Beyond All Part 1 ( The Searches)

Chapter 12

The More the Merrier

" What are you two doin here?" Allen asked, Jack.

" Acronu caught the scent of something coming from this ship. I tried my best to stop him, I swear!"

" Not like we can do anythang bout it now. Might as well let him have the treat," Allen said, going back into the room. And coming out with a giant plate of various food. Acronu happily started eating as Jack and Allen continued talking.

" Yeah, sorry about that. Why did you decide to take a ship tonight?"

" What are you talking about, Jack?"

" Weren't you supposed to take one tomorrow night?"

" No, it was today."

" Oh, I guess I counted wrong. Where are you taking this ship anyway?"

" To the places that Terry and the others are most likely to be. Oh, to be on the safe side, we better destroy our phones. Don't want em trackin us."

" What a pain. I just got this thing," Jack said. Then took out his phone. Then snapped it half.

" Yeah, I know it's a pain in the ass," Allen said. Then did the same thing.

" By the way, how exactly do you know where to search? The universe isn't exactly a small place."

" Did some math. The escape pods on cruise ships are auto-set to head for the nearest planet. So long as it's under Unitatis's jurisdiction. But, only half the pods on those ships have shown up to the planets that should have been heading for. And none of them have had Terry, Luxy, or anyone I know. I had been listenin to updates on the ships each day and still, nothin."

" If that's the case, then I'm going to do everything I can to help you find them," Jack told Allen, sounding determined. Allen grinned, revealing his sharp teeth in response.

" Thanks, Jack, I can't tell ya how much I appreciate your help."

" No problem. I just wish I was a lot stronger. As it stands, I'm still pretty far behind the other cadets," Jack said, briefly glancing at the floor.

" You've definitely improved though. And we can practice some here."

" Really, how?"

" Remember the sense potions I've been collectin? I was plannin on usin them to train while the ship's on autopilot. But, since you're here too, I'll share em."

" Thanks, do you think we should use some of those to train Acronu?"

Allen looked and saw that Acronu was now sleeping soundly.

" I don't want him panickin and destroyin parts of the ship. Besides, he's gonna keep growin and getting stronger on his own. Speakin of which, we might have a problem."

" What is it?"

" Acronu's gonna get too big to move around this ship freely."

" Shit, you're right. Do you think we can get a bigger one?"

" Not anytime soon, I might be able to expand parts of the ship. But, we don't want it to stand out too much. We'll probably have to end up upgradin to a bigger one though.

" Oh yeah! We need a name for this ship."

" Why?"

" Why not?"

" Fair enough. How about "The Crescendum" ?"

" Crescendum? Like the moon?"

" No, you're thinking of crescent. Crescendum I'm deriving from two words that mean growing rescue when put together."