“Nerissa knows her actions will benefit herself,” I mumble.
“I’ve been around her longer than you have. I think she’s convinced herself and my dad that the experiments are a gift to humanity, no matter the cost.”
I let out a sound of disgust.
“I should have helped you,” James says. “Long before that night.”
“You were a kid, too,” I remind him.
“I could’ve done something. The guards turned a blind eye to me. But in the end, my motivation for not helping you was cowardice and selfishness. I wanted you to stay.” James shakes his head in frustration. “I let Nerissa keep you because I didn’t want to be alone.”
"There was nothing you could have changed, “I say, knowing it's true.
"I should have tried."
James reaches up and softly touches my neck, close to where my gills are still exposed. I flinch at the touch, but his face doesn’t show signs of revulsion.
“I think they’re amazing. Beautiful, even. Since they’re yours.”
Heat rakes up my neck.
James moves his attention from my neck to my eyes as I draw my collar up. “You’re beautiful. Inside and out.”
My heart races as if it might escape my chest at any moment. I avert my eyes.
“Arya, I’ve never stopped loving you. You were my world, and that night everything fell apart.”
“Your dad is your world, too.”
James lowers his hand to his lap. “He did what it took to keep me safe.”
“What do you mean?”
“Dad was in the military when it all fell apart. The best he could do after my mom died was take on a contracted mercenary job for Nerissa. He knew it was wrong, but it paid well, and he didn’t need to worry if I’d have enough food or a place to sleep anymore. He has a good soul, at least until Nerissa noticed him. She was infatuated; gave him whatever he desired, promoted him, and eventually married him. That’s when he started making excuses for her. Anytime I thought I might try to find you, I’d remember if I did, he may never find it back to the light. There would be no one to prevent Nerissa’s influence from completely consuming him.” James rakes his fingers back through his hair. “All I ever wanted to do was the right thing.”
I sigh. “Now you know my problem. The right thing isn’t always clear cut.” I reach into my collar and feel for the chain that hangs around my neck, pulling the delicate metal out and grasping for the tiny shell I made into a pendant.
James’s eyes light up when he sees it, and a wide smile overtakes his lips. “You still have it?”
I cock my head. “Of course, I have it,” I say, letting it drop onto my chest.
James locks eyes with me and his expression grows serious. “I’ve missed you.”
I breathe in as he leans in closer. He’s going to kiss me.
Muffled shouts meet my ears and I pop up from my seat. James droops against the back of his chair.
Through the window, Peter and Cyrus yell at each other, standing a few feet apart. Wendi stands to the side, pacing nervously. Peter’s face radiates red compared to his almost white-blonde hair, as if he might explode at any minute.
“Ugh. Peter’s in a fight. Again.” I grapple for James’s hand and lug him toward the exit of Mateo’s quarters.
James shakes his head, but lets me lead him. “You sure it's a good idea to partner with that hothead?”
I squint in the bright sunlight as we race out onto the deck. “Peter!” I yell. “Knock it off!”
Peter turns my way, and in that split second of distraction, Cyrus’s fist flies into Peter’s jaw. And as if the events are somehow connected, the ship behind ours explodes into a ball of fire.
A deafening roar and wave of blistering heat pours over the Tiger Lily.
Chapter 12
Peter
I rub at my throbbing jaw, but the ringing in my ears from the explosion is far more disturbing than Cyrus’s punch. Around me, everyone but Riley—who somehow grabbed ahold of the railing—is sprawled out on the deck from the force of the blast. Smoke billows into the air behind us from the scout vessel that was hit. Chaos echoes from everywhere as shouts blend together. Nerissa must’ve found us. I can’t see anything on the horizon from here, but that’s her tech for sure.
Cyrus moans as he picks himself off the deck. “Are we under attack?”
“Obviously,” I snarl, pushing to my feet. “It wasn’t your girly punch that did this. Find Mateo and help the others.”
He purses his lips and glares at me, but runs off to comply.
Just behind the storage barrels, Wendi’s on her back, dazed and rubbing her forehead. A gash on her forehead drips blood into her hair. I pull her up and drag her to the main deck, where I find Arya pulling Tug to his feet.
“Peter, you’re alright,” she shouts, a wash of relief easing the tension on her face.
“Yeah. You?”
“I’m fine, I’m fine. Where’s James?” She stretches up on her toes to get a look in back of me.
I sit Wendi down beneath the overhanging cabin wall just outside of Mateo’s quarters. I snag a clean deck rag from a basket near the door and place it over her wound. She applies pressure to it and waves me on to go help others.
“Are you sure?” I ask her, frantically looking back and forth for any new surprises.
She winks. “Aww, this is nothin’.”
I’m turning to Arya when Mateo rushes from around the corner of the bridge, almost slamming into me. He shakes his head, then surveys the situation on the deck.
“Damn it Pan, you led them right to us. I knew this was a mistake.”
Arya catches up to us, once again breaking the tension. “Mateo, where’s James?”
“I thought he was with you?” he says, brushing back the hair that’s fallen into his forehead from its normally perfectly kept position.
Arya’s zigzagging in all directions, trying to find James. Her breathing quickens as her body tenses.
“Hey, James is in the water!” Riley calls, pointing out over the deck rail.
Arya rushes toward the edge of the Tiger Lily. I’m straight on her heels. “The blast must have knocked him from the ship.”
Without answering, Arya dives over the railing. Within a second, she has him on her back. A wake swells behind her as she jets to the Tiger Lily’s ladder. Mateo and I meet her. I pull James up first. He grips onto the deck railing, hunching over as he tries to catch his breath.
“Thanks,” James says to Arya, fighting to get air.
“You saved me,” Riley says, rushing over to James. “If you didn’t push me out of the way … I’d be gone.”
“No problem, kid,” he says. “Glad Arya was there to save me, too.”
“Let's get the ships out of here,” Mateo orders. “Terex is ready to go on the Atlas. Pan, you'll be navigating for them. James is coming with me on the Tiger Lily, and it’s not negotiable.”
“That’s not part of the—”
Arya cuts me off. “Peter, it’s OK. I’ll stay with him. They need you on that ship.”
From the corner of my eye, a blue streak brightens the sky before an explosion rips across the tallest island peak. Glowing, heated rock crumbles and falls, cascading to the dock below. The brittle wood is no match as it hits, breaking to pieces. Arya’s pod is pelted by massive boulders, tearing it apart. Dipping under the water, the broken vessel begins to sink,
Arya cups her mouth with both hands. “No!”
James grasps her forearm. “Sorry, Arya.”
“Let’s move, everyone!” Mateo shouts. “Get to your posts, now!”
Cyrus jumps into the cockpit of the Tiger Lily’s forward cannon while Elijah jogs to the bridge. Wendi pops to her feet, throwing the rag to the ground and darts over to the side cannon. She slides in and takes control, blood trickling down her cheek.
“Go,” Arya insists, jerking her head toward the Atlas. “We’ve got this.”
“Tug, Ethan, Riley
, go with Pan to the Atlas,” Mateo orders.
The three boys rush to our sides. I nod to Arya and follow them to the section of the dock still standing. We run till the dock ends. The Atlas, nearly as big as the Tiger Lily, sways back and forth with the rough water from the battle. Not wanting to waste any more time, I grab all three of them, lifting them into the air and onto the ship. Tug slips from my grip, tumbling to the deck, losing his balance.
“Sorry, Tug.” I grin. “You’re back on the salvaged canned meats, I see.”
He returns a smile, picking himself up. “Sorry, Peter.”
“Ethan, take Riley and man the hydro-cannons,” I command. “Tug, come with me to the bridge.
Like old times, without question, they rush to their posts, hopping into the weapons’ cockpits. The ship’s cannons power up and pivot into an active position as Tug and I make our way to the Atlas’s bridge just behind them. Through the bridge window, Terex glares at me as we approach the entrance. I activate the hatch panel and press the release button. The cabin door slides open. Tug rushes in trying to give Terex a playful high five. Terex keeps his gaze on me, ignoring him. Tug slowly lowers his hand, slinking to his station.
“What are you doing on my ship?” Terex’s eyes narrow. “I don’t want you here.”
“Ugh, how many of you do I need to get into it with before you all stop doubting me?”
“Terex, it’s OK,” Tug insists. “Mateo asked him to navigate for us.”
Terex’s glare is broken when a massive burst just off the vessel’s aft side sprays water across the deck. He takes control of the Atlas, pressing a button that starts the engine. The digital displays light up and I hurry to the first officer’s station to check the radar. Several blips dot the panel.
“They’re moving in fast,” I report. “Get to open water and split up from the Tiger Lily.”
“Why would we do that?” Terex asks.
“There’s at least seven warships out there. Dividing them up is our best chance. If we stick together, we become one big target for all their cannons. Tug, radio the Tiger Lily. Tell them to fan out.”
Without hesitation, Tug snatches the comm and relays the message.
“Where we heading, Pan?” Terex asks, not resisting anymore.
“Take the Atlas east as wide as you can. Let’s get ahead of the Tiger Lily. Let’s hope most of Nerissa’s boats will follow us instead.”
“Follow us?” Tug squeaks as the blood drains from his cheeks. “I think I’m going to need another pair of underwear.”
Terex rolls his eyes at Tug, then turns his attention back to me. “I’m down to sacrifice ourselves to save them, but what’s your plan?”
I review the critical system indicators on my dashboard. “This isn’t a suicide mission. If we can break them up, I’ll take them down one by one. You can use the Atlas to distract them, so I can fly in.”
Bombs continue to burst all around us as we sail out to open water. The Atlas rises and falls as waves pound us from all sides. The Tiger Lily hangs back a bit before heading west.
Nerissa’s fleet rises from the cover of the horizon, closing in on us. She’s sent some of her best boats. I guess having the Lost Boys, Arya, and I all in one place is too hard to pass up; all Nerissa’s problems solved with one attack.
“Alright, Terex, full power,” I insist. “Take us out to sea. Signal for Ethan and Riley to fire on them.”
“Riley, Ethan, have at ‘em,” Terex radios. “Open fire.”
A cerulean haze glows from the cannon’s tips then a loud discharge rips from the deck, rattling the bridge’s windows. Blast after blast is fired. Streaks of hydrogen-propelled plasma lace through the sky, heading toward Nerissa’s navy. Bursts of red-hot antiplasma rounds dot the sky as they try to counter our cannon fire. Several of our shots hit, sending billows of fire and smoke into the air above their vessels. Their fleet begins to break off to pursue us.
“Crap … looks like only three of them are following us,” Terex says. “The rest are going after the Tiger Lily.”
“Should I radio them?” Tug asks.
“No, they might’ve intercepted our last message,” I say. “They’re on their own now. We have to take these ones out before we can help them.”
We continue heading east, trying to stay out of their cannon’s range. Unfortunately, this means our cannons are out of range, too.
“Look,” Terex says. “Helos are inbound.”
“Well, this just got a bit more complicated,’” I scoff. “Keep sailing no matter what happens. Maintain a safe range. You understand?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Terex replies. “What’re you going to do?”
I rush to the door, grabbing one of the rifles that line the wall next to the door on the way. “It’s time for me to go hunt some birds.”
“Those aren’t birds, they’re war choppers,” Tug says.
I inhale deeply as the door automatically slides open. “Great insight, Tug.” With a nod to Terex, I launch into the air.
Chapter 13
Arya
“How many ships are out there?” Mateo yells over the crash of a hydro bomb exploding in the water. James and I pile in after him as we reach the bridge.
“Seven on the screen!” Elijah shouts.
Mateo closes his eyes briefly and curses.
“Peter's ordering you to fan out,” a voice screeches over the radio. I think it’s that goofy, stocky kid. Tig? No, Tug.
Elijah, at the helm, draws back and studies Mateo, but maintains the ship on its current course. Mateo mutters under his breath I can’t hear, then yells, “You heard Pan! Fan out!”
“Yes, sir.” Elijah’s hands fly over the console and the ship pulls to starboard, speeding over the waves. The crack of a bomb in the water washes a massive wave over the ship, jerking the vessel and tipping me off-balance. James catches my arm, steadying me as a second blast hits and another wave sprays over the bow of the Tiger Lily.
“What should James and I do?” I yell. Normally I’d be the one giving orders.
Mateo shakes his head. “James isn’t leaving the bridge. And you…” He pauses and eyes me. “Keep an eye on James.”
I scoff. “I’m the captain of my own ship, you know. I’m quite capable.”
Mateo’s lips pinch. “I know you are, but here, I’m captain, and for the moment I need you to follow orders.”
An anchor sinks in my belly and I begrudgingly fall back toward James. “Yes, sir.”
Mateo turns his attention to the helm and grapples for the radio. “Return fire at will.”
James gestures me to him as the weapon kickback of the Tiger Lily emanates. The entire ship pulses and moans.
“I have a backup plan,” James says in my ear.
I twist to him. “What do you mean?”
“I know those ships like the back of my hand. If we have to, I can get you to the helm. We could bring down the commander—”
“That might be your father on board.”
“No way, "James says. "Nerissa wouldn’t send Dad. She still holds him at the testing facility.”
My heart races at the mention of the facility. That’s where this whole thing started, where Peter and I were held prisoner for so many years.
The vessel pitches from the force of another bomb, knocking me from my thoughts. On the radar, Nerissa’s seven vessels break their formation, three of them speeding west.
After Peter.
“I don’t think there’s going to be time for that,” I say to James. “I could get over there easy, but I’d need several of you for backup to pull off a takeover. Unless we’re in close, I can’t get you on board.”
James nods. “Keep it in mind as an option.”
“Okay, four ships, hot on our tail. Two port side, two starboard,” Mateo barks into the radio. “Give ‘em all you got!”
On cue, bursts of plasma explode off each side of the Tiger Lily. Wendi and Cyrus return the favor, almost in harmony as they rattle off c
annon fire.
“Evasive action, Elijah.”
Elijah has no time to change course, before the four blips on the screen move in nearer to our ship.
“They’re pinning us in!” I yell.
“That’s exactly what they’re doing.” Mateo slams his fists on the consol. “But If Nerissa wanted us dead, she’d have sunk us already.”
Elijah whips to Mateo, pushing his black framed glasses up the bridge of his nose. “Orders, Captain?”
Mateo leans into the helm’s console with both hands, clenching his jaw.
“We can’t let them take us,” I say.
“Orders, Captain?” Elijah repeats.
Eyebrows furrowed, Mateo taps the radio. “Cease fire.” Before he taps it off, Wendi’s voice rings through with a string of obscenities that on a typical day would make me blush. Not today.
The air grows thick on the bridge at Mateo’s order. Elijah looks toward Mateo uncertainly. “Is this surrender, Si—”
Before he gets the words out, a new blip from the east brightens the radar. The squeal of multiple bombs streaking the sky is followed by a crack in the distance. Off the port side, smoke billows from the lead Syndicate ship—not from the Tiger Lily.
A broad smile spreads across Mateo’s face, then quickly dissipates. “Not yet it isn’t.” He grabs the radio. “Resume fire!”
Whoops ensue outside the bridge, soon drowned out by the cracks of cannon fire.
“Tiger Lily, are you there?” a husky female voice crackles over the radio. My heart nearly leaps from my chest at the voice.
Una.
“It’s the Scylla. My Sisters!” I squeal. “They found me!”
“Yes, immediate assistance required,” Mateo returns.
“No problem, we’re on it. Always up for a challenge,” Una says. The radio cuts out and then crackles to life again. “Do you happen to have Arya over there? We tracked her escape pod to this area and lost the signal.”
NeverSea: Echoes of the Lost (Book One) Page 8