SHIFT

Chapter 6: Icarus

Martina Cain

Somewhere over the Indian Ocean

They had moved the thylacines into large crates, along with the cub. They drank deeply from water bowls and slept, seeming to sense that there was no longer anything to fear after their hours on the plane.

Martina could not bring herself to sleep. She sat in the front seat of the ruined car with panic still fresh in her quick beating heart. Her breath was shaky, and tears welled from her eyes. She bit her hand to stop from crying out. She had no wish for the others to see her so vulnerable.

Suddenly, the door opened, and Alec looked at her with concern. Not meeting his eyes, Martina let out a sob and leaned forward onto the dashboard, gasping breaths that provided her with too little oxygen.

"Shhh..." Alec put his hand to her back and rubbed gently. "You're safe. We're all safe."

Martina continued to gasp for breath, fighting for control over her body that betrayed her. She was so embarrassed! She had to believe that she was picked for this team because she was strong enough, but right then and there she felt as though the slightest breeze could bring her tumbling down.

It took her several long minutes before her breathing became steady, all the while Alec cooed and reassured her that she was going to be alright. Tears still ran down her face like flowing river over her dark skin, but she no longer fought to breathe.

"This is so much," she breathed out the words, so quiet that Alec could barely hear her course voice.

"It is," he didn't offer her more than that.

They sat for a while, Alec's arm around Martina's shoulders, a companionable silence between them while Martina let her tears flow until they stopped.

"Thank you, and I'm sorry," Martina said with a sniffle.

"Sorry for what?"

"For... that. You don't need to deal with a blubbering mess. You've gone through the same thing I have, not to mention you hardly know me."

"I know enough," his face became stern. "I am shaken, I won't lie. But I also won't sit aside and let you suffer this alone. None of us can withstand this without each other. We may not know each other well, but this... this has bonded us. We're all in this, together."

"Damn straight," Adrienne appeared. She noticed Martina's tear-streaked cheeks and pushed Alec aside. She reached for Martina, throwing her arms around her in a warm, tight hug.

Martina returned the hug feebly, she had to admit that it warmed her heart a little. She looked at Adrienne as they parted and realised that she too had shed some tears.

"We all look quite the picture I think," Arno said with a smile, standing on the railing above them in the large cargo plane. "I have been speaking with our pilot, he says he is to drop us off in Brazil."

"What's in Brazil?" Martina asked.

"The Amazon River. Lots of trees. Beautiful beaches. Perhaps an aunt on my mother's side," Ryan spoke as he left the cockpit.

"Shouldn't you be flying the plane?" Adrienne asked.

"Daedalus can fly on his own for now."

"Daedalus?" Alec furrowed his brow.

Ryan patted the wall of the plane, a warm smile spreading across his face as he did so.

"Daedalus was the father of Icarus in Greek mythology. While Icarus died because he flew too close to the son, his father Daedalus flew steady and lived for many more years. At least, that's what some stories say," Martina told the group.

"Don't most people name machines after women?" Adrienne asked.

"He's not a woman. Trust me, he knows what he is as much as I do," Ryan said.

"You speak as though it-he is alive," said Alec.

"Why shouldn't I? He soars through the air, with wings outstretched and a belly to house us. He eats and drinks the fuel I provide, and he breathes out the fumes burned from that same fuel. He is as alive to me as any of you." With that, Ryan returned to the cockpit, shutting the door firmly behind him.

Arno descended the stairs, looking over their shoulder, "I'm not sure what to make of our friend."

"He still didn't tell us what's in Brazil," Martina pointed out.

"He doesn't know," said Arno. "All he told me was that we had to meet our guide in Macapá."

"The mystery continues," Alec gave Martina half a smile, meant just for her.

The continued to travel West, stopping for fuel in South Africa. Arno left the plane while this was happening, stating that they had a couple of phone calls to make to family members. Alec edited photos and Adrienne sat near the thylacines.

Martina watched her carefully as she shifted into her own Tasmanian Tiger. The cub pawed at the crate while both of its parents growled. Adrienne reached her nose towards the crate to sniff at them, only to have the mother attach the side of the crate, snarling loudly.

Adrienne pulled back, shifted back into her human body and walked towards her bunk. Martina watched her lay her head on the mattress and pull the pillow onto her face. She approached her.

"Hey."

Adrienne groaned into the pillow but gave no other response.

"You okay?" Martina sat on the edge of the bed.

Adrienne removed the pillow and looked at Martina, her eyes glistening with tears begging for release. "They hate me."

"They don't hate you."

"Of course they do."

Martina sighed. "They're in an unsafe environment. They're just trying to protect themselves."

"I know that. I just thought I might be able to help them." A single tear streaked across Adrienne's face.

"You have helped them. You saved them from collectors, from ACE. There's no way we could have caught them if you couldn't shift the way you do. And there's no chance we would have gotten away as easy without you fighting off Sadie the way you did."

Suddenly Adrienne's arms were around Martina, and she felt herself fall further onto the bed. She lay next to Adrienne, allowing her to take comfort from her presence.

After a moment, "You don't happen to like girls, do you?"

Martina smiled slightly as she responded, "No. I'm afraid not."

"Damn," Adrienne said as she moved closer and buried her head into Martina's shoulder. "I'll have to settle with a good friend then."

"I thought perhaps you and Arno were..."

Adrienne laughed, "Oh! Arno is sweet. But I don't like them like that. I'm strictly into women. Besides, I think I have more important things to worry about right now than finding love."

Martina wondered for a moment about how her view on Adrienne had changed. Originally, she hadn't understood how she could insert herself comfortably into everyone's space. And the others had let her do so without a second thought.

Now, she thought, she understood.