Oh, my gosh! MidnightMoon14! Thank you SO much for your review! You have inspired me to continue writing! Not that I planned on stopping. I've been working hard on other ideas that just keep popping into my head, and I had just recently become an official college student, which I am very excited about.

Anyway, this part of the story explains the depth of what B.E.N. had to go through, to stay on Captain Flint's good side just to keep himself alive. Well, there were only two benefits that come out of all of this. One is where he makes a new friend…sort of. The other benefit is where he explores more of the unseen universe. Unfortunately, Captain Flint is always there to make it all fall to pieces. (Curse you, Flint! I'm glad you're dead!) Enjoy! And tell me what you think.

Chapter Six: Servitude

The Kraken rested in the sheltering atmosphere of a gorgeous planet and the sun was already on the eastern hemisphere. Light peeked through the grating of the brig where B.E.N. had been lying unconscious. Now he was sleeping. His dreams were jumbled and confused.

Startled, he snapped to with his eyes wide open. "Ah! Who—? What—? When—? Where—?" He finally got a good look at his surroundings. The room he was now sitting in appeared to be some sort of brig. But it wasn't like any other brig he might have seen. This one was darker than usual. The sight of it scared him. "W-where am I? What happened yesterday?" He scratched the top of his head blankly. "Did I conk out or something?"

Suddenly, a pounding pain in the back of his head bellowed out at him. "Ooh! Ah! Ouch!" He felt around the back of his head and found a small recess right on his primary memory circuit. "Hey, how'd that get there?" He quickly figured out a way to get rid of the dent while preventing the ruin of the rest of the circuits in his head. Wincing, B.E.N. reluctantly hit the side of his head with his hand…hard. None of his other circuits were damaged as the dent popped up and the back of his head was smooth again. "Whew. Better." And yet he couldn't help thinking he'd forgotten something very important to him. But he wasn't given the time to think about it.

Just then, there was a loud banging from above. Giving a cry of alarm, B.E.N. shot his attention straight up to see the brig door open up and a familiar pirate stick his head down inside. The pirate appeared spiderlike, like a sort of cousin to the arachnian alien species. B.E.N. remembered seeing him some time before, but he couldn't remember where. When the spider spoke, he sounded as threatening as he looked, like a deadly insect. "The cap'n wants to see ya," the pirate sneered, reaching down with one of his long arms and grabbing B.E.N. by the middle, pulling him up and out.

Surrounding the whimpering, frightened robot was Captain Flint's entire crew of cutthroats—repulsive, fearsome, and…well, pretty darn smelly, especially their foul breath. More over, they scared him, almost as though they were ready to devour him alive at any given moment. He could feel his heart beating hard against his chest, about 150 times a minute, give or take.

"Top o' the mornin,' puny robot," growled a familiar voice. B.E.N. shuddered with a squeak and turned on his heel to see a huge, hulking figure to which the voice belonged. Tall, dark, and hideous, Captain Flint stood there, casting a long, ominous shadow over B.E.N., who was less than half of Flint's size. The sight of Flint brought back the terrible memory of the burning ship from the day before. The memory was somewhat sketchy, but who could forget a face like that of Captain Flint?

"Welcome to my ship, the Kraken," Flint greeted with a toothy grin. B.E.N. could see one gold denture in that dangerous mouth of his. "Come with me, robot. I'd like to speak with you in private, if you don't mind." Flint began to saunter away, but turned back around to find that B.E.N. had not moved from his spot. "Well? Hop to it!"

"Ah! Y-yes, sir, Captain Flint, sir!" B.E.N. replied, hurriedly following Flint to his quarters. B.E.N. figured that if he obeyed any order he was given, his life would be spared.

The door to Flint's quarters closed behind B.E.N. as he followed Flint inside. He could see the horrible disarray of the room. It was almost too repulsive to even look at, let alone describe. Unfortunately, he was here now, no way to escape. He knew where he was, and even if he tried to escape there'd be no telling what would become of him. He was still fearful of what Flint might do to him, but the pirate captain said he wanted to speak with him, so that was a plus.

Flint took his seat behind a desk in a golden throne that he had apparently stolen some time in the recent past. The mischievous expression on the six-eyed alien never faltered as he kept his gaze right on B.E.N., who was still quaking at the knees. "State your name, robot," Flint said in a gentlemanly fashion.

"Uh-um…uh, B.E.N.," the robot replied shakily. "Bio-Electronic Navigator. Y-y-you're not gonna hurt me, are ya?"

"Oh, now why in the world would I do a thing like that?" Flint said coolly. "You're much too valuable to be disposed of. Why do you think I took you? I am appointing you as my personal navigator."

Hearing those words, B.E.N. was finally able to relax, and he exhaled in relief. "Whew! At least I get to keep my life."

Then, Captain Flint rose from his ill-gotten throne and walked over to the robot, his demeanor turning serious, as if he meant business. "Just know that that means that you will be more than merely navigating. You will be doing whatever I order you to do. You will taste my food before I eat it so that I am not the victim of any poisons, guard the door to my bathing room so that I am not disturbed, and sleep in the cabin with me. Think you can handle that?"

"Well, sure, but I—"

"And I will hear no complaints out of you." Flint jabbed a taloned finger at B.E.N.'s chest and B.E.N. grunted from the forceful gesture. "No wining, no fussing, no 'ifs,' 'ands,' or 'buts.' Else I shall throw you in the brig again and won't release you for however long I decide. And you must always address me as Captain or sir. Do I make myself clear?"

"Uh, yes, sir!" B.E.N. stood erect and saluted in affirmation.

"Good. I ask of you the completion of these tasks simply because you are a machine and no one else will do them."

"Oh. That's…perfectly understandable." But B.E.N. wasn't so sure.

"And in return, I will do something for you. Being the machine you are, you would obviously require a tune-up every now and then, correct?"

"Uh, yes, sir."

"Let me guess. You'll be needing me to buff your metal and recharge your eye sockets once a month, correct?"

"Y-yes, sir."

"Very well then. That will be all. Unless there is anything else you require?"

"Uh…no, sir!" B.E.N. shook his head. "Nope. Heh-heh. I'm good. Peachy. Fine and dandy." But his stomach objected with ravenous hunger, rumbling in a loud, metallic gurgle. He was feeling hungrier than he'd ever felt in his entire life.

Captain Flint had heard the grotesque noise, and he laughed.

"I might have known," Flint said as B.E.N. covered his middle with a nervous smile, embarrassed. "You are a living droid. And after all, you were unconscious for nearly 20 hours straight. You must be quite famished. Not to worry, my little friend. There is a cabin boy down in the galley that will fetch you a satisfying meal. And besides, if you starve to death, I'll have no navigator, and I can't afford to lose you."

I can't afford to lose you! That's exactly what Captain Starling had said when Captain Flint had attacked the S.S. Venture…before the ship had been burned and before B.E.N. had been taken. He saddened for the loss of Starling, the good crew, the ship…and another someone. Why couldn't he remember? Soon, and he was on his way down to the galley.

Looking around in the galley, he soaked in his surroundings. This particular galley was pretty large, large enough to feed two crews. The kitchen was just ahead. But there was no one here.

"Uh…hello? Hello there!" B.E.N. called out tentatively. "I'm looking for a cabin boy…or someone." No answer. Maybe Captain Flint lied? Or maybe B.E.N. was walking right into some kind of trap? "Well, guess there's no one here. Better go now." He turned around to leave, but the sight of the lot of Captain Flint's crew helped him change his mind. "On second thought…" Facing back towards the kitchen, he tried again. "Uh…hi! I-I'm still looking for a cabin boy! So, could ya…maybe…um, come out…or something? If you wouldn't mind?"

"Who are you?" a young, Irish-accented voice spoke up, taking B.E.N. by surprise. "Wait. You're the new navigator Captain Flint talked about, aren't you?"

"That's me!" B.E.N. chuckled a little, still feeling slightly cautious. The voice revealed itself. It was a young tortoise-like alien, no older than 12 years of age. "Oh! Hi there, little guy."

"So, Captain Flint kidnapped you, too?"

"Well, admittedly, yes, but anyway…" Then B.E.N. realized something. "Hold on. What exactly do you mean by…'me, too'?"

"He took me away, too," the boy explained in a soft, melancholy tone, hanging his head sadly. "And he killed me mum n' dad."

B.E.N. was utterly stunned, and he gasped. His expression saddened with much sympathy. "Oh…uh…wow…Gee, I'm really sorry…really."

"It's all right," the young alien replied shyly. "Someday, I'll be able to make me escape. What's your name, sir?"

"I'm B.E.N., Bio-Electronic Navigator." B.E.N. knelt down to the tortoise boy with a smile and they shook hands. "And you are…?"

"William Bones, but you can call me Billy. I'm the cabin boy."

"Really? You're the cabin boy?"

"Aye. So, what business do you have here, B.E.N.?

"Well, actually—" B.E.N. was cut off. Once again, his stomach grumbled ravenously, loud and metallic, reminding him how hungry he was. "Whoops. Sorry 'bout that. Heh-heh," he chuckled, embarrassed in front of the boy.

Billy Bones laughed and pointed. "Was that you?"

"Well," said B.E.N. as he patted his middle, "when you've been unconscious for 20 hours straight, you tend to work up an appetite."

"I didn't know robots could eat."

"Oh, sure! Well, robots like me, anyway."

"Wow. So, what do robots eat?"

"Oh, aluminum, iron, tin, titanium, all kinds of metal!"

"And oil?"

"Personally, I like pure, black petroleum. Straight up, outta the can, ya know?" B.E.N. laughed.

"Oh, here."

Billy Bones fumbled in a floor cupboard, pulled out a can of petroleum, and handed it to B.E.N. Thanking the boy, the robot eagerly opened the nozzle on top and began gulping down the pure oil, his hunger satiating. He went through about three whole cans, drinking them until each can was empty, and his stomach was finally filled. Satisfied, he gave a contented sign and patted his middle. "Mmm! Thanks a bunch, Billy. Boy, that really hit the spot."

Just then, behind him came a loud, booming, "B.E.N.!" The robot flinched with a shudder and began to fidget. Turning, he and Billy Bones saw the giant Captain Flint saunter down the steps into the galley. Billy Bones disappeared behind the cooking pot. The pirate was now standing over a shuddering B.E.N., growling. "Did I permit you to chat with the cabin boy?" Flint snarled.

B.E.N. immediately saluted, scared out of his wits all over again. "N-n-no, sir, C-Captain Flint, sir!" He brought his hands together in a plea. "I-I'm sorry, sir! Please don't kill me! Please! Uh…sir!"

For a long moment, Flint loomed over the frightened robot, but the pirate captain's expression changed. One minute he was glowering down at B.E.N., the next he was standing to his full height with a smirk on his face. "Hm. I never said I was going to kill you. You're much too valuable, remember?"

"Huh? Oh, oh, yeah, yeah. How could I forget? Heh-heh."

Later that morning, every crewmember was in the galley, waiting for breakfast. It was made fast for the impatient aliens so as not to start one of the many brawls that often occurred on the Kraken. Inevitably, every other pirate always fought over the smallest amounts of food. Flint seemed to be the most refined out of all of them. Billy Bones was given nothing to eat but bread and dirtied water. But it could've been worse.

"B.E.N.!" Captain Flint barked at the robot. "Over here! Now!"

B.E.N. obeyed, cautiously approaching Flint at the table. "Yes, sir, Captain Flint, sir?"

"Your first task," Flint sneered with a toothy grin, pointing down at the full plate in front of him. "Sample my food."

B.E.N. looked at the dish, befuddled and uneasy. "Huh? Are you kidding? That's carbon based! I can't eat that!"

"Sample my food, or you will not eat at all," Flint snarled. Then, he whispered, "Besides, it may be poisoned, and only a robot, such as yourself, is completely immune to poison."

"Okay. I mean, yes, sir!"

B.E.N. pulled out a clean eating utensil, picked up a marble-sized morsel of bonza beast meat, and very reluctantly popped the piece in his mouth. He knew he was told to find any traces of poison, but that horribly bland taste! It engulfed the entire inner walls of his mouth and caused his face to twist from the bad taste.

"Is there something wrong?" Captain Flint queried in a growl.

"Uh, no, sir. No poison. It's…heh-heh…just right. Nope, nothing wrong here." B.E.N. turned away and spit the piece of meat out of his mouth.

"Good." And Flint crudely chowed down on his meat.

Throughout the long day, B.E.N. was pulled along with Captain Flint wherever he'd go. Today just happened to be the day where B.E.N. was made to take on his second task. In midday, Captain Flint took the robot to the door of the bathing room.

"Stay out here and guard the door," Flint ordered, standing over B.E.N. with a towel around himself.

"Aye, Captain," B.E.N. affirmed, saluting unenthusiastically.

"Oh, and one more thing." Flint then handed B.E.N. three items: a hand towel, a bath brush, and—who would've guessed—a squeaking, yellow, rubber duck. "Hold these for me. Should I be needing them, hand them in to me through the crack of the door. Am I clear?"

B.E.N. was looking at the rubber duck in his right hand, and he snickered as subtly as he could. "Aye, sir," he laughed in a suppressed manner. Captain Flint and a rubber duck? In his mind, B.E.N. was practically rolling in hysterics at the very idea.

"And I order you not to laugh!" Flint snarled angrily, seeing B.E.N. snickering.

"Ah! Oh! Uh—sorry, sir," the robot apologized, shrinking back a bit, completely halting his snickering all together, feeling guilty. "W-won't happen again."

And it never did.

That evening during dinner, B.E.N. had to taste Flint's food again. More meat…oh, joy (note the sarcastic tone).

Soon, it was time for bed.

As B.E.N. came to discover, Captain Flint had a cabin behind his quarters. "You will be sleeping in here, with me," Flint told him. But the room was dark, albeit neatly arranged. On the floor opposite of Flint's bed was a flat mattress and a thin blanket. "This is your bed."

"Huh? This little thing?" B.E.N. questioned, befuddled. "But—"

"What did I say!" Flint roared, causing poor B.E.N. to cringe.

"No wining, no fussing, no 'ifs,' 'ands,' or 'buts'…?" B.E.N. replied weakly, repeating what the pirate captain had ordered prior.

"That's right." Then, Flint took off his boots and hat and slipped into bed. B.E.N. only stood there, slouching a little. Turning to the robot, Flint told him, "What are you standing there for? Get into your bed."

"Y-yes, sir, Captain Flint, sir!" And B.E.N. hastily scurried under the blanket on his flat bed. The bed itself felt rugged underneath. Feeling it, he found that what little stuffing there was, was made of straw. To himself, he said, "Well, it can't get any worse."

Ironically, it did.

Just when B.E.N. was getting to sleep, he jumped a few feet in the air, screaming with a horrible start. There came a terribly loud, "Shnark!" and he realized that Captain Flint was…(dare I say)…snoring… badly!

"What the—?" the robot queried. Wincing from another snort from Flint, B.E.N. moaned miserably. "This is gonna be a long…" —yet another snort—"…night." And he sighed sadly.

From then on, B.E.N. endured it as best he could. Every single day was the same routine, including a daily raid of another helpless merchant ship. He woke up hungry every morning, sampled every one of Flint's tasteless meals, guarded the bathing room door while Flint took his baths, and was made to sleep in the cabin with Flint. Not that B.E.N. got much sleep due to Flint's snoring, which explained why he always woke up hungry every morning. (Fact: when you're not given enough time to sleep and you haven't eaten in a while, your brain focuses your stomach more on digestion than sleep. Sleep allows the stomach to digest more slowly. This applies to B.E.N. because he is alive.)

Five whole years passed B.E.N. by, and not one thing had changed. His only real friend was Billy Bones, who was maturing little by little, but they weren't able to see much of one another.

Every night, B.E.N. dreamed for the bright solar fire of dawn to come in his heart. For five whole years, he felt trapped…and he was. The darkness of Captain Flint's greed kept B.E.N. locked up. Despite it, B.E.N. tried his very hardest to keep us his spirits, knowing that he'd be set free from Flint's clutches. In time, though, B.E.N. learned to tolerate the pirate captain. But he couldn't help missing the life he once knew. Something in his heart was telling him in a tiny voice that someday…somehow…he would be free once again from the servitude to Captain Flint.

If only he could remember that someone he had forgotten.

To be continued…

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So? Tell me what you think. Please? I would really appreciate it. I am working my butt off writing with this great story! Please!