Dolon sat on the stern rail, his rifle aimed over the deck of the boat. The two sails had been torn down, as Dolon had no idea how to use the rigging, and the anchor had been dropped. The Captain was kneeling silently at the wheel, his hands tied to it at the ten o’clock and two o'clock, his left leg was glowing with red digitised wounds. The large man had been furious once he had awoken, wounded and bound. Dolon felt nothing but guilt, but he had a role to play.

The night time had passed and the sun crowned over the eastern sky, Dolon was in awe of it. The clouds were pink, purple and yellow, the sea was liquid gold. He almost found himself saying “look, look at that!” to the Captain, but then realised his situation again, holding his tongue. He felt so low for this, for the back stabbing, the robbery. This large man was a criminal, a smuggler, but he was gentle and kind and so well meaning. He was a true man of the sea, not just playing a game, but living in this world. He shared his joy openly and freely. And I am souring that for him.

I'm really sorry. He wanted to admit to the quiet Captain. I wish that I didn't have to do this. I wish that you'd just have taken us to Churash. I wish that there was some other way, but I've been put in this position and I have to follow through or I'll give myself away. They all think I'm like them. They think I get a kick out of their sickness. Captain, I'm sorry. I have to play the part, I have to eat.

In that moment, it was as if the Captain had heard his thoughts. He looked over his shoulder at Dolon, truly saddened. No words came from his mouth, but there was pity in his eyes. Then he was gone, lost to white glitter. Logged off. He doesn't want to experience this. He'll return when it's over, to find his cargo stolen, to find his crew missing. But maybe he's strong enough to know that his boat will still be here, and with that he can recover. I hope that's how it is.

Dolon was alone for a long time, just he and the gently rocking boat. When white glitter appeared on the bow, he waited to see if it was a Harlequin or not. When the unfamiliar bald head of a sailor formed, Dolon shot it. The body fell. This happened one more time to another sailor, before Niall appeared from the cargo hold.

'What's going on?' His dark eyes scanned the boat. 'Where's the Captain?'

Dolon wanted to shoot Niall too. 'He's dead.'

'What?' Niall stormed to the stern.

Dolon kept his rifle raised. 'Don't misunderstand the situation!' He nodded to the island to their north. 'We arrived early, I'm just doing the job that you guys weren't here for.'

Niall stopped in his tracks, looked to the island. He smiled. 'You lucky man. Lucky lucky man. Getting to pull this job all on your own. But why kill the Captain?'

'Did you know he was a Shifter?' Dolon gave a crooked smile. 'He gave me more trouble than I cared to deal with.' Please Captain, don't log back in. If you come back he'll know I've lied and he'll kill both of us. I'll lose my job and you'll lose your boat. Don't come back. Don't come back.

'I knew you were meant for this line of work.' Niall winked. 'How many of the crew are left?'

'I killed two besides the Captain.'

'That leaves two more.' Said Niall. 'I'll leave them to you, they shouldn't be any trouble.' Niall walked to the starboard rail of the stern and took a seat. 'I'll sit back and enjoy the show.'

Dolon let out a laugh, as convincing a laugh he could muster. 'I hope you enjoy it.'

It wasn't until mid afternoon that the two other smugglers appeared. The rest of the Harlequins were still to show their faces. Dolon shot the first man and reloaded with a skilful speed. The second man took two shots to kill, as he was dodging quite readily. When they both had been confirmed dead, Niall clapped his admiration and Dolon wished silently to himself that some creature would rise up from the depths and eat his leader.

'When are your pirates due?' Asked Dolon.

'Mid day some time. Soon I guess.'

'OK, then let's not make the job last longer than it needs to. Let's move the cargo up on deck, it'll be quicker for the scoundrels to take it when they arrive.' Dolon was already making way for the cargo hold when Niall stopped him with a word.

'No.'

Dolon looked to him. His eyes were as dark as ever, and then Dolon realised what he had done. For any normal person, his idea would have been a helpful suggestion. For Niall, it was taken as an order. No one ordered Niall. 'I'm sorry.' Dolon found himself saying, frozen under the gaze of Niall. 'I guess the pirates can do it themselves.' Niall was still and quiet, his gaze fixed on Dolon who was thoroughly unsettled. The Sniper said nothing else, just found a place to sit up against the mast of the boat to await the other Harlequins and the pirates. He kept his eyes down.

Stacey appeared from the bowels of the boat first, he climbed up with a smile on his face, which soon vanished when he saw Niall and Dolon sitting apart, and the remains of clothing, armour and weapons left over from the deaths of the sailors. He approached Dolon. 'What did I miss?'

'We reached the island early, the job started a while ago. We're just waiting for the pirates to pick us up now.'

'How long do we have?'

'Niall says not long, they should be here soon.' Dolon yawned,

'You been up all night?'

The Sniper nodded. He rubbed his hands up and down his face to wake himself up. When his eyes opened, he saw Stacey sitting directly in front of him, face to face. 'What are you doing?'

'How do you manage to put in the hours?' Stacey asked curiously. He pushed a finger under his leather mask to scratch an itch.

Dolon had never seen someone itch in the game before. Is this some deep role-play? 'I'll tell you if you tell me why you're scratching.'

Stacey looked as if he had been found doing something much worse. He pulled his hand away from his face. 'Habit.' He said.

'You wear leather masks on the outside?' Dolon almost laughed.

'We're not supposed to talk out of character!' Stacey stood up and turned his back on Dolon, embarrassed.

'You're the one that brought it up. But OK, if that's the case, we won't talk about it.' There, now you'll never find out the truth.

Stacey turned to Dolon and stared. 'You win this time.'

Gerome appeared next from the hold, he was already in a wolfish state, ready to pounce and kill. When he saw that there was no killing to be done, he complained. 'What the hell has happened?'

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Stacey answered. 'Niall and Dolon got the job done before us.'

'Just Dolon.' Niall corrected him.

'Dolon?' Gerome was surprised.

'Oh thanks. Like I'm not capable of taking down a small crew like this.' Dolon feigned offence.

'What did Dolon do?' Archer climbed from below deck, having just logged in.

'He did the job all on his own.' Gerome was annoyed.

Archer looked on Dolon with indifferent eyes. 'Well done.' He walked off and took the side of Niall. 'When are the pirates due?'

'Soon.' Niall answered.

'Good.' Archer brushed back his straight brown hair. 'I want to get this done and move on.'

'Right.' Niall said. 'Let's get the cargo up on deck for when the pirates get here, we'll be quicker that way.'

Dolon's mouth dropped. You son of a...

'Great idea!' Stacey grinned and headed below.

Gerome looked less impressed. 'I wanted to fight, not lift boxes.'

'You'll do as you're told.' Stated Niall. Gerome did not argue.

The group worked together to move the crates, their teamwork making quick work of the task. But by the time the last crate was stacked on deck, the boat was lurching to one side, the crates unbalancing it.

Niall showed a quiet rage in his eyes, the arrangement had been broken, the pirate ship had not yet shown. 'They have not come.' He gripped the wooden rail on the starboard side, looking out to the east at the expected direction that the pirates should have arrived from. He was there for at least an hour, yet the pirates did not show.

Dolon wanted to laugh. That'll show you. But then he remembered the Captain. Oh no. He panicked. 'They might still come.' He hoped.

'They better come.' Niall not once turned away from the east.

'They might have lied to you, Niall.' Said Gerome.

'No.' Niall replied. 'They need this. The cargo is too precious for them to leave alone. And from what I've learned, the Captain Dolon killed is an old friend of the pirates. They needed us to do the job for them, so they didn't incriminate themselves with him.'

'Then maybe they're up to something else.' Stacey offered his theory. 'Can these pirates really take us to Churash? They would have to go through our navy patrols, which means a search and maybe seizure of cargo. The risk to transport us could be too much.'

'Get to the point.' Niall commanded.

'They could be starving us out. Waiting for us to die here or kill ourselves.'

'And then they take the cargo without having to worry about helping us.' Niall considered it. 'It's possible.'

'It's what we all would do.' Archer spoke the vile words.

'I've seen it done before.' Said Stacey. 'I think it's a common ruse.'

Dolon hated them all. I wouldn't do that. Everyone thought on it and agreed, Dolon lied. 'What do we do then?'

Niall finally turned to them. 'We wait and see. We go below deck and wait. If they're double crossing us, they'll soon regret it.'

The boat rocked and creaked for hours before Dolon and the others were so bored they contemplated logging off, Dolon especially had been awake and without food for over twelve hours. His mood was low and his energy the same. His eyes darted back and forth from the white bar in his periphery, drawn to the real world, to sleep. If he left now and the pirates came, he would be stuck on this boat while the Harlequins made their way to Churash. He had to push himself.

He emptied the pouches at his waist and pressed out the ammo from his ammo belt. Copper casings littered the floor where he sat, threatening to roll away when the boat bobbed up and down. He quickly gathered them up and started counting, placing them tip up in his pouches. His eyes sank and fatigue started to take him, but then a shape came from his left and startled him back to his senses.

'What's that?' Stacey asked, bending down to reach for something on the floor.

Dolon looked to see a rifle bullet, matte black with swirling patterns of gold and silver painted onto it. How did that get there? He quickly snatched it up before Stacey could touch it. 'I'll take that, thanks.'

'Sorry...' Stacey replied as Dolon quickly placed it into a pouch on the rear of his belt. 'What was it?' The masked man asked again.

'Keepsake.' Dolon abruptly answered. 'OK' Replied the other.

Dolon continued counting his supplies, ignoring the presence of Stacey. He was happy with the number, sure that he was without want or need for more. But even though the count had kept his fatigue at bay, the long night had started to catch up with him in a powerful way. He could feel his ghost fighting to go back to its host, to his body that was sat in a soft chair. It was a struggle to fight the urge to leave.

His tiredness was put on hold when the boat rocked to one side and loud bangs could be heard from on deck. Please don't be the Captain. Dolon took the initiative and headed for the stairs up to the deck. He stuck to the shadows, keeping out of the light from above, and listened carefully.

There were no voices, only the sound of creaking wood above. Someone was moving around, more than one person. Dolon moved quickly away from the hatch above when he heard someone come too close for comfort. He signalled to the others to take cover and hide, yet there was no cover. The hold was bare, the cargo was up on deck.

A foot appeared on the first step down, Niall was ready to pounce. Before anyone could react, to attack or talk, the person stopped their decent in response to a call.

'Leave it!' The voice shouted. 'The place is clear, they did the job for us. Just get the cargo and let's go.'

The foot rose back up and vanished to the upper deck. Dolon looked to Niall for his command. Niall appeared rather calm. 'Keep your cool and follow me.'

The man took the stairs up and the others followed. Dolon's eyes struggled with the intensity of the daylight as he climbed up on deck, when they finally adjusted, he saw something that could only mean trouble. Niall was stood silently in front of a group of sailors, swords and axes on their hips. They too were silent, they were completely frozen with surprise, with cargo crates in hand as they loaded them across large gangplanks to a galley.

'Don't stop on my account.' Niall said, almost cheery. 'Take your cargo quickly and we can head to Churash as soon as possible.'

The pirate Captain was stood on the deck of the ship overseeing the move. He was in all red and blue, quite flamboyant. A broad and curved sword was on his right hip. On his left hip was a slender straight sword in an orange wood scabbard. His face was full of obvious nervousness and guilt. 'Niall!' He called, a hand on the hilt of the curved sword.. 'I thought you had jumped ship. Hurry and come aboard, we should be making a move as quickly as we can.'

'Thank you, Captain Jons.' Niall was all smiles. He walked past the pirates at work and made his way across the gangplank, when he reached the other side he held out his hand for the Captain, a friendly greeting. The Captain obliged and gripped Niall's open hand, then he was ablaze. His screams rolled over the decks of the ocean vessel. Crates were dropped, swords were drawn, but those who managed to reveal steel were clawed, bitten, stabbed and shot dead by the Harlequins. The others yielded readily while the screams continued.

'I do not appreciate being made to wait. And I do not appreciate being made a fool of.' Niall stated while his flaming hand burned the other man entirely. His voice remained friendly throughout the burning. 'Learn from this. If you cross me...' He nodded towards the blazing pirate captain. Everyone understood his meaning.

Niall released the handshake and the once red and blue man fell to the ground as black. His clothes were destroyed, the large curved sword was half melted, looking like a wilted leaf. The straight sword was in good condition, though singed on the scabbard. Niall looked down on it for a moment, he seemed impressed, then picked up the sword and tossed it to Dolon back on the other vessel. 'You've earned it, and he won't need it any more.'

Dolon caught the weapon and thanked Niall. Odd. I must be having an affect on him.

The Harlequins boarded the pirate ship and stood on deck with Niall, the shade of the sails on them. The pirates were petrified, but Niall reassured them. 'Don't be afraid, I'm sure one of you can take command of this fine ship.' He smiled his dark smile. 'This cargo should be a wonderful way for him to start his career as Captain. Now, hurry up, we're late for the Floating City.'