Drifters

Inti's Watcher

Razan sat in the common area, watching the arrow on his new communication device. The palm-sized square had three buttons and a dial. One button made the sound it produced louder, one made the sound quieter, and one had to be held down when he spoke. The dial activated the arrow, which pointed in the direction of the other three devices.

Currently, the arrow was set to find Sophie's device. It was pointing almost straight up.

Innoka walked over and sat next to him. "New toy?" she guessed, smiling.

He smiled back, turning the dial off. "Yes. Learning how to use them before the contest."

"They are very useful," Innoka said. "Ours are the cheapest, though, and don't work very well."

Sophie's voice came over the device. "Hello, Innoka, you're looking lovely today."

Innoka looked around, trying to spot her.

It took all of Razan's self-control to not look up. "I thought you were trying to be sneaky," he said into the device.

"I am," the girl said. "Don't worry, no one can see me."

He sighed, and Innoka turned back to him.

"Where is she?" she asked.

Razan held down the talk button. "Somewhere she isn't supposed to be."

"Somewhere dark and surprisingly cold," Sophie added.

Innoka laughed, looking around again. "The swimming room?"

"Nope!"

Razan let go of the button and slid the device into his pocket. "Don't look up. She's in the ceiling."

"The- How?" Innoka asked, moving closer as she lowered her voice.

"I've found it's safer to not ask how Sophie gets anywhere," Razan said flatly.

Innoka grinned. "You poor man, having to babysit a little sister."

"I take no responsibility," he said. "If she dies, it won't be my fault. Changing the subject, you promised me you would teach me the art of arm wrestling. Would you have time to do so now?"

"Of course," Innoka said. She moved to sit across from him, putting her elbow on the table. "Take my hand."

Razan reached out, taking her hand in the common handshake grip.

"No, like this," she said, adjusting his hand and arm. "The goal is to push your knuckles against the table."

"I see," he said as she pushed his arm down. "How impolite would it be to use this game as an excuse to hold your hand?"

She looked at him, her golden eyes dancing. "Not impolite at all."

"Good." He lifted their hands back up, smiling faintly. "Of course, it would probably be more polite of me to simply ask if I may hold your hand."

"It would be," she agreed. "Who knows, I might even agree to let you."

Razan tightened his grip, his gaze drifting down to her catlike smile. And then down to the long black braid hanging over her shoulder. And then down to the top of her cream-colored dress, the fabric snug around her breasts, not quite thick enough to hide-

He realized the silence had gone on too long and looked back into her eyes. "May I call you by your name?"

Innoka blinked, confused. "What else would you call me?"

"May I use your name by itself," Razan clarified. "May I simply call you Innoka?"

"Of course," she said, and paused. "Does your culture not use names?"

"We use family names, usually with an honorific," he explained. "Not… the names they use here."

"I see. Then, may I call you by your name?" Innoka asked.

"I would be honored if you did," he said, bowing.

She smiled again. "Thank you." She bowed as well, her fingers tightening around his hand. "What is your family name?"

"Miyamoto."

"A good name, but I prefer Razan," Innoka decided.

"May I ask your family name?" Razan asked.

She opened her mouth to answer, then stopped, all happiness draining from her face.

"Hello," Antoni said, walking up behind Razan. "Arm wrestling, are you?"

Razan turned to look at him impassively. "Yes. Innoka was teaching me."

"That must be why neither of you have moved for five minutes," Antoni decided. He pulled a chair around to sit next to Innoka and put his elbow on the table. "She's a very slow teacher. Wrestle with me."

Razan didn't reply, not letting go of Innoka's hand.

"Wrestle. Me," Antoni ordered.

Razan let go of Innoka's hand, beginning to be worried about her safety if he refused. He took Antoni's hand, careful to keep his face neutral.

"Good," the blonde man said, and turned to smile at Innoka. "My heart, would you count down for us?"

She rolled her eyes. "Five… Four… Three… Two-"

Razan slammed Antoni's hand onto the table. He felt his knuckles bruise, but the look of outrage on the man's face was worth it.

"What! You! Cheater," Antoni hissed, jumping to his feet.

"What do you mean?" Razan asked, completely neutral. "Games always start at two. Isn't that so in your culture?"

"No! What kind of stupid people would-"

Razan shot up and punched Antoni straight in the nose. His knuckles bruised more as the nose snapped.

"Do not call my people stupid," he snarled, truly upset. "We are strong and proud. You may insult me but if you dare insult my nation again I will take your life."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Antoni was about to respond, but paled as he looked around. Razan finally noticed five large hawks circling them.

"Fighting is not allowed in the common area," one announced.

"I didn-"

"Fighting is not allowed in the common area," two birds said.

Razan stepped back and bowed. "My apologies."

Antoni didn't understand. "He broke-"

Three hawks interrupted. "Fighting is not allowed in the common area."

Razan stared at the floor, holding the bow. He wanted to see Antoni's face, but knew better than to look up.

"This-"

"Fighting is not allowed in the common area," four hawks said.

Antoni huffed, stomping off.

There was a pause, then one hawk said, "You may stand."

Razan nodded, straightening up. Everyone in the area was staring in his direction. Innoka looked worried, and Marie had taken his chair.

"Masterfully done, Samurai," the pirate said. "Valid excuse. Clean hit. Responded perfectly to authority. I commend you. Now go get your hand looked at. Can't have both your hands damaged at once."

He hesitated, glancing at Innoka, then bowed again. "Yes, Captain."

Sophie cursed softly, trying to unscrew a grate from the inside. She hadn't brought the right tools, and her fingernails weren't doing the trick.

In the room on the other side of the grate, the door opened and Razan walked in. He paused, taking his shoes off, then looked up.

Sophie waved, smiling brightly.

"Why."

She twisted at a screw. "I admit my mistakes when I make them: I am slightly stuck. Would you please help?"

"How are you stuck?" he asked, finding a knife before standing on his bed. "You fit into your vent just fine."

"Oh, no, I'm not caught on anything, I just can't get the grate off," she said. "The screws are different here than in my room, for some reason."

He frowned, focusing. Sophie saw the screws vanish as he twisted with his knife. He took the grate away, and she thanked him, backing up.

"I now wonder why I'm helping you," Razan called as she carefully turned around.

Sophie backed out, dropping neatly onto his bed. "Because if you help me then at least you know what I'm doing," she said, grinning.

"Excellent point."

"How's your hand?" she asked casually, hopping to the floor.

Razan held up two freshly-bandaged hands. "Which one?"

"The one you used to punch Antoni in the face with," she specified.

He shrugged. "I've done worse. As long as I don't do anything stupid it should be fine for the competition."

"Wonderful." She pulled the chain spear off her belt, walking to the bathroom door. "Do me a favor? I'm going to try opening this door from the inside. If it doesn't work, would you let me out?"

"Only if I'm allowed to laugh at you and tell Marie you got trapped in my bathroom," he said, his face and tone neutral.

Sophie rolled her eyes. "I accept your conditions. Thank you." With that she stepped inside, letting the door close behind her.

She suspected the door opened when it saw motion. The inside only opened to the person who owned the adjoining room, but the room side opened no matter who was there. If it didn't care who was there, only that someone was moving towards it, Sophie might be able to trick it into thinking her spear was a person.

She adjusted the angle of her chain spear, straightened it, and pushed it through into Razan's room. Then she slid the lever on the handle up, making the chain bend to the angle she'd wanted. She twisted the handle slowly, then faster when nothing happened. Still nothing happened.

Sophie straightened it again and pulled it back. Frowning, she pushed the lever up and studied the angle. Maybe… She set the angle to ninety degrees, straightened it, and pushed it through to the other side of the door again. Then she slid the lever up and slowly spun the handle back and forth, pushing it further from the door.

Just before she gave up, something in the door clicked. It slid up.

Razan, now sitting at his desk, clapped politely. "Congratulations, you now know how to open bathroom doors."

Sophie beamed, then paused. "Did you open it?"

"No, that would have required moving," Razan answered.

"True." She smiled again as the door began to close. "Thank you for your assistance."

The door was shut before he could reply.

Turning to the bathroom's other door, Sophie walked over and slid her spear through. She slid the lever up and twisted the handle slowly.

The door almost immediately clicked, rising to show Peter sitting on his bed. For once he wasn't wearing a poncho. He looked surprised, then confused.

"Is that how you get in here?" he asked.

Sophie walked over and sat next to him. "Not usually. I was just testing the doors."

"Oh." He frowned. "How did you get into the bathroom?"

"That is a secret," she said, kissing his cheek.

Peter smiled. "What do I have to do for you to tell me your secrets?"

"Tell me all your secrets first," Sophie replied. She saw his smile drop and looked around, pretending to not have seen. "Secrets like… why didn't you ask for any furniture other than a chest?"

"I don't need any," he told her. "Do I?"

"I suppose not. Marie has a sea chest; she keeps it at the foot of her bed, same as you. Is there a reason for keeping chests in that spot?"

He debated. "Not here, I guess. Chests are put at the foot of each bed in barracks so everyone knows who it belongs to. Might be the same on ships."

"I see," Sophie said, nodding. "Would you like to see my chest?"

"Uhm, sure," he said, slightly confused as she bounced to her feet. "What type of…"

Peter trailed off as she pulled her shirt off. Sophie smiled, watching him trying to not stare and failing miserably. He tried to speak and failed at that, too.

Laughing, Sophie moved into his lap. She kissed him, her fingers working to unbutton his shirt. He kissed her back, his hands going to her bare waist. There was an intensity to his movements that she hadn't felt before, and she didn't want it to stop.

Suddenly he broke away, pushing her back. She cried out in protest, leaning towards him, and he put his hands on her shoulders.

"Sophie, I can't- I'm about to lose control," he told her. "If you stay, I…"

She put her hands over his and slid them down, smiling. "Peter. What do you think I was expecting when I took my shirt off?"

He was silent for a few seconds, caressing her, then his eyes snapped up to hers.

"Damn it all to hell, I love you," he said, laying her down onto the bed.

Nop hopped onto the table as Peter was finishing breakfast.

"Hello," she said. "Now that you have been here a few weeks, we have some questions."

Peter sat up, curious. Next to him, Razan also sat up. Sophie, on his other side, yawned and stretched. Marie, who had been getting tea, took her seat across from him.

"Firstly, are you all enjoying your lives here?" Nop asked.

Everyone agreed that they were content on the ship.

"Thank you. Do you feel you work well as a group?"

Peter glanced at Sophie, smiling as he agreed they worked very well together. Sophie agreed, then took a sip of his coffee to hide a grin.

"Thank you," Nop repeated. "Do you have any complaints about anything specific? Is there anything that bothers you?"

They all debated.

"The targets in the shooting range are too close," Peter said, proving he was capable of thinking about things that weren't Sophie. "That's about it."

"Bed's too soft," Marie said.

"I agree with that," Razan added. "Also there aren't any training weapons available. Only real blades."

"The rocks in the climbing room never change," Sophie said. "There's no challenge once you know the pattern."

"We can replace your beds if you wish," Nop said. "I will report the other three issues."

"Thank you," Marie said as Razan bowed.

"Lastly, we watch people on your planet," Nop said. "Is there anyone you know of whose lives are interesting, who you would suggest we watch?"

Again, they debated. Peter was about to suggest some military general or other, then noticed Marie's hands curl into fists.

"Can people here see the people you watch?" she asked.

Nop hesitated. "Yes."

Marie nodded, breathing hard. "Why did you decide to rescue us? There are several empty rooms, what was the catalyst that made you decide now was the time to bring a new group in?"

Nop went still for a few seconds. And then a few seconds more.

Marie slammed her fists on the table, pushing herself to her feet. "Tell me!" she demanded, her voice cracking.

"You, Marie, were in mortal danger," Nop said slowly. "We have been watching you for many years. About twenty years ago it was decided that, should you die in a way we could prevent, we would bring you in. It… took longer than anticipated."

Marie slid back into her chair, eyes vacant.

Nop's feathers ruffled awkwardly. "Granted, they were manipulating things a bit, since sick people don't get good ratings, and the 'curse' that any privateer sent to kill you would immediately become a plague ship wasn't exactly supernatural in origin, but-"

"Has he been watching?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

The raven hesitated again. "Yes."

Without acknowledging the reply, Marie got up and walked towards the door.

Peter shared a worried look with Razan, who was half out of his chair.

"Captain!" Peter called.

Marie stopped. She shook her head, then continued out.

Sophie looked at Nop. "What parts of her life were you watching?"

The raven shrugged. "Everything."