Hi guys! Sorry for not updating for so long, but that's what happens when you have tons of college work and assignments. Thank goodness Spring Break finally came around! So thanks for being patient and here's the next chapter for the fanfic.
Chapter 6: Learning the Ropes
Around the same time Scroop was settling down for the night, life at a local tavern was going on as usual.
Spacers drank to their hearts content; some gambled, some challenged others to bout of arm wrestling while others spoke with low tones, not wanting anyone to hear their business.
One conversation was taking place at a table in one corner of the tavern. Seated at the table was an old spacer, a member of the same species of the infamous Captain Nathaniel Flint. Across the table were two cloaked figures and a small bag of coins placed near one of the figures.
"You are a local here in this tavern," one of the cloaked figures spoke, "have you've seen any Mantavors hanging about here?"
The spacer narrowed his eyes. "It'll cost ya' to hear what I have seen around these parts."
The cloaked figure reached into the small bag and pulled out a gold coin, tossing it at the informer. The spacer caught the coin and nodded.
"Yes, I've seen one about two weeks ago. He stayed here, took a few drinks and gambled a bit for a few hours before leaving."
"Did he mention anything about where he was going or what his name was?" The second cloak figured asked in a voice that was clearly female.
The spacer said nothing but flipped his coin and caught it, giving them a knowing look. Another coin was given to him. The spacer leaned back on his chair. "I did not catch his name, but I have a slight idea on where he was going."
"Where?" The figure with the male voice hissed.
The spacer became silent, glancing down at the two coins.
The female figure snarled and grabbed the bag, slamming it in front of the spacer. "Oh for heaven's sakes! Where?! WHERE WAS HE GOING?!"
The spacer took the bag, grinning widely. "He managed to win a map from one bloke, a map leading to an unknown planet with the planet Alpone smack-dab in the middle of the route."
The male figured turned to his companion. "Well my dear, it seems like we'll be heading towards Alpone."
"Oh, must we go to that dreary canine planet?"
"I'm afraid so, but if it means getting that traitor between our claws then Alpone it is."
"I'd be warned if I were you," The spacer spoke up, "Mantavors are not a species to underestimate."
It was then the cloaked figured took off the hood of his cloak. He was an Ailurian with blue fur coating his narrow face, black hair topping his head, sharp cat ears tuning in to the sounds of the tavern, and bright yellow feline eyes with a murderous glint.
"My friend, it is Archibald that must not underestimate me or my mate."
The warmth of the rising dawn was the first thing Scroop felt as he slowly eased his eyes open. He immediately shut them again as the dawn's light temporarily blinded him.
Damn these early morning sunrise. Why couldn't they start out soft and grow brighter later on in the day?
"Good morning."
Scroop nearly fell off the mast at the sound of Arch's voice. He was saved from falling several feet to the ground by Arch reaching out and grabbing his arm.
"Whoa there, careful where you step."
"What are you doing up here?!" A fully awake Scroop hissed.
"A solar wind has picked up," Arch explained, "so I'm just releasing some of the sails to insure a faster voyage to Alpone."
Scroop inched closer towards Arch, watching him tie up some of the ropes into sailor knots. He frowned as Arch was about to tie up the last knot. He grabbed the rope before Arch and started tying a knot.
Arch stared at him. "Just what do you think you're doing?"
"Those knots aren't going to hold the sails down for long. In an hour or so, they'll be loosening and the sails will be flying all over the place."
He pulled tightly on his knot and nodded with satisfaction. "There, that'll hold it."
Arch gave him a withering glance. "I've been doing these knots ever since I started sailing all over the galaxy. I've never encountered a problem before."
Scroop narrowed his eyes. "And how long have you've been sailing?"
Arch shrugged. "About six years or so."
"Ha! I've been sailing for thirteen years. Obviously you are still a young wet behind the ears whelp."
"Hey, I'm not that young!"
"Oh yes? How old are you?"
Arch said his age. Raising a brow, he asked Scroop, "What about you?"
Scroop said his age causing Arch to roll his eyes. "So you are older by two years, hurrah for you."
Scroop smirked as Arch looked down. "So how does breakfast sound like?"
A low growl from Scroop's stomach made him think that perhaps breakfast sounded like a good idea.
Both Mantavors went below deck into the store room where Calico Jack was sitting on some boxes calmly licking a paw. Spotting Arch and Scroop, Calico Jack leapt down and headed straight towards Arch, purring and rubbing against the Mantavor's leg. Arch leaned down and gave the cat a light scratch behind the ears with the tip of his claw. After that, he went over to the box containing hardtack and tossed one to Scroop. "Catch."
Scroop caught the hardtack with ease and bit into it, feeling the same strange sensation he felt the day before. He slowly chewed; trying to figure out what on earth it was.
"Don't let that bother you."
Scroop turned his head towards Arch, blinking. "Don't let what bother me?"
"The maggots."
Scroop stared. "What?!"
"Maggots." Arch confirmed.
Instantly, Scroop dropped his hardtack to the ground and spat out the bitten piece. He sputtered with outrage, "There are maggots in these?!"
"Of course," Arch frowned. "What's wrong?"
"WHAT'S WRONG?!" Scroop snarled with rage. "I ATE ONE THE DAY BEFORE! IF I HAD KNOWN THEY WERE FILLED WITH—"
"Calm down, will you?" Arch glared at Scroop. "I thought you were used to it."
"WHAT MAKES YOU THINK I AM USED TO THAT?!"
"Every ship crew has maggots in their hardtack," Arch sniffed. "It's been that way since the first spacer set off sailing into the galaxy."
"Not with my crew," Scroop sneered, "we knew how to get rid of maggots."
"Oh yes?" Arch smirked, folding his arms and leaning back. "Enlighten me."
Scroop glared at him before turning towards the stock of food. "Do you have any fish or meat I can use?"
Arch nodded towards the food boxes. "Help yourself."
Scroop fished among the various meats and fish until he finally found a suitable piece of meat. Finding a slab of wood from a broken crate, Scroop placed the piece of meat on it and then placed it on top of the hardtack. Pretty soon various maggots crawled out from the hardtack and into the meat.
"Once we have enough maggots, we'll throw out the meat and put another one. Then we will continue on doing that until no more maggots appear."
Arch had a strange expression on his face as Scroop explained. An expression that looked a bit impressed but also a bit irritated.
"A waste of perfectly good meat, if you ask me."
Scroop smirked. "Is that the words of a young whelp that is angry that his elder knew better than him?"
"You are only a couple of years older!" Arch growled. "That doesn't make you an elder!"
"But I am older as you said," Scroop pointed out. "Now then young'un, let's dump these maggots overboard."
Arch growled as he followed Scroop above deck with Calico Jack following close by. Scroop suddenly froze in his tracks and he stared wide eyed at the sails. The sail knot he had firmly tied had loosened and was now flapping wildly in the solar winds while Arch's knots were in place. He narrowed his eyes and slowly turned his head towards Arch. Just as he suspected, Arch had his usual smirk but it was now wider with delight.
"Don't…say…a word…" Scroop growled dangerously.
"What's the matter?" Arch chuckled. "Getting a bit senile after thirteen years of tying knots?" Before Scroop could reply, Arch walked off towards the sails, laughing as if he had told a hilarious joke.
Scroop gave an annoyed growl as he went towards port side, dumping the maggot filled meat overboard. He looked down to see Calico Jack staring up at him.
"Ah, what are you smirking at?" He snapped. With a snarl he stormed back down to the store room. Calico Jack licked a paw before wandering off in search of rats.
A/N: The part about how to get maggots out of hardtack was actually something I've read in a book about sailors. They actually did that back then, usually with fish.
So there you have the next chapter and here you get to find out Arch's real name and meet the main villains of the story. And in case anyone doesn't know, the Ailurian species is Captain Amelia's species.
The next chapter will take awhile to post up, mostly because I'm not sure what should happen in the next part. ^^; But hopefully I will overcome that and I will be able to post up the next chapter soon.
Thanks for the reviews and patience!
