Re: World-Valencia

[Sydney Underhill]

*rifle

[Sydney Underhill]

((Sorry, I'm on my phone now and it's autocorrecting me every five seconds )

[Ulysses Septimus]

((Sorry, I'm on my phone now and it's autocorrecting me every five seconds )

((It's alright  and sorry that it took me so long, my notifications is acting wonky so I didn't see your reply))

Ulysses reached to his left hand, clicking on the lever that would load the Hidden Gun strapped to the underside of his arm.

Better safe than sorry.

He glanced at Decimius, who had just loaded his rifle and attached the bayonet.

They made their way to the railings, leaving Sentus in charge of the wheel as they did...

[Sydney Underhill]

Quintus glanced at his Commander's poleaxe, which was lying in the open doorway of her cabin, and debated whether he should go and retrieve it before deciding against it, as he was not built to handle such a weapon.

As the Armada ship came closer, the clockwork musketeer was able to make out the outlines of many other clockworks standing on the deck.

[Ulysses Septimus]

The admiral was surprised when he saw an Armada musketeer standing on the deck of the other ship, but thanks to the metal mask on his face, his surprise was not seen by anyone.

Ulysses, being well accustomed around clockworks, held up one hand and stopped Sentus and Decimius.

"I am Armada Admiral Septimus,"he was careful to keep his hands away from his swords, "we come here in peace, and I would like to request an audience with your leader."

He was truly curious how one of his master's own creations could be serving a pirate, but he was even more interested in finding out just who this pirate is.

[Sydney Underhill]

Upon concluding that the clockworks aboard the Armada frigate did not have hostile intents towards them, Quintus lowered his rifle slowly.

"The Captain of this ship is in a state of extreme instability," he said, his voice monotonous, just like all other clockworks. "but I shall inform her nevertheless."

Pivoting sharply on his heels, Quintus walked quickly into his Commander's cabin, stopping a few feet in from the door.

"Commander, the officer aboard the Armada frigate requests an audience with you." Sydney looked up, her eyes half-shut in a seemingly sickly state as she twitched slightly, a tired recoil against the pain. She smiled grimly.

"Ah...don't be cruel, Quintus...haha...but you can't, can you..."

"I assure you that my words are valid, Commander."

She did give any acknowledgement other than a single nod.

With that, her clockwork musketeer returned to the deck, walking up to the railing of the ship, his blank gaze locked on the Armada Admiral.

"If you wish to speak with my Commander, you will have to come aboard, as she is currently incapacitated."

[Ulysses Septimus]

"My Lord Ulysses, are you sure this is wise?"Decimius glanced at his leader, who nodded.

"Yes, and I shall go alone."Ulysses was sure that he could take care of himself, "remain here with Captain Optimus, execute Order 78 should I fail to return."

The Armada sniper was not exactly ready to allow such thing, yet this was his leader's order so he said nothing and forced himself to obey.

Ulysses, on the other hand, gave a signal to Sentus, who steered the frigate close enough to allow the swashbuckler to simply jump the distance and land with a low thump on the other ship.

[Sydney Underhill]

Quintus took a step back to allow the Armada Admiral space to land before motioning to the cabin door just a few feet to the right of them.

"The Commander is in her cabin, Admiral. Please keep in mind that she is not stable, both physically and cognitively."

[Ulysses Septimus]

Ulysses nodded, "Acknowledged."

He didn't enter immediately though; his hand reached up, plucking his metal mask off to reveal a rather gaunt and pale skinned face with ruby red eyes, aquilan nose, and very thin lips.

Once his mask was secured to his belt, he reached out with his black gloved hand and opened the door.

[Sydney Underhill]

Sydney groaned softly as she heard the door open, turning her head slightly in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the so-called "Armada officer", thoroughly surprised when she discovered that Quintus's claim was true.

"You weren't kidding...Quintus...hmm?"

[Ulysses Septimus]

"Clockworks seldomly lie."Ulysses didn't close the door behind him, "I am Admiral Septimus, second in command to Lord Kane... May I ask, who are you?"

He kept a good distance between them, showing that he had no intention to hurt anyone, yet, but close enough for her to see his face.

[Sydney Underhill]

"Sydney...Underhill..." She said, trying to push herself up from her curled position with her hands, her arms straining, but to no avail. "I'm an imperfection, Admiral...I'm an imperfection, but I'm going to reform...see, I'm already breaking my dependence, I'm freeing myself from these...human...weaknesses..."

[Ulysses Septimus]

Ulysses mentally chuckled: this really is going to be interesting.

"I applaud your efforts,"he chose his words carefully, wrapping them in his "public speaker" voice, "however, to free oneself from human imperfection, there are other, quicker ways to go... Ways that are much more fun if I have to say so myself."

Without his mask, his blood lusting demon smile was easily seen, "I can tell you those ways, that is, if you wish to know what they are."

[Sydney Underhill]

Sydney suddenly sat bolt upright, fueled by pure adrenaline.

"You...really?"

Ways to be rid of...this?

[Ulysses Septimus]

"Yes."He wasn't lying: he really does know exactly how to do these things... If one desires to become like him, "The perfect warrior" in Kane's own words... Well, building a blood lust is essential, along with learning to not react to their own feelings, most importantly, fear: an Armada trooper knows no fear, and will step up to face all danger with even eagerness.

"I take you wish to know then?"Everything is going as how he wanted, good...

[Sydney Underhill]

"Yes...yes, I do..." Her grey eyes, sunken into her face from long periods of self-starvation, grew wide, and it took every ounce of control she had to keep from laughing hysterically.

She could not believe this, no way.

[Ulysses Septimus]

"Good,"Ulysses chuckled, "I shall gladly tell you.. Miss Underhill, you will need to learn the following: a blood lust, preferably an unquenchable one, but, learn to not show it in conditions outside of battle; fear nothing but fear itself, to the point where you will not even flinch as blades and projectiles fly by you in battle... And lastly, learn to mask your emotions..."

He paused for a moment, his voice lowering, "I can tell you more, because those are just ways to defeat mental weaknesses... There are ways to rid you of your physical ones as well, though I fear it won't be possible unless you pledge to my master your loyalty... But, fear not, you will not be controlled like how those pirates are under Avery: in fact, you will be given power, like how I have been empowered, and you will have your own little army to command... All these I will give, if you are willing to offer loyalty to Master Kane."

[Sydney Underhill]

Upon Ulysses's words, Quintus immediately tensed, clenching his rifle tighter in his gloved grip. His Commander was vulnerable. His Commander could be toyed with at this state, she could be toyed with like a puppet. A puppet. Just like he was.
Quintus began to move towards her in a somewhat protective stance - or tried to. He found that he would not move - his feet remained planted, rooted to his spot by some unseen force, a force rather similar to the one that bound him when he was given an order by his Commander. Allegiance? No, it couldn't be.
My allegiance is to my Commander.

"Yes, tell me, please...! I have bloodlust, it drives me, see, it's fueled me until now!" Sydney whispered excitedly, her shaking hands curling in the fabric of her coat.

[Ulysses Septimus]

"You do not have to listen to anyone, all you need is to not fight my master or those of the Armada."Ulysses cast off his sword belt, flinging it out of his reach, "I give you my word, if you can do just that, I will force Bishop to rid you of all those human imperfections you detest, and give you power... So, will you join us, join the Armada where you truly belong? Among the perfection which you would become a part of?"

He hoped that it would work, for he was truly vulnerable right now: his Hidden Blades would do no good in ranged combat, and his Gun would take time to aim as well...

[Sydney Underhill]

At the word 'power' Sydney became absolutely ecstatic, and if she had more energy she would have jumped up.

"Yes, of course..! Purge me of my imperfections...I won't disappoint you..."

Quintus forced himself to hold his ground, as he had no idea how to deal with such a situation. This was not for the better, no, it was not...yet it was his Commander's will, and his Commander's will was his own.

[Ulysses Septimus]

"Good good."Ulysses smiled, "now, if you would permit so, follow me to my ship, and eat for one last time, because you will need energy to at least keep yourself up as we head for Cadiz, where we will immediately start purging you of those imperfections."

He extended one, black gloved hand.

[Sydney Underhill]

"The last time..." She said, reaching out and grasping the offered hand, blinking quickly in disbelief. "And Quintus...he shall still serve under my allegiance?"

[Ulysses Septimus]

"Yes, you will keep your ship, and him,"Ulysses helped her up, careful to not use too much strength, "everything that's yours will remain yours, only things will be added."

He helped her walk out of the cabin, not forgetting to take his sword belt as they did.

"Decimius!"He called out to the sniper, "prepare some sustenance for our guest, and summon the White Cadre to the deck!"

The sniper nodded, swiftly pivoting to walk under the deck as Sentus set up a walkway with a wide metal gangplank six inches thick and five feet in width.

[Sydney Underhill]

Surely, this isn't real, Sydney thought, shaking her head slightly in disbelief as Ulysses led her across the gangplank, Quintus trailing the both of them closely. Look at me now. I'm going to be perfect!

On the deck of the Armada frigate, the clockwork musketeers of the white cadre were assembling, and Quintus scanned over them with his blank, empty stare. Blank, empty, emotionless. Just like them. He was just like them, he realized.

[Ulysses Septimus]

Ulysses lead her into his cabin, to the large table where an array of different food were laid out for her to choose, though keeping his door open as he pulled out a chair.

"Feast all you want,"he whispered, only letting when he was sure she was seated, "we are setting course for Cadiz when you are prepared... Now if you would excuse me for a moment, I must go speak with my troops."

He stepped out onto the deck, commanding in a loud voice, "She is not to be harmed in anyway! And Captain Optimus, chart a course to Cadiz but do not leave until you hear my command, understand?"

The Marine elite nodded obediently, his both his eyes blank like the perfect puppet he was supposed to be.

Ulysses gestured to Decimius, who approached him and was lead back into the cabin.

"Here is your first new addition, Servus Decimius, elite Armada sniper."He told her, "he will serve under your command... And Decimius, I want you to obey her as you would follow me, understand?"

"Yes Lord Ulysses."

((Now if you may excuse me for a moment, I gotta go get dinner  brb))

[Sponsored content]