Pirate Age: The Golden Era

[SilentxChaos]

Collab bet'w Capt. and Silent​

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Nighttime on Lady Luck, out at sea
Two Weeks After Marooning on Uninhabited Island


A night like this, couldn't get better when one sailed the seas. The water lapped with friendly greetings against the ship's sides-- a soft breeze filling the sails, saying hello to the sea underneath it. It was a calm night to travel, while continuing to travel a promising distance. Stars shone in complete constellations for clear navigation. The moon rose full and high, illuminating its realm with silver clarity.

On the deck of Lady Luck, a string of Arbiraen curses sundered the night's tranquility.

"Stop fidgeting. You're making it worse," Jack admonished poorly. He was biting back a smile, and got a slap on the head for his troubles. He shot his patient a warning glance. "Don't do that, we've talked about lashing out at the helping hand."

Adelaide, his patient, glowered. "Maybe the helping hand should be gentler-- ow," she hissed and whined as Jack wrapped her hand in bandages. Bright red stripes that gleamed under the moonlight warped around her forearm, wrist to elbow. The partners sat near the captain's cabin with Jack on a stack of crates and Adelaide perched on a gunpowder barrel, curling in pain. She pouted and continued muttering in her breath, the tone of her words suggesting she skipped languages in her rants. Jack focused on his task, but his amusement was obvious.

Both stopped, and snapped up when they sensed they weren't alone. Adeliade leaned toward the shadows of the cabin while Jack leaned out. Both wore smirks-- although, Jack's doubled in humor while Adelaide's was wry, and slipped smoothly onto her face when they saw the approaching person.

"Hello Captain Runali. Are we out for a midnight stroll?"

"Hi captain," Jack said with a smug look.

" 'Iinha'. Alan," Adelaide jerked her head at her arm. (Finish. Now.)

"Sahl, shaqayiq alnueman. Laqad aintahayt taqribana." (Easy, anemone. I'm almost done.)

"Ah, I wouldn't call it a midnight stroll." Runali had been on the deck of the ship, deciding that she'd take an earlier watch. Seeing nothing insight besides miles of open sea, she figured she'd mess around with her chakram while the crew slept. At least- while she thought they slept. It wasn't hard to hear the hushed back and forth between her chef and their guest aboard, and considering they were near her room, it wasn't hard to find them either.

After she spoke, Runali's head tilted slightly, examining the both of them in a brief moment probably obvious to two trained spies rather than anyone else. "I guess not bothering Zil in the dead of night was the… kinder option?" She raised a brow and nodded towards her door. "Or were you expecting me in there? Because I'm sure a knock on the door would have worked too." She smirked a little and moved towards her door. "Although, probably would have bothered Coral since she's sleeping in here."

Jack grinned. "Yeah, Adelaide. Was bothering Zilia the kinder option?"

After a month of sailing with Stardusk, the first legitimate emotion colored Adelaide's face. It was a withering sneer. "Laugh it up, chacal."

His lips thinned. Reaching her elbow, he tore the bandage and tied it off with a quick snap. Adelaide bared her teeth but bit back the rising retorts that would've flown freely, if Runali hadn't come around. Instead she kept her discomfort muted.

Jack took advantage of that silence. "My partner here doesn't want to bother Zilia because she tried to break into the doctor's mysterious box."

"More like deadly," Adelaide interrupted.

"You're lucky it's my shift--"

"--Not lucky. Merely timed efficien--"

"--and that my medical experience is better--"


"--wouldn't be needed under normal circumstances. Those blades aren't--"

"--which brings us here," Jack ended their banter as he packed up the medical supplies. Adelaide lifted her hand into the moonlight to expect his work. It was nothing compared to Zilia's professional ways, but it'd stop the bleeding. Her mouth pursed in contempt. Shaking his head, Jack walked towards Runali. "Excuse me while I attempt to sneak all this back into Zilia's work room… not that's going to save me from interrogations tomorrow morning."

He disappeared below deck, leaving the two woman momentarily alone. Adelaide crossed an ankle over her leg and leaned back on the barrel with one hand, turning her attention to Runali with an upward tilt of her head. She stared at Runali for a long time without a word, her face unreadable.

Runali watched the two go back and forth with a curious look for the majority of it. She remained quiet, only offering a polite nod when Jack excused himself. When it fell quiet, Runali couldn't help the small huff of amusement. "So there is some life behind those stoic eyes." The amused huff turned into a small smirk. "And here I thought you'd continue to stalk everyone as if they were prey- not that stealing from my doctor is no better." She leaned against the wall. "I'd appreciate if you didn't steal from my doctor, thank you."

The smug look turned to a more curious one. "I have a feeling I may not get an answer but I don't see the harm in attempting… So, what happened? Between the two of you?" When she said 'you' her head tilted slightly to where Jack had left.

Adelaide's head tilted one degree to the right, considering Runali and her question. Then she smiled. "I killed our last captain. Jack took the blame."

She paused long enough to watch Runali's reaction. "He was about to make a reckless decision. He believed that, by trusting the Marauders-- our last crew-- we could avoid a certain number of unnecessary casualties, from a disaster he seemed only able to predict. I didn't believe him so I tipped off our captain. When Jack approached him, he acted like it was the first time he heard this information even though I just told him a similar truth. I knew he was going to betray Jack so I slit his throat before that could happen."

For a brief moment, Adelaide's eyes lost focus as she stared past the captain's shoulder. "Turns out, Jack wasn't wrong either. Disaster came anyways."

"Wow, Jack? Reckless? Unheard of. He's so adamant on keeping us from doing just that." She had a playful mocking tone. "He's no better than the rest of us I see." Runali thought over what Adelaide said, the curiosity in her expression never changing. It didn't explain everything, but it gave her more of a peek into Jack's past. And it explained a little about Adelaide too. "Makes sense. Considering how much he didn't trust me at first. Once one captain betrays you, it's easy to think the next will too. And according to Jack, disaster seems to follow him like… the wind." She chuckled a little and turned her head towards where Jack left. "As secretive as you all may be- Cedric too," Runali gave Adelaide a friendly smile.

"It's good to know that your loyalties at least lie with Jack. You know more than I do about him, but I do know that support is rare and few. Bonds are hard to make when everyone's after your throat."

"Do you speak from experience, captain?" Adelaide asked. Her voice tapered off as she sat up straight, her eyes zeroing on something beyond the captain's shoulder. She sat up on her barrel and pointed with her bandaged hand. "Do you see it?"

Looking out on the starboard side, moonlight glittered on black water. It played with the vision and could make it easy to miss what caught Adelaide's attention. Just above the waterline, something else glittered: a small orange speck that flickered and wavered. A lamp's flame. Most likely on the deck of another ship. Adelaide stood and walked to the banister. As she did, her form frayed on the edges and she became translucent. Her footfalls didn't make a sound as she walked. After a few moments she re-solidified into a whole being. By then, Jack had rejoined them.

"It's a ship," Adelaide verified. She looked between Jack and Runali. "Possibly derelict. I didn't feel bodies on board. It might be worth looting."

Jack tapped his foot. "We should keep going. It's not worth waking the crew up for."

"Yes. There is no need to wake the rest of your crew-- Captain Runali and I should suffice." Jack opened his mouth to argue, but Adelaide cut him off and addressed the captain directly. "What do you say? Open to a little midnight mystery?"

A frown tightened Jack's face in obvious disapproval. He reached for a cigarillo while Adelaide shared a meaningful look with Runali, reflecting on her earlier comment regarding the cook.

Runali never got to answer Adelaide's question. Something new was impeding on their conversation. The captain's head turned where she pointed and at first she didn't see much of anything. But after squinting a few short moments, sure enough there was something out there. What caught her attention more was Adelaide's ghostly trick. It surely was a sight to see- or not see for that matter. "Feel?" She started to question, only to turn back to Jack.

"Aw but if-"

Adelaide beat her to it. Surely there was no need to wake the rest when two was enough. Jack's frown was returned with an innocent smile from the captain. "You trust me, yeah? If there's any sign of even bigger trouble, we'll bail and come right back! And you can keep watch!" Runali looked back at the ship on the horizon. "There could be extra gold there too. I mean, after the Tankerds haul we don't really need much now, but pirates do what pirates do?" Runali chuckled and leaned on the ship's edge. "We'll be quick about it Jack, I promise."

*********​

The moon casted ghastly shadows across the barren ship's deck. Lady Luck glided towards it slowly with Jack at the helm. It'd been a fair while since the last time he steered a ship-- going on years ago. He didn't see the need to wake Kadi, however, and sent a silent apology to the slumbering navigator for stealing his job. Albeit, unwillingly, and momentarily. Jack still wore the disapproving frown as he watched the two woman at the banister prepped with grappling hooks and readied to board the ship. The silent exchange between Adelaide and the captain made him feel excluded to something he didn't know, and didn't help soothe his worry at the two exploring a supposedly abandoned ship on their own. Correction: Runali alone with her.

Adelaide pursed her lips as Lady Luck made her approach. "Jack was never the best helmsman." A touch of dry amusement tickled her smirk as she lazily twirled her grappling hook. "We're too far off to get a secure hold with these. I'll traverse to the other deck-- you keep this end. The rope should be long enough, and we can pull the ships together. That is, if your Armament can handle it."

Winking, the woman didn't wait for the captain's confirmation. She stepped onto the banister without hesitation and leapt over the black seawater. Her head tilted down, just for a moment, a spike of adrenaline thrumming through her body as she witnessed the killer water below. It only lasted an instant. The next, she'd vanished, and Runali felt a gust of wind unfurling upwards, blasting her hair back before warping into a funnel and leaving the Lady's deck. In the funnel, the hook end bounced and bobbed haphazardly towards the opposite ship. The rope next to Runali quickly began to unwind.

Once she touched down, Adelaide reformed into a solid being and waved to the captain that she was ready.

"He'll be fine." Runali absentmindedly defended the chef. "He doesn't have to be the best to get us closer to the ship." She was studying the distance between the two ships, debating how she'd be able to get across with ease. Fortunately, with Adelaide's power- which Runali was slowly getting used to, they had an actual plan. "Never had to pull a ship, but there's a first for everything." It was muttered under her breath, but Runali prepared nonetheless. Taking a moment, she put a thumbs up to Jack and grinned. It was a simple search, nothing more nothing less. If they found anything then that was just a bonus.

Runali placed her foot flat against the side of the ship with an iron grip on the end of the rope as it quickly began to unwind. She had to shut her eye when it got too windy, but once the rope stilled, she opened her eye to see Adelaide on the other side. "What a cool power…" She mumbled to herself. "Alright. Let's see if this'll work." Armament began to run up her arms and her grip tightened on the rope. Just as she had seen Jack do countless times in battles and lately while training, she transferred that armament to the rope as well, just to be absolutely sure the rope wouldn't suddenly snap. Following the deep breath she took, Runali yanked the rope as hard as she could, feeling the weight of the ship fight back after lurching towards Lady Luck.

The captain made a small 'oof' sound, not prepared for how much energy it took to pull the ship. Her small break didn't last long because she planted her feet once more and yanked with all of her might to get the ship to lurch towards them again. Fortunately, it did enough that she could drop her armament and heave a sigh. "Want to test your strength? Try pulling an entire ship. Goodness." She rubbed her shoulder and stepped onto the banister as Adelaide did, judging the distance of her jump with only half the perception she'd need for it. "Be right back." She called out to Jack before making the 'leap of faith' and landed on the ship with Adelaide.

Jack yelled from the helm, "Watch your back!"

On the ship, the footboards creaked beneath their feet. It was a standard brig, much smaller than the Lady, with two masts, one main hold and a deck that could fit cozily on top of the pirates'. The ship groaned in the waters. Its wood was chipped on the rails, moist with mildew. Notes of battle damage became clear: a large, cannon-sized hole demolished the steps that led to the helm. Bullet holes peppered the main deck and the foremost mast was missing entirely. Adelaide nudged the captain's arm and pointed up. The sails had been deliberately demolished; the tatters left fluttered useless in the breeze. Adelaide turned her attention to the lanterns, still lit on their mantles, unharmed and undiminished. She carefully opened one's oil compartment and dabbed a finger into. She pulled it away bone dry.

"This brig has seen a fight. I'd estimate three days ago or more, judging by the lack of smoke or pungent odeur." Adelaide blew out the flame and unsheathed the dagger from her back. "Winners took the bodies-- we could smell them otherwise."

She returned to the captain's side and placed her hands behind her back, the tip of the dagger flashing below her elbow. She teetered from heel to tip toes and seemed wholly unperturbed by the sudden change of situation. Her eyes slid over to the captain's cabin. It's door appeared void of damage, except a blackish stain spattered across its decorative glass window. Adelaide made a second glance towards the cargo hold, lingering a half-beat longer, before looking at Runali.

"So, capitaine? What are your orders?"

While Adelaide glided across the ship, Runali took to a slower pace to inspect the damages of the ship. She looked at the railings, imagining the fight that happened to have a sword once stuck inside. The bullet holes she found, she'd look to see if there were any traces of blood from where the bodies fell. There was, but like Adelaide's assessment, none of them were left on the ship. At one point, she made a gun shape with her hands, aiming where a bullet went and finding out that the culprit shot behind a door. When her new partner in crime returned, the two seemed to tune in to the same thing.

Runali nodded her head in the direction they were both looking, taking the lead and heading towards the door. She avoided the window, keeping to the side as she approached. Runali had left her blades on Lady, but she pulled a knife from her boot, a 'just in case' weapon, and pushed forward and opened the door.

Adelaide casually followed the captain as she entered the cabin, not bothering to take the same precautions. Her nose wrinkled as the door swung open and squeaking hinges. A reeking odor gasped from the room, washing over them in a warm and disgusting breath. Adelaide made a face. "Ah. There's the smell I expected."

Inside, the moonlight bathed the cabin from the large windows. It was carpeted by a cheap throw and decorated in odds and ends of expensive baubles. Prizes to show a wealth the crew didn't possess. A struggle left them scattered and broken; glass crackled beneath Runali's boot. The black stain they witnessed on the window hadn't stopped on the door. It dashed on the carpet, then thinned to a trail that dragged across the floorboards, around the large oak desk, to the carved chair that sat directly before the windows. A body slumped in it, unmoving.

Adelaide put a hand up to stop Runali from moving farther in. She rustled in her waist pouches and produced a handkerchief, then handed it to Runali. "Tie this over your mouth. Just in case."

When the smell hit, Runali wrinkled her nose a little, not bothering to stop. She gratefully took and tied the handkerchief around her face and began examining some of the littered things on the floor.

With caution, the spy moved towards the body in the chair. Every step made the smell worse. She put a hand to her nose, not having tied a mask herself, and kept her knife forward as she rounded the desk. Chair and captain faced towards the window with iron shackles restricted his wrists and ankles. His face, hands and chest were blistered from sunburns. A wrapped abdomen wound was stained black with infection. Adelaide waved away flies as she knelt beside the body. "He died watching the sunset," she murmured, glancing out the window. "Would've been romantic if it wasn't for the aftermath."

Frowning, she started reaching for something wedged beneath the dead captain's coat.

The corpse gasped. It tried to flail an arm up, but the shackles stopped it, releasing a pathetic rattle. The flies buzzed with fright as the man rasped and tried to pry crusted eyes open. Adelaide's knife was on him in a flash, but he didn't seem to notice. He slowly blinked to the edges of life as he looked between the spy and the pirate captain. His mouth tried to open; the breath of a dead man wheezed out. It took him several moments to form words.

"A….are…you a siren?"

Runali's brow raised when Adelaide spoke of the corpse, but she stood when it- he came to life. She felt like she should have been surprised seeing a man wake from the dead, but after a brief assessment of her travels made her realize why she wasn't.

Runali walked over, looking over the man's withering and practically lifeless form. She stayed quiet for a moment until she was near Adelaide. "Not sirens, no…We're," Runali paused just for a second, realizing this man would die well before it mattered who they were. "Your life as a pirate has been met with plenty prideful days and by the looks of it… plenty downfall, no?" She reached for one of the shackles, briefly using her armament haki to snap it apart. "Tell us what happened here captain… Davy Jones is always looking for new recruits that have the worth." The look she gave was calm, almost comforting- at least for the dying man. She didn't want to come off as too threatening and have his last breath be in panic.

"S-she wanted….a siren," the man rasped. He turned his head to Runali. His eyes wandered ceaseless, aware that she was there but not seeing her. Adelaide remained where she was, silent. Expressionless. "A siren. Sh-she-she said she wanted the siren to find me. Deliver a message. Nothing personal…"

The man groaned. He would have wept, but his tears dried out a long time ago. "I-I never meant to be a pirate. My family… we needed the money… but she didn't seem to care. Oh god."

He sobbed then started coughing from the effort. Adelaide reached for a canteen at her waist and unscrewed the cap, then tipped it up to the captain's lips. He turned to it eagerly, the cool water a kiss of angels to his blistered lips. He gasped with relief as Adelaide moved away.

She asked softly, "What was the message for the siren?" His head lulled, his eyes beginning to close. Adelaide lifted him back up. "The message, capitaine. What was it?"

"P-pocket…."

Adelaide looked back down at the envelope on his chest. She slid it from his coat, standing up and away as she unfurled it. She turned her back to them. The captain coughed and gasped, head lulling to the side again. He looked back up at Runali. "Who...are you?"

Her gaze flickered between Adelaide and the dying man. She watched the woman step away but her attention turned back to the dying man. For a moment Runali simply stared at him. She wanted answers, but she knew there was no use prodding the man any further. "Consider your message delivered." Seeing his head lulling once more, Runali used her fingers to tilt him back to an upright sitting position. "If she has an issue… Not to worry, she will be taking it up with the Stardusk pirates." She hummed a bit when his eyes drifted closed. Runali snapped the other shackle off his hand causing his eyes to drift open a bit. "As for me? Tell Davy… Captain Runali sent you."

The man didn't respond, his eyes glassy and vacant.

Runali tapped the man's cheek before sighing and straightening up. "So Siren," Her brow raised as she turned to Adelaide. "What's the message the dead man left behind?"

Adelaide looked up at the captain with eyes wide and blank. Wordlessly, she handed the message to Runali that walked briskly out of the captain's cabin, not giving a second glance to the dead man.

The letter was short and written in Trovalian. It was incomprehensible to Runali.

A sudden crash erupted from another part of the ship.

Back on the deck, Adelaide was nowhere to be seen but the cargo hold had been pulled open. It dropped down to the ship's ammunition space, packed with all of four cannons, tied-down cannon balls, long-ranged rifles, cleaning supplies and stacked barrels of gunpowder. Adelaide kicked a third barrel to the floor. Weak wood broke on impact, spilling its flammable contents. She put her foot to it and pushed it down the hold's length. A trail of black powder followed it all the way down to the other two that'd been shattered to pieces. Still wordless, Adelaide ignored the captain's approach as she set about cutting loose the remaining barrels.

"Not that I'd suspect you'd know, but I'm not fluent in every language," Runali raised a brow as Adelaide was clearly planning on destroying the ship. "And you're a woman of… selective words… But you're going to have to give me some detail as to why this sudden note has something to do with you." Runali had picked up a lone gold coin from the captain's cabin and had been fiddling with it. "And we could have at least done a final sweep to see if there was anything of value besides a dead man." Runali walked over to the edge of the ship, tapping the ledge with her hand to test the quality. When she determined it safe enough, Runali stood on the ledge, determining the effort it would take for her to try and get back onto Lady Luck. Unfortunately, it wouldn't be an easy jump. She'd have to catch onto the side and climb her way up- or something of that sort. Runali tucked the note away and looked over at Adelaide.

"I don't know what point you're trying to make either considering, whoever she is that wanted to leave a message would be able to tell if the message was received with or without a dead man's ship."

Adelaide stopped what she was doing to look up at Runali. There was a long, contemplative silence as wide eyes stared at the captain.They shined in the dimness. The eyes of an animal contemplating flight or fight. Over the week's of the spy's stay on Lady Luck, she was always prepared with a quip, an answer, a comeback to the question, remark or rebuke. Sometimes her answer was silence. But then, the silence felt arrogant, like her engager had won her argument for her, and there was nothing left to say. Judging by this silence, for once Adelaide wasn't sure what to say.

She walked around the barrels and sat on the edge of the one closest to Runali. She placed hands on her knees and leaned forward. Her posture and intensity demanded all attention. "Porteur de l'oeil du faucheur," she said. It sounded similar to what was on the page. "Trovalian for, 'Bearer of the Reaper's Eye'. There's no direct translation for wielder. The message wasn't for me… it's for you. This ship is an example of what will happen to you, and your crew, if you chose to help--" Adelaide stopped and clenched her teeth. She started bouncing a leg then checked the motion. "Help us. Help Jack."

The captain's one eyed gaze never broke from Adelaide. It became more curious than expectant when she didn't receive an immediate comment back. Adelaide's sudden anxiousness reminded her of Jack a bit, and she indulged in the moment, turning to face her completely. "Porteur… de l'oeil du… faucheur?" Runali's fingers tapped her cheek as she spoke in childish Trovalian. She didn't seem surprised by the sudden news. In fact, her curious expression remained, though now she was thinking more to herself. "Ah, doesn't quite roll off the tongue, but I can't say it does in my own language either." She walked over to the small destruction the other caused, glancing around. "I don't make light of many threats. However, threats should be made in person not by paper. And not by murdering others I know nothing about." As confident as it may have sounded, Runali looked back at Adelaide with a very sure, and practically no nonsense expression. "My decision has already been made. You're very aware of that. And if she has an issue with that, then she has to tell me herself." Runali began to walk back to the edge of the ship once more. "If there's one thing you must know about me Adelaide, is that when I say I'm going to do something, I do mean that." She tossed a few matches towards the woman that she had stashed in her pocket that were definitely Jack's. "I know very little about you, but, loyalty is… something we have in common. So, you should understand that I'm not letting anything happen to my crew. Meaningless threats or not."

She gave a simple shrug and a more devious smile. "But what do you and I know? After all, I know nothing about the dangers we'll face. And you know as much as you've gathered, but nothing truly personal. It's all up to chance. All up to fate. I don't control the future but I sure will make the best out of what's in front of me."

Adelaide noticed Runali picking up her nervous tick, and wordlessly readjusted her posture. She sat straighter, then leaned casually back. She adopted the same air of nonchalant observance that she had when Jack left her and Runali alone on Lady Luck.

"I don't like you, Runali Lev." The sentiment came from nowhere and was delivered as if Adelaide commented on her least favorite food. "You hide it but you're arrogant. Ignorant by choice. Mistakin' loyalty for self-interest in me, whilst your own loyalty blinds ya to the rotted flesh soilin' ground beneath your feet. You make a bloody terrible spy." For a moment, Adelaide's perfect Common slipped into a guttural speech that highlighted her musical accent but sounded unscholared. She blinked and reasserted herself.

"You are right, though. I have my knowledge gained and it's not enough. Your crew's fickle, untrustworthy. But Jack believes in you. That man can't live without a family. It's his defining weakness."

Stopping for a moment, Adelaide reached into her bag of flowers, selecting one without looking, and pulled it out. It was small and yellow. She twirled it between thumb and forefinger. There seemed something else she wished to say, but it never left Adelaide's lips. Instead her eyes unfocused across Runali's shoulder.

"Jack ain' here to stop me. He thinks it's safer to keep you in the dark, in case it doesn't work. It's plausible...plausible," Adelaide stopped, made a face, looked down, and muttered in Trovalian as she tried to puzzle out her missing word. "Deniability. That's it. Anyways, you got questions? Ask them. By sunrise I am gone, and you'll be left to face it all without understanding."

A grin split across Runali's face and she chuckled at the sudden accented truth. "You may not like me, but you do know my name. That's what's important. Though I do appreciate the honesty Adelaide. No one has good enough memory to be a successful liar. Wouldn't want you to start believing that you found me bearable, yeah?" She suppressed another laugh. "And for someone who knows so much, you've forgotten that I am a pirate. Not a spy. We play by different rules. Win by different means. Family and loyalty weaken those without a heart, strengthen those who do." She leaned against the railing, rolling her one eye. Runali seemed to ignore the comments about arrogance and ignorance.

"I'll play your game though. Never understand you spies and your need to play loner. But," She raised up three fingers and began counting down after each question. "Who is this 'she'? What does she want with Jack? Why do you run after going out of your way to find Jack in the first place?" Her gaze softened a bit but her eye never left Adelaide. "Usually, you fight alongside the ones you care for. Or you fight for them even if it takes you to hell and back." She put up her index finger once more. "If you believe in nothing but your own fear of this woman, then what made you come this far to warn Jack in the first place?"

There was a heartbeat's pause before Adelaide's eyes snapped back into focus. She returned the smile without humor. "She is Charlotte du Vontiago. Jack is her red herring to a 15-year-long plan no one can stop. Who said anything about running?" She leaned forward, the flower drooping between interlocked fingers. "Capitaine, I believe many things. Trifling lightly with Charlotte du Vontiago is something you do not do. I came this far because it was my job. Warning Jack is simply the next best step."

Runali hummed in thought for a moment, mulling over what she said. "Jack being a red herring to anything does put a bit of issue in my own plans… I suppose would put a damper in her own plans if he wasn't around for it… And warning Jack can only mean a handful of things for him." She scratched her cheek, idly taking a step forward and then one back, not seeming to pay attention to Adelaide- at least not watching her. "What's this plan of hers? Or are you kept on a short leash and only know what you're supposed to know?" The look on Runali's face was contemplative, but her tone was still light as it had been. The gears were obviously turning in her head, but she kept most of those thoughts to herself. "One more question." Her gaze flicked back to Adelaide. "How much power does she hold?"

Adelaide's smile changed without so much a twitch. It was in her eyes: she knew the plan, but wasn't going to say. Instead she stood up to finish her original plan of blowing up the ship while answering Runali's last question.

"Runali Lev, she had the resources to track down an entire ship, hijack it, dispose of the entire crew and leave it for us to find. She's the nightmare in your chef's life. She knows you, even if you don't know her. What does that tell you?"

"Hm. Worth a shot." Runali leaned on the edge of the ship once again and looked up at the night sky. "Obviously you have some faith in us if you think telling me her plan would cause an issue." She chuckled a bit. "Thanks for the confidence." She tilted her head upward a bit more, searching through the stars as if it would give her answers. "You could say the same about the Navy so you know what that tells me?" A smirk flashed across her face for a brief moment. "Tells me, she's not much better than anyone else that's tried to kill us." She gave a shrug, and turned to wear the rope holding the ships together had been. "It doesn't take much to achieve what you want, really. Four things actually. Perseverance. The desire to learn. Hardwork." She paused and used her haki like before, pulling the ship a bit closer. "And a great aim." Runali dusted her hands off and stood at the edge of the ship. "And I dunno, I think me and my crew are doing one hell of a good job at that. It's got us this far."

She gestured towards Lady Luck. "Y'know Adelaide," She began to turn on her heels. "You're not bad. Kind of fun actually. You sure you don't live on the wilder side of life and be a pirate under a well renowned pirate lord?"

The spy paused. A wide, breathtaking smile broke over her face. "Capitaine, that's the worst idea you've mentioned yet. I don't even know who the Pirate Lord is yet."

**********​

"Do me a favor," Adelaide asked as they climbed back onto Lady Luck's deck. The explosives were set. Adelaide arranged the gunpowder barrels against the derelict ship's hull and lit a calculated trail for delayed detonation. Jack was busy steering Lady Luck away from the soon-to-be destroyed ship. Adelaide leaned against the banister and watched it drift away, her posture closing off again with blank eyes that shimmered in lantern light. "Don't tell Jack about what we saw. Once that ship explodes, he'll guess what we found...but what happened to the crew, the captain, he won't like it."

She sideglanced the captain. "It'll cloud his judgement."

Runali dusted herself off when she climbed aboard, turning to take over the ship's wheel from Jack. She didn't say anything at first, but before she got too far, she said over her shoulder. "He's smart. He'll figure that out on his own."

She walked over to Jack, at first leaning on the wheel in front of them. She smiled, nothing playful and carefree as she usually did. This one was calmer and with the faintest of sympathy hidden in her one eye. "Conversation was pleasant. Doesn't look like I can bring good news though."

Jack's eyes were on Adelaide, who remained on the lower deck. They reluctantly drew on Runali as she talked to him and he frowned. "What do you m--"

Suddenly, the sky flared bright orange as a shockwave shook Lady Luck on disturbed waves. Jack ducked. His arm went out to Runali, ready to force her down too. His body turned towards Adelaide. It took him a few seconds to figure out where the explosion occurred. He looked behind them and stood up slowly, watching with horrific awed as the ship they left bloomed with fire. Even at their distance, they could hear the dying creaks of wood as it sank into the black waters.

He took in a shaky breath. "What… how…?" Another breath, this time with a forced calm exhale. He fell silent as he thought, and turned to Runali with apprehension. "Adelaide blew it up?" he asked rhetorically. He was thinking faster than he talked, and the paled expression on his face told Runali he answered his question. His eyes went back to the ship and he blanched.

He squeezed them shut. "Okay, okay…" Fingers pinched the bridge of his nose. "She'll want to leave...excuse me." Without explanation, he started for the lower deck. He was half down the steps when he stopped and looked back at Runali. "What did she tell you?"

When the ship blew up, Runali hadn't moved but her eyes did follow Jack as he readily moved to protect her. She cracked a small smile. It was a kind and loyal gesture. As he gathered himself, Runali straightened and stayed quiet until she was addressed, figuring it was better for him to clear his head slightly before adding more to the mix. "Things you already know. Things you'd rather hear from her..." Her voice trailed for a moment but she continued. "Lot of things not said too, but she cares enough to warn you. And you're right, she doesn't plan on staying. Didn't even take the offer to join… But, she's a nice one. Hopefully we see her on better days."

Jack nodded without meeting her eyes. He looked tense, tired, and wholly unsurprised by her answer. "Thank you," he said by reflex then went down to Adelaide.

The following morning, Adelaide Summers vanished.

 

[Mizos]

​

Sid discovered the clinic door ajar when he arrived and couldn't resist sneaking in. He ended up behind Zilia without the doctor realising it. He stood there silently waiting for her to sense his presence. The wait seemed to stretch infinitely long.

He cleared his throat politely and teased her. "Bon Ms Vilimar! It's worrying that you so oblivious after leaving the door open."

Zilia's attention was focused on one of the books in her possession, after returning to the cave she had managed to translate one of the languages, she cursed herself for not studying it more as it took her longer than she desired to find answers to her questions. She had thankfully found the names of who it belonged too and just as expected the fact the two had met was surprising. She had a strewn of books around her of both clans trying to find if their migrations had met up at some point but she was missing volumes. Most of these books she had found during her travels, the middle volumes were still lost in the world somewhere if they were still intact.

At the sudden voice Zilia jumped a bit almost knocking over her books, she leaned down catching them before they hit the ground and glanced back seeing it was Cedric.

"I've finished sketching the rest of text in the desert cave." He passed her the sketches as he spoke. "I labelled them on the back so you'll know how to fit them together."

After ensuring the book was safe she took the papers with a small nod before holding up a note.
"Thank you Mr. Cedric that's very helpful. I'll get started immediately," Zilia said this before stopping and writing another note taking a small note of his earlier comment.

"No good doctor leaves her door closed to her patients...and it's a sign of trust. The crew is more important than my own musings, I don't mind interruptions present company included...well from most of the crew."

There was one exception but she wasn't going to bring that up at the moment.

Sid shrugged when he was done reading. He never understood the need to be more open. The crew felt intrusive enough. One person in particular, but so far he managed to avoid being around that said person for too long. He couldn't shake the feeling that Jack might be responsible for Luro's renewed fascination with him.

He leaned against the wall and watched Zilia. Scattered across the table were books filled with pages of ancient languages. There were a few history books in Common. They described several ancient civilisations that were long extinct. He was tempted to pick those up, but he didn't want to disturb her work.

The sword and other artifacts they retrieved from both caves were laid reverently on a separate table. White cloth formed a thin barrier between them and the wooden surface of the table. Judging from its size, Sid guessed that was the operating table. He wondered if she'd clear it fast enough should they need it. He gave her a skeptical side eye. A look that disappeared from his face seconds before Zilia looked his way.

Zilia continued translating her texts but she could still feel Cedric's presence nearby, it was a feeling she had become accustomed too as Runali and Luro tended to linger around afterwards unless they had something to do, the latter normally only coming once his personal errands were complete. She paid little mind to the man running her gloved finger along the texts and moving around her room. Her 'office' wasn't a large one at first glance, it had all the necessities she needed to tend to any wounded, cabinets hanging just within arms reach of the doctor, a personal stool in the corner, a few knickknacks here and there, and a mortar and pestle resting on a nearby table. The remainder of the room was filled with a slew of objects generally medical in nature, she used her own room for research purposes so very few books aside from medical ones remained here.

She needed them in her office however as there were a few things she had to locate.

She looked back at Cedric for a moment and with a small sigh went to the corner of her room, she handed him two glasses, one filled with a red liquid, the other filled with blue.

"If you're going to remain nearby I may as well ask your assistance. Pour the blue into the red and slowly rotate the glass, it should turn purple due to the contents, rotate it until it takes that color. When it smells of lavender feel free to stop."

The tailor quirked an eyebrow. He hummed a soft "hmm?" but he knew Zilia wouldn't have heard him. Gently, he placed the sword back on the table. The artifact had drawn him to it the many times he entered her office. The craftsmanship was solid and the materials passable. An item that could be sold for quite a lovely sum in the antiques market, he was sure.

However, it wasn't the actual make of the sword that fascinated him. He was drawn to the details decorating the hilt. He thought he had seen a similar design before. The sword (or was it a shield?) had been much newer. He didn't want to mention it to the good doctor just yet. He needed to be sure.

Cedric took the glasses Zilia offered him. Again, he quirked an eyebrow. There was a subtle hint of amusement and awkwardness behind the gesture. Jack would often get him to do something similar whenever he assisted in the kitchen. It was something and … probably inspired by Zilia somehow. Sid wasn't too sure. A year apart was a long time.

Tapping his foot in a steady rhythm, he proceeded as instructed. Almost exactly as she instructed. He couldn't resist adding a bit of a bartender's finesse to his actions. The glass twirling and tossing. Yet not a drop was spilled. He couldn't help chuckling at Zilia's expression when he caught the glass containing the blue liquid moments before it really slip from his fingers.

"Dexterity practice," he explained.

Zilia moved away over to the pestle and grabbing a bit of the material inside sprinkled it over the sword as she passed it.

"This is a very fascinating discovery, these artifacts tell more stories than some of the books do. These were very good finds, I thank you again for your help. With this, unlocking the story of this civilization is much closer."

Grabbing one of the artifacts which seemed to be of rather large woman, and making sure to hold it from the bottom, she gave it a small twist on the top, the moment she did the woman raised slightly before sharp spikes poked out of her body. Zilia with a smile gave the object another twist and the spikes returned to the artifacts before she removed the top of it, setting it aside and revealing a parchment within it.

A burst of lavender pushed away the lingering antiseptic fumes in the air. Sid sneezed slightly. He rubbed his nose with a handkerchief after placing the emptied glass on the table. Not a drop of blue was left, Zilia's estimation had been eerily accurate. He approached her to have a look at her latest find.

He pointed to a puzzle box not too far off. "Try that too. I bet it should contain another scroll."

Both artefacts had been retrieved earlier in the morning. They were found in a huge shrine in the center of the snowy biome. Cedric suggested the return tomorrow at dawn to retrieve the last chest before leaving.

Zilia eyes twitched at her sensitive equipment being tossed around like a toy, at Cedric's comment a silent sigh escaped from her as she closed her eyes. She was reminded why Luro wasn't allowed to linger in her space again, and at the very least he hadn't dropped it on the ground. She made a mental note that he was good with his hands, she'd keep that in mind next time she needed assistance with something.

"I'll trust your deftness, mainly since that can become acidic in nature…and would cause a mess if it hit the floor."

Once the liquid was finished she gently took it with a nod and set it next to the sword, her eyes moved to the box and she eyed it for a moment. Her eyes seem to move over the inscriptions and she grabbed the box turning it over onto its bottom. Her eyebrows arched a bit and she quickly turned it back over before turning the middle parts of the box. She heard a click and quickly spun the box around a hole opening which shot out three darts into the far wall before the top opened.
"I will have to write down this information. When we return for the last chest I'll have to return these boxes."

"Why would we need to return them?" Cedric asked. These items were abandoned for such a long time. He doubted their original owners were even alive. "Ms. Vilimar - ah, never mind …" He'd find a way to persuade her later.

Zilia set the box down before walking over to the sword grabbing the liquid, raising it she poured it slowly over the sword from the bottom to the top, the liquid rather than spilling out seemed to seep into the sword through the inscription, even the parts were no engraving could be found. Stopping at the top of the blade she took a small step back away from the sword.
A moment later the sword started letting off an orange glow, as the inscriptions on the sword started to illuminate slowly moving down the sword as if they were being written again. Zilia followed the glowing letters to the end of the inscription only for it to continue, smaller markings appearing past the etchings. The glow faded from the sword slowly dying out and Zilia walking over ran her finger over the edges of it.

"Ah…I thought this sword belonged to Hir'mai but this name belongs to one who came after him. In the books it said the sword was passed down from head to head…apparently something happened to the other sword. This without a doubt belonged to the head of the clan but isn't the blade I read about."

Zilia gently lifted the blade and turned it over revealing words once hidden on the back of the blade, running form the point of the blade to the pommel.

"They didn't document much through books, but their history, techniques and the like are inscribed on their swords. Invisible to the naked eye but with a bit of knowledge you can reveal the words without damaging the blade. The recipe is very precise so I was thankful I had a few extra herbs on hand. They're very secretive about their ways…so they had to have trusted the clan that resided here to hand them their history…ah my apologies Mr. Cedric I don't know the extent of your interest yet I'm bombarding you with my musings. If it bothers you I'll understand if you wish to leave.
Zilia wrote the note and handed it directly to him, giving a small nod to him. She made sure to look him in the eye to make it clear she was trying to be considerate and wasn't forcing him to leave, but wasted no time returning to the sword itself.

This blade was a gift so Zilia couldn't understand what had happened to the two allies, that room wasn't destroyed by time there was clearly an attack there. The sword however had remained untouched by the destruction, or perhaps had been placed there afterwards. The mystery eluded her and she hoped in their records there would be answers.

Sid helped himself to sandwiches Jack brought them earlier. Fére mentioned something about cold weather and needing to make sure everyone ate enough. Everyone, namely Zilia. He checked the filling in each of them before settling on something without meat.

His nose picked out spicy nodes coming from the meat. He guessed it must be that weird tasting tandoori "chicken" from dinner. He didn't like the colour, the taste or the texture. Thankfully, Jack remembered that he refused to eat many types of birds and gave him bread with homemade nut butter. He hoped there'll be some nut butter left later, since he overheard Jack planning their dinner. There was no way he'd eat wild boar; the meat was far too pungent. Oh well, when they get back to civilization, he will take his brother out for a meal at the nearest (acceptable) restaurant.

He munched on his late lunch while Zilia rattled on. The only thought crossing his mind was how much they'd earn if they auction off the sword. He needed to probe her for the answers.

"Two questions, if you please. First, what's this civilisation your studying? I've seen a similar design somewhere before. Not sure if it's from a culture still existing today," he shrugged for emphasis then proceeded to his next question. "Second, how did you learn about them in the first place? It sounds like you've been studying them for a long time."

He put his sandwich down on one of the spare plates and took a sip of lukewarm cider. Their drinks were piping hot when Jack brought them in earlier, but they neglected them until now. "I think you can tell me more while you eat. Jack will skin me alive if there's food left on the tray."

Cedric loaded up a different plate with three meat sandwiches, several pieces of cut fruit and three chocolate tarts. He hoped Zilia had a sweet tooth, because he intended to give her every single tart and cake on the plate. He wasn't fond of sweets not even the ones Jack made. The only exception was pancakes.

"Have a seat, mademoiselle," he said while pulling out the only chair in the room. "We've been at this for hours."

Since Cedric made no attempt to leave Zilia adjusted her gloves and dove back into her work, she didn't make it far however before she found Cedric posing a few questions at her. It was only at this moment she realized that she hadn't thoroughly explained what culture she was dealing with. She brought a hand to her mouth realizing she had gotten far too lost in her own pursuits, such an action was inconsiderate of her, she closed her eyes taking a moment to compose herself.

She decided to take Cedric's advice and get a bite to eat, she was constantly berating Luro for not taking care of himself when he did his 'things' it wouldn't do for her to follow the same example.

With a small nod of thanks she took a seat before looking at the plate of food, she stared at it for a moment with a slightly narrowed gaze and a silent sigh escaped from her, she wasn't a fan of sweet things but she took the food since it seemed Cedric wasn't either, it wouldn't do to waste food Jack worked hard on.

"I will take you up on that Mr. Cedric, also my apologies for not properly explaining things at the beginning," Zilia said this with a small bow before she continued. "I'm observing two different civilizations, the clan who was here on this island, name translates to High Moon Clan in common. They supposedly faded away a few Centuries ago but the Nomads, whose name somewhat translates to Ghost Smiths, were only a Century ago. The fact that they encountered them means that the Moon Clan actually faded away later on…though there's no guarantee either are really gone as sometimes there are survivors far down the line...most of their civilization has faded away or been lost to time."

Zilia took a bite of one of the sandwiches, she took a small moment to grow accustomed to the sweetness before continuing.

"For how I know of them...I encountered someone who had acquired one of the Smith's swords, they're very Hallowed among some circles and she spent years hunting the weapon down…she showed me how to find their stories in the blades. For the Moon clan I was held hostage once with the group believing I had the knowledge to translate their works…I didn't so I learned enough to survive and ended up studying it after I escaped since I found it fascinating."
Zilia took another bite and her eyebrows twitched slightly, she made an effort to finish the sandwich before looking back at the sword.

"Thank you for your help again Cedric. This history is important, the High Moon's are connected to many clans in the area and the Ghost Smith's have a very extensive and respectable history. Just finding one of their blades is an achievement, but knowing they were once together…this could answer questions lost to time…I can't wait to dig back in…after eating of course."

"It's very fascinating," Sid remarked after reading the last note. He wasn't sure what intrigued him more, Zilia's ability to produce notes rapidly or her brief history lesson. He decided he ought to show more interest in the latter to be polite. "Do you have a book to recommend? I wouldn't mind acquainting myself with this bit of history."

"Of course I have several, I'll give you the one I have notes on to help with the translation. Oh and the notes for the Smiths, one of their blades goes into explicit detail about one of their well known kings. Tyir'as!"
Zilia continued to write only stopping to eat, not wanting to speak with her mouth full and continued into the many books to choose from on the two civilizations.

 

[Mizos]

​

Luro's bounced off the far wall of the training room and with a small groan he hit the ground, mumbling something as he laid on his stomach a few feet away from one of the dummies. Zilia slowly brought her foot back staring down at her fallen student. Seeing Luro wasn't going to stand back up she slowly lowered her foot and made her way over to him. Kneeling down she poked him eliciting a groan from him.
"Are you okay?"
"Z…I know you're showing me a note…but I can't raise my head."
"Sorry."
"I hear you scribbling…but still can't raise my head."
Luro made no attempt to move his body trembling slightly as he tried to see what wasn't broken.
"…why don't we go outside for now?" Zilia realized she was scribbling again and started to raise his head but stopped as he spoke.
"That sounds good."
Zilia started to question how he understood that question while his head was still sniffing the wood but decided against it and just went to help him up.

With a majority of the others off on their own adventures Luro had requested Zilia's assistance since he had to finish repairing the ship. Thanks to everyone's help he had finished much quicker than he expected so he offered to finish up the rest with Zilia, she barely had time to write the first word down when she was being pulled below deck.

"Your form is better…but you're still horrible in practically everything else," Zilia said handing Luro a note.
For some odd reason Luro had requested moving to the desert part of the island, something she had intended on fighting against, but when the air around him suddenly cooled as he walked into the desert her attention became more focused on how he was adjusting his body temperature at will.
"I'm ready no matter what the temperature is; benefits of getting stranded a bunch." Was the only response he gave at her look.
"Hmm…well at least I'm getting better…right," Luro said rubbing the side of his head at her comment.
"Barely…though I'm still surprised you came to me about this…I understand why but it's still weird to be training you."
"It's not that weird Z, I've lost enough fights to know how bad I am."
"I'm not sure what to say to that."
"There's nothing to say, everyone on the ship is pretty good at being up close and personal. I'm not trying to match them or anything I'm comfortable with my shooting and prefer that over anything else but I gotta get stronger, this is part of that. I'm training my shooting too but I need help on this."
"I don't think your comment on everyone is incorrect but I think you're placing the crew on too high of a pedestal."
"Kadi's knows how to use a sword and gun, Jack and Captain have armament and both know how to fight, Masu's good with all kinds of weapon, you're good at fighting-"
Luro started listing off things counting them on his fingers but Zilia held up a hand up understanding what he was getting at.
"Okay I get your point."
"Alicia can cut things without touching them with her sword wind move, Coral can catch animals on the ship."
"I get it."
"Cedric-"
"You're fundamentally useless in close combat I understand! Stop listing things!"
Zilia lowered her note and grabbing hold of Luro's sleeve stopped him before handing him another note, Luro took it and his brows arching he looked back at Zilia who motioned back towards the ship.
"What I mean is it doesn't matter. The individual skills of Stardusk isn't what's most important here. It's what they did as a whole, all guided by Runali's hand and their own wills. That's one of the reasons I chose Stardusk…they're power alone is extensive…but their power together is immeasurable. They're different in that regard."
Luro offered a smile to Z and went to ruffle her hair with a grin; the glare that came at his attempt chilled him more than the natural frost surrounding him so he pulled his hand back, a weak chuckle escaping him.
"Thanks Z…I'm still trying to adjust a bit to everything so I got needlessly negative. I'm okay now…but…what's the other reason you chose us?"
Zilia turned her attention forward Luro leaning to the side slightly to keep a good look at her face, she didn't respond for a few minutes but at Luro's silent stare she eventually wrote a response.
"…I made a promise."
Luro took the note and turned it around slightly as if doing so would give insight into the words on the page.
"A promise to Chronicle Stardusk?"
Luro wanted to press the matter but Zilia was already walking ahead of him back to the ship.
He had learned through all their talks that there was some things Zilia just didn't share; he supposed the person who had asked her to Chronicle them was one of those things. He'd normally dig but there was a strange look in her eyes when it came up, a quiet determination masked behind a distant stare. She kept very few secrets…so if she chose not to speak this one he had a feeling it was for a good reason.
"I should make bets with Jack…maybe it's an old lover," Luro said following after her.


Present.

"You blew up a ship and didn't come get me!"
Luro and Zilia stood on the deck the morning after the explosion; they had awoken in the night with Luro running out first knowing the familiar smell of gunpowder and fire mixed together. He knew the size of the explosion before he threw open the door to the main deck and was clearly bothered at not having a hand in it. Zilia was right behind him and thankfully noticed that there was a strange tension in the air.
She ultimately ended up dragging Luro back inside giving the Captain a look to explain things later and left the trio to their midnight rendezvous, trying to explain to Luro that he could bother them tomorrow which he agreed too after a very specific note.
"Ali leaves without saying goodbye…you blow up a ship without me…I want extra rum cakes this morning."
"Don't listen to him…just…what happened? Is it something to be concerned about?"

 

[Capt. Blu]

Collab bet'w Captain and @SilentxChaos
Silent's Chapter~ ​

Three Months Post-Marooning on Uninhabited Island
Location: Open waters, under siege

Jack cursed as he raided Luro's quarters. Rum, nonsensical blueprints, nuts-- where the hell did you put it? he thought venomally at the giant. His hands shook as he opened chests and blood seeped down the right side of his temple. He dashed it from his eyes just as a loud boom erupted close. He threw himself down.

Two seconds past and Lady Luck exploded. A whoosh of air gusted Jack as he cowered on the floor, splinters the size of his forearm bouncing off his back. The new hole opened him to the sounds of the chaos above: cannons firing, his crew shouting, the anger of the waves. He waited several terrified heartbeats for that ominous rushing under it all, the one of leaking water filling the ship's underbelly, ready to sink them if left unattended. It didn't come. Slowly, he got to his knees and looked out, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the sun's sudden presence. The canon that'd hit tore through Luro's room clean with identical openings on either side. He gazed out to east. The opposing ship hovered closer than ever. It was made of dark wood that seemed black in the water. There was no figurehead on its bow but a flag waved proud and true on its foremast. A regal crest on a black field: black and blue shield, herald by a crown, adorned by a golden tree surrounded by strange symbols. A golden laurel wreathed it.

Jack froze at the sight. He didn't blink. He didn't breathe. Ice rushed into his veins. For a moment, death breathed down his neck.

He forced an inhale, long and slow. His face relaxed into an expressionless state and his body decompressed. He breathed again, and turned to finish off his search. It had to be somewhere; there was no way he could hold up his end without it.

****
It was half-past dawn when Jack spotted the dark ship on the horizon. It took three hours to confirm it was tailing; another three for the first cannon to shoot at them. There was no provocation and no warning. If it hadn't been for Kadi's sharp eye, they may have missed the bow cannons capable of firing when the ship laid at their stern, not their broad side. The first shot fell short, but the mystery ship was fast, and it didn't take long for Stardusk to fall into their range.

The ship by now had reached the range of Stardusk's cannons, and it wouldn't be long before they were close enough to board.

Runali had yelled something nothing short of an expletive in her native tongue. She had a few scratches, some on her face thanks to the flying debris from some of the explosions that managed to hit the ship. "We just got this ship fixed!" She yelled out as if the people on the other ship would hear- or as if they'd care. Grumbling something, she hurried past her crew to get a better view of the situation. "Luro! Sara! Get the cannons going! Kadi do we have a way out and an island near by?" It was one thing to escape from the sudden attack, but if the ship had gotten damaged, again, they'd need to reach land so it could be repaired. The last thing Runali needed was another lost ship. Lady Luck wasn't going down without a proper fight. "Once they get close enough, be ready to strike!" She called out to the others as the ship got even closer.

When Stardusk fired their cannons, few struck the opposing ship's starboard side. One took out a part of the deck as two more hit the cargo hold. Others were deflected into the water, or over the deck entirely, by no visible means. The black ship's bow crept onto their port and as it did, for a moment Runali and her crew may have seen the shimmer of an animal's silhouette hitting on the banister. It was small enough to look like a bird or a monkey but it disappeared before they could discern what it was.

The next instant, soldiers in black and red boarded Lady Luck. Their faces were covered. Simplified gold trees, that mimicked the flying colors, painted their chests as they swung across the ship space, landing on Stardusk's ship's side. They started to climb up. One man dressed in clothes closer to that of a mercenary that a soldier headed them. He wore a torn red scarf over used leather armor and hauberk, his face left bare. He was the first to succeed getting on the deck, sweeping it with eyes misted over white and blue, his dark skin bouncing off the high noon sunlight. He pulled onto his arm a spiked round shield as a broad scimitar gleamed in his left hand. He shouted an order and waved the sword forward. His men leapt into action, effortlessly dividing and targeting the members of Stardusk.

Despite the best of efforts of the cannons, the ship still managed to get close enough to board. Runali had already pulled out one of her chakram and tossed at one of the soldiers boarding. "Keep them back! And keep firing the cannons until they don't have a ship to go back to!" She ran towards the edge of the ship, letting out a whistle. Coral flew from her perch on the crow's nest, soaring downward and unsheathing her claws on a few unsuspecting victims. The bird grabbed the chakram embedded in the ship's railing and dropped it over Runali before once again disappearing and waiting to strike.

Her eye caught the one that didn't look like the rest and Runali tossed her chakram at his feet just to get him to stop for a short second. "I don't suppose you wanna stop and talk about why you… or whoever's really in charge is attacking my ship?"

The man's head swiveled to Runali. He seemed to see her without seeing her. He didn't meet her gaze; it was slightly off to her right but his head shifted as he looked her up and down.

"Captain Runali Lev," he replied, his voice quiet and rich with accent. He made a slight bow at the waist in greeting, not low enough to invite attack but showing respect even amidst a battle. "I am Scorpiox of Trovale. You are under arrest by Royal decree for the destruction of Oublia and with your association with the Jackal. Please, surrender now and hand him over. Your crew won't come to harm."

She shifted her stance, straightening up- not seeming ready to strike as the man spoke. Runali was quiet for a moment, despite the ruckus of intruders. Slowly, she began to step forward after he bowed. "Ah, I see." She held up one hand, as if telling him she was peaceful and stopped at arm's distance from him. "Scorpiox? Is that what your name is? ...Or is that a title? Sounds more like a title." Her gaze went over to the ship near them before she looked back at him. "Are you the one in charge here or are you just one doing the dirty work? Because if so, please inform your higher ups I only negotiate with them face to face." Runali gave a pleasant smile. "And you have us mistaken for someone else. We've never stepped foot in a place called Oublia, so if you don't mind calling off your intrusion that'd be great."

The corners of his mouth twitched. "Scorpiox is the name given to me. My title is another matter. I'm sorry, captain, but I have a task to subdue your crew. You can't talk to my master until that's complete. Submit or attack. We're delaying the inevitable."

Scorpiox raised sword and shield. He was a broad man, built like a tree, with misty eyes staring with purpose and certainty. He waited patiently for Runali to make her decision while all around, the masked soldiers waged war on her crew. They wielded various weapons with some flashing black with armament haki. They pressed around, distracting Stardusk from firing the cannons, and somehow a walking plank had been laid between the ships. More soldiers waited on the other ship, armed with rifles, ready to stop any pirate who dared crossover. They were an overwhelming force. Cannon fodder.

"It's hard to believe you say my crew will come to know harm when your first response is to attempt blowing up my ship. And then saying you're ordered to arrest us." Runali's smile slowly faded as the man spoke, up until she ended up sighing. "You should tell that master of yours to give you clearer orders so you don't start fights you shouldn't. Tell me one more thing mister Scor." Using her foot, she lifted her chakram from between them and caught it. "Maybe more than one thing if you're generous." She got into a fighting stance, keeping one of her weapons at her hip. "I don't think I'm familiar with a 'Jackal', care to enlighten me?"

Scorpiox frowned at his given nickname. "Scorpiox. And don't play games with me, captain. We're seeking the traitor Jack Kunal. Where is he?"

"Oh," Runali started as if she suddenly realized who he was talking about. "You mean Jack Kunal. See those are two very different names, Scor. Not a very good game if we don't both know the rules." Runali gave an innocent shrug. "I know who that one is. Do I know where he is? Not a clue." It was hard to tell if she was lying or not, though to be fair, she didn't see him immediately on deck so it wasn't far from the truth. "But seeing as you're in the midst of trying to arrest us," She tossed her chakram past Scorpiox's head, as one of his men attempted to shoot Kadi from behind. It cut through the man's arms. "You've got bigger issues to deal with, no?" Beats after she spoke, Runali had ran towards him with her second chakram drawn to strike him down.

 

[Mizos]

Collab by @Mizos and @Fox of Hearts

On Deck: Everyone (Minus JaDe)

"Let's go, Ms. Vilimar!"

Silver streaked the air. The bolt lodged firmly into a man's throat. Blood bubbled at the edge of his lips before he fell face down. The impact drove the bolt straight through his neck.

Sid didn't even give him a second look. He loaded a second bolt and fired. His mark tumbled overboard. He gripped his crossbow tightly, as he pulled Zilia along. Something flickered in the corner of his eye and he shoved the doctor to the floor. Sound was cut from their ears following the huge blast. They scrambled to their feet in next to know time. Powdered wood rained onto the floor as they started running again.

Keeping Zilia safe seemed to be his current priority. The two of them weren't on the same level as Alicia and Sara, so it was best they lay low for now. There was something else they needed to do - find Jack!

Zilia had been reading books in her room when it happened, she barely had time to move after the ship started shaking, only noticing Chaos was moving outside and she ended up joining the feline as she climbed over her mountain of words. Everything after that is essentially a blur, the Captain was yelling, Luro was standing still watching with arms crossed as the ship was torn apart and she was being pulled by Cedric. She had managed to recover fast enough to write a response to his yelling over the noises surrounding them.

The ringing in Sid's ears faded and sound trickled back into his consciousness. He could hear Zilia's ragged pants as they reached the stairs. He motioned for her to run ahead. Chaos was already leading the way, bounding downwards two steps at a time. Chester remained beside his master.

She didn't like moving ahead leaving Cedric behind but these people wanted Jack and though she disliked it she didn't like the idea of them finding him. She chose to follow Cedric's plan and try to warn the cook before he made his way to the deck, after that she'd rejoin the others, she knew they'd be able to hold their own but she didn't intend to run away again. Not like back then.

Cedric reached for the door. He planned to bolt in from the inside hoping it would buy them enough time. None of them spotted Jack on deck earlier, which meant the man was somewhere below. They needed to find him fast. Hiding him seemed to be the only way to keep him safe. He and Zilia agreed on this earlier.

His breathing echoed harshly in the cavernous landing. He shoved his weight against the door; it swung forward but never met the frame. Someone tackled it from the other side. Cedric jumped to the side in the nick of time.

Instinctively, he let go of his crossbow and grabbed the railing with both hands. His right wrist screamed as it bent at an awkward angle. Pain flared up his arm but the tailor willed himself not to let go. He gritted his teeth.

Chester winked into existence in front of him. The cat hissed warningly at the man before them. His orange fur bulking up visibly, as his green eyes locked with beady eyes staring down at him from broad shoulders. The ferret snarled, vanishing in a blink of an eye and reappearing at the other summoner's feet. Chester attacked first. He leaped at the other familiar with his claws out.

Orange and white fur contacted. Claws narrowly missing the beady eyes. The ferret shot off to the side before launching itself at the cat. Both of them winked out of existence. Taking advantage of the man's distraction, Sid ran up the stairs and threw himself at his opponent. The men tumbled back onto the deck.

Wicked steel glinted in the white sunlight. Cedric pressed the unsheathed tanto against the man's throat. His panting was barely a hindrance as he spoke. "Allez avant que je te tue." (trans. "Go before I kill you")

He felt a sudden chill wash over him and the hairs on his neck stood up. He was right! This man wasn't the summoner. He grabbed the man by his collar and reversed their positions. Sunlight glinted off the frozen surface of the dozen spikes raining down on them.

The death was swift and messy. Sid shoved the human pin cushion off him and shot up. A card was already in his hand; it ignited. The ash was still in the air when light particles aggregated. Knowing what was going to happen, Cedric screwed his eyes shut and ducked for cover.

There was no sound only searing heat. Sweat dripped down his neck. He wiped his wet forehead with the back of his hand. His vision was a little dark but he could still see. He had a second card drawn. He won't believe he killed his opponent until he saw the body.

He nearly jumped out of his skin when Chester appeared beside him. He clamped a hand over his own mouth to prevent himself from yelling. Green eyes chided him. He ignored them. The other summoner was searching for him. More sweat dripped from his brow, as he peered behind. The scorched wood surrounding him radiated with so much heat that it would take hours to dispel.

Luro had been polishing the railing of the ship with a small smile leaning forward to peer at the handsome man looking back at him, offering him the same grin that adorned his own face. Peaceful days like this were good in their own way, he had managed to polish most of the ship. During his repairs he noticed a few places that could use a little tender loving care and he was sure the Lady enjoyed it. She was a feisty lass after all, a little dirt didn't hurt her but even she cared about her appearance.

"Alright let's take care of the other side."

Luro turned and in a few steps splinters of wood flew past his body causing him to stop and turn back around. His once clean spot was now little more than a hole, a piece of wood falling into the ocean once his eye laid on the spot as if taunting him. His mouth twitching to the side he crossed his arms and looked up at the perpetrator noticing a ship in the distance.

"...I think they're firing at us," Luro said bringing a hand to his chin.

When another shot fired slamming into the ship, Luro catching a piece of wood nearby it confirmed his suspicions.

"Oh man..that was one of my favorite places," Luro said eyeing the piece of wood.

He made no attempt to move as the ship continued to attack, mainly since the ship wasn't in firing range of the ship and the Captain had yet to give an order on how to respond, but this was a 'free to kill' moment if he ever saw one so he could at least act accordingly. Luro removed his rifle off his back and loaded a bullet into the chamber but as he raised his rifle to look for the one at the helm the visage of an animal skittered in the corner of his vision, in the next moment he had been given his orders.

"Aye Aye Captain!"

Though some shots were landing they weren't doing the kind of damage they needed and the ship was getting steadily closer. Luro loaded another cannon and slammed the switch on the side. If the shot's were veering off course for some reason he'd just make sure the shot consumed everything in its path. A red glow formed from inside one of the cannons and Luro grinning moved to fire, a flash of silver however stopped him and he quickly jumped back. The cannon was cut cleanly into pieces as he slid away from the spot. A laugh escaped from him as the people boarded the ship his rifle already in his right hand, but whoever attacked him had vanished. He could feel a gaze on him though, murderous intent closing the distance. He turned and raised his gun as another attack came down on him, he barely managed to block the blow, he grinned glad she was making her killing intent known, but when the wood under him creaked he looked back only for something else to slam into him pushing him to the deck below.

Hitting the floor Luro quickly rolled and lowered his body as something swung where his neck had been, moving backwards he searched the area for any sign of his attacker but found no person there. He noticed dust kick up directly in front of him and his eyes widened before he leapt back, the flash of a silver blade passing in front of him, cutting one of his bangs as he put distance between himself and his attacker. Placing his feet down he brought his rifle up to both hands, he could feel someone around but he wasn't able to see them, their footsteps filling the area and he tried to determine where the next attack was going to come from.

"Hah."

Luro felt breath tickle the back of his neck and his eyes widening he rolled out of the way, a sword stabbing into the ground where he'd been, he pushed off his feet to try and get some distance but he felt someone's presence next to him, he turned to try and respond but he felt his feet knocked out from under him. A second later he felt something slam into his back and he flew upwards crashing through the floor high into the air over lady.

"Wahhhhhhh!"

Flapping his arms as he descended Luro hit the main deck hard landing directly next to Cedric, with a small groan he climbed to his feet noticing the man next to him.

The moment his hand touched the wood he quickly jumped up shaking his hands off, why was the wood so hot? That definitely wasn't the sun's heat, he was surprised it wasn't on fire at the moment.

"Oh hey Cedric! Don't you just love days like this. I can't even see the person attacking me. Just putting it out there these people seem kinda harsh. We might want to not let them find Jack."

Luro said this resting his rifle on his back and grinning at the man.

"Sorry if I brought them to you. I'll help you out though."

Chaotic days like these were good in their own way after all.

Cedric's widen in surprise. Luro had just given his position away! His lips parted slightly, but his body was faster. The tailor tackled the chirpy giant at the very last second. A dozen blades and ice spikes shattered the floorboards they had been sitting on.

"Go! Run that way!" Sid cried, pointing in the opposite direction. Sticking to each other wasn't an option. He didn't want to make it easier to slaughter both of them. Jack won't forgive him if that happened.

Cedric didn't get very far when a long haired woman leaped down in front of him. Knives of various lengths hung from her belt. A single scabbard was suspended from her belt, but Sid noticed at least three hilts poking out from behind her. He stopped in his tracks and tensed up. The tanto Alicia gifted him was clutched tightly in his uninjured hand.

"You weren't wrong, sister. There really is a summoner among this riff-raff," she sneered. The snarl marred her otherwise attractive face.

Her twin finally made her entrance. The opposing summoner materialised in front of Luro cutting off his path. Her hand wrapped around his rifle and she pointed the barrel skyward. A playing card similar to Sid's was pressed between the index and pointer fingers of her left hand.

The female summoner tossed her card. It hovered in mid air before ripping to shreds. She shoved Luro towards Sid while keeping her grip firm around his gun. Owner and weapon were forcefully parted, as icy ropes bound the two fallen men together.

"What do we do, Dar? Kill them?" she asked the blade mistress. Her long fingers raked through her messy green hair.

Darcey gloated. The heel of her boot pressed down on Luro's side and she grounded it into the flesh. "I don't know, Ally. The higher ups never told us much. We could keep them just alive enough to get the reward."

Alix hummed her approval. She eyed Cedric up and down trying to find his aeterium. If no one was claiming his stone, she'd have no qualms taking them. She crossed her arms and watched as her sister pulled out a knife with a jagged blade. "Keep their faces in tact as long as possible," she mused. "I kinda like looking at his."

"Shooo! Go keep a look out," Darcey commanded suddenly in Trovalian. "Make sure the fighting doesn't come too close."

The women froze, listening to the sounds drifting closer. Loud explosions and shouts of horror peppered the air. They could hear blood curdling screams from their dying comrades. It appeared the rest of the Stardusk was thinning their numbers rapidly. Darcey swore under her breath. Keeping these two alive seemed to be their only option. She wasn't keen to risk inciting a murderous rage not with the Tashigi around. That first mate was truly one woman to be feared.

"Go!" she repeated. "I'll guard our prisoners."

Alix clambered up the nearest mast and leapt onto the cabin roof. She disappeared from view. A blast of cold told them that she had joined the fray.

The fighting was closer than Darcey had anticipated. The older woman chewed on her lower lip in frustration. She vented by kicking Luro again. Soon she was alternating her kicks between the two men; she was so engrossed that she didn't notice the card in Cedric's hand.

She was about to slit the skin under Luro's chin when a large shadow fell over her. Hot, rancid breath washed over her. Her heart clenched in fear. Sweat slicked her palms, as she willed herself to turn around.

"Bordel d'merde!" she screamed. (trans. "oh fuck!")

Her knife clattered on the floor. She was too stunned to move. A large lion was staring at her. She took a step back. Th-this had to be the man's familiar. It was … it was so big! Her mind was screaming at her to run but she couldn't. She took another shakey step back and fell over her prisoners. She lay there hyperventilating as the big cat pressed his face closer.

Cedric jerked his head to the side. He indicated to Luro that they should try bucking their assailant off them. He rocked about to make his message crystal clear. The summoner hoped the redhead wasn't too overwhelmed by the illusion. That lion was really just a very smug Chester in disguise.

"Makachi! MAAA-KA-CHI! Move!" he breathed.

Luro tilted his head at Cedric's warning but didn't realize what he meant until it was too late, by time he had enough time to blink his gun was gone and he was surrounded in ice ropes. His brows arched at the sight and he almost brought a hand to his chin out of habit.
"Ice ropes...I should try this."

He looked up at the two that had managed to capture them, his brows arching noticing the two women. "Attack and captured by two lasses...this brings back fond memories."

Luro offered a firm nod before trying to elbow Cedric grinning at the man. "I think she's talking about my face."

There was the smallest smile on his face as he was repeatedly kicked by the other woman, a small hum escaping from him as he patiently waited for something. He'd laugh a little every now and then, grinning every few kicks or so. From an outside perspective he may have been enjoying it a bit too much.

The woman seemed to be pulled away by something, Luro noticing a large lion manifesting onto the deck. For a moment he wondered who would get in trouble for having animals on the ship but the thought passed quickly.

Cedric's words reach him while he was already moving, his hand gripping around the dagger as he moved slamming his whole body into the woman, not paying much mind that Cedric was stuck with him. A burst of heat exploded from the man and he raised his arms the ice surrounding them shattering as he shook off his arm.

"It's been a while since a Lass put me in ropes...if you wanted my attention you could have just asked for drinks…"

Luro spun the dagger in his hand with a small grin. "So...by Stardusk rules you've attacked and imprisoned me. Which meanssss."

The man's grin formed into a toothy smile his eyes widening as a bright light flashed in his eyes and he raised his arms like a child in glee. "I'm allowed to kill you now. The Captain won't get mad at me for this one."

Luro spread his legs and looked back at Cedric.
"You don't mind me helping right. I was just going to knock them out for coming after my friends...but now I don't have to hold back. It's a good day Cedric!"

"Speak for yourself!"

Ice swords flew at them from above. The light dancing off the sleek surface caught their eyes and the two pirates jumped out of the way. An even larger section of the floor collapsed. The floorboards and the supporting beams fell on top of a group of mercenaries passing through the hall below. Cedric and Luro caught a fleeting glimpse of them before they disappeared.

Sid saw Alix drawing out another card from her pouch and he did the same. He was a split second faster than she was. Fire erupted from his hand. Her shrill screams sliced through cacophony on deck, as she was engulfed in a burst of heat and blinding white light.

Silence filled the area closest to them, as many were blinded by the blast. Sid's vision recovered the fastest since turned away soon after fasting. He turned back in time to see Alix's smouldering corpse tumbled head first from the roof. Blackened flesh flaked away from bone and disintegrated into fine soot. Luro's rifle laid amongst the charred bone and ash. The weapon was surprisingly unscathed despite the tremendous heat.

Sid rubbed his nose with the back of his arm. Bruises dotted the pale skin where Darcey kicked him earlier. There were also patches of red where Luro's heat washed over him. Keeping his back turned towards the other man, Sid began smoothing his sleeveless top. "You talk too much, you know?"

Darcey whimpered, backing herself into a corner. Her back was pressed against the side of the ship. She reeked of fear. Cedric eyed her coolly then turned away. He made a display of retrieving his tanto and re-sheathing it. He didn't give a damn about the woman. Luro could turned her into a bloody mess and he wouldn't even bat an eye. All he cared about was Jack. He wasn't going to let his big brother get captured so easily.

"I'm going to find Jack," he announced as he broke the illusion cloaking his cat. He picked up the disappointed Chester and cradled the feline in his arms. With that, he headed back towards the stairs. Luro was no longer on his mind.

"Haha Z says the same thing," Luro said picking up his rifle.

Heat surrounded the weapon for a moment before it cooled relatively quickly in his grip, he smiled a little and turned to look at the woman who wasn't a pile of ash.

He seemed to pay little mind to the woman's demise but he did clap when she burst into flames quickly scribbling something down in his notebook.

He didn't turn to face the man as he walked away to find Jack, only staring at the woman to ensure she wouldn't move as he loaded a shot.

"Tell him I said hi."

Once Cedric was gone Luro raised his rifle and fired once at the woman, a burst of ice exploded from the rifle attaching her to the ship, wrapping her body in a cold prison leaving only her head untouched. The ice dug into the sides of the ship binding her and he offered a grin at her as he lowered the rifle, the blue mist fading from the tip of the rifle quickly.

"You just stay there for a sec while I decide which method to kill you with."
Luro looked at his rifle and flipped through something on the side of it for a moment.
"No...no that's silly...no not that one...almost done just hold on. Don't die to the cold yet. Sorry I don't get a lot of chances to just kill without orders like this."

x-x-x-x-x-x-x​

Below Deck: Zilia and Chaos

Zilia ran below deck flipping over a few barrels as a few of the strange men chased her, her eyes narrowed and she quickly slid under a beam. The moment the men jumped over the beam she quickly spun her body around and swung her arm out, a rope dart flew out of her sleeve wrapping around one of the men's legs, with a quick pull she forced him to lose his balance slamming his head onto the beam.

The other had closed the distance however ignoring his unconscious companion, seeing his blade above his head Zilia quickly rolled backward and pushing off her hands slammed both her feet into his stomach sending him flying backward, his body bouncing over the beam onto the other side. The man groaned before his gaze raised to see a foot coming down on him.

"Rrrrrrr," Chaos threatened. Her black fur standing along her back as she arched it. Her claws flashed in the dim light, as she prepared to pounce.

Two more men appeared from around the corner. One of them wielded two pistols and the other a scimitar. They leered at the Zilia. "Hey sweetheart, give up and come with us. We'll keep you safe," the gunner taunted.

His partner chortled. He lowered his scimitar, thinking the tiny woman wasn't much of a threat. There were three of them now that the fallen man was back on his feet. He reached out and grabbed her by her bony shoulder.

"Meow!"

A black burr appeared out of nowhere. Sharp claws marked up the dark, leathery skin leaving bleeding tracks running from temple to chin. The swordsman yelled in pain. His frenzied fingers passing through the translucent kitten's body. Chaos dropped to the ground and dashed pass his ankles. His companions stared.

"Where'd the familiar come from?" the gunner asked in Trovalian. His finger pointed at the Cornish Rex before it vanished again. They weren't told that there'd be an enemy summoner aboard the ship.

"Let's just grab her and go 'fore its master comes," the concussed man grunted. He stepped forward and tried grabbing the doctor. "Where'd she go?" he asked suddenly. The woman seemed to have vanished.

"Eh?"

The men scanned the area. Confusion lined their faces. Neither remembered hearing any footsteps. The woman must be hiding close by.

"Find that bitch," the scratched up man growled, as he staggered up his feet. "Get her and that bloody cat."

As the trio split up, Chaos purred softly into Zilia's ear. The two girls were hidden behind a thin paneling. Luro always believed that such a hide-y hole would come in handy one day. He was right (ironically).

Zilia's eyes narrowed at the two men when they appeared, she had considered an exit but when a hand rested on her shoulder she realized that option was gone. Her eyes moved to the three men around her, her hand flexed slightly as the dart slid into her hand. Her mouth twitched at the man's comment her eyes moving to what spots to hit should the need arise.
Chaos however solved her dilemma in more ways than one, her eyes widening as the feline moved.

Zilia blinked a few times her eyes moving around the strange room she was in, the dart moved back into her sleeve as her mind recalled Luro mentioning he had…'extra doors' on the ship. Reaching up, she pet Chaos as a silent thanks deciding to never mention this...she didn't want to thank Luro later.

Chaos' pink tongue flickered against Zilia's pale cheek. The kitten nuzzled the woman again. Her pointed ears flickered sporadically. She detected sounds of the enemy crew tearing through the halls outside. All of them screaming about "finding that bloody Jackal" in various Trovalian dialects.

"Mew?" she asked. Her ears flattened with concern. Master wanted them to find his Jack but it wasn't going to be easy. There were so many hostile people out there.

Hurried footsteps went passed them. Chaos' nose twitched, as she caught a whiff of a familiar scent. It was a dark musky smell with warm citrus overtones — Jack! She perked up immediately and leapt off Zilia's shoulders. She teleported to the exit and nudged the wooden surface gently with her paw. "Mao! Maoooooo!"

Zilia remained still taking long slow breaths, holding it everytime footsteps drew near. However when Chaos moved off her shoulder she looked towards the door and for once a somewhat pleasant filled the air, almost recognizing the feline's signal she quickly stood up and opened the door to pursue the chef.

 

[Capt. Blu]

Collab bet'w Captain and Silent​

Location: Open waters, under siege

Jack found what he needed. It pressed against his palm, making it sweaty. He was overly conscious of its weight. The hand was kept far from his body as if to detach himself from the thing he held. He wandered the decks below, keeping one eye on the battle overhead through awkward, newly formed holes, while dispatching masked soldiers who dared venture from the main battle.

Every so often he stopped. Looking up while masked in shadows.

Behind him there was a soft and familiar mewl. He paused for half a second, then stepped quickly into the next room. If Zilia and Chaos followed, they came into the room just in time to see Jack swing out of a busted whole onto the ship's side, climbing back onto the deck from the outside. In his hand a pistol's barrel caught the sunlight.

******​

Runali's first strike sang in open air. One second her chakram targeted the weak joint of Scorpiox's armor near the armpit. The next, it passed harmless by his elbow. Scorpiox was a giant of a man; not close to Luro's height, but Runali's head barely reached his upper chest and one arm was double the size of hers. Still, he moved with the grace of a dancer. He dodged a second hit, then a third. None got close to hitting. The harder she tried the easier it seemed for the large, deft man to avoid her hits.

Scorpiox stepped behind her blind side. His scimitar curved in the air, creating a silver arc that targeted her collarbone to hip. He followed it with a kick to the back of her knee.

She couldn't find a pattern to his movement. He was always just one step ahead, ready to dodge. But that wasn't stopping her from trying to strike.

Just as she got close, he suddenly disappeared from her line of sight. "Really hate when people do that." It was more of a guess than anything, but she used her chakram to block his strike. "Consider the eyepatch a fashion thing and not a disadvantage." The weight of the strike forced her to steel her footing so she wouldn't go stumbling backwards, so when she was suddenly kicked, her leg buckled and she fell to a knee. "Y'know you're not that bad. For a messenger at least." Before he could get any closer, she tossed the chakram at Scorpiox, expecting him to dodge it. What she wasn't sure about was if she angled the chakram well enough for it to boomerang itself back to her. Runali learned how to do it, but never took the time to practice it as often as she could have. So, when she caught a glimpse of the weapon's path curving back, she focused her attention on Scorpiox again. "Not so much a good messenger though. 'Submit or attack'. Give us the option but immediately attack us. That's not how negotiating works. I'd know, many have attempted to kill me over trivial things." She stood to her feet. "Of course, it was warranted, unlike your Obla nonsense."

"Noted. And thank you," Scorpiox replied right before she threw her weapon. He leaned out of its way, pale eyes looking at her a little too far to the right. He glowered. "Oublia was not nonsense. 532 souls were put to death thanks to the Jackal's actions."

Raising his shield arm, Runali's boomeranged chakram embedded into its wood. He yanked it out and tossed it over Lady Luck's side.

"And your crew fired the first shot that ended them."

Without warning, Scorpiox lunged at the captain. He was faster than their initial bout credited. He covered their distance in two bounds. The shield came up. He let out a yell and barreled straight into Runali.

"Credit where credit is due." She couldn't help but stare at Scorpiox for a bit, watching his gaze. It didn't click until he blocked the chakram upon its return. "Huh… I've never fought anyone blind bef- " She considered Nikos and his bad eyesight for a moment, deciding to just leave it there. However, realization turned into mild surprise. "Oi!" She started when he tossed the blade overboard. "That was a gift. And people think I don't have manners." In her grumbling, she almost missed Scorpiox's claims but when she realized what he said she was even more confused.

Runali didn't have time to state her case as she felt the sudden collision that sent her backwards across the deck. She gave a small salute to Alicia, as she fell near her before huffing and standing back on her feet. "Knocking me around isn't gonna make me remember some place the Stardusks' never been, sorry to tell you." Her fists clenched and armament went up both her arms. "Believe it or not Scor, I've got a pretty strict rule against murder. Unless it's necessary. I don't know what this 'Jackal' did or who they are I told you that. So you've got the wrong crew. By all means, you can ask our navigator if we've ever been there if you must." As she spoke, she began to circle around him at a distance. She walked past the fighting amongst her crew and their sudden attackers, keeping her eyes on Scorpiox like a predator watching their prey. But she was observing, wondering just how he moved so fast. It could have been sound. She did something similar back on Finnigan, but nothing as precise as that. Runali frowned a bit, ducking under one of the goons attacks, knocking him towards Scorpiox.

Scorpiox's advanced fractured for only a second when the soldier was flung into him. He caught the man then pushed aside him, causing him to pinball into Sara. Not slowing down, Scorpiox went full offense and launched at Runali. He kept his shield raised with his weapon striking in and out from under the protection faster than her eye can see. He pushed her back, exploiting the holes in her defense and avoiding the armament haki hits. Strength was his advantage and he used it in every swing to beat the captain back.

The one disadvantage about this fight- besides the fact that Scorpiox was much faster than Runali would have liked- was that they were on Lady. Being on the ship meant she had to be careful and pull punches. At least, pull them enough so she didn't accidentally damage the ship more in the process. Scorpiox on the other hand had no such worries. In the process of attempting to dodge fatal strikes and land sturdy blows, there were some attacks she purposely took head on in order to protect the ship as well. Each strike against her armament made her silently thank all the training she had been doing with Luro and Jack.

Even in her struggle, her one eye scanned across as much of the deck as she could see. There was a quick mental checklist as she spotted each of the crew up until she got to Jack. They'd been out at sea for awhile and she was sure she saw him at breakfast- he definitely gave her breakfast. Could have jumped shipped? But Alicia would have noticed immediately. And there was no reason for him to do that.

So caught up in her train of thought, Runali was a little surprised that she caught Scorpiox's scimitar strike. It was a reflex, or at least she thought it was, but it was one that for once the man didn't block. The blade was in between her hands and she further tightened her grip to see if it would crack under the pressure.

Scorpiox bared his teeth and dug in his heels. He realized almost immediately this was the wrong move. The tug of her armament grip pulled on the sword's edge, and the first crack vibrated up his hand. He gave a second, experimental jerk but it didn't budge. There was no way to free his sword from her grip. So, taking a deep breath, he snapped the sword clean in half. He knocked aside her hands that held the broken tip and slashed at her abdomen.

It snapped. Runali smirked a bit. The same moment he pulled the other end of the sword away, she reached out for the new makeshift blade. Except, her hands were suddenly knocked out of the way. She still managed to catch the blade, but the sudden slash from the jagged sword across her made her freeze. Her grip tightened around the blade she held, but her armament faded and blood trickled down her palm. It took her a split second, but she grit her teeth and steeled herself, reminding herself that she'd been through a hell of a lot worse. Runali took a step back, feeling the side of the ship behind her. Her free hand gripped the railing as she stared up at Scorpiox, a flash of anger crossed her face but she said nothing and instead lunged forward. Runali started to reach and stab him in the shoulder, but at the last second she dropped the blade into her opposite hand and went for his side.

His shield rose halfway up before he realized her intent. Teeth gritted as he twisted out of her way and he reversed his shield's momentum to bring it down on her wrist in hopes of connecting and forcing her to drop the broken piece of his blade, or subvert its direction. He raised the shield a second time, intending to bash in her head before she could attack again.

There was a click. Cool metal of a gun's barrel pressed against the back of Runali's head. Scorpiox's shield froze in its descent. The big man blinked rapidly, taken by surprise. It was clearly something that didn't happen often. "Jackal? What are you—"

"Stopping this," Jack's voice came from behind the captain, but she couldn't see him, only detect an alien tone he never used before. It sounded cold and distant. "Captain, order the crew to stand down."

She spotted the change in direction of his shield and sent armament across her hands to protect from the damage- unfortunately, she lost the blade in the process. Her hand started to go up in some attempt to protect herself, but she froze when she heard the familiar sound of a gun click right at her head. A cold chill went down her spine. There weren't many good memories of hearing that sound so close to her. Her eyes stayed on Scorpiox but her brow furrowed when she heard Jack's voice. "Hm." Was the only response she gave at first.

Slowly, she reached across her stomach, pressing against the still bleeding gash. "A dangerous game you're playing…" Runali mumbled more to herself. The crew were still in the height of their own battles, outnumbered but standing strong. 'Good', she thought before slowly moving her hand. "There's a reason I've got the title Captain. You should know." She made no effort to move or call her crew. The armament on her hands stayed as well.

"Yes. But you're bleeding and your armament is slipping. Do you really want to fight both of us?" Jack's tone quieted, not threatening, but stating fact as he saw it. He could have been talking to a stranger for all the warmth he showed her.

Scorpiox frowned. He adjusted his stance and regripped his blade as thoughts turned behind his misty gaze. He wasn't certain how this situation would play out, but he was prepared to react when it did.

His response was met with a huff from the captain. "You both? Is that what this is?" Runali slowly pushed herself to a standing position, leaving a bloody hand print on the deck. She had half a mind to turn and face Jack, but she didn't trust turning her back on Scorpiox, no matter how confused he was… Grant it, the one behind her did have a gun to her head. Runali frowned a bit. "Tell me something," her fist clenched and she tested her haki again, letting it trail up one arm instead of both. "What name are you going by?"

"Jackal was given to me. I never chose it," Jack retorted. The gun moved away from her head and pressed against the shoulder that connected to her armament arm. "If you move, I'll blow your arm and the Siren here will finish what he started."

Scorpiox's face darkened, briefly, but he took a step closer. His sheered sword rose as a promise to Jack's assessment.

There was a pause. Then a sigh. The gun left Runali's flesh and Jack walked around so she could see him. The gun was a pistol held in one black-gloved hand. The gun was one of Luro's, the same one Jack borrowed when he fought Ria of the Red Ravens. It stayed aligned with Runali's shoulder in a steady hand. Whatever his discomfort of guns, it didn't exist now in that assured grip. When she looked into his eyes, a different man had taken the place of her cook. His gaze was flat, dull and disconnected. There was no caring in those gold depths but it wasn't apathy either. Contempt etched deep lines around a hard-set mouth as tension coiled every muscle of his body. He appeared on the verge of physical pain but he moved without rigidity, without total discomfort. He hated what he was doing— but he'd made up his mind. And this was a man used to doing things he didn't like.

"Runali." He called her attention. "This wasn't how this was supposed to go down. Trust me, I wanted to believe in you. But... you can't win every battle. Look around— how much longer do you think Stardusk will last?"

As if on cue, Zilia and Chaos reemerged from the hold. A man from behind grabbed her by the wrist and twisted it hard, forcing her down as four more surrounded with weapons raised, one holding a card between fingers. Behind the doctor, Sid was visible, circled by three summoners and their familiars. They'd figured out who the rogue summoner was and dispatched to subdue him. Men doubled their fighting strength against Luro and Sara. And still, a fresh group of 10 men crossed the walk boards and beelined for Runali's navigator and first mate.

"I don't want Stardusk to die," Jack continued, "Not because of me. Please, surrender, and maybe you'll live to fight another day." A flicker of pleading entered the spy's eyes even as he held the gun further out, prepared to shoot if she declined.

Runali's tongue clicked at the name. It was a bad answer- the wrong answer actually. She started to move her feet, but stopped when Scorpiox did. Runali was silent for a moment, watching Jack's movement. From movement to expression, it was clear something was off- more than just the sudden mutiny Jack decided to pull. He called her and Runali raised her head high, arching a brow. "Captain." She corrected. Informalities where for crew members not pointing guns at her.

"Trust you?" She echoed him despite his spiel. She only said those two words, not breaking eye contact with him the entire time. This could have gone a few different ways, but she waited and watched Jack. Her gaze was challenging for the most part, but it was blinked away when she heard

'I don't want Stardusk to die.'

The challenging look became a furrowed brow. There had been way too many close calls and way too many times they could have avoided the worst. A decision had to be made. Fight the good fight now or risk it and wait until there was a better opportunity to strike. Jack could see both her fists tighten for a few moments, until she sighed and released the armament from her arm. The captain let out a short but loud whistle, getting the attention of everyone on her ship. "Stardusk… Stand down. Captain's orders." Her gaze went past Jack and she stared right at Scorpiox. "Luck's on your side today, Scor. Don't get too used to it."

"We'll see what they have to say. Entertain them for now." She told her crew even though she never looked at them. She was calm, calmer than before at least, and she held a neutral gaze. For a moment she stared at Scorpioux.. And even though she spoke to Jack, she never looked at him. "I hope you're living up to what she thought you." Despite not clarifying, Jack would know she was talking about his mentor- the only other captain he cared about. Runali didn't say her name, it would have been a disgrace to.

His eye twitched but he didn't reply. If Jack felt relief when Stardusk stood down, it didn't show. He took a step back and kept the gun leveled as, one by one, Stardusk was stripped of their weapons and bound by thick leather cords. Jack kept a careful position, ensuring he could see them all in case one of them decided to act out.

Scorpiox stood on Runali's other side while overseeing the crew's capture. He nodded without looking at her. "Perhaps," was all he replied.

Suddenly, their captors stopped what they were doing, pivoted, and bowed to the black ship. The uniformed activity drew all eyes to it and revealed another party boarding Lady Luck. A lanky woman looped forward, flanked by two others that were as contradictory as the sun and rain.

On her left was a man of feminine features and egomaniac smile. His hair shined of softness and oils, small diamond earrings sparkled up one ear lobe even as a gold ring flashed on a finger. His attire was well-tended leather armor covering yellow, tailored robes that made him look a fashion statement over a capable warrior.

On the opposite side, a masked woman who was easily the shortest person there. She was skinny and small and seemed dwarfed by the two-handed sword strapped to her back. It was an odd weapon with a wide, open circle replacing the crossbar and the hilt covered by lacquered parchment decorated with unrecognizable lettering that overlapped each other. She wore metal armor and helm that hid her face, and simple brown clothes underneath. She was remarkably drab compared to her shining comrade.

Both were inconsequential to the woman they served. Her command was more than the instantaneous response of her men— who immediately started to scuttle the ship without her say so— but in the way she carried herself. A ramrod posture spoke of military training but the upwards tilt of her chin revealed a lifetime of being catered to. Her eyes were sharp and intelligent, taking everything with a sweep and missing nothing. They were a grayish taupe only a shade lighter to her thinning, swept back hair. Her mouth was a thin hard line that hadn't smiled in eons beneath a petite nose. Physically, she looked plain, and could have passed for homely if it wasn't for her six-foot stature and corded muscle physique. For a woman who looked over 60 years old, she was fit, and looked like she could hold her on in a fight.

There was a long stretch of silence as she observed the seizure of Stardusk's ship. Her two flanking men spread out, the yellow-clothed one casually leaning against the railing and smirking grossly at Stardusk. He lingered the longest on Alicia, giving her a little wave of two fingers and a leer. The masked one took position at the other end.

Runali had watched her own crew while their weapons were taken, giving them warning looks not to fight back. Not now.' Her look said. 'When the time comes.' She'd think to herself.
Now that they weren't fighting, she could feel more of the stinging from all of her injuries. The gash was the most pressing one and she figured any longer, she would be at a point of losing too much blood.
'Let's see, Zil's quicker to act. Clockwork. Stop the bleeding until it's safe to stitch. Right.' So, Runali loosened the sash around her hips and lifted it to use as a makeshift bandage for the time being. She felt an arm grab her and the look she gave made the uniformed man hesitate. "Wait." Her voice was low and sharp enough to stop the man in his tracks. There was a fearful look in his eye and he side eyed Scorpiox to see if the man would reprimand him for listening.

After the captain adjusted the sash, she cut a glance at the man holding ropes but slowly raised her hands out to him. While the rest of the crew was made to sit in place as they were bound, Runali remained standing- or leaning against the railing of the ship while she was bound. She refused to sit.

And she was glad she did. Upon seeing the three new figures, her brow raised a bit. "Eccentric." Was the only word that came from her mouth as they filed onto Lady Luck. The air of seniority was thick when the taller woman approached. She obviously ran the place and the way the men around began to scramble to order would have made the Cutthroat Captain impressed. Runali, despite it all, couldn't help but smirk. "How kind of you to grace us with your presence."

The commander side-glanced Runali first before moving towards her. Nothing in her face or body changed, but if the captain didn't know better, she was amused by the comment. Perhaps it was the flicker of recognition behind steely eyes.

Jack stepped forward and around Runali. The woman's eyes snapped to him. His posture stiffened but he kept a neutral face with his back to Stardusk. He didn't dare look them in the eye-- or maybe it was just his brother he avoided. "Charlotte du Vontiago," he said flatly, "Royal Spymaster to the Trovalian crown." He stopped, his throat suddenly gone dry. The woman- Charlotte- waited. He swallowed and continued in a softer tone, "I'm here to rejoin your services."

 

[Eastwood]

​

When the battle started, Sara was on the top most deck, alert and helping Luro load and reload the cannons. She was on top of the command deck, reloading and firing the cannonette, when they swung out and boarded. Sara was cut-off and isolated from the rest of her crew and surrounded on all sides by well-trained sailors who knew what they were doing. She could do what she did last time, but she made a promise not to go into a bloodthirsty rage while attempting to use the Power of Destruction in combat. This promise did not last long. Sara dove into the incoming melee, after emptying her pistols, with sword and shield in hand. She slashed and stabbed and, with such a thick blade,, soon caused a bloodbath. It was hard to resist, so very hard, as the smell rose up to her but still she did not activate her inner Power for fear of truly losing control. She was throttling a sailor, having lost her sword in a lost red mist-tinged memory, and on the very cusp of activating it out of sheer desperation, when a blow hit her on the back of her head. Her fingers slacked around the sailor's throat. Then came another blow. And another. And then red faded into black. In her last moments of consciousness, her last thought was that she hoped that someone would come help her. But, she did not hear that a surrender had been called thirty seconds ago over the blood pumping in her ears.

When she came to, she did so with a gasp and coughing up a little bit of blood. Her head pounded, and her last memories were obscured by a familiar red fog. She froze, and then realized that she was tied up. It took her a moment to realize that the rest of the crew had been tied up. Except for Jack, but her mind didn't register that. Swimmingly, Alicia's face to her vision, and Sara shut her eyes and looked away, ashamed. "Hey Alicia..." She mumbled quietly, quiet enough so that only Alicia could hear. "I think I broke my promise to you again... I'm sorry." She didn't seem quite aware of where she was yet as she blinked and faded in and out of consciousness.

 

[Winter]

~"I feel the dark ignite within my mortal coil, so look upon me now and confront oblivion"~​

'Clack, Clack, Clack'

The sound of her heeled boots striking the wooden deck of Lady Luck echoed as the swordswoman ran forward before jumping up, nimbly twisting in mid air as her black blade arched and cut clean through an incoming cannonball, causing the two halves to deflect harmlessly into the water around the ship. The air around her distorted and combusted to create small explosive detonations as she broke beyond the mortal limits of physical movement in order to intercept each inbound cannonball that looked to be on a direct path towards them. She'd have liked to ground herself long enough to create a ranged projectile to cleave the enemy ship in half, but with the cannonballs raining down upon them there wasn't a window of opportunity where she could pull it off without risking taking damage to their own ship.

It all transitioned within a single moment before she noticed the enemy were already boarding their ship, furrowing her brow as she pulled Shusui to her side and began making her way down the steps from the helm towards the main deck where she'd intended to intercept the enemy heading towards the other members of the crew. She'd taken only four steps before a bright flash erupted into her sight from the left, her black blade arching up as a bullet sparked against the metal before the swordswoman flicked her wrist, the bullet returning to it's sender to thump wetly into his forehead causing his body to crumple onto the deck, his rifle clattering to the floor next to him. "Be careful! this one is dangerous." before she could react she found herself surrounded by a group of the enemy.

"Unless you intend to die here, I suggest you return to your ship." Alicia spoke softly as she brought Shusui to her side once more, the tip hanging inches from the floor of the deck. The surrounding group were keeping their distance, which was interesting as it meant they must have at least some degree of knowledge about her. Nevertheless it seemed they were unwilling to heed her warning as the click of rifles and drawn weapons indicated their unwillingness to listen. "There ain't no way you can take all of us girl, just surrender and you wont get hurt." one of the rifle wielders standing behind another sword wielder spoke as he took aim at her. Alicia closed her eyes for a moment before she exhaled gently, "Death it is then." her eyes opened again, her left igniting in a blue fiery blaze.

"Fucking shoot her!" one of them shouted before a symphony of gunfire erupted as the area lit up with a multitude of flashes. Alicia's body distorted and multiplied into several after images as her sword moved in flashes of arching light, deflecting the onslaught of bullets causing a few of the riflemen to fall dead against the deck with each passing minute they unleashed their gunfire upon her. One of them seemed to notice and called out to the others, "Stop! stop firing she's killing us!" he yelled, the gunfire ceasing leaving an unpleasant smell of gunpowder to fill the area around them as Alicia bought her blade back to her side. "My turn..." Alicia spoke before in a blink she appeared in front of a sword wielder who swung his blade towards her in a panic. In a flash of light she reappeared behind him before his head detached from his body.

The moment the head hit the ground Alicia had already moved on to her next target, fading in and out of the group as she moved, flashes of light tearing through the air which rippled and distorted from the friction and heat brought forth by her accelerated movement. Screams echoed as blood licked against the deck of the ship, sparks flying as swords collided between the eruption of gunfire. More of them arrived to support their fallen comrades and the silver haired swordswoman soon discovered that despite the wrath she'd brought upon them more and more were turning up to increase the pressure in hopes of either wearing her down or overwhelming her entirely. She gritted her teeth as her left eye turned from blue to red, increasing her pace and power as she began launching them into the air and into the ocean.

Bodies flew across the deck and fell from the sky as Alicia's carnage continued, bullets impacting with Alicia's afterimage before the riflemen would scream as she placed a full stop to their lives story. Despite this she was not without her close calls as her clothing had various tears from bullets and blades that'd came close to harming her. "That's enough! time to end this!" she spoke firmly before suddenly she accelerated through the group, her blade arching in flashes between them without any of them seeming to take any hits, a moment later the swordswoman returning to stand before them. "What... finally giving up?" one of them spoke, panting through laboured breaths as sweat dripped from his forehead. Alicia held out her hand, placing two fingers together before snapping them.

Suddenly the air around them shifted to reveal delayed air blades cut by Alicia surrounding them from all angles, moving slowly towards them before Alicia snapped her fingers again, causing the air blades to impact against them simultaneously causing them all to almost explode in crimson as they screamed before crumpling to the deck. Alicia nimbly flicked her black blade of any blood lingering upon the dark metal before sheathing it back into it's saya with a small audible 'click'. She were about to turn and continue on to assist the others before she stopped as Runali called for them all to stand down, furring her brow as she hesitated for a moment before exhaling in frustration. She closed her eyes, causing the aura to dissipate as she released her power.

When they were disarmed of their weapons she visibly darkened, "I suggest you look after that sword as if your life depends on it... " she warned as her wrists were bound before being taken away to be seated with the others. She noticed the leer from the overly dressed man and raised an eyebrow before turning her attention towards Jack, her brows furrowing once again. "If anything happens to this crew Jack... I will hold you responsible for it." she spoke loud enough for him to hear her, speaking after she overheard him offering himself back into service to the women who appeared to be behind this whole thing. She didn't say more or elaborate further as she sat herself back a little, she heard Sara speak but she didn't respond, there was more pressing matters to consider right now.

 

[Fox of Hearts]

The world swam around him. Pain dulled and the booming turned into a muffled buzz. Sid didn't stop to think about it. He pressed on. First, Zilia and Chaos. Then, Jack.

His single-minded determination wavered halfway down the stairs. Zilia and Chaos barreled passed, forcing him against the wall. Cedric yelled after them. His message never reached them, because words were forced out of him in a strangled gasp. A large arm had slammed into his chest, knocking him against the wall.

He crumpled to the floor. His hand pressed against his chest, as he took shallow breaths. Then, a moment of clarity. The spark turned into a blaze and Sid's senses returned. He clawed his way back onto his feet. He lurched up the stairs, stumbling occasionally.

"Tu es en vie, minou." (trans. (not literally) Still alive, little one?)

Sid froze. He recognised her voice. He pushed himself away from the wall not wanting to show any weakness. He heaved a dramatic sigh. "Je suis un chat, no? Nous avons neuf vies." (trans. (not literally) I'm like a cat, no? They have nine lives.)

A dainty frown crossed the doll-like face before him. Standing at 5'1, Victoire Noailles looked like a small child. Sid wasn't deceived; he knew her too well. She was the most dangerous of the three summoners surrounding him.

Her plump pink lips parted. She gave him a smug smile. "Abandonner, traître. Votre équipage a perdu." (trans. Surrender, traitor. Your crew lost.)

A quick glance confirmed what she told him. He scowled. There was no way he'd surrender! Jack was in danger. He faked a loud sighed and lifted up his hands. Victoire didn't laugh. She threw out an arm, catching the summoner on her left in the stomach. The man stumbled back, but she never spared him a glance. Her blue eyes were trained on the card in Sid's hand. Cedric smirked.

Victoire reached for her pouch. Her fingertips brushed against the edges of her deck. One of the cards was easing into her fingers when it happened. He threw the card at her other companion. The woman shielded her face with her arms. It was a mistake!

Cedric never casted. He pounced on the startled woman with his tanto drawn. Blood spurted. A thickening crimson line ran across her throat. Victoire starred as they were down to two. No amount of healing would save the struggling wretch. Snarling in disgust, she dodged Sid's blade. Her blonde curls whipped around wildly with each step. With practiced ease, she reached into a different pocket and pulled out a pistol. Sid put some distance between them before realising Vicotoire wasn't aiming at him.

Bam! A gaping hole disfigured the dying woman's face. Blood streamed from her forehead down her temples. Two faint rivulets trickled down the sides of her nose. She was even paler in death.

He almost dropped the medallion he snatched from the dead woman's throat moments ago. Cedric saw Victoire's other companion stepping away from her. That man looked visibly unnerved after seeing the army medic kill in cold blood. Sid targeted him.

A basset hound bared its teeth. Sid flashed the medallion at the dead woman's familiar and it stared in confusion. Slowly, it backed away. The man's familiar cawed loudly. Shocked by the other familiar's sudden retreat, the raven forgot about Sid.

The man recovered from his shock faster than Sid anticipated. He stopped the killing blow with his bare hands. Pain flared across the white palms. He gasped and stepped back. Cedric refused to retreat. The younger summoner leaped into the air and threw his arm forward. The tip of the blade hovered close to the man's chest. He thrusted.

A flash of silvery fur caught his eye. He was knocked off his feet and he found himself locking eyes with a third familiar. Victoire's wolf pressed a heavy paw against his throat.

Cedric thrashed around, but he managed to free himself easily. He barely had time to register his surprise when he smelled the sweet perfume in the air. He whirled around. Victoire was holding a burning candle in her hand. His shouted.

No one could hear him over the howling winds. He tried to keep his feet on the ground, but they were too strong. He was swept high into the sky. The winds grew denser, forming an invisible sphere around him. Sid swore loudly. She was doing this on purpose! She knew he hated being suspended in the air like this. He hated being so helpless.

His overconfidence gave that woman time to set up her spell. Now he was trapped inside until he could snuff out that candle. He couldn't believe he didn't factor that in. He saw the lantern suspended from her belt earlier. He closed his eyes. He needed to calm down. Think!

He snapped his eyes open. He guessed he could show his old flame a trick or two. Jack wasn't going to like it, but Sid was out of options. As his thoughts turned to his brother, his eyes returned to the battlefield. It didn't take him long to spot his older brother. Sid arched an eyebrow. What's with that blank expression? He'd seen the look before …

His stomach clenched. He dreaded finding what happened earlier. Sid picked out Runali next. The woman was close by. Scorpiox too. He didn't seem to care that she was bleeding. His lips tightened into a thin line. Hang in there, Captain. His eyes flicked to the last person and his heart plummeted. Charlotte! She was definitely bad news.

Her presence renewed his determination. Sid pocketed the medallion he stole and pulled out a different type of card. It had a purple rune drawn on it instead of a yellow one. The racing winds tried snatching it from his hands, but he held firm. He focused on the shadows pooled beneath Victoire's feet.

Sparks gathered around his card. Oxygen combined with flame resulting in a muffled explosion. Victoire's gaze went skyward. She stared at the smoke fogging up the inside of her prison. She was tempted to cast another spell, but she was stretched too thin. Healing her companion while maintaining the prison sapped her energy rapidly. She turned away. Cedric wasn't important. If he died, it was his fault not hers.

The healer missed the writhing shadows beneath her feet. Her companion was sharper. "Fais attention!" he shouted, shoving her away. (trans. Watch out!)

Her shadow stretched beneath her falling body. Shadowy birds shot up in one massive flock under her. She rose into the air but the shadows couldn't hold her weight for long. She slammed onto the ground with a loud thud. Her lantern shattered and the candle died. A cloud of incense smoke covered the area before dispersing. Sid was free!

As he sped towards the deck, his eyes fell on Jack's face. The man was finally looking up. Sid smiles and waved. His brother didn't respond, so Sid stopped. He didn't have much time left. The summoner pulled out a card with the light rune. He stabbed it with the knife hidden in his boot and tossed the knife in Charlotte's direction.

The blade sailed through the air faster than Sid, but it wasn't fast enough. Charlotte had plenty of time to dodge. He didn't care, because he never planned to hit her in the first place. He just needed to distract the people around her.

His knife buried deep into the wood at her feet and ignited. She had seconds to respond; there wasn't enough time for her to cast a single spell. Beams of light lanced the deck. They criss-crossed forming a eye-watering lattice. The light rays dimmed as they solidified. The base of the heavy structure shattered the flood boards, taking out a large section of the deck.

Cedric didn't waste time pretending to be remorseful. He planned to apologise later. Maybe offer to pay for his share of the damages. He'd let the captain and first mate decide. The ex-spy caught the nearest rung and pulled himself up. He cleared his shimmering maze quickly and landed close to Charlotte. There was a new card in his hand. He kept it face down to stop her from seeing the rune.

"Laisse Jack partir, Madam. Prenez-moi!" (trans. (not literally) Let Jack go, Madam. Take me instead!)

 

[Mizos]

​

Something screamed in Luro's body and taking his eyes away from his captive he swung his gun in a wide arc a burst of blue flowing from it as a flash of sparks entered his vision, his gun knocking away a sword that had been inches from removing his head from his body. He tightened his grip on his gun and quickly turned to block the follow up strike from his assailant, the force of the blow sending him sliding back a bit. The man twirled the sword in his grip and Luro pointed at the trapped woman.
"Would you mind waiting a moment I think I figured out how I want to kill her."
The man's response was his blade filling with armament, eliciting a sigh from Luro as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Armament huh. Well at least you're coming at me seriously. Thanks for that."
Luro raised his rifle a blue mist flowing out of the weapon as the L.A.S.S. roared to life. He couldn't fire the gun he'd end up destroying half the ship…and the others would get caught in the shot which was also important.
Three more men appeared next to the others their blades pointed at him as Armament coated their blades as well causing Luro to throw his arms up.
"You guys are going to take so long to kill! I just want to kill your friend…you're being very unfair right now."

Luro fell down onto the steps leading to the helm and eyes widening quickly spread his legs as a sword slammed down in between them. He looked down at the blade then back up at the owner as he tried to rip it out of the wood. Seeing the other men approaching he quickly scrambled backwards climbing up the stairs.
Reaching the wheel he could hear the men yelling at him as he turned to face them, seeing the smiles on their faces he responded with one of his own and clicked a switch on his rifle.
"Good now I don't got to worry about destroying most of the ship," Luro said. "Just aim out towards the sea."
The man's eyes widened as a flash of red formed at the front of the rifle, they raised their armament around them as fire erupted from the rifle consuming them completely, scorching the deck and side of the ship as as it exploded over the edge of the ship. The men's eyes narrowed as they tried to endure the flames, the heat dancing against their bodies. When a rifle peeked through the fire however their eyes widened before an invisible force slammed into their bodies propelling them over the edge of the ship.
Luro eyed the falling men and raised his rifle, with a click each time he fired once, twice, then a third time.
Three shots pierced the men's skulls as they fell into the ocean, Luro letting out a small sigh as he lowered his gun.
"That was close."
Turning a fist slammed into his skull sending him flying over the side of the railing onto the main deck; he rolled as he hit the ground avoiding the blade that stabbed into the deck a moment later.
"Oh right there was four," he said rubbing his cheek.
Eyeing the man as he ripped his sword out, two more men replaced the ones he had just killed, Luro tapped his rifle against his hand.
"You guys mind waiting while I reload?"
Seeing them rushing towards him he sighed and lowered his body slightly.
"That's rude…I'd wait for you."

​

Luro raised his rifle setting it against his shoulder as more people surrounded him, he noticed he was near Sara for a moment but it was hard to see her. He had one eyed closed as something ran down the side of his face, his entire body was coated in red, blood trickling down from the tip of his head to his once brown boots. The bandages around his arms and fingers had been stained crimson goodness knows how long ago. He wasn't sure how blood was his and how much belonged to the bodies scattered around his feet. He glanced over at his rifle which looked like it was bleeding out itself, he smiled glad to see his partner had a sense of humor, imitation was the greatest form of flattery. At least that's what he would think if the person who had his face wasn't such a jerk.
When the door to the main deck burst open Luro quickly spun towards it only to see Zilia run outside, with a grin he raised a hand to greet her when a searing pain hit his shoulder. A dagger sticking out of him; turning to knock the owner of the dagger away he felt another searing pain hit his side.
"You guys have a lot of daggers!" Luro said ripping out the second one with a laugh turning towards the owner.
"For the love of- stop getting stabbed!"
Zilia moved to try and keep her job from becoming harder than it already was but she felt someone behind her, she went to turn only to find her cheek touching the deck. She mentally cursed herself for losing focus as the men surrounded her. She could see Luro trying to help her but more men were already running after him, he grit his teeth preparing to fight against the incoming onslaught.
"Oh wow I just realized I killed most of your friends without introducing myself. The Name's Luro Makachi Carpenter of Stardusk, it's nice to meet you."
Luro spread his arm and offered a smile to the approaching troops as if he were welcoming an old friend aboard the ship.
"Let's all get along like good civilized people."
Luro raised his rifle at this and resting his hand on the trigger was inches from showing his 'civilized' side when a click resonated, a sound he could pick out even in the chaos around them. His eyes instinctively moved towards the source only to see Jack with a pistol against the Captains head, a gun he recognized all too well.
"Huh…"

Luro stared at the ropes wrapped around him and blinked a few times tugging on them a bit to test how tight they were.
"This is the second time I've been tied up today….though this one isn't as fun."
Luro looked at the person who had taken his gun and made a wave of his hand drawing the person's attention.
"Your death is going to be a painful one. I'd write a will before I get my rifle back."
Zilia was seated next to Luro her eyes focused on Jack, only moving to the Captain at her silent look. Runali's entire demeanor had changed in the last few moments; she always approached such matters with a carefree swagger, when she got like this…it really made their situation clear. She mentally sighed sad she couldn't be like this constantly but now wasn't the time for such thoughts, the man who was the reason they were in this mess was one of their own.
"…I'm not going to like adding this to the Chronicle."
Zilia looked over at Luro who was staring at the masked woman with the large sword; she elbowed him causing him to look at her. She realized her hands were bound so she couldn't write but Luro spoke before she could think of another method to communicate.
"She looks strong. Just thinking what it'd be like fighting her," Luro said with a small nod.
Zilia decided to put aside how Luro could tell her thoughts from a glance and focused more on the exchange going on between the Captain and their new captors. The leader of their attackers was abundantly clear; she may as well be standing alone in a desert on top of a dune wearing a sign that said 'free water'. She easily drew attention from her presence alone. Zilia swallowed something down not liking where this situation was going. Silently observing their current state of affairs was the best course of action for them.
"Captain!"
"…every time."
"Captain!" Luro yelled again. "Is Jack my traitor buddy now?! I mean I'm happy to have someone else in the traitor club but I was kinda hoping for Z!"
Zilia narrowed her eyes at Luro causing him to shrug.
"You gotta watch out for the quiet lasses…apparently I was wrong though."
Luro tried to raise hands and wave his arms.
"Jack! I guess we got something else in common now! Not just our choice in Lasses! I'd pat you on the back but I'm kinda tied up!"
Zilia kicked Luro to make him stop causing him to wave his tied up hands at her trying to stop her.

Meanwhile

"Guys! Guys are you looking at this!" Imposter pointed at the scene playing out in front of him. "Go get Maka he won the bet!"
Lo who sat a few feet away peeling an orange looked over at him, his eyes moving to the current fate of Stardusk.
"Wait...Jack actually betrayed Stardusk," Lo said crossing his arms. "Wow he called it."
"Well to be fair we all guessed someone. I really wanted Alicia, that's a shame. Lai's going to be angry about this one."
"Lai always goes for the upsets that's why he loses. I mean Runali betraying everyone would be fantastic but it's a bad bet."
Imposter stared at the scene watching as Jack stabbed his friends in the back, it was such a wonderful image one that he intended to replay it in Luro's mind over and over again. He would make him hate this man, make him feel uncomfortable in his presence so Jack would notice and watch as the distance between them grow.
"Haha...you remember when Jack said he had the most in common with us...when he was so happy to have a crew willing to fight with him...well look at this now...look who's gone and thrown us to the wolves...hahaha...HAHAHAHAHA!"
Lo looked over at Imposter as he doubled over holding his stomach, his eyes bulging out of his head as he tried to catch his breath. Imposter leaned against Lo to try and keep from falling, tears welling in his eyes at the sheer wonder that had presented itself to them. Lo couldn't blame the man for losing himself in something like this; it was how he worked after all. He loved little more than watching relationships fall apart. Enjoying seeing the tightly held bonds unraveled slowly, but Jack...Jack didn't unravel the thread carefully, he just put the scissors to the thread; how could Imposter not enjoy this?
"...what if he's-"
"I don't care."
Imposter laughter stopped abruptly and Lo flinched at the sideways glance the man gave him, he knew the answer before it left his mouth but it was something else to see how certain he was. At this point even he wasn't sure when Imposter was truly laughing, if these were his true feelings or just what he was showing them today.
"The reason doesn't matter. He had the capacity to turn on his friends, the ability to put a gun to his friends head for the…'greater good'".
Imposter said this making quotations with his fingers offering a smile to his companion.
"Reasons? Who the hell cares about the reason? It doesn't change that for all his camaraderie, for all their 'friendship' he still betrayed his friends. Whether it's for them or himself means nothing. 'I'll have faith in my friends?' 'I'll believe in them?' 'We can get past this together?' He didn't choose any of those and that...that Lo says so much about him. More than a thousand conversations. He's not trying to be 'better'. He knew the trust they had towards him and he stepped on it!"
Imposter threw his arms out as Maka entered the space, Lo's eyes narrowing slightly as the madman slowly lowered his hands and folding them behind his back turned to his compatriots.
"Some say people are complicated; others say they are inherently simple. There are some things that are just tried and true when it comes to people no matter what 'type' they really are. That's why this situation has so many ways of ending…"
Imposter grinned and his mouth moved the words coming up empty in the world though Lo and Maka's eyes widened and they took a small step away from the man as he turned back around to keep his eyes on Jack.
"What about Cedric?"
"It's like watching someone struggle not to drown at this point. Funny but you just want them to sink under after a certain point."
Imposter waved his hand at this not sparing it another thought, focused more on the one who was giving him quite the show.
"Put on a good show for me Jack. I need something to relieve my boredom."

 

[SilentxChaos]

Collab bet'w Captain and Silent​

Location: Open waters, captured

"Sid!" Jack choked out in horror. Up until then, he'd observed his crew's reactions with a bland face. Eyes swept over Alicia without a blink, though he twitched at Luro's comment. Now he made half a step in his brother's direction, struggling to control the sickness that suddenly brewed in his gut.

Charlotte's men poised around the young summoner, ready to move if he threatened the use of his hidden card. The only thing that stopped them was their commander's raised hand. Scorpiox stood nearby her as he'd pulled his commander out of the way of Sid's exploding knife. Now he stood to the side, his dark face perplexed.

"The boy. He really is alive."

Behind them, the fancy man in yellow cackled in a high-pitched voice rich with accent. "Look-y here, the young prodigy returns! Vulpecula, aren't you just thrilled?" The clear mockery suggested he was hitting a hidden nerve, but it seemed lost on the masked companion who had her sword embedded in Lady's deck. A blank space suddenly appeared on its hilt, during the crucial moments between the explosion and Sid landing on the deck. The burned pieces of her used summoning card laid at her feet, and a spiral of green, thorned vines wreathed out of the hollow crossbar. The eye followed them all the way to Sid's feet. They raised up, wrapping around him, not close enough to hurt but a promise of pain if he moved.

"Vulpecula," Scorpiox warned. The masked woman stiffened. The vines stopped their motion but didn't retreat.

"Don't hurt him," Jack cut in, drawing the attention back to him. He'd recovered some of his composure but there was a flash of fear and anger behind his eyes. "Don't hurt any of them. That's the price of my compliance."

The man in yellow laughed again. He was brushing ash off his fingers, an open pouch on his waist revealing even more summoner cards. Likely he was the one who dispelled Sid's light beams. He smirked and placed hands on his hips. "Your compliance? Monsieur, we already capture you all. What compliance do we need of you?"

Jack's face slipped back into cool blankness. Without hesitation, he raised the pistol in his hand to his own temple. He turned to Charlotte as he spoke in Trovalian, "How hard will it be to rebuild the country without your scapegoat?"

Charlotte's eyes dropped in a half-lidded stare. The man in yellow blanched and looked nervously at his commander. Wordlessly, the older woman plucked a piece of parchment from a hidden pocket on her sleeve. As she did something small and bright green darted from behind her hair to her shoulder; a praying mantis, its triangular head tilting this way and that as it observed its surroundings. It attracted the gaze to the shimmering pendant reflecting on her chest plate. A delicate, filigree design embedded by emeralds and stones close to Sid's earrings. The vines tightened around him as she took her time in lighting a match, offered by Scorpiox, and sacrificed the card. If Sid tried to use his own, he'd be painfully pricked by Vulpecula. The card caught fire and disintegrated in a flash.

Simultaneously, a wave of nausea washed over Stardusk. Lethargy set in their bones as they sagged in their restraints. Their vision dimmed. One by one, they fell into unconsciousness as exhaustion set in. The vines unraveled and vanished to allow Cedric to collapse unharmed. The only two of the pirate crew that remained standing were Jack and the captain. Runali felt dizziness and a headache forming. Charlotte brushed the remaining ash from her fingertips and made a circling motion of her hand. Her men jumped into action. The Spymaster looked at Runali as Jack lowered the gun from his head. "Captain Runali Lev? You and I need to talk."

The entire time the chaos been going around her, Runali had been keeping an eye on her crew. Nothing lethal, nothing permanent. When Sid was the center of attention, she tensed for a moment but stopped herself. Scorpioux was still close. She was still bleeding out. It wasn't going to be a good plan. There were a lot of emotions that passed through her the moment Jack pointed the gun to his head to the moment her crew fell unconscious. But she kept it in. As the captain, she had to remain calm. As Charlotte turned her attention, Runali's eye roamed over the woman before turning back to watch her crew.

She straightened up but said nothing.

******​

Runali's escort forced her down into a hard wooden chair situated in the Spymaster's cabin. For a woman working for royalty, it was spartan. There were no decorations. Furnishings consisted of two chairs situated on either side of a work desk; a bookshelf, hammock and small ornate cabinet. Runali faced the ship's stern that consisted of a small row of windows to look out. The desk had neat, organized rows of papers and scrolls. On top of the cabinet, was the only thing that looked worth of value: a china tea set, crafted from white porcelain with delicately painted floral motifs. The rims of four cups were gilded gold along with the spout and lid of the teapot that steamed a faint vapor of fresh brew.

Behind her, Jack entered quietly and shut the door. He didn't make eye contact with the captain as he moved to the right side and placed his hands behind his back, standing as a soldier at attention.

He stood there, silent, as they heard Charlotte's men prep for sailing. The unconscious members of Stardusk were taken to the brig, leather cords replaced by iron shackles. Those wounded were tended to by Spymaster's healer to stave off blood loss. The rest of the men set about tethering Lady Luck to their ship to tug her along to their next destination. Thankfully, the battle hadn't blown holes to sink, but one mast was on the brink of keeling, and the damage to the deck and crew's quarters would take weeks of repair by Luro.

Runali mumbled something as she was pushed around, but it wasn't anything they could understand. When she was forced into a chair, she spoke louder making sure the escort could hear her clearly. "I don't suppose you were taught how to say please in your training?" There was an obvious passive aggression in her tone. She hadn't done anything to give the idea that she was going to run off and her crew was knocked out so the force was unnecessary. Her facial expression betrayed her tone and she slid lower into the uncomfortable seat almost lazily.

"So what comes first here? Explanation from you or the desperate pleas you think I'll give? Do enlighten me. Take all the time you need also, according to my doctor's usual silent yelling I've got a good chunk of time before I bleed out and all. Not that I'd want to ruin your… not so fancy room."

Even though she held an oddly lackadaisical attitude, Runali was as perceptive as ever. She took account of the room and everything in it along with how many people she had seen since she had got on. There were little things she paid attention to as well, but it went unnoticed, mistaken as her gauging where her crew was going and what was happening to them. Runali knew for the time being they were okay, so she waited and rested- as much as one could rest while being surrounded by enemies and questionable… Runali assumed confused, cook.

Charlotte walked in and paused at the door as one of her men called her attention. She leaned over him as he whispered, nodded, then closed the door. A small porthole decorated it, and through it they could see the two-handed of her masked right-hand stand in front of it, barring anyone from coming in. She walked around- picking up the tea tray as she went- and sat down behind the wide mahogany desk. The chair was the same as Runali's, too short for Charlotte's lanky form. She made do by slanting in the seat, sitting off center to allow room for her legs to stretch. She looked at Runali as she spoke up. One long finger tapped the desk.

"If I allow my healer to attend you, will you attack her?" The Spymaster asked. Warmth and calm geniality colored her voice, a harsh contrast to her expression which hadn't changed from stoicism. She began pulling off gloves with reinforced, metal knuckles and placed them to one side.

Runali watched the woman in front of her, less impressed from the first time she saw her and more uninterested. Her brow raised when she finally spoke again and it caused her to sit up a bit. "When you say heal, you do mean stop me from bleeding and not killing me, yes?" Her head tilted to the side a little. "Just wanna be clear since you attacking my ship is you- or at least Scor's way of saying 'we come in peace'." She rolled her eye and shook her head a bit. "I've no reason to attack someone that isn't attacking me. You have my word. Besides," She scoffed. "I'm on your ship surrounded by people that have pledged their allegiance to you. What would I do after I attacked her, hm? Get shot at while most of my crew is asleep?"

There was a smile. A small one. Charlotte bent her head in acknowledgement as her eyes raised above Runali's head. Jack walked up behind his captain and cut the cords on her wrist. He turned to his post, if that's what it could be considered, without a word. A minute later, the summoner Victoire bustled in. She started to undress Runali's wound and tend to it while Charlotte made herself a cup of tea. The smell of tea leaves and lemon filled the cabin and mixed unpleasantly with the healer's bitter mixture that she applied to the wound, to prevent infection. Whatever powers she could've used weren't wasted on the pirate captain. First came cleaning the wound, then applying the herbs that stung and felt icy cold against the heated flesh. It would harden enough to stop bleeding, but Victoire didn't stitch it. She instead put a fat wad of gauze and then wrapped it up. During this process, Charlotte stirred her tea. She took a small sip. Setting the cup back on its saucer, then to the desk.

Then, finally, the Spymaster devoted her full attention to Runali. "I'm going to cut to the chase. I never intended to interact with your crew. Your former cook, and I, had a deal. Many years ago. A promise that he needs to uphold. I'm here for him. But it is my understanding that he's hinted too much about our former working relationship, to you. I can't let you go until he fulfills his promise to me. The question is: what do I do with you and your crew in the meantime?"

The pirate captain eyed her temporary doctor as she began 'fixing' her. Some of the things she used looked vaguely familiar to the things Zilia kept in her infirmary, some of it looked foreign. But, Runali kept her word and was still as a statue despite the sudden cold and occasional stings. When she was done, Runali gave the woman a small nod. "Thank you." It sounded fairly genuine, but the moment didn't last very long as Runali's gaze flickered to Charlotte as she spoke.

"Don't s'pose you're capable of finding some other chef to fill his shoes, hm? I understand, it's not easy finding as good a chef as him." The captain eyed her new bandages for a second before she sat up. She looked a little more curious, her hands resting on her thighs. "What gave you that idea? Better question, who gave you that idea? This is the first time we've met. I know nothing about you… besides you being able to lead a ship that has a vendetta against a crew who's done nothing wrong. I'd suggest letting us go but that doesn't sound like it's your…" She paused to think of the right word. "Doesn't sound very likely." Runali finished.

Charlotte stared at Runali. A finger tapped the desk again, perhaps an indication of thinking, but it was impossible to tell what happened behind those almond eyes.

"Adelaide," Jack's strained voice interrupted the silence. "Adelaide told you that."

"Yes," she admitted. "She gave us a full report when we found her. She led us to believe that you, Stardusk, were told sensitive information and planned to stop us. She was a trusted agent; under the circumstances, I believed her." Charlotte picked up her tea again. The lines of her brow deepened as she sipped it, taking her time as her eyes ever so slightly shifted to Jack. His face was strained and pale. She looked back at Runali. "That being said, it appears I was wrong. Would you like some tea, Captain?"

The name Adelaide didn't cause much of a reaction from Runali, but internally she wondered why Jack would assist her. "Hm? Oh the lady I met that wasn't a part of the Court. Makes sense, she wasn't as wild as they were." Runali carefully chose her words, toeing the line between lying and outright saying something that'd put her or her crew in jeopardy. "Ah, she did tell me things… Not very much. Nothing worthwhile." Her fingers tapped her chin in thought, but she paused.

For a moment, the expression Runali made, made the interrogation feel much more like a regular conversation than anything. "Oh, no thank you. But, if you ever get the chance you should try tea with Tashigi, it's really good when she makes it." She never really liked tea until Alicia came around. "But anyway, Adelaide did talk to me, not my crew," She emphasized that much. "But I never would've guessed you'd be an enemy of mine based off the vague details- I've learned that spies are very dodgy when it comes to explanations. Leaves more questions than answers, y'know?" Despite not outwardly showing it, it was a light jab at Jack every time he'd do something of the sort. And when Sid and Adelaide came along, it only proved her point. Whether she was telling the truth or not was hard to say because she looked as genuine as a 'casual conversation' would typically make her.

"At most, I expected a few differences since, again, you need my chef for whatever I wasn't told about but," Runali leaned forward a bit, ignoring the small sting of pain. With a small smirk as if amused by her own joke she continued. "I expected I'd get him back after. Guess it was a misunderstanding."

"Yes," Charlotte agreed, her gaze sliding over to the mute cook. He met her eyes with blankness. "Perhaps this whole thing is a misunderstanding. Tell me, capitaine, are we past striking a deal?" Jack's brow furrowed, wary puzzlement coloring his expression.

Runali laughed. A hand rested over her stomach as she did. It lasted for a few moments and when it died down, the captain wiped a nonexistent tear from her eye. "You damage my ship. Attack my crew. Injure me- although I won't take that up with you personally. Not to mention have whatever authority you do that my chef thought it wise to point a gun at my head as a threat. And now you want to strike a deal?" The incredulity of it all was amusing, especially with how serious Charlotte was. Sure Runali had the experience of getting hunted down and chased after by many people, but it always felt like a new one each time. At least they kept it interesting.

"Very bold of you, I like it Lady Spy." Her hand went up to her chin in contemplation, the amused look never leaving her expression. "T'think I'd really consider striking up a deal with someone who has only caused me issue in the first… 20 or so minutes of knowing them." A moment passed and soon after Runali shrugged. "Depends on the deal I suppose."

"Like it's said: misunderstandings," Charlotte replied, her expression never wavering from reserved calm. She swirled her tea for a moment before continuing, "I am the hidden hand of the Trovalian royalty, Captain. I have a far reach and many resources and money. I can offer them to you in exchange for a job.

Do you know the current state of Trovale? It's being absorbed by the World Government. We've been their kingdom for some time, yes, but there's a treaty to be brokered. We're about to give away the one secret that we were allowed to keep, to protect our livelihoods in face of loosing independence. My country's about to be vulnerable-- transformed-- and it won't be long before we lose our power and individuality. In this, you and I share a common enemy. I want to stop the World Government from taking my country in totality. Jack here promised to help me before he made irreparable mistake and became a wanted criminal of the crown. I would have left him in the wind but his involvement is integral."

For a moment, the Spymaster and cook shared a look. Jack kept his blank knowing she was testing his resolve. Charlotte set down her tea. "Perhaps you'd like to know what your chef did." He looked away.

Pulling out a drawer, Charlotte produced a sheet of parchment and laid it in front of Runali. It was a bounty, written in Trovalian and Common, calling for Jack "The Jackal" Kunal's head for commiting treason and mass murder against Trovale's citizens. It listed a bounty for $750,000, the date of the bounty's first posting two months before Jack met Stardusk.

"Two and a half years ago, Jack and Adelaide ran an operation out of the mining town called Oublia. They were deep undercover as a part of a smuggling ring with pirates. It was...a need to know operation. Something I endeavored to hide from the World Government. These pirates are not like your crew. When they docked at Oublia, they caused destruction, public disturbance and more. My operatives," she gestured to Jack before her hands folded neatly back on the desk, "believed they planned to raid the town after the last job I hired them to do. My orders were to let it take place. I had my armada and we were en route. Jack, however, decided to take matters into his own hands. Would you like to tell her what you did?"

He was mute.

It was always something with the government. At some points, Runali started to believe people thought the Stardusk wanted to deal with them. Sure it was one time they helped a royal family. Sure it was one time they went to war for a country. But- well, one was intentional. What Charlotte wanted was for them to get into trouble with the World Government again- probably as a distraction so she could do as she pleased. The pros and cons went through her head, the latter winning but she pushed it aside to look over at Jack when Charlotte questioned him.

Runali didn't look any different from when she was talking to Charlotte when she spoke. She didn't expect him to answer either. But when the silence dragged on for a few heartbeats, Runali gave a nod. "Need to know basis, yeah? I think we're at that point."

"I killed the captain," Jack confessed at last. He looked at Runali, not moving his position, and half-hoping she wouldn't turn around. "I didn't think Charlotte would succeed so I mutinied and killed the captain. Adelaide tried to stop me but it was too late. The crew found out, they attacked us and the town. When Charlotte arrived she...had no choice but to bombard it from the shores." His voice cracked and he turned towards the floorboards. "No one survived."

"532 souls," Charlotte whispered. "Dead because of one mistake. That's the man you let on to your ship, Captain Lev. Now he's here for redemption."

"Hm." Was the response the two received after Jack confessed. It fell silent with Runali watching Jack's posture when he turned. She heard Charlotte, understanding that's what Scorpioux was talking about, but she didn't acknowledge the woman. Her attention turned to Jack completely. "That's a lot of people dead." She started. Her voice was even and matter of fact. "A lot of people you can't bring back… And it was your choice to go against that captain. Just as it was Charlotte's choice to call the order to kill all those people." It was brief, but her gaze flickered to Charlotte before resting back on Jack. "Everyone's got a choice Jack. Even if you were the one get caught, your master spy here still gave the order. The blood's on her hands too. Frankly, if anyone's at fault, yeah, it's both of you."

Runali leaned back in the chair and gave Charlotte a curious look. "Any captain can just shoutout kill them all. I've seen plenty of pirates do it. But I've also known plenty of great captains who know how to find other ways of doing things. And as a captain, your responsibility is not just what you do, it's what the crew does as well. So, one mistake may have ruined a plan sure. But it was still you who called the order Vontiago." Runali shrugged. "What you did Jack can't be fixed. Can't be changed. You're gonna hate it for the rest of your life. But there's no use wasting that life stuck on something that can't be changed. Move on. Do better. It's all you can do." The captain scratched her cheek and gave a small, innocent smile. "But what do I know, yeah? I'm a pirate with my own selfish plans. I do what I want as I please."

"Move on?" A split second of genuine anger tightened Jack's features. He started taking a step forward-- and froze when Charlotte raised a hand. The mantis appeared on her wrist, making chittering noises. Was there amusement flashing behind those cold eyes?

Reluctantly, Jack shut up and returned to his post. The spymaster released a sigh. Suddenly, she looked exhausted and soul-wary. She rubbed the bridge of her nose before turning back to Runali. "Capitaine, I am old and running out of time. You were not there. I made a judgement call and Jack here is paying his own price with that bounty. If I had known you weren't a threat to me, I would have never attacked unprovoked. Considering the circumstances, I will pay for the damages to your ship and crew in addition to a sizeable fund if you take my offer. If not-- I will detain you and alert the Government of your capture. Simon Ira, wasn't it?"

"You heard me, chef. Loud and clear." Runali didn't bother sparing Jack a glance. She heard the anger in his voice. It was a hard truth to hear, but he needed to hear it nonetheless. And even if there wasn't another way and even if there was a burden to bear, at that present moment Jack wasn't getting Runali's sympathy.

Her arms crossed. The offer didn't seem to sway her in the slightest. "You want me and my crew to help you- be lackies to you- to fight the government. Because of something that has nothing to do with us, correct?" Runali didn't wait for a response. "No. I don't trust you ma'am and my chef here is a bit delusional at best currently." She looked over at Jack. "Appears he's got a few lessons to learn and if he wants to do that the hard way, then so be it." Her hand waved in front of her. "By all means, alert them and I do hope Simon shows up, I've got a few words for him as well…" All too casually, Runali held her hands out, expecting them to be roped and bound together again. "The battles Stardusk pick are on my own terms. And I've got a rule against… senseless violence. Besides, Stardusk has their own plans."

A lipless smile touched Charlotte's face. It looked odd among the weathered, unlined expression used to looks of cold seriousness. It was completely devoid of humor. "I didn't think so. Your reputation certainly precedes you." Reaching to her waist, she plucked out a card. It was identical to the one she'd used on Runali's crew. She gestured to Jack who reluctantly walked around, having gone mute again when the captain voiced her decline. He reached for a match custom to his person and handed it over to her. She set afire the card, and instantly a wave of dizziness washed over Runali. "Your reputation also gives credit to the amount of trouble you and your crew causes," she continued as she got up and walked around the desk to sit in front of the captain. Runali could feel her muscles relax against her will as the edges of her vision blackened.

"You'll understand I'll need to take collateral. A way to ensure that coming after me is not in your best interests. Protecting mine from you." She looked up at Jack. "I don't trust your newfound conviction. If you're serious, you'll need to choose..."

******​

Trovalian Island, Unknown
Three Days Later

The Stardusk crew awoke with pains and shortness of breath. Their heads felt foggy and for some nausea came in a rush. It was made worse by the constant bumping and jolting happening. Chained together by iron shackles, the pirates found themselves in two horse-drawn cages on a dirt road. The air was hot and sticky. The sun beat down in a cloudless sky. On their right, a forest beckoned with cool shade but the open flat land on their opposite side, over which the sun hung, gave zero reprieve. Up ahead, the distant pale silhouette of a mountain contrasted the blue sky.

Stardusk were divided between the cages: Runali, Sara and Kadi were in the front, with a driver who spoke in a stream of non-stop Trovalian, laughing at his own words, using exaggerated hand gestures that were completely ignored by his sullen and silent passenger. The two soldiers driving the second cage-- holding Alicia and Zilia-- didn't speak at all. Five more soldiers provided an escort: two on each side and a rear lookout. They were dressed the same as the men they fought, all in red and black armor with masks and head wraps.

Runali mumbled something in her sleep. Nothing anyone could understand. It wasn't until there was a tug of resistance at her arm when she tried to rub her head. Sound came to her before sight did. There was loud noises and clattering metal- all irritating to someone who woke up as groggy as she did. It was an unfamiliar sound and the unfamiliarity made her one eye pop open. She sat up quickly, realizing many things at once. One, she was leaning against Kadi who, by her assessment had been awake before she was. Two, they were in a cage. A cold chill went down her spine when she looked at the bars. It reminded her too much of Kane'Artem.

"Chained together. Moving to an unfamiliar place…" Runali pushed herself to a seated position, tugging the chains and looking between Sara and Kadi. She leaned forward to rub at her head, processing what she remembered. But it paused mid thought.

Where was the rest of her crew?

"Kadi.You're here. One eye all four limbs, good. Sara? Conscious and here. Good." With a bit of struggle, she tried to look past the drivers behind them but couldn't see who was in the other cages. "Hmmm." She let out an annoyed sound. "Two isn't a good number. Far from it actually." She leaned forward again, running her hands through her hair. "Hmmm, what happened… what happened… Charlotte's trying to fight the navy. She's also giving us to them. We're here. I'm missing parts of my crew." Her brain turned faster and faster. "Kadi, I need you to get them talking." She gestured towards the chatty driver. "Figure out where we are and how long we've been here. Any information you can." She turned to Sara. "I don't doubt we can take these guys without weapons. We need to figure out how many and who's in the other cage." She was steadfast and quick to action. The crew needed her as a captain and she wasn't sure if time was on their side.

The Royal Spies

 

[Eastwood]

When it came to administrating medical attention, Sara put up no fight and very quietly let herself be tended to. It took a day or so for the swelling to go down and another day to be convinced by everyone else that Jack had betrayed them all. It was still hard to believe that. She was uncharacteristically silent for those few days, only after a few hours of being put in a cage did Sara finally talk.

"First time in chains and going to someplace you've never seen before, huh?" She smiled, closing her eyes and resting her head at the railing of the cage. "Agreed, we can't do anything with our hands like this and with no weapons." She looked towards the other cage. "Hmm... We're missing Luro, Cedric, Zillia." Her smile vanished and a hard look appeared in her eyes. "And Jack. We're missing Jack."

 

[Fox of Hearts]

Collab bet'w Fox and Silent​

Flashback

Est-Pas: Small Mining Town, East Trovale
13 Years Ago

"Attrape-le!" (trans. "Get him!")

A boy barely nine ran through the rainy streets. He turned behind him and his eyes widened in fear. The soldiers were close behind. Try as he might, he couldn't out run them.

"Aidez," he yelled. (trans. "Help!")

No one came to his aid. The few families with their windows opened dashed over to shutter them. With the golden pools of light closed off, Cedric felt truly abandoned. No one cared if he lived or died. It … didn't matter! There was still hope! The temple was nearby. Surely, the priests would help him. They must!

The rain matted his long fringe. Water trickling down the soaked strands blurred his vision. Sid pushes on, choosing to ignore his discomfort. He knew these streets well enough to navigate them blindfolded, or so he deluded himself. Everything unravelled when he vied off to the right. He ran full tilt into the soldier waiting for him.

Thick arms circled around his chest trapping him. Sid thrashed around, but the giant won't let go. The man was like a rock, absorbing all his kicking, biting and hitting without flinching. Sid's strength gave out and broke into tears. "Je ne l'ai pas fait. Crois mo'!" (trans. "I didn't do it. Believe me!")

They won't believe him, he realised. His stomach turned to ice, as he remembered that he was covered head to toe in his uncle's congealing blood. The shiny stone he pried from the man's stiffening fingers would be all the evidence they need. It was …

No …

He didn't do it! He was trying to break free from his uncle's grip. The drunk man smacked him so hard his ears were ringing. He remembered being very angry after being accused of stealing. He only wanted to take a look. The stone had been sitting in the drawer for ages. His uncle didn't seem to remember it was there. He didn't understand why the man was so angry.

He was yanked back to his feet and the man socked him in the jaw. Once, twice. He fell to his knees and spat out blood. He remained kneeling on the floor, as he glared at the person he hated the most. Angry words tumbled out of his mouth before he could stop himself. When his brain finally caught up, he tried apologising.

"Morveux insolent!" the man roared. (trans. "Insolent brat!")

It was all self-defense!

There was a lot of yelling. His wrist had been twisted in an odd angle. No matter how he dug his heels in, the man was slowly dragging him towards the open door. Rough hands shoved him towards the rain. He refused; he grabbed the doorframe. His fingers digging into the weathered groove.

More yelling followed. Blow after blow pelted his head. He reached out to push the man away. His fingers brushed against the scarred hand. Their very tips kissing the smooth surface of the stone clutched in his uncle's hand. And …

And …

He didn't understand what happened. When the bright light faded and his vision returned, he found himself pinned to the ground. The smell of burnt flesh and blood made him gag. He dug his way out somehow.

He barely remembered bending over to pick up that shimmering stone. The surface burning even brighter when he compared it to the blackened floor. He stared.

"Vous y!" an angry voice shouted from the door. (trans. "Hey you!")

That's when he saw them - the soldiers sent from the capital. He didn't bother listening; he ran. Now they've finally caught him. He didn't know what to do. It wasn't his fault. It just happened!

"Dis á Madam du Vontigo," one of them ordered. "Elle v'drat savoir à propos d'morveux." (trans. "Send a message to Lady du Vontigo. She'd want to know about this brat.")

"Oi!" Someone's voice cut through the kid's thrashing and the guard's talk. They stopped and turned to see a young man-- barely that-- approach them in a looping gait. He was short, shrouded in the shadows and rain, with a mop of soaked dreadlocks piled around a pale face. He stepped closer until they could see the half-smile accenting pale eyes. He brandished a fistful of knives while looking on the situation. "What're you doing with him?"

The young man spoke in Common. An outsider then. One of the soldiers turned to his comrade who held Cedric in his possession. He jerked a thumb at the stranger and said something to make his comrades laugh. The stranger's head cocked, smiling pleasantly. The soldier turned back to him. "Boy, best moving along now," he said in a heavy accent, "Official state business. Nothin' to see."

The stranger's eyes flickered up and down the man, then at his fellow officers. He looked at the boy. "You alright? Are they hurting you?" he asked gently.

The child avoided Jack's gaze. His sobbing muffled by the hand clamped around his mouth. Tears continued pouring down his face. Fatigue ate away at Sid's consciousness and he started slumping in the soldiers' arms. His pain was starting to fade. All of a sudden, he felt really cold. He started coughing violently.

"Oi!" the soldier holding onto Sid frowned. He wasn't too happy being so close to a sick child. There was an outbreak of pneumonia in the area and several people have already died from it. He fished out a handkerchief and clamped it around his nose.

"Amenez Madame de Chaumont." he yelled to the men approaching them. (trans. "Call for Madam de Chaumont.")

The man who spoke to Jack earlier wrinkled his nose in disgust, as he saw the coughing child curling up on the wet street. "Better stay clear, boy. There's an illness here. We have orders to kill the sick to stop it from spreading. Go before you catch it."

Jack's head shifted to one side. A cigarette smoked from the corner of his mouth. "Bit, um… that's a bit extreme, don't you think?"

Annoyed by Jack's reluctance to leave, the third soldier drew out his crossbow and waved it threateningly at the teen. He spat out several words, which were promptly translated. "Boy, don't stick your nose in official business. It's too late for that child. He's as good as dead. Go now before we detain you in quarantine."

Scratching his cheek, Jack looked contemplative at Sid, then at the soldiers. His foot tapped as he held his knives in a lazy grip. "Doesn't look sick to me. More bloody than anything. So, are one of you going to tell me who did it?" He raised one knife and pointed it to each soldier in turn. "Eenie, meenie, min--"

"Oh, shut up!" The guard fired his crossbow. Jack lunged to the side and flicked his wrist at the guards. One screamed in pain a throwing knife appeared in his thigh. Jack ran along the building's wall, using the shadows to his advantage. He jumped on a barrel and ran along it, gaining himself elevation above the guards. He raised a fist-- high enough for them to see it turn pitch black-- and threw three more knives at the guards.

The man with handkerchief tossed it aside. He drew his broad sword and slashed in a wide arc. The three knives clattered harmlessly near Sid. He grunted, as haki coates his weapon. Shouting in Trovalian, he pointed to the crossbow man and the translator. The shooter fired at Jack. His partner pulled out the blade from his thigh and removed his trench knives from their holsters. He leaped into the shadows.

The moment the soldier dashed away his knives, Jack planted a foot in his face. He dropped to the ground to avoid the second bolt, rolled, then leapt forward with two daggers procured in his hands. He lunged at the sword-wielder head on with blades as black as his.

A blade flashed close to Jack's neck without warning. The razor edge split the skin of his jaw. The translator gave the young man a smirk before disappearing into the shadows again. There was a brief flash of red coming from the man's direction. That split second distraction resulted in Jack pincered between a barrage of bolts and a searing torrent.

"Shit!" Jack yelped as he raised his arms to protect against the barrage and danced away from the fire that came from nowhere. The bolts hit harmless against his haki but the torrent singed his vest and shirt. Cursing, Jack backpedaled in the rain, using it and a free hand to beat out the embers. He looked back at the soldiers, far more wary now. He assumed these were the kind of men Hoshi North warned him about-- those that seemed to wield magic on their fingertips. A trickle of goosebumps pricked his neck and arms. His eyes flicked back to the kid. Well… he couldn't back down now.

Settling into a fighting stance, Jack smirked and waved the soldiers to attack. The crossbow man was busy reloading and the spell caster remained in the shadows. Their leader, the soldier wielding the broadsword, stepped forward. He did a half-turn and slashed. Rain gathered on the blade scattered in a messy spray. The water hit Jack in the face.

Jack cursed and wiped at his eyes. Armament sprouted on his wrists and caught the broadsword. The force threw him to the ground. He cried out, the tip biting into his shoulder. Dropping his knives, Jack gripped the blade with both of his hands and tried to pull it out. The commander snarled.

They stared at each other, struggling for control of the sword.

Jack yelled then ripped the sword to the side. It slashed through his flesh and embedded into the muddy stone. Quickly, Jack scrambled out of the way, retrieving his knives. He lunged for the man before he could recover.

"Where's our back up?" the caster shouted as he revealed himself. A new card was clipped between two fingers of his right hand.

"Who cares? Kill that kid and go. Madame would be waiting for the boy," his comrade yelled back in Trovalian. His eyes narrowed as he observed the fight. He wondered if they could bait the foreigner into lowering his guard.

He tossed his crossbow to the interpreter and hauled the unconscious child up. Steadying the boy in the crook of his arm, he whipped out his knife and pressed it against Sid's throat. "Stop," he yelled in Trovalian. "Leave now or the boy dies."

His words were promptly translated. Both soldiers kept their eyes on Jack as he froze, eyes locked on the unconscious boy. Their commander gave one last shove that sent his scrawnier opponent splashing into a muddy puddle. The man dislodged his broadsword from the pilant earth and waited. He was ready to cut Jack down if the boy chose to attack. A swift sideways cut would be enough to part the teen's head.

The rain fell in thicker sheets. Rivulets ran down every face. Above them, lightning leaped from cloud to cloud. Thunder clapped seconds after each burst. Prolonging the fight was dangerous. One strike and they'd be electrocuted. There were no conductors in the area. The townsfolk couldn't afford them.

Lightning struck very close to them, illuminating the person crouched on the roof overhead. All heads turned to the mysterious one casting the long shadows. The figure lengthened and twisted. Something black sailed towards them. The fluttering lines indicated it was covered by a cloak.

The bundled landed with a huge splash. A dozen blood-stained cards scattered around the fallen summoner, a fellow soldier. Vacant eyes stared up at the swordsman. Their clarity vanishing as death claimed his soul. The sword user broke eye contact and turned to this unseen person. He shook his fist at them, shouting his challenge. It took him awhile to realise the person disappeared. He yelled in frustration.

"Don't you shake your fist at me," a slurred, feminine voice lectured him. From the shadows on the other end of the alley, a woman with shock-white hair stepped into their view, glugging a rum bottle in one hand as the other held a long-barreled rifle. She wiped her mouth on her wrist while sizing up the three men, then glancing at Jack. He made a nervous smile and small wave. The new woman frowned. "Alright. Which one of ya attacked my cook here?"

"This boy is yours? He's trespassing on official business and this area is under quarantine," the commander said and the translator started to dictate, but Jack's captain held up the rum hand to stop him. She leaned forward and squinted at the captain.

"Is that so?" The woman, on closer inspection, looked older. Going on her 50s. Not to mention drunk. Her body swayed slightly in the rain while taking in the scene before with gold eyes. Another easy target for the commander… although.... He looked back down at the dead summoner.

"They're hurting that kid, Hoshi," Jack spoke up. He'd holstered a weapon to press a hand to his bleeding shoulder. "Was just trying to be a good samaritan."

Her eyes narrowed when she spotted Cedric on the ground. "Hm… the Spymaster's men, you are? Works for me." Hefting her rifle, she aimed it at the commander's head. "She owes me for last time."

******​

Hoshi North gazed despondent at her broken rum. "Dang… that was a real good year too." She sneered at the soldier that had broken glass pieces sticking out of his scalp, and gave him a kick for her troubles. The other soldiers lay strewn about her in various stages of dead or dying.

"That seems a little harsh," Jack said as he picked up the unconscious kid. He looked at Cedric, worriment aging his young face. He turned to his captain. "Please...we should return to the ship. He might be in real trouble."

"Alright, alright. We should leave dock before the bodies are found," the pirate pair started walking off, Hoshi leaning over Jack to check his and the kid's wounds. "So. Does the stray have a name?"

"What...oh… I, uh, dunno--"

"I don't know."

"--don't know. He was already falling unconscious when I arrived."

"Hmph." Free of her rum bottle, Hoshi bent and took Cedric from Jack, allowing the older boy to wrap up his wound as they made it back to the dock. At the same time, she raised a hand and smacked the backside of Jack's head, causing him to spit out his cigarette.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"I told you to stop smoking those things. They're disgusting." She smirked down at Cedric. "Welcome to the Borealis pirates, little man."

A large bump in the road disrupted Sid from his unconscious state. His head cracked on a wooden bench, causing starlight in the blackness that forced his consciousness back. He laid on his side in a cramped carriage devoid of cushioned seating. Iron shackles connected to the carriage's floor restrained him but his feet were free. Sunlight poured from curtained windows and he captured the sight of familiar, rolling farmland and turquoise blue skies.

Charlotte sat opposite of him with a portable, wooden desk on her lap and quill and ink set in a corner holder. She was looking over a sheaf of scrolls through small golden specs perched on her nose, when she noticed Sid stirred. She set the quill down and gazed at him over her reading glasses.

"Hello, Cedric. How are you feeling?"

"Any stronger and you might have killed someone," he admitted. Nausea and muscle fatigue were the most noticeable symptoms. A paralytic substance, he concluded. Lethal if the dose had increased by the tiniest fraction. Thankfully, years of training under this woman made him functional despite the general feeling of malaise.

He left the rest unsaid. Charlotte ought to get the hint that he disapproved of her taken the Stardusk hostage. It made it harder for him to force Jack's hand. He softened his glare and replaced it with a look of utter boredom. He turned to look out the window.

Seeing the orchards filled with heavily laden trees made him feel nostalgic. They didn't have any coin on them when they arrived in the capital seven years ago. After spending the winter pickpocketing, Jack suggested they bail. There were even more guards patrolling the market square, making it too risky. His brother found them work in one of the orchards. The work was backbreaking, but they had food and lodging for a few months. Jack was always smiling back then. He was a very different person.

Charlotte watched her protege for a long while, her eyes hovering on his expression. "Princess Celestine was devastated to hear of your death," she said at last. She slipped her specs off and set them on the desk. "She cried in her room for a week. She always looked up to you. It was unfair of your brother to perpetrate such lies."

She looked out the window. "Do you miss home?"

"It's hard not to miss the only place you call home. I've been dead for over a year now, so I doubt I have any property left to my name." He frowned slightly as he spoke. He was no stranger to poverty, but being denied what was his stung. It hurt even more knowing that his beloved brother was responsible for his current predicament. "I guess I could always earn back what I lost." He shrugged.

"I can help with that. If you're willing to hear me out." She waited a heartbeat then leaned forward. "Cedric, our home is about to tear itself apart. Our prosperity has grown stagnant. Commerce is dying. The King and Queen are looking to the World Government to fix the issues… and they are failing. The Government cares for steady stream of agricultural trade and not enough for our internal struggles." Reaching over, she pulled one of the curtains back. They revealed the orchards in their entirety: empty. No workers tilled beneath the branches. No one tended the grass or sprayed pesticides. The trees themselves were half-bare, too soon in the season, with many rotten fruit piling on the ground. The longer they traveled, the more dead fields Sid would see. Charlotte kept her eyes on him with rapid intensity. "There's dissonance brewing between the noble families and royalty. Our strength has always lied in independence and the nobles believe that can be re-obtained. The Government's policies are stagnating our growth-- they want us submissive, not growing. King Delmont, however, desires cooperation to build a sustainable future. What you're seeing is the result of nobles pulling their workers, and support, from the royal family."

"The king is kind to a fault. An altruist who fails to have a firm grip on his council," the ex-spy sighed. "Anyone with enough charisma can instigate unhappiness and eventually his downfall." Sid's eyes flicked over to his mentor briefly. Knowing her as well as he did, he suspected she had more to share. He continued looking out the window as he listened quietly.

Charlotte reclined back in her seat. The Spymaster looked exhausted, as one woman could be who was trying to keep a collapsing country together with her own two hands. "It started with Oublia. The nobles retreating. The town was consummated when we discovered an untapped pocket of aeters in the mountain. It offered an opportunity for further summoning advancements. New studies and an ability to strengthen our position. The royals had other purposes for it though." She paused. Her lips pressed into a hard line. "They wish to give the secret away, Cedric. The one item our country was allowed to keep hidden as means of protection. They're going to show it to the World Government. Leave us wide open to attack. The nobles-- and I-- are mortified by this prospect. I've accumulated an aeter stash from Oublia thanks to the efforts of Adelaide...and your brother."

He could feel Charlotte's gaze digging into him. She was waiting for him to say something. He guessed there was no hiding what he managed to learn in the past year. Belvedere had unearthed several interesting accounts about Oubila's fate.

Cedric's eyes met Charlotte's. He stared long enough to be politely engaging but not long enough to appear hostile. He was treading on thin ice. "You need Jack to take the fall for Oubila, so the World Government won't investigate further…" He trailed off.

Charlotte waved an impatient hand. "Jack's egregious mistake is of his own making. The royals would have come to the same conclusion. Sooner or later." She drifted back to the scenery passing by.

Anger brought bile up his throat. Sid willed it down. He needed to stay calm. Focused on his end goal. His gaze was now back on her. He was studying her body language closely. "I heard interesting rumours that said otherwise, but I'm not sure I believe them. After all, Madam, why would you kill so many of your own people." His voice dropped to a whisper, as he spoke the last bit.

She snapped to him. A dangerous light brought out the gray flecks of her irises, giving them a flinty and ruthless feature. "They were already dead when I arrived. I didn't kill them-- your brother did that. I cleaned up his mess."

"I see," was all he needed to say. The tension in the air meant that both of them understood the implications of what the other shared. Sid would like to think he had the upper hand, but he doubted his victory since Jack's fate remained in Charlotte's hands.

"A swift execution is not on the cards, yes? You need him for something else." He pulled his elbow off the window and sat with as much dignity that he could muster. "Let me guess, King Delmont refused to abdicate. He has completely cut you off after the disaster in Oubila."

He paused and watched the woman before him. The slightest tightening around her eyes meant he was very close to the truth. The king had always been insightful at the worst of times or so Charlotte claimed. "You need to assassinate the king without the other nobles knowing," he continued quickly. "I trust you have a successor in his place? We can't risk civil war as the houses compete for the crown. Trovale is, as you said, on her last legs."

The smallest of smiles showed her amusement. "Mon prodige, you did not hear me. The nobles are pulling away from the king. This is not a venture one heads on their own. The houses-- the one that matter-- are onboard. They stand to all benefit with succession plans. As long as Jack Kunal is the one to take the fall."

It was a last desperate gambit. Sid worried there was a lot more that Charlotte refused to disclose. He believed the answer lay in the exact terms of the agreement with the World Government. A fact that Jack might know making him a liability. Not wishing for his mask to slip, he pressed on.

"And you trust Jack for that?" he spoke with mock incredibility. "A man with barely enough experience with his own Haki against the King's bodyguards. No one will believe that. The Jackal, in their minds, is nothing but a bloodthirsty pirate. He's not the enemy you need."

Charlotte blinked and her fingers steepled. "He isn't? Do you propose something new, Cedric?"

He was on the right track. Sid felt an invisible noose tightening around his neck. Merde! She hadn't intended it to be Jack at all. She was planning to use him as a distraction. Probably the more harmless of the distractions she planned. His blood chilled. Revolution. That word slipped out in his conversation with Adelaide after they returned to the ship at Rainbow Island. He inhaled sharply.

No, they shouldn't go there. Trovale would cease to exist if they fanned the flames. He wouldn't care, normally. But Jack, his brother, would never stop blaming himself. It would destroy him!

Sid pursed his lips. He stood a better chance of succeeding. A suicide mission. He doubted he'd be able to escape once the king was dead. Either he died fighting or he'd be executed. He was willing to do it only if it gave Jack another chance. A repayment for the events that happened thirteen years ago.

"I'll do it," he announced. "I'll kill the king and make the World Government the focus of all your hate. All I need is an officer's uniform and his identity."

His eyes hardened as he bore deeper into the cold taupe ones. "Every death row inmate gets one last request, yes?" he breathed. "Mine would be Jack. Exonerate him and let him leave with the Stardusk. Pin your blame on the Navy for Oubila and the plan will be set in motion."

Trovale might not implode, yet. If this plan succeeded, they were bringing greater enemies to their doorstep. He didn't even want to think of this outcome. He could only pray that Jack and Adelaide would be far away before the Navy attacked.

"Do we have a deal?"

Charlotte contemplated for a long moment. "I'll agree on one condition: come work for me again. You were my star pupil, Cedric. I can protect you from the fallout and you still have so much potential to unlock." She leaned forward, staring intently, "Reviens à moi, mon prodige. Je ferai de toi le meilleur que tu aies jamais été." (Come back to me, my prodigy. I'll make you the best you've ever been.)

Sid blinked as Charlotte locked eyes with him. A voice sounding a lot like Jack's was screaming at him. It insisted he refuse. He silenced it. Jack must be kept safe at all cost. "I'm at your service, Madame," he replied reverently in their tongue. "Let me be there to say my goodbyes before you set my brother free tomorrow."

She nodded. "As you wish." Looking back out of the window, she spotted stone walls rising in the distance at Sid's back. They'd arrived at the capital.

"Of course there will be some revisions to your theorized plans," Charlotte added, "For starters, it won't just be the king you're targeting."

 

[Winter]

While they travelled locked within their cages like kept birds, Alicia had remained quiet as she kept her eyes closed. She listened to each blow of the breeze whispering between the bars, feeling each bump as a wheel struck a stone causing the cage to jump in protest. New smells greeted her sense of smell before fading as they passed through various flora and with each inhale the swordwoman allowed her resolve to the situation to steel further as she communicated to the world around them on a spiritual level. She'd not spoken a word to Zilia, not out of willingness but more because she needed to allow herself time to mediate and absorb the essence the world was offering to her through their unwilling travel. Slowly Alicia's eyes opened, the dull sunset colours of her iris' accepting light as she exhaled a long steady breath. "Zilia, I know you're not able to speak with me given our bonds... but I would only ask for your trust and nothing more." she finally spoke, shifting her gaze towards the doctor before offering a small reassuring smile.

Alicia closed her eyes once more and looked away, perhaps making her words seem slightly strange and vague for her intentions within what appeared to be a seemingly helpless situation. Closing her fists she tilted her head forwards before she began breathing more deeply, inhaling and exhaling steadily as her lips parted to allow herself to draw in more air, each inhale seeming to draw in a current towards her before it expelled outward again, not enough to be noticeable at first but before long it would appear as though the air was pulsating with the swordwoman at it's core. The air began to thicken and Alicia would then suddenly lay herself onto her back, lifting her legs up above her allowing her to slide her legs between her arms so that her wrists now positioned in front of her as opposed to behind her. Alicia's palms opened beckoning the current of air to them before placing them flat against the iron of her bonds, concentrating as her brow furrowed.

Steadily they began to freeze as the manipulated current collected beneath her palms and bled across the surface of the iron and into the lock, a pained look growing on Alicia's features as the frozen metal began to bite back against her skin, burning her wrists as she pushed onward. After a few minutes longer she threw her wrists against the bars causing an audible click to resonate through the metal before the shackles dropped in front of her, leaving burned rings around her wrists where they were once secured. Whether or not it was a permanent mark was not for her to know, but she didn't have the time to lament over it as she pulled the remaining current of air towards her as she stood and turned before throwing it outwards the closest guard, blowing him clean off his feat before he'd tumble over himself across the floor. "What the fuc-" his partner didn't manage to reach the end of his sentence before he too were blasted away with a volley of air.

Of course a concentrated blast of air wasn't enough to do much harm nor kill them as the first guard was already collecting himself back to his feet, the caravan halting it's journey as shouts and calls went out to the others to relay what was happening. Admittedly Alicia was actually rather scared despite all of this, she was still unharmed and she was risking much by causing a commotion in hopes things would swing her way, but nevertheless she had to try... she would not allow herself nor her friends to waste away in some World Government prison, or worse be executed. She refused to accept this was the end for all they'd been through, not after everything they had done and the things they had all seen together.

By now one of the guard had bought a key to their cage, flanked by two others readying no doubt to subdue her and put an end to the problem, but in fact it was this that the swordswoman was counting on. The moment the lock clicked Alicia summoned the rest of the air current before throwing it forwards, blasting the three guards away in a rather comical fashion as they flailed and tumbled across the ground while crying out and yelling expletives. She jumped back just in time to avoid a spear which struck through the bars aiming to impale her side, gripping the pole with one hand before bringing her other hand down to snap it... only to find she'd instead hurt her hand and the pole didn't even budge. The guard raised an eyebrow, "... You know spears are usually tougher than hands... right?" Alicia gave a sheepish smile, 'How the hell does Sara do it then... ' she thought to herself before throwing her hand out to blast the guard from the end of the spear.

Using the angle of the spear between the bars this time she threw her entire body weight against the spear, succeeding in snapping it but in turn tumbling forwards through the unlocked cage door and onto the ground in a heap with half a snapped spear in her hand. She groaned, picking herself up before blowing a strand of white hair out of her face. It'd probably been the least amount of grace Alicia had ever shown in movement, but without her sword and in a unique situation where she was half improvising she was... well she was prone to making mistakes. A few of the other guards arrived, one of them presumably the leader looking at the others clambering to get up from the floor, "The fuck you laying around for?! get her!" he yelled, swords and other weapons drawing from sheaths and scabbards at they began to rally to confront her.

'Ok Alicia... what now... '

 

[Mizos]

​

Zilia found that Stardusk found themselves in many manners of situations; since she had joined them she had found herself with more problems than usual. She could say with absolute certainty that trouble seemed to follow them in some form. Waking up Zilia mentally took note of everything she was feeling as she regained consciousness, she was pretty sure this was how Luro felt every morning and she did her utmost to try and recover some sense of self. It took her a bit longer than she wanted and when she finally managed to regain her composure she didn't like what she could see.
The first thing she noticed was that she wasn't able to talk, her hands bound together by iron instead of rope and that generally didn't bode well. The second was that she was in a cage with Alicia, which though comforting didn't change the fact she was in a cage...again. The third was that she was being led somewhere and given the present circumstances she doubted it was good, she couldn't think of a situation where being bound and led somewhere was a good thing.

Zilia took a moment to pull at her memories; she replayed the scene before she lost consciousness. Jack putting a gun to his head, Luro mentioning the other person would be fun to fight too, her yelling at him silently then her body felt heavy and she passed out. Feeling she understood part of the process to her current situation she looked over at Alicia as she spoke to her. She only offered a small nod in response to her, she already trusted Stardusk she had no reason to stop doing so now.
These thoughts came naturally to her but she closed her eyes once Alicia looked away, she had been betrayed twice by Stardusk so she started to wondered if such a thought was a sign of foolishness or trust at this point.

Zilia wasn't sure how to comprehend the next few moments, Alicia was free; throwing wind at the guards and for some reason had tried to break the spears of one of the men. If there was one thing Stardusk was it was resourceful. Putting that aside Zilia slowly made her way out of the cage as Alicia fought, she saw little need to rush as the swordswoman seemed to have it handled.
"There is very little Alicia cannot do. I suppose that's why I wasn't too worried upon waking."
Once outside Zilia jumped and moving her hands under her pulled her hands around to her front, she flexed her fingers a few times before pulling the chain that once connected them towards her.

A moment later the chain slammed into the side of the head of one of the guards, as another turned they noticed the chain return to Zilia who spun around as the chain reached her, wrapping around her body before she leaned forward letting it fly back out. The chain slapped him in the face and Zilia spun in a fully circle letting the chain move around her once more before she threw it back out. Wrapping around his leg she gave it a hard pull with both hands removing him off his feet and slamming his skull against the ground. With a small twitch the chain flew back to the doctor and she raised her leg letting it wrap around it before slamming her foot down. Her hands were still bound but this was little different from her rope dart and unfortunately this wasn't the first time she had been bound. She stared at the irons on her hands then over at Alicia's current freedom a little upset that she hadn't considered her, she decided to put it aside believing it was a time constraint reason and left it at that.
Zilia narrowed her eyes at Alicia and pointed at the many guards before pointing at herself than Alicia before pointing back at them.
"You're not fighting alone."
She did her best to convey this before taking a place next to her.
"…I have to make sure the Captain doesn't see this…if she knows I willingly put myself in the line of fire she'll have a comment I'm sure."

----
To the listeners

"It's not really that hard to be an Imposter."
A voice resonated through a small place, a void that was empty until it was filled by the invisible hands that orchestrated everything within it. The disembodied voice came from one of the inhabitants, a thing that enjoyed speaking to his unwilling listener, or in some cases listeners. Like an actor who knows his play is terrible but forces his audience to listen anyway. Not because he worked hard on it mind you, but just because he knows they'll listen out of some obligation they don't understand.
"Everyone lies, and that's all you really need. It's not a complicated endeavor even animals can do it. I'm sure you lied today in some fashion, perhaps about your appearance, your finances your very well being, to make someone feel good, to make someone feel bad or my favorite for the fun of it. I could list plenty of reason but the fact of the matter is…people lie and that's all one needs to be an Imposter. You just…have to lie. To don a mask and become another person is a skill all have, the so called 'master's of this craft are just willing to abandon the 'original' in the process."
A low chuckle echoes through the space finding humor at such a silly concept.
"Ultimately there is no such thing as an 'original', a…what do you call it…'you'. That's just something made up to make one feel real. Well I got good news, you're not real you're an Imposter just like me. Now to doubters I'm sure you asking… 'Imposter why is me being fake a good thing' well stranger number one let me tell you. It's because you can be anything. In fact you should be anything, there's no reason to be 'one' thing. Don't worry about lying, if someone trust you they choose to do so, that's their fault not yours. If they believe the 'you' that exists is 'real' that's their own foolishness. There is no 'real' in this world just what you want to believe. If you look in the mirror and think 'this is me,' then you're free to do that, but to expect someone else to believe that is well…silly. I'm going to say it again so you really get it, you're not real…and that's a good thing.
Now I'm sure there's a question on why you should believe me. I'm not a man of philosophy or anything like that; I'm by no means a genius and who say I really know you. Well I just speak what I see and well…you're still listening to me aren't you? For some invisible obligation…that's just your mind telling you something that you refuse to hear. Don't worry though, it'll become clear soon enough…and know that as a fellow Imposter I'm more than willing to hear you out. I am your friend after all."

 

[Eastwood]

Sara snapped out of her self-made melancholy at the sounds of breaking metal, yells, and violence and stood up with a proud grin. "Yeah, go Alicia! Kick their asses!" She laughed as the guards tumbled onto their asses, but she knew that if Alicia didn't get help soon then she would be overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of the enemy. The force that hit the cell door was enough to knock the key out and land onto the dirt on the ground near Sara's cage. She waited for a second, waiting for the guards that were manning her wagon to leave and help their fellows against Alicia, before springing out and trying to grab the key, as she was the tallest of the group in the cage. It was just out of arm's reach, she could almost brush her fingertips along the brass. She forced herself to get it harder, jamming her chest through the bars just to get half an inch closer. She gasped with the effort, but with her fingers curling closed and her landing back inside the cage, she was victorious with the key in hand. She struggled for a moment to jam the key in, a task made difficult with her hands bound but when she did. Her sense of triumph died a moment later as she quickly realized that the key would simply not fit.

Sara watched in growing horror as Alicia did not act like her usual graceful self and instead landed face-first into the dirt surrounded by a literal army, armed with only a broken spear and a doctor with a chain. Her hands wrapped around the bars of the cage, her eyes wide, as she realized that she potentially had front row seats to watch her girlfriend and doctor die.

 

[SilentxChaos]

Flashback​

Open seas, aboard Bloody Aurora
10 years ago

Jack stood on once a fine navy warship, now turned to the finer home of a pirate crew, smiling at the starlit sea. His back itched from the latest tattoo addition and he reached to scratch it when he heard familiar heavy footfalls. His grin broadened.

"So. How's the squirt doing?" A slurred voice asked.

"Not happy but he'll live."

His captain snorted as she leaned backwards on the railing, a green rum bottle clunking against wood. She ran scarred fingers through short white hair as gold eyes stared across the sleeping deck. "Come off. I wasn't that hard on him," Hoshi North snorted with a flap of her hand, "He needs to toughen up."

"You went Full-Armament on him."

"Kid needs to learn."

"It's been three days since he started, captain."

Hoshi raised a black eyebrow at Jack's insolence. The teen turned red and quickly looked away.

"You didn't need three days," she pointed out.

He shrugged. "I'd got training--"

"--I had--"

"--had training before I met you. Experience. Sid's just a kid."

The bottle lowered from lips that didn't drink from it. Jack noticed her staring and fidgeted uncomfortably. "What?" he grumbled.

"You can't protect him forever."

"You can't protect him forever," Hoshi said seriously. Her drunk joviality disappeared as she looked down him, a small frown tilting down thin lips. Jack froze up. He only knew this look when she went into full-general mode. Usually it was during battles and she was directing the crew, or negotiating with another party. To see it now frightened him.

"Sid may be young, but this world shows no mercy to the innocent. He needs to learn to fend for himself, for that day that neither I or the crew or you -- especially you -- won't be there to help him."

Jack looked away. "He's like a brother to me," he mumbled at the railing.

A hand slipped around his shoulders and squeezed them. "I know. But if you let that reason drive your decisions… it won't be you that suffers the most from it.

"It'll be him."

******​

Thieves Guild Hideout, Undisclosed
Five Years Ago

He sat next to the hospital bed, eyes seeing and not seeing his bloody hands. There was a listless look about him: thoughts afar, shoulders slouched in the posture of a man caving in on himself. Can't believe...there's still so much... Almost painfully, Jack looked to up his brother sedated in the bed. Fresh bandages covered Cedric chin to waist, some already bleeding through again. He'd been here a week since the incident. The nurses said he'd pull through- he was strong- and the bleeding was a byproduct of wide, deep wounds that haven't gotten a chance to close. A nightmare caused Sid to thrash, disrupting the delicate process of flesh binding itself back together. Jack knew, he supposed, his brother would wake up eventually. It didn't feel that way.

"Jack?" A voice of warm deception enticed him out of his misery. Jack didn't want that; he kept his head down.

Adelaide knelt in front of him until her face filled his vision. Reluctant, he lifted his head just enough to see her lips. A detached part of him noticed she made her concerned frown too deep.

Someone's throat cleared in the room. Jack stiffened. "What the hell do you want?" he snapped. Adelaide stepped away, expecting Jack to look up at the other occupant on their room. He didn't, at first. His blood burned icy rage in his veins and he was afraid he wouldn't hold it in if he looked up. But the silence lasted too long… taking a deep breath, Jack lifted his head.

Charlotte du Vontiago sat on a little wooden chair in the room's far corner, hands laced around a knee, her expression same as always. Jack noticed she kept extra distance between them and the thought encouraged a smirk. He suppressed it. He stared at her with flinty, barely-contained hatred and waited for her to speak. Her gaze shifted to Cedric.

"How is he--"

"Fine," snapped Jack.

A tiny frown formed on thin lips. He swallowed, reevaluating his hold on his anger. The last time grief and pure, insane rage had gotten the best of him when Charlotte told him the truth. Sid, hunting a rogue W.G. operative at her behest, left with key information missing from his target's portfolio: that the man was a Devil Fruit user. A man that turned into a wolf with Armament claws and an animalistic bloodthirst. Sid went into a fight half-blind and lost because of it. Information that should've been easily obtained....

It was a test, Charlotte had explained in her cold way while Cedric laid half-dead in his bed. A test to see his effectiveness and improvisation in the field. To see if he had what it took to become a full-fledged spy in her services. He'd failed.

It was around then Jack screamed her out of the room.

In truth, Jack thought she wouldn't return. He assumed she was done with them after Cedric's inability to meet her standards, not to mention his unconscious state barred any further usefulness. Deep down Jack was relieved. Cedric needed to be free again.

The fact she was here, now, left his gut in a tangle of anxiety. What could she possibly want now?

She was talking. Jack blinked and refocused on her. "What?"

"I said, when will he be released?"

"Be...released?" Jack scoffed. "Do you see him? It'll be months!"

Charlotte sighed. "Very well. Adelaide contact Victoire. Set up traveling arrangements with her healing mentor in tow--"

"Hold on." Jack stood up just as Adelaide turned towards the door. She paused with a hand on the knob. His eyes flicked to her before settling back on the spymaster. "What are you doing? We don't need your help. Cedric failed-- he's here because of you-- why can't you just leave us alone?"

"Leave you alone? Did you believe I'd abandon my star protege? He made a clinical error, yes, but nothing that can't be prevented in the future. His mission isn't done."

A faint roaring sound met Jack's ears. It was odd, since they weren't near the ocean, and he tried to push it out of his mind. He tried deciphering Charlotte's words. "You're...not letting him go? You're going to send him back out there," the last came out in a strangled gasp and the roaring pounded his eardrums. His own heartbeat, firing in rapid succession of fear and dismay. He began to shake. "Are you insane? He nearly died! He won't survive if you put him back on the Wolf's trail."

"The W.G. operative figured out Cedric was one of my own," Charlotte rebuked as she plucked lint from her skirt, flicking it to the ground. "It threatens me and my own. If the W.G. finds out I was trying to kill one of their own, they'll blame Trovale. I can't have that."

Jack shook his head. His hands twitched into fists, fingers brushing against hidden blades."Cedric won't do it."

"He will if I say so. He's loyal to me. He's loyal to his country. This was his mistake. He needs to clean it up." Jack was still in denial, which prompted Charlotte to add, "And if he doesn't, who do you think will be the first person the Wolf comes after?"

Something snapped. Jack lunged at the spymaster. He had a knife in hand he didn't remember reaching for. Adelaide reached for her whip, but the room was small, and she didn't have time to react as Jack crossed the space. It didn't matter. He stabbed towards the woman's heart. Faster than he could see, the sitting woman grabbed his wrist and yanked hard. He tripped into a wash table, the corner slamming into his cranium. Jack crumpled.

Adelaide twitched, but didn't move from her position.

Standing up, Charlotte kicked Jack's knife away as he tried to swim up from the disorienting pain. A boot pressed down on his throat. Panic flared him into alertness as he struggled against the abusive weight, Armament warping up an arm. He stopped when he saw something small and green in front of his nose. Charlotte's praying mantis. He gasped and focused back up at the spymaster, noticing her holding a card near the candle on the table. She waited until he moved his hands back in surrender before allowing him to sit back up. He coughed, rubbing a bruised throat.

"If you're through, I've given due courtesy to you as his family." When Jack didn't respond, Charlotte put away her summoning card and headed to the door opened by her subordinate. "I'll return within a week and have Cedric return with me to Trovale. You will not be here when I do--"

"Wait," Jack stopped them with the door opened. He glanced at Adelaide, her eyes cautioning, but remained only as she ever was in the presence of Charlotte. He ignored the warning. "Just...wait." Standing up, Jack walked over to the spymaster. They stared at each other, her curious, him hesitant. He wiped blood from his eye and took a deep breath. "Let me take his place instead."

 

[Capt. Blu]

Collab bet'w Captain and Silent​

Location: Trovalian Island, Unknown
Prisoners and On-the-Move

Runali tested her strength against the chains and frowned a bit. She tested it with her haki as well and still nothing. "It's not this I'm worried about." She responded to Sara's calm response. "This, we can get out of. Charlotte's gifting us to the navy which means we need to get out of here before that."

A gust of wind blasted through the congregation surrounding Alicia and Zilia. It felt slick, wrong and familiar against Alicia's exposed skin.

The immediate guard in front of them gasped and gripped his throat. Blood pooled between his fingers as he suddenly collapsed, his jugular slit. He had a saber and dagger on him, in addition to the pistol.

All at once, without warning, a force burst from the forest's edge. Newcomers dressed in worn rags, their faces and bodies covered in a similar fashion to Charlotte's men, crowed Trovalian cries as they attacked the guard. The soldiers reared about, alarmed. The road exploded into battle as shots fired and armament shone black under the sun.

The talkative driver cursed as his rider hopped off, arming his rifle to shoot at the crowd, when the same heavy wind curled through Runali's cage. He stopped, shuddered, and collapsed writhing on the ground while he gripped his throat, struggling to breathe. The driver dropped to the ground, a pool of blood forming around his head and chest. The horses wickered and pawed the ground while the other soldier slowly suffocated. Stardusk watched as the keys Sara couldn't reach detached from the man's belt and bobbed to their door.

The fourth newcomer appeared in whisks of solid wind as she unlocked the cage. Her face, the only one uncovered, gave them a scarred and impish smile of red lips, framed by curly black locks. "Hello Stardusk," Adelaide Summers purred, "did you miss me?"

The sudden turn of events had Runali sitting up as best she could which was harder with Kadi leaning towards the drivers and with Sara scrambling the opposite way. Being pulled in two different directions would have been less of a nuisance had she been able to use her haki and pull them together.

There was a definite chaos happening with all the soldiers scrambling and with the way Sara skittered across the cage. Fortunately when Sara moved she was able to get a clear view of her doctor and first mate surrounded by soldiers and free from the cage. "Ah." Runali said in a sort of realization as to why Sara was in such a panic. Her brow furrowed a bit, not because of the predicament those two were in, but because the rest of the crew hadn't been with them. From her angle, she didn't see any other carts either.

"Alright well, new plan. We take their chaos and make it useful." Before she knew it, there was a swarm of people dressed in a way to mask their identities coming from the trees and cutting down the soldiers. Runali was… admittedly confused by the sudden heroism, but decided not to question it when one of them came to their rescue and freed them. When she realized it was Adelaide, it didn't do too much to answer her growing questions. The moment she was free, Runali rubbed at her wrists before hopping out of the cage. As she passed Adelaide she gave a smirk and responded with, "Not as much as you've missed us I take it."

There wasn't much time to waste as more soldiers began to rush towards the newly opened cage. The captain expected Sara to rush off to Alicia so she didn't bother giving her commands, instead, she picked up a gun off a dead body and tossed it over to Kadi. "On your right!" She dodged out of the way of an oncoming soldier, knocking him out before adding. "Help the ones attacking but keep weary. I don't know where they stand in this."

As the fight went on, Runali ducked and dodged soldiers as if looking for something in particular. And she was. Besides soldiers there wasn't a town name or map or anything in immediate sight which meant they had recently left a town or they were in the middle of nowhere. She mentally cursed and searched the battlefield for Adelaide again. Instead, she found one of Adelaide's… lackeys? Friends? Whatever he was- cornered by four soldiers. She sighed and dashed over, managing to kick one to the side and steal his sword. Before the other three could react she cut them down. "Y'know, I appreciate the help." Runali looked behind her soldier when the last of the three fell. "But I'd appreciate it more if you didn't die." The one she kicked out of the way came running back but she easily maneuvered around him and knocked him unconscious.

"On your feet. Unless you're trying to get killed." Out of kindness she held a hand out to the person. "Who are you guys and what do you have against these guys that'd you'd be willing to help pirates?"

"Thanks," huffed the man as he took the captain's hand. "I don't really want to die either--" he stopped when his eyes finally fell on her, realizing who she was. Hesitation flashed in his eyes while he listened to her. "Can't say helping pirates was in the plan, beggin' your pardon, but if Miss Adelaide thinks you can help-- look out!"

The man yanked Runali out of the way of a crossbow bolt, it lodging into a tree mere inches from her head. He turned in the direction of the shooter only to see the man clawing at a whip pulled tight around his throat. In the next instance he slumped like a ragdoll, a bloody gash spread across his back, and revealing the petite spy behind him. The man next to Runali gave her a nod that she returned before disappearing in whisks of wind to deal with a man sneaking onto Alicia's left.

"Mayhap this isn't the best time for a discussion, captain?" the man asked. He pointed up the road, where more military reinforcements came into view, all horsed and weapons raised. "Let's just say our goals are aligned at the moment. Or, er, enemies. Miss Adelaide can explain better than I can. Name's Gerald by the way."

Runali turned her head to where the bolt had landed and then looked over as the man collapsed not too far away. "Nonsense, you just make the time." Runali didn't seem phased by the narrowly dodged attack as she picked up an abandoned sword. "But I can take that answer for now." She weighed the sword between both hands, mentally reminding herself how to use one. Practicing with haki and her chakram all the time had come first hand, but all the training she did with Alicia and Ray thankfully became muscle memory. "Gerald, yeah?" In one swift but certainly not as graceful movement, the sword was pointed at his chest. "Nice t'meet you. I'm gonna guess you know who we are. I'm also gonna guess you and your friends are smart enough not to cause us more trouble." Despite the threat, she gave him a pleasant look, only to side step and stab the soldier running behind him.

"Thanks," Gerald said again after she slayed the soldier. He thrust at another coming their way, giving an awkward shrug while wrestling his sword of the soldier's stomach. "Long as you aren't goin' to cause us troubles, we'll get along just fine-- you and me, anyways. Can't say for the rest of them."

"Ha! You must not know us very well then. Stardusk is always causing trouble."

He waved his weapon at the crowd, and then grunted when another adversary released an incoherent yell and parried his weapon. A group of soldiers surrounded them, temporarily cutting off any further talk. Beyond their part of the battleground, Runali caught a glimpse of beefy soldiers wielding axes circling Sara, taunting her endlessly. Adelaide cycled between Zilia and Alicia as the fighting separated them; occasionally, she threw her wind to mix with Alicia's, or pulled a soldier out of the fray that seemed gun-ho to attack the doctor. The fighting was thickest there with the raggidity newcomers doing their best to force their way to the pirate pair.

On the other side of the field, a thin woman with slanted eyes and a squat companion set themselves up near Kadi, offering him a longer-range weapon in addition to his pistol as they sniped off soldiers who straddled the side of the road. They turned their attention to the horsed platoon as they thundered down the road, cracks of fire heating up the air. Everyone on foot was forced to move out of the way of the stampede.

Gerald threw himself away from one rider, skidding a good foot away before landing face-first in the dirt. He coughed and cursed, pushing himself up as his face cloth fell away, having come undone after being dragged between the ground and Gerald's skin. It revealed a face that was neither too handsome or too homely. It was a narrow face that looked gaunter than it was thanks to an aggressive five o'clock shadow. Bright blue eyes peered beneath a brow hidden by shaggy dark bangs. His nose was long and thin, accenting a soft mouth. His skin was weathered and a dark tan from years spent under the sun. He looked like a farmer more than a fighter.

Wiping away blood from a split lip, he glowered at the riders, which made him appear petulant, and waved at Runali to get her attention. "Pirate captain! Gotta deal with these riders. Try not to harm the horses, would you? They'll be useful for getting back to Oublia before nightfall."

"Lotta people with weapons. Probably shouldn't stay here too long." Runali was mumbling more to herself than Gerald as she watched the riders' movements. She took several steps back as one diverted their attention to her new companion. When she was sure he was alright, Runali focused on the rider that targeted her. "Don't hurt the horse. Easy. Don't hurt the person? Not so much." She was confident when it came to not injuring animals, but she wasn't too sure how to stop a charging horse. Fortunately, this was nothing like the stampede she caused as a child. Quick thinking and improvising caused her to grab a spear lying on the ground and raise it in the air. Before the horse got close enough, she slammed the spear into the ground causing it to snap in half with a loud 'crack', spooking the horse in turn. It reared back and Runali used the opportunity to yank the soldier off the horse and knock him out. She was going to call out some quip about it being easy or even tell him to catch the horse, but others were quick to come after her.

"M'not gonna have enough spears for that trick. Don't s'pose you all will make things easier and I dunno, not attack?"

There were snide comments passed between the soliders and some rather unpleasant spoken to Runali.

"Ah, yeah. Didn't think so." With armament covered arms, she lunged into action.

******​

It took a minute for the soldiers to see they'd lost the battle. The few remaining started to head up the road, or back towards the woods, only to be shot down, slashed, or suffocated by Adelaide. Her and her fighting group ensured none escaped as Stardusk reunited. Once that was done, she made a circling gesture in the air and they began pulling the bodies and debris off the road, stockpiling weapons as they did. Gerald walked up to her and they spoke briefly, then came over to the pirates.

Gerald gave a crooked smile, his breath still coming fast from adrenaline, and gave them a nod. "You pirates fight good. Even without your special weapons."

Unhooking a bag that he had slung across his chest, he handed it over to Zilia. "I'm guessing you're the doctor, given you're the quietest. Basic first aid stuff in there. We got a whole infirmary back in town you're welcome to, and I'm a fair steady hand. Lemme know if you need me, yeah?"

As he talked, Adelaide came to stand between Kadi and Sara, clapping the Pathfinder on the back. "Nice shots, Pathfinder," she grinned and surveyed the crew. The smile fell when she took stock of their numbers. "Where's Sid? And Luro?"

Runali stretched out her shoulder as she waited for the rest of the group to convene. She managed to avoid major injury- though for Runali and Zilia 'major' was on two different spectrums. She examined a few cuts and bruises she had, but ignored them as Gerald and Adelaide came over. "Fighting's like one of the three things you need to know how to do when you're a pirate. We'd be a sad crew if we didn't."

The captain was a few steps back from the crowd, taking a moment to examine everyone. They were all alive, but they weren't all accounted for. Kadi, Sara, Zilia and Alicia… And Runali looked around as far as she could to see if there were any other cages about. So when Adelaide confirmed that Cedric and Luro were nowhere in sight, she ran fingers through her hair and sighed. "Guess they didn't get the invitation. But I'm betting wherever they are, Jack's close by." Her arms crossed. "Speaking of," Her attention turned to Adelaide fully, "Where exactly are we? Last thing I remember is being on my ship, being interrogated and then waking up here. Don't s'pose you can fill in a few gaps for me?"

The spy's face hardened. "She has Cedric?" The 'she', in question, was obvious. Adelaide's eyes began to unfocus, her thoughts rapid firing, when just as fast she snapped back to Runali. "'Gaps'? How are you-- what has Jack told you?"

"Not enough- which seems to be the theme between spies." Runali looked around again, taking a moment to recollect her own thoughts. "Not much to tell that you don't know. Charlotte wanted us to be on her side- more than likely to throw us to the dogs later. Let's see… Cedric offered to take Jack's place but that was after Jack put a gun to my head." She made a gun with her hand and pointed it at her temple to illustrate it. "That was before the lady spy decided to talk of course. We were on my ship then." Her brow furrowed a bit more in realization. She took a step, turning her back to them and letting out a loud whistle. She waited and looked up at the sky. She whistled again and still nothing. "Luro, Cedric, and Coral. That's three missing... Not to mention my ship.." Runali looked over her shoulder at Adelaide, repeating her previous question. "Where are we?"

"Trovale. Three miles south of Oublia." Somewhere amidst the captain's explanation, a shift occurred in Adelaide. She lost her mischievous air, replaced by something cold and calculating. The lines around her mouth hardened and her eyes narrowed. She looked like a sergeant, coming across distasteful information and trying to plan her next move. Her eyes shifted, like she was reading some invisible text floating in front of her. She huffed. "You have 15 minutes before we move. Get patched up. Ask your questions now. I'll answer them once we're on the road."

 

[SilentxChaos]

Collab bet'w Fox and Silent​

​

Tick-tick. The gleaming pendulum clock above the fireplace marked the passage of time with a frantic efficiency. One that reminded Cedric just how long he had been left alone. They reached the Spymaster's office around one that afternoon. He recalled it was fast approaching seven when he checked fifteen minutes ago. He didn't appreciate languishing around for six hours without any company. He suspected his aeters had been locked away since his familiars were nowhere to be seen.

He wanted to read, but commercial records weren't his cup of tea. They were simply pages upon pages of mind numbing numbers. He looked out the window once more. The dearth of reading material struck him as very odd. The Charlotte he knew kept a novel in her side drawer. This must be one of her sacrifices for the good of the country, he thought snidely.

He sighed as he cradled his chin in his hand. Currently, he was curled up on the ledge in front of a towering window. Both of his feet pressed against the other end of the window frame. A sitting position that Charlotte would disapprove of. A civilised person sits on a chair, he could hear her admonishing. He imagined it would be said in that cool, disdainful tone she always used when she chastised people.

A soft knock on the door startled him. He leaped off and attempted to straighten his shirt. He stopped abruptly, realising it wasn't necessary. His sleeveless top hugged his thin frame so tightly that it wouldn't crumple. He sighed. He hated remembering how underdressed he was. It made him feel even more vulnerable.

"Puis-je entrer, monsieur?" a maid asked politely.

Sid let out a soft hiss. Oh, it was just the maid wishing to enter the room. He felt the tension leaving him. He thought that it was Charlotte for a moment there. Given the time, he assumed his "boss" was sending him a message to explain her prolonged absence. "Oui," he replied as nonchalantly as possible.

He watched as she entered the room pushing a trolley. He spotted a gold-rimmed porcelain tea set for two and a plate of biscuits sitting on it. He inquired politely. "Madame Vontigo retourne-t-elle à son bureau bientôt?" (Is Madam Vontigo returning soon?)

"I'm here." The Spymaster stood quietly behind the maid.

"Madame Vontiago," the maid cried, curtsying quickly.

Sid remained silent as the young woman scrambled about nervously. As soon as she was gone, he greeted his former teacher. "Good evening, Madam," he said with a bow. "Would you like me to pour you a cup of tea?"

It was a given that he'd have to serve her. She was his superior in every way. He waited for her to give him the smallest nod before he picked up the tea pot. As Cedric added sugar and placed a lemon wedge on the side, his mind turned to his brother. He couldn't help worrying about Jack. Cedric had a sinking feeling that Jack was prepared to die if it meant atoning for his sins. He bit the side of his lower lip. That mustn't happen. Jack will live no matter what.

"Comme tu l'aimes, Madame," he spoke reverently as he offered her the teacup balanced on the delicate saucer. "I hope it's still the way you like it."

While Sid poured the tea, Charlotte threw down a stack of papers that splayed across her neat desk and went to the window. The papers were court notes; it was a thing of irony to be planning the biggest disruption of your country's history, and still must play the part in mundane meetings and court appearances. She crossed her arms and gazed out. The royal garden accented her view, with a fountain and courtyard directly below, then a leisure hedge maze stretching out beyond. Her eyes didn't focus on the gardens, but to the distant fields and horizon. The mountainous ridge was a dark blue silhouette against the darkening sky. When Sid came up with the tea, she took it with another nod of thanks and sipped it. "It's fine," she said. It was exactly the way she took it for the last 30 years. She motioned for them to sit.

He helped her pull two chairs over. He waited for her to be comfortably seated before he lowered himself into the chair opposite hers. There were new silvery lines running along her face. They gleamed like gossamer threads in the dying light. He averted his eyes politely. Charlotte, even though she wasn't vain by Trovalian standards, was as fastidious over her appearance as any of the gentry. To stare too long would imply she was looking anything but her best. It was considered a grave insult.

Honestly, his mentor looked even more haggard than she did back in the carriage. He wondered if something must have happened after they returned. He was tempted to ask, but he didn't. He had to adhere to many rules governing their interaction. Rules that dictate how he should behave around his social superiors.

Charlotte played with her tea for a moment, using it to collect her thoughts. Her eyes flicked up at Sid. Amusement made a wiry curve of her mouth, noting his observance of the courtesy rules she'd taught him so many years ago. It vanished as quickly as it came. The subtlest shift snapped her jaw faster than a band snapping in two as she went from reminiscing to business. "Cedric. The plot you've agreed to participate in is more than a disagreement of politics. It's coup d'etat, orchestrated by the noble houses that back me. The King refuses to hear their voice and without their financial support, the nation's infrastructure will fail. A civil war brews in the shadows."

Cedric tried not to let his surprise show. He glanced briefly at the clock to hide his discomfort. His thoughts were interrupted when he heard Charlotte's teacup clinking against the saucer. A slight frown deepened the lines across her brow. She was staring at him. He shifted slightly, realising he hadn't been too discreet. "Pardon, Madame," he uttered softly. "Continuez s'il vous plaît" (Sorry Madam. Please continue.)

"The royal family will continue the king's plan, in honor of his memory, if he alones dies. Your target isn't only him-- it's all of them."

She held out a hand to indicate he should wait before speaking. Cedric pressed his lips into a thin line. He didn't like where this was going. He could harden his heart enough to assassinate the king and queen, but he could never bring himself to harm Celestine. The princess was only a child.

"That's why it's important for you to be close once the pirates attack. And they will attack, if only to save you and their friend. The Trovalian houses believe secession from the World Government is our best hope, but even they agree that pitting a war against them is suicide. Trovale has neither the means or manpower to defeat the W.G. in a war. You cannot impersonate a naval officer-- it incites conflict we possess no hope of winning. However, there's the identity we reserved for the Jackal you can adopt instead."

Cedric arched an eyebrow. He waited for her to continue, but she wanted him to speak. Her expectation weighed him down. He wrecked his brains for a moment before the answer hit him. There was only one person whom he could replace without arousing suspicion. "I thought for a moment that you wanted me to impersonate Lady Noailles," he spoke wryly. "Then I realised my brother would never pull off such an impersonation so easily. He lacks the graces of your other protege."

He saw the smallest hints of a smile and the air lightened slightly. He reached over mechanically and refilled Charlotte's teacup. He added just the right amount of sugar to keep it pleasantly sweet. "Madame," he said a little more seriously. "I assume you want me to impersonate the Princess' head tutor, Master Orléans. He fits the criteria you are looking for."

She nodded.

"What shall we do with the real Master Orléans in the meantime?" he asked finally. He knew the answer but he needed confirmation. Noticing Charlotte inclining her head towards the biscuits, Sid picked up one of the side plates and added several biscuits to it. He passed it to her.

"You needn't worry about him," Charlotte admitted as she dunk the biscuit in her tea. Instead of eating it, she swirled it around then placed it on the saucer's edge. She took another sip before continuing. "The Master's schedule allows for a two-day reprieve so he may work on his private study while the princess attends her duties. Today's the last day before her learning continues-- which you'll pick up tomorrow. The itinerary and lesson plans are in there. Orléans is currently removed and sedated, under guard. He'll be fine."

Another sip, and she lowered the cup to nestle in her hand while her eyes focused on Cedric. A student, a prodigy… he looked as young as the day he finally came to her doorstep, in her old eyes. A maturity set his shoulders but she couldn't help but think his eyes were as stubborn as ever. Her head inclined forward and tilted to the side, a doubtful and inquiring look boring into him. "You've taken quite easily to your situation thus far, despite what I've done," Charlotte observed, neither guilty or harsh, "Your brother blamed for genocide, your supposed friends manipulated into suicide. Asked to murder your king and queen. All for a plot you learned just now. If we're to continue this relationship, Cedric, I demand your honest emotions. I won't have you stabbing me in the back."

He half-expected her to ask this very question hours ago. She allowed too much time to lapse, so he had more than ample time to rehearse. Had he really remained her favourite after all this time? It was the only explanation as to why she was so lenient. Cedric allowed his face to soften.

"You gave me your word that Jack will leave Trovale alive," he reminded her. "That promise is more than enough to bind me to you."

He paused long enough to take a much needed sip. He hadn't realised how dry his mouth had gotten. He found some joy in the fact that his hands weren't trembling as badly as they should. He needed her to believe him. "I don't regret my decisions. You taught me all that I know including politics. Given that we are at the brink of civil war. Everyone has their part to play."

He placed his cup and saucer onto the table. Folding his hands in his lap, he looked his mentor in the eye. "I'll do what I feel is best for our country."

They paused. A hauntingly beautiful melody came clockwork Gris perched on the clock. 8 pm. Dinnertime for the royal family. He tilted his head forward politely. "Are you joining their majesties this evening?"

The Spymaster lowered her eyes into a half-lidded stare. She hadn't missed the careful phrasing of his statement. She suspected no less from him. "Yes. The royal family will be dining privately with their advisors tonight." Her legs recrossed once and she set her tea down.

He stood up first. Bowing gracefully, he offered her his hand. Again, it was all part of the courtly etiquette she drilled into him. "I shall not keep you any longer, Madame. You have my word. I'll do what's best, even if it's the hardest choice I need to make."

Charlotte took his hand by the wrist, her grip surprisingly strong with calloused and hard skin. "You'll make the only choice given to you, Cedric. Do remember your brother's life depends on that." She stared at him until she felt her message was heard then released his wrist. She was too the door way before she paused and called him. When he turned, one of her guards present beyond the door leaned into the room to toss a leather bag at him. Inside were his two aeters and other effects taken when Stardusk fell beneath to Charlotte's spell. "If you succeed, I might consider giving back the third one you stole. If you prove worthy of it." She added, "Is that all?"

"As for the Stardusk …" he trailed off. He wished to avoid talking about them, but she insisted. He could tell from her tone. He mulled over his answer, as he followed her towards the door. "I'm in no position to advise you, but I prefer if we leave them be. They're a crew that fell an armada and escaped the clutches of Kane'Artem. Their accomplishments certainly rival that of Madame Rêveuse in her youth."

He opened the door for the noblewoman. "Please reconsider angering them, Madame. They won't forgive anyone for hurting one of their own."

The Spymaster made one long slow and dismissive blink. "Your concern is duly noted, Cedric. You're dismissed."

Closing the door behind him, Cedric walked back to the window. He threw it open and inhaled the cool air. The evening was much colder than what he experienced the past few weeks. He shivered. Running a hand down his forearm, he felt tiny goose pimples forming on the exposed skin.

He forgot how cold Trovale was. Their hottest summer day wouldn't even be considered the coldest day in Jaipur. That's what he gleaned from his conversations with Kadi. He never visited Jaipur before, so he'd have to assume that the navigator was right.

Cedric sat down on the ledge and untied the pouch Charlotte foisted into his hands. Inside was an assortment of bronze and silver coin; enough for his next two meals. He tucked the money into his pocket, put on his earrings and stood up. He stretched while deciding where to go next; then in a blink of an eye he was gone. Only fluttering curtains and the second teacup proved that he'd ever been in the room.

 

[Eastwood]

Sara pushed past Adalaide who had opened her cell door without even a passing glance and rushed towards Alicia and Zillia as well as the group of soldiers surrounding them. Her arms still shackled, she leapt into the air and drop kicked the back of one of the soldiers, knocking both of them to the ground. Sara scrambled to her feet, picked up his dropped cutlass in both hands, and slew him with one stab through the heart before moving closer to her surrounded crewmates. With the momentum now on Stardusk's side, it was easy enough to fight off their would-be guards. Sara, using her cutlass, focused on blocking and parrying all blows that came to the three women. All she had to do was stall and let their rescuers do most of the heavy lifting.

Alicia looked to her side the moment Zilia arrived next to her, brow furrowing slightly before her features softened as she accepted the good doctor was willing to support her. She'd chosen not to include her initially not for any reason than to prevent her coming to harm, Zilia was perhaps the most important person on the crew and having her in harm's way wasn't something she could pretend was a good idea Nevertheless she wouldn't dismiss her, especially given the situation as it was.

Adjusting her grip on the broken spear she would wield it upward in a swift arch, a flash of bright light passing over Zilia's shackles freeing them from her wrists allowing her a greater degree of movement for the imminent fight. "Thank you for joining me doctor." she spoke before turning her attention back towards the guard bearing down on their position.

It took Zilia a moment to register what was happening around her, she remembered being surrounded at one point. Then the man in front of them died by some invisible means her eyes moving to Alicia for answers only for two guards to go flying past her as Sara joined the fray. Instant relief flooded over Zilia and she took her spot in their three person struggle, with a moment free thanks to the chaos her eyes quickly moved over the others, everyone was free, Adelaide was here and they weren't dead. She wasn't sure how to fit this part into the chronicle, even replaying it in her head it seemed embellished, but guards were falling left and right save the ones staring them in the eyes.
She looked at Sara then Alicia and gave a nod before sliding the foot with the chain wrapped around it back a little.
She would send the chain out between Sara's parries to ensure what small openings came weren't exploited, maintaining a safe distance knowing allowing one guard to get close would lessen her chances of survival.

The swordswoman was still at a disadvantage without her sword and so would pick her movements with more care, swinging wide arcs of air out to create space for Sara to seize advantages and take the initiative. She was careful to be on the lookout for their blind spots, parrying and intercepting attacks that might otherwise blindside the gladiator and the doctor. The eruption of chaos with the arrival of others allowed them to steal the advantage, albeit the confusion made it difficult to discern friend from foe.

Once it was all over, Sara dropped her sword and went around the guards, looking for the keys to the manacles. Once she found them, she unlocked her own first before going around the rest of the group and unlocking their bindings. When she got to Alicia, she saw that she had already broken out of her cuffs and judging by the thick red band around her wrists, it wasn't painless. Her eyes narrowed as she stepped closer to her. "Alicia." Sara said, getting her attention before flicking her squarely on the forehead.

When the fight had finished Alicia exhaled a short breath, aiming the spear tip towards the ground before allowing it to stick into the dirt beside her. She had many questions but it seemed they would have to wait for now, turning her attention towards Sara as she approached. She was about to open her mouth to say something before she felt fingers flick against her forehead, causing her to flinch before reaching up to rub the area as her cheeks flustered, "H-hey! What was that for?" she protested.

Sara seemed to loom over Alicia, using her one-inch height advantage for everything that it was worth, with her hands rested on her hips. Sara ignored her protests but some small part of her thought the red flushing to Alicia's cheeks was endearingly cute. "That was for doing a monumentally stupid thing. Breaking out of a caged cell, by yourself without telling anyone, with no weapon or any real plan while being surrounded by around a dozen guards." She reached down and grabbed a firm but gentle grip on Alicia's arms. " And you had to hurt yourself in the process. I expect that from Luro, maybe Runali too, but definitely not from you. If Adalaide hadn't come, you and Zillie could have been hurt, or worse." Sara's tone and expression softened and genuine concern appeared in her eyes. Her hands moved up Alicia's arms to her hands and gently held them in her own hands. "Alicia, you shouldn't have to hurt yourself to help everyone. You're not alone, let us help you. Let me help you. I don't want to see you get hurt or killed for our sakes'."

Alicia furrowed her brow at first and a few times made attempts to interrupt her before giving up and accepting the reprimand from the Gladiator, releasing a short sigh. "I had to do something, if Adelaide hadn't turned up there was no telling what would happen to us. A little pain is a small price to chance freedom and survival, although… I will 'try' to be more careful next time, I promise." she replied with a small smile before her brow raised, "Flicking me was unnecessary though… "

Sara sighed and gently squeezed her hands before letting go and persisted in a calmer tone. "If Adelaide hadn't come, you would've died in front of me, a flick was a fair exchange for the heart attack that you gave me. You should have waited until we came up with a plan together. We're a team, a crew, all of us, and we have to function as a team. You're First Mate, you should know that. And I'll hold you to that promise." She smiled back, but not in the same way that Alicia smiled at her. She leaned closer to her and whispered something in her ear before kissing her on the cheek and flashing a grin at her. Sara then turned to Zillia and showed her her bleeding right arm. "I took a small nick in that melee, can you please patch me up, dear?" She smiled at her, glad to see that the small doctor wasn't hurt.

Zilia watched the exchange between the two finding something oddly familiar about it that bothered her. Whatever it was she pushed it aside instead closing her eyes and staying away to give the two their moment, rubbing her wrists as she took in her freedom once more. A part of her understood Sara's worry, more than she cared to admit but she looked over at Alicia appreciative of her efforts towards Stardusk. She kept these feelings and thoughts to herself however instead turning her attention towards everyone else to ensure they were safe.
"...I'm not wholly pleased that the general consensus is that I couldn't handle the situation alongside Alicia...but unfortunately I have no real way to dispute it...as there is fact to it."

Offering a small nod to Adelaide for her assistance that didn't go unnoticed, Zilia's eyes narrowed a bit noticing that there were a few missing from their crew. She was pulled from her observation however at Sara's words, the doctor making her way over to her handing a note to Alicia as she passed her. She wasted little time dealing with Sara's wounds, she would work her way to the others and she didn't intend on being gentle with the Captain.
"When we retrieve the ship Alicia...and I mean 'when' I'm going to show you how to properly break a spear. If you would like of course, I figured I would save you the smug looks from Sara at your attempts."

Alicia could have brought up some reasonable points to rebuttal Sara's words, but instead she sighed and nodded. She might have gone to check on everyone else at that moment had Sara not whispered something to her which made her light up like a strawberry, "Sara that is not! You mustn't… stop making jokes." she huffed before noticing Zilia's note which was a more than welcome distraction as she read it over before her eyebrows raised, looking towards the Doctor. "That's be most welcome Zilia, although let us hope I never need it." she replied before looking past Sara and Zilia towards the rest of the liberated crew. "Come, let's get everyone together and find out where we go from here. Hopefully Runali has a plan… if not, I'm certain one is about to be made." she added before glancing at her burned wrists one last time.