Harlaan

Crike was yelling something about the hull at Harlaan, but Harlaan had his hands full, hanging from a peevee pole from the side of that hull, and was quite concerned about the likelihood of falling when the explosion happened. By some luck, he was able to hold on as the ship lurched to starboard, falling away beneath him, and then again as the bosun pulled the ship back on course. Taking stock of the situation, Harlaan could see two red Mantas above him on the deck of the Runagate. One had fallen after the explosion. Below, he could see a smoking hole in the side of the Runagate's hull, far back, and two green Mantas, perched on one of the steerage skysails, below the hole.

Making a quick decision, Harlaan leaped from his perch at the bow of the skyship, landing on another skysail, making his way back to the green Mantas. "They've blown the hull!" He called out to anyone who might hear him. "A rival skygang! They must be after the core! What the flux is happening?"

Through the fog, he could one of the green Mantas slip through the breach in the Runagate's hull and disappear into the darkness. The other, hearing his approach, had turned to face him, precariously poised on the aft skysail. Because Crike was still trying to keep the skyship on course, Harlaan assumed - perhaps Crike had given up on keeping the skyship headed straight, or abandoned post - in any case, the steerage sails were in motion as the two combatants faced each other.

This was going to be tricky.

Harlaan gripped the peevee pole tightly, staring down the sky pirate perched on the opposite skysail. The wind whipped his hair and clothes, making him feel exposed and vulnerable. He could see the pirate's eyes gleaming behind the faceplate of her Manta suit. For a moment he marvelled at the sleek and flexible flightsuit that allowed her to glide through the air like a giant ray. He would have to contain her ability to launch away from the skyship if he was going to gain any kind of advantage.

From behind the faceplate, the pirate taunted him. "Just you and me then? Come on, show me what you've got!"

Harlaan ignored her words and focused on his breathing. He had trained with various weapons, learning how to use them as an extension of his body. He could swing the pole, thrust it, hook it, and even throw it with deadly accuracy. This was not the first time he had to fight a sky pirate.

He knew he had to act fast, before the pirate decided to take off and attack him from above. He was also determined to protect the Runagate, and the flux core, a powerful energy source that could power a city for a year. Two gangs of sky pirates had somehow tracked them down and ambushed them, unlikely this was a coincidence. 

He had to stop them, no matter what.

He took a deep breath and leaped from his skysail, swinging his peevee pole at the pirate. She dodged the strike and countered with a slash of her wing, leaning in her shoulder and barely missing his throat. He landed on her skysail and stepped back to avoid another swipe, followed by a punch. 

They exchanged a flurry of blows, parrying and dodging each other's attacks. Harlaan was surprised by the pirate's agility and skill, but he was not intimidated. He had the advantage of reach and strength, and he used them to his favor. Keeping her back against the hull was the only way he could prevent her from becoming airborne easily. Harlaan swung the peevee pole with force, aiming for her head and chest, and then raked past her legs. He forced her to retreat and defend, looking for an opening to finish her off. 

He found it when she stumbled on a loose rope and lost her balance. He seized the opportunity and hooked her wing with his peevee pole, pulling her towards him. She gasped and tried to free herself, but it was too late. As he swung the pole against her legs, she lost her balance and fell, crashing backwards into the hull with a sickening sound, and then sliding off the skysail and disappearing down into the fog.

Harlaan looked at the hole in the hull of the Runagate, wondering what was happening inside. He hoped the captain and his crewmates were okay, and he knew he had to join them, and help them secure the ship. Perhaps now he would at least have the element of surprise.

He jumped off the skysail and ran towards the blasthole, hoping he was not too late.