ryder said.
Butch turned his head, seeing the wounds inflicted on his body. 'Sunflash?! Sun, where are ya?!" he looked around for his brother. "Answer me, little brother!"
"Where's that other ship?!" Ryder said, looking wildly around and then realizing his son was nowhere to be seen. "Where, Kailueale?! Kailueale! Please answer me! KAILUEALE!"
As Ryder searched among the dead pirates for Kailueale, Butch went to Riptide and rooted him with his bloody snout. After a few hard shoves, Riptide groaned and rolled onto his side, where he started to vomit. Butch remained where he was, turning his head some. It was impolite to stare at someone who was throwing up.
"Oh man, my head," Riptide groaned. "I hope Skie or Leilani have something I can take."
"Captain!"
Riptide winced as Ryder rushed up to him, looking distraught. "Ryder, what's wrong?"
"Kailueale," Ryder said. "I can't find my son, and the enemy ship is also gone."
"Sunflash is also missing."
Riptide blinked as he stared at Butch, who couldn't look at him. The Spinosaurus was normal again, but he felt guilty for his actions. "Ryder, go below and ensure everyone is okay," he said.
"Aye, Capn," Ryder said, heading for the stairs to the lower deck.
'Pup.'
'Chief, are you okay?' Riptide sensed the ancient chieftain's uneasiness.
'I tried, pup. I wanted to stop our enemies from leaving, but—'
'It's not your fault,' Riptide assured him.
"I should have stopped them! They took her, and I tried to save her and the others.'
'Took?! Who was taken?! My mother?!'
'No, your mate.'
"NO!" Riptide roared, getting to his feet and rushing to the bow of the Wavecutter, where he climbed onto the figurehead. "SKIE!"
Never had he felt so weak and helpless as Riptide scanned the vast sea's distance horizon, searching for any signs of those responsible. He knew it was foolish, but the pain in his heart told him to explore, to find them. Riptide dropped to all fours, tears spilling.
'Pup, I'm at fault for not stopping her from being taken,' Chief said, feeling Riptide's pain as if it was his own.
"It was never your fault; it was mine," Riptide whispered. "I wasn't strong enough to beat them."
~~.~~.~~
Ryder blinked as he went below, seeing the dead of the invaders and beyond that—
"Blade!" he said, jumping from the steps to an open area and knelt by his friend. "Blade, you can't be dead!"
"Ah be far from dat," the metal nose sawtooth said. "Me aching head." Blade clutched his throbbing head. "Ah feel like ah too much ta drink."
Ryder looked around. "Where's Longtooth?"
"Longtooth…..?" Blade blinked as he looked at Ryder.
"Destiny?! Where are you?!" Ryder looked up as Gaff sat up, looking for Destiny.
An enraged screech followed as Itachi whirled around, eyes blazing with rage. "Who took our children?!"
Ryder's eyes widened as he realized with sudden horror what had happened. "Grinder, see who else is missing while I go to the captain," he said.
Ryder raced back to the top deck where Butch watched Riptide, still on the figurehead. "Captain, some of our friends were taken!"
Butch turned to him as Riptide stood up, turning to look at him. "Wat do you mean by that?" the Spinosaurus said.
Grinder and the others emerged from the lower deck, all upset. "Capn, Not only are your sister, Longtooth, and the babies missing but so are Neeta and Trapper."
"That must have taken Kauileale as well," Ryder said.
"And Sunflash," Butch rumbled.
"These bastards took Skie as well," Riptide said as he came down from his perch.
"We have to go after them!" Long said, looking at his brother.
"How? Tarl said. "We have no idea where they went, and they got a good head start on us."
"Logical sense is that they would go to the nearest island," Jimbei said. "From what I've seen, they took some losses as well. Their ship could have taken damage from that surprise attack we got off."
"We don't know where the nearest island is," Chizzara said.
Nami looked at the navigator of her son's crew. "Are you telling me you don't have a Log Pose?"
Chizzara looked so embarrassed. "We never had one ever," she admitted.
"What kind of navigator are you?!" Nami yelled. "You're responsible for the navigation of this ship! How are you supposed to do that when you have no Log Pose?!"
"Hey!" Tarl snapped. "Don't you dare yell at my Chizz like that! Not every navigator is as legendary as you!"
It was clear there was about to be a gruesome fight when the strange bird glided down, landing on Butch's spine. It made quite a racket, drawing everyone's attention.
"What the hell are you squawking about?" Butch growled as he glared at it.
"It can't be!" Marcus exclaimed as he stared at the bird. "That's an archaeopteryx!"
"A wat?" Blade said.
"A prehistoric bird oddly related to a dinosaur," Marcus said. "I read about them, but his species is no longer living, yet he's here."
The archaeopteryx glared at Marcus and screamed something, then shifted its gaze to Butch and screeched at him next. "Hey, don't be yelling at me for it," Butch snapped back.
"You can understand our feathered friend?" Riptide said.
"Not that I wish to," Butch said. "And he is she, and she's angry for what Marcus said."
"For what I what said?" Marcus said.
"Her kind are not dead according to her," Butch said.
"Look, we didn't mean to offend her," Riptide said. "Can she help us? Does she know anything about the pirates that attacked earlier?"
The archaeopteryx bobbed her head as her beak clacked together. She made a throaty sound, looking at Riptide.
"She says she knows where to go," Butch translated. "The human that leads that group uses her to carry messages to the others."
"Others? Do you mean her crewmates?" Ryder asked.
The archaeopteryx tilted her head some, not understanding what Ryder meant.
"He means like a flock, family, a herd," Butch said.
The bird bobbed her head; she understood that. She screeched the information to Butch.
"There are four more with her," Butch said. "Especially the ugly one who seems like—a fish. Wait, a fish?"
"Fish?" Blade said. "If she be sayin dat, ye be thinkin dat she be meanin' a Fishman?"
"I would say so," Nami said.
"I could care less," Riptide said. "If she can lead us to where our Nakama was taken, that's all I care about!"
"You need to remain calm and think clearly, or you're going to get yourself killed," Jimbei said.
"How are we supposed to do that?" Long asked. "Both our wives were kidnapped! I understand how Rip is feeling, and I won't let anything or anyone stop me from saving my Neeta!"
"Longtooth is wit dem," Blade said. "He won't let dem git hurt."
"Like he ever was good at protecting anyone," Marcus said. "I never saw him do anything like that."
Blade looked at Marcus. "Ah can understand how ye be thinkin like dat, but ah have known Longtooth fer a long time. He has a gud heart, and he will protect dem. Ah give ye me word."
"Captain, may I advise that we make sure there is no damage to the ship," Grinder said.
"Go ahead," Riptide said as he walked past his Nakama. "I trust you to handle it. I will be in my quarters."
It was evident that Riptide was upset over everything that had happened. Blade, with Van, did a complete check on the condition of Wavecutter while Leilani tended to Butch's wounds. Jimbei and the others handled the removal of the dead as Long returned to the kitchen to focus on cooking. Nami followed Riptide, knowing he wasn't taking the events well.
The door of his quarters was not fully closed, and the moment Nami entered, she saw her oldest slumping his shoulders as he hunched over the vast, tall, stern, decorated windowsill. For a brief second, she saw Arlong when he arrived. in Cocoyashi Village all those years ago. How could a mere action bring back a memory of the one she hated with all her heart?
The silence was broken as a strangled sob filled the air as Riptide pounded a fist on the windowsill wood. Nami was at his side, wrapping her arms around him as he broke down.
"This is my fault!" Riptide sobbed. "If I had been stronger—"
"No, don't blame yourself," Nami said, stroking his black-reddish hair. "It's not your fault for the actions of cowards. Luffy would never want to hear you say such a thing. You know he wouldn't; he blamed himself for something beyond his control. It broke him so much because of what happened."
"What? Mother, what are you talking about?" Riptide asked, turning his head some.
"I would tell you, but I think it would be better if you heard from Luffy," Nami said.
"It was something worse than what I had done?"
"Far worse, and it was done to him," Nami said.
Ri[tode stared at his mother. What could have happened to his uncle that he had blamed himself?
"Right now, you need to calm yourself and get your head clear of you won't be able to save your sister, wife, and the others," Nami said. "They need you to be strong; we all do."
~~.~~.~~
Longtooth kept an eye on the cargo hold doors as Skie tended to Sunflash with Neeta and Desting helping her. Trapper and Kailueale were doing their best to keep the twins quiet.
"I can't believe that woman would kidnap babies," Trapper said as he rocked Mo'o.
"Well, that woman is going to find out that Itachi is going to be very dangerous, especially since she was stupid enough to take them," Neeta said.
"He is a strange-looking kuda," Trapper said.
Neeta sighed. "Itachi isn't one," she said. "he's part of an ancient dragon race and the only survivor of his race."
"What?" Kailueale said. "He's a dragon? How do you know that?"
Neeta retold what she had been told long ago and how Itachi had been Gaff's adopted brother after saving him from being killed.
Longtooth shook his head. "This queen of yours is a certified nutcase," he said.
"I won't argue with you, but I'm worried that she will come hunting us because of what happened to Slatafang," Neeta said. "He was the born son and that favorite of his mother's. She will not take his death well nor Garu's death."
"Who was Garu?" Destiny asked.
"The fifth son to the Matriarch," Neeta said. "Hellsing is the second son, followed by Yasha, the third son, Tarkar, the fourth son, and their sister, Marresha."
"You sound worried," Longtooth said.
"I am," Neeta said. "Every one of them is dangerous, and all want the throne. They will not hesitate to take each other out if the Matriarch dies."
"If that happens," Longtooth said. "Who would be the most dangerous?"
Neeta didn't hesitate with the answer. "Hellsing and Marresha," she said. "Hellsing is more violent than Slatafang ever was, while Marresha is a cunning cold bitch."
Longtooth nodded. "Is Hellsing stronger than Riptide?"
"I would almost say yes, but seeing how our captain can fight and his spiritual bond to Arlong the Black, the scales would tip in Riptide's favor," Neeta said. "Depending if Hellsing did not cheat during a fight."
"A cheater if something doesn't go his way, eh?" Trapper said.
"Yes," Neeta said. "I saw Slatafang and Hellsing fight once and believe that piece of scum tried to cheat so he would win. He's lucky Slatafang granted him any mercy even after that attempt."
Destiny had peered out a port window. "Hey, we are approaching an island!"
"What?!" The older mako joined her, peering out the window.
The island they were approaching was a dense jungle with two identical mountains. Longtooth squinted as he stared at the mountains. "Those mountains—those are skulls," he said.
"Skulls?!" Destiny peered out the other port hole. "It can't be!" She became excited. "It is! It truly is! It's Little Garden!"
"Little Garden?" Longtooth looked at her
"Yes, Dorry and Brogy reside here, and they're friends with my mother and Uncle Luffy," Destiny said. "They can help us."
Longtooth thought hard about the names mentioned. They sounded oddly familiar to him, and then he remembered them. "You mean Dorry the Blue Ogre and Brogy the Red Ogre?! Those two were the captains of the Giant Warrior Pirates from over 100 years ago," he said. "Both their bounties were 100,000,000 beri each!"
"You're very familiar with them," Trapper said. "Such information is usually known to bounty hunters and the navy. Odd, an old pirate like you know so much about them."
Longtooth looked at Trapper before he focused his attention on Little Garden. 'Damn! I have to watch what I say. I can't let them know who I used to be.'
"You have a plan?" Neeta asked Longtooth.
"I do, but it's risky," The shortfin mako said. "I need someone fast on their feet for this to work."
"That would be me," Neeta said.
"Why do you need speed?" Destiny asked.
"If you said Dorry and Brogy are here, then I need someone fast to get past this lot once I distract them," Longtooth said.
"You?" Skie looked at Longtooth. "Longtooth, not to be mean, but you're not young."
The mako hmphed. "That might be true, but I'm older and stronger than this bloody lot. I can buy Neeta enough time to get off this ship and find these friends of your mother's."
"It's a risky plan," Trapper said.
"You have a better one?" Longtooth said.
Trapper shook his head.
"I thought as much," Longtooth said. "Now get ready."
They heard voices and the sounds of many feet on the deck above. Longtooth moved, placing himself as close as possible to the doors. The sound of heavier steps had caught Destiny's attention.
"Heavier steps….?" She muttered, realizing the sudden danger Longtooth was pitting himself in. "Longtooth, stop!"
The warning came too late as the old mako surged forward when the doors opened. There were the sounds of a brief fight, and then the snag tooth shark crashed into the hold. Destiny rushed to him, as did Skie.
"That was not only a foolish move but a stupid one."
Destiny looked up as an 8'2" muscular Goliath Tigerfish Fishman with green-blue skin and long purple dreadlocks slowly descended the steps. He wore natural-colored harem pants that had tribal embroidery and coconut buttons, as well as a light brown khaki vest. On his wrists were Tulsi double bracelets, and around his neck was an ammonite necklace made from seed wood and amber beads. The female silver noted notable features of the Goliath tigerfish, including thin, fierce light green eyes and an angular jaw that reminded her of Riptide but of their father as well. His upper body was covered with tribal tattoos, but the one on his left shoulder caught her attention: the mark of the Sun Pirates, which had two scars and another vast scar across his forehead.
"Did you think that you were a match for me?" the Fishman said,
"You tried fighting him?" Skie said.
Longtooth groaned painfully. "I didn't know this ugly bastard was there until I turned. Big brave fucking shit to attack someone from behind."
"I am no coward!" the Goliath tigerfish snarled. He noted that Destiny was staring at him. "Have something to say?"
"You betrayed him," she said.
"What did you say?"
"You have the mark of the Sun Pirates," Destiny said. "You betrayed Fisher Tiger's dying request."
"How do you know of Fisher Tiger or even the Sun Pirates?" The other questioned.
"My uncle was part of the Sun Pirates," Destiny said.
"Uncle, eh? And who would be your uncle?"
"Jinbei, you asshole!"
"What?! Jinbei?! How the fucking hell is he your uncle?! He had no family! No one in the Fishman District did!" the Fishman exclaimed.
Neeta, who had been watching, took a window of opportunity. The female Kuda charged boldly and leaped over the other Fishman, who was briefly shocked. With a snarl, he turned to grab Neeta.
"The hell you are!"
The Goliath Tigerfish turned slightly as Trapper delivered a powerful uppercut to him. The blow staggered the other, but he did not fall. "Impressive but useless against me," he said.
"RUN NEETA!" Longtooth shouted. "REMEMBER THE PLAN!"
The other Fishman realized the attack had been a distraction. "PEELE! DON'T LET THAT ONE ESCAPE!"
There was screaming and wild curses. The silence that followed was unnerving. Peele peered down into the hold. "She got away," the woman said.
"You useless human!" The Goliath tigerfish snapped.
"Useless? You should talk, Mbenga!" Peele said. "You allowed yourself to get distracted."
Mbenga growled as he glared at her. "Well, go after her!"
"Go to hell! I'm leaving my prize so you can damn kill it!" Peele said. "You killed my last ones."
Mbenga glared at her before he looked over to Sunflash, who was lying where he was. "Looks half dead," he said.
"Mbenga, I'm warning you," Peele said, daring to come down the steps. "You touch my pet, and I'll- "
"You'll what?!" Mbenga said. "Kill me? I'll kill you first, bitch."
"And what are you trying to do?" Peele said. "Kill our new slaves? Typical of you."
"Shut your mouth," Mbenga said. "They're not worth being slaves, especially since you were stupid enough to grab babies!"
"Hey, that's not my fault!"
"Yeah, it is," Skie said. "You both are going to regret your actions."
"What's that?" Mbenga said, shifting his attention to Skie. "Regret? Where do you get such a stupid idea?"
"She's not lying," Longtooth said. "Our captain will come; when he does, he will kick all your damn asses."
"Am I supposed to be frightened?"
"You should be," Destiny said. "My brother is the first-born son of our father, Arlong!"
Having heard that, Mbenga roared with laughter. "Arlong, you say? He's weakling, and the last I heard, some human had beaten him. So why should I be afraid of the son of weakling?"
"Because he's no weakling and a lot stronger than you," Kailueale said. "Those foolish enough to think that are dead!"
"Really?" Mbenga said. "I'm looking forward to meeting him. Peele, come."
"Don't order me around!" Peele said.
"Shut the fuck up and go before I throw you!"
The cargo doors slammed shut, and there was a sound of the doors being locked.
"Now what?" Trapper asked.
Longtooth winced as Skie tended to him. "Let's pray the captain arrives soon, and he can beat this Mbenga."
"We do know something, though," Skie said.
"What's that?" Destiny asked.
"That Mbenga and Peele have no love for each other," the doctor said. "We might be able to use that to our advantage."
"Very true," Longtooth said. "Let's hope Neeta finds those two giants."
Longtooth's plan is in effect. Can Riptide and crew arrive in time to save their Nakama, and will Neeta succeed in finding Brogy and Dorry? Remember to Read and Review.