air raid1
to be a pirate
CHAPTER ELEVEN
THE RISING STAR
Oh, To Be a Pirate
Yo, ho, ho!
Jolly looters we are
Bound to hunt and explore
Rum is our blood
Gold is our god
Yo, ho, ho!
All ships beware!
Jolly Roger’s in the air
Give us all you have
Maybe we’ll spare your life
Yo, ho, ho!
On the gallows’ end
We rest our heads
And the enemy’s blade
Finds home in our hearts
Until then, We live a worldly joy
Yo, ho, ho!
And a bottle of rum
The Hymn of Buccaneering
A different version by an unknown pirate from Lore
who died shortly after singing this song from a rum overdose
Vochaux Harbor, midnight.
About five guards or more are patrolling near the three ships docked there. One of the guards stands leaning to his halberd*), obviously half-asleep. Then another soldier comes and slaps him on his back, saying,
‘Hey, Dirk! Keep your eyes open! If commander see you, you can kiss this year’s promotion good-bye! Or worse, back to Liszt Village fighting monsters and bandits there!’
(* Halberd = a medieval pole arm weapon with a spear-and-axe, spear-hook-and-axe or fleur-de-lis tip. It’s effective for stabbing, hooking and slashing, multi-purposed, widely used by soldiers (Halberdiers).
‘Okay, okay, Ruesl! I’m awake! I’m awake! Er... speaking of bandits, do you think Zachary and his accomplices will escape through here to the open seas?’ says Dirk with a yawn.
‘Most likely,’ says Ruesl. ‘That’s why they tripled the guard here. I also heard that someone helped Robert the Pope killer escape from the dungeons. Bishop Alastair was furious! He compelled the government and all city guards to capture Robert and his friends, dead or alive!
He even hired the best bounty hunters in Aurelia – Adler, Hernan and Eidos – to track and chase the fugitives down with the Skyship Aurora!’
‘What? Using that grand, mountain-blasting, godlike weapon to subdue a bunch of fugitives? Are you kidding me, man?’ says Dirk, shaking his head with disbelief.
‘You better believe it! Now they can’t hide anywhere anymore! Not even in the rat-infested sewers! Haha, they better hope they can fly or invisible, because... GGWUPPP!!!’
Suddenly someone muffles Ruesl and knocks him unconscious. Dirk reacts,
‘Hey! What do you thi... ARCK!’
A knock with the sword hilt makes Dirk lose his control upon his senses and fall, kissing the floor, unconscious too.
‘My method was faster and less of a hassle than you, Robert,’ says the man who knocked Dirk out. He is Zachary.
Robert answers, ‘Well, I acted as situation demanded it. I would use your method if that bloke was alone.’
Pressing no further into that matter, Zachary whispers. ‘So, which ship should we hijack, Rob?’
‘I preferred that sleek, fast Caravel*). But Sheena insisted on that big Carrack*), the Le Partizane, and I’m sure she knows what she’s doing.’
(* Caravel, Carrack, Galleon, Man o’ War, Frigate = Types of ships in the Exploration Age in our world, but they were already invented in the Medieval Age in Eternia.
Soon Robert and Zach hear whistling voices from several points, signaling that the area is clear. Robert then also whistles in a different tune. A few seconds later, Sheena comes with Baxter, Ellephar and a number of rough-tough-looking men from every direction to join Robert and Zach.
As speed is a matter of life or death, they all move stealthily towards the Le Partizane by skiffs. They board the battleship, kill the guards on board, and soon all hands are standing by on their posts, ready to cast sail. They must move very quickly before the light from the lighthouse falls upon them. Even instructions come in signals and hand waves. Fortunately, most of the crews Sheena recruited are experienced seamen, so no trouble happens there.
Sheen a then raises and crosses her scimitars overhead as the signal to set sail. The ship moves slowly out from the harbor. As the sails go up, Sheena gets an idea and shouts her next instruction:
‘Gunners! Move to your positions and sink that ship next to us!’
Sheena points at the caravel at the starboard side as there is no ship at the port, bow and stern. Some of the crews move into the cannon compartments quickly, load the cannonballs into the cannons and wait for the signal to attack. When all are ready, Sheena shouts loudly so all crews can hear her, ‘FIRE!’
Soon enough, the cannons are blasting. All five cannonballs fired pierce into the hull of the caravel, sending it sinking bit by bit. However, the cannon blasts caused so much noise that alerted the guards on the harbor and in the lighthouse. The alarm horns blare.
It takes no time for the guards to realize what happened, but it’s still too late. They can’t catch up with the Le Partizane even with the Caravel battleship intact.
Back on the ship, Sheena Mekh’ta stands firmly, staring towards the horizon with satisfaction on her face.
Ah, finally... I’m a corsair again, and this ship made me complete. I guess that’s what ‘cunning’ is all about. If you can’t buy a ship, just steal it. If a man’s bounty can’t buy you a ship, use that man to steal a ship for you. If one door is closed, the others are open for you.
But still, I need to be very cautious. That Robert is not comfortable being a pirate, I can tell. I know I can’t keep him forever, but as he is an idealistic yet resourceful hunter, he won’t betray me. And that Zach fellow... I think he’s more than just a spy. I can trust him as well, but he will follow Robert.
So, I’d better stay in their good side and use them as long as I can. By Khalik Al-Kalam*), I’ll see it to the end and come out glorious.
(* Khalik Al-Kalam = The Source, the One True God’s name in Meshallian.
==oOo==
By morning, the La Partizane is now miles away from the Port City of Vochaux. And it’s impossible to be caught now, no matter how fast the pursuing ship is.
This makes the captain, Sheena Mekh’ta feel secure enough to confer with her ‘lieutenants’ about the next plans in the conference cabin.
‘Now, as per your commitment, Sheena, we all sail to Lore with all haste,’ says Robert. ‘Remember your first promise.’
The Bladedancer answers, ‘Oh, yes, Robert, I remember it clearly. Our first trip is to Lore... eventually. The problem is, we have to refinance and restock before we can go there. We just stole the ship, and we didn’t have time to buy provisions. And judging from the stock here, the provisions will only last for three days or so.’
Zachary adds, ‘I must admit Sheena’s right, because I also checked it myself. We must replenish or perish.’
Robert sighs, and then concludes, ‘If that’s the case, aye then, we’ll restock. But the problem is, where can we buy the stock? I’m sure no decent port will take money from a pirate.’
Sheena says, ‘No need to worry, Robert. I’ll work something out every time we reach port. Anyway, I know a black market port well-hidden in the Isles of Flamenca, so that solves the first problem.
But the second problem arises: We don’t have enough money to buy provisions. I’ve spent almost all the money we got from Robert’s bounty and our coffers to recruit my crews, buy skiffs and prepare for escape. I intended to use the rest to buy provisions, but alas, Zach’s rescue raised an unexpected expense, so here we are, practically broke.’
Baxter adds, ‘So, in order to make money, we must do what pirates do: piratin’! Let’s hope there are merchant ships around. We’ll board ‘em, grab ‘em loots, spill ‘em blood and guts, sink ‘em ships and sail away rich.’
‘I’ll drop the spill blood and sink ships part, but I don’t have much choice for the rest, right?’ says Robert. ‘All right then, I’ll go along.’
‘So it’s settled then,’ says Sheena. ‘We’ll set sail to Flamenca, and let’s hope we run into a rich merchant ship along the way.’
I prefer sea monsters, Robert thinks.
Air Raid
‘Ahoy, mate! Hand me that rope over there, will you? Gotta fix the sail here,’ Robert shouts while hanging on a rope on the main mast.
‘Hahaha! You surely sound more like Dread Pirate Rob day after day!’ says Zachary.
‘Arrr... not really, dear ol’ Zach. From the way I see it, I prefer to be called “Courteous Pirate Rob”... or better still, “Cool Hunter Rob”.’
‘Har har har! You, Rob, never cease to amuse me. Now, let’s play along with these scurvy dawgs until we set foot on our good land Lore again!’
‘Aye, my thoughts too, exactly.’
The ship, Le Partizane sail south towards the Islands of Flamenca. So far they see neither sign of a chase by any ship nor a merchant ship to loot. It’s not a good sign, because Sheena and her crew must sell the things in Le Partizane to buy supplies. This will raise suspicion, and one of the rowdy landlubbers in Flamenca might sell them out for bounty.
Sheena tried to minimize that risk by changing the name Le Partizane to the Dewblossom – a typically feminine name for a battleship, even for a merchant ship. She also disguises the ship: hides the cannons, the military apparels in the rooms, and makes the ship real clean. She and her mates all dress like merchants. The First Mate Robert still has his moustache and beard. Zachary has bathed and trimmed his hair, moustache and beard, so he looks more to his actual age of forty-seven than before.
Sheena has been a pirate before, so she knows full well of ship management, navigation and how to keep the crews loyal to her. All in all, everything goes perfectly and smoothly... so far.
==oOo==
Early the next morning...
‘ENEMY IN SIGHT! ENEMY IN SIGHT!’
A pirate runs towards Robert’s cabin, yelling that alarm repeatedly. Robert and Zachary rush out from their cabin to the deck. Sheena is already on her position, giving quick instructions to the crews. Robert looks around – there is no ship in sight.
‘Maybe you want to look at the sky,’ says Zachary, pointing upwards.
Then Robert sees a flying object from afar that was modeled after his dragon mentor Algaban – the Skyship Aurora.
They come for me and Sheena. And this time they come to arrest us, just like the soldiers talked about back in the harbor. Our conventional cannons here can’t shoot upwards, so resisting them will be futile. Let’s hope Adler will not sink this ship after we feed his arrogance.
Then Robert walks to Sheena, and when Sheena stops talking Robert talks to her.
‘It’s the Aurora. Do you know what to do, Sheena?’
‘Yeah, Rob,’ says Sheena tensely. ‘I think they’re coming to arrest us all. We’ll just ask them what they’re up to. If they attack, we’ll hit them with all we have and abandon ship.’
‘To deal with Adler, we just have to keep humble and polite – it might save your life. I and Hernan respect each other, and he has a soft spot for women. Eidos, well, we know he’s indecisive and a pure opportunist, so offer him a bigger profit and he’ll follow.’
‘Thanks for reminding me, first mate,’ says Sheena. ‘Now just let me handle them. I’m sure we’ll get a better outcome with it.’
As Aurora comes close to Dewblossom, Hernan’s amplified voice comes from the megaphone on board the skyship.
‘Robert Chandler, Sheena Mekh’ta, Zachary Nightshade and all people on board, you are all under arrest upon act of piracy and murder, and hijacking the frigate Le Partizane. Surrender now or we’ll attack!’
In the Skyship Aurora Control Room, Hernan moves away from the megaphone and uses his telescope. He sees Sheena dictating something to a seaman who waves and points a pair of flags to various directions.
‘It’s a signal from Sheena!’ Hernan exclaims. ‘Come... on board... to talk. Please... don’t... fire.’
Eidos Crydias the chronomage who stands behind Hernan comments, ‘They want to bend things up, explain themselves using the fact that we fought together in Enia’s Sanctum.’
Adler raps his seat and shouts, ‘There will be no negotiation! We will apprehend and lock them up in Aurora! And you, Hernan, bring our combatants and navigators and take over the ship, arrest all men on board and bring the Le Partizane back to Vochaux!’
‘Aye-aye, partner,’ says Hernan. The Escudian fencer walks away from the control room in no hurry.
Eidos comes near Adler and whispers,
‘Lord Adler, I think Don Hernan didn’t take this order quite seriously.’
Adler replies, ‘I know, that’s why I only sent him down there. Hernan trusts Robert and so does Robert to him. Hernan also likes pretty women, so he will be lenient to Sheena. He is our best bet to complete our task perfectly – no violence, no bloodshed, and we can return the Le Partizane in one piece.’
Eidos nods approvingly. Quazar the centaur, the captain of Aurora takes over the telescope and looks through it to monitor the situation.
Meanwhile, Hernan and several Aurora crew are climbing down the rope ladders to board the La Partizane. Zachary, Robert and Sheena are expecting them near the bow.
This is too easy, Hernan thinks. Robert and Sheena are really good fighters, so it’s not possible for them to surrender without a fight. I must be very, very careful.
With that thought, Hernan walks towards the fugitives.
‘Don Hernan y Parvaez, welcome to Dewblossom. I am Sheena Mekh’ta, the captain, am so honored by your visit.’
‘You seem to achieve much since we fought side-by-side in Enia’s Sanctum, Sheena the Bladedancer,’ says Hernan, as politely as ever.
‘Well, I owe my success to my first mate here, Robert Chandler. He gave me my lucky break after his jailbreak. You do know Robert, don’t you?’
‘Of course I do. Hi, Robert. It’s been a while. Nice to see you here.’
Robert replies curtly, ‘I wish I can say the same to you, Don Hernan, depending on what you will do to us next.’
‘Escorting you to Aurora, of course,’ says Hernan with a gentlemanly tone. ‘...to talk with Adler and Eidos.’
‘Lo? Didn’t we tell you to come on board and talk?’ says Sheena. ‘I mean on board the Dewblossom, not the Aurora!’
‘WHAT?’ says Hernan in a shock, then he tries to compose himself and acts gentlemanly calm in this trap of words. ‘What do you mean? Don’t you guys want to surrender and avert senseless bloodshed?’
Sheena answers, ‘We corsairs live with one code: never surrender. We’d rather fight to the death than rot behind bars. But in this case, we just want to talk to explain our actions. So, I need you, Adler and Eidos down here to negotiate things over and reach a mutual agreement. I think he’ll be interested to what we’ll offer him.’
‘Don’t fool me, Sheena. You know Adler doesn’t talk with non-nobles, no matter how powerful or heroic they are, let alone setting foot on this degraded, dishonored ship. Eidos? You’ll never get a decision out of him, he’s always Adler’s lapdog. So, let me do the talking on their behalf.’
‘Hmm,’ says Sheena with a slight pause. ‘Very well then, what do you propose?’
‘You may keep your freedom, Sheena Mekh’ta, with a price. We will take Robert and Zach under custody – they’re already condemned men. And we’ll also claim the Le Partizane – it’s not yours. You and your men come with us to “escort” the fugitives to Vochaux. We will make up a story for them and you and your men will be free to go.’
‘Sounds like a perfect plan,’ Sheena replies. ‘But it’s not as perfect as it sounds.’
‘Of course. I altered the original plan because of your unexpected response, so we must work on the technicalities later.’
‘No, no, it’s not that. You don’t get it, do you? There are two things that will never work here:
One, losing Robert and Zach will be painful enough for me, but I will never surrender my ship without a fight! Oh, yeah, and the name is Dewblossom, not Le Partizane.
Two, no matter how perfect your plan is, the end result is the same: me and all my men hanging on the gallows.
So, sorry, mate, we can’t follow your plan. But we suggest a NEW plan...’
Suddenly Baxter and Ellephar seize Hernan from the back, although Hernan’s hand is ready to draw his Rapier Albatross.
Hernan protests, ‘Hey! You all chose death?’
‘Yeah, and you’re coming with us,’ says Sheena. ‘But before that, let’s see if my plan works.’
In Skyship Aurora, Captain Quazar the centaur is startled by the development on the deck of Le Partizane.
‘What’s wrong, Captain?’ says Eidos.
‘They’ve arrested Hernan, Master Eidos,’ says Quazar.
‘That fool,’ says Adler. ‘He failed me for the last time. Prepare to fire all blasters!’
‘But... wait, Lord Adler! There are our men down there!’ says Eidos hastily to warn Adler not to make a foolish decision.
‘It’s a worthy sacrifice! Don’t try to question my judgment, Eidos, or you’ll join them down there, sinking into the abyss!’
‘Lord Adler!’ Quazar speaks loudly. ‘They’re waving signals again! They want you to come on board the Le Partizane!’
‘NO WAY! I’m not going down to that filthy, degraded ship! FIRE, I say! FIRE! Or you will lose our heads!’ screams Adler with rage.
There is no response from all people aboard the Aurora, nobody’s moving at all.
‘Oh, so you all turned against me, eh? Is this a mutiny?’ says Adler.
‘Don’t force us to, Lord Adler,’ says Quazar. ‘Don’t forget, I’m still the captain of this ship. All crews take command from me only, except if I’m absent and I still have my first mate. You’re the owner, yes, but the well-being and loyalty of the crews is my own responsibility.’
Eidos adds, ‘If you’re unjust, then we won’t respect you as our leader anymore. If you kill Hernan who swore to be your partner to make sure Kraal’shazar doesn’t make you Vordac’s Heir, you’ll betray Vadis’ trust, turn all Forces of Light against you, and you’ll be alone against the world.’
‘Is that a threat, Eidos?’ asks Adler.
‘You may think so, but I say this is the truth,’ Eidos answers.
‘Hrrgh! Never, I say never in my life someone disobeyed me! Abort that command! Lower a rope for me! I will deal with those rabbles myself!’
Adler walks out from the control room, then turns back and points his finger towards Eidos and Quazar, saying, ‘I will never forget this humiliation. Mark my words.’
==oOo==
Back on the Carrack, Sheena is still Holding Hernan and the crews of Aurora hostage.
Hernan protests, ‘You’re mad, Sheena! You are putting our lives in jeopardy! One blast from Aurora, and we’ll be finished!’
Sheena replies coolly, ‘If he still has some sense left in him, he will come down here. If not, well, just think that we’re dealing with a monster in a noble’s skin.’
Robert and Zach don’t say a word. They just stand on the lower deck with their weapons ready. Just then, someone is coming down the rope ladder. It’s Adler von Bachmann.
‘I told you so,’ says Sheena.
As he steps on the deck, Adler draws his Zweihänder Kraal’shazar from his back and says loudly,
‘Release Hernan and my crews and surrender, or else.’
‘And if we release Hernan, you’ll arrest us anyway. Just keep those empty threats and let’s get straight to the point,’ Sheena begins her arguments. ‘The bottom line is, we’re not going to give up without a fight. Let’s make duels: You and Hernan versus me and Robert. If we win, we will go with you peacefully. This is our fight, so no need to drag our crews along in it. Well, do we have an agreement?’
‘I don’t deal with pirates.’
‘Very well, it’s your loss then. EXECUTE ALL HOSTAGES!’
‘W-WAIT! WAIT!’ says Adler hastily. ‘All right, duels then. I just can’t wait to see Kraal’shazar in full action again!’
‘That’s more like it, Lord Adler. A wise decision,’ says Sheena. ‘Release Hernan and give his sword back to him. I want a match between his Albatross and my dancing scimitars.’ She readily draws her scimitars.
‘I adore and respect women, Sheena,’ Hernan replies. ‘So I won’t underestimate you. We’ll fight like two men!’ He receives his Rapier from Ellephar’s hand, waves it sideways and raises it upright in front of him, right between his two fiery eyes.
Adler takes his position to face Robert and says to him, ‘Robert Chandler. We’ve been rivals during our two years hunting marks for bounty. Now you are my mark, so you’ll end up like my other marks.’
Robert sets his stance with flame engulfing the blade of Grimlock saber, saying, ‘Grimlock and Kraal’shazar of Adair’s Arsenal. Let’s see which the better one is.’
The crews all move away, giving them enough space to move freely. Then, without any signal, the four combatants rush towards each other’s opponents. Sword clashes with sword, exchanging blow after blow with high speed. Power versus skill, speed versus precision.
At one point, Adler and Robert swing their swords at the same time with all their might.
CLANG!
Adler and Robert push against each other with their swords. Eventually, the force that concentrates on the swords becomes compressed and bursts, sending the two duelists away from each other: Adler five steps back, and Robert six.
‘Now you see the gap between our strengths,’ says Adler.
‘Yeah, it’s only a step away. But I feel warmed up right now. Do you?’ Robert challenges.
‘Got it before you did. Now, I’m on FIRE!’
‘Let’s put the fire to the test, shall we? On guard!’
Saying that, Robert slashes his sword two times, sending a high-speed bolt of Crossfire Slash towards Adler. Adler blocks it with the skill that should be performed with two swords: Phoenix Wings. The heavy two-handed sword makes Adler’s overall slashes slower than it should, so a friction of Robert’s bolt still hits Adler – although with much reduced force so it doesn’t hurt him much.
Before Adler can catch his breath, Robert already rushes close to him and then attacks with lightning-speed spinning slashes from different angles, a move named Green Dragon Assault Strike. Adler quickly retaliates with a similar attack – less in speed and frequency but superior in strength – Tusks of Stampeding Elephants. Their swords clash countless times, and some of the unblocked blows inflict more wounds on their bodies.
Making a full use of his speed advantage against Adler, Robert changes his variant to a combination of Rising Dragon Uppercut Slash and Dragon Hammering Down. Adler blocks the uppercut, but is unaware of the second slash from above. When he realizes it, the blow nearly hits his head. Using his reflexes, Adler spins his body and sword downwards with Whirlwind Slash. That particular move blocks Robert’s slash and counterattacks at once, but Robert quickly ducks and applies Dragon Tailsweep, a low spinning backward slash when Adler lands on the ground. Adler blocks the move by thrusting Kraal’shazar into the deck floor and quickly lifts his sword up. With a quick spinning jump, he slashes a long, deep cut on Robert’s leather armor with Pouncing Tiger Bash. Without his armor, Robert’s wound would be deep and fatal, but the bleeding alone shows that Robert is badly hurt from that attack.
Seeing that result, Adler smiles triumphantly. But Robert doesn’t give up. Adler’s pause gives him time to re-concentrate his aura, and then with a roar Robert charges with Wrath of the Dragon God, a single, concentrated thrust reinforced with high-level fire energy towards a single target: Adler’s throat that is most probably Adler’s least protected spot.
Adler moves his sword to parry Robert’s strike, but suddenly course of Robert’s saber strike changes! It turns and goes to Adler’s head from the side – a simple blow is going to be a killing blow!
Just as the edge of the blade is about an inch away from his brain, Adler slides forward in shock. Grimlock goes on thrusting, making a line of fire, burning the outer strands of Adler’s treasured long, blonde hair.
Robert moves on to a safe distance from his opponent and concentrates his remaining energy for the next move – his finishing move. Adler, however, doesn’t share Robert’s calmness. Instead, he is very much enraged.
‘My beautiful hair... ruined! Robert, you-must-paaay!!!’
Saying so, he accumulates rage into negative, black energy typical to his Deathblade Kraal’shazar to the climax. He’s going to finish Robert off, despite of his contract for bringing his mark in alive.
Realizing that they’re suffering enough wounds and this move is going to be decisive for the duel, Robert and Adler stay on their stances. They don’t dare to attack before their opponents do – If they run out of energy during this final round, their opponents will finish them off. So, all they need is a sign, a glint, or a faintest sound so they can launch their attacks together.
Zachary is aware of this deadlock situation, so he takes a zenny out of a pirate’s pocket and tosses the coin high up in the air between Adler and Robert. The duelists follow the signal determinedly with their spirited eyes. The coin stops in mid-air... ‘ready’, falls way down... ‘get set’, and lands, clattering on the floor... ‘GO!’
Adler and Robert rush towards each other! As their swords are within range, they launch their most powerful combos: Robert with Regrets of the Dragon and Adler with Shattering of Heaven and Earth. No one spectator, even ones with the sharpest eyes can catch their lightning-speed movements and blows.
The clashes go on. Both duelists do their best to cut into the unguarded parts without trying to block at a cost of ruining their attack patterns. Speed is their only defense. In this game, the fastest and the toughest will win – or die after this is over.
They keep up their attacks for another ten seconds until both of them move away to a safe distance from each other at the same time. This time they stand back-to-back against each other and don’t move.
Suddenly, Robert grunts painfully. His wounds from that last attack are opening and bleeding in countless places all over his body. His leather armor is not tough enough for the legendary Deathblade. It seems Robert is lost – again.
‘URGH!’
Suddenly, Adler is jerking and vomiting blood!
He bends over and clutches his stomach. The wounds he suffered are less in number than Robert’s, but one single inner wound in his stomach is so severe – it makes him lose his balance and falls on the deck, unconscious.
Now we know who the real winner is.
Robert doesn’t care if he wins or loses. He just walks feebly to a corner and sits there, watching the fight between Hernan and Sheena. Zachary goes near him and applies his Vitali Healing Spell on Robert’s wounds, exclaiming with awe.
‘Quality over quantity. Well done, Robert.’
‘Zach, old friend,’ Robert replies. ‘Please heal Adler’s wounds too.’
‘Lo, why? He meant to capture you, Robert! Your kindness won’t change anything!’
‘If he has a sense of honor within him, he will admit defeat and go away in peace. I have nothing to do with him. I don’t want to make him my enemy. We’ve been rivals in bounty-hunting, I admit, but nothing is more honorable than a good and fair competition. As long as we are in the same side in fighting injustice and evil, I see no reason to leave him knocking the death’s door.’
‘Well, if you think so, I’m with you. Just be careful, Rob.’
‘I always do. Now let’s see Hernan and Sheena’s duel – whose one will prevail.’
Meanwhile, Hernan is in trouble. His combo, Albatross Embraces the Clouds fails to juggle Sheena up into the air so he can combine it with Shears of the Falling Rain multi-thrust combo and smash her back to the floor.
Apparently, Sheena blocks that attack with her twin dancing scimitars and counters it with her signature move, the Scorpion Kick: the single kick with a back-flip somersault. The kick hits Hernan’s forehead and throws him to the back.
Hernan the Escudian fencer is still standing after that blow, but his head is now very painful and dizzy. Before Hernan recovers from that dizziness, Sheena uses this opportunity to strike with her fiery twin swords: Phoenix Wings.
This is bad! If Hernan doesn’t recover from grogginess, he will end up in pieces. He realizes that attack when the first two slashes land on his Mythril Armor Eil’thanath but not injuring him at all. The third slash misses Hernan altogether because in that split second Hernan moves away very quickly and gracefully using his defensive-evasive move Dances in the Cascades. Sheena next slashes don’t hit him at all, so she is real upset now.
‘Oh, you really can dance, mister. May I cut in?’
Saying that, Sheena changes her move to Sandstorm Skirmish, adding thrusts to slashes with greater speed. Her move is like a violent desert sandstorm, destroying everything on its path.
This time Hernan is ready. ‘Let’s dance together then,’ he says.
Hernan moves as gracefully as ever with his favorite move Requiem of the Tides. Though this is a serial thrust move, it gives the user more chance to evade enemy’s attack and opens the door to more variations and angles, combining speed and precision at the highest level. With water attributes, Hernan’s move soaks Sheena’s dry variants and causes her to ‘go with the flow’. It seems Hernan has Sheena under control!
But Sheena doesn’t care. She still slashes and thrusts, pushing her speed to the limit. She tries to hit Hernan from various angles, but only a few of them managed to hit the spot, that is, anywhere but the parts covered with the Mythril Armor. That lightweight, tougher-than-dragon-scales armor really gives Hernan a sheer advantage against Sheena. If she turn to defensive, she might still have a chance to inflict fatal wound on Hernan, but since she pushed on and on... well, she got much more damage than she should.
Feeling a bit ‘merciful’, Hernan pushes himself away from Sheena by kicking her stomach, sending her flying way back and hitting the ship mast.
Countless thrust wounds on Sheena’s body are not fatal, thank goodness. But as a result of that, Sheena can’t get up at all. She has pushed herself over the limit and now she’s powerless and defenseless. She can feel her life is going to end any second now, with the edge of Albatross Rapier piercing through her heart. But actually, it doesn’t happen. Hernan just stands there with his hand on his forehead. He is still groggy, but he’s the winner.
Then Hernan looks around and finds Robert on the corner. Zachary is still tending to Robert’s wounds, but Robert signals him to stop because of this challenge.
‘Looks like one-one, eh?’ says Hernan. ‘We’ll have a final match right here and now.’
‘Indeed. Your armor is legendary, but can it resist the power of Grimlock?’
‘Guess we’ll have to find out... the hard way.’
Saying that, Hernan spin-jumps way up and thrusts down right towards Rob’s eye – the Whirlpool Polonaise thrust.
Gained back seventy percent of his stamina, Robert parries Hernan’s attack with his flaming saber and counters with the basic multi-slash skill that targets ten different weak point possibilities: the Ten Point Chain Slash.
Hernan parries seven slashes, one miss and two hit Hernan’s chest and back. Thanks to Mythril Armor, those hits only made minor bruises and not fatal cuts.
Now it’s Hernan’s turn. He attacks with his basic moves, trying to study his opponent and find his weak spots. Robert also does the same but more to blocking and parrying. They need to ‘warm up’ again for the next special skill variants.
During so, Hernan asks, ‘Robert, is this going to ruin our friendship?’
‘You’re doing what you must, and I do mine. Don’t worry, I won’t hate you for this,’ Robert answers.
‘But you’re eluding justice and committed piracy! You swore to uphold justice, but ended up breaking the law! I’m really disappointed in you, Rob!’
‘I will go and face trial, but I can’t go alone. They won’t believe a single word I say! I know a very wise person in Lore, so I need to go there and ask him to help me prove my innocence! Alas, Sheena caught me on the way, but she helped me out of the dungeon. She committed the murders and piracy, but I simply knocked the Arcadians out! I need to go along with her because no decent ship will bear a most wanted fugitive like me!’
‘So that’s what this is all about. I would do the same if I was in your shoes, Robert, but in my shoes, I must do what I must!’
‘Then I’ll help you, Hernan. You will give them a better answer if you fail. And if you defeat me, that means you succeed,’ says Robert, still slashing fervently.
‘So it means we’re going to settle this matter up through our blades, then,’ says Hernan, delivering a series of thrusts. ‘Show me your best moves, Orcbane.’
‘I’ll certainly do,’ says Robert, now accumulating his aura and unleashes his combo, Twin Dragons Scour the Seas, attacking from two opposing sides with concentrated thrusts and slashes.
‘Oho, I do have a cure for that,’ Hernan says. He blocks Robert’s slashes from the left and uses the energy impact to block the ones from the right. He does that with great grace and precision, blocking all blows perfectly. With a last slash, Robert pushes himself away from Hernan and prepares his next attack.
‘That was a nice move,’ says Robert. ‘Stylish and effective.’
Hernan replies with a smile, ‘Thanks. I’m sure you’ll show some more of yours. You sure got plenty of them. Let’s see if you can counter THIS!’
Once again, Hernan unleashes a variant of Albatross Embraces the Clouds using a different approach: He crouches real low before delivering a very powerful spiraling uppercut slash to juggle Robert up in the air. Robert blocks that attack, but it pushes him aloft anyway.
Hernan jumps high with another stroke of Albatross Embraces the Clouds, but Robert already prepares his air-to-ground diving slash, Dragon Hammering Down. As Robert’s slash comes down, once again Hernan shows his superb precision by hitting the blade of Grimlock with the tip of his rapier, putting a concentrated pressure on one point. That action is indeed fruitful for Hernan as he manages to push Robert’s saber up and away.
Robert works hard to maintain his grip on Grimlock and not letting his defenses wide open. He does a single somersault and counters using his supreme one-hit homing thrust, Wrath of the Dragon God. It’s a direct frontal spiraling attack with a fully concentrated and multiplied fire energy sparks covering Robert’s body and sword. This time Hernan is caught unguarded.
Robert stabs Hernan squarely on the chest. The Mythril Armor, of course, protects Hernan’s chest from being cut open. Nonetheless, Hernan suffers a severe internal injury that forces him to back off seven paces, nearly falling. The seventeenth level and the second strongest blow of the Eighteen Dragon Slayer Strikes it is, and Hernan is the first victim since Robert mastered it. To Robert’s surprise, Hernan is still standing although he is staggering a bit. The Escudian fencer talks,
‘That was very devastating, Robert. Without my Mythril Armor, I would be dead by now.’
Robert replies, ‘Yours were as dangerous. Your precision move was superb, I daresay. But judging from your looks, I think it’s time to finish this.’
‘We have reached the peak of our auras, so go ahead and use your best move against the best of mine.’
‘Remember our deal, Hernan,’ says Robert threateningly. ‘Don’t force me to kill you if you break it.’
‘Sure do, IF you can survive this one. On guard!’
True to his words, Hernan unleashes his finishing combo attack, utilizing water energy to the highest, most powerful level possible: Symphony of the Seven Seas. His attacks are like rolling tidal waves coming from seven directions, constantly and randomly changing like waves from the seven seas all clashing in one place.
To match this, once again Robert uses his Regrets of the Dragon finishing combo. He defeated Adler by combining two final blows into one extra-powerful blow, so what variation will he use against Hernan’s speed, precision and unpredictable blows?
Combining the eighteen combos of the Dragon Slayer technique in one, Robert presses on and on, trying not to get dominated instead.
Rob and Hernan keep exchanging blows with several hits and misses from each side, but it seems like they will never stop. Not one seem to gain an upper hand and their energy is as though never going to run out – amplifies and amplifies until... their bodies cannot bear it anymore. And suddenly, when their clash is about to reach its climax...
That’s enough.
Hernan is startled to hear that. Losing his concentration, his attacks become weaker and less focus and his defenses are wide open. Without realizing what really happened, Robert lands an uppercut slash – part of the Regrets of the Dragon combo – on Hernan’s armor and send him flying to the back. Robert defeated Hernan in this last round, but he feels something is wrong.
Robert rushes forward to find out, but Hernan raises his one hand and put a finger on his lips, whispering,
‘Sssh, stop, Robert! Wait, wait... Did you hear that?’
‘Hear what? I don’t hear anything!’ says Robert, protesting.
‘I heard a man’s voice saying, that’s enough. Then he called me by my name!’
‘H-huh? Are you hearing voices in your mind, Hernan?’
‘I’m not? I heard it loud and clear, as if he’s next to me! I’m not crazy, Robert, I swear!’
The voice comes again.
You don’t have to swear, because you’re not crazy. Only you can hear my voice, my child, for I am Petra, the all-powerful Leviathan*), Sovereign of the Seven Seas. Your skill, Symphony of the Seven Seas drew so much mana from the oceans and waters; it woke me up from my slumber.
Right on that moment, I knew that the Chosen One has come: He who masters the water energy at the highest level.
(* Leviathan is the Ancient Blue Dragon, living in the deepest abyss of the Petravia Ocean. Like Bahamut, Tiamat, Armitage and Behemoth, the Leviathan is considered as a patron, deity and guardian of the element it represents, that is water.
Hernan talks to Petra’s voice, ‘I don’t understand. You said you’ve found the one you seek, but you came and disrupted my concentration in the most crucial moment, making me lose to Robert. What do you want with me, anyway?’
Firstly, I wanted to stop you two from destroying each other with the energy so extreme, more than your bodies could bear. And secondly, I want you to become my partner to ease my loneliness. I have slept for seventy years, alone and miserable. My mind wandered in my sleep, searching throughout the land for someone who can hear my voice – my new partner – the Chosen One and I found you.
So, I offer you a gift. A gift of power beyond measure, the help from a Leviathan, and a chance to make your name a legend, told by many generations to come. Will you take it?
‘It’s not power I seek, but friendship and the joy it brings. If you offer that as well, then I gladly accept it,’ Hernan answers.
Then I’m your friend, Hernan. With you around, I won’t be lonely anymore. Come to Petravia, my home and wait for me in the Lone Island of Jagt. Just shout my name, Petra in your mind and I will come to you. See you there.
‘The Island of Jagt? Where is it, O’ Ancient One?’ asks Hernan, but there’s no answer. Petra has disconnected the telepathic call, it seems.
Hernan sighs and turns to Robert, saying, ‘Well, I think you’ve won, Robert. Got an important call from a new friend, so I gotta go.’
‘But you’re still standing, Hernan. This is not over yet. A deal is a deal, so we have to fight on.’
‘Then I forfeit. You see, our skills are evenly matched. If we went on with our finishing moves, we both would end up dead. Petra the Leviathan distracted me – I made a mistake, I shouldn’t be distracted by anything at all – and you defeated me with that last blow. And now I’m too bruised and injured to fight. You’ve won that fight and we will leave quietly. As you said, a deal is a deal, right?’
‘Don Hernan, I think that was just an interruption and this is just a delay for our fight. You know, I once heard voices too, and it distracted me no matter how hard I tried to resist and ignore it. Just do what you have to do and we’ll continue this fight after you are stronger, when our paths are crossed again.’
‘Until then, I bid you farewell, Senor Robert,’ says the Escudian fencer, bowing real low as a salute.
‘And farewell to you too, my friend. Good luck,’ Robert replies. He also bows with respect.
Hernan then sheathes his Albatross Rapier and walks away from there, shouting an instruction, ‘Men! We bring Lord Adler and go back to the airship! Move out!’
The airship crews follow Hernan at once. Hernan also carries the unconscious Adler with the help of two crews, hoisting him up to the airship. Hernan gets in the airship, and soon afterwards the flying vessel rotates slowly. As it faces northwest, the Aurora flies away, leaving the Dewblossom behind, still intact.
Robert looks at the flying airship with mixed thoughts. He feels neither victorious nor worried about this outcome. He just walks up towards Sheena who is still sitting feebly on a corner with Zach tending to her wounds.
‘Good work, Robert,’ says Sheena. ‘And good riddance to that flying threat!’
Zach also adds, ‘That proved that for now, you are stronger than that bighead blonde and that flamboyant fencer – er... what were their names again?’
‘Viscount Adler von Bachmann from Borgia and Don Hernan y Parvaez from Escudia,’ Robert answers. ‘And I don’t think I’m stronger than them. It was all just Vadis’ will that I must reach Lore to uphold his justice.’
Baxter, who stands near Sheena also talks,
‘Whatever you said, Robert, the fact is clear. Hernan and Adler retreated because you defeated them – end of story. Now we better head straight to Flamenca and buy supplies.’
Zach protests, ‘Lo? Cap’n Sheena said you don’t have the money, and we haven’t raided a single ship!’
‘Yeah, we didn’t have money,’ says Baxter. ‘But now we do.’
He takes out a purse and jiggles it with glee. ‘That Adler is surely loaded. Look at this – whoa! Man, this purse is full of gold crowns!’
‘How did you get that, Bax?’ says Ellephar, absent-mindedly.
‘Nicked it when he’s unconscious, you moron. Gotta do it real swiftly with a bunch of airship crew around him. I’d say ‘twas one of my best steals ever.’
‘Yeah,’ says Zach. ‘And better still if you can nick it from him when he’s fully conscious.’
‘Oh, yeah? Of course I can do it! But wait! I have a better idea. Why don’t I nick the brain out of your head, right now? That will be my coolest steal ever!’ says Baxter threateningly, pointing his dagger towards Zachary.
‘THAT’S ENOUGH, BAXTER!’ Sheena yells angrily and coughs blood and causes her internal injuries to open again. Now Zach must redo his work mending her wounds all over again.
Then the captain of the Dewblossom talks feebly to Robert, ‘Please take over command of the ship for the time being, Robert. I must rest. We’ll sail to Flamenca to restock and then go straight to Lore to a fishing harbor near Rand.’
‘Aye, will do, Cap’n,’ says Robert in a serious tone and with thoughts in his mind.
Thank Vadis we can go through this without any casualty. But it’s still a long journey – who and what will we encounter next?
A Very Fishy Voyage
Although quite accustomed with sea travel, being a captain of a ship is an entirely new thing for Robert Chandler. He spends most of his time going to-and-fro between the captain’s cabin and the deck, seeking Sheena’s advice about directions and decisions way beyond his own experience.
Sheena Mekh’ta is now recovered from her wounds, thanks to Zachary’s treatment, but she is still very weak from lack of sleep plus the transition from ‘bandit queen’ to ‘pirate queen’. Her discipline and tenacity is exemplary, but her being too hard on herself resulted in fatigue and deteriorated health.
Being on the run is tiring for Robert as well, but not very much as he found a new friend, Zachary a.k.a. Nightshade, a spy from Lore. After a series of adventures, Robert finds himself walking up from the hull to the deck of the Carrack-type ship, Dewblossom. There, he sees the crews all busy with their own tasks.
Baxter the skinny archer serves as a lookout, whereas Ellephar helps moving things, pulling sails, fishing and all kinds of work that utilize more of the fat pikeman’s brawn than brain. Seeing them all working as a team seriously, Robert can now think of the plans ahead.
Our victory over Adler and Hernan has raised the men’s morale, and now they are more loyal to Sheena than ever before. We’re near the shores of Corazon now. If things go on like this, with this speed we can reach Lore in five days or so without having to restock. The wind even helps, blowing north as though Vadis commanded it.
Now I must keep my disguise as is until I reach Hulferd and Rael’charon, and I must do something to make Sheena leave me in Lore. Think, Robert. Think. You must plan ahead if you are to meet Eloise again... Ah, Eloise!? Hmm... Maybe this might work... with Zach’s help, of course.
Suddenly, Zachary, the one he is thinking about, comes and taps his shoulder, saying,
‘Rob, are you daydreaming again?’
‘Not really. I’m just planning ahead.’
Robert tells Zach about the problems he’s about to face, also the plans to make Sheena leave him.
Zach responds to Robert by saying, ‘I think Sheena will likely fall with the second plan, because it will really happen. Rael’charon will doubt you and put you into a test, like he did to everyone. You don’t have to be as smart as him to answer it. Just tell him the real truth and he’ll ponder it with wisdom. Just be yourself and let him see the real you, and everything will be alright.’
‘You sound like you know Rael’charon very well,’ says Robert. ‘Who are you, really?’
‘I? I know Rael’charon just like any other Lorean does. You seem to know him better than I do, so you’re confident that he’ll help you.’
‘Honestly, I’m not sure either. Rael’charon is an enigmatic elf, so I’d rather go as you advised. I never know what his reaction will be, but at least I’ll try.’
‘Well, let’s hope for the best, then,’ says Zachary, walking away from there. Robert sees him leaving, thinking.
It’s no wonder that he knows Rael’charon. The elf must’ve assigned him as a spy. A double agent blew his cover and he almost died on the gallows because of it. That’s why he’s rather sensitive whenever I ask him about his identity. I should’ve known better. I guess I was not acting as a good friend just now.
Robert moves to find Zach and apologizes to him when suddenly a shout surprises him.
‘MONSTERS! MONSTERS ON BOARD!!’
A seaman shouts the alarm and runs towards Robert, pointing to the port. He’s not jesting all right. A school of fish-like monsters with hands, feet and tridents jump aboard the ship, attacking everyone in sight.
Fishmen! Robert thinks quickly and acts even quicker. He leaps from the steering deck to the lower deck, draws his saber Grimlock and launches his multi-slash attack Dances of a Myriad Dragons towards the fishmen. He successfully kills four fishmen in one strike, but a swarm more turn and attack him altogether.
Baxter, Ellephar, Zach and the others try their best to help Robert, but more and more fishmen keep on coming as though all their population in this area come and attack that single ship. They are so many, about a hundred or so. Although they are relatively low-level monsters, a large group of them greatly overwhelm everyone aboard.
A fishman plunges its trident into a seaman before Zach comes and hacks it off furiously. Robert is also overwhelmed. A group of fishmen attacks him simultaneously from all directions and inflicts a few grazes on his body.
Robert feels extreme pain, and more fishmen jump at him, making it impossible for him to escape. The fishmen pile up on Robert like a mound. For a brief moment it seems like the amphibian monsters doesn’t move, and the next moment, suddenly the pile of fishmen bursts with a deafening roar! The roar comes from Robert’s mouth, and the sonic force that sends the monsters flying everywhere comes from Robert’s technique, Blue Dragon’s Roar of Pain.
Countless wounds, deep and light are on Robert’s body and limbs now, but he doesn’t stop. With his remaining energy, he charges towards the swarm of fishmen using his mystic shadow thrust: Black Dragon Soulstealer, the fourteenth combo of the 18 Dragon Slayer Blade technique he learnt from Algaban.
A layer of black aura covers Robert’s body entirely. Like a ghost, he moves like flying, quickly and stealthily, as though penetrating into his opponents with a single thrust. As he finally stops near the bow, Robert’s shadowy form turns into normal again, and he just stands there, covered in his and his opponents’ blood. The enemies along his trail stop dead. They look like statues: unmoving, their eyes are all blank as their entire life force is snatched from their bodies. Seeing the twelve of them in that state, the rest of the fishmen become instinctively terrified and flee at once. Baxter’s arrow even nests in one of the monsters’ cranium as a final warning.
The entire crews are rejoiced to see the dangers are now no more, and they shout praise to their savior.
‘HUZZAH! HUZZAH for Jolly Robert! HUZZAH!’
Says he whose name is praised, ‘Please, my friends; don’t praise me. Just praise Vadis who gave us a chance to go through this before many more of our comrades give up their lives. We better tend to the wounded and give the fallen our last respects.’
No sooner than he spoke it, the newly-nicknamed Jolly Robert moves to a wounded pirate and mends his wounds with his healing salve. Zachary walks up to Robert and says to him plainly,
‘Hm, Mister Dread Pirate Rob is now Jolly Robert too. And you tried to be modest by being kind.’
‘Yeah,’ says Robert. ‘I need no butt-licking and praises from anybody. I just want to go to Lore and see my friends and my love, so I must do my best to see it happen no matter how weak or strong our enemies are. Err... I’m really sorry for asking that dumb question to you. I should’ve trusted you more as a friend.’
‘Oh, that’s okay. It’s a good thing being cautious, you know. You don’t have to apologize for that. A friend shouldn’t trust another too much anyway. You are a man of principles, Rob, and you asked me my real identity because your principles demanded it. Don’t you change it, Robert. Don’t change what you are, be yourself because you’re special.’
‘Thank you, Zach,’ says Robert.
‘You’re welcome, lad. Now, let us sail with all haste to Lore. Oh, yeah, you said you have a lover in Lore?’
‘Well, yes! I will use this chance to meet her and propose to her.’
‘Ah, in that case, good luck, lad. Now let’s go downstairs to see how Sheena’s doing. Maybe I must heal her wounds all over again,’ says Zachary with a sigh. ‘And do something about your wounds as well.’
==oOo==
No attack, storm or anything disturb the pirate ship Dewblossom for the rest of the voyage. Nevertheless, they reach the shores of Lore in eight days – much slower than expected.
They have lost nine crews from the attack and one more by accident, and fifteen more are wounded severely and lightly – even one seaman got his leg amputated. Robert and the officers on board gave the dead a proper burial – covered them all with their hammocks and drowned them into their grave in the sea.
Sheena, the captain didn’t suffer any more wound during that attack, thanks to her loyal sidekick, Ellephar. She is almost fully recovered now, and contributed by arranging rations for the crews due to short of provisions.
But still, with those troubles on hand they managed to work together as a team and finally reached their destination before their provisions run out.
The fishing harbor town of Haran is really a busy town. Located near the city of Rand, you can see hundreds of fishing boats docking and sailing around there. Some fish in Petravia Ocean, and the rest in Ingram Channel and Darude Sea.
Fish smell reeks the air and filth makes the ground slippery, but the people in the harbor don’t care. All they’re thinking is to make a living through their catches.
As Robert climbs up the dock from the skiff, he sees a crowd chattering loudly from afar. Apparently they are looking at a fisherman with a large barracuda fish on his lap. The barracuda catcher looks around him proudly, enjoying the praises. Even the fishmongers’ croaks are not loud enough, muffled off in the commotion.
‘What did you say? Fishman fins? And you brought twenty five?’ says an overly fat fishmonger with an extra-large nose, hyper-bushy beard and super-thick lips to Sheena. The female corsair just nods and the fishmonger shakes his head. ‘This is unbelievable. Show me the goods and then we talk business.’
Sheena snaps her fingers and four seamen come, each carrying a crate of salted fishman fins.
‘... Twenty four, twenty five. Yup, they’re genuine, all right. Okay, I’ll give you three hundred crowns for all these.’
‘Three hundred crowns?’ says Sheena, irritated. ‘Don’t fool me, fatso. This thing is worth at least a hundred crowns – EACH!’
‘That’s for premium-grade fins. These moldy, fourth-grade fins are only worth ten crowns or less.’
‘Moldy? Moldy, your foot! Don’t think I can’t distinguish first-grades to second-grades, let alone fourth! Moreover, we didn’t steal them; we killed them fresh when a school of these monsters attacked our ship.’
‘Your story, ma’am,’ says the fishmonger mockingly. ‘Is like a story of a shark with legs. Just drop it. I think you are just some pirates trying to sell your loots, no matter how perfect your disguises are. So, as an honest trader, I choose to be generous. Tell you what, a thousand crowns for all this and I won’t report you to the authorities. That’s my rock-bottom price.’
‘And I think you’re mistaken, my dear sir. We may look like pirates, but these things aren’t our loots! Okay, so I choose to be generous too. You may choose either you pay us two thousand crowns for all this, or one thousand five hundred plus a free demonstration of how I cut your big bad belly open like I fine-cut these fins!’
The fishmonger’s face turns pale in terror on hearing that. He takes a look at Sheena’s face, then at Robert’s, Zach’s and the seamen’s. After he is sure that they are serious with their threats, risking exposure just to get a fair price, he finally gives in, saying,
‘Oh, okay! Okay! Here, a two thousand crowns note to the Melchior Bank.’
He takes out a quill and a sealed parchment, scribbles on it and hands it to Sheena, saying,
‘You guys are mad! Mad, I say! How am I supposed to sell this, huh? I have a wife and five kids to feed, no!? That’s almost my entire saving!’
Sheena hands the parchment to Zach, the ship accountant. After Zach gives his o.k. with a nod, Sheena turns to the fishmonger and replies coolly.
‘Don’t worry. They are really good goods, premium-grade, so you can sell them for a fair profit. The rest is your business. As for me, my business here is done.’
With her sweetest smile, Sheena walks away from the stall, followed by Robert, Zach and her four men.
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