Chapter Three:
Day two of the voyage; so far it has been smooth sailing. But then again we have just now cleared Montressor's atmosphere. Still plenty of headway to make as we venture on. I got up confident in my movements since I was no longer in danger of being sick. Time to see what the crew is up to.
I quickly pull on my light uniform and attach Rosalind to her harness. After a brief once over I decide that I'm suitable for public appearance. Even if the "public" is a boatload of ratty pirates. Better than nothing. I walked out to find a boy furiously scrubbing the deck on all fours. I had fully planned on striding right past him when he splashed water onto my knee-high boots.
An inhuman growl escapes my throat as I stop to brush the soapy water off. The perpetrator continued on his merry scrubbing way completely oblivious to the fact that he had just left watermarks all over my boots. 'You could at least apologize you know, merely out of common courtesy.' The boy stands up.
"Excuse me?"
'You. Got water on my boots.' I pointed to the stained things.
"And?" he shrugs. "Does it matter?"
'Do you know who you are speaking to?' I grip my sword's handle fiercely, sending what I hoped was a menacing message. His eyes widened a little at the memory but then fell back to a blank uncaring stare. 'Wonderful, now that you recognize me how about you pay attention to what you are doing lest you spill something on someone more important and less merciful than I.' I go to move past him but he blocks my way.
"What's your name?" he asks in a gentle but starved-for-company kind of way. I sigh as my hardened composure melts away.
'Kalena Aderyn.' It means pure bird I think and I have to stifle a laugh; I am anything but pure. These hands are plenty stained with the pain and sorrow of others all caused on my behalf. 'Who are you again?' I ask out of politeness—and also because I've actually forgotten all about him.
"Jim Hawkins." He says a little too excitedly.
'Okay, nice to meet you.' I look him up and down briefly, taking in all of his features rapidly and integrating them into memory for easier recognition in the future. I started with the bottom and worked my way to the top. Soft, but durable broken in boots, baggy pants barely staying in place with a too-large belt, light sienna undershirt cut in a varied V-neck style, large loose-fitting black coat, a strong jaw and facial features amidst tanned skin, big striking blue eyes, an ear piercing on the right ear, and topped off with voluminous bangs and somewhat closely cropped hair ending in a small ponytail thing with a fluffy end. As I burned his image into my mind I found myself wondering if these were the latest trends for the youth these days. To wear over-sized clothing that shrinks their actual frame and balance it out by wearing some outlandish haircut. Truly bizarre.
"And you." We shake hands all the while he's smiling like a kid on his birthday.
'You're the new cabin boy, correct?' His smile sags a little.
"Yes."
'Yes?' I raise an eyebrow questioningly.
"Yes, Kalena."
I cringe at the pronunciation of my name. It felt unnatural and alien, sliding from his tongue the way it did made it sound like an animal noise instead of my name. 'For now address me as "Miss Aderyn". Only due to formalities and such.'
"Aye... Miss Aderyn." Aderyn is far easier for me to swallow when it rolls off of his lips. As I leave him to return to his messy work his eyes are bright and starry. Mood swings much?
Jim POV:
Kalena is amazing! I think she's way more impressive than the ferociously feline Captain. Her posture, her attitude, even the way she speaks is unique. It's like she can't decide if she wants to be a pirate or speak in that sophisticated accent like the Captain does. She's unlike anyone I ever met at the Benbow or at school (Kalena, not the Captain).
However, being a cabin boy is such a low zero it's almost as bad as the spider psycho. I mean, I find the map and unlock its secrets but the Captain thinks I should work for the cook instead of someone who's actually useful. Like Kalena, I could help her do whatever it is she does. Which is what besides get into everyone's business? I remember her saying something about weapons after she caught me staring at her sword but I don't really remember much about launch day; too nauseas
.
The cook Silver is a cyborg. I don't trust him. He could be the cyborg Billy Bones was referring to before he died; the same cyborg that destroyed the Benbow Inn. Poor Mom, she must be at the greatest levels of sorrow right now.
Well back to the "job" at hand. I hate cleaning.
Kalena POV:
I've taken it upon myself to investigate the crew members. How can I keep true records of the voyage without knowing everything? I decided to start with Silver, the only one so far who has proven to have enough competence to be a leader. Thankfully he's the cook, so I can eat and watch him at the same time! Oh the cleverness of me! Not really...
Without as much as a second thought to Jim I head towards the galley. Remotely empty save for a sleeping crew member in the corner. I pondered waking the slacker but all my energy had gone into being stern with Jim therefore I decided to turn a blind eye and request some food. Silver came up, set a bowl down, and left whistling the whole time. People (mainly pirates), who know they are bad (like pirates), and they still act joyful (such as Silver), really irritate me! By the time I finished eating I was boiling mad. I really have to keep my emotions in check. Mission first, mission first, the mission is always first. Repeating this mantra over and over I swallow down two evil little pills while no one was watching.
Detective time. Putting on a face that I prayed was innocent, curious, and slightly alluring all at the same time I strode over to where Silver was propping myself up against the nearest counter. Silver looked at me but said nothing, his face drawing in to make a puzzled expression.
'So...Silver was it? What is your first name?' He paused, studying my face before giving any answer.
"John, ma'am."
'Hmm...Have you got any family?'
"No." I pursed my lips and tried another angle.
'How's the new cabin boy coming along?' Any traces of femininity were gone. I could feel that someone like me was never going to get through to him. Then it hit me, Jim; the perfect variable.
"He's a boy filled to the brim with defiance. It'll take a while but I'll be sure to break him in soon enough. I assume all your questions are for the Captain ma'am?" To lie or not to lie, that is the question.
'Indeed. The Captain has to maintain reports of the voyage.'
"Aye." He nodded, quite satisfied with my lie.
Tsh, pirates; so foolish. And to think I'd be one of them if I didn't love my job so much; that and I knew that generally all of their brainpower together wouldn't be greater than mine, Amelia's, or even Jim's! Okay maybe not Jim's, but he at least has the hope of improvement. Thinking about their idiocracy left a vile taste in my mouth one that only could be eradicated by bringing people like John Silver to justice. There's always an open cell awaiting any pirate that decides to pay a visit.
I need an escape; something that could get my heart going without putting me in immediate danger. I get out of galley still thinking of some suitable way to distract myself successfully. Hah! I've got it! After a brief search I found Amelia in another mini-fight with the Doctor. 'Day two and you're already fighting.' I smirk as their verbal argument ceases after sensing my approach.
"Day two and you're already bored." The triumphant grin spread across her face as my smirk vanished.
'We wouldn't happen to have any surfers lying around would we?'
Amelia sighs and points towards the hold. "You know those things are illegal..." I shrug in response to her warning.
"'You know Jim has gotten in trouble plenty of times because of him operating those things.'" The doctor chimes in. I ignore him and give Amelia a concerned glance.
'My only problem with going is that should need help and I'm not here...' Amelia chuckles softly, her ears twitching with appreciation.
"Kalena, I'm a Captain not some fresh recruit. I'm more worried about you, what if you lose control because of the-" She mouths the word narcolepsy. I shake my head.
'Nothing gets me going like a good ride.'
"That's also why I'm worried." I pat my secret pocket reassuringly.
'It's only moderate remember?' I take off to the hold where my solar surfer is at. Unwrapping my prize carefully I clear out some dirt and grime before carrying it to the deck. After attaching the straps I leap off into empty space. With a quick flick of the wrist I deploy the engine satisfied with its healthy roar that dilutes to an even purr.
In a few minutes I catch up to the ship and then pass it. It was a little awkward flying in my uniform instead of my usual gear. Usually I had goggles to prevent the wind from drying out my eyes and my hair was spiked to prevent it from blowing in my face like it was now. Rosalind was desperately trying to break out of her harness but it was too strong for her. I speed up to get a closer view of some nearby "sea" whales. There was a baby one flipping around and around with the happiest expression on his/her face. A contented sigh escaped my lips as the baby swam back to its family; where the parents nuzzled their child lovingly.
Ah, a family. The thing I was without. It's something I look forward to in the future. Getting married, having children, that's what I want. Orphanage is something no child should have to suffer through so if I did have children I would love them to the best of my ability. But that's in the years to come. Not while I'm still so young.
With these thoughts in my head I returned to the ship. The rest of the day blended as I sat and thought. My hardest question was now of utmost importance. How to truly utilize Jim Hawkins?