X Ships Novels & Stories

I shouted into the glare, I had spotted up to five tiny ships coming towards us with immense speed. They all had black flags on them, designed with human skull as a warning. “Pirates, oh silly human pirates messing around.” “Oh how very great,” Tasha muttered to herself, she threw her orange peels into the water. “Just as I was about to get comfortable and have a good nap.”

...Lexi POV... I continue to speed closer and closer to the shipyards. Maxing out the top speed ages ago. I weave in and out of traffic, not letting anything get in my way. From the little bit I saw on the screen earlier, it looks like Xavier is trapped in a boat somewhere, that is sinking. Which will make finding him at least slightly easier. But from the way the boat was taking on water, it appears that I don't have much time. I need to get to him.

There were boats scattered in the water all around them - sailboats, catamarans, fishing boats, vessels of all shapes and sizes - but none of them appeared to be particularly close. "If it is, it's not the same boat they had before," Xavier said. He pointed to a ship in the distance. It was little more than a white speck to Ruby. "I've been keeping an eye out for a while. I thought it was just a coincidence at first, but now I'm sure it's following us. It nearly ran over a little fishing boat trying to keep us in sight." Leo turned back to her, his forehead crinkled with worry. "Get below. Now. And don't come up no matter what you hear."

The blue ship was there, its wooden hull riding low in a harbor that looked less like water and more like the deep, unwritten reservoir of the world before the Spire gave it a name. Xander stood over the table, his breath coming in ragged, freezing gasps that turned to mist in the morning air. His fingers, still stained with the ash of the willow timber and the black grease of the Enforcer’s hydraulic fluid, gripped the edge of the wood until the joints went white. "That's Mia’s ship," he whispered, his eyes locked on the microscopic sails that were made of the same jagged, carved light as our wooden stars. "But Elias said they sailed into the margins. He said they were waiting in the gaps."

Some were green, like the banners of Haefest, others were gold, like the banners of Aeris, still others blue like those of Locrand and in the distance Doreon could also see some white and gray sails like Devian's sigil of arms. "Unbelievable, isn't it?" said Pix, leaning his back against the fence and his gaze towards the ocean. The light breeze ruffled his hair. Doreon, with his elbows resting on the fence, watched the men load huge wooden crates onto the docked ships. Pix was next to him, dividing them was the fence, while the lord breathed deeply. "It looks like a fleet too big for simple reconnaissance," Doreon commented as he looked at the ships.

Tristan and Saoirse entered. The conversation stopped. Tristan walked to the head of the table. He wore a new coat—black leather reinforced with Aether-resistant lining, designed by Helena to dampen his emissions. He looked like a general. A very dangerous, very unstable general. "Report," Tristan said. "The fleet is fueled," Thorne said. "We have fifty ships combat-ready. Another twenty support vessels." "The Sovereign’s main cannon is online," Vane added. "Though we only have enough charge for three shots. After that, we’re throwing rocks."

"We want your head. Target lock confirmed. Fire on my mark." "He's going to shoot," Jinx said, her fingers flying across the shield controls. "Shields up!" "Wait," I said. I looked down at Valen. He was watching the blinking red lights on the console with intense fascination. "Valen," I whispered. "Do you see those ships?" I pointed to the monitor. Three Western interceptors were diving out of the sun, their solar lances charging. "Yes," Valen said. "They are going to try to sting us," I said. "Can you tell them no?"

“That’s not possible.” Fear slid through the ship immediately. Gabriel followed his stare. Then his expression darkened too. Far across the ocean lights were appearing through the storm. Dozens of ships. Black ships. Covered in silver moon symbols. Hunters. An entire fleet of them. And standing at the front of the largest ship was a woman wearing a silver crown.

He reached down to take my hand to help me up behind him. “We could go to the shipping yard. We have excellent ships.” Xipher was saying right before we flew into the air with Mom following on Shiba. I am impressed with how well she handled a dregon. After all, she only flew tayrens and dregons are much bigger and faster than a tayren. But she assured us that she could handle one. I smiled over at her as she kept up with Xipher. She rode Shiba like a pro. She looked over at me and smiled back. She was truly enjoying herself and this tour.

Ambassador Aethon's expression was pleasant as he said, "We've identified your ships as from Xanthea. We also have an alliance with King Raphael." I asked with interest, "How did you recognize our ships while they're cloaked?" He explained, "Your ships have a similar energy signature to ours, making them identifiable even when cloaked." He bowed slightly. "Ah, That explains it, I said feeling more at ease. "The ship beside us is Commander Rage of 'Phoenix Wrath', also from Xanthea. We're Earth's protectors and returned from Xanthea in time to prevent further damage. Thank you for your help. Nice to meet you, Ambassador Aethon." I nodded in a gesture of respect.