Chapter 4: The Ship
CHINA, LIAN YU - CAVE: 8 DEC 2012
Slade took Mei to one of his fallback points. The strange men who had attacked the mercenaries' camp were new to Slade. They were new to the mercenaries too. They had taken several of them captive with Oliver. He had been all over this island twice while collecting intelligence on the mercenaries. The only thing that he could think of was that they were a new player that had come by sea.
Slade wasn't being paid to depopulate this island. Now that Fyers was dead, he didn't need to stick around. He could take Mei back to civilization. Fyers had communications equipment in his camp. Slade had seen it before the new player showed up. It would be easy for him to call in for pick-up now. They both armed up at the fallback point.
"Alright, I just need to get my hands on the communications equipment at Fyers camp and we are heading home," Slade told Mei.
"Not yet," Mei told him with a stubborn look. "We must go after Oliver. Those men took him."
Slade sighed. "Look, I like the kid, but…" Slade started.
"We go after Oliver," Mei insisted. "My father was helping him. Oliver risked much to help my father in return. We will go after Oliver."
"Damn it," Slade swore. "We'll look. If we can help, we will… but it's not our fight," he told her.
"Sometimes you choose your fight, Slade," Mei said sagely. "Other times, the fight chooses you."
"Crap," Slade said. "Fine. I'll take you to an overlook near the camp. I used it to get intel on the mercenaries." He raised a finger at her. "But no promises."
"I accept," Mei said with a smile.
They started to march back toward the location of the mercenaries' camp. They had walked a few miles when a strange woman stepped out of the trees in front of them. Slade immediately went on guard. He had not heard the woman approach at all. His senses allowed him to notice people in the surrounding area. Usually, long before he could see them. This woman had been invisible to him.
"I am looking for Gulong Yao Fei," the regal woman stated to the two of them.
Mei pulled herself up proudly. "I am afraid that you cannot use my father any longer. An evil man named Fyers killed him earlier today," she said with dignity in her grief.
The woman narrowed her eyes. Slade could feel the anger coming off the woman.
"Where can I find this Fyers? I must take my revenge on him," the woman said coldly.
At this, Mei smiled. "You are, again, too late. Oliver killed Fyers earlier this day. Fyers' missile killed most of his men. Slade assisted in removing his men from this Earth," Mei replied with a small gesture at Slade.
"Glad to be of service. You and the kid needed the help… mostly," Slade replied.
"You were of great assistance. Without your distraction, Oliver and I could not have redirected the missile," Mei replied.
"Then I am doubly sorry since my arrival was too late to assist," the woman said in quiet contemplation. "I am Talia. Yao Fei was a student of mine."
Slade suddenly turned to face the forest. He could hear faint footfalls. Soft. He was on alert for an attack. Talia mirrored him and took an immediate defensive posture. She may not have his senses, but she trusted his instincts.
Slowly, another woman stepped into the clearing. She moved slowly to not alarm them further. Talia immediately noted that the other woman was her younger sister, Nyssa. Nyssa was wearing heavy fighting armor with her custom veil. Her shoulder guard was crimson with purple piping. She was the leader of the Demon's Fang.
Talia sighed. Father still has not chosen an Heir. Talia had left the League when her sister had completed her training with the Demon's Venom. This allowed Nyssa to replace Talia as the leader of the Demon's Fang. To hold the place for her father's chosen heir.
"Sister," Talia greeted Nyssa. "You look well."
"As do you, Sister," Nyssa replied cordially.
Slade had already pegged Talia as a dangerous woman. She had deadly vibes. Her sister appeared to have the same dangerous vibes. She was wearing some serious armor.
"Might I ask what brings you to this island, Sister?" Nyssa asked. The Demon's Fang had been tracking a vile slaver ship. A ship that had left many dead behind it. The few living that the Demon's Fang had found were all near death. They told of a vile scientist and his cruel experiments. The only reason they had not caught up to this vile ship yet was that it was so mobile.
"You may," Talia replied. "I was searching for a former student of mine. These have helped him. I planned to return them to civilized shores."
Nyssa gave Talia a slight nod. "Then they are not who we are seeking," Nyssa replied tightly.
Mei let out a breath of relief. "Who are you seeking?" Mei asked.
Nyssa smiled at Mei, all pointed teeth. "The ones we seek prefer to do evil from a ship," Nyssa replied.
Mei gave a sudden gasp. "Oliver is on that ship. At least, we think it's a ship," Mei said. She had sudden hope. They could defeat the men on the ship with the help of this woman.
"Then he will be dealt with," Nyssa said with coldness.
"You misunderstand," Mei said in fright. "Oliver was taken prisoner. Slade and I were going to figure out how to free him." Mei gestured to Slade.
"How do you know this man if he is a prisoner on the ship?" Nyssa asked skeptically.
"We were not sure there was a ship," Slade replied. "Just that there were men on the island that neither of us had seen before. We figured that they had come to the island by ship. These men just captured the Kid today," Slade said. "We escaped them, but Oliver didn't see them. He was caught. The kid didn't even have his bow on him. I know I trained him better than that."
Mei looked at Nyssa. "He was with us when we defeated the mercenaries," she told her.
"Very well," Nyssa replied. She turned to Talia. "Once the evil on the ship is dealt with, I will ensure the prisoners have the means to return to civilized shores."
"Thank you, Sister," Talia replied. "I would only ask for a small boon."
"I will grant it, if I can," Nyssa replied.
"Thank you. Can you see that Oliver is returned to civilized shores personally?" Talia asked. "I owe him a debt for aiding my student."
"I believe that I can fulfill this boon, Sister," Nyssa replied.
"Good. Then we will leave you to fulfill your duties. Goodbye, sister," Talia said with thanks.
"Goodbye, Sister," Nyssa said and then melted into the darkness.
Talia turned her attention back fully on Slade and Mei. "Come. I have a boat," she told them.
"But…" Mei said hesitantly. "Oliver? The ship?" she asked, still unsure what exactly she was asking. She didn't like the idea of leaving Oliver behind with those men.
Talia smiled at her for caring about Oliver. "My sister will ensure that the ship is stopped and that all the prisoners are freed and returned to civilized shores. She and her people are more than adequate for this task." She nodded to Mei. "She will also personally ensure that Oliver is returned to civilized shores."
Mei yelped. "She had people?" she asked fearfully.
Slade nodded. "I heard at least four. Maybe more. They were very stealthy," he praised them.
Talia smiled. "And you are very perceptive. Now come," she said as she led them to her boat.
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~
CHINA, LIAN YU – THE AMAZO: 8 DEC 2012
Laurel made her way down to see Thomas, as was her routine. She was still stunned at having found Oliver. The rest of the new prisoners were completely new. They didn't know anything about where the other two prisoners had gone. They were able to identify the woman. They had been keeping her captive as leverage against another prisoner. He was dead now.
The other guy was not someone they knew, but he seemed unstoppable and he liked to use swords. That man and those swords had terrified them. They had only survived because they had run away from the battle. The camp had exploded behind them. The same explosion that was seen from the Amazo.
Ivo had been disgusted with the news that these new men were not prisoners from the island at all. Nor did they suffer any hardships before the camp exploded. He dismissed her and told her to be quick. He needed her. He had to vent his frustration this evening. She wasn't looking forward to an irate Ivo. I need to show that I am still loyal. I need him to leave Thomas alone.
Laurel rounded the short hallway in between cells in a half-daze. "Hey, Anatoly, Thomas, Peter," Laurel greeted without really seeing who was there. Her mind was still lost on Oliver and the memories he had conjured. The happy feelings they invoked in her.
=Greetings,= Anatoly greeted her in Russian. He was eyeing her. He did not want to tell her that Thomas had been taken from the cell. He knew that she would not take it well. He had no desire to make her survival harder in this place. She had been good to him and Peter. As good as Ivo would allow her to be. For that, Anatoly was grateful.
Oliver stared at the vision of Laurel as she stood outside his cell. "Laurel," he whispered to himself. He didn't think that his vision would follow him back down to his cell. "No. You're a vision. You're not real. The island can't be this cruel," Oliver shut his eyes and started to rock in place on the floor. He wrapped his arms around his head to block out the sight of the one thing he most desired in the world.
Laurel froze. Her eyes finally were able to focus on the man in the cell. That's not Thomas. "Ollie?" she asked in hesitation.
Oliver let out an exclamation of sorrow. "NO!" he said in visceral pain and moved his hands to cover his ears. "Not real. Not real. Not real," he chanted to himself as he rocked in place.
Laurel was hurt and confused. She turned to Anatoly. "Has… has he been like this the whole time?" she asked. Why would he think that she wasn't real? What has happened to him to damage him this much? He said he was alone. What if he really was alone for the last six months? Not with others, like she and Thomas had been and Ivo suspected?
Anatoly looked confused. "No," he replied. "This started when he saw you. He was well, even after he removed bullet. Do you know Oliver?" he asked.
Just me. I'm the only one he thinks is not real. "Yes," she said on the verge of tears. "Oliver was… he was with Thomas and I on the yacht," she said in a huff. I want him so much, but he won't even look at me.
"Ah," Anatoly replied. "Then is nothing personal," he said. "You think he dead, yes?" he asked her. "You and Thomas?" he clarified.
Laurel nodded.
"He think same of you and Thomas," Anatoly replied with a nod.
Laurel gave a huff of frustration before turning back to Oliver. He was still rocking in his cell and whispering that she wasn't real. But he is within reach of the bars… Yes. It is hard to ignore a ghost that can touch you. I will help you, my love. I am here and I am real. I must make you believe.
"Ollie… Ollie…" Laurel coaxed and then she started to poke him. "Ollie, I am not going away. Come one, Ollie. You've been dead for six months. Don't you even want to talk to me?" Laurel asked softly. She took a seat right outside of the bars of his cage.
"I can't do that, Laurel. It hurts too much," Oliver said in a broken voice from behind his arms.
Laurel smiled. He's talking to me even if he doesn't want to. My poor Ollie. "But then I can't tell you things," she replied. "Don't you want to know those things?" she asked in a coaxing tone. It was a familiar tone. It was the same tone she had always used to convince Ollie and Tommy to do something they didn't want to do.
Oliver huffed. "Yes," he said sadly.
"Good," Laurel replied. "Because I need to tell you. I didn't die. Thomas didn't die either. We are here, Ollie. You came back to us," she said with tears in her eyes. "We missed you so much."
Oliver's head slowly rose. "Tommy is here?" he asked with tear-filled eyes.
"Yes, Thomas and I survived. Both of us. I… Anatoly, where is Thomas?" Laurel finally asked Anatoly. She had noticed that Oliver was in Thomas' cell, but it was only now that she realized that she didn't know where Thomas had gone.
"They took him. He was not sick," Anatoly said as a form of apology.
"WHAT?" Laurel shrieked. "That bastard promised not to touch him."
Oliver became aware that this was not a vision. He had started to believe when she used the tone. But only the real thing could bring up that level of outrage and fury. He had only seen it once before when she directed it at her father. He NEVER wanted it to be directed at him.
Oliver reached out his hand and touched a very solid arm on Laurel. "Real. Oh God, you're real," he said as he pressed his body as close to Laurel as the cage would allow. "I love you, Laurel. I always have. I'm an idiot. Please forgive me," he started rambling.
"Ollie, of course, I'm real," Laurel said as turned away from Anatoly and mirrored Oliver. She pressed herself as close to him as possible. "I love you too, Ollie," she said through tears. She pressed her lips to his forehead. "You have nothing to forgive," she said.
Oliver's bleary eyes looked up for the first time. "Thank you," he said. "I can't forgive myself. I had to survive. Dad wanted me to survive," he said softly. I am a killer. A murderer.
Laurel thought of her sacrifices for survival. Hers and Thomas'. "We all had to survive. We all will survive. We have each other now," she told him. Then dread fell over her. Ivo would expect her back. She would have to keep sacrificing for survival for longer. "I'll be back," she told him and slowly rose to head back to Ivo.
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~
CHINA, LIAN YU - CAVE: 8 DEC 2012
The Demon's Fang used a small boat to cross the distance from the shore to the cargo ship. They silently pulled up close to the anchor chain of the Amazo. Nyssa checked her weapons one last time and ensured they were secured safely on her back. Then she silently led the way by climbing the chain.
Nyssa paused by the top of the chain. She opened her Inner Eye to scan the deck above the chain on the ship. When she was certain it was clear, she closed her Inner Eye and finished climbing over the top of the side of the chain. The rest of the Demon's Fang climbed on after her. They paused briefly for the last of them to arrive before they dispersed to find their targets. The evil men of this ship. Nyssa was searching for the source of their evil. The mad scientist behind this evil.
Nyssa climbed to the pilot house of the ship. A lone man was on duty. He appeared to be half-asleep and slumped far from any controls. She cautiously opened the door and silently entered the room. The man never noticed her presence. She quickly dispatched him and left his body on a silent watch.
Nyssa continued through the upper levels of the ship. She found and dispatched several more of the evil men as they wandered around the decks in a half-trance state. Nyssa found this to be an odd state for a renowned pirate crew. But she had seen this type of reaction before when she was training with the Demon's Venom.
Lian Yu was a Major Nexus. A powerful mystical convergence where the major Ley Lines converged. Powerful Nexi seemed to gain a form of sentience. She had felt that sentience with the Great Northern Nexus and a few of the Major Nexus. She could feel it on Lian Yu as well.
A Nexus could assist or hinder her mission, depending on how the spirits within the Nexus felt. While most spirits were tied to individuals, a few were tied to places. However, Lian Yu was special. It was also a prison for powerful magical items. This Nexus seldom helped the living. The spirits attached to this Nexus hated the living.
However, all Nexus were places where the spirits could contact those who were sensitive to the sight or the Ruya. Even if they were not yet trained. Nyssa was one of the few people with the sight. She had been trained to use her gift. She had no magical power of her own, but she was a Ruya.
It was one of the reasons that Nyssa had trained with the Demon's Venom. She was able to see and talk with the spirits at Nanda Parbat, the Great Northern Nexus. With the Demon's Venom, she trained this skill. She became a trained Wahy. All those who were Ruya or had some gift of magic trained with them.
Upon approaching Lian Yu, Nyssa was aware that the Nexus could help or hinder her mission. It looks like the Nexus has chosen to assist the Fang in our efforts, Nyssa thought. She paused in her search of the ship. She opened her Inner Eye.
-Thank you for assisting us,- Nyssa sent to the Nexus of Lian Yu.
-Gratitude. Assist,- the Nexus replied with a pulsing warmth.
Nyssa closed her Inner Eye and continued her search of the ship for the evil source. She approached the next closed door. She could hear an angry man's voice coming from the other side. At least two of them then. She silently opened the door a crack. The sounds did not change from inside the room. I remain undetected.
Slap. "I'll teach you who is in control," a man's voice huffed as he exerted physical effort. He was awake. He resists the pull of Lian Yu. He is likely the source of this evil.
Nyssa could tell that he was distracted. From the sounds of it, one of the prisoners was with him. She silently slid the door further open and examined the scene in front of her.
A woman was chained by the wrist to the far side of the bed. Her arms were stretched tight above her as she lay naked, face down on the bed under the man's body. Bruises covered her back and legs. The man had raised her hips enough to thrust and beat her.
Nyssa didn't need to see more. The man was unbound. Whether he is the source of evil or not, THIS evil will stop now. She strode silently across the room and sliced his head off his shoulders. His head bounced and rolled across the room.
The rest of the man's body slumped forward even as blood spouted out of his neck. The blood splashed on the woman before Nyssa could pull his body to the floor. The woman raised her head to take in Nyssa, her eyes wide with shock and terror.
"His evil is gone," Nyssa told the woman. "I must finish cleansing the remainder of the ship of evil. I will return to release you."
The woman nodded and then started to curl up into a tight ball. Nyssa gently laid a blanket over her naked form before leaving the room.
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~
CHINA, LIAN YU - CAVE: 9 DEC 2012
Nyssa had the Demon's Fang report back to her when they could find no more unbound men on the ship. When Nyssa had seen each of her Fang, she took a moment to consider the next steps. The evil was gone. The prisoners needed to return to civilized shores.
"I want the rest of you to return to our craft. I need only one to remain and release the bound ones," Nyssa directed. One of her Fang stepped forward while the rest headed away to return to their craft. She addressed the last of her Fang. "Bring them to the surface of the ship and have them collect there. I will tell them their fate when they have all gathered," Nyssa told her Fang. "I have another bound one to release. I will meet you here," she told him. He nodded and left.
Nyssa turned on her heel and headed back to the room where she had found the woman. She knew that the woman would not accept help from another man, especially a strange one. But the woman had seen Nyssa. Nyssa was a woman. The bound woman should allow her to assist.
Nyssa entered the room and noted how the woman had startled at her entrance. She gave a deep sigh. The small evils of men forcing themselves on women and men are too small for the League to track. But they affect the victims in large ways. This woman will need assistance in healing this kind of wound.
Laurel was startled when the door opened to reveal the same woman who had killed Ivo. She began to shake. Ivo had never been that violent before. Controlling yes, but not violent. She didn't feel like she could get warm. She shivered and shook with the reaction to the violent rape. She didn't feel the blood that covered her back and coated her hair. She pulled the blanket tighter around her.
Nyssa slowly closed and locked the door. She took slow measured steps toward Laurel with her hands wide open.
"The evil ones are dead. It is time to free you from your bonds," Nyssa told Laurel softly.
"Free me?" Laurel asked in a daze. She seemed confused. I'll never be free…
Nyssa gestured to her wrists. "Your chains," she told her.
"Oh," Laurel replied as she noticed the chains for the first time. With that realization, Laurel suddenly felt her nakedness. She started to shy away from Nyssa.
"Shh," Nyssa soothed. "I will only free you. Will you allow me to assist?" she asked kindly.
Laurel struggled to hold still. "Yes," she squealed in fright.
Nyssa moved gently and slowly. She paused to allow the woman time to adjust to her presence. Then she picked the locks on the manacles.
I'm safe. This woman killed Ivo. She stopped him from hurting me. I am safe with her. I'm safe, Laurel kept reassuring herself silently.
Nyssa made quick work of the locks and the manacles dropped away from Laurel's wrists. Laurel quickly pulled her wrists back under the blanket. All she wanted to do was hide.
"Now," Nyssa started, as she slowly crossed the room to get a bowl. "We need to clean you up, so you can dress." She filled the bowl with water and carried a wash rag back to Laurel.
Once Nyssa had mentioned getting clean and dressing, Laurel could feel the blood clotting in a sticky mess on her back. She could feel it clump up her hair. Yes, I need to get clean. I really want to get dressed. I'll never be clean again...
"Let us start with your hair," Nyssa said. She helped Laurel clean her hair in the water and then had her hold it up while Nyssa cleaned her back. It doesn't look like any of the bruises broke the skin. They will just be painful. Nyssa couldn't feel any broken bones under the bruises.
With her back clean, Nyssa allowed Laurel to clean the rest of her body and legs while she gathered clothing for her. Once clean and dressed in pants, boots, and a long-sleeve shirt, Laurel was back to wrapping her arms around herself.
Nyssa unlocked and opened the door only to be pulled up short by Laurel's sudden shout, "Wait," she cried.
"Come," Nyssa coaxed. "The others are being freed from their bonds. I will meet with them on the surface of the ship." Nyssa waited until Laurel had stood to follow before continuing. "You will all decide your course from there. I promised my sister that I would take one of the prisoners back to civilized shores. You may come if you desire."
Laurel nodded and followed Nyssa through the hallway to the deck of the ship. She was lost and seeking comfort and safety. For now, that meant sticking close to Nyssa. Nyssa had proven that she would keep Laurel safe. Laurel didn't want to stay with Ivo's beheaded body.
They came out onto the deck and made for one of the edges of the slowly growing crowd of released prisoners. Laurel stayed well away from all the men. She stayed close to Nyssa.
Several of the men had made it to the deck and were already forming small groups. Nyssa had noted that all the former prisoners were male, and even more men came out of the tunnel from the hold. Yes, this woman should come with me.
"Laurel!" Thomas shouted as he caught sight of her. His relief was obvious to everyone.
Laurel turned at the sound of her name and hugged herself with relief. "Thomas!" she cried at finally seeing him.
"I was so worried about you when they moved me," Thomas said as he drew near. "They didn't do anything to me, I swear. I was just alone."
"Oh, Thomas!" Laurel cried and pulled Thomas in the first hug she had been able to give him in six months.
Nyssa noted that she willingly touched this man. She had avoided the others, but this man was safe for her.
Oliver came out on the deck and stopped as he took in the sight of his two favorite people in the world. Alive! I can't believe that they are both alive. "Tommy Merlyn! You are a welcome sight," Oliver said as he walked over to the two.
They pulled apart and Thomas turned and stared at him. "Ollie?" he asked in disbelief.
"Yeah," Oliver said as he spun in a circle for his friend. "It's me. Just a little worse for wear."
Thomas grabbed his best friend in a tight hug and cried in relief. "We thought you were dead, man," he said into his friend's ear.
"Yeah," Oliver said as he pulled back. He gave Thomas a critical eye. "Sadly, I thought the same. I thought I was alone." Then he grinned at Thomas. "I thought Laurel was a ghost or a vision or something."
"No way," Thomas said in disbelief as he looked over at Laurel.
"Yup," Oliver replied. Then he turned morose. "I'm sorry. This wouldn't have happened if you had stayed in Starling."
"You have nothing to be sorry for, Ollie," Thomas replied. "I CHOSE to go on that trip with you and Laurel. If fate decided we needed a detour, I'm okay with that. I have you back. I have Laurel. That is important to me. The two of you."
"I still think I need to apologize," Oliver said softly. I have changed so much. Am I still the man you remember?
"I told you, Ollie," Laurel said firmly as she planted her hands on his chest. "We ALL had to survive. We ALL had to make decisions to survive. We ALL will survive. Together."
"Together," Oliver echoed as he pulled Laurel into a tight hug. He released her as he noticed the smell of blood on her hair and felt her wince in his arms. "Laurel?" he asked suddenly. She got hurt? When? Who did this?
Another man that Laurel trusts, Nyssa thought. That is good. She will have an easier time healing. If she comes with me, they will likely demand to follow. I can ensure up to four. The Fang has room for four.
"I'm fine now," Laurel said as she shrugged out of his arms. "This woman killed Ivo."
"Ivo did this?" Oliver said with a hiss of anger.
Thomas held Oliver back. He knew what Laurel had to do to keep them both safe for months now. He supported Laurel. "He's dead now, right?" Thomas confirmed with Laurel.
Laurel smiled at Thomas' support. "Yes, definitely dead," she reported.
Nyssa had been watching their interactions. She are protective of the woman, Laurel. Watching her with these two men, she knew that Laurel would be safe. They would take good care of her. In time, she will heal.
"I replaced his evil with death," Nyssa told them. Then she turned to all the prisoners. "All of those on this vessel who willingly assisted in this evil are now dead," she told them.
"What of us?" Anatoly asked her.
"You may have this vessel to return to civilized shores," Nyssa declared. "However, I promised my sister a boon. I would return the one called Oliver to civilized shores myself."
"What?" Oliver exclaimed. "Why? Is your sister Mei?" he asked.
"No," Nyssa replied with a smile. "My sister was too late to help her former student Yao Fei. You provided him assistance in her stead. For this, she owes you a debt."
"But…" Oliver started. "We failed. Yao Fei died."
Nyssa smiled. "You still tried. You were able to secure the release of his child," she said softly. "It is the greatest wish of all parents to ensure the safety of their child.
"Oh," Oliver replied. He suddenly thought about his father's sacrifice. The one that allowed me to survive. The one his ghost did not regret. "Okay."
"If you are taking Ollie, you will have to take Laurel and me too," Thomas said.
"Yes," Laurel added. "We go with Ollie." She could not be separated from Ollie again. She just got him back. He may not want me anymore, but I still needed him.
Nyssa smirked. Once Oliver had identified himself, she knew that she would have to take the other two. It was a good thing that she had already planned to take Laurel with the other two in support of her. That Laurel felt as protective of Oliver was proof enough of their bond of friendship.
"Of course," Nyssa replied. She turned to the remaining prisoners. "Do you have all you need to return to civilized shores?" she asked.
"Da. I can navigate," Anatoly replied.
"I can run the engines, most likely," a man named Henrick added.
"Then we are good," Anatoly said. "Other tasks are labor… mostly."
"Very well," Nyssa replied. "Put us on the shore and you can prepare to sail."
The boat was lowered with the Nyssa, Oliver, Thomas, Laurel, and the remaining member of the Fang. They were deposited on the shore and the boat quickly returned to the Amazo.
~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~AU~