Sky Pirates vs Sky Ninjas

Kiera

The way Jimmy looked, I was sort of jealous. They would leave him alone since he looks so damaged. I was fine, no scars. He seems run down. When the guards came near our cell, Jimmy was still sleeping, so I let him and I did what I had to do.

"Hey," I called out.

One of them turned. Wearing all black didn't help me recognize them or anything. I cleared my throat and started my whole scheme.

"I have something for you..." I pulled out a rock of gold from my pocket.

His eyes lit up, looking at the rock in my hand. The thing was, this was real gold so I wasn't kidding. This is pretty much the only way we could get out. Unless... no. I can't do that.

I took a long hard look at him and did notice he looked familiar. God. He was the one that killed Mari. My throat closed up as I felt my heart race. Mari could have been alive if it weren't for him. I covered the rock with my hand. The guard looked up at me, shock in his black eyes.

"You want this gold?" I took a breath. "You let us the fuck out."

"Ha," he chuckled. "That is not happening."

"Okay?" I shrugged and walked back to Jimmy.

I'm sure he was shocked, the guard, how could someone give up so easily? Oh, I don't give up.

I sat back down next to Jimmy and patted his hair. His eyes opened, a tired haze covering his face. I smiled, trying to make him feel safe.

"What we you talking about?" he asked, weakly.

"Nothing, go back to sleep."

When he shut his eyes, the memory of Mari falling came to me. It was so recent. I just wanted to forget it. She has to be alive. She just has to. Those wounds, they'll be fine. She can still swim.

"Pussy," I heard someone grunt.

I turned to face the cell door and saw that guard looking straight at me. Standing up, I walked up to the door with my pocket knife ready up my sleeve.

"Can you please say that again because I didn't quite catch that," my voice was sharp.

He looked taken aback, his eyes wide and posture stiff. But he still repeated himself. Pussy. Cause what could I do? This.

Through the bars I stabbed my knife into his rib cage. His hand landed on his wound right after I pulled it out. He looked back at me, begging with his tearful eyes. For forgiveness. No.

"Karma was quick today, wasn't she?" I smiled, turning back into my cell.

Chiana
I had heard that we had pirate captives. It was necessary for me to have proof that it'd all be worth it, so I decided to visit the cells, slipping out of my room after Rasheck left.

Peeking into one of the cells, I spotted a girl, probably near my age, kneeling over a boy who was unconscious in the corner. "Hello?" I called out nervously.

She turned and glared at me. "Look what your people did to him. He could have died." There was a faint accusatory tone to her voice.

I backed away slightly, even knowing that the bars in between us would keep her from possibly hurting me. "I'm sorry. But he wasn't the only one hurt in this conflict. We took losses too."

She spat at me, "What do I care? You're all cruel monsters anyway!"

I clenched my hands into fists, then eased them open, forcing myself to calm down. "I'll pretend I didn't hear that, because I lost the greatest woman I ever knew to you pirates. Why are we fighting, anyway? Why hasn't anybody ever said, 'let's stop?'"

She shook her head at me. "You're crazy." But did I detect a slight hesitation, or was it just wishful thinking?

One of the older ninjas passed by, and he grasped my shoulder in surprise. "Chiana? You should be in bed after what happened today." As he lead me away, I watched the two teenagers. I had the strangest feeling that if it weren't for our conflict, we might have been friends.

Docco 'Wings' Mason

"First Mate Wings and Second Mate Jim are to report to the bridge immediately," I hear.

I sighed. When she wanted me to do something, it was usually not very fun. I turned to look at Jim, who seemed as if he'd just returned from seeing Bianca, but he just shrugged.

I shook my wings and made my way to the Bridge, where she'd been calling us.

* * *

"I've organized for you to pick up the crew mates that those ninjas captured, and you're going to watch over them once they return."

Wait for it. "And uh, where exactly are we going to be picking these guys up at?" I asked.

"The Freeze Lord Moon."

There it is. I hissed and spat fire on to the floor. Bianca seemed angry about it, but she didn't do anything. "Why is it that you always find the coldest places in the galaxy for us to visit?"

Jim chuckled, he knew I hated the cold.

"Consider it your punishment for fighting those ninjas after Captain Rydia said not to."

I turned my back and began to walk out. "Wasn't it you who told us to destroy the ship in the first place, old lady? Seems like you forgot to wake up from your nap long enough to tell us stop the attack afterwards."

Mercury // Eavesdropping? *turns head an looks at MM who nods* - Yeah, Eavesdropping.

I was sitting in my bunk polishing my guns for a while, and cleaning my knives, and organizing all my crap. I spent a nameless amount of time just faffing about the ship, looking for something to grab at my attention. Kiera told me that Wings had told her that he heard the Captain made arrangements to get our hostages back. I pass Wings in the hall,

"Picking up the extra buccaneers that got snatched, are we?"

"Aye, better batten down the hatches too. We're setting sail for the Lordly Freezer." he giggled.

"Aw really? I don't even like the cold on that one, and I'm part Jaqurin!"

"How do you think I feel about it? But that's the point I s'pose, get them bilge-sucking ninjas nice and freezing so they won't make any sudden attacks." He laughs again at his own use of the pirate slang that I gave him. This particular joke of using Earth Pirate slang was strongest between me and Wings.

"Blah whatever."

I walked some ways around the ship, just sort of shuffling along making small-talk with the crew. Eventually finding my way to the Captain's Quarters (to talk to the Captain of course). She had been a little weird lately. I couldn't place it particularly, but something about her was off. The door was cracked enough for me to hear what was going on in her room, she had callers on the hologram. An older adult couple as far as I could tell with my peripheral vision - definitely Jaqurin.

"Bianca, dear. You know of the troubling matters that we face, I will not repeat them."

"I know, mother..." she said with a sigh.

The Captain has a mother, and a father?
- oh yeah! I totally forgot the princess thing...

"Then you know how imperative it is that you find a husband! We're serious, Bianca. You can't let this go on any longer."

A husband?

"I -" she coughed. " - have someone in mind."

? ? ?

"Ooh, I do hope that you've picked a suitable Jaqurin and not one of your mangy pirates."

"Do not insult my crew, mother. I'm very proud of them, and they are not mangy - they're simply rugged. And only because it concerns you, I'm looking at a Jaqurin - but only because I couldn't deal with your constant blathering should he not be."

I know that I'm certainly not mangy...


I stood out in the hallway for another minute so she could finish up the call with a scrap of privacy. I knocked, standing in the door frame.

"We hauling to the Freezer again, Cap'n? It's way too cold there." I say, I can see the beginnings of a phantom smile - her signature smile that didn't look like a smile.

"Hello, Mercury. How nice of you to drop by my personal quarters instead of preparing the gear and weapons for the impending hostage negotiation that might I add was instigated almost entirely by you." she said, coldly.

"Well, I just came to make a snarky comment because I've helped around and everyone is good. So yeah, I'll just leave."

"No. I was actually meaning to - speak with you..." she paused between to and speaking.

Noooooo, she can't be about to do what it seems that she might be doing.

"Um, sure Cap'n. What was it you wanted to - talk about?" I inquired, shuffling my feet.

She walked over to her computer terminal - pressing a button. The Jaqurin home world was shown hovering holographically in the middle of the room.

"As I'm sure you knew previously, I am the heiress to the Jaqurin thrown. And that sort of position comes with... duties." I nod.

"As much as I've loved being the Captain of the Ice Star just as my father was before me. He has fallen ill. And as according to the traditions of my people, I must return to them so I can rule in his place. And ruling as I'm sure you understand is - complicated to manage when there is only one of you." I nod again.

"The point is, it is necessary that I elect a husband to help me rule over my people."

This is so weird, Lady Bianca doesn't just confide in the crew like this. Not the way that she's confiding in me, there's something up here.

She drew closer to me.

"How long have we known each other, Mercury?"

"Well, if I had to place a date - around ten years give or take. The Jaqurin blood really does things."

"Ten years? Has it been really? Since I stole you from your world to travel among the stars?" she asked, there was an interesting tone in her voice. She ran a finger along my cheek.

"Um, yes. I believe so." I didn't know what to say, if the vibe I was getting was correct. I didn't know to do.

There was a warmth in the air, the cold blood that rushed through my veins as well as her's was heating to a boil. There might have even been sparks in the air, the static bringing her even closer.

"I have to pick a husband, Rhys. And a Jaqurin at that. What do you think about that?"

She used my real name, there are crew members that don't know my real name. She's never really used it before either. But she might be one of only a few that knows it...

I'd never really acknowledged any feelings for the Captain, but I hadn't disproved them either. And in that moment, the light from the white blizzard-like ether that shown through the port side window of her quarters caught the silver strands in her hair The black in her eyes was cold, but there was a dull roar behind them - a fire, if you will. It was a feature that I had never bothered to notice, truly beautiful. And then she smiled.

I had also never acknowledged the fact that I was the closest being to pure blooded Jaqurin on the boat. The closest pure bloods were the Swords. But the captain obviously hadn't taken any consideration into them.

"I - uh." she shooshed me.

"This doesn't have to be anything yet, but I'm just saying that there's a possibility..." she whispered. And brought her lips to mine.

Both of our bodies were cold, but when we collided it was like a thousand fires had exploded in the room. She held my embrace for almost a minute afterward, she looked into my eyes. And then we parted, she moved backward brushing herself off.

"We can talk about his more later. I need to be alone..." she said.

"I - umm. I -" I stammered, my mouth full of cotton. "I'll go." I move out of the room quickly. And before I knew it I was back in my bunk.

I have feelings for the Captain...

That's new...

~Nym

Woman in long white dress took my hand, and I could feel her touch. It was strange, to feel - I never did before, no one could touch me before - but I didn't back away. I didn't even know that one can miss what he never had.

A while has passed since the battle with pirates - I got some new crew members, I lost some others. I never bothered to stop the ones who left, even though I know that I could. But I wanted my crew to be a family, I wanted them to love me - controlling their minds to get it.. Doable, of course. But I didn't see the point. I'd have to maintain that control through their whole lives, seeing that there's no way I'd die before any of them, and what good would that bring me? For that purpose, I could have used anyone, not people I grew to think of as friends.
Two days after the battle, with the Ice Star no longer in reach nor sight, our ship got crowded by people in white robes - people, I say, though they were as far from people as myself. I've never met a free member of my kind before, and it took long enough to make them trust me about my past. But eventually they let their guard down, set free the minds of my crew that they had taken under control as they appeared, and called me to talk.

And here I was, accompanied by my Master Assassins, in my young human form and talking to members of my kind, away from the troubles of battles and death.
The one in long dress, their leader, looked like a tall woman with brown hair, and her eyes were just as purple as mine. I knew that it wasn't her true form, and that she only kept it out of respect to my Masters, and I felt like grinning all the time.
Black and White seemed less comfortable, glared at from the room's corners, probably feeling crowded by creatures that could see their minds and mess with them, and couldn't be stabbed or knocked unconscious. I wondered if my crew felt like that about me, and if they were much better in hiding fear than I supposed them to be. Perhaps I will need to enter the minds of few later, even though I don't like doing it when I don't have to.

"This is not your homeland," I said to the Whisps. I knew, because if I had any idea about it being there, I would have announced myself before coming. The woman frowned a little.

"Indeed, it is not," she said, speaking in the language obviously foreign to her. We could all figure the languages more or less easily, but still it was obvious that they never really used it before. I stopped feeling like grinning, wondering if I even had the right to call them my kind after such long time I spent away. Then the woman continued. "We are on the move for a reason, and that reason should be known to you very well. We have been used for centuries, for the time longer than you lived, for purposes of creatures lower than us." She took a moment to glance at my Masters, and they frowned and stepped a bit closer to me. I didn't like where that was going.

"I-agree," I said carefully, "yet I assure you, you can't judge whole races for the faults of individuals."
I thought we were supposed to be peaceful.
Just in case, feeling them all getting filled with darker emotions, I blocked the path to my Master's minds - I didn't want anyone to enter them, no one but me, and only if necessary. Both of them will be suffering from strong headache later, for a while, but they were safe, and I told myself that was what mattered.

"We were to ask you whether you'd join us," the woman said, pulling me out of thoughts. They wanted me on their side - for the first time in my life, I could have actually been among the ones I belong with..

"My crew and myself have our enemies as well," I said. "If you'd be willing to take our side, and so that we take yours, I-"

"No," she cut me, and I frowned again. I knew what she was about to say - and I was sure that she knew that I knew - but she said it anyway, perhaps so Black and White could hear as well. "I wasn't asking about your crew, nor do we care about them. You shouldn't either, seeing that some of them are of the same kind that imprisoned you before you even knew of freedom. Am I right?"
I just stared at her. I didn't like her at all - I wanted to, because she was like me, but I couldn't. What she was saying.. That was just wrong.
I could tell that Black and White were worried, perhaps as well as scared - after all, they were smart enough to know that my consent to this would mean that they'd lose their lives, or at very least their freedom of thoughts. I licked my lips.

"I am the captain of this ship," I said, surprised by the coldness of my own voice. "I've been the captain for a long while now, and my crew and I owe to each other more than I owe to you." I took a breath, wondering what will happen next. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but when it comes to my family.. You're not on the top of the list."

She was mad - I could tell - and the rest of them turned to clouds and disappeared. I knew that they left the ship, as I didn't feel them anywhere around, but the woman stayed.

"I'm sorry to hear that." He voice was emotionless, but I was pretty sure mine wasn't far either.

"Be fair enough and let us leave," I said. "We came across you by an accident, and in every war, both sides hold the right to know what's happening."

She smiled a little before disappearing.
"Go and warn your precious friends, young rebel, it will not help them anyway. They don't have the weapons that could make us hurt, you know that yourself. And be warned - we will not offer you to come to us once again."

She left without a sound, leaving me with the painful, I welcomed desire to cry. I didn't, though, not at that moment. There were more important things to do.

I turned and left the room, followed by Black and White. Good, at least they didn't turn against me - yet. I didn't have the strength to explain to anyone what just happened - I hoped Black and White will spread enough gossips to make everyone feel like they know everything.
It was the first time I was among my kind. - I could have found someone I liked. There could have been my real family somewhere between the stars - but I turned them down. For the crew of men and women whom will be the prey when my kind turns to hunters.

"Turn the ship," I announced as the Bridge appeared in front of me, not looking at anyone and not taking to anyone particular. I didn't even notice who was there.

"Back, my lady?"

I nodded.
"To the same spot we left a few days ago, and then following the trail of the Pirate ship. And send the message to the Ice Star and the Fleet.. We come in peace, say, but bring the news of war."
*

Kiera

I watched Jimmy as he stood guard in our cell. We took turns watching the surroundings. It was something people do, when feeling in danger, we watch out for one another. We make sure we have a possibility to defend ourselves with one of us awake. At least.

The thing was, I was supposed to sleep. But I couldn't. All the things I could do to sleep, I just couldn't get to it. I was too scared. Scared of what could happen. Jimmy is a tough guy, he's good. But not that good. He could get hurt. And then I would get hurt. I don't want to see him in pain. Like Mari.

I shut my eyes, pushing the tears away with a deep breath.

"You're awake," Jimmy said under his breath.

Opening my eyes, I saw him looking at me with sorrow. He understood. All he had to do was look back at me. And me look at him. It was all for me to know...

"Damn Pirates," someone hissed. "Can't believe they're on us again. Or no, wait..." a pause. "We're on them because we're afraid they're going to be on us? The fuck?!" A male said.

"It's what I heard... I don't really know what's going on yet. Just shut up, the captives can hear you." someone else said, a female.

I shut my eyes again, trying to head back to sleep.

"Damn well they can. They should. They shouldn't start fighting in the first place! I hate those pesky barbarians." Man was that guy a real pain in the rear end.

The female sighed, I guess giving up. I felt someone petting my head, playing with my tangled blonde hair. Who else could it be but Jimmy? Just him. I kept my eyes shut and fell into deep sleep as his fingers put me into a trance.

Spoiler

I really don't know what else to write here.

Bianca Froza - Ice Star - Captain's Quarters - "Only the beginning"

I had done so much, my father is ill, and is predicted to die within the next Jaqurin year, I didn't want to give up on Pirating yet, but I didn't want to upset my parents either. if I didn't come back with Mercury in tow, mother would be forced to marry a man whom she didn't like. I was meant to be the next ruler within the next year, troubling this was since, few, of my crew mates have proven worthy of Captaining the Ice Star. I breathed as I leaned against the desk with the Hologram, a voice came on the intercom.

"Captain, enemy ship requesting to opening a communications channel," a tech said.

"Forward communications to my quarters, I'll take it in private," I said.

I backed away from the Hologram as Sky Ninja Queen Nym appears on the Hologram, I take a seat, somewhat expecting a long conversation, and a fairly nasty one at that.

"To what do I owe the honor of you contacting me?" I ask in an unamused almost suspitious tone.

She signs looking down before looking back up and glaring at me, "we have unsettling problems, between me and you," she paused.

"You don't say, I am a Sky Pirate, taking as I please, doing away with enemies that threaten my crew. You are a Sky Ninja, one who has united the Sky Ninja's under one rule. I'll be honest, it's a mircle that the Sky Pirates have survived this long against the Sky Ninja's since no one can call them to order," I said.

"That, is not what I came to talk to you about," she said. "I came to talk to you about a new enemy, we will both have a new enemy, my people, plan to destroy us all, and take over the universe," she said.

That, got my attention, my eyes opening wider than usual, I had fixed myself so I was leaning against my arm on the arm rest with my legs crossed as usual.

"And why call me about it? knowing you, you should have just left me in the dark and let me be killed by this new enemy," I said.

She looked down again and then back up at me, I was truly wondering what she was thinking at this point.

"It's because, I need the help of an old friend, I need your help to beat this new enemy, I need the help of the only Pirate to have ever joined the ranks of the Sky Ninjas," she said.

"And it's the same reason why our friendship fell apart, I was a pirate, you were a ninja, the two never mixed ever," I retorted harshly.

"But for a time they did, didn't they? You may have had amnesia, but what was stopping us from being friends, to me, you were my best friend, but you allowed the fact that you were a Pirate to tear our friendship apart. What is stopping us from having that old friendship that we had before your memories returned?" she asked.

I looked down, it was true, I used to be a ninja, and no one remembers that fact because of how old we were in universal terms, none of my crew knew that fact.

"What do you propose?" I asked her finally.

~Nym

Princess - or, now, Captain - hasn't changed much since I last saw her. Time was gentle to both of us, not changing us even though even empires around us fell. I couldn't read her mind without being there, not really, yet I had a pretty clear idea about what was crossing her thoughts. I could hardly blame her - not like we separated in most friendly circumstances, and we've just been in a battle against each other.
But none of it was important now.
I sighed before telling her why I called, then fixing my eyes on hers. She didn't look away - I hoped it was because she knew that I can't read her, not because she forgot how dangerous it could be to glare back at a Whisp.

"We have unsettling problems, between me and you," I said, not completely sure where I was going with it. I couldn't really count on anything but her wanting to protect herself and her crew - but I still wanted to know if she was the same person I remembered from so many years ago.

"You don't say," she said. "I am a Sky Pirate, taking as I please, doing away with enemies that threaten my crew. You are a Sky Ninja, one who has united the Sky Ninja's under one rule. I'll be honest, it's a miracle that the Sky Pirates have survived this long against the Sky Ninja's since no one can call them to order."

I almost replied in the same way - the only reason her crew wasn't killed last time was the fact that I jumped in with my illusion and called everyone back. I calmed myself.

"That, is not what I came to talk to you about," I said. There we go. "I came to talk to you about a new enemy," taking a breath, I did my best not to show how uncomfortable I was. "We will both have a new enemy - my people, plan to destroy us all, and take over the universe."

Well, that sounded somewhat pretentious - but after all, it was true. Enslaving, destroying, taking over.. In the end, it all came down to the same.
Her eyes widened, though, so obviously it sounded dramatic enough. That was good, I supposed.

"And why call me about it?"She asked, "knowing you, you should have just left me in the dark and let me be killed by this new enemy."

She seriously thinks so? I found myself taken by surprise and more than anything wishing I was able to read her minds through this communication canal. I wouldn't leave anyone in the dark about the threat of this kind, no matter how much disagreements we had - couldn't she understand how easy it was for my kind to turn everyone in their minions? I wondered if she had any idea of how easily I could have been on their side and take her and her crew under control without a word said. Looking back at her, I found her observing me with a curious glow in her eye.

"It's because," I said slowly, "I need the help of an old friend, I need your help to beat this new enemy, I need the help of the only Pirate to have ever joined the ranks of the Sky Ninjas."

That had to be enough. I knew she wouldn't take my warnings seriously - that girl knew how to be proud, and with pride of the royals often came ignorance. I could appreciate her self-awareness, and I agreed that she could do a lot with her powers, but if I just said that they're a big threat, well, she'd probably rush to beat them just to show me that she could. That is, unless she's changed. But I couldn't be sure about that.

"And it's the same reason why our friendship fell apart," she said. "I was a pirate, you were a ninja, the two never mixed ever."

The Whisps left my mind for a moment, replaced with memories from where I first saw the world. We were just children there and then, compared to how old we were now. She was the one with no memories, I was the one with no past to remember anyway - we saw eye to eye before I wanted to speak to anyone else. Blinking, I spoke again.

"But for a time they did, didn't they? You may have had amnesia, but what was stopping us from being friends? To me, you were my best friend, but you allowed the fact that you were a Pirate to tear our friendship apart." I remembered that day as if it was tomorrow, and almost smiled at the fact that it was too long ago for anyone but the two of us to remember. She heard of who she was and joined their side, not thinking twice - if she hadn't done so then, would I have done it when the Whisps asked me to?
"What is stopping us," I asked, "from having that old friendship that we had before your memories returned?"

She looked down, finally seeming to be following my way of thoughts. She must have remembered it as well, with the same clearance as I have. After a forever of silence, she looked up at me again.

"What do you propose?"

I almost grinned.

"For everything done to them," I said, almost saying us, "the Whisps want revenge over, well, all the other species. You know that none of your weapons will ever be able to hurt them." I sighed. Should I be telling her their weaknesses? Without it, surely she won't be able to be the partner I needed and asked for - but their weaknesses were mine as well. "I won't lie to you, my kind can be way more dangerous than you ever saw me be - if you were anyone else, I would tell you to run."

Her eyebrows arched.
"Yeah, don't think of trying that."

"Bianca," I called, feeling terribly tired again. My Masters and half of the crew gathered around me, too far for the Pirate Captain to hear or see them, but close enough to listen to every word I said. "There are ways one can stop Whisps from invading his mind - one of those ways is to have one of the Whisps guarding the minds all the time, but that takes energy - and I doubt many people would accept it."

She slowly nodded.
"What would your plan be, then?"

"I need to teach you how to do it yourself," I said, knowing exactly how most of the people will react. I sighed. "Minds are delicate, but much stronger than most of you realize." Now I wasn't just taking to her, but also to my crew listening around, though I never looked away from the Ice princess. "There are ways, if one is strong enough, to learn how to use only specific parts of their minds, and then the Whisps can't have enough material to extract proper illusions." I never before explained the way we worked, and I had no idea if my words made any sense to her. And I still didn't get to the worst part. "They will still be able to use the possessions, if they're given the chance - risky for them, yes, but nonetheless, they will surely try - and that practicing.. Well, it would involve all of us getting together. And me being let into each and every mind."

Long silence followed my words, on the both ships. Every Ninja on mine had already given me the permission to enter parts of their minds, but I'd never intruded their privacy in any way, nor did I ever hurt them in the process. The Pirates? I doubted all the gold of the world would get them agree just Iike that.

"We are heading towards the Jaqurin home world," she said then, and I slowly nodded, pretty sure she won't be making any decisions about her crew's minds on her own. "Your crew better be able to stand the cold."

I smiled a little - I didn't even really know what cold was. Sometimes, I wished I could feel and I'd lie down on the carpet, knowing I'd feel exactly the same if I lied on stone.

"You will find them more than up to the challenge," I replied dryly.

"Good then. I have transmitted the code, you should be getting it right now." She waited for me to check and nod. "It will mark you as a welcomed ship once we enter our territory. Follow the Ice Star and you will be safe - if anyone moves from your ship, it will be seen as threat."

"I'm not stupid," I muttered, words slipping my tongue. "Well then, we'll see each other when we dock. Good to have you on my side again."

"Yeah, don't get too used to that."

With those words, she ended the transmission, but I was sure she grinned a little as I disappeared from before her eyes.
Turning from the panel, I met Black, White and Perseus - I had no idea when he came - all staring at me. I sighed.

"In the conference room in five minutes," I said to them. "Call everyone, and bring the prisoners as well. Time to start putting our differences aside."
*

One-Eyed-Jim | The Ice Star

Jimmy was in the cooler and he was drinking. They were all going to be in the cooler soon. In nice, cold graves where there wasn't anything to drink and the worms would eat 'em.

"We're goin' where t' cold lands are." Jimmy bumped his tankard against the wall and groggily tried to take a drink, but somehow he missed and he upended the whole tankard over his head. "Gah!" That seemed to wake him up a bit.

The pirate blinked wearily around himself and then with a grunt, he levered himself out of the chair. He swaggered over to the door, dropping his empty tankard absently and headed up on deck.

"Oy! Yer bottle-feedin' scum!" Jimmy slurred as he dragged himself hand over hand along the railing and up the stairs. "Anyone as can't cope with the cold needs teh get below. We're goin' to the cooler."

Jimmy didn't like it anymore than the next person, why else had he gotten so drunk? But that was also part of his coping method. Part excuse, part way of keeping his body from freezing up. The fiery alcohol was even now fusing with the chemicals in his blood and he could feel the numbing in his toes receding. One of these days... one of these days he'd be a frozen lump of ice, but not today.

Ruiz

I stopped at the hallway that led to the outside. It was the only way out onto the deck on this side of the ship. the only other way out would take about thirty more minutes to scale the rest of the ship.

However, this side intersected the bridge of the ship. I saw Nym with Black and White walking to the other side of the bridge and out of sight. Then I saw them.

First it was one, then it was two, then it was a dozen. I stepped back and pushed Auden back. Most of them followed Nym, but one stayed. The being pulled its hood off and revealed a small face with a military-style haircut. I raised my hand when Auden fell, screaming. I grabbed her when a piercing noise reached my eyes.

It felt like a train running through my eardums, spouting smoke over my brain, fogging up my mind. Then, as clear as rain water, a voice spoke to me.

"Ruiz. Do not abandon your fellow comrades." I groaned and fell to the floor. "I am not like the others you saw earlier. I am more like your captain. I have come to warn you that you will not make it if you leave everyone else."

Auden screamed again, and it was echoed by others on the ship. "There are others talking to them. They do not know about what I am saying to you." The fog cleared a bit.

"They mean nothing to me. I don't belong here, I never did. The only one I care about here is Auden." I raised my hand once again, and the device glowed and hummed to my heartbeat.

"The man's face betrayed nothing, but in my mind, he said, "If that's what you want, then do with it what you will. I will send you to a place you might make it." My device faltered, and a loud screeched blared itself through my mind.

The last thing I saw was the man's face morph into somethinng indescribable. The image of the ship fizzled out and then there was just black.

I looked around. Nothing. Nothing at all. We've been teleported. Darn it.

Spoiler

Hope this spurs something

Perseus Wolfe | Deck

The other day, they have told me that the Pirates have asked us back and I have said that I didn't want to go and have sent a message that I will stay on the ship and leave afterwards.

But things went wrong. The immortals were to destroy us. How could we defeat a enemy if we can't even touch it. I just wanted to fly away but that won't work, they will not rest until they destroy each one of us. Nymph has told us a way to defeat them, but it won't work, we could only block them but not defeat them.

Greed had never satisfied anyone and it won't satisfy them even and yes revenge is a good excuse to take over the world. What a bore the world will be without us? I think that they will regret killing us. As far as I have lived, its always like this, one person wants to take over and the good guys stop him. Or are the Whisps the good guys. Better it be us..

But...

If we won, still my wings will be considered unacceptable and I can't change the fact, I will be once again lonely, I am a Lone Wolf and I like to stay alone...That is a lie I say to comfort myself, after whatever Nym had done to mind, so I can be happy, I wanted someone, someone who could understand me, talk to me, love me...

Grif opened the box and a cloud of steam escaped, filling the room with the heavenly aroma of Chinese Take-Out.

"That smells great," Rydia said.

"Lemon chicken," Grif said between bites. He was already scarfing down the food. Rydia opened a box of her own and joined him. Crab wontons, spring rolls, dumplings, white rice, mongolian beef, chow mein, all of it rapidly disappeared.

"You were saying something about how the MacGuffin device created the best Chinese take-out imaginable?" Rydia asked as she finished off the last few grains of rice.

"Not exactly. The MacGuffin device is merely a conduit of creative energy; you still need a mind that can focus that energy."

"So, you're saying that you created the Chinese food?" Rydia said.

"How do you like my cooking?" Grif grinned.

"Not bad. Was the ship also built with creative energy?" Rydia asked, gesturing to their surroundings.

"Not only was it built with creative energy, it is completely powered by it. It's still being tested, but creative energy promises to provide a nearless endless supply of energy, without having to stop to refuel or resupply."

"So, you're ready to go then?" Rydia asked.

"Go where?" Grif asked.

"Apparently we've been asked to meet some ninjas and pirates at the Jaqurin homeworld."

"They're working together?"

"Apparently."

Rydia

While Grif changed into his ceremonial battle armour, Rydia was at the controls of her ship and negotiating a tricky landing to the Jaqurin homeworld.

They were through the security gates, but The Cat's Eye was having trouble with the temperatures.

"How's she doing, Mac?" Rydia asked, the concern evident in her voice.

"The old girl's holding out. We may have some trouble re-firing the engines so speedy exits will be out of the question," Mac replied. Macavity was she ship's AI and the tone of his voice seemed to suggest he was enjoying himself.

"Let's hope we don't need it then," Grif said as he re-entered the controls room.

"We're down," Macavity announced.

After quick atmosphere checks and a few adjustments of their armour to account for the near-freezing temperatures of the planet, Grif and Rydia stepped off the ship and were greeted by an entourage of officials.

"Please come this way. The meeting will take place in the Fahique room."

"I think that roughly translates as boiler," Grif whispered as he leaned in toward Rydia.

The official had particularly good hearing and made an annoyed sound in the back of his throat. "It is a building especially designed for your kind," he insisted.

"Our kind being anyone who isn't a snowman," Grif added helpfully.

Perseus Wolfe | Jaqurin Planet

The pirate ship docked first on the planet and the other ship followed close behind. I was at the head of the ship and I can see figures coming out from the Pirate Ship, the Ice Star. As soon as our ship docked there, announcements were made and everyone hurried down to the exit. I was in my battle dress and I had a small backpack on my back. As everyone reached the main gate of the ship, the door opened, cold wind blew and everyone felt the chill. It was more colder than any place I had ever been to. Nym stepped out, followed close behind by Black and White and the rest behind them.

There were some talks with the official and then we were guided to a big hall. And then someone said, "Could you please switch on the heat?"

Spoiler

PLEASE POST...This SB is going dead...

Auden Marle.
It occurred to me that I had fainted out of terror. That had never happened before. Then again, I've never experienced what had happened before. I remember falling and Ruiz holding on to my arm and my screaming. He started to pull me up but stopped suddenly. I screamed again, panic rising in me as I dangled.
"Ruiz! Ruiz!!" I shouted. "What the hell is wrong with you!?"
Next thing I knew there was nothing but black. I was on my back, staring up. Wherever we were it was dark. Sitting up I saw Ruiz pacing back and forth at my feet. He glanced over at me and sighed.
"You're awake." Then he looked away.
"Where are we?" I asked, tired. He just shook his head.
"I don't know..."
I scanned the room. The walls were white and so was the floor. The lights overhead were dimmed. Then did I realize how uncomfortable the floor was and stood.
"We should find out. Soon. I have a bad feeling about this," he said.