The begining of this chapter might seem familiar if you've read Tales of the Valuan-Nasr War.
I own Carlos Meridian. He's MINE! lol.

anyway, enjoy.
Dearing.


CHAPTER 8
ESCAPE FROM VALUA

"Well hello there handsome. Always the perfectionist I see."

Carlos looked up from adjusting a spoon on the table he was preparing, only to see the amused smirk on Belleza's face.

He simply raised an eyebrow at the remark, before smiling at the Sixth Admiral of the Valuan Armada, his long time child hood friend from Lower City.

"Admiral Rodriguez," he said formally, placing his right fist over his heart in formal salute, "What brings you here so early?"

Belleza smiled and walked up gently to the servant, before gently raising his head with a long gloved finger

"For starters, it's breakfast you idiot," she said with a smile as she gazed into his sky blue eyes, "And what did we say about our names?"

Carlos rolled his eyes as he stood up, "I can lose the formalities around you as long as no one else is around," he recited in a slightly bored tone.

She laughed again, before reaching up and giving him a playful pat on the head, "There's a good boy," she smirked.

Carlos regarded her for a moment, before shaking his head slightly as he went around the Admiral's table, making sure everything was perfect for their group breakfast, usually the time when they had their daily briefing.

Carlos had known Belleza since childhood, for both their fathers had been in the Royal Navy, and both had died in the first battle that began The Valuan-Nasr War.

Also, both their mothers had died of broken hearts.

They had stayed together through thick and thin. They had been joined the navy together, sailed the same vessel for a time, before Carlos was forced into an early retirement during the Final battle of the Valuan-Nasr War. Thus, now he earned his keep, as the Personal servant of the Royal family and was considered one of the most powerful men in Valua.

"Apparently Admiral Mackenzie finally captured the Blue Storm yesterday," Belleza suddenly said, out of nowhere.

She watched as Carlos seemed to freeze for a moment, before resuming his work.

"Captain Dyne?" he asked in a slightly forced calm voice, "You want any information on him or his crew?" when it came to information, you could usually depend on Carlos to know it all, seeing he appeared to have the entire Royal Library, almost every personal file of every Officer in the Navy and every report on Air pirates ever written in his memory.

There were also rumours that he'd joined the Blue Storm during the War. It was only a rumour though.

Apparently.

Belleza shook her head, "No, I want you to tell me everything you know about the Silver Civilization, or The House of Silvairian.

With out a moments hesitation, while piling on the spare cutlery he had brought out with he onto a silver tray, he began to recite a legend from one of his mother's story books.

"The Silver Civilization, or the House of Silvairian as it was known in the Old World, was one of six Civilizations of the Old World. Silvites were experts in welding the powers of life and death, the power of the Silver Moonstone, and so were thought to know the secret to eternal youth and life, although nowadays that is just considered a myth. They were also considered to be the most technologically advanced of all the Civilizations, and were the only people not to go to the war that ended the Old World. Now though it, like every other Civilisation of the Old World, was completely wiped out by some unknown disaster that is only referred to as the Rains of Destruction. They're an extinct race now, no one left," he picked up his tray and headed for the kitchen, "Why do you ask?"

"Admiral Mackenzie captured a Silvite with the Blue Storm," she said casually.

She smirked slightly as the silver clattering against the cold stone floor echoed through the large room.

He turned to her slowly, "Your joking right? The Silvites died out well over two hundred years ago! How can one still be around?"

She sighed, "That's not the half of it. Her name is Fina Silvairian."

"Silvairian?" Carlos gasped, "But isn't that…"

"Captain Ramirez's last name?" she finished with a nod, "Yep, they're cousins."

Carlos ran a hand through his jet black hair as he shook his head in disbelief, "but that means…Captain Silvairian is a Silvite as well?"

"Oh, your right off the ball today aren't you?" Belleza answered, the sarcasm evident in her voice.

"I suppose Master Enrique and Empress Teodora know about her?" he asked as he bent down to retrieve the scattered silverware.

"In fact, I heard that Empress Teodora wanted to find her," Belleza said quietly as she bent down to help him, "She's had the entire Armada out searching for this one girl."

Carlos felt hot anger flush into his face as they rose from the floor, "You make it sound like she's a animal," he said venomously.

"That's exactly what Prince Enrique thought," Belleza murmured as the servant began to walk towards the kitchen again, "In fact, that was a reason I came to breakfast early. He wanted me to give you this, seeing he hasn't seen you since lunch yesterday,"

He looked back and saw she had produced a small note from her pocket, addressed to him.

Setting down his tray back on the table, he took the note from her, unfolded and began to read.

Carlos (it began),

As no doubt Admiral Rodriguez has already told you, Captain Dyne and the Blue Storm were captured yesterday, along with a young girl by the name of Fina Silvairian. I would like you to take a spot of breakfast to her this morning, nothing special, just a couple of pieces of toast and milk or something like that, so she doesn't have to be fed the normal gloop we give our 'guests.' after that, keep her company for a while. Unfortunately Captain Dyne and his crew are due to be executed today at 11 o'clock sharp, and my mother has insisted that Miss Silvairian be there to witness it, to force her into telling her about something I am not at liberty to discuss.

Please realise that you may be punished by my mother if your found doing this, but I am aware of your views on the Blue Rogues and I will not order you to do something if you don't want to do it.

She's in Guest Room 35.

I will see you in the Royal Box at 10:30 before the execution for this unhappy event.

Yours

Enrique Vadeck

Belleza smiled to herself as he read the note through.

He had really changed since becoming the Servant of the Royal Family. People still treated him like dirt when the Empress or Enrique weren't around, Most of the Admiralty, Minus Daniel, Gregorio and Belleza, still resented the fact he hadn't been thrown onto the streets like they had wanted him too, despite the fact he was now actually higher status then they were. But Carlos being Carlos, he didn't report it in. He just took it, and took it with a smile on his face.

"I have to go now," she suddenly heard Carlos call, "Master Enrique wants me to make Miss Silvairian's ahem…stay here a little more endurable."

Belleza smiled at me, knowing of his feelings on the subject of the Valuan Empire.

"You go make her day Carlos," she called after him, "You go make her day,"


The next day came far too quickly for Fina, she spent a lot of time, her face in her pillow, crying softly to herself. She was desperately alone and so sad and heart broken.

She would be forced today to watch her new found friends die. She didn't like it, not one bit, and she could see why the Elders had told her not to trust these people.

"But Captain Dyne and the others aren't like the Valuans," she murmured softly, "and neither is Prince Enrique."

Her only comfort right now was that Vyse and Aika had not been there at the attack, she didn't know why, but she kept thinking about the Rogue, how he had shown her around, the way he looked at her sometimes, the way she looked at him sometimes. She had no idea what had come over her. She had given him her ring, to protect him. Maybe he'll remember her by it, because she very much doubted that she'd ever see him again.

A knock on the door and the gentle creaking of hinges alerted her to a presence.

"Whoever it is," she moaned, "Please go away,"

"Well, if you want me to leave I will Miss Silvairian," said unfamiliar voice. It reminded her of something, but she couldn't put her finger on it.

"Master Enrique and indeed, myself, just thought you might want a little company this morning."

Fina looked up to see a young man standing by the door, a sliver tray in his hands. On the tray was a couple of slices of toast, accompanied by a knife and a small side dish of butter, finishing off with a cup of milk, as well as a delicate little silver flower in a tiny little glass vase.

If they hadn't been in Valua, she would have sworn she had seen Vyse.

Doubling back though, she saw someone else.

The young man before looked only 20 years old at most. He was around half a head taller than Vyse, and probably slightly taller than Enrique, although he was of a similar build to the Prince.

His hair was neatly cut, curling slightly around his forehead, and was an intense jet black, like the colour of the Stone of the Dark Moon.

Although pale skinned and looking like he'd been through more then one or tough rough patches, his smile was warm and comforting, reaching his eyes with surprising sincerity.

Speaking of which, his eyes reminded her of the sky over Yafutoma, a light sparkling blue, flecked with white here and there. She'd never seen anything quite like it.

His uniform consisted of black leather, knee high boots, with silver straps. Tucked into them were black trousers, which looked fairly formal. He wore a tunic similar in construction to Vyse's, only the sleeves were attached to the rest of it, the six buttons were round and gold, and the jacket itself was completely black, save for a sliver of gold along the hem and the collar.

Under the tunic he wore a white long sleeved shirt, with a black tie around his neck and on his right hand was a single black glove.

Hanging by his side was a sword sheath, concealing the type of sword he had.

"Please sir," she asked timidly, "if I may ask, who are you?"

The young man chuckled slightly.

"You don't have to call me sir," he said as he placed the tray on the table next to him, "I'm just a servant. At least round here anyway. My name is Carlos. Carlos Nathaniel Meridian, but most people just call me Carlos. I am the personal servant of the Royal Family of Valua."

He bowed to her politely, although it seemed like she had seen him before.

She gasped as it hit her,

"You're a slave?"

Carlos stood up and shook his head curtly.

"No I'm a servant…with a title," he said tightly, as though he was slightly offended, "I work in the palace for Master Enrique. I'm his bodyguard, assistant, doctor and sometimes cook if no one else is around. I'm also the fourth most powerful person in Valua. I'd hardly call myself a slave,"

She looked lightly confused.

"If you're his bodyguard, then why didn't I see you in throne room?"

Carlos looked a little unsettled.

"They…they don't allow me in there most of the time, I'm just a servant. They have plenty of guards in there without me."

She nodded and shifted slightly on the bed.

"Is that for me?" she asked, indicating to the tray.

Carlos followed her gaze to the breakfast and suddenly caught on.

"Oh yes, right," he said quickly and picked up the tray.

"Master Enrique's compliments, Miss Silvairian. He thought I could bring you some Breakfast so you could avoid what they would have served you," he said with a smile, "He would have brought it up himself, but since he protected you from his mother's…ahem, wrath, Empress Teodora has been keeping a closer eye on him."

She smiled back slightly back at him, he had a very nice smile.

"Thank you very much," she said quietly, "I would gladly accept any food. Thank you."

His eyes twinkled slightly as set down the tray of toast and butter beside her.

"You know you don't have to call me Miss Silvairian all the time. Everyone calls me by my first name."

Carlos looked at her with a puzzled look, before shrugging.

"As you wish Miss Fina."

She giggled slightly at the confused man.

"No, just Fina. No title. Just my name."

Carlos looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

"I guess that makes sense," he said quietly.

"So what's my name?"

"Mi…Fina, just Fina."

She smiled at him as she began to butter the toast.

He gazed at her for a moment. The dress she wore seemed familiar, as though he had seen it before.

He shook his head and glanced at a dress that overhung the end of the bed.

"I take it your not going to change into the dress the Empress provided?"

"This dress I wear represents my people," she said, smoothing out a wrinkle in her own, "It represents my people, just as Prince Enrique's armour represents the Valuan Court. If Empress Teodora does not like my dress, then she will have to force me to wear it,"

Carlos raised an eyebrow in amusement, to which she looked down out of embarrassment, thinking that that might have been something Aika would say.

The servant looked over at the dress again before going over to it and picking it up.

"If I may be so bold," he confessed, "It's not something I would have chosen for you."

Fina looked up in surprise.

"I don't think I could see you in purple," he continued, holding the dress up to himself and making him look ridiculous. "In fact, I don't think this dress even does you justice."

"And what would you have chosen?" Fina asked curiously.

"Personally," Carlos replied, lying the dress back down over the end of the bed and walking back to her, "I think you look just fine the way you are."

He took the small flower from it's vase and gently placed it behind her ear, making her flush slightly.

She smiled and brushed a bit of hair behind her other ear before turning back to her breakfast.


The Coliseum was worst place Fina had seen in a while.

The cavernous arena was lined with people of both Upper City and Lower City, giving the place a look of mixed dress senses.

From the grand box, She could see an open area, with a large cage where the executed were huddled, as well as a large podium positioned directly in front of her, a rather lethal silver guillotine glinting in the intense artificial light.

The Empress had been extremely angry with Fina when she hadn't put on the dress picked out for her, and almost as equally angry when she found out Enrique had asked poor Carlos to bring her breakfast, for which he was severely beaten because of it.

"The food we would have given her would have been sufficient!" she had screamed at him, "What would your father have thought?"

"He probably would have thought I was doing the right thing," he muttered under his breath when her back was turned.

Fina sighed and clasped her hands to her chest.

She watched with great sadness as a large executioner walked up onto the platform, his armour giving him a lightly demonic look as the lights glances against it's surface.

"Your Royal Highness's, Empress Teodora and Prince Enrique Vadeck," he boomed, "Ladies and Gentlemen, and the scum of Lower City! Welcome to the Execution of Captain Dyne and the Blue Rogues faction, known as Blue Storm!"

A course of boo's and hiss's emanated from the Lower stands, until the Executioner held up his staff pike menacingly for silence.

"The Rogues have been put on trial and found guilty of their crimes," he continued. "And so, for Act's of Piracy against the great and mighty Valuan Empire, Captain Dyne and the Rogues of the Blue Storm, have been sentenced to death."

Fina gasped and held up her hands to her mouth.

The Empress sat smugly on her throne, a tall wooden chair, extensively decorated to show her importance, as though she was watching a really good opera.

Enrique sat next to her on a considerably smaller throne, just like in the throne room.

Carlos stood near by, looking slightly weaker than before from the beating he had taken after bringing Fina a nicer breakfast than the one the Empress had planned for her, one hand leaning heavily on the side of the box.

Fina's heart went out to the servant.

"If I say I will help you find the Crystal's" Fina finally spoke quietly in defeat at the Empress, " will you please cease this execution?"

The Empress laughed and gazed at her with a sort of lazy malice.

"Oh my dear girl," she said with a laugh, "It doesn't matter if you say your going to help us, You going to help us whether you like it or not."

Fina just stared at her before turning back to the field, seeing Captain Dyne and two of his senior officers being led to the guillotine.

She couldn't watch any longer, she turned and hid her face in her hands.

She suddenly felt arms around her, and didn't need to check to realise it was Carlos, who had been standing behind her.

He soothed her quietly as she hid her face in his jacket, trying his best to keep her safe.

Enrique made a move to get up and also comfort her, only to be forced down again by his mother.

"How many times must I tell you Enrique?" she snapped at him, "Don't touch, her don't even look at her! Understand!"

Enrique was about to say something back, when out of nowhere, came a small dagger.

It whizzed through the air and struck the Empress's chair, Just inches above her head.

The Empress just stared up at it, her eyes wide with fear.

Enrique looked at the dagger with puzzlement, before realising there was a note attached to it.

"Well Enrique?" his mother stammered as he pulled it out of the chair and read it through, "What does it say?"

"It says," said Enrique, reading it again to be sure, " 'You will rue the day you crossed me and the Blue Storm, Vyse Dyne, The Blue Rogue' "

Fina gasped and broke out of Carlos' grip, running over to the side of the box to see, with joy, A shocked Captain Dyne, an unconscious Valuan Soldier next to him, and a determined looking Vyse, ready for action.


Vyse looked pleased with himself as he untied his father, as Aika and Drachma freed the remaining prisoners.

"V…Vyse?" Dyne stammered as he looked at his son with amazement, "Is it really you?"

"You have no idea how many people have asked me that this week dad," Vyse sighed with a slight grin as he jerked his thumb behind him, indicating to the rest of the crew as they ran from the cage (opened by Aika and Drachma), "you better get down the hole quickly if you want to live though,"

His father nodded and quickly jumped down the hole in the floor though which Vyse had come.

Just as the last Air pirate jumped down the hatch into the sewers, the Executioner bellowed an angry order, causing the Coliseum to suddenly become flooded with armoured soldiers. In a matter of moments, Vyse, Aika and Drachma were surrounded.

"You fools!" The executioner laughed, "Did you really think you'd get out of here alive, fter you have spoiled the Entertainment?"

"Well, if you ask me," said Vyse with a smile, reaching slowly into his back pocket, "I think the Lower City Citizens are enjoying watching us kick you to high heaven and back!"

"Vyse what are you planning to do?" Aika asked desperately, "There's a hundred of them and only three of us!"

"I figure," Vyse whispered, slowly taking Fina's ring out of his back pocket, "If I can do one advanced silver spell, I must be able to do other spells as well. I want you and Drachma to go now, I don't know if what I'm planning will hurt you also,"

She swallowed and nodded, before motioning Drachma to follow her.

"Where do you think your going?" the executioner boomed at Aika and Drachma.

"If you want these Rouges," Vyse said as Drachma disappeared down the hole in the ground, "then you have to go though me!"

The executioner was silent for a moment and Vyse didn't know what he was thinking because of the over decorated helmet he wore.

The Executioner roared with laughter, "You?" he bellowed, "against me and countless men?" and he indicated to the side doors as hundreds more soldiers came pouring out of them, too late to stop the Blue Rogues form escaping.

Vyse smiled sadly and sheathed his cutlass.

"I didn't want to do this," he said, "I hate destruction on large scale. But, if that is what you wish, then so be it."

The executioner continued to laugh as Vyse placed the ring on his finger.

"May the moons help me overcome this enemy" he thought.

Once again the effect was instant.

The Ring once more glowed as brightly as it had back on Shrine Island, and created an intense silver glow around him.

Vyse felt the power pulse through him, and could feel his feet lifted slightly above the ground.

The executioner had stopped laughing and was shading his helmeted eyes from the light that Vyse was producing.

"MOONS," Vyse yelled, Throwing his arms into the air, "GIVE ME STRENGTH!"

As he brought his arms down, he saw a bright orb appear over his head. From the orb, it suddenly began to rain spears as long as his arm, as though The Rains of Destruction had been let loose again.

The executioner cowered in fear from the orb. As the spears began to rain down, he screamed, and knew no more.


Fina gasped as she saw Vyse do what only she could do.

She watched as the orb formed itself above the area, and then she watched in horror as the spears cascaded down from the orb, skewering all the soldiers in the area.

"He can use it," she thought as she looked at Vyse, who beginning to look tired, "He's using a lot of his energy for this spell, he has to stop, or he might die. Vyse, please stop!"

"Fina!"

Her eyes widened in shock and she lost concentration.

She looked quickly and saw that the Eternes spell had ceased, and Vyse was still standing, although looking a little tired.

He did how ever manage to stand up straight and take a bow, before jumping into the hole behind him.

"HOW DARE HE!" the Empress shrieked, visibly shaking with rage, swinging her staff around so much she hit poor Carlos round the head, knocking him to the floor, and Fina could see why she was so angry.

The entire Area was covered with the bodies of Valuan Soldier, most where still alive, knocked unconscious, but those nearest Vyse when he had initiated the Eternes spell, including the Executioner, had been skewered by the deadly silver spikes.

"It had to have been a just cause" she thought to herself, as she watched the Empress scream orders at her remaining guards, "and the ring knows if it is just of not,"

"GUARDS!" The Empress screamed, "TAKE THIS GIRL TO THE RAIL CAR AND SEND HER TO THE GRAND FORTRESS! IT'S HER FAULT THIS HAPPENED!"

Fina sighed as she watched Enrique do his best to try and stop her, only to fail, and Carlos reach up to her, only to get trampled down again by the soldiers as they barged past to grab Fina. She knew that Vyse was protecting the ones he knew as his family, which was probably Eternes had responded so well. She sighed as she was taken away, giving no resistance, because she knew, no one would try to save her.


Vyse got down the ladder and held his head. He had heard Fina, but he was the only person he knew on the area. Perhaps he was just fatigued by the Eternes spell.

"Hey Vyse," called a heavy Valuan accented voice, "Over here!"

Vyse looked up from his dizziness to see Marco waving frantically at him.

"What are you doing here?" He asked with amazement.

"I thought I could try and help you out," he said with a grin, "I've let your friends into this secret room. I don't think the Empire knows about it, so they should be safe, for now at least."

Nodding in thanks, Vyse quickly ran into the room, to find the entire crew there. Including his dad.

"Well Vyse," he said, after his son ran into the room, a look of relief on his face, "I always knew you were brave, but now I think you're nuts too!" he smirked, the crew around them chuckling in agreement, "You're a bit late too, you know. Any later and the guillotine might of take a little bit off the top if you know what I mean,"

"What can I say?" replied Vyse, shrugging his shoulders, "I guess I'm not ready to become head of the Dyne Family just yet."

As the crew continued to chuckle, Vyse felt as though something wasn't right. He couldn't see Fina.

"Wait a moment, Where's Fina?"

Dyne looked at his son sadly.

"I'm sorry son," he said grimly, "But when we were captured, she was taken somewhere else. Apparently Empress Teodora wanted to talk with her herself."

Vyse clenched a fist, and realised that Fina's Ring was still on his finger. He stared down at it, total sorrow filling his heart.

"Fina,"

"If she was taken to see evil crow," Briggs spoke up, "then she must be in the Palace."

"The Empress was at the Execution," Vyse said quietly with a smile, still looking at the ring, "I should know, I almost hit her with a dagger,"

"Then that means the Palace will be Empty," Drachma spoke up, "She takes her guards everywhere, she does."

"I guess this means you'll be donning that Upper City stuff after all Vyse." Aika said with a smile.

Vyse looked up and gave her a determined smile and took the ring off his finger, putting it safely back in his pocket.

"Guess I am," he said.


Five minutes later Vyse was all dressed up, his armour buckled on and his hair he had attempted to tame straight.

He gave the ring to Aika to look after, but kept the Handkerchief in his pocket.

"Why aren't you taking the Ring?" asked Aika, "You might need it,"

"Think of it like this," Vyse said with a grin, "As long as you keep this, it's sure thing that I'll come back, and it also insure that Fina will come back so I can give it back to her."

"You have a weird perspective of things you do know that don't you?" she said with a grin.

He grinned back, "I'll be back," he said, "You can count on it,"

"You better," Aika said, elbowing him playfully, "Who else am I gonna raid with?" she then looked sad, turning away from him slightly.

"What's the matter?" he asked,

"I just have a horrid feeling," she said quietly, "Like I might not see you again."

Vyse paused for a moment, before drawing her in close into his embrace.

She was surprised at first, but then closed her eyes and relaxed.

"Come back alive," she whispered in his ear, "please, both of you,"

"Don't worry," he murmured back," we will."


Ten minutes later Vyse and Marco were walking though the sewers again in silence, despite Vyse's many attempts at conversation.

He casually looked down at the handgun his father had given him.

"Most Valuan Palace Guards have a rifle implemented into their swords," he had said, before Vyse had left for Upper City, "I know you can fire one of these, so be careful and try and take the guards out with this before taking them head on with your rapier."

Vyse had been forced to use a rapier instead of his usual two cutlasses, because men in Upper City only carried that type of sword. That, and it was easier to carry.

While he was thinking about this they finally reached the ladder that led to Upper City.

As he was about to climb it he suddenly heard a sniffle from his guide.

"Marco...what's wrong?" he asked, puzzled
"Are...are you really going to go up there?" Marco looked unsure, "Are you really going to try and escape the Grand Fortress?"
"That's the plan," Vyse smirked.
"No...n-no..." Marco sniffed and wiped at his eyes. "Please...please don't do it. You'll get killed this time, I just know it. My parents...they were killed trying to escape the Grand Fortress. Nobody's ever done it before. It's just impossible. There's no escaping this place. It's designed to keep people in. no matter how hard you try, it's just impossible to escape,"

Vyse's eyes softened, that explained why Marco always tried to act so tough.
"I'm really sorry about your parents, Marco," he replied, gently after a moment, "but like I already told you, I'm not about to give up. We've come so far…seems a bit stupid to just turn tail and run now,"

He smiled slightly, turning his gaze up to the Man-hole cover above, "There's a whole big world out there, Marco," he said, "and I'm gonna leave my mark on it. I can't die before that happens. I'm always striving to push my limits, to see what I can do. I never let anything stand in my way, and so far, nothing's stopped me." He looked back down at the boy. "Besides, Impossible is just a word that lets people feel good about themselves when they quit. Whenever I hear somebody say the word impossible...it makes me want to prove them wrong,"

Marco sniffled, wiping at his eyes once more. "Vyse...do you think I could ever become a sailor someday...?" he asked.
Vyse grinned. "I don't see why not. You'd make a great sailor, Marco." He gave the boy another thumbs-up, eyes dancing. "And I'll be waiting for you...out there…amongst the clouds,"
"Right!" Marco smiled through his tears, returning the thumbs-up, "good luck Vyse,"

Vyse gave him a nod, before ascending the ladder to Upper City.


Vyse didn't know which was worse, the Streets of Lower City, or the citizens of Upper City.

"And the people of Lower City think they have it off bad," he overhead a woman with an extremely large fan say to her friend, "I'm sure it's much harder for us then them. So many plays, so many parties. It's a wonder we have any time to talk we're so busy," then she gave a high-pitched laugh.

"If only they knew," he thought angrily to himself.

He continued to walk quietly and discreetly, in the hopes no one would see him.

After searching the city for an entranceway to the palace he eventually came to a bridge.

He leaned on the bridge in defeat, there didn't seem to be anyway in.

He thumped his hand against the stone masonry. "Damm," he thought to himself in anguish, "I've failed her, I couldn't save her!"

At that moment he suddenly heard a low hum coming from below him. Upon looking down he noticed two long lengths of steel, humming slightly and crackling with electricity.

As he followed the steel track, he finally came across the strangest looking form of transportation he had ever seen.

It was bright red and seemed to run along the track in front of it. It was segmented like a giant, metallic insect, and made Vyse shiver just looking at it.

As he watched it slowly began to move, getting faster as it headed down the tracks into a tunnel ahead.

Vyse watched it absentmindedly as the Rail car went past him.

As he looked though the window of the first car he suddenly stood up straight in surprise and fear.

"Fina!"

Without thinking what the consequences would be, Vyse vaulted over the side of the bridge, landing on the third carriage away from hers.

Drawing his Rapier quickly, he ran down the carriages towards the front of the train, being buffeted by the constant winds along the streamlined body of the train as he went.


Fina continued to look sorrowful as the Railcar continued.

Vyse had rescued his father and his friends, but no one would be able to save her.

She began to feel tears rolling down her cheeks as she looked up at one of the two beefy guards that protected her.

"What's going to happen to me?" she asked one of them.

"Our orders are to take you to the Grand Fortress," He replied gruffly, "From there you will be transferred to Lord Galcian's ship, in order to help for the greater good of the Valuan Empire."

He then chuckled sinisterly.

Fina lowered her head and cried openly, her tears falling gently onto the metal floor.

She felt abandoned, lost and alone, with no one to turn too. She felt afraid.

The door suddenly crashed open, making her jump.

That didn't however prepare her for the shock of who was behind the door.

It was Vyse, but not as she had seen him last.

He was dressed like Enrique, with the same armour and boots, but the rapier he held in his right hand was of slightly less quality then the one Enrique used.

"Good Morning gentlemen." He said brightly.

The guards tensed slightly, unsure of what to do.

"Who are you?" one of the guards asked thickly.

"Who me?" Vyse asked innocently, putting away his Rapier.

He suddenly slung out his handgun and pointed it at the first guard.

"I could well be the last thing you ever see,"

As quick as lightning the two guards were down, one bullet each lodged in his stomach, but not before one of them shot the Rogue in his upper leg.

Fina blinked in surprise.

"Vyse?" she whispered, as he slung the weapon back into it's sheath, "W-what are you doing here?"

Vyse tried to smile and ignoring the bullet in his thigh, offering a hand to help her up.

"You didn't think I'd let you be taken by Valua again did you?" he asked with a grin.
Fina just stared at him as he untied the binds around her arms. "You...you did all this...for me?" she asked. "I...I thought you only came to rescue your father…"
"Huh?" Vyse blinked, "You mean you saw us earlier?"
Fina nodded. "In the coliseum. I was in the grand box with the Empress being forced to watch the fight. I…saw you cast Eternes."

Vyse looked down, obviously saddened.

"I hated doing that," he muttered, "Killing people one on one is one thing, but not in mass numbers, that's just…wrong."
Fina blinked again, her eyes full of wonder for the Rogue.

She was about to say something to comfort him on the subject, when the door burst open once more.

She barely had time to register who it was before he raised his rifle and fired.

"Oh no!"

The bullet hit Vyse square in the back, puncturing his armour.

Vyse froze and a look of pain swept across his face, and he fell to his knees.

"Damm,"

"No!"

Vyse tried to stand up again, pain pulsing though his body with a like that he had never felt before.

Bang! Another shot forced him down to the ground.

He forced himself up again, managing to see the face of his attacker.

There stood Galcian, his sword smoking at its tip.

Vyse blankly remembered his father talking about these sword rifles, but his mind was going numb from pain.

"I'm sorry to interrupt this reunion," Galcian said in a black voice, "But I can't have you stealing the most Valuable tool I have to date,"

"She's not…a tool," Vyse forced out, "a tool is a name of a thing, not a person. You've hurt her enough! If you want her, you'll have to go through me!"
"You just don't get it, do you?" Galcian spat, raising his gun, "I've…(bang)…Already…(bang)…Won!" Bang!

Vyse suddenly cried out in pain as three more bullets drove deep into his stomach.
The man only chuckled. It was a nasty chuckle.

"Your should feel honoured to be killed by me," he sneered, "and now to end it."

"Don't you dare hurt him!" Fina cried.

She ran in front of Vyse to stop any more bullets from driving home.

"You've almost killed him! Don't do anymore harm to him, please?"

Vyse finally crumpled into a pile, blood trickling out of his mouth.
The man roared with laughter as Fina crouched down beside Vyse, feeling more tears in her eyes. "You don't even know the boy." He roared, "and yet you care for him as though he was your own brother! How touching."
"I might not have known him for very long," she shouted a loud as she could through her tears, "but he had not only saved me from you once, he came after me to save me again, and has even come to deaths door at your hand for me. In my society at least, I would count that him as a friend for all the deeds he has done for me."
Galcian gave her a look of such rage that he raised his gun again.

Suddenly an explosion rocked the railcar sending shards of metal and glass went flying everywhere, digging into her skin and opening new wounds as she tried to protect Vyse's broken body. When the smoke cleared, and she looked up, and saw that the car had been blasted in two. Galcian's half of the train was now falling far back behind them, while they continued to accelerate forward. Sailing right alongside them was an old ship she had never seen before, it's guns smoking.
Vyse opened his eyes slightly, "It's…the Captain…" he murmured.
"Save your strength Vyse," she said kindly, cradling his head in her arms, "They're lowering a rope ladder to us"

Vyse nodded in understanding, but things were getting blurry and before he knew it, he was consumed by darkness.


Vyse opened his eyes, and realised he was on the outer deck of the Little Jack. He then noticed that they were still in the tunnel. He also realised he still had six bullets in him.

"Gotta get to the bridge," he muttered, before standing up gingerly and heading for the door.

"Where are you going?" asked a timid voice behind him.

Vyse tuned around to see Fina, a bandage over her right hand, looking at him with the utmost concern.

"I have to go to the Bridge," he said, his words slightly slurred.

Vyse you've just been shot! Six Times!" said Aika as she walked up beside Fina, her voice filled with concern, "and you want to pilot this thing out of here?"

"That's the plan." He said, with a grin, trying to stand up straight and failing.

The two girls exchanged a look at each other before sighing.

"Can't keep you down can I?" asked Aika as she ducked under his arm to help him.

"I guess you can't," said Fina as she ducked under the other arm.


"Just what the hell do you think you doing?" asked Drachma as he saw the trio help Vyse up to the bridge.

"With all due respect captain," Vyse said, standing up straight despite the pain, "I should be the one Piloting this Ship, it's my battle. If I can prove that a seventeen-year-old boy can escape from the Grand Fortress, Then that will hack them off more than if you do it.

Drachma sighed before handing the wheel over to him.
As they emerged into the main channel through the Grand Fortress, He was shocked to see the Entrance gate beginning to close. There was hardly any room left to pass through.
But Vyse was tired of being in Valua. Although he had rescued all his friends from it, It had also given him six bullets as a going away present.

Once more he punched the engines to their limits, sending the Little Jack rocketing forwards at break-neck speed. Everyone gathered on board could only look on in fear as their single chance of escape became narrower and narrower, the large cannons on the back, shining menacingly. They reached out for whatever was closest and held on as tight as they could. As he continued to push the Little Jack farther, he felt Fina's hand on his shoulder and could feel it trembling, scared at the suicidal move he seemed to be pulling. With one final burst of speed, the Little Jack plunged through the narrow crevice, scraping loudly against both the gate and the doorway. The ship shuddered as the side rudders were ripped off, but he didn't look back. The sails billowed in the wind as the gate sealed shut behind them, casting them off into the southern sky.
It took Vyse a moment to comprehend what had just happened.

He had escaped from the impregnable Grand Fortress.
"We did it," he said with a weak smile.

Then the darkness clouded in again, his wounds now becoming more deadly.

His last thought was of Fina and the fact he never gave her back her ring.