tell 'em that the break is over (part CXXII)

(Roleplay entry. Continued from part CXXI.)

"Zack! Oh, thank god you're here," Justine said, looking up at him.

"I saw the notice and came here as soon as possible."

Dejah reported what she’d seen below the water. "Well, I couldn't see a debris field, nor a body. But it's mothering dark down there." Dejah said. "We need a lot more light down there than I can manage. It's murky as can be down there."

Zack and Justine nodded. "We might want to get rid of this fire first," said Zack.

Justine stood motionless for a moment, looking at the two mages with relief, trying to shake the overwhelming panic and force her brain to think. "Right. The fire. Get the fire out. Ok, don't panic, Zack. I'm going to climb back into the cockpit, and try to find the extinguisher."

"I got a better idea...safer..." Zack said, not quite fast enough. Before he could stop her, Justine was back in the cockpit, and grabbing the extinguisher. She climbed out onto the hull and as she triggered the extinguisher was sucked up into the swirling flames over the plane.



"JUSTINE!!!" Zack screamed in horror, seeing her flung above the ship.

Justine started to scream, dropping the extinguisher as Dejah's voice could be heard chanting. "Creature of Fire! The Warder of the South bids you attend, and leave this place in peace! FIAT LUX!"

Justine was ejected from the flames, falling back to the ground. Zack caught, her, looking her up and down for injuries. "You're okay?"

Justine collapsed in Zack's arms, nodding. "Yeah. Well, THAT was unexpected." She looks over at Deebs, hoping they'd had better luck.

Zack growled, looking up and frowning. "Stay put...I'll give her a hand...We are close to water...you know what it means..."

Dejah staggers a little, and sits, abruptly, the fire in the jet going out.

"Oh...she got it," said Zack, as Justine stumbled over to Dejah and sat down heavily beside them.

Dejah looked up, weary. "Yeah, I got it...I think that may be as much IT as I got today, though," muttering something about more time in training.

Justine wrapped her arms around her knees and put her forehead against them, trying to calm herself. "Good job, Deebs. Good job. Ok. The fire is out. Good."

Zack agreed. "You did a nice job..."

"Still. The engines will simmer and glow, but Fire will leave this place alone for now," said Dejah.

Zack took a water bottle from his backpack and gave it to Dejah.

Justine looked down into the murky water, then back up at Zack and Deebs. "He isn't down there, right?"

Deebs turned to Justine. "Breathe...three count in, five count out." They looked up, as Daniel nó Eglantine, admiral of the Gearhaven fleet, arrived, nodding wearily.

"I saw the emergency announcement," the admiral said, going to inspect the crashed aircraft.

Justine nods. "Thank you so much for coming. We still can't find a pilot."

(Continued in part CXXIII.)