"Kill them all." Madam Spark ordered at her henchmen. "Oh I really wish you hadn't said that." Ace sighed and moved towards the gangway, pulling out his pistol. His silhouette held tall over the boat and He quickly snapped his aim to the largest of the thugs and pulling the trigger. The bullet hit the towering man in the head with a sickening crunch and his lifeless body flipped into the sea below. The other henchman barely flinched and continued stomping up the gangway, menace in their faces. Red Eye's ice was slowing them down a little, but these men were well trained and it didn't take them long to reach the summit where Ace stood, with his rapier out glinting dangerously in the low moonlight. "Blast! What are you waiting for!?" Ace barked over his shoulder. "Get us out of here now!" And with that Ace snaked low as the first thug charged, twirling around as his rapier struck with venom.
"I could probably freeze three or four of them at once," Tolliver whispered back to Cephilia. "But I don't want to hurt my mother. She's not exactly a likeable person, but she still gave birth to me. That counts for something." That said, Tolliver narrowed his eyes and four of Madam Spark's men were instantly paralyzed, including the one that Ace was attempting to stab. His sword went right through him without any resistance. The other three men stopped walking and glanced nervusly from their frozen comrades to Madam Spark, awaiting her orders. "We're just after the map Madame, killing anyone is my last priority." Madam Spark gave Sally a cold, icy glare. "Do you know who I am?" she said calmly. "Do you honestly believe holding my youngest son hostage will stop me? Even if you get away, I will hunt you to the ends of Terra. The Lost Treasure belongs to me, it's a part of my heritage! I will kill you all for this!" She jumped up and down in her rage, her shiny black hair flying in her face and her hands clenched into tight fists. "Careful, your crazy is showing," Billy Bones grumbled. Then he turned to the other pirates and added, "Blast told me that she has that bi-poor-lizard disease, the one that makes you sad and happy at the drop of a hat." "A very serious disease, that one," Anya commented. "Enough!" Madam Spark shrilled. She turned back to the three men that weren't frozen with a wild look in her eyes. "Go! Kill them! Now!" They took out guns and started to cock them to shoot. Captain Blast was back on the Vengeful Maiden, reeling up the anchor. "Everyone!" he shouted to his crew. "I think now is as good a time as any to make our exit!"
Sally moved quickly, sticking low to the ground and behind the wooden barrier. It didn't provide much protection, but it would either keep her hidden or break her silhouette. Just as she was half way down the ship, near the mast, she took the dagger from her boot and started to cut the rope, getting half way through before deciding to move on. With it weakened, there was the chance that it would snap and the ship would be left useless till repaired. Once that was done, she continued her rushed crawl, pulling herself upright and into a full sprint as she made it to the gangplank, it providing too little cover to justify staying on longer than needed. It was then a cruel smile spread across the smugglers face as she an idea sprung to mind. When aboard Blast's ship she went to the side once more, aiming her rifle at Spark. Not at her organs or any particularly vital parts. Instead, she took an aim at the woman's high heeled boots. Time to see if she could keep on jumping with only half the stability. Sally took a deep breath, the fired.
With rifle-woman distracting Mother Blast, there are only three men left. Now we’re talking. I never enjoy combat, it is always sad to take another man’s life, but there’s a part of me that cannot help but be excited. After three years on a witch-infested island with people with animal heads walking around like it’s normal, it felt almost good to be back fighting armed thugs. And us against three of those overdeveloped lumps of muscle? I’ve faced worse odds by myself. Now I have a crazy adventurer, a human ice age and my renegade lady by my side. From the way things look it’ll probably be a simple escort mission. After what Tolly-boy did to his mother’s men I have a feeling he’ll be coming with us. If I can get those big bullies to focus on me, Cephilia should have no problem getting him out. The weapons they just cocked are basic one-shot hand pistols, nothing my shield can’t handle. In fact, even my armour could probably take a hit from one of those things. No reason why they shouldn’t waste the three bullets they have on me. I can’t tell what mr. Hawking is up to, but most of the others are already starting to move towards the ship. So instead, I charge at the nearest un-paralyzed bad guy shield first, preparing myself for incoming fire from all three and readying myself for an attack as soon as I reach him. As for the other two, I’ll just have to hope the others take care of them before they can surround me.
Elva stood on the guardrail of the Vengeful Maiden and calmly surveyed the desperate scene. Without a word, she raised her slim hands and they began to glow with a brilliant silver-blue nimbus. Her huge green eyes and the crescent moon tattoo on her forehead also started to glow fiercely. She waved her hands elegantly and, at the same, her short brown hair and her clothes started to ruffle in a non-existent wind. Above her head, three sprites appeared in a flash. They had glowing blue skin, little horns, and sharp fingers. Although they didn't have wings, they hovered in the air as if they were swimming under water. "Distract the pirates!" Elva ordered like a general talking to her soldiers. The sprites made excited chattering noises like squirrels and flew at Madam Spark's pirates, biting their hands, slapping their faces, pinching their necks, and just being all-around nuisances. "You messed with the wrong gypsy," Elva said with a smug grin.
The muscled henchman tried to shoot at Adam, but their bullets were deflected. One of them was shot in the neck and fell into the water. The other two were prepared to simply pick up Adam and fling him overboard, but then the sprites arrived and began tormenting them. They were too distracted to fight and they swatted angrily at the flying blue creatures. Madam Spark noticed that Sally was aiming for her and dove into an impressive series of rolls, flips, and somersaults, and Sally's bullet glanced harmlessly off the cobblestones. Spark leaped nimbly onto a pile of crates and used it as a jumping off point to bound onto the Candy Stripe. She landed on the guardrail, wobbled a bit, but quickly regained her balance. Then she spit on her hands and grabbed a rope that was dangling overhead and used it to swing onto the Vengeful Maiden. Anya tried to throw a knife at her, but she missed by an inch, and Billy Bones shot twice and also missed. Madam Spark dropped down next to the steering wheel and unsheathed her sword. Her eyes were wild and she was baring her teeth like a crazed animal. "That map is mine!" she snarled. At the same time, the ocean started to bubble and froth on the side of the Vengeful Maiden. It became more violent by the moment and the ship began to rock gently.
As he observed from his hiding place behind some abandoned crates, Red Eye couldn't help but feel a little disappointed that his impromptu ice slick had no effect on the pirates whatsoever. That much slime and ice should have sent several of them sliding into the sea, or at least into a faceful of fish guts. Ah well, no point in wishful thinking. He took another look around the docks. Not much caught his eye; the only cargo left unattended was of the variety of garbage even pirates wouldn't steal. Even the crates he was hiding behind seemed to mostly be filled with scrap metal and rusty bits of wire... Not much help here. ...Or was it? His gaze slid to the large pipes sticking out of the back of the Candy Stripe. There was no way of knowing what they were for, but they were probably important. And, with the help of the crates, well within reach. He smiled. It was without too much effort that he had soon emptied the metal garbage down all but one of the pipes. The refuse made quite a din as it clattered down into the bowels of the ship, clanging, banging, and crashing as it no doubt caught on objects of some importance; but such a commotion was coming from the deck that no one seemed to notice. At last he prepared the final touch: another barrel of rotting fish, a sibling to the first, he propped against the last empty tube and began to lift. It was most of the way up when a sudden swell from the direction of the Maiden gave the Candy stripe a little shove. Red Eye's thick ice kept the ship from moving more than an inch or so, but it was enough to upset the barrel. The heavy container slipped from his grip and lodged itself firmly in the pipe, its contents continuing to slither down further inside. After eyeing it for a moment, Red Eye shrugged to himself and made his way quickly back towards the Vengeful Maiden.
With those foul creatures attacking the remaining two pirates, my distraction is no longer necessary. I walk to the other paralyzed men, belt their pistols, and walk to the side of the ship where the third man fell down. Apparently mister Red Eye had done his business down there, and the ice prevented his fall from being a soft one. It’s not too far down, but the neck wound was fatal. I aim a pistol at his head and pull the trigger. Guns may not be my thing, but nobody deserves to die like that. Then I walk up to the man Ace stabbed and repeat. I kneel down, close his eyes and say a quick prayer. This battle is over. "That map is mine!" Or is it? That woman is pretty spry for her age. I toss the remaining pistol to Ace and turn to face this very inconveniently placed threat. This is not going to be easy, is it?
Cephilia released Tolliver the moment it was clear this ‘hostage’ was of no use. Spark would kill him just as quickly as she’d kill any of them. Some great mother you turned out to be, Cephilia thought as she released Tolliver and pointed toward the Vengeful Maiden. “I suppose the show’s over,” she said. “Time to go.” Unfortunately, the situation exploded before she could rush off with him. Cephilia ducked back into cover when the guns came out, but the men were easily dispatched by Adam and a trio of spirits. Looking toward the Maiden’s railing, Cephilia spotted Elva --a new, glowing version of Elva-- practicing her unique brand of sorcery. She quickly waved at the girl before emerging from cover and dashing toward the Maiden, just as Madame Spark arrived on deck. Cephilia skidded to a halt. “That map is mine,” the woman howled. “Your sons would beg to differ,” Cephilia said as she crossed the gangplank. Looking down, she saw the ice packed tightly around the Candy Stripe’s hull. That ship wasn’t going anywhere, at least not fast enough to chase the Vengeful Maiden. The noblewoman grinned. “Tolliver, give me a hand,” she said. “I don’t want to hurt your mom…. Just send her for a swim, maybe.” This could be over in an instant if he would simply immobilize Spark. Then it would be a simple matter of chucking the woman overboard and hightailing it outta Pirate Bay.
"Sure," Tolliver told Cephilia. Then he turned to his mom and raised his hand. A sad look came over his face, but his mouth was set in a determined line. "I'm sorry, mother," he said, "but I can't be your personal servant forever." He flicked his fingers and Madam Spark barely managed to let out a squeak of indignation before she was completely paralyzed. Anya and Billy Bones ran across the gangplank onto the Vengeful Maiden with Anya in the lead. She was half-way across when the bubbling water became so violent that she almost fell off. Billy Bones gave her a shove and she stumbled forward onto the deck of the Maiden...but the midget did not follow her. He stood still in the middle of the gangplank and stared down at the choppy waters. His eyes closed and they could see his pupils rapidly looking back and forth, just like every other time he had a vision of death. "So, this is how I go," Billy Bones murmured with a slight grin. Then the ocean exploded and a huge gray shape shot out of the water between the two boats, the same mysterious shape they had seen on their way to Pirate Bay. A long yellow-brown horn extended from the top of the creature and it impaled Billy Bones straight through the chest. He gasped and died instantly. "NOOOO!!" Captain Blast screamed hoarsely. The gray monster looked like a whale with a bulbous forehead and large black eyes on each side of its head. Its grinning mouth was full of sharp yellowing teeth and, clinging to the tall fin on its back, was the Kelpie that had attacked them before: Syra. Syra frowned up at Billy Bones' lifeless corpse and said something to the horned whale in a garbled language. The creature responded with a deep groan and flicked its horn, sending Billy Bones flying high into the air, over the Vengeful Maiden's mast, and plopping into the ocean on the other side like an insignificant pebble. "I'm back kiddies!" Syra called down to the pirates with a vicious smile. Her thick green dreadlocks writhed around her in a frenzy and her skin was bright pink with rotating yellow spirals all over it. The severed dreadlocks had grown back and the deep wounds from before had also regenerated. Syra twiddled her fingers at Captain Blast and winked like a show girl at a burlesque club, a salacious grin splitting her face. "How are you...babe?" When she said 'babe', her voice became like warm liquid sunshine and Captain Blast's expression changed from traumatized to hopelessly in love. Anya scowled and shouted, "Oh, hell no!" She aimed and threw a knife at the Kelpie, but one of Syra's dreadlocks caught the blade and tossed it right back at her. Anya tried to roll and dodge, but the knife glanced off her thigh and she dropped heavily to the ground, hissing and cradling the wound. "The canons!" Tolliver screamed. He looked scared out of his mind and he was hiding behind a barrel, holding his poetry book over his head like a helmet. "Someone shoot that whale thing with the canons!"
Red Eye was back on board the Maiden with a leap, tuck and roll. He froze when he saw Madame Spark at the wheel; but before he could unload a shot or two from his pistol she shuddered and suddenly froze in place. The work of ...Tolliver, apparently? whoever that was. At least he was fighting for their side, for whatever reason. Red Eye shot him a quick grin and a salute before dashing to the cannons. He was technically gunnery officer, after all. And what better way to join the party? He made his way down the line of cannons, preparing each one as he passed. Prep, load, aim, light; moving on before the fuses had burned down. He could be haphazard and quick; after all, the Candy Stripe was right alongside them. He was loading the barrel of the third cannon when Billy Bones stopped dead in the middle of the gangplank. He was lighting the fuse when he died. "You damn fool!" Red Eye was off and running, but he knew it was already too late. Bones' jaw was slack as he hung from the creature's horn, his face still wearing that weary, relieved smile. Then the beast tossed its head and the body was lost to the ocean. Astride it rode the selkie, grinning like a child who's just won a prize. Her voice fell dulcet on the ears of the captain, morphing his expression from rage and grief to goofy infatuation. "Oh, no you don't." Red Eye stepped behind the captain and boxed the man's ears. He was far from gentle. If he didn't knock the man silly, he at least ought to have rung the siren song right out of his head. He didn't wait around to find out. "Hey, Tolly!" he called to the man in brown. "You try that gift of yours on our friends here! Slow down those tentacles!" He glanced quickly around the deck, hunting for allies. Cephilia was the first to catch his attention. "And if you don't mind, milady, I could use a hand in tying some knots." The first of the cannon fuses had almost burned all the way down, and that sea beast was parked right in front of them. Red Eye smiled grimly. Syra had erased a singular talent from the face of the earth. Before she could repeat that sin, he would see her destroyed.
Captain Blast howled in pain when Red Eye boxed him. He fell to his knees and rubbed his ears, whimpering like a dog. "Why'd you havta do that?" he asked while sticking out his bottom lip. Then he looked at Anya, who was clutching her thigh, to the gray whale and the Kelpie riding its back. His face was contorted in pain once again. He took out his sword and charged forward, letting out a fierce war cry. Syra saw him coming and lashed at him with her dreadlocks. Blast slashed wildly with his blade and cut off six of them; the green tentacles flopped to the ground and writhed like angry snakes. When Blast was two feet from Syra, she finally managed to knock him in the torso with a heavy dreadlock. The blow sent him tumbling across the deck into the guardrail and his sword skittered out of his reach. Syra only had five dreadlocks left and they lashed even more ferociously around her head. Then the canons went off. The horned whale was blasted full in the face and the side and spewed globs of grayish blubber and chunks of meat across the deck. Syra jumped powerfully and landed on the mast, clutching to the wooden pole with her fingers, which suddenly grew claws. Her skin turned bright crimson and her dreadlocks turned hazardous orange in response to her fury. She clucked her tongue and a burning golden ring of sound flew in Red Eye's direction. Tolliver continued to hide and cower, muttering over and over, "This is not happening, this is not happening, this is not happening..."
Sally felt her stump tingle, remembering the gift the swamphag had given her and suddenly hoping this wasn't some cruel trick to wound her even more. She lifted the small piece of flesh and bone, making a thrusting gesture in an attempt to fire it. Nothing "Well, rifle it is." She murmured, knelling to reload before aiming. It was then the whale exploded and Syra leapt upwards, causing her to readjust her aim. Once again she felt the tingle, and raised both her rifle and stump. She focused, attempting to have the bolt come out at the same time as the bullet. She succeeded, and both flew through the air.
Cephilia could not think of any moment in her life where she had found herself unable to move or at least speak. Her boots were firmly planted to the deck as she watched in horror as Billy’s lifeless body was unceremoniously tossed into the sea. It wasn’t fear that paralyzed her. It was rage. Pure, unbridled rage. She literally saw red as she watched Syra cackle with delight. Fortunately, her wiser half took over and she resisted the urge to fly at Syra and rip the kelpie to shreds with her bare hands. Cephilia knew that fantasy would almost certainly end with her devastated corpse lying next to Billy’s on the ocean floor. I won’t give you the satisfaction, she thought as she stared up at Syra. Red Eye arrived and began to take control of the situation… at least as much control as one could have when a tentacled abomination showed up riding a narwhal. "And if you don't mind, milady, I could use a hand in tying some knots," he said. “I ain’t your lady, but if you’ve some sort of plan for beating that sea wench, I may just kiss you,” Cephilia said as she sheathed her sword to free her hands for… knot-tying, apparently. “Just tell me what to do and I’ll-” The sound of cannons firing and chunks of whale guts peppering the deck made her stop there. Syra leapt free of the beast and latched onto the mast before opening her mouth and belting out a ring of fiery magic at Red Eye, the architect of her mount’s destruction. “Oh no you don’t,” Cephilia said, with a determined glint in her eyes. In two quick steps she put herself between Red Eye and the sea hag’s attack and raised her right hand to intercept it.
Billy Bones was a sad man. He had a power that dragged him to the debts of despair. He will be missed, but he might be better off now. "How are you...babe?" The words weren’t directed at me, but I could feel their power take control of me. Fight it Adam. Fight it! Our father, which art in Heaven… The blast from the cannons finally freed me from the spell. I have heard of the power of Kelpies and so far they’ve all been confirmed. Shekinah told me that their power works only through sound. I need to plug my ears. I rip two pieces of cloth, wrap them around a little of the whale’s blood and gore, and put them in my ears. All the sounds of horrible weather, screams of death and firing cannons died down. I quickly signal Ace to do the same. I may not have Blast’s reputation or Ace’s good looks, but I don’t have to keep it distracted for too long. The quartermaster is aiming her rifle and her stumb at the sea creature. I just need to give her a good shot. If she misses, Ace’ll have a shot. If he misses, I should be close enough to plunge my blade through her heart. I just need to come over as the bumbling fool I could have become if she had insnared me. I would probably sing too. “O, speak again, bright angel! For thou art As glorious to this night, being o'er my head, As is a wingèd messenger of heaven. I am unworthy of but the quickest of glances, but let me be near you and I shall give you all my breast’s compassion. Alas, my love, you do me wrong To cast me off discourteously. For I have loved you well and long, Delighting in your company.”
Red Eye barely had time to register the shimmering golden ring before Cephilia stepped in front of it, her arm outstretched. "Oh, not another one!" he muttered. Everyone just had to be a martyr today. There was no time for anything creative. With a lunge he sent both Cephilia and himself to the deck, just beneath the path of the ring. ...Or so he'd hoped. He didn't feel a thing, but when he glanced behind him to see the ring burst into a shower of sparks, he saw it had taken a narrow slice out of his shoulder. There was no blood, only a white mark on the skin, but the pain that followed told him he'd probably lost some muscle and flesh underneath. In addition, the ring had taken the last inch off of his braid and his hair now hung loose around his shoulders. "That..." he said, rolling free of Cephilia and trying to focus through the pain, "was uncalled for. This was my favourite jacket." With an effort he shook himself and stumbled to his feet. His right arm felt weaker, and still throbbed angrily. Not a good sign. He addressed Cephilia as he steadied himself. "We need all hands on deck, my friend! Let's not be giving any of ours away just yet, hm?" That reminded him. Where was Sally? Not far, it seemed. And he wasn't the only one thinking of the shot she had up her sleeve. She was looking at her stump, and the lightning bolt within it seemed to be sparking to life. Once more he called to Cephilia, and indeed anyone who was listening. "Tie her down, mates! Let's make this one count!" With that he took off running. He took firm hold of one of Syra's flailing dreadlocks and, with an effort, knotted it tightly around the ship's rail. It hung taught, tethering Syra. Now on to the next side. He was across the deck in an instant, but there was only time for him to take hold of one other tendril before Sally made ready to fire. No time for another knot. He gripped the dreadlock tight and clenched his legs around the rail. All he could do was hope this would be enough. If Syra dodged Sally's shot, they would not have another chance.
Syra was briefly distracted by Adam's play-acting and did not see Sally's attack coming. The bullet whizzed by the Kelpie's head, missing by a tiny fraction, but the sizzling lightning bolt caught her full-on in the face. She screamed so loud that the air vibrated with her pain, causing everyone's ears to ache tremendously. Then she dropped to the deck in an unceremonious heap. A huge chunk was missing from the side of her head and foam was gushing from the gaping wound. "Must...get...to...the...water," Syra gasped desperately. She slowly started to drag herself toward the edge of the ship, her skin reverting back to shiny grey and her remaining dreadlocks hanging limply around her. The one that Red Eye had tied to the mast, and the one he was clutching tightly, detached like a lizard's tail and dropped to the ground, allowing her to keep moving. Syra was five feet from the guardrail and steadily closing the gap. Captain Blast scrambled to get his sword and took a menacing step in Syra's direction...but suddenly he was on the ground, laying on his back. "What the...?" he groaned. He pulled himself to his feet, but then he felt an invisible punch to his face, and another one to his gut, and finally his legs were kicked from under him. "Show yourself!" he shouted as he picked himself up for the third time. His assailant seemed to materialize out of thin air: a tall, lean figure dressed in tight black garb and a mask that only showed his slanted, steel-gray eyes. A long, slender sword was strapped to his back and he slowly pulled it out as he glared at Captain Blast. Quickblade had arrived.
Sally glanced to blast before shrugging. She had business to do. "Remember how I tried to do things peacefully." She stated, taking a heavy step forward and firing a shot at the kelpi's arm, specifically the elbow. She took another step, leaning to her boot to grab her dagger. "Remember how I tried to convince you to find someone better than Blast." Another footfall. "That you could do so much better." Another step forward. "I'd say we're even, symmetrical actual," she began, gesturing to the now limp piece of flesh, "but I don't do even. I finish business." With those words she turned into a full sprint, leaving the rifle/rapier behind her and leaping with the dagger held above her head and elbow pointed squarely down. Her knee landed first, driving into the the creatures spine in the lower back, before her arm did the same to the upper back. In an instant she'd reversed her grip and drove it into Syra's back, only a few inches in, but it soon became apparent she wasn't stopping there. With a series of tugs she began to drag her blade through Syra's back, rending muscle and skin as she went. It was clear Sally wasn't going to stop till interrupted, and maybe not even then.
Syra was too weak to scream when Sally shot off her arm at the elbow. She could do nothing but stare with fear in her huge blue-grey eyes as Sally flew through the air and attacked her. She gasped each time she was stabbed in the back, her entire body shaking, and finally stopped moving. Salty foam poured from the wounds on her back like a snail that someone sprinkled salt over. The Kelpie's severed arm was not dead though. Like her dreadlocks, the arm continued to flop around, until by some fluke, it attached itself to Sally's bisected limb. The arm was a perfect fit: it sealed to her elbow and the shiny gray skin turned the same textured and color as the rest of her body, blending in seamlessly. The Kelpie arm had been longer than Sally's other arm, but now it shrunk to match it and the clawed fingers became normal human fingers. Meanwhile, Captain Blast and Quickblade continued to stare at each other without moving. "Aren't you going to speak?" Blast snapped at the legendary assassin. But Quickblade just continued to glare and his fingers tightened on the hilt of his sword.
“Dammit,” Cephilia hissed between clenched teeth. “Dammit dammit dammit!” She pounded her steel-clad fist on the deck. It was bad enough that Red Eye had deprived her of the chance to prove her worth. Now he was here. Or perhaps it should be ‘He was here.’ Quickblade… the god of death, who made even Captain Blast tremble. “Son of a bitch,” she muttered as she got to her feet. It’s like it was raining villains. Madame Spark. Syra. Quickblade. Pirate Bay must be cursed or something. The only link was Blast. Why did everyone want him dead, even his own mother? Cephilia would be sure to question him about that, if they both survived this. If they both survived this. Unbeatable? Hmph, we’ll see, Cephilia thought as she slowly unsheathed her sword. A tight grip on its hilt was all she could do to keep her hand from trembling. She twirled it once, reminding herself of its weight and, for some reason, finding comfort in that. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this. I can die trying. “Tolliver,” she said, as she strode past the man and gave him a light tap on the shoulder with her blade. “We’ve asked a lot of you today, but I’ll need one more favor: him,” she nodded toward the legendary assassin who was locking eyes with her captain, Tolliver’s brother. “If you have to let your mother go to do it, fine, but I need that man locked down, even if it takes every ounce of strength you have,” she said. “Fail and we all die.” She shrugged and gave him one final glance over her shoulder as she walked away. “No pressure.” "Hawking," she said as she passed her eyepatched friend. "If this goes to shit, I need you to ice the deck as quickly as possible. Don't let him reach anyone else." It was all she could think of if Tolliver failed and Quickblade made short work of her and Blast. If nothing else, the assassin might lose his footing and allow someone to get off a shot. Maybe Asara, if she ever finished making sushi. With all of the pieces in place --she hoped-- Cephilia steeled herself and cautiously approached the two combatants, fully aware that this staredown could turn into a massacre at any moment.
When I saw Syra crawl away after her head exploded, I figured this was possibly the best case scenario. She was completely at our mercy for now but would undoubtedly regain strength soon. This was the moment we could convince her to go after Quickblade. Of course, that was the moment that two things happened with the worst possible timing. Quickblade actually arrived on the scene before we had any chance to prepare and One-arm was busy avenging herself on our strongest defence against him. I pull the cloth out of my ears and look around to see if there is any way we can get out of this alive. Luckily it would seem that despite the captain’s best effort, Cephilia does not give into despair. Thinking on her feet, tossing around orders to those that stand the best chance of slowing him down. Against a man like this though, how the hell am I going to make myself useful. Against a fast opponent good footing and reach are usually your best friends, but he was not just fast. He was the fastest. So there is really only one advantage left. The handicap all fast people suffer from in some degree. By relying on their speed, they become predictable. Like a bullet from a gun, I’ll have to know where he’s going to be before he’s actually there. That is my only chance of holding out against him. For the rest I’ll have to follow Cephilia’s lead. We’ve had much of the same training, so there’s a decent chance we will complement each other instead of getting in the other’s way, but we haven’t really had the time to train together. I am not afraid of death, but I would love to continue this adventure. May God have mercy on our souls.
Things were getting out of hand. Ace clutched the pistol Adam had thrown him, squatting low behind a few barrels on deck and watching everything unfold from the gap. It was him. Quickblade. And for a moment an insurmountable flurry of rage flowed through Ace's veins and he stared through the gap at Quickblade, debating whether to show himself. I want revenge for everything you have done to me. For everything you have cost me you bastard. Ace motioned to stand but watched Blast heavy on his back with Quickblade standing high above him, much like the bastard had done with Sly. Ace could see his own arm outstretched, bloodied and bruised, unable to do anything at all as Quickblade's mercs that had been there that day pulled their pistols up and riddled Sly's body with bullets. For a moment Ace turned away, sweat and panic swirling in his contorted face. Blast can't suffer the same fate, Ace thought to himself. He turned back and stood. I can't fight Quickblade, that's suicide, but maybe I can snatch Blast from his grip. Sprinting as fast as his legs could carry him Ace veered right towards one of Syra's remaining dreadlocks, still hanging from the mast and he grabbed it and swung with all his might towards Blast. Skirting across the wooden deck Ace leaned away on the dreadlock still keeping grip with one hand, while the other opened up ready to catch Blast and swing him to safety. "Captain!"
"What the?" Sally murmured, glaring at the limb. This was, incredibly useful. Terrifying and potentially dangerous, but incredibly useful. She tried to move her fingers and found that, remarkably, it worked. "Oh yes." She glanced to Quickblade, Blast and Ace. It was likely going to be a rough fight. "Tolliver, just freeze Mr Stabikins please, I'm going to get some supplies." And with that the ran off, first back towards where she'd dropped her weapons, picking them up in one smooth motion before separating them. She leapt over to the Candy Stripe, rolling on her landing and delivering a series of shots to the remaining guards that caused them to clutch their knees. A typical tactic of hers. She went below deck, and quickly found the galley. A sudden joy filled her eyes. "Oh yes, again." Food, glorious glorious food, and alcohol, and everything they could want. But she couldn't carry it. She went over to one of the rum barrels, smashing it open so the alcohol poured out before stuffing it full of whatever she could. Salted meat, a few citrus fruits to keep away scurvy, some biscuits. When that was done she began to roll it, struggling with the stairs for a moment before getting up and shooting one of Spark's men in the other leg. There was a slight pause as she lowered the gang plank, connecting the boats once again as she kicked the barrel so it rolled across. She raised the gangplank, another idea suddenly coming to mind. She dashed back along the ship, one of the men looking up at her and then back to his leg. "Not this time buddy." She went up to helm and set to work, kicking it off its mount so that the wheel was separate and slinging it over her shoulder. After that was a quick jump across, now assisted by one the ships now severed ropes and she landed back on the Maiden. All in all, her little excursion had been three minuets, and she just hoped that they'd have dealt with Qucickblade.
Tolliver blinked at Cephilia and his Adam's apple bobbed as he gulped. "I...I can try," he said in a trembling voice. Then he lowered his book and stared at Quickblade, stretching his fingers as he prepared to use his Talent. That's when Ace swooped by like a wild man, reaching out for Captain Blast. Quickblade disappeared once again. There was a blur of black and silver, and two things happened: first, Blast was knocked on his back and the map slipped out of his sash and flew away, dropping next to the mast; secondly, the tentacle that Ace was swinging on was cut. Ace continued to fly forward, landed roughly, rolled across the deck...and came to a stop at Madam Spark's feet. Madam Spark was beginning to un-freeze, her whole body trembling with the effort to move. A low groan started deep her chest and built into a long, beastial, "GRAAAWH!" Her foot kicked out and caught Ace in the ribs, sending him skidding several feet away. Madam Spark glared down at Captain Blast and she sparked with anger, literally. White-hot sparks flew from her fingers like a firework. Then her eyes fell on the map. She spread her fingers wide and the sparks increased, scorching the floorboards under her, and she flew like a rocket, landing right next to the map. "Mine!" she gasped, slightly out of breath. Then she bent down to pick it up, but Anya, who had finally managed to stand, limped over and shoved Madam Spark from behind. Spark shrieked and stumbled forward, banging her face against the mast, but she quickly whirled around and kicked Anya in the gut and sent her sprawling. Then Spark shook back her tousled mane and went back to picking up the map. Quickblade reappeared next to Blast and put his foot on Blast's chest to hold him down. "You will pay," the assassin said in a soft, husky voice, a voice that had obviously not been used for a very long time. He raised his sword and prepared to thrust it downwards.
Elva had fallen and bumped her head on the ground when the ship was rocked by that giant sea monster. In her dazed state, she had watched Billy Bones fly over the ship in slow motion. At first, she grinned and thought, "I didn't know he could fly!" Then she realized that he was actually being thrown and that he was dead. Her vision was immediately blurred by tears and she quickly wiped them away. Cry later, kill now. She picked herself up and leaned on the guardrail for support, but Sally had already taken care of that ferocious Kelpie lady. Elva was disappointed at first, because she was to prove herself to Captain Blast, but at least now they could all focus on Quickblade. The legendary assassin had just made an appearance and he was kicking all of their asses. It became quickly apparent that NONE of the stories about him were exaggerated. He was a first-class killing machine. Elva was so focused on watching him that it took her moment to realize Madam Spark was flying like a goddamn rocket with sparks exploding from her hands. She was beginning to see a theme with Captain Blast's family: sparky hands and incendiary blasts? Both were fire-related Talents. But that didn't explain Tolliver's power, which was the exact opposite of what Blast could do. But now was not the time to think, it was the time to act. She quickly decided not to be bothered with Madam Spark. Someone else would stop her from getting the map. She had to help Captain Blast. And so, she called the three sprite she had summoned earlier and pointed at Quickblade. "Stop him, before someone gets killed," she barked. The sprites nodded and flew at Quickblade like a volley of arrows, their clawed hands extended in front of them.
