XIII. Decisions

*****

After his conversation with John Silver, Jim went in search of Fletcher. He stopped in the medical bay, but she wasn't there. Instead of immediately heading to the bridge, Jim was stopped by Slipp, the concerned medic.

Just let me take another look, Mr. Hawkins.

Slipp, you've already checked me out four times in the past two hours. I'm still not infected. There are other guys here who need looking after... Jim tried to dodge his outstretched hands, but the medic was quite adept when it came to dealing with reluctant patients.

I'll have none of that, sir! You were down in the brig dealing with a ruthless pirate captain. And a cyborg as well! Who knows what he might be carrying.

Jim laughed. Well, thank you for your concern, Slipp, but -

Aha! Just as I suspected: the dressing has gone sour! The medic cut the current bandage, which Jim thought looked fine. But Slipp was adamant that he receive a new one. Hold still,
Mr. Hawkins.

Jim sighed. All right, all right. He watched Slipp work. The medic may be paranoid, but he was good at what he did. Jim didn't even feel the medic's fingers brush the wound as he fixed a new bandage.

Listen, Slipp, have you seen the captain?

Yes sir, Mr. Hawkins. Slipp continued to wrap Jim's shoulder as he spoke. She was in to get that arm and neck of hers fixed up, and then I believe she was going to sleep the horrors of today off. His face was grim.

Will she be okay?

Slipp looked up from his work. Physically, yes. Emotionally...? Only time will tell. I haven't traveled with Fletcher as long as some of these other lads have. You'd have to ask them.

Jim looked at the cots, every one filled with crew members.

What about Spence? Have you seen him?

Yes sir. He's down in the galley, fixing meals for the wounded.

Thank you, Slipp. Jim rotated his shoulder experimentally. Excellent work, as always.

Thank you, sir.

*****



James Hawkins. How's that shoulder of yours, lad?

Much better, thank you.

Spence was standing at the galley stove, leaning over a small pot of spicy-smelling soup. Jim sat down at one of the mess tables, sighing heavily. Spence flicked an ear and turned to stare vacantly in Jim's direction.

Other than your shoulder...?

I'll be okay. It's just been a lot to deal with these past twenty four hours...

Ah. Yes it has, lad.

Jim sniffed the air. What're you making there, Spence?

The Conevian grinned. One of Aubrey's favorite recipes, Jim. Stalwart Stew', I call it.

The first mate smiled. Smells real good.

Spence ladled out a bowl and set it on the table, in front and slightly to the right of Jim, who slid it in place and grabbed a spoon to taste it.

Wow. That's real spicy stuff, Spence. Jim grabbed a mug of purp juice and downed it at once.

Sure is, lad. Helps the Captain think straight after a day like today. The blind cook carefully measured his steps as he moved to sit down across from Jim.

I bet that stew of yours could strip the shell off a Mantavor. Spence chuckled and patted Jim on the arm.

Well, I won't make that stuff often, lad, but Aubrey loves it.

Jim smiled and rubbed his empty mug between his hands. Will she be all right, Spence?

Aubrey? Of course, James. He shifted slightly to lean against the table and sighed. She's lost crew before, though never so many at once... But that is one of the dangers of the profession. The crew knew that when they signed on with her. He cocked his head at Jim. Well, almost all the crew members knew... Jim smiled.

That Silver really bruised her ego. He chuckled. But I think Aubrey's just loath to admit that that pirate friend of yours is a mystery to her.

Jim furrowed his brow. How so?

She's usually very good at discovering the weaknesses of her enemies and using them to her advantage, lad. Not one of her better qualities, but a useful one nonetheless. Jim nodded understandingly.

Now you take a spacer like Silver there. She can't really consider him an enemy because of you. If the cyborg does have a weakness, it's his friendship with you. And if Aubrey has ever had a favorite first mate... Spence trailed off.

It's me?

Right you are, lad. He reached for the bowl of soup in front of Jim, and drew it toward himself. Now this puts our esteemed captain in a very difficult position. See, lad, Aubrey's a stubborn ass, and the only graceful way out of this is to fold. She needs to put her hatred behind her and simply live with the fact that this pirate is your friend and will be a guest on this ship. Because, as you well remember...

She promised to help me find him, and to keep him away from the GP if we did so.

Right again, Jim. He raised his eyebrows at Jim in a silent question. It took a minute to figure out what he was asking. Jim chuckled.

Yeah, go ahead - that stuff's too spicy for me.

Thanks, lad. He raised the bowl to his lips and drained the entire thing. Jim watched, impressed. Spence chuckled and winked. You spend enough time making this swill, and you learn to enjoy it.

He returned to their conversation. So here we have Aubrey in a rather interesting position. She can either choose to keep Silver in the brig for the rest of the trip, out of her hair, but something both you and the cyborg would detest. Or she can let him run loose on her ship. And if she does that, it leads her to two more choices: one - continue to hate him and rift the friendship that she has developed with you, or two - accept him and go against her own principals. He shook his head. It's not something she's ever had to deal with before, and it should be very interesting to see what her decisions are.

Jim grimaced. So long as she doesn't kill him...

Spence leaned across the table to gaze seriously at him. The eerie thing was - Spence met his eyes perfectly.

She won't, Jim. She's given you her word. And the word of Aubrey Fletcher is a tie that binds until the end.

*****

Jim said goodnight to Spence and made his way to his own quarters.

Morph was spending his time with Silver, which allowed Jim to enjoy a full-night's rest and wake up the next morning without any surprises.

*****

Aubrey was first on the bridge the next morning. She was sipping a mug of strong coffee and shooting glares in the direction of the brig every now and then.

Jim chuckled and shook his head as he climbed the stairs to meet her.

Mornin', Hawkins.



She continued to look over her ship, which had been scrubbed spotless since their encounter with the Revenge. How's that shoulder?

A little stiff, but much better, ma'am. Slipp does his job well.

Aye, that he does.

They drifted into silence. Aubrey studied the deck of the Redemption, thinking about the grim job they would have to do today: laying the dead crew members to rest in an etherium burial. She sighed.

Jim watched her silently. Her dark hair had been pulled back in a medium-length braid; her standard style. She leaned against the railing, holding her mug with both hands. She was dressed professionally today, as he was, in preparation for the ceremony. Under her dark blue jacket, on her right arm, were the bulky wrinkles that betrayed her bandages. His eyes involuntarily moved to her neck, where on her throat glared yellow, purple and blue marks below a dark crimson streak where Silver had injured her. Her dark eyes narrowed as they passed over the brig. He sighed, pursed his lips and turned to look out at the deck.

When she finally spoke, he noted that her voice was slightly raspy. We have a long day ahead o' us, lad.

Yes ma'am.

What do ye want me t' do, Jim?

He was taken by surprise and turned to look at her. What do you mean, Captain?

She met his eyes, and he was startled to note that they were imperceptibly red. Forget Captain' for just a moment, Jim...

All right, Aubrey... It was strange calling her by her given name. But Jim felt it was appropriate.

Yer pirate - Silver... She grimaced. Ah know ye donnae want me to keep him locked up like that.

He nodded. I was talking with him, Aubrey... he was a cook on the Leg - he rethought mentioning the name of the ship Silver had mutinied on. - last time we sailed together. He could help Spence out.

She chewed her lower lip thoughtfully. Jim waited patiently for her answer.

All right, Jim. Ye can escort him t' th' galley... The way she spoke, he assumed Spence was right - Aubrey was having a lot of difficulty making her decision. But I donnae want t' see him.

Yes, Aubrey.

Off with ye, lad. We got a long day ahead o' us.

Yes, Captain.