The next evening found Doubar, Rongar, Firouz and Maeve all assembled in the small cargo hold as Sinbad had requested of them. Dermott sat on a barrel beside the quartet. None but Doubar were aware of the reason for this assembly, and each were interested, concerned and worried about its meaning.

Sinbad paced in front of them, not sure how to begin. Finally Doubar cut in and said, "Out with it already Little Brother!"

"Alright, alright," he conceded. "I've called you all here today to… well… I suppose just to get your thoughts on something. For sometime now, I've been having a very peculiar dream, which until now I had only told Doubar about." Three sets of accusing eyes turned towards Doubar for apparently harbouring information. "None of that," Sinbad defended his brother, "I asked him not to say anything."

"Well what is this dream about that has you coming to us for advice?" Firouz questioned, not sure if he wanted to hear the answer or not.

"I'm not quite sure myself Firouz," Sinbad admitted. "But it's about a girl, a very young girl, who is in trouble."

Rongar made a flurry of signs to Firouz. Firouz nodded and stated, "I agree with Rongar, it seems likely that you would have that kind of dream, given what you do for a living."

"But it's different than that right Sinbad?" Doubar pushed his brother to keep talking.

"Quite different. It feels as though it's not just a dream. Like it's actually happening. The girl is real, I know it. And she isn't someone I've helped in the past. I think I need to find her before my dream comes true."

"So you're saying that you're having premonitions now?" Maeve commented with an eyebrow raised. Premonitions were usually her department. She also thought it was odd that Sinbad would suddenly start sensing things that she herself was not picking up on. Although she had to remind herself, her dreams of late had been preoccupied with other matters.

"I don't know Maeve," he confessed. This was starting to feel like a trial to which he held none of the answers. "But I can feel that she's real, and I have to help her. She's so lost and scared," he added.

"Maeve, do you sense any evil forces at play on the ship that might be poisoning my brother's dreams?" Doubar asked Maeve directly. It was a question he had been wanting to ask her himself.

"I sense no evil onboard Doubar," she replied honestly. Moving to stand behind Sinbad she raised both hands and closed her eyes, trying to pick up anything out of the normal in his aura. Opening her eyes again she stated, "Nothing. Whatever this is, it isn't leaving a trace."

"Sinbad," Firouz cut in, "perhaps now would be a good time for you to describe this girl to us, and maybe tell us as much as you can see from your dream. It might help us to identify her and find her," he suggested.

It was a great idea, and all eyes focused on Sinbad who yet again began to look confused. How would he be able to explain this to them? "I don't know what she looks like," he stated.

"Ah, I get it, it's all faded out? Like in a fog?" Firouz queried.

"No, it's all perfectly clear," Sinbad began but was cut off by Rongar motioning to his face.

"Is it just her face that you can't see clearly?" Firouz asked for Rongar.

"No, it's not like that at all," Sinbad continued. "I'm not sure how to explain this, but when I'm in the dream, when I'm seeing it happening, it's like I'm in it. I'm a part of it. I have no idea what it means." At their silence he continued, "I'm looking at events through her eyes, I'm feeling what she feels, I know the things she knows." He stopped talking, preparing himself for his next statement. "I think I'm the little girl," he finished, slightly embarrassed, and waited for their response. When there was none, he finally looked up to see their bewildered faces.


Sinbad's confession was so stunning that it actually drew their meeting to a close early. Each of them was confused by what it all meant and they had agreed to think on it for the night and discuss it again in the morning.

That night, Sinbad tossed and turned in his bed….

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He was standing at a window, her window, looking out through her eyes. He could see the hoards in the distance. Blood thirsty men, butchering any who stood in their way without a second thought. In the distance, two large ships were anchored in the small harbour.

Gripped by fear, her fear, he stood, fixed at the window watching the carnage. She did not utter a sound, was incapable of sound. He watched as men she knew, neighbours and friends, joined the fray against the mad men. So much blood. Sinbad wished he could force her eyes, their eyes, shut, to block out the images, keep her from seeing.

A woman hurried below them to barricade their doors and windows. It was her mother, Sinbad knew it because the girl knew it. He heard a name being called, and knew it was the girl's, but he couldn't understand it. It was muffled by the sounds of metal clanging.

The sickening crack of bones breaking distracted him from trying to decipher her name. She was watching the man on the horse, Sinbad knew it was her father. His garb was unfamiliar to Sinbad, yet reminded him of something.

Suddenly, fingers wrapped around the tiny arms, and the girl began to struggle…

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Sinbad awoke with a start. Doubar was leaning over him, holding his shoulders and shaking him violently. "Little Brother," he shouted, "WAKE UP!"

The sound was deafening and Sinbad groaned as he drew his hands to his ears. "And what crime have I committed against you Big Brother to be woken like this," he drawled. It was only then that he noticed Rongar was also in his cabin. Sinbad looked at the two of them questioningly.

"Little Brother," Doubar's voice returned to a normal speaking level, "you were dreaming, and calling out in your sleep and thrashing around like the devil had possessed you! I've been calling your name for at least two minutes now! It would have taken an elephant trampling you to wake you!"

By this time Sinbad noticed several other lower crewmates starting to mill about outside his cabin. He curtly ordered them all back to their duties or bunkers if they were lucky enough to not be working.

Maeve and Firouz had also arrived. Maeve looked like a tornado had struck her.

"What's all the yelling about?" She asked breathlessly. Sinbad motioned them all into his cabin and then instructed Doubar to shut the door.

"I don't want this getting around to the rest of the crew," he informed them as he looked each in the eye. Doubar suddenly felt guilty for creating the scene that had brought everyone running from their rooms. "I also don't want anyone here worrying needlessly. These dreams or visions, whatever they are, aren't hurting me," he thought about that for a moment, "although they are causing me to lose a lot of sleep. Regardless, I'd appreciate it if we could keep this private." He again looked to each member of his crew and received slight nods and agreements from each.

"I apologize Little Brother," Doubar was truly embarrassed, "I guess that's just me eh, big man, little brain. I'm sorry."

Sinbad put his hand on Doubar's large arm, "Never apologize for being concerned about me Big Brother. And never insult my brother either," he said earnestly, looking kindly into his brothers eyes. Doubar nodded and smiled.

"I guess we should be letting you get back to sleeping Captain!" Doubar stated with a grin.

"Thank you for that," Sinbad stated as he drew himself off the bed. He brought with him the bed sheet which he held around his waist with one hand. Sailors were hardly known for modesty, but there was no reason to strut around nude in front of ones friends… and Maeve. He walked over to the door and held it open with his body. Doubar laughed and exited first, followed by Rongar.

As Maeve moved to pass Sinbad he reached out and held her elbow. He had something very personal to ask of her. She looked at him questioningly, and stepped aside to allow Firouz to exit with the other two.

"Yes Sinbad?" she asked, a puzzled look marring her beautiful features.

"Maeve, I have something to ask of you. And if you refuse I will totally understand. But you are the most perceptive member of my crew, and I could really use some insight into this." He was rambling and he knew it, but he couldn't just blurt it out. Her eyes took on a guarded look as he continued. "I want you to…" he paused, regrouping his thoughts, "What I need is…" No that didn't sound like the right way to say it either, "There should be someone to…" he sighed, he couldn't finish his sentence while looking directly at her. Why did this have to be so awkward. Why did he have to be nude? Luckily for him, Maeve caught onto what he was trying to ask and cut him off.

"Of course I'll watch you tonight while you sleep Sinbad," she stated keeping her voice even and unreadable.

"You don't mind?" Sinbad breathed a sigh of relief. He had no desire to become a human rotisserie and asking Maeve to spend the night in his room was a surefire way to end up as one.

"Not at all," she replied, "I'll be able to tell if anything enters your body while you sleep. And I'll be a little more subtle than Doubar when I wake you from the dream," she grinned at him.

"Thanks," he drawled, not sure if he liked this idea anymore.

"I'll be back in 5 minutes Captain," she announced.

He looked at her questioningly.

"I'm going to make myself a little more… respectable," she stated which brought Sinbad's attention to the fact that she was wearing a white chemise, similar to the one she wore under her vest during the day, and nothing else.

"Ahh..," Sinbad grinned at her and raised an eyebrow. The awkwardness he felt faded away and was replaced by the teasing tone that underlay their entire relationship. "I don't mind if you stay as you are," he stated cockily.

She turned to leave and threw over her shoulder, "Of course you wouldn't," she replied. "Oh and Sinbad, you might want to reconsider your outfit while I'm gone as well."

The only response she got was an indignant 'hmphf' sound from her Captain as he reached for a pair of pants.