Chapter 9 NEW YORK HARBOR NOVEMBER 1899
A splash of water to my face was what woke me up the day of departure.
I glared at the offending sailboat. "Really?" I asked. She grinned. "Wakey, wakey sleepybow!" She teased.
I growled. "Wakey, wakey this." I snapped and lunged at her. She squealed in fright and raced off.
"I have had it with you stupid, irritating little seaworms!" I yowled, chasing after her.
Britannic and Majestic were docked nearby, watching my progress with some amusement.
I chased the sailboat into the Brooklyn Navy Yard only to be led right into a trap.
At least a dozen other sailboats were hiding in the slipways and they appeared out in the open, scrabbling on me.
It was my turn to run. "AH!" I yowled, racing back out into the harbor with a flotilla of sailboats on my stern.
Everyone busted up laughing. "Run Oceanic, run!" Majestic called.
"They're gaining." Britannic added. Atlantic was over at customs, watching me. She didn't say anything but her eyes were alight with mirth.
"Atlantic, come over here and help me!" I called. "No can do Oceanic. I think I'll sit this one out." She replied.
I growled, remembering that I had done the same thing in Southampton.
"Get off me you filthy barnacles." I ordered as two of the sailboats jumped on me.
They ignored my demand and in a sudden move, rolled me over on my side and pinned me down.
"Get her!" The others cried. It was a good old fashioned pile on as one by one, the sailboats clambered on top of me.
"Oh come on!" I complained. Only once I was sufficiently pinned did Atlantic intervene.
"Okay, okay come on now. Oceanic's not a play toy, now off you go." She ordered.
Squealing with delight, they scrambled off and raced away. Atlantic helped me back to an even keel.
"Thank you." I said. She nodded. "Now do you see what I mean?" She asked.
"Definitely." I replied. "Good." She said.
She frowned. "I heard what you said. Apparently no one has told you that I don't allow cussing in my line."
"Oh you're in trouble now." Majestic hissed. "No, they didn't." I replied calmly.
"Unfortunately, I cannot let this one slide. If you were an ordinary crosser maybe but as my deputy, you need to set a good example." Atlantic turned her head to reach for something and when she turned back at me, she held something gingerly in her mouth.
She set it down in front of me. "Now I want you to hold that in your mouth until it melts." She ordered.
I looked down at the bar of hand soap uncertainly. "I thought it'd be ambergris." I said to no one in particular.
Atlantic gave a hiss through her teeth. "I don't believe in killing whales for that stuff and besides, it's way too expensive." She replied coolly.
Clearly, I had offended her with my words. "Sorry, I didn't know." I said quickly.
She sighed. "It's okay. But you still need to eat that." She replied. I groaned.
"Oh come on, it's not that bad." She said. "No, it's worse." Britannic whispered.
"Thank you very much sis." Atlantic called to her. "Just trying to help." Britannic replied innocently.
"No, you're just trying to cause trouble, as usual." Atlantic replied. Looking a little miffed at her sister's words, Britannic backed down.
She turned back to me. "Go on, pick it up." She ordered. Sighing, I did what Atlantic told.
Gripping the soap firmly between my teeth, I dipped my head and returned to my berth.
Atlantic turned back to her place in the customs line. She joined me a few hours later.
"How's that soap holding out?" She asked. "I think I'm gonna be sick." I replied, my voice muffled.
It had melted partially, but not enough for me to swallow what remained.
She chuckled. "Not to encourage you or anything but if you have to go ahead. I won't ask you to work if you are." She said.
"Yeah, fat chance. I'm working no matter what." I said. Her eyes narrowed.
"I'm not helpless yet, Oceanic so stop treating me like I am." She hissed. I shrugged. "You can deny it all you want but I know you Atlantic. I know you're in pain and I want to help."
She sighed. She knew I was right but she wouldn't admit it to herself or anyone else just yet.
"I know you do, but I've been taking care of myself long before you were born. Having Propellerous won't change that." She said.
I nodded. She brushed against me. "Remember what I told you. It's not what you think in your head, it's what strength lies in your heart." She whispered.
"I understand." I replied. "Good, now I believe it is almost noon. You better get going." She ordered.
"Will I see you in Southampton?" I asked. "Most likely, yes you will." She replied.
"If not, then in passing." I dipped my head and turned out of the harbor for Southampton England.
I tried to hide my disgust as JP Morgan boarded me again. "Just be glad I'm not Atlantic. She'd toss you around no end." I hissed.
"Aw, Oceanic you do care. How sweet." He said. I gritted my teeth.
"I don't care about you and never will. If anything, I'm just warning you to keep your distance. Buying up the Red Star Line was enough to get the government's attention and if I recall some certain activity in the past, it's not a good thing to get on the bad side of the British government." I hissed.
I watched with amusement as his face turned bright red. "Oceanic, you filthy salty wench!" He growled.
It was my turn to be angry. I felt my face flush and knew it was not from embarrassment.
Hearing my thoughts, the helmsman shook his head. "Brace yourselves boys, I think Oceanic's about to teach JP a lesson." He warned.
Everyone, including the captain, grabbed onto something solid. "Oceanic?" Captain Smith asked.
"What are you going to do?" I grinned evilly. "How tough a stomach does JP have?" I asked.
"You are one evil little deputy, you know that?" He praised me. I shrugged. "It's a gift." I replied.
Coming off a swell, I smashed down into the trough, giving everyone a good toss but particularly JP who didn't have a chance to brace himself.
He would've been thrown overboard if not for grabbing hold of the rail at the last second.
"Oceanic!" He complained. "Let's see just how long you last." I muttered and continued my pitching, adding the occasional roll there just for effect.
It wasn't long before people began to emerge from their staterooms. Whether they ran to the toilets or to the rail, either way, they spilled their guts.
JP, however strong he was, could not hold back and dashing over to the rail, he spewed his luncheon.
I laughed, as did the rest of the bridge. "How're you guys holding out?" I asked.
The helmsman relayed my question. "So far, so good." They all replied. I nodded.
"Alright, batten down the hatches it's gonna be a rough ride." I warned and charged the ocean swells.
Usually I was pretty stable on the sea. I'd only pitch and roll in storms and even then the effect was negligible. I was forcing myself to move erratically and the calm weather wasn't helping. For the first time, I found myself praying for a storm.
"Be careful what you wish for." Captain Smith muttered. I sighed. I could've stopped at any time but I chose not to because JP needed a lesson in humility.
Captain Smith called a meeting with the crew and told them what was going on. With huge grins on their faces, they told all the passengers except JP.
"We are gonna be so busted for this." Captain Smith muttered. "I know but it's so worth it." I replied.
"Totally." He agreed. With a huge grin on my face, I charged onwards to Southampton. Not once did I let up on the pitching.
It was only as we entered the harbor that I stopped. The reprieve was enough to settle the passenger's stomachs but they would still look green as we docked.
Campania watched their progress down the gangway.
"What did you do?" She asked. "Gave JP the old seafaring lesson." I replied.
She laughed. "And how is the old bugger?" She asked. "He's doing alright but I think it's safe to say he won't be eating anything for a while." I replied.
We watched as he stumbled down to the dock. Once there, he fixed me with a furious glare.
"One of these days, Oceanic." He growled. "What, you didn't have enough of a tossing?" I asked.
"I don't know why you bother. You and your line are finished." I loomed over him, stately and imposing.
I bared my teeth. "Is that a threat?" I hissed. JP, to his credit, did not cower. He just glared back defiantly.
"It's a promise." He spat and before I could respond, he whirled around and stalked off, my angry gaze following him as he went.
"He just never learns." I growled. Campania shrugged. "Ignore him." She ordered.
"He's a right foul arse that has no room to talk." She said. "That's just it Campania. He's a threat to White Star and Cunard. I simply cannot just let him be." I replied.
"I rest my case." She sighed. She turned to go. "Campania." I called. She paused.
"Yes Oceanic?" She asked. "Tell Lucania to be on guard. JP Morgan will not stop with one line." I warned.
She dipped her head and sailed off. I raised my head to look at the stars sparkling overhead.
I knew Olympic was watching me but it wasn't the same as having her here.
I needed her, and Lucania. Oh god, Lucania. Because of my foolishness, we could most likely never be friends again.
Oh what have I done!
"Lucania, I know that you are angry with me and you have every right to be. I do not expect you to forgive me for my crimes. I just want you to know, that you were and always will be my friend and I will stand by you, as a friend should." I whispered.
What I didn't know is that across the docks, Lucania was whispering the same thing.