A/N: No, I didn't forget about this. Just took a little break.

-----------------------

Chapter 17-Out for Revenge

Coughing and gasping for air, a distressed figure lay on the stone cold floor. As the dust settled, Kaller regained some of his visibility. As he felt the pain course through his body, he flashed back on just how he had survived that encounter. He recalled Koujin's speech. Koujin was too self-absorbed in himself to realize his prisoner, who was secretly heating the metal clasps around his hands with his wand. When they were sufficiently heated, all Kaller had done was broke through them while he distracted Koujin with the Essence Emerald. However, Kaller failed to escape completely in time before the spiked ball smashed the board to bits. It had glanced off him, striking his right side before smashing the board, leaving him motionless on the ground.

Now Kaller lay face-down on the floor, coughing out the blood that was filling his mouth and throat. He rolled over and examined his wounds. His left side was completely unharmed, however, his right had a few deep gashes in them, as well as a few bruises from where the steel ball itself had connected. The biggest and most serious injury of them all was a puncture that completely cut through his lower fin, and Kaller knew he would have to seek medical help soon. Still, he was alive, if only temporarily, and that alone was something to celebrate. However, the Essence Emerald was now in Koujin's grasp. Or was it? The captain let out a small laugh as he reached behind himself and pulled the weapon out from the bloodstained satchel on his back. He smiled as he fingered it. He remembered having one of his men forging a duplicate for him from ordinary glass, in the case of just such an event. He chuckled again at his own ingenuity.

Kaller noticed, for the first time, a window located on the back wall of the room. It was more of a hole, actually, and looked just big enough for Kaller to fit through. He scanned the room for something he could use to reach it. As he eyed the now-still wrecking ball, he saw the splinters of wood from the crushed board on the floor. A few big chunks still remained and Kaller figured that was all he'd need to get out. Handling the boards with one fin proved difficult, but soon Kaller's patience was rewarded as he set the final large piece in place. Carefully, he stepped on the pile, almost able to grasp the window's lip. Without a second thought, he jumped and grabbed it, knocking over his stack in the process. Hanging by one hand, Kaller forced his body up, over, and out the window, where he lay on the ground, panting and looking at his damaged fin.

Kaller's next task was to figure out how to get away from here, back to his crew, wherever they were. He scanned his surroundings. The only thing of interest was the huge stone castle in which he had been a prisoner. As he circled the perimeter, he noticed a small town not too far from it. A small stretch of water separated it and the castle on the island. Kaller knew he couldn't get his fin wet, especially with salt water, but his only choice was to swim. The dripping blood from his fin, coupled with a sudden feeling of lightheadedness told Kaller that he had to seek medical attention right away. He would have to swallow his pride and ask for help. Half-reluctantly, he slipped into the water, keeping his fin above. He swam toward the shore, grunting against the splash of the waves. He had almost reached the shore when a particularly big wave took over and dipped him underwater to the shore. Pain coursed through Kaller's body yet again as the sea water mixed with blood from his wound. He didn't have time to think about that now as he ran through the town, trying to find some kind of assistance. Finally, a Toad came out of one building adorned with a red heart on his chest.

"Are you lost?" he inquired.

"Please." begged Kaller. "Do you know where a hospital is?" he showed the toad his fin.

"Oh, my." said the Toad. "You've certainly come to the right place. Come, we must act quickly." The Toad's voice was beginning to take on a sense of urgency.

As Kaller was rushed inside the building he could see the building's distinct hospital feel. Different rooms held different patients, and Kaller felt almost sorry for them. Some were fighting for their lives, and it quickly came to his realization that he soon, could be too. Hoever, these thoughts were cut short as Kaller felt a needle poke into his arm, and felt himself drifting into unconsciousness.

----------------------

"Hello?"

Silence.

"Are you there?"

Silence.

"CAPTAIN, WAKE UP, MAN!"

"Agh, who? what?" Kaller woke with a start. He looked down into the eyes of his crewmates. He breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, hello men. How did you all find me?"

"Don't worry, captain." One of the sharks said. "We smelled your blood and we just want to know what happened."

Kaller sighed and looked at his fin, which had been wrapped up in bandages. Little had been done for his other injuries however. "I will tell you about it later. Right now we must worry about getting the last two pieces of the treasure!"

Shouts of concern were heard among his crew. "What?" "No, captain you can't!" "You have to rest!"

"No. You don't understand." Kaller's comment hushed the group. "Someone else is hunting the treasure as well, and if he suceeds, I fear that Plit will face a more horrible fate than if I had the treasure." Kaller cleared his throat. "Gentlemen, and I use the term loosely, I have an announcement. I have decided to turn over a new leaf. Go straight, if you will. No more stealing, no more unjust behavior."

More shouts of disapproval. "Are you kidding?" "What is wrong with you, captain?" "That's not fair!" "No more battles?"

"Silence! I am still the captain, injured or not, and what I say, goes. However, don't despair, there is one last chance for you and I to do everything we love. The person who injured me obviously isn't taking it very lightly. We will seek him out and kill him, so that whatever he's planning may never come to surface. I am most certainly seeking revenge, and the more I think about it, the angrier I become. This is the last time, so make it count, especially since I have a grudge against this one. Are we all clear on that?"

His crew looked at each other, and gave a unanimous salute. "Yes, sir!" was the collective cry.

"Good." Said Kaller, and he regained the evil glint in his eye. "Koujin had better watch his back."