Author's Note: My apologies for the lack of updates. It's our first week back in school and I am absolutely swamped with the course load this semester. Please enjoy that which I have been able to complete thus far. Thanks again for everyone who is reading this story! It means a lot to me. If you see any grammatical and/or storyline errors, by all means please point them out to me :) I'm only human, so unfortunately I make a lot of mistakes. I try to edit the best I can, but it's not necessarily my greatest gift. Anyways, please continue! Thanks for all the support :)

*****

It was early Sunday morning, following the previous week, and departure wasn't for another thirty minutes or so. Ashe had arrived at a timely fashion, carrying with her two bags containing her luggage. What could she say? She knew it was better to pack light on trips like these. The docks were fairly busy this morning, mostly around the S.S. Venture. Luckily, there was no press.

"I wasn't aware that you were to be joining us," she heard from behind her. Ashe turned to look upon Captain Will Englehorn standing before her. By his expression, her first conclusion would be he was anxious.

"You'd rather I didn't?" she mused innocently. Part of her wished the same thing. Englehorn didn't reply.

"Don't worry," she said, patting him on the shoulder as she walked by. "I won't get in your way."

Her comforting words didn't have much effect on the Captain's general outlook on the voyage. But Ashe kept a soft smile on her face as she proceeded to the ramp. She was almost on the ship before she heard some commotion by the warehouses. She turned and saw two taxis drive up.

"I took the liberty in inviting a few more passengers," she heard Cunningham say behind her. She looked over her shoulder to see him standing by the railing, his pipe in hand. Her eyes narrowed.

"What are you doing here?" she asked. "I thought you were flying in so you could prepare the reserve for Kong?"

"The plane does not depart for another three hours," he explained. "I thought it best to see you off."

"Right…"she muttered under her breath. "So what did you tell Englehorn over the phone? Just in case, I'd like to have my part in the story straight as well if he asks."

"Well," Cunningham said. "As with any other situation, I explained that I represented a corporation whose focus is technological research."

"Nice cover," Ashe scoffed. "Though that really doesn't cover why we're involved."

"I added that the company has various divisions, including one focused on the protection of endangered wildlife, which is why Kong's welfare is such a great interest to us."

Ashe considered his little lie for a moment. Cunningham had his usual smug smile on his face.

"It's a sound alibi," he said in his own defense. In truth, the Order has always used such fronts throughout the past. Now, she'd admit, the whole 'technological research' wasn't entirely a load of bull. There was some research going on, but it wasn't the primary focus by any means.

"Same story as always. It might seem more believable if it sound as if you made it up off the top of your head," she arched her brow, regarding him coolly. "How long did it actually take the Order to come up with that?"

He gave a sour frown, putting his arms in his pocket. He thought it best to ignore her little quip. Clearing his throat, he added, "In case you're asked, you're technical position in the company is a 'domestic liaison'."

The sound of the job title itself forced a small laugh from Ashe. It was almost as ridiculous as the Order's little lie. But in truth, she was a sort of liaison, a go-between person. It wasn't all she did, but indeed she did act the role in various occasions.

"Is the name of the 'corporation' still the same?" she asked.

"Marshall Industries," he answered. "It hasn't changed since you left."

"Marshall Industries", she repeated with a hint of distain. Ashe rolled her eyes, leaning against the rail. Some things never change.

"You haven't been gone all that long, Ashelia," Cunningham smiled.

"Not long enough, obviously," she stated with a heavy sigh.

Her attention turned back to the cars. Out of the first car came two figures, a man and woman. Ashe recognized them both immediately as Ann Darrow and Jack Driscoll, both packed with their own luggage. From the second car rose Preston Atwood, Carl Denham, and Bruce Baxter, also with their luggage in tow. Yeah…this was a surprise to say the least, especially to see the actor of all people.

She shot a glare back to Cunningham, "What do you think this is? A field trip? Why the hell are they all coming?"

He could see the confusion in her bemused expression, and he raised his hands in defense, "Well, Miss Darrow requested she journey with Kong, see he's taken care of and all. She made a rather convincing argument."

"Meaning you're just a sucker for those big blue eyes," she added dryly.

Cunningham cleared his throat once more, and then continued, "Mr. Driscoll wished to accompany Miss Darrow, and I saw no reason to object. I had a talk with Denham and his former assistant, and they both requested to accompany you."

"Why exactly?" she shot back.

"Who knows? Closure, perhaps," he suggested with a light shrug, before looking at her with a sideways glance. "There are people in the world who don't run from their troubles. You might learn a thing or two from them."

Ashe chose not to reply at his snide remark, instead allowing her anger to simmer down before she sighed in annoyance and continued walking up the ramp. She rounded the corner, her mind still stuck on that pesky Englishman's words of wisdom. He always had a way of getting on her nerves. She wasn't sure why, but it was just a skill that he had perfected over the years.

Ashe was still fuming a little on the inside, her mind wandering so much that she was completely oblivious to where she was going. She passed by various crates and ropes strode across the deck and next thing she knew, she rounded another corner and collided head first with a guy whose arms had been loaded with crates. The force of the impact was strong enough to knock them both back, yet Ashe regained her footing. The guy she ran into was not so lucky, as he tripped backwards with the crates he once held scattered throughout the surrounding deck.

"Sorry!" she said instinctively, releasing her luggage as she moved forward to help the guy she knocked down. She recognized him instantly as James Wallace, known only as "Jimmy" to the crew.

She reached out to offer her hand out of politeness, but he barely acknowledged it as he jumped to his feet with incredible speed and rushed to gather the crates.

"Watch where you're goin', would ya?" he snapped. He gathered all but one crate, yet Ashe couldn't help but simply give a soft smile as she picked it up. She handed it to him, but before he accepted he got a good look at who he ran into and his ears flushed a light pink hue in embarrassment.

"I-I'm sorry Miss," he apologized sincerely. "I didn't see you."

"Don't worry, kid," she shrugged it off. "I was rushing too, I didn't look where I was going."

"O-oh," he said humbly.

"So…where were you off to in a hurry?" she asked out of curiosity.

Jimmy opened his mouth to answer but a gruff voice startled them both, "Jimmy!"

They wheeled around and set their eyes on the First Mate of the Venture, Benjamin Hayes. He wore a dark overcoat with a matching cap. She could see by the look of his eyes that he was uptight, perhaps tense of the impending voyage. Part of her really couldn't blame him.

"Sorry, ," Jimmy said, trying to explain. "I was getting the last of the crates like you asked, but I-"

"It's my fault," Ashe cut in. Both of them turned to her, and Ben must have just realized she was standing there. "I wasn't watching where I was going and I kinda collided with the kid."

Hayes didn't say anything for a minute then looked back to Jimmy, "Okay, get back to work."

Jimmy nodded in obedience before he ran off down the deck with the crates in his arms. The First Mate waited until Jimmy was out of sight before he looked back to Ashe.

"I'm Ben Hayes," he greeted, a little less hostile, but not by much. "I take it you're the one who talked the Captain into this?"

Ashe thought about how best to respond, "Guilty as charged….well, mostly anyways. My boss talked me into it first."

A lengthy moment of silence passed between them before the First Mate cleared his throat.

"Well…I guess a 'thanks' would be appropriate," he started. She gave him a confused look.

"If you hadn't stepped in," he explained. "The lawsuits might have cost the Captain the ship."

"Oh," she said, caught a little off-guard by the sudden words of gratitude. "You should probably think Cunningham, this was his idea…I'm just goin' with the flow."

Hayes narrowed his eyes in uncertainty, "Cunningham?"

"Yeah, he's my boss…I guess. The, uh, old Englishman with the snobbish accent and patronizing personality," she said. "He's not that hard to miss, you know, with the ego. You'll know him when you see him."

By his expression she could see that Hayes had not had the pleasure of making the old man's acquaintance and he could not help herself but to the envy him for that. But before this little trip was over and done with, she had no doubt that he would meet him sooner or later.

"Well," she said, "it was nice to meet you. I'll just go to my room now."

She picked up her luggage and turned to leave. Hayes watched her with a hint of perplexity in his gaze. Ashe had walked but a few paces before she came to a halt, and wheeled around confused. She was quiet a moment before she spoke.

"Just one question…," she said, in a tone which indicated she felt a little incompetent. "Where, exactly, is my room?"

Hayes resisted the urge to chuckle as he simply smiled and gave a small nod.

"I'll show you to your cabin," he offered. Ashe couldn't help but to smile a little out of gratitude.

****

As he stood on the docks, going over the last of the paperwork for the voyage ahead, Captain Englehorn could not help but feel anxious. Even though everything was thus far running more than just smoothly, he still had this gut-wrenching feeling that something was doomed to go wrong. It wasn't that he had doubts about Ashe. On the contrary, in his opinion she was one of the more seemingly honest individuals he had met. He wouldn't go so far as to say she didn't have her fair share of secrets, but he would put a lot more faith in her word than her employer's.

Now, when Englehorn had spoke to Cunningham over the phone, his first impression was not exactly the greatest. In his mind, the Englishman was the sort of man who had his own personal agenda. People like that tended to simply piss him off. Carl Denham was perhaps the best man to exemplify that stereotype.

"Englehorn!"

Speak of the devil. The Captain turned to lay his eyes on the director, who to his dismay had with him his suitcase. Behind him he could see Ann Darrow, Jack Driscoll, Bruce Baxter, and Preston Atwood each with their own luggage and ready to go.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he growled at Denham. From the Captain's apparent look of discontent, the director could see that their arrival was anything but expected.

"I'm sorry…" he started, "apparently you weren't informed that we had signed on to come as well…"

Englehorn opened his mouth to speak when he was cut off from behind, "It's alright, Englehorn. They have my permission to accompany us on the voyage."

Wheeling around, Englehorn looked as Jamison Cunningham stood with his hands in his pockets and pip in his mouth. He looked contently at the Captain, while he returned the gaze with a cold glare. What gave him the right to invite passengers?!

Well, technically, this little expedition was funded entirely by Cunningham, so the Englishman had full rights to invite whoever the hell he pleased. But…why of all people did he have to invite Carl Denham. Miss Darrow he never had a problem with. He even had a little respect for Driscoll and Preston. Hell, he'd even tolerate the actor before Denham any day!

Cunningham saw the look in Englehorn's eyes and smiled, "Relax, Captain. All expenses are paid for in full. You have been more than compensated for your assistance."

The Captain thought it best not to push it. The man was right. He had been paid for the voyage in advance, a full fifteen grand. It was more than he was expected. Much more. His ship was in full working condition. The surviving members of his crew faithfully returned once more, just as Ashe had predicted, to see this through to the end. And what's more, he was even able to acquire more men thanks to Joe's help in recruitment. So far, not a thing was going wrong. But then again, the day was still young. And Kong wasn't even here yet.

So for now, he could do little more than tolerate the situation. He turned to Denham.

"One wrong move," he warned in a low tone, "and I swear you're being thrown overboard."

It wasn't so much how he said it, than how he looked at him when he said it that made Denham know that Englehorn was definitely not bluffing. He was silent for a moment as the Captain glared at him before he strode past with a little haste in his steps. Preston followed him curtly, giving Englehorn a quick nod of acknowledgement as he passed him. Baxter did the same as he, too, followed Denham. Finally, the Captain stopped to upon the playwright and the actress. Whatever they're conflict was about when they last parted from the Venture, apparently had been resolved, considering that they greeted him hand-in-hand with one another.

"Driscoll. Miss Darrow," he addressed. "I must admit I'm a bit surprised to see you both volunteering for the journey."

"Yeah, well…", Driscoll began, but Ann cut him off.

"We all have to do this. It's our responsibility," she explained, the determination evident in her tone and in her eyes. She was not the same woman who first stepped onto the Venture all those months ago. Something in the way she carried herself made her stand out as more determined and knowledgeable. Miss Darrow was really quite a woman. Despite the traumatic experiences she must have endured throughout her journey on Skull Island, she held out pretty strong. Most women Englehorn had come across would have needed therapy. But not Miss Darrow.

"Captain," Cunningham intervened. "Kong should be arriving within the next five minutes. Is everything prepared?"

Jack and Ann both gathered their luggage and started for the ramp as Englehorn turned to the Englishman.

"Yes," he replied. "The cargo bay has been cleared. There are enough sedatives to keep Kong asleep for the duration of the voyage. When does your flight leave?"

"Soon, but I have time to spare," Cunningham said. "I wanted to stop by and check on Ashelia."

He saw Englehorn's confused expression and smiled.

"I mean Ashe," he clarified. During their past discussions over the phone, Cunningham had been vague on the subject of that strange woman. Englehorn knew little more about her than when he first spotted her on this very dock last week. He wondered if even the Englishman knew much more about her. Then again, even if he did, it's not likely he would share. "She has a rather strong preference for the shortened version of her name."

"How long have you known her?" he asked curiously.

Cunningham chuckled, taking the pipe out of his mouth, "For quite some time. I worked with her parents for a while, long before she was born. They, too, worked for Marshall Industries."

But what kind of work? That was the real question going through the Captain's mind. However, he figured getting answers from a man like Cunningham would be like trying to get them from a brick wall. He was barely able to get any straight answers when they spoke on the phone. The man was vague when it came to who he represented, which he called 'Marshall Industries'. Apparently, it is a small company dedicated to advancing technology. As if that was enough, it had various branches which focused on anything from medical research to education funding, and so on. What they did was of little importance to Englehorn. As long as they paid him, they could work on whatever the hell they wanted.

"Ah, they're here" Cunningham said finally, his eyes looking past the Captain who followed his gaze to the port entrance. Numerous military vehicles swarmed the surrounding docks, ranging from marines to navy to army. Uniformed officers flooded from the vehicles, each and every one of them armed heavily.

"The mayor thought it best that Kong receive something of an escort to the ship," he added. "I assured him the animal was heavily sedated, but it's just a precaution. A navy ship will escort you out of the harbor, but you should be free from there."

"May I ask how you managed to trap the ape?" Englehorn asked. "I mean, you had it cornered on the Empire State Building, correct?"

Cunningham nodded, putting away his pipe finally, "Yes. The plunge would have killed him if he fell, but luckily he was securely fastened to the roof. I was then afraid that the amount of sedatives would have killed him, but luckily it was enough."

The two men watched as more vehicles crowded the docks. It was indeed quite an entourage. There was a large gap in the midst of the mass, allowing the large freighter truck which transported Kong to squeeze through. The sheer size of the ape was weighing down the truck, but it managed to move him without sustaining any damage. Of course, Kong was so beyond the point of consciousness he probably didn't feel a thing. Englehorn couldn't shake the dread of having that ape on his ship once more, but it would be a trip he would have to bear. Luckily, this one would not be as long as the trip from Skull Island.

One of the officers, obviously one of high-rank, stepped forward and greeted Cunningham. Englehorn didn't hear what conversation went on between them, but it wasn't his concern. His eyes were fixed on Kong for the longest time before he turned to his men.

"Alright! Everyone get to work!" he yelled, getting the attention of every nearby sailor under his command.

"Load the ape," he barked. He stood by with a dark expression as the cranes overhead moved forward, ready to hoist the ape onto the ship, which had its cargo doors opened on the deck. He stopped for a moment to see the old man walking away. Cunningham came to a halt beside one of the military vehicles, stepping aside for one of the officers to open the door. He looked to Englehorn, regarding the Captain with a confident smile and a curt nod before getting into the truck.

The Captain returned his acknowledgement with a slight nod of his own, if only as a sign of mutual respect, before turning back to his work. He felt the heavy burden on his shoulders once more and knew this was going to be a very long journey, and he couldn't help but pray this wouldn't be his last.

*****

It had been a full two days since they had set sail, and Ashe couldn't help but feel a sense of freedom as she looked out at the vast cobalt-hued waters of the Atlantic. The weather had been decent, which was a relief because Ashe never really slept easy in stormy weather. It always kept her awake.

Standing out on the bow of the ship, leaning against the railing, she watched as gulls flew overhead, soaring on the light breeze which blew through her raven black locks. She had a cigarette in her hand, occasionally taking a hit as she soaked up the sun and fresh sea air.

"I see I'm not the only one who finds the calm seas relaxing," she heard a soft voice behind her.

Ashe turned and saw the actress standing a few feet away, her hands locked together. She had a gentle smile on her face, complementing her soft blue eyes and golden hair.

"I'm Ann Darrow," she introduced herself. "You're Ashe, right? I'm sorry…I've heard your name spoken amongst some of the crew."

"Really?" she mused aloud. "And what have they said?"

"Well," Ann admitted, still smiling, "not a whole lot. Mostly they've just explained why you're here and all. Jimmy said you kept to yourself mostly."

"Ah, I see," she chuckled. It's true, she had been a little reclusive the past two days. She had kept to herself mostly, perhaps out of natural instinct or whatever. It was her nature. Not that she found enjoyment in being the stereotypical loner, detached from society and humanity…but it was sometimes the hazard of the job.

"I…" the actress started. She hesitated, her mind searching for the right words. "I just want to thank you….for Kong."

Ashe shook her head, "No, it's no problem…"

"Really…he's not what most people think," she said, she tried to continue but Ashe cut her off.

"Miss Darrow, I know," she smiled. She could see that Ann must have had trouble convincing a lot of people that Kong wasn't a monster. Well, Ashe had seen some monsters in her time, sometimes in the most unlikely of places. Sure, the ape was well…an ape. But he wasn't evil. And Ann didn't need to convince her of that.

A sign of relief washed over Ann's face, her mind eased that Ashe didn't few Kong as a killer.

"So," the actress said finally. "Why did you volunteer to help? I mean, in bringing Kong to Africa and all?"

'Volunteer' wasn't exactly the word Ashe had in mind when describing her involvement. Coerced. Forced. Those were all words that were probably more accurate, but Cunningham most likely explained that it was her job to help and she was more than willing to do so.

So, all she could really do was just grin and bear it. Or…bear it anyways.

"Well…" she said, considering a valid answer to her question. "It's my job, really. Marshall Industries wants to see that a creature like Kong is given a stable environment for his own welfare and protection."

"Who?" Ann asked in confusion.

"It's the company I work for," Ashe explained, but in the back of her mind she couldn't help but feel it sounded ridiculous. "Mostly, it's a research company, but it works with industrial technology and innovations. But in the past few years it's grown and has been able to branch out and has a lot of divisions, one of which tries to fund the protection of the environment, and wildlife. Especially, endangered. That's the division I work for. Animals like Kong are of extreme interest to our research."

"Oh," the actress said. "Wow. That's…quite a job." It surprised Ashe that Ann had listened to every word she said. Usually, she tended to lose people when she talked for lengthy amounts of time. Not because she sounded boring, but because when she spoke sometimes she rambled. When Ashe told lies like that over and over, she tended to speak pretty fast and it wasn't hard for people to lose what she was saying entirely. But then again, she was never really a great oratorical speaker.

"Well, I do have another question," Ann continued, folding her arms across her chest. "Why aren't you taking him back to Skull Island? I mean, it was his home. He doesn't really know anything else."

"True," Ashe agreed, leaning back against the rail. "But Skull Island is sinking. Give it a decade, maybe a little longer, and it will be swallowed by the sea. It's really too unstable for Kong to stay there anymore."

Ann seemed surprised by her remarks, "How do you know so much about the island?"

Uh-oh, Ashe thought. Talk about a foot-in-mouth moment! She could have damn-well kicked herself for not thinking before she spoke. The truth of Skull Island's existence had only been made public to the world since Kong was brought ashore to New York little over a week ago. She froze, trying to think of some answer that sounded half-way decent.

"Well…considering its location, it's not very surprising that it would be custom to violent undersea quakes. It's something I heard in a science class once …" she said, faltering a little. She hoped her pained, unconvincing tone was just a figment of her self-conscious mind, but she could see by Ann's look of slight disbelief that she sucked at lying on the spot.

"Look, Miss Darrow," Ashe said finally with a heavy sigh. "All that's really important now is we get Kong safely to the reserve. He'll be safe. Thanks to you, really. No one will hurt him anymore."

Ann Darrow took a moment to take a good long look at Ashe, studying her with uncertainty evident in her blue eyes. It was a look that Ashe had actually grown accustomed to sometimes. She could tell the actress was trying to decide whether or not she needed to be trusted. She wouldn't hold it against her if she did doubt her. Hell, it's what she would do. After a drawn-out, awkward silence in which neither of the two women spoke, Ann stepped forward and held out her hand.

"Well, then," she said, a small smile returning, "I suppose you have earned my sincerest gratitude."

Ashe could see that Ann meant that sincerely. She reached out and shook her hand while returning the smile. She was unique from other people she had met in the past. Maybe it was her heart or her candor that made her stand out, but Ashe could see that Ann was one of those few people who you could really trust.

"Thank you, Miss Darrow," Ashe said finally.

"You can call me Ann," she said. "'Miss Darrow' sounds too formal, really."

"Alright, Ann it is," she agreed with a small laugh.

A small part of her felt relieved that she had at least one person on the ship who trusted her. Well, maybe trust is too strong a word. Accepted? Maybe that was better suited. Either way, it didn't matter. She was relieved nonetheless.

"Have you…met Kong?" Ann asked inquisitively.

"No," Ashe admitted. "Not personally. I saw him at the theatre before his big break out, but I never did have the honor to make his acquaintance. "

The actress's smile widened, "Would you like to? He's not entirely awake, but I know he can hear still. He still knows we're there."

She took a moment to consider the proposition before shrugging finally, "Sure. Why not?"

Ann looked absolutely delighted by her consent, and motioned for Ashe to follow her to the cargo hull to see Kong for herself.

****

It was a dimly lit room which held Kong. In the past, Ashe assumed it must have been where animals from previous journeys were held. It had been cleared of the cages and crates to make room for Kong, but there were still bales of hay in the far corner, with varies straws of it covering the dingy floor. The smell was probably the most striking aspect of the entire area, but Ashe really couldn't complain. She had seen worse, so it didn't bother her as much as it must have most of the other passengers who weren't regulars.

"You get used to the smell," Ann said over her shoulder with a small grin. Apparently she knew it was a thought that must strike everyone's mind once or twice when they first enter.

Ashe's eyes turned to the sleeping form of the giant ape, Kong, his chest rising and falling with each breath. She couldn't help but see how helpless he really was in that unconscious state. She stood back, simply looking at the creature in amazement. She'd admit that she had seen quite a few amazing things in her life, unbelievable things. Kong was probably on the top of that list. To determine his age exactly would be difficult, but she assumed he was in his late maturity, not old, but just in his prime. Jagged scars covered his body, revealing his troublesome fight for survival on Skull Island. His immense size was enough for Ashe to feel her heart skip a beat just at the sight of him.

But not Ann. She stepped forward with no hesitation whatsoever, placing a hand on the ape's enormous furry arm. Kong was in too deep a sleep to realize their presence, but the actress smiled, greeting him and calling out to him as if to stir him. She turned back to Ashe.

"It's okay," she said. "You can step forward. He won't hurt you."

Ashe took a moment to consider the offer, before taking a deep breath and taking a few steps closer. She could see that Ann's voice indeed had an effect on the creature for a small growl escaped his throat. Not a threatening one, but more like a drowsy moan you would hear when trying to wake someone. His paw twitched a little, and Ashe couldn't help herself when she leaned down and placed a gentle hand on it. Where there was no fur, his skin felt like worn leather, toughened over the years. Her fingers traced some of the scars that tore through his paw, before looking up. One eye was closed, but the other was slightly open. Whether or not he was conscious of either of them, Ashe could not be sure. Part of her believed he was. Her stare was fixated on his, the warm chocolate hue of his iris regarding her with a drowsy form of curiosity.

It's funny really. She saw more serenity, more peace, in his gaze than in most people. Maybe it was just the chloroform, but she was positive there was an ounce more of humanity than any human she had met. She laughed a little.

"What's so funny?" Ann asked smiling.

"It..It's just kinda funny, I guess," she said.

"What?"

"Just…Kong. I mean, well, you know people heard these ridiculous myths of 'beast men' from the mountains of Africa and they disregarded them as old folklore and children stories. Then October 17th, 1902….someone drops a mountain gorilla on an autopsy table and people were like 'Oh, that's what they saw…"

She chuckled a little, "I'm sorry. I don't know what made me think of that specifically…I guess, the saying 'Seeing is believing' is a good way to sum it up."

Ann smiled and nodded, looking to Kong who now had both eyes shut, "Yeah. I wasn't so sure I believed it either…when I first saw him, it was like a nightmare. It didn't seem real."

"Reality is usually just a matter of perspective," Ashe mused quietly to herself. Ann heard, but didn't respond.

Suddenly they heard someone from behind, clearing a throat. Both women turned to see Jack Driscoll standing there patiently. Neither of them was aware of how long he must have been standing there. He gave a polite smile to Ashe then looked past her to Ann.

"Dinner's ready in the galley," he said nudging his head toward the door "C'mon, you need to eat something."

Ann stood up, giving a small nod of agreement. Ashe herself felt a little famished, but she hadn't really been in the mood to eat. She'd been a little on edge lately, so she hadn't really made her way to the galley. Luckily, Jimmy noticed her lack of appearance and was kind enough to bring her a spare plate of grub the past two evenings. Ann had started to walk towards Jack, but paused for a moment and looked to her.

"Would you care to join us?" she asked. Ashe considered the offer for a moment but shook her head.

"Maybe another time," she declined thoughtfully. Ann smiled and turned, leaving the cargo hold with Jack hand-in-hand.

Watching them leave together, Ashe leaned against the wall with a small sigh. There was a small part of her that envied that. A longing for someone to call her own. True love. She doubted it existed. Movies and books made it seem all too easy. And with her lifestyle, finding a soul mate was hardly on her list of priorities. Not that it was likely under any other circumstances though. The matters of human affection were always a trivial pursuit in her eyes. Rarely did she ever see true love, and if it did happen to occur once in a blue moon it died.

Love is like fire. The brighter it burns, the faster it dies. She remembered someone once saying those words long ago, but she could not recall the source from wince they came.

Sure, Ashe had men she cared for over the course of her life. Lovers weren't hard to come by. But then, "love" was perhaps too strong a term. She never had been a sucker for romance.

A small rumble from Kong shook Ashe out of her thoughts. He seemed so peaceful now, lying there, sedated beyond belief. She wished she could sleep half that good sometimes. Lately, her nights have been filled with reoccurring nightmares that never cease to disturb her peace.

She took a few steps forward and took a seat where Ann had rested, placing her hand on the soft black fur. Slowly, she began to recall a small song she had heard once as a child. It played itself in her head over and over, so she couldn't help herself but sing it aloud. She figured Kong probably wouldn't mind, but seeing as how he was her only audience member, she thought it wouldn't hurt.

"Imba wimbo, Wa upepo ,Wakati unajiwa na," she sang softly, stroking Kong's paw.

Sing a song, And for a moment, You will be visited by the wind.

"Imba wimbo wa upep, Wakati ndoto tamu."

Sing a song, And for a moment….

"Lala mpaka usiku uisheni," she continued. Kong continued to sleep, yet she felt his paw twitch a bit. Perhaps he could hear her.

Dream sweetly of the wind.

"Upepo wa usiku. Wimbo wanko na."

Sleep now until the night is dawn. The wind and the night song, they are there.

"Wimbo wangu inaendelea milele," she finished.

However the song, my child, will go on forever.

Sitting there quietly, she watched as Kong's slumber was not disturbed. She doubted a bullhorn would wake him up from his sleep, let alone her lullaby.

"I think if he were awake, he would have enjoyed it more," she jumped at the voice from behind. She wheeled around and saw Englehorn leaned against the frame of the door, his arms folded across his chest. Behind him she saw Choy standing there, holding another bottle of chloroform. Apparently, Kong was soon to receive his next batch of sedatives.

"How long were you standing there?" she asked defensively, rising to her feet with her eyes narrowed. She didn't like being spied on. Technically, that was her job most of the time.

"Long enough," the Captain replied with a small smile on his face. "I heard the ape's sedatives were wearing off. What language was that?"

"Swahili," Ashe answered shortly after a short pause.

"Where did you learn it?" he continued with curiosity, even though the look on Ashe's face told him she was annoyed at the invasion of privacy.

She was quiet a moment before replying, "My mother sang it to me."

For a few seconds, neither of them spoke. Englehorn couldn't be sure what she was thinking now. At the mention of her mother, he could see Ashe felt uncomfortable with the conversation. Finally, she built up the nerve to just walk away. The Captain opened his mouth to speak, but Ashe continued out the door and around the hall. He couldn't say that he was surprised though. She had her own secrets, he knew it from the moment he met her.

Moments passed and he completely forgot Choy standing behind him with the Chloroform. He noticed the small Chinese man was staring up at him, one brow raised inquisitively. But from the dark glare the Captain shot back at him instantly, Choy scurried forward to give Kong another dose. Englehorn sighed, wishing he had handled the conversation with Ashe a little better.

Ashe had returned to her room shortly after her little encounter with the Captain, her temper having had time to simmer down. She wasn't sure why she reacted with such hostility towards him. He just…appeared out of nowhere! The dread that she was losing her touch crept into the back of her mind. She didn't even sense him behind her! Perhaps she was just too lost in thought.

Why did he suddenly get under her skin so bad? She was usually able to keep up a calm exterior, even under the most severe of situations. But this whole trip has had her on edge.

****

Sitting on her bed, her sketchbook in her lap, Ashe drew a scenic picture with charcoal. An enormous lighthouse towered in the background overlooking a vast bay. Her eyes were locked on the sketch, her focus entirely enveloped in her work as always. In one hand, she held the small charcoal stick, and in the other, a half-burned cigarette. Her bangs hung low in her face yet she was far too fixated.

But it wasn't entirely the art that had her mind in its grip. Something was still eating at the back of her mind. She couldn't put her finger on it though.

Knock, knock.

Her eyes shot upward towards the door as it crept open with Jimmy appearing from behind it. He peaked in, looking to her shyly.

"Miss Ashe?" he said. "Were you hungry?"

Setting aside the notebook and smothering what was left of the cigarette in an ashtray, Ashe sighed, "You know, kid, you really don't have to bring me food. I feel like a bum each night when you do."

Jimmy smiled, "Well, I know, but you really never show up around mealtime, so I figure it's best not to let ya starve."

Well, it wasn't like she could reprimand him for kindness. She just folded her arms across her chest as he opened to door more widely and stepped forward. His eyes moved constantly, like a small animal taking in its surroundings. No doubt her room was indeed in little better care than that of her apartment back in the Bronx. His hands were in his pocket, in which Ashe found humorous. At least he couldn't steal anything. Still, couldn't be too careful. She couldn't help but keep an eye on him to make sure nothing went missing.

"Anyways, I was wondering if you would like to actually come to the galley for some food," he asked hopefully. "I mean, so you can get to know some of the crew and all."

By his expression, Ashe could see he was hoping she would accept. But why he was bothering to reach out to her was confusing to say the least. His history as a kleptomaniac and street kid wasn't actually an experience shifting one into a form of maturity. Getting to her feet, Ashe studied him curiously.

He stood feeling slightly awkward as she stared, "…What's wrong?"

A short pause and then she asked, "Why are you so keen on turning me into a social butterfly?"

His brows narrowed in confusion, "What?"

"I mean," she explained, "it was you who told Ann to talk to me. It was you who tipped the Captain and Choy that Kong needed more chloroform."

Jimmy stood abashed, giving a nervous laugh, "How did you-?"

"I like to pride myself on my observational skills when the time comes," she mused.

"Oh," he sighed. He stood there with a touch of guilt in his eyes. Not shame for what he did, but rather for getting caught. Sort of like the little kid who stole a cookie from the cookie jar, only to get caught in the end.

"Relax," Ashe said. "I appreciate the thought. I was just curious."

The kid seemed to relax a little as he shifted his stance while rubbing his head, "Well, Miss-"

"Ashe," she cut him off in annoyance. "Shorter, less formal. Makes me happy so just go with it."

"R-right," he said. "Ashe, well…no offense, but being alone all the time ain't good for ya."

She cocked her head slightly to the side. Personally, she had always rather enjoyed a bit of solitude from time to time. Sure, when you're young being alone isn't all that grand. It usually leads to personality disorders, lack of social skills, and overuse of imaginary friends. But really, when you're mature, it's pretty delightful. Especially when you're not exactly a people person.

"Really?" she smiled. "Says who?"
"I did," a voice from behind Jimmy said. Ben Hayes appeared leaning by the doorframe, his hands in his pockets. Both Jimmy and Ashe looked to him as he continued. "I told Jimmy to look out for you, help you get settled in the best you could for the voyage."

"Is that so?" Ashe said with an amused expression. "Thoughtful, I admit. But why the gesture? I guess my ego is bigger than I thought, I didn't realize I was considered a helpless damsel in distress."

Hayes smirked. He looked to Jimmy and nodded for him to leave. The boy hesitated for a minute then left, giving a small nod of farewell to Ashe before walking out of the room and down the hall. The First Mate waited till Jimmy's steps were distant enough then turned back to Ashe.

"I don't know what to consider you as," he sighed. "Not really. I don't think anyone does, even you. All I know is you aren't who you say you are, but I know you're here to help."

Ashe remained silent for nearly a minute before she finally spoke up, quietly though.

"What makes you think that?" she asked.

"Because Jimmy trusts you," he answered. His tone revealed mixed feelings of uncertainty and hesitation. "And so does the Captain. And I guess that will have to do."

His answer seemed sound, logical. The kid was naturally intuitive, if not entirely in the loop. And Ben had taken enough care of him to trust in his instincts, despite the occasional brash or childish act. The Captain on the other hand….well that was another matter. Another lengthy silence drifted between them before Ashe cleared her throat.

"So now what? You rat me out and make me walk the plank?" she questioned. "Assuming the old nautical pirate policy is valid, that is."

Hayes gave a small chuckle, "Don't worry. The Captain's already came to the same conclusion. But he trusts you, which is a first, so I figure what the hell?"

Ashe took a moment to study him curiously. Given the look in his eyes and stature, it was evident that every word he said was pretty accurate if only based solely on intuition and conscientious objectives. But she had to give them credit. They weren't nearly as dimwitted as she had feared. But then again, giving strangers an abundance of untested credit wouldn't be entirely smart on her part. After all, they did bring the ape to New York City, so thus far their lack of common sense weighs heavily against their favor.

Finally Ben stopped leaning against the frame and stood straight, taking his hands out of his pockets and folding his arms across his chest as he stepped back through the doorway.

"So," he insisted, "ready to step out of isolation and spend time with actual people? Or does the company of your sketches suffice?"

Do I have to answer that? She mused in her mind. But luckily, years of experience have taught her some restraint when moments where she compulsively recited aloud what had only just formed in thought. Well, it didn't always work. However there were the few cherished moments of such achievements.

Finally, Ashe sighed in defeat, following the First Mate without a word towards the galley.

*******

Author's Note: Sorry, I meant to add this earlier. The lullaby Ashe sang was actually a swahili lullaby. For those who recognize the words, it's the "Dedication and Windsong", by James Horner from the film Mighty Joe Young. I've always loved it. My apologies if the lyrics aren't exact, but it's very hard finding the translations online.