"What's going on?" I asked yawning as I entered the bridge. "We're following a boat of shark fin hunters," ET told me, "We're taking them out at first light." "And I'm part of the boarding party?" "Yes," the CO confirmed. So that's why I was woken up after I had just gone to bed. "Go get ready." "Yes, Sir." I followed ET while the XO called boarding station.

When I jumped on board, I had to refrain myself from vomiting. How could someone do something so cruel to all those sharks? These people just cut off their fins and threw the still living sharks back in the water. I felt anger well up in me. That must be such a painful way for those sharks to die. And it looked like there had been a lot on this boat. "Red, help Buffer assess the boat for towing," the XO ordered me. I quickly followed Buffer, avoiding looking at all those bloody fins. "You alright?" Buffer asked me. "No, not really," I answered honestly, "I just don't get how people can be so cruel, I don't get it at all." "They just have a different kind of morale, but that's why we're here, to stop them," Buffer said. I just sighed. I stayed behind for a moment while Buffer told the XO that we finished. I didn't want to go back there to see those fins.

"Red, go to the wheelhouse, take a look at their papers," I heard the XO call. "Yes, ma'am," I quickly replied and made my way to the wheelhouse. An old and obviously frightened old man gave me a few pages of paper. I looked through them and then told the XO my result. I took in the image of the whole crew. They all seemed somewhat scared, but there was no way I could feel any kind of sympathy for them. Not when I knew what they had been up to.

"Come on Red, we're going back," ET pulled me away from my thoughts of how those men would feel if their arms and legs were cut off and they had to try and survive in the ocean.

I was glad to be back on Hammersley away from all those fins. "You wanna grab a brew?" ET asked me. "No, thanks, I'm gonna go to sleep," I declined yawning, feeling the exhaustion catch up with me, "See ya later." I went back to my cabin to resume my interrupted sleep.

I felt a better once I woke up. And we should almost be back in port, considering we couldn't follow the mothership. But it didn't look like we were anywhere near Cairns. "Where are we?" I asked Chefo as I made myself a coffee. "We just left Bright Island," the chef answered. "Bright Island? Why were we there?" I was confused. "To pick up a passenger." I sighed. Great. And I had looked forward to spending some time with Noah and Josh. Josh had come for a visit this week. He was leaving again tomorrow. But I guess I wouldn't see much of him now. "What? Did you make plans with your boyfriend?" Chefo asked me. "Red has a boyfriend?" Spider suddenly stuck his head in the galley. "She does?" Buffer appeared behind him, followed by ET. "Would it be so surprising if I did?" I asked feeling a little offended. "No!" "Not at all!" the guys quickly said. "Well, I don't," I sighed, "I just would have liked to spend some time with Josh and Noah today." "You and your brothers are pretty close, huh?" Buffer noted. "Yea," I smiled, "Well, Josh only came here for the week, he's leaving tomorrow. I barely get to see him anymore." "Aw, poor Red," Spider cooed. I shot him a look. "Come on Spider, Red's a girl," ET said. "What's that supposed to mean?" I asked with raised eyebrows. "Nothing," he quickly said, but I continued looking at him, "Girls are… more emotionally attached, you know?" "Uh huh." The others laughed while ET tried to find the right words, or at least that's what it seemed like. I sighed. "Doesn't matter. I'm gonna go get some fresh air." I took my coffee and searched for a nice spot to enjoy some fresh night air. I sat down and closed my eyes, sipping my coffee.

"Red? You here?" I heard someone call sometime later. "Here," I replied. ET appeared in my field of vision. He crouched down in front of me. I just looked at him. "I'm sorry if I offended you earlier," ET said. "Don't worry about it," I dismissed it with a wave of my hand, "I was just looking forward to spending some time with Josh, you know?" "How could I not know, I'm a Josh after all." It took me a moment to get that. I chuckled slightly. "True," I said, "But you're nothing like Josh. Or at least you two are pretty different." "How so?" ET asked, seeming genuinely interested. "Well, you're this cheerful, always joking and outgoing guy while Josh is quite the opposite. Josh has always been the more introverted one. He can be so much fun, despite being pretty serious most of the time though. But he cares a lot. I guess that's why he wants to become a doctor… Josh may be quiet, but he's always been there for others when they needed him. Ever since we were kids."

I thought back to when I was still a child, Josh had always been there to help me out, whether I had just forgotten my lunch money, or some other kid had played a prank on me, Josh always helped me. Of course I could rely on Noah as well, but it was different. Noah was the one you talked to when something had gone really wrong. That was probably because he was older, and he turned to be more like a father-figure, while Josh was more like my best friend.

"You three really are close, aren't you?" I had almost forgotten that I was talking with ET. "Yes," I replied, "If I ever lose one of them… I don't think I could handle that." "You won't," ET stated. I had to smile at how confidently he said that. "I hope so," I replied and stretched, "Well, I think I'm gonna get some more rest before we get back to port." "Alright."

I got up and went to my cabin, hoping we would reach port soon.

I couldn't wait to see Josh and Noah. I quickly packed my bag and rushed to get off the ship. "Red, wait," the CO stopped me before I could leave Hammersley, "Your shore leave is cancelled." "What? Why?" I exclaimed, "Sir," I quickly added. "Charge needs your help, we are having engine troubles," the CO said. "But…" The way the CO looked at me made me fall silent again. "Charge is waiting in the engine room." "Alright," I sighed, "May I just make a phone call first, Sir?" "Go ahead. But make it quick." I quickly got out my cell while I brought my bag back to my cabin and called Noah. "What's up, sis? You here yet?" he answered his phone cheerfully. "I'm in port, yea," I said, "But my shore leave was cancelled, I need to stay on board…" "What?" Noah seemed as unhappy as I was. "Yea, but I'd really like to see Josh, so… Could you guys maybe come here?" I requested and heard Noah sigh, "I need some fresh clothes anyways, so please?" "Alright," Noah caved, "I'll talk to Josh." "Thanks," I grinned, "Call me when you get here."

A little more enthusiastic I made my way to the engine room, where Charge was already waiting for me with a task. If I got everything I was needed here for done quickly, maybe I could still have at least a little free time to spend with my brothers.

"Charge, I'm done, is there anything else you need me for?" I asked when I finally finished. "No, I'll do the rest myself," Charge replied, "I think we'll be able to leave port in about two hours." "Alright." I smiled, before I hurried to the CO's cabin. On the way there, my phone started buzzing. "Hey, I'm done with my tasks, I'll just ask permission to go ashore. I'll call you back in five," I quickly said, before I knocked on the CO's door. "Sir?" I said as I opened the door, "I would like to request permission to go ashore now. Charge says I am not needed anymore and I promise I will be back in less than two hours." "Why is this shore leave so important to you?" the CO asked curiously. "Sir, my brother, whom I rarely get to see, is in town right now and I would like to spend some time with him, before he leaves," I explained. "Alright, go ahead, but make sure you come back in time, Red." "Sir," I saluted, "Thank you." I hurried off the ship and called Noah again to meet me at the exit of the port.

"Josh!" I jumped my brother, almost sending him and me tumbling to the ground. "I'm happy to see you too, Rubes," Josh laughed and I grinned. "Have you grown? I swear, you're taller than you were when I last saw you." Josh and Noah both laughed. "You're still as energetic as ever, I see." Josh put me down and we started walking towards this little restaurant. "You must be hungry," Noah concluded and just then my stomach growled. "I guess so," I laughed. We got a table in that little restaurant and ordered. "I only got about two hours, before I need to get back," I told my brothers while we waited for our food. "Better than nothing, right?" Noah tried to be the optimist. "Yea," I agreed, "So Josh, tell me, what have you been up to? How's med school? Have you met a girl you like?" "Rubes, one question at a time," Josh said, "I've been doing pretty well. There's nothing really exciting to tell. Med school is… med school. Sometimes it's pretty hard, but I manage. And no, there's no girl." "Ah! There is!" I exclaimed, drawing some attention to our table, so I quieted down again, "What's her name? What's she like? What does she do?" "There is no girl!" Josh denied. "Come on Josh, you know I know you better than you know yourself. Spill!" I ordered and Josh sighed. He couldn't deceive me. "Well… there is this one girl… Her name is Rhihannon. She's really nice and beautiful and cute. She has that smile, you know?" I couldn't help but smile at how adorable Josh was, talking about that girl. "I knew it!" I grinned. I had this sixth sense when it came to people liking someone. I could always tell when one of my friends started falling for someone, sometimes I even knew before they realized it themselves. It was kinda creepy sometimes, but it was my hidden talent.

The time flew by way too quickly. It felt like I had only seen Josh for a minute when I already had to say goodbye again. "I'm gonna miss you soooooooooooo much," I said as I hugged Josh. "Can't breathe," he choked out and I let go again, "I'll miss you too, Rubes." Josh smiled at me. I hugged Noah as well. "I'll miss you as well," I said. "You too, sis." I waved while I entered the port, until I couldn't see my brothers anymore. Sighing I walked to the Hammersley. "Seaman Taylor, reporting for duty," I saluted.

I brought the bag of fresh clothes which Noah had given me to my cabin. We left port shortly after that and I was called as a lookout. The CO, the XO and Nav joined me when the mothership came in sight. We quickly set course for them.
"Sir, there's a rhib approaching the vessel at high speed," the XO said and I quickly took a look. She was right, there was a small rhib with two people onboard closing in on the mothership. "Where the hell did they come from?" the CO asked rhetorically. "Saviors of the sea," I read a sign that was on the rhib. "They're eco-militants responsible for sinking a Japanese whaling ship last year," the XO explained, "They're throwing something over the side." "It's a hoser, designed to fail the propeller," the CO said, "They're trying to disable the mothership." Suddenly there were gun shots to be heard. I quickly raised my binoculars to my eyes again. The people on the mothership were firing at the militants. And suddenly one of them fell into the water. "A militant's been hit!" I exclaimed. And just a few seconds later the other one fell as well. "There are two in the water now boss," Nav said. "The mothership's taking off," the XO added, "Sir, we have to rescue the militants." "I know. And by the time we do the mothership will be back across the line and out of our waters," the CO sighed, "Red, go with the rescue party." "Sir." I quickly hurried to suit up and joined Swain and ET on the rhib. The first guy we pulled out of the water had a gunshot wound on the shoulder. "Red, I need you to keep pressure on that wound," Swain said to me, after he had tied a string of cloth around it. I nodded and applied pressure. The second militant seemed to be fine.

Back on Hammersley I accompanied the first militant to the ward with Chefo. I helped Chefo as much as I could, but I probably wasn't that big of a help considering I didn't have that much medical training. But Swain came shortly after so I only stayed to watch over that guy. Chefo and Swain left me to make sure that the militant stayed put while they went to watch over the boarding of the mothership. I knew I probably shouldn't, but I kind of felt bad for that guy. He was trying to do the right thing and got shot for it. And he would probably have to go to court.

Well, he was sleeping at the moment so he probably wasn't worried about anything.

"Having fun here, Red?" I turned around at the sound of a familiar voice. I had to contain a laugh. "Now, yes. What are you dressed as?" I asked, still laughing. "A shark fisher. I didn't volunteer," ET defended himself, "But doesn't it suit me?" ET did a turn and I only had to laugh harder. "Very," I laughed, "It's… authentic." "Good. We're setting a trap for those eco-militants," he told me, "I better get going." "Good luck," I said, "And be careful." "Always, ma'am." ET saluted mockingly and then left.

I wasn't all that worried. The guys were in the Navy for a reason. They could handle themselves. And to distract myself I started reading a book that was lying around here. It was medical book and I didn't understand most of what I read but at least I had something to do until we reached port.

I would have liked to spend more time with Josh. I had only seen him for a little over an hour and he had already left for Brisbane again. I really missed my brother.

"Hey Red, are gonna come have a drink with us?" Buffer asked me, when we were leaving the ship. "I don't know," I hesitated. "Oh come on, you never spend any time with us other than on Hammersley," Spider complained. "Spider's right. Come on, and Charge is paying, so…," ET agreed. "Alright," I sighed, but then laughed, "So where are we going?" "Yes!"

So I spent the evening with the rest of the crew. It was a pretty fun night in the end. I got to see a few sides of others that I hadn't seen on Hammersley before.