Love Boats Don't Exist

by Merpme

Classic story, Jim meets girl, they become friends and go on an epic adventure. Teenage romance without the romance, humor without the jokes, and action without...the moral presence that violence even for good is in fact bad... Have fun! Includes, humor, made up cuss words, and a lot of back and forth weirdness. Seriously, A lot of weirdness. Follows the movie, hopefully. Rated T.

38. The Difficulties of Proper Writing

I will NEVER GIVE UP!

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"What was the inciting incident in the War of two cranes?" Dr. Doppler asked.

Wren raised her hand.

"Yes Wren?"

Wren put down her hand, "While officially the inciting incident was the assassination of Prince Edmark. I would argue that the conditions for the war was created by the economic crash and years of racial tension between the two planets."

"I agree," Jim added, "and would like to add that the red cranes had created many factories in the years prior and needed natural resources to refine into consumable goods."

Dr. Doppler blinked at the two teenagers and nodded, "Yes, well, that's exactly right." He turned back to the black board and continued lecturing.

Wren bent over her notes scribbling down words. Jim noted that her handwriting had gotten much better. They were in Metis common but still she was making progress.

"What do you two think?"

Both Jim and Wren looked up.

"When did the Navy get involved?"

"Uhhhh." Wren scrunched her brow thinking.

"After the battle at Vulperis?" Jim ventured a guess.

"Good."

"Wait a minute. The navy wasn't even a thing then, right?" Wren asked confused.

"Well, you're half right, the navy back then was nothing like it is today." Dr. Doppler held up his piece of chalk, "They started out as fleet loyal to one planet but became enforcers of the law after the Nike Alliance."

Wren nodded and wrote down the new information.

"Okay that's it for today, we'll finish the War of Two Cranes next time." Dr. Doppler closed his book, "I actually have a special homework assignment for you two."

They both groaned.

"You already have us writing a report on our time in Nesoi." Jim pointed out.

"Yeah Doctor, and you said you wanted details too." Wren threw her hands into the air, "I'm not going to remember all that. I can barely remember what I had for breakfast this morning!" She turned to Jim, "What did I have for breakfast this morning?"

"Oatmeal with berries."

"Thank you. See?" She pointed.

Dr. Doppler put his hand on his hips with a disapproving look on his face. "That's why you should write it down, so that you can remember it later."

Wren heaved a sigh, "Okaaay." She acquiesced. Looking far too much like a teenager her age.

Jim chuckled into his fist and Wren pouted.

Dr. Doppler coughed, "So your assignment…"

Wren sat up and picked up the pen ready to write it down. Jim looked at the Doctor.

Dr. Doppler smiled, "I want you to write two pages on what you want to be five years from now."

"What?" Wren dropped her pen.

Jim looked incredulously at the doctor, "You can't be serious."

"Two pages. In Chastim, what you want to be in five years and how you'll get there." Dr. Doppler nodded, "It'll be due in a week." He grabbed his things and left the class room the door closing behind him.

Both of the teens sat on the bench in shock.

"What schadenfreude is this?" Wren asked turning to the door.

"He's out of his mind. How am I supposed to answer that?" Jim asked throwing an arm on the table, "Five years from now? I don't even know what I want now!" He dug his hands through his hair.

"Can I write down something stupid? What's a real job someone can have?" Wren asked her pen poised and ready.

"I don't know, a banker?" Jim rubbed his face.

Wren made a face, "A banker? That's the first thing you came up with?"

"You asked." Jim stuck out his tongue, "Uh, how about a professional skier?"

"Does it look like I ski?"

"Well what do you want to do?" Jim asked.

"I don't know." Wren leaned against the table, "I haven't the foggiest. How about you, any ideas?"

Jim sighed and shrugged, "I don't know, I didn't even think I was going to finish high school you know?" He started packing up his things, he had chores to get to after this.

"Well how do people figure it out." Wren capped her pen.

Jim thought for a moment, "Well they usually do what they are good at, or what they like. Not that it ever works out." He continued packing up.

"Well what are you good at?" Wren asked curious.

"Uh… building things? Maybe? I'm a good flier."

"I think you're a terrific flier." Wren grinned. "You could do that."

Jim blushed slightly and turned away, "Yeah well, not a lot of money doing that."

"How about an engineer then?" Wren asked stacking her books, "You could build things."

"Maybe…" Jim picked up his things and reaching over put Wren's notepad on top of her stack, she was about to forget it.

"You could be a flying engineer." Wren grinned shifting the books in her arms.

Jim chuckled, "Now you're just making things up."

Wren thought for a minute, "You could be a model!"

"No way."

"Aw man." Wren snapped her fingers. "Well I'm sure you'd be good at anything you tried." She rebalanced her books.

"How about you Wren?" Jim asked, "You could be a flying engineer." He joked.

"Oh no I can't. Last time I tried to work with machinery it exploded." She looked like she wasn't kidding.

Jim tried a different approach, "Well, if you could be anything. Anything at all what would you like to be?"

Wren stopped, "I… I really haven't thought about it before." She smiled surprised, "I didn't think I'd live this long." She kept walking with a skip in her step as if she just realized it. "What an accomplishment right?"

Jim blinked, "Uh, yeah." He looked forward and then back.

Wren quirked her mouth, "I've had flights of fancy here and there. But I don't know if I really want them."

"Like what?" Jim asked.

Wren quirked her mouth. "You're going to think it's stupid."

Jim deadpanned, "You're looking at the king of stupid right here."

Wren giggled, "Yeah, well. I've kinda always wanted, to try going to school…" She looked at him.

"Why would that be stupid?" Jim asked seriously.

"It's not like any school would take me. I'm so far behind. And I'm… well, I'm me." She looked at him, "I'm not exactly a normal student."

Jim frowned, "First off, Universities love students that break the mold, use that in your application. You're not that far behind, I know college kids who know less than you do." He listed, "And If you want to go to school, you should go to school."

Wren clenched her jaw and looked at the hallway, "Thanks Puppy Eyes. But it's a pipe dream."

Jim picked up his notebook and wacked her on the head.

She yelped and covered her head, "What was that for?"

Jim slapped his notebook down again, "From here on out I'm having Dr. Doppler prep his classes to catch you up."

"Jim!" Wren rubbed her head, "Don't do that!"

"Nope! It's happening." Jim said stubbornly, "What else do you want?" Jim asked. "Name it."

Wren stared at him. "You're joking."

"I'm serious." He said resolutely, "Name it and it shall be done."

"I don't even know if I want to go to school!" Wren protested.

Jim looked at Wren, "Wren, it's okay to want things." He smiled, "I'm not going to judge you for it."

Wren stared at him, handsome face charming her like it was second nature. She squared her shoulders. "I want a stable income!"

Jim grinned, "yes! And?"

"Benefits, and healthcare!" She shouted.

"Absolutely!"

"A retirement plan! And a house with more than two bathrooms!"

"Now you're talking!" Jim was exhilarated.

"A haircut! From a real professional!"

"Yes!"

"A Queen-sized bed!"

"Absolutely!"

"More than two pairs of shoes!"

"Of course!"

"I want vacation days! And, and, and…" she trailed off.

I want you.

It barreled into her brain unwanted, and unshakable. Wren's brain stuttered like a bad sound track, Jork. I did not just think that. She flushed bright red.

Jim blinked in surprise, they had just gotten on a roll. "What is it?"

"I… Uh." She looked at the ground.

"Yes?" Jim tilted his head waiting.

"I… want… I want." She covered her mouth, "…I want a puppy." She said quietly.

Jim grinned, "I'll get you as many puppies as you want!" He announced perfectly oblivious.

Wren nearly sighed in relief. That was close. She looked up thinking, "…I also want exhilaration and adventure. Even though you would think I had enough for a lifetime."

Jim smiled, "Yeah, that's the problem isn't it?" He looked at the stars that peeked at them from the opening at the top of the stairs. "It's a real big problem."

Wren nodded in silent agreement, knowing that no matter what, she was bound to this life, to this path. The stars had claimed her, had claimed both of them.

Silver watched Jim peel vegetables from the corner of his eye. Life was so much simpler before a stupid kid wormed his way into the cyborg's heart. There had to be a way out of this.

Jim looked up and saw Silver and smiled.

Silver tried to smile back but it was more of a grimace. Never mind though Jim just turned back to his work not suspecting a thing.

Get yourself together Silver. You're a real pirate for gods sake you're the most feared pirate in the known universe. One little kid isn't going to stop you.

Silver knew that they were nearing the end of their journey. He had to make a decision soon. The crew was getting restless. Any day now Silver was expecting Scroop to have another hissy fit.

"Silver!"

Silver jumped and turned. "What is it lad?"

Jim came over smiling "What do you think I should be five years from now?" He seemed to be done.

Silver laughed, "Uh well. Anything you want to be." He continued stirring his soup.

"That's not an answer." Jim frowned.

Silver looked at the kid, bright and youthful, life full of unspent possibilities. "I think, you'll be greatest Jimbo, truly the greatest."

Jim slightly blushed but refused to smile, he seemed to have picked that up from Wren, "That's not an answer either."

"Where did this come from?" Silver asked, "It's a pretty odd question."

"I got a homework assignment from Dr. Doppler. But I can't figure it out." Jim sighed, "I mean how am I supposed to know that?"

Silver grinned and ruffled the kid's hair, "Don't worry Jimbo, it'll come to you."

Jim scrunched his nose, "What made you become a cook?"

Silver paused, "My refined palate and big belly."

"Silver." Jim frowned and then thought for a moment, "Weren't you a captain before?" Jim's eyes lit up, "What made you become a captain?"

Silver smiled, young captains had nothing but tragic stories, and Jimbo didn't need to hear his. "Do you want to become a captain? Own your own ship?"

Jim tilted his head, "Kind of. It sounds appealing." A slow smile spread on his face, "How do you become a captain?"

Silver looked at the excited kid. It was almost cruel, Jim might never get to be a captain. If Silver's plan succeeded, then he wouldn't make it home. "You should ask the Captain about that. She'd know best."

Jim made a face, it looked like he'd rather chop off his arm than talk to the captain.

Silver raised an eyebrow.

And Jim sighed, "Fine. Anything else you want me to do?"

Silver grinned, "Go work on your homework Jimbo."

Amelia paced behind the doctor as he leaned over a hand drawn map. She waited a bit before turning on her heel and pacing the other direction wearing a line in the carpet. Finally she stopped, "Well, what do you think?"

Dr. Doppler measured the map one last time and then sat back thinking, "I guess there's a reason no one's found this place before." He pointed to a couple areas on the map, "It's surrounded by natural barriers. And it sits in the middle of this debris field, somewhere." He scratched his head, "I think you're right." He measured again, "This is what the map says, but it doesn't really seem possible."

Amelia glared at the map from the Doctor's right. "That's why I asked you to check my math." She looked at the calculations, "Passing through an electric field is foolish beyond measure."

"But that's what the map says." Doctor Doppler squinted at the map. "So we'll have to follow it." He rolled the paper up.

Amelia got up and grabbed her kettle, "Tea doctor?"

Doctor Doppler adjusted his glasses and sat back down, "Yes please."

Amelia poured two cups and set one down in front of the doctor. "How are the reports coming along?"

"Ah." Dr. Doppler put down his tea and pulled out a stack of paper, "This is Jim's, Wren's still working on hers."

Amelia flipped through it, "It's long."

Dr. Doppler nodded, "It was a whole week after all."

Amelia saw some red marks on the pages where Dr. Doppler corrected his writing. She skimmed through the pages as Dr. Doppler drank his tea. She smirked, "Now I know they didn't do that."

Dr. Doppler raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Mr. Hawkins claims that they 'found' the slaves by accident. And they got freed because of a simple mistake." Amelia tapped her cheek in amusement, "These children must become better liars if they want to get away with these things."

Dr. Doppler tilted his head, "They might not be lying."

Amelia looked up at the doctor and decided it was better not to say what she was thinking. "Tell Jim to write this again, and don't leave anything out. Know that his name will never be shared, should anything less than legal come to light."

Dr. Doppler sighed, "He's not going to like that."

"Writing reports is a valuable skill set." Captain Amelia laced her fingers together, "Tell Ms. Wren the same."

Dr. Doppler rolled his eyes, "Why don't you tell them? I've got my own material I have to get through you know." He waved his lesson plan.

"I doubt they'll listen to me. Much less give a comprehensive report." Amelia sipped at her tea, "It's very important we have a record of events, and since you and I played minimal roles ourselves we must rely on our two young passengers."

The doctor scratched behind his ear, "I wouldn't say minimal…"

"Minimal. I did nearly nothing while two seventeen-year olds brought down a tyrannical planetary government. It's shameful really."

"Well I kind of stopped you." Dr. Doppler said, "Sorry about that."

"There's no need to apologize doctor, you made the best decision based on our information at the time. I'm just glad Ms. Wren asked me for help before the last minute." Amelia put her tea cup down. "Did you give them the next homework assignment?"

Doppler smiled, "Oh yes!" He said excitedly, "I told them to write two pages on what they want to be."

Amelia raised an eyebrow, the doctor was a genius but sometimes he was an idiot. "Really."

"I think it'll be fun! It's good for them to think about the future." Dr. Doppler bounced in his seat.

"And what do you think that future will be?" Amelia asked, "May I remind you doctor that depending on the outcome of this mission everything might change, circumstances being as they are."

Dr. Doppler nodded, "Exactly! That's why they should write down what they want now. Before things change."

Captain Amelia nodded, he had a point, "What do you think their future holds? Young Hawkins is an interesting case. He has potential."

"Yes. Jim is a very bright kid, but a bit lost I think. He needs direction." Dr. Doppler said, "I don't know where he'll find it though." Dr. Doppler sighed leaning on one hand. "And Wren…"

"Has too much direction." Captain Amelia sighed. "Not a good one either."

"She's a good kid." Dr. Doppler said quickly, "And you don't know-"

"She is a good kid." Amelia agreed with a smile, "But good kids can still make bad choices. You have to admit doctor she has probably done some unsavory things. Remember the pirates?"

"That's not her fault, She's just a kid."

"Yes. Just a kid." Amelia grimaced, "A kid who brought down a tyrant."

"For a good reason."

"There's always good reasons doctor." Amelia's eyes flashed.

Dr. Doppler frowned, "So what, you abandon her? Leave her to her fate?" He shook his head ears flapping, "I can't do that."

"No. If anything this should motivate us to get more involved." Amelia sipped her tea, "She has potential, and a strong sense of responsibility. She's a kid that's gone through hard times. Who wants to change but isn't allowed to." Amelia sighed putting down her tea, "You know what she told me?"

Dr. Doppler shook his head.

"She wants to go to school." Amelia smiled, "Just go to school." Amelia shook her head, "But to her that's as impossible as flying through a star."

"Oh." Dr. Doppler said looking at his hands, "That's not… completely, unexpected."

Amelia raised an eyebrow, "It's not?"

"She has a knack for it." He was thinking.

"Really?"

Dr. Doppler nodded, "She's catching up pretty quickly." Dr. Doppler said, "If I just…" he rubbed his chin, "Yes alright, I think I can do it."

"What exactly are you doing doctor?" Amelia looked at him sipping her tea.

"Prepping her for university." He stood, "She can do it."

"You don't think you're jumping the gun here?" Amelia asked.

"Of course not."

"Maybe she doesn't want to go." Amelia said patiently. "Maybe she can't go."

"That doesn't matter, let her choose after she can." Dr. Doppler said firmly. "Thank you for the tea Captain. I've got a lesson to plan." He stood with urgency.

"Your books doctor." Amelia said from the desk.

"Yes, sorry." Dr. Doppler gathered his books and paused. "You know, you didn't have to reverse psychology me."

Amelia shrugged, "I don't know what you're talking about." Amelia smiled amused sipping at her tea, "Good day doctor."

Wren stuck the end of the pen in her mouth thinking. "How am I supposed to structure this report?"

Jim slid over on his mop. "what do you mean?" he stopped in front of her. "Chronologically works the best."

"Yeah but…" Wren tapped the pen on the paper. "There's some background info for this that I need to add for context but that is really chopping up the flow of the paper."

Jim put down his mop and looked at Wren's paper. "That's a tough one." Jim frowned in thought. "What's the context?"

"Well I have to explain the Daisethai's financial support for Jones but that's partially because of Nesoi's historical slash spiritual importance to the organization from a thousand years ago." Wren rubbed her head in frustration.

"Yeah, that is a lot." Jim rubbed his chin, "Could you put it in a footnote?"

"What's a footnote?" Wren asked.

Jim thought for a moment, "basically you put a little reference number where you would insert all this text, and then instead put it at the bottom of the page."

"You can do that?" Wren asked.

"Yeah, but it's mostly just for references and stuff that don't directly pertain to your paper." Jim explained.

"There's a lot of rules huh." Wren looked at her paper.

"Communicating is an art." Jim said with mock emphasis, "That's probably why you have to go to school for so long." He sat next to her and grinned.

Wren rolled her eyes, "So a footnote then."

"Yeah." Jim nodded leaning against the wall. "You almost done?"

Wren nodded, "Almost. It turned out so long." She slapped down the forty pages she had written on the bucket. "My hand hurts."

Jim picked it up and flipped through it, "Your handwriting is getting better though." He could see the improvement through the essay.

"Thanks. I'm pretty proud of myself." Wren grinned putting her hands on her hips.

Jim smiled, "That's great. Really, but." He looked at the whole hallway he had to clean, "If you could help me out a bit..."

Wren looked at him sheepishly, "Right. Sorry." She stood and picked up a mop, "Afterwards you wanna do some sword practice?"

Jim realized this was Wren's way of thanking him so he accepted with a smile, "Sounds great, but be careful I'll totally kick your butt."

"So full of hubris my young apprentice. With time you will learn." Wren said loftily. She picked up her paper to move it out of the way.

"What do we have here?" Scroop snatched the paper out of Wren's hand.

Jim started, "Hey!" He was about to take it back but Wren stopped him with a hand on his arm.

"You're writing a paper for that doctor?" Scroop asked with a sneer, "I didn't peg you for a nerd."

"I didn't peg you for a moron." She held out her hand unflinchingly, "What are you a first grader? Give me back the paper."

Scroop narrowed his eyes, "Look here bitch. I'm not afraid of you. Silver might be, but I sure as hell am not." He leaned over her, "You better watch yourself if you don't want to get hurt."

Wren wrinkled her nose, his breath really did smell.

Jim took a step forward murder in his eyes and Wren put out an arm to stop him.

"Aw. Are you scared, little bird?" Scroop taunted.

Wren looked at Scroop with the most contempt Jim's ever seen on someone's face.

Jim glanced at Wren sending her a message that he was ready to take down this guy if she wanted.

"Let me make this clear." Wren stepped forward, "You mean less to me than a bug under my boot." She looked at him like something inconvenient was in her way. "So give me back the paper and get out of my way before I'm forced to make a real threat so I can show you how it's done."

Scroop fumed eyes darting to Jim who was tensed like a live wire behind Wren. He growled, "Who do you think you are?"

"A person who has better things to do than entertain your fourth-grade power fantasies." Wren said blandly.

Jim tried not to laugh.

"You little bitch. You think you're all that backed up by that Captain. With your quirks. You're a freak." He spat. "And the next time I get a chance, we'll see how tough you really are."

Wren continued to hold out her hand, "The paper."

Scroop was getting frustrated, he made a biting motion at Wren who didn't so much as flinch and turning around tossed her paper in the water bucket with a splash. He stomped away in a fit of anger.

Jim glanced at Wren and froze at the look on her face, it was momentary. Anyone else would've missed it. But Jim's feet were rooted to the ground. He shouldn't have been afraid, but he couldn't help it. There was just that glint in her eyes that went from witty comebacks to something more dangerous. That side of Wren scared him a bit. He had forgotten that Wren was someone to be feared, he couldn't lie to himself, Wren had killed people before, she had fought to survive. He had seen it on Nesoi, that terrible coldness, a coldness that ripped through people easier than comets and time. This cold alien Wren. Would she hurt me? The thought shoved itself intrusively into his brain. No. Of course not. He shook his head, But she could. Jim glanced at Wren who stood next to him, but the look was gone.

He pulled the paper out of the bucket, soapy water dripping everywhere. "What a jerk."

"That's what happens when bullies grow up." Wren crossed her arms and glared at where the spider disappeared.

"You're not scared of him at all are you?" Jim asked shaking out the water.

"No. He's not even worth the time."

Jim shook out some of the water, "He's kind of freaky looking."

Wren looked at him out of the corner of her eye, "really?"

"Absolutely, have you seen him?" Jim asked.

Wren smiled, "You have a point." She looked at him for a moment, "But I think it's something else."

"Like what?" Jim asked his defenses lowered for a moment while he tried to sort out the papers.

She grinned with a look of smug satisfaction on her lips, "You're scared of spiders, aren't you?"

Jim clutched the soaked paper, "I am not!" He blushed bright red, "I'm not!"

"You are!" Wren looked delighted. "No way!"

Jim twisted, face uncomfortable, "They're creepy!"

Wren clapped her hands together in delight, "Oh! This opens up so many possibilities." She clutched his face, "you have no idea what this means to me." She giggled.

Jim grinned between her hands, "Hey, this is sensitive information, be careful with it."

Wren nodded in mock seriousness, "I understand, I will take this serious matter to the grave." She laughed.

"I don't want to see giant plastic spiders in the hallway at night." He pointed at her.

Wren put a hand on her chest in assurance, "You won't. I promise."

"Somehow I don't believe you." Jim flicked water at her.

Wren was shocked by the wet and looked down, reminded that her paper was ruined.

Jim glanced down at the papers in his hands, "It's okay." He tried to assure her, "We can dry them out."

Wren took the soggy pile from him and shrugged, "Thanks Puppy eyes, but I don't think we can save it." The ink was running. Half of the pile was sloppy pulp.

Jim rubbed his head, he'd snatched them out of the water pretty quick but he'd only managed to really save a couple of sheets. The rest were unreadable.

Wren looked at all her hard work gone to waste. Three days of writing down the drain. It kind of stung.

"I'm sorry Wren." Jim sighed she looked kind of upset, which was a new thing to see. "That was a really dick move."

"It's okay." Wren smiled, "I can just rewrite it." She nodded, "Yeah." For some reason her vision was getting blurry.

"Oh. Wren." Jim saw her trembling lip.

Wren rubbed her eyes, "I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm crying." She sniffed. "I just… I worked so hard on it." She sniffed again.

"Yeah you did." Jim agreed.

"This is the first time I really liked something I did too." Tears threatened to fall. Wren wiped them away. "…I really wanted to finish it."

"I'm sorry. It was a good paper." Jim nodded. "Don't rub your eyes you'll get soap in them." Jim gently wiped her face with his thumbs.

Wren laughed, "Yeah, it's the soap. It's in my eyes." She shook her head, "Gods I'm such a wimp these days." She wiped her eyes with the back of her hands.

Jim smirked, "You're not a wimp. I'd be crying too if someone did that to my paper."

Wren rolled her eyes, "No you wouldn't." she sniffed one las time. "You're an old pro."

"Did you just call me old?" Jim asked half offended.

"Only a bit." Wren teased. She sighed and dropped the pile of paper into the trash bag with reluctance. She straightened her shoulders and took a deep breath, "Well now I can write an even better report!" She grinned, "With footnotes!"

Jim raised a fist, "And citations!"

"Citations!" Wren cheered, "Will you tell me what citations are later?"

"Yes!" Jim said equally enthusiastically.

"Then Citations!" Wren raised a finger into the air.

The next morning it became extremely obvious why she was feeling so odd.

Wren lifted the blanket and sighed muttering under her breath, "Damn it." It was early this time. Someone must've jumped her. She got up to get ready for the day which was packed with chores and learning and homework. Wren promised she'd walk Jim through knife throwing basics which promised to end in injury. Wren straightened and frowned, something wasn't quite right. She felt a sharp pull and nearly doubled over, something really wasn't right.

Jim looked around, the deck was nearly empty, Nekwee and Shilla were sitting against the railing talking about something. But the one person he was waiting for wasn't there. Where is she? It was out of character for her to be late. Although she might've been reading somewhere and lost track of time. Jim sighed and put down the block of wood he was carrying. Guess I have to find her.

He checked the class room, the store room, the bunks, the kitchen, the bathroom, the brig, the supply closet, the little nook at the back of the engine room where they liked to hide if they didn't want to be given more chores. Jim came back up on deck scratching his head in confusion, how could he lose someone on a ship he knew so well. Where could she be?

"Mr. Hawkins."

Jim turned around and saw the Captain emerge from below decks.

She clasped her hands behind her back and paced past Jim, "Will you join me in the office?" She said the question as a statement.

Jim knew what she wanted him for but would it kill her to be less demanding about it. He nodded and followed the captain to the office, he'd find Wren after.

Amelia entered her office and found the doctor already waiting for her. After Jim entered the Captain closed and locked the door making sure the room was secure.

"Is all the secrecy really necessary?" Jim asked.

Captain Amelia looked at the kid, "Better safe than sorry."

Jim rolled his eyes but didn't say anything else.

The doctor took out his calculations. "Jim could you please?"

The captain handed the boy the map and Jim quickly opened it having memorized the movement already. The lights that made up the map expanded and covered the entire room. Jim couldn't help but watch it in awe, it still amazed him.

Captain Amelia got right to business standing on a chair, "Here's where we are. We're pushing to this debris cloud and it's uncharted territory. We'll be sailing blind." She put her hands on her hips with a sigh. "But it looks like you were right doctor."

Jim looked at the pathway the map created for them and squinted, twisting one side of the ball he made the map zoom in.

The doctor yelped as an asteroid flew through him, "Jim! a little warning next time?"

"Sorry." He walked up to the cloud and around it. "Oh." He zoomed in a bit more and winced when Dr. Doppler yelped again, "Look, there." Jim pointed at a perfectly rounded rock. "These aren't asteroids." Jim's eyes analyzed the picture. "They're mines."

Captain Amelia casually stepped off her chair and stood beside Jim. Pupils dilating she frowned, "You're right."

The doctor came over and lifted his glasses. "My goodness, that's a lot of mines."

Jim looked at the mine field that stood between them and their target. "That's an understatement." He turned to the Captain, "How long until we get here?"

"Five days depending on the solar wind." Captain Amelia crossed her arms. How do we get through this?"

Jim twisted the map again spinning the projection around to the right spot. "That's what I thought." Look, there's no mines in this area because of the electric field."

The doctor was getting dizzy with all this turning and zooming around. "So we're all good as long as we don't go off course. Right?"

Amelia nodded, "In theory yes. But it's going to be a tight squeeze."

Jim thought for a moment, "What if we sent a sail boat out first and use it to guide the Legacy through?"

Amelia raised an eyebrow, noble arch lifted high into the air, "An admirable notion-" She suddenly froze ears flicking up into the air.

Jim noticed but the doctor continued to mumble about calculations under his breath.

Jim put a hand on the doctor's arm and Dr. Doppler looked up noticing the Captain standing at attention.

Jim collapsed the map all the lights swarming back into the orb. Jim slipped the map into his pocket listening himself but knowing whatever it was the Captain would probably find it first.

Amelia's ears and head all swiveled in one direction and she took off. Bounding across the room she threw open the door to her quarters. Leaping over her bed she snarled hand on her gun. But what she saw made her pause expression morphing from anger to surprise.

Jim followed the captain quickly, the doctor a bit further behind. Jim saw a nest of pillows on the floor behind the bed with a head of black hair peeking out from underneath a blanket.

Wren?

Captain Amelia immediately pulled her bed blanket over the girl and stood in front of both the males who were more than a little confused.

"It's alright. I'll handle the situation from here." She smiled.

"But-" The doctor started.

"No. Don't worry about it there's nothing to see." She backed them out of the door. "I'll call on both of you later. Thank you."

Jim and Dr. Doppler found themselves outside of the Captain's office in front of a closed door.

Dr. Doppler blinked, "What was that all about?"

Jim shrugged just as confused as the doctor.

Dr. Doppler glanced at the closed door, "Well if the Captain says it's fine I'm sure we have nothing to worry about."

Jim nodded, honestly he wasn't worried about Wren seeing the map so much as Wren nesting in a pile of pillows like a small woodland creature. Speaking of which, Jim put the map back in the chest and made sure it locked.

"Well since we're both free, why don't we work on your physics?"

Jim stiffened and looked at the doctor who's gleeful smile suddenly seemed a tad frightening.

Amelia pulled aside the blanket carefully and looked at the trembling girl. Wren was drenched in a cold sweat, curled up in a familiar fetal position hands tucked into her stomach. Wren opened her eyes just a sliver, hair stuck to her neck. She saw Amelia but barely acknowledged her.

"Wren."

Wren looked up and managed a grinning grimace, "Am I?"

"In my room."

"Sorry. I didn't mean to."

"It's that time of the month huh?" Amelia asked sitting next to the pile of pillows.

Wren nodded clenching her jaw. "Uh huh." She managed to squeeze out a sound as a new pain pulled at her gut. "Sweet molasses." She breathed.

"Is it always this bad?"

Wren shook her head. "No-" Her whisper cut off with a grunt. "It's not."

Amelia frowned, she's seen this girl get hit by a meteor and shake it off but now she was trembling halfway to crying, exhausted and in pain. "I'll be right back."

Wren wasn't listening. She curled back up, unable to really rest because someone was digging out her insides with a spoon.

Amelia did eventually return holding a hot water bottle, tea, and pain killers.

Wren barely uncurled as Amelia tucked the hot water bottle on her belly.

"Do you want the pain killers?"

Wren reached out weakly and Amelia put the pills in her hands. When she pushed them in her mouth Amelia handed Wren the tea.

Wren shakily sat up drank the tea swallowing the pills and immediately lay back down face contorted in pain.

Amelia put the tea next to the nest and went away.

Wren's quick labored breathing continued for another thirty minutes until the pain killers did their work and she could finally fall asleep completely exhausted.

Amelia checked in on her and found her sleeping soundly. The captain went back to her paper work.

An hour later Jim knocked on the door, willingly. Which was a first for him.

Amelia opened the door to find the young man holding chocolate and warm pastries and another hot water bottle.

"Is she okay?"

Amelia raised an eyebrow at the things he was holding but let him in. "She's sleeping."

"I guess I'll just leave this here then." He put down the food. "How bad is it?"

Amelia sat back down, "She took pain killers."

Jim jumped back in horror. "WHAT?"

Amelia flipped through her papers, "She's sleeping. It's fine."

Jim looked nervous.

"How did you know what to bring?"

Jim glanced at the food, "My mom likes chocolate and sweets."

"I see."

Jim held the water bottle, "I'll just switch this out really quick."

Amelia made no move to stop him so the boy went in and out holding the lukewarm one now. "She looks really bad."

Amelia wrote down something, "It's best to leave her alone."

Jim frowned, "Is this a normal thing?"

Amelia shrugged, "Apparently not."

Jim waited for the captain to say more, but when she didn't he refined his question. "Is it always this painful for everyone?"

Amelia looked up from her paper work, the young man looked completely serious. "No." She amended her statement, "It's different for everyone." She folded her hands, "Some get back pain, mood swings, break outs. It's really a mixed bag of whatever the devil decides to throw at you."

"I see." Jim nodded, "I'll check back in later."

Amelia nodded, "Good day Jim."

Jim closed the door behind him and realized it was the first time the Captain called him by his first name.

Wren woke up groggy and she emerged from underneath a pile of blankets. She blinked and squinted at the room.

"You're awake."

Wren looked over at the Captain who came in nonchalantly.

"How do you feel?"

"What time is it?" Wren asked blearily.

"Four in the afternoon."

Wren furrowed her brow, "I slept for that long?"

Amelia nodded, "Do you feel better?"

Wren could barely remember the pain that had her curled up under a mound of pillows now, "Yeah."

The Captain came around the bed and looked at the girl for a moment. "Why did you get cramps this time?"

Wren lay back down the meds still doing their thing. "Probably poor eating, I get cramps sometimes when I have too much sugar, or if I don't drink enough water."

"For me it's sour foods." Amelia sat down on one of the pillows.

Wren blinked at her, "really?" she asked, "Do you get back pain?"

Amelia shook her head, "No. I'm lucky. I don't get mood swings either."

"Yeah, I usually don't have anything." Wren shrugged, "Someone jumped me early though this time."

"I see." The captain contemplated in silence. "When was your first?"

Wren smiled, "Late, when I was sixteen."

Amelia raised an eyebrow. "Lucky you."

Wren smiled, "Yeah. Although I skip a lot cause of all the stress from sailing."

Amelia frowned, that wasn't good. "That's not good."

"I know." Wren shrugged, "But what are you going to do? I can't not work and starve to death instead."

Amelia looked at the girl and then held out a bar of chocolate. "Chocolate?"

"I can't have sugar." Wren said.

"That's unfortunate." Amelia broke off a piece and popped it in her mouth.

Wren watched the captain with barely contained envy. Eventually Wren broke off a piece in defiance and sucked on it. "This is embarrassing."

"Why would it be embarrassing?" Amelia asked rolling the chocolate over her tongue. "It's perfectly natural."

Wren sighed, "I mean, getting knocked out of commission so easy. If I was on any other ship I'd get left on the nearest planet." She mumbled miserably.

Amelia barked in laughter. It was an honest laugh, one of the first one's she'd done a while, "Well you can thank your lucky stars this isn't any other ship." Amelia laughed at the absurdity. Because she knew it was true. If she had succumbed like this during her academy days she wouldn't be a captain. "That's why we need more female captains."

Wren lay on her side, "Did you always want to become a captain?"

Amelia smiled, "Oh yes. Although I dabbled with the thought of being a musician for a bit."

Wren stared trying to imagine the captain playing in a band, "I can't imagine that."

"Neither could I apparently. But I really liked to play the saxophone. I was pretty good too."

What was left of Wren's brain cells committed suicide because they couldn't cope with the image of Captain Amelia playing saxophone in some smoky bar wearing a fedora and sunglasses.

Amelia saw Wren's face and smiled, "But I knew becoming Captain was the only path for me."

"What did your parents think?"

"They were supportive, my mother was a crystal inspector and my father was a professor." She smiled, "They were big on independence."

"Do you have siblings?" Wren took another piece of chocolate.

"Yes. I'm the youngest of four." Amelia answered. "And I'm the least bossy out of all of them."

Wren made a face, "I don't believe that."

"I'm not surprised. But my oldest brother was such an overbearing twit sometimes."

Wren was surprised. "What's he do?"

"He's a nurse. He's working in a hospital on Nanwen."

"Cool." Wren shifted on the pillows, "How did you become a captain?"

Amelia's tail tapped the ground once, "I got a scholarship to the Interstellar Academy."

"What's a scholarship?" Wren asked.

Amelia frowned, "Well, if a school wants you enough sometimes they'll give you money to go there. It usually goes toward your tuition."

"They do stuff like that?"

Amelia nodded, "The Interstellar Academy hands out lots of scholarships, especially if you promise to go into the Imperial Navy afterwards."

"Isn't the Interstellar Academy only for Navy recruits?"

Amelia shook her head, "In recent years It's had a majority of Navy recruits but technically the College of Naval Studies is only part of the larger university." She explained, "And they've been really trying to diversify, the navy needs other people than officers, doctors, and engineers."

Wren wrinkled her nose, "What do you even learn in school?"

"Well in university, whatever you want."

"No way."

Amelia smirked, "It's pretty nice."

"What did you study?"

"Behavioral science and Law."

That's fitting.

"You think that's fitting don't you."

Wren smiled, "I mean, yeah. Did they teach you how to become a captain?"

Amelia sipped at some lukewarm tea, "It's an excellent program. They take the cadets to exercises and have a whole practical skills curriculum. They teach you how to operate within the Navy."

Wren rolled her eyes, "It' sounds tedious."

"Some classes made me want to fall into a coma, they had a whole class just on hierarchy and etiquette." Amelia wanted to sigh just from remembering it.

"Why would they even need a class like that?"

"Tradition. The navy used to be attached to a royal family after all." Amelia sipped the tea, "But you take it all with a grain of salt, I loved the drills and tactics classes they had us do. It really does prepare you, it's hard to get practical experience where you can fail."

"Oh. That's interesting." Wren nodded, "Isn't it all rich kids and pedigree folk though?" She remembered hearing about it from Chris once.

Amelia smirked, "There are a lot of those kinds. But the great thing is, if you work hard enough you can reach the same places they do. And beat them at their own game."

Wren raised an eyebrow hearing resentment, "Really?"

"You might have to work twice as hard, but it really pays off to see their faces when you're valedictorian." She smiled in vicious victory.

"Are you talking about Captain Rachmaninoff?"

Amelia looked surprised, "No. no. no." She said quickly, "I find him to be an annoying pain in the ass, but he worked harder than anybody, I can respect him for that. And he's a decent enough person."

"Aw. You guys are friends." Wren beamed.

Amelia glared, "No. Besides, he wasn't the problem, there was this one Admiral's son who was such a cankerous misogynistic ass hat I think he was the reason why I powered through a broken arm just so that I could stick it to him."

Wren wrinkled her nose, "Let me guess he used daddy's influence to get a good position."

"You have no idea." Amelia commiserated, "I swear to the gods, everywhere I turned that slubfinoff had his father's help."

"That's ridiculous."

"This one time we had this huge opportunity to do a scrimmage with a battalion. And there was a spot under Admiral Cincinnatus that I got, but his father stepped in and that entitled bastard stole it from me. His grades were sub-par. Sub-par!" The way she said it might as well have been a complete destruction of his character. "It makes me frustrated just thinking about it." She might as well have been kicking and shouting this was the angriest Wren had ever seen her.

"What a douchbag."

"You have no idea." Amelia sighed.

"Don't tell me this asshat still hasn't learned his lesson." Wren spat.

"He's a lieutenant under his father." Amelia snarled, "Luckily, he's not doing anything important but it's still infuriating." She crossed her arms. "Not only that, the entirety of the high ranked commanders and admirals are all-"

"Old elitist men."

"Old elitist men!" Amelia repeated angrily. "It's impossible to do anything outside of the norm. Gods forbid you upset the status quo." She threw her hands in the air.

"Is that why you left?" Wren asked.

"I did not leave. I'm just on… leave. It's not the same." Amelia said.

"Did you clash with the brass?"

"No. Luckily, most of the time my interactions have been with generally decent officers and captains." She shrugged, "I decided I'd try to pick and choose my battles."

Wren laughed, "That's where you and I differ, I fight all my battles."

Amelia smirked, "And do you think that's worked out well for you?"

"Uh…Well enough." Wren avoided eye contact.

"I think I still prefer my way. Being in constant conflict with your superiors isn't the best career move." Amelia tilted her head.

Wren smirked, "I think you're telling me this because technically you're the authority now and I'm the defiant underling."

Amelia raised her chin, "What makes you say that?" She asked, "Surely, trying to make my crew members obey my orders is one of my prerogatives, can you blame me?"

"See, you've become the man now." Wren pointed.

Amelia sniffed, "How dare you insult me so."

Wren laughed. "I still can't imagine you defying authority."

Amelia smirked, "Well, the hierarchy is there for a reason, efficiency and clarity, if everyone defied orders it'd be chaos."

"But it only takes a couple of bad eggs to corrupt the whole thing."

Amelia shrugged, "I know I said it's all old men, but there are some good commanders in there who do good things."

Wren sighed, "I gueeesss... that's just a statistical probability."

They stayed that way chatting until the chocolate ran out.

"Careful with that Jimbo. Do you want this thing rocketing off into the etherium?" Silver asked.

Jim fiddled with the engine. "That just sounds fun to me." He grinned.

"Yer a dangerous lad. With dangerous notions." Silver sighed and sank onto the bench making the skiff sway.

Jim stopped some of the screws from rolling around, "I'm going to have this thing going five knots faster than before. Tell me that doesn't sound exciting."

Silver laughed, "You need to go faster than you already are?" He put a hand on his chest, "Spare me. Next time we go out I'll have a heart attack."

"You like my flying."

"I do. You're the best flyer I've ever seen." Silver grinned, "But an extra five knots is just mean to everyone else. If I could fly like you at your age, they'd be bowing in the street when I walk by today!" he threw his arms out. "Give the rest a chance."

Jim rolled his eyes. "They weren't exactly singing my praises when I left home." He tightened the last bolt, "But I've got plans to change all that."

"Do ye now?"

"Absolutely." Jim plopped down beside Silver, "When I get home, things are going to be different."

Silver scratched his chin, "I see." He paused. Now's the time Silver. You have to tell him. Silver looked at the boy sitting next to him. "You know, sometimes plans go astray…"

Jim smirked, "Not this time. This time, I've got you and Wren. I think everything will be just fine."

Silver winced, stab me again why don't ya. Silver glanced at the wrench in Jim's hand. "Let me borrow that Jimbo?" The cyborg put his leg on the bench.

Jim handed him the wrench eyes following the old Cyborg. Silver grunted and tightened one of the bolts that held his leg together with great effort.

Jim rubbed his arm, it looked like it hurt. "Uh, What… how did you?..." Jim asked looking at Silver's leg.

Silver paused and then slid his leg back onto the ground, "You give up a few things, chasing a dream."

Jim pressed his lips together, "Was it worth it?" Jim looked at Silver with big blue eyes.

Silver grinned and stretched his arm around the kid, "I'm hoping so Jimbo. I most surely am."

Jim grinned, "What are you going to do after all this is over?"

Silver laughed, "You want to know?" Silver looked over the side, "Here's the secret."

Jim leaned in.

"I'm building a pet shop."

"A pet shop?" Jim drew back in surprise.

Silver laughed, "Of course! So that Morph will have some friends!" Silver held up the pink blob.

Morph cooed on Silver's hand.

Jim pushed Silver. And the old cyborg laughed.

"I'm being serious you know." Jim frowned.

Silver waved his hand, "I know. I know. But being too serious ain't fun." He chuckled absentmindedly rubbing his leg.

Jim noticed, "Does it hurt?"

Silver glanced at his leg, "A little." He admitted, "I got some bruising and it weren't ever attached properly."

Jim furrowed his brow, "Why not?"

"Well," There was a pregnant pause, "I was in a bit of a hurry, so I didn't get a chance to heal up before they were attached." He glanced at the boy.

"Why?"

Silver grimaced Jim was persistent, "…We were on a job, but it was a set up. We got lucky, the explosion went off early so it wasn't as bad as it could've been."

Losing your leg and arm isn't as bad as it could've been? Jim thought.

"But some of the crew got captured and so we had to stage a rescue operation." He gestured to his leg, "But you can't lead a rescue without a leg, so… I had to rush it a bit."

"By how much?"

"They got attached after a week."

"Silver!" Jim shouted.

"I know. I know. Whatever you want to say, Wren's said already." Silver placated.

"A week are you insane?"

Silver winced, "A little bit. I was a younger man then." He sighed, "And greedier too, I mean, I should've known it was a trap."

"You did it to rescue them so it's understandable but still…" Jim sighed. "I can't believe Wren let you do it."

Silver adjusted his hat nervously. "she… doesn't know."

Jim whipped around to look at Silver. "What do you mean she doesn't know? How can she not know?"

Silver chuckled, "I know you think we tell each other everything but that ain't true. She was a kid and I was an adult. There are somethings kids will never know about the decisions adults' make." He shrugged, "She had enough on her plate."

"What doesn't she know?" Jim asked.

Silver paused looking at the boy and then shook his head with a small smile, "Am I not allowed to have any secrets for meself?"

Jim sighed, "Fine. But you should tell her, she ought to know, whatever it is." Jim waved his hand in the air. "Whatever, it's up to you."

Silver chuckled, "Apparently I should tell a lot of people a lot of things." He reached over and ruffled Jim's hair, "I'll take it under advisement Jimbo."

The next day Silver walked into the kitchen and saw Wren at the table writing something with care on her paper. He dropped the huge pot on the counter liquid sloshing up on the sides and glanced at Wren who hadn't even noticed muttering to herself under her breath. Jim's advice was echoing in his head and Silver sighed. He wiped his one hand on his apron and came over.

"You've been working hard."

Wren looked up and smirked, "Dr. Doppler assigns a lot of homework."

"Yeah? Are you doing well in his classes?" Silver asked sitting down across from her.

"I'm not sure." Wren thought about it, "I think so."

Silver chuckled, "Yer a smart lass, I'm sure you're doing great."

"Thanks Silver." She sighed, "But I'm competing with our resident genius so I'm not so sure."

"Jimbo's smart huh?"

"So smart." Wren sighed melting into the table. "It's almost hard to believe!" Wren held her head in her hands, "Is it natural? Or does he secretly study? How do you even ask someone like that?"

Silver laughed, "You've finally met your match."

"He's not my match! I'm lagging by a good five miles!" She groaned, "I knew he was smart, but I didn't think he was this smart! And he doesn't even seem to notice! HE DOESN'T EVEN NOTICE!" She repeated with emphasis. "Sweet baby carthak."

"I think you're overreacting a bit Wren."

"Have you ever just watched a person and they just do this thing without even trying and you're like 'how does your brain even work?' I can't even imagine thinking how he thinks." She waved a hand in the air, "It's like he's on a whole other level and I'm stuck down here in 2-D thinking. He built a hologram projector in two minutes with junk parts." She shrugged angrily, "Just-" she snapped her fingers, "Like that." She made a frustrated gesture trying to get out her emotions that she couldn't put in words.

Silver raised an eyebrow as Wren ranted angrily, complimenting the boy until she ran out of breath. Eventually she stopped with a huff and Silver shook his head, "I don't know if you're angry or impressed Wren."

"Both. I'm angressed!" She gestured vehemently.

Silver laughed, "Well everyone has their talents, Jimbo has his, and you have yours. You can't compare yourself to him."

Wren sighed, "I guess."

"If it makes you feel better little bird, I'm angressed by you everyday." He said.

Wren tried to hide her smile but failed, she mumbled into her arm, "Thanks Silver."

Silver chuckled, "What's this doctor got you studying anyway?"

Wren sighed and opened her notebook, "Everything, History, Mathematics, Philosophy, Writing, literature, and Science, so much science. Bucket loads of science."

"Sounds tedious."

"I can barely comprehend Chastim, and he wants me to learn Astro-Physics." She put her head on the table, "I think I'm going to die."

"What did you expect? It is his area of study." Silver smirked, "What's your favorite subject so far?"

"Looking like an idiot, apparently." She mumbled into the table.

"Surely there's something you like."

Wren picked her face off the table, "I like History a lot. It's pretty fun, like telling stories!" Wren perked up. "Math isn't too bad either. He makes it easy to learn. But he's pretty strict and assigns a lot of homework."

"Math huh? I remember trying to teach you math."

Wren chuckled, "Tried."

Silver smiled and stood up, "Yer impossible." He put a pot on the stove, "What's he got you doing right now?"

"Oh." Wren held up her paper, "I'm supposed to write about what I want to do in five years." She stood up and held out the paper she'd been writing coming closer to the old cyborg.

Silver snorted and grabbed a couple of potatoes. "Really?"

"Actually." Wren smiled, "I was thinking. Maybe, I'd like to go to school."

Silver laughed out loud rather suddenly caught off guard, "That's funny!" He saw her face, "Wait, you're not serious."

"Well I thought, maybe…"

Silver interrupted her, "Don't be ridiculous, where would you go? How would you pay for it? Are you even prepared for university?" Silver asked taking down some dried vegetables.

Wren set her jaw, "I thought I'd try."

Silver gave her a funny look, "Wren, are you forgetting something?" He lowered his voice, "We're not exactly stand up citizens. You step foot near a planet with a university on it, you'll be in jail faster than you can say "legal council."

Wren pressed her lips together crunching the paper in her hands, "Yeah. Yeah you're right. It was stupid." She stepped away, "Sorry I mentioned it."

Silver sighed looking at Wren all tense like a strung wire, "Look Wren, maybe you could. But I don't know," He adjusted his hat, "I mean you could try. There's a chance." He tried to be encouraging.

Wren chuckled bitterly, "Yeah well, if wishes and buts were clusters of nuts," She tossed the essay into the trash, "we'd all have a bowl of granola."

"Food allergies?"

"No." Wren said. She spun around the pole absentmindedly. "I'm mildly allergic to dorgs. Makes me itchy."

Jim nodded writing down the information for later. There goes his dream of adopting a dorg together.

"How about you?" Wren asked leaning toward him.

"Nah."

Wren twirled around the pole again.

"Blood Type?"

Wren thought for a moment, "A positive, Yeah. Right? Yeah." She nodded, "Let me guess, you're AB positive?"

"O negative."

Wren stopped mid swing, "Oh, you're valuable."

"Yeah universal donor." Jim shrugged, "Don't tell people, hospitals will start hounding me for blood again."

"Maybe I'll steal some and sell it." Wren tapped his arm.

Jim made a face, "Please don't."

"I think I made four-hundred bucks one weekend selling plasma." She mumbled remembering.

"Was it your plasma?" Jim asked.

"it was in my possession yes." Wren said.

Jim looked at her.

"What?"

He shook his head. "Favorite color?"

Wren paused, "Uh, maybe Yellow? Or Blue."

"I like Blue too." Jim said, "Like a nice greenish blue is nice."

"I like deep blue." Wren said, "Like that." She pointed to a patch of sky near an orange planet.

Jim stood up and looked at it. Squinting he made a mental note it was a nice blue, looking down at his list he tapped a pen against his chin humming in thought.

Wren looked over lazily, "How many questions do you have left?"

Jim scanned the list and then flipped it over, "Forty-six."

Wren nearly lost her grip on the pole, "Gurha Jim. Is that really necessary?"

Jim crossed his arms leaning on the edge of the bird's nest, "This is the short list."

"What do you need to know all this for?" Wren asked, "It doesn't matter that much what my favorite color is."

"I just wanna know." Jim said returning to the list. "Alright…"

Wren closed the distance between them and pulled the list away from his face, "I know I promised to answer your questions. But is this really the best way to ease your curiosity?" She scrunched her nose, "A list seems a little forced."

"How else am I supposed to keep all this stuff straight?" Jim asked raising an eyebrow lowering his list, "You have a better idea?"

Wren backed up raising her hands in surrender, "Please, continue."

Jim put a hand on his hip looking a little too handsome perched against the railing, deep blue eyes focused on the paper. Faced hardened into a look of concentration, his hair teased by the wind. Torso making a neat curve against the sky.

Wren carefully stood on the other side of the basket and crossed her arms.

"Shoe size."

Wren tilted her head, "Chastim, Six. I'm a fifteen in Metis sizes."

"Favorite song?"

Wren paused, "I don't really listen to music."

"I guess I'll cross out musicians then."

"Sorry."

"Don't apologize." Jim moved onto the next question, "Art?"

"Uh… I like Michelangelo? And Late Muru Revivalist work."

"Oh, Wow." Jim blinked in surprise, "I didn't strike you as a Revivalist fan."

Wren smirked, "Don't tell anyone, they can't know I'm a snob." She really only liked the Muru Revivalists because of how much they sold on the black market. But she couldn't say that. "You draw really well Jim. Who's your favorite artist?"

Jim thought for a moment, "I don't really know. I also like Michelangelo, but I'm not really familiar with Art History."

"Could you teach me to draw?" Wren asked.

Jim made a face, "On top of studying, practice, and chores?"

Wren nodded, "Drawing is super cool!" She perked up, "Imagine how great I'd look if I could just whip out a drawing in five minutes."

Jim smiled amused, "I don't think that's how it works."

"Oh. I still think it'd be awesome!" She resolutely announced.

"Have you ever tried drawing?" Jim asked.

Does forging papers count? "…Not really." She pointed, "But it's never too late to try!"

Jim laughed, "Alright. Alright. Next time we get free time I'll see what I can do."

"Yay!" Wren cheered.

"Let's see, ice-cream flavor?"

"Oh." She looked sheepish, "Pistachio."

"No."

"I know." Wren winced, "I'm an old lady."

"Pistachio?" Jim said in disbelief.

"I also like cookie dough and mint."

"Well, obviously." Jim said shaking his paper.

"Hey you two!" Karl shouted from down below, "You're supposed to be cleaning the sails, get to it!"

Wren and Jim sighed. "Yeah we got it!"

Jim stuck the list in his pocket, "It's like they want to kill us." He turned to get out of the bird's nest.

Wren cracked her neck, "You're telling me." She made sure her rope was secure, "They could help us."

Jim hopped over the railing landing securely on the mast, "And have them actually do work for once?" He held out a hand but Wren didn't need it, "Not a chance."

Wren handed Jim a duster before extending her own.

Jim reached down and plucked a piece of bumbac off the sail. It looked like cotton but in shades of purple. Clumps of it were stuck to the sail the breeze blowing them in so it looked like clumps of clouds had gotten stuck on masts and rope. "Do you think this tastes good?" Jim asked.

Wren smacked it out of his hand, "Don't eat it. It'll give you a tummy ache."

"How do you know?"

Wren gave him a look and started sweeping her duster along the sail.

Jim started sweeping his along the sail, gathering the bumbac in a ball spinning them together like cotton candy.

They finished one part of the sail and then pulled it up a bit to reach the next part. The bumbac was mostly harmless, except for when it covered the solar sails too much and cut off the light energy they needed to sail.

Jim expertly twisted his duster gathering up a satisfying swatch of bumbac, he lifted it up and pulled the ball off the end of the pole and felt it. If floated just a bit like a balloon, airy and light, soft as a pillow. He squished it for a moment before putting it in the bag at his hip.

They finished one sail quickly enough but Jim was getting bored, which was always a bad sign.

Halfway through the third sail Jim pulled the large bundle off his stick and glanced at Wren, she was working quietly, unassuming, a perfect target.

Jim grinned and gently bopped the bumbac ball her way. It quickly floated over and gently bounced off her head.

Wren started and looked over seeing Jim grinning. She raised an eyebrow and twirling her stick tapped it back at him. "We're supposed to working Puppy eyes."

Jim pouted and batted the ball back her way, "I'm bored."

"Once we finish we can do something else." Wren said hitting the ball. "Or else we'll be here all day."

"But Wren…"

"Don't give me that look, I don't want Captain Amelia on my ass thank you." Wren kept working.

"Since when did you do what you're told?" Jim asked and bumped the ball.

Wren smacked the ball with force, "Unlike you I've got night watch duty tonight."

"You never sleep anyways." Jim said smacking it back easily with a smile on his face that could kill a girl from a mile away. "Come on Wren. Please."

Wren took in a scandalized gasp, "Oh! You are a delinquent!" She pointed.

"A bored delinquent." Jim sighed leaning against the ropes. "Fine, I guess we'll finish."

Wren spiked the ball into the back of Jim's head, "No. no, puppy eyes. You want fun?" She grinned, "I'll give you fun."

Jim caught the ball of fluff intrigued, "What are you proposing?"

Wren pointed with her stick, "you take those sails, I'll take these. First person to clean them all wins."

Jim rolled his eyes, "Boring-"

"But, you have to keep up as many bumbac balls as you can while cleaning." Wren grinned confidently.

Jim let a smile creep onto his face, "We playing for stakes?"

"Winner gets the loser's dessert."

Jim nodded, "High stakes."

"Every bumbac ball you drop adds fifteen seconds to your time." Wren outlined the rules.

"Good." Jim grinned he came over and they shook on it.

Wren shouted down, "Anyone want to ref? Puppy eyes and I have a score to settle."

Erl elbowed Turnbuckle and they both grinned, "Sure!" This was going to be interesting.

Captain Amelia walked out of her office to see the entire crew circled on the deck cheering.

What's going on? Amelia looked over the railing and saw Jim and Wren bouncing bumbac balls on the deck. Why am I not surprised?

"You getting tired Puppy Eyes?" Wren asked craning her neck back so she could hit her fluff.

Jim ran forward and tapped the ball into the air panting, "I could do this all day."

Wren grinned easily juggling all the balls, "That dessert is mine." She bounced up one of the six she had going.

Jim glared at Wren and his blue eyes narrowed on a bumbac ball. "In your dreams." he growled and spiked a ball at hers.

Wren yelped as the ball hit hers and she had to run to get it. "Jim!"

Jim easily recovered his ball and laughed, "Take that!"

Wren rolled and got one that nearly hit the ground. Standing back up the golden eyed girl tossed a ball up and smacked one at him.

Jim dodged and grinned. "Missed!"

Wren dove to recover it and glared, "You're dead Puppy eyes."

Jim danced away, "I don't think so."

Wren tossed hers high into the air and lunging forward she smacked one of his out of rotation before he could reach it.

Jim gasped in surprise, half because of Wren's quick moves and half because she was very close.

Smiling Wren back flipped and continued bouncing hers the six balls reaching an easy rhythm again.

Jim sprinted and slid across the deck to reach the slowly falling fluff. He hit back toward the others and had to sprint back to keep the others up. He barely recovered them but he managed somehow, Jim sighed in relief.

"That was mean!" Jim called to Wren.

"Mean?" Wren said in disbelief, "you were the one who tried to knock mine out first!" She shouted.

"Not like you did!" Jim shouted back.

Both of them set their feet eyes narrowed.

Oh it's on.

Jim's eyes followed the parabola of the ball as it slowly floated down, just before it hit Wren's hand he darted forward and smacked it away.

Wren's eyes widened before she growled and backhanded one of his to the ground.

Whipping out his hand Jim went for the next one but Wren blocked him and bopped one of hers back up.

Wren reached out and tried to tap one of his but Jim grabbed her wrist and bounced the ball back up with his elbow. Twisting her hand around his Wren broke free of his grip and tried again, but Jim pushed her arm down. She had to back up to recover her Bumbac balls before they fell.

Jim frowned, they'd both lost one, he needed to get in another before she could gain the upper hand. He followed her forward and reached out to get one but in the nick of time Wren tapped it back up so that he swung at open air. She went for one on his left and he blocked it once and then used his arm to block her again.

Jim hit up three in a row and hit one of Wren's with his fingertips.

Wren reached back and recovered it and had to smack his hand away.

They traded a truly impressive number of blows. Some succeeding, more often than not they didn't.

Wren juggled her ball up and leaned back kicking her foot out managing to knock a ball away. While Jim was distracted she spun and kicked down two. Jim wasn't letting that happen though and grabbed her leg and threw her across the deck. Wren yelped as she crashed onto the deck. Getting up she scrabbled back and slid across the deck. Two of the balls fell but she kicked the others back into the air.

Jim laughed and taunted her with a wink.

Wren panted and regained her feet. He is so dead.

They both only had two now. More careful than before they circled each other.

What Jim didn't know was that Wren was slowly timing her two bumbac balls so that they would fall at the same time. It was going to be a gamble but if it paid off she'd win with flying colors. Suddenly Wren hit them as high into the air as she could. They flew up and Jim jolted at the surprise, which slowed him down a fraction of a second too long.

Without another word Wren tackled him and knocked him to the deck. Jim bounced with a yelp. Wren didn't waste a moment she spun and quickly put him in a leg lock. Wren knew puppy eyes was getting really good at wrestling, she couldn't go easy on him.

Jim struggled with a grunt. "Damn it Wren." He reached over and poked her in the side.

Wren let go with a yelp a jolt of electricity tingling down her spine.

Jim grabbed her and nearly got her into a hold but she wiggled out and tried to bring him down again with a twist.

Jim grinned and planted his feet refusing to be brought down. He glanced at his slowly falling bumbac balls, he wasn't going to make it. Glancing at Wren he pulled her off and slid her across the deck like a hockey puck.

She slid just under one of Jim's fluffs and it was saved from hitting the deck by bouncing off her stomach. Jim dove over Wren and did a dig so that it popped back into the air.

Wren rolled sideways and kicked it down. It did that fluttery thing that balloons did, dipping and diving all over the place. Wren rolled back the other way and pinned her blue-eyed boy down with a knee to his chest. She still had time, if Jim's fluff fell now then she'd win.

Jim grabbed her arm and pulled her down and flipped them over. He got to his feet immediately and darted after his fluff.

Wren rolled onto her feet and grabbed his shirt pulling him back, racing toward the fluff. It was drifting down now, just moments away from touching the deck. Jim and Wren both dove forward trying to reach it before the other. They both stretched, almost, almost.

Amelia snatched the fluff out of the air.

What the-

How did she-

They crashed onto the deck.

"Mr. Hawkins. Ms. Wren."

Both of the afore mentioned perpetrators looked up.

The Captain somehow looked more stern and overbearing than usual which was a feat in and of itself. The whole crew was backing away slowly.

"You were supposed to be cleaning, instead I catch you playing and goofing off with the very thing you're supposed to be getting rid of." Amelia leaned over both of them, "Explain to me why you were playing volleyball with bumbac instead of doing the duties I assigned to you."

"We finished cleaning?" Wren squeaked.

Jim pointed to the sails.

Amelia looked and sure enough the sails were spotless.

The Captain straightened, bouncing the ball in her hand curious look on her face, "Well done. If you finished cleaning you may do what you wish." She smiled at the fluff and rolled it around like a ball of yarn, "Fantastic." Her eyes were lit up and she seemed to be enjoying herself, "Carry on." She dismissed them with a wave carrying the ball back to her office.

"So, who won?"

Was it noticeable? Captain Amelia carefully smoothed down her rather tight-fitting jacket over the small package in her pocket, a rather conspicuous bump in the impeccable lines of her suit. It wasn't that she didn't like soup, but she'd had this deep craving for fried fish for two weeks and it wouldn't be bad to give in just a little. The smallest smidge. So now there was a very delicious tin wrapped fish in her pocket, perfectly fried, salty fish goodness, hot, dripping in flavorsome oil. She just needed to make it back to her office, curse this jacket and lack of hiding places. Amelia walked, because captains didn't slink or sneak, back to her office. But it was a very quiet walk.

"Excuse me, Captain."

Amelia's tail jumped and she quickly spun around seeing two headaches sneaking up behind her. Furrowing her brow Amelia looked at them, "What is it?"

Wren and Jim held out their papers. "We finished the report."

Amelia narrowed her eyes suspiciously, "I thought the Doctor gave you that assignment." She carefully covered the suspicious lump in her jacket.

"And you made us rewrite it." Wren said, "I thought we should turn it in directly to the source this time, to avoid miscommunication."

The captain had already opened the door to her office so she curtly gestured them inside, "Please."

Two troublemakers entered the office.

Amelia shut the door and carefully came around the side of the desk, not in any way suspicious as she kept her torso angled away from the children. "You have something you want to say." She sat down very carefully in her chair so that she wouldn't deform the fish hiding in her pocket. Less of a sit and more of lean. She settled on having one arm on her armrest, a long leg stretched out under her desk, like she was some half drunk philistine, who had never seen a chair, or as anyone else would call it, a lounge.

The two didn't notice her odd posture and Jim started, "We're unionizing our papers."

Amelia blinked, that wasn't what she was expecting at all.

"We won't rewrite out reports, we're standing in solidarity on the matter." Jim said firmly.

"We will take constructive criticism, but no more rewrites only revisions." Wren said following the script. "Only on these grounds will we give you our report."

"Okay." The captain accepted. She had fish to get to.

"This is because we have other responsibilities to attend to as well." Jim continued, "Silver."

Silver opened the door, "I'd like to make my grievances known, since Jim is my cabin boy, this assignment has led to a considerable decline of his quality of work at ship tasks." He checked his note pad, "I ask you on his behalf to cease and desist- Wren this wording doesn't sound right."

"You got it."

"Cease and desist are lawyer things, this is just for a paper." Silver pointed to the note.

"Just a paper?" Jim said incredulously.

"Look at all this." Wren thumbed through the fifty something page report, "Does this look like Just a paper? I have footnotes!"

"I have section titles!" Jim pointed.

"Fine. Fine." Silver lifted his hat with a sigh. "It's as you heard cap'n"

"Very well-"

"If for nothing else but for the conservation of paper." Wren filled her sails so she could launch into her full speech.

"This is already recycled paper." Jim whispered.

"It's still no reason to be wasteful." She refilled her sails. "If for nothing-"

"Amelia, I found the numbers-" The doctor looked up and froze with a squeak. "Sorry! Is there something going on- Oh! Hello Jim! Hello Wren! Hello Mr. Silver. I hope I'm not interrupting." He adjusted his glasses, "If I am, I apologize, but I have some very important-"

Jim and Wren looked at each other, Amelia?

"-Concerning the direction of our voyage." The doctor finally saw what was right in front of him, "Are those your finished papers?"

Wren gasped, "We're unionizing!" She clutched her paper to her chest frightened he'd start marking it up immediately.

The doctor came over, "I commend you on your initiative, but why would you need to unionize?" He asked.

"We're applying the principles of socialism that you taught us about so we no longer need to rewrite fifty page reports separately detailing one event." Jim said, "Why would we write them separately if we're writing about the same thing?"

"To establish more than one point of view, didn't I teach you about author bias?" Doctor doppler was getting on his soap box now.

"If we worked together, we could find and eliminate points of bias and outliers." Wren waved her report at him.

"Absolutely not! Having differing viewpoints are important, because truth is relative." The doctor was in full lecture mode now, "and it is the readers prerogative to make from your report what they will and not for you to interpret it for them. First-hand accounts while always personal and often flawed are just as, if not more important than editorialized analysis and dry fact."

Amelia let them argue and very discretely tried to slide the fish out from her coat. She could hear the foil scrape against her jacket and hoped the conversation distracted from the sound. Cool as a cat, a normal cat, and not a cat hiding fish in her pockets.

"Captain is there something wrong with your back?" Doctor Doppler looked at the Captain and her very out of character posture.

Amelia let go of the fish and waved, very nonchalantly, "I slept a little odd, don't mind me."

"I can get you a compress for it." The very kind, observant-at-the-worst-possible-moment doctor offered.

"I'm fine." The captain continued to look uncomfortably relaxed in her chair.

The doctor's gaze lingered and then returned to the matter at hand. "I'm not going to make you rewrite all of it, but revisions are where you practice your essay writing." Doctor Doppler explained, "Maybe you won't need that many, I'll read the papers first."

"I can't change things!" Wren defended her paper, "What if I have to get rid of one of my footnotes? It'll throw off all the numbering!"

"You made footnotes?" The doctor was surprised.

Wren grinned from ear to ear, "Yes I did!" She was rather proud of them, "Look. Look!" She opened the paper to the correct page. "Jim showed me how to make them. Aren't they beautiful?" She sighed.

"Yes, they're very nice." Dr. Doppler nodded.

"I think you might have been a bit overzealous." Jim looked at the paper, and then looked at anything else, "Or not, go footnotes." He pumped a fist in the air. "Woo."

Wren dropped her death glare. "How do you spell overzealous."

"Over z-e-a-l-o-u-s." Jim filled her in, "They just squished two words together."

"Ohhhhh." Wren memorized it for later, she liked how it sounded.

"What in fresh garbinola is a footnote?" Silver whispered to himself.

"The little notations and addendums at the bottom." Wren pointed.

Silver squinted at the fine print, "Oh. Me I always thought those were author commentary."

"Sometimes they are." Doctor doppler smiled.

"They are?" Wren drew in a breath and looked at Jim.

"You're already writing in the first person." Jim quickly explained, "You don't need to put author commentary in the margins!" He said the words as fast as he could.

"Yeah okay, that makes sense." Wren agreed.

Amelia finished sneaking her fish into a drawer and shut it with a snap standing up, "Thank you all for your input. Ms Wren, Mr. Hawkins, give me your reports, I'll read them through. I'm sure if you put that much effort into them you won't need to rewrite the whole thing."

"Oh, okay." Wren handed over her report.

"Does anyone smell fish?" Jim asked.

"That would be me Jimbo, I'm frying fish." Silver said.

Amelia's head hit the desk.

"Uh, Captain-"

"Out." She pointed to the door.

"Capt-"

"Everybody out!" Amelia glared.

Everyone ran out the door and Amelia sunk into her chair. After a moment she opened the drawer peeled off the foil and sank her teeth into her fish because she worked for it gorram it.

"I don't think it's fair."

Wren rolled her eyes, "Go to sleep Puppy eyes."

Jim yawned, "You shouldn't have to do night shift if you're sweeping floors." He flipped the page in his book, "I'm protesting.'

"You're just going to be tired tomorrow protesting for nothing." Wren smiled, "Go to sleep."

Jim closed his book, because his eyes weren't staying open, "Let it be known that I disagree with this treatment."

"Noted." Wren smiled, "Good night."

Jim waved and went down below decks.

Wren slapped her cheeks, staying awake would be a herculean task. She did some lunges, and wiggled like a loose piece of tofu. "Stay awake!"

Silver clumped up the stairs and tossed his scraps overboard. He looked up and saw Wren doing some weird version of jazz-ercise and wished for once she was doing something normal that he could ignore. Morph licked up the extra bits in the pot while Silver clumped over to Wren now flapping her arms over her head.

"What are you doing?"

Wren jumped and looked at Silver, "Nothing." She put her arms down, "I have night shift."

"Ah." Well that made sense. "Coffee?"

Wren was tempted for a moment, but caffeine like alcohol was a substance she shouldn't mess with. It wasn't to the extreme of alcohol or pain killers, but she did start bouncing off the walls and that wasn't something anyone needed right now.

"No. I better not."

"Good call."

"Thanks for helping." Wren gestured, "With the paper."

Silver nodded, "How'd it go?"

"No rewrites, minor revisions." Wren said. She pursed her lips.

"To think I'd see the day, you'd revise a paper." Silver grinned and put his hands over her his chest, "It warms my heart."

Wren rolled her eyes, "Silver."

"It took a whole day just to get you to sit down for anything." Silver sighed wistfully.

"I know better now!" Wren crossed her arms, "It doesn't hurt that Jim is like white on rice when it comes to going to class."

"Can't shake him."

"Can't scare him, can't hide, can't stall." Wren growled, "I've been outmaneuvered."

"Thought I'd never see the day." Silver grinned. "He's good. I'm inclined to give him a reward." The cook chuckled and shook his head, "I wonder what he'd like."

Wren looked down at the deck, she really didn't want to do this, but it wasn't something she could put off. "Silver, what are you planning to do with him?"

Silver sighed, "Don't."

"Silver, you have to do something." Wren turned to him.

"Do we have to do this now? Do we have to do this every time we talk like this?" Silver asked, "We were having a good laugh, did you have to ruin it?"

"Yes, Silver. I do. Because you have to face reality." Wren dropped her hand with emphasis, "You have to. You can't keep ignoring it."

"Ever since you learned how to use your words, you've gotten more poetic than effective." Silver shook his head. "What's your point?"

Wren ran a hand through her hair, "You want me to get to the point? Fine, I'll get to the point." She swept out her hand, "You like him. You, like him. You think he's a good kid. You and I both know you don't have it in you to kill him. And if you're going with your original plan. You'll have to. But it's not too late to change it."

"You want me to give up the loot of a thousand worlds? What I've been chasing after my entire life?"

Wren's face creased in frustration, "No, I'm not saying that. I'm saying you need to make a choice, and if you make it early enough, you can have both. I will help you get both."

"What about destroying me? Huh?" Silver threw up his hands. "What about that?"

"Get over yourself. For once Silver. Do what your heart tells you, and not what everyone else says you want." Wren pleaded with him. "Tell him Silver. You have to."

"Tell him?" Silver asked incredulously, "Tell him what? We're pirates? I'm going to keep the treasure for myself? We're wanted throughout the entire galaxy for being the worst criminals the universe has ever seen?"

"You're not getting it."

"Getting what? Logic? I've got plenty, I can't give this up, not after so long, not after giving up so much." Silver shook his head, "No."

Wren looked at him, she looked at him, gold eyes tired, so tired, "Do you know why we ended up like this?"

"You've already told me little bird." Silver grit out. "I'm over confident! I get it! That's my problem! I don't need a lecture from you."

"No Silver." Wren pointed, "You want too much. If it was just over confidence it wouldn't be such a cardinal sin," Her voice was rising, "But you also want, you want more than there is to give! Nothing will ever be enough for you!"

Silver pointed accusingly, "You want this treasure as much as I do! That's why you're here! That's why we're all here!"

"No I don't! I never did! I'm here for you!" Wren angrily swept her hand in the distance that separated them, "I was always here for you!" she tried to get through to him, "Because you are enough! Because you've always been enough!" She shook her head, "But I am not enough for you. We weren't enough for you! I don't think even a planet full of treasure is enough for you! You want! And want, and want, and want. And it will never be enough! You want to be known throughout the galaxy as the pirate who succeeded Flint! And then what, Silver?" Wren was pleading with him now. "It's not going to make you happy!"

"Happy? What do you know about happiness? You need things to be happy Wren. You need things, and a home, and money! I made sure you had that! So you're blaming me then! You're blaming me when I already think about it every day? The mistakes I made to get us what we needed?" His voice trembled, "I'm doing this for them! So that people will remember them! So I can carry their legacy! Don't you dare blame me for what I have to do! For what I want!"

There was no anger in Wren's voice, just sad acceptance. "I don't blame you Silver. I can't blame someone for who they are. We knew who you were when we followed you." Taking his hands she pleaded, "But please Silver. Learn from your mistakes. Learn from it and change. I don't want this to happen to us again. There's so little of us left." She gripped his metal hand. "I don't want to lose the rest of it."

Silver heard her. Heard her pleading with him. He softened for a moment knowing that Wren truly cared, "But what if I don't change? Will you leave again?" He pulled his hands out of hers, "Will you run away like you did before?"

Wren looked devastated at her empty hands, at her empty captain. And then stood firm, "No, I'm staying and seeing this through to the end."

"You say that now," Silver scoffed, "But, people don't change Wren. You left before, you'll leave again." Silver said eyes cold.

"I was fifteen then, you were supposed to be the adult." Wren threw back at him, "Why didn't you tell me to stay if you wanted me to?"

Silver frowned, "I promised you could leave when you wanted. I keep my promises."

"Promises? I was fifteen. Everyone had just died and you let me leave! You're supposed to be the adult; you were supposed to know better!"

"I couldn't force you to stay against your will. How was I supposed to know what you really wanted without you telling me?"

"Because you don't let a child make decisions like that after their family dies!"

Silver frowned, "You said you were fine."

"I am." Wren's voice dropped, and her face looked old, too old, "But I shouldn't be."

"Of course you should be, it's been two years." Silver said without remorse.

"Are you fine?" Wren looked at him, "Are you?"

"People die, Wren." Silver snapped, "Especially people like us."

"People like us…" Wren gave one short laugh. "…They didn't bleed on you. I watched them die." Wren's face hardened, "You didn't shoot Era yourself." Her eyes focused, "I did, I killed a man I considered family. Because that's what you've taught me to do. Because that was what needed to be done." She smiled and spread her arms, "Do you like what you've made Silver? Or am I something you never wanted?"

The words that came out were meant to hurt her, but he didn't know where they came from. "You were a mistake."

Wren nodded, "Yeah, your biggest mistake." The sadness vanished, "Tell him Silver, or I will, and I won't make it nice. Pick one, because you can't have both."