Black Lagoon: The Island of Lost Souls

1 ‐ New Blood, Old Sea

JUNE, 1997 - SOUTH CHINA SEA

"Pyle! Move your ass and help your friend move those crates, now!"

"Yeah, yeah, you got it, boss."

Dustin Pyle would sigh, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a leather gloved hand. Just when he thought his life would get somewhere interesting, he ended up getting the opportunity of working on a musty, dirty, mid-sized freighter ship.

Grunting, the Brit would begin moving various wooden crates, supposedly full of fruits, fabric, and exotic spices. Although in his mind, he sometimes doubted that was what really was stored in those tightly nailed down crates.

He would walk over towards the designated loading area, setting down one of the crates with a loud grunt. Sitting up and trying to stretch his back, he would look up as the searing hot sun beat down on him.

Pyle was one fairly athletic fellow, standing at around 5'9", with a toned chest and arms to back up such a claim. His shiny, soft brown hair was styled with a side part, and a pair of emerald green eyes leveled off his appearance.

After he stretched, he'd see his only work friend, a Vietnamese man named Châu, walking over with a smile pasted on his face.

"Ah, Pyle! I see boss man give you most of the hard work, eh?"

Despite the difference in ethnicity and the obvious language barrier, Châu could speak some English, if not none at all.

"Hard work? This is the easiest load we've gotten this week. If this was hard, I would've gotten heat stroke and kicked the bucket already." Dustin replied with a smirk, which was enough to make Châu laugh.

"I guess that's what happen when you become soldier, huh?" Châu said next, lighting a cigarette as he began to help move some crates of his own. Dustin would stop for a moment, realizing that he almost forgot about his past until that point. He'd just nod, looking off for a mere second.

"Hey Pyle, you know when we're docking again? I thirsty as hell and hornier than professional mistress.." Châu would say next, breaking Dustin's train of thought. He'd grin a little at his friend's desperation.

"Oh, really, now? I thought your sexual thirst was quenched back in Vietnam. What was that prostitute's name again?"

"Queen Of Diamond.." Châu said, his voice still sounding in awe of the name alone. "Beautiful, absolutely beautiful thing.. white hair, blue eyes.. I pay her for few nights, but I think the whore rob me.." Said the Vietnamese man, blowing some cigarette smoke up into the air.

Dustin couldn't help but laugh as well. "Now Châu, where did your manners go off to? You know it's unfriendly, calling a woman that."

"It's fair game when they take half of cash that made your payday!" Châu replied, taking the cigarette from his lips. "She almost left me broke! Made me look like idiot!"

"That's why you save your money and invest in a loyal woman, Mr. Châu. Get yourself a wife, a family, somewhere nice to live." Dustin replied, in a half serious, half joking tone.

Châu would just sneer at him. "Oh, shut the hell up!"

Soon, the two were laughing again.

And despite the messy conditions, Dustin was glad he had somewhere that he could consider a home, or at least somewhere safe for the time being. It was the only thing that could distract him from remembering what happened all of those years ago, in the SAS...

"All crew members! Your next break will be in 5 minutes! Keep working until I give the green light!" Yelled the gruff voice of the ship's foreman, silencing the two men's laughter.