Shatter Me - Ch. 5 - Seven Heroes

    I couldn't help but laugh when I saw Kevin attempt parkour again for the first time in... Well... Forever. Let's just say he was out of practice.
    Wolf got hungry so she went to grab some food while I sat by Venom again after eleven years and watched as Kevin fell on his face again. And again. And again.
    After a few minutes of silence, I sighed, knowing I could trust the girl beside me with anything and she would rather die than spread it around. "Venom, can you keep a secret?"
    "No."
    I rolled my eyes, remembering this was the old Venom. Quite a bit less reliable than the one I'd known weeks before her death. "Okay lemme rephrase. I need advice." I sighed. "Alright, here goes. I'm not-"
   "Oh my god, you're gay aren't you."
   "Wait what?"
   Venom looked at my innocently. "Sorry, did you say anything?"
    I stared at her incredulously. "...No. No, I'm straight." I said. "What I was GONNA say is that... Well..." I looked away and spoke very fast. "I'm kinda sorta from a future where the squids have taken over and everybody is dead but a handful of recruits, a couple hundred civilians, and millions of squids picking off what's left of us. Then Clancy - an older Clancy - made a watch that can go back in time," I tapped my wristwatch. "And we went back to make sure we made peace with the squids before it was too late because it may seem like we're winning, but they're not. They are far stronger than they're letting on. Wolf's leading our group - it's me, Kevin, and her. Which is why we were found in the courtyard earlier."
    Venom stared at me blankly. She blinked. She blinked again. Finally, she opened her mouth. "...So you're like thirty."
    I scowled. "Twenty-seven, actually."
    "...Okay."
    "You believe me?"
    "Sure, why not." Venom replied. "I've read the archives, Thals. I've tried to tell the Commander that there's plenty of evidence stating the squids are stronger than we think, but he doesn't listen. There's been too much war for him." She sighed. "So what's the plan?"
    "Wolf's forming a team." I said. "So far, it's just me, you, Kevin, and Wolf. Oh and Jack."
    "Did you tell him?"
    "No, but he'll come along anyway. He doesn't care what the hell it's for, you know that." Venom rolled her eyes. "And Wolf wants to get this guy, um... What was it?" I tried to remember, but it wasn't coming up too clear. "Ren? Adrian? I don't remember, some other guy. I believe the plan is to get this guy and go to the King of Minecraftia for a royal decree for a treaty."
    "Wha- we're going to Mojang City?!" Venom asked. "Are you insane?!"
    "Absolutely." I replied. "But it's our only chance. And we'll have to go without the Commander finding out. He doesn't really support this idea."
    "Yes." Venom grinned. "D'you think we could become fugitives of the Sky Army? Enemies to the place we once called home... I've always wanted to do that."
    I rolled my eyes. "You're so twisted."
    "Why thank you." Venom said. "So when does this thing start?"
    I opened my mouth to speak, but another came first. "Midnight." Venom and I turned to see Wold leaning in the big archway to the training hall. "We're meeting at the front of the base at midnight and heading to Skyhold from there."
    "Hang on, I have a quick question." Venom said, looking at me. "Thalia, how come you're not leading this? I thought you loved leading missions!"
    I shook my head vigorously. "I can't do that anymore, V."
    "But-"
    "I just can't."
    Wolf cleared her throat uncomfortably. "Anyway... So I made a map for this, which I'll show you tonight. Once we get to Skyhold, we're gonna avoid Thalia's dad and "borrow" the Omega."
    For once, Venom raised both eyebrows in surprise and turned to me in shock. "You're gonna commandeer your own father's ship?!"
    I shrugged. "Desperate times call for desperate measures." I said. "I'm gonna become 'Skylord Kal' again, and since the Omega is Her Majesty's Ship - thank you Marietta -  it'll help us look good for our debate with the King."
    "Yeah, but why do we even need this Ren guy?" Venom asked.
    "Ren?" Wolf looked at me. "Who's Ren?"
    "That guy you wanted to get."
    "What the hell- no, his name is Adrian! Where'd you dig up Ren?"
    "I dunno, I'm kind of under a lot of pressure here so shut up!" I replied.
    Wolf rolled her eyes. "Yeah whatever. So from there we're taking the Omega to get Enderlox-"
    "Who's Enderlox?!" I shouted.
    "Oh my god, Thalia, Enderlox is Adrian! Keep up, for gods sakes!" Wolf shouted.
    "How could I have possibly known that?!"
    "BECAUSE I TOLD YOU EARLIER."
    Venom rolled her eyes and crossed her arms as she slumped down on the bench. "Jesus Christ, you two..."
    "So you guys are from the future..." Logan said. Oh, there he is. I'd been looking for the ginger. He stared at me. "That's why you kissed me isn't it."
    My face reddened. Venom looked at me with newfound respect. "You WHAT?!"
   "Shut up." I growled.
   Wolf burst out laughing. Logan rolled her eyes and whacked her upside the head, still looking at me. "I would have died in that battle yesterday. That's why you saved me."
   I sighed sharply. "Shut UP, Ginger... My voice trailed off as I realized it was the first time in eleven years I had said that word. My eyes widened. He sighed and hugged me. "Clancy explained it to me." He said, knowing I would ask. "I'm not really that clever."
    For a moment, nobody spoke. Kevin ran up and was about to make a sarcastic remark when Venom gave him a look and shut him up instantly.
    I buried my face in his shoulder, just happy to be near him again. The ginger... My ginger. Suddenly, he felt the need to break the moment.
   "So you're uh... You're like thirty-something aren't you?"
   "Oh my, I'm twenty-seven!" I shouted, but I couldn't help but smile as I pulled away, looking at Wolf. My smile melted as I saw her knowing smirk and I cleared my throat, looking away. "So uh... You were saying..."
   Logan turned to Wolf with a smile. "I'm coming too."
   "And me." Lunar added as she entered the room. "Honestly I have no idea what's going on, but I smelled adventure so here I am."
   Logan smirked and ruffled her hair teasingly. "I like this one." He looked at Wolf. "Keep this one, you hear?"
    "Don't need to tell me twice." Wolf said. She looked over the seven of us as Jack teleported beside Jack and smirked. "Seven heroes shall answer the call..." She teased.
    I rolled my eyes. "Oh my god, you geek."
    Kevin laughed. "That is an A+ reference!"
    "I don't get it." Logan said.
    I looked at him and smiled nervously. "That's right, that series didn't come out yet..."
    Kevin grinned mischievously and nudged Jack. "Spoiler alert. Percy loses his memory."
    Then he booked it back to the parkour course and up.
    "Wait..." For a moment, Jack stood there in dumbstruck confusion. Then Kevin's words registered and his eyes widened. "...WHAT."