CHAPTER 1: Vyse the Legend
Back in the present:
Vyse awoke to the sounds of pursuit, as shouts rang out through the mourning air. "Get back here, you perverted freak!" That was Aika's voice.
"Ah! She's gonna kill me! She's gonna kill me!" That was Peco, the Delphinus'es new Ixa-'Takan chief gunner. The kid had great aim, but he always "accidentally" walked in on Aika when she was in a less than modest situation.
Vyse sighed. He'd better get up and mediate. Vyse always mediated for his friends and crew. He wanted to be someone they could trust, and anyway, with hotheads like Aika, his childhood friend, around, nothing would be solved… He got up, got dressed, and went outside, where a spectacle awaited him.
As Vyse stepped through the Yofutoman style door, he couldn't help but grin in amusement.
Peco, a very short fifteen year old Ixa-'Takan, ran from a wet Aika wrapped in a bath towel.
"Oh dear, poor Aika, this is the 3rd time this week, time isn't it?" Asked a voice behind him. Vyse turned around, and saw Fina. Fina wore a silver jacket, a blue skin-tight super short shirt, and a long blue skirt. Next to her, floated silver blob with a tail and an eye patch. That was Cupil. Cupil was a creature from the long gone Silver Civilization, as well as Fina's guardian and pet/friend.
Vyse smiled at her. "Why don't you go to the meeting room? I'm going to the lookout tower, to clean this mess up.
Fina returned his smile. "OK. Meet me there, alright?"
Vyse, who was already halfway down the ramp to ground level, turned around, winked, and nodded. Her smile deepened as she followed him to the elevator. Vyse waited for her, and pressed the top two buttons on the elevator for "meeting room" and "lookout tower." Fina silently got off at the first stop. Vyse went on. When he arrived at the tower, he spoke to the active lookout, Ley. Ley was an "optical specialist," whatever that meant. He used odd gadgets he called "Sonar" and "radar" to find things incredibly far away, similar to Vyse's eyepatch. The lookout tower also had a "Speaker System," or "Intercom." Aika called it the inty. It was a gift from Emperor Enrique of Valua, and it ran on yellow moonstones. It amplified someone's voice so that the entire island could hear him or her. Enrique also gave Vyse the Delphinus, the most famous airship in Arcadia, the ship with the strength of a Gigas. With that ship, Vyse, Aika, Fina, The current Emperor of Valua (Enrique,) A gruff old one-armed-sailor, the late Drachma, and a carefree pirate looking for "The Good Life"-whatever that is-named Gilder saved the world.
Ley greeted Vyse with his usual enthusiasm. Vyse asked him if he could use the intercom.
"Sure, Captain. Go right ahead," replied Ley, "Quite a problem you've got on your hands this mourning."
"That's why I'm here," answered Vyse as he fiddled with "the inty." When he finished, alarms began to sound, and his voiced boomed across Crescent Isle. "Everyone to their emergency stations! All commanding officers will report to the meeting room at once! Gunner Peco, report to the meeting room at once! This message will repeat!" Vyse was glad that he had the foresight to record messages like this. Every crewmember along with the commanding officers could be ordered to the meeting room during an emergency with the push of a button. Of course, he rarely used it for that purpose. It was usually for drills or messes like this one. He had a drill every month, and it was about time for another one anyway.
Ley grinned. "Since this is my emergency station, should I look out for more 'emergencies' like that uneaten sandwich outside your cabin?"
"I'm glad you have a goal in life." Vyse shot back, as he, returning the grin, headed back down to the meeting room.
Ley, continuing to grin, returned to watching the sky.
As Vyse entered the room, he scowled at the mess that awaited him. Aika was on one side of the room, wearing only a bath towel and a look of hatred in her eyes. She stared maliciously at Peco, who was cowering on the other side of the room. He had covered his eyes with his hands, but he was peeking. In the middle of it all stood Fina.
Fina stood with her arms outstretched towards Peco and Aika. There was a bundle of orange clothes at her feet.
"Alright, what happened?" Demanded Vyse with a deeper scowl.
"Aika spoke first, "This PERVERT," She said glowering at Peco, "had the audacity to peek at me while I was bathing!"
"I didn't know you were there!" protested Peco; "I wanted to take a bath!"
"THAT WAS THE WOMEN'S BATH!" retorted Aika angrily, "AND, if you were there to take a bath, why did you keep your clothes on, and bring a hollow tube to breath out of?"
"Ah, I…"
"Quiet! Both of you!" snapped Vyse. "I think you both have said your part," Vyse continued, "Peco, you will clean the harbor and swab the decks of the Delphinus and the Mari Tempe every day this week."-The Mari Tempe was Vyse's scoutship, and his prized possession. He loved clipper ships, and the Mari Tempe fit the bill. She was modeled after his father's ship, the Albatross II, and with her new sails and state of the art cannons, she was by no means weak. Vyse sailed her whenever he felt particularly down. -"You not only lied to and peeked at a commanding officer, you lied to your captain," Peco's terror turned into anger and a look of despair. Vyse gave him a small reassuring smile and continued, "Aika, you too will be punished."
"What!" cried Aika. Peco's face lit up like a Christmas tree.
"Aika, you caused quite a scene today," replied Vyse coolly, Regrettably, you will have to help Urula and her apprentice, Anne, fix dinner tonight," Vyse finished. Urula and Hans, old friends from the days of saving the world, had recently rejoined Vyse's crew after a long time working to rebuild the once impoverished Valua, and had returned to their old posts. Anne, the daughter of Polly, one of Vyse's old crewmembers, had followed in her mother's footsteps and become a cook on the Delphinus.
"Awl! I hate cooking!" cried Aika.
"It's only for one day Aika, and for Moon's sake, put on some clothes!" Vyse retorted, and winked. She'd know he was only doing this for he sake of morale and that Vyse would make up for it later.
"Here, Aika, I brought you one of your outfits." Fina's voice came from the middle of the room. They turned around while Aika quickly donned her clothes.
Then, Vyse grinned widely, "All is well that ends well, now lets go out there and restore order to the Island." It was then that the others realized that the alarms were still on…
Later that day:
"Captain! I think you better see this!" Ley's voice rang out from the "Indy."
Vyse looked up from the resumes of sailors applying to be crewmembers of the legendary Delphinus. Vyse no longer had to seek out crew, everyone he needed came to him, and he just chose the best ones.
"Captain! Please come to the lookout tower!" This time Ley's message came through Vyse's personal communicator, so he knew it was urgent. The communicators were a gift from The Emperor of Yofutoma, Daigo, Vyse had 3, one on the bridge of the Delphinus, one on the watchtower of Crescent Isle, and Vyse's personal handheld unit. They used blue moonstones to allow instantaneous communication between them anywhere on Arcadia.
"Alright already!' muttered Vyse as he headed towards the elevator.
When Vyse arrived, Ley pointed towards a point in the sky with the warning: "Armed Esperantzan vessel approaching captain." Ley then offered Vyse the telescope.
"I'll zoom in," replied Vyse. As he manipulated the device's controls for a better view, he realized its gunports were closed (the universal sign of coming in peace), the flag on its mast was pure white (meaning diplomatic mission) and it indeed bore the Esperantzan insignia. "Raise the docks and set up a welcoming party," he told Ley, "I'll meet them there."
"Understood."
As Vyse descended the elevator down to the ground, Ley began transmitting his orders over the "Inty."
As the ship drew nearer, a crowd gathered around Vyse and his welcoming party. For security purposes, Crescent Isle had docks that could be dropped into lower sky as well as the underground port for the Delphinus and the Mari Tempe. Finally, the ship landed. A collective breath was drawn. From the deck of the small aircraft jumped a man in his mid thirties. He wore the traditional Esperantzan uniform and a kind smile.
Vyse smiled right back at him, "Welcome to Crescent Isle."
"Thank you, my friend, your kindness to this humble Esperantzan sailor is appreciated," said the stranger, "Now I know why Admiral Don holds you in regards so much higher than the already high regards Arcadia holds you in."
Vyse smiled warmly at him. They were in the meeting room, with tea and cookies, of course. The entire Island was probably listening in through the talking tubes.
The sailor continued, "Now that you have greeted me so warmly, you great rogues do not know my name. I am Gerard. My mission is to travel around Arcadia and give people of importance invitations to the opening ceremony for the new trade rout between Esperantza and Yofutoma. It's through the Dark Rift."
"Well," said Vyse, thank you for the invitation. I apologize, but we haven't yet introduced oursel…" Vyse paused, for Gerard had held up his hand.
"There is no need ta introduce yourselves my boy, I already know who you are. You are Vyse, the Legend, savior of Arcadia. The 'lass in orange on your right, is Aika, Queen of Rogues."
"'Queen' does not fit me!" complained Aika.
"Aye, it does fit you." Replied Gerard, "And, of course, the beauty on your left is Fortitude Fina, the last remaining Silvite."
Fina laughed, "Fortitude Fina, I like it."
"Of course!" replied Gerard; "You are the most important people on Arcadia! You are not only the leaders of the Blue Rogues, but the Black Pirates answer your call as well."
"Not really," replied Vyse, "The pirate fleet can only be assembled in dire emergencies."
Gerard gave them a toothy grin, "'O course. Anyway, 'yer invited to Esperantza a sevenday from now."
Vyse returned Gerard's smile, "We'll certainly consider it. In the meantime, why don't you stay the night and enjoy the hospitality of Crescent Isle."
"Thank you," replied Gerard, "that's very kind."
"Well," said a voice from outside the room, "Would you mind having an old friend for a night as well?"
"Sorry captain," Ley's Voice came through the talking tubes, "I thought it would be OK to let the Claudia dock, since they have a passport." The passport allowed a ship to dock and leave Crescent Isle freely. Only a select few had them.
Silhouetted in the doorway stood Gilder, a Blue Rogue looking for "The Good Life," whatever that was.
"Gilder!" exclaimed Vyse, "What are you doing here?"
"I was invited to Admiral Don's little party, and since your Island's on the way, I thought I'd drop by," laughed Gilder, "We meet again Gerard." Gerard nodded his head. "Can I stay the night too?" finished Gilder sheepishly.
"Of course, Gilder!" Vyse, Aika and Fina Answered at once.
"Good," replied the scoundrel, "Because my ship is in pretty bad shape. Could your crew help mine repair it?"
Vyse grinned. "Figures, what did you get yourself into this time, Gilder?"
Aika mock scowled at Vyse. "Oh, be nice, Vyse!" she said. "Now you better tell us what's wrong with the 'Claudia,' so that we can fix it," she continued in a syrupy voice, turning to Gilder.
"Everything," joked Gilder
"You said that last time!" returned Aika, just as humorously.
"You could give me hug, to make me feel better," Gilder peevishly replied.
"Not in your life, traitor! You've got Clara."
Vyse, amused, left the two at it and went with Fina to settle Gerard in and to see to the repairs of the Claudia.
2 Days Earlier:
Baltor, the Blackbearded, and one of the few Black pirates left on Arcadia, scowled down the barrel of a gun to its owner. "And just why have you come to me at this most inconvenient time?" he asked furiously.
The bearer of the gun, a man in his mid thirties, wearing the garb of the Esperantzan navy, smiled at him. "Well now, we couldn't just waltz onto your ship. You'd kill us. After all, we're on opposite sides of the law.
Baltor, almost placated, spoke again. "Well not exactly. I have pardon for most of my deeds. So why are you here?"
"I came with an invitation."
"Ta what?"
"The opening ceremony for the Dark Rift passage. Everyone of any importance will be there."
"Give me that!" Baltor scanned the document and nodded. "Thar'll be plenty of loot I assume. Alright, I'll be there."