Chapter One

An Interesting Turn of Fate

For the first time in several months, the Graybesh was

finally back out on the high seas. Ever since it had been damaged
in the Great Storm, the ship had undergone an intense period of
repairs and inspection. The outer hull had been crushed inward at
several points. The main and side cannons had been dislodged or
else blown to pieces in the battle. And the entire bridge was
without roof or walls. It cost an extraordinary amount of time,
patience, and money to fix all of the problems that the ship had.
It hadn’t been to this very day that the ship’s captain, Renaldo
Julius Hughes, had even been notified that the Graybesh was ready
to set out once again. The ship that hadn’t sailed for two years
was finally ready to go.

1
 Less than an hour ago, R.J had been in bed sulking over the
dismal drapes that had covered his life since he was put on
indefinite vacation. His entire life, and his entire identity,
had been as the captain of the Graybesh. His position in the
Raoin Navy had been one that he had fought hard to obtain. And
yet after that devastating loss that he’d been given, his higher
ups decided it was time for him to sit back and relax for a
while. A while had quickly turned into two years, and a crawling,
boring two years it had been at that. But here he was, standing
on the bridge of his ship, with and unstoppable grin forming at
his mouth, and his fists clenched in utter excitement at what he
saw. He placed his hands on his hips and stared out at the big
blue ocean, the big pool of water that had escaped him for so
long up until now. The sea was his true home. That was a fact
that he had learned very well over his break time. He was
miserable without it. It was his life. And although the ship was
still stuck in the harbor, for they hadn’t gotten permission to
leave out just yet, R.J felt closer to his old self than ever
before. He paced back and forth along the balcony, feeling the
smooth banister of polished steel between his fingers.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t come to see you.” R.J said to his
ship after stopping in his place. He hadn’t gone to check up on
the ship since it had been put up. R.J was a strong man who
didn’t let much get to him, but seeing his little princess in
such distress would have been too much for him. It was his only
weakness, this ship of his. For a man who had watched many
comrades die before his eyes, only seeing his ship in distress
could bring a tear to his eye.
“You’re not talking to me, are you?” came the liquid clear
voice of the person standing silently nearby.
R.J stiffened up immediately, and straightened out his
uniform. He’d forgotten his vice captain had been there the

2
entire time along with him, waiting patiently for her orders as
he got reacquainted with the ship. He cleared his throat and
turned to her, with a slightly apologetic look on his face. “Of
course I am, Lyatta my dear. I feel so bad about ignoring you for
all the time.”
Lyatta stared back at him with a blank emotionless
expression that was more often than not on her face. “You cannot
lie to me, Hughes. You were talking to the ship, were you not?”
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she said this.
Hughes sighed to himself. There was no getting anything
passed his wife. She was too familiar with his ways, and when it
came down to it, was on a whole different plain when it came to
her perception and intelligence. While he had been sulking for
the better of the two years, she had been preparing for when the
ship would be able to set out again. In under two weeks when
she’d first heard the Graybesh was ready to roll, she had almost
gotten everything done that was needed to be done. She had
gathered up a crew of sailors to keep the ship going. She had
hired a substantial amount of soldiers for the voyage ahead. She
had placed the orders for all the supplies and all the cargo. And
she had finished all the paper work needed to re-enlist the ship
in the Navy and receive their orders. And to top it off, she’d
done all of it without even notifying R.J or even asking for any
assistance. She was that type of woman, a woman who was
completely independent of her husband.
“You’re too sharp for me. Yes I admit that I am a bit more
concerned about my ship than you at the moment, but I doubt that
you mind much.”
Lyatta’s eyes remained unmoving like two great emeralds set
in stone. “Of course not.” She drawled, in that tone that woman
use that makes it so hard for their male counterparts to
understand what they mean by it.

3
 R.J turned back to the ocean. His wife used that tone all
the time with him. And he still hadn’t figured out exactly what
it meant. That was his fault for not paying enough attention to
Lyatta. Ever since they had been married, he hadn’t paid a lot of
attention to her. It was often, that either for the line of work
they were involved in, or for personal reasons, they went for
periods of months without seeing each other. Luckily, ever since
he’d begun to captain this particular vessel, he’d managed
somehow to get her on his crew as Vice Captain. Ironic,
considering that in reality her rank in the Navy was much higher
than his, and that she should be in a position below him.
“Of course not.” He repeated to himself. He hoped that was
true. She was too prideful to say it aloud, but after fifteen
years of marriage, at the very least, he could tell whether or
not she was angry. Under that always quiet and cool disposition,
there was a fire blazing that would burn him if he wasn’t careful
about handling it.
“I really am sorry.” He added after a second consideration.
“Of course,” she said in reply, that tone returning.
“Of course.” R.J mimicked in a sardonic tone quietly to
himself, hoping to God she didn’t hear him. Then he peered around
the harbor, taking his mind off of his complicated domestic life
and focusing instead on the other ships around them. For the
Graybesh was not the only ship in the Saint Chaapastine harbor on
that morning. That was an understatement, actually. Many other
ships of various sizes and purposes drifted in and out of the
large dock. It was like this all day, as Chaapastine was one of
the three trade capitals of the world, and certainly the largest
in Rao. But Hughes had the honor of being the captain of the
largest and arguably most important ship in the entire royal
navy. A fact that he bragged about whenever he could. Keep in
mind he hadn’t done any bragging in a long time.

4
 “Commander Hughes, what’s the progress of our stocking and
boarding operation?”
R.J requested this as he took a small pair of binoculars out
of his pocket and peered off into the horizon.
Lyatta answered back to her formal address with that
military edge she projected in her voice.
“The loading of our supplies is about fifty percent complete
as of ten minutes ago. The crew is almost completely unpacked and
settled on the ship, but it will probably take about another two
hours for the job to be complete. As for the ordered supplies,
the orders already came in and are stored in the hold. We’re
almost ready to go.”
The captain looked over his shoulder, “Almost?” He didn’t
like to question his wife about details such as this. Since she
took care of it all, it would be insulting to imply that she did
not do her job. But as captain he was responsible for at least
knowing all the details.
Once again an instant reply came, showcasing the formality
Lyatta had with him on the ship. “There is only one problem so
far. Security Officer Hershel has not arrived as of yet, sir. No
one can contact him at any of his known numbers or residences.
It’s strange because he assured me yesterday he would be here.
And yet he is not. It’s not in his character to walk out on such
dedications. We have to assume he won’t be coming.”
“That’s a problem.” R.J commented to himself. “Lately the
boss has been really strong on the point of always having an S.O
with us. We won’t be able to leave if he doesn’t show.”
A Security Officer was a military ranking that transcended
all branches, whether it be the Army, the Navy, or the Marines.
It also transcended all international boundaries as well.
Security Officers were independent of any nation, working instead
for the esteemed World Police Force that made it it’s job to keep

5
the world in order. A Security Officer was in charge of what his
title implied, the total security of a ship and its mission. The
Officers were known for their skill in battle, choosing to fight
with the outdated art of swords instead of modernized weaponry,
and yet still managing to be more dangerous by themselves then a
whole room of pistol wielding pirates. Officers were like armies
in themselves, and no one outside of the W.P.F knew how they got
so un-humanly strong and fast. At first, they were feared, and
only used as hired mercenaries who worked for money. But ever
since the Great Storm, the battle from two years ago in which the
Graybesh itself had been damaged, Security Officers had seen an
extremely sharp presence in the world. A law had quickly passed,
making it a requirement for all ships in the Navy to have at
least one Officer on board.
Hershel had been a good officer. They had once hired him
while making a round of the Umbra Islands. It really wasn’t like
him not to keep his responsibility.
Lyatta waited patiently for an order to be given as R.J
debated the matter to himself in his head.
“Alright Commander Hughes, I’ll tell you what. Send someone
to scout out all of Hershel’s known location one last time. I
want to give Hershel the benefit of the doubt. Send a different
scout to the local World Police Station and request a knew
officer. We don’t have time to risk depending on a man who might
not even be here.”
Lyatta nodded her head. “Yes sir. Anything else?”
“Nope. Be careful out there, Commander. Safe sailing.”
“Safe sailing.” Lyatta repeated the popular salute. She then
spun on her heel. Just for a second as she turned away, R.J saw a
frightening look in her eyes.
‘Yeah.’ Hughes thought as leaned up against the railing.
‘She’s pissed.’

6
 It was not unlike he didn’t know that already.

Lyatta was indeed pissed off at her husband. Ronaldo had had
been making all the wrong choices lately, and it was more than
just getting to her nerves. With the sheer stupidity and
ignorance R.J sometimes showed it was scary to think that that
man had peoples’ lives in his hands. She knew R.J would not be
able to handle it all without her, and because she knew this she
had to sit back and play the supporting wife for now. As much as
she didn’t like the fact, she needed R.J as much as he needed
her. There was not a chance Lyatta could take over as captain of
the ship. Her husband just had a command over his crew that she
could not hope to emulate. And this was the man who didn’t know
his own ship was about to set sail until a few hours before.
He was a damn fool. But she still loved him for what it was
worth. If it was worth anything. And so she had to contented with
a silent fury that she couldn’t be shown to anyone. She still
felt angry after his showing of affection towards a hunk of steel
and metal.
‘Damned ship.’ she thought to herself as she waited for the
messengers she sent to return to the docks. She’d picked a small
little area next to the ship to wait, and watched as the crowds
of people moved around her.
‘Where are they?!’ Esmeralda fumed. She hated waiting. She
glanced at her watch to check the time, and then back out into
the crowd. She couldn’t even remember who she had sent out where,
she was so angry. There was no sign of either messenger and it
was five minutes past the time she assigned them. They should
have known better than to be late on Lyatta’s watch.
‘I feel bad for the fools who make me cross on a day like
this.’

7
 It wasn’t long after that that she finally saw the first
sign of one of the people she’d sent. When she saw the top of
Jules’ hat in the crowd and saw his ruddy face appear among the
moving people, her anger dissipated. She’d forgotten about
sending the little boy out there.
Jules Jewgaurd was only eleven years old, a little young to
be in the Navy. That’s why wore no uniform, and had no title. He
was merely Lyatta’s personal messenger. Lyatta could see he had a
look of combined helplessness and failure on his face as he
emerged in front of her. For that reason, she knew he had failed,
but he seemed to really felt bad about the fact. She couldn’t get
angry at him knowing that he tried.
Jules approached her cautiously like one might a venomous
snake in the dessert. The boy was always on his best behavior in
front of her. “H-hello madam.” He whispered meekly with a bow.
Lyatta pretended to check her watch. It amused her to see
him worry so much.
“You’re late.” She said with a sound conclusion. “What news
do you have of Hershel?”
The boy’s head dipped. “I couldn't find ‘em. And no one in
the area has seen him at all of late.” His head dipped lower. “I-
I’m sorry.”
Lyatta stared at him like a wolf stares at prey. It’s how
she always stared at someone who failed to carry out their order.
A deadly, straight glare. And yet she didn’t say what she usually
would say at a time like this. Instead, she reached into her
pocket and pulled out a gold star, a large round disk that just
fit in the palm of one’s hand.
“Here,” She handed the money to Jules. “Good work.”
Jules certainly hadn’t been expecting that. He took the coin
with immense pleasure on his face. “T-t-thank you.” He stammered
out.

8
 A gold star was worth a lot of money, so it was decent
earnings for one day. As the monetary system of Rao went, there
were sixteen different pieces of currency. The smallest was the
gold heart, worth about two dollars in other countries. Then
there was the larger gold star, and then the brilliant gold
diamond. That piece was worth well over a couple grand.
“Now get back on the ship. We could be leaving anytime
soon.” Lyatta ordered the little boy.
Jules nodded and ran back on the ship.
Lyatta checked her watch again. Now just where was her other
messenger at? It was almost ten minutes passed the time she’d
ordered. She didn’t know for sure who she had sent, but judging
from this lack of punctuality…
Almost as she thought it, she saw Tobias Lately striding
confidently down the dock. She didn’t like Tobias. He was almost
an incurably lazy, rude, and annoying young man. At seventeen,
Toby had joined the crew to make some extra money for his mother
at home. It was for that reason alone that R.J wouldn’t let
Lyatta fire him. And she would fire the deckhand, if she had the
opportunity. Or a good reason. Just give her a good reason.
He walked up to her.
“Hey.”
“Hey.” She imitated. “Is that anyway to talk to your
superior officer?”
He scratched his chin. “Guess not.”
Lyatta didn’t let her annoyance show at that blatant show of
disobedience. Tobias was always careful not to give her any real
reason to kick him off. But he wasn’t shy at showing his
disrespect whenever he could get away with it.
“Did you send in the request?”
“Uh-huh.”
“…And?”

9
 Toby pulled out a crumpled piece of paper that must have
been the official transcript. He apparently didn’t care about
its’ importance. She snatched it from him quickly and unfurled it
in her hands. It was a list of all the Security Officers in the
area, along with their availability. She was disappointed with
what she saw.

1 Deschund Shatner Contracted 11\16-12\34

2 Hershel Howards N\A
3 Laura Bush Contracted 2\2-13\34
4 Gary Olsen Contracted 3\3-9\9
5 Ninron Godaver Contracted 10\10-11\11
6 Jennias Cloverfeild Contracted 35\26-17\27
7 Fredrick Bernard Taylor N\A

The listed continued on likewise for a long while. Almost

everyone was already contracted, or else in some sort of other
situation. Lyatta remembered that there was once a time when
Security Officers were easy to find. But now that they were all
needed, they all had contracts. As she continued to scroll the
list, she finally found one, one officer out of one hundred and
twenty assigned in Saint Chaapastine, who was available for work.

37 Landis Landia Available

“Landis Landia…” Lyatta pondered around with the idea.

Landia was a common name. But she could have sworn she’d…
“I’ve heard of him somewhere before. And it was in a
positive light.” That seemed to settle matters for her.
She handed Tobias back the paper. “Go find this man. Ask him
if he is looking for work, and if he is, tell him Lyatta Hughes,

10
second Commander of the Graybesh needs an S.O. Be back in one
hour. One-hour! Do you understand?”
Tobias shrugged.
“Yeah, whatever. I’ll get your man.” After that he left the
scene.
“I really shouldn’t trust such people with such delicate
tasks.” She said aloud to herself. But it was no matter. She’d
just have trust the lounger for now.

Saint Chaapastine, the trade capital of the world, was just

as full of life as always. With its tall stone whitewashed
buildings, its artistic towers rising up in the distance, and the
serene beauty of the natural environment made this place one of
the largest tourist attractions in the world.
Tobias Lately didn’t like it though. To him, the lively
streets were too crowded. The whitewashed buildings were boring
and repetitive. The towers in the distance blocked out the sky
from view. The natural environment, like the vines growing up the
walls, and the trees growing in the streets were just messy and
distasteful. And as for the tourists… They were mostly a bunch of
dirty foreigners from countries that had been trying to murder
them for most of the last century.
So Toby quickly arrived at his location, Blue Gold Hills, a
fancy apartment complex that housed some the richest bachelors in
the city. It was the type of place Tobias hated to be in. It was
the den of the rich and the wasteful. Since he’d grown up poor,
he’d appreciated some of the things that these lucky bastards had
more than the lucky bastards themselves.
He entered the lobby and approached the woman at the front
desk. As he expected, it was a true damn fancy place. Chandeliers
that hung from the ceiling gave off faint light that illuminated

11
the room with a soft glow. The chairs in the waiting area were
made of a soft plush material, and the carpet was of rich velvet.
The entire purpely goldishness of it all made the deckhand
sick to his stomach. This Landia must be a hell of a guy.
“Excuse me.” He said before clearing his throat.
The woman didn’t seem to notice him, for she was too busy
engrossed in some paper work. She had a very snooty look about
her, from her fancy clothes to the obnoxiously large glasses she
wore. And of course that was that sharp, upturned nose that they
all seemed to have. Tobias hated people like this.
“Excuse me!” He said a little louder this time. He went so
far as to wave a hand in front of her face.
She blinked and moved her head back. But she didn’t answer
him. She was purposely ignoring him. His non-existent patience
withered and gone away, Toby growled and left the desk lady
alone.
‘She probably thinks I’m too low class to talk to.’ Toby
thought to himself. That was another thing that he hated about
the higher class. They think you can judge people by the way they
looked. Had Fletcher been in his Navy uniform, she wouldn’t have
been like that.
So instead, Tobias consulted with the guest list that was
hanging up on the wall. He scanned the various names of people
who lived there. Not to his surprise, he saw many names belonging
to different members of noble families. Too his disgust, he saw
many names that were distinctly Torian as well. Landis Landia’s
name was on the list, but it just said 5th floor, room 5. Not too
much info, but just enough.
“Stairs it is then.” Tobias muttered to himself in a bitter
tone.
After finding the stone steps that led upstairs, he found
his way to the fifth floor. The halls in this place were dark,

12
lit only by candles that gave off a faint orange light. That was
a strange stylistic choice, the deckhand was thinking that maybe
the candles inspired a more tranquil mood. The hall led straight
down, and then curved to the left, but Toby didn’t have to go
that far. Room 5 was the third on the left, and so he wasted no
time in banging on the door.
No one answered. Tobias leaned against the door to listen.
Was there anyone home?
He tried several more times, but that was not too much any
other result. He kept his ear on the door. There were no sounds.
That’s when he heard a ruckus on the stairs behind him. At
first all he could hear was the voices, thick, and accented. He
recognized that accent with his well trained ears, and even
before he turned around he knew who they were.
Three men stepped out of the staircase. All three had long
brown hair and coats made out of the finest leathers. They were
wealthy, and observation that came from the smugness of their
features and the confidence in their walk. But the key sight on
these individuals was the feature on their foreheads that gave
them away for what they were. Tobias frowned.
At birth Torians were impressed with a small jewel on their
foreheads. It was part of their country’s tradition and culture.
The jewel represented the backgrounds of that Torians’s family.
The size, shape, color, and luster each told a separate story. In
general, the smaller the jewel, the more important your position
was. The color told what area of work you were in. And the shine
told how old you were. Younger children’s stones were brighter
when they caught the light, but dulled with age. There was a
whole backstory on why the Tori started the tradition, but Tobias
didn’t know it because he didn’t care. He wasn’t interested in
their history.

13
 Why? There was no doubt that this country of Rao had a
history with the Tori. Conflict and war had always brewed between
the two, as disputes between their beliefs could never be
settled. And yet just over three years ago now, the countries
finally reached a treaty to which both sides could agree.
Apparently the Raoin Council and the Lewisons had gotten tired of
throwing hordes of soldiers at each other. With the treaty,
access to each opened wide for anyone to come in and out. All was
well and truly dandy for about a year’s time, when the Great
Storm showcased that not all gripes had been settled just yet. It
took awhile for Rao to trust its neighbor again, but they again
settled their differences.
Regardless, Tobias didn’t harbor any particular hatred for
the Torians, at least, not for being from Tori. It was just that
he had never, ever met one that didn’t descend into his distaste.
Every Torian he’d ever met was self-centered, vulgar, or just
plain wicked. Most people didn’t realize this, because they
couldn’t understand the Torian language. But Toby did. He was
particularly skilled when it came to speaking different
languages. Unfortunate for the evil people that he overheard.
“It’s funny, actually.” Said the first of the Torians, who
was the smuggest face of the lot. The jewel on his forehead was
quite large, which meant he was probably a nobody. He spoke as he
approached the first door with a key in his hand, using the
Torian language.
“Funny how stupid the natives here can be sometimes. It’s as
if they don’t have any common sense right? I mean, that old man
bought that from me, and trusted me without any doubt.” The
Torian spoke as if he were talking about recent events.
A second of the trio added, “That would never happen in
Tori. Our people are so much more refined and intelligent.” This
man had a very kiss-up style to his speech.

14
 “Your right, it wouldn’t.” The leader of the trio looked
pleased. “These ignorant imbeciles don’t know their business from
their bum holes. When I presented it to him, he said he couldn’t
afford it for the price I was offering. Said his son was in the
hospital or some garbage like that. But you know me, I’m a smooth
talker. I wasn’t going to let a potential investment escape me. I
told him how it was a ‘rare Torian artifact’ that could be sold
back to my country for ten times the amount. You should have seen
the light that shone in his eyes. The idea of being that rich
really tempted him. The greedy threwt. But he was still hesitant.
So you know what I did?”
The final of the three asked “What?”
“I saw a picture of his children on the counter. Looked like
a big happy family, they did. I could spot a weakness like that
from a mile away. I told him ‘You know you could send your kids
to a great college with this money.’ And then I went on and on
about how that artifact was worth so much. That sealed it for
him. It’s really sad, really it is. He was so blinded by the love
for his family, that he made such a foolish decision. Guess what
he did next? He didn’t have enough to pay, so he dips into the
college fund he’d started for his children!” The man laughed
aloud and his cronies laughed with him.
One said, “He’s gonna be in for a nasty surprise in a few
days!”
And the other was laughing too. “Trash like him shouldn’t
haggle with the big boys!”
The businesses was still laughing, and wiping tears from his
eyes. “And that’s not even the best part! He was so grateful for
what I did for him. Before I left he turned to me and he said,
‘You're like an angel to me!’”
That’s when the Torian felt two hands close around his
shoulders.

15
 But it wasn’t an angel.
It was Tobias.
He grabbed the man, and with a great hurl of strength and
anger, tossed him down the stairs he’d just came from. Toby had
heard enough of the cocky corporates' degrading story. He was
sick and tired of the fact that almost every Torian that he met
was almost the same as that corrupt man right there. He stared
down at the Torian, who was trying to stand down at the base of
the steps, with a disgusted look on his face.
“You damn Tori make me sick. Don’t you have any souls at
all?”
But the man’s friends did not seem to like this aggressive
action. Toby didn’t even remember they were there, but he was
soon reminded as one of the men grabbed him around the waist and
lifted him into the air.
“Wha-ha” Toby splurted out as he was thrown to the floor.
What proceeded was a very violent and one sided beat down.
Soon the other man had gotten up and rejoined his comrades. They
kicked away at Tobias until he could no longer defend himself and
lie on the ground.
The Torian laughed. “Well, that was rather uncouth of us,
wasn’t it? Well, serves you right peasant, for harming a
superior.”
“Should we teach him another lesson?”
“About what?”
“About how to properly kick a man’s head in?”
“My my. That seems a little barbaric to me. Why don’t you
two handle that one?”
The two kiss-ups nodded and approached the downed Toby as
their leader stood back and watched.
The door to room five creaked opened silently.

16
 The Torian felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around to
find a young man he didn’t know standing there.
“Please don’t touch me. What do you want?”
“Get the hell out of my way.”
The stranger punched him square in the jaw, knocking the man
unconscious and knocking him to the ground.
The other two stopped and stared up in horror.
“My god! He punched Poseidon!”
The man turned his eyes on the others with an exasperated
look on his face.
“God? I thought most Torians don’t have a God? And what type
of name is Poseidon, anyway? You guys really annoy me.”
“H-how dare you?! We’re Torian nobles! You can’t be so
vulgar around us!”
The man looked down at Toby, who had dragged himself up
against the wall, bloodied and battered.
“You have the right to talk.” The man whispered to himself.
And then he said louder, “Listen, you guys need to stop causing
so much commotion. There are people trying to sleep around here.”
He pointed to himself.
“That’s unacceptable. Our boss did nothing to deserve that!
Shall we teach him a lesson, Gard?”
“We should, Iros.”
The two rushed him at once.
When all was said and done, it was those three Torians who
lay on the ground, groaning in pain. There had been a flurry of
movement, as the lone man, like a streak of lightning, slashed
through the two. Seconds later, all were on the ground, except
for this one person who stood above the four like a triumphant
god.
Tobias stared up at the man. He was young, but seemed to be
a bit older than Tobias. He had long jet black hair that fell

17
down past his shoulders, and he wore a jacket that Toby had seen
before. It was black, with straps running across his chest
horizontally, that were fixed there by small silver buckles. He
also wore on his head a black band of cloth tied around his
forehead.
“You see, this is what happens when you fight. Everyone gets
hurt. May this be a quick lesson for those here in witness to
this event. Especially you.”
The young man pointed to Tobias. The noticed the brilliance
of the man’s emerald eyes.
“You’re the one who started this.”
Tobias struggled to explain himself. “But they said-“
“They said a lot of things.” The man cut Toby off with
astounding power in his voice. “None of which was, or alluded
too, some sort of illegal, if not moral, activity. So in my eyes
there was no cause for such violent measures. You seem to have a
lot of pent of anger inside of you. I can see that just from the
look you’re giving me right now. But please, if you will, focus
your anger and energy on the real target of that emotion, be it
what it may be, and try not to lash it out on these poor corrupt
souls.”
Tobias turned red. “How do you know what they were saying?”
“I was listening of course. You three!” He snapped at the
three men who were gathering themselves at the head of the
stairs. At his voice, they all flinched. “Get in your rooms and
stay there. If I hear you talking about causing locals anymore
trouble there will be hell to pay.”
The men scrambled through the Torians door and shut it
quietly.
The man once again faced Tobias, this time with a little
more focus. He had a very lazy and laid back look to him,
contrasting with the fierce side he’d just showed.

18
 “And now, to answer the question on my mind. Who are you and
what were you doing knocking on my door? I’m a busy man, so I
don’t have time to be playing around with any ruffian nonsense
that I can imagine you have for me. Well? Are you going to say
something, or just stare at me with your mouth agape?” The man
was now speaking in Raoin.
Tobias glanced at the door to room five, which had been
swung open.
“You’re… Landis Landia!”
Landis said to himself. “Score one for the captain.” Then he
tipped his hat. “You know my name. Yes I am. But please hold your
reactions for now and answer my question.”
So this was Landis Landia, potential recruit of the
Graybesh. Now Toby recognized the uniform. It was the standard
uniform of a Security Officer.
“Oh. I’m Tobias Lately, sent here to contract you, Mister
Security Officer.”
Landia stared at him with an amused look in his eyes.
“Are you now?” Then he stretched out a hand to the downed
Lately, “Then get off of the ground, we need to talk. Oh, and
please, don’t use that mister crap with me.”

Landis Landia was twenty three years old, six years Toby’s
senior. He had the build of a soccer player, lean and strong
looking. He had the air of a warrior around him, but it was hard
to tell. At the same time, he seemed to be very relaxed and easy-
going. If Toby had met him in the streets, he would have had
trouble telling what his job was.
Landis had invited the other into his apartment, a cold
looking place with no decoration or life. The walls were slabs of
rock that appeared as if they could grow mold if left unattended,
and the only two pieces of furniture present was a small cot

19
lying disheveled in one corner, and a couch in the middle of the
floor. Landis directed his company to sit on the couch, while he
himself chose to stand by the open window and stare outside. Toby
didn’t like this position, where he couldn’t comfortably turn and
talk with the man always at his back.
“I apologize for not answering the door quickly enough.”
Landis explained. “You see, I have a lot of enemies looking for
me around these parts, and I was just making sure you were not
one of them. Also, pardon the state of this room. It’s a hell of
a mess. This isn’t my normal apartment you see, I just moved
here.”
“That’s fine.” Tobias said this to the wall he could see in
front of him, “As long as we can get down to business.”
Tobias introduced himself again, as did Landis, who briefly
described himself.
Landis didn’t move an inch the whole time, even as he said;
“I understand that you wish to put me under contract. As my
guest, I could not just blow you off from the start, however… I
am not really looking for work right now. I am already swamped
with all that paperwork I have to fill out.”
Tobias started to get the feeling that this was another
mission failed.
“Can you at least just hear me out?”
Landis said that he would and Tobias told him the situation.
“I was sent here by Lyatta Hughes, second in command of our ship.
Our current S.O is nowhere to be found, and we’re deadlined to
start off today. You’re the only one in the city that’s available
right now.”
Landis kept his eyes out the window. “And what is the name
of your ship?”
“The Graybesh.”

20
 Landis snapped his head around and stared at the back of the
head of Toby.
“The Graybesh, you say?” He rubbed his chin. “That’s the
largest battleship in the navy, is it not?”
Toby shrugged, “Yeah but we don’t do a lot of battling.”
“But you did during the Great Storm. ”
“…Yeah. The captain received a lot of honors for that
battle. He was commemorated for his skill, bravery, leadership,
and most important, victory over the enemy fleets. But the
Graybesh was wrecked during the last of the battles that we
fought. We were going up against the Torian navy, and they
outsmarted us time after time.”
Landis was pacing back and forth, pondering carefully what
was being said.
“Ronaldo Julius Hughes, yes? I heard about that battle. You
lost and yet still managed on your own to be a real threat to the
Tori. If I remember correctly, the Tori had you trapped between a
coast, a fleet of cannon firing destroyers, and iron clad cruiser
that had no weapons, and yet blocked your only route of escape.
But you’re clever, or should I say reckless, captain did one of
the most foolish things ever heard of. He-“
“Rammed the Iron-Clad. That’s what did the major damaged to
the ship,” Tobias remembered that battle clearly. “That and the
heavy fire we received as we limped away. We barely got back to
Ratonoogen, our base at the time. We deckhands were rushing all
about, trying to keep the ship from going under. It was literally
falling apart by the time we got there.”
Landis chuckled quietly to himself.
“What’s funny?”
“Nothing. It’s just the irony. That I, being who I am, am
needed of service of that very ship. You don’t understand of
course, but rest assured me and your captain has met. Many

21
times.” Landis stepped out in front of Tobias. “However, I would
be honored to work on your ship. If that’s what you came for, you
may leave now. I’ll find my own way.
Landis watched Tobias stand and walk towards the door. “So
you and the captain know each other?”
And Landia replied, “No. But we’ve met.”
And he shut the door.

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