Free Trapped in Time-Extinction by Saxon Andrew Page B

man nodded and she started walking toward the front of the ship. She noticed that everyone was staring at her and their expressions weren’t friendly. She arrived at the bow and saw Tyler lying against the bow with his eyes closed. There were several people around him who stood up and walked away as she approached. “Do you have a minute?”
    Tyler opened his eyes and smiled, “Sure, sit down.”
    “You’re the only one that seems to want to have anything to do with me.”
    Tyler shook his head, “From what I hear you did to Zeck yesterday, I can understand their feelings.”
    “Don’t tell me you like him!”
    “I won’t.”
    “Good.”
    “Actually, I love him and he’s the reason I volunteered to go in for you.”
    Olivia shook her head, “Tyler, this doesn’t make sense. He’s a Destroyer.”
    “No, he
was
a Destroyer.” Olivia stared at him and Tyler blew out a breath, “Olivia, there are several members of my community whom we captured and have become important members. Zeck is probably the most important, next to the Admiral who was named Slayer.”
    “HE’S HERE?”
    “He managed to take a ship and escape. He brought his family and warriors who wanted to join us in our fight against the Commandant.”
    “Why do you say you love Zeck?”
    “My father was killed in an early fight against the Destroyers. I was overcome by my grief; no one could console me. I l would leave the community and go out and hide in the fields just to be left alone. I encountered Zeck while he was picking corn. Your sister was close by but she left him alone as long as he worked.” Tyler paused for a moment and shook his head, “I must say that initially I wanted to kill him and I pretty much told him so as he worked.”
    “And?”
    “He begged me to do it. He said he deserved to die for all the evil things he had done in his life. I told him that my father had been killed by a Destroyer. He could see my grief, there was no way I could hide it. He looked at me and said, ‘what do you think you father is thinking at this moment?’”
    “What did you say?”
    “I was speechless. Zeck told me that my father’s sacrifice was wasted unless I became a better man for it. He said that my father would have no patience for being lost in my pain but would love me to make something of my life and maybe one day make his death count for something.” Tyler slowly shook his head. “I hated him for saying that but from that moment on, my weeping ended. Several weeks later, I brought him some water and talked with him some more.” Tyler looked at Olivia, “He helped me grow up and become someone my father would be proud of. He’s much more than you think he is. After he was freed, I spend a lot of my free time with him.”
    “I’ve been told he loves my sister.”
    “Who told you that?”
    “That’s not important. Is it true?”
    “It is.”
    “And how does she feel about him?”
    “She will never feel close to him and will never return his feelings.” Olivia stared at him and he shrugged, “She bears too much hatred.”
    “Then why did he want to come save me?”
    “You do many things that don’t make sense when you really love someone. He doesn’t expect her to change her feelings but he hoped saving you would make her life happier.”
    “You say you volunteered to save me?”
    “I did.”
    “Why?”
    “Because I love him and I’m hoping that by saving you, he can finally forgive himself for all he’s done.”
    Olivia looked toward the rear of the ship and saw Zeck manning the wheel. He didn’t have a shirt on she was surprised that he no longer looked like the fat Destroyer Captain she had seen years ago. He turned to a sailor that came up to him and Olivia saw a thick red scar running across his back. Her eyes widened and Tyler said, “Your sister gave him that scar.”
    Olivia jerked her head around and Tyler nodded. “And he still loves her?”
    Tyler looked at Zeck and shook his head, “I must