Chapter Twenty One

Disclaimer: I don't own OP.

A/N: Sorry for not updating, was busy with five other fics. I need to update more.

Two more months and never before has a birthday frightened her. What if she could go a full year without killing anyone? Maybe she could be sent on a mission to somewhere far away from anyone she knew and- no, that wouldn't work. The girl seems to radiate trust and become friends too easily. She really needs to fix that problem. Chewing on her blistered lip, she pulled off a thin layer, causing the wounded skin to bleed all over again. Sighing, Niri rubbed her tired eyes, looking down at the report she had just filled out.

Looking up to the ceiling, she visualized the heavens above the building, sighing as she did so. "Give me a sign or something." Slamming her head on the desk, she could feel the freshly applied ink squeeze from under her skin, smearing on the paper. Not like she cared anyways. "I don't want to be sixteen," she whined, licking her bleeding lip. It's not Axe, I'm pretty sure of it. Besides, I have seen hide or hair of that lug anywhere, it isn't Sadie or Tash, they're gone and I know it's not my family. The only ones left are my friends here at Tristram, unless I'm sent back home. ARGH! As if I need to think about them at a time like this.

Closing her bright blue eyes, she sighed, letting the air fill her lungs completely, holding her breath until her body screamed for fresh air, for a release. Exhaling, she could feel like weight was pushed off of her, like her body was light as air. Damn paper work and anything that had to do with a desk, she needed to go out and do something.

Pushing herself away from the desk and walking to her empty bunker, she began to feel age creep up on her. Normally, any almost sixteen year old would be hormonal, excited like a puppy and be completely reckless in whatever they do but for Niri, she felt like she was thirty, going through a routine every day. Needing a break, she felt her body grow restless to do anything to feel the correct age. Shutting the door quickly, Niri rushed to her bed, pulling out Axe's letter from under her pillow. Rereading it for the umpteenth time since receiving it, she sighed. Niri would give anything, do anything, to live with his exciting life, a life as a pirate just because it was different and never went through a schedule.

Letting out a breath of air, she folded the paper, placing it back before changing out of her uniform. So far, Baron hasn't called for her and neither have any of the other officers so she felt like it was safe. Now donning a simple shirt and pants, she pulled on boots and raced to the bathroom to clean off the ink. Looking at her reflection, nothing had changed. Sure, she lost the last ounce of baby fat from her face but still, there wasn't a difference.

Running a hand through her hair, she noticed that it was longer than when she started at the academy but deciding that it didn't need trimmed or cut, she tied it back in a sloppy bun and hurried her way out of the Marine base. Passing by crowds of people, by the seers she recognized as they looked at her with far-off glances and mourning looks, passing by buildings as she hurried off to unfamiliar parts of the major port.

Any type of excitement to break the schedule, to get her mind off of her destiny, to make her feel. Her body called for it, to search for anything dangerous, anything different, just anything. Stopping short from the edge of the port, to a dock some pirates used to hide from the Marines, she quickly recognized a flag, a flag she thought she'd never see again. There, on top of the mast, flying in the wind was a pirate flag, black with a skull being pierced by daggers. Usually there was something under the skull but these pirates were different, these pirates were kidnappers, rapists, murderers, the only thing Niri feared as a child.

She had seen the flag as a tattoo before, on a man who had wanted to kidnap her for ransom. If it hadn't been for Axe… Backing up slowly, she listened closely, hiding behind some rocks, trying to find out if they had found her. A stick snapped nearby, making her head whip around to find the culprit, her hand instinctively flying to her side, only to stop when realizing she had forgotten her gun. Berating herself, she sat completely still, waiting to see whatever made the noise. A rabbit had popped out of the bushes before looking at her, its brown eyes wide before it hopped away, in search for food. Letting out a breath, Niri put a hand to her heart.

"Well, well, well, what have we got here?" Holding completely still, Niri stiffly turned her head, seeing the face of an ugly pirate, a wide smile on his greasy face, his yellow teeth sticking every which way. As he leaned in, Niri jumped up, backing up slightly as she raised her fists. HA! She couldn't fight worth a flip and she knew it but he didn't. Chuckling, the pirate walked towards her, causing her to back up some more. Stopping, his smile went even wider, if that was possible, before he pulled out a whistle and blew hard on it.

Niri's heart stopped. She wanted excitement just not this kind. These pirates were dangerous and there wasn't anyone for her to scream for help. Her stomach dropped as she heard movement close by. Fear crept into her heart as she backed up more, feeling that there was someone behind her as well. Looking around, she finally took in that she was surrounded. "Oh shit."

"Pretty little thing, we won't hurt you, much," one man had said, licking his lips hungrily as he measured the girl with his eyes. His friends barked with laughter as they circled the Marine. "Come on, hun, let's be friends."

The man behind her came close and wrapped his arms around Niri, holding her still. Growling, she remembered what she had learned from Siamon. Twisting her body as much as she could, she elbowed the man in the gut, raising her foot to kick him in the groin and slamming the back of her head into his face before pulling his gun from its holster. "Anyone want to try that again, I'll shoot them on the spot," she threatened, her body shaking with adrenaline. Someone help.

One pirate looked at the shaking gun and then looked at her, a grin on his face before he fingered the gun's barrel. "You're not going to shoot us." Niri pulled back the hammer of the pistol and pulled the trigger in one swift movement, shooting a hole in his palm. The pirate swore loudly, holding his wrist as blood gushed out of the wound. "You bitch."

Narrowing her eyes, she pulled back the hammer again. No, this gun can only hold six bullets and I've already wasted one and I don't know how many are left. I need all that I have. I can't waste any, she thought, gritting her teeth at her situation. Why didn't she go somewhere else, like a bar or a club?

The group of pirates came closer to the scared Marine, knowing full well that she'd be too scared and too overwhelmed to fight back. One grabbed her arm, only to be kicked away but it was a small bruise compared to what he had gone through beforehand. "Come on, the more you resist, the more you'll get hurt."

"And risk being passed around like a liquor bottle? I'll take my chances, thanks," Niri spat, her body shaking more violently. She wasn't strong, she didn't have many bullets left, and she was surrounded. Trying to think of what she was taught, she quickly counted the men that surrounded her. That's when they struck.

Quickly, she remembered something, a palm thrust. Curling her fingers, she made sure her palm was open before ramming it upward at a pirate's nose, hearing the sickening crunch as his nose broke before he collapsed on the ground, probably from the feeling of the broken cartilage or from death if she hit it hard enough. Slamming her elbow into another pirate, she watched as her doubled over in pain before hitting the back of his head with the same elbow, then kicking his face with her knee. Someone had grabbed her waist, pulling her backwards before another grabbed her legs, lifting her off of the ground. Fear screamed in her body at the thought of being ravaged. Struggling hard, she kicked as hard as she could to be free before slipping out of the man's grasp, kicking his chest before raising it up to slam his head in the ground.

The man that held her from behind knocked the gun out of her hand and twisted her arm behind her back, raising it as she screamed in pain. Another punched her in the gut as she doubled over, coughing up blood from the force of the hit. Raising her foot she kicked the man that held her in the groin, feeling relieved as her arm was freed. Picking up the discarded gun, Niri curled up in the fetal position as the pirates kicked at her, breaking one of her ribs and formed bruises all over her body. Looking up, Niri took a risk and aimed the gun quickly, shooting one of the pirates in the head before aiming it at another, shooting him as well. Three bullets wasted, maybe three left. The pirates she had merely wounded joined in on kicking her, causing the Marine to scream out in pain.

Hearing a sickening crunch from her torso, she could tell they broke another rib before darkness covered her eyes.

-.-.-

Eyes opening, Niri breathed in deep, quickly regretting it as pain flooded her system. Shallow breaths, she looked around. Arms above her head, feet tied together, she knew she was in trouble. How long she was out, she couldn't be sure but the only thing now was to wish for a miracle. Closing her eyes, tears fell at a rapid pace.

She was still on land, still outside the city, and that no one ever comes this way unless they were pirates or Marines on secret missions. Hanging her head with shame, she knew this: no one was going to save her. Completely shaking with fear and sobs, she looked up once she heard laughter. Walking up close to her and gripping her bottom jaw was a big man, nearly as tall as her commander Siamon was but not as burly. Grinning, he gently wiped away her tears before looking at his men. "You have delivered an excellent present, boys, but unfortunately, she seems unwilling," he cried out, his voice rich and heavy with accent. Looking back at Niri, his violet eyes narrowed and glazed over with lust as he pulled out a knife, toying with it. "Do you want freedom?"

The Marine private nodded, looking up with slightly hopeful eyes. "Please?" At that, the pirates laughed before the leader grabbed her chin again. "Let me go," she pleaded, silently begging for anyone to come and save her.

Laughing louder, one of the men nudged another. "If I didn't know better, I'd say that I recognized her." Niri's eyes widened. Of course, years ago she was to be kidnapped and held ransom so that they could get to her father so it was no wonder that someone recognized her. "Wasn't that group sent to jail or something?"

"Enough!" The leader looked down at Niri, leaning down so he was nose to nose with her. "I think it's time for some fun."

A/N: WHOA! Did I really write that? Holy snap. Review.