#pirateday

Tina Chen is an oddity among the convicts in that she isn't so much getting deported to America, but returned there. Part of a pirate crew of some infamy, she had gotten taken to London for a public trial, where she got pardoned from the gallows and only sentenced to labor oversees.

When towards the end of the journey several seamen fall ill, the Captain calls upon Tina to help out. Hank uses his position as prisoner overseer to hang out in the crow's nest for a spell, where he normally isn't allowed.

The first few hours are relaxing for both. But then usually taciturn Tina suddenly speaks up...

Tina: "Where are we headed for? Maryland or Virginia? Because I could have sworn we're way farther up north. - What's the island over there called?"

Hank: "New Brunswick."

Tina: "Ah." (pause) "Alright, Lieutenant, imagine for a moment that you were sober. What would the island's name be then?"

Hank: "Damned if I knew!"

Hank: "But I know that we are going to neither Maryland nor Virginia."

Tina: "So where ARE we going?"

Hank: "Jeff is doing a little hustle on the side: The Remorse is to collect heaps of critter fur from the Lake Erie outposts. Beavers and stuff. We're going up the fucking St. Lawrence river!"

Tina: "Those pelts would be... valuable?"

Hank: *resigned look*

Tina: "I hear the Great Lakes are so majestic, that a landlubber wouldn't be able to tell the difference between them and the real ocean. Now I really wanna see them!"

Hank: “Speak, squeak!”

In the Remorse's hold three convicts each share a double cot, under the assumption that not everyone will make it to America and the space problem will soon sort itself out. Only Connor has his own cot.

After the brawl, the guards stow Daniel's group down here again and instead fetch the sleepers from the lower cots for work on deck.

Connor: “What’s the deal with O’Malley? The way he provoked the Lieutanant, you’d think he wanted to get tossed overboard!”

Gavin: “You’re an only child, Stern?”

Connor: “My family or lack thereof isn’t your concern, Reed.”

Gavin: “In this case our bunkmate isn’t your concern, either.”

Connor: “Your... our... I think I get it. O’Malley is jeaulous, is that it? When we started this journey, he was on his best behaviour, yet the lieutenant "preferred” me over him.”

Chris: “It’s a matter of wanting justice. You can write if off as envy, but it really goes deeper.”

Connor: “Don’t start me on justice!”

Gavin: “Whoops! Got a story to tell?”

Connor: "No. Nightie-night, duffers."

Gavin: "He's fishy, Chris, I tell you!"

Chris: *sighs*

Gavin: "What?"

Chris: "You realize that you got sentenced to seven years of forced labor and therefore are not the epitome of trustworthiness yourself, Gavin?"

They swagger nervously, step from one foot to the other, but nobody leaves the very spot they were standing on when the brawl had started, as if they were nailed to the deck.

At the moment Captain Fowler and the crew still ignore what is going on. This is Anderson's problem.

Who will win? And what will happen next?

Decades of experience (and three full meals plus tea time) versus unrefined youth.

The outcome isn't surprising.

Hank turns around and leaves the scene, leaving the marines to deal with the aftermath. As an officer he isn't obligated to see to every little detail personally, after all.

As he isn't obligated to feel remorse or anything like it for just having beaten the mouthy prisoner to unconsciousness. And yet Hank does feel bad. About what has happened, but even moreso about why it has happened.

O'Malley had had a point about Hank playing favorites. He should have taken it like a man instead of giving in to his anger. But there is a reason why Lt. Anderson has lost control. The reason is brownish and has a creamy, buttery aroma. Except that right now, coming out of the lieutenant's mouth, it smells foul and rotten.

Hank: "I need a drink..."

Chris (low voice): “No, Sir, you need a kick in the backside.”