Chapter 4: Blood Bound
"Miss Halvor? Are you there?" Corey's Scottish accent rang into her coms. Vivian awoke from her sleep, furrowing her brows at the noise.
"Corey?" she asked tiredly.
"Lass I swear you're going to be the death of me," Corey groaned. "Are you all right? Are you hurt?"
"Corey…" Vivian sighed. She looked at her clock. She only slept for a few hours. No way they were even close to their route.
"Do I have to call your father?" he asked. Vivian's eyes widened. "No Corey! Not yet."
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Corey. I'm fine just it's a long story. I'll call you back," Vivian said hastily hanging up.
She got up from the bed, only wearing her peasant blouse and pants as she headed towards her bedroom door. She opened it seeing Five standing there behind with a small welcoming smile. She had some clothes in her hand and Bruce at her heels.
"Miss Halvor? Are you busy?" she asked. Vivian never got a good look at her before. She clearly was a teenager. Must've had a good reason to be hanging around some of the most dangerous people in the galaxy.
"Viv," Vivian corrected.
"I'm sorry?" Five asked, giving her an odd look.
"You don't have to call me Miss Halvor. Just call me Viv," Vivian corrected.
"Oh right…Viv. Are you busy?" Five asked again politely. Vivian shook her head.
"Come on in," she accepted, allowing Five and Bruce inside. She pointed at the clothes. "What are those?"
Five looked down at the clothes and smiled.
"Two and I found some spare clothes for you if you want to wash up. They should fit," Five grinned. She put down maybe three pairs of outfits that seemed a lot better than just the one. That and just genuine hygienic products that are good for things you know like showers.
"Thank you. I appreciate that," Vivian smiled, petting Bruce's head. "Have you been a good boy? Not causing too much trouble is he?"
"Not at all," Five beamed. "I always wanted a dog."
"Well if you want anyone to keep you company he's the guy to do it," Vivian laughed. She pointed at her. "It's Five right?"
Five nodded smiling, crossing her arms about her chest.
"So…are you settling in okay? I can't imagine it being better than a pirate ship," Five started. Vivian tried not to look amused at Five.
"Pirate ships aren't that different," Vivian laughed.
"Sorry I just thought pirates were kind of make believe," Five grinned. "I never met a real one before. Especially a captain."
"Well now you can cross that off your bucket list," Vivian smiled.
"You…don't look too much like one," Five commented.
"Why because I don't have an eye patch and a parrot?" Vivian teased. Five laughed.
"Well…I guess that's silly to say. I mean I guess Two is a pirate captain right?" she asked, sitting in one of the spare chairs, spinning it around.
"You have no idea. Although I have to say, something about her has changed since I've seen her a year ago," Vivian admitted as she went through the clothes.
"Like what?" Five asked.
"A little more…leader and not so much power hungry," Vivian commented.
"Well…we don't really know how we were before a few weeks ago," Five admitted. "Not since our memories were wiped."
"So that's why all of you were acting so strange. Shame," Vivian sighed. "Although there are a few things I'd love to forget."
"I don't think we had a choice in this case," Five commented. Vivian nodded.
"Clearly. Poor Port-" she stopped, correcting herself. "Two seemed a little confused by our negotiation."
"I think she was more shocked we had a stowaway pirate," Five stated. Vivian laughed under her breath.
"Sorry, probably not my best plan," Vivian admitted. "Then again she and I weren't on the best of terms. Guess I'm going to have to start from the ground up again."
Five nodded, and then grinned.
"Hey if you want I can show you where the food is. Maybe get some hot chocolate?"
Vivian looked at her amused. Then grabbed her boots, slipping them on. "Sure."
Five hopped out of the chair, dashing to the door. Vivian followed her trying not to laugh.
"You got some spunk in your step huh? Makes me wish you were aboard my crew when my ship was still around," Vivian smirked. Five grinned as they walked down the hallway walking backwards towards the mess hall. "So what do you do?"
"I tinker, I'm good with wires, tech, stuff like that," Five shrugged.
"Really?" Vivian asked sounding interested. "Well maybe I could teach you a few things."
"Really?" Five grinned excitedly.
"Sure," Vivian smiled.
Five led her to the mess hall, going into the fridge, pulling out a few other things showing her where they stored all the different snacks, meals and other side dishes. Vivian grabbed a spare mug, grabbing some coffee that seemed like it was still hot, making it sweet with creamers and sugar. Five made some hot chocolate.
"So did you really mean it when you said you're loyal to us?"
"What makes you doubt me?" Vivian smirked as she sat in a chair.
"Well you are a pirate," Five pointed out.
Vivian nodded her head as she put her feet up. "Point. But pirates are a little more…serious about their promises."
"Such as?"
"Blood promises," Vivian stated matter-of-factly. Five almost spit out her hot chocolate.
"What?! What is a blood promise?" Five asked.
"You might be a little too young for some of this," Vivian smiled amused.
"Oh come on," Five whined. Vivian snickered.
"Oh persistent too. Good quality for a smart girl. Fine then you have to promise you're not going to have nightmares about it. Or tell anyone else understand?"
Five nodded anxiously. Vivian leaned across the table, dramatically.
"A blood promise is legitimately bounding yourself to the contract. Some even say that my family and other high end pirates actually use real blood to sign the contracts made by the family."
Five's face grimaced. "Is that true?"
Vivian smirked. "Who's to say? Might be a good reason why our ink is always red. Or maybe it's just a good way to scare the people we're signing with."
"Ew…I thought pirates were supposed to be cool and sometimes romantic," Five scoffed. Vivian put her feet back up on the table, smiling.
"Never said we never have a bit of romance here and there," Vivian put her feet back up on the table, smiling. "Although being a pirate isn't always luxurious. Other than the profit."
"You ever have a first mate or a partner?" Five asked. "Maybe someone who you know were romantic with?"
Vivian looked at her oddly.
"How old are you?"
"Old enough to know that there's always love," Five smiled. Vivian laughed, shaking her head.
"Not me no but I do have one story that is a little romantic," Vivian admitted. Five beamed.
"Like what?"
Vivian scoffed in amusement, taking off a gold chain around her neck with a bright cross with a red jewel in the center and putting it on the table.
"My father…when he was raiding one of the corporations destruction sites, found a woman there, hostage. He killed the man who was held responsible. Was considered a hero for he and his crew for dealing with the enemy. The woman he saved…he got to know better. Ended up being my mother. She never regrets meeting him."
"Wow…" Five breathed.
"Told her she never had to worry about being in danger again. Not with him by her side," Vivian smiled slightly. "She gave this to me told me it would give me luck when I inherited everything. Said it'll give me good luck. Maybe find my protector one day."
"That is romantic. You should write that into a few smutty books, maybe it'd sell to the female population. Maybe we can just be rich off of that," Three's voice came from one of the doors of the mess hall. Six who was standing next to him rolled his eyes.
"Don't take his advice too personally," Six warned as he made his way down to the coffee maker. Vivian eyed Three as he followed Six to grab a cup of coffee as well.
"I think you're forgetting what my family's worth," Vivian reminded.
"Then for fun? Some spare cash for a few of those passion projects, right?" Three teased as he sat next to her grabbing her necklace. "Although this is worth a good pretty penny I'm sure."
"Not for sale," Vivian warned him with a smile.
"It's an heirloom," Five interjected.
"That's one fancy heirloom," Three smirked at her. "I'm surprised people haven't tried cutting off that neck of yours to grab this from you."
"Or bite my neck," Vivian sang, making Three almost spit out his coffee. Six chuckled. Five jumped at the sudden sound, laughing. Vivian put her feet down with a smirk.
"You all right?" Five looked at him confused. Three eyed Vivian biting his lip. She winked at him as she got up from her seat. Six noticed as Five just looked confused at Three.
"Yeah…I just…I just forgot to put something in this," Three motioned to the coffee. Vivian went into the fridge, grabbing an apple as Three wiped his mouth.
"Maybe it requires something sweet," Vivian teased as she grabbed her necklace from his hand. She winked at Five.
"Thanks Five I owe you one. Let me know if you want to hear anymore pirate stories," Vivian smirked.
"Ooo I might be in on that too," Six grinned putting up a finger as if volunteering. She glanced at Three before heading back towards her room. Three stared at her as she walked away, watching the swaying of her hips.
As she disappeared Three sighed, rubbing his eyes. Six raised his brows at him.
"Hey Five, why don't you go check see if Android needs anything," Six suggested. Five grinned.
"Yeah I probably should, we're still trying to recover some of the hard-drive," Five agreed, hopping out of her chair with her hot chocolate. "Bye Three."
Three waved at her tiredly as she exited from the mess hall. Six looked at him with a sly smile on his face.
"So…you okay?" he questioned. Three looked up at him tiredly.
"What?"
"You were uh…little not yourself," Six motioned to where Vivian left.
"It's probably the hangover," Three suggested, grabbing another cup of coffee.
"Or the pirate on board," Six smirked. Three slammed the coffee pot, putting his head down in frustration looking at Six.
"What the hell are you talking about?" he sighed.
"Oh come on, it's not rocket science to see she was flirting with you. Or that you were with her."
"I just met her yesterday," Three insisted.
"And you flirted with her after the first five minutes. Not like you slept with her," Six scoffed. Three gave him a drained look. Six's eyes widened in disbelief.
"You didn't," he breathed. Three rolled his eyes.
"No. But it's none of your business either way Tiny," Three pointed a finger at him.
"All right all right," Six put up his hands in surrender as Three headed out of the mess hall.
Three headed to his room opening the door to see Two sitting on the couch. He raised his brows at her.
"Something you need doll face? Or is this another booty call of yours?" Three smirked as he walked in sitting on his bed and putting his coffee mug on the nightstand.
"I was just…uh wondering how the drinks went last night," Two stated uncomfortably. Three looked at her oddly.
"Why do you care? Did something catastrophic happen while I was having a little bit of fun?" he asked, glancing at gun that Vivian sold him.
"No I just want to make sure she's not lying to us that's all," Two stated.
"No you were making sure I wasn't sleeping with her," Three corrected. Two furrowed her brows at him offended.
"I can care less about your personal life unless it effects our mission," Two growled.
"Well if it wasn't for me flirting with the girl, you wouldn't have had her come onto this ship with a 20,000 dollar deal and her own personal reputation behind us," Three mentioned, cocking the unloaded gun.
Two twisted her jaw.
"All right…I see your point."
"Besides doll face, she is honest about the loyalty thing. It's not a game to her or else she wouldn't have tried to kill you in the first place."
"Fine…forget I said anything," Two sighed, getting up. "Sorry to bother you."
"Although I'm not disagreeing to the booty call idea," Three smirked mischievously. Two rolled her eyes.
"Not interested. We still have 14 hours until we land," as she reached the door.
"And what better way to pass the time?" Three joked. Two closed his door behind her as she exited out back to the bridge.
Three sighed, getting up and heading out of his quarters grabbing his cup of coffee heading for Vivian's room. As he approached her door as to knock, he could hear her talking on the other side of the door.
Vivian in the midst of getting dressed into her new clothes from the recent shower was talking to Corey on the coms but on speaker.
"Corey like it or not the contract is sealed by my hand," she started. Three put his ear to the door.
"Your father is not going to be very happy about this," Corey's Scottish accent sighed.
"I'm the one with the ship Corey. What I say goes. Besides. Maybe having the Raza back on our side will be beneficial," Vivian coaxed.
"Like what? By destroying another one of our vessels," Corey objected.
"I'll make sure it doesn't happen again," Vivian stated sternly as she scrunched the loose flowing curls in her wet hair. "Just wire me the info and the money and we'll get down to business ASAP."
"…Yes Miss Halvor," Corey sighed.
"It's captain now. If I sign the deal it will be captain again," Vivian corrected.
"Captain…" Corey corrected. "Give me details once you land."
"Will do," Vivian breathed, hanging up. She jumped hearing knocking on her door.
Three hesitated before, backing off. Who the hell was she talking to? And what's with the captain business? Maybe he could talk to her about it later. Or…get some advice.
…
"You think she's trying to regain access to a ship?" Three asked. Four finished his sequence of routines with his blades, putting them back in line.
"What makes you think that she'll go against a contract?" Four questioned.
"I don't know…I overheard her say something about being Captain again," Three informed.
"Maybe," Four agreed simply. "All we can do is keep our eyes peeled right? I'm sure that's not hard for you."
Three gave him a mischievous look.
"What is making everyone say that?" he asked.
"Four do you-?" Vivian began from the door, making Three jump. She paused noticing him. "Oh hi."
Three smirked, waving at her.
"Miss Halvor?" Four questioned politely, putting his hands folded behind him, straightening. As she walked in, Four noticed Three eying her in her new clothes. A green shirt peasant styled shirt with billowed sleeves, cut along the shoulders, and a brown corset style vest with dark brown pants and her boots with her necklace dangling around her neck.
"I was going to ask if you knew where the Captain went," Vivian asked. "Or perhaps the Android."
"They both should be at the bridge. If not there check the mess hall," Four stated.
"Thank you," Vivian breathed.
"For my own curiosity Miss Halvor do you need them for? May I be of any assistance?" Four asked. Three furrowed his brows at the two of them.
"Actually I just got word from my bodyguard. He's been trying to get a hold of us to seal the deal on our verbal contract," Vivian explained.
"Is the verbal contract not enough?"
"It is for now, however, my family is a little more…formal," Vivian added.
"As in?"
"Blood bound contracts swear our loyalties to those who will benefit most for the family and outside. I was making sure that they were secure," Vivian replied. "Mostly for your crew's sake. Especially if I'll be working on your ship."
"You're not suggesting a human sacrifice are you?" Three asked with a horrified look on his face.
"It's more figurative than literal," Vivian sighed then smirked. "Unless you believe the old legends of my family. Using our own blood to seal the deal."
"Are they?" Four asked.
"I never really questioned it," Vivian smirked. "Besides what's the point of being a pirate if you can't tell unbelievable tales that make people question if it's real or not."
Three laughed a bit and Vivian bowed her head to Four.
"Thank you sir. I'll go find Two and see if we can get in contact with my family over the contract."
She then passed by Three as he watched her go out the door. Four raised a brow at him when he looked back at him with an odd shrug.
"What?"
"It's very clear to me that you have had…other interests since we met her at the shop," Four answered flatly. "So I'm sure you keeping your eyes on her won't be too hard for you."
Three scoffed in disbelief turning to see
"Unbelievable," he breathed. Four smirked as Three left the training room and back to his room.
"Blood contract huh?" Four questioned. "Interesting…"
…
"My bodyguard sent me this as a temporary contract," Vivian insisted as they looked over the holographic words.
"Is this exactly what we agreed on?" Two asked.
"It's word for word. The only way you terminate the agreement is by mutual exchange or betrayal," Android read over the document.
"One more thing…" Vivian hesitated.
"Although the Document does state that Miss Halvor is entitled as Captain and spokesperson of the Halvor Family," Android interrupted. Two looked at Vivian oddly.
"So what does that mean?" Two asked.
"It means you are not my superior," Vivian straightened up.
"But you're on my ship," Two reminded. "With your services."
"Yes but I am in contract to assist and pay not to be ruled under despite giving you my services," Vivian warned.
"Why not?" Two asked.
"Debt to a client is still a debt, however, if her family to overrule her work with you, she must obey the family's orders over yours," Android replied.
"How do you know that?"
"It says it in the fine print," Android blinked. Two looked hesitantly at Vivian.
"I still am bound to serve your ship. But I can live by my own morals. I have the right to my own opinion and to refuse a mission that is not beneficial," Vivian warned. "Just because you are not my superior doesn't mean I will not respect your orders when necessary."
Android looked at Two with concern.
"She hasn't done any harm to us thus far. Why not make the ally agreement official?"
Two sighed nodding.
"All right. But you in all seriousness you need to remember who's running this ship and where you are before you make any decisions," Two warned. Vivian nodded in understanding.
"As you wish Captain," she answered, she motioned to the screen. Two placed her thumb under an X symbol that scanned her fingerprint onto the holographic document. Vivian did the same.
"Under my house, I am in debt to our agreement, provide my service and bound our links by the blood of my ancestors," Vivian recited as if she's done it more than once. Two looked at her scoffing.
"You say that often?" Two asked.
"Only when it is important," Vivian replied sternly. The document disappeared from the hologram.
"Captain," Vivian greeted.
"Captain Halvor," Two sort of forced out of her mouth. "Welcome aboard formally onto the Raza."
"May my services serve and protect the crew aboard this ship," Vivian bowed. "Thank you again."
Android watched her in awe as Vivian left, leaving Two and Android alone.
"Well that was fascinating," Android commented beaming.
"Yeah like something out of an old story," Two agreed.
"She seems to respect your position enough to warn you," Android mentioned.
"Of what?"
"Of her status despite the agreement," Android answered. "Normally you would think a typical pirate would make you sign and double cross. However, her motives seem to be different. She respects you despite not being under you."
"No one is under me Android," Two commented.
"I disagree. You are the captain. And you seem to have a knack of telling everyone what to do all the time," Android disagreed. "Hence in some ways we are under your command."
"But not her…" Two reminded. "Let's hope that doesn't bite us in the ass."
…
