Chapter 2: Dawn of Vengeance

The sun had not shed one single ray of light over the horizon yet, but that did not deter the Blue Rogues of Crescent Island from preparing for their coming journey. Along with help from the crew of the Claudia, the Blue Rogues were loading up any supplies they needed from moonstones to ammunition. They were taking special care in being quiet. Vyse and Gilder did not want to wake Fina… for a good reason. The two spoke as they oversaw the loading and preparation of the Delphinus.

Without looking at him, Vyse said to Gilder, "I really appreciate your help Gilder. I owe you so much already and yet…"

Gilder waved his hand. "Don't worry 'bout it Vyse. Not like you haven't helped me in a pinch before. Besides…" He drew one of his War Eagles (A/N: My name for the guns he uses in "Gunslinger". They look like a mix between a Desert Eagle and a Ruger Warhawk) and spun it in a fancy manner before re-holstering it. "Aika was a friend of mine as well. 'least I can do is get back at the scumbags that… killed her." He gripped the handles of both of his holstered pistols tightly.

Vyse lowered his head for a moment and spoke in a whisper to himself. "Aika, I promise I'll avenge you. They won't get away with this."

Gilder looked at Vyse, his hands easing off of the pistols. "Are you sure about leaving Fina behind? I don't think she'd approve."

Vyse folded his arms and looked upward at a crane that was loading a crate onto the deck of their ship. "I know she wouldn't, but I don't care. I've already lost Aika. I don't want to lose Fina too. She means too much to me."

Gilder nodded and turned back to the ship. "I suppose you're right. No need to put her in harm's way."

"You two should be ashamed of yourselves! You could at least say goodbye to the poor girl!" cried out a feminine voice from behind them.

Vyse and Gilder spun around to see Clara accompanied by Lawrence. She wore the same pink dress as always but was wearing a saber on her side as well as a heavy looking vest as well. She was tapping her boots impatiently as she stared at the two men with a disapproving look.

Lawrence bowed slightly. "Pardon me Captain Vyse, but Lady Clara wishes to speak with both you and Captain Gilder."

Vyse heard Gilder mutter something under his breath as he himself nodded to Lawrence. "Understood. Continue with the preparations."

Lawrence bowed again. "Aye aye, captain." He walked in the direction of the stairs that led to the bottom floor of the hangar.

Before either of the men could say anything, Clara began to speak. "Listen guys… I heard about what happened to Aika from Lawrence. I'm so sorry." She looked down for a moment. A tear fell from her eye and hit the cold, steel grating that they were all standing on. She looked up again. "I'm here to help. That poor girl was my friend too."

Gilder made several meaningless motions with his hands. "But Clara, we can't –"

Clara cut him off. "I don't care. I'm not going to take no for an answer. My crew will stay behind with the Primrose and assist the Claudia's crew in defending the island while we're gone. Is that clear?"

Vyse said nothing. Gilder shrugged. "Stubborn girl. I guess we have no choice. I trust that you will be able to defend yourself?"

Clara gave Gilder a cold stare. "Of course I am! I'm a Blue Rogue too, you know!" Having said that, she tapped the saber on her side.

Vyse looked puzzled. "Just a saber? Will that be enough?"

Clara gave a small grin despite the tears that were still falling from her eyes. "Yes… if combined with these." She opened up the heavy vest and inside were 12 straps, all filled with throwing knives. Patched onto the inside of the vest itself were small, contoured plates of armor, made to perfectly fit her.

Vyse and Gilder's jaws dropped. Heck. It seemed that she was more prepared than they were.

Vyse coughed. "Ahem, well then, uhh… I suppose you'll be able to defend yourself. Right Gilder?"

Gilder sighed. "Right."

Clara wiped away the tears. "Thank you. Now about Fina…"

Vyse looked at her, puzzled once more. "What about Fina? I don't want her to get hurt, so I'm leaving her behind."

Clara put one hand on her hip as she tapped her boots again. "Shame on you! I'm sure she would want to come along despite all the danger she might face. At the very least, you should go say goodbye to her."

Gilder broke in. "Clara, we've already left Fina a letter detailing what we're going to do and why she can't come. She'll have to understand."

Clara looked upset with their answer. "But that doesn't mean-"

Clara was cut off by another girl's voice: Fina's. "Vyse! I'm ready to go!"

Everyone turned quickly to see that Fina was indeed ready to go. She wore the same silver and white dress as always but, instead of her normal veil, she wore a bandanna with the Blue Rogue's logo on it. Cupil was floating around her as usual.

Vyse's eyes shot wide open. "Fina! What are you doing up this early!?"

Fina produced a letter in her hand… the letter that Vyse and Gilder had written to her. "I'm going with you. You and Aika were my best friends. I'm going to do whatever it takes to help you Vyse."

Gilder had to interject. "Fina, please understand. We just don't want you hurt. You saw what they did to Aika."

Vyse nodded in agreement. "That's right. I've already lost one close friend. I don't want to lose another-gah!" Vyse was cut-off when Clara started dragging off him off by his collar.

Clara glanced over to Fina and flashed a warm-smile. "Just a minute honey! I forgot to tell Vyse something!" Having said that, she dragged Vyse around a nearby corner and gave him a very evil looking stare.

"What are you doing Vyse?!" she asked in a fairly mad-sounding voice.

Vyse straightened his collar. "It's like I said before, I don't want Fina hurt… or, even worse, killed."

Clara cooled down. She put her hand on Vyse's left shoulder. "Listen Vyse; just let her come with us. Think about it… you're the only family she has left. All the Silvite Elders are dead and Aika just perished as well… you're the closest person she has in her entire, lonely world. Did you see the look in her eyes Vyse?"

Vyse looked down. Clara was right. Vyse was her best friend. Since he took her in as if she was a sister, he was truly like family to her. She thought about the look in Fina's eyes from just a moment ago. She looked as if her entire world was falling apart. Yet, she wasn't going to surrender. She was willing to fight for what she holds dear… just as he always did.

Vyse looked at Clara. "Yeah… I did notice. She seems so sad, yet, determined as well."

Clara spread her arms. "Then why not let her come along? If you die, she'll have nothing left. And besides…" She looked up, a bit of a sly smile on her face.

Vyse looked at her, a bit perplexed. "Besides what, Clara?"

Clara looked back at him again. "Oh nothing. Anyway, just let her come along. Even if you don't like the idea now, I'm sure you both will appreciate the decision later on. If you're really worried about her, why don't you just promise to protect her?" She held up her right hand. "Blue Rogue's honor, right?"

Vyse nodded slowly. "All right. She can come along. I swear I'll protect her." He clenched his right fist and followed Clara back to where Gilder and Fina were standing.

Fina gave Vyse a concerned look. "Vyse, please let-"

"I'm sorry about before Fina," Vyse said, interrupting her. "I was just worried about you. I don't want to lose my other best friend, y'know? Anyway, I'd be honored if you joined us in searching for Aika's murderers."

Fina wiped a few tears as she smiled. "Thank you Vyse. I swear I'll do my best to help you out and not become a burden."

They drew closer together and embraced each other for a moment, both happy that they were able to come to an agreement. Clara nudged Gilder, who merely rolled his eyes with a smirk. Vyse and Fina drew apart once more.

"Oh Vyse… I found a way to let our memories of Aika aid us in battle."
Fina called Cupil forward and she whispered something in its ear.

It gave what appeared to be a nod. "Cuuuu…" Cupil's shape changed around quite a bit and, once he was done morphing, turned into a weapon that they thought they'd never see again: a boomerang.

Fina grasped the Cupilrang in one hand. "This is in loving memory of Aika. Whenever I use this, I'm sure Aika will be watching over me."

Everyone paused for a moment of silence. Afterwards, they joined hands at the middle and uttered a short prayer.

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Preparations were complete. The 4 adventurers stood on the deck of the ship with the rest of the active crew as Vyse was issuing final orders to those who were staying behind. As Vyse turned around to head for the bridge, he heard odd footsteps coming up the ramp. He turned around to see Juan, Aika's injured vice-captain, make his way up the ramp on crutches.

"Captain Vyse, I'm coming too. I don't know how much hope I'll be in this state, but I'll do anything it takes to avenge Miss Aika."

Vyse was prepared to give Juan a negative response when Gilder tapped him on the shoulder. Vyse turned back to Gilder who only shook his head. Vyse wasn't thrilled about the idea, but perhaps Gilder was right.

"Very well vice-captain, but you will remain in bed until I tell you otherwise. Agreed?" Vyse asked, extending a helping hand to Juan.

Juan nodded in approval and allowed Vyse to help him up the ramp. Once up, the crew waved to all those who were staying behind and then made their way to the bridge. Vyse sat in the captain's chair as Clara, Gilder, and Fina sat at the table in front of it. Lawrence began barking orders to the rest of the crew as they prepared to leave. After a few moments, preparations were complete.

Lawrence once again bowed slightly to Vyse. "Orders, Captain Vyse?"

Vyse looked to his 3 friends. "Are we ready guys?"

No objections. All 3 of them nodded in agreement.

Vyse nodded in Lawrence's direction. "Let's go Lawrence."

Another bow. "Aye aye, Captain Vyse." He turned around and headed for the wheel, ordering the other crew members in the bridge to fire up the engines. Several loud noises were heard and, after about a minute, the Delphinus began to move forward. The rising sun was there to meet them as they left the dock area of Crescent Island.

As they grew further away from the island, everyone looked out the window to gaze at it one last time. They knew they wouldn't be back for quite some time.

Lawrence turned back in Vyse's direction. "Where to Captain Vyse?"

Vyse pondered the question for a moment. He knew what he was looking for but had no clue as to where to begin searching.

"Any suggestions anyone?" he asked his friends at the table.

Gilder raised a finger before he spoke. "Well, we don't have any real leads, so our best course of action is would be to ask around Sailor's Island. Perhaps someone there has seen the ex-Valuans that Juan spoke of.

Vyse nodded to Gilder and turned to Lawrence once more. "Sailor's Island, helmsman Lawrence. Make it so."

Lawrence bowed again. "Aye aye, Captain Vyse." He turned back around and gave the wheel a hard turn. They were now on their way.

Gilder and Clara began to chat at the table as Vyse rose from his chair and walked to the port-side window, folding his arms behind his back as he did so. Fina got up as well and stood next to him, clinging on to his right arm as she did so. They then leaned their heads softly against each other as they watched the sun rise.

"For Aika," said Fina.

"For Aika," agreed Vyse.

Clara nudged Gilder as they were chatting and both looked at Vyse and Fina. They both smiled, happy to see how close the young captain and Silvite maiden had become over the past year.

As the 4 friends enjoyed the moment, the Delphinus sped through the orange and purple sky, the flag that Aika had created flying at half-mast as it did so. Today would be the first day of a long quest for vengeance. A quest of vengeance…for dear Aika.

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Whew! Hope everyone liked the new chapter! I've been getting lots of good reviews lately. Please, spread the word, and don't forget to R&R!