Captain Destiny's Adventure

Chapter 13: Spinning Compass

Hakku briefly glanced at his compass as he sprinted through the forest.

Suddenly, he skidded to a halt.

A moment later, Toko came to his side.

"You see them, too?" she inquired.

"Yeah. I do," he gasped.

The duo cautiously stepped forward and peeled back the leaves.

Three large cargo planes sat on the island. The ground was torn up around their wheels. Lines of Birdmen were chained together and marched into large cages. After a cage was packed to the brim, the lid was locked shut, and a small rover pulled it into the belly of a plane. Those who were slow were beaten with the butts of guns. The elderly and small children were separated into different cages than the adults.

Hakku's stomach lurched. He covered his mouth and squatted.

"Captain? What are you going to do? " the First Officer challenged.

The captain gathered his breath and stood up.

"We need to act."

"Okay. If they're from the Mage Realm, then as Dad told me, only a select few of them will have the correct key. Everyone else carries fake copies. Naturally very few of them will be willing to actually give it up. Looks like we'll have to observe who everyone reports to."

He took a step forward. Toko slapped a hand on his shoulder and pulled him back.

They faced each other.

"And how do you propose we do that? Simply free them all from the cages and chains?" she inquired.

"Actually, yes, that was my plan in the end!"

"What about the guns? And the planes?"

"Uhh, take away the guns and disable the planes!"

"What will you do with the guns?"

"Throw them off the edge!"

"They're explosive. How do you know they won't hit a passing Birdman or plane?"

"Hmm I hadn't considered that."

"What will you do with the planes? Disabling them means the poachers will still be here. They're not going to leave until they have their prizes. So what will you do with them? If you let them do as they please they'll find a way to enslave or murder all of the Birdmen here."

Hakku paused.

"I was thinking...arrest them?"

Toko rolled her eyes.

"Oh please," she scoffed, "There's no way to send a message for help and even if we did, nobody would come to a Birdman island. Hell, the police force isn't even that cohesive. As a matter of fact, I bet the police would turn a blind eye to the poachers. On Dawsk Island I heard rumors about some police who turned to poachers because it was easy money and job security."

The young man bit his lip and looked towards the planes.

"I don't want to kill anyone. Not even the poachers. They're still people," he declared.

The young woman sighed and followed his gaze.

"I respect that, Captain. However, not everyone survives. Furthermore, there are two of us against a large crew. And by the planes' appearances those appear to be from the Mage Realm. Very recently made, too."

Hakku narrowed his eyes.

"Why would they come here to the Outer Clouds?"

"I just explained this. Nobody is going to stop them if they come here. Not even the retired green scum. Now if you go into the Inner Clouds that's a much different story."