Chapter One
Octavia's tentacles twitched as she waited at the base of the stairs in the throne room of the Fright Zone. She was not often called here, and, when she was, it was most often for punishment. Although the Horde had an impressive nautical presence on Etheria, its impact on the planet's subjugation was minimal. After Admiral Scurvy had been captured by the Rebellion, Hordak had seemed to distance himself from that aspect of his command. She had received minimal contact from Horde Command since that day but had still attempted to maintain the fleet's oppressive presence over Etheria's coast.
A motor roared to life under the stairs, and Hordak's throne began to rise into the shadows above them. When the throne completed its ascension and turned to face the room, Octavia stood nervously in the silence that followed the motor's aftermath. She knew better than to address her master before he spoke. She kept her head lowered but her eyes continued to steal glances at the creature on the throne. The shadows seemed to wrap around him like a shroud so only his blazing red eyes could be seen. Right now, they bored down upon her. Her tentacles twitched again under his disapproving gaze.
"Octavia." Hordak's voice chilled the room.
"My Lord." Octavia lowered her head even farther.
"Why is my fleet idle?"
Octavia's eyes went wide at the question. She paused a moment, weighing her answer, and then spoke honestly. "The fleet has no admiral, Sire."
Hordak leaned forward upon his throne. She felt his scrutiny and waited for the punishment to commence. Long moments dragged by before Hordak finally relaxed back into the shadows.
"I tire of this planet, Force Captain. Its resources should have been mine long ago."
Octavia didn't know how to respond. It was true; the Horde had never taken so long to break the resistance of a planet. She knew their advancement over Etheria had been countered since the initial invasion, but still the Horde had many more successes than losses. Since She-Ra's arrival though, their progression had been minimal at best.
"I want control of this planet's water supply. All of it. Tell me what obstacles we must crush to accomplish this."
Octavia almost smiled. She wasn't here for punishment. Hordak was seeking her advice in regards to strategy. Her tentacles twitched again as the implications of that hit her. If anything went wrong, Hordak would blame her. If the venture was successful, she would be promoted, most likely to admiral of the Horde Fleet. In either case, she had no choice in the matter. Hordak expected information and she would provide it.
She paused for a moment collecting her thoughts. "In regards to the ocean, there are three major obstacles. The first is the Kingdom of Salineas. The Mer-Folk need the ocean to survive. They will fight against the Horde if we attempt to control the seas."
Hordak growled. "King Mercier is weak. He believes a truce lies between Salineas and the Horde as long as they do not take up arms against us. Still, you are right; they will fight over this. What else?"
"Unicorn Island. The Unicorn King and his followers use the ocean as protection from outsiders."
"I am unconcerned with an island filled with horses. We will enslave the beasts to our cause or eliminate them. " Hordak smiled as he envisioned the unicorns shackled to slave carts. "Tell me the third."
"The Rebellion," Octavia's voice was slightly more reserved as she knew the reaction this word would cause in her lord.
Hordak stood with a roar and paced at the top of the stairs. "The Rebellion has no ships! Tell me how they would oppose me on the sea!"
Octavia cowered. "They have an ally, the Sea Hawk."
Hordak stopped and glowered down at Octavia. "A kingdom of cowards, an island of horses, and one man. How is it that the Horde has not left this world a smoldering husk by now?!"
"Forgive me, Sire!" Octavia dropped to one knee.
Hordak stood staring down at Octavia with his blood red eyes. His fingers spread wide as he considered consuming her life force. After a few moments, he closed his hands and returned to the shadows of his throne.
"Tell me, Force Captain, why I should be concerned with this pirate?" His voice was clipped.
"She-Ra sometimes uses his ship as a base to stop Horde transports. He and his crew plunder Horde supply ships and return the supplies to the villages. He also knows how the Horde Fleet operates." Octavia simpered.
"How?"
"He worked alongside the Horde for a few years before joining the Rebellion. He was recruited by Adora."
"Adora!" Hordak hissed, his anger rising once more.
Octavia considered her next bit of information before plunging forward. "I have heard that they are lovers."
She heard her master's sharp intake of breath and closed her eyes awaiting his wrath.
"I hadn't realized how important this Sea Hawk is to the Rebellion." Hordak's voice was surprisingly calm when he finally spoke. "Let's use him to hurt Adora and the rebels."
Octavia looked up, anticipating her master's commands.
"Bring the Sea Hawk here to me, Force Captain. Alive."
"As you command, my Lord." Octavia stood and turned to exit the throne room.
"Octavia," Hordak called.
"Yes, my Lord."
"The Sea Hawk won't need his ship any longer. Let's make sure She-Ra can't use it as a base anymore."
"It will be done."
Hordak leaned back against his throne and watched his tentacled Force Captain rush from the throne room. She would not fail him. She was a strong warrior and had bested Sea Hawk in single combat once before. Now she had the might of the Fleet to bring the man down. He smiled and depressed a button on his throne.
"Yes, Mighty One," a disembodied robot voice responded to the summons.
"Bring me the files regarding all of the Horde's encounters with the Sea Hawk."
"At once, Mighty One," the trooper replied.
Hordak closed his eyes. He had been drawn to Etheria because of its ancient magic. He had coveted it even. Only Eternia had ever held as much promise, but Greyskull had proved too strong. That world had been lost to him. He would have this world though. Much of it had fallen easily in the beginning, unprepared for the might of the Horde. Then there were the setbacks: the start of the Rebellion, the loss of Despara, the appearance of She-Ra.
He needed to find a crack in their proverbial armor. Sea Hawk was just one man and not even an important one as far as he had been concerned, but, apparently, he was important to Adora. Maybe Sea Hawk was just the ammunition he needed to break his former protégé. If Adora crumbled, perhaps everything else would too.
"Weaver," he whispered.
Instantly, a fireball erupted and extinguished beside his throne.
"You called, Oh Mighty Hordak?" Shadow Weaver hissed. The dark sorceress floated at his right hand. She was the only one of his lieutenants that was allowed near his throne.
"I just learned some interesting news about Despara." Hordak revealed.
Shadow Weaver cocked her head and waited for him to continue.
"She's all grown up now," Hordak chuckled as he said this. "She has taken a lover."
"Foolish girl." Shadow Weaver's eyes glowed. "Who has she chosen?"
"A pirate by the name of Sea Hawk."
"Hmmm . . ."
"What is it, Shadow Weaver?"
"I was thinking of the time I met this Sea Hawk."
"I have encountered the pirate myself."
"Ah," Shadow Weaver nodded her head, "but I have seen him with Despara."
Hordak turned toward the witch. "Tell me."
"Adora, as she prefers to be called now, was my prisoner at Horror Hall. Sea Hawk somehow knew she was in danger and sailed his ship over the land to save her."
Hordak smiled. Adora and her pirate lover were linked, probably through some sort of magic. She should know once he was in danger. He would need to provide no confirmation when he issued his ultimatum. Adora would surrender to him once more, he was sure of it.
"If I may be so bold, Oh Mighty One," Shadow Weaver's husky voice broke his reverie, "what are your plans for Sea Hawk?"
"The slave mines if Adora cooperates and if she does not . . ." He spread his fingers wide in answer.
"We have tried something similar to this before. Adora will merely send She-Ra to knock down every wall of the Fright Zone to free him."
Hordak sneered. "Then Sea Hawk will die, and Adora will be crushed by her guilt in playing a part in his death."
"What if there was another option?" Shadow Weaver mused.
"Don't be coy, witch. It tries my patience."
Shadow Weaver raised her gnarled green hands in a gesture of surrender. "I was merely thinking that the Horde Fleet is in need of some capable commanders. Some of your Force Captains are pulling double duty despite their lack of nautical experience."
"Make your point."
"What if Sea Hawk belonged to the Horde?" The dark sorceress let her question hang in the air.
"How?"
"The new spell I created to bring Despara back under your control. There is no reason it shouldn't bind another to your will."
"Very good, Shadow Weaver." Hordak nodded his approval. "This plan will increase the Horde's strength by two Force Captains."
