Chapter 13: Prisoners
Disclaimer: I only own the –plot-, the characters (except for any OCs) belong to the creators of Gundam Seed/Destiny.
Congrats to Akemi Asuka Hatake for guessing correctly how many times Yuuna said bloody! Also, sorry for the slow update, blame the Evil Torture Building of DOOM! (a.k.a School)
"Kira!"
Shinn stared in horror as both Kira and Rau fired their pistols at each other at the same time. He was frozen in shock, his eyes wide and mouth hanging open.
"Shinn look out!" Athrun yelled and tackled him to the ground as a bullet whizzed past.
That was enough of a wake-up call for him to look up to see Kira dodge Rau's bullet just in time, while Rau got nicked on the shoulder.
The Naval Captain roared and the seething hatred glowing in his eyes strengthened as he spat, "You'll pay for that Yamato! I'LL HAVE YER HEAD YE BLOODY PIRATE!!!"
Kira shot at him again but Rau managed to escape, but more shots were being fired at them.
"Athrun, are we ready t' sail? Have Yzak an' Dearka patched up that hole yet?" he asked his First Mate as he dodged bullets and shot back.
"They're doin' the best they can but I don' think we'll make it Kira, we'll have t' find another way!" Athrun shouted back, loading a cannon.
Kira swore and went to help Cagalli who was struggling, a bullet in her left calf.
"How's Nicol?" Kira asked him again.
"I'm not sure, Mwu put him in the infirmary wit Lacus but he can't do much t' help 'em." Athrun replied, firing another cannon that managed to break the mainmast in two.
"Yes! Take that Rau! Ye won't be comin' after us now ye scurvy dog!" Kira shouted.
"Kira we'll take on too much water an' sink if we try t' sail away now!" Athrun yelled, the storm was close, smashing huge waves against the deck, making them all slip, and the wind was making it hard to see and hear, much less fight. The sky was dark gray; no sun was to be seen. It was cold.
"Well at least that buys us time! How many more cannons do we have?" the captain asked.
"Only about ten! We should've stocked more at ORB before we left!" Athrun answered.
"We didn't have enough money! Wot!? THEY'RE TRYIN' TO BOARD THE SHIP! EVERYONE GET INTO YOUR HAND-TO-HAND BATTLE POSITIONS! THEY'RE TRYIN' TO BOARD THE BLOODY SHIP!" Kira screamed and yanked his sword out of his scabbard.
Cagalli pulled out two pistols and stood beside Athrun who also had a sword and pistol out like his Captain. Mwu came rushing onto the deck, sword in his bloodied hands. Shinn pulled out his swords as his eyes grew dangerously narrow and full of hatred, almost as if he had gone insane…(1)
'There's not enough of us, they'll surely take us! I can't let 'em get Shinn, I can't!' Kira thought angrily.
"Dearka! Yzak! Get yer bloody arses up here now an' defend the ship or I'll kill ye meself!" Kira roared. He was no longer the kind, joking, young Captain of the Freedom; he was a man with fire in his eyes and no time for games, he was intent on either surviving this or going down taking as many soldiers with him as he could-preferably including Rau.
The first soldiers stomped aboard the ship, and Kira realized in horror that there were twenty men to his seven, and that there were more on the Voltaire still firing. It was a lost cause; they were surely to be defeated.
Kira let out a battle cry and slashed open the first man viciously before turning and stabbing another. Even though they were small in number, they knew how to fight and kill accurately with deadly speed.
Athrun took down two more soldiers while Cagalli shot a few more who were scrambling onto the deck. Dearka and Yzak came pounding onto the deck and began taking out soldiers.
"Kill them ye fools! They're bloody pirates! Common farmers what thinks they've got the right t' sail the Seven Seas! Kill 'em!" Rau thundered.
Kira slashed through another soldier before he felt a sting on his shoulder and turned just in time to deflect the blade lunging towards his throat; he parried and stabbed the man in the chest, kicking him into another soldier who came running up.
More soldiers were dispatching from the ship, which meant less cannons were being fired at them. Good, maybe if they could slow them down enough Yzak or Dearka could continue patching up the hole. Kira stood fighting off the soldiers, glancing all around to determine when to give the order.
Shinn was hacking through the soldiers like a wild man in a jungle, every move seemed to leave a man dead and bloodied on the deck. Cagalli was watching their backs and taking soldiers out with her pistols, while the other pirates were fighting off the enemy as best they could, under the circumstances.
"Any other day an' they'd be down in Davy Jones' Locker where they belong! But no, they had t' attack in this bloody storm while we was unprepared like a bunch of bloody cowards!" Mwu shouted as he stabbed two men.
"Quit yer complainin' and kill 'em already will ya!?" Yzak yelled and slashed open a man before hacking another soldier's arm off, leaving him screaming until Athrun decapitated him.
"It looks like their numbers are gettin' fewer! Dearka, when ye have the chance go back down an' try t' patch up the hole!" Kira ordered.
"Aye Cap'n!" Dearka replied and continued fighting off the two men who were attacking him.
Athrun had a cut on his cheek and many small cuts along his arms, legs, and chest; Yzak had a large gash on his leg but otherwise looked fine, Mwu's hands were bloodied from a cut near his wrist and Nicol's blood when he got shot, and a cut on his chest ripped his shirt open. Cagalli had a few scrapes but managed to come out clean, standing near a cannon and firing at all who got too close to her friends. Shinn, however, was completely unscathed…
"AHHHHH!!!" he screamed and sliced a man in two. The man behind him stopped and then turned back, screaming. Shinn yelled again and chased after him, onto the island and straight for the S. S. Voltaire.
"Shinn no! Get back here! They'll capture you! SHINN!" Kira yelled and growled, cursing as he flung himself towards the soldiers, slashing at them as he ran past.
"SHINN! IF'N YE DON' COME BACK NOW I'LL LET 'EM HAVE YOU, YE HEAR!? THEY'LL CAPTURE YOU IF YE DON' GET BACK! WHY THE HELL DO YE HAVE T' BE SO STUBBORN SHINN!" he yelled and shot his pistol at a soldier coming towards Shinn.
The boy either hadn't heard him or was simply ignoring him, because he kept running and screaming, slashing at soldiers coming off the ship.
Rey stood at the side and saw the crazed look in Shinn's eyes; he took a few steps back with a worried look and bumped into Rau. "Father…that look…wot do they call it?" Rey asked him.
Rau turned and glanced at Shinn, who was pushing his way onto the deck; he smirked but then took a closer look at his eyes.
"He's gone…berserk! They call that look the Berserker Look! I didn't know the boy had it in 'im." He said. He glanced at Rey and contemplated making a crude comment, but now was hardly the time for that.
Instead he leaned down and whispered into his son's ear, "Go get Gilbert, if Shinn boards the deck he'll want t' capture 'im."
"But I wanted t' capture 'im!" Rey said through clenched teeth.
"It would go better if'n ye allowed Gilbert that chance, but if he gives you the O.K ye can capture 'im. Just…be careful. He don't seem…right." Rau replied and then went back to firing at the Captain of the enemy ship who was running behind Shinn, fighting off oncoming soldiers.
Rau fired his pistols and hit Kira in the arm; he cried out and clutched his arm, clenching his teeth against the pain. He quickly turned, glancing around for the source and saw Rau smirking at him from the deck. He growled and fired right back, but Rau side-stepped it and only laughed.
"Ye'd be runnin' out o' bullets soon there O Mighty Cap'n!" Rau shouted.
"And so shall ye, Accursed Scourge of the Sea!" Kira spat back, he turned just in time to block a sword, but his right arm was weak and he struggled to push the man back.
"Ha! Gotcha now, pirate!" the soldier growled and pushed harder. Kira clenched his teeth harder and pushed against the sword with all his might, he let out a bloodcurdling scream, pushed the man back, and slashed him across the stomach in the span of one second.
His eyes had the same look as Shinn's.
"Kira! Shinn! Wot the 'ell are ye doin' over there!?" Athrun called.
"Just keep fighting!" Kira called back and began slashing at the soldiers again.
Athrun cursed and loaded another cannon, the soldiers were few enough that Yzak and Mwu could take them out. Cagalli went below to get more bullets.
"Hey Athrun! I think I have the hole patched up 'nuff, but we've taken on a lot of water from this storm! Do ye think we should set sail?" Dearka called up from below.
"Prolly not, but Kira's off cavortin' wit the enemy so I dunno!" Athrun yelled back in anger.
"Wot!?" Dearka called and appeared on the deck next to him. He looked around and saw Kira and Shinn both fighting on the island near the deck of the Voltaire and freaked.
"Wot the Bloody Hell are they doin' over there!?" he shrieked.
"Shut yer gob and keep fightin' Dearka! It might be the last thing ye do on this Godforsaken Earth!" Yzak cursed and slashed open a soldier who was swinging his sword down on him.
"Yes Captain!" Dearka replied and cut a man about to lunge at Yzak's exposed back. The silver-haired man grunted and returned to fighting, but they all knew that it was useless, they weren't going anywhere, or if they did manage to sail out of port, they'd merely sink within view of the small island. It didn't matter that the Voltaire's mainmast was down (meaning they couldn't give chase) the battle was decided the moment Rau blasted that damned hole into the Freedom's side.
All they could do was take out as many of the enemy as they could before eventually dieing. To Davy Jones' Locker it was to be.
Kira finally slashed the last soldier standing in his way between him and Shinn and reached out for the boy's shirt. He caught it and pulled him backwards, receiving a cut on his wrist from Shinn's sword which went flailing about.
"Lemme go! Get off me ye-," Shinn yelled but Kira turned him, a grim line stretched across his face and his eyes icily drilling into his.
"Shinn, get back on the Freedom or I'll kill ye meself, got it?" he said darkly.
"No! I'm goin' t' kill ev'ry last one o' them! Lemme go Kira!" Shinn replied and struggled free.
"No ye ain't, Shinn, ye'll get back on the ship an' not get captured! This was what I didn't want t' happen! Do ye want all our efforts t' go in vain!? Do ye want Mum's death to go in vain!?" Kira shouted.
Shinn winced but still looked determined to fight. Then a strange look came into his blood-red eyes.
"'Tis no use, Kira-kun, we shan't win this one. There's no point t' fightin' no more anyway. W-we…we…we's all gonna die!" he keened and collapsed against Kira's chest, crying. All the fight left him and he was just a little boy again, running from his mean daddy, running from everything and everyone who had ever or would ever hurt him.
Except that they were going to capture him this time, there was nowhere to run anymore.
"Shh, Shinn ye can't know that, just hush. At least we can try. Calm down Shinn, it'll be alright." Kira said in a softer voice.
"Oh no it won't, I dunno why ye lie to the poor boy like that, Kira Yamato, but the fight is over. I've won. Now hand over yer sword or I'll take it from ye, and yer pistol too. No funny business, all of yiz! Throw down yer weapons or yer Cap'n 'ere is dead!" Rau said, and Kira suddenly realized with horror that while he was yelling at Shinn they became surrounded by Naval Officer's, all pointing pistols and swords at them.
Shinn clenched Kira's shirt tighter and tried to stop his tears but they wouldn't stop, no, they just kept comin'.
"The Hell with ye! This fight ain't over 'til ev'ry last one of yiz is dead!" Yzak yelled.
"Yeah, bloody cowards, fight us like men and we'll see who's victor!" Mwu shouted.
"Ye shan't take us alive!" Dearka cried.
"Get those swords away from me brother or I'll kill ev'ry last one o' ye blasted scallywags!" Cagalli yelled, aiming a cannon straight at Rau with fire in her eyes.
"You'll turn yer cannon away from me ship or I'll blast ye brother's head off with me pistol! And along wit the rest o' yiz, ye'll come off yer ship and come on mine so's I can take ye as prisoners and put ye behind bars as ye should be!" Rau yelled.
They were about to shout again when Kira's surprisingly calm voice stated, "Do as he says, there's no point in fightin' now. I don't want none of yiz t' die because o' me."
Shinn looked up fearfully into his brother's eyes who half-smiled and winked. Kira also lifted his eyes (as Rau was gloating about the "easy victory") to meet Athrun's and nodded slightly. It was a signal.
They had Hope yet.
Athrun nodded back and slowly laid down his weapons, he nodded to the others, and although they objected, they reluctantly set aside their pistols and swords. Cagalli was made to step away from the cannon and stood beside Athrun, the heat of her fury radiating out of every fiber of her being.
He nudged her and winked. Kira had a plan. They were going to get out of this as soon as possible. They just had to play their cards right until then. Everything would work out.
At least they hoped.
So the soldiers poked and prodded the two brothers as they were led onto the ship. Athrun took the lead and the others followed, although he told Rau that there was a man wounded and a woman unconscious below the deck and that they shouldn't be harmed since they were merely civilians. Rau nodded and sent a few soldiers who brought Nicol and Lacus onto the ship as well.
Shinn clung to Kira and tried to hide when Gilbert Durandal stepped from the cabin and smirked.
"Well done, Rau le Creuset. I thank you for your fine services. You have returned my son to me." He said, sounding different from the rest of the salty sailors. More proper-like.
Kira got into a defensive stance when Gil approached, glaring at the man with pure hatred. Gilbert continued to smirk.
"And Kira, the infamous Pirate Captain, as famous as his mother. "Tis a shame she's dead, but then again, a pirate's life deserves death anyway. There's hope for you yet, boy. If you change your ways you can work for me, having nothing to do with this pirate business, and your friends can get jobs as well, if they want. Otherwise, it's to the gallows." He offered.
Kira spit at his feet. "I want nothin' to do with ye! I'm not doin' nuthin' wrong and neither is me brother or the rest o' them!" he said.
The man frowned. "Very well. Die then. I don't care. It's Shinn I want." He said and nodded to a couple of men. They rushed in and held Kira down as they grabbed Shinn and thrust him forward. They both tried to fight but it was useless. A soldier punched Kira in the gut and he fell to his knees, Athrun had to hold Cagalli back.
Shinn pulled against the soldier's grip but couldn't get free, Gilbert grabbed him and smiled.
"Hello son, it's been so long. What's wrong? Aren't you glad that you're away from your brother's bad influences? You don't have to lead this life of sin, you can be perfectly happy working for me. Come now, let's get you cleaned up." Gil said and practically dragged the boy across the deck.
Shinn reached out a hand towards his brother and cried out, "Kira!" and Kira could only look in with a sad and defeated expression until he hung his head.
"How can ye do this!? He's just a boy! He's me brother! That man will do him more harm than we will, I can promise ye that!" Cagalli yelled, crying now.
"And why should I care? I have the most famous pirate and his crew as me prisoners. Besides, me own son wants the boy for 'imself, I can't deny him his rights, can I?" Rau said and grinned as Rey smirked. They nodded to each other and Rey followed where Gil and Shinn went.
"Wot!? You're denyin' Shinn's rights t' not only live the way he wants but also t' marry whom he chooses!? I swear I'll rip ye t' shreds if it kills me you rotten scoundrel!" Cagalli spat and thrashed against Athrun's arms, trying desperately to get at Rau who took a few steps back and laughed.
"Ye see that my boys? The little lady says she wants to kill me. Ha! A man oughta put 'er in her place!" he said. "Take 'em down to the brig and lock 'em all up. No food or water, have two guards to each cell and don't let 'em trick ya! Move it!" he barked and they dragged the crew of the Freedom down below to the brig and threw them in some cells.
"I want five of yiz to scout the island and see if ye can find any materials to fix me ship, if there's any carpenters or pirates still lurkin' about being 'em aboard! Shoot any who cause trouble!" he barked again and five men ran down the deck and onto the island.
Rau stood on his deck with his hands on his hips, breathing deep the sweet, sweet air of victory. The storm had calmed; it was over.
And he had won.
-Author's Note: Finally! It took me forever to write this and now it's done! So what do you guys think? If you have any ideas just let me know okay? Any questions or comments can be left in a review as well.
The look in both Shinn and Kira's eyes was basically the look they have when they go into SEED mode, which was kind of what they did. They went "berserk" basically and into SEED mode.
Please review and tell me what you think! ARGH YE MATEYS! FIGHT 'TIL YE AIN'T GOT NO FIGHT LEFT!-