Watching from the Luca Luna, even in the light of day, Hal and Gengor could see the sky brighten over Turodey when the Sora fired her powerful rocket engines and lifted off. There was a deep rumble followed by a loud boom as she streaked across the sky in a steep arc before disappearing into the cover of clouds floating high overhead.

"That's pretty impressive," Hal said. "I'm sorry we couldn't be on board."

"Not me, boss. I like it down here," Gengor said.

"This is about to be a war zone. As tough as you are, you won't be able to survive on the surface. If you want to stay on Beldora, you're going to have to hide out in the caves with Mara or stay under water until Beldora is habitable again.

"It can't be worse than living on the wreck by myself."

"True. And you'll have good company. Mara's a good cook too."

"I like her already, but I'll miss you, boss."

"Yeah, I'll miss you too buddy. Right now, our mission is to help sink a battleship."

"This is a good day."

"We're going to rendezvous with the sub in a few minutes. Meanwhile, I have to figure out how to fly this drone and load the bomb on it."

A terse set of instructions came through the helm.

"Okay, scratch that," Hal said. "Widhbo's just informed me that he will be flying the drone. Help me load the bomb, Gengor."

They busied themselves with the task at hand and were caught off guard when a disturbance in the water off their port side made the Luca Luna lean hard to the side.

"Whoa!" Hal said regaining his balance and grabbing hold of the drone to keep it steady.

"That would be the sub," Gengor said.

"It'd better be."

The Solar Wave came to the surface but stayed low. She would be hidden in the waves from a distance. Sea water washed over the broad flat deck and the top hatch opened. Greyla and Mara climbed out. Hal waved. They smiled and waved back. Their faces contorted into a scowl on seeing Gengor.

"Meet my new friend," Hal shouted across the waves. "This is Gengor."

"Not funny, Hal," Greyla said.

"She doesn't like me, boss."

"First impressions aren't your thing."

"Guess not."

"Long story," Hal shouted back. "He's going to the caves with the sub."

"The hell you say," Mara replied.

Ben popped up beside Mara and leaned out of the hatch to see.

"Wow! A real sea monster," Ben said.

"Well, at least the kid likes you. He thinks you're a monster," Hal said. "But he likes you."

"Throw that thing back in the water, Hal," Mara said. "He's not coming on this sub. Get back down in the hold, Ben."

"He's a great fisherman and has torpedoes," Hal called back. "Put on you vest, Gengor."

Gengor stood up and Luca Luna lurched at the shift in his weight. He wriggled into his vest with the torpedoes hanging from the sides and struck a pose.

Ben giggled and pulled at Mara's jacket. "Please let him come. We can use another soldier."

"I can't argue with that," Mara relented.

"Please tell me it has a brain." Greyla said.

"Gengor smart!" he yelled back at her across the water. "Good soldier."

Hal laughed and punched Gengor's shoulder. "Yeah. What he said,"

De'Marc pulled Ben back down in the sub and came on deck. "You need some help?" he asked.

"No. We've got it," Hal said.

"You're in no shape to be running up and down ladders, Grandpa," Greyla scolded.

"This is not the time for me to sit out," De'Marc said.

The helmet crackled and Widhbo came through to Hal again. "Battleship coming within range. Prepare the drone now and get everyone on the sub. The explosion will be lethal on the surface at your range."

"There's a battleship coming this way. We're about to deploy a drone with a bomb on it." Hal called back. "Be ready to dive under as soon as we're on board."

Mara pointed and shouted, "I can see the ship now."

The top smokestacks of the battleship were topping the horizon. It would catch up to them soon. Hal set the drone on the bow and switched it on to start the arming sequence. "It's all set," he said to Widhbo.

"What about this boat, boss?"

"She's toast," Hal said. "Just like we'll be if we don't get out of here."

"You want us to send over an inflatable?" Greyla asked.

"Ride on my back," Gengor offered. "Faster that way."

"I brought my own ride." Hal said and climbed on to Gengor. He held on tight as Gengor dove over the side. The Luca Luna was shoved back, and the drone scooted across the deck, but remained upright with the bomb attached beneath it.

Gengor swam to the sub and hoisted his body onto the deck. Hal jumped free of Gengor just as a shell hit the water to the far side of the Luca Luna. The sound of a big gun rang out from the battleship.

"It's spotted the yacht," Greyla said. "That drone better take off soon."

Another shell hit, this time closer to the sub. It knocked them all off balance. Greyla fell over backwards, and her head struck the hatch door. Gengor fell back into the sea.

"She's out cold," Hal said rushing to Greyla's aid. "Mara, help me get her below."

The drone sputtered and came to life, but it was pointing wrong and one of the wings caught on a line.

"Damn, it's hung up," Hal said, obviously torn between the mission and the girl he loved.

"Hal, you take care of Greyla," De'Marc said. "Get me to the yacht, big guy," He dove in the water before Hal and Mara could protest.

Gengor swam to De'Marc who caught hold of his vest. Gengor swam back across to the Luca Luna and helped De'Marc get aboard. He was weak and still favoring his bad leg but found a sudden burst of strength.

"Damn fool!" Mara yelled at De'Marc.

De'Marc ignored her and set about freeing the wing of the drone which was struggling to take off. He turned its nose straight and gave a thumbs up.

"Widhbo, the drone had its wing caught. It's free now," Hal said.

The drone lifted into the air and headed straight for the battleship which was looming closer. There was a sickening sound of another explosion in the water and the back hull of the Luca Luna splintered. The impact rocked the sub again and sent De'Marc flying across the deck.

"Dane!" Mara shouted.

"It's too late for me. Get in the sub!" he shouted back. "Hal, get them out of here. Now!"

"We're not leaving you," Hal said.

"Jump, I'll get you," Gengor yelled to De'Marc.

Before the old sea captain could get to his feet another shell hit the Luca Luna broadside. It exploded into pieces and De'Marc went under.

Hal started to jump in after De'Marc, but Mara grabbed his arm. "We can't lose you too, Hal" she said. "Let's get below. There's no time."

The explosion stunned Gengor momentarily, but his vision was excellent under water and he spotted De'Marc sinking with the debris. He grabbed hold of the man, swam back to the sub and climbed back on the deck. Hal slung De'Marc over his shoulder and carried him toward the hatch where Mara was disappearing with Greyla. Gengor was too big to get through the small opening.

"Boss! I don't fit," he cried out.

In the commotion they had both forgotten about Gengor's size problem. Hal turned and looked up at Gengor apologetically. "I have to close this hatch, buddy. There's an underwater port on the bottom of the sub you can fit through. I'll open it. Go!"

***

Gengor dove in the water again and searched for the port. He swam toward something that looked like a door, but it was just a piece of the hull from the Luca Luna. There was a lot of debris in the water obscuring his view. Maybe there wasn't a port. Maybe Hal had lied and they were going to leave without him.

Running out of time, Gengor was near panic at the thought. He struggled to keep calm and search for an opening and was about to give up when he saw a light and a bay door opening from the bottom of the hull. He swam past a nodda craft sitting in the bay and knocked on the back wall to announce he was inside. The big door closed and sealed.

Once the sea water had been pumped from the bay, Hal poked his head through the hatch at the top of a ladder and called the bridge through the intercom. "All clear to dive, Nova."

The sub plunged downward.

"I'm afraid this hatch is too small for you too, Gengor. Sorry, but this is where you'll have to ride, buddy."

"I don't mind. I thought you were leaving me, boss."

"We don't leave friends behind, Gengor. You risked yourself to go after De'Marc. Thank you. We won't forget that."

The sub sank rapidly. They were about one atmosphere below the surface when another blast rocked the sub, but this time the impact was from the bomb Widhbo dropped on the battleship.

* * *

Hal left Gengor on the nodda deck and went back to check on Greyla and De'Marc. Mara had wrapped Greyla in some warm blankets and turned her attention to De'Marc. He looked pale and had several shrapnel wounds scattered over his torso.

"It doesn't look good," Mara said.

Danlea took Ben by the hand. "Come on. You don't have to see this. Let's help William and Nova on the bridge"

"They're going to be okay?" Ben asked.

"I don't know about the Captain, Ben," Mara said. "Greyla has a concussion. I think she'll be fine. Please go with Danlea."

Danlea put her arm around Ben, and they left the cabin.

Hal examined De'Marc who was extremely pale and had a thready pulse. "He's in shock. Let's elevate his feet."

"I'm sure there's internal bleeding," Mara said. She shook her head. "There's not much we can do here."

De'Marc stirred slightly and his eyes opened. Mara took his hand and leaned close to speak, "Dane, you were injured in the blast when a shell hit. You are back on the sub now. Can you hear me?"

De'Marc squeezed her hand.

Hal took hold of De'Marc's other hand. "You're hurt pretty bad and lost a lot of blood."

"It's my time," De'Marc managed to say in return. "I've had a good life."

"Yes, and our lives are better for knowing you," Mara said.

Hal remembered his helm link. "Widhbo! Widhbo come in. Can you upload one of us now?"

"I'm a little busy, Hal," Widhbo answered. "We are at war."

"De'Marc's been hit, he's out of time. I'm putting the helm on him." Hal turned to De'Marc. "With your permission, we can make a record of your life. We're all uploading to the Sora at the recommendation of your old friend Koutou."

Mara started to protest, but De'Marc smiled. "Sure. Why not?" He coughed. His breath was becoming shallow and raspy.

"It'll black you out," Hal said. He slipped the helmet over De'Marc's head. "So this is goodbye old friend, until we meet again."

Mara looked at the helm with some suspicion. "Are you sure this is a good idea, Hal?"

"Do it soon," De'Marc said. "I'm about gone."

"Uploading you now, Captain." Widhbo said. "I hate goodbyes, so this is hello."