The Adventures of the HMS Harlot

Part 4: Connor Tempest, Scout

"Don't do anything crazy while you're out there."

"Haha! Roy we both know I should be telling you that."

After a hard embrace I kicked off the the starboard side of the ship and the rest of the crew watched Ethel, Seymour and I speed off into the sky. The whole lot of them waving as if we going on vacation or as if they didn't know when they would see us again. Even the captain watched as we floated away until we were just small specks in the mystic blue sky.

Our mission was to scout out some of the nearby areas to see if we saw anymore Armada ships or other threats to the Harlot. After our close encounter with The Gabriel, the captain wanted to know if that was the only enemy we had to worry about. It was just a simple scouting mission. Simple meaning that if we saw them and they didn't see us we would most likely live to tell about it. In the Union I studied the Armada's ships navigational paths. The ships covered different areas so that in the event of other ships needing assistance the response time is quick.

"What's wrong Connor?" Ethel asked, steering the boat.

"I wanted to bring Phoenix but -" I stopped because phoenix swooped in and landed on my shoulder like a perch. "Never mind." Ethel began to laugh; Seymour only smiled.

Phoenix flew on Ethel's shoulder as she laughed.

"Phoenix no get off of - "

"No it's ok, I'm not afraid" She insisted. "He's so playful!"

"Yeah when he wants to be" I replied.

As the boat continued to carry us further and further away from the Harlot, we told jokes to pass the time. Well, mostly Ethel and I, Seymour kinda seemed distracted. He did chuckle from time to time. Now if he was laughing with or at us, the world will never know. I tried to never take my focus off the open sky for too long. It was hard because, for once, I was actually bonding with someone else other than Roy. I made jokes, a lot of jokes. A lot of awkward jokes, but Ethel continued to laugh and Seymour gave that glorious chuckle that at this point I was almost sure replaced his laugh.

We also shared past stories of adventures of a time before the Harlot's inception.

I told them that I was a part of Special Ops for the Union before the fall took place. And just as what seemed to be Ethel next question began, we saw it.

"Ethel, bring us to a full stop"

"Right away" She replied.

"Thats an NDA" Seymour stated.

"It's huge!"

"Seymour that isn't just any NDA, that is the mother load of all other NDA. That my good sir is The Michael." I whispered.

"Should we report back to HMS?" Ethel inquired.

"Not yet we need to try to figure out why it's docked at this fueling outpost or at least getting a closer look. Set us down on the outpost but nowhere near that thing."

"Right Away."

As land our small air boat landed on the outpost out of sight, the Armada troops were everywhere. The lot of them were carrying around these large crates.

"What do you think are in the crates, Connor?" Seymour asked.

"Well it sure isn't Christmas presents; I'll tell you that much" I whispered. He didn't laugh. "Sorry. It's probably weapons and from the looks of it a whole lot of weapons... Ok I think it's time we get out of here, if we're found we won't make it back."

The ride back was long and quiet I think we all needed time to think. We had such a great time together, but just like almost every other time we get a taste of sweet happiness reality gives a hard smack across the face and makes us spit it right out.

"What are we gonna do Connor? That's a lot of weapons."

"That's not for me to decide, Seymour. We'll have take this one to Victoria."

"There's the ship guys!" Ethel sounded excited as she pointed in the distance."

As we approached the Harlot the night was dark. It was cold. Full of terrors, but its was the safest I felt all day.

Connor Tempest