Later in the evening, Raymond was up on the roof watching the remnants of the wandering storm roll out over the bay. Dark, sullen clouds hung in the air. Even under the shadow of night he could see their outlines, the city glow reflecting on the surface. Lightning would strike from time to time, seeming to hit the ocean and bounce back again. Occasionally, a massive Skywhale would appear just beyond the last of the fog, it's mile long tale slowly drifting above the horizon. It was beautiful light show, yet with all fast asleep he enjoyed it alone, the only company a bottle of fine wine he had been saving.
Behind him, someone stepped onto the roof. He turned to see Charles cautiously walking toward him, still in the same clothes, but with a new piece of face paint around his eye and on his neck, displaying various earthy patterns and symbols. "There you are," Raymond said turning around and grabbing an extra glass, his face red with the burn of alcohol.
"You thought I had forgotten?" Charles replied coming beside him.
"I know you didn't forget," his voice was tired. "You never forget anything. Its actually quite amazing." He passed Charles the glass.
"I find it to be a curse, though," Charles replied.
"I was just taking about curses today!" Raymond declared.
Charles sat beside him, pouring himself a full serving. "Sometimes," Charles continued. "I think about embarrassing moments and get anxious all over again." Raymond laughed, Charles took a drink. "I even remember exactly how many creatures were in that strange, obscure book on monsters we had when we were young. Remember that?" He gestured to Raymond and they both laughed.
"You only remember because you were scared of those monsters." Raymond assured. "That's what I think." They laughed together again.
Charles fell into thought for a moment and placed a hand on his other brother's shoulder. "But tonight, I'm here to remember you, brother," Charles tried to smile, but displayed an unexpected somber expression instead.
"Thank you," Raymond hung his heavy head, then looked to Charles and patted him on the back. "I appreciate it. Vic knows I need my alone time, but I do appreciate your company."
"You have never appreciated my company." Charles retorted. They shared another laugh. As the sounds of joy dispersed, both gazed stoically out over the horizon for some time, as if searching for an answer among the distant clouds. "It's been eleven years now, right?" Charles spoke finally.
"Yes, eleven," Raymond replied thoughtfully. "I remember her in some way everyday. Something always reminds me."
"And me." Charles agreed. Raymond smiled.
Raymond spoke of his long lost wife. On this day eleven years ago, she had disappeared. He had married her just after achieving the rank of Captain in the original Solar Warden, but when they were reduced to security, a mental breakdown was his plague. Robbed of his pride and dignity, their relationship unwound and eventually fell apart. Until one day, a hastily written note near the window was all that remained of her. She vanished into the unknown. Secretly, he had always blamed himself, but the love and support he received from Charles and Victorian kept him from the edge. A source of light and motivation. A resolve which drove him to create a better world; to make it right and true for everyone, by any means.
"She's not dead, Ray," Charles continued, guiding his brother's eyes to his. Raymond looked to him with a slightly hopeful glance, but decided not to speak. "She's out there. Somewhere. I believe that." He looked out to the ocean.
Raymond nodded mindfully and patted Charles on the shoulder. "You know, to be honest," he began. "Even though tonight is her night, she makes me think of Mother and Father the most."
"That's true," Charles acknowledged, becoming lost in thought. "So much wisdom still to teach."
"And they bestowed most of it to her!" His voice was slurred with a stifled laugh. "You know, I never thought I'd marry her. Never. And it wasn't because of her, it was the thought of marriage. The union. Binding one's self to another, it always seemed ridiculous to me." He poured more wine into his glass.
"What changed your mind?"
"She did!" He rose to his feet with hardy chuckle, stumbling and stretching his back. "I may be wise, but love is ever wiser."
"So you were intoxicated and led astray?" Charles turned to watch his antics.
"Indeed, I was. But down the right path, I believe." Both of them smiled optimistically, thinking of the many reasons why this was true. Raymond abruptly sat down again. "Shouldn't stand up just yet," he remarked.
They laughed once more. Then Charles remembered something. "By the way, do you still have all the old journals and notebooks?" he asked.
"Of course," Raymond replied after a quick sip from his ever empty glass. "I'm thankful we still have them to learn from."
"True, but it's not the same." Charles' tone became stern.
"It never will be."
Charles sifted though the words in his mind, pondering the troubling notion. His face suddenly drained of emotion and he jumped to his feet again. "Then I shall never be free of the pain." He stated.
"Charles, I will not go through this with you again," Raymond faced him.
"You don't have to," Charles murmured as he began to walk away.
"Pain is necessary, but it must leave you at some point."
Charles stopped and turned to him. "Truth. But to be reminded of the loss we have faced--in all of it's forms--will not help me grow. It will not rest my mind."
"So you shy away? Everything helps you grow." Raymond raised his wine glass into the air.
"Even your wine?" Charles remarked, jesting his lust for intoxication.
"You know that's not what I mean," his voice became low and serious, freezing Charles in place. "As living beings our lives move ever forward. We must redirect even the strongest hatred into the most powerful, bright energy." His cadence was slow and precise, radiating with wisdom from years of experience. The words resonated with Charles, and for good reason. They were their father's words. Charles nodded caringly, knowing his brother was right. He usually was. "Now come back an finish your damn drink." Raymond finalized, pointing to the empty spot next to him.
Charles eventually returned to his brother's side once again. They continued their long talk looking out over the sparkling horizon. In the distance, the long chime of a fog whistle, like a howl in the night, pierced through the lines of land. Until all fell silent with their thoughts.
The next day, the fog whistle was still blowing. The coastline by the city had been engulfed in a thick mist; a grey wall of vapor hanging in the morning air, casting shadows over the restless sea. In this desolate atmosphere, whistles and horns served as warnings and signals for massive vessels along the shore, creating a symphony of harbor sounds echoing far into the distance. Outside the coast line, the oceans were bustling with huge cargo, fishing and Navy ships. On foggy days, they were all but blind to most everything around them, save for a barrage of signals and lighted ships which led the way.
One of many divisions patrolling these hazy waters were the Coastal Patrol. A group of smaller, flat ships that skimmed over the water, warning the larger vessels that they had either come too close to shore, or another dangerous object was in their path. Inside one of these Coastal Patrol boats was Victorian, who was the pilot of a Lighthouse Ship, or LHS, which were responsible for shining very bright, illuminating lights through the fog, acting as moving beacons.
Victorian's long, black hair flowed in the wind, beads of salt air clinging to the stray strands. She stepped back from her steering platform and grabbed a rope tie from her side pouch, pulling her wet hair back into a hastily made bun. As sea water jumped over the side of the boat, she brushed the briny water away from her face, narrowing her eyes to see through the constant grey curtain. A few of her crewman walked carefully along deck, allowing the waves slash them.
Spotting a familiar buoy used as a marker, she decreased her speed and came to a stop. All around her was nothing but dark clouds, as if they spirit of the bay itself had swallowed them whole. A few distant horn sounds floated through the air, as her crew bickered about the weather. Just then, another larger ship rolled through the fog in front of them like a ghost, eventually coming beside her vessel. "Hey, Vic!" A voice yelled from the fog. She smiled and waved them over.
The Captain of the adjacent ship helped Vic's men grab a connecting wire and secured the boats. When all was well, he leapt over the small gap and landed on the deck. As he came into the dim light, Vic could see barnacles stuck to his old, orange coat, with seaweed and muscles attached to his boots. Some were even stuck to his scruffy white beard, or molded to his bristly eyebrows. Most of these men had been working for decades on the ocean, often without a break, making homes in sea shacks and fueling stations on the coast. "You keeping dry out here?" the Captain said, stopping in front of her.
"I am as the sea." She said poetically, which made the Captain laugh.
"Still quoting the old sea songs, eh?" he said. "Well, that's how I like it. That's why I like you!" He hobbled over to her control board at the front of the ship, his eccentric eyes darting in every direction. "Now, look here," his big finger smashed down on a weather radar screen. "As I thought! The system isn't dying out, it's getting bigger by the hour. By the minute!" His voice screeched.
Victorian's disappointed expression was stark across her face. "You came all the way over here to tell me to go home?" she looked at him desperately.
"No, I came all the way over 'cause I need your boat," he motioned to some of his crewmen who were jumping onto the deck. "We're going to take this watch, you take the next one."
"I can do this, Captain!" she declared. "You put me in charge of this lane and this ship."
"Aye, that I did. And with confidence," he waved his weathered hand at her. "But not during this storm, not today."
"Are you losing faith in me already?" she placed her hands on her hips in agitation.
"I never have!" he barked, sitting himself in Vic's chair. "But unlike you, I can feel it in my bones," he drew in a deep breath. "Oh yes, yes. This one is going to be big! One of the biggest storms we've seen. I can feel it coming. Like a stampeding thunderstorm."
"Captain, that's my specialty." She smiled at him.
The Captain chuckled and leaned toward her. "One day. One day the sea will call to you, too!" His eyes were lively.
She placed her hand on his arm. "Let me help. Just tonight. I'll be a crew member." He shook his head. "Captain, you know I need this. I need the help." Her tone became longing and desperate.
He placed his hand over hers with a reassuring grip. "I know you do, my girl, I know. That's why I'm sending you back."
"I can't afford not to work," she pleaded.
"And I can't afford to lose my ships and my crew!" he proclaimed. Then he quickly settled himself and sighed, searching for the right words. "...I can't afford to lose you."
She met his gaze with a stern glare. "I have you and my father constantly trying to protect me on a daily basis. Do you know how demeaning that is?" She gripped his arm.
"Call it whatever you want. I call it being wise."
"I've learned."
"You'll never stop learning from me!"
"I believe that." She looked away again.
The Captain grabbed her arm, commanding her attention. "Vic," he began. "You can't lose your family." She shot him a shocked expression. "I told you once, I'd never let you make the same mistakes as me. I wasn't just talking about the rules of the sea." She accepted this. Though she was adverse to the reasoning, she understood his sentiments.
After all, Victorian was a wonderful asset to his team. She had been one of the only women to join the Coastal Patrol, not to mention the first ever pilot of an LHS after it's inception. But with this new level of responsibility came even more danger. Because of their unique routes, LHS ships were often the victims of larger ships, horrid weather, as well as attacks from dangerous ocean creatures. With Victorian being a single mother with very little family, money or support, the Captain knew he was required to make sacrifices to keep his crew secure and sound. This meant taking the reins himself to assure the safety of the future crew. An honorable method to be sure, but one that also deemed she would miss a day of profit.
Victorian straightened herself and pulled her hand back from the Captain's sleeve. "Alright men, get to work! Go!" The Captain screeched again as his small crew began to run in circles, preparing the ship for the unpredictable weather. He turned to Victorian again. "See you back on shore tonight. Be safe, the storm is practically here already." He patted her on the arm and spun her around in the direction of the waiting boat.
She grabbed her sea bags and secured them to her shoulder, then hopped across to the other boat. Every member of her own crew stayed behind with the Captain to help for the storm, as was procedure. However, she had no problem piloting a ship herself, even in these conditions. As she returned the securing lines and pulled the boat away, she could still hear the murmurs of the crewmen behind her as the wind began to blow. But suddenly, as she was gaining greater distance, she heard another noise. The unmistakable sound of fog horns blasting from the Captain's LHS.
At first, she thought nothing of it and continued along. Then more horns sounded from other ships. Louder and louder they grew. Victorian grabbed the control switch, slowed her ship, then waited silently until it came to an easy stop. Her thoughts raced. This many horns at once was a very rare situation, and it was never a good thing. She strengthened her stance, cautiously walking to one side of the ship, attempting to see anything she could through the thickness. Until finally, a shadow appeared in the fog.
It was big. A huge black mass coming straight for them. Surely this must be a ship, out of control, blind to the port for some odd reason. Knowing she must act fast to save the other ships caught in the damage path, Vic hopped down onto the lower deck and pulled open a small door, spilling several life vests onto the deck. She then jumped back to the bridge, slamming her fist against the controls as the ship sparked to life again, a rush of seawater spraying from the rear. The ship swung around in the opposite direction, water ragefully displaced on all sides, the motor's strained sounds echoing through the clouds.
She ducked down out of the wind as her fingers flew across an electronic panel, jabbing buttons rapidly. As she worked, a few thick yellow ropes sprang from the back of the ship. Upon hitting the water, bright lights came to life, spitting orange buoys from their casing. A standard disaster procedure to inform the shore authorities of the specific location. When the ropes had all deployed, she stole a quick glance to ensure all was well, then grabbed the radio from her side.
"...This is LHS three!" she shouted over the wind. "We have an out of control ship in port A! Requesting all units and shore authority, report to--" she cut her words and gasped. As the massive figure lumbered through the fog and finally revealed itself, she dreadfully realized it was no ship. It was a Skywhale.
Skywhales were common sea creatures on this planet, even around cities. As long as there were oceans, Skywhales could be seen slowly drifting over the water, usually above the cloud line. Often times they were even mistaken for clouds, as their bodies were over a mile long, with most of it consisting of a gigantic, flat tale which they used to move through the air. They were docile creatures most of the time, spending half their life in the sky. However, when a middle aged Skywhale was ready to dive into the ocean until the end of its days, the location it chose was final. Once selected, nothing would interrupt its path, not even a sea port. On this day, this particular Skywhale had chosen to search for a good spot too near the coastline, and the Coastal Patrol would pay with their lives.
Victorian watched in horror as the magnificent being burst through the dark cloud bank, and just as easily, straight through her Captain's boat. The grey of the fog shimmered with bright explosions, thundering with twisted metal. Dire screams suddenly ended. Victorian released a cry of her own in a moment of mourning, but immediately composed herself, remaining vigilant of her situation. This was the time to prove strength and act.
She grabbed the controls tight, throttling her ship to maximum power, racing it straight toward the wreckage. In response, the Skywhale veered to the side, almost instinctively turning away from her and back into the curtain of fog. She sped past the swooping tale and began to circle her boat around any piece of debris she could find. Through the hazy mist, she could see only small fires and large ship sections beginning the sink, but no sounds. There was little more she could do.
At that moment, her ears caught the sound of churning waves. The whale was moving. She could still see it; a tall shadow lumbering behind the grey wall. The aura of a leviathan. She brought her ship to full stop and let the silence claim the air. All went still except for the hum of the motor and the wistful moaning of the whale's voice, a lament of doom. Yet what was swiftly becoming an oddly peaceful moment, soon became the nightmare she had predicted, and now her tiny boat was in the way.
With a burst of anger, the head of the giant whale sprang forth through the fog, it's gaping mouth swung open to reveal gummy strands of sickly baleen and even several sharp teeth. Vic gripped the wheel tight and slammed the throttle downward, darting the ship forward, dashing away as fast as she could manage. But her attempt was in vain. The creature was too big, and she was nothing more than a helpless speck of life, trapped between the forces of nature. With an enormous eruption, the whale's tale suddenly appeared in front of her, sweeping across the glossy plane of the sea, and folding a massive wave in her direction.
She swung the ship right, then hard right, her knuckles white with fear. The ship skipped atop the water, only barley able to clear the end of the wave. Then the whale turned it's body again, it's head vigorously dipping in and out of the waves like a ferocious horse charging at full speed. She glanced back just in time to see the creature's open maw crash into the ocean behind her, as if a meteor had impacted the surface. She swung the ship to the left and held on with all her strength as the waves pushed the boat from behind, then spun it, tipped it, and finally allowed her to regain control once more.
As the whale disappeared into the water, she finally caught a glimpse of the shore. It wasn't far. She tapped her radar screen and turned the boat in a safe direction. "This is LHS three!" she yelped, grabbing her radio again. "I need assistance! I need assistance now! I repeat, port A! I'm heading for shore, I am not..." her words fell as she froze in place. As if the end of the world had manifested before her, the massive whale breached once more, this time directly in front her. There was no where to run now. The whale had breached so close, one of the safety ropes protruding from the side of the ship became caught between it's teeth, and suddenly her vessel traveled skyward.
As the ship was dragged up into the air, dangling violently, she held on tight, clinging to whatever she could find. Her grip was strong, her will to survive even stronger. Regaining her composer, she pulled herself up onto the windshield of the ship, flattening her body against the glass and steadying her body. But as soon as she secured herself, she noticed the the rope holding the ship was frayed and about to break apart. Fighting the wind and abrupt movements, she quickly leapt to the other side of the ship, fumbling and grappling, then finally grasping onto the rope.
As soon as her weight hit, the rope snapped. She watched fearfully as her ship bounced off the whale's body and into the oblivion of the fog below. It was in this moment she realized the end had come. From here, among the clouds, there was no escape. Memories raced through her mind as the whale continued it's launch into the sky. She thought of her father. Her children. The complex woven tales of her life story. She even admired the beauty of the sky which was to become her grave, and found peace knowing that nature herself had come to claim that life. And when her thoughts faded, the whale changed direction, diving toward the sea again.
Victorian's body altered itself with the flow of the whale, like a flag shifting in the breeze, the gravity pulling her feet into the air. She and whale fell together through the sky. On the shoreline, the other ships racing to help gazed skyward to watch the magnificent sight. Men on the boats ran across the decks, attempting to gain a better view at this rare sight, never imaging for a moment that Victorian was a passenger.
At long last, with a sound that shook the foundations of the earth, the mighty sky giant crashed into the blue sea. An explosive wave arched high into the air with a delayed boom that echoed across the miles. Rescue ships continued to race toward the site, lights blazing in the grey mist. The whale had found it's home, taking Victorian into the endless depths forever.
As the sun rose over the ocean, clouds danced in a circular pattern where the whale had entered the ocean, now a ring of fire as the ships began to gather.