A/n: Yay, i finally wrote some more Skyland! I'm actually pretty happy with this bit of writing. I've been doing a novel writing course and I think it's paying off. Now I just need to write more original stuff, but whatever. Anyway, I had a bit of an idea and started this. Not sure of everything that happens in this and how it ends yet. But maybe some reviews would give me a bit of motivation to finish... maybe... ;)


Motive and Opportunity

The bloc slowly became visible on the horizon. It was small, obscured by haze. The Saint Nazaire crept towards it, near silent at this speed for a vessel of its size. The ship's weapons were online, ready and waiting to attack any enemy ship that emerged.

"I'm not picking up any other vessels, Sir," said Dahlia, staring intently at her console. "Definitely no Sphere patrollers."

"… that we can see," Cortes growled. He stood at the ship's helm, gripping the wheel so tightly his knuckles were white. He stared intently ahead, showing no other signs of fear. He was still too intent on helping this tiny bloc.

The Vector sighed. "The Sphere has no technology that would keep their ships concealed at this range. They're gone, Cortes." As much as he knew they needed to be cautious he also knew that Cortes had a tendency to be a little bit paranoid. Perhaps it was a trait that had kept him and his crew alive but it was unnecessary now. "Who knows what the Sphere has done to that bloc and I am sure there are people there who need our help."

"I know what I'm doing, Vector," the Captain snapped. "Wayan, keep those weapons ready. We'll take her in nice and easy."

Closer inspection revealed the haze obscuring the bloc was not cloud, but smoke. The Sphere was long gone but the bloc still smouldered from their attack. Whatever this bloc had done the Sphere had chosen to make them pay.

The pirates' ship drew to a pause next to the crippled bloc and her ramp extended. Weapons drawn, the pirates moved carefully onto the bloc's surface. No one greeted them as they arrived.

"Maybe they're all hiding?" ventured Mahad. He was unarmed, save for his boomerang. He looked around at the burnt village, eyes wide.

The boy had never before seen this much damage caused by the Sphere. And he would see more before the day was out, the Vector knew. This was just what lay on the surface. "I don't think they're hiding, Mahad. I expect they've all left. Look, there's nothing for them here."

"Then what are we looking for?"

The Vector paused briefly. "Survivors…"

"If there are survivors," Cortes snapped. He crunched forward through the rubble and then stepped up on a block of broken concrete, surveying the destruction.

"Then what?"

The Vector could see Cortes take a in a breath before he spoke.

"You don't have time to find and bury bodies when you're running for you life." He looked over his shoulder. "Go with Dahlia and Wayan. Check those buildings over there."

Mahad's mouth was open as he nodded, unable to find the words for a coherent reply.

"Come on," said Dahlia. She grasped Mahad's shoulder as she walked past.

The Vector watched the three clamber over the rubble towards the buildings indicated. Cortes had started in the other direction and the Vector followed him. "You don't have to make it sound as if we never find survivors. We've done it before; there's still a chance…"

"I'm aware of the chances," Cortes replied huffily. "He needs to be prepared for what he might find. He's too old for me to mollycoddle him."

"Is that why you sent him to the buildings that were the least damaged? Where everyone might have gotten…"

"This is not the time, Vector!" Cortes snarled. He turned to the nearest building, now barely more than two walls and a collapsed roof, and savagely booted in the fire damaged door.

Of course, he was right. The Vector sighed. "I'm sorry. But you don't have to paint it so bleakly for him."

"How else should I paint it, Vector?" Cortes held the muzzle of his gun in front of him, pointing it around the house's interior.

He was surer of finding a Brig hiding in there than an injured human being! The Vector shook his head, and stepped past the Captain without as much as a cursory glance around for caution.

"Be careful!" Cortes barked, clambering after him.

"The roof is on the floor. Nothing's going to fall…"

"Shh!" Cortes clapped a hand on the Vector's shoulder, squeezing tightly.

The Vector distrusted Cortes' paranoia, but not the man's hearing. He stopped where he was, quiet, listening. All was silent for a moment and then the Vector heard the faint sound of crying. "See! I told you we could still find someone alive!" he exclaimed.

"That's a child…" Cortes was away in an instant, looking under damaged furniture and bits of the roof.

The Vector joined the search, throwing open the doors to kitchen cupboards that had somehow remained relatively intact.

"Vector! Give me a hand!" Cortes gripped the edge of a large panel of roofing, struggling under the size and weight.

The Vector came to the Captain's side and grasped the edge of the panel. It was heavy and he knew he wasn't as strong as he used to be. But with both of the men on it they managed to shift the panel aside.

Beneath the panel, still pinned under a heavy roof beam, lay the child.

The Vector could see Cortes' eyes scan the boy's body and the beam before he crouched down next to him.

"Hey, kid…"

The boy took a brief moment to focus on the Captain and then he drew in a sharp breath and tried to push himself away.

"It's alright…" Cortes grasped him by the shoulder, both trying to calm him and prevent him doing any further damage. "I'm not going to hurt you."

The boy stopped struggling and looked up at Cortes. "Sorry..." He finally spoke. "For a moment I thought you were the man that brought the Sphere here…" He coughed.

Cortes looked up at the Vector, eyes questioning.

The Vector knelt down next to them, looking the boy over. It didn't take him long to determine they would not be carrying him out of there alive. He met Cortes' eyes, shaking his head ever so slightly to indicate 'no'.

Cortes swallowed and turned back to the boy. "Listen, lad… what's your name?"

"Stephen. Do you know where my mum and dad are, I…" His eyes had started to wander.

"We're going to get you out of here, Stephen…" Cortes said, grasping the boy's hand.

Stephen looked away, at some point up on the ceiling, and then grew still.

"Stephen…"

"He's gone, Cortes." The Vector placed a hand on the Captain's shoulder.

Cortes said nothing for a moment and the Vector could feel a shudder pass through the Captain's body.

"Come on. I'll help you get him out of here."

Cortes stood to his feet, turning his back for a moment. "You know it doesn't matter when Mahad finds out how ruthless the Sphere can be? I'd seen far worse than he has when I was his age." Cortes hands tensed, he lowered his head and drew in a ragged breath. "And I still can't get used to this."


The tiny bloc now had one tiny grave. Another three were lined up beside it. This was all the pirates had found on the bloc. Dahlia and Wayan were searching the very last building. Mahad was sitting on a rock a short distance away. He was quiet for once and looking a little bit lost. Cortes hadn't made him finish up the search with Dahlia and Wayan. He either didn't want to push him or, more likely, was distracted.

The Vector watched Cortes now. He was staring at the set of graves, seemingly with no emotion playing across his face. He'd pulled everything back in behind his shields. But the old man could see small signs of his inner turmoil. Tense jaw and balled fists. If he laid a hand of comfort on him now he would be able to feel the tension and the slight tremble across his shoulders. All barely perceptible, all results of keeping his anger and fear inside, as if he thought showing those feelings meant he had somehow let the Sphere win.

"Captain!" The shout rang out over the bloc.

Both the Vector and Cortes whirled around; Mahad looked up from his contemplation of the dirt beneath his feet.

Dahlia and Wayan staggered towards them, supporting a person between them. This was not a body; the person struggled to keep his feet under him. He was very much alive and fighting to stay conscious.

Cortes and the Vector jogged over to assist. Cortes skidded to a halt right in front of the man. It took the Vector a second longer to recognise him in the fading light.

"I was giving up… on someone finding me in time…" the man gasped.

"Christophe?" the Vector blinked.

Cortes was staring at his brother, probably wondering what he was doing on the bloc. And then the Vector recognised something else going on behind Cortes' eyes, a microsecond before Cortes grasped Christophe roughly by the shoulders.

Christophe cringed and let out an involuntary cry.

"Did you bring the Sphere here?" Cortes demanded.

Dahlia took a step forward and planted the palm of her hand on Cortes' chest, holding him back. "Sir, careful, he's really hurt."

Cortes glared at her and for a second Dahlia looked scared, as if she may have done something wrong. But then Cortes relented and took a step back, leaving Christophe still trembling.

"I was… on business…" Christophe said weakly before passing out.

"We should get him back to Puerto Angel," said Wayan. "He needs medical attention."

Cortes took Dahlia's place by Christophe's side and helped Wayan carry him to the ship.

Dahlia was still looking at Cortes with a confused frown on her face. She caught the Vector's gaze. "What was that about?" she whispered.

The Vector could understand her confusion. But she had not seen the small boy's fear when he'd first seen Cortes and had mistaken him for someone else. "I'm not sure, Dahlia."