Free Plague of Mybyncia by C.G. Coppola Page B

hit, so I was meeting
with Sepplia to discuss their defenses. I was there only minutes
when the Vermix ambushed the shore.”
    “Did you get hurt?”
    “No. Qippert grabbed me as they started
closing in. He pulled me to safety just in time, but Sepplia…” her
voice drops.
    “I’m sorry.”
    We reach the Docking Station and wading in
the water is an enormous gray Stancimis, its red eyes flickering
about, watching our group approach.
    “Here we are,” she bends down, rubbing
beneath the massive fin. “This is my Mimi,” she continues stroking
her until the Stancimis lowers its eyelids in pleasure as tunnels
of steam escape the two slit nostrils.
    “And she’ll know where to take us?” I ask.
“She’ll go straight there?”
    “She knows,” Princess Ariana confirms,
pressing her hand between Mimi’s eyes. The Stancimis lets out a
deep bellow. “Go ahead,” she motions us to board Mimi, “be careful
with your Enidd’s.”
    After we all apply our headgear, Werzo and
Booker climb on first, then Jace and Reid. He extends his hand to
me, pulling me up and securing me on Mimi’s back next to him.
Tucker ascends last, keeping closest to Princess Ariana and Mae,
who stand on the wet, rocky ground next to Mimi.
    “Keep quiet and move swiftly. Perio will not
expect you so it will buy you some time.”
    “Will you be okay here?” I ask.
    “We will be fine. Just save your friend. They
will not keep her alive much longer… you need to go now.”
    “We’ll be back soon,” Tucker gazes at her.
I’ve never seen him look at anyone like that, and judging by Reid’s
surprise, neither has he.
    The princess blushes under the fierce gaze,
forcing her focus to the Stancimis. “Mimi, go.”
    Holding onto the carved handles, I clutch
them with all my strength. I’m stretched out and my feet are
secured in similar craters, hooked into place just as the Stancimis
begins to lower. Reid is next to me with Tucker on his other side
and Jace on mine. Werzo and Booker are higher up, near her
fins.
    Under the water in seconds, Mimi plunges deep
into the city’s depths, exploring the thick blue universe. She
steers us far from Pryncybia’s lights—and fast—my hands gripping
her as if my life depended on it. Because it does. The other
Stancimis, Gala, didn’t go this fast last time. But Mimi is racing,
like she knows we need to hurry.
    Just hold on with everything you’ve got.
    I twist my head to look at Reid. He’s already
watching me through his headgear, his eyes burning into mine with
fear. Protection. It gives me the strength I need to hold on, to
keep myself secure to Mimi, who’s left the glowing city far behind
us. We’re going far . Farther than I’d thought, farther than
I realized the Muskos could be hiding. How could Pratt have
survived this journey? They must have put her in a suit. Either
that or she’s dead. The thought brings bile to my throat and
suddenly it’s hard to breathe.
    I’m not sure how long we’ve been traveling
when Mimi finally slows, approaching a dark silhouette in the
distance. As we near it, it takes the shape of a misshapen tear
drop formation, bulky and secluded at the bottom and growing
independently tall into the black waters. Mimi sails low to the
left side and comes to a full stop beneath the rock’s swollen
bottom. We’re about ten feet below the solid structure.
    I look up.
    A large oval opening hangs above, just like
the Holding and Docking Stations have. I turn to Reid but he’s
already swimming up. Tucker follows and then it’s Jace and me,
Booker and Werzo. Reid hovers below the oval opening, waiting for
us and once we’re all gathered, he presses a finger over his lips
on the outside of his helmet. He ascends, slowly popping past the
water’s surface and Tucker and Jace follow.
    I’m next.
    Bringing the top of my head to the surface, I
find Reid and the two others hiding beyond a great, dark rock to
the left. Booker and Werzo pop up behind me and silently, we