FSE

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"We're headed towards the meeting point. It's a safe zone, but carry a side arm. Since we got Fallen Sky to restock our supplies before they knew that we knew they betrayed us, we're mostly set. Sere, Mira, you're with me. The rest of you do whatever for now."

Mira rolled next to Dante, "Won't we get a chance to relax?"

Dante sighed, "After business. You said you could negotiate, let's put that to the test. Sere will be the consultant."

They all stepped out of the Albatross in plain clothes. The dock was very clean compared to the Fallen Sky dock. Jill told Dante it was because this was privately owned and they wanted had pride. On the Fallen Sky docks, nobody cared what it looked like. Dante didn't care too much, he knew that from before Earth was a warzone. The three made their way to the other side of the docks where a massive ship was located, "If it isn't The Beast!" A feline dressed as a stereotypical pirate, including the big hat and Jolly Roger symbol, smiled as she spoke. Her demeanor was not what Dante had expected, though she wasn't stupid. She had two guards with her, dressed like pirates, with sidearms, "What's wrong?"

"Do you have what we ordered?"

She swiped a finger across her nose, "Of course! Isa never fails to deliver! To be honest, we got the stuff cheaper than we would have though, uh, legal channels."

Mira growled, "Illegal trade goods?! Dante, this is a criminal!"

He put a hand on her head, "Kid, if you knew what I had done, you would think she was a saint." He turned to Sere, "This is my engineer, mind if she inspects everything? No offense, but I prefer to be safe. Especially with our plans."

Isa smiled bigger than before, "You are good! I would expect no less from what Jill told me. Speaking of which, where is she?" She put a hand on her eyebrows and pretended to search, "Eh, maybe later. I miss that little kitty. I remember when she was a... I mean... when she wasn't a mercenary. Oh don't mind me, my first mate will take your engineer to the storage area, then we can move." She walked over to Dante, "And I know what you're thinking, while she is on my ship, I will be your prisoner slash tour guide."

The tiger spoke in a very gentle voice for a man his size, "Please follow me young miss."

Sere nodded, "Alright, I'll be back soon Dante. Then I can get to work." She followed the tiger, but the other armed guard stayed behind. Dante looked at him, but shrugged. Nothing he could do.

Isa began to walk, "Follow me. We have much to discuss commander. Uh, privately if you please."

Mira cleared her throat, "I am the Albatross' negotiator. It's fine if I come with you two."

"Uh, there won't be negotiating. Just some serious talk. Go, have some fun. I won't beat him up too bad." She smiled and stuck her tongue out in a joking fashion.

Dante opened his computer, "Hey, Jill, come pick up Mira. We're at dock 47. As for you, try to relax." He looked over, "Hey you, if I see so much as a scratch on Mira or Sere, I will disembowel every single member of that ship, including your captain, got it?" He nodded in a nervous fashion, "Come on Isa, I don't like to drag my feet."

Isa walked behind a customs desk, nodded to the clerk who then opened a secret door, and the two went inside. There was just a wood table with a few wood chairs on either side, "Take a seat Dante." They both sat, on opposite sides of the table, "I know about the Fallen Sky incident. We've been looking for dirt on them for some time, and there was no shortage. It's a messy company no matter how much it tries to seem like it's focus is on law and order."

"Which incident, the one where they tried to kill me but took out a member of my team, or where they paid the new recruits to kill me? Either way, doesn't matter. Get to the point."

"I am Captain Isa. I am in charge of the largest pirate organization in the known universe, also known as the Deathly Sirens. I know, surprising. Thing is, we didn't start as pirates. Fallen Sky came to be when my grandfather was in charge. As soon as they expanded, they attacked us during a raid to steal. We weren't the ones stealing, but they won and said that's what we did. Since then, they bully and attack threats."

Dante leaned back, "Fallen Sky is big, I assume you've never been able to attack directly."

She nodded solemnly, "Right. Even in a straight up battle, they outnumber our crew and ship count. Not to mention the superior weaponry. Despite every incident we found, it brought us no closer to taking them out of the picture. Then we heard about you, the human from Earth. A legend before you stepped foot on their ship, and they got you on their side. I'll admit, I was pretty worried."

Dante looked around, "I understand your desire for backstory, but Fallen Sky will attack us any time now. You at least have numbers on your side to deter attacks, we don't. So why is it you needed to talk with me alone?"

Isa stood up and paced back and forth for a moment, "I want you to lead us into battle, when the time is right of course. You inspire fear in your enemies, and determination in your men. However, this won't happen for some time. If you ever need support before the assault, I would be happy to devote our entire fleet."

"So you knew I would accept. Wonderful. Anything else you want to know? I'm tired."

She put her hands on the table and leaned over, "Those were some dangerous things you ordered... what're you gonna do with them?"

Dante shut his eye, "Cleavage only works when you have something to show off. But... I can't tell you yet. It's just a theory right now. Fallen Sky didn't count on me adding our engineer, or plans I drew up on Earth during my free time. If it all works out, they won't stand a chance. Nobody will. I don't want power though, I just want them to leave me alone. Is that so much to ask?"

Isa shook her head, "You are a strange one, but in a good way. I wish the same for me and my people. Come on, let's go see how everything is going."

.........................................

Titus was in the lounge, trying to relax. Cratis walked in, "Oh, Titus, thank you for convincing Dante to allow me to carry a weapon again."

"Hm? Oh, no problem. You can't blame him though, if people you recently recruited turned on you, I have no doubt you would be weary of the innocent one who didn't participate"

She sat down on a chair next to him, "I know, I would have done the same. I still can't believe they would do that. Dwelling on it won't help though."

Titus sat up, "Relax more. This isn't a police force, you can take a breather now and then. Stretch out your wings a bit Cratis."

"Easier said than done. I haven't relaxed since I joined the force."

"Oh, come on, I'm sure you had some fun now and then. You're only a dragon, you have needs too."

She looked away, "Maybe, but... I haven't had time to... uh... you know..." She looked out of the lounge window, "Why am I saying this? Being near Dante is affecting me." Titus began to laugh very loudly, "What?"

"He'll do that. I swear, we've all changed a bit. But you haven't what?"

Cratis stared at him. She thought she was going to blush, but Titus was as stupid as Sere said so she didn't, "Never had... sex... I mean, I'm already 25. Shouldn't I have done it? That's what everyone says at least."

Titus had to look away, "Well, you are pretty, but intimidating to most. You could have sex with anyone you want-" He felt something heavy hit his lap, so he looked. Cratis was sitting neatly, legs neatly together, with her hands on her lap, "Cratis?"

"Anyone I want?"

...............................................

"Hmmmmm... what should we do for our big date night?"

Mira was in the middle of everyone, now including Sere. Dante was nowhere to be found, "Uh, date night?"

Sere nodded, "Yep, we agreed to have a big... Miss Star, we know you're there."

"Aww, I almost forgot you were good with technology." Even Miss Star was in everyday clothing, but she still had a cloaking device, "Maybe a party? The last party we had was crazy."

Sere jumped up, "Oh! Halloween party! We all dress up in costumes! And not just playful, goofy ones..."

Ratchet patted her on the head, "We have something like that on my planet. Also, liking the new attitude!"

Jill and Chey nodded, "Then let's get costumes and party things!"

Chey walked off, "I'm on drinks, it's what I know best. Jill, food. Ratchet, Mira, and Sere divide up and help us two carry things. Miss Star and Rachel, decorations. After, we get something to wear. Let's go!"

It didn't take long to get everything. Soon they were all looking in a big store for costumes or clothing that could be made into costumes. This was easier said than done, as they stood for over an hour looking. Not trying anything, looking. Then another hour passed and they each found something they wanted to try.

.........................................................

Dante was sitting on a bench in the middle of the artificially made park. There were trees and various plants, but it wasn't the same. People passed by now and then, all different species. Most had some sort of sidearm, but it was a safe area. No guards were needed. However, he didn't care. His thoughts went back to the woman he loved.

She betrayed and tried to kill him, but in the end he killed her. Dante was unsure of why he was thinking about this. Maybe because she wasn't as tough as she seemed on Earth. Maybe because he didn't enjoy the battle. More likely, because her death solved nothing. He was in the same mess, in a different environment. Once again, a major power wants him dead. His dreams of peace seem unreachable.

"And I can't kill myself, Anima wouldn't allow it. Nor would all of them. So what am I to do? Wander around until everyone who wants me dead is killed by my own hands?" He sighed a long sigh, "That seems like my only option. Who knows, maybe I'll meet my end along the way."He stood up and slowly walked towards the docks, "I really hope one of them betrays and kills me in my sleep or something..."

He passed through a lot of areas of the dock station. All were very clean, the people were friendly, and kids could freely roam around. Not to mention they were all behaved. One little girl even ran up to Dante, blushed, and gave him a little flower. He smiled and thanked her, "Good luck Mr. Human!" Then she skipped off.

He sniffed the flower, it was very sweet. Almost like honey, "I wonder if they would let me live here after I'm done. Heh, probably not. I'd be too feared in the universe to live anywhere. I just need to find an abandoned planet and exile myself when I'm done." He continued his stroll, and before long he realized he was being followed. He stopped and turned around.

The little girl, along with a few others, were all staring, "You're... The Beast, right?" Dante looked away and nodded, "You can help us, Isa said she would find you."

"I already agreed to help. Now if you'll excuse me, I haven't slept in a few days and I really want to lie down."

The little girl from earlier stepped forward, "You can stay at our house."

Dante rolled his head on his shoulders, "I appreciate the offer, but I have a ship full of misfits and psychopaths to get back to. They get jumpy and clingy if I'm not around to yell at them." He waved and continued to walk, "Oh great, a beep. Let's see who is asking what... Oh joy of joys, back to Earth. I can probably get some rest on the ride."

Isa was leaning against a wall, alone, "So Mr. Popular, enjoying our little home away from home? You seemed to have an impact."

"I'm not here to make an impact. That's when everything goes wrong. I'm here to complete my business and then I'll go."

She began to follow him, "You do know that they want you to stay here, right? Even the kids admire you, but I don't think that's the first time you heard that. You're a hero to these people."

Dante sighed, "I'm no hero, I'm a butcher. I kill people. That's my job. Even on Earth I was just a killer. Abandoned by my own kind no matter how often I helped them. Why would these people be any different in the end?"

Isa kicked a stone, "Because they respect you here. You did what no other human has ever done, and you aren't cruel."

"Whatever, this is my ship. We'll be in touch Isa." He walked over to the entrance of the Albatross and calmly walked inside. There was some noise coming from the lounge area, but there was always noise from that direction. The ship echoed.

"Dante, your presence is requested in the lounge of the ship." The AI was concise.

Dante nodded, "Alright..." He moved for a bit, slowly because of how tired he was, then stopped.

"Surprise!" They all shouted.

Sere smiled, "It's Halloween on Earth, so we thought we could celebrate a bit. It's a party!"

They were all wearing costumes of anything you could imagine. Jill and Chey were nurses (Chey did follow whatever Jill did), Rachel was a cop, Ratchet was a mummy (or at least wrapped some bandages around some parts of her body), Sere was dressed like a fairy much like Miss Star, but more appropriate (as in, more cloth on the body). Mira was in a black dress and pointed hat, the most conservative of them all. Dante noticed that both Titus and Cratis were on the couch, both seemed embarrassed, "Something I missed here? As long as there is alcohol..."

"Uh, Dante." Mira rolled forward a bit, "Rachel was helping me with a treatment of hers, so..." She clicked something on the wheels and put her hands on the armrests. She was able to push herself out of the chair and stand up, even if she was wobbly, "I cried when I first stood up, and I may not be ready to walk around much, but I can stand!" She took a step, and immediately began to fell.

Everyone gasped, but Dante leaped forward and caught her before she hit the ground, "Easy, don't push yourself too hard." His voice was strangely gentle. He lifted her up in his arms and carried her over to a seat, "Just relax for now, one day at a time."

Chey scratched her cheek, "Well uh... this is a party right? Let's have some fun!"

Dante went behind the little bar and picked up a new bottle of something green, "I suppose I should make a little speech. I'm no good with that though, so all I can say is that I'd give my life for each and every one of you if it came to it." His picked up a glass, opened the bottle, then drank straight from the bottle.

"Don't hog it all! That's my job!" Chey grabbed another bottle filled with something purple and began to fill glasses, "Come on, least we can do is give a cheer for the most fear feared man in the universe, even if he only has one eye!" Everyone took a drink, though Ratchet had to hand one to Mira. Sere was shaking as she hadn't had any alcohol before, "To Dante, the craziest bastard I've ever met. I look forward to taking on Fallen Sky with a rifle in my hand, a smile on my face, and a psychopath leading the charge!"

They all took a drink, both Mira and Sere coughed, "Don't worry you two, you'll get used to it. I know it took me a while!" Ratchet finished up her glass, "Someone put on some damn music! And give me some of that brown stuff Dante put behind the bar!"

Miss Star clapped and the AI began to play some background music, "Might as well have some fun, right? How about a dance Dante?"

He shook his head, "Sorry, I'm not nearly drunk enough. This space shit is weak." Ratchet coughed from the whiskey, "See? I can drink a bottle of that before I get even a little drunk. But I'll stay for a while, then I'll sleep for who knows how long. We leave for Earth when I wake back up. You two, on the couch, smile or I'll make you do laps around the ship."

Mira was blushing brightly, "He... helped me. Heehee..." She took a sip, "Is there any wine? This is a little too strong for me." Jill looked behind the bar and pulled out a bottle. She poured a glass for Mira and set it on the table in front of her, "Thank you Jill."

Sere finished the drink, but was already wobbling, "Uh... I feel funny. I'm going to sit down a bit..."

Dante watched his crew have fun, but didn't participate even when they played some games. He was too exhausted, and knew that there was a lot about to happen in a short amount of time.