CHAPTER 41

CHASE

Nadia let out a loud groan as she awoke to her link pearl started to vibrate, alerting her that somebody wanted to talk to her. She reached out a hand and grabbed it, considering how it was far too late at night for somebody to contact her as she did so. Of course, this meant, due to the nature of linkshells, the caller on the other end heard her considering how late it was, due to the linkshell's tendency to transmit thoughts.

"Late? It's only ten o'clock!" Olose laughed.

"Sir?" Grumbled Nadia. "We had a bit of a party last night. Bit of drinking. Stayed out. Tired." She muttered, her voice muffled by the pillow her face was buried in.

"Party? All of you?" Olose said, obviously sad that he missed out.

"Yeah, except Suse, but it's past her bedtime anyway." She paused. "Even Phabrizoe. You wouldn't believe how much that little guy can drink."
"Yes. Anyway, can you get the Destiny ready?" Olose asked quickly.

"Urm, yeah. We're down in Seblina anyway. Why?" Nadia questioned.

"We're going hunting." Olose gave in explanation, and Nadia could almost hear his grin.

Nadia wondered out of her room with a wide yawn and a grumble, stumbling to the first room she could find. She knocked on the door. Nothing. She swung it open and wondered in, bursting into a fit of laughter as she spotted Trevia on the bed, curled up tightly like a typical feline, certainly lacking any appearance to suggest she was a hardened assassin. She was snuggled tightly against a pillow, and let out a peaceful purr, which just made Nadia laugh louder. Trevia jolted awake to this, and sat up quickly, blushing.

"Don't you knock?" She snapped in rage, knowing fully well just how embarrassing her sleeping habits could be, especially when she was in a comfortable bed and not the hammocks of the Destiny.

"Yes. I did." Nadia answered. "C'mon. Olose wants us."

"Now? It's the middle of the night." Trevia groaned uncharacteristically.

"It's only ten o'clock, to be fair." Nadia pointed out.

"Stupid party." Trevia huffed, still half asleep and so not acting entirely like herself.

Olose was almost sprinting through San d'Oria, heading towards the gate.

"Where are you going?" Santia called after him. Her and Dartain were in close pursuit.

"Seblina." Olose answered, slipping out of his brown jacket. "Hold on to that. I think I can catch the Cardinal." Santia looked at the jacket in confusion.

"Urm, how?" She asked.

"I'll take on my werewolf form, and get to Seblina. From there I can take my ship and catch up with the Cardinal."

"The Cardinal has an elvaan battle cruiser!" Dartian exclaimed. Olose knew elvaan battle cruisers were their finest warships, but they called them 'battle cruisers' instead of 'battleships' because it sounded more impressive. "You had better have one helluva ship." Olose paused, considering what his crew would have to say on the subject.
"Well, I have a ship." He replied. "Don't you worry. Not even the Cardinal can avoid Destiny." Olose had a feeling he greatly overused that pun, but luckily neither Dartian or Santia had heard it before. "Right. I'll be back later. Make sure Arcadia is alright." Olose burst into his mighty werewolf form and disappeared into the night, leaving Santia and Dartian looking at each other, confused.

It was some time later when the Cardinal walked along the deck of his proud elvaan ship, the Justifier, and turned to its commander.

"Your eminence?" Bowed the elvaan commander.

"Commander Nartak." The Cardinal stated. "Have you finished our preparations to leave? I am pressed for time."

"Yes, your eminence." Nartak answered, dressed in a naval version of the Temple Knight uniform. "We can get underway."

"Good." The Cardinal shot. "I fear we have spent too much time preparing for our exit already."
"We were unaware you would be requiring the Justifier, she was not prepared." Nartak explained.

"I am aware. There has been a change of plans." The Cardinal stated. "Hoist the anchor. We need to leave immediately."

"Yes, your eminence." Nartak bowed, and the Justifier's anchor was risen. The gigantic multi-decked warship began to slowly move through the water.

Olose slipped into a spare shirt, marching up onto the deck of the Destiny.

"Let's go!" He ordered. "Phabz! Untie us from the dock!"

"Aye, aye, cap'n!" Phabrizoe saluted, quickly untying the mooring line.

"Nadia! Trevia! Lower the sail!" Olose got about getting everything under way instantly.

"Right away!" Nadia answered.

"Yessirrrr!" Trevia cried.

"Suse! Ready the cannons! I think we're going to need them." Olose sighed.

"Awww. But I'm tirrrred." Suse sighed. Olose shot her a glance. "Yessir, Captain Meaniepants." She grumbled.

"She's always cranky when we make her stay up late." Nadia sighed to Trevia.

"I'm surprrrrrised I'm not crrrrranky." Trevia replied sarcastically. Olose spun the wheel, and the Destiny left the Seblina docks.

"We need full speed!" He exclaimed. "I need the sails at their fullest. Anything that we can afford to lose, see that it's lost."

"I could of stayed on the dock." Grumbled Suse. "That would have made things lighterrrrr."

"Stop moaning." Sighed Olose. The crew got about quickly throwing everything they didn't need overboard while Suse (who had managed to enlist Trevia's help) prepared the cannons.

The Justifier crashed through the waters. One of the young elvaan lieutenants ran across the deck to Nartak.

"Sir! Sir! We have a ship incoming!" He cried.
"What?" Nartak snapped. The Cardinal looked out over the edge of the ship, seeing a tiny vessel pursuing.

"It is only small, Commander." The Cardinal said dismissively. "Blast it from the ocean!"

The Destiny splashed through the waves, closing in on the Justifier.

"Thar she blows!" Cried Olose. "Those cannons ready?"

"Yes, Cap'n!" Trevia cried from below decks.

"Sir! She's turning to engage us!" Phabrizoe yelled. "You seen the cannons on that thing! If they broadside us, we're goners!"

"It's under control." Olose answered. "We're a small target. If we keep our bow facing them, they'll struggle to hit us."

"But sir, are you sure you can avoid a volley from those cannons?" Nadia asked.

"No, but there's only one way to find out." Olose answered. "Trevia! Nadia! Your on cannon duty! Suse, help Nadia!" Nadia ran below decks to join with Trevia, Suse being there to help Nadia reload the cannons, which was rather difficult with her one arm.

The Cardinal narrowed his eyes, focusing on the approaching enemy.

"They've readied their cannons!" The lieutenant yelled.

"Bring us around." The Cardinal ordered. Nartak spun the wheel, and the Justifier began to turn.

Olose spun the wheel on the Destiny, turning much tighter than the Justifier, manoeuvring so that Destiny was only exposed to the stern of the ship.

Nartak frowned.

"They're too fast." He stated. "They're behind us."

"Well then, turn us!" Snapped the Cardinal.

"I'll do my best." Sighed Nartak.

Olose turned the Destiny away from the Justifier as it turned, avoiding its mighty cannons by manoeuvring to stay near the stern.

"Right." Olose decided. "I'm bringing us in on their stern. Get ready to fire!"

"Aye, aye, Captain!" Nadia yelled. Olose turned the Destiny again, and it began to head straight for the Justifier's stern, which couldn't turn in a tight enough circle to keep up with the speedy Destiny.

"FIRE!" Olose screamed.

The twin cannons of the Destiny blasted, and the cannonballs slammed into the back of the Justifier, shattering the captain's quarters (which, of course, belonged to the Cardinal).

"We're hit!" Somebody screamed.

"How dare they shoot at me?" The Cardinal growled.

"They're turning away to reload their cannons." Nartak figured. "This is our chance! Bring us around!" He watched as the Destiny turned away, and managed to turn the mighty Justifier into range to attack.

"OPEN FIRE!" Screamed the Cardinal.

The mighty cannons were unleashed, shots flying through the air, closing in on the Destiny.

"BRACE YOURSELVES!" Olose yelled as the cannons splashed down around the retreating ship. Since only the stern was exposed, due to the nature of Olose's retreat, the Destiny was a small target, but it still took the hits. A cannonball slammed down on the deck, exploding and sending shards of wood flying everywhere. Another hit the side, causing a gigantic hole to erupt and shaking the ship viciously. "Dammit!" Olose growled. "They're using explosive cannonballs! Damage report!"

"Sir!" Nadia yelled from below. "We've lost the starboard cannons! We're taking on water! Trevia's hurt, badly."

"This isn't bad!" Olose heard Trevia protest.

"You'rrrre bleeding!" Suse exclaimed in horror.

"Ready the port cannons!" Olose ordered. "I'm bringing us about! Now's our chance. They can't reload that many cannons quickly. We're going to broadside them!"

The Destiny pulled itself around, twisting. The Justifier tried to pull away, but the Destiny was too fast, coming along side the Justifier.

"Fire whatever we have loaded!" The Cardinal cried.

"Yessir!" Nartak nodded. "FIRE!"

Olose watched as the cannons on the Justifier roared into life.

"FIRE!" He cried. The Destiny blasted its own cannons, hitting the Justfier and sending wood flying everywhere. The Justifier fired three cannons of its own, all that were loaded, and one slammed into the bow of the Destiny, exploding.

"Sir!" Nadia screamed, running up on deck. "We have severe flooding below!" Olose watched as the Justifier began to turn away.

"We can't keep this up." Phabrizoe sighed.

"I'm scarrrrred!" Sobbed Suse. Olose's gaze became steely.

"We can't beat them in naval combat." He decided. "But perhaps physical-"

"Captain?" Trevia asked, holding a rag to her bleeding forehead.

"All hands! Brace yourselves!" He ordered. "Phabrizoe! Ready the sails! Give me ramming speed!"

"Ramming speed?" He gasped.
"I'm bringing us about!" Olose realised this was it. The end of the Destiny. The damage was too severe, the vessel would never take another hit, and ramming the elvaan warship would destroy it. He sighed. He wasn't going to let the Cardinal beat him. Even if it cost his ship, he would catch the evil tyrant and end his villainy. He would save Princess Astra. "Brace yourselves!" He cried for a second time.

Nartak watched as the Destiny turned inwards towards the Justifier.

"What are they doing?" The Cardinal asked.

"I don't know. They can't get into position to fire from there-" Nartak paused as he realised what was going to happen. "FIRE!" He screamed. "SHOOT! DESTROY THEM BEFORE THEY HIT US!"

The Justifier unleashed its mighty cannons, ripping all around the Destiny, exploding against the decks and sending shards of it flying. Olose stood at the wheel, undeterred, as his ship burnt around him. His gaze became focused on the Justifier. The Destiny did not slow down. It kept going, despite the incredible damage. As if in one final testimony to its mighty strength, the Destiny did not falter. Fires engulfed its hull, water gushed into its hold, the cabins collapsed, but it kept going. It wasn't going to die without a fight.

Nartak's eyes went wide.

"It's still coming! Brace yourselves! It's a collision!" The Destiny smashed into the side of the Justifier, ripping through its hull and knocking everybody on board off of their feet. The Destiny's front hull buckled under the pressure, crumpling. The Justifier shook, still afloat, able to take the damage, but badly limping. Onto the deck suddenly burst five heroes, running up, swords drawn, as they began to engage the elvaan crew. "We're being boarded!" Nartak yelled. "Your eminence! Get below decks!" The Cardinal was already possessed by fury. He had already spotted him.

"Sampson!" He growled, drawing a sword and running towards him.

The Destiny began to disappear beneath the waves in the background, and the Justifier began to tilt, the mighty hole the Destiny had caused making it lose its stability. Olose managed to get to the Cardinal, and the two fought.

"Brave of you boy, but your ship is lost, and you're crew outnumbered." The Cardinal spat. Olose swung down in a strike, and the Cardinal blocked it, before he slashed to the side.

"You're holding my friend prisoner!" Olose spat. "Where is she?"

"Does it matter?" The Cardinal laughed. "Soon she'll be dead. And you with her." He threw his sword down, and drew a silver blade. "I've been looking forward to this. You know, that weak fool Richard was reluctant to order the final destruction of the werewolves. It was me, and the Temple Knights who had to do it. And at last, we shall succeed! At last your evil bloodline will end."

"You're the only evil one here, Treville!" Olose reminded him. The Cardinal swung in with his silver blade, and Olose blocked it. The Cardinal brought it about in a thrust, and drove Olose back. Olose scrambled up the steps onto the bridge of the Justifier. The Cardinal chased him, swinging his blade. Olose jumped over it, landing on the banister of the steps, and sliding down it. He landed in a front roll and turned around. The Cardinal turned about, running down the steps after him. Olose flipped up a dropped broom from the ground with his foot (obviously someone had been cleaning the deck before the battle began) and caught it in one hand, swinging it around and hitting the Cardinal in the face. The Cardinal stumbled back, but rose his sword in defiance. Olose swung his own blade in and cut off the Cardinal's hand, causing the silver blade to fly into the water. The Cardinal screamed in agony, dropping to his knees. Olose held a sword to his neck.

"Do it then, boy." The Cardinal growled. "Kill me. A public figure. A powerful religious man. Murder me. A servant of Altana. I just tried to make San d'Oria strong. I know you will. You're a monster. You'll give in to your monstrous ways and strike me down." He laughed, blood trickling from his mouth. Olose gripped the sword tightly.
"You know what?" His face began to warp into a grin. "You're right. I will." The Cardinal's eyes went wide with horror mere moments before Olose cut off his head. The fighting had stopped, and both crews were looking at him in shock. "What?" He asked innocently. "He was trying to make me regret killing him. This man stole a girl's life. He planned to poison an entire population. I was pretty justified." He paused, then realised that he still just had a crew of five versus the population of the elvaan warship. "Where's Astra?" He snapped.

"Below decks." Nartak said calmly. Olose went to walk down there. "We can still stop you, you know."

"Tell me." Olose turned. "The Cardinal is dead. You are all servants of San d'Oria. Since you cannot serve the Cardinal anymore, you must serve the crown. And I believe Princess Astra is a member of that crown." He grinned. "Surrender, and I'll tell the King to be lenient." The crew sheathed their swords. Olose let out a sigh of relief, as did the whole Destiny crew.

It was a week later, back in San d'Oria, when everything was slowly returning to normal. The population still felt shaken up, the nation was considerably weakened after the loss of the war, but with the king back on the throne, they felt that things might improve. Olose had agreed to stay there with Arcadia after she had said that she would help train Astra in the ways of being a member of high society, like she must learn now. The King had extended his gratitude to Olose, but he had turned down the reward, feeling a little downbeat after the destruction of the Destiny. But it was a week after the events that the true reward came.

Arcadia walked into the room where Olose was slumped. She laughed. He had been doodling on a bit of paper. A picture of a tiny one sailed ship. The whole crew had been noticeably downbeat since they had lost their ship.

"Hi." She said softly. Olose turned around, smiling, never one to let his pain manifest itself.

"Hi." He said, almost playfully.

"Want to come for a walk?" She asked. Olose got up and took her hand.

"Any time." He smiled.

The two walked through San d'Oria, with Arcadia's soft hand constantly around Olose's own.

"Nice city, isn't it." She said casually. "Beautiful. The elvaans really know their stuff."

"Yeah." Olose answered, clearly distracted. They were approaching the San d'Orian docks, and the sea breeze brought back too many memories.

"Olose!" Came a cheerful cry. Astra ran over in a long flowing white gown, and ordained with so much jewellery and make-up Olose quickly came to the decision that Arcadia was a bad influence. "Urm, I mean. Mr Sampson." She curtseyed formally as per her instructions from Arcadia, before giggling, knowing she didn't have to bother around Olose. "C'mon." She said happily, skipping away. Olose followed her, baffled. Astra loved the new energy she had, and seemed to run or skip everywhere.

Arcadia and Olose followed her for a moment, before Olose froze, coming to a massive assembly of elvaan Royal Guards and Temple Knights, as well as the Destiny crew. King Richard stood at the front of them all, Dartian and Santia flanking him. Tarrak stood just behind him.

"Olose Sampson." He stated, drawing a sword.

"He's not going to cut my head off, is he?" Olose asked Arcadia nervously. Astra took up her position beside the king.

"You're service to San d'Oria is beyond measurement. You have saved my daughter from her horrific illness, saved the crown, stopped an evil tyrant from poisoning the whole population, and most importantly, won my respect." The King paused. "I trust I can always depend upon you?"

"I shall always serve the forces I deem right." Olose answered.

"An honest answer." The King decided. "And worthy to serve San d'Oria." Olose paused.

"I think you're supposed to drop to one knee." Arcadia whispered in Olose's ear. Olose nodded, and did so. The King swung the sword from one of Olose's shoulders to the other.

"I dub thee, Sir Olose Sampson." He said. Olose smiled as the crowd clapped. "And I present to you, Sir knight, your prize." He stepped back, and Olose saw the Justifier, fully repaired, standing proudly. "Would you do the honours?" The King held out a bottle on a string to Olose. Olose swung it and it shattered against the new name written upon the mighty ship.

The name that read Destiny II.

Author's Note: Whew. End of that chapter. A bit longer too. Urm, I did a bad thing. I killed my favourite character. No, not the Cardinal! The Destiny! But I figured it's destruction led to the nice ending of this chapter, and the whole plot arc. I really liked this chapter, I thought it had humour, had the crew return, and a nice final battle, and even a bit of tragedy with the loss of the ship. And, as you know, its rare for me to like my own writing. But yes, I thought this plot arc in general came off rather well. I'm not sure what happens next. I have the next chapter planned out which is something special, but after that, who knows? I could just end it with that chapter, but I don't really want to. Otherwise, I might try and get some inspiration together for a final plotline that can end the story.

If anybody cares, this chapter at least explains Olose's closeness to the elvaan nation in the FFXI Chronicles, where the King seems to know him and his powers well. All stemmed from here, you see? Anyway, that's pretty much all I have to say. I really loved this chapter, and actually overall really liked this plot arc, even if it was a bit of a rip off. But it's over now. I have a plot left with Astra and the elvaan characters to revisit, which means I might do one separate plot line, then return to San d'Oria for a plot line, then do the finale. But that depends on what I can think up for the next plot arc! Still drawing blanks there!