{"id":1314,"date":"2018-01-07T09:58:42","date_gmt":"2018-01-07T13:58:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/?page_id=1314"},"modified":"2018-01-07T09:58:42","modified_gmt":"2018-01-07T13:58:42","slug":"pirates-luckchapter-12-the-new-man","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/?page_id=1314","title":{"rendered":"Pirate’s Luck: Chapter Twelve~The New Man"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The slave\u2019s face crumbled into disgust when the hatch of the ship sealed.<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat gods,\u201d he muttered in Fedeng.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d said Arekan.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought that awful smell came from you,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s all over your clothes. But I see now it\u2019s from the ship.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan felt a blush creep up his neck. He must have gotten used the stench that first hit him when he walked onto the ship. It embarrassed him to think he carried the stink in his clothes.<\/p>\n

\u201cStop your jabbering, both of you,\u201d snapped Grokin. He sat on one of the crates while he lovingly stroked one of the snakelets.<\/p>\n

Arekan snatched the canvas bag back.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey,\u201d protested Grokin.<\/p>\n

\u201cShould we not get ready for take-off?\u201d Arekan said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d crackled the captain over the intercom system. \u201cGrokin, get off that ass of yours and see to it! Thad, bring the new crew member up to the bridge so I can inspect him.\u201d<\/p>\n

This was new. Etharin never ordered any crew to the bridge. And he didn\u2019t tell Grokin to do it either, which is what Arekan would expect.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome along,\u201d said Arekan.<\/p>\n

\u201cLeave those \u2018er,\u201d growled Grokin reaching for the bag of snakes.
\n\u201cThey\u2019re mine,\u201d snapped Arekan. He jerked the bag away from Grokin\u2019s grasp.
\n\u201cAye, and do you have any idea of how to care for \u2018em?\u201d Arekan felt the color drain from his face when he realized that Grokin was right. He did not know the first thing about caring for snakes. \u201cI thought not. They\u2019ll be dead without proper care and worthless to \u2018ya.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan scoffed but held to bag to Grokin.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you get any ideas of claiming ownership.\u201d The snarl in his voice matched the annoyance in his gut.<\/p>\n

Grokin stood and backhanded Arekan across the jaw.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd don\u2019t ye be talking back to me, you git. The captain said to take him to the bridge, so do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan shot one last glare to Grokin but motioned to the slave to follow.<\/p>\n

\u201cWelcome,\u201d said Arekan sourly, \u201cto hell.\u201d He led the way through the grungy corridors of the ship.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I\u2019m getting that,\u201d said the youth. \u201cWhat\u2019s your name?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThad. Thad Grane,\u201d lied Arekan. \u201cAnd yours?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRastan Burnin.\u201d The boy spoke his name as if people should recognize it, and it did seem vaguely familiar to Arekan. But at the moment his mind was full of too many things to place it.
\n\u201cPleasure to meet you,\u201d said Arekan sourly. They walked to the main corridor to the ladder to the upper deck that led to the bridge.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou too,\u201d said Rastan with disdain in his voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that your real name?\u201d asked Arekan. As he placed his hand overhead to grip a rung of the ladder he looked over his shoulder at the young man.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou might not want to use it then. All the crew? You don\u2019t hear their birth names.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRunning, hiding or both.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve nothing to hide from.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExcept the slavers that owned you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rastan snorted. \u201cThey bought me from kidnappers, so pretty much their claim is illegal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn some parts of the Four Nations, that\u2019s true. In others, not so much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you\u2019re the expert?\u201d Rastan\u2019s eyes flicked over Arekan\u2019s cheap dull green cloth overshirt and pants. \u201cI find nothing about you impressive, except that sword of yours.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a smooth movement, Rastan pulled it from the sheath.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey!\u201d protested Arekan.
\nBut Rastan didn\u2019t brandish it to threaten Arekan. Instead, he sighted down its length and then balanced it on his index finger.<\/p>\n

\u201cSturdy alloy. Straight blade. Good weight. Balanced. Nice,\u201d he said appreciatively. \u201cWhere was this forged?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t know,\u201d gritted Arekan. He damned well did know the place that forged her, but it would give away too much of who he was to say it. \u201cIt was my father\u2019s blade.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWas. Oh. Sorry to hear. Answered, though, how you could afford such a pricey sword. You can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan let go of the rung and pushed face to face with Burnin. He studied the youth, how he squared his shoulders and the grace of this movements as he held the deadly blade. You don\u2019t get that kind of confidence from just any sword lessons. The way the boy handled Arekan\u2019s sword said he had expensive training.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook,\u201d he hissed. \u201cObviously you know a little something about blades. And judging from your speech, you are educated. For all I know, you could be someone\u2019s royalty.\u201d<\/p>\n

Burnin flinched affirming Arekan\u2019s guess.
\n\u201cBut that doesn\u2019t play here. You\u2019re crew and the newest member as well. These men here are the sorriest bunch of criminals you\u2019ll ever meet. They are cruel and ruthless. It\u2019s best you put away all thoughts about your personal dignity and blend in.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLook,\u201d said Burnin whispered back with some urgency. \u201cMy father will reward whoever gets me home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan put his finger to his lips and pointed to the intercom and then his ears to get the boy to shut up. He didn\u2019t want to think what sort of middleman Etharin would sell the boy to if he found the kid had value.
\n\u201cHey,\u201d blared Etharin over the intercom. \u201cGet your asses up here. I don\u2019t have time for crew to play footsie with each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan put his hand on the rung again but this time spoke louder to for Burnin\u2019s and the captain\u2019s benefit.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn our way, Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan reached the hatch and pounded on it to let Etharin know they\u2019d arrived. It swung back with an aching creak, and Arekan scooted into the bridge.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t large. The viewscreen stretched in the front in a shallow curve and turned off. The captain sat at one of the pilot\u2019s chairs in front of the com panel. A body, face turned toward the wall and covered in a light blanket snored in the sleeping alcove to the right. Beer bottles littered the floor, and the captain looked like he hadn\u2019t had a shower in days.<\/p>\n

\u201cCaptain,\u201d said Arekan. \u201cNew crew.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAye,\u201d the pirate said swinging the chair to inspect Rastan. He eyed him critically. Arekan leaned against the bulkhead and crossed his arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s your name, boy?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeppen,\u201d said Rastan.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat kind of name is that?\u201d growled Etharin.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a League name,\u201d offered Arekan.<\/p>\n

\u201cAye, I know that boy,\u201d growled Etharin. \u201cPeppen ain\u2019t no name.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s mine,\u201d said Rastan. \u201cBeen called that since before I could walk.\u201d
\n\u201cDo you have a family name?\u201d said Grokin.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes it matter?\u201d said Rastan.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course it matters,\u201d exploded Etharin. \u201cI have to record \u2018ya in the log.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBuniae,\u201d said Rastan.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpell it,\u201d snarled the captain.<\/p>\n

Rastan did.<\/p>\n

\u201cTurn around. Let me look at you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rastan stared dumbly at Etharin, and Arekan stepped forward and pushed him to turn.
\nEtharin sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd this is what you think will do for crew,\u201d he snapped at Arekan.
\n\u201cThe rest were sickly looking. Couldn\u2019t do a day\u2019s work.\u201d<\/p>\n

The captain snorted. \u201cYou\u2019re responsible for him then. Settle him in. Make sure he knows what he needs to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan hid his surprise. That job was Grokin\u2019s, and Arekan wondered why the captain handed the task to him. But he wasn\u2019t going to argue.
\n\u201cAye, captain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDismissed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan pointed to Rastan to climb down the ladder, and he followed. When they got to the deck, Rastan opened his mouth, but Arekan motioned for him to be silent and to follow him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve been to the bridge which is a rare treat.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d said Rastan desultorily.
\n\u201cMost of the ship, as you\u2019ve noticed is the cargo hold. Above the hold and running abeam to each of the propulsion pods is the engine room. You reach the engine room from this ladder here. But Tinnen, our engineer doesn\u2019t like visitors, so don\u2019t bother to be friendly.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmidship, the forward section, of this deck has the crews quarters, the showers, and a small recreation area, the mess, such as it is and the medbay which is offline. The showers are sonic only and the rec area, well, that\u2019s been torn up by other crew. I\u2019ve done my best to clean it up, but it needs new furniture and equipment the captain won\u2019t replace. The laundry is there too, and I can get that to work sometimes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the deck houses the engine room at what is the back end of the ship, the crews quarters forward, and above is the bridge. Most of what you see from the outside are the two turboramjets on either side. The interior of the ship is small.<\/p>\n

\u201cWas your first job as a kid \u201ctour guide?\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan stopped short at the hatch that would take them to the crew\u2019s quarters and face Rastan.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got a smart mouth and a bad attitude. Want to see what you\u2019ll get for that?\u201d
\n\u201cYou’re going to show me?\u201d challenged Rastan.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d said Arekan quietly. \u201cI will.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan pulled off his shirt and turned his back to Rastan. A light touch to the scars caused Arekan to flinch.
\n\u201cSorry,\u201d said Rastan.<\/p>\n

Arekan jerked away and slipped his tee shirt over his head. \u201cTook me six weeks to heal this good, and I\u2019m working out every day to work the muscles in my back. It\u2019s still stiff.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat did you do to earn those?\u201d said Rastan with wide eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI disobeyed the captain\u2019s orders and saved a crewman. Obon is his name.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now Rastan\u2019s Adam\u2019s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. \u201cYou saved a man, and got punished?\u201d His words leaked disbelief.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. If you think your slave status was bad, you haven\u2019t lived long enough here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan keyed in his security code to open the hatch door, and the smell of Cook\u2019s rancid cooking hit him, and his disgusted expression, Rastan too.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is that fetid smell?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDinner,\u201d said Arekan. \u201cWant some?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll pass,\u201d said Rastan.<\/p>\n

Yes. Arekan did his first couple days until he got hungry enough to brave the food. Rastan would too. Arekan continued down the hall, with his charge in tow. Ahead was the mess. Just beyond the crew quarters.<\/p>\n

Then what are you hiding from? Or running to stay on a ship like this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are warrants for my arrest in the Kyn Empire.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLiving,\u201d said Arekan with a sour note. He pushed forward on the deck with raw energy filled with annoyance at his situation. He couldn\u2019t live on this boat much longer, and Rastan couldn\u2019t stay here at all. Arekan got the sense that this kid lived a life too refined in his former life to survive long on the Rogan. But it seemed beyond the captain to land at a half decent spaceport, or perhaps, the captain was keeping out of sight of professional law enforcement. The illegal turboramjet batteries would exude an energy signature modern scanners would pick up. <\/p>\n

Behind him, Rastan\u2019s breathing labored. Arekan caught the gasps of Rastan struggling to breath, so he slowed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with the air?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing. The captain shaves a few points off the oxygen mix to save money. You\u2019ll get used to it in a week or so. It\u2019s like living at high altitude with lower oxygen.\u201d
\n\u201cHe\u2019s a maniac.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLook,\u201d said Arekan spinning touch Rastan. \u201cYou\u2019re here, and there is nothing you can do about it. Play it smart and live, or keep talking stupid and die. It\u2019s that simple. Your old life is gone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rastan fell against him, and Arekan staggered back a step at the shock. The boy twisted his head up to Arekan\u2019s ear.<\/p>\n

\u201cI meant what I said,\u201d he hissed. \u201cMy father will pay big money to whoever returns me. Keep me safe, blade, and I\u2019ll make sure that it is you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, well,\u201d said Obon with a smirk as he walked out of the mess. \u201cAre you making friends, Thad, already?\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan grabbed Rastan around the younger man\u2019s shoulders and faced Obon with a grim smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat of it, Obon? It\u2019s not like you\u2019re his type anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPity,\u201d sniffed Obon. \u201cBut then again, we have more ways to induct a man into the crew than to pay homage to the Heavenly Court. We didn\u2019t try that with you because you\u2019d slit our throats in our sleep. But this one here\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou keep your hands off him, you skinny piece of filth,\u201d snapped Arekan. \u201cI have half a mind to cut all your throats anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

Obon shot him a glance filled with malice and venom then waved off Arekan with a flap of his hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll tire of him,\u201d said Obon. \u201cAnd then I\u2019ll take what I want.\u201d<\/p>\n

Obon moved to walk past them and touched Rastan\u2019s cheek with two fingers.<\/p>\n

\u201cSuch a sweet boy. Enjoy him while you can, Thad.\u201d They both watched Obon mount the ladder and descend to the lower deck.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoly gods,\u201d said Rastan. \u201cThat is the man you saved? Why did you bother?\u201d<\/p>\n

Read the story from the beginning here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Image by Starry Night Graphics<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The slave\u2019s face crumbled into disgust when the hatch of the ship sealed. \u201cGreat gods,\u201d he muttered in Fedeng. \u201cWhat?\u201d said Arekan. \u201cI thought that awful smell came from you,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s all over your clothes. But I see now it\u2019s from the ship.\u201d Arekan felt a blush creep up his neck. He must […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":413,"menu_order":12,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1314","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1314","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1314"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1314\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/413"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1314"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}