Back to Part 021 Notes – Forward to Part 023 Notes

No speeches, but tradition. Lots of tradition. Which is what a 500 year old family would have for these situations. Pipers and carrying the casket, and the great boat journey home all are the culmination of Molyneux funerals before. Nina, though a Molyneux, was not significant to the family in the way Amalia or Rose would have been, and so she gets a distilled version. And, of course, a stuffy party afterwards. Galle and Cait seem content to blow it off, and actually seek justice for those who wronged the family.

No, Milly, there’s never a good time to leave a funeral. Both Galle and Xiphos would have stayed at Nina’s side until the sun burned out, but Galle is angry, and he wants to confront Nina’s murderers, and grave side is not the way to do that. Not that Xiphos isn’t angry; she’s lost, as I imagine we’d all be. Galle has a sense of purpose. She has, at the moment, nothing.

I’m running out of things to cover. Let me know if I missed anything on your mind.

[g]

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Back to Part 021 Notes – Forward to Part 023 Notes

Back to Part 021 – Forward to Part 023

The Gimble Molyneux led the funeral procession from Ganda back to Molyneux Island, a fleet of Molyneux and non-Molyneux ships following behind them. When the fleet entered COS waters, the COS coastal patrol met them, and escorted them in, all the way to Molyneux Island.

It was sunny when the procession carried Nina, on foot, back to the estate. A piper led the way. Estate guards blocked off the main road to the estate, and when Nina passed, they saluted. Boats gathered around the island, coming from all over the Confederation, to catch a glimpse of the funeral. A Molyneux had died, and now there was tradition to be seen.

Nina was laid to rest in a plot reserved for her branch of the family. She was lowered into the ground by her father, her senior uncles, and Xiphos. Cait and her crew stood back with the family. Cait held her hands in front of her, her eyes leveled at the casket, moving only to wipe away an occasional tear. Billy cried hard on her shoulder.

The procession dissolved into the afternoon, moving back to the estate. Xiphos stayed behind, kneeling on the disturbed dirt near the open grave. A couple of the grounds keepers waited under a nearby tree, watching Xiphos. They left when Galle shooed them away. He joined Xiphos, standing a distance behind her at first. He drew out his approach until he was sure she was aware of his presence. Xiphos looked up at him, the fur on her face still damp. She had managed to scrub much of the blood away, but the peak of white near the top of her face still carried a stain.

Galle nodded down at her. “We didn’t get to speak properly earlier.”

Xiphos sighed. “Sorry,” she said.

“Think nothing of it,” Galle said. “I was touched that you wanted to help carry Nina. I wasn’t aware that she had found someone.”

Xiphos nodded, her eyes drifting back to the grave stone at Nina’s head. Her name, birthday, and date of death had been carved into the stone, the letters fresh and sharp. The stone itself had only been delivered a few days before. “Cait knew.”

“Yes,” Galle said. “She would, wouldn’t she?”

Xiphos closed her eyes, tears streaming out. She wiped them away with the back of her hand. Galle said nothing behind her, though he too wiped away his own tears. After a while, he gently touched his hand to Xiphos’s shoulder. “It’s time to go.” He held his hand out, and Xiphos took it. Galle pulled her up.

“I don’t know if you would have liked it, but I would have welcomed the thought of adding you to our family.”

Xiphos, caught by surprise, looked up at Galle. “Sir?”

“You made her happy,” he said, keeping his eyes on the path ahead. “And that’s all I ever wanted for her.”

Xiphos considered this, sliding her hands into her pockets. “I don’t think I’d have liked that.”

“It’s not a very good family, is it?” Galle said.

From their vantage point, they both could see the Dinghy pull up to the cemetery gates. They walked past generations of Molyneux, through the shadows of Nigel and Rose and Gimble, holding their breath as they did.

“She-” Xiphos started, her words caught by a small sob. She swallowed, and then tried again. “She made me want to be better.”

Galle nodded. “Me too, Miss Haari.”

Billy waited at the Dinghy. He hugged Xiphos when she got near. “Kitten?” He asked. Xiphos just shrugged, and climbed into the back. Galle followed. Billy pulled out of the estate, leaving the grounds keepers to finish their work.

—-

By that night, the Rose and Kelonio were underway, back towards Peck Harbor.

Cait spread a map across her desk, and along with Tre, started marking all of the possible islands where the Travelers could have escaped.

“It is possible,” Cait said, turning a compass on the map, “that they could have gotten this far if we assume a constant 30 knot speed.” She finished a concentric ring that emanated out from the position of the Rose during the attack. “But that only takes account for one day.”

Tre nodded. He started crossing off islands on the map outside the circle, and Cait soon picked up on the pattern he was seeing. Most of the islands in that area were controlled by or under the influence of the 21 Kingdoms to the west, and Lat to the north. To the southwest of their attack, just above the antarctic circle, were a small collection of islands, a well known pirate stronghold. Cait did the math. “Over 10 days to here,” she said. Tre nodded, but Cait knew what he was thinking. They — the pirates, the Travelers, or whoever — would still be sailing. But it also seemed as unlikely a place as any other. Still, Cait circled the islands.

Tre drew another ring. Two days, and that only got them to the COS, Lat, or Ghanda. They wouldn’t have been on Ghanda, not the pirates, even as neutral as it was. The whole Molyneux fleet was there, and that would have been the end of them. Cait turned on the Relay.

“Rose to Kelonio. How is your search going?”

The Relay crackled. Then, Galle’s familiar voice: “We’re out of ideas, Cait. In the time we lost, they could have gone anywhere.”

“Yes, we are seeing that too.”

“We’re working on it, Cait. We’ll let you know if we think of anything.”

“Aye,” Cait said. She set down the Relay receiver. Hands on her hips, she looked over the map. Tre mirrored her stance, sighing hard through his nose.

“I wasn’t informed there were maps involved,” Billy said. Tre stepped away from the door and let Billy in. He scanned the map.

“We’ll never find them this way, Cait. There’s just too much ocean to cover.”

Cait stared at the map. “We are not giving up just like that, Billy.”

“Who says anything about giving up?” Billy picked up a pencil and plotted a course to one of the larger islands in the area, south of Lat territory, and north of 21 Kingdoms domain. “Lúme,” Billy said. “No pirates allowed, but no political affiliation with any of the super three, either. And they tend to turn a blind eye to those of lesser repute if they behave themselves. No extradition treaties, no participation in La Patrolo. Which makes them a nice, quiet home to the Information Traders.”

Cait looked up at Billy. “The Information Traders?”

“Someone wanted that map,” Billy said. “It’s a weird, very singular map, and someone wanted it. The Information Traders know all about it. I’d put my career on it.”

“You said there were no pirates,” Cait said.

“These are useful pirates. Blind eye and all. The Lúmese government likes them for the same reason we want them.”

“Where did you pick up all of this?” Cait asked.

“What do you think I did in the Lat navy?” He tapped the pencil on the page. “Three and a half days. Then we get an answer.”

Cait looked at Tre and nodded. “Let’s go.” She picked up the Relay again. “Rose to Kelonio. We have a lead.”

“That is good news,” Galle said. “We may have one, too. We are going to an island just outside Lat territory called Lesse Rote.”

Cait looked over at Billy.

“It’s abandoned,” he said. “Or it should be. It’s worth checking out.”

“Aye,” Cait said. “We are heading to Lúme. I will have Tre forward the coordinates.”

“Right,” Galle said. “We’ll split then. Let us know what you find.”

“And you as well,” Cait said. “Get some sleep.”

“You first,” came the response. And then the Relay fell back to static.

[g]

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Back to Part 021 – Forward to Part 023

Back to Part 019 Notes – Forward to Part 021 Notes

Back when Cait was on Molyneux Island, Milly had said, “Cait’s family sucks,” and at first I wanted to defend them. But, no, they really suck, and Cait has to put up with them. But, thankfully, for sanity’s sake, she can’t actually be ordered around by them. Shanda might say no to an all out raid, a pirate hunt, but that doesn’t mean Cait and Galle can’t have one of their own. So they plan on it. And so they move forward.

It’d be interesting to see what Gimble Molyneux, the namesake of the Molyneux flagship, actually thinks about the whole situation, though having lived over 500 years before, she’s awfully quiet now. Gimble is known for great heroics, Shanda for business. There’s a big difference there.

I’m flailing for things to talk about again. What questions do you have? As always, any questions or comments are totally welcome.

[g]

Back to Part 019 Notes – Forward to Part 021 Notes

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Back to Act 2 Notes – Forward to Part 020 Notes

It’s understandably quiet on the Rose. Everyone has kind of slipped away to do their own thing. For the first time, we get a taste of Cait’s religion. We’ve talked about the Gods, if only in the prologues, but not how people worship them. Cait has a certain eastern approach to it: a small shrine to Nibiru in her bunk, an offering, kowtowing. And Nibiru is, seemingly, a good choice for Cait: Nibiru is the goddess of the oceans and very popular among sailors. But Cait wouldn’t just praise Nibiru. If Cait were to set foot on Lat or the 21 Kingdoms for very long, she’d find a temple or shrine Tiamat or Ummo to ask for the safe passage of her crew and herself, if not full on worship. This is the norm all over the world, though not the only religion. And we haven’t even covered the veneration of the ancestors, who themselves become something like gods, though more accurately they’re like a committee of family members. We’ll get into that later.

This is a dark time for the crew of the Rose, but I can’t help but think Toby is being adorable in this scene. That wasn’t really my goal with Toby, to make him adorable, he just kind of turned out that way. More specifically, his way of coping with Nina’s death is to start cooking, especially comfort foods, though I’m not sure he thought about it that much. What he’s doing is trying to make the crew of the Rose happy, or at least happier. Also, I drew a picture of Toby being adorable:

If you’re marking on your calendar, we’re on day 13. Toby has only known these people less than two weeks. They talk like he’s staying, but he’s thinking about going home. What Cait said is surprising to him, but he’s been thinking it, even if he knows going home could lead to bad things.

And thus ends another commentary. What have I missed? As always, and questions or comments are totally welcome.

[g]

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Back to Act 2 Notes – Forward to Part 020 Notes

Back to Act 2 Prologue – Forward to Part 020

The Rose entered Port Ganda with the aid of a harbor master. She flew two flags: one of a pirate attack, and one of lost crew member. The harbor master saw to it there were no ships in her way, and no one entered or left the harbor when the Rose came in. The coroner waited on the docks, and took Nina to be held until the Molyneux’s official envoy could carry her back to Buan Chuimhne. The Rose was docked, and Cait stood the crew down.

There were no traditions of honor guards in the Civilian Navy, but Tre, Billy, and Xiphos all took turns sitting with Nina while the Rose made the remainder of the journey to Ganda.

None of the crew left the Rose, with the exception of Tre. Ganda had become his second home. Ganda was where the Oracle herself made her home, her temple overlooking Port Ganda high in the mountain above the city. He left when they arrived in the port. Everyone else disappeared to their bunks.

Cait closed her own door, taking in the silence of her bunk. The light in her bunk was low, as she always kept it, except for the small reading lamp over her bed. She left it off. She opened her vent, letting cool, fresh air inside. In the far corner of her bunk, covered by a red cloth, was an alter to Nibiru, Goddess of the Ocean Tribes. Cait lit some incense. She knelt before the shrine, and very careful, she bowed, touching her head to the floor, making sure her movements were precise, exact. She kept her head down exactly eight seconds, and then lifted up. Averting her eyes away from the tiny statue of Nibiru inside, she said, “Great Goddess of the Oceans, I thank you for its creation and the bounty you have seen fit to provide myself and my crew…”

Cait hesitated, her jaw trembling. She held it shut until she was sure she could control it. “I will not question why you chose to take Nina at the time you did, but she passed under your watch, and I ask that you please guide her safely to the shores of Mingulay. And please watch over the safety of my crew. I know it is presumptuous of me to say, but you have already taken enough from me.”

She took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly. “If this is not where you want me to be, please let me know.”

She bowed again, touching her head to the floor and counting the full eight seconds. From a basket on the floor, Cait took an orange and placed it in front of shrine. She left her bunk to find her crew.

Cait found the guest quarters empty. She opened the dome, letting in real sunlight, hoping to make the shadows leave.

The crew quarters were silent, and both Billy and Xiphos had closed and locked their doors. Cait retrieved a bucket from under the sink, tossed a soap tablet in, and began to fill it with hot water. She tossed a brush inside, and started towards the cargo bay.

Toby pinged down the steps, stopping in front of her. Neither expected each other, and both jumped back, Cait sloshing water on the floor.

“Sir!” Toby said. He scrambled to the table to unload his arms, and went back to help Cait clean up the water. “Sorrysorrysorry!”

“Tobias,” Cait said, her voice soft, tired. “It is nothing.”

Toby nodded. He went back to the table.

“How are you, Tobias?”

Toby looked up at Cait through his headfur. It seemed to always be styled, but today it drooped down in front of his eyes. Dark streaks tracked down his cheeks, his eyes tired and red. He shrugged.

Cait sat down at the table, setting her bucket aside for the moment. Toby went about setting everything up he had carried down. There were little trays of brightly colored puffs and miniature cakes, various fried-looking things. It all looked unhealthy and delicious.

“What are you up to?” Cait asked slowly, looking over his creations. “Did you bake all of this?”

Toby stopped. He took a step back from the table, and played with his hands. “Yes, sir.” He hesitated a moment. “I didn’t know what else to do.”

Cait nodded, folding her arms over her stomach. “I would worry if you did,” she said. She pulled out a chair at the table and sat down. “Quite frankly, Tobias, I do not know what to do, either.” She cradled her head in her hands.

Cait let the conversation between them sputter off. She took a moment to rest. Toby fidgeted, and the silence was broken by the sound of metal sliding over wood. It stopped against Cait’s arms. She very slowly looked down at the tray of little cakes, colorful little cubes that reminded her of New Year’s presents. Toby leaned over the table, kneeling on a chair, pushing the tray forward with his finger tips. He drew back his hand, watching Cait.

Cait took a little cake. “Thank you, Tobias.”

Toby nodded. He sat down at the table with Cait, and watched her eat the cake. She paused a moment, considering the flavor, and took another.

“That’s quite good,” she said.

Toby’s tail thumped against the chair.

“Why have you not tried to run yet?” Cait asked.

“Sir?”

“There is a Colony consulate here. You could have been in the care of your government by now, on your way home.”

Toby played with his hands. “I dunno.”

“Would you like to go?”

Toby looked up at Cait, meeting her strong but tired gaze. Her ears had flattened out, heavy with defeat. “I don’t… I thought you were going to straighten things out.”

“I do not feel I can keep you safe anymore, which was the reason to keep you here. Perhaps your own people could sort out your problems.”

Toby shrank in his chair, looking away. His ears flattened against his head.

Cait stood, picking up her bucket. “We will be here a few days. My family and I will meet. If you are to leave during that time, I would not hold it against you.” She left Toby at the table, her back to his wide, confused stare.

Cait descended into the cargo bay, and set the bucket down in the middle of the floor, next to the spot where Nina had spent her final moment. The floor was sticky with dried blood. Cait splashed some of the water on to the floor, got down on her knees, and began to scrub.

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Back to Act 2 Prologue – Forward to Part 020

Back to Part 017 Notes – Forward to Act 2 Prologue

This week is going to be a cop-out. I don’t have anything to say that doesn’t feel glib, given what just happened. I’d be happy to take any questions you have, but let me say this: If the questions is, “Why?”, my answer will be, “there is a reason, but I can’t tell you.” Other than that, let’s call this post an open thread.

I don’t like what happened either, and I dreaded posting this section. I can’t apologize, because I made it happen, and it had to. And I’m actually mourning.

So.

Yeah.

[g]

Back to Part 017 Notes – Forward to Act 2 Prologue

Back to Part 017 – Forward to Act 2 Prologue

“You heard something?” Nina stepped into the cargo bay, pulling Xiphos by the hand behind her. “And so you come find me, who’s smaller than you?”

“Yes,” Xiphos said. She swung her head around, scanning the corners of the cargo bay.

A few small lights glowed in the emptiness of the bay, casting more shadows than they eliminated.

“There’s nothing here,” Nina said, striding further into the bay, towing Xiphos in with her. Xiphos did another sweep with her eyes, her ears flicking around in every direction. She eyed the hatch back up to the crew quarters.

“What’s gotten in to you lately?” Nina turned around and pulled Xiphos to her. Xiphos recoiled from Nina’s suddenness, but relaxed when Nina draped her wrists over Xiphos’s shoulders.

“Whaddoyoumean?” Xiphos’s ears dropped.

“I mean,” Nina said, reaching up to play with one of Xiphos’s ears, “you’re panicky lately. Skittery and all that. And what’s this about you thinking I hate you?”

“It’s not…” The cat struggled, and then faltered her words. She pulled her mouth shut tight, keeping her eyes steady on the corners of the room.

“I love you,” Nina said, her voice even, her smile fading away. “Okay?”

Xiphos nodded. A tear welled in the corner of her eyes. Nina brushed it away, and pulled Xiphos into a long hug.

“What’s gotten in to you?”

Xiphos bit her lip. “Yesterday, on the radar-”

A box in the bay tumbled to the floor, teetering on its side before settling. Xiphos shrieked and jumped back, the fur on her neck bristling. She put Nina between herself and the box, holding on to Nina’s shoulders. Nina watched the box, keeping still as the air in the room cleared.

A shadow darted back into the darkened corners of the cargo bay. Nina took off after it. “Hey!” She called. She rounded a corner, catching a glimpse disappearing behind a set of boxes. Nina stopped at the edge of the shadows. She could see the tail again, and again it quickly slipped out of sight. Except, this time there as no place to go. She put her hands on her hips and, stifling a smile said, “Toby.”

There was shuffling around behind the crates. Very slowly, Toby stuck his head out around the edge, watching Nina. His ears flattened against his head.

Nina bit her tongue, holding the laugh back in her muzzle. “Toby, come out here.”

Toby slinked out to Nina, dropping his eyes to her feet.

“Did you knock over the box?”

“I didn’t mean to!” Toby held his hands out in front of himself. “I-”

There was a scream, an angry, concentrated scream, and Toby snapped back off his feet, falling head over heals, and tumbling to a stop in the corner. In his place, Xiphos panted, trying to catch her breath again. She held her hand, flexing it open and closed. She surveyed her work, and then looked up at Nina.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” Nina ran to help Toby up.

“He looked bigger in the shadows.” Xiphos dropped her eyes.

Nina sat Toby up. “Come on,” she said, “let’s get Billy to take a look at you.” She helped him to stand, and started to lead him to the stairs. Xiphos followed close behind at first, and then decided it’d be best to help Toby, too.

“What were you doing, Toby?” Nina adjusted her hold on him.

“It’s quiet here,” Toby said, his voice shaky. He looked around, trying to catch his bearing back. “I didn’t mean to knock over the box, I swear!”

“Shhh,” Nina said. “It’s not that big of a deal. I’m sure it wasn’t anything important.”

“It’s just that, when I got here, you were… you know, with Xiphos, and I didn’t want to bother you, I just wanted to sit down somewhere, and I kinda pushed the crate off when I sat down-”

“Stop,” Xiphos said. Nina looked up at her, narrowing her eyes.

“Did you say,” Xiphos continued, “you got here after we did?”

“Yes?” Toby said.

Xiphos stopped walking. Nina stopped a few paces out, and steered Toby around to face her.

“I didn’t hear you,” Xiphos said, her eyes getting wider. “I heard people here, I’m sure of it. But not Toby.”

Nina blinked. “Then who was it-?”

The hatch to the engine room slid open, and Tami the Traveler stepped out, holding a wrench in her hand. She was covered in engine grease, and her fur frizzed from the heat.

The three of them, Nina, Toby and Xiphos, froze. They hadn’t been paying attention; they would have noticed the engines had gone silent if they had been paying attention. Now they could hear it, or the lack of it, and they were standing in the audience of the cause.

“Tami?” Toby said, holding the spot on his head where Xiphos had hit him.

“Oh,” she said, looking over all of them. “Hi, kids.”

“What’s going on?” Xiphos said, her ears leveled out. She slowly inched towards the stairwell.

Tami shifted her weight back and forth on her feet. “Look,” she said. “Sorry.”

“Sorry?” Nina asked.

Tami lunged for Xiphos, and struck her across the head with the wrench. Xiphos went down with a yelp, holding her head.

Nina made a break for the stairwell, pulling Toby with her. Tami went after them for a few steps, and then took off into the cargo bay. Next to the stairwell hatch was mounted a big red button on a big yellow box. Nina pounded her fist on it. “Stay here!” She said to Toby, and pushed him against the wall.

The Rose erupted with the mechanical wail of an alert. A calm, assuring woman informed the crew that “an alert has been sounded in the cargo bay.” She repeated in two other languages.

Footsteps pounded down the stairs, and Toby peeked around the corner. Patel jumped the last section of stairs, and bounded through the hatch. He followed the same path as Tami, curving into the depths of the cargo bay.

“Over here!” Tami shouted. A crate splintered open somewhere in the darkness. Nina ran back to Xiphos, sliding to a stop next to her.

Tami and Patel stepped back out from the shadows. Nina stood, facing them. She clenched her fists shut, and started towards them. Toby cried out a panicked, wordless shout. Xiphos feebly lifted her head, blood covering her face. “Nina, don’t!” She tried to stand, and fell again.

The Travelers stopped, keeping some space in between them and Nina. Tami rolled what looked like a parchment up, and slid it into a tube. Patel glanced over at her, and then back at Nina. He locked eyes with her. He stepped forward. Nina didn’t budge. Tami slung the tube over her shoulder and broke into a run at Nina. Patel followed.

“Out of the way, girl!” Patel shouted. Nina took a step forward. Patel swung his fist at her, catching her neck and lifting her off her feet. His free hand guided a knife between her ribs, into her chest. He dropped her, and made a break for the stair well on the far wall.

Xiphos screamed. She struggled to her feet, stumbling into a run. Toby froze against the wall. Heavy footsteps echoed in the stair well. Tre sprinted into the cargo bay. Xiphos pointed up the other stairwell. Tre growled and, picking up speed, climbed the stairs.

Xiphos knelt over Nina. She pushed down hard on Nina’s wound. Nina whimpered against the pain, and Xiphos spoke down to her, tears running down her cheeks. Toby couldn’t hear what either was saying. He waited for Billy. Billy would fix this. Toby looked back up at the button, and next to it was an intercom. He grabbed it and fumbled it on.

“Hurry,” he said. “Nina’s hurt.” His voice echoed through out the Rose.

Billy reached the bottom just as Toby finished, his medical bag in hand. He was at her side immediately. Xiphos opened the bag and began handing Billy tools. They worked almost silently. Xiphos only spoke when Nina cried out. She leaned down and kissed Nina on the cheek. Toby was sure he heard Xiphos say, “you’ll be okay… please…”

Nina’s breathing became shallow. She grabbed Xiphos’s arm, and Xiphos stroked her ears back. Billy was doing his best to try to stop the bleeding, his and Xiphos’s hands covered in Nina’s blood. He pushed down on the wound, just as Xiphos had done, and Nina cried out again. Her voice was weaker now, her breathing ragged. Cait hit the bottom last, and joined the group. She carried a gun, and Xiphos pointed her to the far stairwell. Cait began to run towards the stairs, just as Tre descended. His hands covered in blood, but he had no Travelers with him.

Toby slid down the wall, covering his head with his hands. Nina whimpered again, weaker still. Billy called for a shot of anesthetic. Nina grew quieter, her breathing still ragged. Billy called for a scalpel. Xiphos pulled up Nina’s shirt, exposing the wound. Toby picked up “internal bleeding” from Billy. They would operate. Cait made herself available. Billy barked orders to Xiphos, to Tre. Nina’s heart rate became erratic, and Billy moved to chest compressions. When Xiphos finally lost her cool, Cait stepped in to relieve her. Nina held tight to Xiphos’s hand. Xiphos kissed it as Billy tried to stabilize her heart.

Nina’s hand slipped out of Xiphos’s.

Nina died.

[g]

Back to Part 017 – Forward to Part 2 Prologue

Back to Part 016 Notes – Forward to Part 018 Notes

So, Toby tries to run again, and again, Cait sends Nina out to bring him back. It’s because she’s the nicest. Also, because she’s probably the most stable on the boat. Nina has her life together, as simple as it seems. At least, she’s getting what she wants out of life.

I think it is important to note that Toby is being brave enough to hop on to not one but two random boats, interpret signs he doesn’t understand, and just all out go for it. Despite how nice (minus Xiphos) everyone is to him, he just wants to go home, back to his bed, back to his room. I think we can all understand that.

It’s been hinted at a little bit, but quillsandzebras called it about two months ago: Toby would make a great chef. For Cait, it’s a matter of trust. She wants to show him that she trusts him, and to do that, she puts him in charge of one of the most important aspects of the ship: the food. Every day, Toby will touch most everything the crew eats, and Cait has more or less said to him “I trust you will not poison us and then run away.”

And for Milly, another Manni reference. I can’t go too deep into who Manni is, but Milly knows. Like everything else, we’ll get there. I bring these things up for a reason, you know.

Anything I missed? As always, your questions and comments are absolutely welcome.

[g]

Back to Part 016 Notes – Forward to Part 018 Notes

Back to Part 016 – Forward to Part 018

The windows of the ferry were sticky with condensation, and Andrewston passed outside as a silent gray blob, nullifying any of the pleasure Toby could have received from the sight. Still, it was better than nothing. More importantly, it was on the way back home. Toby closed his eyes and listened to the hum of the boat, and thought about the next step in his plan. The ferry terminal would have been hard enough to find in the city of Andrewston, but Standard Lat made everything worse. If it hadn’t been for the little pictorial signs and a few eager-to-help Islanders, he’d never have gotten here.

He transferred at another, larger terminal, set out on its own island. The shock of the humid air hit him hard, and his fur frizzed a little. The terminal was laid out in a big ring, with docks fanning out every 20 feet or so. The larger boats were on one side, the smaller charters on the other. Toby located the departure boards, and tried to decipher the text in front of him. He found a gate that looked like it said “New Haven,” and decided it was close enough. A woman behind the counter announced the boat would be leaving in five minutes, and Toby scrambled to get inside. He sat down in a seat against the window, closed his eyes, and waited for the boat to leave. After a moment, the boat sealed itself, and puttered off to the mouth of the harbor.

Toby did the calculations in his head. At this rate, a nonstop trip like this would take him four days or so to get back to Lat, and then a day train ride across the continent, and then another…

Toby took a moment to look around. He had been so caught up in escaping, he hadn’t realized he was the only one aboard. The cabin was dark, only a few small lights in the ceiling to reveal the inside. There were maybe 20 seats total, arranged in rows across the wide hull. In the back were a few lavatories. There were a few small portals along the side, which meant, more than likely, this was a sub.

But there were no people. Toby clutched the small bag the Captain had given to him a few days before, tracing his eyes around the interior of the cabin.

The intercom crackled. “This is almost mean,” the voice said. Toby recognized it at once. He sank down in his seat, his ears flattening out.

“Toby,” the voice said, “you may as well come up to the helm.”

Toby sat for a moment, his stomach wrapped around itself, and folded his arms across his chest. Outside the boat, Coupland Island passed by. They rounded Dagmar Point, and as the point slid away, Toby could make out the Rose in the distance. He sighed, pulled his legs up to his chest, and hugged them.

Nina opened the door to the helm. She watched him for a moment before she decided to approach. She sat down next to him, but didn’t say anything, not at first. She followed his gaze out the portal, watching the Rose amble across their field of view.

“Aunt Cait knew you were going to run away again,” Nina said, still watching out the portal. “Don’t ask me how she knows all of this. She’s very intuitive about people.” She waited for a response, but didn’t get anything from Toby.

“I know it sounds weird, but we need you to go along with all of this. I know you barely know us, and we barely know you, but we’re trying to help. We actually do care about you. Xiphos, too, but she’d never say so. Well, I suppose she kind of did…”

“I want to go home,” Toby said, each word forced out, just above a whisper.

“I know.” Nina patted his shoulder. “We’re working on it. Everything’s just really complicated right now. And please realise, it’s us or the Firebrand.”

Toby’s eyes widened. “Is that a threat?”

“NO NO NO!” Nina held her hands out in front of her. “You’re safe with us, though. You’re outside their national boundary with us. As soon as you set foot on Lat, they can take you and send you right back.”

Toby narrowed his eyes, and rolled his head back to the portal.

Nina sighed. “I know. Hug?”

Toby didn’t budge. Nina very carefully put her arms around him, pulling her hug tighter. Toby didn’t accept, but didn’t try to push her away, either. She squeezed. “Tacit approval,” she said, a little sunnier than before. “That’s the best I could hope for.”

—-

Cait didn’t seemed fazed by Toby’s begrudged return. She looked at him, and with a hint of a smile said, “welcome back, Mister Shaw. I have a job for you.” Within a span of a moment, Cait handed Toby over to Billy in the kitchen.

That night, on their way to Peck Harbor, the crew, along with the Travelers, gathered around the table in the crew quarters. Xiphos even made her way down from the helm for a little bit to join in. The table was spread with simple dishes: a beautiful pot roast that was falling apart amid a sea of vegetables, a still-hot loaf of bread, and a large bowl of salad. A couple wines had been placed in the center of the table, and two pots of tea steamed away on either side.

Cait sat at the head of the table and, looking entirely pleased, said to Billy, “you’ve outdone yourself this time.” The crew returned an excited, though hungrily distracted agreement.

Billy opened his hands. “I… can’t take the credit for this.”

“Is that right?” Cait said.

“I started to prepare everything, and Tobias just sort of took over.”

The crew at once shifted its attention to Toby, who sank in his seat under the weight of their gaze. He laughed nervously.

“You did all of this, dear?” Cait propped her head up with her hand.

“Yes?” Toby said, squeaking out his answer.

“Huh,” Xiphos said, reaching out to the bread. She tore a hunk off. “I was thinking how entirely edible all of this looked. That would explain it.” She winked at Billy and stuck out her tongue. Billy threw his napkin at her, and she giggled wildly, deflecting it away.

The crew started to pass the food around. They all talked excitedly as they took their fill and, as they started eating, the sound in the room dropped away. Toby tried not to smile as he watched the crew stare in disbelief at their meal, processing the bite they had all just taken.

“…Wow,” Tami said at last, her voice just above a whisper. And then everyone else, all chattering away excitedly. Billy even patted Toby on the back. Cait turned to Toby.

“Tell me,” Cait said, “given what’s in the cooler right now, what would you make for dinner tomorrow night?”

“Roasted duck with a marmalade sauce, steamed vegetables, and potatoes roasted in olive oil.” He answered with no thought, and realized he had blurted all of that out. He added, “if I have time.”

“And if you do not have the time?”

“Grilled salmon with stir fried asparagus on brown rice.” He peeked out of the corner of his eye, watching for approval. The crew stared at him, astonished.

Cait, still looking pleased, said, “I do believe we have found a new chef. Billy, I am afraid you will have to go back to being a professionally trained doctor.”

“Demotion accepted,” Billy said.

“Where does all that come from?” Patel asked.

“My parents own a restaurant in the Red River Valley,” Toby said. “When I didn’t have school, I’d go and they’d teach me how to cook whatever was on the menu. Most of our customers didn’t know I was cooking their meals. After a while, I started coming up with my own dishes, and they usually let me have one or two items on the menu.”

“That’s brilliant,” Nina said.

“It is,” Cait said.

Toby smiled again, dropping his eyes to his plate. He let his headfur fall in front of his face, and hid. “Thanks,” he said.

Toby and Billy cleared the table after dinner wound down, and set about washing the dishes. The Travelers cleaned out the crew area, and then sat down at the shah board. Cait ran through her evening checklist, and when everything had been completed, she joined the rest of the crew. The Travelers, it seemed, had been on a couple of other boats together, through the years, and were telling stories about living in Lingguo.

“It’s such a closed country,” Tami said, “they don’t know anything about the outside world.”

“We lied to them all the time,” Patel said.

“They think all Islanders have Krakken for pets.”

“Seriously?” Nina sat forward, absorbing everything the Travelers said.

Tami grinned wide. “No joke. So we told them we raised tame Krakken and fed them birds and small models of boats.”

Billy and Nina laughed. Tre watched on from a little further back, smiling, but he kept his distance.

Xiphos played with her hands, and then, not looking at any of the other people at the table, said, “When I was in New Archer, Fink and Manni had this habit of-”

“Okay, I’m going to stop you right there,” Patel said, holding up his hand. “There’s a couple of things wrong with this story. Do you actually mean to imply that you were friends with Manni. THE Manni?”

“Yes,” Xiphos said. “So anyway, they would-”

“Okay, but this is what I mean,” Patel continued. “You, sitting there, are trying to tell me you hung out with, on a fairly regular basis, enough that you are comfortable talking about her she was Billy or Tre, Manni, the revolutionary from New Archer.”

Xiphos ears flattened out. Nina slid Xiphos a quick peek, and patted her arm.

“Yes,” Xiphos said, her voice dropping.

Patel tilted his head. “That’s just such a weird claim to make. Next you’ll tell me you ran around at night with Crash.”

Xiphos pushed her chair back and started back towards the bridge, mumbling to herself “…got work to do…” Nina chased after her. Tami elbowed Patel in the ribs, her ears back in the striking position. “Dude…” she said.

“Well,” Cait said. She stood and adjusted her coat. “I think that might be the sound of the end of dinner. Take until the next bell, and then finish your evening chores, please.”

The Travelers left together, taking a mop and a bucket between them. Tami whisper to Patel, her words soft hisses that floated down the stairs. Toby wandered back to the sink to finish the rest of the dishes.

“That’s a shame,” Billy said. “I have this great story from when I was stationed in Beiland, back when it was still a Lat Crown Possession. There were these kids, and they had just pulled this fish out of the bay, and the bay was so polluted that they didn’t want to eat it, so they wanted to trade it for something we had. Well, I remembered the captain was coming in-”

Cait sighed. She patted Billy on the shoulder. “I fear it will have to wait for another time. In the mean time, let’s meditate on how wonderful it is to not have to be a teenager again.”

“Oh gods, yes,” Billy said. He straightened the chairs around the shah board. When Nina came down the steps from the bridge, he watched her, and then said, “I am grateful it was a passing phase.”

“What?” Nina said.

Billy shook his head. “Nothing. Just reminiscing.” He slid his hands into his pockets and strolled back upstairs, to the infirmary.

Nina took a seat at the table, folding her hands in front of her. She stared out past the table, but really to nothing.

“What is bothering you, dear?” Cait asked. She took a seat on the couch.

“It is a weird thing to make up,” Nina said. “Xiphos doesn’t do that.”

“No,” Cait said. “She does not.”

“Then why would she?”

“I do not believe she is, dear.” Cait said.

Nina considered this. She dropped her eyes to her hands.

“Do you not have work to do?” Cait asked, though her tone did not change.

“I do,” Nina said. “May I take a moment? These last few days have been weird.”

The intercom gave a short blip, a signal that the helm wanted the captain in person. “Of course,” Cait said. She squeezed Nina’s shoulder as she passed her on her way to the bridge. “Take all the time you need.”

Xiphos sat in the low light of the bridge. She stared at her screens, her legs pulled up to her chest, ears down.

“Helmsman,” Cait said as she entered the bridge.

“Sir.” Xiphos waved Cait over, and tilted a screen so she could see. It was a map of their surroundings, triangulated from Relay towers, and their sonar display. The Rose was in the center, with little green dots around them. There was a small line of dots behind them, zig-zagging up the map to the Rose. Another boat, a few miles out, followed along, tracing each turn the Rose took.

“I think we’re being followed,” Xiphos said.

“Indeed,” Cait said, leaning over Xiphos for a better look.

“Is it pirates, sir?”

“Pirates would have attacked by now, most of them,” Cait mumbled. “Who ever they are, they are waiting.”

“What for?”

“I could not tell you, helmsman. Hopefully we will not find out. How is our travel time looking?”

“Four and a half days to Peck Harbor.”

Cait frowned at the screen, furrowing her brow. “Reroute to Ghanda. That is two days away.”

Xiphos punched her keyboard, and their directional lines changed. She steered to match the line. A moment later, the other boat on screen did the same.

“Full speed,” Cait said. “Do not worry about fuel.” She sat down in the helm chair next to Xiphos.

“Do we go to alert, sir?”

“No,” Cait said. “We do not need a panic on board. For all we know, someone is just riding our wake.” She thought a moment. She leaned over to the intercom. “Tre, we need you on the bridge, please.” Cait folded her hands in front of her, watching the boat trace their path on the monitor.

That night, in the silence of her quarters, Cait prayed to Nibiru for her protection.

[g]

Back to Part 016 – Forward to Part 018

Back to Part 015 Notes – Forward to Part 017 Notes

We’re getting closer, so close Cait can see it. Just like we talked about last week, we’re less than ten days away from Cait paying off her debt. So now she can worry about things like Toby trying to run off again, and what ever the Travelers are up to. Oh, and apparently Burian Lake is lurking again, but that’s not been confirmed.

Also, Nina has a talk with Xiphos, though that happened out of our range of hearing. But given how emotionally tired Nina looked afterwards, you can bet it was a little intense. No dumping, let me assure you, just Nina telling Xiphos to stop acting like a dick to Toby.

The passport Toby got, by the way, was a Molynuex Island passport. It helps when you have your own sovereign nation that you can pretty much say who you please is a citizen. So now that Toby has a passport, he’s going to try to run home. And Cait wants to stop him.

I suppose this takes us back to whether Cait has saved Toby, or just re-kidnapped him from someone else. Clearly, Cait thinks what she is doing is right, but she won’t let him leave. What does that mean?

Well, have at it. Did I miss anything this week? As always, any of your questions or comments are totally welcome.

[g]

Back to Part 015 Notes – Forward to Part 017 Notes