Defy

Prologue

“The war ended just as we wanted it".

The Pirate was walking among the outcroppings in the landing bay with his inner crew members ahead of him. They might have heard the story he was about to narrate a thousand time, so they were not slowing down or really paying attention.

But the new crew members slowed their paces around him watching and waiting as he picked a big boulder in which to sit.

“That was a dream of a lifetime you know". He gathered his kimono suit around him, removed his hat, placed it on a knee, removed his thick small lenses and begin to polish it with an edge of his coat with unnecessary concentration. “The dream of the masses.

“It came true. But the economy never got better.

“We came to know the true definition of tyranny". He burst into a hysteria of laughter which he has been accustomed to since his childhood days.

Rhamu used to think he was insane though. He laughs at complex situations and don’t seem to give any care in the world even when things aren’t working for him.

He suddenly turned towards the set of youths standing idly behind him, “You see one funny thing about life is this". He stood up and his countenance hardened as he raised his voice in a snarl “Don’t ever fight another’s battle in the name of freedom! Freedom is personalized and never generalized! Your personal believes triumphs over Joint goals. You never know what your best friend could turn out to be when given power. That entity corrupts even the strongest minds".

And he burst out in another hysteria. Now Rhamu was very sure he was insane. The laughter stopped as abruptly as it began. The senior crew members started boarding and checking the pirate ship for take-off.

“We took the capital, which wasn’t a plausible attempt initially". Now there was a kind of light in his grey eyes. He smiled briefly and then there was a flitting mixture of emotions briefly before he resumed his nonchalant swagger. “We achieved our aim and elected a new leader right from among us.

“But the cost of the war has changed a lot of us, including the new leader. We didn’t know what was happening until the noose began to tighten around our necks".

He began to walk towards the ship. “Only three of us was smart and exceptionally fast enough to make a break for it. Two got out. One became an ally to the new leader instead. All the others just complied. It wasn’t fun after that. It has been the beginning of another such episode. This time around, there isn’t enough will to set it right".

He got to the ramp and turned to face the newbies. “So I decided to take one more shot at setting it right and this time I dare hope for a better leader. For this I have asked for your helps to help me achieve the impossible again".

"I do not see the plan," Rhamu observed aloud.

The pirate turned slowly with a smile. "A fresh start."

"You have yourself to start afresh." Rhamu continued. "What do you need from us?"

The pirate sighed and nodded. "The government keeps on breathing down our necks. The only safe place is in the safe zones, only in the clouds."

"So you say no safe place?"

The pirate nodded, "none around here".

"So you know of a place?"

"Of a place, yes." Iko gathered his kimono tail around him. "It will take some expenses to locate and secure.

"More importantly, it will take a flying fortress to transport everyone and everything over." Iko looked around at everybody at the foot of the ramp. "That is why I needed everyone's helps."