Author's Note:
Um... yeah, my excus- er... explanation for this very late update is: SCHOOL WORK!
And technology... but mostly school work.
After having buried Jim's body there wasn't much more that the group of travellers needed to do on Romano. John hired a few of his childhood friends who yearned for the taste of adventure as crewmembers and made additional repairs to the HMS Aurora.
They didn't have a set departure date until one of the new crewmembers caught word of a certain pirate that had passed through the system.
John was stoked with a new passion, to find Billy Bones and deliver the justice that the pirate deserved while gaining knowledge of the key that Billy Bones was safeguarding. He had scoured the contents of his memory pendant, reviewing the conversations that he had had with Giles concerning the matter as well as anything else that could possibly help.
At this time, Rebecca was worrying about the amount of time that John was committing to his obsession over Billy Bones. When the pirate's name turned up in conversation, John seemed to change into a different person. One that Rebecca admittedly didn't find likeable or feel safe around.
But as the days passed, Rebecca was becoming more noticeably pregnant and her concern shifted from John's obsession to the child that she was bearing.
Finally, John located the necessary lead pertaining to Billy Bones' whereabouts and was determined to start a new voyage. The pirate was travelling towards the far reaches of the Lagoon Nebula. After charting a course, John saw that two stops –one to Los Terrano and the next on Treaka- wouldn't be such a diversion as this was the direction he was travelling in.
The day came when they were leaving Romano; the new crewmembers prepped the HMS Aurora for launch after saying their goodbyes to their loved ones. Rebecca stood with her companions before Ethel Silver.
"Thank you for the accommodations, Mrs. Silver." Jarred said politely.
"Yeah, we'll miss you, Granny." Juanita gave Ethel a hug before walking up the gangplank of the HMS Aurora. Martin simply bowed in respect while Henry tipped his hat before the two mercenaries followed their comrades. Only John, Rebecca and Scroop remained.
The young man was antsy to get going on the voyage, hoping that his crewmembers wouldn't get cold feet. He stepped towards the gangplank before Ethel finally spoke.
"Take care, Johnny." She said quietly.
John looked back at his grandmother. His good eye seemed glassy from tears, but he simply pulled his hat further down on his head. "I will." He stated, turning away and ascending the gangplank.
Scroop glanced at the aged woman before following John up the gangplank.
Rebecca sighed, looking at Ethel. "I should-" she strained to keep her tears at bay, "I should go." She sniffled. "Thank you for everything, Ethel."
"Why's that?" Ethel sobbed bitterly, pulling out a handkerchief and dabbing the corners of her eyes. "As if Jim's death wasn't enough, now I feel as if I'm sayin' goodbye teh the last of me family, forever."
Rebecca hugged the old woman, feeling tears fall from her eyes. "At least you got to say goodbye, Ethel…" She gave the old woman an extra squeeze. She smiled as she separated from the hug. "You keep that shotgun of yours loaded, I wouldn't want any harm to befall you."
Ethel chuckled and gave Rebecca a rare smile. "I'll do that Miss Clarke, take care."
Rebecca nodded. "Goodbye." She whispered softly. She turned away and walked up the gangplank. Her last voyage had begun.
Rebecca sat in her room, staring down at a blank page in her pocketbook. Within the hour they would reach the blazing climate of Los Terrano and she would say goodbye to the closest of her friends.
Her hands shook as she struggled to form words with her pen. She set down the writing utensil and held her head in her hands. A sob escaped from her lips as she gave into her grief. She felt as if with each goodbye she was giving away pieces of what she was.
Finally she grasped her nib pen and dipped it in the inkwell.
'What's going to happen after this?' She pondered with her words, her tears mixing with her written thoughts. 'Once I arrive on Treaka, what then? Do I simply go there to birth my child and then continue on with life? Continue with John? Or is this another goodbye that I have to endure?' She lost hold of her pen at the thought and more tears fell from her eyes as she reached down to retrieve it. Her shaking hand clumsily knocked the pen further from her reach and it rolled across the floor.
The pen rolled under the crack between the partially opened door and the floor just as one of the younger crewmembers was about to come and get her.
Rebecca looked up and met the young sailor's eyes; her own filled with tears.
The young boy cleared his throat recovering the pen and gently setting it atop Rebecca's desk. "The captain says that we'll be arriving in the port soon, miss." He nodded curtly and excused himself. He reminded Rebecca of Simon Campbell.
Rebecca got to her feet and wiped the tears from her eyes. She capped the inkwell and left her pocketbook to dry. She then straightened her clothes and made herself presentable before making her way to the main deck.
They were assembled on the main deck at the head of the gangplank: Rebecca, John, Scroop, Jarred, Martin, Juanita and Henry. A few of the crewmembers had gone into the crowded city to stock up on provisions.
"Well." John began. "This is it."
Martin nodded. "After everything we've been through, at last it's time to part ways."
"Hey!" Juanita interjected. "Stop acting like this is the last time that we're going to see each other." She stated.
"Well, we can be sure that you'll be seeing a lot of Jarred." Scroop couldn't help but add.
Laughter eased the companions' sorrow for the last time.
Rebecca smiled, retrieving a pouch of coins. "Here." She held out the pouch. "Your payment." The four mercenaries exclaimed at this.
"That's simply unnecessary, Lady Clarke." Henry stated.
"Yeah, for the number of times that you got yourself into trouble, Rebecca, I'd say that we did a pretty bad job as your escort." Juanita smirked.
"Please." Rebecca pleaded. "If not for being my escorts then for teaching me how to defend myself and for being there."
Jarred smiled genuinely. "Friends do that for free." He stated.
"I won't have it." Rebecca pushed the pouch into the nearest pair of hands. "Take it. Split it amongst each other." She stated. "I want each of you to have the best future that I can provide for."
The mercenaries gaped at the pouch of coins and then back at Rebecca. The young woman simply shrugged with a gentle smile.
A small group of crewmembers sidled past the assembly on the main deck with provisions, breaking the moment between the companions.
"Well," the female of the mercenaries cleared her throat, "it's been quite the long haul gentlemen." Juanita smiled to her comrades as they looked out from the gangplank at the bustling city. "I certainly hope life is good to you." She added.
"Hear, hear." Jarred stated, linking arms with Juanita and leading the way.
"Lady Clarke, Captain Silver." Henry nodded before making his way into the city.
Martin smiled to each of the young adults. "A pleasure serving the both of you." He genuflected with a flourish of his hat. "Take care." He replaced his hat and turned on his heel, descending the gangplank.
The eagle humanoid, squirrel humanoid and two Shikarans gave one last salute to the HMS Aurora before disappearing into the crowds of citizens.
Scroop turned away as soon as the four mercenaries were out of sight and resumed his duties as cabin boy.
Rebecca sighed gently; a tear fell from each eye before she could stop it. She wiped away the tear tracks and turned on her heel, meeting John's eyes.
He looked down at her and she could see the mix of emotions filled in his eyes. He broke eye contact and cleared his throat. "We should be goin' teh- get a head start teh Treaka."
Rebecca simply nodded, walking past the young man towards the bow of the ship. She stopped and gave a lasting glance at the crowds of citizens, hoping to spot a sign of one of her friends one last time.
Author's Note:
Thanks very much to Whisperwings for betaing and enduring the trails of email problems... and for supporting me as I begin on Deviant Art (search MangaGirlNum6 - I'll have concept art for fanfics up there soon enough!
MG#6