And we're back. For those of you that were worried, last week was my week off. And from now on I'll try to give you all a notice the week before from now on so that people don't start thinking I've forgotten to update again.

With that out of the way, on with the story!

Bear tried to move his arms, but they weren't responding. As more blood gushed out of his chest, he stared in astonishment. "What are you doing Rorick? This is treason!" More blood was coughed up, his body telling him that raising his voice wasn't the best idea in his condition.

Anderson just stared at the captain coldly. "Wrong. You are the one who committed treason the moment you willingly let those pirates escape. I'm just meting out judgement." To emphasize, he pushed his sword in deeper until he felt it pierce through his back.

Even though his body screamed in protest, he slowly moved his arms and reached out towards Rorick. "You…don't have…that authority!"

Realizing the sudden danger of being so close to Bear, Anderson pulled his sword out, as smooth as cutting butter, and stepped out of the captain's reach just as he lunged for his throat. The side step was hardly necessary, but better safe than sorry. "I know the rumors concerning you, Captain Bear. The moment someone gets in your grip they never escape. Do not think to do the same with me."

His opponent out of his reach, Bear attempted to step forward. However, the damage to his body was too much. He had managed to get his arms moving, but his legs were unresponsive. The moment he tried to walk, he collapsed on the ground.

"I've cut through your spine." Rorick said sternly. "Feel blessed that I've left you your arms." He turned as if to leave, but found his path blocked by enraged Marines.

"How dare you attack Captain!"

"Mutiny!"

"Someone call a doctor!"

And at their lead, Winston stood, his normally calm face contorted in rage. He was tightening the gloves he had on his hands and clenching his fists. "You've stepped outside of your authority and jurisdiction, Inspector Rorick Anderson. As such it is my duty as Vice-Captain of this ship to put you under arrest for the wrongful attack of a Marine Captain as well as abuse of authority." He spoke with his normal calm, respective manner, but the hate in his eyes was very real. "If you and your men would kindly lay down your arms, I will proceed with escorting you into your holding cells."

Rorick didn't even give the command. His men took out their guns and opened fire.

Bishop was at the helm when he heard the shooting. It was faint which meant they weren't in any danger, but it was still concerning. So he left the helm room and onto the deck where he saw the others gathering as well. Alec had a spyglass and he was looking in the direction of Bear's ship. As he approached, he heard his brother ask the question that was on his mind.

"So are they shooting at us or something?" He wondered.

"I don't know…kind of looks like they're shooting each other."

"What? Gimme that thing. Why the hell would they be doing that?" Grabbing the glass from Alec, Rook looked out towards the battle. "Holy shit, you're right. Was there a mutiny or something?"

None of them believed that. They may have only spent one night on the ship, but they could all tell that not a single one of Bear's men would become a turncoat. Not willingly at least.

"The timing doesn't fit." Bishop commented. "A mutiny wouldn't wait until the pirates left the ship. If anything, a mutineer would try to recruit us to help them against the others."

They all murmured their agreement until they heard the "Purupurupurupuru." Of a Transponder Snail. At that moment, Isaac burst from below deck with said snail in his hands. "Oi! The fuck do I do with this thing?"

"Oh. Thank you Isaac, I'll answer." Doc said. He was concerned about Bear and his men, but this particular snail was red with a blue shell. He called it his Emergency Snail. It was the number he gave people if they had an emergency. He picked it up with a "Katcha" and the sounds of a battle immediately erupted from the snail. Its face changed into a panicked one and it looked wounded, with blood running down its face.

"Doctor! Doctor help!" He shouted. "Please come quick!"

"Slow down!" Doc said. "What's wrong, who is this?"

There was a pause as more gunfire was heard in the background. Maya and Isaac looked over at Bear's ship. Their blood turned cold as they could hear the distant fighting.

Then the person on the other end started talking again. "I'm Seaman Recruit Erk Travel. I serve under Captain Bear." He was panting and they multiple footsteps running. They were probably trying to escape the battle in order to call for help. "I was the messenger the captain sent when he wanted to talk to you." They all suddenly remembered the short marine who had called Maya 'Mother'.

"Right, we remember you." Doc said encouragingly. "Now tell us what's happening. We can hear the fighting from our ship."

"Sir!" The Recruit said. He seemed relieved that there was someone to give him orders. "Not long after you left, an Inspector came. I'm not sure about the details myself but he attacked the Captain!" Tears started streaming from the snail's eyes. "He impaled him where he stood with a blade as dark as night!"

There was a beat of silence on their end as the Marine screamed followed by a sudden bout of gunfire. Rook and Bishop slowly turned to the snail, a mixture of fear and suspicion. There was more heavy breathing, meaning the recruit had survived the attack. Rook grabbed the receiver from Doc, his eyes practically bloodshot with intensity.

"Who was it!?" He demanded. "What's the guy's name?"

"Why does that-?"

He was cut off as Rook shook the receiver in frustration. "Just tell me the damn name!"

"He's – uh – Marine Inspector Rorick Anderson."

Rook dropped the receiver. All he could hear was that name reverberating in his head and the blood rushing in his ears.

Bishop started shaking and brought a hand to press against the scarred half of his face. He couldn't believe it. Neither of them could believe it. Why would he be here?

Doc approached the two brothers with concern. "Rook…Bishop…"

Rook stood stock still. The scar on his hand started itching. Likewise Bishop was reliving the phantom memories of the pain he had endured.

The sudden silence concerned the Marine Recruit. "D-Doctor? Doctor are you there? Can you hear me?"

"Yes Erk, I'm here." He said, with one more look of concern at the brothers.

"Please, sir. You helped us before so please…please save us now. The captain is injured, possibly…dead." The word came out heavy as lead. "Vice-captain Winston is trying to hold them off but there are too many for him to contain. Even now more and more are pouring in. Anyone that doesn't surrender immediately is shot." He sniffed and wiped away some tears, only to be replaced by more. "So many of my comrades are dead. I don't know what to do other than beg for help. So please Doctor…no, the Good Heart Pirates. Please save us!"

Doc and Maya looked at the Chess brothers while Alec looked a bit bored with the whole situation and Isaac was confused. Rook and Bishop slowly got control of themselves again.

The only sounds were those coming from the snail, shouting and gunfire. Eventually Rook looked at Doc and said, "Let's go."

As his men were hunted down like dogs, Bear could only stare at the young Marine in seething hate. "Don't think you'll get away with this!" He yelled. "You may have been fine with just me. But my men are innocent. Killing them will only make your crime worse!" All around him, Rorick's men were engaged with his own. Most had escaped into the ship, but Winston and a handful of other stayed to slow down pursuers. Winston, like Bear, used no weapons. His fighting style could only be described as boxing. His gentle appearance betrayed a ruthless repertoire of swift movements and deadly jabs. He kept his arms in and danced around his opponents in a flurry of blows, his fists knocking down men twice his size.

"I've committed no crime." He retorted. He wasn't paying any mind to the battle raging around him, confident that his handpicked crew would deter anyone that would get close. Out of nowhere, a malicious smile bloomed on his face. "I'm just subjugating a corrupt Captain and his turncoat crew."

Bear spat at him. "You're too young. Too green. I don't care how quickly you've been climbing up the ladder. I've been around much longer than you and I've made a helluva lot more friends. No one is going to believe that I've turned rogue."

Rorick thought of that for a moment. "You know, you're right. I don't have the standing necessary to make sure you get the punishment you deserve." With a lazy flick of his wrist, he brought his dark blade poised at the fallen Bear. "It'll be much easier to convince them if I just kill you now. And when I tell them you were aiding pirates, who is going to tell me otherwise?"

Bear eyed the sword. "Humph. Superb craftsmanship."

Rorick couldn't help but admire it himself. "It truly is. Strong, unyielding, fit for someone like me. It is like we were made for each other."

Despite his predicament, Bear couldn't help but appraise the young man. "No." He said slowly. "Even someone like me, who doesn't use a weapon, can tell that you and that sword are not a good match." He said. He was trying to keep pressure on his wound, but it was difficult to block out the pain. "In this case, that sword is greater than you are. Believe me when I say a day will come when it turns against you." He eyed the weapon and could see the bloodlust emanating from it. "And it will. Right when your ass is in the fire, it will let you burn."

Rorick sneered at the older man. "You obviously don't know what you are talking about. Probably gone insane from being in this backwater for so long. This is a Great Grade Sword. A blade this fine doesn't have any such flaws." He raised it to admire it in the light. "It is my destined sword. You don't know how hard I had to search for it. I deserve a weapon as powerful as I am!"

Rolling over so he could look at the sky, he couldn't help but taunt the young man. If he was going to die, it might as well be while laughing at his killer. "I know the story, of course. The same day you got your precious sword, a famous smith suddenly vanished. There were quite a few Marines who were bristled that their orders were never fulfilled." From beneath him, he could hear more gunfire and screaming. His men were resisting, but the surprise attack had left them at a disadvantage. He just hoped that the ones in Sick Bay would be left alone. They couldn't even fight back.

Seemingly done with basking in his own glow, Rorick brought his attention back to his enemy. "Now…time for justice." He raised his sword and was bringing it down to finish what he started, but he was stopped as someone suddenly shouted.

"Andersooooon!"

Before he could so much as turn, he heard a sword unsheathe and a pistol click. His sword moved almost of its own volition to swing him around to deflect two bullets and lock hilts with another sword. And before him stood two people he'd never forget.

Bishop Chess stood a small distance away. He smiled inwardly when he saw the mask, likely hiding the parting gift he had given him on their last encounter. He wasn't concerned about him. If he couldn't handle Rorick then, he wouldn't be able to fight him now.

But then his eyes met Rook's. He was different. He was the one person he would never forgive. "You." He seethed. "What are you doing here!?"

"Shut the hell up!" Rook shouted. With a pushed, he knocked Rorick away and readied his fighting stance. "I'm going to make you pay for what you did to my brother!"

Okay I'm going to apologize. There was supposed to be a battle scene at the end of this chapter, but if I wanted to meet the deadline, I had to put it off until next week. I'm really sorry.

But hopefully this chapter still keeps your interest. So please tell me what you think.

Till next time!