Story by me.

Proof reading and editing by SeverinadeStrango.

Enjoy.


Four months. For four long, miserable months, I have been a prisoner of Deacon, the clockwork who killed my parents. To make sure I didn't escape, they took my weaponry and my armor and locked me up in a single cell, and as if that wasn't enough, they placed a constant watch over me. There's no way that I can break free and run. I'm alone again. Ratbeard, Lasko, Manny, Moe, and Jack, everyone on the ship, they were in danger because of me, and now I don't even know if they are alive or dead.

I don't think the Armada wants me dead. If they wanted to get rid of me, Deacon would have pulled the trigger. I don't know what they have planned for me, but I won't let them win. I only wish I could have someone to talk to other than these hollow men.


Then Isabel heard shouting coming from the hallway of the brig.

"Ahh! GET AWAY FROM ME, YOU SOULLESS MONSTERS!" A voice screamed. Isabel then stood to see who it was. It didn't sound like anyone she knew, and it brought some of her hopes down. However, then, she saw the prisoner, a goose student from the mysterious land of MooShu. "RELEASE ME AT ONCE! YOU CAN'T DO THIS!" The goose shrieked, trying to fight back with all of his strength.

"That is enough, prisoner. You shall stay in your cell until you are required. There is no escape. Remain quiet or we will sedate you." One of the clockwork soldiers ordered, his voice not displaying even a shred of emotion. Soon, the two other Armada clockworks threw the Goose student into the cell that was facing Isabel's.

He soon began to thrash around in the prison cell after the guards left, shaking the bars and pounding on the walls.

"I tried that, you know." Isabel sighed as she sat on the cot.

After a while, the goose then abandoned his futile quest for freedom and turned to Isabel.

"Trust me, I've been in here longer than you. There is no way out. I've tried everything." Isabel responded, glad that she now had her fellow prisoner's attention.

"The armada, sick creatures..." The goose muttered, "To think that they would imprison a little girl. Young one, please tell me your name." The goose student asked, relatively at peace compared to the state he had been in just seconds before.

"My name is Isabel, Isabel Quinn." The young pirate answered.

The goose student gasped in surprise.

"A Quinn? I've heard about the Quinn Family. They were the most kind and noble family in the spiral. But...I thought there were none left after the 'Scorpion Hunt...'"

"Now tell me your name." Isabel asked.

"My name is Egg Shen, a Goose student from the wondrous land of Mooshu. It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Quinn." Egg Shen answered.

"So, how did you get caught?" Isabel wondered, turning her eyes to him.

"They imprisoned me because I tried to defend my family and village. After I stood my ground, they attacked me and lock me in another one of their ships, but now they've brought me here. How about you?" Shen asked his new friend.

"Deacon set a trap by disguising himself as one of the crewmembers and kidnapped me. I don't know if any of the other crew members are still alive." Isabel answered as she stared at the morning sky out of the small porthole in the wall of her cell.

"I'm sorry." Egg Shen felt guilty for asking her.

"Don't be, Deacon did this to us, not you. And when I get out of here, I'm going to make him regret everything he has ever done." Isabel vowed as stared up at the ceiling once more, her eyebrows furrowed in anger.

"If we are able to obtain freedom-" Egg Shen began but then was interrupted.

"When we get our freedom." Isabel assured as she pointed to the ceiling.

"Right, when we gain our freedom. I would like to join you as your first mate." Egg Shen suggested.

"Start my own crew? Sure, Shen, when we get free, we'll start our own pirate crew!" Isabel smiled at the thought of her very own crew. As they chatted and learned more about each other, Quinn was falling in love with the idea of starting her own pirate crew and beginning the start of her generation as captain.

With day turning into dusk, Egg Shen began to sleep, but Isabel Quinn was still awake. Pulling up a plank of wood from the ground, she removed her journal, the only thing that the clockworks did not confiscate. This was the only thing left of her parents and her former life as she knew it and she was not going to loose her last prized possession to those mechanical freaks. She opened her book to reassure that the Quinn pendant, which was shaped as a golden scorpion, was safely in place and unscratched. Picking it up and pressing it to her lips, she tied it around her neck. Isabel then began to write in her leather journal.


It seems I'm not alone in the brig after all. I have made a new friend named Egg Shen, a goose student from the land of MooShu. He seems like a good guy and he hates the armada too. Now, I have a partner to help me get out of this cell. All we need is a chance to escape. I only hope Lasko, Ratbeard, and everyone else is okay. If Deacon has hurt them, I'll make him pay. I wonder what they want with us. Could it be that they are going to try to create armada clockworks from living creatures…?

If that's the case, then it can't be good! All I need is some sort of large window for myself and Shen to escape the cold steel clutches of the clockworks. I don't know how long we have until they require us, and I hope we can get out of here soon.