Steampunk Dragon

Chapter 4: In Debt

Chapter 4: In Debt

Kaylee hated waiting. Jack was taking his sweet time getting into port while she lay in her cabin waiting for him to arrive. A loud screech sounded as another ship pulled into port, "Finally." She sighed and got her boots back on and walked to the deck. When she stepped out of the door, the fresh sea air hit her like a bucket of water. It had been weeks since she actually got out of the ship. She smiled when the evening's sun hit her face and the breeze flung her hair backwards like a brilliant flame. "You look like a baby discovering something for the first time!" Gabe laughed as he came around the corner, "It has been quite some time since we've enjoyed this huh?" Kaylee leaned up against the rail and smiled at her first officer, "It feels nice though." She said as she looked up to the sun. "Permission to come aboard?" Said a voice from over the railing. Kaylee looked down and was met by a man wearing a starch white Royal Navy uniform, "Hm, judging by the dress you're wearing I'd have to guess you're the Commander?" She said mockingly, "Yea, sure. Just take your shoes off at the door!" She hollered at the man as he walked up the gangplank. He came to where the pair stood and Gabe snapped to attention, this only made Kylee snicker with her hands over her mouth. "Are you always going to be a child Kaylee?" The man only looked at her with hidden meaning in his eyes. She stopped laughing and peered up at the man. He stood at least a meter taller than her, and just a bit over Gabe. Gabe sensed something between them and backed off to talk to some of the crew who were also enjoying the sun. Kaylee couldn't break he gaze, he looked oddly familiar. The two stood in silence for a moment, the wind silently drifting across the deck and birds chirping in a park somewhere made it look like a scene from a cinema film. Then it hit her, "Why do you look like my Dad?!" Her shout drew the attention of all surrounding crew, even Gabe jumped a little. The man closed his eyes and brought a fist up to his mouth. He cleared his throat and attempted to seem proper, "You look just like her," he let out a little laugh as his eyes started to water, "God you look exactly like her." He tired to regain his composure but couldn't find it. Kaylee was confused and scared, all she could do was awkwardly stare at him, "Who are you talking about? Why are you crying?" She put her hand on her hip and gave the man a stern look. He had finally collected himself and knelt down to be face to face with her, "Your-our mother Kaylee." Kaylee froze in place in shock. She could barely formulate words with the amount of questions that were flying through her mind. "How do you know my mother...wh-who are you..?" The man straightened up and looked at her lovingly, "I am your brother, Jack. The best kept secret in our family." Kaylee's heart stopped as a long forgotten dam of emotions burst in her heart. She felt her eyes begin to water and her legs start to wobble. Her emotions suddenly tightened and they began to fuel anger. She stomped hard on the deck and put a finger in his face, "Who the hell do you think you are?!" Tears were streaming down her face as she quickly turned and ran back into the ship. Gabe came and stood next to Jack and gave him a indifferent look. Jack sighed, "That was completely expected." He stood up straight and outstretched a hand to Gabe, "Its not my place to consul her right now. If she wants to see me, my ship is going to stay here till dusk." Gabe shook his hand and offered a good day then proceeded in pursuit of Kaylee.

"Kaylee, open up." Gabe stood at the door to Kaylee's cabin. From the other side of the door he could barely make out the sounds of muffled sobbing. He sat down across the hall facing the door. Seeing as she was not going to talk, he shall wait for her to come out. He sat then listening to her quiet sobs as something pulled at his chest but he ignored the feeling. As he sat, he noticed a small shape wandering down the hallway. It was Sunlight, Kaylee's dragon. 'Thats weird,' Gabe thought, 'these two are never appart.' As he tried to find an answer to the question, Sunlight came to sit in front of him to stare at the door as well and wait for the girl. A few minuets past and the sobs faded away. 'She must've fell asleep.' Gabe thought as he stood and tired the door again. This time it slid open and the hallway light flooded the room as he stepped in. Sunlight followed and hopped up onto her perch in the corner eyeing her sleeping master. Gabe sat on the bed next to her and sighed. Her nose and eyelids were a soft red and the long dried remanence of tears has etched her cheek with a small stream of salt. He began to pet her hair as her chest rose and fell shaky. He looked to the other end and saw her boots sticking out from under haphazardly thrown over blankets. He stood and removed them and placed them next to her bed then tucked her in and stood in the door way. "I made a promise," he murmured to himself,"if only you knew how much you mattered to me." He turned down the hallway as the door slid shut.