Chapter 17:
Finding
Purpose
Bruinen rushes to the control center. “What’s going on?” he hastily
moves towards the controls in front of Nawfar. “What’s going on?” he repeats
now staring in her face.
Her eyes shift toward him annoyed, “It is your
responsibility to check all engine controls on the outside and inside of the
ship before departure.”
“I did.” He pounds as the other crew now stands in the
doorway, curious of the dilemma.
“The hydro power is not in working order. Once we emerge on
planet K-186f we will not be able to launch.” Nawfar snaps.
“I checked the hydro power. Everything appeared in working
order before we left. There was no reason to believe any differently.” He
explains.
“It’s not collecting water, only treading.” Her fingers
thumb through translucent screens, as she points out the levels of the ship,
presented before them.
Bruinen’s jaw tightens, “Change course until I figure it
out.”
She gazes at him. “That’s your answer.”
“We will need to emerge on Planet Earth” He announces.
“That’s a mistake.” She challenges as her eyes stay locked
on Bruinen.
“You disagree?” his eye brow rises.
“Our ship comes to surfaces outside Earth’s California or Caribbean?
We cannot descend into air and are trapped on water surface with curious Earthlings.
Doesn’t sound ideal, Bruinen.” Nawfar openly shares.
“Of course it’s not ideal. I can alert the others of our issue;
the leaders can expect our arrival and take us where we need to go. I’ll repair
the ship before our next journey.” He concludes.
“And AQ11 sits in the water while we are taken away? What
universe are you living on, Bruinen? Earthlings aren’t going to leave our ship
at peace.” Nawfar rationalizes, her squeaky voice popping an extra octave.
“Slow the ship. I’ll exit here and check the pressures. My
lung capacity is at what… twenty minutes? That will sure give me enough time.”
He turns away but Nawfar quickly stops him.
“Sleep has gotten the best of you. The pressure is too much
to emerge or leave the ship.” She reminds him.
Marlin subtly clears his throat from behind them causing
their head to turn.
“Honest mistake.” Marlin tries to encourage. “Both of you
have had little sleep. You are worn. Please, put the ship on auto pilot for a
few hours and rest.”
“I’m not going to be able to sleep.” Bruinen sighs, “Especially
with these turn of events.”
“I will not as well,” Nawfar admits. “We have bigger to deal
with. Sleep is currently not an option.”
Marlin’s voice deepens as he approaches the duo, “You have
to try. Our minds must be clear emerging Earth. There will be no room for
mistakes.”
“Uh…I brought these.” Kae suddenly speaks up, flashing a
case of shiny pearlescent sea shells, “I never leave without them. They’ll help
you get the rest you need, sharpen you before we are ever in Earth’s realm.”
Bruinen’s face involuntary crinkles at the appearance of the
shells. “I don’t like the way they make me feel.” Bruinen grunts.
Nawfar pushes a couple buttons on the controls and step away
from the seat. She eyes the shells, turns toward the crew, and then takes the
shells from Kae. “Thank you, Kae. If I don’t sleep, they will at the least
relax my body and mind enough to gain focus again.”
“They will eventually put you to sleep.. I promise” Kae
smirks as if the effects from shiny oysters were a secret.
Nawfar reaches and grabs a couple but Kae stops her handing
her only one. “I would prefer to reach
Earth sometime within this decade.” He chuckles, snorting between his nostrils.
Nawfar, losing her humor, nods reassuring, reaching for
another, Kae hesitates, but releases it. She shoves it toward Bruinen and he
frowns. “I don’t want it.” He murmurs from between his teeth.
“You need to energize. You’ve left us with little option.” She
snaps, her natural high pitched voice finding a low octave. Her cyan eyes
narrow, tightening her lips, her oval face nods with encouragement.
Bruinen snatches it from her finger tips, feeling defeated.
A pout washes upon his face, suddenly feeling very childlike as Nawfar
continues to harp him, “Bruinen, we are team. This isn’t about us.” Her eyes shift toward the crew and
back to him. “We cannot make wise decisions for our people on loose anterior
commissures.”
“To slippery sleepers,” He interrupts her speech, holds the
shell toward her. Nawfar forces her cheek muscles to tighten, following his gesture;
they simultaneously suck back the juices from the shell.
Bruinen’s teeth chisel when the sour, tarty juice, rolls to
the back of his mouth, finding its way down his throat; jaw expanding, as the
slimy liquid rolls to his esophagus, air pushing out of his mouth as he finally
swallows, allowing the oyster to find his stomach. “I need a drink to wash that down.” He gags
toward Kae.
*********
Margret’s eyelids flutter open, the sun peeking through the
window, reflecting against the crystals dangling from the light, causing a
small rainbow against the wall. Her hand slides against the bed finding Colm’s
bare chest, her chin rising so her eyes can find him. He peeks at her with one eye,
grinning, letting the eye flicker close.
‘I’m as sore as you
are.’ His thoughts wonder through her mind.
‘No you are sorer.’ She
flutters backs to him, turning her head and shooting him a grin.
Colm gives a small chuckle, leans in kissing Margret’s
forehead, pulling her into him. “I don’t
want to get up.” his thoughts purse.
“Where is your
optimism?” the passing leads her cheeks to swell.
His arms tug at her as a moan touches his lips. “Tell me why
we are doing this again?”
Margret’s fingers circle around his chest. “Ridiculous
reason, really; only to help save our planets from destruction of darkness.”
“Oh, yeeeeeees. That. I guess we should probably get up
then.” Colm curls into her squeezing the base of his back into him. “How did we
become so important?” His lips pressing
against her ear.
“I’ve always been important. You became important when you
realized you were tied to me.” Her tongue pushes through her teeth parting her
lips.
“You…” Colm sniggering tickles her sides. Her body flaps as
she tries to gain control, Colm giving in and finding her lips, shoving his
tongue into her mouth, their bodies’ fall surrendering to one another.
********
Bruinen’s eyelids flutter as he struggles to open them. His
body feels light, thinking he remembers falling into a bed yet a floating
sensation surrounds him. ‘The slippery
suckers…’ he struggles to focus.., ‘I
ate… I dislike the way they make me feel…’ Once again he fights against his
body, failing to pry his eyes open.
The cabin door creeks as it must be opening… sounds of the
ship softly treading against water… someone was entering the cabin…Nawfar; could
it be possible Nawfar was already mobile after the slippery suckers?
Bruinen’s soul tries desperately to nestle into his warm
body… I hate this feeling…
“Bruinen?” the voice’s whispery breath leads him to find his
face. “Bruinen, are you okay?”
His fingertips twitch, slowly awakening the other senses of
his body. Arms, legs, toes, face, and then eyes. His lids bat open as he gains
clarity.
“You’ve been sleeping for hours. Are you feeling better?”
steadies the woman’s voice.
Bruinen’s eyes focus on the ceiling, his mind still slightly
foggy. He tries to find his tongue in the numbness of his mouth.
“Are you okay? Should I grab Kae?” The voice continues after
a short pause, causing Bruinen to wrestle for a quicker recovery.
His neck works as he decides to turn his head toward the
voice, witnessing Tsunami at his bedside. The tussle intense, as questions
surfaced, his tongue finding words before his mind, “What are you doing in
here? Where is Nawfar?”
“She bedside my father before you two parted to sleep. Kae
as well, indulged in the special oyster. It’s only been I for hours.” She falls
back on her bottom crossing her legs, propping herself on her palms. “I was
bored. Even the auto pilot had run out of things to teach me. That said I am
confident that I am perfectly capable in steering this ship now.”
“Is that right?” he sits himself up.
“It is. As well, as you did
do your job precisely. It was Nawfar who had missed step in the controls. I
slapped a lever, and BOOM, we are
ready for airborne on any planet we emerge, which it appears Earth will be the
final destination after the journey had changed course.” She tosses her hair
back, batting her sapphire eyes proudly.
“Tsunami,” he begins trying to grasp all that she has just
informed him, “Are you most certain of this information?”
“I am.” Her toothy grin broadens her cheeks, her head
tilting.
“Show me.” Bruinen swings his legs over the bed, slowly
steading himself as he stands.
“Whoa, you sure you are okay to move?” she quickly stands, assisting him.
“I’m a little light headed but fine.” He tries to shake it
off.
She leads him, lowering him back onto the bed. “Look, I
don’t know how those oysters make you feel exactly, but I think you should rest
a tad longer before you get up.”
He groans, “I don’t like them.”
“So you’ve said.” She patronizes, “You were a real team
player in there.” She pushes him to lie down.
Bruinen’s lips loosen as they edge toward his cheeks,
involuntarily he forces his hand on hers, stroking it for a brief moment before
realizing it. “If all you say is true, I have a hero today and it’s you. There
is nothing more a man adores than being proven correctly in a situation.”
“Touché,” Tsunami smugly returns.
“Never take those oysters. They are awful.” Bruinen turns
his head toward her, “I feel as if I were swallowed by a frilled shark,
digested and released back into the ocean.”
Tsunami finds humor in her voice, “Then I will never eat
those oysters. Promise. I did find a book, in your library, that suggests other medicated sleep aids that have fewer
effects than the sleeper oyster.”
“Of course you
did.” Bruinen’s eyes roll in his head.
The awkward pause leaves an odd buzzing in the room
noticeable. Bruinen tries to quickly break the silence, “Would you like to
actually fly the ship, now that you have studied over five hundred manual
pages?”
Tsunami’s face brightens and her body springs from the floor.
“Would I? Of course!”
Bruinen eyes widen with joy as he watches her bounce to the
door, swinging it open. “After you!” she insists.
*******
Colm and Margret stand side by side; the four warriors training
them dangling across. The sun beams into Alato Cavallo Catacombe, as if
dividing the amateurs from the experts. The feathers on their wings slightly move
from the light breeze drifting through the open roof. Their beauty is magnified
but now also intimidating, Margret realizing their strength and tenacity.
“We have come to conclusion of how you will join us in
flight during battle.” Zagzagel announces his coal wings slightly expanded as
if he might take off into flight.
Margret’s thoughts quickly filter to Colm, “How do we get wings? I don’t
want to sprout wings Colm.”
His eyes shift toward her, his hand gently squeezing her,
returning his focus quickly to the wing warriors standing before them.
Serafim’s chocolate wings push him into the sky, flapping
above them, intensifying the soft breeze. A loud, foreign call echoes from his
throat and from a distance Margret begins to recognize two winged creatures
coming toward them at full speed.
“It’s Opal and Nacreous.” Her voice lightens from under her
breath.
Colm’s face brightens at the unipegs near. “There is no
other creature I’d be as so honored to play as my wings.”
Opal and Nacreous are covered in a shiny armor, the suns
blazing off it as they land, trotting toward Colm and Margret.
“The suits will protect them if we were to be in battle.”
Natika announces.
Serafim chimes, “There is actually numerous of gizmos on
this light weight equipment, protecting them and yourselves in a battle. The
gadgets will be triggered by the slim glove the finds its way to the base of
your fingertips, controlling the sensors on the cloak.” He explains, pointing
out the detail while displaying the wear.
“We’ve never asked the unipeg race to endure in such
behavior, or serve among battle with us. It has been unheard of…” Zagzagel
begins.
“I had a strong vision,” Harahel interrupts explaining. “It
was from Opal. Opal is dedicated to you, Margret as Nacreous has found a
special bond with Colm. The four of you have become intertwined, somehow.”
“Destiny.” Natika’s eyes widen, “It’s amazing.”
Margret glances for a moment at Colm before hopping on Opal.
She rests her cheek on his crest, feeling his velvet black skin against hers,
as she strokes his main. ‘Thank You, dear
friend.’ Her thoughts carry to the stallion, her heart feeling as if it
were being stroked.
Margret’s head rises, finding Colm. He is already mounted on
Nacreous and he winks at Margret.
“Today we need both of you to bond with these unipegs and
all of you familiarize yourselves with the new equipment.” Zagzagel informs.
“Then with your permission will we ride.” Colm suggest.
Zagzagel nods at them.
“Are you ready beautiful?”
Colm softly vibes to Margret.
Her cheeks swell as she returns a nod and without hesitation
Opal swooshes toward the sky leaving
Colm on ground.
*******
Bruinen stands behind Tsunami as she gains control of the
ship. Her eyes filled with excitement as she touches buttons and slightly
steers, navigating the ship through the waters.
“What is going on?” Marlin booms from across the room,
causing Tsunami’s body to bounce when startled.
“She wanted to learn to drive the ship. She took initiative
of over five hundreds page of manual while we all slept.” Bruinen brags.
Marlin’s eyebrows rise, “Really? Tsunami I never knew you
held interest.”
“This is a surprise.” Nawfar decides coming in behind
Marlin.
“A good one.” Marlin decides.
Tsunami’s freckled cheeks find her eyes as she continues to
watch ahead of her.
“I’ve come up with a plan.” Nawfar announces, “I have an
idea of how we can…”
Bruinen interrupts, “No need, the problem is fixed. Of
course now we are directed toward Earth, so we will need to emerge in the Caribbean,
keeping a glimpse of our other gateway hidden.”
“I don’t understand.” Nawfar’s forehead wrinkles in
confusion. “How is anything fixed? How was it possible?”
Tsunami’s eyes shift toward Bruinen, curious of his disclosure.
“It was simple confusion.” He decides after a moment. “All hydro power systems
are filled and in working order. It was an oversight.”
“My apologies.” She sits next to Tsunami. “You discovered
this didn’t you?”
“Uhhhh….” Tsunami sits on her word looking for approval to
reveal Bruinen’s unfinished story.
“I’m proud of you.” Nawfar continues. “You are going to make
a wonderful successor to our planet.”
*********
Colm and Margret land the unipegs near the water spot they
first ventured them to. She kisses the top of Opal’s velvet muzzle and nods,
giving him a soft pat on his neck. The charcoal unipeg trots toward Nacreous,
collecting him to graze in a nearby pasture.
“That was amazing and terrifying.” Margret’s adrenaline
spouts toward Colm.
He grabs her waist, wrapping his arms around her, pressing
their lips together, her feet slightly rising off the ground. He finally
releases her allowing to find her footing, stroking her temple, “You are
amazing and terrifying.” His lips slant upward and he briefly leans in for
another kiss.
“I can’t grasp reality of possibly riding Opal on Earth.
Earthlings are either going to be amazed or angry, not to mention I can’t
imagine the military finding us on one of their radars…” her images drift
towards Colm as he tries to understand.
“My, dear, if Earth is under attack by vampires, I am sure
they are not going to think much of a unipeg flying in their sky.” His body
exhales loudly.
“What have I gotten you into?” she realizes.
His lips tighten, his eyes different than usual, “I fight
armies of vampires if it means being by your side and assuring your safety. I’m
never leaving you Margret, please stop doubting my loyalty. It does not matter
what I feel, or what is happening here on the Cepae planet, with my family and
with my dear friends. If our souls are parted, I’d be forever broken. What good
I am to anyone if I am broken?”
As she stares in the window of his soul, it feels as though
his fingers are massaging her heart gently. Every wound that was created throughout
her life, on her planet, felt as though it was being soothed. Any heartbreak
she had endured through her life was softly being mended by the gentleness of
his soul touching her heart.
“Colm?” Margret begins soft spoken. “How does a planet made
of peace even begin to think of war?”
“Margret, Love, we do not think of war. We think of
protecting those we love.” A sigh leaks from his lungs titling his head, his
thumb finding her chin. “I want to understand the Earth part of you, but this murky
fog in you, sometimes makes it difficult.”
Her chin pulls away from his thumb, finding the ground.
“Please, don’t be sad. I did not say it to make you feel
bad.” He please, trying to find her eyes.
Her lips tighten and she makes a conscious effort to quickly
lift the fog. “Of all the women on your planet, your soulmate is born and
raised on Earth. Is that like one and million chances?”
“There’s my smiling Margret.” He chuckles. “Perhaps, if a
million occupied our planet it could be.”
Her lips brighten her teeth as she bounces her should
against him. “Well, then you won! Congratulations you!"
“Margret…” he begins, his chiseled face widened with
excitement, “I’m going to race you back to base.” He pulls himself to his feet,
slightly pushing against her as she tries to stand up.
“Hey!” she playfully screams balancing herself and running
after him.
Colm’s legs fling over prepared Narceous’ back and he rushes
into the air. Margret grabs hold of Opal, tapping his neck, “Did you know they
were going to do that?” she teases to the unipeg, hopping onto his back and
riding him into the clouds chasing after Colm.
