Ch

Ch. 15

By the time we made it too the deck, the Nautilus had completely emerged from the sea. Despite the poor state of my stomach, which had felt as though I had missed a step, I smiled brightly at the sight of the sea from the deck. It was amazing, I had been found here, eleven years ago. I still do not remember how I ended up in the ocean; logically I was on a ship, but what kind? Merchant, leisure, or maybe even pirate? Did it really sink, and was it because of an attack, or had I been thrown over board and forgotten?

I always pondered my past along these lines, no matter what; it seemed a ritual whenever I came to look upon the sea. The only difference was that I was not alone this time. This time I had a man who thought of me as an anomaly… I think I hate that word, and there are few words I do not love, so that is quite something.

I heard the door close, which meant Henry must have caught up. Without a glance, I walked to the chairs and pulled out my note. I wrote simple phrases such as, "How are you?" and "Good morning." I also wrote their responses and numbered them accordingly. When I was done, I checked to make sure there were enough to challenge him, and handed him the note. I pointed to number one, and he nodded. I showed him the signs, and made him repeat them.

We were silent as I taught him, even if I had a voice, I would not have used it. It seemed as though the pleasantness of this morn was lost to us, and I mourned its passing. We went through the list three times, and then I started signing randomly, making him guess at which they were. To my surprise, he was quite good, and had all but completely memorized them by the time I was done. I raised my brow at him in suspicion, how could he learn so fast?

I must not have been discrete enough, for he gave a half-hearted laugh and said, "Doctor's need too memorize many things, it gets to be a habit…" I nodded and sat down on my own chair, gazing out at the passing ocean, which did not change despite the distance we passed. The pain in my stomach was gone, and the small sting of hurt of knowing his feelings had ebbed to nothing but a distant memory. After all, it was not as though I had ever cared what others thought of me, right?

If I cared of the thoughts of others, I would have married Maitreya when I saw him bare. I never would have learned to fight, I would wear dresses instead of the 'Salwar Kameez' Captain had bought me in his home of India. I would sit and sip tea while talking of flowers and the weather. I would never sail or learn of science and I would be everything that I am not!

That would be good though, would it not? Then, no one would look down on me for those things. They would not think I am an anomaly, and they would talk to me because they truly cared to know about me. That is what I wanted, but that is something I could not have. Even if I were to become a perfect women, I would still be looked down upon. I am, after all, a mute orphan…

It is kind of like the gods were playing a cruel joke when they thought of me…

I felt a weight and looked down to see Henry's withdrawing hand from where he had placed my note beside me. I looked at him calmly, we were done for now. I nodded in understanding and turned once more to watch the ocean pass. I know it will not change for a good long while, but I could not stop myself. The view still caught my breath, and if I let it, I am sure it would have me suffocate in its honor. The sea is cruel in that way.

"Marina?" Henry's voice was soft and unsure, as though he thought I would ignore him. I wondered if I could really do that, for his foreign self seemed to draw me like seagulls to scraps at a dock. I turned my head and looked at him, only to find his head lowered. Well that is rude, the least he could do is look at me after insinuating that I was his traveling circus that he rarely saw. Then again, if he was to look, I might blush. I suppose it was better he kept his head down.

"I want you to know I'm truly sorry about what I said earlier. I can see how bad that sounds, but I swear, even though what I said was true, I really was interested for the sake of being so," He looked up then, and his unease seemed to have dispersed, "I really wanted to know about you, Marina."

I could not help it; I felt my face heat and knew I blushed. I quickly looked down and grabbed for my note, hoping to hide my burning face. I quickly scrawled, "I forgive you, forgive me for overreacting?" before handing the book over without looking up. "You had every right to overreact, and I hold no grudge against you doing so," he said, and I grinned happily. There were once again feelings in my stomach, but these were happy and light. I liked them, and I looked up at Henry grinning.

He smiled back, and opened his mouth to say something only to stop as the door to the deck opened. It seemed as though the League had been collected and assembled on the deck. Ms. Harker wandered towards the farthest front area and stayed there, while Mr.Q and Sawyer finally settled near the door, where they chatted. Captain and Skinner headed for Henry and I, and I smiled at both of them happily. Captain realized I forgave him for this morning, and smiled back slightly.

"Oi, why wasn't I invited to the study party?" Skinner asked, and I could not tell if his appalled voice was true or not. Either way I grinned and stuck out my tongue, an unladylike habit I had picked up a few years ago during a trip to London. Skinner plopped down heavily on the end of my chair (which I could have laid upon had I so chosen) and frowned at me. "Cocky spitfire," he muttered, before turning to Henry, "Oi, what gives you the right to hog her when you just got here?" he asked, and Henry startled. "I do no such thing; how she spends her time is up to Marina herself, not you or I!"

As they spoke to each other, their conversation gradually straying from how I was to spend my time, I turn to Captain and smiled. The solar panels would soon charge, and we would once more plunge the Nautilus into the darkness of the sea. I stood and walked to Captain's side and he welcomed me. "How was being a teacher?" I grinned, and leaving out my embarrassing moments explained what had happened from entering his room to now.

Captain watched me intently as I spoke with my hands, and nodded at all the right times. He made small comments, and laughed when I told him about how jealous I was that he learned so fast just because he was a 'doctor,' hymp! When I had finally finished, Captain seemed to be deep in thought. I waited patiently until he looked back down and me, and I smiled softly. "You say your stomach has been acting odd?" he asked, and I nodded, not sure why. It had never happened before, was I coming down with something? I could not be sick in Venice!

"Don't worry Marina. It happens to us all," he told me, and then he was silent. It put my mind at ease to know all went through it, and I smiled, content to look at the sea. Captain finally pulled away from the rail and said, "The solar panels are fully charged. We'll be diving in a moment." I pulled away too, with one last look at the sea, and followed Captain, as he said everyone's name to indicate they needed to hurry.

I stepped in just before Captain, and felt the Nautilus plunge as the door shut behind him. It was a subtle feeling, but a sure one I knew well, and I relished its familiarity.

The rest of the day passed quickly. I cleaned my wound finally, and most likely just saved it from infection. Then as I passed by Captain's quarters I learned of the Fantom's plan to attack the conference by sea. That I could understand, it was obvious, given Venice's cannels. I pondered the Fantom's reasons for attacking the conference as I worked by a very subdued Maitreya below. Could money really be the only reason he wanted to do such horrible things?

I was grateful to have grown up without a need for money. It seemed an awful curse in itself.

That night, I was sent to gather half the League for dinner, namely, Skinner, Dorian, and Mrs. Harker, only to have them say they wanted it in their room. I walked to the dining hall slightly dejected, only for it to grow worse when I saw only Ishmael there. Where were the others?

Before I could ask, Sawyer walked in, and I smiled to know at least someone had shown up. Captain and Mr. Q. followed behind a moment later, and Captain asked my question for me, "Where is everyone?" Ishmael clasped his hands before him and said solemnly, "They all asked to eat in their cabins." Sawyer sighed and pushed away from the table, "We may be a League, but we're sure not a team," he said, and I nodded sadly in agreement.

"Well, team or no team, theirs work to be done," Mr. Q. said as he walked away from the table. Sawyer followed, and I noticed the folder in Mr. Q.'s hand, the scientist's profiles, I guessed. "Rude buggers," I heard him say, and I giggled softly, grabbing a few shrimp before Ishmael had the table cleaned. I stayed to help and when we had finished Captain dismissed me. With a yawn I headed to my room to wash and change.

As I was about to pass by Henry's room I stopped, for I heard voices. "Mr. Quatermain, is-is there anything I can do?" it was Henry, and he sounded anxious and hopeful. Did he want to help the toad that much? "Err, nothing for now, Jekyll," there was a pause as I heard him walk away. Then from a distance he said, "Don't worry, Hyde will get his hands dirty."

I heard Mr. Q.'s steps fade away, and then I heard Henry's sigh. Why would he sigh? Not only would his hands stay clean of battle but he need not help with boring work. I heard his door close and I finally walked by, pondering what had happened. I was lying in bed when I finally came up with a possible answer.

Maybe the work was not what bothered him. Perhaps what bothered him was that he was not the one we needed. Maybe it was that he knew that had Hyde a body of his own, Henry would not be here…

Side Note:

The dining scene and Jekyll's question are all legit. They're in the deleted scene's area of the DVD if you want to check them out, which I highly recommend!