Gail POV
Silence...
That is all I heard for the longest 3 seconds of my life. I hugged the steering wheel, hoping this wouldn't be my last moments in the universe, just as I'm basically praying for my life a bight flash fills my eyes
the sails fill with energy, it didn't even matter that they were scattered with holes. as soon as the sails are charged, the ship shoots off away from the black hole. some of the crew is shot to the side of the deck, the captain pulls away from me to asses the damage and I go to look for Jim and Silver.
As we shoot off the crew begins to cheer, I spot silver and Jim around the center mast.
"Gods Silver I thought I was going to break a rib" I hear Jim say with a chuckle, as i run up and hug him as tight as i could, i hear an OOF! come out of him "and i think I just did" he says stumbling slightly backwards.
"Ah! sorry Jim! don't know the power of my own strength sometimes." Silver says giving him a smile, but I don't say anything. I just sit there with my arms wrapped around him
"Im glad you're alive." I whisper in his ear as i finally let go.
"Captain! That... Oh my goodness, that was" Doc starts to stutter to The Captain as he climbs out of the ropes he had stumbled into
I smirk to myself as I hear Doc say this
"That was absolutely... that was the most..." the Doc continues to go on,
"Oh tish-tosh! actually doctor your astronomical advice was most helpful." The Captain complements,
"oh well, uh, uh thank you. Thank you very much. Well.. I have a lot of help to offer anatomically... amanamonically... astronomically." Doc says tripping over his own words as he face palms.
"Well, uh, I must congratulate you, Mr. Silver, your cabin boy did a bang up job with those lifelines, your cabin girl didn't do to bad herself," The Captain says with a wink to me, I return it with a small smile. "All hands accounted for Mr. Arrow?" I give a glace around looking for the tall man but he was nowhere to be seen... "Mr. Arrow?" The Captain says confused. Everyone looks back to see a familiar figure crawling up to the front, Scroop.
"I'm afraid Mr. Arrow has been lost." Scroop says as he hands Arrows hat to The Captain. "His life line was not secured." The man finished as he casts a glace to Jim. The Captain also casts a glance to him but it wasn't anger in her eyes, just mounds of disappointment.
"No! I checked 'em all!"
It pained me to even think that Jim made such a mistake, was it even true? could Scroop be lying? I had to see the post for myself, Jim followed closely behind we push past a couple of crew members, I gasp as we find Arrows lifeline post, empty.
"I.. I did. I checked them all. They were secure. I swear!" Jim says turning to the Captain. he look of disappointment looses all hope and becomes a look of grief and contempt. Jim seemingly deflates when he sees this look, I want to reach for Jim's hand but I couldn't move, Arrow was gone. Who would be The Captains first mate? What were we going to do?
Third person POV
Unbeknownst to Gail or Jim, Silver casts a sad glance to Jim and then looks over at a smirking Scroop. Silver gives Scroop a disgusted look, knowing full well what the man had done.
"Mr Arrow was... a fine spacer... finer than most of us could ever hope to be... but he knew the risks, as do we all. Resume your posts. We carry on. Gail could I see you for a moment?" Gail reaches out for Jim as he runs away, but turns after hearing her name, gives a nod, and followed the captain into the estate.
"you remember why you are here don't you Ms. Stewart?" The Captain asked in stern tone.
"Yes ma'am to possibly catch a mutiny."
"yes, but I need a second in command, and I wanted your input, is there anyone you can think of, I should be able to handle the duties on my own, but is there any of the crew that could possibly not be involved in the mutiny?" the captain asked looking emotionally and physically tired.
"Unfortunately no Captain, the only people that really seem clean are us, Jim, and Doc. I'm sorry, I could help out with captaining?" Gail says hoping she would let her help.
"No Gail, I can't take you away from your post, you are a vital part to this operation. now I also see you hanging around Mr. Hawkins, remember you are here for a job. now, resume your post."
"uh- yes ma'am." Gail says with a salute. Gail walked out to the deck, contemplating.
"what did she mean hanging around Jim? Yeah I know I'm here for a job, but Jim isn't distracting right?"
Just as these thoughts are voiced in Gail's brain she hears Jim yelling,
"DON'T YOU GET IT?! I SCREWED UP! I mean- for two seconds, i thought that maybe i could do something right, but... AGGH! I just, forget it, forget it." Jim stifles. Gail wants to be there for Jim but she doesn't think he needs her right this second, she turned to head into bed just as Silver started talking
"Now, you listen to me, James Hawkins. Ya got the makings of greatness in ya!" She stopped, she didn't recognize the speech or even the words, they weren't meant for her, but gave her a sense of Deja vu.
"but you've gotta take the helm and chart your own course. Stick to it, no matter the squalls!" Silver continues, but before he continues Gail knows these words aren't for her. So she starts to climb the shrouds up to the crows nest.
Gail gets up to the nest and sits down. the words from Silver float up the Gail and it just makes her feel more and more like she's not deserving of anything silver would say to Jim.
"And when the time comes and you get the chance to really test out the cut of your sails and show what you're really made of, well, i hope im there. catching some of the light coming off of you that day."
Now Gail really knows that these words are definitely not meant for her. Silver hated her, Atlas hated her and everyone back home didn't think she was a she.
What is the point of me even being here. It doesn't seem like anyone even wants or needs her here. not even The Captain. Not even Jim.
"now uh, Jim, I best be gettin' to my watch and you best be getting some shut-eye." Silver says Jim away from him, and towards the sleeping quarters.
But Jim, Silver, and Gail are oblivious to the man who was listening to the entire conversation.
Jim POV
I walk towards the sleeping quarters but i heard a small sniffling coming from above me. I climb the shrouds up to the crows nest and find
"Gail?"
(Edited 12.28.22)
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Winds of the Etherium
Pertualangan!!EDITED!! Gail Stewart, a strong, tough, and reckless girl who can stand on her own two feet. She is fresh out of Junior flight academy and for a full ride to The Interstellar academy she needs at least 10 weeks in space and a signed letter of reco...
