In the hours of dark before dawn are often quiet ones across the land. A few nocturnal creatures stir, but the realm was a peaceful place for a few blessed hours.

Arcadia was no different. The night guards patrolled, keeping watch over the citizens of Arcadia while they slept.  The breeze blew in off the ocean, filling the night air with its scent, stirring the coastal flowers into releasing their perfume that got carried on the winds through the town and the open windows.

Once such window was that of Aja Bird’s bedroom. The wind was the only witness to Aja making preparations to leave.


She took another moment to save the image of her home to her memory and then turned, quietly closing the door behind her.

She left the house without disturbing the silence, the quiet of the pre-dawn air only distrubed by the quiet noise of the golf cart she used to get to the ship yard and the docks where the Breeze stood at the ready. The crew over the last couple days had gotten her loaded up with what Aja thought she would need, now she was ready to set sail.

Few words were spoken, the crew knew what had to be done to set sail. Rico and Aja didn’t even speak. They both understood what today was going to mean if it got pulled off.

The course set. It wasn’t that she wanted to leave Arcadia, it was the mission, she was anxious to get to it, get it done.

She stood on the bow and looked out over the sea calmly. Taking in the scent of it and settling herself into the mind set she would need in the coming hours. All other thoughts and events were pushed from her mind. It had been a truly busy weekend, but none of those things could be thought about right now as she had much to do.

The first port they arrived in, Aja waited till the Breeze came to a halt. She told Rico to hold the crew aboard. They’d only be picking up a passenger here.

And that passenger came in the form of an old ally named Jaffery Alexander. The tall, sandy blond, blue eyed man who dressed like a nobleman. Even with him being as tall and lean like he was, Jaffery moved like a stealthy lion. He projected an air of something dangerous beneath a charming facade. Something Aja knew he could hide quite while when he approached a mark.

“Aja, ya old sea hag.” Jaffery’s spread out like the grin on his face before he hugged her. When he noticed her stiff demeanor he looked at her. “I see we’re already getting into battle mode.”

“We are.” she nodded and motioned to the ship. “So catch up time later, right now. Let’s get a move on it.”

“So bossy.” Jaffery chuckled to her as he readjusted the bag on his shoulder and started on board.

“And cranky.” Aja grinned slightly as she followed him aboard. “Ya fergot cranky.”

“Aye. So I did.” Jaffery laughed, looking over his shoulder at her following him.

Once underway again, Jaffery stashed his bag in the Captain’s quarters, then came to find her on the bow. He stood next to her and looked out where she was looking.

“Second thoughts"” he asked speaking in a short hand they both understood. Neither really needed to say what it was they were setting out to do.

“No.” she said solemnly. “Just looking to get this done.”

“You could just leave it.” he suggested.

“Could you?” she returned knowing that he too had seen the sort of power they had and how they used it. He had lost people too.

“No.”

“So. We do it.” Aja said simply. “Hope it takes their legs out.”

“At least for a while.” Jaffery said still not turning his eyes from the sea.

“If my intel is right, it will be more than a while.” Aja said. “And by the gods, I hope that it is.”

“I’ve looked over what you sent.” Jaffery glanced at her. “I believe it is.”

“Then we do it.” Aja patted her friend on the shoulder. “We’ll take another piece of them. And keep taking these pieces till they have nothing left.”

“Amen.”

“Yeah.” Aja turned and moved to go to the Captains quarters. Jaffery followed her.

“Is Serena the next"”

“She is.” Aja smiled a little then. “I’ve missed her.”

“Aye.” Jaffery gave his own little smile. “Me too.” they walked into the quarters and Aja shut the door. They got settled at the table with some drinks.

“Do you ever wonder..” she started quietly. “If we did the right thing, all splitting up"”

“We couldn’t all stay together.” Jaffery said leaning back in his chair and looking at her thoughtfully. “Would’ve made it too easy for them to find and target.” Jaffery sipped his drink then, when he spoke again, he sat up a little in his chair. “And look what you’ve done in all that time. You and Tanner took a floundering place. Made it into a home. You’ve saved how many people, Aja" In all those years. You could’ve walked away. You could’ve gone anywhere. Lived a quiet life. Instead, you’ve taken every chance and fought them.”

“And the ones we failed to save"” came her quiet question. “What of them"”

“You can’t carry those souls on your shoulders. Some, its just their time.” Jaffery replied solemnly, he knew there were times Aja felt it was her job to save them. And when she couldn’t, she felt every single loss, carried them around with her. Used them to fuel her determination. 

“Yer right.” she sighed a little and sipped her coffee. She rubbed at her head. “I know ya are. Just sometimes wish ya weren’t.”

“I know.” Jaffery patted her arm, then changed the subject to something lighter. “So, I saw Rico on the deck. The boy taken ta modeling, or weight lifting or something"” Jaffery asked amused which made Aja laugh.

“No. He just works a lot.”  Aja explained.

“I bet he has hordes of women chasing him around too.” Jaffery smiled thinking about that.

“He rarely notices the women checkin’ him out.”

“Ya have to stop hitting that boy on the head, Aja.” Jaffery nudged her arm.

“Hey, I have nothing to do with his oblivious nature when it comes to da women.” she laughed and swatted Jaffery playfully. “He’s just like that.”

“How’s things with your sister"’ Jaffery asked carefully knowing the twins had yet to come a common ground.

“Well..” Aja started thoughtfully. “She still pulls the snotty teenage tantrums. And I think she makes too big a deal out of some stuff...but that might jist be how she is.” Aja rolled her cup in her hands back and forth. “But, there is some progress.”

“Some"”

“She forgets that I tell her things.” Aja said and glanced at Jaffery. “She is bothersome.”

“And the progress"”

“I no longer want to beat her on the head"” Aja grinned making Jaffery laugh. “Nah...jist this weekend...at that party Ajay threw. We had a conversation...I’ve decided she won’t change and I’ll have to kill her one day soon.”

“You ever going to tell Ajay what you’ve been doing all these years"” Jaffery asked seriously.

“If we pull this off, Jaff..” Aja shook her head quickly, then looked at him. “I jist might start letting them know.”

“You think we’re getting that close"”

“I do.” she smiled a little. “Not that I want to jinx us. But each battle. It gets a little easier. We make a little more progress. Take a bigger chunk.”  Jaffery nodded, agreeing with her assessment of the situation.

“I’ve been thinking that too.” his lanky frame leaned back in the chair. “This one...when you called.” he turned his head once to the side then back. “Gotta say, kid. It’s ballsy. And it’s gonna take one hell of a chunk out of them.”

“Jaff, they have it coming.” Aja’s eyes locked with his and she took a deep breath. “And we’re the only ones in a place ta do it.” those coppers seemed to flare with the words she spoke.

“No argument there.” he nodded and leaned forward on his elbows. “We waiting till Serena’s aboard to go over the whole plan?”

“Yeah. Go through it once all together.” she glanced out the window. “We’ll have precious little time once all together to put this into motion.”

“Aye.” Jaffery nodded then each fell into silence as they both thought of what was to come of the day.

~Red Eye and the next port

The next port was already in chaos as they got closer to it. Aja came out from the Captain’s quarters grinning from ear to ear.

“Remind me ta send dat man a case of rum.” she told Jaffery as they made their way to the small boat. Her eyes glanced once more to the communications tower being down in huge flames.

“And a shrink.” Jaffery added with a grin.

They made their way to the shore and they stashed the boat like before. The explosions and guards running to defend the village port made it easy for Aja and Jaffery to make their way to the manor house and into it without being noticed.

Aja knew the Lord of this manor would have no part of the battle and was likely holed up in his quarters. It was easy to sneak through the house with all the guards occupied.

“Jaff, ya feel like a little vengeance"”  she asked knowing that Jaffery and this Lord had a little unfinished business between them.

“Let’s just see what’s on the other side of this door, huh"” Jaffery said and Aja nodded quickly picking the lock. She silently opened the door and got low to get a look inside. The Lord was at the window, watching the chaos outside.

“Damnable pirates!” He muttered. Aja slipped in, Jaffery following closing the door silently. They made the fast dodge behind a large screen. Aja’s brain quickly went over how to do this. There was sneaky, which would require the Lord remaining distracted or there was plan b. She quietly reached into her bag, pulling out her blow dart gun. Plan b would have to do. The Lord would know something happened, but hopefully not what before she finished what she had to do. 

She leaned around the screen and fired the dart into the Lords leg then ducked back. She held up her hand in a countdown to Jaffery.

Five four three two one...there was a slight thud when the Lord hit the ground. Both Jaffery and Aja peeked under the screen. Sure enough, he was out like a light. Jaffery looked at Aja and sighed.

“You could told me about that little trick, Mate.” he gave her a half smile and Aja shrugged.

“Yeah. Sorry, jist came ta me.” she grinned. “Let’s get this done and get before Red Eye blows the castle door.” Jaffery shook his head, tugging the fake out of his pocket and Aja got the box out, they made quick work of switching the gem, putting it in the box, Aja could feel what it was that bothered Serena. She started to worry that maybe the forgeries wouldn’t hold, as they felt “felt” different, but she’d just have to have fatih that they could finish the circuit in time.

They moved quickly then, working their way back out of the manor house and out to the village.

They had to make quick dodges of explosions as Red Eye pulled further into port and thus the cannons fired further into the village. Aja knew replacing his old cannons with those new ones were gonna be trouble for someone, she just didn’t think it was going to be her.

She sent the signal ahead as she set the final distraction in the form of a huge explosion off in the forest, hopefully no civilians were going to be anywhere near it when it went off. Once her and Jaffery were in the boat on the way back. Rico would be calling Red Eye off in a moment.

The boat got secured, and Aja set off the explosion in the woods, allowing Red Eye the opportunity to extract himself and his crew from the harbor while the Breeze hightailed it past the harbor.

She ran up to the helm once they were clear and picked up the com.

“Red Eye"”

“Here, Darling! That was fun!”

“And a huge help. You’ll have a shipment of ammo to replace what ya blew through ready by next week. Just come on by, eh"”

“Will do. Ya be careful out there.”

“You too, Old friend. You too.” Aja hung up the com and sighed as she leaned against the helm. Rico stood there, steering the Breeze along its course. He looked at her then back to the horizon.

“You ok"” he asked her just loud enough for her to hear. He knew that expression she wore, it was one he hadn’t seen in over two decades, but it stuck in his head. It was nothing like the woman that ran Arcadia. This was the hunter, the pirate version of herself that she kept away from other people.

“Ask me when this is over.” Aja replied and patted his shoulder. They shared a look. One she knew meant that he’d have plenty to say to her later, for now he was content to follow orders. She knew he didn’t object to the mission itself. But the deviation off the original plan probably had him worried. Aja hadn’t counted on Serena reacting so badly to the gems. She felt horrible for missing that part in her planning.

With that thought, she went down the steps and into the Captain’s quarters. Jaffery was already in there, holding Serena’s hand regaling her with the tale of the last harbor stop.

“Old Red was lighting up the joint.” Jaffery was saying. “Crazy fool was lobbing some long range cannons into the heart of the village.”

“He doesn’t mind a making a mess of it, does he"” Serena smiled up from the pillows not looking as pale as she did. Her ice blues landed on Aja then. “Heard it went well.”

“Yep.” Aja nodded with a soft smile. Then got a little more serious. “When we go again, we’re jist gonna take da damn box. So ya don’t wind up here again.”

“Sorry.”

“Stuff that, Rena.” Aja scolded. “Should’ve said something earlier.”  she tugged a chair to sit near Serena’s head. “Go and make yerself sick, when there was an easier way ta go about it.”

“Aye, Aye Captain.” Serena joked and Aja shook her head with an eye roll.

“Pain in da arse..” Aja muttered then laughed at the face Serena made at her. “Got a bit before we’re at the next location.” She said by way of getting back to the mission. “Ya need ta sit this one out too"”

“I should be alright.”

“I think Jaffery and I hit upon the right trick with that last one.” Aja thought it over. “Tranq ‘em, make da switch and get out.”

“It’ll work on the minor ones...” Serena started.

“I know. I know.” Aja said. “Jist sayin. Rather than waste time and energy on the minor ones. Jist tranq ‘em and get it.....” she stopped talking then as a thought struck her. “done.” Aja turned suddenly, exiting the cabin leaving behind a very confused Jaffery and Serena.

Aja was mentally kicking herself for not remembering this part of her plan sooner. She had become distracted in the fun of the three of them being together again. 

The rage that Aja kept tightly locked would soon be set free, to burn its way through the ones who had been responsible for creating it. It would burn them down where they stood with Aja holding the match. They wanted a powerful weapon, they would get one. She was quite sure they never intended for it to be aimed at them.

Aja went to the cargo hold to the back, smiling seeing the large black boxes that contained a special little weapon that Aja had cooked up one day, quite by accident but had a good idea how it could be used one day. That day was now. 

“Warren, Jarum!” she called for two of her strongest crew who came over instantly.

“Captain"” Warren quired once close enough.

“This box. I want each cannon loaded with its contents before we hit the next port.”

“Aye Aye, Captain.” they responded and got to work, calling the other crew members over. Aja got out of the way and went to check the other little surprise she had loaded on the ship. The Ippon Mirror Weapon. Alec and Aja had worked on making a portable version of the one that stood ready to defend Arcadian harbor if need be.

Going back up to the main deck she saw Jaffery standing there with his arms crossed, waiting for her to return.

“Care to share what the hell ya took off like that for"” he asked as she continued on to the Captains quarters.

“Tranq them.” Aja said to Jaffery as if that was supposed to remind him of what they had been talking about. “Nothing says we can’t tranq the whole damn villiage.”

“Have you gone daft"” Jaffery’s eyes about bulged out of his head.

“No.” Aja narrowed her eyes at Jaffery with a grin. “Have you?”

“How are we going to contain the gas to the town"” Jaffery asked.

“Serena and a bubble ward.” Serena who had been following along, nodded. “She only needs to hold it for a minute. So she won’t be over taxed.”

“And when we go in there"” Jaffery asked following Aja. “We’ll be knocked out too.”

“Ah, but that’s where ….” Aja reached into her cupboard and pulled out a spray can. “this comes in handy.”

“What is that"” Jaffery pointed at the metal canister Aja now held in her hand.

“A MEF special.” a bright smile was on her face as she looked at the canister in her hand.

“A what"!”

“A little gas mask that I had a very talented lady cook up for me months ago.”

Aja thought of the day she had asked Anya about making it. She hadn’t been sure it could be done, but it would be a far preferable solution than having to wear a bulking gas mask that could get hung up in tight spaces or impede her vision.

~~~~~~~~~~Flashback~~~~~~~~~
Aja thought back to the day she had spoken to Anya about this idea. She had come into her friend’s office and found her at her desk muttering about the hell of spreadsheets.

“Hey you.” Aja said as she sauntered into Anya’s office. “Do I need the heavy explosives or will a simple lighter do it"”

“Mm"”  Anya looked up, her hazel eyes hidden behind a pair of tortoiseshell framed reading glasses.  “I’m debating both, to be honest.  What brings you here today"  Not that I’m not glad to see you, that is,” she added sheepishly.

Aja held out a mug of coffee to Anya with a grin. One that Anya would know by now was always connected to Aja’s crazy idea mode. Anya took the coffee, eyeing up her friend, curious.

“I need yer pretty, pretty brain.” Aja grinned and plopped into the chair and sipped her coffee.

“I need it too, in my skull.  What do you need it for"”

“Is there a mask of some kind, that is invisible to anyone looking at a person, but that will filter out things like dust, pollen, ...gases"”  that third item was added in on a lighter tone, so not to overly alert her friend into worry mode.

“Da, there is a theory of an electrostatic filter, a casein-based suspension that would completely coat any foreign object and block its absorption into the body.”  She pondered the idea.  Aja likely recognized the gleam in her hazels as that signaling “Geek Mode”.

“Would that work on oh say.....sleeping gas"” Aja raised a brow and sipped her coffee, smiling a little slyly seeing the gleam of the geek mode. She knew she had piqued her friend’s interest in her question.

“Da, sleeping gas, any form of gas, as long as it can be breathed in, it can be filtered out.  The delivery system....”

“Something aerosol"” Aja suggested lightly, knowing enough from hanging around Anya to try to assist in the idea hatching.

”Da, da, that is possible.  The duration of the effect....”  She leaned back in her ergonometrically designed chair, and sipped at her coffee to aid in the thinking process.

“It would need to last....” Aja thought about the time frame she would need for the item in question. “At least an hour.” She provided her time frame. “Fer what I’m thinkin...I’m sure ya could use it fer other stuff...maybe little kidlets who have da sneezies or something.”

“It could be.  Allergies, da, that would work.  Riot control officers.  Six to twelve hours would be a workable timeframe to start with.”  Her gaze met Aja’s.  “I don’t want to know what you want this for, do I"”

“Uh.....I was thinking over Arcadian defenses. And while Parker does a good job with da wards and such. I was thinkin about what could get through..” Aja was a little dodgy, but not overly so about her answer. “and a gas could slip through...affect da entire town. I was thinkin of ways ta protect da guards and citizens. Something they could keep on their person.”

“Mm.  How long would I have to puzzle this out"”  She sipped more coffee.

“I don’t expect any imminent attacks. But within...“ Aja thought about it for a moment. “Say six months"”

“Six months.  Da, da, I can think on it.”  Which Aja well knew meant that the good Doctor would be working on the idea in the back of her thoughts while she did her daily routines until the Aha! moment when it could be implemented.

“Awesome.” Aja grinned then. “If ya need specialize canisters or something, I can have da metal shipped in from anywhere. Jist let me know what ya need.”

“You forget that I am also married to the Multiversal Merchant,”  Anya laughed softly.  “But da, I will let you know too.

“Yeah, I did forget dat.” she chuckled. “Jist thought that since ya wuz doin me a flavor” Aja’s sense of humor replaced the word favor with flavor, not that it would phase Anya at all. She was used to Aja calling things something weird. “And all...” Aja grinned. “I’ll make a donation ta Clinic then.”

“Flavor, mm"  You can bring over some of Maria’s peach dumplings the next time that you visit.”  She winked.

“Peach dumplings"”  Aja grinned wide. “Done. If I can keep Ricks out of ‘em.” Aja just smiled that warm grin about Rico’s love of Maria’s cooking. “He’s a hound fer her peach cobbler too.”

The conversation then went to matters of the hospital and the day to day operations of running businesses, with detours about the twins and their spoiling by their Aunty Aja and Uncle Rico along the way.


~~~~end flashback~~~~~

“Just how long have you been planning this"” Serena then asked of Aja. Serena had suspected that Aja had this plan cooking for a while, but months" It was starting to click into place for Serena that Aja probably had back up and contingency plans well in place. Which would explain why Red Eye had been so close earlier.

It was something that Jaffery hadn’t yet considered, but as Serena asked the question, it started to dawn on him.

“A while.” was all that Aja would say. “Here. You’ll need this.” she handed both Serena and Jaffery a cannister of the mask. “Just spray it all over your face.”

“How long will this last"”

“Six hours.” Aja answered simply and took a seat at the table. Sometime in the last hour a fresh pot of coffee had been made and brought to her quarters. She forgot how well the crew ran sometimes and poured herself a cup of coffee.

Jaffery sat down and poured himself a cup of coffee, then sat silently with Aja watching her as she stared out the window. It was then he noticed her left hand and the diamond ring now adorning it.

“When the hell did ya get engaged"” He asked suddenly startling both Aja and Serena who instantly perked and came over to inspect the ring.

“This is a nice piece, Aja.”

“Oh. Yeah. Thanks.” Aja gave Serena a smile then looked at Jaffery to answer his question. “Yesterday.”

“Yesterday.” Jaffery sat back and looked at her. “To the pirate.”

“Yes. Padriq.”

“One of the Kidd brothers"”  Serena asked curiously. “I’ve ran across Robert before. Please tell me you aren’t marrying someone like that, Aja.”

“No. Padriq is nothing like his brothers.” Aja laughed at the expression on Serena’s face. “Padriq is different. He’s fun, free spirited.” she paused and caught Serena’s eyes. “Hot.” Aja winked at Serena. “Fond of being clean also. In fact, he likes playin in da shower. The hot tub. The swimming pool.” Aja waggled her brows at her friend who giggled. Jaffery just groaned.

“I so didn’t need to know that.”  he grumbled.

“And we often don’t need to hear of your exploits, but you share them with us anyway.” Serena reminded Jaffery.

“Aye.” Jaffery conceded and then looked at Aja. “How did this pirate ask you anyway"”

“At my friends wedding.” Aja answered with a half smile. Yesterday seemed a world away already. She would have time later to ponder her weekend. For now, she had other concerns.

“Didn’t he object to this"”  Jaffery asked.

“He would’ve had be been told.” Aja didn’t dwell on just how much Padriq would be objecting to being left behind.

“You didn’t think he’d want to come with you?”

“Oh, I’m sure he would’ve wanted to.....” Aja sighed and Serena picked up on how much Aja didn’t want to talk about this now.

“Jaff, you know by now that if Aja wants something her way, she will have it her way.” Serena piped up. “Pick it apart later.”

“But....”

“Later, Neanderthal man.” Serena cautioned him with her tone of voice.

“Right. Later.” he finally gave up. Aja gave Serena a grateful look. The trio fell into silence then and mentally prepared for the next port. 

The Last Port—

The spells were deployed, knocking out the population of the port. When Serena finished containing it, Aja gave the signal to the Knave and crews from both ships went ashore. Jaffery couldn’t help but notice that Daltons landing crafts were identical to the ones that Aja’s crew used.

Once ashore, one crew split off and started putting the explosives in place, he lead his crew down to the dungeons where they found many prisoners. Ambrose did his part in reviving them. They then proceeded to lead them out of the dungeons as quickly as they could.

In the castle house, Aja and Dalton found the men they sought in a grand parlor room.  Mathis and Lussar, the lord of this manor.
Aja made a quick gem switch from Lussar’s neck. She also took a gem off the neck of Mathis, the moment she held in her hands, she knew this was yet another sort of demon spell. She could feel the evil exuding off the it. She wrapped it up in a flexible sword sheath she found in the room, which helped to dampen what she felt coming from it.

“Can ya lug him, Aja"” Dalton asked watching her struggle slightly with Lussar’s mass.

“I’ll manage.” she said stubbornly. Dalton shook his head and snapped his fingers, two of his men came and took the body of Lussar upstairs, Aja sighed. “I could’ve gotten him.”

“Before he woke up"”

“Hush.” Aja scolded with a slight smirk and helped him with Mathis.

They went into a room upstairs and proceeded to both the men in a chair by the windows overlooking the town. They used chains and rope to secure the men to chairs.  Dalton looked over at Aja applying a glue like substance to the chair then pressing Lussar onto it. He tilted his head as she repeated the process with Mathis.

“What are you doing"” he asked as he tighted the ropes.

“If they managed to undo anything else, they ain’t getting out of these chairs.” She said and held up the tube of adhesive. “This, goes right through clothes to the skin.”

“I don’t want to know how you came up with that idea.” Dalton said with a smirk.

“One of Tristan and Rico’s pranks.” Aja said. “One of them was similar to this.”

Aja’s men came to the room and gave her a thumbs up. Everything was set. Aja looked at Dalton then.
“Let’s wake them up.” she said as she looked out over the town, she saw that her men and Daltons’ were departing as planned with the prisoners that had been freed.

“Absolutely.” he said leaning then against the window edge staring at Mathis coldly.

Aja used some magically enhanced smelling salts to wake their prisoners. Who came around slowly. As soon as they were fully awake they started struggling against their bindings.

“Release us this instant or feel the wrath of our magic.” Mathis shouted.

“Nah.” Aja said and she took a similar lean to Daltons and looked at them both almost as if she were bored. “Yer not going anywhere but Hades today.”

It was then that Mathis and Lussar’s eyes went wide with recognition of who it was that held them captive.

“You’re alive.” Mathis’s shocked voice made Aja laugh coldly.

“Yep.” she shifted a little in her lean. “I don’t know who told ya I had died, but they done lied to you, dipstick.” she paused. “That pleases me.”

“The others will know that you yet live.” Mathis threatened.

“Yeah"” Aja mused lightly. “I don’t know who’s gonna tell ‘em that, since when we leave here, we’re blowing this whole port ta kingdom come.” She leaned in grinning a cold smile. “Ya two get a special front row seat ta da end of yer world.”

“You should have killed us while you had the chance, girly.” Lassar spat.

“I still have the chance, ya fat idiot.” she backhanded him as hard as she could, the specialize gloves she wore packing quite a punch. “Now. Shut up.” she retook her lean and looked over at Dalton. “Well. Up to you what happens to him.” she pointed to Mathis then. “Just leave him alive enough to witness their downfall.” she then moved to set up a tablet she had brought along for the occasion. She set the video recorder up so it was aimed at Lassar and Mathis.

She saw Dalton staring at Mathis. His eyes were cold, and that Mathis hadn’t taken his eyes off Dalton for one moment as she moved around. Dalton drew his knife and started cutting Mathis in various places, the screaming coming from Mathis was giving Aja a headache, but she’d live with it.

Dalton pulled a canister from his bag and poured it over Mathis which only made him scream louder.
“Oh fer da love of Zeus!” she said cuffing the back of Mathis’s head with one of her pistols...“Ya have done so much worse ta people. And listen to ya. Screamin like a woman.” she moved then and looked at Lassar who until that moment had escaped any pre-death torment. “And you.” she shot him in the knee making him scream out in pain as the plasma weapon burned through his leg. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten how many ya’ve had tortured.”

“You shall pay for this!” Lassar yelled making Aja chuckle coldly.

“Maybe. But it ain’t gonna be you and yours doin it.” she went to the metal door and blasted some shots in strategic places, welding it shut as the metal cooled and melted into the grooves of the door. “Dal" Ya ready"”

“I am.” he said after a moment. He looked at Aja then at Mathis. “Hand me your weapon.” he held out his hand and Aja did so without hesitation. Like Aja had done with Lassar, Dalton shot Mathis in each of his knees before giving the weapon back to Aja without another word.

Aja took it back and holstered it. She set up the repelling rigging and tosses the rope from the window. Dalton joined her, moving to go out first without a word. Aja knew later, he may have something to say, but for now, he was willing to follow her plan of leaving them alive.
Once he was on the ground, Aja got ready to follow, Mathis was still whimpering. Aja looked over at them both one last time catching their eyes. She smiled her brightest smile and dropped out of the window and out of their sight.

Once on the ground, Aja and Dalton made their way through the village. Aja noted the slight movements of the gas wearing off and nudged Dalton to move faster. She tugged off the radio from her belt.

“Rick" Everyone on board"”

“Aye, Aye Captain.” came his answer. Aja nodded as she climbed into the remaining boat. “Let’s go, Dal.” they started back to the ship as she pulled a remote out of her bag. She checked the setting and then pushed a button.

Explosions started to take down each building in the village. One by one like dominos they came down on each side of the street leading up to the manor castle. Dalton and Aja rode back watching the show. As they reached the Breeze. She nudged Dalton lightly.
“Here.” she said offering him a pair of binoculars which he took without a word. She held up the  remote a little and asked. “Any parting words"”

“No.”

“Ok.” both turned their attention back to the on fire village and the lone castle that remained. She hit the final button, a series of explosions could be heard and a deep rumbling sound, fire shot from the lower story windows enveloping the upper level. A final explosion rocked the castle and it came tumbling in on itself completely engulfed in flames.

The pair sat in the boat, watching the flames and then Aja looked at Dalton.
“Come on. We best get a move on. I know Ulric’s lurkin around somewhere.” Aja said and moved for the ladder to her ship.

“Don’t let the bastard catch you.” Dalton said and patted her shoulder.

“Not a chance in Hades.” she gave him a wink and started climbing. 

“Aja"” She heard Dalton call to her, she stopped midway on the ladder and looked back down at him.  “Thank you.”

“Anytime, Dal.” She gave him a smile and then got up the rest of the ladder to the Breeze’s deck.

~Trouble Appears~

When they got within two miles of the Arcadian wards, that was when Ulric appeared from a mist. Aja swore.

“The rat bastard’s upgraded from our last battle!” she said as she armed the weapons and shields aboard the Breeze. Ulric was not the only one who had upgraded, Aja’s love of all things new had led to the Breeze having some unique weapons and defense shields. “Defense mode, activated.” she said to Rico while glancing over the crew scrambling to man the battlements. Aja hit the com to the office at the Yards. “Incoming!”

Meanwhile, back in the Arcadia Ship Yard Office....

Tristan would be working at his desk at the office, double checking a few things when the incoming call came him. Getting him to snap his attention to the com that he knew came from Aja's ship, as well as it being in her voice.
"That is not good."  Muttering a few curse words as he moved to his feet without a second thought. Moving to the intercom that ran throughout the city.  "This is not a drill. Alpha team, get your asses to the shore and get the guns at the ready. Beta team, yer on standby to help with any injuries that come in. Delta team. You are to help with making sure the people in town stay safe. Omega team, yer on standby to help escort the any prisoners to jail." Clicking off the intercom, before he ran to his office again, grabbing his rapier and one of his guns. Then moved to join the others heading for the shoreline

And At the Lair...

As the alert came over the coms for the docks Padriq shifted up from the couch in the back room of the lair. He rushed through the back door and hooked at Trevor's collar right as he was about to make it around the bar and through the door. Pulling back the youth the pirate turned and growled to Trevor.

"Ye ge' Janan n' come wit' me nae."

When Trevor understood Padriq was serious, Janan was brought to Padriq who awaited in the Alley. The dune buggie Padriq was in was already started and revved up, ready to go while the getting was good. As both were strapped in, Padriq floored it, making his way to the back roads as quickly as possible. While he drove, a CB was flipped over to channel and Padriq came over the coms to the bunker where they'd most likely be getting ready for whatever Aja brought back with her.

"I 'ave Baby Bird n' 'is lady n' we be 'eadin' t' the safe 'ouse."

~On The Breeze~

The com was slammed back into its cradle and Aja took the helm, while Rico got the weapons systems on the helm deck locked in. She gunned the engines, propelling them faster towards the border. She wanted that ship in one piece, or as close to one piece as she could get it and the only way she could be sure of it happening, was if they were closer to the wards where they had shore back up.

The Gypsy Hunter gave chase as she knew it would, within a few feet of the wards border, Aja power slid the Breeze around to face the Gypsy Hunter. She threw the engine into reverse then drawing the Gypsy Hunter in closer.

“Are you out of your mind!” Rico yelled making her glance back, Rico was pulling one of the crew members back over the railing to the deck. He hadn’t been ready for the power slide and almost went overboard.

“No more than usual,  Ricks!” she yelled back taking a moment to enjoy the power slide move but then getting back to business.


Back on Shore....

Tristan reached the shoreline and move to take point. Waiting for the order to come across for what Aja wanted to do. " Oh I bet Rico's cursing up a storm now. " Watching the power slide move.

Upon waiting a few more minutes, then call came across..

The Breeze...

The Gypsy Hunter ship got closer and closer to the Breeze, Aja kept an eye on it and its distance from shore.
“That’s it ya arrogant son of a bitch. Come on in closer...” Aja muttering darkly watching the ship get closer and closer to the Breeze. “come on, closer...closer...that’s it...keep it coming...”  once it was close enough to Arcadian border wards, she hit the com. “Rock it!” You boys sink that ship, and I will have yer heads!” her order continued to the shore defense. “I want them alive!”



Back on Shore

That got Tristan to blink for a moment. " Well...Aim lower and rock that boat. Anyone sinks that ship. I'll save her trouble and shoot you on the spot! Open fire!"

Back On the Breeze

Aja fired the bow weapons at the opposite side of the Gypsy Hunter, both shots nearly capsizing the Hunter in the first strike. Aja’s next shot took out one of the masts. Splinters and chunks rained down on the Hunter crew. They returned fire with a similar hit to the Breeze mast, it rocked the ship, shaking loose a crew member from the crows nest. He got tangled up in the rat lines.
“Damn.” Aja muttered glancing up. “Rico! Take the bridge.” she turned controls to him and immediately started her climb to go help her crew member before the next shot could come and take him out.
“Hang on...” she said getting to the man, not really paying attention to who it was right away. She pushed the man up so he could grab the rat lines and untangle himself. “Let’s get down before...” as she was talking another shot from the Hunter sailed through hitting the lines, snapping them.
“Hold on!” Aja and her crew member swung like Tarzan, he managed to make the deck, Aja wasn’t so lucky. Her entire left side collides with the main mast, and then she fell to the deck on the same side.


She heard footsteps approaching her, Aja watched Warren as he came running over through narrowed eyes.
"Oooowwwwwch." she muttered.

"You ok, Captain"!" Warren asked frantically.

"Oh yeah, I'm jist ducky. My impression of a cannonball is coming along don't ya think?"

“You got blasted off the lines, Captain!”

“No shhit, Warren.” she tried to joke with the man so he wouldn’t fuss so much. “I think I wuz there.” she struggled to her feet. “Let’s get this done so I can find whoever just pulled that and kick the crap out of them, shall we"”

“Aye Aye Captain.” Warren went to man his station and Aja made her way back to the helm with some difficulty but she’d be damned if the injury was going to keep her from finishing this.

“Shoot the bow. Put a hole in ‘er Ricks.” she ordered once on the helm. She saw her ship take another hit and hung on while it shook. That was quite enough of that nonsense.

“Aye Aye.” Rico answered not looking at her which for now was the best thing. If he caught sight of her injured, he’d have hesitated. Instead he fired back with some specialized Ion cannons, they sliced through the magical defenses like butter and knocked a hole into the ship the size of a horse.

Aja grabbed the com.
“Get the salvage vessel out here. When I say fire, you sheer off that bow with the mirror weapon.”

“Aye Captain.” came the response from shore and then she switched to intercom.

“Ulrich! Ya got one chance at surrender!”

“To you?” came his answer, Aja was keeping her eye on the mirror weapon charging. “Never.”

“Yer funeral.” she answered then hit the com for on shore defenses. “Fire!” the mirror weapon activated and the laser made short work of slicing the bow off the Gypsy Hunter, making it lurch forward. Another hit to the intercom. “Surrender or I’ll cut ya and yer ship ta pieces, Ulric!”
She didn’t need an answer that time. She got it when all firing from the decks of the Gypsy Hunter stopped.
“We’ll tow yer vessel in. Ya all will surrender peacefully. Understood"” she called over with the intercom.


Aja grabbed the com.
“Get the salvage vessel out here. When I say fire, you sheer off that bow with the mirror weapon.”

“Aye Captain.” came the response from shore and then she switched to intercom.

“Ulrich! Ya got one chance at surrender!”

“To you?” came his answer, Aja was keeping her eye on the mirror weapon charging. “Never.”

“Yer funeral.” she answered then hit the com for on shore defenses. “Fire!” the mirror weapon activated and the laser made short work of slicing the bow off the Gypsy Hunter, making it lurch forward. Another hit to the intercom. “Surrender or I’ll cut ya and yer ship ta pieces, Ulric!”
She didn’t need an answer that time. She got it when all firing from the decks of the Gypsy Hunter stopped.
“We’ll tow yer vessel in. Ya all will surrender peacefully. Understood"” she called over with the intercom.
“You have a deal.” Ulric responded after a few tense minutes.

Aja nodded and shut off the intercom, she switched to com and instructed the salvage vessel what to do with this one. 

The salvage vessel came and hooked the Gypsy Hunter up, towing it slowly past the wards, to a specialized slip Aja had arranged for moments like these. The tow chains were switched to slip chains and was slowly pulled into a caged area. It was closed off from the rest of the port. A gate shut behind the vessel and an automated system raised up bringing the ship up out of the water and kept it from tilting.

Gangplanks came down and the crew of Gypsy Hunter off loaded. The Omega team guards moved in on Tristan’s order and took all the crew into custody. Ulric was escorted directly to the brig.

Rico got the Breeze into her slip and docked before he noticed that Aja was injured. Blood was running down her left arm to the deck of the Breeze and she was grimacing just to remain standing.

“Damn it!” He grabbed her before she fell over. “Why the hell didn’t you say anything"”

“We were busy.” she replied then passed out.

The door slammed shut behind her. She looked at the Ulric in the cage. A million thoughts going through her head. This was the man who was responsible for the deaths of so many of those she called friends. This was the man who tried to control her over and over again. Who tried to break her. This was the man who made her want to erase his type of evil off the planet. That anger helped her bury the pain for a while. Ulric stood coming closer to the bars.

“You haven’t aged a day.” he said as if nothing was amiss with the current situation. So sure of the power he held over people, he felt he had nothing to fear. Especially not from this thin slip of woman.

“You’ve aged years.” She said quietly at first then her voice grew in strength and harshness. “And shrunk.” Aja eyed him critically. “There was a time, you seemed ten feet tall to me. Larger and more imposing than anything I’ve ever seen. But now..” she stepped closer, the pain being overridden and stared straight at him surprising him with the look. “You are a mere annoyance. Something to be dealt with. Disposed of.” her cold tone of voice made him pause for a moment.

“You can’t harm me.”

“I can.” She said lightly as if speaking to any random stranger. “Will I" Not sure yet.”

“You don’t have the power.” he spat at her trying to rile her up.

“I think if you check yer current situation," Aja started still staring at him with an unwavering gaze. "You’ll see that I do.” She tapped the bars lightly, her eyes not leaving his. “You. In there." she smiled then. "Me. Out here. Seems as if I do.”

“A cage is no show of power.”

“Depends on which side of the bars yer viewing it from.” She said with a grin and then went to lean against the wall to take pressure off her leg. The casual lean also making her seem more intimidating to the man in the cage. “So. You came fer me." she held her hands out to the side for a moment with a smirk to the man in the cage. "Here I am.”

“You’re coming back with me.” He said in the same haughty tone, without preamble, Aja pulled a plasma pistol and shot him in the leg. His left, causing him tremendous pain as the plasma burned through it.

“Wrong.” her voice cut through his screams. “Try again.”

“You bitch!” he yelled at her.

“And then some.” She smiled wryly. “Now. Tell me what it is you came for, and I might let you live.”

“For you to come home.” he said a slight pant now very unsure of his power. In the cage, not even the simplest of spells seem to work for him. But he refused to show any fear. Not to her.

“I am home." Her answer was succinct. "Here. In Arcadia.”

“I came to take you where you belong.”

“Again." she said as if she was talking to someone stupid. "Here. In Arcadia.”

“With your family.”

“Wow. Yer dense." she cracked the thinnest of smiles. "Again. That’s here, in Arcadia." then her smile was back. "Oh...and one other place. Not that yer gonna live ta tell anyone else.” The smile dropped again, Aja looked at him with hard, cold eyes. “I have all I need or want here in Arcadia.”

“But you belong to us.” He said forcefully and Aja shot him in the other leg.

“I belong to me.” She stood watching him bleed with a smile. “And you shall bleed to death if you keep up your insistence that it’s any different.”

“More will come.” he threatened.

“More will die.” She retorted. “As we speak, the crew on yer ship is being offered new employment opportunities. Being offered a choice. To be free or remain in the service of the Quistguard. I’m betting that self preservation will win out over whatever loyalty you think they have fer you.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”


“I would. Hey...I am.” Aja leaned against the wall. “So. I’m passing judgment on you here and now. For past crimes." she watched as his eyes widened slightly. "You have been found guilty of kidnapping and torture of me.” She took a pause for effect and a cold smile very much like the one he gave her all those years ago when he tried to tell her that she would never be free of the clan. “The sentence is death.”

“You cannot do this.”

“I can. Yer on my turf now.” She stood up off the wall taking aim at Ulric. “Stand.” she commanded.

“You can’t shoot me.”

Aja smirked to that last defiance. It was all she needed to bolster her decision. She fired, hitting him in the head. He collapsed unceremoniously to the ground and Aja looked at him for a long moment, then holstered her weapon.

“Wrong again.” She said quietly. Aja stayed

It felt to her as if she had finally broken one more of the chains that held her down. One more piece of her past was dealt with and no one else had to die for her to get it down. It was the only way she wanted it done. For there to be no more losses at their hands.

She stuck a foot through the bars and kicked him. There was no movement, no breath. Once she was sure he was dead, she turned on her heel and opened the door.

Padriq, Tristan, Rico and Parker all snapped to attention the moment she stepped out of the brig. She saw the worry and the fear and it wasn't the expressions she wanted them to wear very often. It didn't suit the men she loved so much. Yet, there was something in Padriq, a stoic calm that tend to come when he knew she needed his support.

“Clean up on isle four.” She gave a thumb jerk over her shoulder with a slight smile trying to lighten up the mood.

“Did you beat him up"” Rico asked.

“Killed him.” It was a simple statement as she patted the pistol giving them more of a smile. She spent too much time hiding her feelings on the subject of the clan, and that move had her more at ease than any other that day. “It’s done. Crew handled"” she asked as casually as if she was asking about a delivery.

The men were stunned by the revelation and it took Rico a moment to answer. This wasn’t a side of Aja he had seen in years. The cold hunter. The last time he saw this side of her was after Tristan had been killed. Once she emerged back into the living world, she hunted down the men responsible for his death. Once the job was done, she stepped out of that role and it had been a long time since she had to be that way.

“They are.” Rico finally spoke relating the information she had asked for.
“Got them reassigned to somewhere else?” Another short question from her.

“Yes.”

“Good." that made her nod. "Cause as much as they want to be free, I don’t trust them at all, and I do not want them here.” She tried striding from the room, but the best she could manage was a proud limp, Parker followed her out, leaving all three men looking between her and the brig room in shock.

“Did she really..” Tristan trailed off on the question of whether or not she had killed the man.

Padriq stepped into the brig. “Aye, n’ ‘e nae look t’ ‘appy ‘bou’ i’..”

Serena and Parker had taken care of the destruction of the gems. The moment they were destroyed, Aja knew there was a shift in the control the Clan once held. Serena even said she could feel their hold being loosened.

Over the next few days, she got calls about former Clan strongholds being over run by rebelling “citizens” of the clan. They had done it. The Clan were now the hunted. They now feared for their lives and were hiding out like they had caused so many to do over the years. It was something that Aja had once only dreamed about.

The crew from the Gypsy Hunter had been given choices of where they wanted to go. She was granting most of them their freedom. There were four crew members that she knew couldn’t be released into an unsuspecting population and they were dealt with in the same fashion as Ulrich was. Jaffery took care of them for Aja, knowing that she had done enough and he too had his own scores to settle.

Serena and Jaffery had gone to Arcasa a day later, taking a much needed vacation. Meanwhile, Maria was making her crazy with the over mothering, Anya came by to scold her about being injured and not calling her right away and while Parker’s daily visits to heal her were helping a lot, to the point where she could move around without any pain at all now, however, his constant presence was a reminder of how she got injured and the limitations she’d had and would likely have for a couple more days. Despite his and Anya’s attempts at speeding the process.

She returned to the office later that week. Tristan was in his office, lingering tonight to make sure Aja was alright. Lacey would understand work coming first. He at least hoped she would anyway.

Aja took a moment before walking up the stairs. She paused by Tristan's office then came to lean in the doorway looking at him sitting there at the desk.

"Yer here late." She said calmly. "Didn't ya have a date with Lacey or something?"

“I did." he said closing a file. "Told her I'd be late."

"What did you go and do that fer?" Aja asked confused. "The ship is being cleared. Should be ready to start stripping down tomorrow. No reason fer ya ta linger 'round fer that.” She said conversationally as she stepped over to the drink cart and poured herself a drink. She slowly turned and looked at Tristan.

"I didn't stay for that, Aja." he said watching her.

“I know you have questions, Tris." She sighed a little as she took a lean near the window and stared out at the Gypsy Hunter. "And I really do want to answer them, but not right now.”

“It’s ok, Aja. I understand. It was a hard day for you.” He slowly stood up, setting the brandy down on the coffee table and walked over to her. “I know your past is hard for you to revisit.”

“I put it all in the past.” she said. “I did what I had to do.” She looked at him thinking of the recent mission. “I did what I thought was best. I fought them piece by piece.”

“Rabbit.” He used the old nickname as he raised a hand to rub her arm lightly. “It’s ok.”

“Yer always having to understand. All of ya. Rikki and ..” she tok a moment to think of her scruffy pirate. “Padriq.” She sighed. “I hate that more than you know.”

“When I met you, I knew that our relationship would not be an easy one.” he chuckled then giving her a smile. "And I knew when we decided to be divorced that a part of me would always worry about you. Lacey understands that."

“But I don’t like it being like this.” she stepped away from him. “My past popping up, becoming this thing that does little more than worry the people in mah life" ” She paced in small space of his office.  “And this ....crap I’ve been living with forever.” She looked at him then. “I don’t know how y’all put up with me.”

“Because you know it’s there and you fight it.” He said watching her. “You don’t forget for a moment that others weren’t as lucky as you were.” She stopped when he said that and nodded at him.

"Suppose yer right." she said almost too quietly, but his enhanced hearing had picked it up. "Ya take that girl some flowers fer makin her wait on ya tonight. Ya hear?" Aja said louder with a smile.

"I know how to make a girl feel special, Aja. I don't need help even though I was dead for twenty years." Shot back at her as he moved to head out of the office. " You head home and spend time with Pad!"

“Shut up and go on, would ya!” Aja called after him.

Shaking his head as he headed home, with a stop to get those flowers.


~End of the Mission SL~
Days that follow to come.

((Thank you for coming along with Aja and for your support!))