He was Almost Absorbed by the System

Chapter Eighty Eight - Give Me My Nephews

"That still doesn't explain why you are here," Jezmi told him. After they had casually located the Sabine, the two individuals with very different reason for hunting pirates sat in the bar, talking quietly over beer.

Jariden's nose scrunched as he took in the aroma of the disgusting drink. He hadn't smelled anything this bad since his teen years in his home town. His next door neighbour often produced moonshine in a little shed outback, but once it had exploded and this sort of scent was the result. It had lingered for several days. "Sand," The man said after a while. "Don't you think that this moon has excellent sand."

The woman tilted her head, wondering if he was serious, when three teenaged boys burst in, glanced around then headed for a table in the corner, before ducking beneath it. Both Jariden and Jezmi stiffened slightly. Jariden had caught sight of two blue eyes and that strange sensation was welling in the pit of his stomach, whereas Jezmi's vision was blurring after she saw two young boys with silver-white hair flash by her.

"I don't think this is a good hiding place," whispered one boy, his tone was very clear and innocent.

"Do you want to be dragged back to the ship again?" Another said, clearly the older of the three for his voice was that of a young man rather than a boy.

"What's so wrong with exploring anyway?" The third huffed. "It's not our fault that that Pirate is a pervert."

"Well he did try to buy you and Luck," the eldest mentioned.

"I don't understand why," the first boy said. There was a brief silence.

"Stay innocent forever, Luck," the eldest chuckled softly.

"Boys!" Yelled a gravelly voice from outside.

"Ah, shit, the Captain!" The eldest swore.

"It's bad to swear," the voice belonging to Luck stated.

"Shhh, Luck," his brother hushed him. "You know the Captain has ears like a Ingarian Elephant!"

"Get out from over there," the large man with the even larger presence that Jezmi had almost walked into yesterday growled as he entered the bar. The three boys looked downcast as they crawled out from their 'hiding' spot. Jezmi had to stop herself from gathering the twin boys in her arms and hugging them. Jariden was having difficulties not rising up from his seat, grabbing the bright teen and claiming... reclaiming his earring, which shone in the youth's left ear. "Now what did I tell you? Stay onboard the Sabine, it's not safe out here. This is a Pirate outpost, not a holiday resort. Most pirates won't hall your asses to the slave markets, but that doesn't mean none will!"

"Yes, Captain," The three boys said in unison.

"And Zee, I hold you responsible for this," the Captain growled at the oldest boy.

"Wha'!" Zee looked horrified, glancing at each twin either side of him, but they just stared at the floor. "Why?"

"You are the oldest," the Captain stated. "For fucks sake, Zee, you are almost sixteen, you are not a little kid anymore. You should know better than to encourage them! Especially Law!" Out of the three, Law was usually the instigator, Zee wanted to have fun and found what Law wanted was fun. Luck seemed to just tag along. "Now haul your arses back on my ship before I tan them!"

"Yes Captain!" They squealed and fled swiftly.

"You seem to have your hands full there," Jariden raises his hand in silent request for the bartender to bring a third pint to their table.

"You don't know the half of it," the man sighed, accepting the drink as if it was his due and savouring it as if it didn't taste like piss. "My sons have a habit of showing up where they shouldn't be and disappearing from where they should. And when they get together with my second mates kid, all hell breaks loose."