Chapter 11: Honesty Hurts
Vivian and Three entered the mess, seeing everyone scattered about the room. Vivian immediately felt a sudden…tension that filled the atmosphere. Two was standing by the door, arms folded about her chest, clearly irritated.
"You summoned us captain?" Three asked, smirking. Two twisted her jaw at him, trying to keep her composure. One was sitting at the end of the table uncomfortably twiddling his thumbs. Six was standing behind him, leaning against the wall, arms crossed.
"Why don't you have a seat?" Two insisted, glaring at him. Three furrowed his brows.
"Did I do something? I thought this was about him," Three pointed at Six. Six rolled his eyes.
"Something else was brought to my attention thanks to Four's report…" Two replied, nodding over to Four.
"That being?" Three asked.
"Did you know One isn't actually Jace Corso?" Two questioned flatly. Vivian furrowed her brows looking at One in confusion.
"You're not?"
"Apparently no…" One replied.
"How did you-?" Vivian began.
"Transfer pods. His real face came out on the other side," Four intervened.
"But you look like Corso. I've seen you on this ship," Vivian replied.
"The real Jace Corso met up with us back on a different station," One admitted, his voice level but clearly not wanting to be there.
"And you knew about it," Two accused Three as she stood in front of him. Vivian looked at Three who shifted uncomfortably.
"What? No…why would you say that?" Three lied smiling in amusement. Vivian watched him, furrowing her brows in observation.
"Because you were there Three," One disagreed. "I told them you were hiding it from them too."
"Jesus pretty boy," Three scoffed.
"Well?" Two asked. Three sighed shaking his head.
"Fine you know what I was there," Three admitted.
"You also black mailed me," One looked at him in disbelief.
Vivian furrowed her brows in confusion at Three. Did she get a wrong idea about him? Was she just seeing a scumbag in the works? A manipulator? Three noticed her eyes get irritated, clearing his throat.
"Look aren't we here for a bigger issue?" Three asked, pointing at Six.
"He's not out of the woods either," Two informed sternly. Vivian looked uncomfortable, her stance straightening as she folded her arms about her chest. Two noticed glancing at Vivian.
"Sit down Three," Two ordered lightly.
"All right all right, don't get your panties in a bunch," Three scoffed as he motioned Vivian to join him at the table with One. Vivian stayed in her place as he nodded over towards the other side of the table.
"Halvor, if I may speak to my crew privately?" Two requested lightly. Vivian stared at Three with uncertainty. Two saw her swallow hard as she processed the information.
"Why? Isn't she as much a part of this-" Three protested lightly. Vivian put her hand to silence him.
"Save it," Vivian spat lightly. Three scoffed as she placed her hands behind her back bowing in respect to Two.
"As you wish captain," she accepted quietly.
"Thank you," Two breathed as Vivian nodded to the others, clearly irritated with Three, then hastily walked out of the mess.
"Why does she not have to be here?" Three asked.
"Sit down Three," Two repeated. He put his hands up before sitting in a chair to the left of One. "At her reaction, I'm getting the feeling she had no idea of what you knew."
"Why does she have to know? It was between me and him," Three pointed at One. One glared at him.
"You do realize the risk of you turning your back on another crew member?" Two asked.
"Or sleeping with the ally?" One commented. Three glared at him.
"Hey, why don't you mind your own business pretty boy?" Three growled.
"The risk is," Two growled, making them focus. "If we aren't acting like a crew and standing together all hell could break loose."
"All of hell is breaking loose without us in it doll face," Three disagreed.
"Oh yeah? What if one of our enemies saw us like this? Hell, we even have an ally who could potentially back down due to all three of you not being honest from the beginning," Two explained pointing at One, Three and Six. "I have to give reports to her family. If he sees that we can't get along, don't you think that maybe he'll change his mind?"
"So what? She'll still be here right?" Three asked. Two looked him dead in the eye.
"She goes by family first over my own orders. And you lying to each other, lying to us, is only heightening a risk that could lose a powerful connection," Two responded seriously.
"I'm sorry…" One squirmed in his seat.
"When were you going to tell us? Jace Corso could've come to us and we would've been defenseless," Two informed.
"I was just…hoping for the right opportunity I guess," One sighed. "At least in a perfect world."
"And you," Two nodded over to Three. "You knew about it and kept it secret from us anyway. You realize it's just as bad."
"I was doing it for blackmail purposes," Three stated casually.
"We don't blackmail each other. We're a team. We stand up for each other," Two scolded. Three rolled his eyes as she looked at Six.
"And you. Running off like that without letting us know. You could've been in danger," Two continued.
"I didn't want anyone to get hurt. I needed to do this on my own," Six replied flatly.
"Is that an apology?" Two asked.
"No. Just being honest. That's what you wanted right?" Six asked. Two sighed in frustration.
"We can't keep doing this to each other. Whoever wiped our memories, they wanted us vulnerable and unable to work together. And you know what? It worked."
With that said, Two walked out of the mess as the others took a breath, feeling the tension leave with her.
…
Thunk…thunk…thunk…thunk!
Vivian changed into a maroon tank, long black tight work out pants and dark work out shoes and dark boxing gloves after the meeting. She punched the bag hard at a rhythm. Despite leaving, she forgot to turn off her coms hearing a bit of the conversation. She left it in her room after hearing Three black mailing One over his identity. How could not see any of them lying? One wasn't Jace Corso. Well…his memory was wiped. He didn't even know who he was…but is that a good enough excuse? And Three…keeping it from everyone. She shook her head, growled as she punched the bag harder. Stupid. Thinking that he wouldn't keep secrets. Guess the blackmail joke wasn't a joke. He wasn't exactly a saint. Then again…neither was she. She punched the bag hard again in frustration.
"Vivian," Sarah's voice rang in her ears. She stopped. She glanced over, ignoring the voice. She continued to punch.
"Halvor," her voice beckoned again. She stopped leaning against the bag.
"Leave me alone," she growled. "I don't want to talk to someone who made me believe a criminal was a kind man."
She continued to punch.
"You thought that before you came on the ship," Sarah's voice objected. "He made a mistake. Everyone does."
"He lied…" Vivian growled.
"I didn't say he was right…" Sarah sighed. "But you know as much as I that he's a better man than that."
"Just leave me alone…" Vivian bit punching harder and faster. "I don't want an intervention from a ghost."
"Halvor," Sarah's voice beckoned. "Halvor!"
"Go…away," she breathed, closing her eyes in focus.
She felt a hand rest on her shoulder. Spooked, Vivian picked up her sword from the ground, spinning around with her sword at the ready to swing. Two appeared, stepping aside, grabbing her extended arm and disarmed her weapon. She gasped at the sudden impact as she disarmed her, twisting her arm behind her back. She breathed heavily as she sat there with the pain reaching her arm.
"Jesus Portia…" she gasped. "You scared me."
"Says the one with the sword," Two breathed. She twisted Vivian's wrist.
"Can't you knock?" Vivian groaned at the tension in her arm.
"I called your name twice," Two looked at her oddly. Vivian swallowed. "Are you going to strike if I let you go?"
"Captain no offense but I'm not exactly in the most comfortable position right now…" Vivian gritted. Two looked down at her with uncertainty.
"Why did you come at me with the sword?" Two asked.
"Call it reflex. I'm sorry, all right?" Vivian growled. Two let go, straightening up as Vivian exhaled hard, hissing and grabbing her wrist.
"Sorry…just making sure you weren't trying to kill me again," Two stated flatly. Vivian rolled her eyes.
"Did you betray our deal?" Vivian asked flatly.
"No," Two responded with an odd look.
"Then I'm not going to kill you or hurt you," Vivian breathed. "That was part of our agreement."
"Is that blood bound thing true? Are you being honest with us?" Two swallowed in uncertainty.
Vivian furrowed her brows at her, putting her hands on her hips.
"Is that why you came down to see me?" Vivian questioned. Two shook her head closing her eyes and sighing
"Sorry…I'm just…morale is slim right now," Two replied, almost embarrassed. Vivian nodded, starting to unravel her boxing wraps. "I was on my way back from checking on Android. I thought I heard you talking to someone, so I came to check on you."
Vivian swallowed, nodding slowly, avoiding eye contact.
"How's Android?" Vivian asked ignoring the reasoning.
"She's fine. Everything…seems a bit hazy since the meeting," Two admitted. "Things won't run as smoothly as I'd like if this sort of thing keeps up. I just want us to be honest."
"That doesn't always happen," Vivian commented as she unraveled the second wrap.
"Excuse me?" Two asked looking at her oddly. Vivian looked at her and shrugged. "I'm assuming you have something to say?"
"Only if I can give advice. Captain to Captain," Vivian remarked, as she put down her finished rolled up wraps aside. Two scoffed, crossing her arms about her chest. She relaxed a bit.
"Okay…" Two breathed, nodding. "Go ahead."
Vivian nodded, looking at her directly.
"Honesty in a perfect world…is the best thing correct?" Vivian asked.
"Usually yeah. Why wouldn't it be?" Two asked.
"You can't…force honesty or people to talk to you. No matter how much you trust them," Vivian admitted. Two looked at her in confusion.
"But we're supposed to stick together right?" Two questioned. "That's the whole reason we are a crew."
Vivian sighed facing Two directly.
"Just don't force it," Vivian put her arms across her chest. "It'll work out in time. If you have to have a million fights just to get to the end goal, then hash away."
"But what if we can't ever get along? Or even trust each other?"
"Maybe they're afraid of judgement," Vivian observed. "Last thing they need to do is drag someone else down into their problems. Especially the captain."
"That's ridiculous. We're a team," Two growled in frustration looking away.
"But we're human…" Vivian remarked. Two looked at her then sighed.
"I guess. Just hurts morale until things get better," Two sighed.
"They'll learn, eventually," Vivian swallowed, as she bent down to grab her sword off the floor.
She was about to leave as she sheathed her sword wrapping the belt around her hips. Two looked at the floor then looked at Vivian.
"You never told me who you were talking to," Two mentioned. Vivian shrugged.
"I uh…nothing. I was just thinking out loud," Vivian replied lightly. "When you're alone for so long it becomes a habit."
She started off towards the door again.
"Hey…" Two started. "Do you miss your crew?"
Vivian froze from her place, swallowed, shifting uncomfortably. She looked at Two. Two shifted uncomfortably.
"I'm sorry about what happened," Two admitted. "I don't know what my intentions were back then. I don't even know who Portia is."
Vivian scoffed, shaking her head, looking at the floor.
"I know apologies won't bring them back. But…I am sorry," Two sighed. Vivian shifted, her stance straightening as she looked at Two.
"You want the honest answer?" Vivian asked. Two braced herself and nodded.
"I miss them every damn day," Vivian admitted biting her lip. "Even the liars. At least they stood by me."
Two sighed and nodded.
Vivian bowed her head. She walked out, leaving Two alone with the information to sink in.
…
The final day on port, Vivian made her way back to the Raza from her assignments of gathering extra gear for weapons. She wore a dark purple sweater, dark pants and combat boots with on a dark leather jacket. She worked her curls into a long braid. To her delight, the keeper of the gunsmithing and supply store she used to use when Neptune's Dragon was still running. He gave her a hefty discount, carry out gear and a wish of luck hoping she'd come back.
She bumped into the rest of the crew as they filed back into the ship with their supply run goodies. The crew was settling some of the food and medical supplies in the mess hall. She got Two's attention as she entered. Two was checking out some medical supplies with One.
"Gotcha covered for a bit. New bullets, new holsters, a few upgrades," Vivian announced. She hesitated noticing Three. She still hadn't talked to him since the crew's private meeting. He came in with a crate full of drinks (including whiskey). He saw the weapons bags, brows rising and whistling.
"Looks like pirate girl came up with a whole bunch of treasure," Three smirked as he put the crate on the table and eyed her. "And some fine booty."
"I'll putting this in the cargo bay," Vivian stated ignoring him. Three furrowed his brows, then followed her out of the mess.
"Hey! Can I carry something?" Three asked. He grabbed a few spare bags out of her grip. Vivian sighed, stopping and facing him. "What? I can be a gentleman when I want to be."
"Shocking," Vivian scoffed. He looked at her oddly.
"Did I do something?"
"I don't know, maybe. Why did you blackmail One?" she asked aggravated. Three furrowed his brows.
"Is that why you're not talking to me?" Three asked. Vivian shook her head.
"Forget it," she breathed, walking towards the cargo bay. Three chased after her.
"Wait, wait, wait," he called out quickly as she proceeded into the cargo bay. He followed her in putting the cases on top of a few crates. She laid out her bags across a longer and larger metallic worktable. Three closed the door of the cargo bay.
"Don't tell me you care about pretty boy out there," Three pointed behind him as he walked back up to her.
"I don't care about him I care that you lied," Vivian admitted, grabbing a gun from a carry-on bag and examining it.
"So what? People lie all the time," Three scoffed. Vivian rolled her eyes.
"Tell me something. If you did that to him, how do I know you're not just trying to find something to use against me?" Vivian asked. Three narrowed his eyes at her puzzled.
"Hold up. Now why would I do that?" Three asked in confusion.
"You did it to One," Vivian remarked. Three scoffed.
"Yeah but that's because we don't get along. We're not exactly best pals you know," Three laughed as he sat on a smaller stack of crates next to her. She cocked an unloaded pistol, aiming towards an empty space, pulling the trigger a few times. Three eyed her.
"You know I hate to admit it, but you look damn sexy holding that thing," Three flirted. Vivian put down the pistol, grabbing another, shifting her weight in a steady ready position.
"You know, I'm starting to wonder if the only reason you hang around me as much as you do is to get me into your bed," Vivian remarked coolly. Three raised a brow at her, and laughed a bit in amusement.
He got up, then stood behind her. She aimed the other unloaded gun, checking the sights.
"Well if you want the God's honest truth I can't say I wouldn't mind the invitation," Three smirked, eyeing her. She turned, handing him the unloaded gun, butt end. "But nah it's because you know…you know something."
"Could you check the sights on this one?" Vivian asked. "The trigger also seems to be a little hard to pull."
"Sure thing sweetheart, after all you're talking to the gun expert," Three grinned smugly, grabbing the pistol from her. He examined it, aiming and pulling the trigger.
"Sights look fine. If you're worried about the trigger, try some cleaner on it. I got some in my stash in my room," Three explained as he put down the pistol in her pile, he leaned on the table she was working on as she examined the rest of her pile.
"You say I know something. Like what?" Vivian asked glancing over at him.
"Well for starters weapons," Three started, motioning to her pile. "Badass fighter, I mean you even got guts sticking up to doll face."
Vivian sighed, putting down the weapon then looked at Three. She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Okay can I ask you something?"
"Yes, I would love to rock your world darling," Three teased.
"Noted. But that wasn't what I was going to ask," Vivian remarked.
"Your eyes said otherwise," Three smirked.
"Three…" Vivian sighed. "Look…did you lie to me about anything since I came aboard this ship?"
Three looked up at the ceiling and then shook his head.
"Nope can't think of anything," Three replied. He fiddled with a weapon. She put a hand over his gripping onto it gently, making him look up.
"Look me in the eye and say that," Vivian said quietly. Three scoffed in amusement.
"What? I'm not lying," he grinned.
"Please," Vivian requested lightly. Three raised his brows at her and sighed.
"Fine," he groaned defeated. He looked into her eyes. "I have not lied to you since day one."
"Promise?" Vivian swallowed.
"Pinky swear, blood bound, whatever works for you pirates," he smiled slightly. "You got nothing to worry about me blackmailing you darling. I actually like you and that's between you and me."
Vivian sighed. His face seemed sincere enough. She couldn't deny that.
"Okay…" she accepted.
"So we cool? No big bad and ugly things coming to get me?" Three asked. Vivian laughed in amusement.
"We're cool," she smiled.
"We're heading to FTL," Two announced. "Everyone into the mess where we can keep track of inventory."
"Copy, be there in 5," Vivian unmuted her coms, then re-muted it looking up. "Oh, I got something for you."
She walked over to the bags looking through the items.
"Ooo, goodie goodie. Whatcha get me?" Three grinned following her. "Something sexy? Don't forget you promised that once things quieted down I get some private time."
Vivian rolled her eyes trying not to laugh. She grabbed a stack of charged rounds.
"You got lucky I knew the guy. Rounds for the big bad gun," she announced. "And…there you go."
She put gave him a brand-new pistol with a few boxes of rounds.
"I checked the sights and pull on that one. If the grip is good, you can keep that one," Vivian smirked as he picked up. He twirled it in his fingers aiming and making sure it was unloaded before doing a trigger check.
"Ooo. I like the feel of that. Look at you with your fine tastes in guns," Three grinned, giving her a smug look. She wrapped up her supplies in a nearby crate, as she stood up he was standing in front of her.
"You sure we're cool?" he asked. "I don't want to be looking out for my own ass on my own ship."
"As long as you don't piss me off too badly," Vivian stated.
"So…" Three asked, pointed at her. "No pissing off the pirate captain got it. That should be easy enough, right?"
"If you play your cards right," Vivian agreed. "I think you'll be win me over most of the time."
"Did I tell you how much it's getting tempting to cheat with those cards?" Three asked eying her. She leaned in kissing his cheek.
"Play at your own risk," Vivian purred in his ear. He moaned, about to lean in but she backed away to head out. Watched her before following her out of the cargo bay to the mess.
"You're making it really difficult to play fair sweetheart!"
…
Two had her touchpad as she went through inventory as they went through the crates of supplies to stock in the mess. They left the station already, riding through FTL as they unpacked.
"Got meat real and packed, I'm going to put this stuff in ice," Six announced.
"There's whiskey in here," One mentioned looking through one of the crates.
"Yeah I stocked up," Three grinned.
"Three I told you to get juice," Two stated. Three pulled out a juice bottle.
"I got you covered on that too," Three commented, throwing the bottle at her. Two caught it.
"I got medical supplies, gauze, anti-bacterial medicine, whatever these are," One addressed picking up a container of pills. Three snatched it out of his hand.
"Those would be mine, thanks," he stated without objection.
"We need to check up on what Four got a hold of as well. Hopefully he was just as lucky," Two mentioned, touching her coms. "Four you mind coming to the mess. We got inventory check."
Nothing.
"Four come in," Two ordered lightly. Everyone looked at each other oddly.
Next thing you know they were spread out the ship searching for any sign of Four. He wasn't in the training room or in his room. They gathered at the bridge.
"He didn't come back from the station?" Vivian asked.
"He's so quiet, he could've just snuck out without us knowing," One stated.
"I saw him come back after our supply run. He couldn't've just disappeared," Two mentioned.
"Searching for Fours coms device. We wouldn't know. It's right here," Android mentioned. Five grabbed it from the console.
"Well it's not damaged," she stated.
"We need to go back and find him," Two stated.
"Why he made his choice, you can get him go. He has no obligation to us," Three remarked. "We wouldn't know where he went anyway. Are we just going to search the station?"
"There's something all you should know. Let's meet at the mess," Two ordered.
…
"He's Ryo Ishida, the prince of a powerful empire," Two announced as everyone gathered around the table. "Escaped after his father was killed. He's on the run."
"But Four didn't kill him. He was framed," Five supported.
"Why didn't you both tell us this?" Three asked.
"It wasn't my story to share, it was Four's personal life," Five objected.
"Then why does she get to know?" Three asked pointing at Two.
"Well she's the captain so she knows everything," Five responded honestly. Two put her head down not to show the appreciation.
"Didn't we just have a conversation about honesty and how we should trust one another?" One asked irritated.
"Great. This is all coming together he's terrorist," Three began pointing at Six, then looked at Three. "Still don't know what you're deal is and now an emperor."
Three growled pointing at each one. "Anyone else want to come out? Now's your chance."
Everyone stayed silent. Vivian could feel the tension increase. She stayed in her place.
"If you're hiding anything this is your time to come out and say something," Three growled. Still silence.
"Okay…so back to the matter at hand. What do we do?" Six asked.
"You kidding? This changes everything. We go back and get him," Three stated, grabbing something to eat and sitting beside Six.
"So, because he's emperor now you want to go back?" One asked.
"We should stand beside him. That's what friend's do," Three replied digging into his food.
"It would be good to have that kind of ally on our side," Two mentioned.
"It's not that easy. You can't just show up and everything's good," Six reminded.
"He's right…" Vivian agreed. "Lots of politics over heirs and thrones believe it or not."
She got up and grabbed some coffee.
"Speaking from experience?" Two asked.
"You want the honest answer?" Vivian asked, glancing behind her. That's when Android walked in.
"I contacted the GA, there were reports of someone by Four's description arriving early morning on and boarding a mercenary ship. As soon as we drop out of FTL I will contact them," Android announced. "That will be in a matter of hours."
"Well, you heard her. I'll be checking some inventory updates. Might as well pass the time," Two announced as she got up from her place as she headed towards the cargo bay. One looked at Three then followed Two out of the mess.
Six sighed shaking his head as Vivian stood there for a moment.
"So…what was the honest answer to that?" Six asked curiously.
"It's a long story," Vivian warned.
"Is it a pirate story?" Five asked. Vivian tried not to laugh then nodded a bit, then frowned almost instantly. "Not a charming one however."
"Well why not ask from the experts?" Three winked at her. Vivian sighed, nodding before sitting next to Five across from Three.
"Well…where to start?" Vivian asked to herself as she looked between the three of them.
"The beginning usually helps us out. You know in case we get lost," Three mentioned. Vivian rolled her eyes looking at her coffee cup.
"Well…I guess it starts with…James," she breathed his name roughly.
"Who's James?" Five asked.
"He is my brother…" Vivian breathed uncomfortably. The three watched her curiously as she ran her fingers tightened around her cup. "He was the real heir to the Neptune's Dragon."
"But you're the one with the fortune," Five mentioned.
"Unless something happened to him," Six remarked carefully. Vivian swallowed nodding slowly.
"Is he okay?" Five asked. Vivian shook her head.
"We were under attack," Vivian swallowed. "I was on the ship. I had to convince my father for years that I could fly alongside my brother."
"Daddy not too happy with his daughter going out into the big bad space world?" Three asked.
"He thought I'd be better safely with our family fortunes being the only other sibling. If I stayed at an estate, somewhere of luxury until he found a way to marry me off to another ally."
"Sounds like the life," Three scoffed. "Fortune, mansion, admirers."
"I'd love to disagree with you that's another story entirely," Vivian sighed.
"My brother was running a deal with one of my father's prospects. Turns out it was an ambush…" Vivian swallowed.
Everyone paused staring her down.
"You beat their asses, right?" Three asked. Vivian swallowed. She shook her head.
"I was only 16. I just started training from my brother. I barely knew how to hold a gun in combat," Vivian breathed.
"You were young then…" Six furrowed his brows.
"Then what happened?" Five asked cautiously. Vivian's hands gripped onto the coffee cup, her knuckles turning white. She closed her eyes. The others could see her shaking a bit.
"When the ship was ambushed, they found me. They held me for ransom since I was the daughter of a high ranked family. A damsel in distress," Vivian stated evenly. "I didn't come out of it unscathed.
"Neither did my brother," Vivian breathed. "He and my father did a rescue mission. But while my father was down on the planet to save me. My brother died saving the ship. My father changed that day…he tried to make sure every mercenary wasn't alive after that. As unsuccessful as that was."
"Oh my God," Five breathed. Vivian rubbed her wrists uncomfortably.
"Now here I am," Vivian's smile forced. "My father trained me to fight, I became the heiress of a huge pirate fortune and I had a lot of political backlash."
"Why?"
"Because I was a woman. But my father was too old to raise another child by then. It was either break tradition and start a new one or lose what we built up for generations," Vivian took a sip of her coffee. "My father loves breaking the rules when it's necessary."
There was a silence.
"I so sorry…" Five breathed.
"Don't be…" Vivian looked over at her.
"But your brother…" Five began. Vivian put an arm over her shoulders.
"That was ages ago," Vivian smiled slightly. "If it wasn't for him…for those mercenaries…I wouldn't be the person I am today," Vivian looked between them.
"You said you didn't come out of that unscathed either," Six mentioned. Vivian then bit her lip.
"Six…" Five breathed. Vivian smiled at her patting her shoulder.
"It's fine Five. Why don't you check up on Two? She might need some help with inventory," Vivian suggested, nodding to the door. "I promise the next story for you will be a good one."
"Okay," Five nodded, getting up and leaving the room. Vivian got up to tail after her, closing the mess doors behind her. Leaving Six and Three to look at her oddly.
"I'm sorry…I didn't mean to pry," Six mentioned apologetically. Vivian scoffed putting up a hand.
"It's fine," Vivian breathed, smiling slightly, rubbing her arms. "I…just figured if you want me to answer that question…it would be best if Five wasn't around."
Three furrowed his brows.
"Over what?" Three asked.
"If you want the honest answer of unscathed from the ordeal," Vivian reminded. She sat herself down back at the table. She folded her hands out in front of her. She took a breath, closing her eyes.
"Was it your brother's death?" Six asked carefully.
"No…not until well after," Vivian breathed, eyes still closed. There was silence for a moment until Six swallowed.
"If you're not comfortable-" Six began.
"Let me ask you something," Vivian interrupted. "How old is Five?"
"Figured teenager. 16-17 tops," Six answered, giving her an odd look. "What does that have to do anything?"
She opened her eyes, sudden seriousness loomed over her face.
"Promise me that you will not tell her what I tell you," Vivian looked between them. "Both of you."
Six and Three furrowed their brows in confusion. Three stopped mid-chewing. Vivian sighed.
"Sure. We promise," Six answered for both of them. Vivian swallowed, her hands tightening in front of her as she closed her eyes. She took a breath nodding.
"As…they held me for ransom, they promised me alive...but that was it," Vivian swallowed. Three furrowed his brows.
"What do you mean?" Six asked. Vivian opened her eyes.
"Let's just say I came back with bruises, scrapes, even a concussion," Vivian looked between them. "And you figure out what would make my father want to take down every mercenary that was involved."
Six furrowed his brows. Three straightened up when she moved her hair, there was a scar along her neck. She swallowed as she pulled a bit down her sweater, showing a similar scar along her collarbone.
"Oh my god…" Six breathed. "I'm so sorry…"
Vivian nodded, getting up.
"He was the same man who ordered a shot on my brother when they took over the ship. Well now you know. The ransom, the death and the politics," Vivian breathed. She forced a smile. "I'm sorry if it wasn't the answer you were looking for…"
Three gritted his teeth.
"Only a few people know what really happened," Vivian remarked.
"What about the man who did it to you?" Six asked. "Don't you ever just want to get back at him?"
"I wanted to for a long time. But…it won't take away what happened to me. Or to my brother," Vivian sighed. "Besides, if it wasn't for him, my father wouldn't've ever trained me the way he did. And I wouldn't be the same person I became."
There was silence for a moment.
Vivian looked between then before nodding.
"Thank you for your sympathy," she whispered as she headed out of the room, closing the door behind her.
"Don't mention it," Six answered at the closing door. Three scoffed.
"Son of a bitch…" Three breathed gritting his teeth.
"You can say that again," Six swallowed looking at Three who shook his head in disbelief.
