A/N: Thanks go out to Selene Sokal and his fic, By Steel and Starlight, which helped inspire this work. If you haven't read it go give a look. It is really good.
Chapter One: The Dread Pirate Raven
On board Muninn. Wild Space
To say that the Heir Apparent of the Protectorate of Atlas, Weiss Schnee; Lady-Marshal of the March of Mantle, Countess of the planet of Mantle and The Shield of Atlas, was in an uncomfortable position, was to make the grossest of understatements.
Her prison cell in the brig was dark and cramped. It barely had enough room for even her, as short as she was, to stretch out with even a modicum of comfort. The only light Weiss was afforded was when the door opened, where it would shine through, just ever so briefly, as her 'generous' hosts delivered to Weiss her daily bread and water. This was usually some sort of recyke nutrient paste formed into a stiff brick bar and water tinged with the taste of copper from the treatment filters on board. This was also the only human contact she was afforded.
Not that she particularly cared for her guard.
The guard her captors had chosen, or maybe who had volunteered; Weiss wasn't exactly sure, was a spiteful and arrogant woman. Her hair was shaved close to her head, tattoos and kill-markings ran up her bare arms. Some of which, Weiss noted dejectedly, were fresh and still raw. No doubt to mark out some of her unfortunate crew.
"Awww what's the matter, Captain?" The woman smirked, faux concern dripping from her mouth like poison. "Your quarters not to your liking? I assure you it is the best that we can offer you, Milady."
Weiss said nothing, she wouldn't give a pirate wretch like this the satisfaction.
"Not talkin' eh? Ah well." The smirk, if it was possible, grew wider as she held out a tin plate. "Brought you breakfast… nice steaming pile of recyke…"
The plate fell from her fingers, crashing to the floor with a wet splat and clang of tin on armoured plating.
"Damn. Sorry about that, just clumsy I guess," she clucked her tongue, "Well… that's all you get until dinner."
Weiss shrugged and turned away, pulling her tattered officer's coat around her like a blanket.
The woman outside her cage snorted. "You know… you could end this. All you have to do is tell us who you are. Which House you belong to, Atlassian. You're worth a few creds. Might as well tell us…"
Weiss knew better than that. If she did, her crew was dead. These pirates needed them alive for the time being. If only just to question them. Once they found out that Weiss was Heir Apparent of the Protectorate, the crew would lose all value and just be a waste of resources. Better off dead then consuming valuable calories and drinking water.
She leaned in closer, face obscured by shadows, the light behind her giving her a faint artificial glow. Her tone changed from mocking, to cruel and cold. "Then we could stop asking your crew. They've been really unhelpful as well, and let's face it, your nobleness… they aren't worth it. So what do we care if one, or two, or a dozen decided to go for a cold walk?"
Weiss leapt at her, crashing against the bars straining to wrap her fingers around the other woman's throat.
The guard barely reacted, a thin cruel smile spreading on her lips.
"Touched a nerve I see. Well… like I said, just tell us who you are. Do that and I will personally see that no more of your crew decide to eat vac."
"I'm going to kill you," Weiss hissed, her voice as frozen as the vast ice fields of Atlas.
The woman grinned as she stood up and turned on her heel, leaving Weiss once again in the solitude and darkness of her small prison cage.
Leaving her to her despair, anger, hatred and the constant repeat of the attack replaying in her mind's eye.
The attack had been unfathomably swift and terrifying in its brutal execution.
It was Weiss's first command, fresh from the private tutors, career officers and other nobles hired to instruct her and mold her into the picture of a perfect Atlassian. To celebrate, she had been given command of the frigate Tundra March and a patrol to the frontier of Atlas space.
In reality, her command, her tour, was little more than propaganda. A display to the common people that the House of Schnee was the ruling House. It was a display of family duty to other Houses of the Noble Officer class, that Jaques Schnee was still Lord-Protector of the Protectorate of Atlas and his family would share in that duty.
The patrol was slated to take three months and cover the most stable and uninteresting part of the Protectorate of Atlas's Frontier. It was to be done in the utmost secrecy. Only her Executive Officer had been informed of who she actually was, with the rest of the crew not told anything of who their Commanding Officer was, until well after Tundra March's departure from port. Even then it was just rumors amongst the common voidsmen.
Not that the secrecy had ultimately mattered much.
Two weeks into the dull, uninteresting patrol, in an uninteresting dead system, a system which only warranted a name simply because it existed, Tundra March struck a mine.
The mine had detonated near the aft of the ship; just before the engine room. The explosion tore a massive hole in Tundra March, knocking her off keel and sending her adrift. Her power fluctuating, two of her engines dead, venting atmosphere and crew into the silent void.
Weiss had only just climbed back to her feet, when, over the cries of the wounded, the calls of damage control and the cacophony of alarms, the sensorius called out two more contacts; both of which had only just been picked up on the barely functioning sensors.
Assault boats filled with boarders - 'ticks' as voidsmen called them.
Weiss had rushed over to the sensor station and saw they had maybe a minute or two at the most before the ticks would latch onto Tundra March. They would cut and peel their way through her armour. Then the boarders would flood into Weiss's ship.
Weiss was already reacting; giving orders to the Atlas Marines to entrench themselves, and prepare to repel the attackers. Her crew were disorganized, fighting a dozen fires which had spread through the decks, while yet more tried to seal off the areas ripped open to the void.
None of that truly mattered.
They were Atlassians.
They were the definition of discipline. The epitome of calm on the line.
They would meet these boarders and they would throw them back into space.
Back out into the cold void.
At least that had been the plan.
Unfortunately, Weiss's plan died stillborn when Tundra March shook as several high-velocity, solid slug railgun rounds, from what could only be another ship's main battery slammed into her. Damage was extensive, fires broke out as armour buckled and several more systems failed. Over the ship-wide comms, Weiss could hear the screams and gunfire as the boarders pushed their way in. No doubt heading to the main power core, or engine room. Or the bridge. The Tundra March shook violently from another round of railgun fire.
If it wasn't for the boarders cutting their way into her ship, Weiss would have been forgiven for thinking that these were shots intended to kill, and not cripple further.
They were done.
They were beaten.
Even if boarders were repelled, Tundra March was utterly crippled. She was a sitting wreck, easy prey for the ship that was now racking them with railgun fire.
To resist was to die.
There would be no honour in dying and achieving nothing.
Weiss did something she never thought she could do. Never thought she would do.
She asked for terms… and surrendered her ship to the Captain of the black ship Muninn- the Dread Pirate Raven; the Scourge of Mistral, the Pirate-Queen of Wild Space, the most infamous pirate to plague the more civilised areas of space, since the Great War
Soon afterwards she was brought on board, separated from her crew and thrown into this cell.
Weiss reached out a hand through her bars, fingers stretched and fumbling at the canteen of water just in reach. She needed to think, she needed to plan.
She would get out of this. Somehow.
Weiss took a deep breath. She was Atlassian. She was a Schnee. It was expected, demanded of her. She had to live up to her family name.
And by the Gods of the Void, Weiss promised herself, she would be so much more than her family name.
Yang winced as she heard the wet, bruising sound of a fist hammering into a gut. The coughing, weak sputter of a man unable to defend himself, as two pairs of burly arms held him up. Tears of pain ran down the man's face as he slumped in his captors' arms; His once pristine white uniform now solid in sweat, mucus and blood.
"Two punches… jus' two is all it takes te make ye more limp than me grandmum?" the interrogator asked in disgust. He turned and looked over to where Raven Branwen stood tall but disinterested in the casual brutality.
Why Raven had asked - in reality had demanded- that Yang come down to witness this was beyond her.
Yang felt her fist tighten in the heavily-padded gloves she always wore now; feeling the scales on her rigid knuckles stretching the fabric and rubbing against the built-in heavy shock-plates. The interrogator had gone back to his work, striking at the man's face, before switching his aim to the kidneys.
"This one ain't worth the effort Cap'in. Might as well send 'im off fer a little walk outside." The man sneered as he turned back towards them.
Raven said nothing and continued to watch. Every now and then, her blood red eyes would slide over to Yang, studying her, gauging her reaction; judging her as Raven always had.
The interrogator shrugged and pulled the man up by his hair. "So… I'm goin te ask' ye again lad… who is ye Cap'in? What 'owse is she from? Jus' up an tell an I'll stop 'ittin' ye. Trust me boy, I can be doin' this all day and night."
The man said nothing, other than groan and mutter small incoherent insults.
Yang had to admit, she admired the boy's courage.
"Is there a point to this, Raven?" Yang finally asked, growing tired of the display. Her tongue running of the tips of her fangs.
"There is," her mother replied, not even bothering to turn and look at her daughter.
Silence once again fell between the two women. The beatings continued unabated at a steady pace. The rhythmic thump of punches wore Yang's already thin patience down more and more.
"What? Other than to show that you get off on punching helpless prisoners?" Yang finally spat back. "If that's all then I'm heading back to my quarters."
"You will do no such thing, Yang. You will stay right there." Raven ordered, finally moving to turn and glare at her, "You need to see this. You need to be a part of this."
Yang glared back, a silent test of wills between the two women. Finally, Yang huffed and leaned back against the wall. Yang knew Raven, she knew there was something coming, something that she knew she wasn't going to be able to avoid.
Better to face it head first, instead of pussy-footing around it. That wasn't her style anyway.
Raven continued to glare at her daughter, which Yang dutifully ignored, before allowing a self-satisfied smile stretch across her lips.
"Vernal," Raven spoke into the communication device woven into her collar. "Bring our esteemed guest to the interrogation chamber. I'm growing tired of these games and believe a demonstration has become more than necessary."
"Right away Raven. We'll be right up," came the crackling reply over the com.
Yang barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Vernal was a sycophant and Raven's little attack-dog.
Gods… She sounds like an arrogant bitch even over the com.
They didn't have long to wait, the door opened and the white-clad officer was aggressively pushed through and into the small room, Vernal following behind with a confident swagger and that familiar arrogant smirk.
Yang only had the briefest glimpse of the Atlassian officer; she hadn't been allowed to be part of the boarding party and had been forced to watch the attack on the frigate from the bridge.
The officer was surprisingly young for someone to be placed in command, her long white hair disheveled, her officer's uniform rumpled and torn in several places. A long scar over her left eye was the only mar on her which Yang could see. It didn't take away from her beauty, it added to it. It gave her a ruggedness, made her seem more human than the image of a porcelain doll that her pale flesh and ice blue eyes gave.
"Well then, so are you still refusing to cooperate with us?" Raven asked as the Atlassian recovered from the push, standing straight and tall despite the restraints around her arms. She glared right into Raven's amused, red eyes, not bothering to respond.
"I will admit, your defiance, while at first amusing, has tried my patience. So I will ask you one last time, Atlassian. Who are you? What is your House?"
The officer said nothing, but continued to stare down the three pirate women, breaking eye contact only to take the briefest glance at her subordinate, who was hanging in the arms of his captors, crying and panting in pain.
Seconds passed as the Officer refused to answer, or break further eye contact; she was daring them to do their worst.
Finally, it was Raven who broke the fragile silence, an almost gentle pulling at her thin lips.
"I admire resilience. Especially in one so young"
Yang couldn't believe the almost serene gentle smile that crossed over Raven's lips. In the two years since she had known her mother, she had never seen Raven give someone a look that bordered on mercy or even kindness.
It put her on edge. Yang knew something wholly unpleasant was being dreamt up in Raven's mind.
There was only one rule with Raven. The strong live, the strong take, the weak die.
"Well," Raven continued, "let's see how long that resolve can last. Yang. Kill him."
The officer let out an involuntary gasp. The captive stiffened, then sagged almost acceptingly into his guards' arms.
"What?" Yang asked turning to her mother with a look of confusion and horror.
"I said kill him." Raven gestured to the man, more of a boy really. "This Noble refuses to cooperate with us. Though I do admire her resolve, it does not come without consequence. Kill him."
Yang stood there silent. Her hands tightened into fists, shaking with rage. She felt the scales on her forehead crease as her temper began to slip from her control.
It was a state of being familiar to Yang, one that flooded her system with adrenaline, one that made her faster, stronger and hit harder than any normal human. Even without her gene-tailoring.
But now… now she needed to be calm. She needed a clear head. She was walking a tightrope, Raven was testing her.
"No." She finally spat, getting her anger under control. "I won't do it."
Raven's grin slowly vanished, her eyes became cold as she regarded her daughter. "No?"
"No." Yang spat again, matching her mother's ruthless stare.
"So you are going to challenge me? Is that it? Take Muninn for your own? Are you strong enough to even dare?" Raven hissed as she drew the short blade at her hip. "Well Yang, are you?"
For the first time in her life, Yang felt herself hesitate. Her mother had pointed her sword at her, challenging her. Raven was daring her to make a move.
Yang could feel her temper spike again.
Vernal's smirk widened. It was clear she had already envisioned the outcome, and was now simply enjoying the show, as she eagerly awaited the prospect of violence.
The Atlassian was quiet, eyes darting between the three other women and the men holding her crewmate.
What was she planning? Yang quickly suppressed the thought. It didn't matter and being distracted, being hesitant would give Raven every opening she would need.
Yang could feel her hand inching towards the holster of Ember Celica at her hip. Her fingers flexed almost eagerly, itching to grip it, itching to draw.
"Remember this, Yang." Raven's voice was cold, frigid, but also tinged with the same excitement flooding through Yang right at that very moment. The excitement of the prospect of a battle for supremacy between the two women. "If you draw, and when you lose, you will lose everything. Not just your life, but your sister's will be forfeit as well."
Yang's hand froze above her pistol's grip. Ice-cold fear quenched the white-hot rage in an instant.
"She has nothing to do with this," Yang hissed, choking down the panic at the thought of her little sister Ruby being hurt.
"Of course she does." Raven smiled grimly; "If she lives, she'll try and take revenge. So what is your choice? Draw and lose everything? Or do as I say? His life, or your's and your sister's?"
Yang hesitated, her own life she was more than willing to risk. It was part of who she was, a thrill seeker, an adventurer. But she wouldn't, she couldn't risk Ruby's. Not after they had just been reunited. Not after they were slowly coming together again.
Yang's hand fell limp and she took in a deep shuddering breath. "Fine. I'll do it."
Yang turned and walked towards the helpless man, watching as he struggled, as bruised and beaten as he was, to hold himself up. To look her in the eye.
Yang barely felt her hand move as she slowly pulled the heavy boarding-pistol from its well-oiled holster. She could feel the heavy weight of the ceramic and steel, as it came free. Slowly she raised and pointed the pistol at the boy's head.
The two stared at each other for several seconds: the condemned and the executioner.
Yang squeezed the trigger. The pistol bucked in her hand as it roared.
The boy's head exploded, splattering apart in a mess of blood, skull fragments, and grey matte,painting the back wall in ghastly portrait.
The pirates let the corpse fall to the floor and laughed as they did. Blood from the headless body pooled quickly and slicked the floor.
Their job was done.
"Well, that's that." Vernal snickered, "Good to see you actually do have some brains in your head, Yang."
Yang turned, wanting to strike at the arrogant woman, but stopped herself.
Now wasn't the time. Not with Raven standing there.
"Vernal, you are no longer our guest's guard, Yang, you will take her place. Now see that Weiss Schnee is seen back to her quarters, we have important guest arriving in the next several cycles, I want to be ready for them."
"Weiss Schnee? The heir to the Protectorate?" Yang whispered.
The officer looked stunned as well.
"You...You know who I am?" The officer, Schnee asked, her already pale face turned even paler if such a thing was at all possible.
"I knew who you were the moment we attacked your ship." Raven replied, "You really think I would risk attacking an Atlassian frigate for some no-name noble?"
"Then what was that about?" Yang asked, barely containing her rage and loathing. Gesturing at the corpse. "Why did I have to kill him, if you already knew?"
Raven regarded her daughter with little more than contempt. " You needed this. A point had to be made. You are soft. Weak. You could have refused. You could have tried to kill me, maybe even succeeded. But you are so attached to that thing that you call a sister that I could use her against you. Now see to the Schnee, that's an order."
With that, Raven pushed past them, Vernal following behind, only pausing briefly to send the two of them that arrogant, sickening smile she was so well known for, before following after her captain like the loyal dog she was.
Leaving Yang alone with the Heir apparent, Weiss Schnee.
Leaving Weiss alone with someone who had just murdered one of her crew.