The Ultimate Rescue

Chapter XI

HEATH

Music: Silvery Wings Again from Salamander 2

Following our fight with the robot octopus, the nine of us get the hell outta dodge and find a private place to talk as soon as possible. Not because we're afraid that the octopus will come back, but because a van filled with camera people and news reporters shows up mere minutes after the battle goes down, and none of us want to put up with them.

"Well... that could've gone better," Sam says to start the discussion.

"Oh, ya think?!" Skylar snorts. I'm still in a great deal of pain from being slapped across a beach by hard metal, and most of the others appear to be the same way. Luke's prosthetics got knocked loose when he and I got slapped, so he's been fiddling with those since the fight ended.

"There we go," he sighs when he finally gets his prosthetic arm secured. "Jesus, that took way too long." Most people would be disgusted by having to watch a person reattach an arm or leg to their body, but we've gotten used to it over time.

"If it weren't for the goddamn hovercraft being disabled, I can guarantee that fight would've gone so much better for us," Mia grumbles, glaring at the hovercraft. The progress bar for the current data recovery is only at about 1% filled, and it's been running for about fifteen minutes.

"Well, what's done is done, and I think now we need to just move on," Avery says. She then tries stretching her body out, and this ends up being too much for her, as she grimaces and starts breathing heavily to keep herself from screaming.

"How much do you wanna bet that the illuminati sent that out?" Luke asks. All of us either raise our hands or nod.

"That confirms that they've set up camp somewhere around here," I say. I begin scanning the beach for any signs of where they could be, and the best thing I can find is the lighthouse. Something about the lighthouse that none of us noticed earlier is that the lighthouse has a very faint glow around it. The exact same glow that formed on Mrs. Smith's body when she gained possession of the energy.

"I say we check out the lighthouse," I suggest. "If anything, Mrs. Smith's hiding there."

Sam and Avery look at each other, then give each other shrugs. "Sounds fair to me," Avery says.

"Let's do it," Sam says.

So, we make our way towards the lighthouse, doing everything we can to stay out of sight of the crowd that has gathered around the beach or the news reporters. One of the reporters is interviewing a troubled-looking man, and from our distance away, I can make out him saying something about seeing a bunch of young teenagers getting thrown around by the octopus. It's a good thing none of them can see us, otherwise they'd know who he's talking about.

"I swear on everything that once we figure out how to weaken Mrs. Smith, that bitch is going to get it," Mia growls, her fists and eyes closed tightly.

"Mia, take it easy," Shanna says softly, grabbing one of Mia's arms.

"Shanna, I love you with all my heart, but now is not a good time to tell me to take it easy."

Shanna gets the cue and stops talking. Shortly after, we come across the entrance to the lighthouse. There, we find a sight that leaves all of us betwazzled.

Mackenzie, on her knees, doing what appears to be gardening.

"Is that Mackenzie?" Sean asks, covering his forehead to block the sunlight out of his vision. "Why is she out here gardening?"

"This looks way too easy," Elle mutters.

"Well, why don't we go up to her and say hi? I'm sure she's been through a lot and will be more than happy to see us," Sam suggests.