I do realize there are already a few stories about stowaways on the Venture, but this story is not set during the movie, but before the actual events of it. I also realize this chapter is a bit short, but it's really just an introductory chapter and to see what all of you think. Give me some advice if you please. With a bit of your help, I can make this original enough for your tastes. Thanks very much!

Jacinda crouched low and stumbled into the cleanest cage she could find as the ship lurched into motion. She dragged her bag in behind her and threw herself onto the floor, against the wall, exhaustion making her muscles tremble in relief, as she closed her eyes and leaned her head against a stack of hay that sat next to her. A moment later, she rubbed her eyes, willing herself to stay awake in case someone should find her there below deck. Stowing away uninvited on any ship was a definite no-no, especially for a woman of her age, class, and looks. Especially when alone on a ship full of at least twenty lonely sailors who all unfortunately happened to be men.

As the ship began a steady route, Jacinda became drowsy with warmth. In an effort to keep awake she tried to rub the aches from the muscles in her legs, but her arms grew too tired too quickly, and she slumped against the wall again. As she held her stuffed bag against her chest, sleep inevitably took over her, and her eyes closed drowsily, though her brain told them not to.

Hours later, Jacinda awoke to realize through a crack in the hull of the ship that it was dusk already. To her it felt as if it must be sunrise a day after she'd stowed away, but her inner clock knew better. It was then that she realized a loud thumping sound had been what had awoken her. She sat up straight, as quietly as she could, knowing that it was still too soon for them to discover her. It was, she thought, the most inopportune moment. She heard footsteps descending the ladder she'd flew down earlier in the day, then heard them approach the end of the hull where she lay in one of the cages. To her ultimate relief, the steps stopped not too far away, and she heard what must have been a young man clear his throat before someone sat heavily against one of the cages.

For what seemed like an hour, Jacinda sat there, trying not to move a muscle, afraid she would alert the man of her presence. She was not ready to deal with the consequences of her actions that she was beginning to regret only because she was getting stiff by just sitting there. Another emergency was rapidly approaching, as she realized her bladder was not planning on holding up much longer either. All she could hear from outside of her cage was the pages of a book being turned slowly every few minutes. The man cleared his throat a couple of times but made hardly any other movements and said nothing, even to himself.

Finally, Jacinda heard another few thumps from above before more footsteps began to descend the ladder. Her hearing, sharp by now, picked up the sounds of a book being shut and the man standing up.

"Jimmy," she heard a deep voice say slowly, as two sets of footsteps approached the avid reader.

"Crow's nest." The young man said in reply, and she could nearly hear a smile in his voice. "Got it, Mr. Hayes. See you in a bit. Captain." He said the last word as if in acknowledgement. Jacinda heard him retreat up the ladder as the other two men began to converse.

"Mr. Hayes, go make sure Andrew's setting a course for the Cape." She heard what must have been the voice of the third man. His voice was unique from the others, though, and captured her in a way the others did not. There was an accent to his voice that would have been almost sweetly melodic were it not for the ruggedness at the edges. He must be the captain, she thought. Just his tone demanded obedience. He had the commanding voice necessary to lead. "And find Davis. Make sure he's plotting the course and planning for any difficulties." He finished with an air of finality.

"Yes, Captain." The deep voice replied before the man began to retreat to the ladder also. The footsteps paused for a moment. "Will you be joining us for dinner tonight?"

"I'll be up in a little," the captain said dismissively, and Jacinda could almost picture him, whatever he must look like, waving his hand just as dismissively as his tone.

The footsteps of what must have been Mr. Hayes finally retreated up above. Jacinda found herself holding her breath tightly yet again, daring herself not to move a muscle. The captain sounded like the last person on this ship she wanted to deal with. He must definitely be, she thought, a no nonsense type of person. She listened silently to nothing and jumped unwillingly when out of nowhere a match was lit with a scratch, a sound magnified tenfold due to the silence. A few moments later as Jacinda cursed herself in her mind for making noise at all, she could smell the sweet scent of an herb cigarette drifting lazily into her nostrils.

She swallowed and listened as the captain wandered softly around the hull. In bittersweet relief, she finally heard him climb the ladder again and heard the thud of the trapdoor being closed. She breathed out in her relief. In desperate need of a stretch, she pushed her bag aside and stood to her feet. She stretched her legs out in front of her for a few seconds before raising her arms above her head, closing her eyes and breathing in deeply. She held her position for a bit. When she opened her eyes, she let out a yelp of surprise to find herself staring into a pair of the most piercing, ice blue eyes she had ever seen.

Now Review!