Doesn't hurt to ask

(This thread originally written by whizzper as 'It doesn't hurt to ask' I've modified it for the sake of continuity)

Brenan climbed back the steep steps and through the forward hatch. He found James sitting between the Lantian brothers trying to learn to tie the dozens of knots needed by sailors. He seemed to have a pretty good ability with rope, certainly better than many of the land lubbers (including himself) that Brenan had seen learning the same set of skills.

Harry was doing a good job, the course was true and the sails where well trimmed. Brenan acknowledged him with a small wave, on a day like this with the steady wind and miles of visability it wasn't hard, but Brenan was glad to see the young man had not let himself be distracted. Sasha must be below working on lunch.

"James..." Brenan called the young man over away from the others and explained what Mr Michaels wanted.

"That's what I was hoping for, Captain, when I gave him the gun. He can take apart one. If what he says is true then after this delivery we may want to go to my Grandfather's shop. There was one machine in there that he never showed me when I was allowed in."

"I'm only thinking about this now because of what Sasha did." He looked at Brenan expectantly and seeing no reaction asked him:

"Did Mr. Michaels tell you about this?"

"Tell me what?" Brenan asked curtly. "At best he never enjoyed guessing games, and certainly not from his own crew.

"I was describing the smokeless powder to Mr. Michaels when Sasha jotted this on a piece of paper." James showed Brenan a long string of numbers and letters written in Sasha's neat handwriting.

"What is it?" Brenan asked now more curious than irritated.

"I think it's the formula for the new gunpwder." James is bubbling with enthusiasm now. "I saw something like this in Grandfather's library. I also remember a collection of glass jars with similar symbols sitting above thet corner of his workshop." Brenan ws begining to understand why the Caruthers boy wanted to get back to that workshop.

"There was this big old machiine that sat in the corner, covered in dust. I asked him of it once. Quite an odd answer really. He said, "I have no need for that one anymore, this Island is peaceful." He stressed the last word rather oddly. I was ten, thought nothing of it, I wanted to see his cool stuff. Now that I think back on it...it had to have had something to do with his Peacekeeper. Whether he used it to make the gun or the shells, I don't know." James snorted. "Cool stuff. If it does have something to do with that gun, it would have been the coolest thing in there. Ah, hindsight is a wonderfully annoying thing isn't it, Captain."

"It can be." Brenan grimaced as he thought about how badly he had handled the whole Red and Cindy situation. But James was speaking again this time in a mumble rather than his usually confident tone.

"Also captain, if...well...if we do go back to the shop after this run...well...mygirlfriendispregnantandI'dliketobethereforher." James said in a rush, his cheeks coloring a bit."

Brenan blinked, "I heard the word pregnant...and...girlfriend? How far along?"

"She's at three months, Captain. She's staying at our place for the moment. Just...you know...if possible. Sir."

"One thing at a time. Julien has to be able to find Red; we'll have to rendezvous with Red and then get this cargo to Veertor." He was pleased to see James nod in agreement, but all Brenan could think of was how little chance this whole mess had of coming together.

He'd feel a lot better if he knew that Julien had at least made it to Red's beachside cottage alright.