'To Kill a Mockingbird' spoiler alert. That book is the bee's knees.


"Are you kidding me?"

"Do I look to be in a kidding mood Ms. Wren?"

Wren glared at Captain Amelia.

Amelia turned her nose up at the young sailor and looked expectantly at her.

"You can't possibly expect me to polish that many doorknobs! Are you crazy?"

Wren threw her bucket down and it nearly broke.

"I just mucked out the hold and now you expect me to polish jorking, doorknobs?!"

"Watch your mouth young lady!" The captain spat dodging the bouncing bucket, "You will do exactly what I tell you to do! No amount of your self-righteous speeches will change that!"

"I've been driving myself crazy to fulfill your outrageous requests! I've done everything you've asked! But you ask for the impossible! I just sorted out your tea leaves! Who the hell needs their tea leaves sorted out individually woman?"

"You did it didn't you?" Captain Amelia stated dryly.

"At the expense of completely losing my eyesight and sense of smell! How do you expect me to polish all of the doorknobs in half an hour?"

"Use that strength you're so proud of Ms. Wren. That strength you keep on telling me about."

Amelia turned to Silver who was watching Jim scrape off barnacles.

"Mr. Silver!" Silver turned around accidentally knocking against the rope and Jim yelled.

"Yes cap'n?"

"See to it that Ms. Wren finishes her job in half an hour or she doesn't get supper."

Wren nearly blew her top.

"That's not fair!"

"Life isn't fair Ms. Wren, but you already knew that didn't you?"

Amelia turned and walked away and Wren screamed and leapt at the captain. Silver catching the small girl just in time as she almost tore the feline's throat out.

"Calm down Wren! It isn't worth it!"

Wren thrashed wildly, screaming curses and threats at the captain.

"Calm down!"

"You stupid bitch! I'll kill you! Do you hear me? You'll be finding Jorking doorknobs in your Jorking head!"
Wren wriggled lose from Silver's grasp and was caught again by Horesblood and Kevin, the squat Armenian grabbing her right arm and the Cyclops grabbing her left. Wren yells and throws Horseblood to the ground furiously trying to twist out of the other's grip, screaming threats at the Captain. They manage to drag her away and Wren kicks the bucket, it skitters across the deck flips over the side and hits someone below with a thunk as Jim lets out an audible.

"Ow!"

"Hildenguyf! SINTRIPIDEN yagosben! KYUPENHAGa urnip!"

Wren throws both of them off her with a twist.

"Sniveling preener! Prissy Indelpek!" but she seemed spent, her anger starting to burn out. It helped that Captain Amelia was safely out of harms reach.
"That Jorking low life! Cowardly NUREHABEGIN! Can't face me like a real man." Wren fumed.

She kicked the side of the mast angrily and it shuddered, vibrating along its entire length. She snapped the towel over her shoulder and marched away.

"That feline doesn't know who she's dealing with." She mutters, and imagines stabbing the captain for the fiftieth time.

There is a creaking from down below and Silver see's Jim's head poke up over the railing. He held the bucket, his hair strewn to one side from the pail that fell on him. He looks around bewildered.

"Did I miss something?"


Wren held the book out in front of her. The words on the page were… well, words. They meant, well, something. Jim was leaning over his book transferring notes to a page; his left hand dragging across the letters every so often smudging what he had written. His eyes darted from the book to his notes quickly and efficiently a fierce look of concentration nestled between his brows.

Wren turned back to her own book. She could read the title, 'The Cumulative Works of Fredrick Beckvonpeccoz: A Study in Three Parts' assembled by Lorain Beckvonpeccoz. But beyond that she was lost. She flipped through the first few pages, words jumbling together. Wren tried in vain to decipher the meanings from the illustrations sparsely scattered throughout the three hundred paged text. From what she could see it was about the creation of the Chastim universe. Which meant the book was printed in Chastim common. Which meant that Wren had no idea how to read it.

Wren had lived her first ten years on Nesoi a backwater planet orbiting at the edges of the solar system. It was a floating dust speck that was just like any other unimportant floating dust speck in space, brown, and boring. It was notable for its Mnemosyne clear glass ware, which wasn't as clear as the ones on Mnemosyne and Dione sweet bread, which wasn't as sweet as the ones actually from Dione.

There were two common written languages in the galaxies linked by the Imperial Navy. Metis Common and Chastim Common. Nesoi's inhabitants used Metis Common as their native tongue. Even with hologram books most school children knew how to read both by the time they were eight. Unfortunately, Wren's education was abruptly ended at the tender age of five, so suffice to say, she wasn't exactly an expert on the written language.

Wren chewed on her lip picking out an odd word here and there that made some sort of sense to her. Taldea – Group, Hatz –Finger, Platypus – Platypus.

Her limited vocabulary didn't help her shed any light on the subject.

She glanced over and Jim again, he was still buried in his work four sheets of paper covered in dark blue scrawl.

She sighed and flipped the page.

Chastim etik 1810 ordezkarien hauteskundeetan izendatu Henry Clay gerrako buruzagi zortzi Udalak da.

Chewing on her pencil she tried to decipher the meaning reading it over several times.

Chastim something, something… 1810, blah, something, election, random word, Henry Clay, Blah, Chief, something that sounds like tortellini, blah.

Wren pushed her hair back and stared at the book hoping if she looked hard enough the answers would just come to her.

She was reading over the same line for the sixth time when Jim looked over and saw her blank paper waiting patiently at her elbow.

"Need some help?"

Wren looked up at him and instantly turned red. Trying to play it off she closed the book laughing,

"Nah, I just…" she swallows embarrassed, "I'm bored."

She felt the blush heating her face and she wanted to hide her face, jeez she was usually so much smoother than this. Lying was part of her job after all.

Jim looked at his friend's red face, he got up and grabbed a book from the shelf, one of his personal favorites he sat down next to her and opened up the book.

"Here." He pointed, "this is much more interesting."

Wren looked and was instantly disappointed when she saw it was written in Chastim as well.

"Sorry Jim, I'm not really into…books."

"It's called 'To Kill a MockingWren'."

Wren looked at Jim, "really?"

Jim nodded, "yeah, it's really good, it's about an adventurous little girl who loves to read and she has all sorts of adventures growing up with her brother and best friend, her dad is a lawyer who's defending an Alien who suspecting of taking advantage of a human."

Wren took a breath, it sounded wonderful.

"It has everything, action, intrigue, innocence, sophistication, truth."

The way Jim described it was absolutely irresistible, and it lay right there open on the table. Wren bit her lip and her hands itched to pick the book up, delve into the story and discover all its secrets. She ached so badly for a good book that she inadvertently caressed the cover.

But she couldn't.

She looked away from the tantalizing book, "I can't."

Jim looked at the longing in Wren's eyes, "yes, you can."

Wren shook her head pressing her hands into her lap, "No, I… I can't, I can't." She ducked her head to ashamed to meet his eyes, "I can't read."

Jim didn't say anything. God he probably thinks I'm an idiot. The silence seemed to last forever, she was ready for Jim to laugh at her, to say something, anything, but he stayed silent.

The book slid over in front of her downcast eyes and she looks over surprised.

Jim smiles at Wren, "Yes, you can."

"Being Southerners, it was a source of shame to some members of the family that we had no recorded… um…"

Wren paused brow furrowed in concentration,

"ank…"

Wren mouthed the word trying to sound it out.

"Ankestors…"

Jim softly whispered a hint, "it's a soft C."

Wren wet her lips, "Ancestors… on either side of the battle of Hastings."

Jim nodded in encouragement.

Dr. Doppler paused at the door watching the two teenagers, their heads bowed over the classic novel. Wren was sounding out words, every sentence and syllable slowly recited as they advanced through the story pedantically. He cursed his negligence, the girl seemed so bright that it had never occurred to Dr. Doppler that she couldn't read Chastim, lord knows she spoke it well enough.

"So Simon having forgotten his teacher's d…dictum on the possession of human cate… chattels…"

Dr. Doppler watched in admiration as Jim patiently helped the struggling girl sound out the words. The delinquent seemed so at peace teaching Wren how to read that Dr. Doppler almost cried. Jim smiled encouragingly as Wren stuttered through another sentence. The gentle expression on his face was foreign to Dr. Doppler, dug up again for the first time in years. Dr. Doppler couldn't help but think Wren was some kind of heaven sent miracle worker.

"It's a hard C this time, C's are only soft right before an E."

"Why can't they make up their minds?"

"Beats me."

Wren sighs, "Articles of clothing…"

Dr. Doppler turned and left, there may be miracles after all.

"Why does she call her father Atticus?"

Jim looked at Wren who had stopped reading to ask her question.

"Why do you ask?" he said trying not to give anything away.

Wren frowned, "Well, most people would call their father dad, or something like that right? So is he a bad guy or something?"

Jim smiled, "well what do you call your dad?"

Wren thought for a moment, "I'm not sure. I think I called him papa at one point. But I can't remember." She thought for a moment as Jim looked incredulously at her, "What do you call yours?" she asked genuine curiosity in her eyes.

Jim coughed confused and perturbed by her question, "My dad… um."

Wren looked at him expectantly.

"He's uh…"

Jim looked away from Wren's piercing gold eyes.

"my dad… he's,"

Jim couldn't lie to Wren's open gaze.

"gone." Jim uncomfortably shifted in his seat, "So I guess I'm not so sure either."

Wren's eyes suddenly got sad and soft something Jim didn't think they did.

"I guess we have a problem," Wren said sadly.

Jim nodded, "yeah."

"Should we ask Dr. Doppler what he called his dad?"

Jim looked at Wren incredulously. She met his look with her open faced curiosity, golden eyes wide open wanting him to share.

Jim laughed. Long, and hard. His sides aching boyish laughter bouncing off the walls filling the room with light joy.

"Oh god Wren, you're killing me."

"Twas my intention." She smiled.

A peaceful silence passed over them.

Wren traced the words on the page, "How did yours die?" Wren asked after a period of time.

Jim twitched a lip, "He didn't," Wren looked at him curiously, "he left."

Suddenly the bench they were sitting on cracked in half and Jim slid off crashing into Wren, he looked over to see if she was okay.

"hey…"

Wren held a splintered piece of wood in her hands.

"what did you say?" She gritted out.

Jim's eyes widened, and he uncertainly stuttered, "He left?"

Suddenly the piece of wood in her hands snapped, exploding into hundreds of shards.

Wren smiled, one of those scary fake ones that Jim knew had nothing to do with her state of mind.

"Oh dear."

What was left of the bench was in her hands slowly being crushed.

Jim eased the pieces of wood out of her hands, "Don't take it out on the bench. Remember it didn't do anything wrong."

"That Jorker better get sucked into a black hole." Wren said simply sitting on the table.

Jim sighed glad that it was a small rampage this time.

"You know you don't have to get angry for me." Jim sat down next to her.

Wren crossed her arms, "dying I can understand, but abandoning someone is just horrible."

Jim shook his head and rolled his eyes, "Thanks," he closed the book laying on the table between them and put it further away. "So how about you?"

Wren looked at him, "what about me?"

"Your dad dummy."

"Oh!" Wren smiled, "he's dead."

She took out the dagger at her belt spinning it on her finger.

"So is my mom."

"I'm sorry."

Wren smirked, "it's not your fault."

She continued spinning the dagger, and Jim waited patiently.

"They died in a fire." The dagger switched hands, "I was supposed to be in the house when it started, and by the time I got back… everything was gone."

Jim watched his friend, concern etched into his features.

The knife dropped point down to the wooden floor and Wren's face was blank, lost in her past. Jim didn't like seeing her like that.

"Leland."

Wren blinked in confusion.

"What?"

"Leland was my father's name."

Wren smiled.

"Well, no wonder he ran away, with a name like that who could blame him."

Jim chuckled, "guess so."

Wren pressed her lips together.

"Michael and Gabrielle."

Jim furrowed his brows at the familiar sounding names, but brushed them aside for later.

Jim leaned to Wren, "Aaaannnnnddd yet, your name is Wren? Well, their naming skills could use some work."

Wren laughed, "Not really, Wren isn't what the named me."

Jim's eyebrows shot way up, so he had been calling Wren, Wren without Wren's actual name being Wren? So if Wren wasn't Wren then what was Wren? His mind was running in circles trying to figure it out.

"So your name isn't actually Wren?"

"Nope."

"Well, that just got really confusing really fast." He said honestly.

"Sorry."

"It's fine, you know, just a little warning next time before you turn my world upside down."

"I didn't think it mattered that much."

"Sorry, but for us normal people, it's a bit unusual, we usually stick with one name."

"So I've been told."

Wren picked the book up again and noticed how close Jim and she had gotten during their conversation.

"Back to Atticus. Whose daughter calls him Atticus, whether for good or bad."

He looked at her and back down, and back up at her, and back down, finally the curiosity eating away at him he asked,

"So what is…"

"JIMBO?! Where the Undalaq are you?"

Jim looked up and sighed.

"Sorry, I better go."

Wren nodded, "Yeah, don't keep him waiting."

"Probably dishes again."

"Wait."

Jim stopped.

"What?"

"What does this say?"

Wren pointed to the passage and he looked.

Jim cleared his throat before reading it aloud with his smooth voice, like chocolate, or what Wren assumed chocolate would sound like,

"I asked Dill where his father was: "You ain't said anything about him."

"I haven't got one."

"Is he dead?"

"No…"

"Then if he's not dead you've got one, haven't you?"

Jim stopped.

"Thanks puppy eyes." Wren quietly said, an indiscernible look in her eyes a small smile on her lips.

"No problem."


"So if you hook up this wire to the cooling system and couple it together with a circuit breaker…"

Jim's hands moved deftly as he twisted and cut wires.

"Then," he slides over to the circuit board, "cross these wires here and here." He unplugs a green and red wire and plugs them into opposite ones.

The entire ship hummed and the lights flickered back on, "That should do it."

Captain Amelia furrowed her brow, "so you switched these two wires here but why would that fix anything?" She pointed with her claw clearly confused.

"Well they reverse the polarity…." Jim was about to launch into a long complicated explanation but the wide eyed stares made him cough, "they cool down the engine."

"I see."

Wren tilted her head, "so, is it permanently fixed?"

Jim closed up the tool box, "It should be fine for now but we should stop for a replacement part soon just in case."

Wren nodded, "right."

Jim quirked an eyebrow at the onlookers who were looking around in awe. Suddenly the engine sputtered a bit and the odd ensemble jumped. Jim just rolled his eyes and flicked a switch, he was waiting for the sputter.

"There. All fixed"

Wren smiled, "nice job…"

"Nice Job Jimbo!" Silver smacked him on the back, "way to keep us flying! You saved us all from a hideous demise in the middle of the black, that you did!"

Silver waved his arms dramatically about as Jim blushed red.

"Imagine all of us clawing for air at our last moments!"

"It wasn't that serious Silver."

"You never know!"

The onlookers trickled out as Silver made a huge show of how Jim saved them all from certain doom.

The engine shuddered again and everyone stopped,

"Was that supposed to happen?"

Jim looked around. "What kind of generator does this ship have?"

The mechanic was confused, "what?"

The entire ship vibrated, Dr. Doppler fell over and the lights flickered.

There was a general shout above deck. Then the ship stopped dead in the black and the engine died.

They ground to a halt, "What kind of generator?" Jim tersely asked.

"Mr. Hawkins can you explain what is happening?"

"It's a Crios generator."

Jim sighed, "That's the one generator this doesn't work on."

"Well that's just jorking perfect." Silver mumbled.

"Watch your tongue Mr. Silver."

Jim moved around people, the emergency lights making everything a dark red.

"Wren, there's a pipe above your head, can you loosen the valve?"

Wren nodded and grabbed the wheel above her and began to turn, metal screeching against metal.

Jim watched the pressure gauge rise and he waited as the needle went past the ten then past the twenty slowing at around thirty and stopping at thirty-five. Jim frowned and turned around.

"Keep turning Wren."

Wren nodded and wrenched the wheel around again, her arms aching.

The needle continued to rise and when it past fifty he told Wren to stop. She closed up the valve. Jim uncrossed the green and red wires and pressing a button the built up pressure was released to set the engine going again. With a cough the engine sputtered to life and the lights flickered back on.

"We'll definitely need a replacement part." He said wiping the grease off his hands with a towel.

"I'm not sure we can trust your opinion any more Mr. Hawkins." Captain Amelia said with a frown looking around at the dirty room one more time and swept up the stairs, "we'll stop at the next planet for a mechanic."

Jim clenched his jaw and put the tools away.

Everyone turned and left, Wren stayed and punched Jim on the shoulder,

"I think you did great. I mean…"

Silver bombarded the moment and slapped Jim's back, "It's alright Jimbo! Who knew a single Crios generator still existed?"

Jim smiled up at the cook and sighed leaving with Silver's guiding hand on his back.


Wren walked into the bunk room, her nose buried in 'To Kill a MockingWren.' She reaches out one hand and throws Jim out of his hammock.

Jim wakes up as he's flying through the air, but now after the weeks of rude awakenings he manages to land as gracefully as anyone can.

He rolls to a stop, "Wren!" Jim protests from the floor.

Wren ignored him mouthing the words silently completely absorbed by the story.

Jim pushes himself up, "Seriously Wren? You could've broken my neck!..."

Wren didn't even acknowledge him.

Jim mutters angrily pulling his shoes he glances over to see where Wren was. She had made decent progress.

"Where the Undalaq is my other boot?"

Wren hands him his boot and he takes it.

"Thanks."

She didn't reply.

Jim tucked in his shirt and watched as Wren continued to ignore the world, standing there reading the classic.

"Wren." Jim said after he was done. "Wren." He repeated.

"Hm?" She moved her head in his direction tearing her eyes away from the book.

"You're not wearing any pants."

Wren didn't even blink, "And you're not wearing any facial hair, I don't have a problem with that do I?"

"Right now really?"

Wren blinked, "What time is it?"

"seven."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah. You woke me up already."

Wren snapped the book shut angrily, "I totally missed my sword practice this morning!" she looked at the book and then at Jim. "This is all your fault."

"Wait, what? How?"

"You gave me this book! Now I can't do anything else but read!"

Jim rolled his eyes, "well excuse me for enriching your education."

Wren sighed tucking the book under her arm she stomped over to her bunk and pulling on some trousers tossed Jim a long stick.

He caught it, "what's this for?"

"You're gonna help me with my swordplay."

"Wait what? Why?"

"Because you taught me how to read, that's why."

"Shouldn't you be helping me with something then?"

Wren jogged up the stairs holding her own stick and her actual sword swung over her shoulder.

"Come on puppy eyes!"

Jim had no choice but to groan in annoyance and follow.

Jim panted, "I thought I was supposed to be helping you with your sword play!"

He swung his stick at Wren who blocked it easily.

"You can't help me if you're worse than me." Wren sidestepped, "to be honest knives are more my specialty, but swords seem more like your thing."

Jim swung again and Wren blocked it.

"Silver's already teaching me how to fight with a sword!'

He took another swing and Wren nimbly stepped out of his way.

"Wrong, Silver's teaching you how to swing a sword."

She flicked her stick at him and he just managed to block it.

"What's the difference?"

"The difference is…" Wren swept the sword from Jim's hand and it clattered to the ground, "whether you do die or not."

Jim watched the stick roll away and looked put out. Wren sighed, maybe she shouldn't have been so hard on him. She picked up the real sword from where it was leaning as Jim watched and drew it from its sheath.

The sunlight reflecting off the polished blade. It was straight and simple, tapering off at the end, thin and rigid. The leather handle worn and faded, the sheath an old, clean black covering. The balance was perfect, the three foot long blade was beautiful, deadly, dangerous, and strong. Wren swung it a few times. The sword easily cutting through the air. The flash of metal mesmerized Jim. Smiling she held the sword in front of her face.

"It's made of Circonian steel. Ten times lighter than iron and five times stronger."

She held the handle out to him and he looked surprised she smiled encouragingly.

"A sword is part of you, an extension of your arm, when you fight you shouldn't have to think about it."

Jim wrapped his hand around the handle and picked it up surprised at how well it fit into his hand.

"This is really nice."

"I would hope so, I paid a lot of silver for that hunk of metal."

Wren reached over to help Jim adjust his grip.

"So, with your freaky super strength why use a sword?"

Wren smiled, "I may be freaky strong but I'm not indestructible, if someone goes and stabs me I'm still gonna die, if someone goes and shoots me I'm still gonna bleed and I haven't always been…"

Wren bites her lip, she pulls her hands away.

"Now try a few swings."

Jim made cuts and Wren nodded. She lets him go, let the boy play with his manly toys as it were.

"Jimbo!"

Or not.

Wren sighed, Jim was all too eager to run to Silver's aid, they had gotten quite close and Wren couldn't help but feel slightly envious.

"You better go." She takes the sword from him and slides it back into its sheath, "the man doesn't like to be kept waiting."

Jim nods, "Thanks, I'll be right back."

Wren nodded, "Later." She knew he wasn't coming back. They never do. And who would? A new father figure and he'd gladly leave her in the dust. Someone finally shows up to fill up that emptiness that will eventually eat your heart away if you don't fill it, you don't ever want to leave them. Wren understood, she did the same thing. It doesn't mean that it didn't hurt a little, more than she would like to admit. Her first real friend in a long time and he dumped her for a forty year old, over-weight man, with obvious character issues; figures. Her pride was suffering. But she understood.

"Boys will be boys."


It was strange seeing old friends again, knowing they didn't change. But you did.

"So where did you get the crew Silver?"

Silver stopped mid chop. Here it goes

"What do you mean little bird?"

"I mean that's a pretty stupid lot out there where did you pick them up?"

"That's what I ask myself about you."

"Very funny Silver."

"I hear good things about you and Jimbo."

Wren quirked an eyebrow up at Silver.

"Don't change the subject."

"He's teaching you how to read and you're teach him how to fight, it's quite the arrangement."

"Don't get any ideas Silver."

"I'm just saying, I've seen those soap operas on the HG. It's how it all starts."

Wren looked over at Silver incredulously.

"You're insane, there's no way that's ever happening."

"Hey. You can do whatever you want, I ain't stopping ya."

"You never could Silver. We're just friends."

Crisis averted.

Silver nodded a mischievous look on his face. "Just friends? That's what they all say."

Wren groaned, "please don't start this now!"

"It's alright Wren, don't be scared."

"I'm not scared!"

"Oh I see! You're just nervous, there's no need to be. Here…" Silver clears his throat. "When a man loves a woman…."

Wren throws the carrot at him, "I know how it's done! I'm not an idiot!"

"Make sure you know who he's been with before, I don't want you catching any diseases."

"That's never gonna happen Silver!" Wren said her face turning red.

"You won't ask? Okay, but when you get some weird disease don't blame me."

"I meant we are never getting together."

That's a bit harsh isn't it Wren? I mean he's not a bad look'n boy."

"So what? He's still a boy."

Silver raised his eyebrows, "oh. I see! Well I suppose if girls are your thing…"

"Girls are not my thing!" Wren snapped flushed.

Silver grinned, "Alright if you say so. So then if it's boys, why not that boy."

"Because it's stupid." Wren tossed the radishes into the sink.

"What's wrong with him? Is he too short?"

"No."

"Too skinny?"

"No!"

"too stupid?"

"No! that's not it!"

"Oh I got it! You can't handle how he can actually keep up with your silver tongue."

"Nothing! There's nothing wrong with him!"

"Then why not keep him?"

"Since when have you been interested in me liking a boy? Last time I said a boy was nice you nearly chopped his ears off!"

"That was then, this is now!"

"Well now is not a good time. We're friends."

Silver placed a hand over his heart melodramatically, "What about love Wren? True love waits for no one!"

And with that Silver had successfully avoided Wren's questions.

Wren sighed, "Love doesn't exist Silver." She tosses the onion peels away, "so about that crew..."

"Oh Jimbo's calling me. Better go check it out."

Silver left without even saying good bye and Wren mutters, "of course." And punches the cabinet. "Of Jorking course."


"You're awfully quiet today." Captain Amelia noted.

Wren just continued working. She picked up another silver ornament and polished it.

"May I ask why?"

"I'm just thinking."

"A dangerous past time I'm sure."

Wren didn't rise to the bait, she wasn't in the mood to argue right now. She moved onto the next shelf wiping the cloth on the bulb until she could see her own distorted reflection in it. It was pretty ugly.

"Is this a permanent change Ms. Wren?"

The reflection sighed, Wren put the ornament down.

"I was learning how to read."

Captain Amelia's eyebrows shot up, "you were?"

Wren picks up another ornament and rolls her eyes, "don't laugh at me."

"What are you reading?"

Wren turned around to look at the captain who was nonchalantly reading papers, "What?"

Captain Amelia repeated, "what are you reading?"

Wren took out the book from where she was hiding it, "To kill a MockingWren."

The captain looked up in surprise. "A classic. Already?"

Wren shrugged, "Jim…The cabin boy gave it to me."

"I would've started you out on something easier." Amelia meant no insult by it, it was just practical, "but it's definitely a great book."

"Yeah it's great."

"Where are you right now?"

Wren opened the book, "It's Scout's first day of school, the teacher is asking about this kid's lunch."

Imagine that, she was actually holding a civil conversation with the captain.

"Would you read a little bit of it?"

"Captain?"

"I would love to hear some."

Wren couldn't tell if the captain was making fun of her or not.

"Go ahead."

Wren wet her lips and looked down at the book, "okay um…" she coughed.

"That's okay ma'am, you'll get to know all the county folks after a while. The Cunninghams never took anything they can't p-pay back – no church baskets and no scrip stamps. They never took anything off any-anybody, they get along on with what they have." Wren took a breath, "They don't have much, but they get along on it." Wren stopped and looked at the Captain unsure if she should continue.

"Well done Ms. Wren, it seems you're quite the reader."

"Uh. Thanks?" Wren said unsure how to respond.

Captain Amelia got up from her desk and perused the book shelf. She finally drew a book out from the others its cover faded and worn, some pages ear marked and creased.

"Here." The captain handed Wren the book.

Wren took it and looked at the cover, "Matilda. By Roald Dahl?"

Amelia sat back behind her desk. "It's a long O."

The illustration on the front pictured a small girl surrounded by piles of books. Wren turned the book over, "For hundreds of kids "The Trunchbull" is pure terror – for Matilda, she's a sitting duck." Wren smiled, "interesting."

"It's about a brilliant young girl who loves to read and has a great adventure. It's one of my personal favorites and Roald Dahl is a genius."

"Sounds kind of like "To Kill a MockingWren."

"I can assure you it is completely different."

Wren opened up to the first page. And after a minute of reading a big smile spreads across her face.

"Good right?"

"Very."

The captain watched Wren, what had seemed to be the most annoying of people turned out to be simply a person. Who could sit and smile to herself as she read a book. And be lost in her own blissful world.

"Go on ahead."

Wren looked up, "sorry?"

"I have nothing else for you to do today."

Wren looked at the captain strangely, "really?"

The captain nodded, "you are dismissed Ms. Wren."

Wren went to the door, "thanks." And left, more confused than ever.


"You're not holding an ax Jim, your hold should be more delicate."

"then I'll drop it."

"If you balance it right you won't…" Wren's voice trails off as she becomes reabsorbed into the story. Jim lets the point of the sword fall and he walks over.

"Where are you right now?"

"They're in school and this kid is dropping out." Wren mumbles.

"You've gotten really far."

"Only page 36."

"That's still pretty good if this is your first time reading Chastim."

"How much did you read after you're first few days?"

Jim smiled, "getting competitive aren't we?"

"Only when I'm losing."

"Fair enough."

Wren frowns, "What I don't understand is why he's dropping out. Why would a kid want to drop out?"

Jim looks strangely at Wren, "You obviously haven't seen some of the homework you have to do."

Wren shook her head, "I love Scout she's so…spunky."

Jim smiled, "I thought you would."

"I mean the teacher's an idiot. Why would she want to reteach Scout how to read? It just doesn't make any sense. Her job's already been done for her."

Jim looked over Wren's shoulder, "that's kind of the point, you're not supposed to like how the teacher teaches her students, and hate society for constricting how people think."

"Oh! That makes sense." She closes the book. "So that grip needs work."

"Parry! Thrust! Left! Right! Parry! Thrust! Left! Right! Put your back into it!"

Jim blocked Wren's overhead slice and he thrust, followed by a quick left and right cut, which Wren easily blocked.

"Right block! Left block!"

Jim followed Wren's commands and avoided getting smacked by the stick.

By now the crew had gathered onto the deck again and started placing bets, there wasn't much else to do. They laughed whenever Jim missed and got smacked with Wren's 'sword'. Jim thrust and missed Wren, who slid to the side and whacked him on the butt. He rubbed his behind with a wince. As the crew burst out laughing.

"Focus puppy eyes." Wren pulled Jim's attention back to her. And he nodded.

The kid was good, great even, it was unbelievable how fast Jim was learning.

Wren attacked him and he blocked her cut and followed with a quick cut across the middle. Wren took a step back and followed with a series of quick diagonal cuts. Jim managed to block most of them but Wren saw an opening and quickly smacked Jim's wrist, gently of course. He dropped the stick on instinct and sighed.

"Don't sigh puppy eyes, most people would've been dead a lot sooner."

Jim twitched a smile and picked his stick up again.

Wren came at him making all of her cuts and blocks slower so he would have time to see and react.

"Left!" Wren shouted in a warning. And Jim successfully blocked it.

He smiles,

"Up!" Wren comes down on him.

"Right!" Jim parries and makes a swing at her. She lets him score a hit and it was totally worth it as a smile lights up his face, his very, very pretty face. He nearly jumps around in delight and Wren rolls her eyes.

"Pay attention Jim." Wren spins and swept Jim's legs out from under him.

"Ow." Jim fell and looked up at Wren.

"You paying attention now?" Wren grinned and rested the stick on her shoulder.

"My butt sure is."

Wren smacked him again. "Watch that pretty mouth of yours puppy eyes. Up."

Jim got to his feet.

"You can't go easy on the boy Wren!"

Wren snapped her eyes onto the onlookers.

"Excuse me?"

"Move aside girl I'll show you how a man fights."

A well-muscled sailor with stringy black hair and a reptilian tongue took up a mop and popped off the cleaning end.

"I'm in the middle of a lesson here." Wren said menacingly.

"Please, you couldn't hurt a fly with the way you've been fighting. Now move so that the men can show you how to fight with a sword."

"I could hurt you."

The reptilian scoffed and leaned down to Wren's height his forked tongue flicking out of his mouth, "You're nothing but a girl pretending to be a boy."

"Better than a boy pretending to be a man."

The sailor tensed up his muscles coiling underneath his scaly skin. Wren gripped her stick golden eyes shooting daggers.

"You wanna go girl? I could wipe this floor with your ass."

"Go ahead and try bitch."

"Is that a challenge?"

"What do you think?"

They growled at each other. Wren's entire body was tense, she didn't know why she was so angry, she just was, and it frustrated her. Her entire mind had focused, the anger wasn't visible but it thrummed through the air as she stared down the offender.

"Hey ugly!"

Everyone looked over at Jim.

"I got dibs on you."

Jim raised his stick to the reptilian grinning. The sailor smirked right back and shoved past Wren who glared at his back.

"What are you gonna do boy? Talk me to death?"

"Jim…" She warned.

"Don't worry I got this." Jim smiled encouragingly at her.

Wren nearly smacked her forehead. Jim didn't understand, they weren't just sailors they were pirates which meant they actually had experience with the pointy object. He had no idea what he was walking into.

"Ready boy?"

Jim faced the pirate his sword raised in a ready position. The sailor merely rolled his eyes and laughed looking over at his comrades.

Jim watched the sailor's easy stance and he readjusted his grip suddenly nervous. Jim waited for scaly to make the first move, all he got for a hint was the sailor's black eyes narrowing and a split second later the stick swung down heavily on Jim who barely blocked it his hand tingling. Jim backed up shaking his hand out. A smile lit the sailors face. The stick in his hand blurred again and Jim tried to block but the stick slammed against his ribs. He stumbled back gasping. Wren took a breath and had to hold onto the ship's rail to keep herself from running in and helping Jim.

Jim blocked an attack at his right side but was too slow to block his left, the sailor cracked his sword across Jim's shoulder. Jim winced and tried his own attack which was easily parried and was counterattacked with a blow to his hip. Jim was getting battered left and right

"You're useless cabin boy! Better give up now!"

"Go home to your mommy!"

Jim looked down.

"You ain't any good cabin boy!"

"You're hopeless!"

Wren bit her lip watching her friend get beat to a pulp. Each blow a sharp pain in her gut. Most of the time she'd be able to laugh along and she'd let Jim get his well-deserved beating but she found herself chewing her lip and wanting to scream for someone to do something. Every muscle was coiled and painfully tensed.

Jim sweated gasping trying to find a way to land a hit on the sailor. The reptile was grinning, absolutely enjoying beating up the teenager. But the sailor was cocky and confidant, it allowed a small opening for Jim to go in and whack the sailor's elbow. The other sailor's burst out laughing and the sailor growled. Wren closed her eyes unable to watch. The reptile advanced on Jim, Jim had no chance to avoid the onslaught; left shoulder, block, block. Slam on the knee, parry, smack on the forearm, block. Left side.

Jim gasped barely managing to hold his sword up. He felt bruises start to form from the blows, his arms trembled from holding up the weighted stick.

"Give up boy!"

Jim shook his head sweat pouring down his face, he refused to give up. The reptile grinned seeing the boy as an injured animal ready to be devoured.

The sailor slashed at Jim and Jim raised his sword in a feeble attempt to block it. The stick flew from his grasp and his eyes flew open wide.

"Good night cabin boy."

The reptile raised his stick above his head in a finishing blow a sardonic smile cracked on his face. Jim raised his arms to protect himself closing his eyes.

The cheers from the watching crew slowed down. Jim watched as the sword came down on him. God this is going to hurt.

Suddenly Wren appeared infront of Jim, her golden eyes flashed, like cold hard metal. Dark hair rippling in the wind, she flew in like a guardian angel, only angrier. She blocked the sailor's oncoming blow Jim's sword miraculously appearing in her right hand. The serpent didn't stand a chance. Wren glared at the attacker, her right arm blurred and the sailor's eyes widened before Jim's sword slammed into the underside of his jaw.

The sailor went flying. Jim watched as he sailed in a smooth arc before crashing to the planks. Wren twisted the two sticks with her wrists letting them spin in circles at her sides. Jim watched as Wren tucked the sticks underneath her arms and turned around to run a concerned eye over JIm. The pirate groaned, and sat up holding his tender chin.

"You okay Jim?"

Jim winced when she touched his arm and nodded, "yeah I'm fine."

"You sure?" she reached out to look at a welt forming on his cheek.

He pulled away, "I'm fine."

Wren bit her lip and put her hand down. "Okay."

Jim refused to look at Wren, he hated himself for being so weak. So puny and useless he had to rely on a girl half his weight to protect him. He didn't need anybody, he shouldn't need anybody, he didn't want to need anybody. Jim held his arm not wanting to look at Wren.

"Go get some ice on that."

Jim nodded and limped away, Silver was going up the stairs to see what all the noise was about and he saw Jim bloody and beaten. Jim refused to meet Silver's eyes and slowly retreated down the stairs wanting to disappear. Jim leaned against the wall holding back tears grimacing in pain, he slid down the wall and curled up into a ball.

I want to disappear.

Silver walked onto the deck to see Wren leaning over a reptilian sailor. She held the practice swords in her hands. The other crew members were on their feet. She said something to him and Silver could see Wren was absolutely livid. The reptile spat something back at her, Wren's eyes flashed and before anyone could do anything Wren back handed his stick with such explosive force the mop handle flew out of his hands and slammed into the side of the ship like a missile.

"You are gonna leave Jim alone! Do you hear me? Or next time it's your neck!"

"Jork you."

Wren back handed the sailor across the face and his head whipped to the side.

"What did you say?"

The sailor spat, "Jork. You."

Wren cracked her right hand across his face again.

"You want another?"

"Jork yeah."

Wren raised her hand and Silver decided to step in. She was everything Silver had taught her to be. Strong, merciless, and cold. He taught her well, perhaps a little too well.

"Wren stop."

The sword hovered in the air and she turned around, golden eyes still blazing. He needed to control her, she was running rampant out from under his watchful eye. She was quickly becoming a threat rather than an asset. The truth of it was that she was getting too good, too strong, too fast, too smart. She was a threat. He couldn't control her anymore. She could tear him apart, she didn't need him anymore, and he was terrified of it.

"I think Radley has had enough don't you?"

Wren frowned at Silver who was walking over.

The reptile sitting on the deck spat, "This bitch doesn't know when to quit."

Wren's eyes blazed, she whipped around and cracked her sword against his face, and the sailor flew sideways and was knocked out cold.

Wren turned back around, "Silver, can you believe what that idiot tried to…"

Silver stepped up to her and without a word back handed her across the face.

There was silence.

Complete.

Absolute.

Silence.

Wren's eyes opened wide, she reached up one hand to feel the cheek he hit, surprise freezing her limbs from moving, her first instinct would have been to hit him back, but her mind was suddenly blank.

She stood there still recoiling from shock and everyone froze.

Silver put his hand down, "when I tell you something, you listen."

Wren looked at him numbly.

Silver frowned at her and she tried to find the Silver she knew and loved among all the darkness and fear.

"Silver…"

"Know your place girl." He said coldly.

Wren's bottom lip trembled, how did it end up like this?

"Silver…" she said in a small voice.

Silver ignored her plea and yelled at her, "go!"

Wren took a step back still holding her face, disbelief, confusion, and betrayal shining bright in her eyes. She took another shaky step back before turning on her heels and running away.

Silver took a deep breath.

He had won.

He had established his control once again.

The crew knew.

Silver knew.

She knew.

But at what price?


Silver found Jim slowly scrubbing a mountain of dishes, bright purple bruises spreading across his exposed skin. Jim seemed to be lost in another world his eyes blank and uncomprehending.

"Here Jimbo."

Silver held out an ice pack and Jim accepted. Morph chirruped and settled on Jim's shoulder, and Jim promptly winced.

"How's it going with you and Wren?"

"Not now Silver."

"It'll take your mind off things."

"I doubt that." Jim ground out.

Silver shrugged, "Fine."

There was a long silence.

"I'm taking your advice Silver, I'm avoiding sailor ladies."

Silver sat down, "when did I tell you that?"

"a few weeks ago when you were drunk."

"seriously?"

"Yep, and everyone else was talking about it too and money, lots of money. Some crazy stuff went down."

Silver coughed, damn.

"Well Wren is no ordinary sailor."

Jim laughed, "she's no ordinary human."

"I have my suspicions she's not human at all."

"That would explain it."

"But what's wrong with her?"

Silver found himself pursuing the same line of questioning with Jim as with Wren earlier.

"It's not like there's something wrong with her." Jim said glumly.

With the same results.

"Then why not pursue the young lady?"

Jim looked at Silver, "Isn't she like your daughter or something?"

If she was, she isn't any more, "not quite. Besides I couldn't stop her if she wanted something, or someone."

"I bet."

"She not your type?"

"No. She's my type."

"Too outgoing?"

"better than shy."

"She's not hideous, I mean you take what you can get."

"She's actually kinda pretty you know." Jim said defending his friend.

"Oh! So you do like her!"

"No! We're friends Silver!" Jim seemed to have left his morose mood behind. He stood up but winced at his aching muscles and had to sit down again.

"Ah. Young love."

Jim shook his head moving onto a pot. "Love is pain and deception. It's a lie."

These two are exactly alike, only one he had managed to piss off.

Silver felt horrible of course for hitting Wren but there really was no other option.

He was a pirate? Sure. A criminal? Yes. A murderer? One of the best. But hitting Wren, the closest thing he had to a daughter, the one person he had ever trusted; had hurt him so bad it felt like someone had stabbed his large gut and tore out his insides. He had made his choice, she had made hers and now he hoped it could only play out in his favor. He had chosen the treasure over her and now he thought that maybe, just maybe, it was a bad idea.


Silver looked at Jim sleeping. The boy was exhausted. He could see the purple bruise creeping up the boy's neck. It must've hurt. The dishes however sparkled, not a spec of dust on any of them. Morph chirruped and Silver hushed him, he rubbed his neck. Taking off his own coat he draped it gently over Jim who had his head resting on the last bowl. Jim stirred, but quickly resettled and went back to sleep. The poor boy. Silver sighed and slowly went up the stairs. He rubbed his face stepping out into the cool air breathing it in and letting the quiet wash over him.

"Who are you Silver?"

Silver stopped he closed his eyes and slowly turned around.

"You know what I am."

"Wrong." Wren emerged from the shadow of the mast. "I knew who you were."

Silver turned around fully to look at her. "Are you angry at me?"

"What the Jork do you think?" Wren spat.

Silver rolled his eyes, making Wren even angrier. "and why is that?" he drawled.

"You know damn well why. Him. Them. This!" She points, "I'm here and you're acting like you don't even know me. You Jorking hit me!" She hissed.

"I wonder why." Silver turned away.

She grabbed his arm and turned him back around.

"I should've hit you right back. What the Undalaq Silver? Why are you treating me like this?"

Silver rolled his eyes, "You're acting like a teenage girl."

Wren clenched her jaw, "so what? Just because I'm finally acting like a rational human being you don't want me?"

Wren was drowning in her own confusion, strange feelings of, betrayal, hurt, and pain flooding her mind like someone had blown the damns wide open. And it only left pure, horrible anger. And without water to put it out it would consume everything.

"All this talking about our feelings does not work for me."

"And the alternative didn't work either! Just what is going on? You just tossed me aside like a Jorking piece of trash and you think I won't be angry about it? I traveled halfway across the galaxy to see you again! I've nearly had my arm cut off for you! I worshiped you for six years of my entire life! And the second some doe eyed boy comes it's like I don't even exist! Like you don't want me. Why is it like this Silver?" Wren looked at Silver who was avoiding her golden eyes. When he didn't answer she nearly screamed, "answer me!"

"MAYBE it's because I don't want you!" Silver finally yelled.

Wren was shocked into silence.

Silver instantly wished he could take it back. He saw her pure golden eyes cloud up and stare at him. The guilt settling in his stomach was horrible upon seeing Wren's stricken face. Not again.

"Wren…"

Wren turned away.

Silver felt his heart give away, "Little bird…"

"I am not your little bird." Wren spat. She looked at him golden eyes burning bright, not a single tear in sight, "You've made that clear."


Amelia watched as Dr. Doppler arranged his books, she wondered if the canine's happiness derived from doing boring things like sort books and look at stars. She watched in fascination as Dr. Doppler picked up one book after another and after careful examination put them into their correct piles. It was all so very fascinating and amusing. There was of course a certain tranquility about it, he whistled as he went about his work, completely complacent and content. There was no rush, like it would be done, whenever it would be done and Captain Amelia couldn't understand that. She tilted her head to the side ears perking up as she tried to figure out the puzzle. She watched a few more moments in silence while the oblivious doctor moved around in his rumpled bathrobe.

"What are you doing?" Amelia was never one for subtleties.

Dr. Doppler yelped and fell over backwards. He knocked over the books and they tumbled into a heap.

"Oh! Dear! Um. Sorting books." Dr. Doppler adjusted his glasses trying to stand up and a book fell on his head.

"Well sorry to bother you. Please, go one with whatever you were doing."

Dr. Doppler nodded, "of course! Unless you need something." He looked at her with his big brown eager-to-please eyes and Amelia sighed starting to feel bad.

"I'm looking…"

"Captain. I'm afraid we have had a change in the wind." Mr. Arrow clomped down the hallway, imposing as ever. He stopped by Amelia's side and glared down at Dr. Doppler.

"I'll attend to it immediately." She turned to the Doctor and nodded, "Good day doctor."

Dr. Doppler nodded his head vigoriously, "Yes! Yes. Good day." He hastily shut the door.

"What was that about?"

"What was what about?" Amelia asked walking briskly to her office.

"That back there."

Amelia turned to her first mate. "I was curious. Such a boring person doesn't seem real, I find him intriguing."

"He's a canine Captain."

"And a brilliant one Mr. Arrow, I don't see why you are being so morose about this."

"Must you visit his rooms?"

"I was merely walking by." Amelia stopped, "Please do tell me why you insist on pursuing this line of inquiry Mr. Arrow."

Mr. Arrow looked at the ground, blushing, if it were possible. "We haven't had a lot of time together is all."

Amelia rolled her eyes, "Is that what this is about? Don't be daft. The doctor just happens to be very different from anyone I've met, there is nothing to distract me."

Mr. Arrow smiled, "that is good news captain."

Captain Amelia grinned, "you know I love it when you call me that that."

"What Captain?"

"Oh stop it. Now you're just being coy."

"Just showing you proper respect."

"Don't you have better things to do than be polite?"

"That is unfortunately true, Mr. Scroop is acting out again. I'll go attend to my business now if I may."

"You're dismissed Mr. Arrow."

"Much obliged." He smiled, "Captain." He said huskily and walked away.

Captain Amelia allowed a smile to light up her face before smoothing back her hair and continuing on her way.


Silver finally felt better.

He wasn't a good cook.

He wasn't a good role model.

He wasn't even a good adoptive father.

But what he was good at was making sure nothing got between him and his treasure.

Silver paced, slowly, for the effect, looking at every sniveling, stupid pirate that he had gathered. They had all gathered in the kitchen. A strange place for the headquarters, but you take what you can get. Silver stared each and every one of the boneheaded symbiots, pacing and starring. Now even with his peg leg Silver's gait was legendary. If anything it was even better with the mechanical leg effect. Step, thud. Step, thud. Step…Thud. Wren always said Silver had an eye for the dramatic.

He pursed his lips walking past the fat tentacled creature, annoyance rolling off him in waves.

"Now if I didn't know better," he started off softly, hands behind his back.

"I would've thought you all. " He stopped and faced the crew.

He flipped his hand to a shining sword.

"WHERE A BUNCH OF Half wit! Dumbass," He swiped his sword at the trembling crew members, "dithering bunch of buffooons! Made of FRESH WATER TAFFEY! He stuck the sword through the table.

"Now WHO in here thought it was a good idea to blab about LOOT AND LADY PARTS? IN FRONT OF THE CABIN BOY?!" Silver pointed his blade threateningly in all directions.

"You idiotic, featherbrained, mothballs! He clenched his jaw.

All you wenches are gonna keep your gob shut! Or I'll sow it shut! Permanently! We need that boy to trust us! He's the one with the map! And if he thinks we have even the slightest inkling of that treasure or who we are, we're off the ship do ya understand you porcupine stuffed quims?"

Silver glared at the Cyclops who ducked his head.

"Now you twits! To make sure it don't happen again. None of you are allowed to drink a single drop until my hands are around Flint's stinking treasure! Are we clear you boneheaded ninnies?!"

Of course the hard drinkers and alcoholics all protested to that.

"Shut up you slobbering jackasses! You all follow my orders, and if you think you've got any better plans, you take it up with the end of my blade here! Now who's …"

Through the loud yelling and shouting, a clear sharp sound cut through the rabble.

Clap.

Clap.

Clap.

Silver looked over to see Wren leaning against the doorframe. Her small hands cracking together slowly, a sardonic smile spread across her face. Her claps stop and she pushed herself off the doorframe.

"Well, well. It looks like you've been busy Silver."

Silver remains silent.

Wren smirks walking past the staring pirates.

"Now I see why you joined up with these idiots, it'll be like taking candy from a baby."

The crew protested.

Wren didn't even look at them, tilting her head to the right.

"What were you thinking Silver?"

Silver's lip twitched.

"You're smarter this, so that means…"

Wren grinned

"Either you suddenly got stupid, or you suddenly got desperate."

Silver clenched his jaw hating how stupid Wren made him look.

"Desperate it is then." Wren pursed her lips, "I'm a bit disappointed you didn't invite me to the party."

She was too angry to be funny, her usual quip remarks had burned as her fury incinerated everything in it's path.

Silver knew he wouldn't receive any mercy from Wren, and lord knew he deserved anything that was coming to him.

Wren walked in a circle around her former ally the look in her eyes could kill. Silver glared right back a small war fought in their gazes.

The crew watched the two face off. They felt like they were caught in the middle of battle between a hurricane and an earthquake. The tension in the room was so heavy that they shrank back against the walls not wanting to be at the center of the inevitable fight.

Silver had the upper hand, he had caught Wren off guard and had taken the first point, but she didn't seem at all fazed now. Her vicious intent clear in her eyes. She stopped her pacing and planted herself in front of him.

"You were so close." She grinned absolutely loving the look in his eyes, drinking in his despair. "So close."

Wren didn't know if the hurting would ever stop. She didn't know if it would ever cease to feel like her heart had been ripped out of her chest. Like someone stabbed her in the back. Like her whole world was collapsing in on her and no space shuttle to escape on.

It wasn't the slap that hurt. No. No slap could hurt this bad. She could handle him kicking her, punching her. She could handle him throwing her off a ship and burying her alive. But she couldn't handle how he had tossed her aside like a piece of trash.

She had trusted him, worshiped him, he had taught her everything she knew. And now, when she was back stronger, faster, smarter than ever before; he didn't want her.

"You blew it Silver." Wren's eyes turned stone cold.

They were the perfect mayhem creating duo, but now it was over, with a few misunderstandings, a self-serving slap, and a few misplaced words; the greatest crime creating duo the universe had ever seen, and ever will see; had splintered apart.

"What do you want Wren?" Silver grit out.

Wren grinned taking a step forward, "Nothing."

"You're lying."

"And you misunderstand me." She said simply.

"When we do arrive at the mythical place where all our dreams come true. If you aren't dead already." She trailed her finger along the table. "You will get nothing." She glared at him. "You will see nothing. You will touch nothing." She pointed at Silver. "Then, you will become nothing. No one will remember you, no one will know you name, you will disappear into oblivion and be wiped out of existence."

Silver sweated, this was the monster he had created. If he hadn't been on the receiving end he would've been proud.

Game face Wren.

Who will be the first to crack?

"Be on guard Silver, I can destroy you wherever, and whenever I please."

Wren backed away a half mad smile on her face.

"Of course I'm going to punish you for that slap later, but I'll let you stew in your own juices first."

The crew had watched this whole exchange in silence, but suddenly realized the huge threat Wren posed. It would be unfortunate if one small girl happened to disappear during the night.

"Don't get any ideas boys, although I doubt you can have any. I have no quarrel with you, you stay out of my way and I'll stay out of yours." She glared at them, "got that?"

The crew backed up again and stayed put.

"You can't do this."

Wren smiled sweetly, "I can and I will." She turns and walks up the stairs.

"You don't understand Wren!" Silver yelled pleading, "this is what I've been searching for my entire life! This is Flint's treasure! The loot of a thousand worlds! I have to do this! I'm sorry! I'm sorry I hit you. Just don't do this! Please just stop it!"

Wren turned around, without a trace of a smile on her face.

"Go to hell Silver."

And slammed the door behind her.


Silver needed to get away, far, far away, and take a breath.

"Get the port pully!"

Jim nimbly leaped across the deck and untied the rope. And watched it snake out from the eye screws. The skiff dropped from the port into the star filled sky, the sail popped up snapping open and the engine roared carrying Silver farther and farther away from his problems.

The entire situation had spiraled out of control at one point it felt like he held everyone's strings in his hands but it seemed he had dropped them. Wren was after him, she was howling for his blood, and knowing the girl his death would be a long and painful decent into hell. How did it end up like this? Silver had done what he thought was best. His Wren, His baby bird, thought he abandoned her. She thought he didn't want her anymore. She thought he had betrayed her. He wanted her to understand that he had to hit her, to show a tough face to the crew. But she didn't. What had he done? How could he be so stupid? His treacherous mind kept flashing back to her betrayed face. He had to get her back, but how? Maybe he could bribe… No. This was Wren, she was worth more than that. Somehow he would have to earn her trust back, in anyway possible. He never thought someone's opinion mattered so much.

Who else had Silver hurt?

Jimbo.

Silver looked behind him and saw Jim standing all alone at the port.

He had screwed up once, he didn't intend to do so again. Turning the skiff around he sailed up underneath the port and seeing the smile light up Jim's face, knew he had made the correct decision.


"Where's Jim?"

Kevin turned around wearily, "He went down to the loading bay last time I saw."

"Thanks."

Wren jogged away, the adrenaline that had fueled her during the fight had finally drained away and now she was just tired, so very tired. And she was suddenly feeling very unsure, scared even, she had a sinking feeling that something horrible was going to happen. She ran down the stairs and saw Jim pulling the skiff out of the black.

"Ji…"

Silver came up next to him, Wren clamped her mouth shut and ducked behind a crate.

Jim laughed pulling at the rope, "You having a little trouble there?"

Silver huffed struggling with the rope, he wasn't as young as he used to be, he pushed the boy away with a smile, "Oh. get away from me."

The two tied off the small boat, "Oh Jimbo!" he mopped his brow. "If I could maneuver a skiff like that when I was your age they'd be bowing in the streets when I walked today." Silver collapsed on the bench.

Morph mimicked him, "bowing in the streets. Phew."

Jim grinned, "I don't know. They weren't exactly singing my praises when I left home." He sits as well and sighs, "but I'm gonna change all that."

Silver wiped his brow, "Are you now?" he looks over at Jim, "How so?"

Wren starred at her boots hiding in the shadows.

"I got some plans." Jim leaned back putting his arms behind his head, "Gonna make people see me a little different."

Wren winced, Silver looked at morph, "oh. Sometimes," he frowned, "plans go astray."

Jim closed his eyes, "Not this time."

Silver frowned realizing he was going to be the one to destroy this boy's dreams. When had it all gotten so complicated? He suddenly felt a twinge in his leg, with a grimace he propped it up and pulls the leg of his trousers up to reveal the whirring piece of machinery forever a piece of him. Morph saw Silver struggle with the screw and shaped himself into a wrench.

"Oh. Thank you morph."

Jim looked over and bit his lip, "so, how'd that happen anyway."

Silver looked at his mechanical hand.

"You give up a few things, chasing a dream."

Wren frowned behind her box, guilt suddenly plaguing her, it was her fault he was like this. It was all her fault. She messed up.

Jim looked at Silver's downcast face, "Was it worth it?"

Wren was still angry but the guilt had started to creep in. She had to leave before her nerve left her. She crept up the stairs hoping no one heard her.

Silver chuckled and pulled his hat down over his face, "I'm hoping it is Jimbo." He grinned, "I most surely am."

Suddenly an explosion hit the boat. Jim was thrown forward as the skiff swung back and forth the ropes straining. Silver managed to hold himself steady as Morph screamed.

"What the devil?"

Silver raced up the stairs, a stumbling cabin boy hot on his heels. He saw Wren silhouetted at the top of the stairs, staring at the dying star.

"This is not what I meant by oblivion."


Sorry these are taking so long to write, but it's going to be much easier from here on out so fingers crossed. Thanks to anyone whose reviewed, favorited, and followed, sending kisses your way.

I put alot of time adding in hints to Wren's past scattered throughout this chapter and the last chapter. Hopefully some of you picked up on that.

If anyone has any random words you'd like to lend me that would be fantastic because they're all starting to sound the same to me.

Thanks for reading!