Chapter 4: Prologue to Catastrophe

The stranger in Kanna's cot was odd, she realized. Very odd.

Today was the Beothuks twentieth anniversary at sea, and Corville was planning on hosting a party for himself, some of the guards, and his patrons. It was a party to celebrate twenty years of getting away with all sorts of illegal activities.

Kanna found herself stuck in the lower levels of the ship, beneath the Great Hall, aiding the ships cook. The ships kitchen was a very narrow room, stacked with tons of bags of flour and other unidentifiable culinary objects.

It was even more hot then usual thanks to the dozens of burning ovens baking things from cakes to steak dishes.

Only the best for Corville.

Kanna furrowed her brow in concentration as she rolled a piece of dough flat. She had been thinking a lot about the man lately. Not just because it had been a week and he still had not woken up, but because she had decided to muster her courage and dig around a few articles of his clothing to find absolutely nothing. Not even some money.

It just didn't add up. How could a man just end up in a blown up speedboat from Future Industries, in war-type clothing, and not have any sort of identification. Not to mention supplies.

Five years at sea taught Kanna a few things about ocean navigation. The direction that man's boat was going led her to believe he might have been planning on making his way to the Northern watertribe lands, a month long trip. Kanna saw the wreckage; this man had no visible supplies. It's like he was running from something and didn't have the time, or care to pack.

It unnerved Kanna a little; she considered the fact that this man's disposition might be of a nefarious background. But then came the fact that he wouldn't wake up.

His character would never be an issue if he wouldn't wake up. Kanna had tried everything these last few days. She was getting desperate, and so were her brothers.

Though they were at first very hesitant about this stranger, the fact that he was constantly asleep settled there nerves quiet a bit. Kartok was still visibly annoyed that he had to sleep on the floor more then susual, but Nakoda had embraced the stranger in an odd way.

Kanna would often catch her wiser brother talking to the stranger.

It didn't do much good.

Emsta came everyday though. Always the bubbly brunette, she would come at the crack of dawn and ask if any progress had been made.

Each day Kanna would drag herself to the door and respond in the negative.

As Kanna added more flour to the dough, she mused that the only silver lining in this situation was that Corville had been away from the ship. Probably making more black market deals with Republic City's elite.

Kanna had heard on her way to her room that some great purchaser in the City had up and vanished. Maybe Corville was dealing with that?

Kanna would like to think that the guy that kept purchasing from Corville's vast weapons collection had grown a conscience. Somehow she doubted it. Whatever the case was, it meant less money to Corville's cause.

"Move it stupid," someone said as they suddenly shoved Kanna from her workstation to the floor.

"What the- Arika?"

Kanna moaned internally. Of course Arika would get stuck in the same shift as Kanna. It seemed that Arika had caught wind of Kanna's newest tenant. For some reason she had become even more aggressive towards her then usual.

Kanna lifted herself off from the ground and brushed the excess flour that had fallen onto her grey pants off in annoyance. She huffed, "A simple 'excuse me' would have sufficed."

Shrugging, Arika responded, "I like this way much better."

Kanna always found herself to have always been the explosive type, but she had to admit that her temper had sobered a substantial amount in these last five years. After Arika shoved her, Kanna would have probably whacked the smug bender with her roller.

But Kanna had more pressing issues to attend to, and playing with the ship's bully wasn't one of them. Seeing how Kanna was making no move in retaliation, Arika walked past with a slight frown on her face.

Kanna smiled slightly. Maybe not be so compulsive was a good thing sometimes. It certainly made her feel satisfied while not getting her in the brig.

A few hours, and burnt pies later, Kanna was finally released from her kitchen duties. The old rail-thin cook had dismissed Kanna early since she found her to be more of a hindrance then help.

Kanna couldn't complain. She was sure that if her and Arika had to be stuck in that steaming kitchen for a little while longer one of them would have ended up overboard.

That ridiculous girl caused Kanna so much frustration. She just didn't understand why the older girl resented her so much. In reality they could have been like sisters. Spirits knew that they both needed a strong female relationship on this ship. Just being with her two little brothers, and sporadically Kanza, was lonely.

The feeling was apparently mutual, since it seemed that Nakoda was now seeking friendship in the unconscious stranger. Kanna had overheard Nakoda talking about his time at the orphanage the night before to the sleeping man.

As Kanna reached for the handle of the kitchen door to leave, she suddenly found it beyond her grasp. In its place was the stoic metal-clad figure of Ettorre.

Noticing Kanna in his way, Ettorre frowned at her, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly.

The room behind Kanna suddenly went quiet. Noticing the atmospheric change, the Head Cook looked up from one of the main entrée's she was decorating, and saw Ettorre.

In less time then Kanna thought possible, the skeletal cook had pushed her way through several workers, to Ettorre.

In one breathe, that Kanna had no idea where she stored, the cook said, "I'm so sorry sir. I had no idea you were visiting. What is it that I can do for you?"

Cold as ever, Ettorre simply handed the cook a note. With a final withering look at Kanna, and a unreadable glance behind her, he turned on his metal soles and walked out of the kitchen.

At his departure a murmur of concern hummed throughout the people in the kitchen. Kanna felt a feeling of foreboding come upon her. This was very unusual.

As Kanna debated whether to just walk back to her cabin, or wait to find out what the note read, she found a skeletal grip on her wrist make the choice for her.

"Kanna you have to stay for another shift, as does everyone else in the kitchen."

"What-?"

The head chief sighed in irritation at the dismay among the workers. "I'm aware you all have been at this all day, but Ettorre's note has on it a direct order from the top."

Arika walked up at this point, her face an odd slight shade of red, "and what is this direct order that Corville is sniveling about now?"

"Watch your tongue Arika," the chief snapped out, "he wants all present here to help serve at the celebratory banquet tonight. According to this you are all required to be on the main deck in one hour, there you will find your serving uniforms."

Kanna couldn't help but feel annoyed. Of course Corville would have some huge event and of course he would humiliate those onboard into serving goodness knew whom. She just wanted to get back to her cabin and check up on her brothers and the strange man.

One hour later Kanna found herself staring at a midnight blue piece of fabric that she wouldn't dare call a dress. Apparently Corville had more of a sense of humor then Kanna thought. Besides making all the workers serve food, he was also going to see how many could actually do it. Kanna doubted she could breathe, let alone walk in the dress. Had it been a bit more modest in size, Kanna might have actually liked it.

"This is clearly some sort of harassment Crane," Arika exclaimed to the tall firebender Kanna assumed was her friend.

"Aw but you'll look great in that dress Arika!"

"Exactly, but its who I have to look great for that I dislike."

Kanna rolled her eyes and shuffled into her corridor to change before the report time to serve. As she reached her cabin she suddenly realized that she would have to change in front of the handsome stranger. Granted he was asleep, but Kanna was a very private person. Still, she couldn't exactly throw the man outside of her room. She only had maybe five minutes to change.

Kanna found her way into the cabin and stared at the man. No movements had been made on his part. Kanna scrutinized him and weighed her options. Suddenly an idea hit her.

Kanna reached for the small side table she had procured a few days ago, and set her dress down. She then reached for the room's lamp and lifted it up onto the table. She then retrieved her gown, and shut the lamp off. Now covered in the shield of darkness, Kanna quickly changed out of her grey work clothes and slipped on the offending piece of clothing. To her surprise it fit a little better then she had first thought.

With a sharp click the cabin was illuminated once again. The stranger was still fast asleep.

Kanna quickly patted down the dresses wrinkles and adjusted her hair out of her face. Taking a deep breathe for courage for the night to come, Kanna walked out onto the main deck.

"Hey there gorgeous, what are you doing here?"

Kanna wrinkled her nose in disgust and muttered, "My job sir, would you like a drink?"

"Oh, I would love a tall drink of you leggy."

This man was clearly inebriated beyond the point of censoring himself to any level of coherence. It seemed that the mixture of the more feminine attire that the women were chosen to wear, and the vast amounts of alcohol, had awaken some of the male guards perverse streaks.

At the beginning of the night Kanna knew things were going to be uncomfortable. First the uniform, and then with Corville actually asking her to dance.

Kanna had contemplated shoving the wine glasses on her tray at the Captains face when he gave a slight bow and asked for the next dance. She thought better of it when she remembered his threat just a week prior. Reluctantly Kanna agreed as she had set her tray down.

Corville had taken her hand into his large rough grip, and guided her to the dance floor. The dance was beyond awkward, considering both partners histories with each other. As Corville had strived to gain Kanna's gaze, she had stubbornly decided to look at everything but the man in front of her. When the dance ended, she quickly unhooked Corville's arms from her torso and walked away.

Corville hadn't spoken a word, or approached her, after that. So here she was, a respectable member of the Northern watertribe, trying to serve a man that wouldn't stop staring at her chest.

With a dramatic sigh Kanna placed a drink by the man and quickly walked away. If she was lucky the man would drink himself unconscious.

Apparently Kanna wasn't the only one having a hard time. A few tables past Kanna she saw Arika shoving a grisly firebender as she yelled, "Hey back the hell off!"

Kanna didn't recognize the man, but she noticed that he didn't look like he worked on the ship. He was dressed in a finely tailored suit that had red and yellow accents added here and there. Kanna had heard that Corville had ties with the Fire Nation diplomats…

Noticing the man had a full glass of champagne on the edge of the table he was sitting at as he clawed at Arika, Kanna quickly shifted her free hand.

The movement caused the glass of liquid to tip over and land squarely on the harassing man's pants.

With the sudden sensation of coolness, the man immediately let go of Arika's dress's hem and stood up. A few other guests noticed the location of the man's newest stain and laughed. He quickly shifted past the surprised waterbender to go clean himself up.

"Are you alright?" Kanna asked as she approached the recovering brunette.

"I- was that you just now?"

"You know how terrible I am at waterbending."

Staring at her empty tray for a moment Arika mumbled, "Yes you are quiet untalented. I'm fine if you must know."

Kanna shifted as Arika moved past her to the kitchen to replace her tray.

Kanna found herself spending the rest of her night mindlessly passing drinks along and slipping past drunken revelers. She found that the substance lacking chatter, constant hum of the music, and her monotonous tasks all very peaceful. Before she knew it the night was almost over. Surprisingly, when the lead musician had announced the final song of the night, Kanna started to wonder where Corville was.

It was in the man's nature to gloat if he could. No doubt a twenty-year celebratory banquet would be the place for him. Kanna looked up from her tray and scanned the crowd of people.

In it she saw mostly guards from the ship, but also a few gentlemen dressed as the one that had harassed Arika earlier that night. Corville was not in sight. Neither was Ettorre for that matter.

Kanna doubted it had anything to do with her lackluster waltz with the man. Corville was a lot of things, but insecure was not one of them. Still, Kanna couldn't shake the feeling like something was off.

As if on cue, Corville suddenly appeared on the small silver stage the musicians were performing on. At the sight of him everyone stopped playing. At the sound of the music ending, the crowd suddenly stopped. Even the extremely drunk men shut up.

"Excuse me my esteemed guest. It seems that there is a disturbance out at sea that will cause a few of my visiting guests some concern. I am ending tonight's celebration with my gratitude for many of your continued support and funding. If you would please." At that Corville motioned for the exit doors to be opened. The finer dressed guest began to collect their things and approach Corville. Ever the actor, Corville shook hands with the men and flirted with the ladies. All of who received his attentions with great flourish. Kanna found the exchanges deplorable at best.

Finally, allthe guest were gone from the Hall. Kanna assumed they were leaving to their fancy boats that had brought them here. How she wished she could have not had to work tonight. It had just occurred to her that she could have stolen one of those boats to escape. Of course she probably would have been caught, considering she'd have had to drag the sleeping man with her. And Corville did mention something out at sea. Kanna wondered if it was a sea serpent or an oncoming United Forces ship. Those were all possibilities.

Grabbing her empty tray, Kanna began gathering empty glasses to take back down to the kitchen. As she bent down, she noticed, peripherally, Arika slipping through a side door.

Kanna looked to her left and noticed Crane looking where she had just been.

"Did you see that?"

"Yes," came Crane's despondent response.

"Is she planning on ditching the cleanup or something?"

Crane looked at Kanna and shrugged, "Beats me."

At that he began picking up empty plates.

Kanna found herself staring at the door, wondering just were Arika was going.