Chapter 1~ Heading out to Sea
Northwestern looked around her at the few boats that would take part in this year's King Crab Season. Due to the new IFQ system, the fleet had been cut down from 220 boats to just 83. Northwestern had to say goodbye to several good friends like Lady Alaska, whose growing blindness prevented her from fishing anyway, or Lucky Lady, the shrimp of the fleet. She was so small that the new system would never work for her. "Be good in Seattle alright." Northwestern growled. Lucky Lady laughed. "I may be small, but I'm a giant of a troublemaker." She replied. Northwestern chuckled. "I know that, just mind your manners alright." She said. "I'll be a good girl." Lucky Lady promised.
Not all ships were leaving though. Northwestern saw that her closest friends and rivals, Maverick and his partner boat Cornelia Marie were staying. Time Bandit, who had played around a lot last year chasing Northwestern and the other boats around was coming back as well. They all faced each other now as their captains and crews met at the local UniSea Bar. Crude oil was served but Northwestern, due to her pregnancy, didn't drink but that didn't stop her from being rowdy. "I beat ya last year!" She laughed to Cornelia. "With this new system, I'll beat you this season." The blue ship countered. Northwestern merely shrugged and said "Well, I'm glad I'm the ass to beat." They all laughed and slowly the party broke up.
Morning came and well she was all prepped and ready to go, Northwestern did not leave port. The reason being, it was Friday. "You can leave at 11:59 pm on Thursday night or 12:01 on Saturday morning but you never, ever leave port on a Friday!" Maverick said. "Why do you think I'm stuck here?" Northwestern grumbled. "You wanna go out?" He said. She nodded. "Yes but I'm not gonna." She said. "Well, I say you're all wimps." Time Bandit said as he passed them. "You aren't actually going out are you?!" Northwestern exclaimed. "You bet I am. S'long cowards" Time Bandit replied as he left. "Oohh, I hate him!" The white ship hissed. "Nah, you don't mean that." Maverick said. "But I do, he's an arrogant, whiny, foolhardy little…" Northwestern snarled. Maverick chuckled. "He likes you." He said simply. "He likes me?! How could he possibly like me?!" Northwestern exclaimed. "Well, he does." Maverick replied. Northwestern made a face. "I've had one guy already and that is quite enough. He can take his advances elsewhere for all I care." She sniffed. Maverick said nothing as she curled up to sleep.
The next morning, it was Saturday and Northwestern could leave port which she happily did. She noticed though that Maverick was still stuck at dock. "You aren't coming?" She asked. "No, I can't." Maverick replied miserably. "I failed my inspection. Too many pots." Northwestern sucked in a breath. Since Big Valley, the Coast Guard had been more prominent in enforcing their regulations, particularly the one regarding the safe number of pots a boat could have. Big Valley was determined to have sunk in that storm from being top heavy. Northwestern remembered seeing he had a lot of pots on deck. If it wasn't for that, he'd be here now.
She shook her head to clear her thoughts. "Well, you listen to what the Coast Guard says. Those rules are there for a good reason and its right of them to enforce it." She growled. "I figured you would say that Northwestern." Maverick sighed. "Well, alright. I'll be good." He said. "You'd better or I'll come back here and give you a good whooping. I may be a doddering pregnant lady but I'm no slacker." She growled. "Of that, I have no doubts." Maverick replied. Northwestern smiled and left, Cornelia close beside her. Northwestern saw that the blue ship was sailing with her head down, there was a slight limp in the way she moved. "You alright, Cornelia?" She asked, concerned. "I'm fine." Cornelia rasped. "Just a bit stiff is all." She replied. "I'll bet, sitting at that dock for as long as you have." Northwestern said. Cornelia chuckled. As they reached the parting point Cornelia called "Good luck Northwestern!" Northwestern paused to look back at her, her blue eyes unusually soft. "Thanks, you too." She answered and raced away. A whole new season awaited her out here and while the rules may be different, Northwestern was a survivor. She'd spent her whole life out here and she knew that she'd not have it any other way.