Galaxy Pirates

Chapter 16: Violet and Arubah

When Gunther came to, he found himself in a cosy bed in a small cabin, still aboard the pirate ship. So great was his stupefaction when, after being captured by these pitiless pirates and pierced through by their bloodthirsty captain, for this latter to take possession of the information chip he carried inside his chest (the Radenoids, once got a hold of him, used him in multiple experiments, resulting in his carrying one of such chips, removing which would definitely result in his death), he beheld his very daughter, Violet, all grown, right before him!

So many years had passed, yet here she was, watching him with those beautiful dark brown eyes like his, now full of tears, much love, and softness.

"V... Violet..?"

"Dad! You're alright!"

The girl let out a cry of joy and squeezed him in loving embraces.

"W... Why are you here? What happened?"

"She has been here long before you, Mr. Hawthorne," Baxus' deep and playful voice sounded, "It's been long since she has joined our rows".

"A crew of pirates?!"

"Well, it's much more complicated than that, but yeah. She's been longing for you. That one's for sure".

"Ah, longing for him is a mild notion! I'm so... so_" Violet's sobs interrupted her speech. She cried her heart out on her beloved father's chest. She had thought him to be long dead, so beholding him appeared so out of the blue now, was like a miracle.

When the long wave of happiness and tears passed, Violet retold her whole story to her father – of how she was kidnapped by the Reptiloids ten years ago, how she worked as a slave, how she appeared on Sinbad's ship and later on the Blood Diamond's one. She didn't skip the part of her and Baxus being maternal cousins. Soon Gunther was happily rubbing the boy's head:

"You sure look like Marie a lot! Goodness, she'll be into infinite heavens when sees you".

"Haha, I hope! I'm a little nervous, to be honest".

"No need to worry. Even though you're a pirate, I am almost sure you're a good person, Baxus Meelias".

"Anyway, how are you feeling, Mr. Hawthorne?"

"I guess I'm fine. Thank you very much for taking care of me and not finishing me off as normal pirates would do," Gunther laughed bitterly, passing it as a half-joke. "And, I'd prefer you to call me Uncle, Baxus".

"Ah, thank you so much! You can call me just Bax, Uncle. I'm glad you're alright. Captain really worked hard there... He got that chip out of you, but spent a lot of crimson energy trying to keep your heart pumping_"

"Wait, you say what? He removed that hideous chip?! How on Earth_"

"With the power of the Crimson Ardour. It is the red energy, the rarest Daluman power which only his family – the Arruroe Clan – possesses. It is the power of life, so he used it to remove the chip and keep you alive".

"So, back then, he tried to save me and not kill me as I thought?"

"He'd never kill Violet's father and my uncle".

"W... Where is the captain now, Bax?"

"He's resting in his room. He's been there since yesterday evening after he finished treating your father. He still hasn't woken up yet, and probably won't, until this evening".

Violet stayed with Gunther, retelling him many details of her adventures and listening to his ones in return. Baxus left for the ship management affairs since he was the captain's first-mate and, as the captain had retired, it was his job to keep the crew and the vessel under control.