CHAPTER 8
BYGONES BE BYGONES
"What is your name lad?"
The zero binome drew himself up to his full height – well as tall as a zero binome could, "Mr. Christopher, and I am not a lad, sir."
Gavin laughed, "But yer a scholar, I'll wager, by yer appearance."
"That I am sir."
"Can ye be a warrior as well?"
"I don't like to fight, sir."
Gavin laughed again, "Then I'm sure yer talents can be of use to me."
"I'll not work for you," Mr. Christopher said, "You're no better than the one calling himself the Red Skull."
Gavin tensed, "What do ye know of him?"
"I know he's a foul lout who deletes for pleasure," Mr. Christopher said, "Believe me I know."
"Would ye like vengeance on him?"
"I --," Mr. Christopher hesitated, "I'd like to see him brought to justice."
"I can't promise ye that, Mr. Christopher, but I pursue the Skull as well and if ye join me, we'll chase him to the ends of the net together."
"You're an enemy of the Skull?"
"That I am."
"And if I go with you, will you promise that I can return home?"
"Yes, that ye can. But someday Mr. Christopher we'll meet again. When ye compile up, I may have a use for ye after all."
*
"Captain!" Mr. Christopher cried, "We have the scoundrel!"
"Sir," his newest crewmember, Miss Sally called out, "Sensors indicate this storm is at a severity level to cause a system crash. We'll have as little as two -- two and a half micro's tops."
Gavin nodded grimly, "We'll not tarry long. I'll pursue the Skull meself. If I'm not back in two micro's yea leave without me."
"But Captain --!"
"That's an order Mr. Christopher!"
"Yes, sir."
Gavin ordered his men to lower the lifeboat. The pirate lord checked his sword and his grandfather's pistol before climbing in. "Pursue the Skull's ship, but don't nary engage them in battle unless necessary. There's been enough blood and fighting for one day. Take on the injured."
"Yes Sir!"
With the tumultuous storm buffeting his tiny craft, the captain of the Saucy Mare made his way down to the surface. They had pursued the Skull through systems and the net while he terrorized the peaceful systems. For once, profit had been put aside to halt this menace. Now Gavin had him cornered. He knew the Skull wouldn't leave the system without the prize he sought, even with the system crashing down around him.
Gavin landed the lifeboat on the outskirts of the small city, which rested atop a cliff overlooking the data sea and made his way through the abandoned streets. A scan of the system had said all of the inhabitants had escaped but the storm, which even now threatened to tear the system apart, may have given them false readings. Gavin had ordered a continuous scan.
He came to the Principal Office and found the door had been blasted open. Drawing his grandfather's pistol, Gavin stepped into the dim interior and started down the hall.
The sounds of the storm became muted the farther he journeyed into the interior. He let his instincts guide him and after a time found his quarry.
The Skull was so intent on downloading the information from the core-control database, he didn't notice Gavin as he stepped into the room and said, "Fortune!"
The Skull turned his eyes wide. He had laid his pistol on the console beside him and when he went to reach for it, Gavin fired, knocking the weapon out of his enemy's reach.
"So," Fortune raised his hands, "I should have known you'd follow me. My decoy plan was unsuccessful."
"Leaving yer men to delete is just like ye, Fortune."
"Well, now what shall we do? We can share in this," he motioned to the console, "With the information in this database the net could be ours. The ultimate weapon Gavin, think of it."
Gavin pointed his gun to the console and fired again.
"No! You basic --!"
The Skull leapt, just as the console overloaded and exploded in a shower of sparks and white-smoke.
"Do you realize what you've done?"
"Aye," Gavin hissed, "I just stopped a filthy scalawag from deleting more innocent people."
"As if you truly care," Gates climbed shakily to his feet, "You're a pirate Gavin. We should be allies. Terror and mayhem are our legacy. You're as profit driven as I am, and yet you cling to this code of honor of yours!"
"Move," Gavin motioned with his pistol, "There are a good deal many people who would like yer skull on a silver disc and I aim to collect. Yer right about me lovin' a good profit."
As the Skull stepped forward the ground suddenly began to tremble, Gavin's grip on the pistol tightened as the trembling increased. There was a sound, like a pain-filled groan that filled the hallways. Somewhere an explosion ripped through metal and stone, Gavin was almost certain of it.
Unexpectedly, the ground lurched underneath them and Gavin went down, his pistol wrenched from his grasp. The Skull half-crawled from the room.
"Not on a bet, ye scalawag!" Gavin, reached for the pistol, his hands closed around it when –
WARNING: SYSTEM CRASH
"By gar," Gavin was up and stumbling from the room. He caught sight of the Skull, just as he turned a corner to the left. Gavin didn't hesitate.
WARNING: SYSTEM CRASH
The hallway, opened out into a balcony overlooking the data sea. Under normal circumstances, the view would have been spectacular, but with the black sky, the rumbling ground and the angry foaming waves crashing against the rocks, it was a terrifying.
It was there that he cornered the Skull.
"No where else ta run ye blackguard!" Gavin said.
"There's always --," Fortune motioned over the balcony with a nod.
"Don't be a fool, the system's crashing, we'll both be deleted."
"So be it," Fortune said, "The one consolation is that I'll take you with me."
"Ye can't be serious!"
"You have a choice, Gavin, delete me now, stay here and delete with me, or save yourself."
Gavin holstered his pistol, "Yer comin' with me, one way or the other."
Gavin rushed him, catching Fortune off guard; he shoved him back, slamming Fortune into the stone railing. Gavin stepped back aimed a blow to Fortune's midsection. The Skull doubled over.
"You call that a hit?" Fortune taunted.
Gavin saw the glint of steel as Fortune drew the knife from his coat. It was enough warning for Gavin to avoid the slash but it gave Fortune the opportunity to strike back. Fortune smashed Gavin in the mouth. The Crimson Binome stumbled back, righted himself, just as Fortune lunged again, the knife aimed for Gavin's eye.
The binome captain twisted his body around his hand shot out – the hook gleaming even in the darkness. It ripped through cloth and flesh. Fortune screamed.
The pirate hit the railing hard just as underneath them there was a low moan, which was heard over the sound of the waves and the system voice. Gavin knew, with sick realization what was about to happen.
Stone and metal rained down from above them as the Principal Office began to fragment. A crack appeared, spearing through the stone, dividing the balcony. The structure lurched violently and the next sound they heard was of the stone separating. Gavin turned and leapt for the entrance, his hook grasping onto the edge of the opening. He managed to twist just a bit and look behind him.
Fortune turned to him and smiled.
"Fortune!" Gavin reached out just as the balcony crumbled. Fortune seemed suspended in mid-air from a fleeting moment, then he fell back into the darkness and the sea swallowed him.
Gavin hung on to what was left of the balcony by his hook and looked down as the sea beckoned to him. He didn't have the strength to lift himself back through the opening and it wouldn't matter anyway. The system was in its last deletion throes. Soon the whole Principal Office would come crashing down.
Something glimmered out over the water. A shining beacon that Gavin thought for a moment was a figment of his imagination. Then it grew brighter, moving towards him with what could only be described as purpose.
"Captain?"
Was he hearing things? Was that a voice calling him?
"Hold on Captain, we're coming!"
"By the code!" Gavin cried with a mixture of relief and fury, "Didn't I tell ye ta get off this system and not worry about --,"
Mr. Christopher's smile was illuminated by the light stick he held, "With all due respect, Captain – stow it."
Bulla lifted Gavin into the lifeboat. "Go now?"
"By all means!" Gavin nodded at Mr. Christopher, "I knew ye'd be of some use to me someday. Me thanks to ye, Mr. Christopher."
"You're welcome, captain," Mr., Christopher said, "The Skull?"
"Deleted."
Mr. Christopher smiled, "Then I am at your service, captain."
"Prepare for a grand adventure," Gavin said as they approached the Mare, "But first, let's escape this dying system, shall we?"
***
Gavin walked stiffly between the two soldiers with Var at his rear. So the scurvy dog has the nerve to hole himself up in my private study? Gavin angrily mused. The Crimson Binome didn't know what to expect since the man he was going to see was supposed to be deleted. How, by gar, did the knave survive that fall?
Gavin supposed that was a moot point. The Skull was alive and Gavin was his prisoner.
The door opened to a stiflingly hot room. Gavin's chair had been turned towards the blazing hearth. A cart stood next to the chair and on it was several warming pans of food.
"I hope yer enjoying yerself, Gates," Gavin said, mildly. "Cause I plan ta make ye pay."
A smooth laugh came from behind the chair, "Ah, Gavin."
Fortune lifted himself from the chair.
"Yer lookin' like the scurvy dog ye are," Gavin said as his enemy stood before him.
"And you're still a pathetic gutless binome," Fortune's eyes grew hard, "Do you want to know why I've done all this?"
"Cause yer a greedy blackguard?"
"Because I'm tired, Gavin," Fortune said.
Gavin immediately recognized Fortune's game, "Don't fall back on that tired 'nice guy' act of yer's Fortune. It won't work on me."
Fortune laughed, "Still the same old Gavin. It wasn't part of the act, I really am tired."
Gavin snorted.
Suddenly, Fortune's whole demeanor changed. His face twisted in a hate-filled sneer, "Did you honestly think I walked away from that fall with a few minor cuts and bruises?"
"I'd thought ye'd smashed yer skull open."
"I did, basically," Fortune said, "Two hours to recover. Two hours of my life gone! And I've been ill ever since! And it's your fault!"
"So this is some vendetta, is it? Yer fight is with me Skull, let's settle it binome to knave."
Fortune stepped forward. If the Red Skull expected the Crimson Binome to flinch or show any fear he was disappointed.
"This is more than a vendetta. I've come to end the game. I've grown bored with it and want to move on."
"Game?"
"Ruling your life, Gavin," The Skull turned away from him and approached the table, "I knew when I first took your hand on my old ship that you were going to be – shall we say – my pet project? I chose to spare your life that day."
Fortune took a handful of grapes and began to eat as though he hadn't a care in the net, "Well as I said, I'm tired Gavin. I want to rest. So it's time to end the game. Time to take everything you have and then delete you. Simple enough."
"Umm hmm," Gavin grunted, "And I suppose ye think I'll just lay down and let ye delete me?"
"Of course not," Fortune said, "That just wouldn't be you Gavin. I expect you to fight all the way and I'm going to enjoy watching because in the end, I'll win."
He approached Gavin again, "Hell, I've already won."
"Have ye now?" Are ye sure?" Gavin muttered, darkly.
"I have your home and your wealth," Fortune said, "And soon I'll have your crew and ship. The Matrix boys have already agreed to join me."
"By coercion no doubt," Gavin said.
"And there's only one possession of yours left for me to take," Fortune said.
Gavin tensed, not liking the tone in which Fortune had spoken, "What do ye mean?"
Fortune smiled evilly at him, "I hear you've found yourself a wife."
At the mention of Maiandra, an unpleasant sensation began to coil tight in the pit of Gavin's stomach.
"And I also hear," Fortune went on, "that she is quite a lovely sprite woman, although what she would want with you is an enigma."
The feeling intensified as Fortune continued. Gavin's hands fisted.
"Why in all the net would you doom a woman to celibacy?" Fortune said, "you can't pleasure her like a woman should be, not to mention not being able to give her children. A tragedy, Gavin. You should be ashamed."
"Don't ye worry about me wife," Gavin growled, "Don't ye even speak of me wife."
Fortune, calmly ate another grape, "Don't you worry about your wife, Gavin. I'll take very good care of her. I'll give her what she needs – repeatedly -- and I'm sure she'll enjoy it as much as I will."
The thing that had been building in Gavin's stomach exploded out into a cry of rage as he lunged for Fortune. Both sprite and binome went down. Gavin took a handful of Fortune's collar and twisted it, cutting off his air, while the tip of his hook pressed against his enemy's throat.
"Ye stay away from my wife, ye sorry dog! If ye touch her – if he go near her --!"
Hands took hold of Gavin from behind, dragging him away. Gavin struggled and kicked out as he cursed. The mere thought that Fortune would lay a filthy hand on Maiandra – Gavin's rage was white-hot. A very agonizing deletion awaited Fortune if he dared harm his lovely bride.
Var helped Fortune to his feet, "Let me delete him now captain."
"No," Fortune said.
Gavin continued to struggle as Fortune approached him.
"Hit a nerve did I, Gavin?" Fortune smiled, "Afraid she'll prefer me over you?"
"She'd never want a filthy dog like you."
Fortune slapped him, and only succeeded in hurting his hand.
Gavin smirked at him; "Ye hit like a girl."
"I'm going to enjoy FAQing your wife, Gavin. Maybe I'll make certain you live long enough to watch."
"And maybe," Gavin hissed, "I'll disembowel ye first. Or she will if ye try anything"
"Let him go," Fortune suddenly said.
Fortune's abrupt change in attitude had Gavin wary. What was the dog up to now?
"Sir --," Var said.
"You'll behave won't you Gavin?" Fortune said, "You wouldn't want to be responsible for the deletion of hundreds of innocent people?"
"Nay, I'll do ye no harm, yet, Skull," Gavin muttered, "But know this – ye second is coming."
"Walk with me, Gavin," Fortune said, "There's something I want you to see."
"When the web freezes over."
"That wasn't a request," Fortune said.
Gavin stepped aside, "After ye, then."
Fortune walked ahead of them and Gavin found himself being marched between the two guards while Var brought up the rear.
"Did I mention what a magnificent lodge this is?" Fortune said, all cordiality once again, "I shall enjoy my retirement in it immensely."
Gavin didn't speak, knowing Fortune was only trying to get a rise out of him. Gavin was led outside into the mid-morning sun. Around him, the people went about their daily duties under the scrutiny of Fortune's men.
Gavin found himself being led beyond the lodge grounds and up the grassy hill towards the shrine. When they crested the rise, Gavin held back a surprised exclamation. An immense warship was anchored just offshore, an obsidian monstrosity of metal and steel, with gleaming blood-red energy sails.
"I see ye stole yerself a new vessel," Gavin commented in an uninterested voice.
"The Blood Skull is mine," Fortune said. "You'll see her up close soon enough."
"Why did ye bring me here? Just ta show off that tug boat of yours?"
Fortune didn't reply immediately, and again, Gavin was wary.
"How would you like to delete, Gavin?"
The Crimson Binome stared at him in total disbelief, "What?"
"You have a choice," Fortune went on, "We could hang you from the nearest yardarm or make you walk the plank. Or a beheading, would that suit you?"
Gavin was too stunned to do more than gape at him. The dog was discussing his deletion like he would discuss the weather? And he wanted Gavin to chose how he would be deleted?
"Ye are totally and completely random," Gavin whispered.
Fortune sighed, "Perhaps."
"I'll nary play this game any longer," Gavin said, "Let's settle this Skull, here and now. Or are ye afraid ta face me, binome to sprite?"
"Take him to the ship," Fortune said.
"Coward," Gavin said.
The blow came from behind him and Gavin bit back a cry as he pitched forward onto the soft earth.
"Teach him some respect, then take him to the ship," Fortune said.
The second blow caught him on the ribs – a vicious kick aimed at his mid-section. Gavin could do little more than shield the vulnerable areas of his body as the beating continued and refused to cry out.