Ch. 24 Honor to the End
"How's he doing?" Mycroft walked into the hospital on the Isle of Dogs.
"The shrapnel," Bonnie stated, "Pierced too many vital organs. He doesn't have long left." The dog surveyed the room. Mary and Adam were mysteriously absent.
"Where is Ms. Winchester? Kenner? And Captain Silver?"
"Mary locked herself in her office. She hasn't stopped her ramblings since we got her out of the rubble." Ryan leaned in the doorway to the wards. "Peyton is in one of the wards, getting her wounds treated. Adam is standing outside of Brave's room. You weren't about to talk to him, were you?"
"I need to make things right… before it's too late," the dog admitted. Ryan pushed himself off the door frame.
"I'll talk to him first. Keep him calm." Ryan went through the winding halls of the hospital until he found Brave's room. Sure enough, Adam stood outside, staring at the door. "Last time I checked, none of us had telekinetic powers." That got a small chuckle from Adam's throat. The smile quickly disappeared from Adam's face. "I'm sorry about Lenora."
"Today is my birthday," Adam said.
"Well … Happy Birthday."
"Yeah, thanks." Adam looked down. "I never really made a big deal about it. I mean, I'd remember it, but I never had anyone make a fuss. Yesterday, Lenora reminded me that it was today and asked me what I wanted." Adam reached into his pocket. "I told her that I had one idea. I was going to ask her today." He pulled out a small black box and opened it. A silver ring with a swirling red and gold pearl rested in the center. "I wanted her to marry me." Ryan stared at the ring.
"Adam, I'm so sorry."
"I thought I was crazy, but after everything that's happened, I know it. She's the one." Adam put the box back in his pocket. "Flint took that from me. I'm not going to let him take anything like that from anyone anymore." Adam took a deep breath and faced Ryan. "Anyway, you obviously have something you need to talk about."
"Yeah, it's kind of important. Mycroft is here." At the mention of the dog's name, Adam turned away from the swashbuckler. "I know you don't like him, but he needs to talk to you and I think you should listen."
"Why should I? He didn't listen to me when we needed help."
"Because I was wrong." Adam turned to face Mycroft Bones. "I was a weak-willed fool who thought neutrality could save my people. I made too many mistakes to make up for, but I'll do my best to make it right." He pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Adam. The musketeer took the paper reluctantly and read over it. "It's time the good admiral got back into the fight." Adam gently folded the paper and handed it back to Mycroft.
"It's a start." Mycroft saluted the pirate and walked away. Silently, Adam opened the door to Brave's room and entered. Riley was seated in a chair by Brave's bed, her hands grasping Brave's mechanical arm.
"I still remember," Brave coughed, "The first time I held you in my arms." Tears flowed down the sniper's face. "The first time I looked in your eyes, I could see it and I told your mother, 'This girl's going to be a fighter.'" Riley gave a chuckle. "I'm so proud of you, Riley."
"I can't do this without you, dad." Riley stood up. "I could give you your powers back. You could be alright."
"I didn't have healing powers. Besides that, the transfer would strain your body to its limits. You're the one thing I have that's worth dying for."
"Brave, I'm so sorry," Adam apologized.
"Don't be. I knew what I was getting into when I joined up with you." Brave went into a fit of coughing. "Ford always was a piece of shit, even before he betrayed us. He didn't even try to keep his honor intact. At least Pedro gave redemption a chance." Brave coughed again. "This is it, isn't it?" Brave stared at the ceiling. "This is the end."
"You should have had a life after this war." Adam slammed his fist into the wall. "It should have been me."
"What are you talking about?"
"When we found Cole, he recited a prophecy. 'The father shall fall with the fallen son. Only then will the dark days be done.' I thought it would be me and Flint or Blaze and Flint, but it was talking about you and Ford."
"Well, then there's three things you need to do." Brave sat up as best he could in his condition. "Make that bastard pay for all of the deaths he's caused and bring Lenora home safely."
"You can count on it. What else?"
"Riley," the sniper looked to his daughter, "Doesn't have any real family left. I lost track of her uncle after a while. He just went off the map." He turned back to Adam. "Take care of her. Keep her safe for me."
"Brave, I can't be her dad."
"I'm not asking you to replace me," Brave interrupted. "Just, be there for her. Support her. She doesn't need a new dad; she needs a friend." Brave looked at Riley and pushed her fallen hair out of her eyes. "You have your mother's eyes, you know." Riley held her dad's hand tighter.
"Please, don't go. Don't die." Brave reached his left hand to his mechanical arm and detached it. He reached over and touched her face with his own flesh.
"I don't want to go either, Riley, but I don't have a choice anymore. I'm going to see your mother and Will again, but I'll miss you." Brave laid back down on the bed and closed his eyes. "I'll always be in your corner, Riley. Don't you ever forget that." A final gasp escaped Brave's mouth then nothing. Riley's sobs filled the room. Adam moved to the young musketeer and wrapped his arms around her.
"I just want him back."
"We are gathered here today to honor three valiant souls who gave their lives to defend their homes and those they loved." Adam, standing in front of three burial plots, stood before of a large crowd. Pirates, Kurghans, and Marleybonians alike had gathered to attend the ceremony. "These three pirates made sacrifices that very few would be willing to make." The first plot had a red and purple gravestone. "I never got to know Kristen Minx, but she gave her life trying to escape Flint and join our cause. Because of her, we were able to reclaim Port Regal. Skull Island now has a foothold in our home because of her." The second grave was black in color with yellow outlining the stone. "I only spoke to Cole Strong twice. In our final meeting, he gave me a warning about what Flint was planning. He resisted Gareth every step of the way during his imprisonment. From what his former crew member," Adam gestured to Peyton, "Clever Peyton Kenner has told me, he was a skilled witchdoctor that could control spirits on a whim. The entire Spiral is lesser for his loss." The final grave had an admiral's hat on the top with a medal hanging below it. There was an inscription on the gravestone, reading, 'Brave Alaric Bellamy. Admiral, pirate, sniper, husband, father, friend.' "Admiral Brave Alaric Bellamy. He never asked for his position; he earned it. I have never known anyone braver than a man who went by the name 'Brave.' Brave gave his life to end the life of a man who killed millions simply to survive. He died protecting the one thing he loved the most: his daughter, Riley. There are only a few musketeers that I'd have wanted to watch my back and Brave was number one on that list. Skull Island will miss him, but, more importantly, his daughter will miss him." Riley walked up to her father's grave. "He was brave, and kind, and smart. Even when he lost his arm, he proved that he wouldn't let a missing limb stop him from helping those he loved. He wouldn't let himself die a broken man. He truly lived up to his name: Brave." Riley kneeled and set a single rose on his grave marker.
"Goodbye, dad."
"You missed a great ceremony," Adam stated. Mary sat huddled in the far corner of her office. "You can't stay like this forever."
"It's all my fault. It's all my fault."
"You need to stop that."
"It's all my fault."
"Mary," Adam stated, agitation rising, "Please stop that."
"It's all my fault."
"God, damn it, Mary!" Adam went over to the witchdoctor and raised her from the ground. "Snap out of it!"
"It's all my fault."
"No, it's not!" Adam shook his friend. "It was not your fault."
"B-Bu-But," Mary stuttered, "I let Hannah get a hold of Lenora. You shouldn't even be talking to me."
"You didn't want Lenora to be captured. You tried to save her. That's what makes you different from Hannah. You didn't let the past affect you now. Hannah, she's let her hate and old grudges become who she is now. You let it go." Adam wiped the tears from Mary's face. "You didn't want Lenora to go, but I can't get her back without your help." Mary shook her head.
"I wasn't strong enough, but I'll do my best to help you."
"It really was a beautiful ceremony," a voice spoke. Adam and Mary turned to face Jinx. "Thank you for making sure my wife was honored."
"I'm glad you could see it, even if you couldn't be seen by the public. How'd you get in here, anyway?" Jillian smiled.
"I had some help." A one-armed dog in blue admiral attire entered the room.
"Nelson!" Adam saluted the dog admiral.
"It feels good to be out of prison." The admiral's smile disappeared. "I am sorry about Admiral Brave. He was a good man."
"Wait, how'd you know that Jillian was with us?"
"I didn't at first, but Brave visited me a couple of times after your attack on Port Regal. Flint should be wary of you."
"Which brings me to why I'm here," Jillian chimed in, "Saving Lenora won't be as easy as you thought."
"What do you mean?" Jillian didn't say a word. Instead, she set out a holo device on the floor.
"I was supposed to leave this in your apartment for you to find, but I'm not doing that. I'm not Gareth." The small triangle glowed to life.
"Are we ready to begin? Gareth? Hannah? Tauros?" Flint walked to a table and raised it so it stood straight up. On the table lay Lenora. The swashbuckler struggled against her restraints.
"As soon as Adam finds me, you're dead. Actually, scratch that. As soon as I'm out of here, you're dead."
"Aw, how cute. You actually think you have a chance for escape." Flint lightly slapped Lenora's right cheek. "Gareth, administer the first dose." The witchdoctor stuck a needle into Lenora's arm. Lenora felt a dark presence flow through her body. "Who are you?" Lenora spat in the dark pirate's face.
"Go fuck yourself!" There was static then the image returned. Lenora's body was covered in bruises and cuts. Her veins were a noticeable black color. "Who … Who am I?"
"Why," Flint chuckled, "You're Phoenix. The dark firebird. You're one of my top lieutenants." Lenora shook her head.
"No. I'm not. I'm Red Lenora Noble."
"Such a shame," Flint stated, "You were doing so well." The image cut out again and returned. This time Lenora was no longer strapped to the table. She rested in a chair, head lowered. "Now, tell me: Who are you?" Lenora raised her head.
"My name is Phoenix. I am the dark firebird." Flint slowly circled around her.
"And, who do you serve?" Lenora's eyes followed Flint.
"I live to serve Dark Flint Silver."
"And who," Flint goaded, "Do you hate?" Lenora stared into empty space.
"Merciless Adam Silver. And all of Skull Island." Flint smiled.
"There you have it, nephew. She's mine now. All mine. The next move is yours. I look forward to it."
"Adam?" Adam stared at the holo device, the image long gone by now. Mary touched his metal shoulder, bringing him back to reality.
"What the fuck did he do?"
"Dark yum," Jillian answered, "Flint discovered that it has certain properties that have mental control. His own dark energy allows him to detect those affected by dark yum, but he injected Lenora with his own concoction. He's brainwashed her, much like he did with Kyle." Adam held his hands to his face, covering his mouth as he paced around. "The only way Kyle could prevent further control was death. That may be the only way to free Lenora."
"No," Adam yelled. "I'm not doing that."
"You may not have a choice," Jillian argued. "It's only been two days, but she truly believes in Flint's cause and will do anything she's ordered to do, even kill you." Not wanting to hear anymore, Adam rushed past Jillian and Nelson, leaving the room.
"Adam, are you in here?" Blaze made his way to the lower decks of the Golden Archer. Adam sat at the work bench on the far side of the deck. A red glow illuminated the space around him. Blaze went toward the light and Adam. "Are you okay?"
"I'm better now." Adam moved out of the way. Blaze studied the hologram.
"A personality matrix."
"She said she didn't want power because she craved it; she wanted it to protect others." A dragon-shaped tattoo appeared on Adam's neck. "She's selfless and noble. She doesn't let anything stop her from helping others." Adam stood up. "Lenora touched Draco by accident when we were leaving the Golden Archer the night before the meeting with the Spiral Council. Draco adopted her selflessness. That's his personality." Blaze took Adam's hand.
"We're going to get her back." Adam gripped Blaze's hand tighter.
"I'm going to fight like hell for the chance to hold her again."
A.N.: I hate writing character deaths, but I hated writing Lenora's brainwashing even more. For now, we say goodbye to Brave and Lenora, and welcome the Phoenix into the fold. The epilogue is short, but fitting. Enjoy it, and enjoy the prologue for Book 6.