WR: Here, have some writing!

Aika gained little sleep that night. Usually, she was excellent at putting her worries aside and allowing her body to rest. By the Moons, she needed sleep, for tomorrow would no doubt be a draining day, as this day had been. But still, her mind whirled and her body was tense, try as she might, she could not clear her head.

She had suffered three mind numbing shocks today; one was joyous, and warmed her soul, one she had suspected, but had been horrified in discovering its truth, the third, was not so shocking in itself, what had surprised her was her response to it. Here in the place of her birth, she had discovered relatives. Her mother's uncle was the Elder of Horteka. Aika wanted to go to him now and ask him every detail of her mother's life. She had been amazed to discover the location of her birth. She had asked around, and discovered that her mother had grown up there, as a child of the jungle, before going travelling. She had returned a year later, married to a Nasr man, to have her own child in the home of her forefathers. Aika even discovered that she too was remembered, for the family had stayed for two years before setting sail again. Since then, nothing had been heard of them. When Aika realised, and explained who she was, the information was met with guarded delight by the local people. Despite the fact that she was a child of their forest, she was still an outsider and therefore not to be trusted. The reasons for this were explained, when they met with the village elder. The ancient man in fact turned out to be the brother of Aika's grandfather, but he treated her with the same indifference as the others. It seemed that even the bond of blood could not earn his trust. He did explain to them that the King had fled and gone into hiding, so as to avoid being taken hostage by the foreigners who had arrived in their territory at first claiming peace. He seemed like he would tell them no more, but his eyes had then fallen on Fina. The sight of the girl seemed to turn his mind around. He had started shouting the word 'Queta' again and again, his eyes gleaming. It had taken some time to calm the man enough to talk sense, then his eyes had returned to Aika, shining with a renewed light.

"Ahh, my little niece!" he had said, "I have shamed your mother's good name by not extending a warmer welcome to you! I did not realise you would bring with you the means of our salvation!"

After much confusion, it emerged that the word 'Queta' was the name given to a saviour of the past who had once aided the people of Ixa'Taka, prophesised to return. Fina, apparently, bore an uncanny, striking resemblance to the idol.

After more words were spoken, the elder informed them of the location of the King's Island, and advised them to seek him out, for he would explain everything to them. After a sheepish explanation of their fuel crisis, they were advised to seek out Centime's son, it turned out to be good advice. On the edge of town, was a ship, it was in disrepair and listed crazily on its side. A few young children were playing near a washing line, where a middle aged woman watched them fondly. She greeted them warmly, with a smile. When they asked her if she knew Centime, or his family, her eyes turned sad.

"Centime is my husband." She replied, "He's been taken hostage by the Vaulans at the Mines." This news was met with surprise, evidently the 'foreigners' who had arrived preaching peace, were here on the Queen's orders.

"We have three sons in all, but I expect the Elder is referring to Hans, he is the oldest." She gestured towards the ramshackle ship. "He's onboard, trying to fix the engine." Then she had smiled, her eyes gleaming. "You are Blue Rogues, are you not?" At their nods, her smile widened. "As are we. Our ship may be down and out, but our radio still works, we received a transmission, telling of how some Rogues defied the Empress, then escaped the Grand Fortress. That was you." It was not a question, and at Vyse's grin, the woman laughed. "You are all a credit to every pirate who ever sailed under the Rogue's banner. Now, I won't hold you up any longer, go and speak with my son."

As they climbed on board, Vyse remembered that he had heard the name Centime before; the man was a charitable Air Pirate, who took orphans and runaways under his wing, raising them as his own children, he was known among all Blue Rogues as a good man. Hans was around their own age, and dashingly handsome. He welcomed them enthusiastically, and willingly handed over an armful of Moon Stones, plenty of fuel. He wished them well, but asked that if they managed to find Centime, that they might try and help him.

With fuel, they had set out towards the coordinates Aika's great-uncle had given them.

Aika sighed quietly to herself as she lay in the dark, the sound drowned out by the constant musical droning of the forest's insects. The King had not trusted them either, and had accused them of being in league with the Vaulans when they asked for the Green Moon Crystal. However, seeing as they had gained the Elder's confidence, he had told them that he, himself did not know the location of the Crystal, but his High Priest did. The Priest who had been taken to the Mines as a hostage.

At dawn, they would set sail, and enter the Mines. But Aika was not preoccupied with worries about how the four of them would free not one, but two hostages from a gigantic subterranean maze, teeming with armoured Vaulan soldiers. No, she thought of other things. Rolling onto her back, she brushed her fingers over the flat plains of her abdomen. It was almost three weeks since he had held her. That time had been taken up with sailing and fighting. But a woman will still notice if she misses one of her monthly bleeds. Her last one, she had experienced on Pirate Isle, the week before she had argued with Vyse... she was very, very late. After they had spoken with the King, they had returned to Horteka to gain some much needed sleep. Aika, however, sought out her great-uncle, and asked him where she might find the village witchdoctor. Following his directions, she entered the low hut of woven rushes. The woman was old, very old. Her white, whispy hair framed her head like mist, the skin of her face was incredibly wrinkled and the colour of leather. Her frame was broad and short, her arms thin, her fingers like knurled twigs. Yet she had bright blue eyes, alive with vitality and intelligence. A young girl of around fourteen had sat at her side, she had the same wide, blue eyes.

"Sit ye down then girl." The woman's voice was rough with age, but held the strength of authority. "Let me see if I can spy your mother in you." Aika had sat and silently let the woman's keen gaze inspect her. After a moment she smiled, her face creasing impossibly.

"Ahh yes, you have Deyna's eyes and frame. The rest is your father."

"You knew them?" Aika breathed.

"Of course, I delivered you girl, and your mother, kicking and screaming into this world. She was a good lass, she had you young. Does she live?"

"No, they both died when I was three." Aika said slowly.

"Shame, they were good folk."

There was a silence for a few moments, eventually broken by the old woman.

"Well, Aika, you have come to me for a reason. Are you suffering from illness?"

Aika had swallowed hard, and shaken her head.

"No, I am not ill. But I have... I have missed a bleed, and I..."

"Alright girl, so perhaps you carry a babe. Let us find out. Lie back."

For half an hour the woman's rough hands laid themselves on her abdomen, pushing and prodding gently at her flesh.

"It is hard to say," The woman said at last. Turning to the young girl, she spoke rapidly in the strange, clicking tongue of Horteka. The child stood and vanished through a curtained door.

"Often in the early stages, it can be difficult to tell." She said turning back to Aika. "Your womb feels swollen and firm, but then, I cannot comment on how well developed your solar plexus may be, afterall, sailors must be strong."

The girl reappeared, handing the witchdoctor some small strips of parchment.

"When you next pass liquids, my child, make sure that you soak these. They are infused with a plant extract, which will react to a certain chemical a woman produces when with a child. If there is no change, then put thoughts of infants from your mind. If they turn pink, then you are to be a mother."

Aika drew in a shaky breath as she lay back on her pallet bed. Through the rushes of the ceiling, she could see the glint of stars. Upon leaving the witchdoctor, she had proceeded with all haste to empty her bladder.

Each of the four strips of parchment, had turned a vivid, rosy pink.

She had sat, staring in disbelief at the tiny, damning strips, her hands trembling. She would bear his child, she would be a mother. Through her fear, and her shock, a warmth had settled in her heart. A child to love and hold... as a girl who had been orphaned young, she had had fantasies all her life about one day having her own, whole family... although this babe would not know its father. It couldn't. She was an enemy of Vaula and thus, of Ramirez. Her family would never be whole and pure. Perhaps it was these sad, lonely thoughts, which had influenced her, which had made her answer in haste and desperation.

She had sought solitude, she needed to come to grips with the idea of a child. She had wandered her way through the village, finally emerging on a natural plateau. She had stood, loosening her hair, allowing the wind to ruffle it. It was a warm night, the Green Moon casting its soft light. She released the pieces of parchment over the cliff edge, watching them spiral down into the inky depths of Deep Sky. For a babe to grow up without its father... it was not unheard of. But the mothers of such children were considered sluts, for birthing out of wedlock. Perhaps that was what she was. The children were bastards... second rate, and incomplete. It was then that Vyse had found her. His hand had descended on her shoulder, startling her.

"Hey, how's the navigator?" He asked with a smile.

"The navigator is..." She searched for the word which would sum up the confusing storm of emotions within her. "...feeling lost."

He turned her to face him. Aika felt a warmth of love for him. He was kind and gentle, if a little hot headed. He was a good man, and a wonderful friend and brother.

"Aika," He said softly. "I've asked you so many times, I don't know how else to try. You are a rare woman and I want you at my side. You went through a lot in Vaula, and I never want to see you suffer again. I know you view me as a brother, and a friend." He paused to take a low breath, it was clearly a speech he had rehearsed. "But I see our relationship as one that could be the perfect foundation to a life together... we know each other so well, we are a perfect match."

Their eyes were locked, Aika's mind was racing, her heart pounding.

"Don't you want a family? Children of your own...? Marry me Aika."

His eyes were pleading with hers, he clasped her hands between his own.

Children. If she married him, her children would have a father. She held his gaze. They may not love each other in the way a husband and wife should, but he was a good man, and perhaps love would grow, in time.

"Alright." She breathed. "I'll wed you." A grin had split his face widely then.

"Next time we are in Nasrad we'll go to the Chapel, and we'll be joined." He said, smiling. "you've made me the happiest and luckiest man in all of Arcadia."

She smiled weakly in return. He leaned forward and kissed her. After breaking away, he had made one last, happy smile over his shoulder at her and left her to her thoughts.

Now, the four companions shared the one small hut, and Aika rolled over and looked at her fiancé. The kiss he had pressed fleetingly to her lips had left her feeling sick with apprehension. It was like kissing a... a brother. It had left her thinking longingly of the warm, passionate kisses of the Admiral, who's child she now carried.

Alfonso swore. He wished he had never caught the pirate bitch in the first place. The situation was becoming more and more complicated by the second. He had received a transmission from Galcian. It seemed the Air Pirates had taken on the task of thwarting Vaula, and now they were here, in Ixa Taka.

The General harboured no doubts that the Rogues would come to the Mines and Alfonso's new charge was to take at least one, preferably all of them, alive. A swift death would never be punishment enough for the humiliation they had caused the Queen. If one was taken, then the rest would follow, it was the predictable honour of the Blue Rogue which would condemn them. The disgraced Admiral took a dram of loqua. His guards had reported an approaching ship, and it matched the description he had been given. They were upon him. But this time, unlike when his ship was raided, he was ready. He knew which one he would take, given the chance; the orange haired little whore. To his disappointment, he had been ordered not to take punishments into his own hands, as the Queen wanted to see them broken before her eyes. That was something he would enjoy seeing, the Air Pirates were the reason for his demotion and disgrace, and he looked forward to seeing them suffer. He glanced across at De Loco.

"Is everything ready?" He asked.

"For the last time, yes!" Snapped the tiny man. "Soldiers are posted at the bottoms of each tunnel, and the trap doors are rigged. Once we separate them they will be easy prey."

Alfonso nodded and once more filled his glass with loqua, to steady his nerves. He could not afford another failure. If by any chance they did manage to escape, then De Loco's ship was to draw them into the open and engage them in battle, rounding up any survivors from the inevitable wreckage.

"They're inside." Cried De Loco gleefully, pointing at the screen which showed images from sensors all over the Mines.

Alfonso looked and saw the four pirates, weapons drawn, pacing carefully down the entrance tunnel. The orange haired girl had her hair drawn into a single ponytail down her back, tied at the base of her neck, and wore another kilted battle dress, this one of tough brown leather. The boy was there also, the bastard who had managed to fight his way past Alfonso's previous war machine. The Admiral relished the thought of watching that one brought to his knees in defeat. He also recognised the meek little blond girl, she now walked with more confidence, looking jsut as alert as the others. The huge man he had never seen before, but he looked formidable. Alfonso was comforted by the thought that the man also looked quite old, and his bulk was probably more due to fat then to muscle. At least, he hoped as much.

"Alright," he said finally, "keep a careful watch on them. Once they get fully inside, lower the doors and sound the alarms, that should spook them. When you get the chance to use the trap doors, take it."

"I am no fool Alfonso, I know the plan, go and inflict your wisdom on someone else!"

The blond man bit back an angry retort, it would not help to make enemies of the other Admirals.

The tunnel had been long, stuffy and dark. Aika had breathed a long sigh of relief when they had finally emerged from it. The silent tramp through the gloom had made her decidedly uneasy.

"We need to stick together." Muttered Vyse. "We can't waste time getting lost and separated."

She rolled her eyes, the phrase 'no shit' coming to mind. That was another thing! Since escaping Vaula she had become far more pensive and to her irriatation she was swearing less and less. It had been one of her favourite past-times, and it had faded.

"Good idea, Vyse." Breathed Fina at his side.

The four of them moved forwards carefully, feet ringing irritatingly loudly on the metal floors. They were on a bridge which overlooked a rough room, several sets of metal tracks were set into the ground, and a pile of broken pick axes sat discarded. It was deserted. They were about half way across when the alarms blared, a red light on the wall flashed their presence. Aika spun around to see a solid metal door slide down over the entrance to the tunnel, cutting off escape.

"Who in Deep Sky set off the damned alarm?!" Cursed Drachma.

"I don't know, but someone saw us and now everyone knows we are here!" Shouted Aika over the wailing din.

"Cummon, lets move quickly!" Called Vyse, leading them at a swift lope across the remainder of the bridge and further into the Mines. None of them glanced upwards. If they had, they would have seen a glass window, through which could be seen the control room, containing the two Admirals.

Alfonso watched them venture into the labyrinth which was the Moon Stone Mines, he would redeem himself, he knew it.

Sneak peek at the next chapter:

....gauntleted hands snatched at her, her wrists were bound behind her, and she was led deeper into the caverns of the mines, again, a prisoner of Vaula....

....Ramirez now stood beside the General Galcian, and he, like everyone else in the room, was utterly silent, ears strained to hear the first signs of approach. They need not have tried. Soon, from outside the doors, came the sounds of a scuffle. The doors were suddenly thrown open, and Alfonso entered just as the words "Take your hands off me you ugly Vaulan bastards!" rang out loudly. Despite himself, Ramirez felt a slight smirk tugging at his lips, and only his iron will was keeping his face blank. He was glad to hear she was still as spirited as ever.....

..."Dogs! Take your fucking hands off me!"

This time she cried out as a blow caught her across the temple, and she descended into a dazed silence. Ramirez forced his eyes to the Queen. His face was still quite blank, but at the first strike he had involuntarily stiffened, at the second, it had become a physical effort not to draw his sabre and tear their hands from her....

...."..escort our new guest down to the cells and ensure that she is suitably welcomed back to Vaula."

Aika's blood roared in her ears, and she suddenly felt dizzy and sick, as her memory brought back the screams of the peasant girl and the jeers of the soldiers that had abused her....

...he knew Galcian was watching him, but try as he might, he could not unclench his balled fist...

WR: Ooooookay, so sadly for her she DOES get recaptured in the next chapter and taken back to Vaula.. but HOW precisely?? Also, can anything be done to help her?? Hmmm?? Will Ramirez defy the Empress just for one little Air Pirate???

Ooooohhhh!!!

We shall see.

Please review.