We are in the year 2050. The war was finally over long ago, and the world was entering an era of peace. But discrimination against beastmen was still in force. And much more than before. The inquisitors never stopped chasing them and they were still on the prowl.

This is where Mia Werly's story begins. She is a very beautiful young woman. She has reddish hair, white skin, and green eyes. She lived in the slums of the Scorpion Islands, a city where crime reigned and justice only played in favor of the nobles. This city only reflected on its exterior how rotten its interior was. At a young age, she was forced to mature much faster to survive a cruel and ruthless world dominated by humans.

Introducing herself into small bands, she was learning the parts of the trade; use knives or some firearms to finish off her enemies, steal without them noticing that something was missing, be quick and stealthy to enter houses or armories, open locks on all kinds of doors. Even the most difficult doors, Mia could open without problems. And finally, her art of seduction. This was because her mother sold her to one of the brothels in the area. At first, Mia saw it as a scary thing, but then she realized that men are easy to manipulate with certain stimuli. They would never touch her again. But fate likes to play with us in a detestable and unusual way.

One night during a high-profile bank robbery, one of her henchmen betrayed her by activating the alarm and locking Mia in the cellar. Apparently he had made a deal with the authority. They assured him a better profit for capturing Mia.

After that humiliating betrayal, her trust in others was ruined. She was taken to the dirtiest cells in the police station jail to rot until the day of her trial. On the day of the trial she was found guilty of all charges, and she was sentenced to death in the public square.

That day, much sooner than expected, he was present. With daily custody it was impossible for hem to escape in time. Everything was lost. She had no one to come rescue her. She was alone as she had never been before.

When the time came, the guards took her out of the cell. With shackles tight to her wrists, chained with a long chain to her ankles, they reduced her mobility so that she could not run or make any aggression with her hands towards the guards. Reduced to awkward movements, she was led down the corridor of the filthy, moldy prison to the steam carriage that would take her to the square. This is where the gallows awaited her with a tight knot and with her name engraved on it and an executioner eager for her lifeless body.

The carriage stops, four policemen take her out of the holding cell. She did not resist because she knew that her end was inevitable. Looking around she can see a multitude of people waiting for the execution. Then, she can see the stage where the gallows, a priest of the holy cross, the executioner and a judge are armed. Everything was ready for her death sentence, it only remained for her to climb onto the wooden platform. As Mia walked through the crowd and various objects were thrown at her, her hopes of getting out of there were dashed. A few seconds later, she looked up and saw a person who caught her attention. This person had a black bird perched on his shoulder and a dark and uncertain attitude.

If you asked her at that moment what she felt when she saw him, she would answer that he was not a human. A ghost she thought. But no, that man was physically in front of her. Perhaps the stranger could help her or perhaps he would just let her die. Maybe he was an onlooker eager for the death of a bandit.

Whatever the case in the end, she had to try. She had nothing to lose. So it started. She pushed off one of the guards and freed herself from the restraints. She managed to get closer to the stranger, crashing into him. Being by his side, she could see it well. He was a tall fellow, with golden hair like the radiant sun. He wore an all-black military uniform with a silver hawk embroidered on his left sleeve. He wielded a gold-trimmed sword and a gleaming blade that showed at a glance just how incredibly sharp it must have wielded. On the insignia, an iron cross on the scabbard that held her at the hip. At the moment of the shock, she also felt the handle of an ancient weapon, hidden among his clothing.

Mia looks up to see his face. He had a scar from his right eye to his chin. It had a patch. She stares into his single crimson eye, desperately asks for his help.

- Please help.

- Why should I do that? - Answers the stranger

Mia knew that could happen. It was always an option that he didn't help her. She remembers that she is alone. If she wanted something, she would have to do it herself. At that moment, a group of soldiers surrounds them. They carry thick metal armor propelled by a steam core. Painted with a black color and gold decorations. They raised heavy automated weapons, blocking the way of the police. Mia, confused, looks away from the stranger to see what was happening. The cops couldn't reach her, and the strange man wouldn't take his eye off her. Mia decides to ask while looking at him.

- Give me your answer to the question

She is still confused. She couldn't understand what was happening. But she answers the question without thinking.

- Because I don't want to die.

The stranger raises his right hand with a snap. Then the bird that was on his shoulder takes flight, leaving a black cloud and a fetid smell of ashes, which begins to envelop them little by little. The policemen, as well as the crowd, did not know what was happening. The smoke begins to wrap them all to be later cleared by the strong winds emitted by a huge aircraft that covered the sky. When they look up they see that incredible machine from past generations. It was completely painted black with copper alloys protruding from the chimneys. The main hull fastened to the shiny gold armor, and to the starboard side of the imposing machine you could clearly see the name "Revenge".

Looking down again, the cloud was gone and now what were only five armored soldiers now became more than 50. All completely surrounding the plaza. The leader of these men was standing in front of them with his phoenix on his shoulder. Raising your voice for all to hear

- My name is James Wahit. I'm captain of the Revenge. Now, in front of you, I announce that this woman is in my custody!

The strange soldiers in dark armor, stand firm to give a shout, affirming their authority and control.

- Someone has something to say? - James asks.

Everyone is silent. They knew perfectly well who James Wahit was. The ship that every captain was afraid of meeting, except for the judge, who had no better idea than to open his huge mouth.

- I don't know who you are, but you can't take a prisoner.

James walks to the gallows, and slowly climbs the splintered wooden ladder, while with each of his steps he made it creak. As he stands face to face with the judge, he draws his sword and slashes his clothing by dropping a sack full of gold coins from it. Seeing this James says

- As I assumed, you are nothing more than a dirty corrupt, fed by the greed of the big shots.

James turns around and asks all the citizens.

- You want to see a real culprit hanged today? Well, don't worry, you won't miss out on that.

Raising his sword and placing it on the judge's jugular, James gives him a choice.

- You have two options right now, sword or gallows, which do you prefer?

The judge orders the police officers to lock him up immediately, but they ignore his orders. They did not want to die. So James repeats the question for the judge.

- Decide, quickly or I'll do it for you. Which one do you prefer? Sword or gallows?

The cowardly judge tries to run away, but that doesn't help him. James nods his head as he looks at the phoenix. The phoenix takes flight and surrounds the judge in its black smoke. Then he covered it completely with his black fire.

Only the screams of agony could be heard from the judge. But James's goal wasn't to kill him with fire, it was just to stop him. Showing him that he couldn't run anywhere.

James jumped off the gallows and walked sword in hand, gleaming against the ground to the judge, who was writhing in pain. James rests his boot against the man's chest and asks once more.

- I'll ask you one last time. Sword or gallows? Which do you prefer?

The man doesn't answer the question, so James decided

-Well, it will be the gallows. - James said, holding him by the neck of the charred clothes

James carried him up the stairs while his burned flesh was pierced incessantly by splinters as he hit the same steps causing terrible pain. James tells him as he climbs up and loops the rope around his neck.

- In your place I would have chosen the sword. It is a clean cut if the sword is well sharpened. And this one, it was.

Now everything is ready to carry out an execution, but something was missing. James looks at the young woman, surrounded by her soldiers, and tells her

- Come up here young lady

Scared by what she had seen; she prefers not to. Mia stays behind the soldiers. In that moment of tension and fear, James is the one who approaches her. Being by his side he says

- You asked for my help. I am giving it to you. Now it's your turn to finish this. - Said James.

When he finished, he held her by the arm and carried her to the gallows. James puts his hand on the lever while whispering into her ear.

- The choice is yours. You can kill him now or let him live, which one do you choose?

Mia takes her gaze off the lever and directs it to James.

- Why do I have to choose? - Mia asks him

- Because everyone has to make a decision and this is your time to do it. Either you let him live a miserable life, or you kill him now and cut the root of your problems, but it will only be a temporary thing. So tell me, what is your choice, ¿Live or die? - James said while laughing

Mia looks at the judge one more time. He wouldn't stop screaming and crying from the pain. Then she looks at James who wasn't moving a muscle. Finally, she looks at the lever. I didn't know what to do. What decision to make? Which was the correct one? Those were the questions that were in her mind. For one thing, he had to die. But on the other hand, letting him live seemed to be the right thing to do.

James, tired of waiting, slaps the wooden floor with his boot, indicating that the election time is up. He reaches into his jacket, takes out a cigar, and lights it with a match. Then look at Mia and ask

- Have you made your choice?

Mia nods at her question and releases the lever. James walks up to her, stands between her and the lever. He with his sword cuts the rope of the judge to free him from death. And let him slip away.

Taking the cigar to his mouth and taking a puff he exhales the smoke, responding to the insecure young woman in front of him.

- That is the option that I would have chosen.

James makes a quick move and faces her in profile. James points his silver revolver at the judge and shoots him in the head. The impact of a 45 caliber at the nape of the man punched a hole from side to side, bursting everything in its path. The charred body of the judge now had its head shattered. The judge fell to the ground inert. The crowd goes wild and quickly escapes from the square, leaving the two of them and James's men alone. Mia was more confused than before.

Why did you tell me to choose, if in the end you would kill him just the same? - Asked mine

- Simple, because the options that life gives you, are not always the ones you have to choose. No one can tell you what is right and what is not, or what to do and what not to do. Just as you chose to let him live, you could have killed him. You could also have taken my sword and cut off his head, personally, or shot him. You think I don't know how my gun felt when you collided with me. Maybe it wasn't an option at first, but it could have been if I had given you more time. Maybe take me hostage so my men will let you go. Everything can be an option if you know how to run it. But, anyway, favors are not free. Tell me how you plan to pay me - James said after giving his cigar another taste

- With money. I will give you 50 thousand gold coins- Mia answers without hesitation

- No, think of something else. Money does not interest me. - James replies while reloading his weapon.

- I can give you access to all the wineries in the city. - Mia answered

- No. The money or any jewel you can offer is material. It is not something that I am interested in getting from this favor

- Information! I can reveal any secret.

- Sorry but no. I have informants all over the city.

Mia stops to think nervously. Her heart began to beat much faster as she began to sweat from the nerves caused by not knowing what he wanted from her. What could you give to someone who seems to have everything? thought Mia. Until she finally gets it.

- I offer myself.

James raises his sword and Mia closes her eyes. Mia listens to the chains rattle on the ground and her wrists lighten from the heavy shackles. Opening her eyes, James throws his revolver at Mia and tells her.

- Welcome to the Revenge crew. From now on, you are part of the ship and part of the crew. This will be your new family and your new home. Tell me your name.

Mia, looking at the weapon she had in her hands, looks up and responds confidently.

- I'm Mia Werly.

James turns around looking at his soldiers and announces to everyone.

- Comrades, today a new member of the crew joins us. Her name is Mia Werly. Treat her with the due respect she deserves. Like me, she is a hybrid.

Accepting their new member, the soldiers give a loud. Mia looks surprised. How did he know her secret? She doesn't ask anything, but James answers

- There are no secrets in my crew.

At that moment, hearing those words, Mia knew that she was safe. Maybe she would find in that crew the family she never had.