Chapter 14: Sink or Swim Part 2: Onboard the Ship
As soon as Shaw's ship set in, Scott and Hank tied a life boat onto it, at night, for an escape route for the plan ahead.
()()()()()
The next day, there was a faux celebration for the ship's victory against the Dominion.
By this point, Jean was much more confident in her juggling.
"And now a tribute to your glorious victory!" Kurt called out.
Hank, Charles, and Scott then showed up behind a cardboard cutout of a boat.
We are the mighty Dominion.
We sail the open skies.
No Imperial ship can stop us.
For we are the more wise.
The three then looked forward.
"Uh-oh." Charles said. "It's the unbeatable…"
"Undefeatable…" Hank added.
"Not real sweatable…" Scott continued.
"Sebastian Shaw the ruthless!" They all cried out as Alex was there on Charles and Moira's recently rescued dog, Howler.
"Retreat!" Hank called out.
"Ramming speed!" Alex called out, and the three were knocked over like bowling pins.
After that, Charles and Scott snuck down to the rowers while Alex and Howler cornered Hank.
"Wait, I'm an officer!" Hank called out before he was knocked over.
As the soldiers cheered, Alex bowed to the audience.
()()()()()
At the water, Hank quickly swam to the boat as Charles opened one of the holes for the canons. Hank then handed a bag of food to Charles, who then handed it to Scott. Scott then slipped into the slave quarters.
"Be careful, Scott." Charles whispered.
()()()()()
Scott looked around. All the slaves were sleeping in rags and hunched to make room for everyone. Scott was shocked that anyone could be so inconsiderate of people. He undid the bundle and took out some bread, vegetables, and fruit as he walked around.
"Dad?" Scott called out. "Dad?!"
Just then, a black-haired man with a five o'clock shadow pulled him over.
"What are you doing here, boy?!" The man asked when he saw the food as Scott let him have some.
"I'm looking for my father." Scott explained.
"The only thing you'll find here is trouble." The man said after taking a bite of bread. "Now get out of here before you get us all killed."
()()()()()
On the deck, as Kurt was doing various acrobatics, a soldier rushed up to Shaw with a scroll.
"Sir!" The soldier said. "One of our ships was captured in a slave revolt! En Sabah Nur orders you to set course at once and capture them before they reach the borders of the empire!"
"Then cast off immediately." Shaw said plainly. "Sound the battle alarm!"
As the soldiers sounded the alarm, Kurt gulped.
"Uh, but the show's not over yet." Kurt said nervously.
()()()()()
Meanwhile, Scott had given food to all the slaves.
"Do any of you know my father Christopher Summers?" Scott asked, when suddenly, a soldier opened the door.
"All slaves to oars!" He called out, and they went to their posts.
"Wait!" Scott called out as they went off. "Has anyone seen my father?!"
"I'm afraid he's not on this ship, kid." The black-haired man said.
"Scott!" Charles called out soon afterwards as he pulled Scott up.
()()()()()
At the deck, Moira and the other children, were by the walls, not being noticed by the preoccupied soldiers.
"Charles?" Moira whispered. "Charles?!"
()()()()()
Meanwhile, Hank was trying to stay near the ship until he got knocked off by one of the oars.
"Moira, what's happening?!" Charles asked as the ship continued its hustle and bustle.
"We're going into battle unless we get off this thing quick!" Moira answered.
They went to the starboard side of the boat, only to find Hank hanging onto a rope.
"Hey guys." Hank said.
The soldiers then arrived and pulled Hank in just before they left the atmosphere. They were all trapped on the ship now.
()()()()()
On the ship, the gang was tossed into the captain's quarters where the captain would arrive to deal with them.
Everyone then looked around. It was an elegant purple and green colored room with various, expensive, knick-knacks.
"Vow." Kurt said. "This is nice."
"How can he live like this when so many people are suffering right under his feet?!" Scott asked angrily.
"Yeah." Alex added. "Jesus said we should be kind to people."
"I don't think the captain was listening when Jesus said that." Hank responded.
"I'm afraid he's like the man who built his house on the sand." Charles said.
"Who?" Alex asked. He'd never heard of him before.
"A man Jesus talked about one day when he was teaching in Capernaum.
"He said to the crowd, 'Everyone who listens to me and does something about it is like a man who builds his house on a rock. Then winter comes, but that house stands up to all because underneath is the rock.
"'But whoever listens to me and does nothing is like a foolish builder who builds his house on sand. Then winter comes. And the rains fall, and the floods come, and the wind blows. And down comes his house with a tremendous crash.'"
Just then, Shaw came in and Alex finally had time to notice Shaw's brown eyes and black hair in an eighteenth style.
"So these are the stowaways?" Shaw asked.
"Actually, we're-" Charles began.
"Quiet!" Shaw called out. "I don't know why you're still on my ship, but I do know that we're going into battle and every man must pull his weight!"
Shaw then tossed a mop to Hank.
"You, clean the ship!" Shaw shouted as he turned to Scott. "You, give water to the soldiers!" Shaw then turned to Kurt and Alex. "You two stay here and clean." Shaw then turned to Charles. "And you, what do you do?"
"I'm a farmer." Charles said. "But my wife and I also bake."
"Perfect." Shaw said with a smile.
"My cook makes the worst rolls in the entire navy." Shaw said as he took a roll and dropped it on the floor, and it bounced right back into his hand like it was made of rubber. "Absolutely indestructible. The only thing they're good for is ammunition. You, your wife, and the girl are to go to the galley at once!"
"Yes sir." Charles said as he walked off with Moira and Jean.
Well, that didn't go all that well.