Alice watched as a sweaty, fat and heavily tattooed pirate tinkered with a battered radio, twiddling the knobs with his thick fingers. The radio whined with static for a while, before finding a fairly stable equilibrium.

He turned, facing Gilda. “S’patched in, Cap’n,” he said, gesturing to the equipment.

She nodded, reaching forward to pick up a headset, which she held to an ear, placing the Yes, mouthpiece to her lips.

“Captain Almada reporting into the party,” she said with disinterest.

“‘Almada’ sounds weird.” Alice remarked.

She gave an exasperated glance over to Alice. “No shit?” she dryly questioned. “Would you rather it be ‘Smith?’ Shit like that?”

“Just sounds kinda fancy…” the girl mumbled, putting her hands in her pockets. Gilda rolled her eyes.

“Yeah,” she answered, a bit more polite, but only a hair. “We don’t get to pick our last names, kid.”

Alice snorted, tightening her hold over her pockets, but speaking out nonetheless. “Yer gonna listen to the radio or are ya keep goin’ on yappin’ with me?”

“Fuck off,” she snapped, returning her focus to the radio, where several other men seemed to be reporting in.

“Captain Cortez, reporting in,” a gruff voice stated.

“Captain Ross, here,” a woman stated.

“Captain Albert Alexander, ready,” another called.

Another half dozen or so names called over the system. Despite herself, Gilda was impressed. With all the interference the Rim normally produced, even localized systems--like the one they were using--tended to only go so far. That so many different ships were tied into the broadcast and still steady and clear showed some signs of some major hardware in play.

“So we’re all here, huh?” the last one, another voice, ancient and authoritative in his tone, addressed.

“Sounds like it, Admiral Forthright,” Gilda answered.

“Most pleasing,” he said. Gilda rolled her eyes, a scowl on her lips mimicking the word. He went on. “We’re readily approaching the final stages in this profitable venture. Captains Cortez and Kmov—report on the status of the last independent vessels.”

Gilda tuned out as the various reports were made. It seemed like they were very close to being the only power in these waters—and thus the only group who would benefit from the Princess Luna’s capture. One by one, every independent captain had been sunk or joined flag under one of the others.

“As expected,” Gilda said, turning to glance at her crew. “You either run with the group, or get stomped out. Just like everywhere else.”

“Excellent,” said the Admiral. “I am most pleased to hear that. It would not do to repeat past mistakes.” There was a dark and poignant pause. They all knew what the Admiral did to those who disappointed him. “Once we are all in place and in formation, those Guard fools won’t know what hit them. And so many of you expressed doubt at my plan and leadership.”

Gilda glanced at everyone nearby and cocked a thumb out at her own chest. “And some of us still do,” she said to her crew, making sure she didn’t broadcast that over coms.

“But I remind you that, taken individually, none of your crews could tangle with an experienced Royal Guard regiment.” The Admiral’s voice was stern, but in a paternal sort of way. “Together not only will we capture the wayward princess, but the seas will tremble at our might.”

There was a general chorus of agreements and hurrahs. It turned Gilda’s stomach.

The Admiral went on. “Scouting ships. That’s Ross and Alexander, yes? How close are we to the target?”

“We’re looking at two days transit at the most, before we rendezvous with Captain Almada, who is just about on top of the bitch.”

Gilda figured that was her cue. “I’m parked within view of the island’s shore. Have been for a few hours now.”

“And what else can you report? Are the natives pacified?”

“They’re primitive, but adaptable,” Gilda said. “Seemed to be scavengers, they’ve killed some of my men I sent as scouts the last time I was here. But it seems to be just a handful of their tribe, for lack of a better word. I’ve seen a few of the rest of their group as they were gathering berries and shit, and they seem mostly harmless. Old ladies and kids.”

“I didn’t ask for a damned book report, Captain,” snapped the Admiral, angry. “All I want to hear from you is that they have been eradicated.”

Gilda cupped a fist in front of her mouth and shoved her tongue to her cheek, then moved her hand back in forth in tedium while pushing her tongue against the wall of her mouth for a moment at his words, then caught the second part of his response.

“Eradicated?” she repeated. “Did you hear the part where I said they were mostly harmless? I bring them enough trinkets and they’d give Luna to us.”

Faintly, the intake of breath could be heard over the line from some of the other captains. After another clear moment of silence, the Admiral said, “Are you questioning my orders, Almada? You yourself said they’ve managed to kill some of your scouts--not to mention that just this morning I’ve been told the Guard unit moved their camp. If the natives have decided to shelter them, they are our enemy and shall be crushed”—there was a loud bam, as he slammed his hand onto the table; loud enough to make Alice jump—”beneath our heels.”

“Real big man, ready to stamp on kids to get to where he needs to go,” Gilda replied, crossing her arms and mouthing the word cocksucker to her crew. She dryly smirked, brushing her hair back. “Let me tell you something, Admiral, I see any of those Guard fucks? They’re wasted before they can breathe. But you get someone else to take care of spear-chuckers who can’t even lift their weapons. The Almada family still has at least a bit of honor left in them.”

“Honor? Honor?! It sounds more like insubordination!” shouted the Admiral. “You’ve always had a willful attitude, too stuck in your own head by a long shot. I’ve let it go before in respect for your ability. So just for you, Almada, you get this one chance to tell me the right answer when I give you your orders. Eliminate any and all obstacles to our goal--in this case, that means those worthless barbarians. Do I make myself clear?”

Gilda glanced over at Alice before muttering a quiet, short, “Aye-aye, sir.” There was a period of silence, although the conversation on the radio still continued.

“Kinda sounds like a big baby, if ya ask me,” Alice said, frowning at the equipment.

“He’s a bastard,” Gilda said, clenching the headset. “Talking to me about insubordination? That cockgobbler,” she shouted, slamming the headset down onto the ground, “abandoned his post in the navy. Fucking turncoat insults me?!” She shot her foot out, kicking at the headset so hard it unplugged from the headphone jack and skittered across the metal flooring of the room, before Gilda grabbed a nearby railing and rocked it back and forth with her body. “I’ll kill him!”

Alice pressed her back against the wall, heart rate raising as she saw Gilda rage. “A-At least you’re b-better than him… for a pirate, y’know…”

“Nobody,” she said, her voice calmer than a moment before, almost eerily calm. “Nobody fucking disses Gilda Almadia and her crew and gets away with it.”

“What are ya gonna do…?” Alice asked, although a part of her already knew the answer.

She spat to the side, crossing her arms. “We take it all. As soon as they push forward, I come from behind and twist a knife. Fuck honor, this got Goddamn personal. I get the bounty, more crew members and some new ships at my helm. Anyone not willing to serve under me gets to have their throat slit.”

“Sounds like a plan. Er, I guess…” Alice rubbed her arm in a slow motion. “What about me?”

Gilda gazed down at the girl, her hard expression briefly leaving. Glancing at the side she shrugged, kneeling down by her. “What to do indeed…” She shook her head. “What do you want, kid?”

“Just to go home.” Alice coughed, then added after a quick pause, “Captain.”

She nodded, hesitantly reaching out and putting a hand on Alice’s shoulder. “Then we’ll get you home, once this shit’s down and out, alright?”

Alice tensed at the touch, but quickly relaxed, staring up at Gilda. “You… you sure?”

“How often did I tell you to fuck off before you snuck on board? I’d be crazy to keep you around now that you’re wanting off the damn ride.”

“Huh… I guess.” The girl raised a curious eyebrow. “So, why are you even a pirate? I think you mentioned the navy back there, but what happened?”

She frowned. Looking over the kid. After a beat, she cocked her head towards the door. “We’ll talk outside.”

“If ya say so.”

They stepped outside, Gilda tapped out a smoke and lit up, resting against the ship’s railing and staring out towards the island. She wasn’t a reflective woman by any means, but seeing the sun set behind the island, causing everything to emit a beautiful glow, made her homesick for the first time in years.

“What kind of family you got back home?” Gilda suddenly asked, breaking the tranquility. “And how about you tell the fucking truth this time.”

Alice sighed, placing her arms on the railing, feeling the cool sea breeze slip between her fingers. She sighed and stared at the horizon, lit up by the setting sun. “We’re farmers. Well, ‘least my brother and sis are. I don’t do much yet. We don’t like to mess with anyone, but if you cross us, then we’ll get mad. We’re family and…” She blinked, swallowing a lump in her throat. “And we stick together. Except I guess I didn’t…”‘

Gilda slowly nodded. She paused, then took another drag from her smoke. “I’m sorry about your brother,” she said. “I think he made it, though.”

“‘Course he did,” Alice snapped. “Mac can do anything! That’s why they call him Big Mac!”

Gilda offered a grunt of agreement. She wore a smirk as she stared out at the ocean. “I had a brother too.”

Alice winced. “Had?”

“Are you deaf?” Gilda questioned with a glare. She chewed on the butt of her smoke. “Yeah, had.”

“Oh.” Alice looked down, tapping her fingers absently on the edge of the boat. “I might know what that’s like. Kinda.”

Gilda remained quiet, the only clue that she was listening was the tilt of her ear towards Alice.

“Well, maybe. I still have my brother, and my sister. And Dash, kinda. But…” She clenched her hands together. “I never really knew my parents. They died before I grew up, so I don’t remember them. And… it’s kinda strange, but I don’t really care that much—I mean, I do care, but I don’t remember all the memories like Jack and Mac do. So I never really lost much.”

Alice sighed, brushing back a strand of her hair. “Don’t even know why I’m telling you this; it’s not like you’d care. Losing Granny was much harder on me anyways… farm just doesn’t feel the same without her around…”

She trailed off into silence, positive that Gilda had long since stopped listening.

“He saved me,” Gilda said quietly, tapping her cigarette in thought against the ship's railing. “When I thought nobody was going to come, he did.” She moved her hand hesitantly over to Alice’s shoulder and rested it there for a moment before pulling it away. “I didn’t know my mom, so I guess we’re alike there, but…”

She scowled, her face bitter. “I got him, m-my brother,” she clarified, “killed because I was fucking stupid.”

“What happened…?” Alice asked, letting the question hang there.

Letting out a small grunt, Gilda looked briefly at Alice, then back to the water. “You can tell I’m not from around here, right?”

“Er, a li’l.” She shrugged. “You’re different, that’s for sure.”

Gilda spat to the water. “I’m a Kvaat. We’re a bit different than you guys. How we do things. Oriole...” She considered her words. “He didn’t like what was planned for me. In the country, that is. So he got me out and on a ship with that big fucker Will. They executed him for helping me out. Found out from a newsletter.”

“Oh. I’m sorry.” Alice looked up to Gilda, even if the woman was looking away. “I really am. But… how is that your fault?”

She polished off her smoke with one last hard pull and flicked it into the water. “Did you not fucking hear the part where they executed him for treason? I’m the one who got him into that fucking mess.”

“But that wasn’t your fault!” Alice exclaimed. “That was stupid people in power making those decisions. It’s not like you gave the order, right?”

“I didn’t, but if I had been less of a Goddamn idiot, he wouldn’t have had to save my ass in the first place!” she snapped back, crossing her arms.

“Then what—” Alice stopped herself, quietly expressing an irritated sigh. “Look, doesn’t matter what you did back then. But I think your brother would forgive ya. And he’d probably tell ya to stop worrying over him. You got a life to live, so live it right. That’s what Mac tells me.”

She grunted. After a long pause, she raised a brow. “You and your brother close?” Pausing once more, she shrugged. “Hell, I’d guess so, not everyone’s fucking stupid enough to board a pirate ship to hunt family down.”

“He ain’t stupid,” Alice snapped. “He’s brave. There’s a difference.”

“A bullet doesn’t care if you’re stupid or brave,” Gilda said sternly. “It just shoots what’s in front of it.”

“That’s dumb. Of course a bullet doesn’t care; it doesn’t think at all. But people do, and both Mac and Jack—Granny too, especially Granny—say that a good person stands by their principles, no matter what.” Alice frowned, crossing her arms across her chest.

Gilda looked down at the kid. Finally, she let a world-weary snort of laughter out. “Principles, huh?” she said. “Your clan’s something else, kid.”

“Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?” Alice shouted, nostrils flared. Gilda rolled her eyes, planting her hand on top of the girl’s head.

“That you’re fucking idiots. But at least decent ones.”

Alice narrowed her eyes, shaking off Gilda. “If I’m an idiot, how did I manage to sneak on your ship without anyone noticing? And don’t tell me I got lucky.”

“Fine. I won’t say you were lucky.” She offered a sneer that Alice could almost believe was an attempt to be friendly. “I’ll say you were fortunate.”

“Now you’re just being… eugh!” Alice threw up her arms and stormed off elsewhere, her heavy footsteps making creaks through the whole ship.

Gilda smirked, reaching into her pocket for another cigarette and humming a surprisingly chipper tone as she watched the smoke drift up to the sky.