Rush Above Sea Level

Chapter 16: Wood you look at that

"This is certainly a shift of things." Twinkle walked back and forth around us.

It was a meeting between most of the people who wanted an opinion of traveling outside, outside the building. I sat down on the edge, petting Kayla while Bradley sat next to me.

"Thanks for looking out for me all this time. Are you alright after the whole Cameron thing?" I whispered to him.

He turned his head

"Huh? No, not really. We weren't really close before you came. I just miss her presence." He stared at Twinkle and Jerry examining the map.

"That was a great find out there." He praised.

"I was just at the right place at the right time."

"You're really influential to the base here, both leaders trust you. I guess you can say the base is in your hands."

I bit my lip "I suppose."

Jerry and Twinkle shook hands, Jerry beaming, and Twinkle frowning.

"I hope I made the right choice, Jerry. This is very risky." Twinkle's said nervously.

"You can trust me, Twinkle. This will go well with enough planning and precautions." Jerry spoke confidently.

"So how long will the whole building process take?"

"We're guessing about half a year to one year."

"I'll try to find anyone that knows anything about shipbuilding."

Twinkle left and Jerry took a deep breath.

"So what's the deal?" I stopped petting Kayla, who whimpered lightly.

"I'll be leader, if it backfires in any way during the construction of the ship to the voyage, Twinkle is taking over." Jerry rubbed his forehead stress fully.

I patted him reassuringly

"Thanks for listening to me, I really appreciate that you were willing to find what SON was."

"It's not just you, I want revenge for what they did, it's inhumane."

"I'll do anything to help."

"Thanks, we need all the help we can get."

"You can't come with us now, not even Bradley. This job is too dangerous." Jerry stopped me at the gate, Kayla ran out and joined the other volunteers.

"It's not like the cartoons." Twinkle held an axe in his hands.

"The tree could fall on you." Jerry protested.

"Or worse, you could sprain your arm cutting the tree."

"How is that worse?"

"At least the tree would be a quick, painless death.

"What is wrong with you?"

"I'm merely stating the facts."

"The point is, you can't go."

"Fine, what can I do?" I grumbled.

Jerry paused for a moment.

"Do we have enough food?" He faced Twinkle.

"She is not going scavenging." Twinkle growled.

Jerry shrugged "Just suggesting."

Twinkle sighed "Then just stay in the base."

I walked back toward the building.

"So," Bradley looked down at me coming back "I suppose we can't go."