432 Awake

Mika saw Saavi's upset face, but couldn't work up the energy to explain. She had a migraine coming on and her eyelids felt like there was a ton of bricks were holding them down.

Seeing Mikaela was about to drift off to sleep, Jaonos stopped Saavi when she wanted to say something more.

"Let her sleep, we will ask again later." Turning around they focused on getting to the Prince's manor safely without any further problems.

Thirty minutes into the ride, they came up on the residence. It was brightly lit with activity.

When the servants and guards saw the Prince's shuttle asking for clearance they immediately gave the access.

They had heard from General Gilwenys that their master is hurt badly and will need assistance. They had waited on pins and needles for the shuttle to arrive, and when it did, they wasted no time as Saavi opened the doors to allow them in.

Seeing Prince Ailwin unconscious and blood on the front of his clothes, the healers swiftly helped him out of his seat and into the waiting healing pod.

With him safely inside, they moved the pod inside the manor. Swiftly getting a reading on all his injuries, the healers went about fixing the damage.

Saavi and Jaonos clicked their teeth at the rudeness of the Prince's servants. In their anxiousness to get to Prince Ailwin, they forgot about everyone else onboard, especially Mikaela.

"I can't believe those people…!" Saavi commented as both her and Jaonos stared out the door at the numerous servants and healers ran inside without a care towards them.

"Forget. Mikaela wouldn't want to be cared for by people she doesn't know anyway." Jaonos unbuckled Mika's seatbelt before gently carrying her in his arms and out of the shuttle.

Feeling someone was carrying her, Mika fought her body's fatigue to open her eyes. When she saw it was Jaonos, all she said was "warship" before giving up the battle and falling asleep again.

Saavi and Jaonos looked at one another then at the manor before turning to look at the warship parked beside it.

Shrugging their shoulders, they walked towards the warship rather than the manor.

"How are we supposed to get inside?" Jaonos said when they were three meters from the hatch and realized the it was locked.

However, before Saavi could think of an answer a door opened and a elevator was lowered.

They both looked down at the sleeping Mikaela, Should we even be surprised?

Being the only ones on the massive warship would have been scary for the two, if Mikaela hadn't allowed her nanos to take over the vessel.

With the nanos understanding their creator was onboard, they set a soothing mood on the ship and guided Saavi and Jaonos to Mika's quarters. The two of them felt this environment would be much better than being ignored in the prince's manor by his servants.

Once Mika was gently tucked into bed, they finally relaxed and let down their guards.

Leaving the room for Mika to sleep, they went to explore and busy themselves until she wakes up.

Laying in lake of her subconsciousness, when she could finally open her eyes without the pull of the drowsiness calling her back, a full day and a half had already gone by.

Sitting up in bed, Mika noticed the room was the one she has on the warship. Asking the ship to alert her friends that she was up, she went to the bathroom to change before they arrived.

Few minutes later, they were standing in front of her with food in hand.

"You're awake." Jaonos stated the obvious.

"En."

Placing the plates on the table, they all sat down to eat as Saavi and Jaonos filled her in on everything that has happened after she went to sleep.

"How is Ailwin?"

"Fine, but he is still in the pod. Also, General Gilwenys arrived yesterday, he wants to talk to you."

"You didn't let him on the ship?" Mika would have thought, Braeden would have tried to shaken her awake. On second thought it's good that they didn't let that male onboard.

Saavi shook her head,"No...your ship wouldn't allow it."

Ah...it's right! I forgot about that protocol I gave the ship.

Mika continued eating as they both stared in silence.

Growing tired of the two statues in front of her, Mika pull down her utensils before looking at them.

"Go ahead, what are your questions?"

"Shouldn't we leave...?" Saavi started off instantly.

"No..." Mika wiped her mouth with her napkin. "...That's what the King wants us to do. Being out in the open is better for us. If we run off to hide, it's easier for him to do away with us. Plus, in the next coming days, the King will be too busy doing damage control."

"Why is that? Do you have a plan already?" Jaonos asked.

"En...the virus I found at Rowood City will cause an outbreak soon."

"WHAT!?" Both Saavi and Jaonos shouted out at the same time.

"En...Ailwin and I decided to release it in certain areas where we know the King has his forces at."

"Is that why Celaena and the rest didn't come back with you?" Jaonos asked as Mikaela nodded her head.

"It's a good plan...we can weaken the King's might and also let the populace know..." Jaonos liked the plan. It would be serving the King a dish of his own making.

"Mikaela...what about the citizens? Won't it harm them..." Saavi interrupted.

"Yes... However, the strain I gave the others is a little different than the one at Rowood City."

"...but it is still the virus."

"Yes."

"....will many people die?"

"Not if the King doesn't want them to." Mika said, then picked up her fork and continued eating.

Inside, the Prince's manor, Ailwin laid in a pod in a semi-coma. Braeden stared at his friend waiting for him to wake up.

"General Gilwenys!" A soldier came outside inside the room.

"What is it?"

"A messager has arrived from the King..."