The Midnight Reaver: A Steampunk Harem Comedy

[Artemidorus]

Myiah laughed. She was still tiptoeing across the room from the open window when Titus grabbed her. "Yes-" she moaned, as his arms wrapped around her. He was more eager than she even had thought he'd be.

Her pert nipples pressed into his arm, sonce she abandoned her clothes as soom as she had climbed in the window. A white nightgown laid crumpled on the floor underneath as the wind swept in.

But then he moaned Sam's name. Myaih's eyes narrowed. She was Melchior's favorite, and now his too? Well. Myiah had gotten here first! She climbed on top of him, straddling him, so his member was stuck against her wet warm lower lips. "Sam's not here. Just little old me." she said, as she put her mouth to work of his neck, kissing and licking and sucking at his jawline.

 

[Maka]

"Sam's not here. Just little old me."

Titus' eyes snapped open as he realised he wasn't dreaming. The moonlight streamed through the open window into his cabin. A very slight, very petite and very naked girl, her blue hair a startling contrast with the ivory perfection of her skin, was straddling him. She had trapped his massive erection between them and was energetically rubbing her slick, warm wet slit up and down its huge length, breathing a little harder with every movement. Meanwhile, her mouth was busy kissing along his jawline, joyfully tasting every inch of stubbled skin.

Titus closed his eyes for a moment. All he had to do was stay still, pretend to himself that he hadn't woken up. Myiah, for this must surely be her, was clearly working up to impaling herself on his cock, glistening with her juices as it was. He could give her what she craved, give himself the relief he desperately needed... and Sam and the others need never know.

The thought of Sam brought him to his senses. His hands went to Myiah's slim hips and he hoisted her upwards and off him, trying to ignore the instant sense of desolation he felt as that tempting, silky wet warmth left his cock, as that cupid's bow mouth left his neck. Myiah struggled and wriggled with extraordinary lithe agility but Titus' hands were like iron as he set her down, found the nightgown over the floor and threw it over her blue head while he himself found some trousers.

Myiah's rumpled head popped out the other side of the nightgown while Titus, still struggling with his trousers, inspected the open porthole. She'd climbed down a sheer drop of twenty feet from the upper deck to break into his cabin. She must be totally fearless... or absolutely desperate for his cock... or both.

"You must be Myiah," he said, seizing her by the neck. "I'm your new captain."

Walking to the door, he pushed it open with his foot. Although he did his best to be gentle, the motion was enough to send Sam tumbling out of her hammock on to the floor outside. Her nightgown rode up as she sleepily scrambled to her feet, giving him a tantalizing flash of fair skin and a perfectly formed little ass. He set down the unrepentant Myiah in front of her, the muscles on his bare chest rippling with the movement.

"I'm sorry to wake you, first mate, but I found a stowaway in my cabin."

 

[Artemidorus]

Myiah was a little ball of anger. She had thought for a moment when he lifted her up by her hips that he'd be bringing he rback down on his member, and she prepare herself for him to slide into. Instead she found her clothes forced back on as she was drug to the door of his quarters.

Titus opened the door, causing Sam to tumble from her bed for the second time that night. "What the hell!" she cried out glaring daggers up at Titus, but stopped when she saw Myiah. Her gaze lowered, still a long glare. "What the hell?" she said with an exhausted sigh.

She stood up and looked down at the girl. "Myiah... I'm so disappointed in you."

Myiah's face twisted up like a viper. "Don't give me that! You would have been in there too. Don't act like you're holier than us! Its only a matter of time!" Myiah began to stomp off.

"The only thing you're disappointed in is that I almost got to he first." she hissed, as she angrily made her way back to her quarters.

After she was gone Sam just stood. Titus had the chance to take Myiah, and no one would have known. But he chose to bring her to Sam instead, even calling her first mate. Same with Secoya, or so Danda had told her. Perhaps... They really could trust him. Or perhaps-

Her eyes trailed down below his waist. No, he was erect. Myiah, whatever she had done, had brought him to full mast. So he wasn't gay. Or impotent like his uncle.

Sam eased into a grateful face, losing her skepticism. He really... Really earned her trust. He turned down two beautiful and willing crew mates.

"Titus..." she trailed off. She didn't know what to say, or why with each word she was moving a little bit closer to him in the dim moonlight. "You... Thank you. I know what you did wasn't easy. And you could have just... And no one would have known. But you brought her to me instead." she was blushing as she looked up at him. They were only inches away. She wrapped her arms around him.

"Thank you." she said with a squeeze. "For everything. Really. For taking us in and vowing to protect us. After we lost your uncle... We thought we had lost everything." her head was on his chest. "We thought the sultan would find us and we'd have to go back. He'd impregnate us, you know. We'd lose our freedom. He'd make sure we never escape. Chain us up."

She let go, moving back to look up at him again. "Thank you."

The moment was ruined when she realized something poking her, pressed up against the silky fabric of her nightgown and his pants. "Oh-" she jumped back, a deeper blush setting in all over. "I'm sorry zhe- got you all worked up. And- and now-" shenlooked up at him as she tried to compose herself a bit more, taking a deep breath. "I could help you with it. Only if you want." she kept her hands to herself until he gave or denied permission. "Just my hands. I won't even look- just so- you know. Like I said, If you want. For medical reasons you know."

 

[Maka]

Sam's beautiful green eyes were large and soft, shimmering in the moonlight like distant pools of dreams. Without seeming to take a conscious step, she drifted across the space between him and threw her arms around Titus, resting her smooth cheek against Titus' bare chest as she whispered words of thanks against him, spoke of her fear of the Sultan. It was a gesture of total trust and confidence, one that Titus found profoundly moving.

And also, to his embarassment, profoundly arousing. Samandra was squeezing against him tightly, and wearing nothing but her sheer silk nightgown. He was very conscious of the pressure of her lithe body against his, how the feeling of her breasts pressing against his chest, little nipples hard and quivering against the fabric of the nightgown. His cock, already standing to attention from Myiah's affection, was straining against his trousers now.

Samandra, reluctantly letting go of him, registered this with a cute little start. She blushed deeply as she stammered out her suggestion for relief.

Titus was touched by the offer, and sorely tempted. But...

"That's very... kind of you, Sam. But I think I'd... if you... well, we... "

Titus hesitated, unsure how to express the problem.

"I think it's better just not let that genie out of the bottle," he said, hoping Sam would understand. The truth was that once Sam and he were in that intimate position, it would just get harder and harder for him to throttle back his desires.

"I think I'll just rely on cold showers," he said with a wry smile. He gathered Sam to him, and kissed her on the forehead. "Good night, first mate."



The next afternoon, the Midnight Reaver hung in the snowy skies above the mining town of Silver Mountain, perched on the top of the highest mountain in the known world. It was a precarious place. The space needs of the growing community had soon outstripped the mountain peak itself and so a series of ledges had been cut into the cliff below, overlooking a sheer drop of thousands upon thousands of feet. Sufferers from vertigo would clearly not do well in Silver Mountain, where narrow streets twisted and doubled back on another before suddenly and without warning giving way to horrifying drops.

Titus surveyed the skies with his captain's telescope, satisfying himself that no other airship could be observed above the town. There should be no surprises on their first landfall. Sam was already waiting for him in the landing cage. He nodded to Secoya before joining his first mate.

"You're in command while we're gone, Secoya. Look after everyone."

He got in alongside Sam, and Tara and Maren operated the crank, lowering the cage to the landing space in the centre of Silver Mountain's crowded docks facility. As they descended, he noticed Myiah hanging from a cable below the hull of the Reaver, agile as a monkey. He hadn't seen her since the scuffle the night before, but everything that the others said about her suggested that she wouldn't give up that easily. He'd have to be on his guard.

He pointed her out to Sam with a nod. "Maybe you should sling your hammock inside my cabin tonight, keep that one out."

He'd meant it as a joke, or thought he had, but all of a sudden the idea seemed awfully good. The cage made jarring impact with the ground while he waited, suddenly tense and hopeful, for Sam's response.

 

[Artemidorus]

People stared as the cage descended. They had heard of the Midnight Reaver, rumors and tales. Could it be true? 6 beautiful girls that eescaped from the feared sultan only to learn to rule the seas? It was a far fetched tale, but some hdld it true. And here was the ship, docked at Silver Mountain.

Sam nodded at Titus' proposition. "Thats probably a good idea."

Tara scoffed. "Let me guess, no one thought to lock his windows? Blue haired minx." she vaulted over the railing on the cage before it hit the ground and headed off. People stared at the gorgous red head, but she didnt seem to notice. Maren hurried after her.

Sam however, did. She tried to not to pay attention to the looks shebwas getting. "I guess they're off to get parts and arrange for a waterfill. Where do you want to start?"

 

[Maka]

Titus considered. Maren and Tara were taking care of the crucial things, but he had promises of his own to keep. And fulfilling at least a couple of them might make his job aboard the Reaver slightly easier.

"Seed store", he said. "Then... "

He was at a loss for the place that might supply what he was looking for, but then a thought occured to him. "Engineer for the mines. The place where they make pistons... "

They walked down the street. Titus was wearing a long brown leather coat, the better to conceal the rapier and pistols on his belt, courtesy of Secoyah. But for all his dashing airs, the delicate beauty of Samandra, hurrying along at his side, received more attention.


Titus was able to pick up several alpine rose bulbs from the little man at the seed store, and stored them in his pocket. Then he moved on to the engineer's and explained, as best as he was able, what he was after. As he'd anticipated, he received blank stares and spread hands at first.

"Oh come on. This city has women. Those women have needs. I'm sure you make them."

At last, a blushing assistant was sent into an unmarked storage area and returned with a package which he discreetly pressed into Titus' hands. Titus had been studying the loading of the Reaver. Maren and Tara were already back on board.

"Time for us to go," he told Sam.

 

[Artemidorus]

Sam explored while Titus got things of his own. She grabbed some books for Maren, a new fresh soil for the ships gardener, hazelnuts for Danda, and some pink satin as well. She also found a necklace, with a blue bird pendant. It was a little pricier than she liked, but Myiah had been pretty upset last night.

The young girl had only been 12 when they met, and so scared. And Sam and Myiah became like sisters. It saddened her that this deep ravine was growing between them.

She met back up with Titus and they headed for the boat. "What did you get there?" she asked, prodding at his packages.

As the gate rose and they got back on the ship, Danda had a surprise for them. They started moving away from Silver mountain as the sun sank below the skyline. It was a gorgous sunset, illuminating a beautiful picnic on the deck. Beans and greens and fresh baked bread and soup. It was quite the layout. Danda even smiled over a plate of peanut butter cookies.

"Wow." Sam gushed, as she sat down. Everyone was there. Wrll, almost everyone. Sam gave a questioning look to Secoya.

"I tried to get her for dinner, but she said she wasn't feeling well and was going to bed early. She took a plate of food though." she said. Obviously Myiah was still mad, so Sam made a mental note to go see her after dinner.

 

[Maka]

The majestic sunset over the mountains gave the perfect setting to the feast that Danda had set out for them, a mouthwatering spread of delicious food. The cold thin air tasted like the sweetest wine to Titus just then. For the first time since he'd been hustled aboard the Reaver, he felt completely at ease and content. The girls were smiling, laughing and joking among themselves, occasionally sending sly glances his way and then laughing all the harder. Even Tara gave him a little smile. Titus wondered if Sam had told him about the heroic resistance that he'd shown to Myiah's advances the night before.

That brought Myiah to his mind, and he realised he didn't see her about the deck. She was obviously still sulking. Titus found himself wishing he'd had time to pick up a present for her as well in Silver Mountain -it might cheer her up a bit. She'd briefly made life a sweet hell for him last night, but she'd also been humiliated in front of her rival and that couldn't have felt good.

Sam was sitting beside him, munching the food contentedly. He smiled at her, feeling a rush of warmth and affection quite different from lusty desire -although that was in the mixture too, unfortunately. There was no doubt about it, he'd be completely lost without her guidance and loyal lieutenantcy. Titus even wondered if he might have yielded to Myiah last night after all if it hadn't had been for Sam. He simply couldn't have borne the idea of letting her down, of seeing disappointment tint that lovely face. The other girls drifted off one by one towards the end of the meal, until it was just the two of them sitting side by side.

Sam rose and Titus, already so intimately familiar with her after just two days aboard ship with her, guessed that she was going to talk to Myiah. He rose with her.

"I got you something too," he said. "It's nothing much but I just saw it in the provisioners... "

He pressed it into her hands. It was a packet of butterscotch toffees, wrapped in silver foil.

"My uncle said you liked sweets."


Titus had his own call to make. He found Secoya in her workshop.

"I got you something in Silver Mountain."

He opened the package, revealing a silvery phallus, longer and thicker than the one Secoya had so mischeviously displayed to him.

"I thought perhaps you could use a change. It was the biggest they had in stock."

Frustratingly, it still wasn't as big as Titus' cock, but he thought it better than to draw attention to that.

 

[Artemidorus]

Dinner ended, and Maren went back to pilotonf the ship. Tara went back to her engine room, Secoya to her workshop and Danda to the kitchen. Once everyone left, Titus pressed spmething into Sam's hands. Candy?

She smiled up at him, blushing slightly that he thought of her to get her sweets. "Thank you, captain." she gave his hand a squeeze before she headed off.

Necklace in hand, she headed down to their living quarters. The room was empty, and as Sam's eyez darted around the rolm she saw something. A half eaten plate of food, and beside it a note. She headed towards it, fear welling up in her chest. She picked it up, and as she read it, her hand flew to her mouth to cover a gasp. No. No no no. It couldn't be.

She ran from the room.

---

"Damn." Secoya said, as he handed her the toy. "That's pretty big. You don't want me tonhurt myself, do you?" she ran her fingers along the cold metal thing, still looking him in the eye. "After all, I am a virgin."

"Titus!" they yell was so loud and full of grief that it snapped Secoya to attention and she ran from the room. "Sam!" she shouted, as she booked it towards the sound.

Everyone had gathered on deck. Sam was in the middle, collapsed to her knees. "Myiah-" she choked. "Myiah- she-"

Tara stepped forward, grabbing the letter. Her eyes skimmed the words, her faced scrunched into confusion mixed with anger. "She- she arranged to meet with the sultans men. She's going back somewhere-"

"Somewhere she's wanted." Sam finished, tears in her eyes. Its what she had written, sloppily and full of errors. Myiah could barely read amd was slightly better at writing. Sam and Maren tried ro teach her, but rhe midnight reaver kept a busy schedule. She had been taken so young-

Sam sobbed a bit. "It's my fault-"

Maren sat down slowly too, fear filling her face. "They're going ro find us. We're going to have to go back- my books- my maps..."

Secoya was next, collapsing against the railing. "The ship... And you guys... They'll seperate us."

"No thats not-" Tara tried to argue, but tears flooded her eyes too. "Thats not what's gonna happen." she said with a sob. But even she didnt seem so sure.

A tear slid down Danda's face, but she just shook her head as she cried.

Everything was collapsing.

 

[Maka]

Titus found himself moved by Myiah's poorly spelt and gramatically confused note, a hurt, touching little missive stiffly bidding everyone on board farewell.

It had been easy to overlook, of course, that last night Myiah had been wanting more than a romp with the new captain. However misguided her way of looking for it had been wanted, what she'd really wanted, well besides a thorough dicking, was attention, affection, love. It was easy to see her position, stuck as the perpetual kid sister of the Reaver family. Sam had been second-in-command and clearly very close to his uncle. All the others had skills that gave them a firm place in the crew. All Myiah had was her preternatural acrobatic skills -and Titus wondered if she hadn't first developed them in an attempt to show off, an attempt to earn her captain's attention and concern as she performed ever more daring feats.

Then he'd come along -a new captain and perhaps a new start for Myiah. But on his first day, he hadn't even introduced himself to her -and then she'd suffered a harsher rejection than she'd ever received from Melchior. Kicked out of his bed, in front of Sam. Myiah saw that as him choosing Sam over her, he knew.

And so, tempted by the idea of being special and wanted and loved, she'd slipped away at Silver Mountain, and sent a telegram to the nearest of the Sultan's outposts. They'd already have despatched a sleek swift air vessel to pick her up -and it wouldn't be long before they sent out hunters for Myiah's fellow waifs.

He looked about him. The girls were crying, tears streaming down their lovely faces. He couldn't bear it.

"No," he said. He strode it into the middle of the deck, drawing their attention to him.

"I may not have been a sky pirate very long, but I know the most important rule of all: we don't leave our people behind. We're getting Myiah back. And none of you are going anywhere you don't want to go, ever."

Hoping to snap them out of their despair, he started rattling off orders at once.

"Maren, set a course for Silver Mountain if you please. Second mate Secoya, make sure our guns are primed and ready. Tara, have the engine hot and purring -we want to be in and out as quick as lightning. First mate, Danda -you're with me. The Sultan's vessel will be above Silver Mountain. We board it while Secoya keeps them busy at the guns, we find Myiah, we get her back aboard the Reaver and then we're off into the skies once again. Any questions?"

 

[Artemidorus]

Everyone looked up at Titus. They took a minute as he spoke to truly see it, but he was right. He hadn't been a pirate long, but the way he stood and spoke, commanded them and new what to do. He had it i his blood. In his bones and in his breath. He was a leader, a commander. The girls stood up slowly, blinking their tears away.

"I need to turn this ship around. Tara, I need you to slow it as we turn ao we don't tip. And then lile the captain said, top speed." Maren rushed off to the pilot deck and Tara nodded, heading down to the hull.

Secoya started to move but stoped. "To get there in time we need the second sails opened. And Myiah normally works our sails."

"I'll do it." Sam said. "You to get ready to board when we find them. I'll catch up."

Sam ran to the mast pully, taking out her dagger and slicing the line. Grabbing onto the rope, she was hoisted up to the bottom of the first mast. But she had a lot more climing to do to make it to the sails.

 

[Maka]

Titus tried to stifle the instinctive feeling of concern and fear he felt as Sam -beautiful, delicate Sam, her slim body seeming so fragile and vulnerable, went aloft. She might not be as gifted an acrobat as Myiah, but Sam was no stranger to the vertiginous heights of the Reaver's masts. He had to keep reminding himself of that. More importantly, Sam was where she was because she chose to be, because she'd gladly face whatever risks there were to rescue her crewmate.

That was it, Titus realised. It was intoxicating, feeling like he was at the centre of one of Tara's mechanical devices, seeing all of these gorgeous girls moving to his will in perfect unison. But it was because they chose it. This effortless blooming of cooperation, all of their quirks and talents meshing together seamlessly, was the exact opposite of the colourless slavery the Sultan would enforce on them all. It was a sobering thought.

The ship swung around, Titus picturing Maren's hands at the wheel, and the engines roared as Sam's activities opened the sail and sent them flying back towards Silver Mountain.


Titus was standing at the helm, Danda at his side. Again and again, he practised the movement of reaching for his pistols, Secoya's gift, followed by the rapier after discharging them. He looked at Danda. It was hard to imagine the free-spirited, ethereal cook ever wanting to hurt anyone, even in defence of her friends.

"Are you okay with this, Danda?" he asked. "You don't need to fight if you don't want to."

The odds were sticky enough as it was, but Titus meant what he said. While he was around, none of the Reaver's crew would ever be forced to do anything against their will.

 

[Artemidorus]

Danda smiled at Titus. Today she was actually wearing something that almost closely resembled clothes. She had a tight white cloth wrapped around her breasts, and another wrapped like a skirt around her waist. Everywhere else was wrapped in pink sheer cloth. "Death can be a form of freedom. But what is not a form of freedom is using your freedom to restrict another soul. If you use your freedom to entangle anothers will, I will take it away from you."

Seemingly out of nowhere she showed Titus a collection of throwing knives, all aloned between her fingers. In another swift movement they were hidden again.

Sam made her way up, and as the sails unfurled she made her way down, fabric wrapped around her palms she slid down a rope to the deck with a thud.

Secoya, still prepping the cannons, tossed her a belt. It holstered two long, curved cutlasses.

"Ready captain? I've spotted a ship with silk sails just ahead." Sam said confidently.

"Were in firing range!" Secoya shouted. "Ready to fire at your command, captain!"

 

[Maka]

The Wrath of God loomed over Silver Mountain -a sleek black and red painted vessel flying the colours of the Sultan of Vathek, its flanks bristling with guns. Titus knew that surprise and speed would be their main advantages. If the crew aboard the enemy vessel were given time to train the guns on the Reaver, they'd blast them out of the sky.

Titus waited as the Reaver flew ever closer, and the Wrath filled their horizon, until the two ships were almost touching. Then the moment he'd been waiting for came -a look-out in the Vathek vessel's crows-nest spotted them and gave a shout of alarm.

"Open fire!" Titus called to Secoya.

Fire from the Reaver raked the decks, sending the Sultan's men diving for cover. It was the opportunity his little boarding party needed. Trusting Sam and Danda to follow him, Titus leapt on to the ship's rail and across the gulf between them, landing in a roll on the deck of the enemy ship. One of the Sultan's men swung a scimitar at him and he drew both pistols in one smooth motion, blasting the man away.

The deck was still acrid with smoke from the Reaver's guns. Titus knew that Secoya would be frantically reloading, but she couldn't fire while the boarding party was on deck. He looked around. They'd be holding Myiah below decks. He saw a companion way leading below the deck and, drawing his blade and motioning for the others to follow, led the way down the stairs into the darkness.

 

[Artemidorus]

Danda danced, her silks whirling as fast as her blades, flying out of her fingers to land in the shoulders and throats of those that stood in her way. For some, that pink silk and silver locks would be the last thing they saw. And it was practically all you could see as she danced a dance of death. Her face looked pained, but at peace with what had to be done.

Sam, on the other hand, while every bit as graceful as her counter part, was a sight to be feared or worshipped, a dangerous, crazed, determined look in her eyes. Weilding a blade in each hand, she ran into enemy fire, taking out the canons first. As the operators fell, more fighters left the battle to take aim at the reaver,only to fall again, hands tied up with reloading. They were easy targets compared to Sam's speed. She flew like a warrior godess, like a valkyrie in the old norse tales. Her hair fell loose from her braid wnd fell around her shoulders in curls or dancing behind her when she moved, like wings.

When she had the chance, she paused to find Titus. For the first time She saw him, really saw him, dashing and handsome and willing to risk his all for the girls. His girls. His crew. His family. The look on his face as he moved, emptying his pistol into attackers. He was the leader his uncle was, fighting alongside them with vigor. It was a visom that brought tears to her eyes and made her heart ache for him. He was wonderful for them. A captain they needed. But a man she could never have. The girls came first, and any relations between her and Titus would only complicate and possible hurt them.

But the stumbled on his face and his strong chest and the way he had kissed her forehead, denying himself release for the better of the crew. The way he had charged after Myiah like his own daughter had been captured. The way he looked at her that first day. She didnt want to loose him today. But something changed. Something in the way she saw him. Someone she could be with. Someone she could fight beside. Someone worth fighting for.

Sam followed him below deck, but Danda stayed behind. "Bring us back what we have lost, so dear. I will hold the door." there was no time to argue, so Sam just nodded, and tossed her one of her swords before she headed below with her captain.

"Titus we need to hurry." she told him, her strong voice hinting at fear. She wanted to get Myiah back with as little damage as possible to the ship, but she was also scared. These were the same men that bought her, stripped her, touched her and robbed her of her freedom. Being back on this ship, even if it wasnt the same one that captured her, filled her with fear.

 

[Maka]

There was an extraordinary contrast between the raw vulnerability and fear that Sam allowed to creep into her voice and the grace and control she had shown in the battle on the deck above. Titus understood at once. He touched Sam just once on the shoulder, a gentle, fleeting touch that conveyed so much. He knew the dark memories that must resurface below decks on this foul slaver, but she also knew that he was at her side and would never let harm come to her.

Running down the corridor, a knot of the Sultan's men charged at them from the opposite direction. Titus didn't even need to look aside for a moment to know that Sam had his flank, that she would be fighting like a guardian angel at his side. He feinted at their leader, then turned the stroke into an upward stab at his undefended heart, running him through and then kicking the body off his blade. A cut to the right, a cut to the left, Secoya's rapier like a living thing turning and twisting under his hand, and they had broken through into the captain's cabin.

It was lined with cushions, and there was a faint hint of hashish in the air. On a divan by the porthole, a familiar bluehaired figure was lying face down, her little rump in the air. Titus rushed over. They'd gagged Myiah and held her slim wrists behind her back with silken lashes, dressing her in a green silk tunic and harem pants in the process, but she otherwise appeared unharmed. He cut the lashes with his blade and turned her over to untie the gag, noticing as he did but having no time to consider an odd metallic clank coming from under her pants.

"Myiah!" he said, untying the gag. "Are you all right? Have they hurt you?"

 

[Artemidorus]

"I'm okay- I- they didn't-" she threw herself against Titus. "Uou came back for me. I'm so sorry." her chest heaved with a sob as her tears came freely. She wasn't the angry viper from last night, now she was kust a scared, lost little girl.

Sam pulled her into a quick embrace. "There's no time for that now. All that matters is that youre safe. Come on, we have to hurry."

Sam hurried ahead, leaving Myiah with Titus as she cleared the way. Danda had held the doot like she had said, and they didn't run into anyone. They made it to the deck, regrouping and heading for the edge. Tara tossed them a board, and Danda made the climb across to the Reaver with Myiah clinging to her side. Sam motioned for Titus to go next, guarding their rear.

But as he made his way across, a wounded soldier with a knife in his arm came flying towards her. She threw up her sword to block, but didnct make it all the way in time. She swung the sword away from her heart but it sliced her deep across her shoulder. She cried out in pain and fell to the deck.

 

[Maka]

Titus was halfway across the plank when he looked back. His heart flipped over as he saw Sam fall to the deck, her attacker standing over her, his blade levelled at her throat.

He didn't hesitate. He charged back across the plank, shouting "Go!" to Danda. The moment his feet touched the deck, he kicked the plank away, ensuring the safety of the rest of his girls.

The man who'd attacked Sam did not get even a moment's warning before Titus' blade entered his throat, the tip pushing out the back of his neck. He threw his arms up and fell backwards, the heavy weight sliding smoothly off Titus' rapier. Titus, meanwhile, had reached down and effortlessly hoisted Sam's slender body across his shoulder, part of him even then distantly noting the soft, smooth feel of her skin.

The Wrath's men were gathered in a circle around him, scimitars raised. Titus glanced behind him. The winds were carrying the Reaver away -there was already eight feet between it and the Vathek vessel. He could see the pale faces of his crew aboard the deck, consternation visible even at this distance.

The Sultan's men were girding themselves for one quick rush and he couldn't take them all on. They'd kill him and Sam would be back in the Sultan's grip...

No. Titus looked up and saw, just overhead, one of the Wrath's docking cables, tied up and taut. He cut it loose with one slash of his rapier, then leapt up grabbed the trailing end of the cable as it whipped past. The cable's arc carried him and his lovely burden into mid-air between the ships, where he waited for exactly the right moment and let go, landing on the deck of the Reaver.

"Secoya! Fire! Tara, Maren... get us out of here!"

He was already moving again as he gave the orders, racing below decks to his cabin. Once inside, he lay Sam gently and tenderly down on his own bed. For once not even considering propriety or temptations, he ripped open her already torn shirt to look at the injury to her shoulder.

 

[Artemidorus]

Titus's orders were met with a chorus of "Aye captain!"

The group let out collective held breath. Tara rushed below, Maren to the wheel and Myiah up above. With a real sail master working the sails and the balloons, the wrath was no match for their speed. Danda and Secoya trained the canons on the ship as they fled, laying massive blows on the deck, and even taking out one of the sails. Silver Mountain and the ship that loomed above it was gone in minutes, and with an empty horizon, the crew settled at ease.

Sam smiled a bit, brushing Titus off. "It's gonna need stitches. And a good scrubbing. And unfortunely I'm the ships best medic." she laughed, but the chuckle made her cringe in pain. "Once we're clear you better fetch Danda. I'll need some water and a needle and-"

Sam stopped, looking up at Titus. Laying there without a shirt, just the fabic that wrapped her chest insteed of a bra, a small tattoo on her hip was visible. An ornate V with an S snaking trhough it. They all had the mark. Her hand moved up to grip his cheek. "Titus..." she whispered. "You were amazing." she smiled up at him, her green eyes sparkling.

 

[Maka]

Titus would have fought his way across a dozen decks crowded with foemen just to receive the admiring look that Sam was casting up at him, her eyes shining like brilliant green stars. She could make a man feel ten feet tall, his lovely first mate. Her fingertips were warm and delicate against his cheek, her breasts straining against the restraint of the cloth. She was the most beautiful, perfect specimen of young womanhood that could be imagined and so quiveringly, achingly ripe for the taking and yet forbidden to him.

"You're the amazing one," he told her, holding her slim wrist in his for a long, lingering moment. "I couldn't do any of this without you, Sam."

He smiled at her, wishing so much to bend down and take her in his arms.


Out on deck, Danda was sent to attend to Sam's injury. Titus had a mission of his own. There was someone he needed to talk to -and he knew where she'd be. He climbed up the main mast with care, until he came to the crow's nest about ten feet from its top. It was a small space and it already contained a Myiah, curled up inside it and looking out at the horizon.

Titus paused on the ladder just below the crow's nest.

"Myiah? Do you mind if I come up and join you?"

 

[Artemidorus]

The moment was so innocent, so surreal. It wasn't hot or cold, just passionate and honest. But he was gone so soon, off to get Danda to help tend to her wounds.

Soon Cookie was there with a rag to scrub at her wound, dumping a bit of whiskey on it and offering some to Sam, which she graciously accepted.

Myiah was shocked to see Titus' rumpled dark hair appear below her nest. "Boss?" she said, as she jumped up, drying her eyes. "I'm sorry that- that I did what I did. I- I-" she frowned. "And all the trouble I caused. After how I acted. I wouldn't have come back for me." she crossed her arms and laid along the rail of the crows nest.

 

[Maka]

Myiah's eyes were red-rimmed with tears. She looked very small and unhappy and ashamed of herself, leaning against the rail of the crow's nest. Titus would never have credited it the night before, but he found himself missing the wriggling, giggling, uncontrollable little spitfire who'd stolen into his bed the night before, the light of pure mischief in her eyes. He stood alongside her at the rail, and laid an arm around slight shoulders, looking out at the ocean of clouds that the Reaver traversed.

"I want to apologize too," he said. "I should have come to see you yesterday, when I was meeting everyone. It wasn't that I didn't think we were going to be friends. It was just that... "

He sighed.

"I was confused, and I wanted to do everything right, and be a proper captain. I guess I forgot that you weren't just a test or a temptation for me, but a person with needs of your own. But I'm meeting that person now, and I like them a lot."

Titus hugged Myiah to him.

"By the way," he added. "My uncle mentioned you to me in his letter. Even though it was clear you were a handful, it was also clear how much he loved you. He said you were the bravest of all the crew, Myiah. I don't think he meant just the way you leap about the rigging."

He pulled the blue-haired girl to him and kissed the top of her head affectionately.

 

[Artemidorus]

As Titus pulled her to his chest, she began to sob freely. She clutched at his shirt as she began to cry harder, thinking about Melichor and how much he had meant to her, and how Titus was just like him. She couldn't beilive that she forgot something so important. That love didn't have to come from sex.

And it was love she really wanted.

Despite her tears she looked up at Titus with a wet, smiling face. She small body was still pressed up against him, hugging him like she wanted to squeeze all the air from his body. When she finally let go she giggled a but and wiped her eyes. "Thanks Titus." she said lightly. "Is Sam okay?"

 

[Maka]

Titus' shirt was wet with Myiah's tears. She was hugging him unbelievably tightly, clinging to him as though she never meant to let go. Titus hugged her back, pressing her close to him.

"Sam is going to be fine," he told her. "She just needs a bit of rest."

He smiled at her, looking around the little crow's nest.

"I like it up here. Would it be okay if I came and hung with you here every now and then? You know, when I need to get away from captain's duties and all of that."

 

[Artemidorus]

Myiah let go of him. "I'm glad Sam is okay. I could never forgive myself if..."

She trailed off. Her thoughts instead shifted to something else. Something in her pants, and not the usual thing this time. No, something cold and metal and locked.

She deliberated telling Titus. She wanted to. Really. But... Perhaps talking to Tara or Secoya first would be a good idea. Plus Titus was already moving on and changing the subject.

"Yeah, you can come up here whenever. It always makes me feel so free." she smiled, as the wind whipped her hair. "You better go check on Sam. I need to go talk to Secoya anyways." she gave him a smile before he headed off.