Author's Note:

Well… because I'm such an action-crazed maniac, I think I'll have another fight -or something of the like- either in this chapter or the next… or maybe both! (Ooh)

Day Twenty, Voyage One

Dearest friends and family,

My wound has finally healed over, with no further sign of infection, and I'm no longer feeling ill. I suppose now I'll be adept to venturing around the ship once more… but I'll be wary of the darker corners of the lower decks.

Rebecca paused, smoothing her left hand over her cheek. The wound had left no scar, but nonetheless the event had left an unseen impression upon the young woman. She knew now that she had to be much more careful while she didn't have an escort with her.

She set down her fountain pen when she heard something above her, a scuffling likely on the main deck of the ship. She corked the inkbottle and left the page open in her pocketbook so the ink could dry properly.

The young woman silently left her room and walked stealthily to the main deck. There was no one in sight and her footsteps echoed eerily against the floorboards. The closer she approached to the main deck, the louder the scuffling grew, accompanied by a thunderous roar of rowdy cheers.

Rebecca stepped onto the main deck and saw a chaotic state of being. Nearly every sailor was surrounding a small group of sailors, who were having a free-for-all brawl in the circle's centre. The sailors around the circle were chanting rhythmically, taking sides on who would likely win in the fight.

The young woman was speechless, and perhaps a little annoyed. Why was it that every time she decided to venture out of her quarters that something bad happened?

She skimmed the crowds, none of her friends were amongst the spectators but she could see that amongst the brawlers there was one nibble body.

"Simon?" Rebecca breathed. She hurried towards the crowd of sailors.

Unfortunately for Rebecca, the sailors were standing too close beside each other to allow her any access to the fight.

Suddenly, a loud boom of a cannon echoed across the main deck, halting the brawl. The sailors looked at the source of the noise, noticing that one of the starboard side manual-loading cannons had been fired.

Tristan Mantra, his hair neatly tucked under his tri-pointed hat, stood casually at the smoking cannon. He was holding the long pole-like device used to push the cannon ball into the depths of the barrel in one hand and was leaning against the cannon. The first mate casually collapsed the device as set it beside the cannon.

"Perhaps you barbarians didn't comprehend the message that the captain delivered to you in the first hour of being on this ship."

Slowly Tristan approached the crew, the undertone of his voice sounded outraged but he kept a tranquil exterior appearance.

"There will be no brawling on this ship." Tristan narrowed his rust-red eyes. "Offenders answer to me."

Simon crawled out of the crowd, not daring to challenge the first mate's authority.

More of the sailors dispersed from the crowd, leaving two sailors at the centre of the main deck. One of them frightfully retreated into the crowd and the remaining sailor glowered at Tristan.

"And what can a daddy's-boy like you do, to someone like me?" The sailor demanded in his deep voice and then sneered at the first mate.

He was easily the largest of the crewmembers, one of solid muscle and had four arms extending from his body. His four hands balled up into fists and a smug smirk played across his massive face.

"You're just a dirty half-breed…" The sailor spat.

Tristan's rust-red eyes, so similar to his father's, flared in rage as he turned to the sailor.

"What did you say?" He snapped.

The sailor laughed mockingly, seeing the nerve that he had prodded. "I said, that your alien mother is a slut an-."

The massive sailor had not time to finish his insult. Tristan had bolted towards the alien and tackled him with astonishing strength against the main deck.

There was nothing but a flurry of flying fists and foul language from the battle between the two sailors. Rebecca turned to Simon.

"Go get the captain." She ordered.

Simon nodded mutely and hurried towards the captain's quarters while the two sailors continued to fight one-on-one.

The captain hurried to the main deck with all due haste. When he saw the battle going on between his son and one of his crewmembers, he couldn't help but sigh.

Darcy Mantra pulled out his pistol and fired it over his head. The make of the pistol used more gunpowder and gave off a louder shot, which immediately stopped the brawl between the two sailors.

Tristan released his hold on the sailor and stormed past the crowds towards his cabin. The fight had knocked off his hat and a shock of green hair fell over his right eye.

Meanwhile, Darcy was escorting the offender into the brig. He advised to Simon –now the unofficial healer on the ship- to gather up some medical materials for the two sailors, as there were obvious wounds to be patched up.

Simon did as he was told and scurried off to the lower decks.

The last of the sailors returned to their previous businesses, leaving Rebecca standing alone on the main deck.

"So that was his secret…" She murmured to herself. The young woman stepped forward and grasped the tri-pointed hat. She dusted it off and decided to return it to the first mate.

Author's Note:

Thanks so much to Whisperwings for her betaing, and to every review I receive. By the way, Happy Holidays everyone!

MG#6