Snippet #1719505

It was dark; the sky tinted pink with the growing dusk. The sun smeared across the clouds, lighting the battle raging in the sky.... The painting of warfare grew as guns clapped, the thuderous sounds of cannons echoed across the sky...

Sierus watched as the Eramthgin's gunner's worked tirelessly to reload cannons and muskets, rifles... any muntions they had. Tedious by any means, but Sierus could manage himself. Princess in hand, he was by the stern of the ship, firing at an opposing pirate ship. A ranged battle wasn't his forte. He popped over the small barrel he was using as cover, trying to line up sights... before firing. The pistol had no problem reaching leathal distance with it's projectiles... but Sierus's marksmanship was by no means a trained sniper. Not to mention, he was still using iron sights. Occasionally, he'd watch a pirate fall... and it thrilled him to no end.

The distance beween the ships was dwindling... and Sierus felt his blood heat as if on a stove. His heart drummed; urging him on. But it seemed as soon as they were withing boarding distance, the other ship began to stay it's course...Halting the apperent boardin manuever. Sierus only yelled taunt to the sky, leaping up onto the raised edge of the ship's side. "Cowardly crows! Beat your wings away, like you do, you timid creatures! You're not fit for the sky, so keep your boots on land!" Sierus called, with a cackle. There were vulgar cries back, but they didn't go noticed by Sierus... whom returned to cover. Bullets were bouncing all around him, and cannonballs smashed parts of the ship - damage, but not critical.

But this range was much more effective. Sierus was now dropping these 'Crows' like they were dummies. The Eramthgin's position was slightly elevated over the other ship, giving them that much more advantage. And it was all Sierus needed to actually be getting kill after kill.... An ego boost. He even managed to get a shot at the pilot through a broken wall - what luck! They were shooting at a sitting duck! This caused half the crew to cackle gleefully... including Sierus. As the enemy crew dwindled, they began to take more defensive positions, and it was much harder to shoot them out. Sierus's ear picked up the hint of anger in his captain's voice.
"FINISH THESE MONGRELS! If we have to board, you might not get a chance to get off after we sink it!"

It was all the motivation Sierus needed. Not that he wasn't having a blast anyway, his twisted little mind getting kick from watching every one of their men drop like flies to his pistol. Sierus quickly jumped up on the ledge of the ship, laughing as he did, pointing his gun at the invaders from behind cover. He began to use his new angle, grinning as once again, his pistol barked death for men. "Haaahahahahaaaa! One, two, three - I'll shoot you ALL dead, deary me!" He said with a laugh. As his revolver clicked empty this time, he felt for more bullets in his jacket, breaking the revolver open and begining to reload...He noticed a bottle of grain alcohol. He wasn't much of a drunk, and didn't know what it was...by the light he knew it was flamable though! After snapping his revolver shut, he grabbed the bottle, smirking. He tucked the revolver into it's holster, and knelt down. He felt around his shins - grabbing some of the tight, thick cloth he kept around his ankles, tearing one of the strips off that made stripes. The odd clothing kept people guessing...but it was for this reason he wore them. He uncorked the booze, and shoved the strip of cloth inside, successfully stopping up the bottle. Sierus shook it a few good times.... before looking around. One of the cannoniers next to him had a match tucked behind his ear. He swiped it; no exchange between the two needed - he saw what it was for. Sierus struck the match against his leather coat, watching the object spark to life. He lit the makeshift fuse on his new toy, and grinned. He hopped back on the edge of the ship, laughing as his barrage of pistol resumed. This time, as he clicked empty, he wreched his arm back, and called out. "Things are quite much heating up, aren't they, you feeble dogs!"

Sierus wheeled his arm forth, slamming his foot down as he hurled the molotov through the air, the bottle crashing on the deck of the other ship, and bursting int bright orange flame, earning a cheer from the Eramthgin. Fueled by applause, and his adreniline, Sierus stood on the edge, recklessly reloading as he cackled delightedly, as men rushed to put out that fire...and were put down by Sierus's revolver. The fight was becoming one sided.... Sierus turned, only to be rewarded with another molly. He grinned at the crew that had cooked it up, and turned around, whirling it as he'd done the first! Again, the bashing of the bottle filled the deck of the ship with flames! Another elected cry of joy from the ship. Sierus turned around again, taking yet another improvised alcohol-flamebomb, and turning around to face the opposing ship.... He was so delighted to watch the flame slowly consume the enemies' ship. And then he saw it...

The flash of a cannon blast, fired by a robotic man, standing in the flames. He laughed as he never saw the projectile. He must've missed! That idiot! How could he miss a ship from pistol range?!

But suddenly... he felt himself falling down, overcome with a sense of....misplacement. Something was wrong. And he hit the deck. Hard. It felt like he fell with a sack of bricks on his chest. It felt like the hardest fall he'd ever taken. The wind was knocked out of him. He couldn't breathe. Everything was slow... And as he looked around, he could see it: A dismembered arm. He looked at it curiously, as blood spurted from it healthily, muscle tissue and bone jaunting out from it. Fresh. Almost throbbing. And then as he rolled his head... he froze.

His right arm. Gone. Right out of his socket. The same sight that he'd seen from the arm itself - blood everwhere. Tissue of flesh and muscle throbbing as the flesh conveyed messages to the brain. Two messages.

Pain. Fear.

Even in this world of slow motion, his heart felt as if it were trying to burst from his chest, beating faster than you could blink.
His mouth opened.... "AUUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHHHHAAAaUUUU!AAAEHHHUUUGN!!!!" Shrieks that could make even the other pirates cringe with terror. Cries of pain that shook the heavens. His body writhed with agony, worming around as he gripped near his shoulder, blood splashing in heathy pulses. Tears ran down his cheeks, face curled into the most pained expressions man could make. Others rushed to help him. Picking him up.
"M-my-my aaarrrrm- they fu-ffffuuuucking blehw o-of-off my AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRMMMMMMM!" He screamed, unable to control himself. He kept shouting.... kept shouting in pain, and fear... untill his vision faded.

And as his vison faded, he came to.

Sierus woke up in sweat as he normally did. His past did well to haunt him on a nightly basis... but this was not the only night that he was visited by such a wretched dream... He remembered that day clear as the water that filled the glass on his nightstand. He slowly sat forth from his hammock, sighing as his weary feet hitting the floor. He stood himself up, and looked around the dark cabin...the only thing standing out was the glint of a mirror. He woke up many times in his place. The Daedalus. It was just about the only place he would lay down to rest... It was like a home to him. He smirked gently, wiping his brow clean of sweat... and quickly dressing himself. He looked over himself. His face was looking a little more elderly every day... but it was hard to look in the mirror and not see Reuben. He quickly changed the topic in his own mind. He had no intent on being mopey today. This was the day he was going to meet the new crew of course! All the new faces and people! They were usually so much fun... Although he had heard nothing them, he tried to remain optimistic in the fact that they were going to be meeting HIM! He grinned again, shooting a playful look at the mirror. "Chin up now! No need to actually get all down and dumpy today! Who knows? Maybe you'll even make a friend!" He said, talking to himself in the mirror. He chuckled off his strange attitude, before heading towards the deck of the ship.

Sierus walked out onto the deck, observing the city they had been stopped in. Sierus very rarely ventured out into these ritzy kind of places. He was always raised differently. The people here seemed to wasteful... yet so carefree. Even the downtrodden and homeless found life easier. It kind of made Sierus... jealous. He'd grew up a harsh life of thievery and distrust - his father nowhere to be found... and his mother a harlot. It wasn't untill he started hanging around the monk when he started to clean up his act... maybe when he was ten. It was hard to say. He couldn't even remember what city he was from. All he knew was that the people here had it too easy.

He sighed. He was being too negitive.

On the bright side, the supplies that the Daedalus was inheriting from the ports were only the finest. Meaning that they'd be eating good for the next while, which was a plus. Tender meats, fresh breads, coffee and tea instead of just hot water. Such luxuries were admired by the rather weathered veteran. Spoiled, maybe. But he didn't really care. He figured that since he was paying to be here (Not really paying money - the captain wouldn't take it. More off by working.) he figured he might as well get his money's worth. Sierus was still a 'mercenary'. But since the Daedalus was seeing more, and the fact he wasn't paying any more...well. He was more of a member of the crew by now. He did other things - things he could do here and there. Since he'd gotten over his fear of singing in public, and sometimes entertained the crew by singing. He wasn't much of a cook, but he could do things like chop vegetables, and whatnot a one armed man could do. Weapons detail was also something he not only did, but took pride in. He loved weapons - sharp swords, accurate rifles... a shame he'd lost Princess. It was the last of he had of Amiliea.. and the best damn gun he'd ever had.

His eye opened as he began to venture back from the Wonderland that was his life...standing over by the edge of the ship, looking unto the dock, his arm folded behind his back. As he noticed the newcomers venturing on, he said nothing. Standing, as a statue would be. His lone eye following them to and fro if only for a moment. He noticed a man setting up a.... pole...what in the bloody blazes.... Was he barbering? Barbering... was that a word? Cutting hair...to barber.... "Digression!" He announced loudly, shaking his head, and shrugging. He turned on his heels, looking towards those whom were new on the ship. "Aaaaaanywho-a-lou, let's get aquainted, shall we?!" He asked enthusiastically, looking at noone in particular. "How about some names first!?" He asked, pressing his hand to his chin. "Hnnnnmmm.... YOU!" He said, jabbing his hand out in the direction of Rhev. "A name, a place, a reason, a cause! Let's hear them all, please! Deary me, I hope you don't mind sharing!" He said with a bright smile.

Creepy. Juuuuuustt a little...lot of creepy.