Nu Jeruxalim ¬ Holy Mekka. [destroyed]

[Inception]

"..."

Waru-Taru had disappeared. Masashi wasn't sure what had happened, but an imperial had snagged him and jumped out of the exit before Masashi could turn around and realize what had happened. A group came forward, but they were falling before they had drawn their swords, and the only indication that Masashi had swung was his vibrating arm which sheathed Aisha by his side... which made him wonder. Why wasn't she talking? What had happened? There was so much going on at once, that he didn't know what to do for a few seconds after the massacre of the soldiers in the hallway.

Then the ship rocked again, and this time the magnitude was much higher than last time.

"FUCK IT! Get us the hell out of here, and don't worry about me."

Masashi was gone, and in a matter of moments he was up the stairs and eventually on the roof where he looked out at something pretty horrible. The armored guard stepped forward, wielding an overgrown claymore with an illuminating edge that threatened to cut through him. The figure took a stance, then took off into a sprint in his direction, followed by several other soldiers behind him. Masashi's right hand whipped out Aisha this time, and his voice roared loud enough to reach the heavens.

The skies split with his swing, clashing with the claymore and blowing back the guards. Their wounds gushed open and their bodies were wrapped in a hazy mystical phenomenon that they couldn't quite comprehend, they were incinerated from his deafening will.

Inside of his head, he was swearing. Hoping to dear god that this person that was now his friend, his only crew mate that he didn't know, knew what he was doing... and wouldn't betray him or disappear. Masashi had suffered enough of that.

[Aleksei]

The various screens became illuminated with obscure dictions as the two exchanged their quick words. Ausra had dug through the system earlier in hopes of making their escape somewhat easier, even with the sudden addition to their couple. The screens buzzed towards silence before landmarks and words made sense, only returning to gibberish during small explosions.

"You'll have to excuse the mess Captain, but they decided to put everything in code. No worries though, I'll make sure we'll make it out alive."

Before long the ship began to shift against the ruckus threatening to shake it from the dock. She kept it as steady as possible before moving forward against the wind; they were going to have to doge buildings and a few civilians before picking up enough speed to lift thoroughly in the air.

Ausra appeared on one the front screen before the Captain, still carrying her smile while speaking softly.

"Just to the left of the screen are the controls for the weaponry. Just touch the screen and aim, we'll have to make room."

The ship resumed forward, swaying from side to side to avoid any further damage. Their speed began to pick up but not by much; she was unable to turn it around fully with all its unwanted cargo.

[Silver]

Silver shrugged some and Masashi faded into the background of his mind as his eyes, and hands, flew over the controls of the ship and any number of things started floating across the screen before him. Silver, though not necessarily a luddite, was nonetheless occasionally confounded by technology. Whatever happened to the trusty steering wheel? The wind in your sails?

Well, he didn't have much room to talk, not since his upgrade to the Bumbling Fool and the mere existence of the Grand Utopian. Both ships of his, and both well beyond their years in construction and in effect.

"Ausra, be a liltin' lass and take over the controls fer me. These screens'r givin' me a headache."

Silver moved hands off the steering console and the thing sprang to life, wiggled this way and that of its own accord and it didn't take too much intellect to piece together that perhaps the woman whose face looked back at them from the screen might have something to do with it. Silver pushed off from the seat and swaggered towards Masashi, swaying as the ship jerked side to side with the swerve of a practiced drunk.

"So while my lil lass is taking care of dis ship, maybe you can clue me in as to who exactly you arrrrrrrrr and what ye be doing here."

Silver stroked his chin while he waited for Masashi to respond, occasionally glancing behind his shoulder to make sure that their advance progressed smoothly. A building loomed in the screen. Silver dashed to the combat controls with a speed that did not see befitting the pirate with a slight limp. He pressed a few buttons, lined up the reticule, and charged the cannon.

"Don't slow or stop fer me babe. Keep ridin' her along smooth."

He waited until the ship's nose and the building's wall nearly kissed before he pressed the trigger and the cannon fired a shot that made the whole ship tremble with its kickback, and which burned a hole clean through the building to the other side. Not nearly wide enough to allow the ship to pass through with ease but, as Silver twisted the steering console so that they continued forward while spiraling, and the ship forced itself through the building –

"Like a turd through a constipated asshole."

Silver pressed a few more buttons that charged and armed the secondary weapons. No sense in drawing that much power from the engine for another primary cannon shot when the others would do so well. Silver swiveled in the chair and pointed his revolver at Masashi's chest.

"So. Identify yerself."

[Anathema]

~The Capture

Payne watched as Muhr began to descend into the ground, her eyes focused on the blade. She didn't notice what was going around her. It wasn't going to be long till she felt the creeping shadows way too late. Her eyes widened as her right hand extended outwards to the blade that was already gone.

A raw black portal opened behind the young girl, dark green eyes were all that could be made out to anyone in the street who saw it. White hands leaked out of the shadows, breaking into the materialistic world. One arm wrapped around Payne's slender neck, the other pushed hard against the young girl's mouth.

The Capture.

A simple jerk was all that was needed as the arms retracted back, dragging the struggling Payne into the shadows, closing the portal up moments after.

“You are now mine, Princess.” The laughing words echoed in the realm of darkness and shadows.

Payne's memory trace, existence was wiped clean of the individual area. Anyone who was near her at the time completely forgot her being existed, only faint trails of white keys can reveal that she was once in Valucre.

Spoiler:

Exit Payne. Enjoy your story!

[Inception]

In a matter of moments, they were finally in the sky and making their grand escape! Explosions were rocking the chaotic heights, and there was nothing but devastation surrounding their technological prototype that struggled to get away. Masashi had finally made it back with the others, when Silver was suddenly pressing a gun to his bare chest and demanding information from him.

Masashi almost snapped and made a ruckus, but he realized that he needed Silver, moreso than Silver needed him. That sudden mental realization caused him to loosen his grip on his katana, and reach into his pocket for a rolled up joint...that found itself between his lips, unlit and begging to be smoked.

"Masashi, the world's most reckless crack-headed swordsman of old."

The words were something he seemed proud of, but he wouldn't be getting high unless he happened to find a smoke. He rummaged through his pockets. Then he found a lighter he happened to have stolen about a year ago, something that he had kept because of its decorations. A lion on its side, it seemed to be roaring with might and ferocity.

"Pretty damn cool, eh?"

Silence followed, and his joint was lit. The hand retreated to put the object back, then he continued.

"So let's get the hell out of here. But I think we need to get something out of the way now...I'm no one's follower, I don't do well underneath people that claim to be captain's. I fail with authority, champ."

[Aleksei]

"You are a follower for the time being and possibly will remain one until our own destination is reached. If you do not agree with this I can happily open a door for you."

Ausra spoke with a small amount of authority, appearing beside her Captain with the same smile.

The ship continued to gather speed, finally reaching the pinnacle as it bursted through soft clouds of white. At their altitude small machinery wouldn't be able to reach them and with their small headstart it would be difficult to catch up with them. For now they were 'safe'.

"I'm in control of this ship, so please, have a seat and some conversation. Right now we're helping each other."

[Silver]

They were in the sky before long, the warfare continued beneath them but it meant nothing at this altitude. They climbed higher still when they could see dragon-riders through the ship's main visual array, and Silver wanted nothing to do with either Renovatio or Rosinder. He was here for a single reason, and that reason was being fulfilled with every foot that the ship flew away from its home.

Masashi had something to say and Silver wasn't too partial to it. Not one bit. A grimace overturned the casual smile which so frequently tugged at his lips. He did not move the revolver. The barrel continued to aim at Masashi's chest. His hand was steady as a rock, the gun almost frozen in place, glued to his hand and his hand glued to the arm rest.

By the look in his eyes it was pretty easy to see that something the swordsman uttered invoked inside Silver a most fearsome anger. He spoke through tight lips and gritted teeth.

"Lemme get one thing straight wif you. I don't claim to be a captain. I am a captain. That's what my years amount to. What my blood smells like. What my daddy called me the day I was born."

Silver uncocked the gun and let it get lost somewhere inside of his attire, along with the rest of his armaments. He did not turn his single eye away from the swordsman, smiled wickedly while Ausra put him in his place, and followed quick on her heels.

"You might wanna listen to the lady. Can't shoot her, can't cut her, and she's the thing keeping us in the air right now. Best friend I done ever made."

Silver winked at Ausra's illusory representation, even though he could have winked to a wall and she'd see it.

"That's besides the point. Lemme tell ya, I have ships. Ships out the ass. Two of my own, a fleet that belongs to another man but that all call me cap'n. I also got reverence fer whomever Courage decides to bless. Ima mighty oak now but still remember the days I was jus' an acorn."

Silver took a breath and sighed, eyes wistful and demeanor melancholy.

"We'll hammar out tha details a bit more when we land, or if we can't land fer a while then at leas' when we pile on some more distance a-tween us an' them. But I can see me floating a ship yer way.

" . . . If ye got a reason aside from bein' filled with moxie and pickle juice that is."

[Inception]

"Ah, to hell with it."

Masashi occasionally found himself breaking his own code of morales for the sake of adventure and excitement. It was true, he did need them in order to survive, otherwise he'd likely end up dead and his sense of adventure would be killed. Why? Well because...he'd be dead. That wouldn't be very good, and in light of that he stood and snapped his fingers for a moment in remembering something. It was a foggy thought that his mental fingers struggle to strangle and bring into words and comprehension.

"FUCK!"

A shot rang through the quarters.

Masashi's fingers were firmly gripping Silver's shirt, shaking in anger. His body was in a similar condition, and his face was crimson with reflection of his thoughts. He knew there was something he had forgotten, something he had purposely forced from his mind so that he could focus upon moving the ship into the right direction.

"Payne! She's gone, and so is Waru! We have go to back!!"

As usual, Masashi was simple minded and he wasn't comprehending their situation on an accurate level like the others were.

"COME ON!"

[Aleksei]

"I'm sorry love but there is no turning back, especially now."

The woman's voice carried some respect and sympathy as it was obvious by the man's reaction that these people meant something to him or they had carried some worth.

"We'd be stranded if I turned us around now and that puts a stop to our original plan. Like the kind Captain had just stated he can offer a ship to your liking, you can use it to reunite with your friends."

The supply of fuel on the ship was enough to take them to their - she and the Captain's - destination, if they were to turn around their adventure would be cut. It was her job to ensure that all went well and she wasn't going to let this man's minute slip up change the situation.

[Silver]

Silver was nearly lifted from his seat by Masashi. The swordsman was strong, and Silver appreciated this. But he wasn't afraid, and nothing on his face or in his eye could lead one to believe otherwise. He looked downright annoyed, actually. Irritated at this man's gall. The sheer audacity to overstep the boundaries set by a man with a gun trained at your chest. Did no one revere life in this day and age? Or was it that every guy with a sword was eager to throw his away for whatever promise of fame and glory a vendor could swindle them on?

In two distinct motions Silver ripped Masashi's hand from his collar and then levied a slap 'pon Masashi's cheek of such wanton vigor that he'd have to flex his neck to keep it from snapping.

"Get a'hold of yerself. S'embarassin'. There is no going back. It's a war out back der. Dis Payne." He capitalized on the fact that it was the first name to leave his lips. "Girl, right? If ye wanna go back and lose yer head ovah some dame, go 'head. Take one of the emergency ships and see iffin' ye can't rescue her. Be her knight in shinin' armor an' all that.

"But we," Silver pointed to himself, to Ausra, and then to the ship in its entirety. "Ain't goin' nowhere but up'n'out. We got a place to be and I ain't doin' nothin' else but headin' straightaway to that spot in specific, savvy?

"Now iffin' you don't agree, you and I could tussle about. Show you a bit of the ol' knuckle game. Meet swords if ye want, clash o' metal on metal wakes a man up. See if you can survive a few sons uvva gun," Silver waved the revolver in his hand before holstering it. "Pumped in yer chest. And ye know what ye would'ave achieved asides from killing a tired ol' pirate?

"Nothin'. Ausra hear'd crash the ship and take you with 'er quicker'n you can blink. So sit on yer rump and wait it out. Maybe you'n'I can check out the mess hall see if the pickings be slim or fat, but that's about as much solace as I'm willin' ta offah. What do you say?"

[Inception]

Torn between saving the life of others or persering his own life at the expense of their imminent deaths was a hard choice to make. Masashi was a simple minded person when it came to making choices, everything was seen in a black and white manner when he viewed situations. Clasping his nose between his index and thumb, he rubbed it before turning around and opening his eyes. There were no tears, there was no smart alec retort. Instead there was understanding and the willingless to conform to the circumstances.

"I'm hungry."

Following his statement was his stomach's own statement of hunger, and then he dropped two of his blades upon the ground--Aisha stayed upon his waist. He was unsure of why she no longer spoke or what had happened, but he figured it had something to do with Payne. Then again, that was just a guess he shot out there, nothing that was accurate or probably even close to the problem. Perhaps she was in shock?

"I hope you have chicken. And don't laugh, I'm dead serious."

He was serious. Chicken was indeed his favorite food.

"Lead the way, temporary cap'n."

[Silver]

At Silver's mention of scouring the mess hall, Masashi's focus switched gears and his entire demeanor suddenly shifted. Silver knew it the moment he laid eyes on the chap; this was a fellow carnivore. Voracious because the mindset and the lifestyle demanded it. He felt a kindred bond grow between them, though this line lay quite a distance beneath the threshold Masashi would have to overcome if he ever hoped to be able to give Silver a hug without the fear of being stabbed to death.

"Figured ye might be. Ain't an adventure worth talkin' about that don't leave your stomach grumblin'. If ye can make it past a coupla hours without that damn pain remindin' us of our mortalahtee, den ye t'aint workin' hard enuff. Simple as all that."

At the mention of chicken, Silver's expression brightened. Chicken was a good choice. Silver himself had quite the poultry tooth and got particularly excited when having a breast or thigh of a bird of prey. There was nothing he liked doing more than showing the beasts of the land who was really at the top of the food chian.

It was just as Silver chose to stand, clearly laying the majority of his weight against one leg, that his face soured. Masashi had called him a temporary captain and Silver didn't take fondly to that.

"I been sailin' the seas probbly longer den you been off yer mother's nipples. You call me dat again and don't mind me my proper respect, I'll bury where you won't never be found."

He let the uncomfortable silence stretch between them, the single eye unblinking and unwavering. He said nothing as he then passed Masashi, but a single nod of his head showed the swordsman to follow along, and together they explored the mess hall.

Nothing.

Apparently the ship was so brand-spanking new that they hadn't even gotten to stock the mess hall yet. Only half of the rooms in the quarters had bed. He'd need to do some serious supplying if he wanted to use this ship to its full potential.

"Buncha lollygaggers . . . Ausra, land the ship nearby dah closest town, let's go pick up some grub."

It took them 17 agonizing, excruciating minutes before they found a town in Renovatio's shadow, the colossal nation floating overhead, with a clear enough path to both park and hide their ship in. In that time Silver all but collapsed, lay sprawled all over the floor with his limbs every which way, praying for his squalid life to end.

The ship jarred with the landing. Silver took Ausra with him on her portable console. Despite Ausra's protest in concern for the ship's safety, Silver insisted. He didn't feel that Masashi would make for good dinner conversation.

The three of them left together for a fifteen or twenty minute hike into town to pick up some grub, Silver picking berries and roots along the way to tide him over.

[paradigm]

There were many who held that patience was a virtue. While he didn't put much stock in being virtuous, Itazuki was a man who had come to learn that patience was indeed a most useful tool. It had been with absolute patience that he had stowed away on the ship and it had been patience that had stayed his hands as the crew searched for something edible in the mess hall.

It was no manner of skill, but entirely dependent on luck. Had the crew remained on board, Itazuki would have been forced to resort to more...violent means. As it was, it seemed that fate, had delivered the ship right into his hands.

He had no way of knowing how long they would be away and his eyes only allowed him to see so far, but at the very least he knew no foul play awaited him, his eyes could tell him that much. Patience had served him well, but expedience was required now. A thudding proceeded hastened steps to the control panel and the lithe fingers ran across the controls and the engines hummed to life.

Learning to fly was not horribly difficult. He had operated Genesaris Airships before, thus the general idea was there, it was compensating for Renovatio's technology that was difficult. Yet, if anything it made operation smoother.

Soaring off in his new ship, Itazuki peered out at the world below.

Ever a stoic individual it was rare for the youth to ever crack a smile. Nevertheless, downturned lips turned into a flat line, the corners of his mouth holding the bare hint of a grin.

"How fortunate."

[Inception]

Masashi had lost a lot. All of his friends were lost in the tides of war, and he only hoped that their heart beat like the drums that sounded in battle. He wasn’t sure of their status, or if they were okay, but he knew that dwelling on the matter for too long would only make his current situation worse and his approaching dinner less desirable. With that, he decided he had to loosen up. The smile on his face that wasn’t present before wasn’t false, he was happy that the mission—even at the cost of many lives—had been obtained.

When they landed, he decided to leave all of his blades onboard. That included Aisha. Her unresponsive ass wasn’t giving him any form of satisfaction, comfort, or even talking to him in the least bit. So she was tossed in the ship just before they departed, and he wouldn’t be happy later to find out that the ship had been stolen by some wannabe bad-ass. Regardless he didn’t know at the time, and so as he was walking with Silver, he made conversation.

“So. You are a previous notorious pirate, and I’m a infamous ronin back where I’m from. I guess we can work something out eventually right? As long as you buy dinner.”

Masashi was serious about everything he had said, he had no money. There was a crypt of gold back somewhere in Rosinder that they had found from treasure hunting, but he had no idea where it was as opposed to where he was then. So he had to go on the idea that he had no money until he could figure out a way to get there and hope that the money wasn’t stolen and removed from the hiding place.

“But fuck man. I don’t even think that’s the end of all the shit we’re about to have to go through.”

[Silver]

"S-something's . . ." Silver came to a slow, deliberate stop. The hairs on the back of his neck stood straight up. He turned around suddenly, hands up, eye opened wide and roving madly. His body went suddenly stiff and his arm pointed out to the sky. Somewhere through the course of his convulsions, he palmed his revolver and its practiced barrel spewed fire as it summoned thunder from its gut.

The bullet screamed in ecstasy, delighting in this rare instance of fresh air. Its wondrous journey caused the ripping of leaves and the breaking of branches; the oddly hued bullet shining as the tip of the spinning projectile glinted bright azure in the sunlight.

Silver took no time to explain. Merely shoved the still smoking revolver into its holster somewhere on his upper body, shouted "Come on, it's getting away!" and then started running back the way they came.

No doubt Masashi called to mind images of Silver hobbling, or leaning most of his weight on one side to relieve some terrible pressure or pain. A man that could have once easily passed for a cripple now sprinted like an Olympic athlete.

Somewhere high above them the two running vagabonds, the result of exploited angles of trajectory manifested abruptly. Silver's bullet ruptured the ship's main windshield and missed Itazuki's head by a phenomenally narrow margin.

Silver skid to a screeching halt, feet digging shallow trenches as he slid along the ground and leapt over a fallen trunk, landing deftly in the area of compressed grass and parted bows that marked their landing pad. He looked up in time to see the ship wink out of sight.

"What wuz all that you were sayin' 'bout Fate takin' a steamin' piss on our 'eads?"

[Exit: Silver]