To say shock filled Ayame's whole being at this incredible moment in her life would be an incredible underestimation of her feelings. The amber light drifted across her faces features, highlighting the streams of tears in gold. The rivers continued to fall around her into the bottomless chasm below, into the eternal night which are the veins of the earth. There were no red lights calling to her from the hole. Jack was gone… forever.
Accel placed his hand on Ayame's shoulder, trying to comfort her. She had been standing at the edge, searching for the poor confused misguided soul who had given everything for her for the last hour. The loved ones around her were breathing, as Accel had checked, and Kraken had maneuvered his way across the remaining chains over to safety. Accel searched for the right words to say for this momentous loss.
"Ayame…he's in a better place now…" Accel whispered.
Ayame blinked. The hole was just as vacant now as it was a couple minutes ago. She sighed in a hushed tone. "I-I just…"
"Shhhh. It's O.K." Accel tried to smile.
"… Who was he, Accel? He had no idea who he was, where he came from, or who his parents were. I could have helped him. Helped him lift some of the many burdens that made his life so horrid. If I only tried…" Ayame glanced at her feet through the rushing waters.
"You did help him Ayame. You trusted him when no one else did. You were his friend. For that he gave up all to protect you. He didn't die in vain." Accel reassured the black haired girl.
"…Yes. You're right." Ayame looked up to Accel. "Accel, I want to remember who I am. I-I want to go home. Back to my family and where I came from."
"I understand. As soon as we get this mess all cleared out, we'll go to Oedo." Accel said
"Thanks." Ayame bowed. "Thanks for everything Accel." She smiled. "Especially for remembering the name of my hometown."
"AHEM!"
The two looked behind them to witness Captain Kraken standing in the river. Ayame quickly blushed as Accel brushed the back of his neck.
"Ahar, while you two love birds sat chattin, I think I fouds us a ways outsa here, yarr." Kraken said.
"Really. Well try to wake them up and we'll follow." Accel responded.
"Hold on! We weren't just talking; we were paying our last respects to Jack. He gave his life for ours! The least you could do is pay a little respect for him too Captain!" Ayame frowned.
Kraken was caught completely off guard. He immediately took a face of shamefulness and looked the other way. He sighed and waded towards the gushing edge. He looked into the void and took off his blue hat and placed it over his heart. "The sea has taken yet another friend, mister Jack…uh…"
"Cardin." Ayame interrupted.
"Yes, Jack Cardin. He was a loyal mate, friendly with a dagger as a fish to the water. A bit of an odd fellow, but as good 'arted as they come. A better navigator will be impossible to find, har har har. So we pays our respects to 'him, God rest 'is soul."
"Amen." Accel and Ayame both said when the pirate was done.
"What were you talking about when you said "sea"?" Accel asked.
"Wot?! 'Tis the only one I know. Think you cin do better? Yarr?" Kraken replied.
"Well… err…um…" Accel tried to say something.
"…Let's go. I'm tired of death." Ayame stated.
"Aye." Kraken said. He got down into the water and slapped Falcon. Falcon drowsily awoke.
"Uhh…Bloody hell. That was a doosy." Falcon rubbed his eyes and stood up.
"It's over." Accel said to Falcon.
Falcon rubbed his head. "…Over? You mean we won? Incredible! Too bad I was out and missed it wot wot. Say, where's Jack?"
"He… saved us all. He threw himself at Alexander and both of them went over the edge…" Ayame answered.
Falcon was quiet for a moment. He looked over to Kraken. "At least he didn't die in vain. I'm going to miss the freaky little bugger."
Kraken nodded.
And so the others began to come to and the story was told again and again. Reverence was paid for the martyr who had saved Manches. With last respects, the crew began to walk back through the channel, following the captain's lead, out of the chambers of the dead…
** *
The trip had been made in silence. The torchlights flickered, allowing the team to bear witness to the path they had traveled before. The altar entrance was approaching. Each crewmember had their own thoughts occupying their heads as they walked, none paying attention to the halls before them. As I said, they walked in silence.
("When I go home, I'm going to promptly apologize to my family for ever doubting them. I'm going to embrace both my lineage and heredity, and my love for the western cultures. Oh, to see the Daimyo's pagoda once more, to run through the cherry blossom groves, to sit and hear Granny tell stories over a hot bowl of ramen. I don't know how I had forgotten who I was, but I thank Jack for letting me remember.") Ayame thought to herself.
("Well, another mission completed. Well, not just another mission completed. This one wasn't for money or fame. I mean, at the beginning of all this, I started only to seek Julia's hand again. Maybe she would think I wasn't such a fool if I could save her hometown. But it some how became much more complicated than that, making and breaking alliances, so forth and so on. Julia was trying to help Jack. Was I able to make his life more bearable, even for a brief amount of time? I suppose so, after all, it was me. But Jack somehow brought us all together. Even if it got me to understand that America- I mean Accel.") Falcon was lost in his thoughts.
("Well, some adventure this had turned out to be. These white men are not so bad. If it weren't for Jack, I would never been able to realize this. Somehow I was even able to forgive and work with Captain Kraken. In all my life I would have thought that impossible. Perhaps it is best to forgive and forget…") Galuda thought.
("Jack…. You were such a strange creature. With no past, how could you bear facing the future? … At least I knew my past, even if they were all bad memories. I think that even some memories are better than none. Maybe I should return to Mahdad and visit with those I once knew. Maybe I can make amends and turn my old bad memories into new good ones. Yes, memories should never be forgotten.") Rouge thought.
("This has got to be the strangest thing I have ever done in my life. And what's worse is that I may have not been completely responsible for doing it. If the power stone lead me here, what makes me think I have any control over my life? Are all my actions planned out already? Am I nothing but a puppet on a string? …I don't really think so. Now that I think about it, I am in control. I may have been running away from my past, but now, now I have faced it. I helped save Ayame from being taken away. I was able to do something. I didn't know Jack that long, but if he had never done his thing, than I would have never been able to do mine.") Accel thought.
("Har har har. I am truly the best in the whole world! Not any beast can pull down the mighty Kraken! Har har! …It was a bit close though. Next time I should play it a little more careful. Har, that will be the day! …I'm famished. I needs some vittles. Yarr.") Kraken thought.
Galuda opened the altar entrance, pushing the heavy slab off the floor. The six walked into the cathedral, tired and bruised. It was dark and no one was around. It must have been sometime at night. A cold breeze blew through a shattered stained glass window, blowing in bits of white snow. All was quiet.
"We did it. We defeated Other Jack!" Falcon announced as all of them walked though the aisle to reach the doors.
"Mission completed." Rouge managed to crack a grin.
"Yes. So let us return to Julia's manor." Galuda advised.
"Good idea. I'm beat." Accel replied.
Falcon turned to the statue of Jesus Christ and gave a thumbs up. "Thanks Lord Jesus. Couldn't have done it without you."
Rouge rubbed her forehead. "O
brother….
Kraken raised an eyebrow. "Falcon, next time you talk to the king of kings like that, I will personally kill you. You got that boy?"
Falcon continued to smile. "If you can. Now lets get going."
With nods of approval, the six walked out of the large double doors into the dawn. However, they were greeted with quite a surprise. Surrounding the entrance in the courtyard were nearly a hundred men, all armed with loaded Springfield rifles. The French army was blockading the exit. At the front line, some seventy feet straight ahead of Falcon, was Monsieur Abondues, wearing an arrogant smirk on his face.
"Put down your weapons! Now!" A soldier screamed through the drifting snow.
Kraken was about to pull out his buccaneers pistol and fire, but rouge made him drop it.
"What's all this about Abondues?!" Falcon demanded to know.
"Arr! Where are my men?!" Kraken snapped.
Abondues adjusted his thin spectacles with two fingers and laughed. "Hehehe. Your pirate crew took off after the army arrived earlier this night. Or should I say last night. However, you are all under arrest under the governor's special request. Any struggle to resist will be futile."
"Under what grounds?" Accel asked with his fists clenched. His pistols were on the snow-covered pavement.
"Read them the list." Abondues spoke to a man beside him.
A man dressed in lawyer attire pulled out a piece of parchment and read off it. "You are to be under arrest under the following charges: (1) Destruction of public property. (2) Endangerment of public lives. (3) Assault and battery (4) Aiding and abiding a known felon. (5) Capitol murder. You are all sentenced to a proper execution."
"You see, the enemies of France never prosper." Abondues grinned. He then frowned. "Wait. Where is the serial killer?"
"Who?" Ayame asked.
"The serial killer! The leper known as Jack Cardin! Where is he?! Tell me now!" Abondues roared.
"Jack is no serial killer! He just died down there to save your whole town from the real threat, Other Jack!" Ayame shouted.
"That Other Jack subject again. He does not exist! He never did nor will he ever! If Jack Cardin is dead truly, than you still must face your charges under his punishment!" Abondues gritted his teeth. "You will still pay for your crimes!"
"Murder?! What are you talking about?! We didn't kill any body!" Rouge yelled.
"Well I don't know specifically about you, but your planned attack on the city of Manches involving these pirates did manage to kill many proud citizens of the state." Abondues answered.
"I specifically ordered my crew not to harm any one! Impossible! Yarr!" Kraken replied.
"No more questions. Sergeant, read them their rights." Abondues smirked.
A rather large man in French uniform stepped forward. "Put your hands on your heads and turn around. You all have the right to be silent. Anything said by you can be turned against you in a court of law. You all have the right to a fair and just trial. You-"
"Wait!" A voice was heard. Through the crowd of soldiers came Julia, running at full speed towards Monsieur Abondues. Abondues frowned.
"Wait a minute! You cannot arrest these men!" Julia Swan shouted Monsieur Abondues.
"Why not?! The governor has specially requested for their arrest! They are facing serious charges! What more do you need!?" Abondues replied.
Julia held out a slip of paper. "Just read this!"
Abondues snatched the little yellow slip and raised his glasses, allowing him to read the fine typed telegraph. His eyes narrowed as he scanned every word. Each and every human being on this snowy dawn waited in anticipation.
"To the Third Republic of France. Stop. We sincerely ask you to drop all charges, for there is no proof or witness to any of these charges. Stop. The investigative team sent to perform the search for the real serial killer known as Other Jack shall not be acquitted to any crimes. Stop. Each and every member of this special task force was sent with special permission from our embassy to perform this mission. Stop. So there for, each and every member of this task force had diplomatic immunity granted to them from the British Embassy of Foreign Affairs. Stop. We ask you to please let them perform any actions needed to complete this mission. Stop. Signed Pride Falcon, head of British Foreign Affairs. Stop." Abondues read aloud.
"Good old Dad! I could always count on him!" Falcon grinned.
"And if you look, there's also a signature by the governor who sent you out as well." Julia smiled.
"A Top secret task force? If the governor agreed to it, then we must oblige." The sergeant said.
Accel looked over to Falcon. "Your father's the British head of foreign affairs?!"
Falcon shrugged. "Yea, that's why he was never home. But now, I've got a whole new look on it." Falcon looked to Abondues. "You hear that Abondues!? We're bullet proof!"
"Sir?" The lawyer figure looked over to Abondues. "What do we do?"
Abondues was shaking with fury. He furrowed his brow until veins came out of the side of his head. He suddenly ripped the telegraph in two pieces. "I don't care! Shoot them all now! Do it! Do it!"
The six adventurers stood back, not knowing what to do. The soldiers cocked their rifles.
"What's your problem Abondues!? The telegraph clearly said you couldn't touch us!" Falcon asked in shock.
"You! I'll tell you what my problem is! It's the fact that you have won the heart of Lady Julia over me! That's my problem! I was clearly the better choice those years ago, but she decided you over me! From that day on I have hated you, Edward Falcon! You and everything around you must die!" Abondues screamed as his eye twitched.
"He's insane!" Rouge stated.
"Sir! It is clear that you are unfit to hold this position and it is my duty to relieve you of command. Stand down." The sergeant approached the shaking Abondues.
"Shoot them! Shoot them!" Abondues screamed.
The sergeant nodded to his men. They promptly took action, taking care to knock Abondues out by knocking him in the back of the head with the butt of a Springfield. The sergeant turned to Falcon. "You heard the telegram. You are free to go, though I'd advise leaving immediately."
Falcon nodded. Julia ran up to the aviator and threw her arms around him. "Edward! You were wonderful!"
Accel picked up his pistol. "What a story. Let's do as the man said and get going."
Ayame nodded. "Right. We need to get to Julia's estate and get our things. Lets go first thing in the morning…or afternoon."
** *
