“You think that the answer is to give her what she wants?” Trika said, growling. She clenched her fists. “Or is it okay because she’s not asking for the Killer this time?”
Sora gulped, trying to swallow away the sting of those words. He understood Trika’s points more than she knew and he wanted to agree with her. He felt like he should, but he knew that he shouldn’t. If he kept Felicia around, she would only grow more cunning and manipulate the crew more than what she already had.
Suddenly, he felt like Ursun had a point: They kept her here for too long. Sora should’ve faced this before now.
“She lost all of her thugs in her crusade with Bosnan. Yes, she hired this mercenary, but she can’t do much more than that,” Sora said, frowning again. He wished Trika would sympathize with his position. “Her power is dwindling, Trika. Don’t give her more credit than she deserves.”
“Ah, yeah, I forgot that Felicia Malone with little influence can’t do much,” Trika said, grabbing the weapons box that Ursun had shoved her way. The sarcasm oozed off her voice. “I’m sure Dad would agree.”
Sora closed his eyes. Potential insults filled his mind, but he knew that he shouldn’t fire back. He didn’t want to, either. He didn’t want to have this conversation. It would take him down a path that he fled from on the Bombard. More importantly, he didn’t want this argument with Trika to get even more out of hand.
“It’s Scout’s call. I only gave you my opinion,” Sora said, finally opening his eyes to glance at Ursun again. He walked past him. “I apologize that you had to see that, Ursun. We will deal with the situation.”
Trika’s stomps resounded in the large room, but Sora didn’t allow himself to look back and watch her storm away. He proceeded toward the edge of the docking bay, brushing past the pirates that carried out their duties. As he reached the edge, he sat down and allowed his legs to dangle. He peered into the rest of the crater. Things continued like normal as pirates ran from one landing pad to another. The Killer sat undisturbed. The rest of the base seemed much more peaceful.
He turned his view to the sky. Sunlight still glimmered off the beams that kept the base intact, but the sunlight didn’t seem as strong as before. Heavy clouds made their way to the base from the horizon, casting hints of a gloomy evening. Sora didn’t usually notice the clouds of Graig, but now, they stood out as the planet’s most prominent feature.
He put his head in his hands, blocking the view. Nothing today had gone as he’d anticipated, but most days didn’t. Still, he’d handled those days better than today.
“You’re scaring me, Captain Trok,” Natalia’s voice said. He put his hands down to see the Senator taking a seat next to him. Her signature light, soothing smile appeared on her face. “I’ve found you staring off twice today, and you seem a lot more downtrodden than the first time.”
Sora smirked, only to satisfy her. “I’m sorry, Natalia. I should feel better than I do. You’ve given me enough inspirational talks for one lifetime.”
“Naos told us about Felicia,” Natalia said. Her smile faded and her gaze followed Sora’s to the horizon. The clouds moved in further. “What are we going to do?”
“The kids should make that decision,” Sora said, shaking his head. He didn’t have the energy to argue about this anymore. “Honestly, at this point, we’ll handle whatever comes after that.”
“Jaskia’s a good kid. Feisty, stubborn, but loyal,” Natalia said, flipping her hair out of her face. He felt it brush against his shoulders. “If anything, this is a blessing in disguise. No one had any leads on her and she’s smart enough to cover her tracks. I think she could only have been found by a professional. I hate that she’s hurt, but I’m grateful that Felicia is literally bringing her to us. This isn’t as bad as it seems, Sora.”
Sora nodded. He hadn’t considered that aspect. Scout, Nait, and Naos wouldn’t listen to any of that, but it held true. They didn’t have the resources to embark on a galactic hunt for one girl. They didn’t have the luck they had when they found the others. Felicia’s scheme may have saved them more trouble than they knew.
“You’re right. We’ll make sure that she’s safe, and that’ll put everyone at ease,” Sora said. Miles away, rain escaped from the clouds and filled the horizon. “It’s not just that, though. This offer from Kit. I almost gave an answer back there, but I didn’t know if it was the right one. Both decisions seem beneficial and harmful, and I don’t know what to do with that. I’m not as quick to act as I used to be.”
“If anyone can find the right answer, it’s you,” Natalia said, looking at him. Her smile faded and a serious face replaced it. “You’re a leader. I’ve told you that before. I know I was hesitant before the meeting, and I don’t have faith in this woman, but I have faith in you. You should make this decision, Sora. We’ll handle whatever comes after that.”
Sora smiled. Once again, Natalia used his words against him. Always a politician, but somehow, she stood out as the most comforting politician known to man. “I appreciate that, I do, but what if your faith is misplaced? You’re the Senator, so you’ve dealt with people like her before. Why shouldn’t you make the call?”
“This woman isn’t a politician,” Natalia said, throwing her head back. She chuckled. “I don’t have the street smarts that you do.”
“I think we’ve given you plenty of those by now.”
Her laugh grew louder. He shook his head, looking beyond the crater again. Now, he could see nothing but rain. The rain had yet to reach the crater, but it looked like it soaked the rest of the planet. He tapped his hand against the metal beneath him, sucking in the fresh air of the planet. He didn’t have any other response to give.
“We’re all afraid of making the wrong decision. You’re an easy default,” Natalia said, breaking the silence before it became too strong. “But a good one because you’re not usually as uncertain as the rest of us. What’s wrong, Sora?”
All humor faded. The wind whipped Sora’s face as it entered the crater and howled. The smell of rain hit his nostrils, indicating that it drew closer. He closed his eyes again, focusing on the sensation in his cheeks as the cold air tickled his skin. He didn’t hear anything except the wind’s howl as it breezed past his ears. He didn’t want to hear anything else. He didn’t want to say anything that would continue this conversation.
However, he didn’t act on all his desires anymore. He had more maturity than that. He cared for his people more than to let his desires dictate his every move. He couldn’t shut out Natalia. She deserved better than that. All of his crew did.
“I don’t regret this journey, but I have to admit that it got Viktor killed,” Sora said, opening his eyes and looking at Natalia. Her hair looked like it floated in the wind. “We found Bosnan and his creations killed Viktor. I don’t blame myself, but what if Kit Vel Aath and this alliance kills another one of us? I can’t lead another person to their death, Natalia.”
Natalia blinked, shaking her head. “You can’t start thinking like that now. All of us know the risks and we welcome them, just like Viktor. We’re too deep for you to question yourself now.”
“I’d never lost a crew member before,” he said, grimacing. He could still hear Viktor struggle to say his final words. Viktor’s blood covered body would never leave his sight. He’d experienced loss before, but not like that. He’d never lost Viktor.
“That doesn’t have any bearing on your capability as a leader. I know what I said about careful consideration, but obviously you’re doing enough of that,” Natalia said, leaning in closer. Sora noticed that she had fixed her hazel eyes on him. “You can make this call, Sora, and to be honest, we may need you to.”
Sora wanted to look back at the horizon, but he kept his focus on Natalia. For the sake of his crew, he couldn’t look away and distract himself. For the sake of his crew, he had to lead them forward. He no longer had a choice.
“There he is! Sora!”
Sora’s and Natalia’s heads snapped to the
side. Selas charged into the docking bay and his feet barely touched the floor as he ran for Sora. Fi rushed in behind him at a slower pace. He pulled his legs back from the edge and jumped up alongside Natalia.
“What’s—” Natalia started, holding her arms out in a calming manner.
“There’s no time,” Selas said, slowing his pace as he reached the pair. He looked like he wanted to catch his breath, but he seemed too focused to do so. “We have an emergency. We need to leave immediately.”
4
Scout stood on the edge of the cliff, fixated on the oasis 20 feet below. The oasis only consisted of water, but somehow, that soothed her. The clear blue demonstrated the purity of the liquid that sat directly outside the crater. The rest of this world consisted of bland, boring rocks, but this place showed that Graig still had life.
No one else came here, either, so that made it even better. Nobody thought to use the emergency exit near the cell blocks, she guessed. The overcast sky didn’t take away from the oasis’ beauty, either. The water still looked clear and vibrant, which Scout needed. The life and vibrancy curbed her anger. Well, she still felt the anger, but not as strongly when she stared at this. It gave her something else to focus on. Something with less destruction.
Scout knew that a part of her still wanted destruction. She wanted to destroy Felicia, but more importantly, she wanted to destroy Bettina. Jaskia had landed in this situation because Bettina had made her a fugitive. She hadn’t found Jaskia because she could barely save herself from Bettina’s manhunt.
She still hated the monarch. She always would.
“Figured that I’d find you here,” Naos said. She glanced over her shoulder to see him crouching as he entered through the hole in the rock wall. He frowned as he straightened. “How’re you feeling?”
“Should’ve never shown you guys this spot,” Scout said, spitting to the side. She shrugged, looking at the water again. “And how do you think?”
“That bad, huh?” Naos said, offering a sheepish smile. He walked to her side. “I know I’m not usually the calm one, but we’ll get her back. She’ll be on the same planet as us any minute now. That’s more of a chance than we’ve had since the takeover.”
Scout shook her head. “I’m not letting Felicia go. Nait probably would, but not me. She doesn’t get to use Jaskia as a pawn and get away with it.”
She knew that she also couldn’t be so foolish as to underestimate Felicia. She’d done that multiple times and it had never ended well. She had to play this carefully if she wanted to rescue Jaskia and keep the crime lord where she belonged. So, she didn’t know exactly what she would do, but she had to come up with something fast.
“Where’s Nait?”
“Got him back on the Killer, at least for now,” Naos said, sighing and throwing his shoulders back. “The pirates are supposed to let us know whenever that mercenary’s ship gets to the base, so I convinced him to stay back ‘till then.”
The role of calm, rational peacemaker fell to Naos. They really weren’t in good shape.
“Seeing Jask like that wasn’t the greatest, Blondie,” Scout said, biting her lip. The water didn’t ease the anxiety that she felt when she recalled Jaskia’s scars or her thin body. “What has she gone through all this time? What’s been done to her? That’s what sends me over the edge.”
“Unlike the rest of us, Jaskia was never found by Bettina,” Naos said, clearing his throat and shrugging. Scout rolled her eyes, failing to understand how he could shrug right now. “She’s a fighter, probably more of a fighter than the three of us put together. I’m sure it hasn’t been easy, but she’s survived.”
“I’ll keep it that way,” Scout said, growling. She swallowed and focused on the water again. The blue reflected off their bodies.
The oasis seemed completely undisturbed. The waves drifted in different directions, outlining several different paths that Scout’s eyes could follow. Wind whizzed past her, leaving a howl behind, but still, no disturbance in the oasis. She hadn’t experienced that level of peace in a long time. She didn’t even remember what it felt like.
Right now, staring at the water, she wanted it. She actually had a desire to obtain that peace and that in itself was rare. The water brought it out in her.
“Speaking of going over the edge,” Scout said, tilting her head. She gestured to the water and glanced at Naos. “Who first?”
Naos looked at the water like it held poison. “Now? Seriously? We have a lot going on, and I didn’t come dressed to swim, and uh, neither did you…”
Scout snorted, glancing down at her brown t-shirt and dark blue pants. “You said the pirates will let us know when Jask gets here, which they haven’t. You also said that could be any minute, so if we want to swim, the time’s now.”
“I never said I wanted to,” Naos said, gently shaking his head.
“I do,” Scout said, glancing at the water again. Above them, thunder echoed, but that didn’t affect the tranquility beneath them. Nothing did, apparently. “There’s no way that we’re staying here for much longer, so let’s enjoy it while it lasts.”
Naos rubbed the back of his neck and took a step back. “I don’t know, I mean, we have a lot going on…”
Scout sighed but let a genuine smile show. She could’ve predicted every word of this conversation. “Come on, Blondie. Let’s have some fun for once and just be kids. You won’t hear me say that for another year, so take advantage of it. I need this, or else I’m going to drive myself crazy waiting on Jask.”
Naos swallowed, glancing at the water with less repulsion than before. Scout watched his big, blue eyes drift back to her and settle on her. She couldn’t tell if she saw sympathy, admiration, or both. Naos usually gave her this starry-eyed look once a week, though, so she’d waste a lot of time by overanalyzing it.
“Okay,” Naos said, nodding. He started to pull his red shirt off. “Let’s do it, but go easy on me, okay? Always hated water trai—”
“Yeah, I know,” Scout said, cutting him off before they wasted anymore time. She sprinted for the edge of the cliff and pointed to the sky. “It’s about to pour, so you should’ve left your shirt on. Also, you need to work out more.”
She winked as his eyes went wide and she leapt off the cliff. She smiled as she lost all her weight in the air, letting the wind blow her hair in every direction and allowing Graig’s gravity to control her. It felt nice to give that power to another force. It felt like an easy response as all tension in her body disappeared.
Scout hit the water with more force than she anticipated, but as waves rose around her, she let the water encompass her. Fully clothed or not, it still felt amazing. It felt like freedom. She knew that she’d never know peace as much as she once did, but right now, she didn’t have to focus on the trouble and the hurt. The oasis washed all of that away. She dove deeper, throwing her arms out and pushing herself further underwater. This place had to have a depth of at least 30 feet.
Clear blue surrounded her. She now experienced the beauty rather than gazing at it. No dark and no light. No gunfire and no marching soldiers. No creatures tearing through the back of her friends and no crime lord playing on emotions. No monarch taunting her as she cut her skin. Scout didn’t find any of that here. She could allow it to vanish from her mind, like it never happened.
She felt an impact as Naos crashed into the water and she vaguely heard the splash echo through the air above their new, private world. Naos, still clothed in black joggers, smiled awkwardly as he thrust his hands forward and swam toward Scout, puffing his cheeks to keep in as much air as possible. She wanted to point out how clumsy his swimming looked, but she also found herself grateful that he at least made it underwater.
Scout kicked her feet toward Naos, wishing that they were above water so that it would splash him. She re-directed her body, spinning around and swimming toward him. He didn’t change his course, but she saw the confusion in his eyes. Scout could always know what ran through his head just by lo
oking at his eyes. Maybe it was a blue-eyed people thing.
She stopped as she reached him, taking in his face. The innocence in those blue eyes. The young, smooth skin, somehow unscarred by all they had gone through. The cheeks that struggled to keep what little air he’d gathered before launching himself off the cliff. The lips that barely kept themselves together as water tried to enter.
Naos. The one who kept her sane. When she felt so angry on the Bombard, seeing him in danger pulled her back to reality. She forgot about Bettina and the hurt so that she could rescue him. He gave her a desire to achieve peace, too. When she looked at him, she saw more than revenge and destruction.
She ignored his confused stare and leaned in, kissing him. Naos embraced it, letting his lips free of their struggle. Scout hadn’t kissed anyone before, so she made this one count. She let her hands rest on his shoulders as she moved her feet to keep her from sinking. Naos waved his arms and legs wildly, probably because he didn’t know anything about kissing, but he didn’t pull back from the kiss. She felt the water entering her lungs, but she re-directed her focus to her current action. All that she wanted to focus on.
They pulled back and Naos blinked. His pale face indicated the lack of processing this moment. Scout smirked, pointing to the air and swimming to the surface. As her head emerged from the water, she sucked in all the oxygen she could. Raindrops hit her forehead and cheeks, but she closed her eyes and let the air relax her body. Her smirk widened to a smile.
The clouds rumbled but that didn’t take any of her attention. The gasps that followed did. She opened her eyes and Naos took labored breaths as his head hit the air. He looked at Scout, blinking again. She laughed.
“Sc-Scout…”
“Was that how you envisioned it in your dreams, Blondie?” Scout said, whipping her hair to let some water escape. “I mean, the first kiss had to happen somehow, right?”
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