Welcome to Gaia! ::

Jessie started as the white-haired man ran at a surprisingly high speed to the boat, pulled himself up and began searching the boat feverishly. He was the only one who could see all of this clearly, of course. He looked over at Lorika, who'd been holding onto the Overseer's arm. She looked wobbly... and confused. About Bapp, and about the Overseer. After a few moments, she started forwards and quietly called out his name. Overseer! ...He'll hurt himself...!

Then, she stopped again, indecision and worry and fatigue seeming to catch up with her all at once. She suddenly looked at him - their eyes met, and Jessie felt a great pain stab at his heart. This woman, who had saved the lives of so many others, who had been beaten and tortured and still came out smiling, didn't deserve this. Then, as if to punctuate his resolve, her face crumpled, and she began to cry.

Grim-faced, he set down Feline and charged after the Overseer. With horror, he saw the man dive off over the railings. He met the water, fully clothed, concealed weapons strapped around him, with a splash. It was not an ideal situation, but he could handle it. Heart thumping, he needed to get the Overseer out of the water now, before Lorika used her water-breathing powers to come after him herself... putting her life in the balance in the attempt.

The Overseer was not a very fast swimmer compared to him. Jessie shot through the water, perhaps not like a bullet in all of his robes, but like an arrow. He'd soon caught up, and threw himself forwards, grabbing the white-haired man around the waist in a vice-like grip.

[Grapple]

With a great heave, he flipped himself (and therefore the Overseer also) onto his back. The man began to flail and cry out. Grunting, Jessie kicked off towards the shore again as he had done earlier, with Feline. Time seemed to drag by. The man's flailing gave him difficulty. He felt his own head slip beneath the waves - which gave him an idea. Turning to one side, he allowed the Overseer's head to hit the water. After a few long seconds in which he tried to cover as much ground as possible, he pulled him back up. While the man tried to recover, Jessie used all of his strength to propel them both back to shore.

It was a huge relief when he felt the sand scrape at his back. Releasing one arm from around the Overseer, he pulled them both onto the beach. Then, he released the man completely and scrambled to his feet.

He watched, breathing heavily, as the man coughed and spluttered. Then, as he attempted to stand up... Jessie punched him. He punched him hard.

"You," he spat, as the man went reeling to the floor again "You stupid little man. You have no right to call yourself a god of all that is good. How can you be so selfish?"

He flung his arm backwards, gesturing towards the group many metres away. "Look at these people. These people are all here because of you. And yet what have you done, time and time again? You've run away. Away from what? Away from their love? How incredibly foolish."

He pulled the man up and stared him in the eyes. His own were livid; his expression twisted in disgust. "A person died because of you today. I pulled her lifeless body from the sea with my own hands. Many more have been injured. But it was all set right - by Lorika. She raised the dead, and healed the wounded, giving her own life force to sustain theirs. Now, another has been lost. Because of you - but do you think you will be blamed for it? That woman would never blame you for anything. You know who she will blame? Herself."

He released the white-haired god as if repulsed by him. "I can see it in her eyes. She's wondering what she did wrong. She feels sorry - for your mistakes. She's taken your guilt upon herself, whether you like it or not... and if you are any sort of man, you will not abandon her on a fool's errand, or force her to forfeit her own life in her attempts to follow you. She needs you to stand by her, as she will always stand by you."

He folded his arms, tone absolutely deadly. "I suggest that you march right back over there and support the woman who loves you. I will not see you continue to carelessly break such a fine spirit."