Chapter Ten
The next morning little Peter woke up with a slight headache, and with Smelly Meg next to him, he sat up in the bed to see Stakar and Aleta already up, waiting for him. On instinct, Peter drew his knees up to his chest since they were bad guardians yesterday and he had hurt himself.
If reading his mind Stakar said, "We didn't take very good care of you yesterday, did we". And in response got a definitive "No", since Peter was too young to hide his emotions, which to Aleta nodded.
"The thing is Peter, we're not used to having a little boy on board, all we have is smelly Ravagers, so we're learning how it's done. But we're going to do better until you see your dads, and right now we have people looking for Fang, so you don't have to worry about that. Is that, ok?"
Peter thought it over for a moment since yesterday had been so bad and he wanted to look for Fang but knew Fang was in the lower levels, which he was banned from going down to on the Elector. But he was only four, and even though they were Ravagers, he had to chance it.
"Are we going to do fun things?" he asked, to which they said, "Well make things fun, and education, your daddies are big on that" to which Peter slyly said, "My daddies, also let me have sweets for breakfast".
But in the replay, all he got was a wry look from Aleta since according to the notes, it also had the statement, "Peter loves sweets, he doesn't have them every day, we're big on fruit, but he can have them in moderation and as a snack…he'll try it…he's four".
"Well, that's too bad, because you having porridge", stated Stakar while Peter just shrugged, but protested, "I'm a big boy, I can wash all by myself" as Aleta led him into the bathroom, and said she was supervising.
Peter was right, he could wash and brush his teeth all by himself, but when it came to getting dressed, Peter struggled to put on a blue jumper, until Aleta popped his head through and Peter just laughed.
With the straps on Peter's little shoes done up, having checked his foot was healing nicely and it was almost, with no hint there would be a scar. The trio left the quarters together and traversed to the mess hall deck.
To Peter, the place was still dirty but there were fewer things to hurt himself, all he remembered was crying and then Stakar holding him and telling him it was going to be ok, and even though the crew said nothing about what had occurred the night before.
But of the crews were keeping their distance from Peter, which he put down to their inexperience, and not because they were afraid of what he was capable of, something Peter didn't know.
However, the new crew still unnerved him, so he reached out and gripped Aleta's hand tightly who looked down and resisted the overwhelming urge to stroke the child's hair with her hand. She wasn't used to babies and this was a bit of a baptism of fire for her just to be around them.
However, Peter looked more relaxed than yesterday, as the group went into the mess hall, and noted the big steaming pot of porridge, which the crew were tucking into "I had no idea how to make it, and the crew wanted to try" explained Actveia.
Who ladled some in a bowl and added a few small things, which Peter who was sitting in a chair, lit up with delight as he began to tuck in "It's just right". Which was a simple compliment but made the galleon cook smile.
Peter wolfed it down, being so hungry for the night before and yelled out "Surprise jam" when he got to the bottom, after reading the instructions that Peter always had jam on top and different flavours at the bottom, where he often guessed which would be flavour be.
In truth, Actveia after reading all the recipes, some easier to do than others, had sparked something in him all that morning after seeing the happiness on the crew's faces at having something so different to eat, and he begin to feel more inspired, as Peter managed to happily finish his breakfast and said thank you to the cook, with his tiny tummy all warm and satisfied.
What to do with Peter since he had structure, but neither Aleta and Stakar were confutable at letting him out of their sight, so in the end, Stakar took him on his rounds, with Peter on board he was getting more attention and was saying "hello" to everyone.
Of course, everyone responded because that's what you did, and noted that his order for any mess on the deck was to be picked up, and the floors looked almost gleaming as Peter and Stakar turned into the M-Ship hanger and, Peter grew delighted and released his grip on Stakar s hands and rushed up to them.
"Can we go out on one, my daddies let me. Not all the time though". Since Peter was clever enough not to push it but Stakar was impressed as Peter gave out the names of all the exteriors, since he spent a lot of time there. Stakar was tempted to take him out, but he was busy and knew that Peter needed some structure whilst he was here.
"Come on, we have to do your lessons," he told the little boy, who was observing some repairs, whilst Peter straightened up. "In the mess hall"
"No on the bridge, with me" seemed to placate Peter slightly, since it was on the Bridge where he normally spent time with his daddies and having a snack, but he did his drawing on the floor of Yondu's glorified office, on a soft mat. But he had a feeling would not be like that.
However, his little pad, pencils, and paper were on the Bridge when he entered to see Aleta standing there. Peter noted Fang in her arms, which caused Peter to jump and down squealing "Thank you, thank you, thank you".
Peter, happily took the stuffed monstrosity and hugged him closely. "Where did you find him?" he asked and it was located in the deep dark, not mentioning they had taken them all night.
Fang had to be cleaned before he could be returned, and they did that all for the love of a toddler up above, whom they knew had the potential to rip them all apart. However, when it came to lessons, Peter easily went through all his words and numbers.
But Peter was seeing people he had never encountered and was full of questions and was so God damned cute, everyone he approached began to answer them.
Peter, was looking at species he had never heard of since the bulk of the Elector crew were Xandarian, and that included him.
So, he couldn't stop staring at Martinex as the light bounced off the Pluvian crystals that made up his body until little Peter suddenly said "Can you eat, real food". Something that amused the Ravager who explained that he drank a silicate liquid for nourishment, and then had to explain what nourishment meant, being a big word for a four-year-old.
Martinex explained more about himself, he could move quickly and was an expert in strategy, but Peter felt a little unsure of him, which wasn't his fault, but he just did his drawing, until Staker looked over and asked.
"Peter, what are you doing?" Feeling the sudden urge to look at the masterpiece and a piece of paper was handed to him, since Peter had an active imagination and found therapy through his drawing, just like Jamsean.
"That's you, and Aleta and my daddies" Peter proudly said, as Staker noted Yondu's blue image had his mouth opened, and something hovering in the air, which Peter pointed out, "And that's his Yaka arrow, coming for you," he said proudly, which stupefied them both, as Peter continued. "I'm going to make lots of drawing for your walls. Your walls are boring". With the honesty of a toddler who had no filter and didn't care if he did.
"It's a very good drawing" which was the honest reply and some uncomfortable shifting in seats since it was the anticipation of Yondu finding out of the shenanigans the night before. Peter went back to the floor to draw some more,
When Peter suddenly blurted out "You don't like my daddies", which got a lot of attention and the Ogords were suddenly pleased that Krugarr wasn't there having taken himself off to study some mystic arts, and couldn't be interrupted on some mystic plane.
But having a half celestial on board would have been interesting, whilst Martinex who was stuck by the question tried to come up with a convincing response.
"You parents and I have a complicated history, they…never followed the rules and disobeyed the Captain, they don't follow orders". Stakar finally said.
Whilst Peter's face screwed up because even though he was talking to a grownup he was defensive of his parents "Well my daddies say, that if a Captain is bad Captain. Who gives bad orders, the crew don't have to listen".
Peter said defiantly, and no one missed the look that crossed Aleta's face at this statement, but Martinex had a feeling about what might come and defused the situation with ease. "And your daddy is right. There is nothing worse than a bad Captain", which intentionally felt like a slight against the Ogords. But it was the truth after all.
But at that moment it was Mainframe who with her head, on top of a small section overlooking the stars, chimed in with her realistic singsong voice "The life of a Captain is not easy, and every choice we make impacts someone after all".
Peter just looked up at this, since he understood these words, but wondered again, since it had been explained that Mainframe was a Ravager, but all she was, was a head. And deep-down Peter wondered if all she was, was a toy, that he wasn't allowed to play with. Like all of daddy's toys on his console, and decided to ask his daddies, when he saw them again.
But after Peter went back to his drawing leaving Aleta felt very disconcerted inside, when the couple received a communication stating that Peter's lunch was ready and could they take him to the Mess.
Stakar volunteered this since Peter was still learning the layout, and could easily fall somewhere, and wanted to learn more about him and the dynamic of him and his daddies, but Aleta sighed with relief when they left the room, along with Fang, whom Peter would not let out of his sight.
The First Mate of the Galleon pinched the bridge of her nose with her fingers, but since Mainframe was the smartest person in the room, Aleta found herself saying to her, "Do you think they told him…or is this just him". To which came the reply.
"He does seem very insightful for a child, but I think if they told him, he would have told you". which was the most logical answer. But for Aleta, she hadn't thought of Yondu, Kraglin, or the rest of the crew who had defied her and left in terrible circumstances.
Now they were in her thoughts taunting her and not because she hadn't taken better care of Peter, something she knew Kraglin would call her out on. But Regellen and Hoag, she was thinking about them and feeling the one thing she had never felt.
Wretched.
To be continued.
