Crew.

Sth escorted me back. We didn't say anything the whole way, and then, when we opened the door, I found a visitor waiting for me. Sitting on my bed.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, too tired to be properly angry. "I told you I didn't want to see you again."

"Could you give us a moment, please?" Nuba asked, standing up and looking at Sth.

"Sure honey." He looked at me. "I'll be back in the morning," he said, and, with a kindly pat on my shoulder, departed.

"Well, you're making a name for yourself these days," Nuba said, as I slumped onto the bed.

"What do you want? I'm tired," I replied, pulling at my jumpsuit.

"Here, let me help."

So I allowed her to undress me, and even though I was still furious at her, it was nice being looked after again, with someone who actually cared about me. She flicked my piercings as she went, making me gasp.

"These are new," she commented. "I like."

A moment more, and I was undressed. Nuba held up my poor jumpsuit. "This needs washing. It's smelly, and there's blood on the sleeve."

"Please," I said, suddenly overwhelmed by recent events. "Please...."

"Oh my dear, I'm sorry. Shush. Here." Nuba pushed me over from the sitting position I'd been in, lifted my legs onto the bed, and lay me on my back. Then she slid onto me and kissed me.

I responded, pulling her close, revelling in the touch of he lips again. I ground my crotch against her, and she slid down, making me moan.

Then she went to work on my pussy, and I remembered what I'd been missing. In very short order I was writhing around on the bed in ecstasy, as she worked my tender area as only she could. A minute later I felt like my cunny would explode, as I experienced a mind blowing orgasm, making my hold body convulse.

"Thank you," I gasped, as she climbed up and lay next to me, her hand making gentle patterns on my stomach.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "This wasn't how it was supposed to go."

"Don't talk for now, please," I said, overcome with a flood of emotions. "Just hold me."

She did, and I snuggled up to her, taking comfort in her familiar form, and fell asleep in her arms.

~*~

I woke up alone, and for a moment forgot where I was. I put my hand out to feel the bed next to me, but it was cold. I felt miserable, even though I should be celebrating my victory from yesterday.

Slipping out from under the covers, I made my way to the shower and washed. I didn't even play with my myself, that's how detached I felt.

I'd just climbed into my jumpsuit when the door slid open.

It was Red. Sth was with her.

"I suppose congratulations are in order," she said.

I shrugged.

"Now for the prize. Pack up your things, you're moving," Red went on.

"What? Where?" I asked. "But I won, aren't I a lieutenant now? Whatever Grog was? That's the rule, isn't it? A victorious challenger takes the position of the vanquished."

"I think you've been reading the wrong rulebook," Red said. "That can apply, perhaps, but the captain has final say. The only time that is a set rule is if you challenge the captain, and win. Just in case that's your next move." She raised an eyebrow in a questioning fashion.

"I think I'll rest on my laurels for the moment."

"Wise choice," she said. "Now, you've managed to fight your way out of slavery, good work, but there is no way the captain, or most of the crew for that matter, would accept you as a lieutenant. So, you're now a crewmember, yes, but you start at the bottom. Hence, you reside with the others of your rank."

"Well, it's not going to take long to pack," I said. I picked up my towel, and slung it over my shoulder. "There. Done."

Red nodded. "Travel light. I like your style." She turned to Sth. "Take her to the crew quarters, there's a spot in Marx's team."

"Yes ma'am," Sth said.

Red turned back to me. "When you've settled yourself into your new bunk, go to the armoury. Tell Heth that you're to have a pistol, a dagger and a sword. Come to me if he gives you grief. Oh, and Sth, get her some new clothes and footwear, for fucks sake."

"Thanks," I said.

"One last thing," she said.

"What's that?"

"If I were you, I'd keep out of the way of the captain. Out of his sight even. He is not happy about losing the chance to sell you. You've cost him a lot of money. All the crew actually, as we'd all have had a cut."

"Understood," I said, "Sorry about that." Although I wasn't at all.

Red nodded, and, without any further conversation, turned and left. I looked at Sth.

"Shall we go?"

We went.

~*~

My new quarters as a crewmember, ironically, seemed to be a step down from my quarters as a sex slave.

Sth led me down a lot of decks, until we arrived in long corridor with numerous doorways. Trotting along, we eventually arrived at one with the number five above it. Without bothering to knock, he pushed it open and stepped through. I followed, to find myself in a space not all that much larger than Murder's cabin.

It was definitely more cramped though. Poles had been rigged to run from floor to ceiling at regular locations inside the room, and hanging from these were sheets, acting as makeshift partitions. We walked down a fabric corridor within the room, until we arrived in the corner, where a hammock was strung up in a partition made of same said sheets.

A small locker was in the corner, and a crude shelf had been stuck on the wall.

"Your new home," Sth said, gesturing.

I raised my eyebrows.

"Hey, Lea, you here?" Sth called out.

One of my 'walls' moved aside, to reveal a similar partition beyond. A woman, tall, with black hair and a magnificent bosom, revealed herself. She was wearing a white shirt, dark blue pants and knee high boots.

"Hey," she said. "Oh, ranked up did you?" She held out a hand. "Lea," she said. "Good kill earlier."

I shook her hand. "Thanks. Alice," I said in turn.

"Lea, could you give Alice the two credit tour, and take her to the armoury, and supplies, so she can get some clothes and boots? It's on Red," Sth said.

"Can do." Lea nodded.

Sth turned to me. "It's been... real," he said, and left.

"So, first time as a pirate?" Lea asked.

I giggled, and she smiled.

"Come on, put your... towel(?) down, let's show you around."

"Thanks," I said, but then put a hand out to stop her. "Before we go, I need to know, do I need to watch my back with you? I've killed seven of the crew now."

Lea looked at me for a second, but then shook her head. "Not that I'd probably tell you if I was planning on slitting your throat in the night, but no, you don't need to worry about that from me. Snoring too loudly, maybe, but as I hear it, you were simply fighting back on your ship, and Grog, hah! Grog had it coming. I'll not miss that bullying oaf."

"Okay." I nodded, slightly reassured.

"So," Lea said, "there are five of us here, well, six now I guess, with you. The others are all out at the moment though." She made her way through the hanging sheets. "We have Grandad in the opposite corner, he's a grouchy fucker. I don't think he'll like you, but ignore him, his bark is worse than his bite. Then we have the twins, Vin and Win. They keep to themselves, pretty much. You don't fuck with them, they won't fuck with you. Finally we have Tom. He's new, joined at our last stop. He's the son of some friend of the captains. Seems like a good kid, but a bit wet behind the ears, if you know what I mean."

I nodded, although I wasn't sure what wasn't wet behind the ears about myself.

I stopped again. Lea stopped as well, looking at me curiously.

"And what do you do about..." I paused, not sure about how to bring the subject up. "Er, liaisons?"

"Fucking you mean?" she asked.

"Well, yes."

She smiled. "There's a storage area over there if you want a bit of privacy, otherwise, just keep the noise down when people are trying to sleep. No one gives a fuck here. Mmm, maybe wrong choice of words."

"And, er," I looked her up and down. "She was certainly attractive, I felt a familiar tingle. May I..."

"I don't do girls," she said, not unkindly.

"Had to ask," I replied. "You're pretty hot."

"Thanks," she said, and I think she was pleased. "Now, let's get you some stuff to kill people with."

We made our way up several decks, passing other crewmembers along the way. Most ignored me, or just looked me up and down. One or two scowled at me, but I went unmolested.

"Red runs a tight ship," said Lea when I mentioned this. "She'll space anyone who starts trouble."

"Red? Not the captain?"

"Oh, Murder will too, if it comes to it, but Red's his second, her main duty is looking after the crew, which includes discipline, day to day stuff and so on. The captain is more of a bigger picture person."

"Ah, I see."

"Here we go, the armoury." We arrived at a metal door, which was currently open. Lea headed in, and I followed, to find myself at a counter. A metal grill ran from the counter top to the ceiling. There was a small opening where the two met.

"Heth, you here old fellow?" shouted Lea. She banged on our side of the counter.

"Aye, what's up lass?" A grizzled man shuffled into view. He was wearing a heavy leather vest and matching pants. A flat cap rested on his head, which appeared to be bald, and a pair of round glasses sat on his nose.

Red says this one is to have a pistol, a knife and a sword. And not the crap stuff either, she knows how to handle them.

"She does, does she?" Heth peered at me through his glasses. "This the girl I've been hearing about? Death incarnate, so I hear."

"That's her, so don't piss her off by giving her crap."

"Aye, aye, all right then. Keep your breeches on." He turned around and shuffled off between some of the shelves that occupied his side.

"Death incarnate?" I asked Lea.

"Gossip," she replied. "This place runs on it. According to who you listen to, you can kill with a look, you're a cheap whore, a con artist or a witch."

"Maybe some of each," I suggested.

Lea giggled. "I think, maybe, you're all right." She looked me up and down again. "And I know I said I don't do girls, but perhaps, sometime, for you and your cute bod, I might make an exception." She smiled.

I grinned back. "I look forward to it," I said.