Navi had made the call. Sirens were nearby.

"Fucking fantastic," Theo grunted and pulled on her coat, making her way out of the training room. She tried not to give away her nerves. Knowing how to handle monsters, in theory, was different than actually handling them and creatures had not been something she had needed to deal with in quite a long time.

She just hoped they had prepared enough. Just like with storms. Just like with raids, it was just a matter of waiting and hoping her crew could execute.

"Kaia, go find who we put in charge of distributing wax and make sure not a person on this fucking ship has empty ears," Theo ran out of the room and onto the helm, Navi right behind her, "sound the horn!"

A series of blaring noises from the crow's nest filled the air as the other ships were alerted to begin their preparation procedures. If winds shifted, it meant sirens were not far off. Their nesting ground was somewhere below them, it wouldn't be long until their songs filled their brains.

Theo observed the scrambling from the helm, making sure everything was underway. Navi was yelling commands to keep their course and not be affected by the winds pulling them towards the soul-sucking creatures. She took mental note of what was happening. Ropes were being brought out and sailors were tying themselves to the mainmast, with just enough slack to get around. Up from storage came the spears, the nets, and the bows for the few archers they had. Tuni ran across the deck with a box full of vials, handing them out to those on duty. The vials were filled with sedatives to use on crewmembers that had heard the siren's song.

It looked like their preparation for the arrival of the sirens had gone well. It was being done flawlessly. It was the machine that she knew to be the crew of the Scorned Woman. She let a smile come to her face but it was only slight. There was a pleasure in the adrenaline flowing through her and at the fact that after so long with no action, they would not crumble at the first sign of conflict. She put her fingers in her mouth and let out a loud whistle.

"All those off duty, meet in the lower decks!"

A sailor nearby who heard her was able to distribute the information across the deck. Theo began to go down the stairs as she watched anyone who helped with preparations but was not sailing go into the lower decks, huddling into the hold. With the help of Skins, who rounded up all the strays and people in their rooms, they made sure everyone who wasn't needed was safe, locked away, with wax in their ears. Being unable to hear the siren song all but guaranteed that the person would not fall victim to their voices and their wiles. As long as they could all manage to fight against the change of winds and stay on route, they would clear the siren-infested waters in a little under a half-hour.

Skins stayed outside of the door leading to the hold. The key was around her neck and earmuffs were over her waxed ears. Theo left her with a promise to get her after they were in the clear. She headed back to the deck and called for a looking glass, holding out her hand for one. When it was placed in her palm, she lifted it to her eye and surveyed her fleet. At a simple glance, she could see Blue's galleon was drifting. They weren't in the formation they needed to be, the wind was taking them.

"Navi, something's wrong!" Theo yelled up to the helm as she went back for another glance, trying to get a glimpse of what was going on. No one could clearly hear her though, not with wax in their ears. Blue was at the helm but he didn't look to be fighting against the winds sweeping him into the siren's arms. If he kept on the trajectory, he would crash onto the first rock formation the ship encountered and all of the crew would be in the sirens' clutches. The deck wasn't in order. There were pirates fighting pirates and many were struggling to keep their friends on the ship.

Preparations had been done well on all ships but not for the galleon. She couldn't tell for sure but the lack of fight against the wind told Theo that Blue has succumbed to their song.

"Fucking shit!" Theo threw the spyglass on the ground and ran up the helm, "Navi, get me parallel to Blue's ship."

"He'll figure out how to make it back on course," Navi replied after processing what was said through the muffle, "We can't risk helping."

"They need help or we will lose them. I don't think Blue is in control!" Theo shouted through the clamor and wind.

"Cap, we can lose the lightbringer if I can't get her back on course! The winds may be too strong."

"And the alternative is potentially losing a galleon with 40 fucking pirates on it!" Theo answered, "Get me to that ship now, Navi."

Theo ran back down from the helm as commands were given to shift course, Navi signing the needed instructions to a few sailors, who spread the sign throughout the crew. After running to the deck, Theo found a chest that contained a long rope and a grappling hook. She would try and give Navi the least amount of struggle to get back on course which meant she needed to catch the hook on something as soon as it was physically possible.

But with Theo's height, the lack of strength from not being able to train, and her ribs risking getting in the way of the throw, she delegated. She put one of the vanguard members in position, handing them the rope and giving them instructions to grapple when they could. Theo stepped back from the edge, letting the work be done. If some of Blue's crew was under the siren's influence, something had to have gone wrong with the distribution of items. Theo gathered supplies as Navi caught them up to the galleon

A small box, filled with sedative vials and wax was gathered and as soon as the ship was within reach, she would be there to distribute them. As she stood in wait, the box was taken from her hands.

"Captain, get back to the helm. I will commandeer the galleon," Kaia said as she pushed Theo behind her.

"You do not make the orders around here! I am getting on that ship and helping my crew as is my duty as captain," Theo tried to reach for the box but it was held away from her.

"Then I am coming with you!" Kaia insisted, "there are six people I can name off the top of my head that would kill me if they knew I just let you go as easily as I did."

"We will have a discussion on the place of a first mate and what it means to undermine the captain's authority when this is over," Theo said and finally took a hold of the box.

"Captain! It's hooked."

Theo turned her attention to the crew member in front of her and took the rope. She secured a loop around her foot, climbed on the ledge, and swung over the water with the box in one hand. Her landing on the galleon could have been smoother. She landed too forward and only a dip into a roll and back on her feet stabilized her. The vials clinked as she rolled but nothing shattered. Right behind her was Kaia and moments later, the same member of the vanguard that had helped her was on the deck next to them.

She opened the box and handed a fist full of wax pellets into the vanguard member's hands, "Get these into the ears of those that look succumbed!"

Theo pushed the box with the vials towards Kaia, "Go behind her, after they have wax, sedate them."

Theo waited until Kaia was turning and fulfilling her task before focusing on the helm. Theo spared a glance to the side, the lightbringer had begun to pull away. Navi was getting the ship back on track so they wouldn't lose control of it. Theo sped up the rest of the stairs and found Blue with one hand on the wheel, the other holding a scimitar out as he waved it at his first mate.

"Back away from him," Theo called out to the first mate and he paid attention, taking a few steps back.

"Don't you dare come near me, Theo," Blue threatened, "I will fucking cut your head off!"

"Blue, come on mate. Whatever you are hearing isn't real!" Theo yelled back and she inched her way towards the wheel. Blue didn't put the sword down.

"She needs me! I can hear her, Theo! Oceane is out there and we need to find her!" Blue's eyes were crazed, pupils large and chest heaving.

"Wherever Oceane is, it won't be here."

There was no use to her reasoning with him though. The only way out of a siren's spell was to no longer be conscious. Theo looked to her right and in the moonlight, she could make out the rocks that they were sure to hit in five minutes' time. She had no way to get to him without it being a battle where she had to hurt him. She cursed under her breath and began to back away from the helm.

"Distract him. Keep him focused on you," Theo commanded the first mate as she turned around and sped down the stairs.

She knew galleons well. She had yet to find one without a hatch leading to the helm. She navigated the deck, dodging the frantic sailors trying to regain order. Their prospects looked better than when Theo had landed but if she couldn't get control of the wheel then it would all be for naught. If they crashed into the rocks, none of the other ships could risk a rescue. They wouldn't last the night before the sirens would strategize a way to get to them. Or they would die of starvation. Or, they would be caught trying to swim towards safety and dragged to the pits of the ocean.

Theo shook the fear and the possibility out of her head as she found the ladder she had been looking for and climbed it to the hatch. It was easy to hide the noise of it creaking open between the wind, and Blue's arguing, and soon she was peeking over onto the helm. She made eye contact with the first mate and gave him a nod. She crawled onto the deck and stepped carefully, making her way towards Blue. When she had calculated her plan of attack, she rushed forward.

She kicked out, pushing against Blue's wrist, knocking the sword out of his hand. She took the hilt of her sword and struck him on the side of the head but her plan of rendering him unconscious didn't work. He quickly turned around.

"Shit," Theo dropped her sword, not wanting him to hurt himself if he charged her, "that wasn't meant to happen."

There was a moment of hesitation before they reached for each other. Theo grabbed him by the lapels and pushed him into the wheel. He flailed his arms, pushing her head roughly to the side and kicking her shin.

"A little fucking help here!"

Blue managed to get a good hit in, a half-closed fist slammed against the side of her head and knocked her a bit dizzy. Theo brought her knee him to hit him in the stomach and in return Blue grabbed onto her hair and yanked it.

"Dirty move, Blue!" Theo said as she slammed him back against the wheel, "is no one going to fucking help me!?"

Another hand connected with her cheek and then her ear. She felt the wax dislodge and in a futile attempt to stop it from falling she tried to tilt her head. The movement caused it to fall anyway and Theo needed to end the stalemate before she ended up just like him. He went limp in her arms and looking up, she saw Kaia holding the butt of a hand cannon in the air.

"Thanks," Theo said and then dropped to her knees, waving her hands across the floor looking for her wax piece, "please, please, please. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck."

She was frantically searching, the more seconds passed the more danger she was in. Theo had heard tales of the damage siren's caused to some people's psyche and she wasn't sure she could handle much more. True fear was coursing through her veins and suddenly, the song was upon her. It was beautiful, and instantly, tears sprung to her ears. She sat up on her haunches and stared blankly ahead, letting the sweet harmonies filter into her ear. Theo reached up, taking out the other piece of wax from her ears and standing up after grabbing her discarded sword.

"Captain," Kaia said, noticing a shift and stepping forward.

Theo held out the sword silently.

"You came for me," a voice called out.

Theo's eyes widened and she turned her head to look out into the water but she could see no one there. Her sword was still jutting out in front of her as she took careful steps back.

"Theo, don't listen to whatever the voice is saying!" Kaia yelled but her attention was pulled from Theo as the sailors behind her cried out for help with the wheel.

Theo continued to step backward, watching as Kaia struggled with getting the ship back on course.

"Join me," the voice said in her head, "we can be together again."

"Red?" Theo asked, her voice breaking as she hit the edge of the deck.

"Bring the ship to me. I am over by the rocks, Theo, I'm stranded. Please," the voice pleaded, a sweet tone filling her mind, "I need you, exal."

Theo looked over at the wheel but there were too many people there, trying to take control. There was no way to do what was asked of her. She felt hopeless, once again failing Ava, "I can't, Red. They'll stop me."

"Then come to me. Come to the water. I miss you," Ava's voice bounced around, enticing her to join her, "I don't need the ship, just you. Come rescue me."

"Aye," Theo nodded and climbed up on the edge, she could hear the shouts behind her to get down but nothing could shake her from wanting to enter the water. She turned to Kaia looking between her and the wheel, unable to leave the struggle with the ship to reach Theo. Knowing this was her only chance to get away, she looked back down at the water and searched it, "I can't see you. Where are you?"

She scanned the water but it was too dark to make anyone out.

"Just jump. I will find you," Ava promised and it was all the reassurance she needed to step off, both feet slipping from the wood.

She fell for what felt like a long time before hitting the water. As she kicked her legs up and breached the water, the waves were thrashing her. She couldn't get a good look at anything. It was pitch black, the moon offering no relief as clouds rolled over it.

"Red!" she yelled as she spun around in the water, "Red! I came for you! Where are you? I've come to bring you home!"

"Dive, Theo. You will find me under the water,"Ava requested.

Theo took a deep breath and then dove down, swimming through the dark waters in an attempt to find who called for her. She was going to finally be able to right things.

One kick after another, she descended into darkness until she felt a shift in the water next to her. Looking over she saw a figure. Red, curly hair emitted a light glow that allowed her to see Ava in her entirety. Theo had no time to react. The figure swam away quickly, going further down into the depths of the ocean once she had caught Theo's attention. It was only a brief second that Theo caught her face but it was unmistakable. Ava was leading her somewhere.

"Follow me. I know how to get us to safety. We'll be alright, and together," the voice was in her head again.

Theo began to swim forward but something latched onto her ankle and she was being pulled back. She fought against it, trying to reach out as Ava got further and further away. She screamed but there was nothing left in her lungs and water entered her mouth. She needed air but she was going to lose Ava again and she couldn't do that. Looking back, she couldn't make out what was grabbing her in the pitch-black water. As her lungs burned, she was pulled to the surface and breached the water. Grabbing hold of her immediately was Kaia.

Theo coughed out some water and gasped for air as she tried to thrash away. They weren't swimming but still were being pulled towards the ship.

"Come back! Please!" Ava cried out, "please don't leave me again! Theo!"

Her name was a guttural scream filled with anguish and Theo needed to find her. She remembered Blue's strategy to get Theo to see reason. Take out the ear wax. If Kaia could just hear the song she would understand and let Theo go. She hastily reached forward and with the surprise of going for the sides of Kaia's head, Theo managed to pull one piece of wax out and she almost had the other.

"Theo! Please. I need you. I'm lost I don't know where I am."

"She needs me!" Theo yelled, "Let me go! She's here! I saw her."

Theo managed to break free with a strong push against Kaia. Maybe the song was working. But Kaia reached for her again and it proved that Theo was alone in this. No help from anyone else. She was able to get away long enough to dive under the water again. The faint glow of Ava came back into view. She was hovering a few dozen feet below, looking up expectantly.

Ava's face, however, began to twitch. It twisted out of shape and back into it. Theo was taken aback. But as soon as the face had changed back to the familiar one of her love, calm washed over her again. She continued to swim towards Ava but she could feel something behind her. With the faint glow from Ava, Theo could see Kaia swimming in behind her. She had looked away from Ava for only a second but upon looking back, Ava was no longer there. In her place, a sickly green aura emanated from an image so haunting, Theo didn't know if her heart had stopped from the shock. A siren's tail grew out of the legs of what was once Ava and the body contorted until a sea creature with thin black hair and a bony body appeared in front of her. Its eyes were large and took up a lot of its face. The leftover was taken up by a grin, mangled teeth jutting out in all directions.

It raced towards her. Perhaps her heart did stop and that was the moment of her death because everything went black.

—-----

"You have handled it all. Injuries have been tended to. No damage was taken. Minimal casualties. All those that were shaken have been spoken to," Tuni listed as they walked into Theo's quarters, "my child, please rest now. It is crucial, I know you have not been getting enough sleep."

"I will, Fortune," Theo nodded, "I am alright, love. Take it easy. Get an early night."

She dismissed Tuni and walked to her liquor, grabbing a bottle of rum and sitting down at her desk. Moments later, Kaia walked through the door.

"Your behavior was unacceptable," Theo said and took the cork out of the bottle with her teeth, spitting it away.

"I was given an order to look after you by Xyra when-"

"Is she your superior or am I?" Theo cut her off, holding her hand up.

"This is unnecessary. You are scolding me like I am a child."

"When I am in action, I am your fucking captain. I am not Theo, the girl you knew as a child. I am not fucking seven. I am the commander of a goddamn fleet and I will not be publically questioned by someone I outrank!" Theo's voice grew louder with each sentence and she slammed her free fist on the table, the movement making some rum spill out of the bottle.

There was no response. Theo took a swig of the bottle then wiped her mouth.

"We are not in your house, cooking stew. My words are not fucking suggestions. Understood?"

"Aye, Captain," Kaia said but she had looked checked out when Theo had started to yell. Kaia had never been on a crew before. She had been paid to undermine captains. To question decisions. To make sure the best solution was pursued. She hadn't had to be told off by a boss before.

Theo softened a bit, remembering that the questioning was why she was alive, "Thank you. For saving me."

"Captain Theo, taken out by a siren?" Kaia shrugged a bit, "not really the most epic of deaths. Could not allow that to happen, could I?"

Theo flashed a smile at the joke then took another sip of rum, "We've anchored and have the next sun to ourselves to recover. Take an early night, you deserve it."

"Is there nothing you need to speak about?"

"Kaia, I know that your clients probably enjoyed your prying so that you could give them solutions to their problems but that isn't how it works around here. There is nothing to talk about," Theo said and jutted her chin towards the door.

"I have been the victim of sirens in the past," she shared, "it's scary the way it takes over your senses."

Theo shrugged but Kaia pushed on.

"I know you don't have a lot of experience with monsters. But it's normal to feel scared, or anxious after an encounter. I've always found it best to speak about it."

"I admit this was new for me but I am a pirate, Kaia, I have seen worse," Theo said but she wasn't sure had ever witnessed something quite as jarring.

"You kept saying a name but I couldn't quite hear it," Kaia said, "Was it the Vaith girl you heard?

"Her name is Red. Or Ava. It's not Avery. Or Vaith girl. You know that," Theo snapped and she felt the anger rising up. The anger that she had begun to experience when she felt scared, helpless, small. She shook her head as an apology, "I am sorry for attacking you in the water. Thank you for risking your life."

"Wasn't really you. It was them," Kaia assured her with a sad smile, settling into the chair in front of Theo's desk, "once a siren's song has you, they'll try and use you to bring them more souls. Sirens have a voracious appetite. They don't get full, they'll eat until there is nothing left to consume."

Theo remembered the sight of the horrid creature swimming towards her. She remembered staring death in the face but she was still alive, somehow. Kaia was still alive too, despite Theo's efforts to get her to listen to the sirens.

"How did we survive?" Theo asked, probably a question she should have asked first instead of hours after the incident, "Why didn't we both get taken down into their nests? I took out your wax."

"I am cured," Kaia chuckled, dryly, "sirens have no effect on me anymore."

"Do you follow Riva?" Theo tilted her head, nothing about Kaia struck her as a Riva worshiper.

"I don't."

"Right. Still not following," Theo said, "How are you cured?"

"Their song and cries enter your head and your mind is the one that plays tricks on you. The song uses your memories to target the person you hold dearest-- the one you love the most-- and makes them beg you to join them."

"I am aware of what sirens do, Kaia," Theo rolled her eyes a bit.

"They are dangerous, hungry, insatiable but won't take any chances. I don't know if it's an adaption thing or they've always been like that," Kaia provided, "But they don't attack unless they have a hold on you; unless they've sunken into your brain."

"And they can't get a hold on you. That is how we survived," Theo stated and Kaia nodded, "Why aren't you affected? You love no one?"

"The person I love is dead," Kaia deadpanned, "they can't channel your loved one if they aren't alive..."

Theo watched Kaia look down at her hands, avoiding any eye contact. Her face was neutral, not giving anything away but Theo couldn't imagine the pain under the expression.

"I'm sorry," Theo said in a whisper.

"Don't be. It's been a bit of time since then."

"How long?"

"A little over two lengths..." Kaia said.

Theo knew when people didn't want to speak about something and Kaia did not want to.

"Why can't they use the dead? Isn't it all in your head anyway?" Theo asked instead, "Aren't they just using the memories of them, not their true essence?"

"Not sure..." Kaia hummed and looked up at Theo, a raise to her eyebrow at the question. It looked like she was impressed by something but Theo didn't know what, "In all that I've studied of the supernatural, no one has been able to figure out why."

"You study the supernatural?"

"Not all of us can be blessed with a god that is a monster repellent. Some of us actually have to learn how to fight these things," she laughed a bit.

"Glad I have you around, then," Theo shrugged, "because it looks like my blessing has worn off."

Theo didn't know why she had said anything. That was a fact she had kept close to her chest. Kaia, however, didn't understand the significance of it. She thought it was a joke by the small smile that she had on her lips. Theo wondered who everyone heard if they succumbed to the song. She wondered how Kaia had not loved anyone else in the two lengths that had passed. She wasn't even aware that Kaia had anyone that was close to her in that way. She wondered if the two men they lost were scared as they died or if they were able to die in the arms of a vision of a person they loved. Then, she thought of Blue.

"What did Red say to you?" Kaia asked but Theo ignored the question.

She sat up and frowned, "Blue heard Oceane."

"What?"

"You said they can't channel dead people," Theo stood up from the chair, "He was hearing Oceane. She's alive."

"That is great news," Kaia said with a raised eyebrow as she watched Theo drop to her knees and rifle through the bottom-most drawer of her desk.

"We need to write letters. To every city with a fucking prison or jail in all of Baethos," Theo said as she pulled out a stack of stationary, then ink and a quill

"Theo, you've already done that."

"Then we follow up. We reach new contacts," Theo shook her head. She knew she was overreacting but she couldn't stop her spiral. If she couldn't save Ava, she had to be able to save Oceane, "she's out there somewhere."

Kaia also stood up and walked over, taking the items away as they were set down, "Captain, I know what it's like to hear the person you love like that. I have been through it. It's jarring. That doesn't just go away. You should talk about it."

"I've been told to get over the whole Red thing. No use in dwelling. I can't do anything to save her. Not siren her or real her. And siren her was fake, so," Theo shrugged, "nothing to speak about."

"That is definitely the healthiest way to deal with things," Kaia said.

"I never knew you had anyone. I didn't know they had died. No one has heard of them, yet they clearly still mean a lot to you. That's definitely healthy, right?"

"I'll back off," Kaia pursed her lips with a nod and took a small bow, excusing herself without another word.

Kaia was clearly hurt at the mention of her dead lover so casually dropped. Theo felt bad. But only a bit. If Kaia wasn't going to speak about her issues, why did Theo need to do so? She missed the suns where she could tell people to fuck-off guilt-free. But ever since Red came aboard, the hounding of speaking about her problems no longer just came from Xyra and Tuni, it was from all sides.

Her open-door policy was taken advantage of and over the next hour, the last of the items of business from a harrowing experience were taken care of. Her last visitor for the night was someone she had been meaning to speak to, to thank once again for all their hard work and expertise. Navi walked in with a cigarette and went straight for the balcony. Theo watched her go and after a few seconds, Navi's head popped back in through the doorframe.

"You coming or what?" Navi asked.

Theo stood up and joined her out there, taking a seat as Navi lit the cigarette. She sensed Theo's hesitancy.

"We are away from danger and everything has been tended to. Relax, share some dragon's breath with me," Navi said and Theo listened. Navi blew out smoke and Theo watched it get whisked away by the wind, "Just so you know and don't accuse me of blindsiding you, Kaia asked me to come help you relax."

"Aren't you just the friendliest with everyone that comes onto this ship," Theo grumbled and crossed her arms, ignoring Navi's attempt to give her the cigarette.

"Kaia and I have done a few stints on the same crew. There is a unique closeness that comes with being the only two people that aren't men on a ship," Navi said, but she didn't need to explain that. Theo knew first hand.

"I didn't know that you sailed together," Theo tilted her head, "Or maybe I just didn't remember that."

"Don't think I've really mentioned it before. It was never relevant," Navi shrugged, "but I was already planning on coming. My renewed friendship with her did not influence me coming to you."

"Then why tell me?"

"I know you hate being ganged up on. I didn't want to hide the fact that she and I share similar worries in case I talked to you about similar things that she did."

"We didn't really talk about anything," Theo shrugged, "It was kind of one-sided. She talked and I ignored her."

Navi held out the cigarette again and Theo finally took it.

"I'm sorry you had to go through this," Navi said, "I'm sure whatever you heard her say didn't make things easier for you..."

"It wasn't real," Theo took a hit and shrugged off the concern.

"Alright..."

"Any other reason you came or can we just smoke in silence?" Theo looked over, handing it back.

"Kaia asked me to check on you. Which I did. I know better than to barrage you with questions about feelings when you are in a mood," Navi motioned for Theo to keep the cigarette, "but like I said, I came for my own reasons too. I wanted to ask about Riva."

Theo's gut sank but her exterior was calm, "There isn't anything to answer."

"The winds and currents have been a bit temperamental lately..." Navi spoke, "Now, we encounter sirens? Never have I been at sea with you where we have had an issue with creatures."

"What's the question?"

"Are you and Riva on good terms?"

"I pushed her away and broke her tenents," Theo looked away and up at the moonlight, "So, I would go with no."

"Make amends. Apologize. She's not a vengeful god, Theo."

Theo scoffed, still facing away, "I have already reached out... I got a very clear signal that I shouldn't try again."

Navi let out a deep breath and placed her hand over Theo's thigh, "Try again. Have patience."

"Are you her prophet?" Theo teased.

"Something like that," Navi chuckled, "I've gotten some dreams I can't explain. Nothing concrete but I've just been getting a feeling that I need to talk to you. Thought it was about making you socialize but now I'm realizing she wanted me to encourage you to try again."

Theo nodded but ignored the discussion about Riva. It wasn't something she wanted to think about, "You did incredible, by the way. You always do and I don't tell you enough."

"That's why you give me an extra quarter share," Navi chuckled, "I don't come cheap."

"It's pretty cheap still," Theo chuckled.

"If we are distributing praise, you will be happy to hear that the crew has been commenting on your involvement in ship activities. They are quite pleased."

"All I've been doing is staying longer at mealtimes and hanging around the relaxation room more often."

"That's all they needed, T," Navi stood up, "I'll leave you alone now. I have overstayed my welcome. Come get me if you need anything."

"Actually," Theo said, "I think Oceane is alive."

"How?"

"Kaia says sirens can't imitate dead loved ones but Blue heard Oceane's voice," Theo recounted the evidence.

Navi looked taken aback by the information. They had all expected Oceane to be gone for good. Especially after four cycles of hearing nothing of her capture, "That's amazing news..."

"If she's alive, Nav, she'll be with other pirate prisoners," Theo said, "probably locked up in The Center. What if we can't get to her?"

Navi shook her head and found a smile to put on her face, "Or maybe she washed up somewhere and got saved by merchants. Maybe she's gotten wind that we are heading to Niveal and she'll be there."

"Navi, how likely is that.." Theo said, she hated to be the reasonable one.

"I know," Navi sighed a bit, "Should we keep this under wraps for now?

"No need, right? There was always the possibility she was alive... Plus, it's too soon to be keeping more secrets."

"Blue is going to want to go after her right now," Navi gave her input.

"If he tries to do that, I will convince him otherwise. It will be faster and more efficient if we wait until Niveal... Even if I would rather get the ball rolling now," Theo said, contradicting her earlier panic to send out inquiries immediately.

"I'll let some of the girls know of the news. It will bring some joy, I think," Navi stood up, "Also, I think you should check on Tuni."

"I saw her when she was here to check up on me and I thought she seemed fine."

"I just came from my check-up and she seemed distant. Times like this when she is rushing to aid the ailed is when she is in her zone but she seems unfocused," Navi observed, "It might just be stress because the situation reminds her of the fight but I think it's worth asking her about it."

"Alright. I'll go check on her after I see Blue," Theo said, "Haven't seen him just yet."

"I have," Navi whistled, "Oceane's done a number on that kid."

Theo couldn't help but smile at that and after a few more exchanged words, Navi left her quarters, Theo wasn't far behind her. The light bringer had the Galleon on one side and one of the sloops on the other. The third ship next to the sloop. The planks were connecting all the decks and it was easy to get onto Blue's ship. She hopped onto the galleon and marched to Blue's room, pushing the door open. He was throwing daggers at the wall, he looked over mid-throw. The dagger stuck to the wall, finding a home amongst all the other ones.

"You come to get on my ass about fucking up the first mission?" Blue crossed his arms.

Theo walked to the wall and began to pull out the daggers, "No. I heard what happened from your first mate. The person in charge of the wax spilled the box full of it and by the time he gathered enough to distribute, a lot of your men had succumbed. Including your point guy for sedative administration. A storm of unfortunate circumstances, I am sure nothing could have changed the outcome," Theo assuaged and walked to his desk, dropping all the daggers on it.

"I lost two men."

"That's never easy," Theo acknowledged.

"If you've come to check on me, I'm bloody fine," Blue said as he threw another dagger.

"I didn't come to check on you," Theo admitted, "I've come to tell you that I have reason to believe that Oceane is alive."

His head snapped over to her with a deep frown on his face.

"Kaia said that sirens can only make you hear people who are alive," Theo explained.

"We need to find her."

"Us not finding her hasn't been from a lack of trying, Blue," Theo shook her head, "this information does little more than offer hope. She isn't going to magically appear because we now know she is alive. We've already sent out inquiries."

"We can do more. We are two powerful pirates that are joining forces," Blue sat up.

"We will wait until Niveal before launching any sort of rescue campaign," Theo said.

"So she can die while she waits for us?"

"Why do you care so much?" Theo asked, "you've always had your sights set on her but why? She's not the only woman on Corinspe."

"I love her, Theo," Blue grabbed another dagger and threw it with a grunt.

Theo took a seat, "You barely know her."

"I know enough to know I love her," Blue shot back.

"And what is it about her? What do you know? What makes you love her?" Theo questioned.

She didn't know why she was going down that route. Part of it was because she had always been protective of her officers and who they spent their time with. Part of it was because she knew that prying would make him feel better. Everyone had missed Oceane too much to really talk about her and when Blue would bring it up, he would get ignored or no one would entertain his conversation. She could tell he missed her. Which was why the last part of her was asking so many questions. What spell had Oceane cast on him?

"There is so much," he put the dagger he was holding back on the desk, "She glows. Her laughs are medicine. No one can upset her. She marches to her own beat."

Theo's heart twisted when she thought of her officer somewhere alone, most likely in a cell surrounded by rats and murderers. But a smile came to her face at the mention of Oceane's vibrance.

"She is the only person that has ever shown interest in me that doesn't seem to care one bit who I am. I am more than a novelty to her. More than that one charismatic, renouncer captain."

"I get that," Theo nodded. She didn't understand the exact situation, but she knew what it was like to be wanted and revered for the wrong reasons. Wanted for an image that was created of her, "but I don't want you to get ahead of yourself. What if she doesn't want to be with you if we do find her?"

"She deserves to be saved. Whether I love her or not. Whether she wants me back or not."

"That I agree with..." Theo smiled a bit.

"Why do you seem so resistant to the idea of me with O? I thought we are friends," Blue titled his head and his tone gave away slight pain. Like her opinion of them hurt him.

"We are friends," Theo answered only a part of what Blue had said.

"I get the hesitancy to bring me onto the crew. I'm an unknown. I'm a man and this crew has never had one as a captain, but I can't understand why you are so opposed to the fact that I like her," Blue asked.

"I don't think anyone is good enough for Oceane but that is only part of it," Theo shrugged.

"Is it because I'm a man?"

"No. This is not all to protect Oceane, it's more to protect you," Theo chuckled, "you are like a baby animal who has imprinted on someone. She's not the relationship type, mate."

"I can change her," Blue joked.

Theo laughed and let the good energy sit for a moment before getting serious, "I want to send all of the resources we have into going to find her right this minute. I owe her so much for what she's contributed to my life and to the crew but I can't put the lives and fates of hundreds of pirates on hold because of one person."

"I'm a captain, I understand. Even if I have been stubborn about it, I get it," Blue admitted and Theo couldn't help but be a bit humored, they were a bit too alike.

"Once we are in the position to do so, in a cycle from now, on an island with an efficient communication system, we will heighten the search," Theo explained.

"Can I lead the charge on that?" Blue asked.

"Aye. If that is what you want."

"I do," he confirmed.

"Then I will put you at the head of that initiative when the time comes," Theo stood up, "I will leave you with your daggers now. I've got someone to go check on."

"Fortune?"

"Why do you say that?"

"She's been weird tonight."

"Aye, so I've heard," Theo nodded and then frowned as she walked out of the room and made it back onto her ship.

—---

After a few knocks on the infirmary confirmed Tuni wasn't around and no one in the room would be disturbed amidst a check-up, she slipped inside. She wasn't outside so Theo checked her room. It was unlocked so Theo found no issue with peeking inside. It was a mess. Uncharacteristically so. Clothes, pillows, and boxes were strewn about. Theo closed the door then sat down in Tuni's chair at her desk, deciding to wait for her there. Tuni always had odd things inside her desk; in progress experiments or a bag of hard candies to bribe patients to take their medicine. Theo began to go through her drawers in search of a prize.

"Knew it," Theo said as she pulled out a small leather bag from the bottom-most drawer.

Opening it, she realized that the bag had no candy inside. A pungent smelling black moss was inside the bag. It took a lot for Theo not to crush its contents in her hand. Instead, she closed the bag and put it in her pocket. She was taking even breaths to keep calm and not run out onto the deck and demand for someone to drag Tuni to her.

Fortune had ugali.

She stood up out of the chair when she was sure she wouldn't go out on a rampage and she began to search each drawer, shelf, and cabinet in the infirmary for an ugali pipe. There was nothing. She looked under beds, inside linens, and even inside of Tuni's room. There was not a trace of anything other than the bag she had on her. Theo spun around, trying to locate any other hiding spot she could have missed when Tuni walked in. Tuni shut the door and a sad expression took over her face as she let out a sigh and pressed her back against the door. All anger left Theo's body and was replaced with protectiveness.

"Where have you been?" Theo asked.

Tuni jumped a bit and opened her eyes, shocked to see her, "Is everything alright?"

"I could ask you that. Your eyes are swollen. You've been crying."

"A bit," Tuni shrugged, "hard night."

"Remind you of the injured back in Corinspe?"

Tuni nodded and sat down at her desk, "Did you need anything?"

"Come stay with me tonight," Theo requested.

"Aye, Captain," Tuni nodded and rubbed her eyes with a yawn, "are you going to bed soon? Because I am quite tired so if you are staying up I will pass on the offer."

"And sleep where? Your disaster of a room? You don't even have the mattress on the frame," Theo took a step closer to Tuni's desk.

Tuni shot up, "You went into my room?"

"This is my ship Fortune and I was looking for you."

"There are boundaries, Theo," Tuni walked over and gripped Theo's wrist and began to try and pull her out, "you cannot enter without my permission."

"Why?" Theo yanked her arm and caused Tuni to stumble closer, still holding onto Theo's wrist, "hiding something."

Tuni huffed and released her grip but Theo could see small cuts and bruises on the outside of Tuni's forearms. Quickly, Theo stopped Tuni's hand midair and pulled her arm into sight.

"You are hurt."

Tuni tried tugging away, each attempt a bit more desperate than the one before. Theo tried to figure out what was happening. What the injuries were. The cuts looked like there had been wood splinters in them, or were caused by something of the sort. Tuni could tell Theo was trying to understand.

"I got trapped in a room and was banging on the door trying to get out. It's nothing."

The explanation lined up with the injuries but the explanation itself made no sense. The wounds looked fresh. How would she get locked in somewhere? Why would she freak out enough to hurt herself? When did it happen?

"All of our locks have been checked recently, Tuni. It is highly unlikely you would accidentally get stuck somewhere," Theo pointed out with a frown, "Did you lock yourself somewhere?"

"Do not be ridiculous."

"Did you lock yourself in your room during the fight with the sirens and take our your wax?" Theo stepped forward to block Tuni's exit from the room in case she wanted to run, "Fortune, please tell me you were not that foolish..."

Tuni looked away.

"So many things could have gone wrong with that."

"I just wanted to hear her voice again."

"This isn't a game! Those were sirens, Tuni!"

"She asked me to come with her, Theo! Before she left, she asked me to come with her and I said no. What if she's dead? What if I lost my only opportunity to be with her. What if she decides to never come back?! She didn't understand what I was saying. She thought I was calling her a horrible thing. She left thinking I hated her! That I thought she was a monster."

"Fortune, you willingly locked yourself in a room and removed what was protecting you! That is unhinged!" Theo was still blinded with worried rage. Fear over Tuni's actions was written all over her face and the bag burned at her side.

"I know she was awful to me before she left but she was still recovering... I needed to give her space and she tried to tell me that. I just needed to give her time to process..."

Theo rubbed her face and paused to think of how to handle the situation. Tuni had always been emotional but this was a destructive level of unaddressed feelings. Unlike the rest of them, who had been trained how to tamper out the ember of emotions by coping in other ways, Tuni was at a loss for what to do with herself.

"I am worried," Theo whispered and met Tuni's gaze.

"It was just one thing, Theo," Tuni shook her head, "I was safe. I locked myself in, threw the key under the door, and did not do it until I knew the fight was over. It was only ten minutes, then we were out of range of their song."

"It isn't just one thing," Theo reached into her waistline and pulled out the little bag.

Instant recognition swept Tuni's face. She charged forward and pushed against Theo's chest.

"You went through my desk?!" Tuni yelled, "you freedom preaching hypocrite!"

"I can kick you off the ship for having this," Theo allowed herself to be pushed back.

"That is private! You had no right," Tuni tried to take the bag but Theo kept it out of reach.

"Have you been using ugali?"

"No," Tuni stopped trying to take it back.

"Tuni, don't lie to me. I swear I will kick you off this ship," Theo threatened.

"I am not lying to you!"

Theo, damn her trusting heart, was inclined to believe her, "Then why is it in your room?"

"I was getting medicine and herbs while we were in Nefriti and it was offered to me..." Tuni confessed, "I do not know why I bought it. It had been a few suns since Mor had left and I was feeling empty and lost and I just-

"Thought that ugali would make things better? Tuni you of all people know the consequences!"

"I know that, Theo! Clearly, I know! I did not take anything."

"Then why buy it?" Theo finally put the bag into arms reach, placing it on the desk between them.

"I just thought that maybe I could use it to see her again," Tuni looked at the bag then at her feet.

"See her?"

"My mother said she used to see my father when she took ugali. She would be awake and still able to dream of him..." Tuni whispered, not meeting Theo's intense stare.

"What am I going to do with you?" Theo let the question slip and Tuni's head shot up to face her.

"Theo, I forgot about it... I'm sorry you had to find it."

"I think that's a lie... I think you kept it in your drawer and still remembered it was there."

"I was not going to use any."

"I'm throwing it off the ship."

Tuni nodded, "I told you... I have no attachment to it."

"And you are sleeping with me tonight. I am not letting you go anywhere alone without eyes on you," Theo ordered.

"Theo, I bought it a few cycles ago! It does not matter any longer," Tuni huffed.

"And your little stunt tonight? Putting yourself in harm's way?"

Tuni frowned and Theo saw frustrated tears come to her eyes, "You have been moping for three cycles because the woman you loved is gone. You were sleeping with her for less than half a length. I was with Morgana for over four... You may think you understand a broken heart, Theo, but you have no idea what I am feeling!"

"You feel that you had a second chance when she asked you to go with her and you blew it. I know that feeling very well..."

Tuni shook her head, "She's never understood the nuances of certain things... Sometimes she doesn't understand where the line is... And I expected her to be the same, perfect partner right after she had just been through so much..."

"I think you are misremembering things, Tuni... Do I think that maybe it was handled a bit poorly on both ends? And do I think that maybe both of you could have communicated better? Sure, Mor told me what was said and it wasn't great... But you are giving her too much credit..."

"What are you saying?" Tuni shook her head, not wanting to hear that Morgana was wrong.

"That perhaps your comparisons of her to the people in your mother's past may have come from a place of hurt and fear. And it might not have been the best thing to say at the moment...But she was not without fault and the perception that she did no wrong and she was begging you to go with her and you rejected her is misguided. I think you both did hurtful things, yours being a bit more justifiable. But I might be biased," Theo tried to lighten the mood with a smile but Tuni wasn't having it.

"I shouldn't have let her leave without me."

"For the record, I think it was the right move to let her go without you. I also think maybe clearing the air between you two before she left would have been the best course of action but a little too late for that."

"You think?" Tuni snapped then sighed, "Sorry. For worrying you."

"Fortune, you are supposed to be the responsible one," Theo joked a bit, "Now, let me get you patched up. The healer becomes the healed."

Theo had enough experience with basic healing that she was able to get Tuni disinfected in no time. The wrapping of her wounds had just begun when Tuni decided to pry.

"What did Red say?"

"She gave me promises of a way to atone for my mistake," Theo said vaguely, "Mor?"

"That she loved me. She was waiting for me. She missed me and she couldn't stand anything being in our way..."

"Most of that is true... Tuni, if there is one thing that I know is true in this world is that you and her belong together. All of this? Under regular circumstances, it would be just one big fight... But these were not normal circumstances. Both of you were under pressure."

"I just need her to not resent me... Not for what happened on the lightbringer and not for letting her go alone and not fighting for it," Tuni finally spoke about it in a more level-headed manner.

"When she gets here, then you can worry about that. For right now, you are on lockdown. You are to be supervised at all times and your supervision will be reevaluated in a cycle when we get to Niveal," Theo stated.

"That is excessive, Theo."

"Excessive would be kicking you off my ship. This is a compromise."

"You simply would not survive without me."

"Fortune, the sun you leave my ship will be the sun it falls apart."