The heavy coiled rope slung over his shoulder weighed him down. Gerry struggled across the deck of the Dominous, his tiny body screaming for rest. Rough voices laughed and yelled at him.

"Hurry it up, Kid! Get the lead out!"

One wrong step sent him sprawling face first in the filthy wooden deck. Scores of laughter echoed in his ears while the small boy gasped for breath. The old boatswain, a craggly looking old man by the name Tooms grabbed him roughly by the back of his shirt and pulled him up.

"On your feet, rat!"

Gerry was planted back down, stumbling at first but getting his bearings after a moment. Tooms shoved him forward. "Get movin!"

The past few days had proven to be a living nightmare. The crew stank to high heaven, they all seemed to take a perverse joy in mocking and abusing the kid whenever they could. Captain Marus had agreed to let him stay as long as he pulled his weight (though the sneer told Gerry that the man wasn't exactly being kind in doing so).

How had he gotten there" It was still a mystery. He heard some mutterings about a "nexus" here and there, but...he had no idea what that was. All he knew was that he wanted to be back home in his nice, warm bed. Heck, he'd even take being followed around, harassed by his sister, Ginny at this point.

But that was not meant to be. A long day lay ahead of him, full of pain, abuse, and hardship. By the time night fell little Gerry's body was spent. He lay on a pile of dirty rags on the ship's deck, staring up at strange star constellations. His grandpa once sat with him in his parent's backyard and taught him all about the constellations...none of which were here. Even the night sky was alien to him.

He barely noticed the body that flopped down to sit beside him. He'd not met the man but for a moment. He was the First Mate, Errol. Errol would probably be a dashing fellow after a shower. About 30 years old, Square jawed, with tan skin. Lean and strong. His windswept blonde hair curled by the sea salt in the air. Piercing blue eyes ever sharp and alert. Errol carried an easy confidence and a helluva poker face.

Errol stared forward, quiet for the moment with a bottle in his hand, arm rested on his knee. Gerry glanced to him, expecting him to start taking him to task for laying around.

Those blue eyes turned to the boy, staring for a moment before turning away again. Almost absently, he offered the bottle to Gerry.

"N...no thank you." he eeked out.

"Drink it, boy."

Gerry's little hand reached out and took the bottle from him, shaking. God, he could smell the booze from there. He stared down at it dubiously, his nose crinkled up. He steeled himself and took a sip. His throat and eyes immediately burned and started into a coughing fit.

Errol smirked, breathing out a little laugh. "If you're gonna be a sailor, you gotta learn to drink like one."

Gerry almost looked like he might cry, both hands on the bottle before it was snatched away. Errol took a long swig, not even a slight grimace. It was like water to him at this point.

"What's your name kid?" the sailor muttered before handing the bottle back.

Oh, great. More of this stuff.

"Gerry. Gerry Finnegan."

He forced down another swig of the liquor, his face screwing up, but less than last time. The bottle was passed back to Errol a smirk on his face.

"Let me tell ya a secret, Gerry."

He took another long drink before looking down at him. "Never let 'em see you hurt. These animals...they're good folk and a good time...but they see ya hurtin'...they're gonna jump on ya. Until you prove yourself, they're gonna want to break you."

Errol pointed at the kid with the bottle. "Don't let 'em know what bothers ya. Savvy?"

Gerry swallowed hard and nodded. Errol stood up to his full 6 foot height, stretching his arms wide with a groan. Those sharp, blue eyes staring out on the horizon. Far off in the distance they could see lightning in the clouds. "Get your sleep kid. You're gonna need it."

They had cheated death for another day. That meant one thing: DRINK OURSELVES TO DEATH! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

The men were high spirits, drinking carrying on, a bottle for every man! Gerry just stood by in a corner and watched, 3 new stitches on his right temple, and a smattering of bruises. They weren't hoisting him on their shoulders and pouring gatorade over him or anything, but the men generally seemed to be treating him a LOT better now. Some even patted him on the back as they passed.

Tooms stepped around him from behind, glancing down. He offered only a grunt. Well...at least he didn't call him a rat. Progress!

The Captain spoke to one of his men, catching a glimpse of the boy out of the corner of his eye. He nodded a quick dismissal and swaggered over. He wore a red coat that went to his knees, finely and intricately embroidered in gold and black. It would have been an even more impressive garment were it not soiled, faded and stained by ash, water, and grime. Marus' back slapped against a post. "Ya done good to day, Kid."

Gerry looked up at the man. He still wasn't sure he liked or trusted him. He'd put the young lad through hell for this first week.

"You kept your head about ya, did your duty. Even managed to help save a few lives."

He hadn't even thought about that. At least one man was alive because of him. It was a concept that absolutely blew his mind. Marus gaze leveled at him.

"You survive the rest of this voyage, might be we'll consider a place for you on the crew. Permanently."

Errol glanced over from his revelry with the men. There was something he didn't like about his Captain. He couldn't place it. The man was slimy. The story of how that man came to power on this ship was not often talk about, but there was suspicion of foul play. Him taking the boy under his wing was not something Errol wanted to see.

Gerry looked up at the Captain. "When this is over, I want to go home."

"Home? You ain't goin' home, kid. The fates dropped you hear for a reason. You ain't meant to go 'home'!"

Gerry looked away from him, determined. "I'm going home."

Marus laughed bitterly and took a long swig of rum. "Ain't no goin' home. Not for any of us." With that he took his leave of the boy.

Gerry stared daggers at the Captain. There was no way. No way he'd spend more time on this godforsaken ship than he had to. He hated them all in that moment. The Captain, Tooms, the men, even Errol. They were all jerks and he wished he hadn't have helped save them. They could rot for all he cared. He just wanted to go home to his family! And God damn it, he was going to. Soon, he would put this nightmare behind him. He would find a way.

He had to.

Blue eyes stared ahead intently, focused on their target. A smirk crossing cracked lips. The roar of a crowd rising.

CRACK!

Knuckles slammed into Gerry's face. The now 16 year old young man standing tall at 5'11" his body lean and muscular, took the hit. His opponent. a scrappy young sailor they had picked up a few weeks prior. Decent lad with a mean right hook. Gerry smirked at him with a bloody lip, keeping the lad moving. Around them, the crew shouted and hollered, money and goods ready to change hands.

Errol watched Gerry with a smirk, the two had become close friends over the years, the older man trying to steer him in a more positive direction than their ruthless Captain wanted for the boy.

Marus shouted over the crowd. "TAKE HIM DOWN, BOY!"

Gerry dodged two quick jabs. "Come on, man, we're not shadow boxing, land something already."

The young sailor grit his teeth and threw a wild punch, Gerry dodged out of the way, grabbing him by the arm and threw a knee into the kid's chest. The boy stumbled back and Gerry advanced, his fist pounding into his opponent's face twice, before he reeled back and laid him out with one solid hit. A series of cheers and boos echoed across the crowd.

Tooms stepped out and lifted Gerry's arm. "WINNER!"

Gerry grinned as his arm was released. He held his hand out to the bloodied sailor, pulling him to his feet. "Good fight, man. You alright?"

The kid shook the haze out of his eyes. "Feel like I just got hit with a cannonball..."

Gerry's boyish face smirked to him. "A couple days, rematch?"

The sailor blinked and looked over. "How about a couple months..."

Gerry chuckled. Marus watched him heading in his direction grabbing him by the arm. "Finnegan. A word."

The young scrapper looked his captain in the eye and nodded. "Cap'n."

Marus scratched his scraggly beard walking with Gerry. "Good fight. Up until the end."

"Cap'n?" He looked over brow furrowed in confusion.

"You offer a hand to a beaten enemy. You should be offering a boot."

"It was just a match...it wasn't real."

Marus stared the boy. "You think I became captain because I showed mercy to these rats" Hell no. I fought and clawed my way to the top. I became who I am because I was the toughest, meanest son of a bitch on the ship and people were afraid to cross me. You've got potential, lad. But you're soft. Ya worry about these scum likin' ya."

"Because I don't want them to kill me."

"You think a one a' them wouldn't take a blade to me given half a chance" Your friend, Mr. Errol. I seen the way he looks at me. He could kill me in my sleep, but ya know why he don't' Because he's afraid. THAT is power, kid. Ta make a man who could take yer life afraid ta even consider doin' it."

Gerry looked down to his Captain. "Maybe I don't want to be like that."

Marus sneered his yellow teeth at the boy, his breath stinking of rum. "You still think you're goin' home. Don't ya" Five years, kid. FIVE years. You think yer parents would even know ya" Ya think they'd even want ya" You ain't the boy who came here 5 years ago, and you ain't never gonna be again. There ain't no goin' home, Finnegan."

Marus noted Errol approaching. and turned back to the boy. "Don't go makin' friends. There ain't no such thing in this life."

With that Marus took his leave. Errol approached grabbing the boy by the back of his head, a big grin on his face. They butt their heads together laughing before Errol slapped him on shoulder. "Well fought, lad! Well bloody fought!"

Gerry grinned rubbing his jaw. "Man, I thought I was going down for a second, that kid was throwing bricks..."

Errol nodded, "Ah, weren't nothin! Took it like a champ, Kid!" He smiled up to him.

A grin on his face, Gerry glanced back at Captain Marus. A glance Errol noted. "Have a good talk with our fearless leader, didya?"

Gerry looked back. "Yeah."

Errol shot a distasteful look to the captain. "Let me guess. No friends. Shoulda killed the boy. Ain't no such thing as a fair fight?"

The young brawler nodded. "Pretty much."

Errol spat upon the ground. "Man tried to pull that one me when he were takin' over. Tried to make me on a' his ravin' sycophants, but I wouldn't have it. Been waitin' on him ta try somethin' for years."

"Why doesn't he?" Gerry asked.

"Bastard's afraid what would happen. Knows I command the loyalty a' half the crew. He'd have a mutiny on his hands and he knows he might lose. He ain't a stupid man. Don't take a fight he don't know if he can win."

"He said you're afraid." Gerry said with a smirk.

"I don't like bloodshed unless it's necessary. And I don't want his job. It ain't my job to lead these men to see reason. " Errol glanced around and spoke in hushed tones. "Listen...and don't repeat this. But, there are whispers goin' 'round. Some of the lads in his camp are startin' to sour on the good Cap'n. Some even' talkin' 'bout running him out."

Gerry looked around, wide eyed, hoping nobody heard. "Are you kidding me?"

Errol shook his head. "Wind's changin' Gerry. We best be ready for when it does."

Gerry stared at him, a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. They were talking about betrayal. They were talking about mutiny.

Everything was in-place. Tomorrow, they would be at the rendezvous point. Errol had made an arrangement with another Captain. They would stage an attack upon the Dominous, and in the ensuing insanity, Errol would kill Captain Marus and dump his body overboard.

Gerry had thought it a good plan. He abhorred violence beyond that in the ring (and even that had begun to lose its allure). But, he knew Marus had to go. He was dangerous. He just hoped they could minimize the damage and bloodshed. He just hoped everything went according to plan.

"OI! GATHER 'ROUND, YOU UGLY MUGS!" Marus' voice roared over the ship.

Gerry and Errol shared a covert glance and stopped what they were doing, turning to face their captain with the rest of the crew.

"You all come to this boat from places far n' wide!" He said, looking over his crew from the helm. He pointed to one gathering. "Dehlnon."

"AYE!"

He pointed to another, "Maidensport!"

"AYE!"

"Rhydin herself!"

A chorus of voices rose up "AYE!"

Gerry looked around him, thinking "Earth." Aye.

Marus continued. "You're the most mismatched bunch of miscreants I ever sailed with! And I only ever asked a one thing of all a' ya!"

He looked over the crowd. Gerry was starting to get a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. Marus started down the stairs, those eyes trailing over the men. "Loyalty!" He shouted.

Oh no.

"A ship cannot function...if there is no trust! It is a broken ship!" He scowled at his men as he moved through them. "Well, this is a broken ship. There are those among you who have sowed the seeds of discord!"

Gerry's heart pounded in his chest as Marus continued. "OF MUTINY! "

"They have become an infection!" he shouted, Gerry's hand slipping to the dagger he wore at his back.

"And an infected limb...must be removed." Marus' eyes turned up to Gerry as he came to stop right before him. Those eyes filled with rage and betrayal.

"I gave you a home, boy. I took you in when I should'a thrown your worthless hide overboard. And THIS is how you REPAY ME"!" Marus was fast, he must not have been drinking that day. He drew his sword and put it to Gerry's throat. He didn't even have time to react. He just froze, his eyes clamped shut waiting for the deathblow...but it didn't come just yet. That razor-sharp blade lightly touching his skin.

"Look to the young lad for your lesson, you swine! This is the price of Mutiny! This is price you pay!" He brought the sword back, and Gerry was sure this was the end. This was where he would die. Far from home and his family would NEVER know what happened to him.

"MARUS!" Errols voice rang out.

The Captain stopped and slowly turned his head in the direction of the voice. Gerry's eyes popped open and shifted to Errol. The crowd parted before him, his hand on the pommel of his blade.

"Step away from the boy, you son of a bitch." he stead taking a few cautious steps forward.

"And the brains of this betrayal steps forward." Marus said with a sneer.

"I challenge you!" Errol shouted at him. "You are unfit for command. Unworthy of this ship...this crew! I challenge you for the rights of command!"

Marus narrowed his eyes. and looked to Gerry a long moment.

"Face me like a man, you coward!" Errol challenged, drawing his sword. Wind swept his blond hair to one side, his fist clutching that sword tight.

Marus stared at Gerry. "The deepest circle of hell is reserved for betrayers and mutineers."

With his free hand, Marus drew a flintlock, pointed it at Errol and pulled the trigger.

"ERROL!" Gerry cried out.

The older sailor stumbled back against the side of the ship as the bullet pierced through his chest, the air leaving his lungs. A look of confusion and agony on his tan face. He looked down, crimson blossoming at his shirt.

Gerry wanted to run to him, to help him, but that sword was holding him at bay. It felt like someone was crushing his heart in his chest.

Errol's eyes rolled back with his head and he went tumbling over the edge.

Marus' disgusting smile turned to Gerry. "Challenge accepted." He cackled wildly, a few of his men joining in.

Something rose inside of Gerry. A burning fire and coursed through his veins, engulfing him whole. He let out a primal yell, grabbing Marus quickly, moving the sword away from his throat with one hand, the other cocked back and then SLAMMED into Marus face with every bit of force he had.

A lot happened in that moment. The men loyal to Errol drew swords and the men loyal to Marus drew their's. All hopes of getting out of this without more bloodshed were destroyed when the first of Errol's men ran through one of Marus'.

The deck erupted into violence as Marus hit the ground, his sword and pistol clattering away. Gerry bore down on him, all rage and vengeance. Marus tried to scramble away, but Gerry grabbed him, pulled him to his feet and threw him into a pile of cargo.

The Captain grunted in pain as his back hit hard against the wooden crates. Gerry immediately grabbed him by the shirt and threw devastating punch after devastating punch in Marus' face. Blood sent flying with every impact.

Suddenly, Gerry was grabbed from behind and pulled off the Captain. His attacker was immediately tackled by one of the mutineers, but it was enough for Marus to get his bearings, grabbing a bit of rope, he swung it hard, catching Gerry across the jaw with the big, knotted end.

Everything went white for a second in Gerry's vision. The young fighter was tackled to the ground by the Captain. Marus' fist pounded his face repeatedly. Gerry's hands scrambled up, trying to grab hold of anything they could, finally wrapping around his neck and wrestling the older man onto his back. Gerry lifted and slammed him down.

Gerry drew back his fist, ready to beat Marus face into mush.

Suddenly, he felt a shooting, screaming pain in his back. He howled in agony, Marus still driving the small dagger into his back.

The dagger was ripped out of his back and Gerry was knocked off. Bloodied and battered, the Captain got to his feet, driving his foot into Gerry's stomach.

"Ungrateful little BASTARD"!" He shouted. "Where would you be without me"!"

Gerry groaned as another vicious kick to the gut was delivered.

"I saved your worthless life! It was me!" He yelled slamming his foot into Gerry again. "You could have been my right hand! But you chose to support that weak...pathetic...MONGREL"!"

Gerry screamed in pain as he was kicked yet again, his whole body aching. Marus panted over him fists clenched, eyes blazing. "Get up! GET. UP!"

Gerry was pulled to his feet and that bloodied dagger clenched in Marus fists. "You want to follow him' You can follow him in HELL!"

Gerry headbutted him in the face, blood bursting across his forehead from Marus' nose. He drove the Captain backwards, lifting him up as they moved toward the main cabin. Marus shouted in agony...but Gerry couldn't see why, until he let go...and Marus didn't fall. A hook has pierced his back and was protruding from his chest.

Marus gasped wide-eyed as crimson poured from his wounds. The entire ship went quiet as Gerry stared in horror.

The Captain made eye contact with him one more time, a small grin crossing his lips before a small laugh left him. Marus' body went limp.

Gerry had killed a man. He'd fought and killed him with his bare hands. It was a moment that would stick with him for the rest of his life.

Marus' men laid down arms and surrendered. Tooms' eyes remained on him as he passed, a gash on his own face from the fight. He walked up to Marus' body and pulled loose the scabbard. He sheathed the sword and turned to Gerry, presenting it to him.

"You've bested the Captain in combat while an active challenge was issued. His sword...his command...his crew...his ship...are your's." Tooms said with all the seriousness of a heart attack.

Gerry looked down at the sword for a long moment, all he could see in his head was the look on Errol's face, the look on Marus' face. If this was how he was to "earn" things on this ship...he didn't want it.