Isaiah just as easily snapped back to cheerfulness.
"Nice to hear a vote of confidence! I try pretty hard to be a good person. And if you need someone to talk to, I can certainly help with that. I may not always understand everything, but I am pretty good at listening."
Isaiah stopped to gaze off into the distance for a bit.
"It just can be a bit rough knowing that if someone less scrupulous were to get ahold of, say, my arm, they might use it to kill hundereds of people. And that's not getting into the stuff where its just plain not a good idea to talk about it, even if it hurts a bit to keep it all secret. Sometimes even words and ideas can do harm, if they're the wrong ones."
Prior to starting the Treasure Hunt, Horizon and Praetoria sat down and discussed the best way to go about this event, especially with a telepath on the team. Ultimately, they agreed to choose rare items that were potentially in the area to go and find. After some back and forth, the two captains settled on three items. A gold coin, a natural pearl, and a live monkey. First team to bring the said item to Miguel, acting as a neutral party, at the Common House would get credit for the find. First team to get credit for two items would win.
Right away, Scorch and Psyche share a knowing look as the two teams huddle up. When the horn sounds, They fly off towards the Spanish Fort, while Shin and Rory take off for the jungle.
Meanwhile, Isaiah heads off in Inquiry to scan the sea floor while Gallowglass and Holly head for the jungle as well. Praetoria speeds off to try and catch up to Psyche and Scorch, hoping to be able to take advantage of whatever inside knowledge they may have.
When Praetoria catches up, she sees Mattie soar down and dive into the ocean near the reef. Meanwhile, Psyche played defense, and kept up various telekinetic shields and obstacles to keep Kayla from approaching. After some playful banter between the two in their stalemate, Scorch surfaces and holds up a coin with a cheer! Praetoria smiles and attempts to dive and snatch the coin away, but Mattie was too quick and darted off at the last moment! Psyche continued playing defense for her as she seared off for the main house, arriving and handing the coin off as Kayla and Psyche land behind her, Kayla panting hard and smiling at the other two.
In the Jungle, Rory and Shin were actively trying to sneak up on a lone monkey on the ground. Rory prepared to trap the thing in ice, but just as he wrapped it up, a hammer made of light materialized and shattered his ice construct! The two boys wheeled around to see Holly standing there with a smile. The monkey, however, wasn’t waiting around as it was now thoroughly frightened. The next several minutes as a wild scene in the jungle as the three of them took turns trying to use their powers to subdue the money. The boys managed to get out ahead of Holly, though, and were able to try and coordinate a trap on the poor little thing.
Suddenly, a THWIP was heard immediately followed by a THUD of an arrow landing directly between the two guys. It exploded just a moment after in a thick, sticky paste that quickly hardened and bound them up! Gallowglass hopped out from behind a tree and over to the boys as she said, ”Hey guys! So, that there is a special blend of mine I altered from nonlethal riot control foam. Hardens super quick and can hold a Rhino! Dissolves quick, in like five minutes or so. I suppose you could burn it off with your radiation, or freeze it until it’s brittle...but that would probably suck for the other guy...I suggest you two wait it out! Anyway, gotta run!” she says as she tossles both of their hair before running off into the woods laughing. Minutes later, she and Holly meet up with the girls at Miguel, their primate prize in tow in Holly’s light cage. Shortly after, the two guys make it back, their clothes and skin still sticky from Gallowglass’ trap.
Score tied at one, it all came down to the pearl. Everyone joined in looking for clams, Inquiry having been at it for a while now, had found plenty of clams for a clam bake, but no pearls. After an hour of dedicated searching and swimming around the island, everyone was exhausted and was taking a break. Suddenly, the horn sounded that the game was over! With all eight Sentinels catching their breath on the beach, the confusion was evident as to what was going on. They all took off to find Miguel and learn what was up. When they caught up to him, they could see him smiling and laughing as he held up a beautiful, but small, pink pearl. He pointed to his left, where a soaking wet Bear was laying on the patio, chewing on a clam shell...
It wasn't the loss to Holly during the volleyball that stung the worst, but losing the treasure hunt. He respected Gallowglass a lot for her ingenuity and prowess with a bow. He could understand losing the monkey to her and Holly, though being pinned to Rory until the glue was brittle enough to break free had been awkward.
No, the part that stung the worst was losing to that frustratingly adorable masked dog. He couldn't even be mad at Bear for just doing what he did best.
Collapsing on the sand in front of the rest of the group, he sighed in defeat. "Sorry guys. I tried my best," He said to them, even if he didn't believe it.
He felt a need to make things up to his team, trying to figure something out. Especially for Psyche, who'd managed to help them win at least one event in his opinion, the race around the island a blowout. "If you guys want, I'll cook for you all tonight. Plenty of ingredients for what you want," He said, glad to do something for them all, even if it didn't make him feel all that better.
Psyche drew him back up to his feet with an exasperated look on her face, but an amused ringing in her sending made her feelings more clear to everyone who heard, "Shin you don't have to beat yourself up so much. This was training. It's good that it wass close. Of course I would have preferred to win, but I'm not going to let you wallow.
"I'm also not going to let you do All of the work cooking. You'll still have to be the head chef, mind, but I can at least help you with some of the chopping and prepwork.
"Maybe I'll even learn a thing or two."
Down 2-0 heading into paintball Shin tried to rally the team but a strange tension hung in the air, and on top of that Rory was not really good at losing. The teams marked off a football field sized patch of beach and using powers created obstacles, tunnels, and aerial barriers (including a 150ft ceiling) . Once the field was set Kayla made an offer to Rory to throw the game. "Oh God no," Rory replied, "I like you; I love winning."
With the rules and field set, Psyche gave all members a mental 3...2...1...GO! and the match was off, the flyers took to the air as the others advanced on foot. At first there was hail of spray and pray from both side, but everyone settled down shortly after the start. Scorch scored first, when she was able to get the drop on Isaiah, after a brief aerial shootout with Praetoria. Rory then got pinned down by Mosaic and Gallowglass, while Horizon, Scorch, and Psyche tried to take out Praetoria in a 3 on 1, unfortunately the hyper focus on Kayla allowed Gallowglass to peel away from Froztbite, and caught Psyche in the back while pursuing Prae. Holly thought she got Rory but it was an ice clone, and he made her pay for her case of mistaken identity leaning out from a barrier and shooting her square in the chest. Team Praetoria drew even when they were able to catch Scorch in a pincer maneuver. With it 2 on 2, quiet fell on the course as the teams regrouped. Minutes dragged on as the teams stalked each other, then it was over in a brief engagement, which left Shin and Rory standing in victory, while Prae and Ness fired first they had missed ever so slightly and the boys' return fire struck true.
"It was fun anyway." Mattie says, "but they beat us fair and square.. I'm just worried about what they claim as their prize. And you can't do all the cooking by yourself, I'll help too."
Gosh darn it!. holly thinks, as Scorch spikes the ball into her, and she dives, coming up a few inches short, and with a bit of beach rash.
That's fourteen all! Psyche said. next point was game. need to finish strong.
Okay, I've got a plan. Gallow, set me up. Holly called small shards to herself, giving her legs, midsection, and right arm hard light shells. time to try out a plan she had a while ago.
Rory served. hard. Away from GallowGlass, but she was fast, she hit the ball into the air, and Holly leap, buoyed by the hard light around her legs and midesction. Her right arm moved to spike, and end it Past Psyche right into Rory, the hard-light augmentation lending her some strength, maybe enough that she could put it past the two.
And instead, her left arm batted it over the Praetoria, who spiked it between Psyche and Scorch, and put it in the centre of team Horizon's formation.
and that's game! Holly the floating disco ball said.
As everyone lay panting on the beach (except Isaiah, who seemed to still be drawing his own refueling energy from somewhere) , catching their breath from the race, Kayla stood up and floated over in front of everyone.
”So, I dunno about you guys, but I had fun!” she says, the white fabric of her Regalia fluttering in the wind with her golden hair. ”But fun was just a part of these games. It was to work on teamwork with unexpected pairings. To test ourselves in creative ways, and to come together in friendly competition. I hope we succeeded on all fronts.”
She lands and turns towards the setting sun in silence for a moment. ”I...I can’t help but think there is something big coming our way. I don’t know if it is good or bad. But it’s going to be important. And we are going to have to work together to deal with it,” she says looking back to the rest of you in the sand. ”I just...I’m honored you all have chosen me to lead, I’m going to do my best to earn that respect you all have given me. But most importantly, I want you all to know that I consider you all friends. All of you.”
She smirks as she puts her hands on her hips and adds ”So no hard feelings when Team Praetoria claims our prize!” she says with a wink.
When you return from the fishing trip, and over the next several hours, Inquiry's passive aura scans detect unusual readings from Mattie. Her aura is threaded with traces of something that wasn't there before - like a residue. Even more curiously, there's actually three such residues present. One is very strong, the second, somewhat weaker, and the third is very weak. In fact, checking back over the readings from the last few days, the weakest residue was present the morning after the fire and has faded even more since then, so that you can now barely detect it. Strangely, the residues, especially the second (the mid-strength residue) seem to spike when Scorch uses her powers during the competition.
The first second date between the two Sentinels leads them to walking toward a side of the island that is not used by the Taylors at all. Rather than a soft and sandy beach, the ground rises up to a series of rocky bluffs overlooking a nearby series of reefs. It's a lovely view, with the surf churning against the rugged coastline on this side of the island.
As the two open up and share some of their secrets, the walk continues along this new and interesting topography. Before long, they spot a broken and crumbled ruin of what looks like an old Spanish fort.
Psyche senses another mind on this side of the island, though hazy and with indistinct thoughts. In fact, the more she tries to concentrate on the mind, the more wispy and hazy the presence of the mind becomes. However, she is eventually able to get a direction of the mind.
Psyche's head snaps to the ruins, where they both see the faint, translucent figure of a woman in an old-style dress, standing on the edge of the cliffs overlooking the churning surf below. She clutches her hands to her breast, and looks desperately out to the nearby reefs.
As they walk hand in hand along the cliff tops following the earlier events, and come across the Spanish fort, Mattie is surprised to see a figure standing looking out to see. "Who's that, do you think?" she asks Kylie. "She looks like she needs help."
"She does seem to be in some distress..." In a flash, Psyche was re-clothed in her psychic webs, their bundle of clothes and towels skimming along the beach to help Mattie do the same. "But there's something strange, be careful."
She floated up for a closer look, calling out with her mind, "Hello? Ma'am? Are you alright?"
Mattie quickly pulls makes herself more respectable, annoyed at herself for not bringing her uniform, and follows Psyche towards the strange woman.
The woman takes no notice of the two heroines approaching. Neither does she respond or react to the attempts to get her attention.
Psyche is able to pick up waves of desperate anxiety and terror as the transparent woman stares off away from the island.
Distant booming suddenly echoes across the sea. Following the woman's eyeline and looking out toward the shallows, Scorch and Psyche are able to make out two ghostly ships out of a bygone age. Full sail, high-decked and each outfitted with black powder cannons, they exchange fire back and forth. The larger vessel appears to have foundered on the reefs, letting the smaller one circle it and evade the devastating broadsides.
The battle rages, and though the smaller ship is more nimble, it suffers from attrition. It, too, begins to founder, even as grappling hooks and rope from the larger vessel are thrown at it, dragging it into close quarters combat.
The faint shouts of men in battle reach the Sentinels' ears. The pops of small arms fire and the distant ring of steel clashing on steel rise above the sound of the surf. Eventually, the larger ship manages to break away from the reef and push off, and moments later, the smaller ship explodes.
The woman wails in anguish, the sound piercing the hearts of the two heroes. She fades as her scream settles in Psyche's and Scorch's minds, shaking them to their core.
Not again
Dread shot through Psyche in nauseating waves, only becoming slightly manageable when she realized that Scorch could see them too.
....What the hell was that?
Psyche still senses a lingering pool of painful anguish around where the woman vanished. She also senses the residue of intense despair and sorrow out where the smaller ship detonated. And worst of all, she detects a deep wellspring of vile malevolence emanating from the larger ship as it fades from sight.
Mattie stares as the ghostly battle takes place, her hand instinctively seeking Kylie's for reassurance. "I,.. I don't know. But, that poor woman. She was so sad!" she replies, feeling tears in her eyes.
"They're not really gone, Mattie. That big ship especially... There's something really wrong feeding it...
Her eyes spill over with light, evaporating what tears might have begun to form. Arcs of power carve their way through her skin, hot and angry to the touch as her power reaches into the world around her. Automatically she floats from the ground, only tethered by Mattie's hand as her mind's eye opens wide.
"Mattie, if I tell you to run and get help, you'll do that, right?"
"No chance!" Mattie replies refusing to relinquish her hold on Psyche's hand. "You can call for help if we need it, but I'm not leaving you. Not now!"
You charge up your powers, drawing upon your vast reservoirs of psychic energy and getting ready to unleash it if necessary. However, the more you tap into the energy, the astral plane -- the mindscape where your mind half-exists -- suddenly begins to siphon some of that power off and you feel that energy being drawn into the eddies of supercharged emotion around you.
You suddenly realize that the barriers between the astral plane and this reality are worn thin due to the intense conflict that raged here so many years ago. Your presence here has acted as a catalyst, slowly and steadily eroding those barriers further, powering up the spirits.
The thing most in the most danger is the barrier itself -- if you're not careful you could create a clear planar rift. If there's a "who" here that's vulnerable to you, it's probably the spirit of the woman that's closest to you. She's obviously not a fighter and the emotions of grief and sorrow are ones that -- though infectious and dangerous in their own right when strong enough -- you may be able to tamp out some effort.
[B]Ironically, these were the same teams as when we went to Rustside
"There's something really wrong feeding it"
It's me.
This never would have happened if I hadn't been here. I never should have lost control - look at this!
"Mattie, I need you to go. If I use too much power here I could rip this whole place in two. Find Isaiah and the others. I'll do what I can to keep this whole thing from spiraling."
She leaned down to steal one more kiss, quick but fierce.
"Please go."
She needed to keep this place whole. She'd used her powers many times to hold things back, to hold them together, but mostly against physical things. Weights, bludgeons, explosions. This was more insidious. Her own power was what was under attack, and flooding more into the fray could tear down exactly what she was trying to repair.
But there was no one else. Not yet.
Carefully, carefully as she could, she drew the energy already here into and through herself, not adding anything else, but brick by brick beginning to put the energy that roiled through the skies and sea back into the wall between her worlds.
Psyche never prayed.
But she hoped it would hold.
If only they hadn't spent so much time here...
***
...There was something about this place that didn't feel entirely right. But it was beautiful. It was private. It was probably a good place to bring Mattie to again. Again? I guess you've decided there's going to be an again. Does Mattie know? Does Shin know? Do you even really know what it is you're doing with those two?
With a brief pulse she cut those thoughts off. It didn't mean she hadn't heard them though. She wanted to just stay here and not think about it, but they couldn't just stay here forever.
She let herself stare at Mattie for a long moment before she reached out to gently shake her awake. "Hey. We should probably get dressed and head back."
And then the rest.
Mattie smiles as she wakes and looks up into Kylie's eyes. "So, I guess it wasn't just a dream then." she says as wakes, "Do we really have to go back so soon?" She continues as, with a playful twinkle in her eyes she pulls Kylie back into another lingering kiss....
Sometime later, as they pull their clothes back on, Mattie soberly nods as Kylie brings up what Mattie's been doing her best not to think too much about. "I guess we should." she replies, hesitantly. "I,.. Well, you know I'm falling, have fallen for you, totally. I know you probably think its just some kind've crush or something and maybe you don't feel the same way? That maybe you're just,.. I don't know." the unspoken thought fills her mind: just enjoying yourself.
"No. I wouldn't do that. Especially not with someone I care about.
"But... you know I've been spending some time with Shin too, right?"
The wind picked up slightly, and Kylie huddled in as her towel wrapped around her shoulders.
"He and I aren't exclusive, but I'm not just enjoying myself with him either.
I care for both of you a lot. I thought that this week might help me clarify my feelings, but, honestly I'm more uncertain now than when I started. I'm not any closer to any kind of decision, but the stakes are higher."
Scorch looks into Kylie's eyes, for a moment she hesitates but, seeing the seriousness and fear in her eyes, she reluctantly nods. "You'd better be here when I get back!" she yells as a storm of psychic energy begins to whip around the two figures. "I won't lose you, not now!"
Turning, she runs a few paces before launching herself into the sky, in a sulphurous jet of flame. Even though her concentration is almost entirely taken up with controlling the psychic storm, as Scorch focuses her energy and streaks off towards the others. Psyche senses a trace of psychic energy flare for a second from the younger girl, energy similar to her own, though twisted, transmuted into something different, yet similar like a spark of fire compared to a lightning storm.
Mattie looks down at her feet as Kylie brings up Shin. "Yeah, I know you've been spending time with him, and I know he likes you. I guess I,.. I've just been trying not to think about it. About what it might mean. I don't really know what I think. I,.. I don't really know how I feel about that, about you two. But, in the end I guess its up to you. I can't make you chose, I don't know what to think really. I just know how I feel about you. I,.. I guess I can handle your not being exclusive with me, at least until you figure things out, but you need to tell him about us too."
In Psyche's mind's eye, she could see it: like the eye of a hurricane surrounding the larger of the ancient seagoing vessels, roiling clouds funneling down into it. She puts a massive effort into counteracting the rift, sending energies pushing against the swirling forces trying to push through.
It seemed to work for a few moments, until Mattie unleashed her own power.
The pocket of grief and terror lingering there on the cliff overlooking the reefs suddenly flares to life. It draws the corona from Scorch, the superheated air siphoning off as she generates it, and it is pulled into a pit of otherworldly pain and despair.
Mattie collapses back to the ground, only getting a few feet into the air before losing her power entirely. The chill of the grave courses over her.
As she stands up, she is clad in a Victorian-style nightgown.
Mattie stands, staring at Psyche with real fear in her eyes which glow with energy as her lose hair and the nightgown whip around her. "I can feel her,.. I can feel her pain, her anger!"
Kayla was quiet through dinner, sitting beside Rory and just enjoying the feeling of what seemed like everyone finally starting to come together not as a team, but as a group of teenage friends. There had been some awkwardness and confusing situations, sure. But what else is new in the world, right?
Even so, she yawned and stretched before standing and saying ”I’m gonna hit the hay. We did a lot of stuff today and I’m beat. See you guys in the morning,” she says as she gives Rory a kiss and heads off. ”Tomorrow night, movie night for us resting up...for Rome on Wednesday morning!”
Kylie nods, visibly relieved, "I wasn't going to insist, because I know but I'm glad. Would you like me to wait until you get to talk to Rory, or anyone else?"
"I'm sorry. The last thing I want to do is make you feel uncared for, or to lead you on. Today hasn't been what I expected either, but, it's been wonderful. I won't tell anyone without asking you, but you should tell anyone you want to."
***
Kylie grabbed hold of Mattie, a part of her afraid that her hands would pass right through her, but trying to anchor her nonetheless.
I don't know what's happening, I don't know what to do
"I haven't told Rory about, well, told him that i'm gay. I mean, being by ourselves, I guess there wasn't really any reason to and,.. Well, I don't know how he'll take it. Not that he's homophobic or anything, I think he'd be fine if it were you, or even Praetoria, probably but, well it might be different when its his sister. I mean, he'll probably be OK with it but,.. well, yeah. I will talk to him, soon. I'll do it after the dinner tomorrow, he usually stays up pretty late. I'll wait till the others have gone to bed.
A glimmer of recognition and pride touches Psyche's eyes as she sees her beloved in the gown she gifted her, purchased when he (or was it she?) was in Portugal before sailing across the Atlantic. They had been apart for too long. He had spent many months hunting that black-hearted villainous pirate Captain Ioan Trenchard across the sea from the Spanish main to here in the Caribbean.
A gentle hand touches you, reaching out to pierce through the despair overwhelming you. When it does, you look up and see a handsome, dashing face that is somehow a complete stranger, yet you know you love this man with all your heart.
Here, in this Spanish fortress, you've come to live while you wait for your beloved to finish his duty and the task appointed to him by the Queen. It wouldn't be long before you'd be together forever, and your heart swells as you see him before you.
Only, you know something isn't right. There's a dark force lurking out in the ocean, and it hunts you. Your beloved has left you alone, and the evil has found you, with the cruel laugh and the heavy boots, stomping, closer and closer--
A sudden wave of incredible, suicidal despair strikes Kylie for an instant, then she shakes her head, pulling her hand away from Mattie.
They see each other for who they are -- Sentinels, heroes, teens of the modern day, and at the start of a new journey together. Not at the end of an ill-fated romance.
But the dark clouds begin swirling and the two heroes look out beyond the cliff, and see the heavy galleon turn toward the island. No longer faint and ghostly; it looks real, and helmed by a malevolent force.
When Kayla gets up and announces that she's going to bed, Mattie is sitting on the beach, building up the courage to talk to Rory. Finally, she makes her way back to rejoin the others, only to find that he's already gone to bed. Feeling a little disappointed, but mostly relieved, she looks around the room, her eyes passing over Kylie meaningfully. "Well, if everyone's off to bed anyway, I might turn in too." "..Or we could go for a swim back at that beach? Although, I'm not sure where I left my swimming gear."
Shin felt odd, tapping his fingers on the table. He'd hoped to have some time with Kylie alone. But it seemed that she was mentoring Mattie, or at least being her good friend. Which was fine with him, but he was anxious about doing something with Kylie again before they had to go back to the city. He figured that she'd treasure the most him sharing his memories of a time far before she was born.
He was also aware of just how much his speech had alter since coming here, and he credited the condition to Kylie's subtle influences. Prae and Rory had slipped off, Gallowglass was off doing her thing and Holly had left with Isaiah - he wondered if there was something happening with them?
He tapped his communicator, wondering if he should call Whippoorwill, see what was happening in Halcyon since they had left. See if Hoshiko was out of quarantine yet. See if his future self had made some kind of move since that last cryptic communication he'd hijacked Inquiry to give them all. It had probably saved Kylie. It might have even saved Hoshiko. But if his future self was anything like him, he was playing seven moves in advance on the board. Who knew what he was already working on?
He grimaced and got up, walking out the door and peering at the sky. Dark clouds loomed near the other side of the island from his perspective. He hoped that it wouldn't rain anytime soon. Though Prae said movie night tomorrow, so some bad weather wouldn't spoil their fun much. Probably get into some strange game like on Saturday.
Like when Mattie had forcefully kissed him, surprising him. Was it possible that she'd been lying to him after he said he didn't have romantic feelings for her? She had been acting awkwardly around him even though they were supposed to have cleared the air. The kiss was also confusing, mostly because it had sparked something briefly. Different from Kylie, but he wasn't sure he could see her as just like his sister anymore. He felt awful and guilty while reflecting, hoping that Kylie could forgive his feelings.
"...Maybe I think too much," He mused aloud finally, taking a walk along the shoreline to try and clear his head. He'd be back soon enough and he could talk it out then. It wasn't like Kylie was in his head at the moment anyways.
...which when he thought about it, seemed peculiarly withdrawn of her to do.
Scorch shakes her head as she feels herself pull free of the spirit and she finds herself facing, not her long-dead husband, but her lover. Nevertheless, she can still sense the echo of pain, sorrow and anger that had consumed her moments before. "We need the others!" she tells Psyche, "Stand back, hopefully Inquiry's keeping watch!"
She turns and runs several yards away, before concentrating, focussing herself. Letting her senses fill the area, she pulls as much heat from her surroundings as she can, from the sand and the rocks and the still-hot wind that surrounds them. Gathering it until she feels like she can't hold any more, she launches an enormous flare of fire high into the sky, visible for miles around.
Isaiah was still hanging around with Holly, but Inquiry had been picking up a bit of a suspicious signal recently, and had emerged from the water to take a look around. Dark clouds in the distance... suspicious. Hmmm... Intensified Astral interference; VERY suspicious. And then a brilliant fireball in the sky that could only have been sent up by Scorch. Alright, time to move.
"Uh oh, Scorch just sent up a flare. Looks like trouble. We should get a move on." Turning to Holly, Isaiah held out a hand. "Want a lift?"
"Attention all Sentinels! Scorch just shot off a distress flare off on the far side of the island, near those ominous dark clouds. Probably in trouble. Inquiry is going ahead, and the rest of us should get moving."
Inqiury rose further into the air, and shot off towards the distress flare. This looked like it was going to be trouble.
Scorch was in trouble?
Kylie's in trouble.
He didn't even need to think about it too much, as he enveloped himself in his power and flew faster than he thought he could, seeing Inquiry's trajectory and bursting towards it like a rocket. He wasn't about to let anything bad happen to the girls, shouting as he came upon the scene...
...was that a pirate galleon?
"What the heck is going on?" He shouts as he lands between the two girls, staring out at the ocean. "Why is there a pirate ship off shore, and why do I suddenly have a headache?"
"That's just Terrible. If we can't find anything to swim in, I don't know what we'd have to do if we decided to take a dip...
"Grab whatever you do plan on bringing; I'll be ready in a little bit. Or if you're not going to bring Anything at all... then wait there so I can watch you... Pack.
"I can veil us before we go."
Probably a good idea to get a bit farther from Rory and Kayla for a little while anyways... Good for her, them, I guess, but, plenty of reasons not to listen in.
Images from the night before with Shin flashed through her head, along with the certainty that leaving herself open to the same tonight couldn't help but get mixed up. She was still pretty sure that sharing a bed with Kayla during last night's dreams had been at least part of why Kayla had thought they'd slept together this morning.
There was no way her dream shields had been that strong.
She spent a little time in the kitchen, able to give the pots and pans a thorough scrubbing without having to pay particular attention, but really she was just stalling.
She wished Mattie'd been able to talk to Rory.
She really wanted to tell Shin.
She'd just have to tell him tomorrow.
"Hey, Shin. I don't think tonight's going to be good for that baseball game - I'm expecting to be shields up all night - but I'd really love to do it tomorrow night.
"I'd like to find time for our second date too before we head to Rome. Got any more ideas?"
"It's Captain Ioan Trenchard. He's here to take Mattie, he wants revenge on me for...
"No. Sorry.
"He's a ghost. He's crazy. And if I go all out there's a chance I could drag this island into the afterlife with him. But I think I have an idea..."
Well, I've plenty of other cool superfights like that one locked in my head anytime you want to take a look. But as for a next date, limited options, but I did note a reef the fishing boat pilot told us about. It might be fun to snorkel around and check out the wildlife there. I'm looking forward to it. Naked affection and appreciation came Psyche's way from him, along with a little bit of disappointment but hope for their next date.
"Ghosts. I want to start debating this, but I get the feeling now's not the time to argue if they exist," Shin says as he also takes a look and considers his options. Then he just shrugs that off. This is an old fashioned pirate ship. A few good blasts should just sink the damn thing.
"Let's put it on the seafloor!" He shouted, gathering up heat and light and then unleashing it in short blasts, firing across its bow. He aimed for the cannons, wanting to cripple its chances of firing on them at shore.
Rory had gone to use the facilities and when he got back it was almost like everyone but the staff had vanished. He was hoping to have that talk with Mattie but she was gone. He caught a glimpse of Shin as he walked along the beach, likely to have a tryst with Kylie. Guess I'll head back to my room, they'll know where to find me...
Rory arrives back at his bungalow to find Kayla floating above the bed. "Prize huh? One second, I'll be right back," he replied with a s*#@ eating grin. Rory head to the bathroom area where there was a storage closet, she could here him digging and rummaging through it until he came back into view wearing only a bed sheet fashioned into a toga. Bending down on one knee, with head bowed, a with one elbow resting on his knee and the other arm extended to the ground, "Hail the conquering hero! What is it that domina requires, I am here to serve,"
"I know I could just take a look, Shin, but I'd really rather have you show me.
"Tomorrow night? And we'll see about snorkeling beforehand too."
With the lingering knowledge of hunting Captain Trenchard's Blinded Banshee across the seas, Kylie guides Horizon's blasts to where they will best collapse the gunports. "Be careful of the magazine. It'll sink the ship, but who knows what could be taken with it!"
"It's Captain Ioan Trenchard. He's here to kill Kylie, he wants revenge on her for...
Scorch replies, in almost perfect unity with Psyche, before shaking her head, letting Psyche explain what's happening as she surveys the scene.
Kayla has giggled before landing on the bed, and lieing down. She gave him a “come here” with her finger, and as he approached her, she said ”Although...you did win the actual fighting game...” as she lifts her arms above her head. The greaves, boots, and arm guards of her armor fade, leaving just the pieces around her core. She raised her hands above her head and put her wrists together, and gold and silver cuffs appeared around her wrists. ”Oh no! I’ve been taken prisoner!” she said with mock exasperation as she plays at trying to escape.
__________
Kayla was in bliss, and she thought for certain that tonight was going to be the night. She and Rory had been holding nothing back, and despite his body being perpetually chilly, she felt like she was radiating a furnace and was covered in sweat from the intensity of their make out session.
As Rory was well on his way rounding third and making his way towards home, Kayla heard Inquiry’s engines rev up and lift off, the force shaking the bungalow. ”Rory...” she said, but he was intently focused on her. ”Rory! Somethings...wrong. Inquiry just...hang on...”
She got up and walked over to the window and peeked out. She could see the ship’s thrusters tearing off overhead, and caught a glimpse of Shin soaring that same way, silhouetted by the moon.
”Something’s going on...” she said as she called the armor back over her and headed outside. There, she finally was able to see the fading light from the flare. ”Rory! It’s Mattie! She sent up a signal from the other side of the island!”
Rory snaps out of his tunnel vision, rolling out of bed onto the floor frantically searching for shorts. Stepping out into the evening air Rory sighs at the fact the trouble was on the otherside of the island, "I there a dirt bike, ATV, jet ski, or something so I don't have to be carried into battle by my girlfriend?"
Inquiry arrived at the scene, quickly taking in the situation. Things were messy, they'd have to be careful; the wrong approach might just feed the spiraling chaos. Unfurling various arcane sensor apparatus, the vessel took stock of the situation. What kind of spirit was this, and what methods would actually do it harm? Did it have an anchor somewhere? And what was sustaining it?
There were too many powers in play to get a good read. Maybe if someone could cut down on the interference, it could get a good read. It did notice Shin's attack; perhaps he could at least offer some advice.
"Shin! I'm still trying to get a read on that thing, but it looks like some kind of physically manifesting Astral entity, possibly a psychic construct. It won't care about heat or radiation; use light or energy disruption instead. Make it flashy, too; psychological warfare often works better on spirits than physical attack. And ask Psyche if she can tamp down the interference a little; I can't see through all the psychic static."
”I don’t think so, baby. But I’ll try and make you look tough,” Kayla says as she hooks Frostbite under his arms and soars across island.
When they arrive, everyone else is already there. Praetoria sets Frostbite down before floating ahead a bit and looking at the galleon approaching, before looking at Psyche and Scorch and asking ”Uuuummmmmm, okay?”
Rory catches up to the action and surveys the scene. "Ghost Pirates? Well at least the interruption is worth it."
Scorch's eyes don't leave the pirate ship as she replies to Praetoria. "He's here for me, he killed my husb,... Kylie,.. " she turns her gaze on Praetoria. In the pale moonlight her hair seems to have taken on a darker tone, and her eyes seem to pulse with unsuppressed menace that seems to emanate from her in waves. "I'm going to kill him!"
Praetoria’s head snaps around to look at Rory, stunned at his statement, possibly hurt even, but trying not to make a deal about it here.
”So it might have been explained already, but what exactly is going on and why is Mattie dressed like she came off an episode of Little House on the Prairie or something?”
At Mattie’s confusing outburst, she floats down and takes the girl by the shoulders and says ”Mattie! You’re not making any sense...”
Ghost Pirates. Holly says. I thought one we were out of Halcyon, we might get away from some of the crazy. wishful thinking, I guess.
Light and shock and Awe works on them? Holly says to Isaiah.
she steps out, golden shards coalescing around her, forming a beaming suit of armour, and a pair of angelic wings. She raises one hand, and hardens the light steaming from inquiry into an enormous beam, and unleashes it on the ship, leaving her armour and platform with her
Mattie's words alarmed her more than a little, so Kylie stepped in before she could do anything... destabilizing, looking her in the eye with a crease of worry across her brow.
"Mattie, I'm right here; I'm not dead. You can't get sucked in; you need to snap out of it. You don't need to avenge me. You're not really my wife; you're not even my girlfriend!."
Despite her harsh words, as she tried to bring Mattie back from the brink, she clasped the other girl's hand with intimacy. An unmistakable intimacy...
This was the second craziest thing to happen to Horizon today, launching himself forward in his field and flying around the ship, using Psyche's guidance (How did she know what a magazine was on an old boat?) to disable the cannons. He works with Holly as well to create shock and awe, using the nature of his power to blend into the night sky while unleashing flares of bright energy to distract and disable.
Isaiah can't concentrate with all this psychic noise, can you clear the air? He thinks to Kylie as he buzzes over the ship again, looking for the captain that Scorch had mentioned. She was grasping onto Mattie face, staring in direct concentration, a low buzz in his head as he tried to push and reach her, as she gripped onto Mattie's hand tightly.
-on't need- avenge me. Yo- no- my wife; you're -en my girlfriend!.
Girlfriend.
He'd always thought that he was smart. But right now he suddenly felt like the biggest idiot in the entire world, staring out and stopping as he looked at Kylie and Mattie. It hurt him. It made him angry. And there was a good outlet for his anger right below as he crashed down into the deck, roaring out his anguish. He knew some of Dusk's tricks, as he willed his field to form into those blades, the mantle that acted as armor. He wanted to hurt something badly.
"COME OUT, CAPTAIN, IF YOU DARE TO FIGHT FAIR!" Shin screamed out. He should have been more cautious. He didn't care, he just wanted to hurt something now. End this damn fight by cutting the head off the snake.
Girlfriend... what the hell is going on here?
Seeing everyone that could headmoff to engage the ship and it’s ghostky crew, Kayla materializes her mystic sword. ”Well...I suppose trying to take prisoners is pointless. Frostbite, keep the girls safe!” she says as she darts down to the ship as well in a gleaming blur. She flies through the air above the deck, slicing her blade through any and all apparitions she encounters, taking care to avoid their attacks as well.
"Aye, aye Captain!... and uh... be careful."
Mattie's eyes shift to Kylie's face, still burning with sadness and rage. They seem unfocused, as if she's looking through the other girl, before they suddenly snap to focus on her eyes. "Os soldados. Eles estão todos mortos. E sinto muito, Filipe, ele me forçou. E agora ele está aqui para o nosso filho. Por favor me perdoe meu amor. Ele me forçou. Por que você me deixou. Não deixe ele me levar de novo!" Suddenly her eyes shift to the track up from the beach and her eyes blaze with fire. "É tarde demais! Ele está aqui. Eu não vou deixar ele me levar de novo. Eu vou morrer primeiro. Eu não vou deixar ele me levar de novo!" With that, she turns and begins running towards the fort.
"The soldiers. They're all dead. And,.. I'm sorry Filipe, he, forced me. And now he's here for our son. Please forgive me my love. He forced me. Why did you leave me. Don't let him take me again!"
It's too late! He's here. I won't let him take me again. I'll die first. I won't let him take me again!"