James looks out over the water too, but he's more interested in the serenity it brings to him than trying to locate another of the creatures. He'd always found great peacefulness in watching the waves whenever he'd been on a ferry or charter boat back home.

By this time, the island they'd left has completely disappeared behind them. James stays by the rail until he begins to see another island coming up ahead of them. As they approach it, the captain begins hollering orders to his crew as they trim some of the sails to slow their approach.

"Looks like we're making for the island over there," Jiron says as he comes up behind them.

"I think so too," James replies. "Miko and I are going to go exploring on the island while the captain makes some trades. He said we wouldn't be leaving until tomorrow morning. Want to come along?"

"Sure," he says.

They stay by the rail as the island ahead of them grows bigger and bigger. It isn't long before they're able to make out the docks and other ships at anchor there. The island itself is heavily populated, houses dot the land from one end to the other.

Commands can be heard being shouted by the captain as he makes ready to dock. The sailors begin furling the sails and several go over to the railing at the bow, readying lines to be cast to those who're waiting on the docks.

With skill honed through years of practice, the captain and his men slow the ship as they approach the dock. The sailors toss the lines over to the men who're waiting on the dock. With quick speed, the dock workers wrap the lines around mainstays and they can hear the dock groan as the ship pulls against the lines and comes to a stop.

Once the ship has stopped its forward momentum, the ship drifts backward and the dock workers take up the slack in the lines until the ship is securely tied to the dock.

The captain comes over to them and says, "You can disembark now if you like. We'll be here for some time. Just be back by sunup."

"Sure thing captain," James says.

"That sure was something," Miko exclaims. "The way you brought the ship right up to the docks, at just the right speed."

The captain smiles at his exuberance and replies, "All in a days work, me boy." He turns back to his men and begins barking out orders as they start getting the cargo ready to be taken off the ship.

"Shall we?" Jiron asks, indicating the gangplank a sailor had just put in place.

"Absolutely," replies James as he heads toward it, with Miko just behind.

When they disembark, the first thing that James notices is the lack of soldiers on the streets. There was a reduced presence back in Corillian, but here, there's a total lack of them.

"Guess the Empire doesn't feel the need to have soldiers patrolling here," he observes.

"Probably not," agrees Jiron. Looking around, he sees not much more than houses and some stores. "Doesn't look like there's too much to this place."

Feeling a tug on his arm, James looks to Miko who's pointing to a bakery shop. "James, tarts!"

Smiling, he allows himself to be dragged over there where they buy a dozen tarts with a red berry filling. Miko pays for them from the money Miriam had given him and then they leave the shop. James hears Miko licking his fingers and glances at him, one tart had already bit the dust.

They come back to where Jiron is waiting for them and Miko hands him one. "Ever had one before?" he asks him.

Nodding, Jiron says, "Yeah, a couple times. Tersa really likes them."

Moving along, they proceed down the street to see what there is to see. They come to a woodcrafter who has several wooden ships displayed and James goes over to inspect them. He picks up a small one and says, "This would make a good present for Arkie."

The woodcrafter, seeing his interest, stops the work he was doing on another of the wooden boats and comes over.

After some half-hearted haggling, he hands over the money and walks away with the small single masted ship. Putting it in his bag, he continues on.

They spend the day sightseeing, nothing real special going on. James begins thinking how nice it would've been to have Meliana here with him. As they walk, he sees a craftsman working on ceramic figurines and sees one of a dolphin, at least it looked close enough to one to call it that. After some haggling, he arranges to have it sent back to Corillian and to Nate's family's house.

"Why are you having it sent there?" Jiron asks.

"Don't know where to send it to Meliana, so will send it to Miriam and have her take it to her," he explains. He writes out a letter and gives it to the man with instructions on where to send it. Handing the man the money, they soon leave his shop and continue on.

As the day progresses, the wind begins to pick up and clouds begin to form on the horizon. "Hope a storm's not coming," he says. "It could make for an interesting trip tomorrow."

Miko looks to the clouds, but doesn't think too much of them, "They don't look too bad."

"Not now, true," Jiron says. "But they could make the ride choppy tomorrow."

When the day is almost over, they find an inn and everyone gets their own room. Miko said he was tired of hearing them snore. After settling in, they meet in the common room of the inn for dinner and entertainment. The bard up on the stage is decent but they couldn't understand all the songs as most of his repertoire was in the Empire's language. He did sing a few songs in the common tongue for those who spoke it.

The next morning, when James awakens, the rain is being blown hard against the side of the inn by the wind. The floor is wet over by the window from where the wind had blown it in throughout the night. Through the window, he sees the dark clouds that have blanketed the sky overnight. The ships at anchor bob with the motion of the waves rolling in, and he looks with trepidation at the choppy water. Not at all the calm placid scene of yesterday and most likely will make for an interesting ride. He hears a knock at the door and turns toward it just as it swings open.

Miko comes walking into the room, his pack slung over one shoulder. Seeing James at the window he walks over to him and says, "Looks like the storm came in after all."

"Yeah," replies James as he again glances back out the window. "We better hurry down to the docks before Captain Caril sails."

James grabs his pack and then they go out to the hallway where they find Jiron exiting from his room. "You guys see the storm brewing outside?" he asks.

"Yeah," replies James. "It's going to make for a fun day."

Giving James an odd look he says, "Fun? I don't think so."

"I was being sarcastic," he explains.

They make their way out of the inn and the wind drives the rain into them as they hurry down to the docks. By the time they get to the ship, the rain has succeeded in thoroughly soaking them. Racing up the gangplank, they're greeted by the captain who says, "'Bout ready to send someone to go look for you guys."

"Sorry if we're late," James says apologetically.

"You're not going to sail in this are you?" Miko asks.

The captain breaks into a laugh and replies, "It'll take more than a little storm to keep us at dock."

Miko looks over to the sea and sees the choppy waters and swallows hard. He looks to James who only shrugs.

"You boys get on into your room at the stern," the captain says. "We're casting off the lines now." A sailor pulls in the gangplank.

The dockworkers untie the ship and toss the lines back to the crew aboard her. The captain begins barking out orders as his men hop to comply. The ship begins to turn slowly as it heads once more out to open waters.

Once the ship is away from the docks, the captain hollers to the crew up in the masts and the sails come down about halfway before they're tied off. The wind fills the half sails and the ship lurches as it quickly picks up speed.

Huddled in their room under the steering house, they begin to feel the effects of the constant swaying of the ship upon the waves. James' stomach begins to rebel and he says, "I'm going out to get some fresh air."

"But you'll get soaked," Miko says from where he's swaying in the hammock.

He looks down at himself and replies, "I'm already wet." He opens the door and a gust of rain comes in before he manages to close it behind him.

Outside along the deck, he sees guidelines are now tied from bow to stern to help the sailors remain aboard in the storm. Grabbing onto one, he makes his way over to the rail and puts his face into the wind, which helps to settle his protesting stomach. Never been seasick before, but then, he's never been out in this kind of storm before either.

As they continue out to open sea, he searches for other vessels that've braved such a storm but doesn't see any. He looks around to the crew, but they don't seem too worried, so he stops his worrying about the weather. If the professionals see nothing wrong, then he shouldn't either.

The captain is standing up by the helmsmen. Using the guide ropes to keep his footing, he makes it to the stairs and begins to climb up to reach him.

When the captain sees him climbing the stairs up to him, he asks, "Everything okay?"

Nodding, he climbs the last few steps and comes to stand next to him, holding onto the rail. "Just out for some air, is all."

"Stomach bothering you?" the captain asks, grinning.

"A little," he replies, "but the fresh air seems to be helping."

The captain just nods at that.

"There doesn't seem to be too many other ships out in this," he mentions to the captain.

"Most don't want or need to be out in this, so they don't," he explains. "But, if we just sailed in fair weather, we wouldn't get too far."

"True," James replies. Then he looks down and sees Miko making his way along the guidelines. He hollers down to him until he gets his attention and then watches as he makes his way up to where he and the captain are standing.

When he reaches the steerage deck, James notices he's a little green. "Just take some deep breathes, that should help," he advises.

Miko goes over to the railing and tries to do just that, but his stomach rebels. Bending over the railing, he loses the contents of his stomach as he retches into the water below. When it's over, he feels slightly better.

From overhead, a sailor cries out, "Captain! Sails!"

"Where away?" he hollers back.

The sailor points off to the left of the ship and hollers down, "To the port!"

They all look and see a ship out there, heading in their general direction. "Empirical warship," the captain says, not too concerned.

"Is that a problem?" James asks.

"Unlikely," the captain replies. "It's most likely just on patrol."

James doesn't share the captain's nonchalance about sighting a warship.

"Think it's looking for us?" Miko whispers as he leans close to James.

"I hope not," he replies as he continues watching the warship.

As time pa.s.ses, the warship continues to close the distance between them, heightening James worries.

Suddenly, James hears the captain swear. "What?" he asks.

Gesturing to the warship, the captain says, "They want us to furl our sails and be prepared to be boarded."

"Is that bad?" James asks as he looks over to the warship. He can see a sailor on the other ship signaling with two flags.

"Bad?" cries the captain. "With the waves crashing as they are, it's unlikely we'd survive. Our ships would be smashed together."

"Then why would they want to?" he asks.

The captain gives him an inquisitive look and says, "Why indeed?"

James turns to Miko and says, "Go get Jiron."

When Miko has left, the captain says, "They know it to be suicide to link ships in this weather. They must want something, or someone real bad and are willing to risk their ship to get it."

James just stands there silently, as he glances between the approaching ship and the captain.

"Is there something I should know?" the captain asks.

"They want us," James tells him.

"I thought so," Captain Caril says. "I'm not going to endanger my crew or my ship. You understand that?"

Nodding, James says, "Yes, captain, I do."

Just then, Miko returns with Jiron and James says, "The warship means to board, and the captain here says that would most likely damage if not destroy his ship."

"Why do they mean to board?" Miko asks. When he sees the look on James' face, he says, "Oh, us."

James nods his head.

"What do you mean to do?" Jiron asks the captain.

"I have to think of the safety of my ship first," he explains. "You have to get off my ship."

"What? In this storm?" he asks incredulously.

"I've got no choice," the captain tells him. "If you're gone, they'll leave us alone."

James looks over to the choppy seas and says, "That's a death sentence!"

"We can lower you down in our dinghy," the captain says. "At least that would give you some chance."

"But what about the warship!" Miko cries out, realizing they'd be easy pickings sitting in a small boat.

Looking sad, but resigned to the situation, the captain says, "Not my concern, lad."

"Alright, captain," says James. "Lower us in the dinghy."

"James, are you crazy?" Miko exclaims. "We'll die!"