Chapter Thirty-Eight: His Word

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~o~OoO~o~

She'd heard the shot go off, but she'd been too busy to see if anyone had gotten hit. Now the old man did his best to level a gun at Four. Seven felt the panic rise, but Calypso washed over her in a wave of relief. Four dropped the sword at the old man's request, but it was a moment of bitter amusement.

"Don't."

Her voice came out, but it sounded more like a child's wish rather than a demand. They both looked to her as she holstered her own weapons and moved toward Akita-san with her hands now empty. Seven looked to the old man, avoiding Four's questioning gaze, and did it best to convey helpfulness.

"Don't kill him," Seven said again, voice more firm. "I was sent after him to do that, but –"

"I know who you are, Princess Calypso, Protector and secondary heir to the Mezzo-Altero Empire, and I know why you're here," He coughed, a little blood dripping down along his chin. "But I have come to bring him to justice and you will not interfere."

She clenched her fists, but took a deep breath before speaking again. "Under the circumstances, I am offering my assistance."

Suspicion flowed from both men and the older man narrowed his eyes at her. "Why?"

"I failed," she admitted. "More than once. I won't offer an excuse to justify it, but I want to redeem myself. If I help you then my… superior may show leniency in my punishment."

Four narrowed his dark eyes at her now, but Akita-san seemed less than convinced. "A coward, trying to escape your own due justice."

Seven looked to Four and met his dark eyes, letting him see full well the depths of shame and resolve in her own. "Yes, but I'm trying to be an honest one. Will you accept my assistance?"

"No." Akita-san struggled to his feet and gestured her to stand near Four. "You are too full of rage and fear to be trustworthy. I believe you would turn on me just as swiftly as you came to our aid. You are just as much a murderer as Ryo."

The old man left her no more room to dispute him and paid no heed to any other attempts at bargaining as he chambered another round in the gun and set them to moving. Seven moved in the direction she was guided and ignored Four's glare as she did so. After another hour or so of walking he finally spoke up.

"I promised to protect you," he whispered low enough that Seven almost didn't hear it at first. "Tell me why."

She sighed and showed him the resignation that poisoned her even now. "You couldn't protect me from him the first time. How do you expect me to believe you can protect me from two largest empires in this galaxy? A fallen prince framed for murder and on the run?"

The look in his eyes was so intense she had to look away but that didn't stop him from continuing. "I will take my vengeance on those who betrayed me, but do not stand in my way again. I cannot afford to allow you anymore forgiveness."

Seven turned her eyes to the ground. "I didn't expect any in the first place. I'm a coward, just like the old man says. I can't seem to stop betraying people, switching sides. I just don't want to be punished again."

"You weren't punished, Seven," There was an edge to his voice. "You were tortured by a sadistic man who seems to know more about your weaknesses than you can remember. The only thing drawing you back to him is your own fear. Overcome it and I guarantee we will make them pay."

She wanted to tell him that he was wrong. There was no way for her to overcome this fear. He didn't understand. Even in the darkest corners of her mind she would sense her terror-drenched other self, hear her screams echoing off the cavernous walls of her empty memories. And that was from only a few weeks with Derris. What had Calypso endured in her years under his command? Just thinking of the sound the whip had made as he'd drawn it across the blood soaked floor was enough to make her stop, bile rising. She barely stumbled to the nearest tree for support as her stomach rebelled against the memory of the sounds and smells of that dank chamber. Even after, while in transit to another station, he'd promised her terrible things and traced old scars as if the remind her things he'd done that she would have to experience for the first time all over again.

After several minutes, she straightened herself back up and took a deep breath to try and quell the trembling throughout her body. Seven wiped the sweat and specks of vomit off her face and avoided making eye contact with either man even as Akita-san level the gun in her direction. She held her hands up in surrender and moved to stand next to Four once more.

This time she did tell him. "This body remembers in the same way it knows how to breath and wield a staff. He will find me and punish me for my failure as he has done in the past. Running will only delay the inevitable and you can promise me nothing."

He seemed ready to dispute that again, but Akita-san stumbled as he tried to keep up with the pace they had set upon continuing their trek. "We should stop. The only way we're getting back to the ship is if I carry you and I'd rather not."

The old man turned the gun towards him, but did not respond.

"Let me dress your wounds," Four insisted to him and stopped to face him. "You have my word I won't attempt an escape. Unlike my brother, my word actually means something."

He didn't have to look at Seven for her to know he was speaking to her too.

~O~o~O~

Seven stood guard while Four stitched up and cleaned the old man's back wound. They spoke low and from the tone it went from suspicious to reminiscent, almost cordial, but she respectfully remained at a distance and did her best not to eavesdrop. It seemed like they hadn't moved in hours, but it was likely only forty-five minutes. If they didn't get moving soon they were bound to have more company arrive.

"Commander!"

Seven sighed. "Just my luck."

"Where's the rest of your squad?" asked the leader of this new band of Ishida guardsmen.

"Dead."

They moved up the path, stopping just feet from Seven, two of the guards even putting hands on their blades. "Your orders, sir?"

Seven didn't take her eyes of the guards before her but she could feel the tension behind her as Akita apologized. He gave the order to arrest them both. Seven allowed herself to be placed into custody just as Four did and they were surrounded by a formation of guards. They escorted them for just another hour or so, night was closing in above the trees.

"You were late, so I decided to come for you," the captain explained and gestured back at Seven. "I did not expect to see that one in your company however."

"It's good you did come," Akita sighed. "It seems we will be taking both into custody, although I am unsure how this will affect our political standing with the Mezzo-Alteros."

"The other one doesn't seem to care so much about our standing one way or another."

The old man seemed ready to respond, but suddenly the whole troop stopped dead with hands to their weapons. Seven looked around a bit to see if there were more vagabonds had finally shown up, but when she looked ahead she realized it was someone worse.

"Thanks, boys." Two stood casually just up the trail. "We'll take it from here."

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