04-03-2010, 07:25 PM
Szar looked to the beach, making a mental note of the number of pirates and their positions in relation to the treasure. They were heavily concentrated around the red X, which only made sense. The treasure was theirs and they were going to protect it. There were at least 25 men on the beach that Szar counted, and their ship was anchored just off shore. Judging from its size it could likely hold up to 200 men. That meant that a direct assault on their camp might prove successful at first, though they would likely be overrun before they managed to make off with their prize.
The rum bottles they all seemed to be glued to made things quite a bit simpler. 200 sober pirates against the Saiyan and the Icer; hardly favorable odds. If they were intoxicated, however, that made the pair's job significantly easier. Alcohol lowered the ability to reason properly, as well as perform basic motor functions if enough was consumed. Szar didn't know from first hand experience what being drunk was like, but he had known plenty of alcoholics in his life.
"If not for these magnets," Szar complained, eying the metal band locked around his tail, "I'd suggest that one of us act as a decoy."
Orion shook his head, disappointed. "That's the best you could come up with? Leave it to a lizard to not be able to come up with a plan." Orion cracked his knuckles, smiling as he stared down at the crew. His hand was still glowing with energy when he stood up, striding confidently down towards the mass of pirates. Szar would have argued but the magnet forced him to comply, and he followed the one-eyed saiyan straight into the lion's den.
The men, who were gathered around a campfire, laughing and telling stories, abruptly stopped their revelry as the unfamiliar duo approached them. A few of them brandished their blades, encircling Orion and Szar. The saiyan stood tall, unafraid in the face of the numbers. Szar tried his best to look unafraid, but while he was confident in his martial skill he didn't anticipate him lasting too long against these odds. His mind wandered back to the first round of this game, when he had been overwhelmed by the card-men in the Queen's service. And this time, they wouldn't be locked up in a dungeon. The pirates would kill them without a second thought.
"Look'it this one, boys." one of the pirates said, a balding man whose teeth were black and falling out. "He's purple."
"He's got horns, too! What the hell are ya'?" said another, taking a deep swig of his rum.
"What a freak! I bet we could lock 'em up and sell 'em to McCready. Put him on display at one of his shows, I bet, and get us a pretty penny, too!"
"He's like a walking purple lizard! Is that what you are, boy? A lizard?" the first man was in Szar's face, then, his face hot and reeking of alcohol. He and his friends shared a laugh at the Icer's expense. Orion simply stood there, letting the pirates have their fun.
Szar let all the anger he'd been repressing out in a single punch. The man's jaw snapped and his neck craned around, his eyes rolling back in his head as he collapsed. The laughter stopped at once, a deathly silence covering the beach. Orion smirked, glad to see that Szar wasn't willing to let himself be walked over. Following Iceman's lead, Orion sent a pirate soaring with a ki-charged uppercut. The crew was in an uproar, then, drawing their blades and setting down their bottles. Their circle tightened, leaving Szar and Orion surrounded by a sizable force of very angry pirates. Out of the corner of his eye, before all hell broke loose, Szar could have sworn Orion looked happy.
In an instant a wave of men surged in from every direction, slashing wildly with blades, proper and improvised, some choosing to come in bare handed. Szar and Orion took one last glance at one another before they both vanished impressively. The pirates stood their ground, dumbfounded. Some even looked to their bottles questioningly. Reappearing at either side of the pack, Orion and Szar took to hit-and-run tactics, striking down one or two pirates before blinking away. The beach was lost to chaos as the less brave of the pirate crew scrambled back toward the ship, abandoning their friends who choose to stay to a timely end at the hands of the Saiyan and the Icer. In a few minute's span, the entire beach party either dead on the sand. Those that chose to run were climbing over each other, trying to find refuge on their ship.
Reaching down for one of the bottles the pirates had abandoned, Szar took a large gulp, offering it to the saiyan. "A good start, I think. I was wondering what you were planning by walking right into the thick of things."
Orion took the offered drink without his usual reserve, and he downed the rest of the strong liquor. "I was half-thinking about just flying away and leaving you there, lizard."
Szar felt his stomach clench, but he relaxed when he looked to Orion and saw that he was smirking. Maybe Szar's apology had gotten through after all? Ever since he'd said it, the saiyan's demeanor had changed. It was too early to tell, but it was a welcome improvement nonetheless. "Enough stalling, let's get that treasure and get out of here."
The two found the X easily enough, and the shovels were close by. After a few minutes silent digging, their shovels clanged as they reverberated off the chest's lid. Brushing away the last layer of sand, the one-eyed saiyan and his Icer companion heaved the massive chest out of the hole. At the same time, the gangplank of the ship lowered into the water, and waves of pirates began to flood the beach. By the time they had reached the spot where the treasure had been, all that remained was an empty hole and two sets of footprints leaving the camp, disappearing back into the forest.
----
"...Captain, you have to wake up!"
Redbeard eased open his good eye. Above him hovered the face of his first mate, Largos, lined with sweat and creased with worry.
"...Sure is gone! They took it!"
Reaching towards his nightstand, the Captain of the Azure Flame pulled open the table's drawer, drawing out an iron flask. Twisting off the top he grimaced as the foul-tasting brew hit his taste buds. Setting the flask down on his nightstand, he sat up in bed. His first mate stood trembling in front of him, wringing his hat in his hands.
Crack
The sound of flesh meeting flesh sounded through the cabin as the Captain back-handed Largos. No matter the emergency, the Captain had gave explicit orders that he was not to be disturbed. On his ship not following orders meant being punished, and that slap was just the beginning. After the mate told Redbeard his message, he would likely have him locked up overnight. Weeks of kitchen duty would come afterward, with perhaps a few night in the crow's nest.
"All right, what was it you were saying?" Redbeard said calmly as he plucked his captain's jacket from the hook on the wall.
His first mate scrambled forward, blubbering apologetically. "They took it, sir! It's gone!"
Redbeard sighed as he clipped his belt. "What did they steal? And who is they?"
"There was two of them! One looked normal enough, tall, black hair and beard, eye-patch. I thought he was one of the new guys at first. Then there was the other one, he was weird, sir! He stood as tall as a man, with purple skin and horns!"
Digging through a pile of papers on his desk, Redbeard tried to pay attention to Largos' tale as he searched for his favorite ring. "And what did they steal?"
The mate's face lost its color, then. "They took the treasure, sir." he blanched.
Redbeard froze. His hand went to the key he wore on the chain around his neck. Reassurance set in instantly. "Don't worry, they'll be back."
"Sir?" the mate asked, confused. "How do you know that?"
The pirate captain pulled the chain from around his neck, holding the key up to his first mate. "There is but one key to open that box, and I have it. I had a witch cast a spell on that chest when we were docked in that little village just north of here, you see, a bit of a precaution but I always thought that witchcraft was a fascinating art and....well, I digress. This key is the only way they'll be getting into that chest. Rally the men, double the watch, and have parties sent out to patrol the forest. I want these thieves found and brought to me by nightfall."
Redbeard's first mate nodded, turning to leave.
"Oh, and one more thing."
Largos froze in place, his hand gripping the door handle. "Cap'n?"
"You'd best find them, and soon. Remember what happened to Barthos?"
Largos nodded. Barthos had been the first mate to Captain Redbeard before Largos, and he'd disagreed with the Captain on how things on the ship were to be run. In the end, Barthos was executed for mutiny and his body sent to the lowest depths of Davy Jone's locker.
"That is nothing like what will happen to you if you don't return MY treasure." Redbeard said cryptically, winking with his good eye. Largos swallowed hard, racing out of the Captain's quarters without a word.
----
"What the hell is with this thing?!" Orion raged, kicking the heavy chest. They'd left the camp behind them, disappearing into the woods. The pirates would likely burn the forest down around them if it meant getting their treasure back. Yet, despite their best efforts, they could not manage to get the box open. Szar was merely irritated with the delay, but the saiyan was beside himself.
"Why won't this stupid thing open?!" he fumed, pacing back and forth, glaring hard at the chest.
"We don't have the key. It's probably something Gamer put in place to make things harder for us." Szar said, trying to pacify the saiyan's foul temper.
"Well damn him and damn this stupid box!" Orion roared, kicking the box again.
"Just shut up and try to get some sleep." Szar barked, the saiyan's tantrum was quickly growing stale.
"Why the hell would I sleep, lizard?!" Orion snapped.
"Because," Szar muttered, trying to keep his voice low, "We'll be going back tonight, and we'll want to be rested up if we're to deal with the rest of them."
"Fine," Orion relented, sitting down at the base of a tree. "You can have first watch, then, Szar."
Iceman didn't reply, his mind was too busy reeling after Orion used his name. It was the first time he'd called him something other than 'lizard'. And while Orion slipped into slumber, Szar relished in the small comfort that fact brought him.
The rum bottles they all seemed to be glued to made things quite a bit simpler. 200 sober pirates against the Saiyan and the Icer; hardly favorable odds. If they were intoxicated, however, that made the pair's job significantly easier. Alcohol lowered the ability to reason properly, as well as perform basic motor functions if enough was consumed. Szar didn't know from first hand experience what being drunk was like, but he had known plenty of alcoholics in his life.
"If not for these magnets," Szar complained, eying the metal band locked around his tail, "I'd suggest that one of us act as a decoy."
Orion shook his head, disappointed. "That's the best you could come up with? Leave it to a lizard to not be able to come up with a plan." Orion cracked his knuckles, smiling as he stared down at the crew. His hand was still glowing with energy when he stood up, striding confidently down towards the mass of pirates. Szar would have argued but the magnet forced him to comply, and he followed the one-eyed saiyan straight into the lion's den.
The men, who were gathered around a campfire, laughing and telling stories, abruptly stopped their revelry as the unfamiliar duo approached them. A few of them brandished their blades, encircling Orion and Szar. The saiyan stood tall, unafraid in the face of the numbers. Szar tried his best to look unafraid, but while he was confident in his martial skill he didn't anticipate him lasting too long against these odds. His mind wandered back to the first round of this game, when he had been overwhelmed by the card-men in the Queen's service. And this time, they wouldn't be locked up in a dungeon. The pirates would kill them without a second thought.
"Look'it this one, boys." one of the pirates said, a balding man whose teeth were black and falling out. "He's purple."
"He's got horns, too! What the hell are ya'?" said another, taking a deep swig of his rum.
"What a freak! I bet we could lock 'em up and sell 'em to McCready. Put him on display at one of his shows, I bet, and get us a pretty penny, too!"
"He's like a walking purple lizard! Is that what you are, boy? A lizard?" the first man was in Szar's face, then, his face hot and reeking of alcohol. He and his friends shared a laugh at the Icer's expense. Orion simply stood there, letting the pirates have their fun.
Szar let all the anger he'd been repressing out in a single punch. The man's jaw snapped and his neck craned around, his eyes rolling back in his head as he collapsed. The laughter stopped at once, a deathly silence covering the beach. Orion smirked, glad to see that Szar wasn't willing to let himself be walked over. Following Iceman's lead, Orion sent a pirate soaring with a ki-charged uppercut. The crew was in an uproar, then, drawing their blades and setting down their bottles. Their circle tightened, leaving Szar and Orion surrounded by a sizable force of very angry pirates. Out of the corner of his eye, before all hell broke loose, Szar could have sworn Orion looked happy.
In an instant a wave of men surged in from every direction, slashing wildly with blades, proper and improvised, some choosing to come in bare handed. Szar and Orion took one last glance at one another before they both vanished impressively. The pirates stood their ground, dumbfounded. Some even looked to their bottles questioningly. Reappearing at either side of the pack, Orion and Szar took to hit-and-run tactics, striking down one or two pirates before blinking away. The beach was lost to chaos as the less brave of the pirate crew scrambled back toward the ship, abandoning their friends who choose to stay to a timely end at the hands of the Saiyan and the Icer. In a few minute's span, the entire beach party either dead on the sand. Those that chose to run were climbing over each other, trying to find refuge on their ship.
Reaching down for one of the bottles the pirates had abandoned, Szar took a large gulp, offering it to the saiyan. "A good start, I think. I was wondering what you were planning by walking right into the thick of things."
Orion took the offered drink without his usual reserve, and he downed the rest of the strong liquor. "I was half-thinking about just flying away and leaving you there, lizard."
Szar felt his stomach clench, but he relaxed when he looked to Orion and saw that he was smirking. Maybe Szar's apology had gotten through after all? Ever since he'd said it, the saiyan's demeanor had changed. It was too early to tell, but it was a welcome improvement nonetheless. "Enough stalling, let's get that treasure and get out of here."
The two found the X easily enough, and the shovels were close by. After a few minutes silent digging, their shovels clanged as they reverberated off the chest's lid. Brushing away the last layer of sand, the one-eyed saiyan and his Icer companion heaved the massive chest out of the hole. At the same time, the gangplank of the ship lowered into the water, and waves of pirates began to flood the beach. By the time they had reached the spot where the treasure had been, all that remained was an empty hole and two sets of footprints leaving the camp, disappearing back into the forest.
----
"...Captain, you have to wake up!"
Redbeard eased open his good eye. Above him hovered the face of his first mate, Largos, lined with sweat and creased with worry.
"...Sure is gone! They took it!"
Reaching towards his nightstand, the Captain of the Azure Flame pulled open the table's drawer, drawing out an iron flask. Twisting off the top he grimaced as the foul-tasting brew hit his taste buds. Setting the flask down on his nightstand, he sat up in bed. His first mate stood trembling in front of him, wringing his hat in his hands.
Crack
The sound of flesh meeting flesh sounded through the cabin as the Captain back-handed Largos. No matter the emergency, the Captain had gave explicit orders that he was not to be disturbed. On his ship not following orders meant being punished, and that slap was just the beginning. After the mate told Redbeard his message, he would likely have him locked up overnight. Weeks of kitchen duty would come afterward, with perhaps a few night in the crow's nest.
"All right, what was it you were saying?" Redbeard said calmly as he plucked his captain's jacket from the hook on the wall.
His first mate scrambled forward, blubbering apologetically. "They took it, sir! It's gone!"
Redbeard sighed as he clipped his belt. "What did they steal? And who is they?"
"There was two of them! One looked normal enough, tall, black hair and beard, eye-patch. I thought he was one of the new guys at first. Then there was the other one, he was weird, sir! He stood as tall as a man, with purple skin and horns!"
Digging through a pile of papers on his desk, Redbeard tried to pay attention to Largos' tale as he searched for his favorite ring. "And what did they steal?"
The mate's face lost its color, then. "They took the treasure, sir." he blanched.
Redbeard froze. His hand went to the key he wore on the chain around his neck. Reassurance set in instantly. "Don't worry, they'll be back."
"Sir?" the mate asked, confused. "How do you know that?"
The pirate captain pulled the chain from around his neck, holding the key up to his first mate. "There is but one key to open that box, and I have it. I had a witch cast a spell on that chest when we were docked in that little village just north of here, you see, a bit of a precaution but I always thought that witchcraft was a fascinating art and....well, I digress. This key is the only way they'll be getting into that chest. Rally the men, double the watch, and have parties sent out to patrol the forest. I want these thieves found and brought to me by nightfall."
Redbeard's first mate nodded, turning to leave.
"Oh, and one more thing."
Largos froze in place, his hand gripping the door handle. "Cap'n?"
"You'd best find them, and soon. Remember what happened to Barthos?"
Largos nodded. Barthos had been the first mate to Captain Redbeard before Largos, and he'd disagreed with the Captain on how things on the ship were to be run. In the end, Barthos was executed for mutiny and his body sent to the lowest depths of Davy Jone's locker.
"That is nothing like what will happen to you if you don't return MY treasure." Redbeard said cryptically, winking with his good eye. Largos swallowed hard, racing out of the Captain's quarters without a word.
----
"What the hell is with this thing?!" Orion raged, kicking the heavy chest. They'd left the camp behind them, disappearing into the woods. The pirates would likely burn the forest down around them if it meant getting their treasure back. Yet, despite their best efforts, they could not manage to get the box open. Szar was merely irritated with the delay, but the saiyan was beside himself.
"Why won't this stupid thing open?!" he fumed, pacing back and forth, glaring hard at the chest.
"We don't have the key. It's probably something Gamer put in place to make things harder for us." Szar said, trying to pacify the saiyan's foul temper.
"Well damn him and damn this stupid box!" Orion roared, kicking the box again.
"Just shut up and try to get some sleep." Szar barked, the saiyan's tantrum was quickly growing stale.
"Why the hell would I sleep, lizard?!" Orion snapped.
"Because," Szar muttered, trying to keep his voice low, "We'll be going back tonight, and we'll want to be rested up if we're to deal with the rest of them."
"Fine," Orion relented, sitting down at the base of a tree. "You can have first watch, then, Szar."
Iceman didn't reply, his mind was too busy reeling after Orion used his name. It was the first time he'd called him something other than 'lizard'. And while Orion slipped into slumber, Szar relished in the small comfort that fact brought him.