Kharon Chapter 84
The crew is now back on the Kharon. Kiarah once more is piloting on the bridge of the ship. She is alone when Luke walks in to join her. He stands next to her looking at the view monitors.
“Where’s that map of yours?”, asks Kiarah. “I want to recheck our orientation. I am unsure how far off course that island took us.”
Luke does not take his gaze off the view monitors. “I lost the map.”
“Without it I can’t orient the ship properly. Even if The Gardens existed it would be impossible to find now.”
“So we’ll just keep sailing till we find another place to call home.”
“What do you mean by the use of ‘we’?”
Luke turns to look at Kiarah. “You’re not fooling anyone. Whether you like it or not, you’ve found a new tribe.”
“That is preposterous. I’m just ferrying you idiots around and trying to keep my ship in one piece.”
Luke turns and walks out of the bridge. “Don’t worry there’s worse company to keep.”
Kharon Chapter 85
Emma is laying in her bed when a knock is heard at the door. “Come in”, she calls out as Sparky perks up next to her.
Jacob enters the room and sits on the edge of the bed taking Emma by surprise. “Jacob! What do you need?”
“I need to talk to you...about us.”
“I thought you were a hustler. Don’t they play their cards close to the vest?”
“That’s just it you make me think I can be happy without money or power for the first time in my life.”
“I’m screwed up and I…”
“Didn’t you tell Luke you wanted to be happy?”
Emma turns away from Jacob. “I’ll hurt you. Trust me.”
“Maybe…maybe not. But I think maybe it's worth a try.”
Emma turns back to Jacob. Her eyes are welling up with tears. “I didn’t think this would happen.”
“Look if you want me to leave just say the word and I won’t bring it up again I promise. But I just had to tell you how I felt.”
Emma and Jacob gaze into each other’s eyes and they slowly lean in and kiss.
Luke stands at the bow of the Kharon looking up at the hazy night sky. Simone walks up beside him. The two stare out at the darkness together in silence.
“I’m sure we’ll be back on course in several cycles”, says Simone.
“No, we won’t. I lost the map.”
Simone turns to Luke surprised. “How?”
“It fell out when I was saving the others on that ice island. We’ll dock at the next island so you can get off.”
“Why would I want off this ship?”
“Aren’t you only here to see if The Gardens exists?”
“Originally.”
Luke turns to Simone for the first time and is struck by the intensity in her eyes. Simone kisses Luke.
“Why did you do that?”, asks Luke.
“Because I know you. You’re me. And maybe we both should start practicing some self love.”
They gaze at each other for a moment and then Simone leans in to kiss Luke again. This time Luke pulls her in close.
Kharon Chapter 86
Several cycles later Jacob and Emma are lying on the deck in each others arms napping. Sparky is curled up close by but suddenly becomes alert and starts buzzing with electricity. This rouses Emma who sits up and squints towards the horizon. “Look. We’re coming up to another island.”
Jacob sits up as well and rolls his eyes. “Great. Here comes another life threatening adventure.”
Jacob, Emma and Sparky stroll onto the bridge where Luke is piloting. Next to him Simone is furrowing her brow as she pours over maps. “I don’t see it on any of these.”
Kiarah walks onto the bridge and says, “My Quarsian tactics have failed to discern what island this is.”
“Wait. A mysterious unidentified island. You don’t think it’s…?”, asks Emma.
“I don’t know…I’ve never seen an island this green”, says Simone as she hunches over the telescopic view screen.
“We should dock and check it out”, says Emma.
“An unidentified island could be dangerous. We should just keep on moving”, says Luke.
“If it’s a threat then we’ll just destroy it like every other island we came across”, Emma retorts.
“I certainly have nothing to fear”, says Kiarah proudly,
Luke looks at Jacob who just shrugs. He then looks at Simone who nods.
Luke steers the Kharon towards the mysterious land mass. “First sign of trouble we get fuck outta here.”
Kharon Chapter 87
The Kharon is docked in what seems like a lush tropical beach. The group walks cautiously further through the greenery towards the interior of the island. The greenery opens up to reveal rolling hills with meadows and forests. Large waterfalls flank a pristine river. Over the waterfalls immaculate marble structures are built almost integrated into the beautiful scenery. A group of smiling people are walking towards them.
An older gentleman at the front of the group shouts out, “Welcome newcomers.”
“Who are you? What is the name of this place?”, asks Luke.
The older gentleman spreads his arms wide and says, “This place is known by many names and I am Marshall head of the welcoming committee. Come let us show you around.”
“Is this The Gardens?”, asks Emma.
“That is one of the names we are known by.”
The jaws of the crew drop. “I can’t believe it! We found The Gardens”, says Jacob in a state of shock.
“One never finds this place. One instead must make themselves able to see it.”
“What does that mean?”, asks Luke.
“Who cares”, says Simone. “You were right all along. You found what you were looking for.”
Luke looks around him and then at Emma and smiles. “Yeah. I guess I did.”
Kiarah turns her head and sees a Quarsian paddling a small raft along the river towards them. Kiarah’s eyes bulge. Her knees buckle.
“Is that a Quarsian?”, asks Jacob.
“I thought Kiarah was the last one?”, asks Emma.
“Guess there are some things she is wrong about”, says Luke.
“HAMAK!!”, exclaims Kiarah as she runs to the other Quarsian. Hamak opens his arms and Kiarah jumps into them. They hold each other as the rest of the Kharon crew can't help but smile at the touching scene.
The End
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