Catrina's already had her problems in this series. Mayonnaises wasps with an affinity for targeting her, the ride over, and most recently, a homicidal Dyspepsi soldier having her helpless in his grip.

This story contains the full title of "The Enemy of my Enemy .. .. is my Enemy's Enemy. No more, no less?" It sees Catrina finally getting the chance to take names (friendly names for a change!) and kick butt!

What're you waiting around reading this for?! Get to reading!

Catrina’s world was quickly turning grey, slipping from her grasp as the life was choked from her body by the soldier that had been interrogating her. She knew what awaited her if nothing happened soon, and for the first time in recent years, it scared her.

Now, Catrina was a stubborn cat, she always had been. It had helped her survive her recent captivity, her time in the Pits fighting other unfortunates. She had never been one to give in easily, always had come back from even the most brutal beating to win another day. But there would be not other day here, and this was not a sympathetic opponent, willing to stop at just an unconscious body. Catrina had never begged for anything in her entire life, but she found her mouth opening, finding the strength to croak one word. “P-please…”

Perhaps it was coincidence or perhaps it was the Goddess that had long forgotten Catrina finally coming to her aid, but at that precise moment a commotion arose in the compound, causing the soldier to at first loosen his grip on Cartrina’s throat, then run off- drawing his sword as he ran.

Catrina coughed and sputtered, and used the first deep breaths in some minutes to raise a silent prayer to her Goddess that was half “Thank You” and half “Where the Hell have you been?” She then lay there, gathering her wits and her strength, trying to make sense of what was going on about her.

The Dyspepsia forces were engaged in a pitched battle against a band of men and women in black pants and gold frilly shirts. From Dash’s description Catrina was sure these were the Pirates that resided on this island. He had been worried about encountering them but, at this moment, Catrina could only see them as a blessing. The battle was at a fever pitch, and Catrina had no way of telling which way it turned.

She saw one Pirate woman break off from the battle, circling around to where she lay. She was tall and very attractive, with long black hair flowing from under her bandanna, and her shirt tied up under an impressive bosom. She looked Catrina over, tsking at how beaten her body was. “Hi, my names Becky, but everybody calls me Coconuts.” She smiled and shook- as if to call attention to how she earned that particular nickname. “Listen, you look pretty bad. If I cut your bonds, do you think you can walk?”

Catrina gave a determined growl "Catrina, and thank you, now cut me loose and give me a sword and I'll fight!"

Coconuts looked concerned. "You sure? You don't look so good..." Seeing Catrina's determined look she nodded "Okay...but here, take this" Coconuts cut the ropes binding Catrina's hands and legs, then put a bottle to her lips, giving her a drink of a thick, syrupy concoction with the taste of pineapple. In moments Catrina was feeling better, though not yet her old self.

Catrina rubbed her wrists, trying to remind her blood where it was supposed to flow. She then stood, carefully, her knees almost buckling and sending her back down before she gathered her courage and pushed fully upright. She looked at the Dyspepsia, and as she reached down to harness her new-found hatred of them, other images came forth unbidden, images of times past where Catrina had been helpless before another. The Slavers raiding her village, the Pitmasters who had made the last few years hell on earth for her, the hundreds of touching and groping hands-and other things- that had taken advantage of her while she was safely tied to a table for them, the captain of the ship she had hid on to escape the Pits, who when he discovered his stowaway, had had her unceremoniously thrown overboard.

The stored anger from a thousand indignities, small and large, flooded her being lifting it, buoying it, making the pain go away replaced with one single thought- revenge! Catrina roared and sprung forward, the cutlass coconuts had given her raised high. She fell upon the rear of the Dyspeosia line like a great wave crashing to the shore, scattering them like so much driftwood..

She fought as if Berserker-posessed, not caring how many fell to her sword. The next lucient thought she had, she was standing, surounded by Dyspepsia bodies, panting heavily.... And then the pain that her body had been shutting out caught up with her and she sank to the ground, whimpering. She was cauught by Coconuts on one side and a large, strong man on the other who was dressed slightly different that the rest.

After the pair saw to it that Catrina didn't hurt herself, helping her to sit over by a nearby palm, Coconuts made the introductions. "Cap'n, this here be Catrina. She was the one these scurvey dogs was floggin' when we got here! Catrina, this be Cap'n Morgan, the finest captain this side of the Main! Er...Catrina?"

Catrina barely heard the introduction. Her body had crashed after its push through the fight, and she...well she just wanted a little catnap. "P-pleased...t'meetcha...." was all she could offer as greeting before she fell over, fast asleep.