Page 55 - The Muse 2019-20 Issue

waited to return, longing for the freedom of simplicity in a world where the sun never shines, where the grass shows hint of blue, and where the creatures are hostile and predatory.
“Another day, stinking up this place,” Rida muttered, her shadow flickering in the water. “We’re no better than the Colonel.”
“Now you know that’s not true, Rida. If we don’t push on, then what’s the point?” I responded.
“Do you even comprehend the gravity of the situation? Look, for a moment. Stare out. Where can you find any friendliness? We’re doomed.”
“Knock it off! Do you even hear yourself?”
“Be real, Elon. There’s nobody that even knows about this. There’s nobody out there to find us!” Yet, she was wrong. I just knew it. While she was babbling, I spotted a barrel, something metallic sticking out of the water.
“What is...”
We had found AA guns, big anti-tank missile launchers. In it were two shots, ready and loaded. We nailed more wood to the raft, with the double wind fans on a small dedicated second level. From metal pipes, makeshift swords were made. The edges were sharpened and could be used to cook the animals that we had hunted. With the restocked oxygen canisters, Rida and I tackled the hunt as Eve stayed on the ship. Under the water, we were met with Stalkers, a medium sized slithering animal that resembled an eel. With a strike from our pipes, it was bountiful meat. Fire was made from the scraps of wood that were deemed unusable and dry, and with the combination of the Evangelion Star that shone above us, and a spare piece of glass, we could now cook, eat, and rest.
Not everything was positive, however. The beast we had confronted earlier was lurking around our makeshift base, tailing us as we advanced into a more civilized state. It was expecting confrontation that it would soon meet. As night fell on our vessel, I focused a pair of binoculars onto the sea. There, I found the Leviathan approaching. It was about three miles away in the direction of the blazing Evangelion Star, curling and slithering towards us. Its fangs were no longer unsheathed, its greedy paws at the ready. It was coming.
We only had one chance to defeat this monster: heavy artillery. The AA gun that we had found had been fitted with a motion tracker, thanks to Eve. With this new improvement, we had just a small shot to take it down.
It was closing in. Rida and I wired the front, sticking sharp bits of steel on the front to take down it’s assault. Eve was behind the guns, controlling the mechanism to fire on sight. Unfortunately, as the Leviathan was closing in, Eve still wasn’t ready.
“Eve! We need to get this done! It’s coming!” I yelled to her.
“I know, I know! I just can’t figure out this one kink. It doesn’t want to lock on to the color blue. The only other option is for it to lock on anything that moves!”
The dilemma occurred. It could either sure fire directly at the Leviathan, or it could lock on to any heat signals. This could prove dangerous if something or somebody got in the way.
It was close, much closer now. Its figure was visible as it tunneled towards us.
“Eve!”
“Not yet! I think we’ll have to choose the second option. It’s the only choice that we can do,” she
responded. I thought about the possibilities, the casualties. It was our only hope, however.
“Fine! Put it on the latter. But do it fast!” I responded. Eve obliged, tinkering with the machine
until it was battle ready.
We prepped each other for the use of the equipment. We were ready. Our eyes locked as the
Leviathan neared. It scaled and shook its beady tail as it approached. Not too far now. Eve hoisted the AA gun.
“Get it ready! Now!” I shouted. Rida and I took our spears and readied them over our heads. Eve took the back as the AA gun locked in the north position, one of its two rounds at the ready. The receiver that we had set up still had no activity from the distress call we pushed. This would be our final effort.
The giant beast, once again, towered over us. Rida and I threw our spears into its torso. Then...the combustion of the gunpowder being pushed rattled our ears. The giant steel pellet pushed itself into the air, propelled by the sheer force of the blast. As our raft pushed back, the Leviathan sunk, the pellet tearing into its head and shredding it apart. We had won.
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