Post by adriel on Nov 5, 2009 1:07:33 GMT -5
Adriel recrossed her legs when one of her ankles started going numb. Her boots made a hollow thunking noise on the floor of the Bug Fighter and the others looked over at her for a second, their eyes tired and showing little interest, just a dull awareness and tired determination to be ready for anything. Adriel's eyes flickered over to them and looked away just as quickly. She didn't want to meet their eyes. In fact no one really wanted to talk to anyone else and she leaned back against the hull of the ship and they all went back to ignoring each other.
Adriel closed her eyes and tried not to relive the last couple of days. After the attack on the refugee camp it had obviously had to be moved. Those that had survived had picked up and moved to another island for a while but everyone agreed that it was too close to their last location and she had no idea where it would be moved now. It was just a home port anyway. The real refugee camp was a small fleet of ships and barges somewhere in the Pacific and for that Adriel was grateful. She had always appreciated their caution but never more than in the last few weeks. Because of their constant habit of getting new refugees onto the barges as quickly as possible the casualties in the camp had been low. Low compared to how many free humans were still free and out on the ocean but almost everyone who had been permanently stationed in the camp was gone.
The garrison hadn't suffered quite as much. They were good at their jobs and Greg had kept most of them alive to pick up the remains of their families but who were guards that had no one to guard anymore? A lot of her companions feel like they'd failed and Adriel was among them. She didn't feel worthy to be the guard of anything and yet she hadn't wanted to abandon the war effort. What else was she supposed to do if she didn't fight? Hide? She couldn't imagine being happy with that. And honestly, she liked fighting a little more than she should. So she'd decided to sign up with a different service.
A long time ago she had met two members of the animorph resistance and it was the only reason she was here now. Later she'd met two more. And two had even come down to serve with them though they had both been left behind as rear guards of the camp and both had died. She'd mourned their passing. They'd been good friends and good soldiers and since she felt like it was partially her fault the camp had been taken by surprise she'd decided to take their place.
There was always need for them in the US but when Greg had inquired about transferring her with Cassie it had been requested she become part of the fledging international chapter instead. Their need was even more desperate than the US and Adriel could at least speak two languages, something that was rare among the other people they were getting. She'd agreed and she'd gotten on a ship and not looked back.
She hadn't expected anyone to come with her. But she'd been wrong. When Summer and Sarah had found out she was planning on leaving they'd stubbornly insisted on coming along. She had told them to stay put, especially Summer. "You have your sister to think about," she'd yelled at her when the other woman had refused to listen. Summer had just looked at her sleeping sister sadly before looking up at Adriel and replying, "and is she more safe here?" After what had just happened Adriel couldn't answer her. She was right. There was no where safe left in the world.
She was glad they were coming. They were the only family she had left. But Lily still wouldn't look at her straight on and that hurt. And a part of her had wanted to punish herself with loneliness and they had made that impossible. Well partially anyway. Summer was thinking she may go into pilot training instead of focusing on animorph training. It would allow Lily to live at the Academy, arguably the safest place on the planet even if it wasn't safe. And Sarah wasn't sure what she was doing yet. For Adriel there had been no question. She wanted to be in the fight, not above it.
"We're here," a voice called out from the pilot seat. It was cramped in the little Bug Fighter with the two pilots, three grown women and a little girl but they managed. Adriel got up on her knees and looked out a small window to see the large expanse of white stretching out in every direction. She had to own that it was a breathtaking sight.
The Bug Fighter descended quickly and she soon made out the black form of the Blade Ship. it looked like a stain on the pristine white landscape and it gave her chills to see it. Even sitting there like that it still looked dangerous and she couldn't forget that it was a yeerk ship. She wondered how long it would be before they came looking for their toy and worried about Lily's future.
The Bug Fighter came in for a smooth landing in the Blade Ship's hangar bay and the doors opened. Adriel slung her one bag over her shoulder and got up without a word. She descended the ramp and saw a surprisingly familiar face waiting for her.
Adriel closed her eyes and tried not to relive the last couple of days. After the attack on the refugee camp it had obviously had to be moved. Those that had survived had picked up and moved to another island for a while but everyone agreed that it was too close to their last location and she had no idea where it would be moved now. It was just a home port anyway. The real refugee camp was a small fleet of ships and barges somewhere in the Pacific and for that Adriel was grateful. She had always appreciated their caution but never more than in the last few weeks. Because of their constant habit of getting new refugees onto the barges as quickly as possible the casualties in the camp had been low. Low compared to how many free humans were still free and out on the ocean but almost everyone who had been permanently stationed in the camp was gone.
The garrison hadn't suffered quite as much. They were good at their jobs and Greg had kept most of them alive to pick up the remains of their families but who were guards that had no one to guard anymore? A lot of her companions feel like they'd failed and Adriel was among them. She didn't feel worthy to be the guard of anything and yet she hadn't wanted to abandon the war effort. What else was she supposed to do if she didn't fight? Hide? She couldn't imagine being happy with that. And honestly, she liked fighting a little more than she should. So she'd decided to sign up with a different service.
A long time ago she had met two members of the animorph resistance and it was the only reason she was here now. Later she'd met two more. And two had even come down to serve with them though they had both been left behind as rear guards of the camp and both had died. She'd mourned their passing. They'd been good friends and good soldiers and since she felt like it was partially her fault the camp had been taken by surprise she'd decided to take their place.
There was always need for them in the US but when Greg had inquired about transferring her with Cassie it had been requested she become part of the fledging international chapter instead. Their need was even more desperate than the US and Adriel could at least speak two languages, something that was rare among the other people they were getting. She'd agreed and she'd gotten on a ship and not looked back.
She hadn't expected anyone to come with her. But she'd been wrong. When Summer and Sarah had found out she was planning on leaving they'd stubbornly insisted on coming along. She had told them to stay put, especially Summer. "You have your sister to think about," she'd yelled at her when the other woman had refused to listen. Summer had just looked at her sleeping sister sadly before looking up at Adriel and replying, "and is she more safe here?" After what had just happened Adriel couldn't answer her. She was right. There was no where safe left in the world.
She was glad they were coming. They were the only family she had left. But Lily still wouldn't look at her straight on and that hurt. And a part of her had wanted to punish herself with loneliness and they had made that impossible. Well partially anyway. Summer was thinking she may go into pilot training instead of focusing on animorph training. It would allow Lily to live at the Academy, arguably the safest place on the planet even if it wasn't safe. And Sarah wasn't sure what she was doing yet. For Adriel there had been no question. She wanted to be in the fight, not above it.
"We're here," a voice called out from the pilot seat. It was cramped in the little Bug Fighter with the two pilots, three grown women and a little girl but they managed. Adriel got up on her knees and looked out a small window to see the large expanse of white stretching out in every direction. She had to own that it was a breathtaking sight.
The Bug Fighter descended quickly and she soon made out the black form of the Blade Ship. it looked like a stain on the pristine white landscape and it gave her chills to see it. Even sitting there like that it still looked dangerous and she couldn't forget that it was a yeerk ship. She wondered how long it would be before they came looking for their toy and worried about Lily's future.
The Bug Fighter came in for a smooth landing in the Blade Ship's hangar bay and the doors opened. Adriel slung her one bag over her shoulder and got up without a word. She descended the ramp and saw a surprisingly familiar face waiting for her.
