Destined: The Six

37. Jeremiah's Plan

          Belle had, the next morning, as soon as everyone had gathered in the dining room, told the others about her dream. "The next guardian's name is Carnifex. He's slightly more scary than the others, I can guarantee that," Belle answered when Heather had asked who the guardian was. Belle had also explained that Carnifex hadn't even bound her tongue with secret. "He doesn't seem to care. From what he said, though, I think he's based up in California, as I've always dreamed of going there. Where in California, I don't know," Belle finished, shrugging her shoulders. 

          Jeremiah considered the information that Belle had given them. California, eh? Belle looked like the kind of girl who would dream of going to California. The troubling part of her speech was that she wasn't sure where, exactly, in California they would go, but they could figure it out. Jeremiah turned to August. "How far to California?" he asked. August shrugged. "Give me something like a day, and it'll all be fine, amigo," the Spanish teen answered.

          Jeremiah gave a small salute and left the room. He wanted to talk to Heather and Dylan, his best friends, about going after Castle. After all, they had their blessings, perhaps they could hold him off? It was a long shot, but saving the world, or at least prolonging its existence, was worth it. Man, Jeremiah thought. Now even my thoughts are heroic. I'm getting good at this.

          Jeremiah soon called his friends over to his room. As they both sat on his bed, Jeremiah stood to tell them of his plan. "I think, while the others navigate the other pylons, that we should work to slow Castle down. With the blessings we received from the pylons, we can at least do something. After all, there's not really any reason for us to hang back here. We have our blessings, and we can't do anything to help our friends. Destined must fight alone."

          Heather and Dylan sat for a moment, considering Jeremiah's plan. It made sense, of course, to consider before making a decision. This was one of those decisions where the wrong choice would end the world--a life-or-death situation. It was unlike whether one should get a large coffee or a medium, but more like if one should fight back after getting attacked, or stand there and let themselves get beaten. The two finished considering. "After I power up the engine for 'August Speed,' I can definitely help you. The least we can do is slow Castle down, you're right about that," Dylan answered.

          Heather seemed to agree. "Even if it's one of the worst ideas ever, I think we should do our best. I assume Marionette will be joining us?"

          "Yes, that way, Shadow Jeremiah can help," Jeremiah answered. The three exchanged their last glances of uncertainty, then all nodded together. It was settled; they were going to fight Castle.

          Jeremiah informed the others of his plan. Everyone but Marionette thought he was crazy. Well, Marionette probably still thought he was crazy, he just didn't gape at Jeremiah in befuddlement after he explained the plan. Dylan went to charge up Loraine for August Speed with Tamara, then the three waited. August had told them he was going to split the train, and for that, he needed another engine. So, the team stopped at an island between the United States and New Zealand so August could finish it.

          It was a rather stereotypical, but beautiful, island. It had the palm trees with coconuts, a sandy coastline, and nothing but sparkling sea for miles. Heather weaved herself a lawn chair and read in the sun while Dylan, Squiddy, Jeremiah, and Marionette fooled around in the water. Jeremiah took a look at August building the other train engine from time to time, and August made absurd progress from each time Jeremiah glanced. One moment, he barely had the wheels, but the next, he was halfway done. 

          When August was about three-quarters finished with the train engine, he had asked Tamara and Dylan to fill up three tanks with their powers. When Dylan came back, he had explained that they now had three tanks that could be injected into the engine to achieve August Speed. "He said that one of the tanks should last long enough to travel once around the equator, but it sure doesn't look it," Dylan told them. Everyone then continued to fool around in the water.

          The sun was beginning to sink below the horizon when August was complete. "What's this one named?"Jeremiah joked.

          "Caroline. Why?" August responded, seemingly serious. Jeremiah wondered what August had named his suit, or each individual car. Was the entirety of the train named Loraine, or was it just the engine? The world may never know.

          As August attached Heather's, Dylan's, and Jeremiah's cars to Caroline, he seemed to be getting tired. Jeremiah knew that himself and Heather had been tired out from using their abilities before, but he had never seen it happen to August. "Must be all my speed-constructing," August explained once everything was finished. "Not to mention how much I worked. Ay caramba." Jeremiah thanked August for all his work and called the others to Caroline. 

          Heather and Dylan thanked August, as well. The three, or perhaps five, if one included Squiddy and Marionette, bid farewell to their teammates and went into the train. Jeremiah thought about whether or not they would see their friends again as the train lifted off into the sky.

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          Belle was a bit sad to see her teammates fly off into the horizon in Caroline, August's second train. After all, Castle would probably kick their tails all the way to Nashville. Well, if Castle went to Nashville, that is. She didn't really have time to mourn the probable loss of her foolish fellow Destined, because August and Tamara wanted to start searching California immediately. Belle knew that it was a little greedy, but she couldn't help thinking about what her blessing might be. 

          With that, as the remaining three entered their train cabins, Loraine took off, heading towards California.