The Arks: Over Heaven (by Ben)

Chapter 40: The Five

Part 1/3

“So, who are you taking for your party?” Skyler asked Samuel with a raised eyebrow. Samuel’s eyes darted to Aurora.

“Well. Aurora’s going. Obviously. She’s the navigator,” Samuel replied with a blank stare. Aurora looked up and smiled gently at the two. She seemed to be blushing.

“And then… Neddy and Ruby. Neddy could help detect the presence of humans with his implant, and Ruby is a master crafter who could definitely help us if we got in a pickle,” Samuel said. He looked around at the other members of the Book Club.

Rick had already served his purpose to Samuel. Giving him information. He didn’t need Rick anymore.

Bobby was just a builder.

And Simon’s infinite weight carrying was useful, but certainly not necessary with the help of a pack animal.

Paige didn’t seem to be a fan of Samuel. He didn’t think she’d cooperate with him if it came down to making sacrifices.

Gary? Gary was supposedly a skilled hunter. But his ideology seemed to be more grounded toward what Skyler thought. He would suffer the same situation as Paige.

Sunny’s ability wasn’t very useful.

And Ben?

Samuel looked at Ben, who was staring right back at him. Ben was sitting on a tree log and was tapping his foot against the grass impatiently. He was twirling a flower in his hand, and his left arm had many scars across, as if thorns had pricked them many times over.

“Unpredictable. I can’t let him on my party,” Samuel thought, his eyes glancing away. Samuel let out a sigh as he cracked his knuckles.

“Yeah and I think my last party member will be Star,” Samuel said, briefly remembering her strange enlightenment power.

“Star? It’s just a dodo bird though. What use would it serve in your party?” Skyler laughed, “You’re smarter than that Samuel.”

“SHE is more useful than you think,” Samuel replied with a smile, “And besides, she’s been around since the beginning here on this island. It’d be unhonorable to leave her.”

“Psh, okay then, whatever you say,” Skyler replied, the smirk fading away from her face.

Samuel united the team together, all Five of them gathered around in a circle.

“So, you remember the plan, right?” Samuel asked them all while crossing his arms.

“Yeah, yeah we do,” Neddy said with a grin, “Oh man we’re back on the road just like old times!”

“Psh, you’re saying that as if we’ve been at this camp for years,” Ruby giggled, elbowing him. Aurora looked down at Star and rolled her eyes.

“Samuel, don't tell me you’re bringing that thing again,” Aurora said.

“Sorry, but she’s coming along for the ride, whether you like it or not,” Samuel said. Star blew a raspberry at Aurora.

“Well, good luck, you… Five,” Skyler said with a soft smile. She suddenly seemed cheery. She was about to add something, but she stopped. Samuel turned around and began to walk off to the raft, which they’d use to sail up the river. Star hopped onto his shoulder, kicking Aurora in the face as she made her ascent. Aurora clenched her fist. Following the group was also Blueblaze (Samuel’s Raptor), and Goofy the Carnotaurus.

Skyler stared at Star with clenched fists. A CHECK button flickered within her vision, and she raised her fist, slamming it into the button.

“USER IDENTIFIED.”

As the hologram expanded, and Skyler stared at everything her power had to say, her eyes looked up at the leaving raft.

“So, THAT’S what you really are,” Skyler muttered under her breath.

And Ben stared at the raft that was coming out of sight, a sudden realization gaining on Ben what Samuel was trying to do.

“He’s trying to escape this island,” Ben thought with narrowed eyes. He smirked, standing up and putting his hands in his pockets. He looked at the flower in his breast pocket, blinking slowly at the sight.

“Thank you,” Ben told the flower. He looked up again at the river.

If that was Samuel’s plan, and he didn’t seem to care about having the Book Club join along the ride…

Ben would have to make him.