Redemption (Rated T) - A Pirate/Fleet RP

[Goosh]

Hunty chewed him out pretty thoroughly, Goosh though in admiration. She took his necklace, robbing him of any second chances, and told the mutineer straight to his furry face what everyone had been thinking.

And then she sentenced him, in a cold voice, to death.

Goosh did not move or speak. He waited for Cyborg's reaction. Surely, he would see how foolish he was being. He would throw himself to the captain's feet, beg for mercy.

Then again, this was Cyborg.

The merc went berserk, rhyme not intended. He sent pillars of earth shooting up from the ocean floor to surround the Weewoo. Goosh ducked behind a barrel as a temporary retreat.

"Oh come now!" he cried, scrambling to the belowdeck entrance. "This doesn't even make sense!" The ship trembled roughly with the force of the displaced water.

The Yurble fled to the interior of the ship before returning. In its sheath was his cutlass, and in his hand was a shiny plastic spray bottle. He ran a nervous paw through his fur. Cyborg was not strictly a housecat, but the principle was the same.

The Yurble strafed around the side of the deck until he was out of Cyborg's peripheral vision. There were too many people on deck, not to mention the captain in front of the merc, for him to notice.

He waited, ready to spring into action.

[Fraze]

Fraze listened intently to Ikkin's replies. He was rather nervous of how this would go, but years of dealing with stage fright had taught him not to show it. However, everything seemed to be going smoothly so far.

"That sounds like a fair trade," Ikkin said. "However, I'd like to ask that each Mage be able to make the decision to take part in your studies for his or herself. I wouldn't be comfortable making such a decision for others.
This was understandable. Fraze knew that in the end, neither he nor Ikkin had much--if any--decision-making power. In fact, he might have even less such power than she, both due to Spacefleet's size and its hierarchical structure.

"I myself will allow you to study my own magic, though I'm not entirely sure how much of a use you would have for it, considering that it focuses mainly on combat. I'm sure that some of my fellow Mages will be glad to help, if asked. However, many of our members are worried about Spacefleet's enormous amount of power, and I'm not certain that a simple claim of peaceful intentions would be enough to stave off those fears. After all, magic isn't solely comprised of spells that can only be used for specific circumstances; in its more general form, even low-level magic could easily be turned to combat purposes."
Interesting. Fraze had wondered about this point himself--it seemed to him as though any magic could be turned to violent purposes, as could any technology.

"We would feel much more comfortable as a whole if Spacefleet could enter into a formal agreement not to use spacecraft as weapons when dealing with conflict planetside. In return, we would like to extend a peaceful alliance and offer the Fleet a special room for research in Mage Manor. The Manor itself should provide interesting for your studies, I believe. I would also like to suggest a joint research project, which should allow both your studies of magic and our use of technology to go more smoothly. After all, when studying something you don't understand, it's always best to work with someone more experienced, right?"
Ah, yes, now they were getting to the meat of the problem. Everything Ikkin had said and requested had been completely reasonable to Fraze's ears, though how the higher-ups reacted to it might be a different matter entirely.

While listening, Fraze had been formulating a response. There seemed to be some disturbance outside--from the muffled voices, it seemed someone was very insistent in wanting to speak with him. He did his best to ignore it--giving way to an interruption now would be rude, and might jeopardize the negotiations.
After a short pause to organize his thoughts, he began to speak.
"Of course, I understand that you cannot volunteer the other mages to participate in this study. However, I am glad that you think that some of the mages would be willing and interested in helping us in this way. We are honored that you would let us conduct research in one of Mage Manor's rooms, I am sure the Spacefleet scientists would be delighted at that opportunity.
"I believe that we can arrange a joint study between Spacefleet and the Mages. Our two organizations have much to learn from one another. And yes," he added, a smile sneaking its way across his face, "Spacefleet technology can be baffling. I still have trouble with it myself."

The easy part was over. Now for the hard part. Fraze knew he had to word this very, very carefully. He took another pause to collect his thoughts, covering the pause by taking a deep breath.
"I cannot personally authorize an agreement not to use spacecraft as weaponry on the planet. Though I would support any such agreement wholeheartedly, it is not in my power to do so without first consulting my superiors. Nevertheless, I am certain that they will allow such an agreement. Despite recent events, Spacefleet's primary mission is to protect the NTWF and its people. Considering this, it is unfortunate that we would even need such an agreement; however, I can understand why the Mages and others living on the planet might find it necessary."

[Kat]

"Earth magic, taste fire!" said Kat, drawing her wand swiftly. It extended into its full form - a staff that had golden flame-shaped ends that actually exploded into real fire. She raised it high and sent a purple fireball toward Cyborg before turning her attention to the rock pillars, blasting them all one by one. The debris, instead of falling into the ship, was scattered outward.

"You're not the only mage here, you know!"

[Cyborg]

(Thank you Kat! XD)

" Big mistake." Cyborg said as he summoned a leaf which when connected with the fire, burst into flames and fell to the deck of the ship. Cyborg then turned his attention towards Hunty. " Give me my necklace and this ends. I suggest you do so, or else all of us will drown under the water of the tsunami my earthquakes are creating."

[Ikkin]

Fraze paused for a moment before speaking. Ikkin thought she could hear some kind of conflict outside the door while he collected his thoughts. She was about to mention this to him when he started talking.

"Of course, I understand that you cannot volunteer the other mages to participate in this study. However, I am glad that you think that some of the mages would be willing and interested in helping us in this way. We are honored that you would let us conduct research in one of Mage Manor's rooms, I am sure the Spacefleet scientists would be delighted at that opportunity."

This seemed to be going well, Ikkin thought. She hadn't been entirely sure whether her offer would have been enough, but, it seemed to be satisfactory.

"I believe that we can arrange a joint study between Spacefleet and the Mages. Our two organizations have much to learn from one another. And yes, Spacefleet technology can be baffling. I still have trouble with it myself."

Ikkin became a little less tense. That was two for two, so far. Plus, the joint study might be helpful to gain some of the information for which she had been seeking - namely, information about what might have happened to Leraye.

Unfortunately, Fraze seemed a little less comfortable as he continued, and Ikkin was worried that the most important part of the proposal was in peril.

"I cannot personally authorize an agreement not to use spacecraft as weaponry on the planet. Though I would support any such agreement wholeheartedly, it is not in my power to do so without first consulting my superiors. Nevertheless, I am certain that they will allow such an agreement. Despite recent events, Spacefleet's primary mission is to protect the NTWF and its people. Considering this, it is unfortunate that we would even need such an agreement; however, I can understand why the Mages and others living on the planet might find it necessary."

This wasn't quite as bad as Ikkin had feared. She should have figured that Fraze might not have had the power to make such a promise, particularly because she herself was in that very position.

"Yes, I can understand that," Ikkin said. "Do you know when such an agreement could be finalized?

"Also," she continued, as she noticed the commotion outside starting up again, "I think someone might want to speak to you. He seems pretty desperate."

[Kat]

With a snap of her fingers, the burning leaf disappeared before it could even set fire to the deck. But even as she blasted pillar after pillar, Kat couldn't figure out a way to stop the earthquake. She was neither earth nor water mage; the most she could probably do was lift the ship into the sky, or create an air bubble around it if it went under, but it would take an enormous amount of magic.

"If I go down, I'll drag you under with me!" she cried out.

[Huntress]

" Give me my necklace and this ends. I suggest you do so, or else all of us will drown under the water of the tsunami my earthquakes are creating."

"Uh-huh, and then you'd die with us, since you wouldn't have your necklace," Hunty said, leaning against the railing in order to remain upright as the ship rocked on the waves generated by the rising and shattering pillars. "Whereas Sev would resurrect us as soon as Ikkin gets back from her fancy shindig of tea and those little cheese cubes onna stick, or whatever they eat up there."

She watched the ensuing battle with a frown. Granted, she wasn't one for ceremonies, but there should be some difference between a trial-execution and a mundane battle, right?

"You're really not acting like a pirate here," she said. "Especially a regretful pirate willing to make amends and get re-accepted in the crew. You had your chance, many chances, in fact, and you've blown them all one after another."

She snapped her fingers. Hunty had never been a mage and her finger-snapping never had any results more dramatic than 'where's my spyglass I asked for five minutes back?' but this time it had a fairly different meaning.

"Seriously?" a coarse voice asked somewhere behind her.

"Yes," Hunty said.

"Finally!" There was something incredibly earnest in that one word. Bloody Mary rocketed forward.

He wasn't, most of the time, allowed to bite except to kill, since he had rabies. And due to the captain having called dibs for the execution, he couldn't kill Cyborg. But, as the death sentence had already been called out, he didn't have to worry about giving the kougra rabies - which, in his opinion, would just have made the merc more difficult to deal with. Which really made this pretty simple. Especially since he'd had years of practice landing on shoulders.

Hunty had to admit that it was a very clean move. The meepit landed on Cyborg's shoulder, reached forward, and slammed his teeth into the merc's backbone - a move that, when carried out with enough force, paralyzes the entire body. And meepit jaws have quite a bit force.

Hunty stepped forward, pulling something from the messy jungle of the belts on the back of her corset.

"Kat, hold fire. This is my business. Cyborg... you've doublecrossed us, you've insulted us, you've attacked us and completely disregarded the Pirate Code and all laws of fair trialling. And you've opposed your captain. If it makes you feel any better - I won't have any hard feelings after I've settled this. Do you recognize this?"

She held up the item. It was a kunai. A small, rather simplistic weapon with both of its sides sharpened.

"I got it from a ninja," she said. "More specifically, from Kiddo. This is what sets us even."

And with one swift, strong, cold motion, she cut Cyborg's throat.

[Kat]

Kat stopped blasting. "But what about the pill - "

She paused as she watched Huntress slit Cyborg's throat, just like that. Her knuckles grew white, and her fingers shuddered as she clutched her staff. It was simple, and looked almost like something from Sweeney Todd.

" - ars."

When a mage died, any magic linked to him or her fades away. Depending on the intensity of the power, it would take anywhere from a few minutes to several years. As Cyborg's life slipped away, so would the magic he used to generate the earthquakes and pillars. If it took a while, only then could Kat step in and speed things up. She had to conserve her energy, after all.

And right now, she could feel his aura growing weaker and weaker...

[Speck]

Speck had been about to move in, to knock Cyborg down somehow. Anyway to get him to go to his grave quietly by the captain's hands. Huntress' moves were more swift.

The pirate could feel Cyborg's life slipping away with every drop of blood that was spilt on the white deck. It was somewhat surreal, like something out of a book. Since the war, Speck had curiously gained the knowledge, power, and senses of a skilled blood mage. She had grown accustomed to the pulse of life around her, from the smallest cockroach aboard the ship, to the gigantic blarf. Never had she felt a pulse start to fade, growing fainter and fainter after every heartbeat.

Had the traitor not so blatantly insulted she and her crew mates, Speck might have felt more remorse for the dying cougra. Even so, she couldn't help but stare with some pity at Cyborg.

[Jina]

As soon as the fighting had started, Jina was up and had her dagger hed ready. She didn't, however, intend to do much with it. She had only ever used her knife to make threats.

She grabbed hold to the nearest object to steady herself, but unfortunately it was a rolling barrel, and she ended up on the floor. She would have to learn to look at what she was doing from now on.

And then she saw the captain cut the throat of the Kougra on trial. There ends that trial, then. She just had to hope that the earthquakes would end soon, too.

[Omni]

"What sort of experiment do you want his suit for? Depending on the specific reasons why you want his suit, I might serves in its place."

"You'll need clearance for that. Although I will tell you that we need it for armor, protection. The others researching it are waiting for me to come back with an answer, maybe even the suit itself. I'd rather have as little waiting as possible. GEDDOFF!"

[Rider]

[glow=red,2,300]Rider turned away.

It was ridiculous. She had been in more sea battles than she could count. She had fought epic battles on land, matched her sword beside the best and wounded them. She had seen people die in battle all the time.

But this was so cold and buisnesslike. An execution right on the deck of the Weewoo. A yard and a half in front of her face. if she had looked, she would hve taken in every detail. So she simply didn't look.

She wondered where he was now. Those eyes were probably empty.

There was no way he could have redeemed himself anyway. Once a traitor, always a traitor.

That's right, he was just a traitor. No one of consequence.

She swallowed the bile in her throat and continued, buisness as usual. "His next-of-kin resides in Castle Kestrel, am I right?" she pulled a piece of parchment out of her satchel and started writing.

To Midknight, the Red Knight of Dunbu

She froze, pen dripping ink onto the paper, unsure of her first sentance. Unsure of any sentance after that.

but of course he had hated her.

But of course, he had family.

She looked away from the letter.[/glow]

[Shadaras]

Pathos shrugged. "Good luck with that, then." Armour. Always something people wanted. But what was the use, really? Speed and agility were so much useful in the void. But then, he could survive in space, unlike most. Running a hand through his hair, Pathos sighed, turning back to face Brian. "Guards? I believe he'll wait quietly now, so you can let go."

The guards nodded, letting go of Brian and returning to their stations. "Don't try that again," one of them warned. "Next time, you won't be quite this lucky."

Smiling at Brian, Pathos returned to leaning against a nearby wall, on the opposite side from where Brian was. He'd like to hear the results of the negotiations, and he'd like to know more about the fox-girl and her phoenix. That was why he was waiting out here, anyway. Though he would ask her to make the phoenix go away. He hadn't been in close proximity with the Phoenix for quite some time, and he wasn't sure how much kinship phoenix had to them, as far as his reaction.

[Cyborg]

Cyborg didn't react in time, the blasted meepit had hit, only paralyzing most of his body though. When Huntress slit his throat he felt nothing, no pain. His body fell to the ground with a loud thud. And with his three dieing words he said" Check.......the ....neck....lace" he smiled as he died for in his paw in plain sight now, sat a pendant, a nine pointed star pendant.

[Goosh]

Inhale.

Exhale.

Ignore the dying body of an ex-pirate as you carefully step towards him. Ignore the lifeblood spilling from his throat and staining the deck of the ship.

Approach him. Stare into the eyes, now becoming glassy and lifeless, dull orbs like some taxidermist's toy. Stare carefully at the open paw, in which lay his salvation. The necklace.

Take another deep breath. Be past reason, be past mercy, be past caring. Focus only on what's in front of you, the necklace, and block out the crew's reactions. Stand firm and tall, and show him that you mean business.

Say, calmy and confidently, "I cannot let you bring any more harm to the captain or the crew. You have lost any of the second chances we have given you." Try to ignore the slight tremble in your voice.

Bend down, carefully. Try to avoid staining your clothes in the blood of a man you once knew. Gently, firmly, wrench the pendant from his grasp. Take his last hope.

And then turn, step forward to present the necklace to your captain. Do not look at her face. Do not look at anybody's face. You do not want to see anything right now.

Walk carefully over to the railing, and stare at the churning sea below, fading with the merc's life.

Leave a man to die.