Forgive Me; part 3

Chapter 2 ┼ Forgive Me (part 3)

There was no time to consider all the factors in Uran’s mind when he saw the children arrive from his quarters that he was sure would never have been touched with how it’s situated, but as far as circumstances go, it’s his fault for lacking the foresight that area of the ship would have been impossible to damage. This time, it’s only a monster with enough bodily mass to force the exterior to dent and give way to puncture a section of the hull, what more if it was an enemy weapon, such as an energy cannon.

Either way, it was not an excuse to take things for granted or think of only the minor things, he has to build his resolve and thought. Even now as he spent time reorganizing his suppressed panic, he did realize his son along with Lotois’ daughter were not present amongst the children. This was the devastation he did not want to hold a seat under and feel, he will never accept the reality that their children are far from safe.

Uran partially looked behind him, while speed walking, and asked, “did you leave any of the crew to check my quarters and the rest of the area in case Ame and Keya are just hiding?”

The question made Lotois stop for a moment in his tracks before he could continue again, they were already halfway to Uran’s room. Three of the crew members are in the area, two of which are busy hurriedly patching up the almost human size hole, their feet stepping on all the mess of the furniture. Some of Uran’s books and paper from his desk were scattered everywhere, and one of the sofas had been tumbled over and looked like it was only partially damaged by the scruff of its corners and nothing else. Pillow cotton from the sofa and throw blankets pieces that were torn by accident scattered all over the floor.

The extension of Uran’s room, which was the private quarters barely touched or shaken, as he checked if Ame or Keya entered within without anyone noticing. Outside, Lotois and the third crew member who was able to hand, helped him look around for the missing children. The more they spent looking under things, double and triple checking, the deeper their hearts ever sank.

There was a significant speed decrease from the way the floor felt under Uran as if he was slowly being delivered into a cradle that gravity so carefully tries to settle them over the right spot. Indications of their arrival at the safe spot meant that there will be more time to organize what they can do as of now, against the tirade of ever-growing Dire-eater numbers within the forests and skies they just passed through.

A voice through the ship’s internal communication via the pipe notches through the walls echoed out the words, “we’ve landed on the eastern crevice between the northeastern mountain range just near the edge of the forest, captain. Your orders?”

Brushing the floor of dust with his shoes in the living room area reminded him of how much work the Sunflora still needed with its development. It’s not a perfectly strong ship nor is it the best, but the engine was the legacy the “old coon” left them. The vision this person left to them shaped what future Uran saw for the family Sunflora has built but he loved his son. The son he wished to be healthy and safe, loved by him, in the absence of his dead wife.

Uran momentarily looked around his quarters as he felt his eyes heat and swell with unshed tears from being internally stressed. The crew member fixing his wall had finished properly patching up the wall with a temporary board-up that would prevent any external disturbance for now. Coming back from the failed inspection, Lotois was breathing heavily, saying “Rife, they’re not here.”

Nodding as his mind was completely caught up with the current problem they must face, he approached the notch and called to the captain’s main room. “Jaar,” he called to the engineer.

He continued saying, “redirect me to the main hall.”

Hearing Jaaron’s affirmation, he heard a certain crackle of static before the familiar plink sound indicating the opening of all pipe channels. Uran proceeded to say, “due to unforeseen events, we will be camping Sunflora here near the mountain crevice. We’ve managed to mask our presence but for a long, we cannot tell. For now, all those with injuries, minor or otherwise, can please proceed to the mess hall. Doc kindly checks on them.

“If nothing’s wrong, please stay within your cabins. Sunflora crew, you know what to do at this rest, double check everything from the equipment and…” he considered his stance, and rubbed the bridge of his nose before continuing. “I’m peeved to keep this to any of the crew and member’s along with Sunflora, and we consider ourselves a family strong by our bonds of the vision our predecessors, who helped us, established

“Keeping our safe is one of our best traits, we believe and trust each other even with fault. And we will always, b—but…” Uran stuttered. He felt a hand on his shoulder as he blinked then continued. “I’m sorry…” he sobbed, “but a few minutes before we entered our destination, an accident occurred, and we need to a rescue party to venture into the forest. A few of the children fell through the hole made by a Dire-eater. I believe they are still alive from the distance we were attacked.

“Please proceed to the main deck, all hands available, in fifteen. Jaaron, Pemmi, prepare the break light.” Uran finished.

He knew Rona or Luri has already prepared for this protocol even before they landed, but it was Jaaron and Pemmi at the helm of the captain’s cabin. If they can’t monitor it for him then what is the worth of making them both his direct apprentices for the positions of both second and third mate? This imperative is a necessity every time they place the entire ship in an unprecedented harm’s way, which avoids exhausting the core machine of the Sunflora.

Ending the announcement with a tear rolling down his cheek, he slumped his head on his hand and then moved over to look at the crew. They looked back at him, their faces looked determined and honest. Though they may all know Uran as someone who showed confidence and silent strength, he was not one to shy from being vulnerable and honest when he needs them. To the people of Sunflora, this was not a stain on their bond as a crew. It was something they are willing, to be honest within equal loyalty.

“Captain, we’ll be here to support everyone.” One of them said. An old bachelor, who was a farmhand from one of the towns in the province they used to live. He escaped his impoverished town that was forced out of its original location because of the uncontrollable creatures beyond the land of their kingdom.

Being acquired by force into the crew was not their original goal but serving their freedom in the kingdom’s army was better than putting their lives in the hands of creatures stronger than them. That’s why almost every member of their crew and the small village they established is thankful for the founder of the Sunflora ship.

Nodding with a small smile, Uran schooled his mind and said, “we have our hands each to what we can do. The rest of you must make sure the ship is in ace shape, only you who know most about this ship than I do can achieve that. Also, check up on your family members, they’re worried about you, don’t you think? Lotois lead them back to areas that need checking. I will all see you in fifteen.”

His final words painted a sort of disappointment on the faces of the crew members who expectantly looked at him as if they were all ready to give their life to him, though they still nodded in acknowledgment of his orders. Knowing the captain was not doing this for anything but the crew’s benefit, Lotois urged them to go back to the hull and see what other repairs are there.

They left the room with Uran following behind as he needs to put the mercenaries into use, their hired extra hands, as he knew they would be the most fitting for the job that entails. Unexpected as it may seem for the occasion, making haste but taking into account planning their movement is much better even if it needs the priority.

The cockpit may seem like a tight fit, but it housed three Festoons. Two of them are only working as of current with the third partially skeletal. This third one is additional that they acquired from the junkyard that was going to be scrapped. They bought it at request by the Festoon engineer, Esie, because she was itching for upgrading their own with her desire to follow the footsteps of their deceased senior members, although her parents are still alive but are too old to travel with them.

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