SEA OF SECRETS – JAEKEL SHIP

TANNUN

Araska, the Redfleet ship is still within view.

NANDAO

Good. Change course to take us around Box Island. In two days’ time we will intercept them from the northwest and take them by surprise.

ENTORRAN

If I may, Araska, the Redfleet ship could easily head into Hitcher’s Firth, which would put even more distance between us by the time we round the island.

NANDAO

Must you question my orders at every turn, Entorran? With the element of surprise we will overtake them easily.

ENTORRAN

Easily. A coward’s way. Hiding behind an island. Our ship can outrun theirs. We will have them in one day’s time.

NANDAO

Silence yourself or I will silence you, Entorran. We will proceed with my plan.

ENTORRAN

We have been tailing this ship for three days and you have made no move to strike. You’ve given nothing but excuses. We are Jaekels. We are not given to follow, we are given to fight!

NANDAO

You know nothing of conquering a vessel, let alone a Redfleet vessel! To rush in with no advantage is foolish. A Jaekel hunts like a clever predator, like the arthra. The arthra can overtake its prey, yes, but to hide and wait assures it a successful kill when it strikes with its quarry unaware. The arthra will surely eat that day. Attempting to outrun its prey will tire it out, and the kill is less likely to succeed.

ENTORRAN

If we let that ship out of our sight it may change course in the meantime and escape our grasp! We must strike while we have eyes on it! This is a rare opportunity to risk on a game of hide-and-go-seek!

NANDAO

ENOUGH! You will not question my orders any longer!

Pause

ENTORRAN

Then I challenge you down-to-claw. If you are any sort of Jaekel you will accept my challenge.

TANNUN

Entorran, are you sure about this? Araska Nandao is thirty centimeters taller and nearly fifty kilos heavier than you!

ENTORRAN

Quiet, Tannun. Nandao, you are not fit for command. Your decisions are unwise and cowardice. Face me down-to-claw!

NANDAO

(laughs)

You? Challenge me down-to-claw? You are a fool, Entorran. I should have killed you a long time ago for your constant insubordination but I will gladly kill you now!

ENTORRAN

Then let us throw down our weapons and fight like beasts!

Sound of disarming blades as they are tossed aside

Cheers and shouts of the crew as the battle is about to commence

ENTORRAN gives a growl as she lunges at NANDAO, raking her talons across his carapace, only able to scratch the surface

NANDAO

(erupts with laughter)

This will be easy!

NANDAO kicks ENTORRAN in the chest, sending her backward to strike against a ship’s mast

TANNUN

Entorran! You can’t penetrate his carapice with your claws!

ENTORRAN charges at NANDAO again attempting to knock him onto his feet but he knocks her to the deck. ENTORRAN oofs with the impact.

NANDAO

You think you can knock me off my feet? Please.

TANNUN

Get up, Entorran!

NANDAO shouts as he thrusts his open claws down onto ENTORRAN but she rolls out of the way and his claws drive into the deck. He grunts as he tries to free them

TANNUN

His claws are wedged, Entorran! Strike now!

With a yell ENTORRAN dives toward his arm and sinks her fangs into it

NANDAO

Argh!

NANDAO frees his claws with a jerk of his arm

NANDAO

Fangs. How cute. If you want your bite to do some real damage you should have gotten tusks.

TANNUN

His back is to you, Entorran!

ENTORRAN rushes forth with a war cry an leaps onto his back. NANDAO groans with her sudden weight but she yells out in pain. NANDAO guffaws.

ENTORRAN

(sliced in the shoulder by NANDAO’s spined ridge on his back)

Aah! You sharpened your spined ridge! I didn’t expect that!

NANDAO

You challenge me yet you fail to know your enemy!

NANDAO turns to ENTORRAN, picks her up and body slams her into the deck. He delivers three blows to her and she cries out in pain with each one.

TANNUN

Get up, Entorran! Get up!

ENTORRAN yells out with the effort of forcing herself to dodge the next blow and get back on her feet. She lands a couple of blows on NANDAO, though his reaction to each is mild. Her third blow misses and he rakes a talon down her side, the tear of cloth and some flesh can be heard as she cries out. He then heaves a kick to her, sending her sliding.

NANDAO

(struggled speech)

I hoped… this would be… more of a challenge…

NANDAO turns back to the crew.

NANDAO

Now… watch… what… happens… to… those… who… who…

The crew is silent as they realize something is wrong with NANTAO. NANTAO suddenly collapses onto the deck

NANDAO

What… what is… happening? I can’t… feel… anything…

ENTORRAN lifts herself with great effort and walks over to where NANDAO has collapsed.

ENTORRAN

Can you not move, Nandao?

NANDAO

What… did… you… do… to me?

ENTORRAN

These cute fangs…

(hisses)

Poison.

NANDAO

Poison… like a viper. Nice touch. But you have only… paralyzed me. Your poison… will not kill me.

ENTORRAN

True, you will not die from the poison, Nandao.

ENTORRAN reaches down and rakes a claw across NANDAO’s throat. He chokes and gasps as he bleeds out until he is dead.

ENTORRAN

(turning to the crew, who momentarily stands silent)

I want each of you to look at him. If he were a better leader he would still be alive.

(to NANDAO’s dead body as she spits on it)

You call yourself an Araska.

(back to the crew)

I am now the commander of this ship. I’m declaring it so, so I do not need to ask for your acceptance.  Nandao did not tolerate challenge to his authority. On the other claw, I welcome it. If any of you see fit to challenge my leadership, I invite you to do so. I will respect you for it.

(beat)

I will also kill you for it.

(pause)

Now, let us take the Redfleet ship, for we are Jaekels!

The crew yells and cheers, readying themselves for a fight