Disarm Evil

Chapter 29: Renegades

Sho is focused on piloting our ship, following the prisoner transport covertly, when I have Miya place me down near ver.

"Please, don't distract me. I need to focus," Sho says as soon as ve realizes I want to talk to ver.

"I won't take up much of your time. I just wanted to apologize."

"Apologize? I don't even know who you are."

"I'm the one who watched from the rafters at the tavern several deposits ago..."

Sho pauses and gives me a quick look, "Did you switch bodies again or something?"

"Yeah, we found our original bodies. Though right now my body is scrambled with someone else's body." I say.

"Ah, that explains things. So... Are you the one who told me I deserved to die in Hosudiha? Is that what you're apologizing for?"

"I didn't say... Well, I understand. It might as well have been what I said. Yes, I'm sorry for saying that. I'm sorry for looking down on you, for judging you as unworthy. I know better now. I want you to know that you are more worthy than I am to be blessed with good things." bringing up the matter of my worthiness stirs something within me, but I ignore it for now, "Thank you for coming to our rescue."

My words halt the flow of our conversation. I see tears welling up in Sho's eyes. Ve sniffs, "Your welcome... and thanks. I don't know why, but that means a lot... Now, please go away. I appreciate it, but you're distracting me."

"Okay," I respond.

I look around for Miya, but it seems ve has found other work to do.

"Still can't walk?" Sho asks.

"Yeah... I'll just... Go on my own." I say as I awkwardly crawl away to be available to help someone pull on a rope or something.

Before the Hosudiha ship can reach the edge of the island, we swiftly change our position and descend over a different ledge.

"Jo! I'll need your help with this part!" Sho shouts. Jomira flies over to perch beside ver. "Let me know when we're directly underneath the Hosudiha ship."

"You got it!" Jomira confirms and starts directing ver flying, everyone finds something to hold onto as we descend rapidly to get beneath the island which dips twice as deep into the depths as it reaches up into the sky.

We emerge from beneath the island. "Alright," Jomira says, "We're directly underneath them."

"Good," Sho declares, "We'll descend and stay as close as possible to being directly beneath them. They won't see us if we're right under their noses."

"Great thinking!" Zi exclaims, giving a thumbs-up to ver student as ve hurriedly manages the necessary ropes for Sho's maneuvering.

Sho returns the thumbs-up with a grin.

"Hey, everyone, Powa wants to start putting together a plan," Suki announces, speaking on behalf of Powa, who isn't speaking loudly at the moment. "Do we have an update on the situation aboard the prisoner ship?"

"Sure," Buso begins, "There are thirty-four sedated prisoners below deck, likely still alive because they were under the watch of Sudihatosema officers."

"Do you think they'll kill them now that the officers are gone?" Viadu asks, sounding deeply concerned.

"No, they'll remain unconscious for about a wage, and their intention is probably to toss the prisoners over the cliffs before they wake. There's no need for them to spend additional resources and time to kill them before then. Anyway, there are eight officers plus an unknown number of notu. Given the ship's size, I think it's reasonable to expect a few..."