To Ocean's End

by S. M. Welles

  Her face screwed up in horror. “Don’t! She’s pregnant.”

  I blinked. “Well then. Never mind.”

  “So,” Ted said casually to Jessie, “fish converge every time you go in or near water?”

  “Yeah.”

  The two techies grinned. Ed said, “Let’s throw you in the water and hope you attract a non-pregnant one.”

  She gave him a flat glare. “Not a chance.”

  Chapter 20

  Le Havre

  Jessie practiced as much as she could over the next two days, pushing herself to become faster and deadlier. She easily developed the habit of pressing with multiple attacks. Not broadcasting them? Not so much; it was harder. Sam tried teaching her to just keep her eyes on her opponent’s eyes the whole time. It worked great for defensive moves, but offensively all her attacks started drifting to the face. She inadvertently split Sam’s lip when he took a turn being her sparring partner. No one got angry; not even him, but he suggested not keeping her eyes locked in place when going on the offensive. He told her to try pulling her vision back enough so she could take in her opponent’s entire body. It started working but she needed a lot of practice.

  Sam said, “Come this afternoon, don’t think about where to look. Just act and react. The more you try to think, the slower you’ll be. Got it?”

  “Yeah,” she said while staring down a sweaty Mido in the cargo hold. Everyone but O’Toole, Jacobi and Rammus had been practicing since breakfast, working in twos and rotating partners every so often.

  Dyne said, “Now everyone go wash up and rest up. We should reach port tonight, but be ready at all times. We’ve been hit all over the Channel.” He grabbed his shirt from a nearby crate and slung it over a sweaty shoulder.

  Jessie and Mido tapped sparring gloves and she resisted the urge to kiss and hug him. Sparring was a huge turn-on. Even the other crew members began to look good to her when their arms and chests glistened with sweat, and she got to see how strong all of them were. She’d sparred with everyone but Jacobi, Rammus, and O’Toole. All of the men went shirtless at some point. Every crew member, including Dyne, had big arms, but only the younger ones had defined abs. It was a lot of testosterone to be surrounded by but Mido’s presence and her sparring gloves kept her fear far at bay. She was beginning to feel like her old self, the one who loved attention from men, and eating up eye candy.

  * * *

  Jessie and Mido waited outside the showers with Sam and Scully. They all sat on the hard floor with fresh clothes on their laps. The hum of the engine and hiss of the showers filled the air, and the hall lights were set low. It almost would’ve passed for romantic if they didn’t have extra company.

  Scully said, “You’re really taking to fighting, Jessie. I’m impressed.”

  She shrugged. “I like it. It feels good to beat up people.”

  “I bet,” Sam said with a smile.

  “I’m slowly learning to not assume my size means I’m at a disadvantage.”

  “You’re a smaller target and we’re bigger ones,” Scully said.

  Mido said, “And you’re often faster.” He kissed her hand.

  “Boy that was funny when you landed that uppercut on Ted,” Sam said. “Didn’t think your fist could reach that high.”

  “Oh, yeah,” Mido said, “but I’m most impressed with you fighting Cancer.”

  “He didn’t go easy on me at all,” Jessie said with a frown.

  “You still did great.”

  “Until I ran out of retreating room.”

  “Well don’t forget how much more experienced he is. He’s been fighting people smaller than him most of his life, so he knows how to keep his size advantage.”

  “He could’ve at least gone easier on me.”

  Scully said, “He’s toughening you up that much faster. He’s the most intimidating of all of us, besides Jacobi. You have to practice with him once he’s recovered enough. He’s a deadly wrecking ball with fists.”

  Jessie wanted to say “oh, he’s deadly alright” but she kept the thought to herself. So far she hadn’t told anyone about his rape threat. Right now, she wouldn’t put it past him that he’d try to kill her, too, and what better way to mask it than in the heat of battle?

  Mido said, “I don’t think they should spar until they make peace.”

  Sam said, “That’s right. You two clash. Heard about your kick to his leg. Now that was funny, too!”

  Jessie looked at her sandals. “He was being unnecessarily rude.”

  “He’s got anger issues,” Scully said with a dismissive wave. “Don’t take it personal. He’s a good guy. Just give him time to warm up to you.”

  Fat chance. “I’ll try. I really don’t enjoy being on edge around him.”

  “Don’t worry,” Sam said, “We’ll keep him in check. We’ve got yer back. He’s really loyal once he likes you. He’s saved all our lives at one point or another.”

  “Even mine,” Mido admitted. “Sometimes he’s just slow to warm up to people, but I don’t get why he’s being such an ass to you.”

  “Maybe it’s because of who I am and the danger I bring.”

  “All the more reason to be kinder,” Sam said.

  Jessie studied him. His aged, gentle features looked nothing but genuine and kind. “None of you are being nice just because I’m her avatar, are you?” Sam scrunched his brows. “Because of what Captain said?”

  “That we need you to come to Australia with us?”

  Odd, he wasn’t on the same page as her. “Because of how Amphitrite might treat you because of how you all treat me.”

  “I forgot about that,” Sam said. “I would like to think not. Besides, I liked you before I knew.”

  “As did I,” Scully said.

  “Even though I hurt you?”

  “Your apology was genuine. That’s one of the few things I remember during my concussion.” Jessie grimaced.

  Sam said, “Hard to hate someone who hates Tethys as much as us, if not more.”

  Mido said, “And I’m sure you can guess how I felt about you at first sight.” He brought his face tantalizingly close to hers and squeezed her hand.

  Jessie kissed her fingertips and pressed them to his lips. He took her hand and kissed her fingers back. She yearned to lean forward and kiss him properly but didn’t want to make their company feel uncomfortable.

  Sam said, “You have our permission to kiss Mido in front of us if we get one, too.” The two gave her dorky grins.

  “Uh oh, looks like I gotta start sharing.”

  Jessie took in Sam and Scully, weighing whether or not she had the courage to give them chaste kisses. She wanted to kiss Mido badly enough to consider kissing others. These two were harmless, she had to admit. She didn’t feel threatened by them, and they didn’t look like they’d expect more from her if she acted upon their request. She let go of Mido’s hand and kneeled before Sam, then planted a kiss on top of his head. She shuffled over to Scully and pecked the top of his blonde head, too. Both men beaming at her, she settled back down next to Mido and gave him a closed-mouth kiss on the lips, but not without sneaking in a tiny lick with the tip of her tongue, just to tease him. She relished the look he gave her when they pulled back. He was going to get even with her in the shower.

  Sam said, “That made my day. Hope the misses back home don’t mind.”

  Scully said, “Amy’s really good like that. She doesn’t get jealous easily.”

  “You’re married?” Jessie asked.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Sam said, fiddling with his wedding band. “Most of the crew is.”

  “Was Dyne ever married?”

  “Yes, but don’t ask him about it. It’s bittersweet. He loves women but he won’t ever marry again because of his curse. Not sure what I’d do in his place.”

  “I’m sorry to hear,” Jessie said, her heart reaching out to the captain. “Maybe if I can help lift his curse, he can settle down one last time. Lonely is the worst feeling in the wo
rld.” She leaned against Mido and he wrapped a strong arm around her shoulders.

  “Yes it is,” Scully said.

  * * *

  I stayed with Jacobi in the wheelhouse all day, just in case he stopped feeling confident in his piloting skills. I doubted I’d need to take over since he was in the best mood I’d seen since before our last run-in with Tethys. He was back to being useful, even though he’d rather use his brawn, instead of brain. But whatever. Anything to keep him out of trouble and his focus away from Jessie. He was proving to be obstinate in regards to her.

  My crew patrolled the deck like a unit military patrolling its base. We tensed at the sight of every large boat, and exhaled once they carried on without paying us any mind. Mostly small shipping vessels and private charters sailed to and fro, along with fishermen, whales, and dolphins. The marine mammals all paid a visit when Jessie patrolled the deck. She enjoyed their attention until I politely told her she needed to stay focused on keeping an eye out for danger. A small boat could be scouting for targets like my ship.

  So far no one spotted any scouters, but we stayed on guard, even when we reached port. We’d missed incognito threats in the past. We weren’t in a hurry to get complacent this evening. The lack of attacks made us all the warier.

  Beams from two lighthouses skimmed the darkening horizon as my cargo pushers unloaded our delivery with another decrepit-looking steam crane. Le Havre was rundown and patched up like Newport but with French architecture. This place fit the now long unused term “third world” description with its dirt streets, patch job homes and shops, and toughened, lean natives. The French were very amicable and friendly, though. The dock workers loves seeing sailors like us; we made their day. We were their link to the rest of the screwed up world. They tried inviting us to the nearest bar for drinks but I politely declined from the deck of the Pertinacious as I kept an eye out. Sauna was in the engine room, keeping her hot in case we needed to make a hasty exit. Ed, Ted, Mido, and Jessie were guarding my cargo pushers and the dock workers while Cancer and I patrolled both sides of the deck, ready to run up to the wheelhouse and sound the alarm if we spotted trouble.

  A mix of French and English filled the darkening air as the last of the shipment got offloaded. I sent Ed and Ted to collect twelve dinners from the nearest bar while Sauna grabbed us a shipment to Dakar in Senegal, another port that often proved to be eventful like Le Havre mysteriously wasn’t. However, I wouldn’t assume we were safe until we were back out of the Channel. There was still plenty of time and open water to ambush us. On top that, I wasn’t the only one who’d put in a cheeseburger order.

  * * *

  Jessie and Mido patrolled a modestly-lit part of the dock by the Pertinacious’s stern. Flood lights shined on the main deck and groped at the dock, and the brightest light came from the two lighthouses in intermittent flashes. Le Havre’s windows were aglow with subdued candle and naphtha light. The sight fondly reminded Jessie of home, which she was looking more and more forward to seeing again.

  Ed and Ted came bustling down the dirt road with big paper bags in each hand, and a small keg bouncing along each of their backs. Dinner to go for the whole crew.

  Ed said, “Help us out quick! The sooner we get aboard, the sooner we can leave and eat.”

  Ted said, “We passed through some seedy places. Not gonna miss this town.”

  Jessie hopped onto the stern ladder first, followed closely by Mido, who grabbed a generous portion of her rear. She gasped and placed a hand on her fondled cheek.

  “We saw that!” Ed said cheerfully.

  Mido popped Jessie a guilty grin lacking remorse. She shook her head and climbed the ladder without saying a word. She probably would’ve done the same thing if he’d climbed first. The four of them worked together to get everyone’s dinner up the ladder, one delicious-smelling bag at a time, and once everything and everyone was aboard, Jessie came up behind Mido and squeezed both his cheeks, making him jump and getting laughs out of the techies. He relaxed and leaned into her, putting his hands over hers. She leaned against him and left her hands on his glutes.

  “Athens can’t come fast enough,” he said. “I still owe you breakfast in bed.”

  “With all the other things I’ve gotten in bed, I’d forgotten about that.”

  Ted took in his partner and said, “Now there’s something I haven’t thought of in a long time.”

  Ed shushed them, then whispered, “I think I see something on the water.”

  Jessie and Mido let go of each other and followed Ed’s outstretched finger. The floodlights behind them made it difficult to see much beyond the lip of the stern. The object on the water was a hazy black blot on a midnight blue backdrop. It was like trying to see out a house window at night with the lights on inside. The moon lay hidden behind clouds.

  Mido whispered, “What’s a skiff doing at a big boy dock?”

  “I see three,” Jessie whispered.

  “Me, too,” both techies said.

  Mido said, “Ed, go run up to the wheelhouse. Looks like trouble’s finally arrived.” The techie ran off with a bag of food.

  Ted said, “Why would they attack us on skiffs?”

  “Sneak attack,” Mido said, “which almost worked.” Something whizzed between him and Ted, who both gasped and ducked. “Get down!” The three of them dropped to the deck and crawled up to the raised edge of the stern, giving them three feet of steel to hide behind. Mido slid the bags and kegs away from the ladder, then hefted one of the two-gallon kegs in both hands and cautiously raised it above his head.

  Something clanged against it.

  Mido flinched and ducked, then set the keg next to him. “Ouch, that felt and sounded hard enough for a crossbow. Fun.”

  “What do we do?” Jessie asked. Crossbows hadn’t been covered in her training.

  “Don’t worry about them. We’ll run for the bow if they give us an opening.”

  Ted said, “Jessie, do you think you could call your fishy friends for help?” His gaze was totally serious.

  She blinked. The thought had never crossed her mind. “Let’s find out.” She rolled onto her hands and knees and crawled over to the side of the boat. “I saw dolphins earlier. I’m sure I can call them over but I don’t know if I can tell them what to do.”

  “Won’t hurt to try.”

  “Nope.” She scanned the bay for more skiffs but they must’ve all been coming from straight behind the stern. Nothing but dark water splayed out before her. She focused on the dolphins she’d seen earlier. “Please come help us, guys. We’ve got some really nasty company.” Thinking of how dolphins communicated, she imagined herself making a dolphin’s distress call as she envisioned snapshots of where she was in daylight. She sent her mental call out into the water and felt dozens of awarenesses turn her way, as if she’d opened a door and the whole room had turned to see who’d arrived. She crawled back over and wedged herself between both men. “I think that actually worked.” She’d communicated with sea creatures before but she’d never initiated. The creatures always had. It was just like thinking, but the fish placed thoughts, emotions, and feelings in her head, like something else was doing the thinking for her. In the past, it had been almost impossible to discern her thoughts from theirs. She’d thought she had an overactive imagination when it came to sea life. She’d thought she was just making up stories for everything that swam up to her.

  A glass grenade shattered on the deck, close enough to scare them and snap Jessie out of her reverie, but far away enough to cause them no harm. Smoke rose off the splatter mark with a hiss. Mido leaned over and snuck a glance behind the boat. He pulled back and a crossbow bolt whipped by. He went wide-eyed.

  “Don’t do that again,” Jessie said, eyes stinging with tears. That was way too close.

  “No problem. And nobody run. We’re pinned until help arrives.” He grabbed the dinner bags. “Hide behind these. It’s better than nothing.” The three of them left the food in the bags and crouched
behind them, shoulder-to-shoulder and bag-to-bag. The smell of burgers, fish, and fries filled their noses.

  More glass grenades shattered on the deck and emanated hissing smoke as the acid ate through paint and wood. And then the flood lights were cut off, immersing everyone in darkness.

  Jessie’s heart began to pound. How was she suppose to fight if she couldn’t see? With all this training she’d done the past several days, she found herself horribly unprepared and useless. Mido and Ted seemed so calm and brave. How were they doing that?

  On second thought, how would their attackers get a good crossbow show now?

  She whispered, “Should we make a run for it?”

  “No,” both men whispered back.

  “Just be patient,” Mido said. “It’s up to us to defend the stern.”

  The seconds ticked by in agonizing slowness. Jessie’s eyes began to adjust to the modest light Le Havre gave off, and she shut her eyes every time the lighthouse beams passed over them. Mido’s food bag made a thunk and they all flinched.

  “What was that?” Ted whispered.

  Mido reached in and produced an intact glass grenade. He turned to them and grinned.

  Whispers in French carried up the ladder. It sounded like they were arguing. Mido quietly and carefully set his paper bag down and faced the ladder. Jessie and Ted followed suit, but Ted tapped her on the shoulder and made her switch places. She complied without arguing. Now was a bad time for objections, even though she wanted to feel like a proper bodyguard. Mido fingered the grenade as if he was searching for the perfect way to grip it.

  Yells and the crash of waves erupted at the bow.

  “That’s weird,” Mido whispered, “Captain rarely uses his command over water to protect the ship. He’s more inclined to take out his gun.”

  “Well we did come back with a bunch of cheeseburgers,” Ted whispered. “That might have something to do with it.”

  Mido laughed, then covered his mouth.

  The whispering below paused. One heavily-accented voice said, “We know you up there. Stand up nice and slow so we kill you.”