EXT. UNDERWATER. CORWIN and the SUBMARINES are investigating the site of one of the raids, a devastated and deserted selkath settlement. At this depth there is no sunlight, and their searchlights make eerie patterns of light and shadow on the wreckage, heightening the sense of desolation.

GOYA
What could have done this, though? You think it could be pirates?

CORWIN shakes his head inside his aquanaut helmet.

CORWIN
I doubt it. Pirates are out to make a profit. Whatever did this was only interested in destruction.

Hands on hips, he surveys the wreckage for a few moments.

CORWIN
If it turns out it is pirates, though, we may need to call in my cousin, the Greek goddess of pirate hunters.

IKU
(looking up from examining a piece of rubble)
There's a goddess of pirate hunters?

CORWIN
(perfectly matter-of-fact)
Yeah, Arrrtemis.

Everyone stops what they're doing and turns to stare at him, with expressions ranging from "completely blank" (IONA) to "puzzled incomprehension" (RO-CHAN) to "slack-jawed disbelief" (SHIOI).

TANG
How do I get outta this chickenshit outfit again? Just askin'.

--G.
even Akigumo disavows that joke
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Mod
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
zgryphon at that email service Google has
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.