Cyberlink Cove

Chapter 20

 

*TWO WEEKS LATER*

CYBERLINK COVE (REEF’S HEAD)-2078

 

Wispy clouds partially framed the pearlescent moon glimmering insubstantially overhead, the occasional smattering of stars peeking timidly through the blanket of fluff. Three small dinghies approached a foreboding naval warship, the steel sides gleaming under the waning moonlight.

 

Further investigation had discovered that this particular vessel would be shipping equipment for a new prototype. Though the pirates did not know what the prototype itself was, Eli had determined from the documents smuggled to him that it would be a potentially lethal weapon of some sort. It had been deemed crucial to find out what this thing was, and if it was possible-to destroy it, or at least keep it out of the hands of the president.

 

Esmeralda Popov glanced almost longingly back at the shadowy seashore, the safety of the land tempting her, teasing her. The guarantee of merely staying alive was enticing, and Es yearned to return and feel the solid land under her feet.

 

Instead, she was seated in a seemingly weightless wooden boat, propelled by the pirates diligently rowing it closer and closer to the ominous freighter. Es gulped, wiping the sweat from her damp palms anxiously, her expression taut. She subconsciously fingered the cloth eyepatch covering her left eye, reminded of the incident all those years ago.

 

Perched precariously in the leading rowboat, Eli surveyed the rippling waters dourly. It was imperative that this operation ran smoothly. Francie gave him a glanced sharply at him, incredibly suspicious of his nervous, jittery behavior.

 

“You’re more strung-up than a skittish horse, Eli. What’s up?” Francie queried innocently, trying her best to contain the queasy feeling she was getting from watching Eli fret.

 

Eli bristled at her borderline snide remark. “I’m fine,” he muttered, refusing to divulge any further information. Francie narrowed her eyes. He seethed quietly, and Francie smirked.

 

He’s mad that his intelligence was off, she thought knowingly. We were expecting a freighter, we got a warship-and definitely not the Iron Maiden at that.

 

Mina gave Es a comforting smile, quirking her lips up ever-so-slightly. The ship clad in iron and steel exuded a sinister air, but the pirates had faced more formidable opposition. They had performed brilliant feats against insurmountable odds (thinking back to the time she and Jared had evaded a whole horde of government agents pursuing them by pretending to be a quibbling couple brought a rueful expression upon Mina’s face), and Mina Wistmore was certain that they could bring about the end to the corrupt, unjust force driving Cyberlink Cove.

 

Glenn raked his vision across the water, squinting in a vain attempt to locate the dinghies floating out at sea, buoyed by the surf. Each of them had been launched from a speedboat; and they would be abandoned if necessary when the time came to return to shore. Glenn stared into the waves that were gently rocking his speedboat, momentarily mesmerized by the back and forth motion. There was something entrancing to the crests rising and falling, new waves of water replacing fallen ones in a continuous cycle, the minute ripples coalescing upon each other.