Chapter 12: Eye Of The Storm
Disclaimer: I only own the OCs and –plot- of this fic, the Gundam characters belong to Sunrise and Bandai, who are, frankly, my heroes! I've been reading my pirate stories so's this'll be a good 'un, fer sure!
'Twas a grim and dismal group what beheld Shinn and Kira's comin' down to join them at the tavern. All expressed their concern and allowed that this has been happenin' way too much lately, and that Shinn must have been cursed or somethin' ('cause Cagalli protested mightily after some o' the boys suggested it was the girls what was bringin' the bad luck and all, old sailor superstitions and what not).
"Aye, 'tis a sad thing, but not to be helped. At least we can all stay t'gether now since the storm is a-ragin' outside." Kira told them.
"Oh and how blessed are we to be in a nice warm tavern and not out in the storm itself, battlin' the mighty waters and Poseidon 'imself!" Mwu said and there was a cheer.
"Poseidon nothin', I didn't sneak on ye ship just t' be stuck on this island for the rest o' me days!" Cagalli said grumpily.
"Nay sister, ye didn't, but for sneakin' about and such this is your punishment then!" Kira told her and she punched him lightly in the arm.
"Oh dear, are you sure we're safe in here? It sounds pretty awful out there." Lacus said looking worriedly at the door.
"The safest! This island's been through many a storm and Destiny's Treasure ain't never been brought down!" Luna told them as she handed them all some ale.
"See Lacus? Ain't nothin' t' worry 'bout. Drink up now lass!" Cagalli said and threw down her ale before demanding another.
"Aye; might as well drink and be merry now, since we're most likely to leave t'morrow. Who knows where Rau might be." Kira said. Although he tried to remain calm and in high spirits, some of the crew knew he was concerned and wanting to get as far away from the Hated Man as possible.
Shinn sat next to him, quiet, but a few nudges and jokes from Cagalli got his spirits up high enough for him to join in the fun with the others.
"Yo, ho, ho and a bottle o' rum!" the crew sang and sloshed their drinks all around.
Nicol and Milly were at another table talking and laughing sometimes, while Lacus was on the other side of Kira and holding his hand underneath the table. She seemed to be enjoying the rowdy and ill-mannered group (although they did mean well) enough as not to be uncomfortable.
"Hey, has any o' yiz thought to ask around an' see if'n they heard o' Rau and his lot? Yzak asked suddenly. Everyone shook their heads no, and Kira had a bad feeling about throwing Rey out into the ocean.
"Mebbe when the storm's over we can ask about, but right now all I wants is some drink and merriment!" Cagalli said loudly.
"Right away, Miss Swashbuckling Piratess!" Dearka said and the others roared with laughter.
"Alright, alright ye sods! Ye be thankful I ain't put a scabbard into ye hearts by now lads, as one hasn't been in me hands as of late." She threatened, but lightly.
"What a relief!" Dearka said and made to wipe the "sweat" off his brow. Mwu joined with the teasing and added, "And that would be diff'rent how, milady?" Another roar of laughter filled the tavern.
"You watch it Floga, or I'll lash ye t' the board and whip ye with the Cat (1) meself, I will!" she growled.
"Ah, ye shan't do a thing, Kira's the Cap'n, anyways, and what thinks ye that he would let you flog me eh?" Mwu replied, pointing his finger at her from across the table. They were on opposite sides of the wooden thing and were leaning over it to make threats at each other.
""Cause he's me brother, and don't he do me favors every now an' then just 'cause?" she pointed out (by the way, if any of you are having a problem understanding what they're saying just ask me because I'm getting the language out of a book based on events in the 1800s and people that didn't talk so right, to be in character and all, you know…).
"Wot? No, he wouldn', would ye, Cap'n?" Mwu asked and looked uncertainly at Kira.
The brunette smirked slightly and shrugged. "Maybe, if'n you don't behave yerself and make me resort to that, I'd be glad t' hand the Cat over t' me sis, I would." He said.
The crew laughed at the face Mwu made, all horrified and stunned. But all the banter was in good fun, so after a while they were back to drinking and telling tale tales and jokes and the like.
"We're nearin' the island, sir, but I think they'll rec-og-nize us and warn Kira, and then all'd be lost." Rey said.
"Nonsense, no one is out in this storm. Besides, I think it would be quite nice for them to see us comin' in to take them away for good and ever. Like seeing Death itself come at ye, like." Rau said with a sneer.
"Oh Rau please! Can't we stop somewhere!? This storm is bound to be my death if I don't find a nice, large mansion with a warm fireplace and young girls to be my maids!" Yuuna cried out as he stumbled along on the deck, falling over and being sent flailing about with the rocking of the ship.
"Didn't I tell ya to stay down below!? Now quit yer complainin' and get down there!" Rau bellowed.
"But I keep hitting the walls and stuff keeps falling and why can't we just stop and rest somewhere I'm tired and hungry and wish I never went with you! I should have just stayed at my large mansion and warm fireplace and waited for you to bring my Cagalli back to me!" the man howled and latched onto Rau's clothing to steady himself.
"For Pete's sake get a hold of yourself man!" he roared. Yuuna shivered and whimpered beside him. Rey rolled his eyes and shook his head, looking as if a storm wasn't raging above their heads and all was fine…except for the fact that he didn't have Shinn beside him.
'Shinn, you will be my mate! I know I can make you like me; ye just didn't want the others to know 'bout us, right? That's why ye kept tryin' t' push me away. I see now, you didn't want him to know, well, he'll be dead soon and then ye can show me how ye really feel about me…oh yes, what a night that'll be…Shinn…you will be mine.' The boy thought and smirked, looking at the island and imagining some things about their reunion I shan't put here (Yay now you can imagine too!...just kidding).
Rau continued yelling with Yuuna until he finally got him to go back down below, but not before he staggered and managed to bust himself up even more, all the while muttering "Bloody pirates, bloody storm, bloody Rau and bloody Cagalli! Why did she have to get out of my clutches? Why couldn't she just stay put and marry me? Why did I even agree to go on this bloody thing to go after her when I could be at home right now waiting for her to arrive? Bloody hell…" (2)
Rau sighed and shook his head, going over to where his son was and leaning against the railing.
"There's no wonder why the girl left 'im, but technically they was engaged so to leave with pirates only means two things: 1) they kidnapped her, which would be the likely thing to put before the Court, and 2) she was tryin' to get out o' the marriage, which isn't moral and right, like. Women are to stay put at home and tend to the babies and the house, not runnin' off with pirates, be it brothers or not." He said.
"I wish Shinn was a girl, this would have all been so easier." Rey replied.
"Aye lad, but he ain't. At least ye got his father mostly on yer side. Gil don' want 'im runnin' around wit pirates either, 'specially not his brother, who'd fill his head with lies and turn him against him. Yes, 'tis a shame these waters are haunted by the likes o' them, thems what steals the girls and the men for their sport an' labor, like, turnin' them all against the Good Law and makin' them all act like animals. 'Tis a mighty shame." Rau declared.
"What will Durandal do with Shinn, when we get him back?" Rey asked. "Not sure, mebbe make 'im join the Service, or put 'im to port somewhere's so's he can keep an eye on 'im. But I think he'd give 'im to ye either way so don' you worry much 'bout that lad." He said and roughed up his hair.
The blonde frowned and tried to fix the mess while Rau smiled at him, and eh smiled back.
Gilbert Durandal was leaning against the side of the cabin, listening to everything, and smirked to himself.
"Everyone run! Take yer women and stash yer loot! The Law is comin', and he's a-comin' fast!" a man shouted as he burst through the door of the tavern.
The laughter stopped abruptly for the crew of the Dread Pirate Ship Freedom as they all froze and turned to the man in shock and horror.
"Wot!?" Kira asked and stood.
"It's the S.S. Voltaire! I dunno how he found out but he's a-comin' straight fer the island! I suggest ye all high tail it outta here afore things get bloody! "Cause I hears he's a-comin' for you!" the man said and pointed at Kira.
"He's the one what brought 'im here! He was a-runnin' from him and led 'im straight fer the island! I say we give 'im to the bloke!" a burly man growled as he rounded on Kira.
"I didn't lead him here! I left before he even got to ORB! There must be a spy or somethin' on the ship, or…" Kira cut off from defending himself as he stared out of the door and into the water with horror. 'Or they found Rey and he told 'im where t' find us…I shoulda just killed, I shoulda…I…I…' he thought as he stood there.
"Listen up you scallywags! Kira didn't lead Rau here so sod off or I'll have ye kicked off the island fer good and ye can go wit Rau and hang in the gallows ye good-fer-nothin' bloke!" Luna roared, pistols in her hands as she and her sister were decked out in all their Pirate-finery.
Kira nodded to her and she nodded back and his crew all scampered up the stairs to get their stuff out of their rooms.
Shinn still sat, stunned, and Kira grabbed him and also went to get their stuff.
"Oh no, what's gonna happen when they catch us Kira? We was lookin' so good we were, I thought we was safe for sure! Are they really gonna kill us? What if me dad is there? Oh Kira! I don' want them to kill ye!" Shinn yelled and clung to him.
"Shinn! This is no time for bein' a baby! You're a man now, suck it up! Ye can't be all bawlin' and givin' up hope! Ye got to fight and fight for yer life! Here, take this sword, just take it! And take these pistols, they're already loaded and here's some more bullets for ya. Use 'im Shinn, your life just might depend on it! I don' want you t' worry about me, just get yourself and the others out of this! Don' wait for me or worry or do nothin' stupid! Athrun'll kill ye himself if ye do! Now go!" Kira shouted and shoved Shinn out of the door after he was done.
The boy hesitated before putting on a cold mask of anger and running down the stairs.
The whole crew was decked out with pistols and swords and daggers, even Cagalli who managed to snag a few from the others. Lacus was given a sword and dagger and told to just thrust it into anyone who got in her way or tried to hurt her, to which she nodded slowly in a mortified way, holding the things as if they were live eels about to shock her to death.
Athrun lead them out the back-way as Luna, Meyrin, Milly and the rest of the crew at the tavern took their positions to defend their island.
When they got outside there was a huge commotion of pirates and merchants alike running around carrying chests and bags or pistols and swords, some headed for their ships, others simply headed for the other side of the island.
'-Darn-! And our ship is right in front o' the sods! Oh well, I knew this day would come, I was just hopin' it wouldn' come this soon.' Athrun thought. "Come on! Fight any who get in your way an' don' get taken! Mwu, Dearka, guard Shinn as best ye can! Yzak, Nicol, get the girls to the ship safely! If Kira don' come after we're all on board we leave 'im! He can take care o' himself and would rather him be taken and not us! Now go!" he ordered.
Shinn looked back one last time at the tavern and saw Kira come running out all decked out and running for the ship. He smiled but was pulled by Dearka and started running as well.
"Looks like they're running right toward us, they made a bad move by putting their ship in the harbor at the front o' the island. Oh well, easier for us, I say." Rau said with his eyeglass poised on the pirates running about the island.
"There's Shinn father!" Rey said and pointed out the raven-haired boy. Rey himself was also decked out, swords, daggers, pistols, and rope…
"I see him; just don't get yourself killed when takin' 'im. Looks like Dearka an' Mwu are guardin' him. And there's Kira, right behind them." Rau replied with a greedy grin.
They were getting closer and closer, and pirates were departing in their ships from left to right, but Rau didn't care about them much. A large fleet of ships were abut a day behind them and would catch all the pirates who were fleeing now.
He just wanted Kira and his crew.
"They're getting closer! Come on, hurry! If we can at least make it to sea we'll still have a chance! Once you're on board start loading the cannons and have them ready to blast them apart!" Kira yelled and the order was repeated until everyone knew what to do.
Athrun was the first one aboard and ran to the gunpowder room to get the powder, shot, and balls. Cagalli and Yzak were next and began stuffing the cannons and getting them ready.
"Blast it! They're gonna get away if we just sit here! Blast the island to bits! As long as you don't hit Kira, Cagalli, or Shinn! Keep the siblings alive! Use your guns if ye have to!" Rau ordered and his own men began readying the cannons.
Nicol and Lacus were almost to the ship when a blast sent them flying back. Lacus was knocked out but Nicol was still conscious. He tried to pick up Lacus but had to sheath a pistol to do so.
A shot in the chest brought him to his knees, he cried out and fell, dropping Lacus and putting a hand over the bleeding wound.
"Nicol!" Dearka, Mwu, Shinn, and Kira all cried out when they saw. Athrun turned and gasped, but he ordered the others to keep loading the cannons and shoot at the Voltaire.
'Poor Nicol, I hope he'll be okay, although that shot looked to be pretty close to his heart, I hope Kira can get him to the ship before it's too late.' Cagalli thought.
Now Lacus and Nicol were both out. Dearka scooped Lacus up in his arms and ran towards the ship, avoiding gun and cannon fire as best he could.
Mwu and Shinn helped Nicol up and half-dragged, half-carried him toward the ship as Kira raced ahead, shooting at the oncoming ship with his pistol.
"Fire!" Athrun ordered and Cagalli's cannon shot out toward the Voltaire and smashed into the bow, breaking the women sculpture that was usual for ships.
"Wot!? Blast back at them! Don't let them leave this island!" Rau hissed and another cannon was fired.
This one hit the Freedom in her side, leaving a large gaping hole.
"No! We'll take on water if we try to leave now! Yzak! Dearka! Go down below and patch up that hole the best you can!" Athrun ordered.
He saw Mwu and Shinn helping Nicol and also saw Kira running towards him and shooting at the other ship.
"Fire!" he ordered again and Cagalli lit Yzak's cannon and it blasted a whole in the other ship's side.
"Yes!" Cagalli said and went to load another cannon. A shot in her leg made her stumble and fall.
"Cagalli!" Athrun yelled.
"Athrun! Go man a cannon and make sure Cagalli's okay!" Kira ordered as soon as he stepped onto the gangplank.
"Yes sir!" Athrun said and ran over to Cagalli. He helped her up and she limped to get more powder as he loaded the cannon she was going to and then fired at Rau again at Kira's order.
This shot barely missed, but the one that the Voltaire shot out hit its mark; another hole right next to the hole on the side. Yzak and Dearka groaned and continued trying to patch up both holes now as quickly as they could.
Kira growled and glared hatefully at Rau who stood smirking at him.
He took out his gun and they both fired.
"Kira!"
-Author's Note: I think I'll leave it here. How do you like it? Much better than all the other chapters, for sure, right!? Please tell me what you think and also
(1) The "Cat" that they're referring to is actually a whip used in those days to punish misbehaving seamen or enemies. It is called the Cat-o-Nine Tails because of its gruesome and painful leather cords that hang, often with bits of shell or rock that tear at the skin. The most painful flogging punishment.
(2) If you can tell me how many times Yuuna says "Bloody" I'll dedicate the next chapter to you! Peace out!-