Emilee's muscles shrieked in agony as she forced her sword into the machine with the weight of her entire body, jamming the system. Gears groaned and gnashed against the metal slowly being brought to a forceful stop. She sunk to her knees in exhaustion as cogwheels and turning mechanisms all around the complex slowed to a resolute halt.

"Core mechanism... Compromised... Cannot..." The speaker crooned from overhead, meeting its end. With a final crank of its wheels, silence fell like mist upon the pirate and her crew. Like knives of ice piercing through her skin, she was brought back to the first two battles. She hadn't had time to think or process since they entered the machine, Kane's glorious prize, and now that everything was still, all she could see was Gazpaccio's horrified face as he was shot and killed by own creation. Toy Maker G was gone forever. And if Emilee couldn't bring Kane down, she would lose everyone else with him.

"We did it! We saved the Spiral!" El Toro cheered, standing with his crew mates behind his captain. Emilee staggered to her feet, pushing down on her sword for support. With sweaty hands, she yanked her weapon from the inanimate machine, broken and disabled.

"You think you've won?" Kane spoke up with thundering malice. The cowardly commander kept to one side of the platform atop a flight of stairs. Emilee turned to face him, sword drawn. "This is only a delay- I can rebuild my machine, that's a trivial matter. But first I must become perfect in El Dorado. Come try to stop me, Pirate! Come to your doom!" The Supreme Commander escaped down the stairs, hurriedly. Echoing through the hollow chambers, the metal steps rattled with his descent.

Her crew, loyal as ever, awaited her orders when the pirate captain faced them, shoulders sinking. Looking into their tired eyes, their fates were laid upon her, a heavy burden. Remembering Gazpaccio, she wondered if she would have to stand by and watch those who had become her friends and her family be slain right before her eyes as she stood by helplessly.

But what caused her to hesitate in a moment of frozen weakness was not the thought of dying alongside her comrades, but of Valencia's destruction and what would be done to the Spiral if they didn't fight Kane; either they would die or the Spiral would. And could they really face such a super power? Could they really win? Even after all the battles they fought, how could she still not know?

As Emilee surveyed her crew, she took note of those among her companions who were injured. The Marchioness was relying upon Egg Shen with an injured leg, leaning against him while the Goose Master met his captain with a delirious gaze. Emmet held an eye as it bled, and his breathing came in quick, shallow breaths. Old Scratch appeared to be missing a few bones as well as the wand he used to perform hoodoo.

Meanwhile, Bonnie Anne and Catbeard had only a few cuts and bruises, and Ratbeard and El Toro appeared untouched. They can't fight Kane if they're too injured, they'll be easy targets, it occurred to her. She gripped her sword tightly, grief and fear coming in short pangs within her chest. But will the strong still fight beside me even if they have to face imminent death?

Taking a deep breath, she set aside her fear and offered up a brave front. "We've come a long way and you've all fought so valiantly through every battle and altercation that has come our way," she finally spoke, raising up her voice. "We're about to face our greatest enemy and the greatest threat the Spiral has ever faced. We are going to save the Spiral and restore Valencia to its former glory, but I only want the fittest among you to join me. I don't want to lose anyone like we lost Gazpaccio. It's too great of a risk."

"Very wise, Captain," Egg Shen agreed. "I cannot face Kane with the state I'm in, it would be an embarrassment to stand before our enemy like this."

"Can you take the injured back to the ship with you?" She asked.

"Yes, Captain," Egg Shen nodded.

"Which of you will be able to fight beside me?" She looked over them again.

"I will, Captain," Bonnie stepped up.

"Ratbeard and I will," El Toro added.

"I'm ready to fight," Catbeard said.

"Let's go, then." Emilee raised her sword. "Onwards to battle!"