Wanderlust ✧ (Milo Thatch)

thirteen

Courtesy of Vinny's dynamite, the crew detonated a path through the castle towards the throne room. The smoke burned Challis' eyes but her gaze could not be taken from the gun that she was forced to hold against Milo's back. 

"Knock knock," Vinny threw and caught a stick of dynamite in his hand confidently. "Room service," Cookie cocked his gun. The king's guards were already prepared to put up a fight. "Tell them to drop their weapons...now!" Helga jabbed her gun at Kida's back and the guards immediately dropped their spears as ordered by their king.

Helga commanded "Spread out! Search everywhere!"

The crew tore the room to shreds. A violation of the king's home. "You're not applying yourself, son. There's got to be something else," Rourke slammed the book against Milo's chest. "Well, there isn't," Milo shoved his once treasured book away in shame. "It just says 'The heart of Atlantis lies in the eyes of her king'!"

That wasn't what Rourke wanted to hear.

"Challis?" Rourke raised an eyebrow at her. "Don't you have something to say?"

She was aware that if she did not speak, the situation would not be favorable to Milo.

"You're not a fool, Milo. Tell him everything he wants to know," her voice was steady but her hand trembled slightly.

"A traitor will not be heard!" Milo was annoyed. That stung, she was truth be told a long way from it.

"Well then maybe Old King Cole here can help us fill in the blanks," Rourke marched up the royal "How about it, chief? Where's the crystal chamber?" he demanded. "You will destroy yourselves," King Nedakh warned. 

With a matchstick pinched between his fingers, the commander had enough. "Maybe I'm not being clear," Rourke slammed the king in the gut with a vicious punch and the royal fell to the ground in a heap. The appalled Kida cursed in Atlantean, or Challis assumed so by her tone of voice.

"Rourke, this was not a part of the plan" Dr Sweet kneeled beside the king in concern.

"Plan's changed, Doc," Rourke smirked "I'd suggest you put a bandage on that bleeding heart of yours. It doesn't suit a mercenary," he flopped down on the throne as if it belonged to him and disrespectfully placed his feet on the fruit table. The weakened king was hauled to his feet by two mercenaries in front of Rourke. 

"Well, as usual, diplomacy has failed us. Now, I'm going to count to ten and you're going to tell me where the crystal is. One..." Rourke cocked his gun and the rest of the crew members flinched. "Two..." Rourke aimed his gun at the king "Nine...T-" his words fell away quickly.

Regardless of the king refusing to give up the crystal's chamber location, something had caught the commander's attention. He glanced at the Sherpherd's Journal, then to the floor and back. "The heart of Atlantis lies in the eyes of her king," he recollected. Defeated, the king sunk his head and Rourke jumped up in delight. "This is it! We're in!" he tossed the book to Milo, no longer in need of its service.

"Rourke, for the last time you've got to listen to me. You don't have the slightest idea what this power is capable of," Milo warned. "True, but I can think of a few countries who'd pay anything to find out," Helga dragged Kida towards the center and Challis waded closely behind Milo. Acting as an elevator, the floor lowered Rourke, Helga, Milo, Challis and Kida only. Rumbling echoed as the five entered a hidden cave that was illuminated blue.

Challis' gaze finally pulled from Milo and landed on the sight around her. Rocks were inscribed with Atlantean which enveloped a water pond but the main attraction was the hovering faces of stone that circled counterclockwise and emitted a blue glow from their eyes. 

"Jackpot," grinned Rourke, placing a matchstick between his curled lips. "The kings of our past," Kida gasped, tears rolling down her cheeks. She dropped to her knees out of respect and muttered a sort of devotion.

"Thatch, tell her to wrap it up," Rourke rolled his eyes, "we got a schedule to meet."

Challis let out a breath she had been holding in when Milo sat down to speak with Kida. "Um, Kida...I'm sorry," said Milo. The journalist quickly slipped the gun into her pocket, hoping not to use it again, particularly on Milo. Rourke saw this, but he didn't tell her off because he was thinking about something more important. Rourke kicked a pebble into the water as he walked ahead of the other members to the pond's edge.

Soothing blue turned to fiery red in an instant. Deep, murmuring voices reverberated from the stone faces along with strobe lights. Rourke stared unimpressed. "Come on, let's get this over with. I don't like this place," said Helga. "All right Thatch, what's next?" Rourke turned to the linguist.

Milo placed his fingers on his temple. "Okay, there's a giant crystal hovering 150 feet above our heads over a bottomless pit of water. Doesn't anything surprise you?"

Milo and Rourke were having a heated argument, Helga was busy proudly twirling her gun, and Kida's behaviour was first noticed by Challis. Kida's breathing became more rapid as her necklace floated up by itself, and she curiously observed. "Mahtim," Kida spoke. The pupils of her eyes turned ice blue and she stepped forward in a trance-like state.

"Kida?" Challis tapped her shoulder. No response. "Kida," she repeated, gently shaking the Atlantean who continued to walk toward the water's edge as a blue beam radiated upon her. 

"That thing's not on the truck yet. Now move it!" Rourke scolded. "I don't know how to move it. I don't even know what's holding it up there," responded Milo. The others finally noticed that Kida was mesmerised by the magic and Rourke stopped Milo from pursuing her. "Talk to me Thatch, what's happening?" 

"Look, all it says here is that the crystal is alive, somehow. It...I don't know how to explain it. It's their deity. It's their power source," he skimmed through the book.

"Speak English, professor."

"They're part of it. It's a part of them. I'm doing the best I can here!"

"Well do better."

"Oh, I know. Why don't you translate and I'll wave the gun around?" Milo snapped, frantically waving his hand.

Kida, who was as still as a statue, was the sole focus of Challis. "Kida if it's not too much trouble, say something," she urged. Challis tried to reach out to her friend, but as soon as her fingers touched Kida's icy skin, she drew back sharply. Kida began speaking in Atlantean which sounded as if it was being spoken through a megaphone. Her body turned around to face the others.

"What did she say?" Rourke demanded.

"I don't know. I didn't catch it," replied Milo.

Kida retreated. With slow, cautious advances, the Atlantean walked on water, much to the next's shock. " Kida, wait!" Challis attempted to pursue yet Rourke seized her by the neck. "Goodness gracious. You remain here," he yelled. Challis watched helplessly as Kida moved toward the center. The stone faces split violently, opening like petals on a flower. Milo's jaw dropped open.

The beam of light zeroed in on Kida. She was suddenly lifted into the air like an angel. Her hair streamed every which way smoothly with her head shifted back. Kida was lifted up into the blue sphere of light, her entire body was inundated. She was cocooned as the stone figures spun around her so quickly it was almost a blur. As the crystal's energy zapped through Kida, her body became translucent, and she was finally lowered to the ground.

Milo attempted to step forward. "Hold your horses, lover boy," Rourke interjected. "Kida?" she opened her eyes when she heard Milo call her name out. Kida walked on water and as she did, the stone countenances fell individually, colliding with the lake. A power shield protected Kida from harm. Rourke reached out to touch the princess as she strode toward the crew.

"No, don't. Don't touch her," demanded Milo.

Kida moved past the crew as if there were no one in the vicinity. Helga reprimanded Milo and Rourke as they argued once more. Kida, who had stopped, was approached by Challis. "I'm sorry, Kidagakash. If you can hear me, I truly am. I was threatened by Rourke. I'm just trying to keep Milo safe. I promise," she whispered.