Right away

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

Brenan climbed back the steep steps and through the forward hatch. James was still playing his flute but the others had stopped dancing and where sitting against the railing listening to the chearful warbling of the flute and enjoying the ocean breeze as the schooner bobbed gently in the calm waters of the harbor. Harry was on watch, safely inside Davy's shipyard they should be safe, but Brenan was glad to see the young man had not let himself be distracted.

"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." James could see Brenan's hesitation at island hopping all over the place chasing phantoms and hopes.

"Did Mr. Michaels tell you about what Sasha gave us?" Asked James and Brenan looked up sharply.

"What?" He asked sharply.

"We were talking about my father's shells. I was telling him about how the gun produced almost no smoke and about twice the power of regular powder." Brenan thought that sounded about right for his revolver as well. "Well Sasha was doing dishes, but she stopped suddenly and wrote out a chemical formula in the galley countertop. I copied it down before the water dried." James shrugged modestly but he was clearly pleased with his forsight.

"Sasha couldn't even remember writing out the formula, but I've seen something like it in my Grandpa's library." James was talking even faster now. "And it's not just his library, I think he has the tools and supplies we'd need to." Brenan was almost as excited as Mr. Michaels and James but tried his best not to show too much emotion as Jame kept rattling on.

"There was one machine in there that he never showed me when I was allowed in. 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 grunted cynically.

"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. First we have to rendezvous with Red and then get this cargo to Veertor." He was pleased to see James nod in agreement. "Now let me get back to Mr. Michaels, and then we'd better set up the first watch."

Brenan desperately hoped that Julien had been able to follow his rough map and that Red would be able to make the rendezvous. For that matter he hoped Ambrose would deliver the contraband in the morning as agreed and that he and his skeleton crew would be able to get it loaded and make it to the sheltered bay without incident.