(FINALLY! After 2 months, of which I deeply apologize. If you must know my reasons, then read my last post. I am also moving in two weeks, and so I have been preparing for that. Anyways, enough of my babbling, here is the next chapter)
Ch. 14 – Dark Waters
The night sky was mostly clear, with only a few small clouds dotting the horizon. Yoshiken had been laying for hours on a bed that he had claimed for himself in one of the small rooms on the ship, flipping through the many thoughts flooding his mind. He doubted that Jath would find him now, and was tempted with the decision to just hide out on Yoshi’s Island for a while, allowing others to take up the responsibilities of fighting him off.
After finally collecting all of his contemplations, he walked out to the deck where his friends had gathered to talk about their plans once they landed. The sound of the waves breaking off the bow created a relaxing resonance. The small amount of water that constantly splashed over the railings of the ship formed a distorted reflection of the stars as it spread and rippled across the flooring.
“So you finally decided to join us,” Andrew said, in a friendly mock. “Your footsteps make enough noise to be heard from my own world.”
Yoshiken smiled half-heartedly, but didn’t reply. He looked around the group, studying their faces intently, inwardly guessing what they were previously discussing. He quickly noticed someone missing. “Where is Sanjo?”
“He decided to stay behind, just like you. I don’t know where he went off to, but does it really matter? I mean, he isn’t really on our side,” Andrew pointed out. “He is simply doing this for his own gain.”
Yoshiken remembered back at Port Aylberk when Sanjo had paid for everyone to travel on the ship. He just couldn’t be convinced that Sanjo was only thinking about himself. However, he didn’t want to bring the idea to an open debate, and quickly changed the subject. “So…once we get to the island, it looks like we can finally take a break.”
“Not with Jath hunting you down,” Al replied grimly, taking over the conversation. “No matter where you go, he will be right on your tail.”
“Did you think I had forgotten?” Yoshiken asked. “When we get to the island, I will put this into the government’s hands. Let the local enforcement handle this, instead of me.”
“…How can you say that?” Anjil sullenly responded. “After everything that has happened to us, can you really just give up on everyone?”
Yoshiken, who had been holding in his frustration for days, just couldn’t keep it confined any longer. “Give up!? I am not giving up on anyone! I never accepted this role in the first place!” He glared with vexation at every member of the group. After continuing for a few seconds, he took in a deep breath, and gradually calmed down. “If any of you want to keep fighting Jath, then go right ahead, but do so without me!”
An awkward silence spread throughout the group. No one knew what to do or how to respond.
“Well…it is late, so I’ll be heading back now,” Andrew said, not wanting to dwell on the subject any longer. Latie followed closely behind. As Andrew passed Yoshiken, he whispered a final reply, “I hope you know what you are doing.”
Yoshiken rubbed his forehead with his thumb and forefinger in guilt-tainted frustration.
“Well, I guess this was a short-lived partnership,” Al said wryly. “My mission was to find out more information on Jath, and so if you are not going to be a part of that anymore, then I have no choice but to leave once we reach the island. Getting back on subject though, I should go get some rest myself.” He added, walking back to the entrance to the ship's inner corridors
Yoshiken looked at Sho-Hoshi, expecting something from him. No response came. He just continued to look at the stars, unphased by any of the commotion around him.
“Please give it more thought,” Anjil said, walking off without another word. She arrived to the door that led to the inner rooms and halls of the ship. A hand clasped itself tightly over her mouth, with a knife held to her throat.
“Do not say a word,” the unknown assailant whispered. He quietly opened the door and continued to carry her up the nearest flight of stairs. At the very top was a wide hallway that led to the bridge of the ship. Anjil’s breathing became slow and unsteady. She knew better than to panic though, and didn’t attempt any sort of struggle as they continued.
“Anjil, I am surprised at you,” a familiar voice stated sarcastically, coming from behind her and the kidnapper, “running off with another man like this.”
“Sanjo!” Anjil cried, immediately recognizing the voice.
“Don’t get involved kid! This has nothing to do with you,” The assailant lashed out, turning around to face Sanjo.
“True, but I have always been one to meddle,” Sanjo replied with a grin, taking out his twin swords. The unknown captor was a black yoshi, with a distinctive green band around his tail.
The black yoshi flung open the door to the central chamber and threw Anjil in, before closing it again. He turned back to face Sanjo. “Just making sure we don’t have any disturbances,” he stated haughtily, gripping two katar daggers.
Sanjo dashed forward, swinging one sword horizontally, while keeping the other back for defensive purposes. Ra easily blocked the attack, and tried to counter with his other dagger. Blade met blade. They continued to exchange slashes and stabs, only to be parried and dodged. Sanjo jumped back, giving himself time to think. An idea immediately formed itself in his mind.
Sanjo sprinted towards the other yoshi again, striking with quick piercing blows, none of which were intended to actually hit. He aimed them all towards the right side of his opponent. His plan worked. With all of the attacks directed at the right side, the other yoshi evaded to his left, allowing Sanjo a split-second chance to rush through the door.
He didn’t waste any time. “Anjil, are you alright!?” He shouted as he opened the door. Sanjo’s eyes widened in shock when he saw that Anjil wasn’t the only one in the room. A gag had been placed over her mouth, and rope had been tied around her hands and legs. A koopa with a machete stood next to her, with her staff in his other hand.
The black yoshi smiled as he casually leaned against the wall back in the hallway. “I warned you not to interfere.”
“Ra, you were supposed to kill anyone that got in your way,” a familiar voice stated.
“Yeah, well, I told you before of the difficulties I would have in these conditions Jath!” Ra replied, frustrated.
“You!” Sanjo cried in anger. “What are you doing here!?”
Jath turned to face Sanjo, almost breaking out in laughter when he recognized the face. “Sanjo, is that really you? What a surprise. I thought you would have remained back at the island.”
Sanjo ignored the greeting, and ran towards Jath ready to strike. Jath stretched out his hand towards the door, clenched his fingers into a fist, and then flung his arm towards the direction of Sanjo. Following the hand movements, the door ripped off its hinges, and flew towards Sanjo at high speed.. He had no time to react as the door came crashing into him, knocking him out cold.
“How did you…you didn’t even touch the door,” Ra said in astonishment.
“Grab him, and let’s go. We have what we came for,” Jath replied.
Ra put his katar daggers away, and walked towards the unconscious yoshi. “Why don’t we just finish him off now?”
“I have some questions to ask him once this mission is over,” Jath stated, already walking towards the stairway. “Now, hurry, we don’t have much time. Jan, make sure to keep a tight hold on Anjil. Jericus, is everything set?”
“They are burning as we speak,” Jericus somberly said, emerging from the shadowed parts of the room.
“Burning? What’s burning?” Jan asked, joining Ra in trying to keep up the pace with everyone. Handling a hostage while running down a stairway proved to be more difficult than they expected.
“A couple of incendiary grenades were ignited in the hull. Water is pouring into the ship this very instant,” Jath responded. “We must hurry to the last escape boat. Lexington has everything prepared for a quick departure, or at least that was the order given. Ziarre and her men have been following us in another ship that is, at this point, almost running parallel to ours. We will board, and watch the results of our efforts from a safe distance.”
Jan had ignored everything past the remark about the ship currently sinking. Whatever inner strength he had in him appeared to go immediately to his feet, because as soon as the comment was made, his speed almost doubled, even with Anjil in his grasp. “Pouring in!? Why couldn’t you tell me this sooner? With all my gear, I would sink faster than a petrified wombat!”
The group made it to the lifeboats without being spotted. There hadn’t been much noticeable effect made to the ship from it sinking, and so they were able to slip by before a panic had the chance to start. Jath found the escape boat secured, with Jan already inside, anxiously waiting to leave. It didn’t take long to lower the boat, and get everyone inside.
After they drifted a good distance away from the boat, they could see it begin to tilt slightly downwards.
Yoshiken had been frantically searching the ship for Anjil. No one had seen her after she supposedly left the deck earlier. He ran down the nearest flight of stairs, thinking that maybe she had gotten lost. He ran down a single story, and after a few steps down the next, water covered his feet. It slowly rose up his ankles. He froze in disbelief, and when the severity of the situation finally struck him, he sprinted back to the dormitory hallway with unmatched speed.
“Everyone, listen! The ship is sinking, get to the escape boats now!” Yoshiken cried with such volume, that his throat stung in pain for a few seconds afterwards.
Every passenger immediately flung their doors open, and rushed out in confusion.
“Sinking!? You can’t be serious!” Andrew replied.
“If you don’t believe me, then go check for yourselves! Once you do believe me though, head for the escape boats. I am going out to the deck to search for Anjil again. If any of you see her, please tell her what I told you…” Yoshiken said, trying to hide the emotional struggle he was having inside.
Yoshiken rushed out onto the deck, repeatedly screaming her name into the sky. He noticed another ship not much more than 300 feet away. He didn’t have any time, and needed as much help as he could get. He spread out his wings and ascended into the air, without noticing the small boat that drifted just under him in the night sky.
“Jan, you know what to do,” Jath said, glaring at Yoshiken as he began to fly.
“Way ahead of you, mate,” Jan replied, taking out the large rifle that he carried. He aimed it in Yoshiken’s direction and pulled the trigger. While many of the bullets flew past without any damage done, some still hit the target.
Yoshiken fell back to the ground in intense pain, blood mingling with the salt water on the deck. The agony he felt from the wounds flooded his mind, taking away his ability to think straight. The bullets luckily did not hit any vital points on his body, but they did more than enough damage. He could barely hear voices coming from the other end of the ship, but he couldn’t pinpoint who it was coming from, or what was exactly being said. He could only hope that the others were making it safely to the escape boat. He had no idea how wrong he was.
Darkness permeated through his senses, until it completely overcame him.
“Excellent, now row faster,” Jath ordered. After a number of minutes, they came in close proximity to Ziarre’s ship. Jath stood up, and stretched out his hands towards the opposing sinking vessel. He closed his eyes, and began to slowly move his hands in a circular motion. The waters began to stir around the damaged ship, following the hand movements of Jath. At first, the churning of the sea was slow, but it continually gained speed. What appeared to be a small whirlpool in the beginning quickly grew into a destructive maelstrom.
A rope ladder was lowered from Ziarre’s ship, down to the escape boat. Everyone systematically climbed up, except for Jath. Not wanting to break his concentration so suddenly, he gradually slowed his hand movements until they stopped completely. The maelstrom did not follow this time though, but continued to rip apart the ship. Jath finally climbed up the rope ladder, and stared out at his own masterpiece
The monster whirlpool was sucking everything up around it at a fast pace, including Ziarre’s ship. Jath was expecting this though, and was only staying long enough until he was absolutely sure that the ship was destroyed, along with the remaining crew. Jath, through his own investigations, knew that there was no one that could teleport the group out to safety, and was confident that this mission would be successful.
The ship was coming closer and closer to the eye of the maelstrom, until it appeared to completely vanish into the sea.
It has always been a rare sight to see Jath smile out of relief. That doesn’t mean that he never smiles, but when he does, it usually stems from arrogance or mockery. However, the smile of relief that was currently on his face was all too vivid after the other ship disappeared from view.
“Lexington, gather everyone onto the deck. We must leave before our ship shares the same fate,” Jath said.
Lexington went around the whole vessel, making sure that everyone knew to come immediately to the front of the ship. Jath was planning on teleporting everyone to safety, which would almost completely drain his power, especially after creating the monstrous whirlpool. It would be much easier on his body if everyone was closer together. Jath planned to send back scouting parties after the maelstrom diminished, so that they would be positive that they were successful.
Anjil’s wrists and ankles began to go numb, due to the tightness of the ropes that were tied around her. Tears rolled down her eyes as she watched the ship bury itself in the ocean. She still had her mouth covered, and so her screams came out as a mumble. In one aspect, she was lucky to be unable to move, because if she could, then she might have jumped in after Yoshiken.
She didn’t have to bear the pain of watching for long though, because as soon as everyone was present, Jath transported the group away.
The evil group indeed has quite a plan.
