Shipwreck

Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip.

With a steady rhythm, the pitter-patter of raindrops resonated throughout the ship’s lower deck. Most of the upper deck’s floor had collapsed; only the bridge remained standing. Fallen crates and wreckage decimated the engine room and crew quarters.

“Ugh… My head.”

Hiro sat against the wall and surveyed the sky. Dark clouds loomed over the ship. The rain slowly grew in intensity. The thunder and pink lightning had stopped, which raised his concern for Usano’s well-being.

He stood up and struggled to take a step. His body ached all around. Still, he considered himself lucky for even surviving such a fall in one piece. With his Eyes, he had found the best place to land to minimize damage.

“Haruka!” he whispered. There were no enemies in sight, but he could never be too certain. “Where are you?”

He crouched down and cautiously rummaged through the debris until a hint of pink caught his eye. A portion of Haruka’s hair stuck out from under a pile of rubble. Hiro hurried over and pressed against a large metal plate, but it barely budged. His muscles cried for him to stop, but he kept pushing on. With his face beet red, he finally knocked it over.

“Haruka?” He lightly tapped her frigid cheek and immediately retracted his hand. “Right, cold skin. Okay, plan B.” No matter how much he shook her, she still wouldn’t wake up.

Just then, Hiro heard a voice yell. He cupped his hand over his one good ear.

“What do you mean two hours?! The ship’s a mess! Hurry up before it’s too late!”

Hiro froze. He recognized that angry tone. Poking his head out from behind a metal heap, he spotted Hui Yan squatting on the floor. She held a phone to her ear.

“...Oh? Oh?! So it’s my fault now! Well, how tragic! What do you want me to do about it, sink the ship?! That’s what I thought. Get your asses here ASAP or so help me! Rah! Stupid machine!” She threw the phone on the floor. “I swear, when I see that man’s face… Ah, shoot. I should’ve asked for his name.”

Haruka let out a slight groan. “Quiet please.”

In a panic, Hiro shushed her. “She’ll hear us!”

Hui Yan swiftly got to her feet. “Hey! I know you’re there! Come out before I make you!”

“Damn it.” Hiro grabbed Haruka’s arm. “Can you stand? We need to get outta here!”

She slipped back into unconsciousness.

Hui Yan unsheathed her katana. “Cowards! Show yourselves!”

“Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh.” Hiro knelt down and made a futile attempt to carry Haruka. A piece of debris fell and clattered against the floor.

“Aha! I heard that, filthy rats!” Hui Yan swung her blade. A light blue wave of wind flew toward Hiro’s direction, but it dissipated shortly after exiting her blade. “Am I out already? This stupid— RAH! What is wrong with today?! You best leave your hiding spot soon or else!”

Hiro frantically scratched his head. With his battered body, he couldn’t imagine safeguarding both himself and Haruka. He swiftly raised his arms and jumped out of the metal heap, revealing himself. “Okay! Okay! I’m here. I surrender.”

Hui Yan straightened her posture and sneered. “Hmph. Took you long enough. If you’d been this submissive from the beginning, you would’ve saved me all this trouble.”

Hiro kept his arms up and slowly walked away from Haruka. “Look, you’re obviously too strong for me. There’s no chance in hell I could ever hope to win.”

She nodded. “That is, in fact, true. Seems you had more brain in there than I originally thought. Props to you.”

“Th-Thank you so much. Is there any sort of agreement we could settle with that lets us both get outta here happy?”

“Ha! Ha! Ha!” Her hand delicately covered her mouth. “It’s far too late now for you to leave alive. Even more so unscathed.”

When he felt he was a considerable enough distance from Haruka, Hiro fell down on one knee. “P-Please! I’ll do anything!”

“How amusing. Beg more, I might change my mind. But even if I choose to spare you, my boss would definitely have far worse plans in mind. However…” She scanned his body from top to bottom. “The fact that you caused all this destruction in the first place must mean you have some value. I could convince him otherwise.”

“Yes! Yes! Thank you! Thank you!” He bowed his head repeatedly.

“You’d probably get a few dozen beatings. Nothing out of the ordinary. Oh, maybe an arm torn off, but I mean, look at what you’ve done. An arm is an easy price to pay. After that, I could pull some strings to make you my personal slave. Surely you’d prefer a life of servitude to me over whatever my boss has in store for you. Don’t you agree?”

“O-Of course, Madam.”

“Oh yes.” She moaned softly. “‘Madam.’ What a nice ring to it. Ah, and before I forget. Where is that friend of yours? I’m dying to hear her beg for my mercy as well.”

“Oh… her?” Hiro looked away from Haruka’s direction. “I looked for her everywhere. No sign of her. I think she… She might’ve fallen into the sea.”

“Hm. I’ll stay vigilant regardless.” Hui Yan crossed her arms. “My backup arrives in less than two hours. If you wish to earn my trust, my dear slave, you should tie yourself up. Get the rope yourself.”

Hiro turned around as his eyes glowed green, pretending to search for ropes. After a few seconds, he pointed his finger up. “Actually, the bottom deck is the storage area, right? I’m sure they have ropes in there.”

She pointed at the wall behind him. “There’s some lifebuoys behind you. Just take the ropes from there.”

“O-Ohhh! But the storage area might have chains for the containers, right?”

She gasped. “Chains! Even better! You would look great bound in them.”

“Uh… Yeah, sure. I’ll just head down there, and—”

“Under my watchful eye, of course.”

“Y-Yes, of course.” He inched toward the stairs, keeping eye contact with her the entire time.

Hui Yan pointed her katana at him. “What is it? I don’t like the way you’re looking at me.”

“Ah, forgive me. I’m just stricken with fear right now.” He shook his legs. With his head bowed, he gestured at the stairs. “After you, Madam.”

“Hm? Shouldn’t the slave head in there first?”

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll run ahead and hide down there?”

“Why? Will you?”

Hiro waved his hands. “No, no, no! Absolutely not! I’ve learned my lesson!”

“Then get in there. Now.”

He took a step closer to her. “Madam, I’m just so afraid!”

She slashed the air. “What are you doing?! Get away from—”

ZAP!

A pink spark of electricity struck her from below the stairs. Hui Yan dropped her blade and plummeted to the floor. Smoke rose from her charred arm. Her body twitched uncontrollably.

Not long after, Usano crawled out from the stairs. Labored wheezes escaped her parched lips. Dark bags hung beneath her bloodshot eyes. “Ah… My junior. Good to see you again,” she said with a raspy voice.

Hiro hurriedly helped her stand up. “Usano? What happened to you?”

“Oh, I’m just…” She coughed a few times. “I’m all outta juice. Had to forcibly squeeze out a little extra just to help you out. You’re lucky I even got here in time.”

Though he did see her coming with his Eyes.

Hui Yan groaned. The twitching had stopped.

“Hold on, gimme a sec.” Hiro clenched his hands together and slammed them down like a hammer on Hui Yan’s head. It immediately knocked her out. He took her sword and threw it as far away as he could.

Usano whistled. “Dang. I expected nothing less from my junior. I’m so proud.”

The floor rumbled. A low humming sound echoed from downstairs.

“Oh, that’s right!” Usano pointed at the stairs. “I need your help with the ores! There’s still a bunch down there! Hurry, junior!”

The humming grew louder. It quickly became apparent to Hiro where the sound came from: running water.

“The ores are the least of our worries! Run!” He grabbed her arm and rushed to Haruka. “Quick! Help me carry her!”

Usano pried his hand off her. “Excuse me, do I look like I can?!”

Hiro also lacked the strength to lift her up. “Fine. Help me wake her up then.”

They both yelled as loud as they could. Hiro shook her arms while Usano slapped her face. No matter what they did, Haruka wouldn’t awaken.

The floor violently quaked. Seawater burst forth from the stairs. Hiro stumbled to his knees. Loud creaking came from the surrounding debris.

The ship was sinking.

“Damn it! We don’t have any other choice!” He lifted up Haruka’s left arm. “You take the other side. One way or another, we’re all getting up there.”

They dragged her to a pile of lifebuoys and attached several of them to her. Water swiftly rose up to knee height. As Haruka floated, Hiro removed one of the ropes attached to the lifebuoys and tied Haruka to his back.

He handed the rope to Usano. “Do you know how to tie this?”

She placed her hands on her hips. “Are you kidding me? That’s child’s play!” Her heavy breathing betrayed her words.

“Perfect. I’ll help you up.”

Usano climbed up to his shoulders. After great toil and effort, she scrambled up to the upper deck’s railing and tied the rope around it. “There. Done,” she said, panting.

The water level had risen up to Hiro’s chest. He tugged the rope and slowly climbed it, one step at a time. Before he could make it to Usano, Hui Yan suddenly jumped out from underwater and clutched his foot.

“Oh, you’re so dead now! You hear me?! DEAD!” Hui Yan’s eyes flared red. As she struggled to hold on, her hairpin came loose, and her long, tousled hair tumbled down. She started climbing his leg.

Hiro kicked her in the face. “Get off me!”

Her nose bruised and bled. She kept on climbing with quick, loud grunts.

“I! Said! Get! Off!” He stomped on her again and again with increasing power and speed. At last, when he struck her near the ear, she let go and fell into the water.

After a short rest, Hiro hoisted himself up and clung to the railing.

Usano patted his back. “Well done, junior! I always knew my protégé could do it!”

“Okay, so…” He paused to catch his breath. “What now? Where’s the car?”

“The Duck, you mean?”

“Yeah, yeah. Sure. Whatever. Just get us outta here.”

“Sooo, about that… You know how I came from the storage room below?”

Hiro’s eyes swiftly widened. “Oh no.”

“Oh yes, this is a big issue in our hands. But fortunately, my electromagnetic field is gone! We can ask Big Sis for help!”

“...Right.” Hiro clicked his earpiece. Usano followed suit. Soon after, they heard a beep, followed by a deep voice.

“Hello? Guys? Can you hear me?” Leo asked.

“Hi boss! Did you miss us?” Usano waved her hand to no one.

“Usano! I’m so glad to hear your voice. Are the others with you?”

“Yes, we’re all here, though Haruka’s passed out at the moment,” Hiro chimed in. “We’re safe for now, at least.”

“Oh dear. I’m so glad you’re alright. Any update on the mission?”

Hiro turned to Usano.

She squirmed and shifted her head around rapidly. “U-Um… Yeahhh! You wanted ores, and I definitely did get ores.”

Leo fell silent for a few seconds. “Usano, it’s okay. Be honest with me.”

She banged her fist against the railing. “I’m sorry, okay?! I got a couple, but it’s too big and too heavy and too many, and I just— I couldn’t—” Her eyes watered.

“Okay, okay. It’s alright. I should’ve known from the start this was too much for the three of you. The allure of it all got to me. To be honest, the fact that Brigade is involved should’ve been my cue to stop this whole thing. I should be the one apologizing for my oversight.”

Usano sniffed. “I-It’s okay. I still got some.”

“Aw, great work, Usano! We’ll be sure to make good use of it.”

“Yayyy!”

“Boss, we need your help,” Hiro said. “We’re stranded. The car is stuck underwater.”

“Oh, you mean the Duck?” Leo asked.

“...Sure.”

“The Duck is what?!” they heard Maki scream. “What did you do to my baby?!”

“Big Sis?” Usano gasped. “You’re here!”

“I’ve been here the whole time! I was just busy tinkerin’ with the boss’ TV. Now, you better spill the beans.” The tone of her voice lowered. “What happened to my baby?”

“Forgive me, Big Sis!” Usano bowed her head. “There were these guards, and I made a big hole, and water flooded in, and—”

“No excuses! You’re makin’ it up to me big time when you get back, ya hear?!”

Usano’s eyes brightened. “Yes ma’am! And then you’ll forgive me?”

“Huh? Oh yeah, sure, whatever. Anyways, you two are lucky to have a genius inventor like myself on your side. There’s a floatation device installed in the Duck just for situations like these! All you gotta do is activate the voice code!”

Usano clapped her hands. “Bravo, Big Sis! You truly are a genius!”

“So, what’s the voice code?” Hiro asked.

“Quack!” Maki exclaimed. “You gotta shout as loud as you can, or else it might not hear you!”

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Of course we do.”

Usano cupped her hands over her mouth. “Quack! Quack! Come on, junior! Say it with me!”

Hiro groaned. This was the last thing he wanted to do, but desperate times called for desperate measures. He yelled at the top of his lungs. “QUACK! QUACK! QUACK!”

They quacked on and on, but still no Duck came. Minutes passed by until their voices gave way. In the midst of their shouting, Haruka rose up.

“Quiet please.” She tried to move her arms, but the lifebuoys prevented her from doing so. “Why am I tied up?”

“Haruka! You’re awake!” Hiro helped free her. “Quick! Before enemy reinforcement comes! Quack with us!”

Haruka stared in disgust at Usano, who’d been quacking the entire time. “No.”

“I know it sucks. I hate it too. But if we wanna get outta here alive, we gotta quack.”

“Why?”

“It’s the Duck’s voice code to make it float back up to the surface.”

“What? But the float button is here.” Haruka showed him the Duck’s key fob and pointed at the bottom red button.

Excited chuckling came from their earpieces. “Pfft! Idiots!” Maki blurted out.

Hiro’s expression turned deadpan. “Maki, did you lie to us?”

“Hahaha! Yeah! You should’ve heard yourselves! Don’t worry, I recorded it for you. Alright, I’m gonna focus on work now. Maki out. Peace!”

He was dumbfounded.

Haruka clicked her earpiece. “Hello?”

“Ah, Haruka. Glad to know you’re safe,” Leo said. “Have a safe trip, everyone. Get some rest when you get here. You deserve it. Tomorrow, meet me at the command center. I have some updates on Brigade I’d like to share.”

“Understood.” Haruka pressed the float button.

The ship tilted as it continued to sink, so the three ventured to its bow. Along the way, the rain stopped. A glimpse of the sunset poked through the clouds. A few minutes later, they noticed bubbles forming in the sea. The Duck emerged from the waters, fully intact, but the inside was drenched. Yellow inflated balloons were attached to its side.

The trio entered the Duck. Their clothes had gotten wet and soggy, but they were just grateful it was over. Haruka started the Duck and activated the CAMOH. Not long after, Hiro and Usano fell asleep. For once in this mission, she could finally enjoy peace and quiet. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the Duck waddled back to the shore.