It'll be explained as it goes, begin!

~Quigley's POV

It's been 3 months since my family home was destroyed in a terrible fire. My triplet siblings were living at a school called Prufrock Prep, and I was speculated to be dead.

I'm not, obviously.

Though part of me kind of wishes I was. It'd be less boring. Perhaps I should start with why I'm not dead or with my siblings. When the fire happened, my mom shoved me in a trap door under our library and said she'd come back with my siblings. She never came back, and something heavy fell on the trap door so I couldn't get back out. After I heard the fire die down I realized I was in a secret tunnel, not a panic room, and followed the tunnel. I reached a dead end, after what I assumed was a couple hours, and all I had with me was a commonplace book that was in my pocket when I escaped. I wonder if Duncan and Isadora had theirs when they got out.

When I reached the dead end I found a man there named Jacques Snicket. He told me he was friends with my parents, and said he'd take care of me if I go with him. I've been traveling with him ever since. He told me a little about this secret organization called V.F.D. that he's a part of, and my parents were in it too. He didn't tell me much more after that other than the basics; I think the deeper stuff is probably classified or something. He insists that I'm not an official volunteer because he doesn't have time to train me.

We travel from place to place almost weekly and he keeps me locked up in whatever we're using as a hideout at the moment. This week it's a small hotel near the city harbor. Jacques said he had a meeting here at the bar with a man called Captain Widdershins, another volunteer I suppose.

"But no I have to stay inside and die of boredom..." I said to myself as I lay back on my bed.

Being in hiding because the world thinks you're dead sucks. And the worst part is I can't even talk to people my own age unless they're V.F.D. Jacques introduced me to his sister Kit when we stayed at Hotel Denouement for a while and I got to meet some volunteers in training there but that's about it. It's not just boring it's lonely. I haven't been able to actually make any new friends for a long time.

Bang bang bang

I quickly sat up at the sound of someone trying to break open my locked door. Shit. They must be villains! And they're coming for me! They must have seen Jacques smuggle me inside!

Jacques said that if this situation happens just get out and find a volunteer to protect you. He mentioned that Captain Widdershins is, well, a submarine captain, and his sub was parked at the harbor with his crew still inside. I can hide out with them until Jacques gets back. The villains were now fumbling with the door lock giving me just enough time to grab my backpack so they don't get my stuff and I tucked my commonplace book in my jacket. I quickly opened the window and climbed out of it; thankfully our room was only on the first floor.

I looked around the harbor frantically for my destination. The area had dock workers wandering around performing their jobs but I still needed to stay out of sight, and trouble. I ran closer to the water and saw a number of small boats, some larger boats and- ah there's a submarine! It was resting on the water's surface and from my location I could see a distinctive V.F.D. symbol on its side under the gold letters that spelled its name: Queequeg. I could hear the sound of crashing coming from the hotel meaning they were tearing the place apart looking for me. With my heart racing a mile a minute, I made sure no one was around before climbing onto the submarine and frantically knocking on the hatch.

"Friend! Quigley Quagmire!" I called inside as I pounded the metal hatch.

A speaker sounded with a female talking through it. "What's the password," She asked. I couldn't help noticing her voice was quite heavenly. Damn it, Quigley, don't think about that now!

What was that phrase again? I know Jacques told me! But my brain is so panic-addled I can't think straight! I looked back at the hotel and saw two sinister looking people walk out of it, they didn't see me, but they appeared to still be searching.

"The quiet is world here!" I ended up blurting out.

Then I heard the girl start cracking up with melodious laughter. I suppose from where she's sitting the situation is hilarious...

"Did you just say the quiet is world here?" She asked between giggles.

"Yes but it doesn't matter right now just let me in, please! It's an emergency!"

I heard hear try to catch her breath and replied, "Alright, but only because it's an emergency and you almost got the password right."

I moved out of the way as the hatch opened and I quickly hopped inside on the ladder and climbed my way down into the submarine; the hatch closed automatically behind me. As I was climbing I heard a short conversation between 2 female voices. One was the younger, heavenly, voice I heard through the speaker and the other was a young adult voice.

"An emergency?"

"That's all I know."

"And you're sure we can trust him? You know the captain won't like you letting a stranger aboard if they didn't say the phrase right. Especially a boy..."

"Mari, please, it's just Quigley Quagmire. Stepfather told me he was here with Jacques Snicket, I'm sure he's trustworthy. Besides I want to meet the boy who just made my day." The younger voice giggled again.

"Alright, but don't say I didn't warn you," Mari replied.

I reached the bottom of the ladder and heard footsteps coming towards me. I hadn't realized how panicked I truly was as I was now out of breath from my freak out. But at least I was safe here. Jacques said there weren't too many safe places left... in...

My thoughts trailed off. I instinctively stood up straighter and brushed my shaggy black hair out of my eyes. It's been a while, but I was in the presence of a young lady, and I fancy myself to be quite good with ladies. But this one was absolutely beautiful. And here I thought mermaids didn't exist.

She looked to be at least a year older than me, but I was slightly taller. She had shoulder length raven colored hair, slightly tan skin, and light blue eyes covered by quirky, black-rimmed, triangle-shaped, glasses. She was wearing, what I assumed, was a red Queequeg crew uniform, a uniform she filled out rather nicely, and she was smiling politely at me. I like her smile, and I'd love to see it more often.

"Hello," She said. Either she was ignoring the fact that I had been staring or she chose not to comment. I couldn't tell.

I blinked, "Oh, hi... Sorry for barging in like that. I was told to look for this submarine if I'm in danger."

"Well you're perfectly safe here," She replied, "And you also look like you're about to pass out."

I had forgotten about being tired. "Oh, yeah can I rest for a minute?"

She nodded and motioned for me to follow her. We walked through the halls to an open area that I assumed was the main deck and I sat down to catch my breath on a nearby chair. The older woman I heard talking earlier was sitting on a table in the center of the room, Mari I assumed; she stood up when we entered the area. She too was wearing a red Queequeg uniform.

"Mari, could you fetch our guest some water?"

Mari nodded and left the room. The mystery girl smiled at me again and I smiled back.

"I know the phrase is 'the world is quiet here' by the way..." I said sheepishly. "I was just in a panic. Some villains tried to break into our hotel room and I had to escape."

She made an amused sound and replied, "I understand, but it did make my day better to hear you mess it up."

Mari returned and handed me a glass of water, which I quickly downed and then thanked her for.

"You're welcome, kid," Mari said, "I'm Mariana, but you can call me Mari. And you look like hell, what happened to your hair?"

I laughed, "My hair always looks like this. I like it this way."

Mari snorted. "Ok sure..."

Mari then said something about being the ship's current cook and that she had work to attend to down in the kitchen, leaving me and the girl alone once more. I set down my backpack and stood up once I had caught my breath.

"I'm sorry I couldn't properly introduce myself. Quigley Quagmire." I said, smirking.

She smiled and shook my hand, "I'm Fiona Widdershins; it's nice to meet you."

"It's always nice to meet someone as beautiful as you."

I was still smirking as I leaned down and kissed the back of her hand. I got a little bit of satisfaction from watching her cheeks redden behind her glasses and she fussed a bit with the hem of her shirt.

She cleared her throat before replying. "Thank you for the compliment..."

"You're welcome, Miss Fiona."

"It's just Fiona actually; you don't need to be formal..."

I nodded, "Alright." "Whatever you say, beautiful."

She seemed to regain her composure and said, "Well, you're stuck here until my stepfather finishes his meeting with Jacques. Give me just a moment and I'll let them know where you are."

She walked over to a control console that appeared to be for driving the submarine, and I took the time to look at my surroundings. I heard her talk into a communicator about my location and I could hear the gruff voice of her stepfather reply. Once she finished her conversation she turned to me again.

"My stepfather says those villains who found you are wandering the area. He and Jacques will come back when it's all clear. Until then, would you like a tour?"

"I'd love one."

I followed her around the ship as she pointed out various rooms to me. Fiona said not to mind if Mari gives me attitude, the cook never means anything serious by it.

"What's this room," I asked, pointing at a specific door that wasn't open; the others were so far.

"My room," Fiona replied, "And don't even think about going in there. My stepfather would have you thrown to sharks. Only I'm allowed in my room."

I paled. "Uh... Message received."

I continued following her until we reached the ship's rather nice looking library. She showed me her personal section devoted to mycology. (I swear I knew that word, but I needed to be reminded about what it meant.) And I told her about my skills as a cartographer. The two of us spent the rest of our time in the library talking about various topics. I like talking to her; she even likes my jokes, even if a lot of them are dumb.

After a while Mari interrupted our conversation by bringing us some lunch. She informed us that the captain had called and said he was on his way back now.

"And why didn't you tell me," Fiona asked.

Mari smirked, "I didn't want to interrupt you two doing all that flirting."

I casually ignored the comment as I ate some carrot sticks, but I was smirking to myself.

"We weren't flirting Mari," Fiona insisted, blushing again.

Mari gave her a skeptical look before walking out of the library. Fiona sat back down next to me and apologized for Mari's comment. I didn't mind of course. We ate our food without saying much after that and once we were finished we heard the hatch open and I prepared myself for the scolding I was sure to get from Jacques. We made our way out to the main deck area where Mari, Jacques, and the man I guessed to be Captain Widdershins were now waiting for us.

"Quigley thank god you're ok!" Jacques said exasperatedly.

"I'm fine, Uncle Jacques. I wasn't going to let them get me."

"Aye, you were right to come aboard my ship, son," Captain Widdershins said, after introducing himself.

He seemed to casually ignore the fact that I had spent the past 2 hours alone with his stepdaughter.

"Well, Captain I'm glad your crew was able to look after him, but we'll be going now-"

"Wait!" I said interrupting my temporary guardian.

Jacques gave me a puzzled look, "What's the matter?"

I glanced at Fiona for a moment, before replying. "What if I stayed on the Queequeg for a while? You'd always know where I was and I'd be safe from villains here. And I'm a cartographer so I'm sure my skills could be useful to you." I hope I sounded convincing.

Jacques thought for a moment. "You make a valid point... but it's not up to me to decide. Captain what do you think?"

The Captain gave me a quick glance over as he considered my offer. I saw Mari smirking behind Jacques, and out of the corner of my eye I saw Fiona holding back a hopeful smile.

"Aye, I'll take him off your hands for a while."

I smiled and Jacques nodded approvingly.

"Alright, Captain, he's your responsibility, for now. I'll send for him when necessary. Do you have all your things with you, Quigley?"

I grabbed my backpack off the floor and replied, "I grabbed my stuff before I ran."

Jacques said his good-byes and left the sub, and almost immediately after Captain Widdershins started up the ship for us to leave port. Fiona showed me to an empty room I could stay in for now.

Staying on a submarine with a beautiful mycologist was way better than traveling with Jacques... even if it was only temporary.

~End of Chapter!