Chapter 3

The situation was far from envious. Vyse and Kirala stood together in the tight dark alley. The stranger outside still kept his aim at them. The lightposts lit him up well enough. If hateful looks could kill, Vyse would've been dead already.

"It doesn't have to come to this," Vyse said. "I'm sure we can sort this out."

"Unfortunately not," the man answered. "What you have done to me, and many others, can only be repaid in your blood."

"But why?" Vyse answered, trying not to sound scared. "At least tell us why."

Kirala stood behind him. Vyse didn't have to look at her to feel her fear. Her quick breathing, and suppressed moan spoke their clear message.

"Why?" the man repeated. "Because of your meddling. Hadn't you got involved, nothing of all this would come to pass. The war, the destruction. All of it because of you!"

"Now hold on here!" Vyse rebuked. "It was Galcian who called down the rain of destruction. I was the one who tried to stop him!"

"So you say. I lived a prosperous life. You took it all away from me, from all of us. By now, Valua would've been a world empire!"

In lighter terms, this man was a few moonstones short; the ship didn't make it all the way to the harbour. The look in his eyes told that this man wasn't mentally stable. That made the situation even direr. One wrong word and Vyse would have a bullet in his hull. And Kirala wouldn't be better off either.

One small distraction might be enough. But how?

"I'm sorry things took such a bad turn," Vyse said, pretending to play along with the madman. "Can't we solve this, together?" When Vyse said the word 'solve', he poked Kirala in her side. He hoped that she would understand his silent message.

"So speaks the grand hero," the stranger snorted. "You trickster. This time you won't get away!"

In the darkness of the alley, the stranger didn't see Kirala move her hand down to her belt. He didn't notice how she grabbed one of her small black kunais. He was oblivious to the fact that she had raised her hand with the aim clear.

Vyse heard a small 'swish' as the kunai swept past. In the next moment, the stranger took a step back, screaming with pain, and the muzzle of the gun did not point at them anymore.

The Blue Rogue made his move.

Vyse bolted forward while reaching for one of his cutlasses. And then, without losing speed, he pulled the blade and cut up to the right in a swift move. The blade slashed across the man's face up all the way to his hand. A shot burned off in the air. The kunai clattered down to the ground.

In the next moment, Vyse turned around, grabbed the man from behind and put his cutlass at the side of his throat.

"Drop it!" Vyse said. "Now!"

It didn't take many seconds until the handgun fell out of the man's grasp. Vyse directly took the opportunity to kick the gun away. After that, he quietly dropped his cutlass and fell the man. He put his knees in the man's back, up at the shoulders, and held the second cutlass's blade directly against his neck.

At that moment, Kirala darted out of the alley. She immediately picked up the pistol.

"Hah," Vyse said. "That was easy. And next time you go after me, come with more than just a gun. I mean, give yourself a fair chance."

"There won't be a next time," said a new voice.

Vyse looked up and saw Hans standing there. The young engineer carried a rope.

"Hi there," Vyse managed to say. "Care to put that rope to use?"

"That was the whole idea," Hans said.

Together, the small group managed to tie up the still struggling madman. They had just managed to finish the last knots when Urala appeared with two patrolling guards. Previously, such a sight used to be most troublesome for Vyse. Now they were very welcome, not only because they had ditched the old armour which too many people had connected with the old empire.

From what Hans and Urala told the guards, it seemed that this man had previously lived in the Upper City. He had managed to survive the rain of destruction, but the loss of his business and as such fortune was something he couldn't get over. Up until today, he had only been a local trouble, with minor stealing at the worst. This night's events ensured that he would, his pleads in spite, become a new resident in the prison.

He was swiftly led away.

"Things will be safer now that he's gone," Urala said, relieved.

"Yeah," Kirala answered. "That meeting was enough for a whole lifetime. Speaking of that;" Kirala smiled. "has there been any proposal yet?"

Hans and Urala smiled lovingly to each other, and held up their hands. The light from the lightposts made their rings glimmer.

"I was actually on my way to the harbour to get a transport to Yafutoma, when she arrived," Hans said.

"And I almost wondered if you would never ask," Urala said.

After some minutes of congratulations and other stuff, Vyse and Kirala remembered their original errand. Not until now Vyse begun to wonder if it would be fitting to ask Hans and Urala to saddle up in this situation. It wouldn't be just the usual Air Pirate stuff; a whole syndicate needed to be toppled. That didn't sway the young couple, however, and soon Vyse had both an engineer and chef in his service… again.

"By the way," Hans said. "How did the new engine turn out? Was it any good?"

"Good?" Vyse asked. "Well, you see…"

xXx

Finally they were all assembled. It almost felt like old times, when the Delphinus had been full of life and crew. They were really back in business this time.

The tables had been moved together to create one big table with seats for everyone. The Azaela's crew took residence at the left end. Chloe had more than once threw an almost reflexive gaze towards the kitchen, chef as she were. She seemed impressed. Nina sat at the edge of her old shipmates. Probably she didn't want to be far from Vyse. Rodrigo had taken the occasion to meet and greet Kirala and Urala. If he seemed down at the fact that the latter were as good as married, he didn't show it… much. Urala's fiancée had got a more-or-less complete report of the new engine's performance. It was apparent that he and Brabham would have to get back to the old drawing board. He was pleased to hear that Gilder had made it through, sailing with a pro-protoype as he was.

The rest of the crew spread out, although Vyse, Aika, Fina and Esteban kept together. Vyse thought to himself that it felt good to not have his crew in the minority compared to Nicole, though it didn't mean that he didn't trust her.

Everybody had seemed set to get the meeting started, so Vyse decided they would get to the drinks later.

"Alright then," Vyse began, as he stood at the table's head. "As most of you know, we encountered the Crimson Fear earlier. Such things are to be paid back, and that's what we'll do. But maybe not as you think."

The cheers of assent that had started were now exchanged in complete quietness, and then a still murmur. What was this?

"What we're going to do is bring down the ones who hold their leash. Yes, I'm talking about the syndicate."

The murmur stopped at the mention of 'syndicate'. It was apparent several people thought their new captain had gotten a case of severe hubris.

"How are we supposed to do that?" Rodrigo wondered. "No one knows where they are, or who their leader is."

"Maybe not," Vyse said. "But we have both a 'key' and a 'map' to them. Even better, they don't even know that. Esteban, would you like to continue?"

The former mercenary nodded. All the gazes in the room were turned towards him. He had known it would come to this, and he was ready for any reactions he might get. At least the negative ones.

"Before I signed up with Vyse, I was a mercenary," Esteban said. "I did all sorts of odd jobs, and eventually got to do some chores for the syndicate."

Around the table, stifled gasps could be heard. Most people seemed everything from surprised to suspicious. He didn't really blame them.

"For some reason, I don't really know myself, I got to meet the leader on several occasions. I am, at least officially, counted as loyal."

"And that's what we're going to exploit," Vyse said. "but for us who haven't heard about them before, can you tell what sort they are?"

As soon as Vyse had raised the question, Esteban seemed a bit put out.

"Actually, I wasn't told everything about their activities. Basically, they keep the grasp on the underworld and the 'protective'-market. I know for sure, though, that they are the core in Nasrad's drug-dealing."

"How come you don't know more than just that?" Rodrigo asked. "Hadn't you met the leader himself?"

"I was not directly hired," Esteban answered, a small dose of annoyance had infected his voice. "It was more like to-and-from."

"Yet you still got to meet the leader?" Chloe said. "Are you really sure you got the right person there?"

"She's at least high enough to set the Crimson Fear at you," Esteban said. "I heard her give the orders myself."

"Highest leader or not," Nicole began. "It's worth a lot if we can take out even one link of the chain, and make a strike at them will rattle them up."

Aika so wanted to rebuke that it was indeed the highest link, yet she knew it wasn't the brightest of ideas to argue over it. She was more concerned over Esteban. On what he might have to do.

"I know what some of you might think," Vyse said, establishing. "But yes, we can trust Esteban. Even before he signed up with us, he's put his life at stake for us more than once."

"Among that, he went against a crew of Black Pirates to rescue me," Fina said.

In detail, that last part was maybe a bit exaggerated, but true to many points.

And it seemed to have an effect. The looks of suspicion and doubt evaporated away.

"If Vyse trusts him, I do," Nina said.

The rest in the room nodded in agreement. Some less convinced than others, but convinced still.

"I'm glad we're all the same line," Vyse said. "And this is how we're gonna make our move:"

Vyse went through the plan, while Esteban inserted a sentence or two. Aika and Fina sat more or less quiet. If the others knew the two girls a bit better, they would've found it very unusual.

"Sounds great," Nicole said. "It may just work."

"Yes," Vyse said. "And it'll explain why he didn't show up at the right time. That in turn will get us some extra time to prepare. At this hour it's a little late. So for now, Aika and Fina, would you show us what you've been up to?"

The girls stood up and walked away to the kitchen. They swiftly returned with some trays loaded with glasses, jugs and bowls. That signaled the start of the party. Fina and Aika's red drake was magnificent, even with the short time they had got to prepare it. And the cheese and crackers weren't bad either, with three sorts of cheese and two brands of loqua. Plus some sliced garpa-fruit.

It was a glad night.

xXx

A new day dawned in the Valuan Empire. The capital awoke to life. Stores were opened for the day and the market-stands were set up. The first ships arrived to the harbour, and the fishing-fleet set away. The night-guards went off their shifts, and were changed with new, well-rested ones. A new day full with promise.

Vyse's crew weren't sitting idle either. Much needed to be done before the assault on the syndicate. Weapons need to be acquired, and the Delphinus had to be prepared. After breakfast, Vyse had passed out the different chores. He himself would remain behind on the Delphinus. Some of the crew would go and fetch Brabham. Around there Aika started to fear trouble, concerning how their last meeting had played out. She herself didn't have grudges, but Esteban had got in a tangle with the old engineer. The dislike seemed to be mutual.

However, to stay on the Delphinus and put up with Brabham might be much preferable to the alternative. Maybe it was too early, but Esteban would know that best, she concluded.

Aika thus grabbed on to Esteban and asked:

"Me and some others are going to the city to get some gunpowder and so. You want to go with us?"

He had been clearly affected by the question. Both shaken and… anxious? Aika was just about to tell him that he didn't have to, but then he replied:

"Sure. Who others will come?"

A couple of days earlier, Esteban had told her how bad it had felt to visit the capital, even though it had only been a 'short stop'. Now he was willing to set foot in the town itself. A big step forward, indeed.

Together with Chloe, Nina and Paco, they sailed in one of the lifeboats towards the harbour. It was quite a surprise that Nina could so easily leave Vyse's company. Maybe she wanted to get some info about her new captain.

They decided to start with a visit to the shipyard, to see how the Azalea was doing.

While the rest of them seemed to be enjoying themselves, Esteban was more or less shaky. His heart was pounding in heavy beats. True, the Lower City as he knew it didn't exist anymore. It was wrong to feel nervous, which he wasn't, yet still… The city towered up ahead of him like a giant, or the executioner at the old coliseum. Soon he would stand on the same ground where he had grown up, where his little feet had treaded along with his parents. He felt it as…

He then felt Aika twinning her hand into his. She squeezed lightly, and gazed at him. Are you sure? her eyes seemed to say. Esteban nodded back, he already felt better. After a last squeeze, Aika let go. Of all three of them, Esteban felt at best with Aika. Every time he felt down, she was always there. He had been out in the cold for all these years, she was his sun, fireplace and shelter. If she was with him, he could overcome anything.

They made it to the landing-stage, moored the boat and began to walk towards the shipyard.

"I still can't thank him enough for footing the bills for our repairs," Nina said.

"Ah, don't mind that," Aika grinned. "You're with us now. But if you want to repay… how 'boat taking some swabbing-shifts?"

"Oh, no problem. Paco! Saddle up!"

"Always me."

One step behind, Esteban and Chloe walked. They were the quieter part of the group. Esteban didn't mind that much. He was content with being alone with his thoughts. So far, so good. He had expected it all to come crashing down upon him as soon as they set foot in the city, but so far he didn't feel anything. Maybe he had overcome it all.

"Have you been to Valua before?" Chloe suddenly asked.

"Not exactly," Esteban answered. "No, never."

"I was, once," Chloe said. "Some time before I joined Nicole. I only got to see Lower City, though."

Was she tormenting him with intent!? No. Chloe didn't know anything of his past. Esteban clenched his fist, as if to relieve stress.

"For how long have you been with Nicole?" Esteban asked, trying to get away from the subject.

"Over a half-year," Chloe said. "I was working at Polly's place back at Sailor's Island when she came in one day. Apparently, she had need of a chef, and I joined up at once."

"That's where I lived," Esteban said, almost without thinking.

"Really?" Nina said and turned her head. "Just like us!"

Esteban noticed how Aika glanced at him. She knew very well he had told a lie. While it wasn't a white lie, it was an emergency lie, or it felt like it was. He didn't feel ready to announce all of his past just yet.

They reached the shipyard. The Azaela was more or less in its old state, except for a new engine that had been put into the stern. The entire old hull had been had been torn off. Next to the ship, a huge pile of new planks lay, soon to be outfitted onto the ship.

With that taken care of, the group walked away from the harbour to the city itself. Shops of the variety they were out for tended to lay close to the harbours. It should be a short walk. Only problem was that none of them knew where the right shop was.

Aika seemed quite talkative with the new ones. At least she didn't have the trouble of being disliked. Esteban had certainly noticed their gazes yesterday night. On the other hand, no one knew the slightest bit about him anyway. Still, he was fairly used to being disliked.

"Fudge?" he heard Nina say to him.

Esteban looked up from his pondering and saw how Nina held out a small bag with some brown sweets. The others had already been treated.

"Thanks," he answered and took a piece.

Previously, when he had talked to people, it was business only. When he'd taken a stroll in a city, it was because he was heading for a job. When he'd eaten, it was to get nourishment. He'd hardly ever seen sweets before. Slightly icky, but it tasted good, both in mouth and heart.

Nina seemed okay. But maybe mostly because she was so caught up on Vyse. If the situation were different…

He shook his head to erase those thoughts. No need to dwell on that now. He needed to focus on what was to come. And he wasn't all too sure it would succeed.

"See! I told ya it would be here!" Aika said.

"Finally," Paco said. "I feel like I've been sitting on a merry-go-round."

"Well, I didn't hear you showing the way, pip-squeak."

"Sis! She said…"

"You probably deserved it," Nina answered and lightly elbowed her little brother.

They stood in front of a slightly big store. A metal cut-out of cannon hung just above the double-doored entrance. Aika felt the door-knob, found that the door was open and so they walked in.

"So, how much do we need?" Chloe asked.

"Enough for at least one Grand Fortress," Aika said. "Ah, I see what you mean. It ain't gonna be easy to get it all aboard."

"I'll go back and hire a transport-ship," Esteban said.

"Thankies," Aika said. "Now ladies and shorty, time for a shopping-spree!"

Closing the door behind himself, Esteban started to wander back towards the harbour. Just fix the ship, wait for the others, and then he was done with this city. For now, anyway.

Halfway to the harbour, across an alley, he noticed a crowd. They stood gathered around some sort of obelisk. Esteban walked over to them, intuitive knowing what it was.

He came out on a cobblestone plaza. In the centre stood the monument. On it, a sign was engraved, 'In memory of those who perished in the Rain of Destruction'. A couple of people had set out small candles, some had lain down flowers. The crowd was silent and still.

If he didn't have to get that transport, Esteban would've stayed for a couple of minutes. He promised himself, though, to get back when he had the time for it.

Tearing his gaze away from the monument, he set his steps towards the harbour. He hadn't walked long when he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder. He swiftly spun around.

No! Why must this happen to him, why!?