My Last Hope (Truth Series 4)

8: Planning

A/N: Woops, I forgot to post this yesterday... Oh well, I'll post another chapter as an apology! Also I thought you'd all like to know that I have at the very least 50 chapters planned for this story! XP  

Third Person POV

"So, what's the plan?" Ant asks.

"First, we have to figure out where she is." Chim decides. "I have a map on the wall downstairs." Chim leads the way to his basement. In his basement are various chests, brewing stands, anvils, and bookshelves. In one corner of the basement is an enchant table surrounded in bookshelves. The enchantment table is in the back of the room. If you stand with your back facing the enchantment table, stairs leading to the ground floor are on the left and on the right side is a table cluttered with multiple papers and books piled on top. Chairs are scattered haphazardly around the table. On the wall directly behind the table and chairs is a huge map of Mine Country. "I have maps of Tekkit Territories and Hexxit Highlands as well," Chim tells them.

"We probably won't need them." Ryan states offhandedly as he study the map.

"Yeah." Sly agrees. "According to her book she's somewhere in Mine Country."

"But where?" Bodil asks to no one in particular as the nine men closely study the map.

"Somewhere near a dark oak wood forest?" Double suggests. "That's what the book said, anyway."

Notch observes the nine men as they get to work locating Clash's sister. After a few moments he approaches Clash. He places his hand on the lion's shoulder in order to get his attention. "I'm afraid I must leave now. I am needed in the Aether. If you need any assistance don't be afraid to ask. Though I may not be able to help you personally, I do know someone who can. I wish you the best of luck in your quest, James." Then the god disappears.

"May the odds be ever in your favor," Ant mutters under his breath. Ryan chuckles quietly and rolls his eyes.

By the time Clash returns his attention to the map Chim has circled all the dark oak biomes use a feather and ink. Chim steps back from the map to admire his work. Thinking deeply he mutters, "If I decided to kidnap someone where would I keep them?"

"Woah! Take it easy Chim," Double laughs.

"Yeah. We don't want you losing your mind on us." Clash adds with a chuckle.

"What?" Chim asks confused. Then what he said dawned on him. He laughs as well. "Oh, sorry."

The trio then goes back to studying the map.

"In the book, she referred to her kidnappers hideout as a facility, right?" Ryan double checks his information.

"Yes," Clash responds.

"That means the place is probably pretty large so it won't be near a city." Ryan concludes.

Chim grabs his feather and ink and crosses off all the circled sections that are close to a city. He steps away from the map. "That leaves two places." He points them out on the map. "We are here." He draws a black dot on the map. It's almost directly between the two possible locations where Clash's sister could be. "We could check out each one as one big group or we could split up into two smaller groups to investigate each location and rendezvous back here. What do you guys want to do?"

Everyone just sort of glances at one another unsure of what to say. There's pros and cons for both these tactics. It's just a matter of choosing the most effective one.

"Wanna do a vote?" Clash suggests upon seeing their indecision. Everyone agrees. "All in favor of going as one group raise your hands." Sly, Ant, Bodil, and Spoon raise their hands. "All in favor of going as two groups raise your hands." Chim, Double, Ryan, and Seamus raise their hands.

"You're the tiebreaker, Clash." Bodil states his accent making him harder to understand.

"I think we'd be better off going as two groups. It's faster that way. And it's easier to scope out the land without getting spotted."

They separate into two groups and make plans for the investigative portion of their quest.. Ryan, Antvenom, Chim, Seamus, and Spoon are one group. Clash, Double, Bodil, and Sly are the other.

Chim goes over the plans one last time before they go to bed for the night. "Alright. So, we can all sleep here for tonight. Then tomorrow we'll head out with our groups. We have two days to scope out the location and find any clues that we can. However, if we find the place we don't try to take it on by ourselves. We'll meet back here first and rescue her together. If one of the groups does not make it back to the location by the end of the two days, the other group has to seek them out, Agreed?"