BEST OF THE BEST - Chapter Four

“I haven’t been on this ship in quite a while.” Ty said, smiling to himself. He glanced at Thalia. “It hasn’t changed at all.
Thalia gave a small smile and turned the ship’s wheel a bit to the left. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” She said.
“How’re Simon and Lewis?” Ty asked.
“Well enough.” Thalia replied. “Still after Israphel.”
“And KP?”
Thalia smiled. “He’s doing just fine. And, no, he’s still not willing to die.”
Ty grinned. “He’s too stubborn for that. Have you figured out anything about Daisy?”
“Frankly, I couldn’t care less about Daisy.” Thalia said, rolling her eyes. “For one, I’ve never even met her. If I’m going to aid in the saving of Minecraftia, I won’t be doing it for her.”
“Then who WILL you be doing it for.” Thalia rolled her eyes and went back to steering the ship without answering his question.
Star clung to the side of the ship, her claws digging into the wood. Her teeth were gritted, her eyes wide; staring down at the earth far below. Drak sneered at her.
“What’s the matter, Star?” She asked. “Afraid of heights?”
Star growled angrily, but didn’t move. “Shut up Drak…” She hissed.
Drak leaned on the rail next to Star leisurely. “There’s nothing to be afraid of, you know.” She said. “It’s only about four hundred feet.” Star cringed. “Oh I’m sorry, four THOUSAND.”
Star moaned and sank to her knees on the wood of the ship.
Thalia smiled to herself and stared ahead at the way they were headed, focused on steering the Omega.
Ty looked at Drak. “Okay, I think she’s had enough. Now leave her alone before she passes out.”
“Fainting is for the weak…” Star muttered.
“Fine then, by all means, keep going.” Ty said with a wave of his hand.
Star’s head snapped up. “NO!” She shouted.
Drak snickered. “Whatever… I was getting bored anyway…” She walked up the helm towards Thalia.
Star sighed relief and fell onto the deck, staring up at the darkening sky.
“That was a pretty loud voice you had in there.” Drak said. “You stopped two ender hybrids with grudges against each other from ripping one another to shreds.”
Thalia shrugged. “I’ve dealt with worse than the likes of ender.”
“Oh really?” Drak asked.
“Yes really.” Thalia replied mildly. “Have you ever heard of Israphel?”
“No.”
“Like I said. I’ve dealt with a lot worse than you.” Thalia’s expression grew a bit distant. “And I still am…”
Drak cocked her head to one side. “How did you get your hands on a ship like this anyway?”
Thalia’s far away expression grew pained, her eyes filled with sadness. “I don’t want to talk about it…” She muttered.
Drak held up her arms in a gesture of peace. “Okay, okay, I’m sorry I asked!”
Neither of them spoke for a few minutes.
“You seem to have trouble keeping yourself busy.” Thalia said finally.
Drak rolled her eyes. “I’m just bored…” She muttered.
Thalia smiled. “You’ll get used to it.”
Drak groaned. “I don’t WANT to get used to it!”
Thalia shrugged. “Then just keep being bored, that’s fine by me…”
Drak smiled. “You know, when I first saw you screaming at two enraged ender hybrids, I’d thought you’d gone absolutely insane.”
Thalia laughed. “You haven’t seen the half of the shit I get myself into!”
Drak smiled. “Well, believe me when I say I look forward to it.”
“Hey uh… Thalia?” Jason called from the opposite end of the ship. Thalia looked up.
She looked where Jason pointed to see another airship headed for theirs – only it was much bigger. Thalia’s eyes narrowed in concentration. Could she trust this strange ship? Or was it another threat?
“Are those guys likely to be a problem?” Jason asked.
Thalia opened her mouth to reply, but before she could a pure white arrow streaked through the night and struck Drak in her upper left shoulder. She stared at it for a few seconds in shocked silence.
Then she yelped and fell backwards onto the deck.
Jason took his ray gun out of its sheath. “I’ll take that as a yes!”