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Deeds Undone	By : Mike256bit Category: +S through Z > Skies of Arcadia Views: 2748 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Skies of Arcadia, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
- 3
All previous notes apply.

Chapter notes: Well, I have my girl to thank for convincing
me to take another look at this and do some considerable rewriting. It�s hard
to take your medicine, sometimes, but I appreciate the wake up call.

-o-

Chapter One
"Misdirected"

�� Evenings on
Crescent Isle were typically a blast. With the threat of Valua trying to
conquer the world no longer heavy on the shoulders of fresh-faced kids who'd
never before been far from their home, the new state of the world was light,
airy, and there was never a doubt about tomorrow. As they began to lose their
fear, there was always talk about the future and there was always a reason to
celebrate.
�� Naturally,
and with a brand new bottle of alcohol in their possession, the trio was holed
up in their headquarters, ready to clink glasses. The golden medallion that
Fina had unfettered from the shady contact in Nasrad sat on the cartographic
table, positioned squarely atop the compass setting marked in the middle of the
map. All over the world were dishes of steaming food; the numbers growing as
the island's residents slowly filled the candle-lit room. Polly and Urala
stayed busy in the dining quarters until the crew, save for a few well-known
loaners and a few children, were all packed in the gorgeous office.
�� Lawrence elected to brood
down below the island with the clatter of Hans and Brabham adjusting and tuning
the ship keeping his thoughts company. Similarly, Belle and Khazim were tuning
the guns, while Lilly and Nara
were attempted to sneak into the party to get a shot of booze and a look at
Vyse. Usually, the sharp eyes of Domingo caught them before they made it past
the gates of the elevator. He typically spent time looking at the maps, even
during the festivities, documenting Vyse's discoveries to the minutest detail
and he rarely took a break from his duties; except, of course, to stop underage
girls in their tracks.
�� Meanwhile,
the full cast of pirates had assembled in the room by now, the spread ready for
picking. As drinks were passed around, glasses, goblets and chalices filled
with liquids ranging from emerald green to crimson red to even midnight hues of
black; beverages both heavy with foam, tingling with sparkling carbonation and
all with the bite of ethanol; as the bottles passes around the room, Vyse
raised his hand high.
�� "Blue
Rogues, it has been an honor to be your captain," he said as the chatter
died down. "Ever since the fall of the old Valuan Empire, it's as if our
community has been growing in both size and spirit. Our village, once a pile of
ash, has been rebuilt into the stunning display of teamwork and unity." He
grinned, nodding around the room to visiting members and loyal crewmembers
alike, faces both aged and youthful smiling back at him.
�� "Every
day, I see faces come and go. But I know that no matter how far away my crew
may be, no matter where across the face of Arcadia, we're still together in heart."
He turned to Ilchymis and Ryu
Kan, who typically did not visit
their parties. With Osman restocking her shop, however, their communal area was
a bit of a mess � not to mention that she had a knack for complaining loudly when things were out of place.
"It's especially good to know how all that's been achieved could never
have come about without every one of you." Aika and Fina, who stood to his
right, just quietly giggled. After all, it was the same speech every time. And
as such, they were able to mouth along with Vyse's signature ending.
�� "And
so," he continued, seeing the eager hunger and thirst on the faces of his
crew, "I'd like to thank you all. Let's drink." He sucked back his
half-filled goblet in one gulp, as a resounding cheer erupted from the crew.
�� "Horray!"
�� And as it
did with every celebration, the party quickly broke into a fluttering of
conversation, with Aika, Fina and Vyse at the very center, an excited exchange
about past and present building between them. And as was practically customary,
Aika took the opportunity to critique her captain�s words.
�� "Honestly,
Vyse, you might be inspiring but you really need some new material," Aika
teased, poking him in the chest. He took a seat, kicking his feet up next to a
bowl of turnips that currently occupied Yafutoma. He chuckled, pouring himself some
water from a tall, sweating pitcher. He wiped his hand on his pant leg, leaving
a wet palm print.
�� "Give
me a break, Aika. Let's call it tradition."
�� "I
don't know, Vyse," Fina said with a smile, "maybe you need an
abridged version." Aika sat down next to him with a snicker, reaching for
a handful of golden-fried potato slices � which Polly cutely termed
"crisps" � from a bowl that took up the entire Valuan continent.
"I'm just kidding, of course. Vyse, you know we love your speech." He
smiled and she grinned back, hiding her face behind her chalice.
�� "Of
course we do, Vyse," Aika said softly. "Besides, sometimes you say
'Let's get really drunk.'"
�� "Hey,
I only say that on birthdays."
�� Aika looked
at the calendar. She would be 18 in four months.
�� "Besides,"
Vyse continued, sipping at his water. "Tonight is pretty special. We have
a map to decipher and Fina gets to tell us about her adventures in
Nasrad." Fina nearly choked, swallowing a heavy gulp. Vyse smirked at her
as he got up, reaching across the Dark Rift for a plate of sirloin. He forked a
cut and brought it to his mouth, taking large bites from the succulent meat.
Aika tried to steal a chomp but he was too quick, pulling his fork far to his
left. She muttered something darkly before reaching for her own.
�� "I
really don't have much to tell," Fina said quietly.
�� "Oh come
on!" Aika cried. "Every time we even start to tease you, you clam
up." She rubbed her chin, wiping specks of potato from her face.
"You're hiding something."
"I am not," she said adamantly. "Besides, Aika, I should ask you about what you said to Gilder."
The redhead stopped, mid-bite, looking to Vyse with a guilty shrug. Relieved to
be excused from the spotlight, Fina just sank back in her chair.
�� "What?"
Aika asked casually.
�� "I saw
him on the stairs just as I was leaving. You were blushing," Fina giggled.
�� "We
just said hello. What are you tryin' to say?" She looked between her
companions, battling between a knowing grin and an inquisitive one. Rather than
feed the fire, she decided on a different approach. "Vyse," she
suddenly whined, "Fina's piiiickin' on me!" The three of them shared
another laugh as the girls exchanged playful words about what one might do if
caught alone with the captain of the Claudia.
Vyse tried to defend him, but he knew that they were, for the most part, very
right. It didn�t take long before he grew a little ill.
�� "Okay,
gals, that's enough." Fina covertly winked at Aika, who simply smiled and
shook her head. "The less I have to imagine Gilder naked, the
better."
�� "Yeah,
otherwise Clara might have to gut you for trying to steal her man." Vyse
gave Aika's shoulder a mischievous little shove, causing her to stumble to the
side. "Hey! Geeze, Vyse, I think someone has a crush!"
�� "Okay,
that's enough outta you!" Vyse grinned, seizing her steak. She gasped,
trying to take it back, but he quickly devoured the meat and with a satisfied
sigh, returned to her an empty fork. Quietly, the redhead sulked.
�� "Jerk.
. ."
�� Meanwhile,
Fina had stood and began walking over to the end of the table. The two other
pirates looked up, watching at she made tracks away from them.
"Fina?" Aika called, standing up. "Where're you goin'?" She
grabbed a talano fruit (indigenous to the island and rather delicious) from a
platter that was just around Ixa'taka, looking over her shoulder to stick out
her tongue.
�� "I'll
be back, guy, don't worry. I just need some air."
�� Aika huffed
as footsteps came toward them. "Man, she's turning into such a pirate." Vyse shrugged,
hailing Ilchymis as he came upon them.
�� "I do
wanna talk about the trade, though," Vyse said as the chemist pulled up a
chair, as well as a plate of green and blue haibus leaves picked fresh from his
private garden. He set his vittles down just over the Land of Ice,
reaching for the pitcher of water next to the medallion.
�� "Indeed,
Vyse, that is quite a hunk of metal you picked up," he said, pouring
himself a fresh glass. He drew a pouch of powder from his sleeve and sprinkled
a pinch into the liquid. Before their eyes, clear became an opaque blue. Vyse
was about to inquire, by Aika slapped him hard on the shoulder.
�� "So,
Vyse! What exactly did you trade? I know you told us to salvage some used magic
boxes, but I can't imagine that anyone would want those in exchange to a map, even if it is to nowhere. I mean, even
by itself, the things gotta be worth, like, at least a thousand." She
snapped her ungloved fingers. "We could finally buy some new shells for
the Moon Cannon. We're running low on ammunition since that last scuffle with
that . . . that thing down near the
Artic." She shivered, the spidery, spindly, floating object making her skin crawl. Man, that thing was creepy.
�� "Yeah,
we really need to stop fighting those. They're thinner than my dad's patience. Anyway,
you had a question." Aika nodded.
�� "The
trade, yeah."
�� "Well,"
Vyse began, placing his drink of the very edge of the world. "Remember
when we stopped by Sailor's Island about a
week ago, looking for some fresh short-range cannons? Well, I wanted to talk to
the Guild Master to see if there was any news about uncharted discoveries, and
I saw this." Fishing around in his sleeve, he produced a tattered
parchment and handed it to his friend. "It was posted right next to the
desk." Aika grabbed it and unfurled the paper, clearing her throat.
�� "Barter:
Looking for Vorlik Blade and magical boxes," Aika read, her brow
furrowing. "Have for trade a ne'er-before-seen map to unspeakable
riches." Aika slowly glanced it over a second time, dropping it back in
his lap. "Are you serious?"
�� "I
asked the Guild Master and he said it was put up by some young woman. He didn't
get a good look at her, but he had reservations about her � namely, that she
didn't look like an upstanding citizen, if you catch what I mean."
�� "Yeah,
but, Vyse, they named it. They know you have the Vorlik blade."
�� Vyse
shrugged. "Well, it's not like it's a huge secret."
�� Aika
scoffed, taking a draught from his goblet. "This is screaming
'underworld,' Vyse. That posting was clearly meant for you. And I saw you
practicing your swordplay on the Del. You didn�t
give them the blade."
�� Vyse
grinned. "That's very true."
�� Aika
frowned as she sat once more, curling her knees up to her chest. "This
seems reckless, even for you."
�� "Oh,
relax! Look, don't think I didn't plan it out, because I sorta did. One,"
he said, holding up a finger. "To try and get my blade means they either
have something worth a trade and they know who I am or they don't and they're
being duped. Giving them a fake blade ensures that either they're stupid enough
to take a mockery and we capture a great find, or they're lying and the map is
useless. Right now, I'm betting on stupidity." He raised a second finger.
�� "Two.
If I had gone, I'd risk running into a trap and I didn't want to have a sword
swiped from me by pickpockets. For all I knew, the posting was just to rouse me
out of my normal trade routes. After all, we don't visit Nasrad that much
anymore, and with the restoration, it'd been too risky to get lost. Sending
Fina would practically guarantee that no one would get the drop on her,
especially since not many recognize her, anymore. This way, she makes it to the
legitimate trade and can discern for herself if it's the real deal.
�� "Finally,
I figured that both of you could take out a girl if you had to. But as we see,
whoever it was took the sword, we have the map, and we're sitting safely on
Crescent Isle." The redhead took a few silent breaths before she gave up
trying to counter his logic.
�� "Well,
you're right. No matter how flimsy that was, we do have a map."
�� "Honestly
Aika," he said, elbowing her, "we're risk takers!"
�� "I
guess . . . and, hey, even if they do come after us, we can take 'em,
right?"
�� "That's
the spirit, partner."
�� "So,"
Ilchymis finally interjected, "have you tried to decipher it, yet?"
�� Vyse shook
his head, standing up to retrieve the medallion. He turned it over in his hand
a few times, giving it an examination beyond the check for magical seals.� He'd already done that with his goggle (a
neat little trick he'd had Ilchymis add to its normal magnification). It was
about three inches in diameter, and nearly half an inch tall. The edges had
long since rounded away, and dark brown cracks and fissures rode in all manner
of patterns along the underside. On the top sat a raised circle, with a thin,
broken and chipped circumference creating a jagged loop on the very edge. In
the middle sat a silver arrow, surrounded by strange, barely legible markings.
On the side were three equidistantly placed holes, suggesting a trick that was
yet to be found. Vyse tried sticking one of Urala's chopsticks in there before
Aika slapped the utensil out of his hand.
�� "Hey!"
�� "Dope,
what if you break it?" He ignored her, turning the medallion right-side
up, looking at the map that spread out before him. He looked between the two,
smiling as he set the piece down on the table, next to a shallow dish of
pickles.
�� "Of
course. The arrow is a bearing."
�� "Of
course? What do you mean, 'of course'?" Aika asked as he rotated the
medallion to point north. So far, nothing had happened. "Yeah, 'of
course.' Vyse, for someone who's solved the puzzles of Rixis, Moonstone Mountain
and Daccat's Island, this is disappointing. Look
at those hoses � there's got to be a way to activate it, right? Maybe we need a
spell?"
�� "Nah,
I already checked for magic. This thing is purely mechanical."
�� Soon,
they'd begun to draw the rest of the crew. As Vyse and Aika bantered back and
forth about where to put the medallion, suggestions began to arise from the
gallery that surrounded them.
�� "Put
it on Crescent Isle!" Kirala yelled, reaching for some more rice wine.
�� "Yeah,
Vyse, if this deal was for you, then maybe they know about our home."
�� "Oh,
stop being so paranoid. Besides, we'd have seen someone trying to take a
bearing from the island." He moved it over just to prove his point, having
to displace a basket of fresh wheat bread.
�� "What
about Shrine Island?" Robinson asked.
"Everyone knows where that is. Or even Sailor's Island!"
Vyse tried both, matching the compass bearing each time. The food on the table
shifted twice more.
�� "Nothing
special. I don't think we're approaching this right."
�� "Yafutoma!"
�� "No,
Valua!"
�� "What?
Try�"
�� "Guys!"
Vyse shouted, as a deafening din grew from practically no where. "Just
settle down, okay? I'm not going to put this thing all over the map just for
kicks. There's got to be a key on here that tells us where it goes."
�� Irritation
growing and patience sinking with his newfound project, Vyse plucked the golden
object from the tableau and inspected it again, trying to ignore that Aika had
a cruel grin on her face. He gave it one more magical reading, just to be sure,
but could not detect a lock or activation spell.
�� His lens
went black for a moment, causing him to reel back in surprise as he could no
longer see. He blinked, but the split-second darkness was already gone. In
fact, most of the crew had also lost interest and had returned to mingling,
preferring not to invest in the broken bauble. He was about to mention the
strangeness to his partner when she decided to poke him in the nose, instead.
�� "Looks
like you lose, Vyse."
�� "Lay
off, Aika.� . . at least I didn't give up
the Vorlik blade for it."
�� "Yeah,
that's true. I gotta wonder what exactly they were trying to play you for with
this piece of scrap." Vyse shrugged, putting the piece back down on the
compass marking. Curious, Ilchymis picked it up, feeling it carefully.
�� "Do
you mind if I try, Vyse?" he asked. The captain turned, shrugging.
�� "Oh,
no, go ahead." The chemist nodded and set to work, his fingers gliding
over the surface of the medallion as he settled into thought. Vyse watched him
for a moment, a little dumbfounded by the care he was taking, before Aika
grabbed him by the arm. "What?" he asked, surprised.
�� "Have
you seen Fina?"
�� "Uh. .
."
�� "I
guess not," Aika replied, rubbing her head. "Where did she disappear
to?"
�� "She
probably just went outside for some air. You know she gets a little moody when
we tease her, and you know she's a lightweight." Smirking at him, eyes
sparkling with awareness, she nodded.
�� "You're
slurring, Vyse."
�� "No
I'm not," he over-enunciated, trying to make it clear that he was still in
charge of his facilities. "I�ve only had one drink. Besides, it's a
party."
As the two chatted, Ryu Kan
was suddenly upon them, giving the pair a smile. His aged face hid the glimmer
of youthful knowledge that was telling him more and more about his captain and
his cohorts, and as Vyse and Aika playfully exchanged jabs about each others
liquor tolerance, he bad them a good evening.
�� "Are
you going back down to the mainland?" Vyse asked, giving the elder a pat
on the back.
�� "Yes,
I've had my fill for tonight. Mind walking me to the door, boy?" Vyse
nodded absently and followed Ryu
Kan, water in hand. While she was
not named, Aika saw no harm in tagging along � even when the door shut behind
the two, leaving the redhead to try and block out the party so that she could
listen.
�� "I
overheard you talking about the Vorlik blade, Vyse," he began, staring out
at the red moon that hung in the distance over Nasr. "And I started
thinking." Vyse rubbed his eye � maybe Aika was right.
�� "Thinking
about what?"
�� "Well,
if I'm not mistaken, you found two chunks of Velorium, did you not?" Vyse
nodded. "I'm old, but my heart still beats young, boy. After crafting for
you the finest blade I'd ever created, I said I could make no other thing as
close to perfection." With a soft smile, he looked to Vyse. "I'm
willing to try again."
�� "Really?
But the Vorlik has served me like no other sword. I'd really rather not part
with it." The elder chuckled, walking toward the incline. He pulled a
lever set in the stone, causing the elevator to activate. A hum and a steady
clanking noise filled the air, making him shout a little.
�� "I
know. I could never create another blade so fine. However, blades are not where
I am limited. If you give me that second Velorium, I'd like to try to craft a
new weapon. Something this world has not yet seen."
�� A thought came
upon Vyse.
�� "Hey,
that's a good idea. Perhaps Fina could use a weapon other than Cupil."
�� Ryu Kan
smiled, his elevator having arrived, noises having ceased. "Perhaps."
He waved, disappearing as the hum returned and suddenly dropped in pitch, the
clank of metal supports returning as he descended toward the basecamp. Vyse
turned, tipping his head back, imbibing the last drops of liquid before he
opened the door left ajar (that he'd sworn he'd shut), and sank back into the
waiting party.

�� At the
flagpole, Fina sat, perched on the fence with the sound of still waters being
unsettled by the occasional sleepless fish penetrating the otherwise silent
night. She thought she heard the elevator, but didn�t turn to investigate,
instead staring off into the night sky. She could see three moons from where
she chose to pondered, red, silver and yellow present in the sky. The shadows
were soft and the edges were undefined, creating optical illusions of depth and
space across the ground and across the clouds in the sky.
�� A second
glance out to the abyss caused her a moment of concern. A small shadow emerged
from below the island and sped across the low flying clouds. Fina followed as it
seemed to get smaller, disappearing as it raced away into the distance. She
closed her eyes, trying to listen, but whatever she had seen was gone, or was
in fact never there. She blinked a couple times, thoughts instead turning to
the party.
�� She hadn�t
really left to get some air, although the fresh breeze helped to cool her skin.
She was a little dizzy, but she could still think straight. Fina just wanted a
moment to collect her wandering feelings � the trade and Nasrad had been
reticent to leave her mind alone. While she didn�t do anything nearly of the
caliber that Aika constantly suggested, it was something that made her wonder
about herself. Blushing again, she cupped her face in her hands, sighing.
�� She looked
behind her, seeing Ryu Kan walking into the darkness of the
hillside, probably returning to his shop. Fina shook her head, trying to clear through
a faint haze as Cupil, who for all this time had stayed quietly wrapped around
her wrist, peeked up from his slumber. Nuzzling her hand, he made a few noises,
at which she laughed merrily.
�� "Cupid,
you're right." She put her hand behind it and pulled the little creature
into a hug. "I don't know why I'm acting so strangely. I really should
just tell them. Want to go back to the party?" Cupil chirped, causing Fina
to laugh once more. She hopped off the fence and strode crookedly across the
complex with her companion closely floating nearby as she made way for the
headquarters, feeling a little bolder as an empty chalice sat on its side in
the dewy grass.

�� The door to
the room squeaked as Ilchymis suddenly shouted, drawing Vyse's attention. He
gave up on trying to get a now-silent Aika to crack a smile and turned to the
chemist as Fina, undetected, came to his side. Aika looked up as the room
quieted down, having for the last four minutes been trapped in personal
considerations that left her, at best, unresponsive.
�� "I've
figured it out," the scientist proudly said, reaching for a bowl of
chocolate pudding.
�� "Figured
what out, sugar, that it's dessert time?" Polly asked, earning a round of
chortles from the sailors by her sides. Ilchymis, grinning, overturned the
medallion.
�� "Not
quite, but I did figure out how our little map works." Vyse was about to
inquire when the man in white dipped the medallion arrow-side down in the
creamy treat.
�� "Hey!"
he shouted, reaching for the gold. "Come on, Ichs, what game are you
playing at?" Ignoring him, but giving him a courteous smile, Ilchymis set
to work moving plates and bowls from his path, looking back and forth between
the cartography and the now-flavored medallion. Vyse just watched, intrigued,
as the chemist explained with lucid sobriety.
�� "I'm
afraid that the arrow head on the top isn't quite what you thought it was,
Vyse. Rather, it's these cracks on the back which should grab your
interest." He held it above Pirate Isle, about an inch from the true glass
table-top, slowly moving it over the map�s surface and rotating the piece by a
few degrees as he went. Soon, the medallion was hovering over Shrine Island,
before Ilchymis shook his head, carrying it over to Nasr. Vyse was growing
impatient, but before he could interrupt, the scientist exclaimed.
�� "Aha!
Of, course. See, these 'cracks' are quite deceiving. Rather, they etched into
medallion and stained, made to look like wear. In actuality, it's�"
�� "They're
topographical. . ." Aika breathed, leaning in closely as Ilchymis finally
set the medallion down over the very northwestern edge of Nasrad, where the
coastal marks on the enlarged map bled into the medal, aligning perfectly. Vyse
watched with his mouth agape as the chemist lifted the golden piece, a dark
brown, sticky arrow left in its place on the surface.
�� "There's
your bearing, captain." The arrow pointed upward, the uneven tip shakily
piercing the North
Dannel Strait.
Vyse just began to chuckle, looking to Ilchymis with a wide grin. Soon, the
excitement began to spread as animated talk erupted all through-out the
headquarters. Fina watched the medallion carefully as Ilchymis wiped it clean
with a napkin.
�� "Unbelievable,"
the Blue Rogues captain breathed. "Well!" He clasped his hands
together, eyes roaming around the room. "My pirate crew, I believe we have
ourselves an adventure at hand." A quick cheer came up as Vyse tried to
bring them back to order. As their leader continued his rally, Fina backed away
from the table and cried out when she bumped into Aika's chair. She practically
fell into her friend's lap, but caught herself before she made a proper
landing.
�� "Oh!
I'm sorry, Aika." The redhead didn't reply, seemingly stuck in thought.
Fina persisted, motioning to the table. "Isn't this thrilling? We might
even set sail tomorrow!" Aika glanced up, almost surprised to see Fina
there. She still didn't reply, however, mouth moving wordlessly. As the Silvite
tipped her head in inquiry, Aika finally found her voice.
�� "Oh,
um, right. Hey, I'm going to head down. I feel like turning in." She held
up an empty glass. "Too much to drink, I think." Fina was about to
protest, but as she too was feeling the mind-numbing effects of being soused,
she couldn't quite think up a reason for her to stay.
�� "Um,
okay," she said, watching Aika walk a rather steady line to the door. She
disappeared without so much as looking back. Fina fell into the chair, still
warm, looking around the room as slowly as she could manage. No matter how
little she turned her head, though, the room spun as if it had a will of its
own. Fina was starting to get a headache, and all of a sudden, the candles were
burning very brightly.
�� Vyse's hand
fell on her shoulder, startling her a bit. He looked down, all smiles, and
said, "Fina! You're back. Did you see what Ichs did?"
�� "Oh,
yes, it's rather exciting," she slurred, swallowing a bit as his hand
tightened a little. "What did I miss?"
�� "Not a
lot," he answered, taking a moment to scratch the underside of his chin.
�Are you doing alright? You look like you�ve had too much. . ." Vyse knelt
by her chair so that their eyes could be level. "Fina?" The girl just
giggled, falling into him with her arms thrown around his neck.
�� Sighing in
that way that carried both the exasperation of a parent but also the amusement
of a friend, Vyse simply set her back in the chair, unwrapping her arms from
around his neck. He could plainly smell the inebriation on her breath and
watched as she began to take off her boots while she complained about the heat.
�� Of course,
he didn't let her get passed the first hook on the buckle before he picked her
up and escorted her out and onto the balcony, calling back to Ilchymis to
follow. "What am I gonna do with you, Fina?" He looked back to the
partiers, grinning faintly as they began to wind themselves down. Luckily, when
the chemist was on hand, he has the foresight to bring some of his patent
potions, those that did just the trick for the ill-effects of their merriment.
Once outside, he handed Fina's shaky arm over, sharing a concerned glance with
the other man.
�� "Get
her to bed, okay, Ichs?"
�� "Of
course, Vyse. Are you going to be able to quell the party?"
�� Vyse waved
a hand at him. "Yeah, we'll be fine, don't worry. I'm going to make it
last call and send them off to bed." He turned to Fina, who was starting
to hiccup. Vyse tried to bite back a laugh, but the overt cartoonish cuteness
of seeing Fina plastered was too much to bear. "And you listing to
Ilchymis and get some sleep. I'll see you in the morning."
�� "Okay,
Vyse," she tried to say, getting lost on the way to the 'v'. He chuckled
again, sending the two off, returning to the clamor of the celebration. Once
the elevator returned he watched the pair descend from his place at the door,
quietly bidding Fina one more good night.
�� He glanced
back to the interior for a moment, observing his crew slowly sinking into the
chairs and against walls. Practically everyone who�d ever served under his flag
was in this room, striking up strange debates and sometimes breaking into
gut-shaking laughter. Vyse gave his strange collection a smile before he
realized, finally, that someone was missing.

-o-

�� Aika awoke
with bright sunlight filtering in though the sparking glass of her window, covering
her eyes as morning intruded and commanded her to rise. She groggily sat up
from her bed, her comforter falling from her shoulder and a tangle of hair
falling in front of her face. She stretched her arms above her head before she
resigned to the call of her pillow, falling back with a low 'flumph'. She
curled her hands up behind her, stuffing them beneath her pillow as she stared
up at the ceiling. The sunlight that had roused her was now splashed across her
bare skin, warming her face, chest and stomach. She slowly relaxed her
squinting eyes, grateful as a shadow from a cloud blocked the cascade from blinding
her further.
�� She was
motionless for a while, thoughtfully tracing the patterns in the wooden beams
above her with her wandering brown eyes. A dark stain caught her attention,
probably evidence of a fire that had made its mark in the rings of the trees
used to rebuild their quarters. She took a moment to sweep some tickling hair
from her neck, looking down at her body that was exposed by the shifted cover.
Aika put her palm on her stomach, running small circles over her fair skin with
the tip of her finger. Cautiously, her hand began to rise, before a thump in
the cabin next door derailed her train of thought.
�� Aika
sighed, turning her head to the side to look at the picture of Vyse that sat on
her bureau. The heat in her cheeks was fading, her heart still racing a little
from being startled. Quietly, she thought about last night and the events that
followed her down to the cabin. Not five minutes after she'd stripped down and
slipped under the comforter, she heard dual footsteps leading past her room and
toward Fina's. She remembered the quirky fear that had seized her at first: had
Vyse and Fina had too much to drink? Would she have to hear that which was
clearly the result of being too tipsy? Of course, with an embarrassed shake of
the head, she determined, rightly, that Vyse (or someone) was leading Fina
home, because as soon as her imagination began putting her friends into
compromising positions, the second set of footsteps was retreating away from
her quarters. She heard Fina say "good night" and the cabin door
shut. Aika remembered trying to calm her racing heart, holding her hands up to
her head as she had berated herself for being so silly as to think what she had
thought.
�� Then again,
she did overhear Vyse talking to Ryu
Kan, and the suggestion that he'd
have a weapon made for Fina and not for her kind of put her in a foul mood.
Inexplicably, she decided for at least an hour or so that Vyse had chosen � as
if a choice was there to be made.
�� "Yeah
right," Aika muttered to herself as she turned over to her right side,
curling up and staring at the wall. "I know better than that. I mean, I
already have a weapon. It's perfectly reasonable to suggest that Fina use
something other than Cupil." She sighed, closing her eyes.
�� "And
now I feel like a jerk," she said aloud, turning onto her back once more.
She opened her eyes and glanced down at her body again, frowning a little as
she reached up to poke herself in the breast. "Stop it," she suddenly
muttered, forcing her hand back down to her side. She sat up and reached to the
floor for the wears she had on yesterday, swinging her slender legs over the
edge of the mattress. She slipped on her black shorts and her arm bands before
worming her way into her worn yellow dress. She belted up and strapped on her
boots, reaching for the glove she'd tossed on the nightstand. Aika threw it
onto the bed next to her as she plucked a brush from the now-open drawer. She
quickly worked her hair into a straight cascade, loosely braiding her locks
into pigtails. She strapped on her goggles, gloved her hand and stood up, her
back cracking in three places. She breathed in a refreshing lungful of air and,
just before she went for the door, blew a clandestine kiss to the photo of her
oldest friend.
�� At just
about the same time, Vyse's sleepy eyes fluttered open, the squeak of a door
caught in his sensitive hearing. He sat up and ran a hand though his messy
hair, glancing at his arm to find that he'd fallen asleep in his clothes once
more. His memory slightly foggy, but for the most part intact, he was relieved
to find that he'd woken up without a pounding migraine. He'd, luckily, not had
as much to drink as Aika had suggested. Almost immediately, he tossed his
comforter aside and was standing, remembering plainly that he'd not seen her
leave the party last night. He quickly put his Skyseer goggle on his head,
walking over to the door for the boots that had somehow made it across the
room.
�� "I
hope she's alright," he murmured, as if expecting an answer, tightening
the buckle that was loose around his waist. After strapping up his boots, he
opened the door, crying out as Aika attempted to knock on his face.
�� "Watch
it!" he shouted, dodging the fist as she stumbled into the room. Vyse
pushed the door shut as he helped her regain her balance, sitting her down on
the bed. "You okay?" Aika nodded and looked away as he crossed his
arms, watching her. He looked thoughtful, but held his tongue as the chirps of
native birds took over their shared silence.
�� "Aika,"
he said suddenly, pausing as she spoke his name. They couldn't suppress the
smiles that came over both their faces, but Vyse motioned for her to go on.
"Um, you first."
�� "I
wanted to apologize, you know? I wasn't all that much fun last night."
�� Vyse's
smile broadened into a grin as he stuffed his hands into hidden pockets.
"Ahem, that's, uh, quite fine. I don't exactly remember. . ." Aika
gave him a suspicious glance but she was already feeling the urge to tease him
bubbling up in her throat. "Besides, I should apologize if I made you
uncomfortable."
�� "Oh,"
she breathed, "Vyse, you didn't! You can't shake me."
�� Laughing,
Vyse nodded. "Good, I didn't count on it. Wanna get breakfast?"
�� Aika stood
and stepped toward him hesitantly. His brow furrowed in question as she placed
her hand on his chest, patting his heart with her bare hand. As he drifted
past, she stealthily kissed his cheek and gave him a wink. He looked back at
her, frozen with curiosity. "Sure do, captain. Thanks for the clean
slate." She opened the door, leaving him alone in the room, his hand
rubbing the skin her delicate lips had momentarily touched.
�� "Man,
why does she keep doing that to me?" he muttered, stretching his back as
he straightened his coat. Ever since that
night, before they had consigned themselves to the destruction of Galcian; the
night where he'd both wrapped a comforting arm around Fina and felt the soft
pressure of Aika's kiss upon his cheek; since that moonlit night, his redheaded
companion figured she had carte blanch to
confound his senses whenever she pleased. Often she did it with an almost
sinister laugh and was sometimes just something that happened in the course of
celebration, but every now and then he could swear he detected the glimmer of
something else hidden in the split-second action.
�� Aika peeked
her head back in, whistling to grab Vyse's attention. He turned, met with a
smile, and followed her out into the warm sunlight. The smell of hot food was
heavy in the air, Polly already rapidly preparing the day's menu. Just as the
cedar door clicked shut, a latch across the deck opened, Fina's timid head
poking out from her brightly lit room.
�� Just about
ten minutes before, Fina was in subtle agony, her head pounding like a fierce
wind trapped in fluttering sails. The pain bounced around her skull, causing
her to toss under her comforter as the sounds of the outside world began to
penetrate her restless slumber. She flung the quilt from her shoulders,
revealing ruffled clothing draped loosely around her body. Her skirt had fallen
down and was barely hugging her hips. Her sleeves had come undone and pooled
around her wrists, leaving her forearms bare. Her blue top was pulled tight
across her chest, accentuating curved skin. Her bandana was about her neck, her
gorgeous hair loose and draped about her face. Fina rolled to the side one
final time, eyes flying open as she plummeted to the floor. She landed sharply on
the floor with a 'thump', having to bite back a cry of pain.
�� She rubbed
her thigh, soothing away the ache in her backside as she wearily crawled to her
feet, catching her skirt just before it fell to her ankles. She grabbed her
belt from the headboard and quickly tightened her wears, groaning as the
throbbing moved around her cranium. She blew a stray lock of hair from her
cheek and very quietly performing curia
on herself, her aching pains dissolving almost immediately. She sighed in
relief, finally able to think with a clear head, but also overcome with severe
embarrassment that she could let herself get trapped in the grip of liquor. It
was rare, sure, but what it happened, it happened.
�� "Honesty,
what are those two doing to me?" she asked impishly, untying her bandana
from her neck and using it to tame her soft, blonde drapes. She gave a quick
glance to Cupil, who was sleeping peacefully in the nearby chair, and pulled
her sleeves up. Slipping into her footwear, she stood there in her room for a
few moments before collapsing back onto the bed. She thought hard about the
night that was still chasing her memory, scenes missing from her Technicolor
recollection. She could plainly remember excusing herself to visit the flagpole
where, at least for now, Vyse's design hung true. However, much that followed
was lost to a haze, with only the vague suggestion of faces dancing in the
mist. Vyse became Aika became Ilchymis became the unknown; a short cast of
familiars preceding a longer collection of shadowy figures.
�� And the
boat. . . She was almost certain about that. There was no doubt about the
wooden vessel cutting through the miasma of the sky below the Island.
She bit her lip, trying to push the image away, instead trying to figure out
how she returned to her cabin. She certainly didn't recall walking and was
almost certain that Vyse or Aika had to escort. She covered her mouth as a hotness
crept up her neck. Knowing they'd seen her in such a state was a little
humiliating.
�� No matter,
she figured, rising her to feet once more. With a small sigh she walked toward
the door, putting her hands on her stomach to try and soothe the hunger that
was slowly building within. She opened the door slowly, peeking out to find
Aika and Vyse emerging from his quarters. She smiled, excited to see them, and
left her bedroom to accompany them to breakfast.

�� Enclosed in
the warm tavern, Vyse and his companions settled down for one of Polly's
stellar meals. Seated at the table nearest to the door, the three were taken
into a strangely unique silence. Eyes wandered back and forth across the bench,
meeting and unlocking, cast down and closed. Robinson watched them
inquisitively, setting his bottle down and quietly thanking Polly for his meal
when she came by. The two observed the trio with identical thoughts swimming in
their experienced minds:
�� They'd
finally done it.
�� Of course,
despite the wisdom that comes with age (and with marriage), the chef and sailor
had mistakenly pegged the uncommon silence as a result of a night of drunken
mayhem, whereas it instead had to do, in part, with the lack thereof. Sort of.
Vyse was still thinking about Aika's habit of catching his cheek off-guard, and
was in another capacity concerned about Fina's slight overdrinking.
�� Aika's mind
was annoyingly persistent in the idea of her two friends getting close without
her, and even though she'd already confirmed that they had spent the night in
their respective beds, she was in a small was unable to completely snuff the
fear. Just the same, Fina had finally realized that Vyse and Aika had both
emerged from one room. She finally broke the silence with a long yawn, her eyes
tearing up a little as they screwed tight.
�� "Fina,
you look like you had a rough night," Aika murmured with a grin.
�� Glancing at
her with a faintly rosy glow hiding her face, the Silvite managed an innocent
smile. Vyse gave the redhead a bit of a discerning glare and tugged on one of
her braids. "Lay off, Aika." She yelped, rubbing her head and, with
an equally dark glare, punched Vyse in the arm.
�� "It's
okay, Vyse," Fina said. "She's right. If it weren't for you and
Ilchymis, I might not have made it to my room." She laughed quietly.
"Gosh, I'm so embarrassed."
�� "Wait,
Ilchymis?" Aika questioned.
�� "Yeah,"
Vyse continued, "I had him take care of her while I wrapped up the party.
What about you?" he asked. "When did you disappear?"
�� Before she
could respond, three plates of food were set down before them. "Okay
guys," Polly announced, "why don't ya take a break and dig in?"
�� "Sounds
good to me," Aika replied, stuffing her face with egg as soon as her
breakfast touched down. "Thanks, Pol'."
�� "You
bet, sugar." She smiled and returned to the kitchen.
�� Suddenly,
as Vyse was chewing on a pancake, he shot up in his seat. "That's
right!" he said. "I forgot that I was going to meet Ryu Kan. I
gotta run, girls. Meet me up in the office in about an hour, okay?"
Blindsided, the pair just nodded as he swiveled around and rocked onto his
feet, speeding out the door. The spring-loaded hinges slowly pulling it closed
after he was gone. Blinking for a moment, Aika just shrugged and reached over
to take his plate of food.
�� "What do you think that was
about?" Fina asked.
�� "Oh,
apparently Ryu Kan wants to make another weapon with the second piece of
Velorium we picked up." She took a gulp of water, wiping at her mouth with
the back of her glove. "Man, that is good pancake."
�� "A new
weapon?" the Silvite inquired, taking small bites of her breakfast.
�� "Yeah.
Didn't say what, though." Aika quickly pulled up her napkin and planted it
on the table, already finished with her meal. Her hunger was deceptive; her
appetite escaped as soon as she'd shoveled just half a plate of nourishment
past her pallet. She sighed, looking out the window to watch the clouds drift
by.
�� "Aika?"
The girl in question turned her eyes to the side to look up at Fina. "Um,
what were you and Vyse doing this morning?" She sat up, an odd grin
sneaking onto her face.
�� "Doing?"
she asked.
�� "You
came out of his room . . ." For all her suspicions, Aika now felt like an
utter tool. She couldn't help but laugh in that empathetic way, her previous
concerns about her friends leaving her behind lost in knowing that Fina felt
the same.
�� "Fina,"
she said softly, "nothing like that
happened. We were just talking!" She snapped her fingers, pushing their
plates to the side and putting her hands on the table. "That's right, I
nearly forgot. I wasn't very nice to you,
either. I'm sorry."
�� Fina placed
her palm atop Aika's gloved fingers, smiling faintly. "To tell you the
truth, I don't really remember. But, while we're at it, I'm sorry for . . . you
know."
�� "Fina!"
Aika shouted, aghast, disquieting the girl. "Never apologize for drinking. What kind of pirate are you?" Rolling
her eyes with exasperation, she chucked her napkin across the table and into
Aika's face.
�� "You!"
she said, curtly, standing up. Aika plucked the cloth from her face, expecting
to be met with a frown, but saw a wicked grin waiting for her. Fina began
backing for the door and, at that moment, Aika knew the game was on.
"We've got about half an hour before we're to meet Vyse," she said
with nonchalance, hand on the door's handle.
�� Aika stood,
watching her carefully, sidling around to the other side of a table. "You
know what'll happen," she sang, wagging her finger with a toothy smile.
With a shrill giggle, Fina suddenly fled the room, the door cracking on the
hinges as she burst out into the camp. Aika left after her, harmonious laughter
ringing throughout the village. Polly collected their plates, watching the two
girls chase each other around the camp, engaged in a game of "tag."
She chuckled while her husband came to her side to help with the dishes, as
Aika nearly tackled her friend to the ground.
�� "I
don't know about them, hon," she finally said. "But if they haven't done it, they're bound
to." Robinson replied with a snicker, hand wrapped around Polly's plump
hip.
�� "Yeah,
but do you think Vyse will get the chance to join 'em?"
�� "Cute,
darlin'." He grinned at her as they dumped the dinnerware into a basin of suds,
hands meeting under the warm water. She leaned in to kiss his temple, a wet,
slippery finger from her sparking hand riding up his arm. "Why don't you
go lock the door? Urala's off for the day and I don't think we'll be serving
any more people until lunch."� Nodding,
Robinson walked to the entrance and shut off the tavern from the outside world,
where the click of a latch separated lovers from those yet to be.

To be Continued
- 1
- 2
- 3
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