The boat floods with water.
The boat is capsizing.
They sink into the cold water.
Killian’s bleeding, but he can’t be sure what hit him. He’s dazed and tense from the near-freezing temperature. “Vash!” he shouts against the raging night.
“I’m here,” he says. “Might’ve messed up a rib or two, but I’m here.”
Behind him, Vash clings to a floating piece of the deck. Wrapped and seated on the wood are the children, a little wet but safe.
With a curious look of pride, Vash points ahead. Through the fog and rocky waves is the city of Carabaro. The building lights are warm and inviting.
“We made it,” he says. “It’s close. Maybe only five miles til we hit the coast.”
Killian swims to another piece of the boat. Exhausted, he collapses onto it and exhales loudly.
“Where’s Ruby?” he asks.
The submarine rises once more, bringing Ruby to the top. The round and menacing craft hovers above the water, and a door lifts open. A group of authorities exit with rifles.
One man parts through the center. “Carabaro customs.”
From the water, Vash reaches to grab onto the ladder. “You nearly killed us.”
“You are sailing in closed waters in an enemy vessel,” he says.
Vash steps onto the platform to negotiate while Killian gets the children to safety.
The man steps forward with a metal stick. Quickly, he uses it to flash a red beam in their eyes. A screen appears in front of them with all of their history. “We maintained all the New Republic’s records,” he says.
“Great. So you know who we are. Can we go?” Vash asks, stubbornly.
“Vash,” he says. “Brother of Cassian. Leader of the Ouroboros. Your father is not honored here any longer.”
Killian looks back at the endless waters. Next to the lights on the shore, the sea looks terrifying and empty. He can’t believe he ever thought it comforting. “Let us buy a boat. We’ll be out of here by morning,” he says.
The man steps toward Killian. But before he can react to his suggestion, something else takes his attention.
One soldier pushes Ruby toward the commander. “Sir, don’t let them out of your sight. They’re on behalf of the New Republic.”
A time and place that shouldn’t have existed.
The commander turns back to analyze every one of them. Then he sees the small children, ducking and holding Killian’s knees tightly.
He wags his rifle at them. “What operation are you running?” he asks.
Killian watches Vash struggle to come up with an answer. “Look, we’re not with the New Republic. We’re just passing--”
Ruby interrupts him. “They came here on my accord,” she says. “I was the Prime Minister of the New Republic.”
The man swallows loudly. He slowly raises the barrel to her nose. “Then I’ll ask you again. Why are you crossing my sea?”
A tear drags down her left eye. “Because I owe my sister something. Something big.”
“Our allegiance lies with no country,” Vash says. “Fuck you and your army.”
Frustrated, the commander bucks the back of his rifle against Vash’s temple. The blow knocks him to the floor. “Arrest them. We will hear what they have to say on land.”