RPG Pirates of The Devils Rose! [M]

[Akieen Cloud]

Vey shivered slightly as the wind blew, she leaned her head against the wheel and sighed. Placeing a hand over her ear she brought the newly made reed flute to her lips and tested the sound.
"Perfect..."
She begun to play a tune that Heero recgnized.
"Where did you learn that?"
Vey stopped and looked up shocked.
"Um...M-My mother taught it to me when we were caught. She sadi that the song would give anyone who heard it a sence of pride and hope...I thought Katrina could use to hear it."
"You respect her?"
"Of corse! Why wouldn't I?"
Heero shrugged.
"Captin, do you think I'm to childish?"
Vey looked at Heero and as he looked down she began to play the tune again, loud, clear and beautiful.

[Heero Darkangel]

Heero looked at her and then turned his attention back to the on coming Island

'Sometimes...but you be who you want to be, it's what makes us all unique in our own ways,' smiled Heero, Vey smiled and began playing the tune again...Heero liked that tune

He took The Devils rose as close to the shore as he could and Cliff dropped anchor, they all grabbed some supplies and loaded them into two row boats, got in and rowed to shore, Heero rowed one boat and Cliff rowed the other. They reached shore and unloded the row boats, Katrina lit up the lamps and placed them around a small area so they could set up camp,

'It's so warm here,' said Vey

'On the islands it always is, and because we're in a cove...there won't be any wind,' said Heero as he started up a fire, Cliff then put on a pot to make them some hot drinks,

As they all sat around the fire, something brought a cold shiever to Heero's back, he turned around and looked up at the shrubs and trees

'Whats wrong?' questioned Jericho noticing Heeros agitation

'Shhhh....we're being watched...and that could only mean one thing,' whispered Heero as he slowly brought his had up to his sword

Jericho and Cliff then slowly put their hands to their guns and searched the shrubs from where they sat trying to see any sign of movement in the dark

The two girls also had their hands on their weapons waiting....waiting

Heero pulled at his gun which was straped to his leg and cocked his head slightly...suddenly he spun around and shot into the shrubs, at that moment there was a loud cry of pain and suddenly a group of Rebel Pirates stormed out from behind the shrubs

'OH SHIT!,' exclaimed Jericho as he began firing along with th others, Heero ran towards the on coming Rebels and drew his sword and cut through most of them...but they just kept coming and coming, Heero knew that they were going to get caught but he wasn't going without a fight as he used his fists and sword

[Galvatron]

" Oh come on this is a bit ridicules... hey watch it your take some one's eye out." yelled Jericho as he narrowly dodged a sword. Cliff managed to kill the rebel who was attacking Jericho.

" Watch your self or youll be dead." Cliff told Jericho.

" Easier said than done ." Jericho said as he loaded his pistol.

Jericho began fire a couple of shots of at rebels who just keep comming out of know were. Ever minuet Jericho had to reload and that just lead to more rebel's comming closer.

" Damn it , just end this nightmare." yelled Jericho as he resorted to using his sword.

Jericho's skills with a sword were just average, he was getting knocked around easily.

" Ughh...I don't know if can last any longer." said Jericho as he hit the ground !

[Heero Darkangel]

OOC: Vash IDK wont be posting for a while and i don't know when she will be able to..so her character can be controlled by anyone

IC: Heero looked over his shoulder to find Jericho had been caught

'LET ME GO!' yelled Jericho as he tried to break free but they tightened their grip on his arms

Heero turned back around to find a whole heap of guns aimed at him and he lowered his weapons as they apprehended him and the others, they tied them up with their hands behind their backs and put them into a line

'So who's the leader?' questioned a man walking out from behind the shrubs

'I am,' growled Heero as the man walked right up to him and looked him up and down

'You're a bit young aren't you?' questioned the man

'That maybe but I'm tall enough to do this,' smiled Heero as he head butted the man in the nose and breaking it, blood poured down the mans face as he stumbled backwards

'AARRKKK...you little bastard!!!,' roared the man as he back handed Heero across the face, Heero snapped his head back around to stare the man in the face, Heero then laughed

At that moment a girl rushed out from behind the shrubs, she stood well over six feet and was very stocky, 'OH HOW CUTE!!!,' she exclaimed as she ran towards Heero and Jericho

'OH...HEL!,' yelled Jericho as Heero stood in shock, she then grabbed Jericho by the cheeks and sqeezed them, he quickly pulled his reddened face free, she then walked over to Heero

'Touch me and you'll find yourself kissing your own arse!' growled Heero, she frowned for a second and then smiled

'OH YOUR CUTE WHEN YOUR ANGRY!!!,' she exclaimed picking up Heero and sqeezing the life out of him and then she dropped him on the ground

'Oh...shit,' he gasped

'Daddy can I have them please...can i have them!,' she begged childishly as they realised that the man was their leader

Heero slowly stood up after catching his breath back

'You can have that one,' he hissed poking Jericho with his gun

'OH HELL NO!!,' roared Jericho

'and as for their leader he goes to the torture chambers, the two girls come with me and the big one goes to the pit,' snarled the leader

At that moment the girl hoysted Jericho up on to her shoulder with ease

'PUT ME DOWN VILE BEAST...OH GOD STRIKE ME DOWN!!!!,' yelled Jericho as the girl laughed

Heero was then knocked to the ground and dragged to the torture chambers, while the two girls went with the leader and Cliff went to the pit

Heero was hung in the torture chambers by his arms only a few inches off the floor, he was then stripped naked at that moment the leader walked in

'Now you will pay for what you did,' hissed the leader as he held a cloth to his nose and he nodded at a man standing behind Heero, 'Give him twenty whippings,'

'So you can count..' hissed Heero sarcastically

'FOR THAT REMARK GIVE HIM ANOTHER TEN!!,' roared the leader as he stormed out of the chambers

Heero tried to look over his back to see where the man was but at that moment he heard the cracking of the whip and an extreme pain serged through his body over and over and over again, gritting his teeth and trying to hold back the cries from the whippings, blood dripped from his body and formed a pool on the floor below him

'You can

[Akieen Cloud]

Vey bit into the rope holding her hands together as Katrina watched.
"What are you doing Vey?"
"What does it look like? I'm getting out and I'm going to find Heero. I just have a bad feeling that he's hurt."
Vey bit into the rope again and agian till she knawed all the way through. SHe tosseda dagger to Katrina.
"Look, you go and find Jericho, I know your worried about him...I'm gonna go find Heero and then we'll get Cliff and get outta here. Savvy?"
Katrina nodded and Vey smiled.
"Don't let us down mate."
She tore from the room and down the halls following her insticts. She saw a door open and two men come out one held a bloody whip.
"Poor bastard, you think he'll die?"
"If not from infection then from starvation. WHat do you think the captin will do wth the women?"
"Probably give em to the crew..."
Vey watched as they walked down the hall and slipped into the room they exited, she stopped dead in her tracks and cried out.
"HEERO!"
SHe grabbed a blanket and ran to him throwing it around his exsoposed body. Cuttin him down she caught him and landed on her knees. SHe cradled him against her and sobbed.
"Heero, wake up mate...wake up please wake up...we need you everyone on the ship needs you. Please wake up please..."
She rocked back and forth till the door opened and Jericho, Cliff and Katrina peeped in. Katrina's eyes softened.
'Lets wait for a minute..."
Jericho looked at her and frowned.
"we don't have a minute."
"We'll make one."
Vey brushed the bags from his face and hoisted him onto her back.
"Lets go."
SHe ran behind the others and headed for the Devils Rose.

[Heero Darkangel]

Cliff saw that Vey was struggling with the lifeless body of Heero, He then stopped and looked at her

'Give him to me,' he smiled, Vey let Cliff carry Heero which made it easier on her, she noticed that the blanket was bloodied from the deep gashes

'Man isn't he going to be pissed when he wakes up,' whispered Jericho as they stealthly made their way around the Rebel village, 'Why don't we wipe these bastards out?'

'Did you not learn from the before...there's too many of them,' whispered Katrina as they duck down behind some barrels as Rebel guards walked passed

At that moment the leaders daughter bellowed out across the village

'FATHER.....HE"S GONE!!!,' she wailed

'They've escaped!!!' called out another rebel

At that mament Heero stirred in Cliffs arms

'Oh....shit...' he mumbled under his breath

'hey your alright...' smiled Vey as Cliff sat Heero on the ground

'argh...my back,' whispered Heero as he looked around and then tried to stand but then noticed that he only had a blanket wrapped around him, 'oh shit,'

'yeah they tore up your clothes,' said Vey, 'So I wraped a blanket around you,'

'You...saw....' he said in shock as he looked at her and watched as her face turned amber red, he then looked around and sighed, looking down at his naked chest he noticed his fathers medallion missing, 'That bastard took my medallion!!!,'

'He's got all our gear,' said Jericho as he peered over the barrel and watched the rebels run around madly, looking down he noticed that the barrels were filled with gun powder, 'Now tell me..what fools leave gunpowder laying about like this?'

They all looked at each other

'These fools,' smiled Vey

'I have a plan,' said Heero weakly, 'spreed out the gun powder in lines but we need to create a diversion before we can do that so we can get our gear back...we're going to teach these bastards to never fuck with the Pirates of the Devils Rose,'

'Ok, I'll spreed out the gunpowder,' said Jericho

'And we'll create the diversion,' smiled Katrina

'Cliff and I will get our gear back,' smiled Heero as he wraped the bloodied blanket around his hips

'You should sit this one out Heero, your in no shape to do this,' said Cliff

'I'll be alright Cliff, my whippings are the least of our problems,' said Heero as they then split up

[Akieen Cloud]

Vey smiled as she thought of many ways to divert the priates but one caught her eye imediantly.
"He has Heero's medallion...that means alot to him..."
"Vey, don't do anything stupid."
"Shutup Katrina. I know what I'm doing."
Vey slinked behind the barrels and caught the one with Heero's medallion around his neck.
"Don't you know it's not nice to take thing that don't belong to you?"
"What?"
Vey turned his head shrpely snappign his neck. Katrina watched as vey slipped the medallion off his neck and onto her own hideing it under her shirt.
"Lets do this."
Katrina nodded and followed Vey as she moved silently through the ship, Vey turned and looked at her.
"You stay here, your not quiet enough for this."
"I can be."
"No, your no theif, Heero's already hurt, I don;t think we need you injured as well."
Kartian nodded.
"What are you planning?"
"You'll see, I think you had best go and find Heero and help them, once I do what I have to here you all will need to run."
"What do you mean 'we'? Your coming too."
Vey nodded and shoved Kartina down the hall torwads where Cliff and Heero left.
"Go."
Vey watched as Katrina ran down the way they came and sighed. She slipped past the gaurd and into the girls room, she smiled.
"I knew it, gunpowder, every where. And just as I thought, mine and Katrina's gear. They make this way to easy."
She beagn to spread the gunpoweder around the room and grabbed her and Katrian's gear and lit the powder running down the hall she saw Heero and the others jump off and into the water. She slowed down and thrw the things in her arms to the others.
"Come on! That thing is gonna blow in a matter of seconds!" called Katrina.
Vey took a deep breath and ran back she had something to do first. She ran as fast as she could till she found the man with the whip.
"You bloody brat, I'll kill you."
Vey screamed as the whip gashed her cheek and her body over and over agian. Her eyes turned dark with anger as she felt what Heero had gone through.
"No more..."
She pulled the pistol from her belt and fired between his eyes. Smileing grimly as he dropped dead to the floor she realized the she still had Heero's medallion.
"Oh, shit!"
She turned and began to run back to the dock as the ship shook with her diversion. She felt the heat of the fire and flug her-self off the other side and into the water as the ship exploded fliging her far into the water. SHe swam to the bottom and spread her hands turning she watched with satisfaction as the ship burned. She kicked off the sand and broke throught the surface and began to swim back for the island. The salt bunred her eyes, wounds and burns but she knew she'd live, she had to find the others and check on Heero. And give him back his medallion. She reached the shore and fell onto the warm sand and passed out.

[Heero Darkangel]

Heero, Katrina, Cliff and Jericho found Vey, she was just getting up off the sand

'Vey?' whispered Heero as he bent down, she looked up at him, he noticed that she had deep gashes that had torn through her clothes, one gash went across her cheek blood oozed from it along with the rest, 'Those bastards,' he whispered as he looked at her

'Heero,' she smiled as she took off the medallion and handed it to him, a sense of peace fell over his face as he took it from her

'Thank you,' he smiled at her warmly then stood up and helped her off the sand, they looked back on the exploding village

'BURN BABY BURN!!,' roared Jericho as they all watched on

'Now we need to find The Devils Rose,' said Heero

'Ah...I think she's already found us,' smiled Cliff looking out at the sea, they all turned to look and saw her floating not to far from them

'She really is alive,' whispered Katrina

They took a row boat and rowed it back to the Devils Rose where she awaited them.

'We'll examine the Callesteria Ghost in the morning,' said Heero as they got back on the ship,

'I'll put on a nice hot meal,' smiled Cliff

'Katrina you help Vey with her wounds,' said Heero

'What about yours?' asked Katrina

'I can do mine,' smiled Heero weakly and he walked into his quarters, he sat on the edge of his bed with the blanket still wrapped around his waist and gritting his teeth as he tried to clean the deep gashes, 'Damn those bastards,' he whispered

[Vash IDK]

Katrina had finished cleaning Vey's wounds when she heard a large fall from the otherside of the hall. She set Vey's head down on the pillow and ran to the other room.

When she got there, she saw a bandaged Heero over a knocked out Jericho.

"Crap, what did you do now Heero!" Katrina said as she rolled her eyes and went over to Jericho.

"Reflexes. It's a bad habit." he said as he knelt down as well.

"Reflexes? That's a new one." she laughed. She lifted Jericho's head up and looked at the poor man.

"Refreshments all around please miss." he said before he passed out again.

She laughed again. "Help me get him onto the cot will ya Heero."

Heero lifted Jericho up onto the bed while Katrina tucked him in. "He should sleep soundly tonight thanks to your quick reflexes."

Heero smiled and sat down. The bandaging job was done poorly.

"Who's handy work is that?" she asked looking at Heero.

"Mine."

"Well, you can sure use a lesson."

"That's what Jericho said before reflexes took over."

Katrina smiled. "Well there are some things even wise Jericho can't handle." She repositioned some of the bandages so they were on more securely. "Just a readjustment." she smiled

"How's Vey?" Heero asked.

"She's fine considering what she went through." Katrina frowned again. "I never gave you my answer Heero. I want to stay here. I know my duty now. And having a sense of duty gives me the purpose I strive for each day."

"I wouldn't want it any other way." he smiled. "You're a good pirate, and a reliable one at that."

"Thank you." she said again. She was walking out when she saw the medallion covered with Vey's blood. She picked it up and cleaned off the stains with her shirt. "Here." she tossed it to Heero. "Some things are more valuable than life itself. Take better care of this next time. It's rare that those you lose can leave you something to remember them by." and she walked out of the room.

[Akieen Cloud]

Vey groaned as she regained what little consiousness she had found.
"Ow...I can't move without hurting...hurt...Heero!"
Vey sat up quickly and fell on the floor dizzy and weak.
"What the hell?"
Blood dripped on the floor from her cheek and she remebered the whip.
"Oh, Yea...I wonder if Heero's ok."
She stood with the help of a wall or two and walked outside, not seeing anyone she limped to the wheel deck and sat down, she took the reed flut from her poket and checked the sound.
"Perfect...as always."
She placed a bandaged hand over he ear, she could hear fuzz but nothin more than that at the moment. She took a deep breath, placed the flute to her lips and began to play. The melody was long and sweet, a song that made a person relax and forget the pain they felt. Tears fell from her closed eyes as she played and remebered her father, she had reconized that ship. They were the ones that killed her family and crew. The tune turned sad and she felt her heart fill with a sence of pride that she had fulfilled her plan to kill them all. With out knowing it she began to play the tune that Heero liked and she played it over and over till she fell asleep right there at the wheel deck, her hand clenched around the flute.

[Heero Darkangel]

Heero slowly walked out onto the deck to find Vey asleep by the wheel deck, he had heard the melody and he smiled, he walked over to her and lifted her up, blood stained his bandages as he took her into his quarters and put her on his bed, it was too far from him to carry her back to her own quarters because of his wounds, it was bad enough that he had to pick up Jericho.

'Sleep well Vey,' he spoke as he pulled the covers over her grabbed a thick wollen jacket and slowly slipped it over his body, he groaned at the pain and then walked out back up to the wheel deck. Katrina then bursted out from below the deck looking for Vey

'VEY!,' she called

'I found her out here she was asleep so i took her into my quarters, she's ok,' smiled Heero as he looked at Katrina

'I woundered where she had gotten to,' said Katrina as she walked up beside Heero, 'So where you gonna sleep?'

'I'll stay up here, just incase,' said Heero sternly as he looked around, 'and besides i can't lay down to good,'

Heero's eyes darted around searching the mist, his mind couldn't rest knowing where they were, he hated this place as he remembered what had happened to them when they were caught, he remembered how badly his father was tortured for doing the samething as what he had done to the rebel leader, it sent a shiever down his spine, he had only endured the first step of the rebels torture while his father had endured more

[Vash IDK]

"Are you okay, Heero?" Katrina asked looking at him.

He looked back over to her and tried to smile. But he couldn't.

"What's wrong?"

"Everything." he said softly.

Katrina laughed a little. "Again, being a little too general. A bit of details would be nice."

Heero looked at her and shook his head. "I just went through the same thing my father went through Katrina. But what he went through was worse."

She was silent for a while. "It's not easy thinking about the pain someone you loved has gone through. Especially-"

"When you have only felt a fraction of the pain they experienced.." Heero finished.

Katrina frowned. "Heero, your father was known not only for his skills and his victories, but he was also known for his nobility, and his kindness. People talk about him to this day."

Heero looked at her. "You've heard stories about my father?"

She laughed. "Heard them? He was the man my Captain strived to be like. There were countless stories about your father. I finally had the privledge to meet him when we both docked at the same village."

Heero smiled. "You met him?"

"Yes, and but all he could find to talk about was your mother. He clearly loved her very much. I asked him about her, and that's when he told me she had died. This was all maybe a year or two ago. I had just started my career as a pirate."

"You never told me how you became a pirate." he said

Katrina laughed. "Well by accident, that's for sure. The pirates had invaded our passing boat. The captain of the ship I was on asked me, knowing I had skills with a sword, to protect his ship while he sent reinforcements. So I agreed and defended the ship to the best of my abilities. I killed nearly 10 pirates, and no one had come. I found out later that the captain had left me on my own. Being Royally PO'd, I decided to just hack it. So I charged at the Pirates, thinking I was going to die, and decided to just go for it. The captain, Jorach, had seen me in action, and I don't know, felt pity? Maybe pity. Anyway, he wanted me to become a part of his crew. I agreed, mainly because I had nothing else to do. But it became a way of life for me. I strived to learn as much as I could in every department."

"And the fellow shipmates didn't mind there was a girl on board."

"I'm sure some did have a problem, but none of them were man enough to ask me about it." she smiled and Heero laughed.

"Well, that's one interesting story. Probably be hearing stories like that about you someday."

"Nah, I'd rather keep to being a part of the crew. Too much responsibility. Only certain people can master a ship."

Heero stared out into the ocean. "Am I fit? Am I fit to be Captain just because my father was a Captain?"

Katrina went silent again. She smiled. "Ask her." she said as she patted the boat.

Heero looked at the boat and smiled. "Well, I guess that's my answer then."

[Akieen Cloud]

Vey felt warm and safe where ever she was at, she smiled as she woke she had dreamed that her and her family were together and that everyone in the crew was safe. She sat up slowly and maoned as pain raced iver her body like needles.
"Damn...It's morning. Best see if anything needs done."
She rose and blinked.
"Th-This isn't my room...Heero."
Se smiledas she heard the familiar sound of his voice.
"Lets get under way, I think we're all ready to get outta here!"
Vey limped from the room and directly over o the sails and griped the rope tight, a shadow covered her and she looked up into the kind face of Cliff.
"You should be in bed child."
"So shoulf Heero. He's worse off then I am."
"That would seem f he had been burnt like you."
"I'm fine Cliff."
To prove her point she wrnched the rope back releaseing the sail and stood on shaky legs. She looked back at Heero and smiled.
"All set here captin!"
"Vey? You should be lieing down!."
"So should you but your stubbron, I'm just determined."
SHe limped over and handed Heero a sack of what looked like leaves.
"Healing properties. It'll dull the pain, mother taught me."
She limped back to the front of the ship and placed the reed flute to her lips and begane to play, the sound lifted through the air making the day seem a little brighter.

[Heero Darkangel]

Heero looked down at the sack and then placed them in his pocket, At the warm sun beamed down on them Heero spun the wheel and headed towards the Callesteria Ghost which they could see half of it sticking out from a distance.

They dropped anchor beside it and Heero jumped down from the wheel deck and walked over to the side and peered over

'What are we going to do?' questioned Jericho as he too looked over along with the others

Heero then took off the baggy shirt he wore

'What are you doing?' questioned Cliff as they watched him pull out the leaves and place them on the shirt

'Jericho and I will go down and investigate,' said Heero

'But you can't....' exclaimed Vey but before she could finish Heero leaped off the side and into the water....suddenly he let out a yell and they quickly rushed to the side to find him clinging to the anchor chain

'I was going to warn you that it will hurt you gashes!,' called Vey, Heero looked up at her and raised an eyebrow, he gripped the chain tightly as the stinging went away

'Pains gone now!,' he called back

'I told you that you were stubborn!!,' exclaimed Vey as Jericho leaped off the deck and into the water

'AARRGGHH shit!...it's bloody freezing!!!,' yelled Jericho

'You'll get use to it,' said Heero as he swam passed him and dove under the water, Jericho followed, They searched along side the ship and found chest and other bits from the ship, they then found a way in and swam through it and they came up inside the Callesteria Ghost, they quickly got out of the water and looked around

'Hey we're standing on the wall....freaky' smiled Jericho as they made their way to the door which seemed to be on the roof but it was only the way the ship had sunk which made everything seem strange

'So what exactly are we looking for?' asked Jericho as they climbed up into the next cabin

'Anything you can find that maybe useful to us,' replied Heero as he helped him up

'I saw some huge chests...why haven't those rebels grabbed them?' asked Jericho

'They don't like to get wet so we'll take them,' laughed Heero, 'They hate having baths so they have a once a year bath, thats why they stink,'

Jericho laughed but cringed at the thought of having a yearly bath as they climbed up into another cabin

'We need to get to the Captains quarters which should be out on deck,' said Heero

'So do you have any idea where we are?' questioned Jericho as they stopped to look aroung

'I'm guessing we're on the second lower deck from the top...so we need to find the corridor,' replied Heero

'Ok cool,' said Jericho as they carried on and came out into the corridor,

'now lets go to the captains quarters' said Heero as they walked along the walls

[Akieen Cloud]

Vey shook her head as the boys left and looked around.
"Katrina can you keep a lookout for me and tell me when they coem back?"
"Sure. But why?"
"Hey I need a bath and a good hair wash. Tell Cliff not to looke on the straboard side."
Vey grabbed a blanket and a bar of lye soap and flung off the edge of the side.
"WHOA! Jericho wasn't kidding this is frezzing..."
SHe striped out of her clothes and took a deep breath and dove under coming back up shiverign, she washed her clothes first then proceeded to wash her-self and hair. She wadded to the shore the blanket wrapped around her for warmth and to dry. Her hair plastered to her head like a black cap she looked out at the Devils Rose. Her clothes were spread about her drieing in the sun that broke from the clouds. She smiled despite her wounds and leaned back closing her eyes. WHen she opened them she blinked twice at a rodent face and screamed. The thing rushed back into the bushes.
"No, No, sorry, come on out...I won;t hurt you..."
A small head poked from the bushes and Vey blushed.
"Aww, your so cute..."
The ferret slinked up her arm and nuzzled her cheek.
"You were someone's pet before, I can tell."
She stroaked the tan and black fur gently giggling as it purred.
"well I better be getting back..."
She looked at the ferret and sighed.
"come on."
The thing buried it-self in her pants poket as she picked them up and sliped them on.
"Heero won't be pleased but he'll live...I seem to be thinking of him alot here lately...."
She sliped the shirt over her head and winced slightly at the pain. SHe wadded back into the water and swam to the ship hauling her-self on board as Katrina looked over.
"Good timing they're coming back."
Vey nodded and hoisted the creature to her shoulder.
"What is that?"
"I dunno but he's freindly and I think he'll keep me some company on this voyage...right, Spaz?"
The ferret crawled al around her body and perched it-se;f ontop of her head.
"Good, now Lets help the boys aboard and see what they found ne?"
Katrina nodded. Vey looked over at the paople approaching the ship.
"Katrina...I hate to be the bearer of bad news...but, those aren't our mates mate!"
"What!"
"More rebles! Get ready, we gotta keep them off the Devils Ros enad where there are a few there be more to follow."

[Vash IDK]

3 of them came charging at her. Katrina drew her sword and stood ready. "Go find Heero, Vey!! Tell him and Jericho to get up here quickly!!"

Vey nodded and ran down the way. She needed to find Heero..

The rebels came toward her, swords ready. She charged at one of them and fought him to the side of the ship. One came behind her and she pulled out her dagger and stabbed him in the leg as she continued battling the other. 4 more came on ship, and she sliced the arm off of one, and gutted the next. She held her own for as long as she could, but soon the ship was overtaken by rebels. 10 of them surrounded her, but she never dropped her sword.

"It's over girl. The Devil's Rose is ours. And everything with it." he said as he smiled. "Put the sword down."

Katrina raised her sword and glared at the man. "Not as long as I'm alive."

"Well, that can be arranged. Would have preferred it that you would have been more cooperative. But no matter."

4 men came up behind her and grabbed her. She struggled for a while and clutched her dagger. She gutted the one directly behind her, and the other 3 backed off as quickly as the man fell.

"The little-"

"Not another word." she said as she held the dagger and pulled out a second one.

"Get her!" he yelled.

5 of the rebels came at her and she used her daggers to stab each one. The blood spilled on the deck, and the ship started rocking to and fro. She turned around to see what was happening, and a sword stuck her in her stomach. She screamed in pain as she fell to the floor. The Rebel who had spoken to her knelt over her and brushed the hair from her eye. "Such a waste." he took her blade from her hand and put it against her neck. "But this is what you chose."

"I'll see you in hell then." she said, the anger burning in her eyes.

"Foolish girl... this is hell."

He started slitting her throat when she moved back, causing the sword to stick into her even more so, and flew the second dagger into his chest.

The man in front of her collapsed. The rebel in back of her suddenly pulled the sword out from her stomach causing her to scream in pain again, and she fell to the floor as the other rebels started falling around her. Vey had found Jericho and Heero.

Jericho ran to Katrina after the rest had been dealt with. "She's hurt Heero!" he screamed.

Heero ran over to her and looked at the wounds. "CLIFF!!" Heero yelled.

Just then, they heard Vey scream. Jericho ran to figure out what happened, and he found Vey staring down over a fallen Cliff. He had been stabbed, and was bleeding heavily. "Cliff!!!" Jericho leaned over the man and felt his vital signs. He was alive, but barely. "Tell Heero that Cliff is dying." Jericho told Vey. Vey nodded and ran outside.

Heero was kneeling over Katrina trying to stop the bleeding. He knew something was wrong with Cliff when Vey came running. "What happened???" he said

"Cliff, he's bleeding badly, Heero.." Vey said as she tried to hold back the tears.

Heero's eyes went wide. "No..." he said softly. He looked down at Katrina and held her as the life was leaving her too. He bent his head down and closed his eyes. The tears streamed as he held her. "NO!!!!!!" he screamed.

[Akieen Cloud]

Vey wiped her tears away and planted a firm hand on Heero's shoulder.
"Heero I can save them. I need a needle and thread, Jericho I need you to go to the kitchen and look behind the third barrel on the left, behid it you'll find a sack of what looks like wheat and barley, bring that to me, than I need you two to get Cliff over here as soon as possible."
They did as she was told and she soon had Katrina bandaged and stichted up as well as Cliff.
"Great now, Jericho you get Katrina to her quarters and me and Heero will get Cliff to his."
Jericho nodded and picked up Katrina gently as Heero and Vey did same to Cliff. Vey than went to the kitchen immedenatly and begane to boil the contents of the sack into a broth. Pouring into two cups she handed one to each boy.
"Jericho, make her drink this, Heero you do same to Cliff."
They both nodded and left Vey in the kitchen. She looked at the floor and slid down the wall sobbing.
"I should have stayed, I should be dying like them. Why did she send me away like that? I should never have left..."
Vey buried her face in her knees and sobbed louder, the needle she still held biteing into her hand. She looked at her hand and let go of the needle and slamed a bloody hand onto the floor.
"I should have stayed...They could die because of me..."
She took off the bandanna and buried her face in it and her knees againa dn cried for all she was worth.

[Vash IDK]

Katrina woke up and saw Jericho sitting on the chair across from her. She couldn't move. The pain in her stomach was too much for her to bear. And she was feeling dizzy.

"Don't move!" Jericho said as he placed a cool towel on her head.

Katrina winced at the pain and tried getting up, despite what Jericho had said. She tried sitting up, but the pain hit her like a ton of bricks.

"Dammit Katrina!! You have to be the most stubborn woman I've ever met!!"

"And you have to be the most loud." she said as she sat up. She looked at herself, and her entire stomach was covered with bandages. "I'm still bleeding..." she said softly as she looked up at Jericho.

He stared at her and his face softened. "You can't be moving like an acrobat in your condition." he said.

"I hardly think sitting up is something so extrordinary." she said. She felt her neck, and the blood had dried, causing her neck to feel stiff. It ached when she'd turn her head.

"You're using the muscles that have been trying to heal. You need to lay down."

"I can't. I'm hurting too bad. I feel tired, but I'm afraid..." her voice trailed off.

"Afraid of what??" he said

She looked up at him and grabbed her neck. "I'm bleeding still, Jericho. The bed is stained, and I'm loosing blood... what of I don't wake up??" she said as she stared at him.

Jericho didn't know what to say. He knew she was afraid. Crap, even he was afraid. But he didn't know what to say. None of them could stop the bleeding. He stood up and went over to her and knelt down. "We'll take care of you. You need your rest..."

Katrina nodded as he left. She tried to blink back the tears. She didn't want to sleep, but she felt so tired...

Jericho walked over to Cliff's room. Heero was standing over Cliff. He wasn't saying anything. Jericho put a hand on his shoulder. "He''l be okay Heero. You'll see, he'll be fine. The bleeding has stopped. He'll pull through. This old man still has a few years on him." he said with a smile.

"Katrina. How is she?" he asked still staring at Cliff.

Vey walked past the room at that moment and listened.

Jericho bit his lip. "She's still bleeding, and she's lost a lot of blood. I can't stop the bleeding. We just have to hope she can pull through this."

"No... NO!" Vey screamed as she ran to Katrina's room. Heero ran after her.

Vey was at the door and she was about to run in when Heero stopped her. "Calm down Vey, she can't take this right now!!"

"It's my fault, Heero! I left her!! I should have stayed, regardless of what she told me."

"You followed an order!"

"I let her die!!"

"She's not dead, Vey. If you didn't get us, you both would have been dead."

Vey sobbed at the door. Jericho stood behind them. his fists were clenched. "She can't take this right now Heero!! Get her out of here!"

Heero looked at Jericho and then at Vey. Vey had lost it. She was crying loud enough for Katrina to hear her.

Heero picked up Vey and dragged her into the upper deck. She was in pieces, and she kept blaming herself.

"Get a hold of yourself Vey! Stop feeling sorry for yourself! You did what you had to, and Katrina did what she thought she had to. You both made a decision, and you can't go back on it!!"

Vey stopped crying. "I saw them coming, Heero. I should have stayed."

"You can't do anything about that now. You need to think of what's best for them right now. Not then. It does no good to look at the past and 'wish' things were different. You need to look forward."

"I don't know what to do anymore.."

Heero looked at her and he calmed down. He gave her a hug and she cried. "Just keep your wits about you. You'll help her by being there for her. You can't help her by blaming yourself. It was their fault. not yours."

Jericho came up from the bottom deck. His eyes were wide.

"What is it?"

"Katrina... she's gone into a coma Heero. She's unconscious."

[Heero Darkangel]

That night Heero sat on the deck, he had been through seven bottles of wine, he then skulled another bottle back making that eight at that moment Vey walked out on deck

'Heero...what are you doing?'

Heero laughed drunkly, 'As my father use to say...Dinking my life away...whats it to you girlie!!,'

Vey frowned at him, 'Stop it, we have two crew members down, we don't need a drunken captain,'

'Oh spare me the guilty trip will you!,' growled Heero as he picked up another bottle, Vey quickly grabbed it off him

'Thats enough!,' she snapped trying to hold back the tears, 'They need us down there, they're fighting for their lives...don't you care!'

'Don't I care???' hissed Heero his eyes filled with rage, 'My crew a half dead and your asking me if I care!!! what kind of stupid question is that!!!'

Vey stepped back as Heero stood up slowly

'Heero stop it...' she whispered as she walked backwards

'The reason they are lying down there is because I wasn't here!....' yelled Heero as he lent against the wheel deck and slid down the wall, ' Some Captain I turned out to be....half my crew are nearly dead...Katrinas in a coma...and Cliff...well I don't know jack shit about his vitals,'

Vey sat down beside him, 'Heero...please don't do this to your self,'

'Do what!...feel remorse...feel ashamed....I don't care how i feel....' growled Heero beginning to sobber quickly

'You don't mean that,' she whispered

'I do..' he whispered, 'I made a mistake which has costed us dearly,'

'No it was our...' she began

'Open your eyes!...I'm meant to be the captain...I should of stayed behind but oh no....i didn't!!,'

At that moment Jericho bursted out onto the deck

'Katrinas awake!, she pulled through' exclaimed Jericho, Heero sobbered even quicker as he stood up

'And Cliff?' he questioned

Jericho looked at him, 'He hasn't waken yet,'

They then took off down to the Katrinas room, Heero stood at the door as Vey and Jericho crowded her bed

'How you feeling?' questioned Vey

'Tired,' she groaned, 'where's Heero?'

'Right here,' he smiled weakly at her, 'I'm going to check on Cliff..I'll be back,'

Heero entered Cliffs room and closed then door behind him, and walked over to his bed, Cliffs breathing was shallow

'Cliff....come on Cliff...please...get up,' he whispered, but Cliff didn't stir, tears rolled down Heero's face, 'Cliff...Cliff please wake up,'

As the day progressed into the night Heero sat up on deck again this time without the wine...Katrina had slowly began to regain her strength although she was still weak but Cliff hadn't waken yet, Heero held up the medallion and pressed it against his forehead

'What do I do?' he whispered as tears rolled down his face

[Vash IDK]

Katrina felt her stomach. She felt the hole and opened the bandages so she can get a better look at the damage. She winced as she saw the hole, but the bleeding had stopped. She felt cold, and she looked at her hands. They were completely white. She had lost a lot of blood. She knew it would be a while before she could do anything. Her red blood cells needed time to restore the blood she had lost.

She didn't want to push herself, but she needed to walk, or do something. She got up and quickly fell back down. She looked over to the window and saw Vey sleeping in he chair. She smiled at the girl. She walked over to her and put her hand on her shoulder.

She stumbled back a little. She knew she needed her rest, but decided to go and see Cliff.

She walked to where they were keeping him. She looked at the old man. He was so kind... she sat down beside him and held his hand. She felt his pulse, it was faint, but strong at the same time. Cliff was a fighter. And he wouldn't give up now.

"Come on Cliff. You have to wake up." Katrina said with a smile. "We're do close at getting that treasure we were all talking about." a tear fell from her eye. "If you wake up, I promise I won't give you anymore flack about the horrible food you prepare."

His hand was warm. He had never been able to get to know the man as well as she had liked to, but he was the kind of man she pictured her father being like. She never knew her father.

She held his hand and gave it a small squeeze. "Please be okay..."

"He's not waking up,"

Katrina turned around and saw Heero standing in the doorway.

"Don't say things like that. Being negative gets no one no where."

Heero walked over and sat next to Cliff as well. "It's not fair..."

"What's not?"

"That you all suffer. I'm the captain. I should be the one dying."

Katrina rubbed Cliffs hand a little and looked down. "It does you no good to think about the past Heero."

He looked up and knew she was repeating what he had told her. "It's not the same, Katrina."

"Look at it from my perspective. You're telling me things you think should have happened. But what does it matter anymore? You can't change the past Heero. Captain or not. To fulfill your duties as Captain, you move on and learn from your mistakes."

Heero looked down. "You're sounding more like a Captain then I am." he said quietly.

"I learn from the best." she said with a smile.

He looked at her hands and noticed how white they were. "Katrina, you need to be resting."

"I'm fine, Heero. I want to be here with Cliff. He's going to need someone to watch over him 24/7 while you and Jericho and Vey are off collecting the treasure."

Heero looked at her and shook his head. "How can you think of treasure at a time like this?"

"Simple. I've got nothing better to think about. Besides, Cliff will probably want to see some gifts when he wakes up." she said with a smile.

"If he wakes up.." Heero said.

"Hey," Katrina looked down at him. "He'll be okay. Just have faith in him. He's a fighter, Heero. Not a push over."

Heero smiled. He sat there and looked at the old man before him. He just wished he would wake up.

[Heero Darkangel]

Heero walked out onto the deck, Jericho was cleaning up the blood for the fight, he then took the mop off Jericho

'Hey...what are you doing?' questioned Jericho

'Cleaning,' replied Heero as he dipped the mop into the bucket of water and then finished off what Jericho was doing

'If you don't mind me asking...what are we going to do with the chests?' asked Jericho

'Well there's only one thing to do...take them,' Heero smiled weakly, Jericho knew that Heero was concerned about Cliff

'Well then what are we doing standing around here for...lets do it,' smiled Jericho hoping that it would take Heeros mind off Cliff

'Alright then,' said Heero

'Maybe we might find some other things,' smiled Jericho

They grabbed some ropes and then pull the hoyst around so they could use it to pull the chests up, and dove into the water, Jericho stayed up while Heero took the rope down to the first chest, tied it around and then surfaced while still holding the rope, he then connected it to the hoyst, Vey had run to the side and watched them, she pulled up the chest with the hoyst, and lowered it onto the deck, they repeated this for most of the day, as they searched in the water Jericho found the cargo hull and inside were some unopened crates.

It took them a whole day to empty out that whole ship even the captains quarters, they placed everything into the Devils rose's cargo hull and then Heero took the wheel

'Now lets get into warmer waters,' smiled Heero, Katrina had joined him up on the wheel deck she sat behind him, he looked at her and smiled

[Vash IDK]

"What?" she said as she smiled back.

"Nothing. You just hate following your Captains orders, don't you?"

"I resent that Captain! I don't mind [i]you[/i] at all. It's the orders I have a problem with. Never could sit still."

Heero laughed as he turned the wheel. They were heading toward Duego.

"You think they'll be able to do anything for Cliff, Heero?"

Heero was silent as he steered the ship. "I don't know what to think. I think they can. But I don't want to get my hopes up."

Katrina was silent. It was cold on the deck and she wasn't sure how long the chill would keep up.

Heero noticed her and took his coat from the barrel where he had left it before he dove under water. "Here."

He gave her the coat and she slipped it on.

"You know, it would probably be a lot easier if you went back to your quarters." he said with a smile.

"Do you really want me to go?" she smiled wickedly

Heero laughed. "No, I don't, but I'm the Captain, and what I say goes."

"True. So what are my orders then, Captain?"

Heero turned back around toward the wheel and smiled.

"Just get better. I'll need another hand down there as soon as we get to Duego"

Katrina smiled and did a mock salute. "Aye Aye Captain."

[Akieen Cloud]

Vey walked by with a arm load of bandages and and what looked like alchohol.
"Hey, thats my line. ANd Katrina you'd best sit your ass down or you'll pull those stiches."
She kicked oped the door to Cliffs room quietly and slipped in. SHe knelt down beside his bed and took a deep breath and bega to change his bandages cleaning the wounds with the alchohol. When she was done she held his hand and blinked when it squezzed back.
"Oh my god...Cliff are you awake?"
The kind eyes slid open. but only a fraction.
"Barley...lilltle, one."
Vey felt the tears well up, his words were slow and spaced and his breathing a little stronger.
"You...Did a ...fine job, cleaning my up...child."
"Shhh. don't speak mate, you need to concentrate on healing."
Cliff nodded weakly and slipped back into sleep, his hand still sqezing her's. Vey released her hand gently and walked backwards from the room till she was out the door, she closed it and turned smileing, truly smileing with tears running down her face. Heero noticed her first.
"Vey?"
She looked up at Heero and ran to him planting her face in his shoulder sobbing and laughing at the same time.
"He's OK Heero, Cliff's gonna make it."
Heero stood there frozen.
"Heero Cliff's gonna be OK."
She hugged him around the waist as her tears kept coming with her laugh.

[Vash IDK]

Katrina walked past them and sat over next to Cliff. "You idiot. You had us all worried." she said with a smile.

Cliff smiled faintly. "I didn't mean to scare you." he said looking toward Heero.

Heero walked over to Cliff and knelt beside him. "Good to have you back old man." he smiled.

Cliff reached for his hand and patted it. He was still weak. Katrina checked the wounds again, and saw that the stab in his shoulder was infected. "Well you're not out of the woods yet. He's infected. We need to get him to a Doctor."

Heero looked at Katrina and then Cliff. Cliff closed his eyes and laid back on his pillow.

"Don't let him sleep, Katrina." Heero said as he quickly walked out of the room.

Vey looked at Katrina and Cliff and decided to follow Heero.

"What are you doing?" she asked

"We're taking a short cut."

Vey thought for a while and knew instantly what he was planning. "You can't do that!! The Storms of Valiya will tear this ship a part!!"

"That's a risk we'll have to take. I'm not losing him." he said as he turned the wheel.

Vey just stared at him. "You're serious?"

"Vey, I've never been more serious in my life. The Devil's Rose is a legendary wonder. It's time she proves her worth. She will take us through the storm. Just have faith in her and your own abilities as a pirate."

Vey shook her head and went to inform Jericho of what was happening.

Katrina walked out to the upper deck and found Heero steering.

"You're suppose to be watching Cliff."

"Jericho's with him. He's keeping him awake with one of his lame stories." she said and smiled. "What's this I hear about Storms of Valiya?"

"That's our course. We're going to take a short cut."

Katrina nodded and looked to the ocean. "The sooner the better."

Heero looked at her in confusion. "What are you saying?"

Katrina stared at nothing for a while. "The infection has spread all over, Heero. He needs medicine or his heart will fail him."

Heero clutched the wheel and pounded the post next to him. "Damn..." he said quietly.

Katrina turned and looked at him. "Go through with the plan, Heero. That's the only way we can save him now. He'll hold on."

Heero looked up toward the ocean and frowned. "I won't let him die."

Katrina stared at Heero for a long time. He looked down at her and tears filled his eyes. "He's the only memory of my father I have left. The only one who can remind me of his strength."

Katrina smiled. "Funny, I see him all the time." she said with a smile. "He's in you, Heero."

He stared at her for a while. He didn't know what to say.

Katrina just smiled at him and went back to Cliff's room.

[Heero Darkangel]

Heero looked out at the Katrina

'Get back below deck and I want you to stay there...I can't steer the Devils rose and watch over yous at the same time...as long as i know you are all below deck then I know I don't have to worry about any of you and I can concentrate on the storm and the Devils rose,' spoke Heero sternly

'Are you sure...what if..' Katrina began

'Get below deck now!...and don't come out no matter what...just leave me and the rose to get us through...' spoke Heero as he could see the Valiya storm coming up, the waves were at least well over 30 to 60 ft

Katrina looked up at him and then with tears in her eyes she ran back below deck and closed the door, as she did that some how the door locked behind her, she tried to open it but it wouldn't budge

'Devils Rose...look after him,' Katrina whispered on the door as she turned around and ran back to the others

'We're coming up on the Valiya Storm...so hold tight!,' exclaimed Katrina,

'I'm going up to help him!,' exclaimed Vey as she ran down the corridor and to the door which lead out onto the upper deck, she tried to pull it open but it wouldn't budge, it was locked tight, Vey began banging on the door but still it wouldn't move

'Vey, we need to stay down here...and besides the Rose wont let us out, Heero can't watch over us aswell as get us through this storm,' said Katrina

'No...I want to help him!!!,' she cried as she slid down the door, Katrina placed a Hand on Veys shoulder

'The Devils Rose wont let anything happen to him...I hope...but this is for him and the rose to do so we must have faith in them both,' whispered Katrina as she tried to hold back the tears, Vey cried as she sat against the door suddenly the boat shook madly

'We've entered to storm...' whispered Katrina

'Heero!!!!' screamed Vey as she banged on the door violently, Jericho grabbed Vey and Katrina and dragged them back to the quarters where Cliff lay

'He'll be fine little one...that boys been through many things...he wont give up that easily and he wont let the Valiya storm bring him down...he has a strong heart...he'll be fine,' spoke Cliff strongly even though he was unsure at the sametime

Heero gripped the wheel as he and the Devils Rose battled through the storm, her sails got torn, waves crashed down on him but still he didn't let go, his wounds had reopened and blood mixed with the salty water, pain shot up and down his body as he was bashed against the wheel, his head struck the wheel and blooded poured down his face from a gash across the top of his right eyebrow...but still he held on

'Come on girl...I know you can hold this out so don't let me down...I won't let you down,' he whispered to the ship, as she was tossed about like a ragdoll but still they battled there way through the hell hole of a storm, more water crashed down on the deck, Heero looked around, the Devils Rose battled strongly, he was getting tired and his body was frozen, at that moment as he could feel himself beginning to let go everytime the waves crashed down on him two ropes gently wraped around his wrists...he slooked up and smiled at the ship, as the sails tied themselves down tightly..it was as if she told him that she was here and that she wasn't going to give up...Heero smiled

'Just you and I girl...it's going to be long,' whispered Heero, 'but we'll make it...we have to,'

The ropes gave a slight sqeeze as if she understood and Heero smiled as the waves crashed down and lightning and thunder crashed around them