FORESIGHT and SCOPE: BOOK TWO

C H A P T E R S I X T Y-S E V E N

BOOOOOMMMM!!!

The sea wall underneath my hands and knees quaked, which meant the climatic tsunami had collided with it. People who have crowded the path clamored in shock. Gasping, I stooped down and covered my head. My heart hammered against my chest. Every hair on my body stood on end and the cold sweat I had secreted earlier leaked from my pores exponentially with every shuddering breath.

Then, as quickly as it occurred, the salty air was suddenly still.

"You good, Princess?" I lifted my head to see Phee crouching over me, the corner of her lips pulled to the side. Her hands closed over my shoulders. "It's over. Come on, up you go."

"Fern, you good?" Wrecker asked. "I'm sorry I pulled you over the wall like that." I have never been more relieved to see the big guy. My mouth flattened as I fought back alleviating tears. I managed to assure him with a big nod. "You can throw me over a wall any time there is a deadly tsunami, Wrecker." I quipped, sparking a comical grin on the muscular clone's face.

"Fern, you are not hurt, are you?" I turned and saw Tech rolling out his shoulder. Something told me he, too, was chucked to safety by our strongest comrade. My body reacted on its own—I embraced him tightly. "Thank you." I sighed when I released him. His face flushed.

"If we ever do find ourselves in a similar prediction involving a powerful sea surge," Tech awkwardly adjusted his spectacles. "perhaps you won't find yourself racing against it up several terraces and—"

"Yes, yes." I rolled my eyes.

His eyes trailed down and up. "You are a mess."

"What did you expect, Brown-Eyes?" Phee chimed in, propping her elbow on my shoulder. "Just because she's a princess, doesn't mean she's immune to wind, sweat, and stressful situations."

"Thanks, Phee." I retorted. We all just survived a tsunami, and we are all cracking wise—yep, we are okay.

Suddenly, I remembered and fumbled for my comm link on my belt. It was not there. I must've dropped it when I saw Tech scaling down the wall. I turned to him eagerly. "Omega and Lyana? Did Hunter get them?"

"Yes." Tech simply nodded with a small simper. I placed a hand on my chest as I sighed. Then, I cleared my throat and clapped my hands together. "Well, hey, guys. Good work. Excellent teamwork. I say we call it a night, though, what do you think? Of course, we have to settle everyone down first..."

"Woah, Fern." Phee caught me by my shoulders as I swayed. My voice trailed off. My body grew heavy as if my blood had congealed into lead and my limbs were shackled to the ground. Fatigue consumed me as my temple dropped onto Phee's shoulder. "You really exerted yourself this time, didn't you?" she joked.

"I had to." I hummed. "I had to check every house. Just as Shep instructed."

"And that you did." Phee chuckled. I felt her hand squeeze my bicep. "You deserve a good rest."

She didn't have to tell me twice. I drifted off right there, standing up.

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I woke up in a bed. A real bed.

My conscience slowly absorbed this new experience... The sensation of my hip bone and shoulder sinking into the soft mattress. The warmth of the puffy, linen comforter flopped on top of me; my mouth buried into its cool fabric. My arm tucked under the firm pillow while half my face submerged in it.

At first, my eyelids felt weighted shut, and my first assessment of my surroundings was the reddish-yellow light glowing through them—a clear indication I was not on the Marauder. I rubbed away the sleep fogging my vision with the fingers of my left hand, and stretched upward with my right. Yet, I did not endure the stale grogginess I'd undergone every day. Instead, as I deeply inhaled and fluttered my eyes open on the exhale, I felt refreshed. There were no aches in my shoulders or back when I lifted my upper body with ease. I found myself snickering when my braid cascaded over my shoulder, for it was hardly a braid anymore considering how much it had loosely unraveled.

I scanned the room. While it was fairly bare in terms of furniture and decor, it was filled with a calming, curative aura—an agreeable way to start one's day. Sunlight poured into the room through an open square window on my left; a slight breeze brushed against the sheer, white curtains. The salty aroma cleansed my senses.

A single tear trickled down my cheek.

"Ah, you're awake, Princess?"

I turned my head to my right and scoffed at the pirate leaning against the doorframe with her arms knotted over her chest. I matched her smirk, swiped my cheek with my thumb, and inquired, "My squad?"

"They are in the courtyard." Phee approached me and plopped down on the foot of the bed. "We've got most of the civilians gathered there until we can figure out a relief system." Pulling back the comforter, I flipped my legs over and stretched my left arm above my head. "That's good. I'm sorry I passed out."

"After sprinting down and up Lower Pabu like you did?" Phee snorted. "I don't blame you." She shuffled over. "By the way, it was unamiously decided that you and your squad will be sticking around here a little longer." She proudly placed her hand on her chest. "I spoke on your behalf—I figured you wouldn't mind."

I chuckled through my nose. "No, not at all."

"Brown-Eyes was right." she said, wrinkling her nose. "You are a mess."

"Thanks."

"Well, clean up then." Phee hoisted herself off the bed and strolled over to the cabinet, opened it, and selected a few articles of clothing. She tossed them onto the bed and waved her hand. "Those are some old clothes of mine. You can keep them." She then headed towards the door. "Let me know if you need anything else."

"Actually," I blurted, causing Phee to halt in her tracks. "I would very much like to speak with you. I've got a lot on my mind, and—I can't believe I'm saying this—you are the only person I can tell."