Chapter 4

It was around 3 days until Cortes decided he was fit to move again. It was early morning when he walked out and up to his cabin. He found Wayan sprawled in his seat having a sarcastic conversation with the image of Diwan on the screen.

"Cortes won't be available for some time, Diwan, so go and do something else with your time," Wayan had said to her.
Diwan had only raised her eyebrow and made a circular motion with on finger, indicating to Wayan to turn around.

"That▓s not what I can see, Pirate." she sneered.
Wayan swivelled his head around and saw Cortes watching them with a severe expression. He got up quickly and made way for Cortes so he could pass and sit down. Cortes sat, still with his eyes fixed on Wayan, he narrowed them.

"Seems you're getting a bit too comfortable with the Captains▓' life, Wayan. Perhaps a lesson in humility is in order." he stated in a low voice.
"Sorry Cortes." was the answer he got and Wayan went back to his station. Cortes leant back and stretched, ignoring the image of Diwan for the moment. Putting his feet up he yawned, wondering how long it would take her to notice. A harsh cough told him that she had had enough, so he turned and looked at her.

"Diwan, what and unpleasant surprise." he said cheerily. Diwan only sneered and him.

"Cortes, for what you've done, I'll kill you for it." she snarled. Cortes crossed his legs over and shrugged.
"You're getting far too wound up, Diwan." he answered. "We both lost control, get over it." he heard Diwan's outraged growl. He waved his hand airily at the screen.
"Grow up." he growled back before shutting down the comlink.
He swivelled round in the chair and got up, feeling the pangs in his stomach from hunger. Wandering down to the tavern his sat down and called Mahad to him.

"Mahad, go on a patroller search with Lena and report if you see any patrollers heading this way."

"I'm on it, Cortes!"

"Oh and take Sapphire with you." finished the Captain, laying his chin on his arms and lowering his body.
Mahad didn't say anything to that but went up onto the higher balcony and started speaking to Sapphire. Cortes smirked when he heard Sapphires' disbelieving snort. When Sapphire called down for an explanation, Cortes lifted his hand and made a dismissive gesture, once again, Sapphire's outraged snort was heard. When they had left, Cortes looked up when they left and narrowed his eyes against the sun.
Dahlia walked up next to him and gave him a puzzled look. Cortes explained with a single rhetorical question.

"Can't have her getting to close to the Captain now, can we?"

Dahlia tossed her head slightly; at least the fight had brought Cortes' back to the real world.
Cortes clicked his fingers and ordered his breakfast quickly.

- - - - - On the Hyperion - - - - -

Sapphire sat with her arms folded and a scowl on her face. Mahad snorted and looked behind him.

"What's up with you Sapphire? Grumpy cause Lena's in the front seat?"

"No." was the stolid answer.

"You're thinking about Cortes again aren't you?" said Lena in a gentle voice.

"How the...Stop reading my mind." growled Sapphire.
Lena shrugged and focused on the view. She'd have to talk to Sapphire about her relationship with Cortes. She put it bluntly.

"Y'know, by the time we get back, Cortes will be acting like nothing happened and you'll just be another crew member." she said quietly.
Sapphire narrowed her eyes.

"Nothing did happen!" she snapped. Guilt and fear were taking over her senses.
"Oi, watch how you speak to my sister!" Mahad snapped back. sapphire leant back and fell silent. Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions.
Did she or did she not love Aran Cortes? She shook her head and thoughts came un-bidden into her mind, images and words. The risks Cortes had taken for his crew, his harsh, abrupt manner at his worst, at his best. But how did she know all of this?
Sapphire's head snapped back to Lena who was looking back at her, smiling gently. Sapphire growled at her and Lena retreated. Mahad frowned and did a barrel roll with the Hyperion. He spoke harshly into the radio.

"Cortes, we'll be longer than expected. I have something to sort out."

"Roger that, Mahad, just be careful." ordered Cortes over the radio.
Mahad nodded and cut off. Swerving onto a block, he landed and jumped out. Lena jumped out and Sapphire virtually sprang out.

"What is it, Mahad? Come to confess your love to me?" she sneered.

"You're almost as bad as Diwan, only you think the world revolves around you." said Mahad in a perfectly balanced voice. He glanced at Lena who walked back to the Hyperion's open pit and turned a few notches and came back. Sapphire didn't even notice this, she was busy with Mahad.

"What? How can you say that? What have I done?" she yelped back.

"Cortes has been out of himself ever since you came on board. He's always thought of himself as a bit of a stud but now he's been flaunting it more than ever, and frankly...it's scary. He's the Captain and if he looses his mind now because of you, then the whole cause is lost. Grow up, Sapphire. He may but a stud in your eyes, but in the crews▓ eyes, he's our Captain and the one thing stopping us from getting killed by the Sphere..."

- - - - - On the St. Nazaire - - - - -

Cortes listened over the radio to this harsh conversation whilst watching the radar. He was back in the cabin of the St.Nazaire and drinking coffee. He sighed .

"...I don't see how he's stopping the Sphere getting at you..."

"...without him and the Vector, we'd all be dead. Everyone on the Puerto Angle would be exposed and killed..."

"...impossible...rubbish."

"You don't know the whole details and hopefully you won't."

"I'll kill you for that Mahad!"

"Kill me, and how are we going to get off this block? If only your darling Cortes could hear you now. He'd kick you straight off. Now shut up, we need to get back." growled Mahad.

The signal was cut off quickly. Cortes got up and went back down to the Tavern.

"Right, crew of the St.Nazaire, get to your stations. As soon as Mahad lands, we leave." he ordered.
He watched his small-ish crew pass him with some pride in his eyes. They were a good bunch. He looked up with some concern as Cheng was having trouble leaving a bunch of older people. it wasn▓t Cheng's fault they weren't letting him. Cortes strode up to them and coughed harshly behind them. They turned round with sneers on their faces but at the sight of Chengs' adopted father, flame coloured hair blowing slightly to the side, they let the younger boy pass and walked off. Cheng smiled at Cortes and he gave him and small smile back. Cheng made his way back to the St.Nazaire with Cortez behind him.

Cortes strode quickly up the stairs to the St.Nazaire and stood by the wheel, waiting for Mahad to land. At last after what seemed an age. Mahad landed the Hyperion. Rather quickly and roughly and that was noted by most the crew. Mahad stormed through the cabin, it seemed he was attacked to strings, since he smoothly turned and strode towards Cortes. Cortes in fact hand signalled to him quickly with one finger. Mahad's breathing was sharp yet quiet pants. Cortes could tell he was really angry. He patted him gently on the shoulder.

"Well done, Mahad. And..."

Mahad looked up at this, Cortes had missed a beat. What was going on?

"And...thank you." Mahad nodded and walked off, shoulders still heaving. As Lena and Sapphire came back on deck, he punched out orders.

"Wayan, get the engines up, now. Lena, the Vector wants to see you, Sapphire, you'll be working with Lena." He waited a few seconds.
"Right you lot. Let's go"
The St.Nazaires engines started up with a powerful hum. The sound of a whale bellowed forth and they were off.

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Thank you to hyperpsychomaniac form DeviantART and for helping me get Cortes back into character. Read and review please.
Sorry it▓s so short.