Alexa rose from her seat in the far dark corner of the council chamber.
All the time she had been listening, watching... and smoking cigarette after cigarette.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to... what was that old Earth saying again?"
She paused and inhaled once more. Nicotine always helped her think.
"Ah, right. I'd like to add my two cents."
"That Sergio Whatevero there's been sayin' that them lads are apologizing.
I spit on that apology.
An apology doesn't put broken equipment together nor does it bring the dead back to the land of the living.
This apology is just an empty gesture, no more and no less. It may show good will, It may show wisdom as Elder Laowai said, but it does nothing else, and in the end, it's just words."
Another pause, this time to put the cigarette off.
"The man went on to say that he and his brothers were young, inexperienced.
That is not an excuse for his actions in any way. I've seen more than enough "young and inexperienced" Corsairs fight, fly and live honorably by my side. I've seen them grow. I've seen them prosper.
I've seen them... die.
But above all else, I have seen them obey our laws and live by our Creed.
Live by the ways taught to us from when we first see the light of day."
She walked over to the bar softly, mixed herself a "Black Outcast", took a sip and continued.
"Mhm. Then that man says that whoever's fault this "conflict" was is not relevant.
Why's it not relevant? One shoots the other who shoots back in self-defense, no? It's not as if we and his brethren decided to shoot eachother at the same time, si?"
"Eitherway, let's move on. Sergio continued, saying this "conflict" was had because of his, or the Reyes' familia's opinion being that the "status quo" needed changing. He said that not enough was being made of our "inherent" advantage. Hermanos, I find this to be trash."
"It took us a long time and hard work to come to the point we are at now. Not too long ago, I would've shot a member of the Benitez familia without as much as a second thought."
She looked towards Custo, a mischievious grin on her face...
...which turned into a wide smile a second after.
"But since not too long ago, and until I draw my final breath, I would give all things I own, my very honor... and my life to defend them without hesitation. Without question. Without remorse. As I have shown more than once in battle."
Looking around the chamber, she noticed all eyes being focused on her, and continued.
"And this man, this Sergio Reyes, with his words he steps on OUR ACHIEVEMENTS,
on OUR PROGRESS,
on OUR GREAT NATION!
ON US CORSAAAIRS!"
She almost worked herself into a rage, but decided to empty her glass instead in the last moment.
"He says that change is necessary. What is it we've done? What is it we's do?
We sittin' on our arses all day?"
Some of the Elders grinned.
"Moving on. The man says his familia'd want to bring the Corsairs glory.
Why's it the first thing I hear of the Reyes familia is not some tale of a great battle of them against the Outcasts, Hessians or even Nomads?
Why's it the first thing I hear of them is about them shooting our own?"
She paused. For dramatic effect, obviously.
"The man says that this bull**** he calls an "attempt to better the Corsairs" was the result of the Reyes familia's thoughts and their failure to realize that "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts".
What, they weren't taught what we in 'ere do? They weren't taught what it means to be a Corsair?
Hell, are they even Corsairs, or do they just pretend to be some?"
"They saw what happened during our earlier conflict. The one that almost caused a civil war.
How could they not know beforehand that "infighting could only weaken us as a whole"?
Didn't all Corsairs get to know that, regardless of where they were?
Didn't everyone see what all this caused?
Isn't it a part of the reason why we are here now together?"
She lit her next cigarette and grinned.
"Well I ain't a goddess and I don't know every Corsair in person, but I can't remember any not taking notice of our earlier conflict and what it brought along with it."
"Oh well, I think in the situation of the Reyes familia, the best thing to do is to apply for a seat in the council.
I can see their look for detail and their foresight being of great use to the Corsair nation.
Oh and how can I see their skills in picking out targets be of use in battle.
My, let me not forget that there's always useful military advice coming from true war veterans like the Reyes familia are!"
Sarcasm. She's always been a fan of it.
"Hm, the last words of Sergio I forgot, I think I just plain fail at paying attention to flowery bull****."
"To get to the point, you know me well hermanos.
Was it up to me, I'd personally cut their hearts out and have their livers fed to stray dogs all in front of their parents, lovers, friends... everyone."
The look on her face turned cold. Emotionless.
"But luckily there's y'all to prevent me from doing so."
"Elder Sephardi..."
She turned towards him.
"...your proposal is not a bad one, but it alone strikes me as not good enough.
As Elder Custo implied, the risk of having the Reyes familia becoming a cancerous manifestation inside of our nation is simply too big.
I understand your concerns, but having these men there in our midst might be unacceptable for some."
"I myself would not be able to trust these men, even if they were to fly under the banner of The Brotherhood.
When disregarding my personal views, I think that Elder Custo's compromise provides a fair solution."
Another cigarette's fiery life ended.
"However, no matter how it goes, if these men commit one more such act as they did, I will make sure that their lifes will come to a slow and painful end."
Her voice turned quiet for a minute...
"Y'know, I really wish we could just gut 'em and be done with it, but I've thought so once in the past already, and my thoughts were proven to be wrong then."
...then she spoke normally again.
"It might be that they could regain their honor in due time were they to end up in The Brotherhood.
It might even be that were they to be exiled, they could be once, after showing our nation that they indeed are true Corsairs, allowed back home again.
But, it might also be that they end up facing the buisness end of my plasma pistol."
An honest grin.
"I can't take a peek into the future hermanos, but overall I agree with Custo, so that's my two cents.
Now I'm in need of some fresh air, excuse me, I shall be back in a few minutes."
- - -
Alexa walked out of the Council.
As soon as the doors slid close, she started coughing heavily and almost fell over.
-"Are you alright, Elder Cordova?"
The security guard was quick to catch her, and showed a concerned look.
~"It's nothing. Don't worry Alvaro. I'm just feeling a little dizzy. You can let me go."
-"Are you sure o..."
~"Don't worry. Just get back to your post before Sephardi notices. I'll catch some fresh air, that'll help."
She said it with a smile, and Alvaro walked off.
When he was back on his post, she looked down to face the floor.
Some red spots were visible on it.
Then she looked at her palm, and noticed it was covered in blood.