For Forty Weeks the Sunbird Flew: An Airman's Tale

Chapter 12: Never Lost, Forever Free

That night he was restless. Perhaps it was the wind buffeting the ship outside, perhaps it was the rain that pelted them all through the night, but whatever it was Archer found himself completely incapable of falling to sleep. He'd screwed his eyes shut and desperately tried to force himself to nod off for nearly an hour now, but in all honesty it only seemed to wake him up more, which was annoying. There was something that wouldn't let his mind settle, something in his gut that told him he really should have put two and two together by now. There was something he was obviously missing, and the annoying bit was that he would likely not be awake right now had it not been for one throwaway comment that Michael had made yesterday:
"Doesn't he seem... I don't know, familiar, to you?"

It shouldn't have stuck with him, and he hadn't given it much thought at the time, but the trouble was that he really did. He really did feel familiar in a homely, kind sort of way. His manner of speaking as well; though Archer couldn't recall ever hearing someone that sounded like Cooke, the man's way of speaking and his almost constant sunshine attitude really was familiar, but he couldn't place where he'd damn well heard it before and it was driving him mad.

He'd noticed as well that Lawrence was acting more and more deferential to Talon, asking them for more and more advice on leadership, on dealing with people in ways that caused less friction and allowed for a more constructive dialogue than his usual iron-rod demeanour would allow. Lawrence hadn't changed much in tone or tact, and Archer suspected he never really would, but at the very least the crew seemed a little less intimidated by him now that they realised they weren't liable to be shouted down or otherwise glared at by their new captain for offering an alternative opinion. That by itself had gained his friend some small measure of popularity amongst those in the crew who previously hadn't thought much of him besides the caricature he'd been painted as, and as such there was a little less tension in the air as of late.

But that still didn't answer his questions. How did Cooke know this sort of thing? How had he been able to study medical practices as a hobby without bankrupting his family? Surely he must have been born into a position of quite some privilege to be able to pursue such fancies, but if that were the case then how had he ended up on a four-decade old frigate? Was it something to do with the Battle of the Carronade Pass? Cooke... who are you? Was he some sailor from a noble family in search of adventure with the hopes to make a name for himself like Michael, who had then gone on to serve at the Pass and been rescued by the Sunbird?

But then if that was the case, why was he acting as a simple chef? Cooke had to have come from a wealthy or well-connected family, there was no way he'd have been able to study medicine otherwise, and he did seem to be rather well-learned when it came to dealing with his fellow man, with recognising talents and trying to make sure things ran as they should. After all, it had been Talon who had all but ensured the First Mate could keep his position. Lawrence had even confided in Archer and stated that, had it been left up to him alone, it would be Cooke in the captain's chair and Lawrence himself as the mere First Mate. Why? Why was Lawrence, easily the single most senior figure aboard the ship given the fact he was born aboard her decks, acting so deferential to the man who cooked their meals? Cooke was a great friend, and Archer would gladly have followed him anywhere, but a captain? Over Lawrence? That seemed almost absurd!

It felt like all the pieces were in place, like he had every part of the puzzle charted out and the image was in front of him, but his vision was blurred. He knew Cooke, he could feel it in his soul. The same way Michael had, confusedly, stated that he knew Cooke but didn't know where from. They knew Cooke before they'd ever met him, but how? Lawrence had warned him against digging into the man's past, and even claimed that Cooke may be taken away if people realised he was here, but why? Had he committed some sort of heinous crime?