Aquaria: The Lost Fleet

VI: History Repeats Itself

Crue Sampson laid awake next to Lisa Coolidge. She was fast asleep in his bed after the two spent the night together. The two had gotten rather close the past couple of days, with both of them losing someone close to them recently. Crue lost his best friend, Lisa lost her boat clan. He consoled her and began to show her around Glory. He showed her what he did as a salvager when he wasn't out at sea. He got her a job in the mess hall as a cook. It wasn't the most prestigious job, but it was far better than any job she had in the boat clan.

Lisa told Crue all about boat clan life. Her chief was a brave elder and a natural leader for her people. He was also her father. She talked about how he clan was made up of over 25 small fishing boats and yachts. They primarily traded rare coral and rocks and pearls as they knew the areas of the sea that were shallow enough to allow for divers to retrieve them. Her primary job was taking care of the children in the clan.

When the pirates came for them all the men died defending the women. Most of the women and children were sold off, but the pirates decided to hold onto Lisa because she was the only blonde and she would fetch a higher price from potential owners. The south seas were a dangerous place indeed for any boat clan. Crue remained with her through the nights when she cried over the loss of everything she knew. She admitted however that living on the Glory and being accepted on a ship was something her family would have always wanted for her. Now that Lisa was more comfortable with her situation and her new life, Crue now found time to mourn the loss - or betrayal - of his best friend Paul Wake.

Crue gently got up, trying his best not to wake up Lisa. She mumbled a slight bit but was fast asleep once again within moments. Crue got dressed and decided to walk the decks of Glory for a little while on this nice night.

As he ascended from his room (near the bottom of the ship) to the deck, he couldn't help but think back on the memories he and Paul had. When they were younger Paul was more like a little brother than anything. Now he would've followed Paul into hell itself if he asked, as long as there was some payment at the end of it. A man had to make a living, right?

Crue walked through the docks and stared out into the black sea. There was another ship's light, far, far off in the distance. Crue looked to his left and saw a familiar face.

Crue walked over and stood next to Captain James Connolly, the captain of Glory.

"Captain", Crue said, positioning himself next to his captain.

"Crue, my boy." Connolly attempted to sound happier, but he too was melancholy over the loss of his best crewman. "The seas are fair tonight. As they always are here in the south."

"Indeed they are my Captain", Crue agreed. Very nice."

"I see you've gotten quite close to the boat clan girl?", Connolly said.

"I have grown quite fond of her, sir", Crue admitted. "She is a nice woman. I hope it doesn't offend anyone, or you, that I have chosen to spend my time with an outsider."

"My wife, before she died", Connolly began. "She was a boat clanner. My grandfather was a boat clanner". Connolly took off his hand and ran his hand through his white hair. "There's nothing wrong with outsiders. Without them, we wouldn't have the strength that Glory has today."

Crue remained silent.

"Crue?", Connolly asked.

"Yes Captain?"

"Your lady. Her name is Lisa Coolidge, correct?"

"Correct sir".

"And you said that Paul Wake left with the only other two slaves that would get a decent reward right? The ship born slaves?"