"I'll give it to him, he can fight on an empty stomach unlike the rest of us." B.C gives credit to Link as she and Magno observe the video feeds, "However, there's tension between Barnette and Liz... He's the source of jealousy for our pilot." Magno remains silent while watching the feeds of Link fighting the Death Blade to Barnette and Liz arguing. She shakes her head in disappointment at the behavior of Barnette.
Magno: These several months in space with this boy has always been trouble. But, we need to keep a closer eye on Barnette, this is unlike her to be bringing harm to her comrades.
B.C: Understood. By the way boss, Liz's leg is broken, she fell off a ladder in the library.
Magno: Hmm, I assume she was pretty high for that to happen.
B.C: I do recommend moving Link down to the brig with the other men and restricting his access to certain parts of the Nirvana.
Magno: No need for that. You and Gascogne wrestled with the boy before, so just restrain him in cuffs if neccessary.
B.C: Yes mam. Is there anything else I can do for you?
Magno: There is one thing.
B.C: ...
"OOOF! AHH!" Link is thrown on the ground by Meia in a sparring match. Meia helps him up on his feet, to which they continue to spar. She feels more confident sparring with the Hylian, due to her excessive combat training in the holodeck with a duplicate of him. Her increased spirit allows her to get sweeped. She catches Link around his neck by using her legs to bring him to the floor with her. Meia keeps Link in a headlock with her legs, increasing the pressure each second. Within ten minutes of straining, Link taps out. Meia, breathing heavily, releases him and sits beside him. "I expected more from you. For three hours straight I was waiting for you to surprise me, but turns out I have too high expectations." The two, drenched in sweat, decides to take thier leave out of the arena. Just as they leave, Jura surprises them as if she were a cheerleader.
Jura: I've seen the whole thing! I never imagined that Meia would've beaten you!
Meia:...
Link: Uhh...
Jura: But, you did your best like you always do against those monsters! Maybe Meia should tag along with you to kill next time!
Meia: Jura...
The Ship rumbles heavily.
Jura: What.. What was that?
Meia: Everybody hold on to something or get somewhere safe!
Vaati ,glowing with large amounts of dark energy, is using very strong winds to pull the Nirvana on a crash course. "With the strings of wind, I'll crush you worms with my might..." The wind mage pulls his hands behind him and vanish as strong gust of wind uncover large ruins.
Operator: Boss! We're heading straight towards that large yellow planet!
Magno: Have everyone strap into emergency seating and brace for impact! (To Bart) Boy! Slow us down as best as you can!
Bart: I'M TRYING, BUT THE FORCE IS TOO STRONG!
B.C: Where's Link? We can probably use one of his tricks to get us out of this one!
Magno: No time! Let's get to safety!
Link enters Barnette's room, only to catch her after the next strong pull. "What's happening?!" Link holds her by the hand and the two run down the hallway. The two make it into the panic room and strap down in the seats provided. More of the pirates arrive in the room, strapping down. Barnette looks up at Link and squeezes his hand as the ship hurls toward the planet more faster. "I didn't plan my afternoon like this!"
The Nirvana reaches the atmosphere and begins to heat up inside and out. Fortunately, most of those within the ship are ready for impact. However, the young girl named Misty is not. She falls into the panic room and desperately looks for a seat. "Oh no! Oh no!" Some of the strapped down pirates reach for her to help get her into a vacant seat, but she keeps sliding away. Link, removes himself from the seat and grabs Misty. He throws her into the seat and straps her down. He hits the floor as the ship rumbles again.
Barnette looks at him and shouts, "What are you doing?! Get to that empty spot! Hurry!" Link hops to the seat, but is thrown out by another rumble. The other pirates try to help him to the only vacant spot, but he is tossed around by the now spinning Nirvana. He grabs hold of some metal supports above Barnette. She looks up at him with fear in her eyes, but he only smiles back at her. Just before he releases, the ship crashes, resulting in a blackout for everyone. As for Link, his smile is the last thing seen before the impact.
Barnette slowly wakes up and finds everyone helping eachother out of the giant room. She removes the straps, to only find herself losing footing.
Gascogne: (Catches Barnette) Whoa, whoa, whoa! Careful girl, you took a hard hit to the head during impact.
Barnette: (Shakes her head quickly) That explains the headache. But, with what?
Gascogne: A rock flew in here. Hit you right before Link was tossed out the ship.
Barnette: LINK?! Please tell me he's not far!
B.C: Relax Orangello. Scouts went out when Bart told us that he seen him flying south.
Barnette: They've got to hurry! He didn't have any of his gear with him!
Gascogne: Relax! We need to get that male doc to look at you.
Barnette: ... Right
"Dreads and Vanguard are still in one piece..Difficulty opening docking bay... No
casualties...Two-fifths of our crew injured ... One missing... Nirvana suffered major damage to the exterior and interior... " Reports are passing through the ears of many as they begin to help the injured and set up camp. The medics and Duelo are kept busy dealing with the injured.
The scouts, Nora, Conna, Reba set out to search for Link by following a faint trail of blood on the sand. Keeping their weapons ready and their fingers on the trigger, the two venture forth with no reliable trail. They come across a large hole where the trail stops, which leaves them skepitcal about entering as their lights do not reach the bottom. "Nora to the Nirvana, We've came across a hole in the sand to which the trail stops. Requesting some excavation gear before decent." Nora receives a negative reply, to which made the situation more difficult.
Reba: What do they expect us to do?
Conna: We just have to be patient for a minute longer.
Nora: No time. We have orders for this rescue. Conna, you're with me. Reba, stay put, if things get ugly then jump in the hole.
Reba: *Sigh*
The two scouts slide into the hole, leaving behing Reba. Nora activates a brighter light as Conna does the same. As they walk through the burrow, they come to a complete stop at the sight of multiple pathways. "We can't afford to split up, let's take the left one..." Just before they move, groans of pain can be heard approaching from the opposite direction. The two scouts, cuts of their lights to use night vision. Nora and Conna aim to the opposite tunnel as sounds get closer. "Just as Conna prepares to fire, Nora places her hand up. "Nora to Nirvana, Target located. Requesting a evac by air... What was that?! Link! Get over here quick!"
Barnette hears the message in the medical bay and hops off the exam table. Unfortunately, she stumbles over before reaching the door. "Hey! You need to get back here and rest!" A medic wrestles with the love struck pirate, who just happens to pull away. She dashes down the hall and into the elevator. "I'm coming Link don't worry. I'll get you all out of their..." She sneaks into the docking bay as the doors begin to open. While boarding a support airship, she wears a flight helmet and begins to take off. "Nora, Conna, or Reba, shoot a flare to give me your approximate location... What the hell? Is that a worm?!"
From a distance, Link and the scouts can be seen fleeing from a giant worm. "There's the evac, MOVE MOVE MOVE!" Just as the ship lands, Link collapses on the ground. As the Hylian turns over on his back, he finds the worm closing in on him. He raises his arm to block the sight of the hungry creature. Fortunately, Barnette opens the side door and fires a rocket on the worm, buying the scouts sometime to get Link to safety. Once they all reach the evac ship, the worm buries itself underground.
Barnette helps Link to a seat, while carefully strapping him down. She places her hand on his leg and smiles at him when he looks back at her. He places his hand above hers and faints due to his weak condition. Conna gets the ship to raise in the air, as Reba calls in to the Nirvana. Nora, who shuts the door, catches her breath while thanking Barnette.
Just as Meia gets in her Dread, she finds the evac ship returning back in the docking bay. She exits out to observe Barnette, Link, and the scouts exit out. They are greeted by the medical staff, who helps a wounded Link to the medical bay. However, Barnette is scolded by B.C not long after Link is taken. But, Gascogne supports Barnette for acting to help their allies. Meia then continues to leaves the docking bay to get a closer look at Link.
Just as Link is placed in the medical bay, Meia sneaks in after Paiway leaves. She stands over a now concious Link, who happens to be looking back at her. "...You've seen better days... Hard to imagine anyone can pull through like that..." Link chuckles a bit, but groans the moment he does. Meia leaves without saying a word. Moments, later, Duelo comes in to do an examination on Link.
Just as he steps out, all patched up, Link finds Barnette sleeping in the hallway. He walks over and wakes her up by tapping her shoulders. She wakes up to only find Link standing over her, which comes as a sign of great relief. The pirate grabs onto to him to hug him dearly. "I really thought, that it was going to be the end of us when you were not there in the crash. But, you always seem to manage something one way or another.. But, I wanted to say that I lo.."
Barnette is interrupted when Hibiki bumps into Link on accident. She gives the Tarakian a mean look and storms off. "Geez, I was going to apologize. I didn't see you there, but do mind giving me a hand with these boxes?" Link nods his head and gives the best help he can offer. Barnette then frowns upon Link assisting Hibiki, which results in her walking away angrily.
"Lord Ganon I can explain!" Vaati is violently struck in his chest and thrown across the court, "Ugh!... Lord Ganon... Why?" Ganondorf frowns upon Vaati while punishing the sage.
Ganandorf: You were given a simple task... (Knees Vaati)
Vaati: OOOOF!
Ganondorf: And yet, you still couldn't accomplish that! You know how tired I am of this boy's prescence?!
Vaati: Lord Ganon... (Rises slowly, but only on his knee) His company…..
Ganondorf: Those women can be easily disposed of, just like you if you fail again. (Sits back on his throne) Ghirahim will accompany you on your next attack…. If you fail..
Vaati: I understand Lord Ganon…
Ghirahim: Shall we leave? haha
"Ok, we just gotta get this huge crate on top of here and we're through." Hibiki stands on one side as Link stands on the other. Just as the two lift on the count of three, Link feels a sharp and heavy pain in his left shoulder, resulting in him dropping the crate and falling down. "Hey! You're suppose to… uhhh… you ok?" The Hylian grips his shoulder to deal with the pain, but his grunting clearly displays the agony. Hibiki helps Link on his feet and struggles to get him to the med bay. "Shit! You're heavy!"
Moments after arriving, Link is medicated heavily to ease his pain. While he rests on the bed, Duelo studies the x-rays that were recently taken. However, word of Link's return did not take long to spread amongst the crew, as a result, Barnette arrived in a flash. She walks over and stops to stare at the large bruise on Link's left shoulder.
Barnette: What the hell happened to him?
Hibiki: We were lifting the crates and he was doing just fine until he started hurting.
Barnette: (Grabs Hibiki by his shirt) What the hell do you mean "started hurting?!" He was in pain to begin with!
Hibiki: (Struggles) Get your filthy mitts off me! I thought he drank that red goo he always kept with him!
Barnette: Why you son of.. (Prepares her fist)
B.C: Orangello! Stand down! (Pulls her away)
Gascogne: All this commotion, is not gonna help Link feel any better.
Barnette snatches away and pulls a chair up close to Link. She looks back at B.C before letting out a big sigh. B.C leaves with Hibiki, but not before telling Gascogne to remain with Barntte.
Duelo: Judging by the image here, his shoulder is dislocated, collar bone shattered, and the joint has pretty much been crushed. The tendons and muscles are in no condition to be used at all. (Stands over Link)
Barnette: You can fix it… Right? I know you can
Duelo: Yes and no. If his anatomy is the same as our own, then surgery would be his best option, but I am no surgeon. However, he did drink the red gel hours before, but it's strange that he remains in bad shape.
Barnette: Of course he's in bad shape! You doped him up on pain medicine! For all we know, he probably has an infection setting in. (Points at Link)
Paiway hands Duelo another image, which surprises the doctor.
Duelo: What the!
Gascogne: What is it Doc?
Duelo: He has an infection setting in! How is that possible?!
Barnette: What! NO NO NO! THAT CAN'T BE RIGHT! YOU'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING! (Shakes Duelo)
Duelo: (breaks free) Calm down, I was just joking. There is no infection.
Barnette: Then spit it out! What the hell is it?!
Gasconge: (Chuckles) I think I know what it is.
Duelo:….
Barnette: You do?! Then what!
Gascogne: Duelo said Link had some of that red gel earlier, but that had to be when the scouts found him in that burrow, based on Nora's report. That x-ray of his left shoulder was taken as soon as he got back, which his wounds were not in the process of healing yet. Now that he's returned here, another was taken of his shoulder, but this time it was in the process of healing now.
Barnette: So are you saying he's not healing as fast as he used to?
Gascogne: Somewhat, but remember the last time he took a swallow of that red gel? Just think about how wounded he was when he did.
Barnette: He wasn't in bad shape now that I think about it. So you're saying the more grave his wounds, the longer it'll take for the gel to work?
Gascogne: I knew you would catch on sooner or later.
Barnette: But what about the pain he felt?
Duelo: Possibly his bones are healing, Each bone in that area was mending itself back to normal.
As soon as night falls, raiders launch an attack on the grounded Nirvana. However, the pirates were well prepared and holds their ground as more raiders arrive. "Shit! There's a lot of them!... They must've seen us crash land from the sky!... We can hold them, just keep firing!" More armored pirates emerge from the tents and Nirvana, as the raiders continue to swarm. Fortunately, the raiders are unable to get close due to the successful counter attack from the Mejere pirates.
However, a larger raider emerges from the ground and dashes inside the Nirvana, forcing a portion of the defensive pirates to rush after him. Meia soon realizes that the raiders are getting closer now. "Break up into firing lines A-K, switch to fully automatic and use explosives when possible! They must not get within the camp!"
The large raider charges through the Nirvana, knocking down innocents. He is soon tackled by Gascogne, who then proceeds to jab him until he pushes her off. He stands up, tightening his grip on the makeshift axe. Gascogne cracks her knuckles and neck, while putting up a southpaw boxing stance. "You think it was gonna be that easy to ransack us. Now you're in some deep shit now." The raider charges toward the pirate, only for her to sidestep and hit him with a strong right hook, followed with a roundhouse kick. He catches himself by grabbing a hold of the wall and smacks himself until he is no longer dazed. "DOBEY IGU! FUWASA MONOW!" Gascogne ignores his shouting as he continues to swing his axe. After dodging three failed swings, Gascogne breaks the axe's body and disarms the raider. She throws blade at the bandit, who ducks and charges towards her.
The raiders begin to fall back as the pirates continue to fire upon them. "They're retreating!... WOOOOO!" As some of the pirates celebrated, Meia takes a squad inside to deal with the larger bandit. They find blood on the ground and hear nearby grunting. They find Gascogne, now with her hair down, beating the bandit senseless. He collapses, three times, but get's right back up. This causes the squad to aim, but Gascogne orders for them to put their weapons away. The bandit attempts the strike the pirate, but each attack is countered, dodged, or blocked. She then proceeds to throw a mix of jabs to the face, hooks to the ribs, and a uppercut to the jaw. Now with his mask broken, the bandit let's out a roar. Gascogne steps back in disgust as she see's the pig face of her opponent.
Link dashes out of the med bay and into an elevator. "Hey! Wait!" Barnette dives right into the closing elevator to stop Link, "You need to get back in bed now! I don't know how much of the drugs are still in you!" Link bashes the button, causing the elevator to descend, while at the same time, keeping Barnette away from the controls.
As the both of the arrive at the registry, Link notices Gascogne fighting a Moblin in hand to hand combat. Just as he steps past Meia, the Moblin looks right at Link. Gascogne then takes that opportunity to deliver a vicious blow to it's neck, killing it in an instant. She then lets out a deep exhale, while approaching Link. "I never had a scrap like that ever in my life. It was a nice exercise." Barnette then catches up with Link and grabs him by his hand. While catching her breath, "Are… you mad… you're in… no… cond…. Ition to fight…"
Just as Link smiled, a laughter is heard. "Hello boy. My my have you made quite the friend there." A pale man stands right beside Link and licks his face. He soon vanishes, as Barnette fires a pistol at him. "Careful! You're gonna hurt someone with that! Ha ha ha ha!"
Barnette: Just what and who the hell are you?!
Ghirahim: My name is Ghirahim and I am the demon lord Ghirahim! My master feels the boy is giving every one of us all unwanted weight.
Barnette: Unwanted? The only one unwanted is you.
Ghirahim: (Warps in front of Barnette) It's not so simple.
Barnette: WHAAA! (Falls down)
Link attempts to grab grab Ghirahim, but he vanishes before the Hylian can get his hands on him. The pirates open fire in Link's direction the moment he attempts to grab Ghirahim, but Gascogne tackles Link to the ground to avoid the bullets. "Hold your fire!... Where did he go?... This is getting creepy….." The lights begin to flicker as the demon lord warps around the room, causing disorientation amongst the pirates. While the demon toys around, Gascogne quickly helps Link onto his feet to fall in with the armed squad. Unfortunately, the demon lord pulls Link away from the pirate. "Not so fast! Let's go for a walk."
Link uses his strength to cause Ghirahim to fall on his back, releasing his grip. With enough time, Link unsheathes his sword as the demon lord stands back up. He creates a wide ring surrounding him and Link to prevent any interferences. As he conjures his sword with a snap, the lord says, "I grow tired of this game of cat and mouse. Let us duel once again." Remembering how much of a threat Ghirahim remains, Link eagerly approaches the demon slowly. As he swings his word, Ghirahim catches the blade with his two fingers, immobilizing Link.
Barnette: Just with two fingers…
Meia: Get on your Feet!
Barnette:.. Right (stands up and aims her pistol)
Gascogne: Barnette wait!
Barnette fires and hits Ghirahim on his fingers, causing him to release the master sword. "UGH! Just wait until I'm through with him you wench!" Link delivers a pummel strike on the distracted demon lord and follows up with a quick spin attack. He vanishes to a fair distance and fires three projectiles toward Link. The Hylian deflects them all and charges toward the demon lord, which Barnette fires upon him once again to distract him. "I'm getting sick of you woma.. Urgghhh!" Link impales him with his sword and quickly removes it. The demon lord then angrily swings at Link, who dodges and parries his attacks. Barnette then fires again, but the demon lord instantly appears in front of her and delivers a backhand slap that knocks her unconscious. Link instantly turns around to find the pirate lying on the ground, unable to help her. Before Ghirahim disappears, Meia draws Barnette's combat knife to attempt to stab the demon lord, to which he catches her and slams her onto the ground. "Before I finish off my friend in the ring, I'm going to swat a few bothersome flies.
As he closes in on Gascogne, she throws a punch, but he catches and squeeze her hand with great force. "AGGHHH! My hand! My hand!" A pirate attempts to strike him with the butt of her rifle, but is countered with a swift kick to the abdomen. She lands on top of Barnette, who then wakes up, only to find Gascogne struggling and the pirates being attacked by the demon. She looks over at Meia, who then signals her to attack simultaneously with her. However, Barnette takes out a high powered rifle and blasts the demon lord in the back. The blast is enough to send him flying to a wall, but not before releasing Gascogne. Link stands in awe to see Ghirahim sustain such injury. He then holds his sword high and perform a mighty swing to destroy the ring. As he leaps out, the demon lord gives out a shout, cursing pirates and Link. He vanishes after swearing that he'll return. Barnette looks over at Link as he sheathes his sword. "I think we need to get better prepared for what's to come."