A Corsair Tale

[Seth Karlo]

The war had been raging for nearly 3 hundred years.

So many had died, so many had been destroyed by it, that we could barely understand why we were still fighting. And yet we continued to do so. We killed, we were killed, and the cycle would continue. We had been here, here in Sirius, for nigh on 340 years now.

How could our ancestors be so blind? How could they start a war that could not be won? That could not be lost?

What is with the humans of this universe... why must we consistently fight? We, the Corsairs, we started a war that ripped every criminal from its happy place. We created rifts and made barriers. We forced every criminal underlord and crime boss to choose their side. Most had gone to the Outcasts, slaves to the Cardamine that poisoned their souls.

We continue to fight, and yet I fear that this pointless war will have a pointless outcome. We shall fight, and we shall die, until we are so weak that the Bounty Hunters will sweep in, kill us all.

Are we to come to so little?

And now, now that the main houses, the "peaceful" and "civilised" ones, have started to fight amongst themselves, their petty squabbles turning into war, now they have pushed Sirius over the edge.

Everywhere you look there is death. Everywhere you look there is destruction.

But I shall fight. Though I fear it is pointless, though I know it is pathetic and useless, I shall fight for my honor, and my house. I shall fight to free people from the hidious addiction that is Cardamine, and I shall not rest until I am victorious...

-Extract from the Diary of Silvius Kane, aged 24

The Outcast Gunship, Tridente class, exploded in a fireball of shock. Silvius blinked twice, his mouth slightly agape, as he killed for the first time. The Praetorian he flew belonged to his mentor, Taius, who was waiting nearby on the Kane family Praefect.

He had never killed before, and it stung. He had ended the lives of three men, who were fighting to save their lives. Silvius, backed by 3 Titans piloted by other students, had led the charge, sweeping in, and before long, it was his Torpedo that exploded against their reactor, his shot which had killed those men.

His breath was rushed, and he could feel the adrenaline pulsing through his veins.

He felt like god.

He could end the lives of others.

The power flooded through him, more addictive than Cardamine, stronger than adrenaline, and he breathed deeply, revelling in his new found power.

Then he felt shame.

"Death is nothing to be proud of. Death is a terrible thing, something that takes loved ones from their family, it is something that can come at any time, and will take without mercy, it will not fogive, it will not fail, and one day, it will come for you."

Those were the words of his wise mentor, and he felt shameful at forgetting them. He would kill if he had to, but truly, the whole thing felt pointless to him. Why fight? Why kill when you could use something far more deadly, but with far less consequences, to achieve your goals? Words could work wonders when used properly.

But, a diplomatic Corsair? It was like saying an "Unaddicted Outcast", the thing just didn't exist.

Silvius sighed slightly. He was named after an ancient hero by his dying mother, and he had a heroes challenge. Could he dare to be different?

He pondered his options, and then, making his desicion, slammed his hands down on the controls. His left hand pulled backwards, sending his left engine into reverse, and at the same time, his right engine exploded into overdrive, spinning his bomber with a roar.

Before the other three students realise what had happened, Silvius was already 3k away.

Taius smiled as he watched his favourite 14 year old steal his ship.

"Good luck Silvius... I knew you would not resist the pull" he whispered, his face pressed against the glass of the bar window. He knew where Silvius was going.

He was going to try and talk peace into their enemies.

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Signature by Sleipnir.