To The Death!

I was sitting in my room, still not in the brig at least, in my jumpsuit, which was not as clean as it had been, but at least covered me.

Murder had everyone leave after the whole Grog fucking thing, and Sth had taken me back, telling me he'd return to take me to the main event when it was all ready. So I'd had a shower and, despite my nerves being on fire, managed to take a nap.

Hence I wasn't expecting the door to open as early as it did. I was even less expecting who walked though it.

"Nuba!" I cried, leaping up and into her arms. "I thought you were dead!"

I threw myself at her and kissed her passionately, making us both stagger back until she hit the wall.

After a long, wonderful, snog I pulled back. "Where have you been? How did you get here? How..." I paused, as I suddenly registered her attire. "Wait a minute. Why are you dressed like them? Are you a pirate?"

"Alice, thank the universe you're okay! Look, I don't have much time..." she said, but I wasn't listening.

I pulled away, confused thoughts running through my head.

"Alice, it's not what it looks like," Nuba went on.

"You're one of them?" I asked. Tears began to well in my eyes.

"No, I... Well, yes, but listen..."

But I didn't. I was busy connecting the dots. "Did you join the school just to meet me? Were you a spy? Did you cause this?" The last part came out as a wild screech.

"Alice, please, I can explain..."

"Do you know what's happened to me?" I shouted at her, tears now running down my face. "They're going to sell me! They've made me a whore! For real! I can't believe this! I trusted you! I... I loved you!"

"Alice, please..."

"No!" I yelled. "No! Get away from me! I never want to see you again!"

"Shit, I don't have time for this, I'm not supposed to be here," she said, glancing about, as if someone could be watching.

"Good! Go then! Leave me and never come back!" I threw myself onto my bed face down and pushed my face into my pillow, weeping madly.

"Alice... I..."

"Go!"

"I'll come back," she said, in a quiet voice.

I didn't reply.

I heard her mutter something to herself, and then the door opened and closed.

I bawled into my pillow, whilst my heart shattered.

~*~

I'd cried myself out, and was sitting on my bed in a dark, dark humour when Sth came to get me.

"Oh," he said. "You look terrible. What happened?"

"Never mind. Let's do this." I was in a bitter mood, just right for the violence that was to come. My hand itched. I wanted to kill someone.

"Okay." Sth took a step back, out of my way, as I stalked over to the door, my face as dark as thunder.

He let me pass, and then guided me along. "It's in the mess hall," he explained as we walked. I didn't reply.

I could hear the noise of the assembled crew as we approached the dining area. They fell silent as we entered.

The tables and chairs had all be cleared out, all except for the one on the raised area. Captain Murder, Red and a couple of his lieutenants were standing there, waiting. The rest of the crew were lined up around the walls, no doubt eager for the show.

In one corner stood Grog. Another pirate, almost as big as he was, was standing next to him, holding a sword that was about as tall as me. Grog had taken his top of, showing off his hugely muscled torso. Inwards, I gave a grim smile. That was a mistake, leaving himself more exposed.

Murder raised a hand, and the murmur that had resumed slightly fell off.

"Challenge has been given and accepted, under our pirate code," he said, his voice washing over us all. "The weapon chosen is the sword. Do the contestants have theirs ready?"

Grog's friend made a noise, and held up the massive blade for all to see. Then all eyes turned to me.

"Where am I supposed to get a sword from?" I shouted back, angrily.

Silence.

"Someone lend me a sword," I shouted again, holding my arms wide and turning to scan the crowd. "So I can stick it in this dog." I pointed at Grog, who growled.

Silence again. I looked around desperately. If no one would...

"Here."

My eyebrows went up in surprise. Red had stepped forward. Of all the people, she was the last one I would have expected to help.

She approached and pulled a blade out of the scabbard she was wearing on her hip. I'd only seen her with guns before, but I guess it made sense she would have one.

She held it out, ceremonially, in two hands, and I looked it over. It was a narrow blade, a sabre, a lighter weapon, obviously, than Grog's, but one suited for a smaller frame. I could tell it had been well kept. The hilt was simple, nothing fancy, with a dark grip, but even so, it was a quality weapon.

I bowed, very slightly – it seemed appropriate – and took it from her, also with two hands.

Red looked me in the eye, and nodded. I nodded back, and she turned and walked away whilst I tested the heft of my borrowed weapon.

The balance and the length were slightly less than optimum for me, Red was taller than me after all, but it would more than do. I gave it a couple of swings, getting used to the feel. Oh yes, this would do indeed.

"Let's gut some pig," I said, turning to face Grog, who was now holding his own huge weapon.

The crowd let out a low growl in response.

"This duel is over when one contestant is disabled, or submits," Captain Murder shouted. The duelling area is this room. A contestant who steps out of this area forfeits. Understood?"

I nodded, as did Grog, who stepped forward.

To the onlookers, it must have seemed a monumentally unfair contest. A giant of a man, immensely strong and experienced, against a slip of a girl, barely half his height.

Well, trust me, looks aren't everything.

Grog attacked first, as I knew he would. With a loud cry, he threw himself forward and swung his sword in a massive horizontal sweep that would have, literally, cut me in half if I'd let it.

I didn't even need to Boost.

Rolling under his clumsy attack, I ducked and cut, a dark rage fuelling me. There was a very slight sound, and a flash of red, and I rolled. Regaining my feet, I turned around to face him again.

Grog had managed to stop his charge and was trying to recover. He was standing still though, and even though he was facing away from me, I could imagine the look of puzzlement on his face as his legs refused to respond.

As I watched he buckled, slowly falling to his knees. I had sliced the tendons on my pass. A simple enough move for someone with my skill.

I ran up behind the massive man, now down to my level, and brought my borrowed sword around his neck. Before he knew what was happening, I pulled it across his throat, cutting deeply into his flesh, severing the artery.

Blood spurted out, spraying the onlookers closest to him.

I stepped back, panting hard, my blade dripping, and watched as, like a giant tree, Grog slowly fell forward, hitting the deck with a meaty thud.

There was dead silence for a moment, followed by a massive outcry from the surrounding pirates. I couldn't tell if they were cheering or jeering, maybe both. I didn't care. I carefully wiped Red's sword on the body, and then turned and walked back to where she was waiting, alongside Murder and his crew. The captain was standing there with his mouth open, but Red had a satisfied look on her face.

I stood before her and offered her her blade back, holding it out in two hands as she had done to me.

"Thank you," I said, when she took it. Then I turned and walked calmly out of the room.