by David Tyne
"...Whatever,” Harry finally sighed. “I think I need to have a word with everyone in the cabin, including all of those new friends of yours. Just in case anyone's interested in having a rational discussion."
The thug bumped his shoulder into Grumpy, who met his glare with an equally-unpleasant look. I think I heard him mouth that he was watching him, before disappearing behind the cabin door.
And here I thought they had so much in common.
----
While Beth and Jamie gathered around Tomás for underground-deathmatch story time, the rest of us gathered inside the main cabin. We found Harry setting up a little podium behind the steering wheel, finishing his crudely-drawn map and ‘Telos’ placard. It was the closest I’d ever seen him to being remotely organised.
"...Right, listen up,” he barked at the ex-prisoners, attracting their confused attention. “The first thing I want to say is, you’re all free to do whatever you want. I gotta say though, that some of us on-board are... Well, we’ve got important shit to do. Doesn’t matter how many of you decide to join us, we will be going through with it."
A round of hesitant murmurs spread throughout the crowd, but the thug silenced them with a curt wave of his hand.
"If you don't want to take part, then we can drop you off tomorrow morning, somewhere away from that gang. Somewhere safe. Understand?" Harry's conditions seemed fair, but I quickly realised the motivation behind his words. He was trying to convince these people to help us raid the Telos branch.
He held up the map that Millie helped him recover, pointing towards a small red 'X' that had been drawn on. It was quite a few miles off the coast of Arbroath — just to the North of Dundee.
"...You guys have probably heard of Telos, right? The research institute? I hate to be the one who tells you this, but... they are the ones responsible for the way the world is now."
Gasps and exclamations rippled outwards from the center of the group. For others, they seemed more relieved than anything to finally have an answer.
"This marking here, Harry continued, “it shows where the nearest Telos base is located. Since it's in the North Sea, it's probably a boat or something... Anyway, while everyone's been struggling to survive, they have been using places like this to turn innocent people into weapons... Weapons, that they’ve been testing on us!"
If not for the apocalypse part alone, this was what really riled the passengers up. One month ago, the idea was completely dismissable as insane. Now though, much like the O-Saints, most people were willing to believe anything.
Harry raised his fist in the air, giving his monologue some extra punch. "I'm not going to stand around and take their shit any longer... So tomorrow, we are going to confront them, and find out the truth! It's risky as hell, but I lost someone very close to me because of the world they created... I can't stand here and do jack shit, while they get away with what they did! Who's with me?!"
Everyone in the cabin roared a unanimous "Yes!!" as our fate was sealed. Seeing those complete strangers agreeing to such a wild-goose chase, it only served to remind me of the reason we were behaving so 'righteously'. It was a mental break from what every single person had been focusing on for the past couple of weeks — just plain surviving.
Millie stared at Harry for a moment in disbelief, then promptly left the room with an icy turn. I was about to check up on her when I bumped into Beth and Jamie, who'd caught the end of Harry's speech.
"Mister Daniel! When are we going to get there?" Beth nodded excitedly towards the red 'X' on the map. Concerned that the kids may have thought we'd be taking them, I shook my head.
"Don't worry. You won't be coming with us." The little girl's mouth dropped wide open, as though she'd heard something even more devastating than her ensured safety.
Jamie raised his fists defensively. "L-Like hell we're not! You guys would be so lost, without us two around! Besides, I've got a bone to pick with Telos as well... I saw what happened to that man on the bridge, to Ellen Warbler! It ain't right!!"
Beth nodded in affirmation, and I knew that nothing could dissuade them from coming. After all, every single time we'd told them to stay put, they would end up following our trail anyway.
"...Fine, you guys can tag along — but you're going to stay hidden on the boat the entire time, understand? I'll get someone to watch over you, so don't get any ideas."
While the kids high-fived and whooped for their small victory, I decided to get some fresh air. I grabbed the white railing outside, watching as the sea spat speckles of salty water in every direction, cleansing my face. Staring into the horizon, I watched the dull-grey spires of Dundee growing smaller and smaller into the distance.
There would be no need to return to land, since everyone — even the old lady — wanted to join our cause. That sinking feeling in my stomach warned me that if something went wrong with our mission, my feet would never touch soil again. Was the struggle for truth, for justice really worth all of that?
Grumpy joined me at the water's edge, after having a friendly chat with the other survivors. "...Your friend Serah says to tell you that we're having a party tonight. You guys, heh... You never cease to amaze me."
I nodded sheepishly, realising the 'party' was more of a wake, happening even before we'd gotten the chance to die. The usually-silent man continued to frown, glossing over the deep colours of the ocean.
"She's the only one who's speaking to me, and even then... I don't know, it seems like this lot still think of me as an O-Saint. A bad guy. Guess I had that coming."
Well, you can’t really blame them. It was mostly from Pastor Mitchell that we drew our prejudice of the O-Saints, but even Serah had came back from the brink of that cult. If she could manage it, then I had faith that anyone could change if they tried.
Everyone deserved to have a second chance. I told Grumpy that I'd talk to them, and after that we were both content to just stand there quietly and watch the waves churn.
We were finally doing it... Chasing after Telos, the people responsible for the apocalypse. It felt noble, right — even if some of our motives were a little askew. Harry seemed to be deflecting his pain from Ian's death onto them, whereas Jamie and Beth just saw them as pantomime baddies. Hell, even Grumpy was just coming along for the ride.
What about me? I thought about it for a moment, and smirked to myself as I could only think of one answer.
"...Because it's something to fight for."
As soon as I whispered to myself, dance music erupted from the lounge beside the main cabin. Clinking glasses could be heard along with cheers, everyone rushing towards the window to observe the colourful sunset.
Serah’s special night that she planned for us had already started — and I could already tell, it was going to be one hell of a bon-voyage party.
30 | Bon Voyage
I had to hand it to Harry, he’d stolen one of the finest luxury yachts in the marina: there were almost as many private rooms as there were guests, a fruitful bar area, this stunningly-beautiful viewing deck, and even an upstairs tanning section fitted with umbrellas and sun loungers. The whole place felt like a floating mansion, even with all of the other 'roommates'.
I quickly retreated to one of the bedrooms, and found what I was desperately looking for. New clothes, not stained with dirty-brown water or blood for a change. While the 'resort' look wasn't my best appearance — blue floral shirt and quarter-length trousers — they certainly felt befitting to a boat party, at the very least.
I could barely find anyone on the entire boat; the upper-class cruiser was like a rocking maze. Entering the noisy bar, I spotted Serah behind the counter fixing everyone up with the drinks she'd swiped from the supermarket.
"I'll have a cold one, barmaid. Keep 'em coming," I slapped my palm on the surface. She tossed me a sly look as I hopped onto the barstool, both of us already chuckling.
"...You dork. I'll forget that 'barmaid' comment, if you'll join me for my first alcoholic beverage." She pulled ou
t two bottles of beer from the cooler fitted to the underside of the yacht's bar, uncapping them with ease.
"To drinking on the job! Cheers!" I touched mine against hers, and we both raised our bottles to our mouths. Serah's face immediately screwed up, and wiped her mouth as the beer dribbled down her chin.
"Urgh!! Really? That tastes like... just gross!" I couldn't help but laugh cruelly at her reaction, as an eavesdropping Millie slid into the bar beside her.
"Oh, hun... You don't want that stuff! Let me fix you a vodka and cranberry."
As the two girls experimented with other drinks and tended to the bar for the other guests, I decided to wait until later before checking in with Millie. The way she walked off from Harry’s speech earlier, it seemed as though something was bothering her.
Wishing them both good luck, I strolled away with my second beer to check up on the rest of the ‘crew’. I knew that Beth was with the old lady we'd rescued, drowsily munching on some chocolate bars while being bombarded with boring stories about the elder's life.
Checking the upstairs tanning area, I found Tomás entertaining a handful of guests with his guitar, playing romantic serenades under the canopy of stars in the night sky. He seemed more in his element than ever, being able to rest comfortably with the knowledge that Belle was alive and well.
At the back of the audience, Jamie clung onto a bottle of beer as he brushed his leg against the empty ones at his feet. How he managed to get past Serah and Millie, I’ll never know.
"J-Jamie, man! Have you been drinking?!" Alarms rang off in my head as I took the alcohol from his hand, to which he snatched it back with a slurred tone.
"S-Shut... Shut up! I'm... old enough... It's fine, like..." He lost himself, and I could only sigh in response. I knew that he had emotional problems which caused this rebellious attitude. Not cutting him any slack wasn't going to help anyone.
"Just because there’s no laws, that doesn’t mean… Urgh, whatever. I won’t tell anyone, as long as you promise to take it easy from now on, alright?"
I sat down next to him and took a swig from my own bottle, both of us watching Tomás as he charmed the cooing ladies in the front row. They seemed to hang on his every chord, mesmerised after spending so long in that blank jail cell.
It was a beautiful night, especially considering the way our dazzlingly-bright boat lit up the surrounding dark waters; above all else, the greatest part of it was the fact that we were miles away from land. Far from the place where all of those mindless monsters waited, forever patient for a taste of our flesh.
In all honesty, I'd never felt safer than I did that night. I just hoped it wasn't like ‘the calm before the storm’.
As the Hispanic musician started playing numbers from Frank Sinatra's repertoire, Jamie leaned his head all the way back, his gaze meeting the twinkling stars that watched over us.
"...I always imagined the sky would look different. Y'know, once the world ended. You’d think it’d be all fiery and red, shit like that? Right now, it just looks... quiet. Pisses me off."
Turning around towards him as I took note of his abruptly-deep speech, I nodded in affirmation. I’d pictured the same silly scene, whenever I thought about how the world would end.
"...I'm okay with quiet, little dude. If the sky still looks the same, who knows what else hasn't changed? Maybe it means there's still a way to come back from all of this... someday."
Looking back around to Jamie, I realised he wasn't there any more — instead, he'd rushed over to the side of the ship, heaving violently into the ocean below.
I hurried to his aid, although after a minute or so, I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Patting his arched back, I restrained the urge to say anything like 'I told you so'.
"...That's the price for underage drinking, kid." Through the spitting and coughing, he tried to dismiss it as sea-sickness — I wasn't buying it, obviously. In the end, I had to carry him into one of the private cabins and put him into bed.
After telling him to call on me if he needed anything, I re-joined the party. One man down, and we were only an hour in.
----
Walking back upstairs to the main deck, things were getting pretty crazy as the drunks began dancing at the bow of the yacht. Drinks were spilling everywhere, but karma caught up fast as they slipped, fell and cackled in every direction.
Mixed within the light-hearted atmosphere, I could detect some raised voices coming from the main cabin, where the steering wheel and navigation controls were located.
Poking my head through the door, I saw Harry and Grumpy, furiously engaged in an intense debate. Harry flung his arms at the former O-Saint. "I don't think so! You expect me to trust you, after everything your sick friends did?! You're all fucking heartless! That will never change—"
Both of their eyes flicked towards me, and for a brief moment, I almost thought they were going to shift their anger onto me. When they paused, I stepped in to break it up.
"Harry, listen… Grumpy’s alright. We don’t need to worry—”
“Grumpy?” The thug’s nose flared, and I felt the former O-Saint’s cringe from behind me.
“Well, whatever his name is. Point is, we never would've gotten out of that hideout if it wasn't for him! Does that sound like your typical O-Saint, helping everyone escape regardless of blood type?"
Grumpy nodded at my statement, his resolve now clear in his head. "That's right... You can call me a coward if you want, but I only signed up for the protection! I would’ve believed anything Burkley wanted me to, if it kept me alive... but then he used me, treated me like dirt. Even if you don't believe that, at least know that I don't hold anything against anyone on this boat.”
His eyes drifted downwards, obviously not a fan of talking too much. Instead of using words, he grabbed ahold of his red headband and yanked it loose, throwing it to the floor. His foot stamped on the symbol, clearly no longer wanting to be associated with that group.
"What you're all doing, with Telos... I want to come, too. I'm sick of living without a cause, so let me die for one instead!"
His words hung in the air, Harry staring back at him in disbelief. "You'd... You'd really die, for the sake of stopping the infection? For everything the O-Saints stand for?"
With a brutal nod, it was apparent just how serious this man was about carrying out his mission — just like when he’d been instructed to escort us to the bridge, cold and tactical.
“I would,” Grumpy growled in response, “gladly. It’s as you said, they created this entire situation, triggering the O-Saints. If there’s anyone to blame for ruining my life, it’s those scheming bastards.”
Harry placed his fingers between his eyes, and gave a long sigh. "...Whatever you say. Go on then, enjoy the party."
Grumpy lingered for a second, unsure of what had just transpired, and then left the cabin to head for the bar. Just as he did, Tomás poked his head through the still-swinging door as a group of ladies stroked his instrument, Señora Alegría, squealing hysterically.
"Hey, bros... It's kicking off in the bar right now, if you're up for a little drinking game! See ya there?"
As he left, we could both see him through the window desperately trying to shake off the women chasing after him, ignoring his exclamations that he was already engaged. I chuckled aloud to myself. "Damn, that guy’s smooth."
Harry didn't say anything, and it was only until I faced him that I noticed his mournful expression. After a brief second, he saw that I was observing him, and quickly recomposed himself.
"Erm... Look, let's not talk about Telos tonight. We’ll save that for tomorrow. I'm feeling a little light-headed, just gonna turn in for the night—"
I pulled on his arm with a smirk, dragging him to the door despite his protests. "I don't think so, man. You need to loosen up, especially after everything that's happened the last couple of days. We're both taking part in that drinking game, and there's no way you're getting out of it this time!"
While th
ere was still a bitter taste left from the last drinking game we'd taken part in, way back in Danderhall, I knew that it was just the kind of thing to cheer Harry up again. After much coaxing, I at least got a chuckle out of the thug while prodding him through the door.
"Right, fuck’s sake! Two seconds, let me stop the boat first. We’ll rest here for the night."
I left Harry to mess around with the buttons, deciding it was probably rude to ask whether he actually knew what he was doing with the yacht. Heading straight for the centre of the party, I was more than eager to see what kind of game awaited us.
----
Several miles North-East, two men in naval attire sat in a darkened room, surrounded by water in every direction as their motionless vessel reverberated with a cold, synthetic hum.
"Sir..." One of the men brought his glowing screen around to face the both of them. "An unidentified object was picked up on the radar. It initially appeared to be heading for our coordinates, but now it's just... stopped."
His superior drew a breath from his cigarette, in spite of the safety regulations. Staring intently towards the 'blip', he brought up a sonar representation of the area they inhabited. After a half-second, he dismissed it entirely.
"It’s nothing. Probably just an abandoned piece of junk or some shit. Would you focus on our new orders?" The man turned his screen back to its original position hesitantly, unsure of his superior officer's judgement.
"...But Sir, what if it’s really him? We should at least notify HQ for confirmation, and—"
"God damn boy, I said forget about it! That rogue operative from Edinburgh is our imperative, and I'm not covering for your sorry ass after letting him slip by! We know he's already left the United Kingdom, so let’s search for things coming back in, not going out, understood?!"
Returning to their individual monitors, the defeated man let out a sigh mixed with trepidation and shame for his failure. "...Yes, Sir."
