Chapter 1: The Routine
Four years later...
"NiƱo, get up we have to go!" Lunetta complained in exasperation as she tossed the eggs she had made down on a plate. She had grown use to taking care of herself and her brother, she had learned how to fight, how to hunt, and how to basically live in the jungle without a man's protection. This did not mean there was no consequence for the stress that came on her. She had to pay weekly taxes to the Pirates to prevent them from raiding the shanty and the garage that she worked at as a mechanic.
Dark circles resided under her eyes, her hair had been cut short up to an inch, to allow easier maintenance. She wore sloppy clothing, a black sports bra and sweat pants, followed with ragged Nike sneakers. The tattoos extending from her neck down towards her chest had grown in considerable size, the tattoos now scrolling down her right side and sprouting into her nether regions. She had fit into a much more mature figure than in her earlier years, silky hips, and angular features along with plump breasts dropping down into a muscular stomach. She had trained herself to be strong and although she had sacrificed a lot to gain that strength, she had left those days behind.
"Barsul, get the hell in here now! We are going to be late." She yelled louder this time, placing the plate of eggs down at his seat. The young boy rushed in, his skimpy form fleeing to take the wooden chair at his side of the table while she placed down the glasses of orange juice calmly, sitting across from him.
He began scarfing down his food, a bob of black hair fluffy and unattended to sat atop his head. His tan shorts were barely buttoned up. Lunetta couldn't help but simper, he would never learn, would he?
"Slow down, muchacho. You'll choke on your food." She stated as she made no movement to look up at him and began to eat her food. "Are you excited?"
"No... I'm nervous, very much hermana. What if she doesn't pick me?" Lunetta snorted, nearly choking on her food herself.
"I don't see your concern. I'm sure Citra would make no mistake in seeing how brave you are and strong you will become."
"But what if she doesn't choose me." Lunetta sighed, she had never been through such a ceremony, the day her mother died was the day she gave up the Arakyat, but since Barsul was meeting that age, he was expected to be chosen by Citra to be one of her many great warriors and train in the years to come, possibly to marry a young woman training to carry children for the tribe.
"I would love you no less. Besides, I don't think it would be so bad if I tought you myself." She took a sip of her orange juice while watching the young boy poke his fork at his food.
"All the others think I'm weak." Lunetta's eyebrows furrowed, she placed her glass down and watched him with a frown.
"What others?"
"The other boys, doing the ceremony. They say Citra won't choose me."
"You know..." Lunetta bit her bottom lip, attempting to come up with a comforting response. "Vaas Montenegro was a very skinny and naive boy like yourself once, now look at him." Although Lunetta had never seen Vaas in all her years, she knew that he had become the pirate lord of the island and was greatly feared by his men. Despite him once being the worst warrior in the Arakyat tribe at a young age. She didn't condone his actions against the natives, but he was once weak and now he was strong.
"I don't want to be like Vaas though. I want to be like you."
"Then you must practice. If she doesn't pick you, there will always be time for you to be your own self. Be independent and apart of your own faction." At those words she could see the hint of a smile on Barsul's lips. She took one last bite and sat up with her plate, placing it in the sink. She turned to Barsul.
"Good, now. I have to go, don't forget I left some venison in the freezer for later. You have to-"
"I know, put it in the oven and turn it on." He recited mockingly, Lunetta placed her hands on her hips and smirked.
"At what temperature?"
"Four-Hundred and Fifty for Twenty minutes."
"Then?" Lunetta made her way over to the car keys hanging from the wall on a hook.
"Take it out and let simmer."
"Good boy. I'll be back around-"
"Nine. I know the drill and if anything happens there is a security phone beneath the bed."
"Buena. Me amo Barsul. Good luck with your initiation today." Upon stepping out and into the fresh air of the Amaniki jungle her peace was interrupted by that of a feigned cough. She rolled her eyes and looked to her left, only to find none other than Tanik Gara himself.
Tanik Gara was a warrior of the Rakyat. A man who had no common sense, constantly trying to gain any chance at Lunetta's affections. He had long black hair tied back into a bun, wore cutoff Jean button ups and camo pants tucked into boots, red tattoos scattered all over his body.
"Good morning, my beauty and how are you today?" His British accent weighing on each word.
"I was doing fine until you showed up." Lunetta groaned running a hand through her short strands.
"You won't feel that way once I give you my offer."
"Which is?" He sneakily waltzed over to her, stopping an inch from her, before she could step back his hand had caught a tight grip on her forearm. In shock she stared into his desire filled eyes, wishing that she would not have to use brutal force on anyone today.
"Let me go."
"Or what? I am here because I love you Luna. We would make great children together."
"I don't want kids." Lunetta growled between gritted teeth, struggling to tear her arm from his unrelenting grip.
"What can I do to make you see what you truly need?" She was growing with frustration and considering just swooping him out now without a single warning. She hated it when suitors came her way, but for Tanik it had become a daily routine. She didn't like the fact that he told her what she wanted, that he was ugly, and that all he thought she would be was submissive.
"I know exactly what I need and you are definitely not in that category."
"Then perhaps what you want. I'm sure to be in that one." He purred into her face, allowing her a smell of his sour breath. She rolled her eyes again, angling her head away.
"Oh please! If I had wanted you, I would have been with you much earlier, but I don't want anyone so at least live with that."
"I may be your only exception. How else will you carry on your family name? Your father-" She punched him square across the jaw with her free hand. He released her stumbling back, her fists clenched and obvious rage in her eyes.
"Don't you ever mention my father again. Get the fuck out of my face." Tanik looked up at her, holding his now sore jaw, he glared scornfully at her and grunted.
"You will regret this Luna. You will soon accept me, whether it be now, or then. I will get you." He promised before running away, Lunetta stood there, contemplating whether or not it would be a good idea to go to work or stay until Barsul leaves. She had a feeling that something was wrong, that something heinous was going to happen... She sighed loudly, pushing the thought away, her own instinct for the first time and continuing on towards the village entrance.
The garage was fit for one car, with an assortment of random tool boxes and equipment lining the walls, it was honestly a mess. Lunetta was too busy to find the time to clean it, knowing it would be arduous work if she did. She stepped into the garage which was the extension of a gas station, not far from the Amaniki village. Her black jeep parked out in the front, dry mud lining the edges and windshield.
When she entered she grabbed the fingerless gloves and blue bandana that laid on top of the wooden workbench across from the entrance into the garage. Rolling the gloves on ad wrapping the bandana around her forehead, she went to work. She walked over to the check that list that resided in a small room cut off from the garage. It was a list full of people who needed their cars fixed, they would come to her or she would go to meet them and fix the problem.
Considering that there was always plenty of issues occurring with vehicles on the island, the list was very long. She sighed leaned forward onto her elbow, digging her palm into her chin as her eyes lazily scanned the list. There at the bottom of the list, in fine print written was Benny in big scrabbled letters.
This brought a smile to her face. Benny might have been a pirate, but Lunetta loved talking to him. Simply because he was funny. It wasn't like they liked each other, but it was however that they were at an understanding. Pirates on the island were mostly Natives, they had trouble providing for themselves so they worked as plunderers and murderers to support their families. Some of them were still young and merely there to waste their lives away in laziness.
She didn't hate the Pirates and she didn't hate the Rakyat, in fact the only reason she allowed Barsul to train to be a warrior was because it was tradition. It was in his blood, like her father, who he hopefully would not end up like. She placed the list down and almost coincidentally a red jeep drove up.
She left the small section to walk out from the garage and greet the man named Benny. He was a short, but muscular guy. He had dyed blonde fro hair and tan skin. He wore cheap store bought sunglasses and the usually pirate attire, a red tank top and cargo pants. Lunetta crossed her arms and leaned on a leg as he approached her. The two glared at each other for a moment before high giving and giving hugs.
"How you doing? You were here last week, can't you ever keep your care nice?" Lunetta exclaimed, he chuckled giving her a playful shove.
"It's not my fault. We go through a lot of jungle foliage and shit."
"Yeah, yeah, I hear ya." She replied, they both walked over to the car.
"So how are you doing?"
"I've been alright I guess." She opened the hood, a whole bunch of black smoke releasing from beneath it. Both of them made a cough, swatting at the venomous gases that left the vehicle.
"Holy shit Ben, what the fuck did you do?!" When the smoke had cleared up Lunetta was back at the hood.
"I don't fucking know. Don't yell at me!" Once Lunetta swiftly investigated the issue, she made a groan, huffing and blowing a few short strands of hair from her face.
"Jesus Christ bendejo. The fucking engine is fried."
"Well, how was I supposed to fucking know? I can pay for it."
"This is gonna take me two days at the least. If the engine isn't permanently fucked."
"And if it is?" He crossed his arms staring strictly at her, he always made it seem that it was her fault his car was complete shit.
"Then we are gonna have to get a new one."
"How much is that gonna cost?" She leaned her back into the car and took a moment to sum up the prices.
"As much as this car."
"Fuck man!" He kicked the car which most likely could have brought on more damage, cursing in mumbled Spanish.
"I can't do anything about it. Let's take it in and see what we have got, okay?" He nodded his head, after pushing the vehicle into the garage. Lunetta began to investigate more of the damage, he sat in a spinning chair that was part of the small office.
"So, what can I drive with now?"
"You can use my car." She replied nonchalantly without looking over at him, instead grunting as she pulled the cap off the ignition.
"Really? You would do that for me?"
"I don't use it anyways. Only to get to and from work..." She glanced at him with a terse expression. "But I swear if you-"
"I won't fuck up your car." He grinned, raising his hands in defense. "And thanks."
"No problem. Keys are on the workbench." Benny stood and retrieved the keys, tossing them lightly in his hands.
"You don't mind if I paint your jeep red, do you?"
"I very much do mind, if you do I will kill you." She was unfazed with the words leaving her lips, digging her left arm in between the many wires and parts that made up the engine, she grunted yanking out a large branch and holding it up to him. "What the fuck do you do with this car?"
"I do a lot of shit with it." He began to move his toe in a circluar pattern on the sidewalk, he chuckled to himself and itched the back of his head. "Like last week Vaas and I brought some sexy bi-" He stopped when he saw Lunetta's glare. "Anyways I have to go, Vaas is expecting me at pirate's cove so I could help him with the ransom tapes."
"Sure, just go. You've made me pissed off already. Be careful with my car and be back tomorrow so we can figure this shit out."
"Alright, alright. Tell Barsul I said hello, yeah?" He shouted as he walked away towards her jeep.
"Yeah right." She muttered under her breath, making an exhausted look at the car. "Well, I might as well remove the engine." She whispered to herself, getting to work as fast as possible.
