Theo had a heavy book tucked underneath one arm while her other arm was extended, swatting people out of her way as she ran through the street. Glancing back, she saw the notes of red and gold from the soldier's uniforms peek through the crowd. They were gaining on her. She dug deep and started going faster, her feet hitting the ground and kicking up dust behind her. She bobbed and weaved, ducking under workers carrying planks of wood and pushing innocent citizens out of her way. Her antics gained her many angry shouts and stares from the townspeople but she had to keep running.

Sparing a glance behind her once again, she caught the moment that one of the soldiers ran straight into a wooden frame that she had managed to avoid. She couldn't help but laugh as she turned around to focus on the crowd ahead. A wild grin had been plastered on her face since running out of the dock master's office with the manifest, the riskier the mission the happier she was. Theo kept her eyes scanning the crowd for a familiar face but nothing caught her eye. It took her two more minutes of running before she caught a glimpse of the tattooed figure she was looking for.

"Cook!" Theo yelled and Cooker's head snapped over to her direction, "Run!"

Cooker needed no further instruction and Theo saw her begin to take off in the direction of safety. They had to get back to the docks and hide if they wanted to get away with their little heist. It was Theo's turn to steal and Cooker's turn to keep watch on the main guard outpost to make sure no units were sent out that Theo hadn't accounted for. Theo heard people behind her yelling and causing a commotion, glancing back she could see that the two guards still after her were beginning to gain ground. When she faced forward again, any sign of Cooker bolting through the crowd was gone. Losing Cooker was not in the plan.

She dug deep and pushed herself to go faster; she just had to get to the dock with a bit of a lead on the men chasing her. Once she was at the dock, it would be easier to find Cooker. Her breath was becoming more labored and her body's energy was slowly depleting. the run back was longer than she had been expecting. As Theo pushed past a gathering of people, she saw the streets finally open up to the docks. She took only a few seconds to scan the area, people were more spread out there which meant that she could look for Cooker more easily, but it also meant the soldiers would be able to find her just as easily. She only allowed herself a few seconds to look, any more and she would give up the lead she had on those chasing her. Cooker was lost so Theo had to resort to just continuing on and hoping she would find Cooker at some point. They both knew the way back to the boat they had taken the shore and knew to go there if things went awry, it wasn't the first time they got split up on a mission.

Theo took off once again, sparing a glance back showed her that the soldiers had yet to clear the busy street and arrive at the docks. With her lead still intact she took off running again, all she had to do was lose them somewhere in between where she was and where the boat was and she would be fine. Her movement was pulled to an abrupt halt as someone pulled her coat. Theo turned around, fist flying and ready to strike, just for her punch to be caught mid-air by Cooker.

"Cook," Theo laughed and shook out her hand that was tingling from the impact, "I would say sorry about almost decking you but I am more sorry that it didn't connect."

Cooker rolled her eyes and dragged them between two merchant stalls and into an alleyway. Both of them pressed their bodies as close to the edges of the alley as possible as they lingered right in its shadow. Theo could hear the deep, heavy, recovering breaths she was taking in the silence that they created. She focused out on the street until she saw two uniformed men run past their alleyway. Theo let out a sigh of relief with a smile on her face and she held up the book in front of Cooker.

"Mission accomplished," Theo wiggled her eyebrows up and down, "that is three successful solo missions for me and two for you."

"You call this a success?"

"I have the manifest."

"You got caught," Cooker rolled her eyes, "I saved you."

"You pulled me into an alley," Theo argued, "I would hardly call that saving me."

"We're even, two each. This doesn't count," Cooker put her foot down and Theo could do nothing but flip her off.

They let a few minutes pass before slipping out of the alleyway, the manifest having switched to Cooker's possession. Theo scanned their surroundings as they walked through the port to look out for any soldiers. Keeping close to the clusters of people and the merchant stands helped them blend in and no soldiers came their way. They walked until the dock went no further, tapering off into a rocky coast. Theo and Cooker jumped down from the last of the docks and onto the uneven floor below. They climbed up and over rocks, keeping their pace slow; one wrong move and their skulls would break open on the sharp stone. Finally, with a cut or two from misplaced limbs on jagged rocks, they found their stranded dinghy.

The manifest was safely placed inside a bag that rested on the bottom of the boat and they took off, making their way back to the Scorned Woman. They were heading back with their ninth manifest. They had been out at sea for a cycle and a half and nine manifests stolen was good progress in Theo's book. They were journeying down the west coast of Efriti attempting to find a pattern in the manifests they collected; their route was planned around ports that were near pirate disappearances or deaths but a connection between the manifests and their current issue hadn't appeared yet.

"How'd you get spotted?" Cooker asked, rowing her oars in the process.

"Fuckers were just at the right place at the right time," Theo rolled her eyes, "I strolled on out of the dock master's office and two of the bloody idiots were standing nearby with pastries in their hands, on a break."

"Why'd you go out the front?"

"The back alley was a part of my distraction," Theo explained, "had those fucking soldiers not been there I would have fine."

"But those soldiers were there, you need to be prepared for everything that can be thrown your way," Cooker shook her head, "had you been more subtle about it, maybe you wouldn't have gotten caught."

"I didn't get caught!" Theo insisted and then let out a frustrated grunt, "when Xyra's not around you start to act like her."

"Gods, I know. I can feel the words she would say come out of my mouth and I am taken aback. Disgusted, even," Cooker frowned, "but Xyra-lecture aside, there are more and more soldiers being shipped out to Efriti. We need to be more careful."

"Did you get any information keeping watch of the soldier's outpost?" Theo asked and groaned as a swell of water caused water to push into their boat, she quickly picked the bag with the manifest up out of the small puddle.

"Just that there's a fuckton of soldiers," Cooker kept rowing as Theo dropped the oars to tend to the manifest, "but that isn't anything new."

"No," Theo shook her head, "it's not."

It had been apparent to them from the moment they stepped foot in Efriti that shit had changed; dramatically and fast. The tension in the air that was ever-present in the continent was heightened. As if whole towns were walking on eggshells. Baethan soldiers were being shipped out to Efriti by the thousands and each town now had double, maybe even triple the military presence. Even Nefritian towns, where the citizens there were afforded better treatment at the hands of The Center, were being occupied at the same rates that Safritian towns were.

Afraid of rebellion, a need to tighten control so close to reclassification, part of the campaign against the underworld; there were plenty of reasons why the increase in soldiers was occurring. Theo suspected it was all of the above and more. Their conversations with old friends and business connections proved that much to her. Each of them had a different reason for the soldiers in their town being there, either because everyone was told different things are each of those reasons were valid, Theo couldn't tell. With The Center involved, anything was possible.

Things on the sea, however, could not be more different. Theo wasn't sure what the strategy was but there were no Baethan navy patrols in the whole of the west coast of Efriti. At least, none that Theo had been made aware of. Either The Center was confident in their ability to control things through land, they had stretched their navy out too thin, or both. Regardless of the reason, they were given free rein of the ocean which meant one less thing to worry about.

They never let their guard down fully but Theo was more lenient with the crew than she expected she would be. They were allowed a party every few nights, their dinners were lively and full of entertainment, and most of the crew spent their time off together. Theo wasn't sure what had changed but the crew seemed to get closer than they ever had before. Perhaps it was because most everyone was missing someone. A lover, a family member, a friend, a workmate. So, people began to latch onto each other as comfort for their separation and the crew became thick as thieves. Theo was included in that. She spent long hours in the lower decks, feeling like she was young again, playing made-up games with the crew. Obviously, they had work to do and responsibilities to take charge of but the cohesiveness of the crew was a welcome respite from all the bad going on in their world.

The sun was setting by the time they had rowed back to the ship. She threw the bag with the manifest onto the deck.

"Incoming!" Theo yelled as she climbed up onto the deck. Once she made it over, she saw Tuni standing in front of the bag she had just thrown, "how'd I know you'd be here?"

Theo smiled at her but Tuni shook her head, "Theo, if you knew I was waiting for you, why'd you call incoming after you launched a heavy bag in the air? It is dangerous, love, please be aware of your surroundings."

Theo pouted, giving her best apologetic face as she walked to the bag and picked it up, "If I promise to go straight to the infirmary for a check-up after I put the bag in my room, will you be less cross with me?"

Tuni patted Theo's cheek with a smile returning to her face, "I can't ever be cross with you. Come quickly, and make sure Cooker comes too."

"We are both fine, by the way," Theo said as she walked back towards her room, "but anything to appease you, Fortune."

Theo did as she promised and headed to get checked by Tuni after securing the manifest somewhere safe. Cooker almost made her fail on her promise by refusing to go get a check-up but Theo won that battle. Cooker had sprinted off to her room to hide from the threat of having to go to Tuni but Theo was right on her tail and managed to break into the room before Cooker could lock it. Not one to give up a fight, Cooker struggled the whole way to Tuni. If their mission hadn't caused them any injuries, their brawl all the way to the infirmary did. They were less easy to break up when Xyra wasn't around but somehow, the immature fights they would get in brought them closer. Theo and Cooker had been practically inseparable the whole time.

Tuni confirmed what Theo already knew, they were fine. Besides a scrape on her calf that was not even bleeding, there was not an injury on her. Theo retreated into her room with full intentions of napping before she had to take the night shift. When she got there, however, Oceane was patiently waiting.

"You promised me something," Oceane said as Theo crossed the threshold.

"Not now, O," Theo groaned and fell back onto her bed, "I just need to rest before tonight."

"You keep putting it off," Oceane got up from her chair and walked over to the bed, "Please, Cap."

Theo sighed and covered her face with her hands to avoid getting a sad face from Oceane, Theo could easily be manipulated by pouting and Oceane knew that. Keeping her eyes covered ensured her protection from the siren-like ability of Oceane to get her way.

"Let me nap and you can spend the whole shift with me tonight doing whatever it is you said you want to do," Theo caved.

"I told you what I want to do," Oceane huffed but Theo knew she wasn't truly annoyed, "I am going to be making you an outfit and I need your measurements."

Oceane had recently gotten into sewing and tailoring during their time in Efriti. Theo wasn't convinced that making her something to wear would be the best first project. Theo was picky with her clothes, how they fit, and how they were crafted. It might have been a bit pretentious but she couldn't help it. Still, as a Captain, it was her duty to keep her officers happy and if this was the way to keep Oceane content then it had to happen. Oceane was a troublemaker when her attention was not captured with a hobby. Her plant obsession had waned slightly and sewing had overtaken it, if Theo rejected her outright who knew what Oceane would get up to next.

"Aye, take your measurements and whatever else you need to do later," Theo uncovered her face, "now, let me sleep."

Theo felt Oceane reach forward and slap Theo's thigh for being dismissed in such a manner but she left the room. Theo managed to get some rest in but her nap most likely did more harm than good. Once she was awake, she was sluggish for most of the night and the lack of activity didn't help matters. All she did was roam the decks and check in with the night crew. Oceane came to collect on the promise made to her and Theo had to go through the miserable experience of getting measured. The only plus side to having to sit through measurements was that she realized her arms had grown; she was getting stronger with the training she and Cooker had been doing. A fact that Theo made sure to point out to Oceane multiple times, bragging about her gains.

Besides that, she was left alone for the most part. She relieved the pirate in the crow's nest and sat up there for a while. Taking the silence as a moment to reflect on things. Her mind instantly went to the other half of her crew, sailing around halfway across Baethos to the hotspot of military activity. She cared deeply about all of her crew and any sort of loss was hard but she was mainly worried about her officers. Without them, the ship couldn't function past the three cycles they were away. She also missed them dearly. Their dynamic as a crew was still great, efficient, and even enjoyable but there was a clear hole where the ones that left couldn't be replaced.

When there was downtime, when the commotion of pirate life began to wind down and the only noise around her was the quiet crashing of waves against their ship, was when her worries began to fester. Had they been caught by the navy? Had they fallen into a trap? Had they succeeded at gaining information? Was Xyra's leg getting better? Was Ava doing okay with being a second? Was Morgana okay without Tuni? Were they all alive? It was dizzying, the constant concern. There was an unshakable pit in her stomach that she knew wouldn't go away until her whole crew was safely back together.

After hours of silence and hours of worry, Theo's shift had come to an end. The crow's nest was relinquished to someone else and there would be a few hours of a leadership absence before Cooker took over. Theo stopped by the kitchen for tea to warm herself up before going back to her room. Looking over at her bed, she saw two figures crowded onto her mattress. Theo was quiet as she took off her layers and then slipped into bed next to the sleeping figures. Tuni was squished in between Cooker and Theo like she had been most nights since they had left Corinspe.

Tuni wasn't used to sleeping alone and Cooker had gotten into the habit of sleeping with Xyra, so without anyone to share a bed with they were having trouble sleeping. Which meant that they both decided to crash Theo's quarters. Theo didn't mind, it was nice to have someone around at night. Her whole life she had always shared a bed so it was a familiar feeling during a time of so much absence. Theo got comfortable, which meant having to wrench a pillow away from Tuni's ironclad grip, but she eventually managed to drift off to sleep.

Theo's sleep was tumultuous. Until the sun rose, she had been a rock. Once the sun began to peek in through her windows and her bed had emptied out, she found it harder to sleep. The dreams were hazy and all that Theo would remember every time a new one would wake her up was the feeling of grief that came with each one. Her last dream, however, she remembered clearly, it was one she had before. It was the dream she had where Riva had visited her on the deck of the ship. This time, she was on the outside looking in. Watching herself find Riva at the helm, hearing Riva's warning.

My child, do not be mistaken there are dangers lurking beneath the surface.

Theo watched as she pleaded with Riva to stay and explain but Riva denied her any other answers. With a kiss to the forehead of the Theo down below, Riva vanished and Theo woke up from the dream. She jolted up in bed taking a few deep breaths, trying to make sense of what had happened.

"Morning," she heard Cooker say.

Theo laid back in bed and pulled the covers over her head, trying to get at least a few minutes to gather herself. Her heart was still racing from the dream. What did it mean? What was Riva trying to tell her? Theo let her heartbeat settle then uncovered herself and sat up.

"Tell the crow's nest to be on extra alert for any ships on the horizon," Theo said, "someone needs to be up there at all times, no matter what."

"Woah," Cooker stood up from Theo's desk chair, "you good, mate?"

"Weird dreams," Theo opened up, "don't understand the meaning of it though."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"No," Theo shook her head, "let's talk about something else. Why are you in my room?"

"To have a morning meeting about our next destination," Cooker walked over to the bed and hopped into it, "or we can scrap that and have a nap. I smoked too much havcera when my shift ended and now I'm sleepy."

As if on cue, Cooker yawned.

"You aren't supposed to be doing drugs on this trip," Theo reminded her as she got out of bed.

"I have cut back significantly. I think at least that much should be recognized," Cooker chuckled and laid back in Theo's bed.

"You're right, I'm so proud of you for downgrading from worryingly excessive use to excessive use," Theo rolled her eyes, she wasn't actually mad but she did have to at least attempt to keep order. Cooker hadn't lacked in any of her responsibilities or failed to deliver on anything while being under the influence but they had also talked about cutting back Cook's use during the trip to zero. With her not holding to that promise, someone had to keep her accountable.

"So," Cooker hummed, ignoring Theo, "is that no to a nap?"

"Get up," Theo demanded and walked over to her desk, "we need to get tomorrow's mission in order."

"Cap, be nice to me, or else I don't cooperate," Cooker threatened.

Theo sat down with a sigh but couldn't help but chuckle when she caught sight of Cooker's angry face. The threat was something Cooker would make due on and if that happened, they would get nowhere with the meeting. With Xyra gone, there was no one to settle their petty disputes. The good thing was, as long as neither of them was rude to the other, the peace was kept. The alternative was childish bickering and maybe some roughhousing; things that held up progress on their objective.

"You have a plan or is that what we are trying to figure out?" Theo asked, her tone as nice as she could manage for having recently woken up.

"As your amazing second, one that is far too great to be given the lack of recognition they always have to face, I already have a plan," Cooker sat down and across from the desk and pushed some papers forwards, "you know why I have a plan?"

"Why, Cook?" Theo indulged the dramatics with a slight laugh.

"Because as your second, I care about your time and your energy. I wouldn't dare hold up your schedule so, I came prepared," Cooker leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms, "something I didn't see Xyra doing."

"Are you trying to insinuate that Xyra isn't as well-prepared as you are?" Theo laughed for real that time, it was a ridiculous thing to imply because it simply wasn't true.

"Aye," Cooker laughed too, "say I am a better first mate than Xyra."

"Cook-" Theo couldn't stop herself from laughing a bit harder, "if she ever heard you utter a single word challenging her level of preparedness she would gut you."

"My head would roll," Cooker shook her head, "please, never tell her."

"Don't worry," Theo put her hand over her heart, "I wouldn't dare tell her that you are not only more prepared than her but also a better first mate."

Cooker laughed and clapped her hands together, "I fucking knew it. Cooker, the only one around that can do it all."

"Now that I have given the verbal praise you so desire, what is the plan?" Theo picked up the papers after one last chuckle.

There wasn't anything to the plan for the next city they were visiting that was any different from what they had been doing in the past. Like most other cities they had visited, their contact there had been reported missing. Whether he was taken by The Center or fled in the middle of the night was unknown. Since that was Cooker's job and she longer had one, she would be retrieving the manifest while Theo checked in on their businesses. Once they had put aside the planning, Cooker decided it was the perfect time to make Theo read.

"I'm going to go get your book," Cooker stood up from the chair, "you left it in the library."

"No," Theo groaned, "no brain work right now, please Cook."

"You agreed to let me teach you and that means working at it every sun," Cooker stood up and left the room to avoid hearing Theo complain some more.

It wasn't that Theo didn't appreciate the time and effort Cooker was taking to help her. Cooker, like most times she was tasked with something that had to with someone she cared out, went over the top with it. They had been reading every sun, for hours at a time. Cooker was convinced that Theo was beyond the level of just reading random words on a page and it was time to begin actually reading from a book. It had taken Cooker almost their whole time at sea so far to convince Theo to do it and she had only just agreed to a few suns prior, Theo was not in the habit of taking on projects she knew felt couldn't complete. With some sweet-talk and persuading, Cooker managed to get Theo's confidence up enough to say yes. And once Theo agreed to something, she was too stubborn to back down, so Cooker had caught her in a trap; which was most likely her intention. Theo had no choice but to complete the stupid book and in truth, it was difficult.

Reading other languages was hard. Writing other languages was hard. It was hard work and after practicing her brain was usually mush. Cooker had not just chosen any book, it was a book on uprisings and revolutionary theory. The words were not easy and neither were the concepts. She liked it much better when Cooker read it to her and they would discuss whatever the book was about. Having to process the reading and then also engage in Cooker's quite demanding discussion of the literature was intense. They had been at it for a few suns and Theo wanted nothing more than to hide and cower from the promise of reading.

She was seriously considering it and formulating her plan when Cooker walked back with the book, a large smile on her face, genuine excitement to get started. Theo felt a little bad for all of the shit she had been giving Cooker over the past few suns, this was something that meant a lot to her current second. She was reminded of how much Cooker cared for her, investing interest in Theo's hobbies and aspirations and doing her part to help Theo succeed. This time they had been on their journey alone had allowed them to grow closer than they had been in the past lengths and Theo was eternally thankful for it.

She would cooperate with Cooker, for at least that one sun.

"You ready?" Cooker asked as she pulled a chair up next to Theo.

"Been meaning to ask, why this book?"

"We're in Efriti, head of the next rebellion. Seemed appropriate," Cooker shrugged, "nothing like a bit of theorizing on irregular warfare to get us in the mood."

"In the mood for what?" Theo laughed.

"For our inevitable role in the revolution against Baethos," Cooker laughed along too but Theo could tell she was serious.

"Cook, I've told you before, we'll help but our place is not in a rebellion," Theo and Cooker had gone toe to toe for lengths about this very subject. The responsibility they, as pirates, would take on if it ever came down to a war with The Center was something they disagreed with. As kids, they would dream big about revolution and playing central roles in taking down every noble in Baethos. As she got older, that seemed to be an impossible task and one that would put those she loved in danger.

"You've got your own issues to sort through with your unwillingness to join in a rebellion but when the time comes, you'll see why we are needed and you'll join," Cooker just shrugged and opened the book to the last place they were at.

Theo frowned, her stomach tightening at Cooker's words. It was almost entirely in line with what Uncilo had told her. She was once again being factored into plans bigger than her that she wanted to no part in. Theo clenched her jaw and kept the argument bubbling in her chest at bay. She hadn't spoken to Cooker about the whole Uncilo ordeal and if she reacted angrily without Cooker having context, she would just be painted as being crazy.

Theo said nothing in return, she just grabbed the book and focused on the first word on the page. Already, frustration was creeping up and she felt her short fuse begin to start burning. From valuing her friendship with Cooker to feeling like she wanted to just throw a punch at the girl next to her, Theo's mood changed quite rapidly. Maybe Uncilo, Xyra, Cooker, and basically any elder that had said so was right, Theo let her emotions get the best of her too often. Outside of combat, when her wall wasn't up, she was subject to her feeling's whims.

It only took two pages before Theo slammed the book down, shutting it in the process, "Fuck this."

"Theo, come on. You've got it," Cooker encouraged, "you just have to relax. You did so good yestersun and the only difference between now and then is whatever is going on in your head."

"Then maybe we should take this as a sign to stop," Theo stood up, chair scraping against the wood as she did.

Cooker was right on her tail and she stood up too, "Let's not make this into a fight, T. Sit down, let's finish the lesson as you agreed to at the beginning of this trip. Every sun, at least one hour."

"Fuck you, Cook," Theo brushed past Cooker and out from behind her desk, "I'm your captain, not someone you can intimidate and condescend into doing things. We aren't kids, I don't have to make due on shit I don't want to."

"It always amazes me how quickly you can go from being fine to incredibly stubborn. It's truly an act of the gods," Cooker shook her head and grabbed the book, "I won't push lessons anymore. If you want to do it, you can ask."

Cooker walked out of the room and Theo huffed, crossing her arms before sitting on her desk. She rolled her eyes with a sigh, Cooker knew just how to distress Theo even more. What was worse than getting into a fight was not getting into a fight. All of that tension built up was just simmering inside of her and she had no one to blame but herself. She should have just kept her cool, powered through the reading, and taken the rest of the sun to be alone and annoyed.

Now, she would have to go apologize and ask to resume lessons. Saying sorry and asking for things, two things Theo was not a fan of. With immense personal strength and maturity, if she had to say so herself, she dragged herself to where she had assumed Cooker would be; the library. Inside, she took a seat and curled up on it. Cooker didn't look up from the book she was reading until a few minutes passed. Theo watched as she pulled the book away from her face and sighed.

"What do you want, Captain?" Cooker asked, stressing the last word.

"Sorry for snapping," Theo mumbled, picking at a loose seam on the upholstery.

"What was going on with you? You were blocked," Cooker pointed out.

"Just stressed."

"We've been stressed this whole time, nothing has changed," Cooker deduced, "so, was it something I said?"

Theo tapped her foot, trying to relieve some of the tension and energy that had built up in her body. She didn't want to have to talk about things with Cooker but Theo felt as if she was fighting a losing battle with herself. Damn Ava and the way she had taught Theo to confront her emotions. Now that she had been reminded of Uncilo and the many expectations others had of her, the need to talk about it was festering.

"Theo," Cooker prompted, "was it something I said?"

"I am not joining the rebellion," Theo said, "you can't plan that out for me, and just tell me I'll come around. It's something I won't do."

"I am not trying to make a plan for you, Theo. You have the freedom to do as you please," Cooker leaned forward in her chair, "but I believe that when the time comes, you'll realize the importance of the contribution you can make to the revolution, to the rebellion, and you'll decide to help."

"Fine," Theo dropped it, pleased with the response.

"Fine," Cooker replied but her thoughts were still going. She paused before adding, "the revolution will need you and you have to be prepared to live with the choice to turn your back on them just as much as you would have to prepare to live with the choice to work with them."

"You speak of it as if you are one of the leaders of this thing and you know just the role for me," Theo chuckled a bit, poking fun at the way Cooker spoke with such brazen confidence. But in lieu of laughing or responding, Cooker just went silent. Theo raised an eyebrow, "Cook... Tell me you aren't involved in any of it."

"I'm not," Cooker shook her head and Theo let out the breath she was holding, "I've just heard talk that something is coming together. Also heard that whatever leadership is forming is looking for someone to head their navy."

"Who's saying that?"

"The contacts I've been lucky enough to come across have been informing me about the stirrings of rebellion."

"This isn't something that you passed along to me."

"Just talk for now. I haven't heard names, or locations, or strategies. You don't like revolution talk so I avoided it until there was something more concrete," Cooker shrugged, "you've known that the people of Efriti have been organizing against The Center for a while. Talk of rebellion isn't anything new.

"Organized rebellion is," Theo steepled her fingers together and pressed them against her chin, "you've read enough to know where this is going."

"And I'm ready if we are asked to help," Cooker said.

"I am too. But there is a difference between helping the cause and being a part of the cause," Theo insisted, "the latter is not something I will do. I won't watch them kill everyone I care about in the name of quelling a revolution. That has already happened to me once."

Theo felt the emotions building in her chest, a crack in her voice giving away how close the topic was to her greatest fears.

"When the time comes, if you still feel that way then we will do only as much as you want us to," Cooker picked up on Theo's tenderness on the subject and made her tone gentle, "I promise."

Theo nodded, "I'm sorry for overreacting about what you were saying earlier."

"Surprised you came clean about what was bothering you," Cooker said, never letting Theo simply just apologize.

"I'm cursed with the knowledge of how to communicate. Now, it's all I can seem to do," Theo sighed and Cooker laughed.

"Thanks for the apology," Cooker said and Theo just shrugged in response as she sank back into the large chair.

Cooker went back to her book, Theo having forfeit her right to a lesson that day. Better for her. Theo adjusted in the chair every few minutes, trying to find the sweet spot, the ideal positioning of her body to be able to nap in the chair. Theo finally found it but it did not lull her into her usual sweet slumber. She was still thinking about Uncilo. Had Cooker known anything? Had Uncilo talked to her about it before? Or did Uncilo keep it from all of them and Cooker herself was vying for the nomination?

"I visited Uncilo," Theo rolled her head over to look at Cooker.

"I know," Cooker looked up from the book, "you left The Grotto early to do it."

"We had an interesting conversation," Theo hummed.

"One you are planning on making me privy to?" Cooker closed the book, the intrigue having set in.

"Aye," Theo righted herself back into a sitting position, "but first I want to know what you talked about."

"He wants me to take on a different role in the cabinet, not just cement myself as the history person," Cooker frowned, "I mean it's his cabinet and he can assign the positions as he please but no one else is a good history person."

"What other role does he have in mind?"

"All of them, he wants me to switch around," Cooker rolled her eyes, "I need to be versatile to truly be a good advisor to you and to the council, apparently."

"He's playing a game of Titan," Theo scoffed, immediately the pieces began to click together. They were all just pawns on one big Titan board in which he controlled all the pieces in the strategic game. His life was the board and everyone around him fell victim to being pushed around his board.

"It's Uncilo, he's always is," Cooker chuckled a bit and tilted her head, "what makes you bring it up?"

"He's grooming you to take on the vice-chair position," Theo stated her hypothesis, it was clear that the aim to get Cooker to diversify was to make sure she had the ability to be the second in command to the head of the council.

"Why?"

"Because he's grooming me to become the Head of the Council."

"What? How do you know?" Cooker face screwed up in confusion.

"When we spoke last, he told me I was going to be his nomination when the time came," Theo confessed.

The room had become a vacuum, all of the air was sucked out of it. Cooker just stared at Theo, unblinking. Cooker licked her lips then pulled the bottom one between her teeth. Eventually, she broke eye contact and looked away at the rows of books on the wall. It was clear that she hadn't known, it was also very clear that she was not all too happy with the information.

"Well, good on you," Cooker said with a forced smile but Theo easily through the facade. She was hurt. Theo couldn't tell if it was because she had been sitting on the information for over a cycle or because of the fact that it was Theo that Uncilo wanted to be at the head of the council, not her.

"Cook..." Theo didn't know what else to say to keep Cooker from getting upset about it.

"What, Theo?" Cooker asked but the way she said Theo's name reminded her of when they were little and Cooker would get frustrated with her.

"Are you mad I kept it from you?"

"You could have told me sooner, but no, I'm not upset about that," Cooker picked up her book and opened it back up, "congrats, T. Now, let me get back to reading."

"Cooker," Theo reached forward and pushed the book out of Cooker's face, "c'mon, I talked to you, now you need to reciprocate."

"Just because you decided to board the feelings ship and have gone sappy doesn't mean the rest of us have," Cooker jabbed.

"I am your captain and it is an order that you tell me why you're mad," Theo demanded.

"Being the Head of the Council is something you've never wanted!" Cooker finally broke and put her book down, "I've worked for lengths under him, ensuring his affairs are in order and council goes the way it needs to. I have been vying for even a shot at being considered for nomination and I don't even get the luxury of a conversation from him telling me it's going to be you. Or a heads up that he's marked me down as willing to leave my crew and sit as second in a stupid fucking council. It's fucking bullshit."

Cooker's fists were clenched and Theo could see the veins in her neck popping out.

"I'm sorry, Cooker," Theo frowned, "I didn't ask for this..."

"I know, kid, I'm not mad at you. I swear," Cooker's demeanor settled down a bit, the anger subsiding once she saw that Theo was taking the outburst as being blamed for the situation. Cooker stood up, "I need some space."

Cooker set down her book and walked out of the room, hand running through her hair. Theo didn't want to just let Cooker leave and wallow in whatever she was feeling but it was probably for the best that Theo didn't press matters. Like Cooker had said, they hadn't all joined the feelings ship and Theo didn't have the skillset to diffuse the situation without talking about it. It was better to just let Cooker work through her own anger with Uncilo. Theo understood, she was just as angry as Cooker. Again, the thought crept up in her head that Uncilo was more akin to Ava's depiction of him than how he was remembered by most people.

Cooker, Theo, and Xyra were the closest thing he could have to a family and yet they continued to be used and manipulated by him. It just wasn't right. At some point, they had grown up enough to make their own choices and take their own paths and Uncilo was seeing to it that their freedom of choice was taken away. Uncilo had a right to have a vested interest in their future, he had seen to it that they had all the tools for success. But what he didn't have a right to was to play them like pieces on a titan board. Arguably, he could get farther with keeping them all in the loop.

She thought about all of the little things Uncilo did and questioned every motive he had for them. Caring for them the way he did, teaching them, raising them. Was it genuine or was it all to get them to trust him, to get them to work for him, to get them to pledge themselves to him? Theo thought of the way that Uncilo kept them apart when he talked to them. Was it to protect their privacy or to keep them from conferring with each other over what was said? They weren't kept from speaking to each other about what Uncilo said, so maybe she was just overreacting and overanalyzing things.

It didn't stop her from doing so and it wasn't until someone came to find her to ask for help that she stopped her journey down the spiral. Work was work, the sun at sea not being too demanding. Her mind was on Cooker, though, and Uncilo. It also drifted to Xyra, what was the plan for her? What had Uncilo talked to her about? It was almost like a feeling of paranoia set in. Damn, she really needed a drink to relax. She skipped dinner in favor of finishing up her shift early, stopping by the mess only briefly to grab a quick bread and some ale, just enough to make her a bit warm.

Once her duties were completed, she went to go find some peace in her room. As she crossed her door, she was disappointed. She never learned, it was her own damn fault that she expected so much. Her room was more full than it had been in several suns. Every single one of the officers that had stayed was in her quarters, chatting and drinking. Theo also saw a cigarette being passed around.

"I need to start locking my door," Theo took her coat off.

"I would be richer than I already am if I had a gold piece for every time you've said that," Oceane said from her spot on Theo's bed.

"I would give everyone a key, but you," Theo teased and pushed Oceane a bit so she could have space on the bed.

"We are having a sleepover," Cooker piped in.

"Can we have a sleepover?" Tuni corrected and slapped Cooker lightly on the arm.

"Sure," Theo chuckled, giving up any hope she had of relaxation and peace.

She felt Oceane nudge her, "Then we gotta get some stuff for it, c'mon."

"I just got back from work!" Theo protested, "you have all just been sitting here. Why wait for me to get back and make me work?"

"We needed to have your confirmation before we could do anything," Oceane said and began to push at Theo harder.

"Bullshit, it was to make me work," Theo started to push back at Oceane, "you go."

"I was going to go. It was going to be you, me, and Ioana," Oceane was still fighting back.

Theo let go of her and stood up, "Fine. Iona and I will get the cot and the hammock, you go get food. I know you bought some at our last stop."

"That's what I wanted to do anyway," Oceane laughed and pranced out of the room, Iona and Theo a little bit behind her.

Theo split with Oceane, Iona tagging along with Theo. They found a cot, threw the fabric of the hammock on top of it, and began to work their way back to the room.

"Thanks for opening up your room to us so often," Iona said as they made their way up the stairs to the deck with it.

"No need to thank me," Theo flashed her a smile, "you're always welcome. Plus, your company brings me a bit of peace when the others give me none. I lied earlier when I said everyone would get a key; I would only give you one. "

Iona laughed, "Sometimes, I imagine pushing them off the deck and into the water. I won't do it but the thought alone brings me peace."

Theo chuckled, "Perhaps to make up for your restraint you'd like to join me in trickery."

Iona raised an eyebrow, "What do you have in mind?"

"Nothing yet," Theo huffed, "hadn't gotten that far yet."

They carried the cot in silence to the top of the stairs before Iona piped up, "I think they are planning on painting their nails with tint tonight, maybe we can sneak some leftovers to draw on them while they sleep."

"You're evil," Theo smirked, the wheels turning in her head, "Cooker's getting a makeover."

-------

The girls were all drunk, all of them except Theo of course; she had yet to have a drop of liquor the whole trip. She was the groups' default caretaker because even Tuni was incapacitated. She had managed to get them all to drink water and safely get into their respective sleeping areas which had proven difficult, given that the four of them had shared about two and a half bottles of rum. Iona didn't go down without a fight, Theo had to promise her that she would be woken up so they could tint people's faces. It wasn't a promise she could break either. Iona never blacked out which meant that she would remember that Theo had broken her word.

She had three girls settled in for the night and she was just missing one. Cooker had slipped out onto Theo's recently fully repaired balcony and Theo made her way out there to corral the drunk girl. Theo walked out onto the balcony to Cooker smoking some sard. Theo rolled her eyes and sat down next to Cooker.

"That's not allowed on this ship," Theo scolded.

"That's a rule made for Xyra," Cooker looked over with a smirk and shrugged, "no Xyra, no rule."

"No Xyra, same rule. It's a rule made for her but kept in place for everyone," Theo reached over and snatched the cigarette out of Cooker's hands and took a drag.

Cooker laughed and quickly recovered her property, snatching it from between Theo's lips, "I can't stand you."

"Good thing you are sitting then," Theo went for the easy joke which earned her a punch on the arm. They both laughed and Theo leaned back against the outside of the ship, "you feeling alright?"

"Feeling very drunk," Cooker started and then burped, "not the good kind of drunk. Tomorrow I'm going to hate myself for this."

"I'll give you the sun off so you can recover,"

"Take the morning shift and I'll take the night one," Cooker proposed a switch, Theo knew her offer wouldn't be taken. Cooker rarely let Theo pick up her slack the way Theo let Xyra and Cooker for her, Cooker had too much pride.

"Deal," Theo nodded, already regretting giving Cooker a pass because it meant she had to wake up in a few hours. Cooker passed the sard to Theo to seal the deal and Theo accepted it, sard not really containing any intoxicating effects. They passed it back and forth until it was done and then Theo decided to press Cooker about what had happened earlier, "I got into a fight with him."

Cooker looked over, confusion clear on her face, "Who?"

"Uncilo," Theo elaborated, "I got angry and yelled at him and then just left. I didn't see him after that."

"What was the fight about?"

"My nomination," Theo looked down at her hands and inhaled deeply, "about how I didn't want it. But he was insisting it would happen, I would come to my senses. I would continue his legacy."

"What a massive prick," Cooker scoffed.

"Tell me about it," Theo chuckled slightly then looked over to Cooker. Theo didn't want Uncilo's actions to drive a wedge between her and Cooker. She didn't want Cooker to be jealous or slighted, "this wasn't me. I didn't intend for this to happen or for him to choose me. I never hinted at it or asked him about it or told him it should be me."

"I know...." Cooker said with a sigh and then bumped her head back against the wall, "I'm not angry at you, I'm just angry."

"With Uncilo?"

"Aye, I suppose" Cooker nodded then pulled out another cigarette from a pouch tied onto her waist. Her drug pouch is what she called it and it contained an assortment of randomly rolled cigarettes, "and with myself for not seeing his path for me sooner. I worked so hard, I spent so many sleepless nights trying to prove myself all for it to be for nothing. Being given the second in command for the only job, aside from this one, that I've ever wanted is a cruel joke. "

There was silence but Cooker didn't seem finished and Theo wasn't going to interrupt her. Head of the Council was something that Cooker had been obsessed with since she first arrived in Corinspe. Her affinity for politics, debate, and solving structural crises was something that only grew with time and Theo had always believed that Cooker would eventually receive the nomination. It was something that Cooker had clearly believed too.

"I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up," Cooker shook her head with a dry laugh, "no officer or crewmate has ever been nominated, let alone elected."

"No officer has ever been as competent or suited for the position as you," Theo pointed out.

"Xyra's gone for a few cycles and you forget all about her," Cooker tried to derail the conversation with a joke.

"Xyra doesn't have experience sitting on the cabinet, you do," Theo shot back.

"Doesn't matter what my qualifications are, Theo," Cooker frowned and then stood up to light her cigarette with the flame kept inside the glass contraption hanging on Theo's balcony, "position won't be mine. There is no use dwelling on it."

Theo stood up too and crossed her arms, "No, I think there is a point to talking about it. I'm not taking the position, I refuse to, and Uncilo needs to nominate someone so, why not keep pushing for it to be you?"

"Because I wouldn't be his first choice, which is nothing new but I'm sick of embarrassing myself for him," Cooker shook her head and leaned over the balcony as she smoked, "you aren't going to be getting out of being nominated. It's Uncilo, he wills it and it happens."

"I threatened to leave Corinspe and quit piracy before I ever stood on the nomination floor," Theo revealed and Cooker's eyes widened as she snapped her head to Theo.

"What did Uncilo say about that?"

"I left before he could say anything," Theo admitted, "he's probably pissed."

"Probably? You didn't speak to him again after that?"

"No, I already told you" Theo shook her head, "I left without saying goodbye."

"Maybe I do have a chance," Cooker laughed and Theo punched her arm, almost making Cooker lose her cigarette, "I'm kidding about that but I am serious about it not being possible to get of the nomination."

"I didn't say it was going to be easy," Theo smirked a bit, thinking back to the plans she had made in anger to piss off all of the elders the next time they had a meeting.

Cooker looked over and raised an eyebrow, knowing the look on Theo's face, "Theo, you have a reputation to uphold. Be logical."

Theo shrugged, "The point is to tarnish my reputation a little bit. I want to piss the elders off, if I do that, I don't get the nomination from Uncilo. He is too focused on ensuring he has a hand in whoever replaces him that he wouldn't risk putting me up. Which opens the door for you."

"How'd I get thrown back in this?"

"Cook, even if you never say anything about it because you feel like you would be betraying me by talking about a job outside of the ship I know you're always thinking about it. That position is all you've ever wanted," Theo shook her head, "you have supported me for so long, let me do the same."

"Xyra and I made our choice when we turned down the captaincy, the consequence was that we were giving up a spot on the council. It's clear that Uncilo isn't willing to budge on that tradition so nothing guarantees he is going to pick over a different captain. We might as well just give it up," Cooker said, defeated in her tone.

"We'll have a fleet by the time Uncilo steps down. There are lengths before then," Theo rationalized, "which means I'm going to be needing some people to step up to be the captains of their own ships."

Cooker narrowed her eyes looking at Theo then chuckled a little, "Loophole. Smart."

"Cooker, this can happen. We can do this. Even if Uncilo still gives me the nomination, you can secure it from another group. Without the elder's support, my nomination would fail and give you the opportunity to go for the position," Theo put on her passionate voice, trying to get Cooker to see that just because Uncilo was closed off to it, she could still get her dream job, "I don't want this position, Cook, I need your help to get out of it."

Theo thought that maybe if she had framed that way, Cooker would be more inclined to listen. Perhaps, if it was something Theo needed, Cooker would take it as her responsibility to protect Theo.

"If we help each other, we can play Uncilo like he's been playing us. Make him think that it's his choice to switch the nomination over to you. We've got time, we can play the long game. When he needs me to show up, I won't. Anytime I fail, you'll be there," Theo laid out her plan and it actually got an incredulous laugh from Cooker.

"You've always been a schemer," Cooker put her arm around Theo and brought her other hand to grind her knuckles into Theo's hair, "you learned from the greatest, me."

"Then how come it's my scheme, and not yours?" Theo challenged.

"Well, according to you it's our scheme now," Cooker argued.

"So, you're in?" Theo's face lit up.

"Aye. If you don't get the nomination and I don't either, at least we would have given him a taste of his own medicine. I don't see any downsides to this plan, for me. For you, I don't know how your ego is going to take seeing me be the hero," Cooker teased.

Theo chuckled and pushed Cooker away, slipping out from under her grasp, "If I threw you off this balcony right now, I could just tell Xyra that you died in battle and she would believe me."

"Always threatening me with violence," Cooker sighed and shook her head, "you wouldn't be able to tell that I have been caring for your wellbeing your whole life."

Theo rolled her eyes and scooted back over to be near Cooker. She let them sit in silence for a small while before she nudged Cooker, "I miss Xy but it's nice we've gotten some time alone, y'know? I know sometimes you think I'm closer to her than I am to you but that's not the case. I know I never say it but, I love you."

Cooker tensed under Theo's head, probably not used to Theo being so upfront with things. Emotions were something that went unspoken between them and Cooker was still learning how to deal with Theo being so open.

"I love you too..." Cooker replied then pulled her shoulder out from under Theo. She brought both hands up to hold the captain's face and placed a kiss on her forehead, "I'm going to get some rest. Goodnight, kid."

Theo watched Cooker leave and she smiled to herself. She had successfully navigated a difficult conversation with Cooker. Ava would be proud. She stayed out in the cold for a bit, until she determined that Cooker had likely already passed out. She made her way inside, quietly as to not disturb the collective slumber. Theo located the cot with Iona and woke her up, they had a mission to get to.