It's not completed yet, as it's written by me and a friend, Anaïs, so we can only write when we're together...

Everything by CS forester, Andrew Grieve and Russell Lewis. Except the storyline ofcourse, wich is by Anaïs and me.

Excuse me for my bad English... oh and review please.

CHAPTER I

Archie stepped upon the deck of the Justinian. He looked around and smelt the salt sea breeze. The 13 year old boy searched for the captain, but couldn't find him. One of the older boys on the other side of the deck beckoned him. 'I need to find the captain.' Archie said.

'Follow me', said Eccleston. They walked towards a tall and impressing man. 'You're late', the captain spoke.

' Sorry, sir. We were delayed.'

The captain nodded. 'Your name?', he asked.

'Archie Kennedy, Sir. At your service, Sir.'

'Well, Mr Kennedy. Welcome to the Justinian. Eccleston, take him below!'

'Aye aye, Sir!', spoke Eccleston and Archie together.

The nervous boy followed Eccleston below decks.

'It's difficult to say who smells worse. The men or the beasts in the manger forage.' said the midshipman, 'You'll get used to it.' he added. They came to the midshipmentable. 'Welcome to the Slough of Despond. Or just, the midshipman of His Majesties Ship the Justinian.'

'Thank you.' Archie smiled.

At the end of the day when he got to know the people another midshipman arrived, who introduced himself as Jack Simpson. His eyes met the new boys eyes and he grinned. 'A new face, I see. Tell me your name.'

Archie stuttered: 'A-archie Kennedy, Sir.'

A sailorman walked in the room and Eccleston yelled: 'Styles! Since when is there no need to knock anymore?'

'I beg your pardon, Sir. But captain Keene requests Mr Kennedy's presence.' he answered. Archie sighed of relief and ran out of the room as fast as possible. Styles grabbed his hand and they went to the back of the ship. Archie was confused: 'Where's the captain?', he asked.

'Captain's nowhere laddy.', answered Styles, 'I'm here to warn you for Simpson. He's a dangerous man you know.'

Archie didn't answer. And Styles said: 'I know what he does to little boys like you.' They heard footsteps, Simpson was on his way, with his lash in his hand.

'You there! Weren't you supposed to go to the captain? You know the penalty for disobeying an order is death.'

Archie swallowed 'Sorry, Sir.' he stumbled. 'But apparently the captain wasn't in need of my company anymore… sir.'

'Now don't lie to me, kid. I know as well as Mr. Styles knows that you were plotting against me!'

'N-No Sir, I swear…'

'You swear? I don't think that means anything to you! Spoiled brat!'

And he lifted his hand, the lash came down upon the cheek of the boy. Archie staggered and fell.

'Stop it, man!' Styles yelled.

'I haven't even started yet…' Simpson grinned. 'Now, if I were you, Styles, I'd go back to your friends and let me handle this!

'No!' Archie yelled, 'Don't leave me here alone with… him!'

Simpson hit the boy right in the face 'Shut up!' he whispered.

'I'm sorry, kid, but I don't want to be involved in this quarrel.' spoke Styles and he ran off.

'It's just you and me now.' Simpson said threatening.

The lash came down on Archie's back, his head, his legs… Simpson went on for so long that after a while he couldn't feel anymore. He couldn't speak, he couldn't move.

'I think that's enough for a warning.' He whispered, 'But remember, every time you do something I don't like, even look at me in a wrong way, you'll get a worse punishment then this one!'

He gave him a few last kicks and then walked away.

Archie felt the blood dripping over his face, he could taste it in his mouth. He was totally numb, until he heard someone yelling : 'Archie! Archie! Mr Kennedy! Mr Ke… Oh, he's awake'

Archie opened his eyes and saw Styles and Matthews looking very worried.

'Don't worry, son, you'll be okay, the doctor's on his way.' Matthews said.

This was the last thing he remembered until he opened his eyes a week later in the sick bay.

'Hello, Mr; Kennedy.' he heard the doctor say. 'Welcome back.'

Archie mumbled something and looked around. He was all alone with the doctor in the room. He tried to move his arm, but it hurt too much. All of his limbs were useless.

'I'm sorry to tell you, but you'll have to stay here for at least one week, after that we'll see how far you've improved.'

Archie couldn't tell the man how thankful her was for this, one more week without worrying about Simpson!

'I must say that the captain wasn't too happy about your first day… You didn't make a very good first impression, he told me. But then, it wasn't totally your fault.

Archie smiled, 'I'll fix my reputation later on, now I just want to sleep.'

he closed his eyes and the waves silently rocked him to sleep.