The Ultimate Rescue

Chapter XIV

SKYLAR

Music: Departure Again from Gradius ReBirth

Nobody has tried talking to Mia since we took flight, so I decide to take a crack at it. She's sitting in the same position she was on our flight to Maine, so I sit down next to her and ask, "So... how're you feeling?"

Without turning to look at me (in fact, she's looking the complete opposite direction), she replies, "Fine." Her irritated tone and grouchy facial expression convinces me that she's anything but fine.

"You sure? You've been awfully quiet ever since we left Florida. And that's unusual for you," I chuckle.

"What are you saying?" Mia asks, finally turning to look at me.

"Well, I mean, I just figured you of all people would be the most excited about this mission. And lately you just seem... frustrated. Is something bothering you?" It isn't wise of me to push, but it's not like I have anything better to do.

"Nothing is bothering me. I just want to be left alone." She turns her head away from me again. Again, I'm not buying it from her at all.

"Okay then," I shrug. As I get up, I notice Shanna gesturing for me to join her and Sean, so I walk towards them.

When I reach them, Shanna leans into my ear and whispers, "I wouldn't bother Mia if I were you. I'm pretty sure she's acting this way because of our encounter with Mackenzie back in Florida."

"You think she has a grudge against her now?" I ask. I really hope that isn't the case. Mia and Mackenzie's sisterly-relationship is one of the most beautiful I've ever seen. Mia lost her older brother, Josh, in a house robbery where she had to witness him getting shot, and letting Mackenzie join her family filled the void that Josh's death created. And in return, Mia gave Mackenzie the opportunity to live a "normal" (or, as normal as things can get for us) teenage life, something she had always yearned for. It would be a terrible shame if all of that went to waste over one stupid fight.

"It's hard to say... Mia is the kind of person who would stay bitter for long periods of time, but with Mackenzie, you can't be sure," Sean replies, furrowing his eyebrows.

"Do you think she'd hold it for very long?"

"I hope not," Shanna replies.

Not wanting to worry myself anymore than necessary, I meet up with the rest of the gang over by the control panel. "Any updates?" I ask.

"We're stopping in Rhode Island next, since that's the closest location on the map to where we were," Avery replies.

"Talk about arbitrary placement," I snort.

"You can say that again," Heath laughs.

"And the first flash drive is almost halfway through with restoring the data," Sam says, pulling up the progress bar for me to see.

"That's good," I nod.

"Okay, who are you and what've you done to Skylar?" Luke asks. "You're not as bitchy as you normally are."

"I ate her," I smirk, turning around and walking away from the others. I'm just in a better mood now than I normally am. Not sure why.

Five minutes later (give or take five minutes), the hovercraft gets its scanner back. Sam uses it to scan around the state of Rhode Island, and it picks up on something almost immediately after he equips it. He flies us down to where it was, and all there is to see is a dumpster, some outhouse-looking structure, and a bunch of trees.

"Okay, so what the hell is special about this place?" Sam asks. "There's nothing friggin' here."

"Sam, you know this is the perfect place for something to happen," Avery tells him.