63: A2 Prologue
Gina winced as the light shimmered off the waves, cutting at her eyes. “Can this thing go any faster!?” she yelled, barely audible over the ancient Amigosian engine, which seemed to groan in displeasure. “No, and they outnumber us one hundred to one. We need to turn back now!” shouted Turner in defiance. “We’re an extraction, not re-enforcements. We just need to get to the docks before the bulk of the turncoats do!”
“They’re already engaging the Redcap’s remnants! It’s time to turn back and leave them to the consequences of their rule!” Despite Turner’s protest, the boat continued as commanded. Gina pulled up her binoculars, looking on to see a half dozen figures attempting to hold back an army. The turncoats nearest to the dock were cut down like reeds beneath a scythe, staining the sand a crimson red. Those on the dock, however, began to pull back.
It had to be some tactic. Their Arkepellian captain told stories of how Basil came back to life, becoming invulnerable and single-handedly taking out an Elthrice army. Every word of that story had to be bullshit, but he couldn’t die trying to defend some Redcaps from some turncoats, could he? But no, this couldn’t be a tactic. She’d seen forces in this exact scenario, her own and others; cornered on one side and an unbeatable foe on the other, only digging deeper to postpone the inevitable.
Basil stood and spread his arms wide. No, he couldn’t be committing suicide, could he? The engine cut out, Turner or their captain apparently seeing the same. They had to keep going; she had a debt to repay, and she was either going to repay it by saving this sorry lot or die trying. She turned to yell at whoever stopped the boat, but was thrown to the deck.
A giant beast soared through the sky, deafening her with its roar and generating enough wind to nearly capsize their vessel. She looked up, and the light on the waves no longer blinded her. What were once blinding daggers of light were now only whisps of candlelight, made insignificant by the new sun that stood where an army once did.