:)Ch50

I gently extricate myself from his arm and set the glass down nearby. "That's great Korka. I'm sure you can tell me all about it in the morning. In the meantime though, I'm going back to bed."

"Jaaack." Korka draws out as he pulls me back in. "Jack Jack...Jackie boy. You know I like ya Jackie. Take a walk with me."

My boss tugs me along up the ladder to the main deck, almost stumbling over his own legs as he moves.

"I think you've celebrated a bit too much captain."

"Whaaaat?...no no..I've only had two or three.." he cheerily protests. "Two or three...what?" I ask. "Shots? Glasses? Bottles?" The man drunkenly hiccups. "..maybe four.."

I gently guide the ostrich-man to a crate next to the main mast where he happily plops himself down and takes another swallow from the cheap swill in his hand.

It's quiet for a minute or two.

At least as much as it can be with the party still raging on downstairs.

The Marjhan rocks softly against the mellow waves of the ocean and a cool nighttime breeze passes over my face.

The moon is out in full and each star can be seen clearly in what is an almost entirely cloudless sky.

This is nice.

Sleep is better though. "Well I'm going back to bed." I announce. "At least one of us needs to be sober and alert for tomorrow."

I turn away, content to leave the captain with his bottle when he asks me something...unexpected.

"Do you remember your mother Parker?" His voice is soft. Sad. The type of maudlin tone that only a man whose one step from completely plastered could produce.

The melancholy mood settles in like a smothering blanket and a part of me is sorely tempted to just continue on like I hadn't heard him. I'm not good with over-sentimentality or tearful heart-to-hearts like the one he is obviously about to start on. Though...I guess I can at least do the courtesy of answering his question.

"Yes. I lived with both my parents until I was an adult." Korka hums morosely. "You're lucky then...I can scarcely remember mine. The nobles of my homeland took her away when I was very...very young. I mostly remember...hair. Orange hair. Like the color of the sunrise. As for my father...well...the less said about him the better."

The revolutionary brings the alcohol to his lips and takes another swig. "There's so much wrong with this fucking ocean. Marauders. Slavers. Genocidal kings who do what they like and monsters ready to swallow you whole in every direction." Korka takes a long deep drink from his bottle and then follows it with an even lengthier sigh. "I joined the R.A. to help people. To do my part in showing them that maybe...maybe there can be more to this life than the shit one we've always known."

He tilts his neck skyward, staring at something in the stars that only he can see. "It won't be long now. A couple months. Half a year at most...soon the people of Centaurea are going to know freedom unlike anything they've experienced before. They'll have the ability to make their own choices. Their own destinies. To not have to live in fear of King's men busting your door down at night and throwing a bag over your head...or your mothers."

Korka brings his head down and stares at the wooden deck now. "...and with the work done it'll time to move on to the next kingdom. The next mission." He sets his bottle down and stands up. His posture and voice surprisingly sober. "I'd like to stay in South Blue if I can, but at the end of the day my ships and I will go where Commander Lindbergh feels we'll be used best."

My employer approaches me and rests his hand gently on my shoulder. "You're strong Jack. Stronger than me. We all watch you train day in and day out. The R.A. could really use someone like you. I could really use someone like you. A man I could..no no.. a friend that I could trust to lead The Taniwha once she's seaworthy again." Korka smiles a wide drunken grin. "What do you say?"

Ding!

New Quest Alert!

Quest: You've been offered a position in the Revolutionary Army! A group of saviors to some and a band of devils to others, the R.A. is the most controversial and politically divisive organization on the planet. As a member you can travel the four Blue's! Fight the good fight! Help bring down the corrupt and maybe, just maybe, you can bring some real change to this world...Fair warning though. Once you're in. You're in for life.

Reward: +50 to any four stats, 1,750 Exp a month, 50,000 Beri a month stipend, Lv. 2 [Skill Disk] x3, [Skillbook]: Inspire, and a friend for life (Korka).

Note: Accepting this [Quest] and then abandoning the R.A. will result in an immediate forfeiture of all [Rewards] as well as being labeled an oathbreaker and a World Noble sympathizer.

[ACCEPT/DECLINE]

My eyes swelled three sizes wider.

'Holy...those [Rewards] are...sizable.'

To be perfectly honest, even through Korka's touching spiel, I was still half-asleep. But now? Now, I am fucking awake.

I mean Jesus. Plus 50 in four stats? That's me getting the INT and WIS [Perks] right here, right freaking now...then 50 in LUK gets it pretty damn close to a [Perk] as well..last one would go in..shit does it even matter? And three [Skill Disk]'s? One for [Bullet Time], one for [Physical Endurance], and one for...[Bullet Time] again maybe?

The Exp and monetary stipend are just gravy. The Beri doesn't even matter at this point. It's just extra pocket change. [Skillbook]: Inspire, I don't even know what to make of. I can already think of like four different things it might do. The final reward is...cute...but that type of thing is not nearly as important to me as it is to other people in this world.

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