THE HEARSE AND HIS GRIFFIN 27

(PLEASE READ MY REASONS BEFORE COMENTING ON THIS CHAPTER...lol)

Chapter 27
One Week Later

The harbor that once was full of joy and laughter was now a cold and miserable place. Since Titanic’s capture and Californian became flagship, things had really gone down hill. Californian became so afraid that the salvagers would attack the harbor that he forced Hudson, Sarah, Titanic’s grandkids, and any salvager that had rejected their roots and come to live in peace with the ghost ships into exile and had a barrier put up that stopped all salvagers from getting in. As, what he saw was, an added measure of safety he’d decreed that no ghost ship would be allowed to leave the harbor for any reason. If they were caught they’d be tied to their dock and never allowed to leave again. Every search party that had attempted to leave was caught and tied up as well. Most ghost ships however could tell that deep down he wasn’t an evil ship but merely was trying to correct the bad press the humans had given him, problem was, he was just going about it the wrong way.

Carpathia sat in her lonely cold dock, Tied up for sending Britannic, hood, and Bismarck out to look for Titanic. The fact was she was tied up didn’t bother her; it was the fact she’d lost her whole family. Jack was still working for his company, but always kept a hopeful eye open for his father, and Nathanial, the youngest, was taken away by one of the ships who were going to be able to protect Nathanial if salvagers ever did return. This particular ship however understood Nathanial missed his mother and would sneak him over to see her on occasion. Her eyes were sore from weeping and, for the first time in her life, she felt broken and defeated. “First my mate, and now my children. Zoith what more do you want from me?” Carpathia sadly thought as she looked to horizon. She quickly fought back the tears once she saw little Nathanial sailing up to her with his new caretaker, the Edmund Fitzgerald. He, like others, believed Californian’s methods a bit unorthodox but still believed what he was doing was for the best. Though Carpathia wasn’t the only one tied up, Olympic and Mauritania were caught out searching for Titanic one night and tied up as well. “MOMMY!” Nathanial happily shouted. “I must be strong, for Nathanial.” Carpathia thought to her self as she said, “Hi baby!”  Carpathia said. Nathaniel sailed along side her and they held each other close. “Mommy?” Nathanial asked, “When is daddy coming home?” “Soon.” Carpathia said she wasn’t sure if that was true, it was just something that needed to be said. She then looked to the sky and prayed silently, “Please come home soon, Titanic.”
“At last, I'm home!” Titanic happily called our as he looked at the nearing harbor. However when he entered the harbor that was now so dismal, Titanic was angry. “What has happened here?” Titanic asked Britannic. “It’s the Californian.” Britannic said. Titanic turned to Britannic in anger upon hearing that name. It had been so long since he’d heard that name, and had wondered what he was up to now. “He has done this once you once you were captured, the stress of being thrust into flagship clouded his judgment.” “HALT!” They heard two destroyers shout. Titanic turned to them and at once their eyes widened in recognition. They lowered their gun turrets and bows in respect as the larger of the two said, “Forgive me my flagship. We did not realize it was you.” “You’d still call me flagship?” Titanic asked. “Oh yes sir.” The smaller one said, “We’d follow you anywhere.” Titanic looked around, expecting to see his family somewhere, but when he didn’t he asked, “Bound sir.” The larger one said, “And the little one was taken to be raised by the Edmund Fitzgerald.” This was all Titanic needed to hear. He raced off to find Californian.

“At last the harbor is safe!” Californian happily said to himself as he sunk on his propellers with a sigh of accomplishment. Since 1912 he’d always wanted to help when disaster arose but because of the press he’d received from the Titanic disaster he was never allowed to help. It was only a year ago he was given the chance to prove himself and he swore he would do the best he could no matter what. He was totally and innocently oblivious to the fact that what he was doing was more harmful than good. His safe little world came crashing down around him when he saw Titanic angrily sailing up to him. Californian’s engines jumped into his throat as he fearfully said, “Titanic! You’re alive!” “OF COURSE I'M ALIVE!” Titanic snarled as he slammed the ship so hard into the dock that it made his hull ache with great pain, “NOW GIVE ME ONE REASON I SHOULD LET YOU LIVE!” “I kept the harbor safe!” Californian fearfully said. “HA! The barriers have to be removed and restored because of YOUR barriers messing with their energy signature and making them weak! My mate and sister have been tied up and my youngest son was taken away!” Titanic angrily said rage burning in his eyes that seemed to still show sorrow. Before Californian could open his mouth his eyes grew as wide as they could go for he saw the white salvager that tried to kill Herman leap towards Titanic. Californian knew for a fact Titanic was totally deaf to any attacks from the rear and so the only way to save him was for Californian to take action. He leapt towards the salvager and knocked her onto the ground, biting into her flank. The salvager kicked him off and, taking the short opportunity, bit into his keel. “Now you DIE!” She growled out through her teeth as Californian’s oil spilled out over his hull and into the sea. Californian struggled and fought the surrounding darkness as the salvager’s teeth dug deeper and deeper in his keel. Titanic grabbed the white salvager by the forward well deck and tried to pull her off. Part of Californian’s keel did rip out when titanic was able to finally pull her off. Titanic flung her to the side but she quickly picked herself up and was about to charge a second time when she suddenly winced in pain, due to a blast that came from Bismarck’s front gun turret. It was the second one from hood’s gun that caused her fuel tanks to blow; killing her instantly. Titanic looked at the two battle ships and said, “Secure the area and go get Britannic!” Immediately the two battle ships spun around and sailed off to see that no other salvagers were lurking about. Titanic rushed to Californian and lifted his bow out of the water as the oil spilled over Californian’s lips. “Just lie still and hang on, your going to be ok.” Titanic sadly said. “I just wanted to help.” Californian weakly said. “And you did. You just need a few pointers that’s all. Once-” “No!” Californian grunted, “I know I'm not long for this world so let me speak.” Though tears were beginning to form, Titanic still had to chuckle at Californian’s outspokenness. “I was asleep the night you sank.” Californian said, “I would have helped but I didn’t know. I thought you were shooting company signals.” “It’s alright.” Titanic said as the tears started to slip while Carpathia and Britannic quietly sailed up behind Titanic, “I know.” “I just wanted to help…I just wanted…” Californian’s eyes rolled back in his head as his last breath, as well as his life drained out of him. Carpathia sailed around to her mate and nuzzled him gently. “He’s dead; he gave his life to save mine. And I treated so horribly.” “So did I.” Carpathia quietly said, “But he’s in a better place now.” “I think it’d be best if he were given a hero’s funeral.”

Californian was given a great funeral complete with a bronzed anchor at his dock to honor him…