Immortal War

The pirates engaged a second pair of winches and a black awning began moving across the water, above the metal plank. The awning was curved and its sides brushed the edge of the plank as the pirates sent it over to join the other vessel.

“Final preparations!” Cheng Li commanded. At her words, two more pirates emerged from the corridor and stepped onto the plank. They moved swiftly along, fastening the awning to the base so that the tunnel formed by the awning and the plank was completely lightproof. Staring into it, Jasmine couldn’t see a thing. It was only the sound of the young pirates’ footsteps that signaled to her their return.

“Everything shipshape, Captain!” announced the first.

“Good work,” Cheng Li replied.

Now Jasmine’s heart began to beat faster as she glanced once more into the void.

“Is he here yet?” Bo Yin arrived, somewhat out of breath, at Jasmine’s side.

“No,” Jasmine said, refusing to take her eyes away from the tunnel. “Any minute now.”

“Phew!” said Bo. “Everything’s ready—but only by the skin of our teeth!”

Bo Yin continued to babble away, but Jasmine had tuned out her voice. Her entire focus was directed on the dark tunnel. At last she heard the sound of footsteps once more, and suddenly Jacoby was standing before her. He had gained a little weight during his time at Sanctuary and, all things considered, he looked remarkably strong and vital—the perfect embodiment of an Alliance officer in his tight-fitting blue-gray uniform, with its adornment of silver braid across his broad chest. He removed his cap, revealing his newly cropped hair, and gave Cheng Li the Federation salute.

“Welcome back!” Cheng Li said, returning the gesture.

Jacoby’s eyes turned to Jasmine. He lifted his hand to make the salute once more, but, shaking her head slowly, Jasmine opened her arms. “Come here!” she said, hugging him and feeling tears welling as her hands encircled his shoulders. “It’s so good to see you again!” she whispered as he leaned toward her.

“You, too!” Jacoby said, his eyes locking with hers, as they had done so many times before. Jasmine was expert at reading Jacoby’s expressions. Now she saw in his eyes deep affection and a certain relief but also something else—a new wariness.

There was a discreet cough at Jacoby’s side. He drew himself upright once more and moved aside as a young woman stepped out of the tunnel and onto The Tiger.

“Jasmine, this is Luna—my donor and private healer.”

Disarmed by Luna’s unusual beauty and the way she seemed to hang on Jacoby’s every word, Jasmine nonetheless shot out her hand. “Good to meet you, Luna. I’ve heard great things about you.”

“It’s mutual,” Luna said, smiling pleasantly. Jasmine could see the trepidation in Luna’s soft gray eyes.

The young women shook hands, and, as Luna smiled at her with genuine warmth and openness, Jasmine realized she had been foolish to dread this meeting. Luna was simply Jacoby’s donor and nurse, and, while both those roles involved a certain intimacy, they would not threaten the long-standing bond between herself and Jacoby—a bond forged in Pirate Academy many years earlier when the eyes of two seven-year-old kids had met in laughter during Captain Quivers’s knot class.

“Luna,” Jacoby continued, “I’d like to introduce you to our esteemed leader, Commodore Cheng Li.”

“Welcome to The Tiger,” Cheng Li said, nodding at the new arrival as two soldiers arrived out of the tunnel bearing Jacoby and Luna’s luggage. They passed it across to their opposite numbers on board The Tiger.

“Let’s get you both settled in your accommodation,” Cheng Li said, taking Jacoby’s arm and setting off along the corridor. Jasmine followed, with Luna on one side and Bo Yin on the other.

As they reached the end of the corridor, Cheng Li paused beside a closed door. “I just need to pop into the mess hall for a moment,” she said, holding Jacoby close as she pushed open the door.

Before he knew what was happening, Jacoby found himself propelled forward until he was face-to-face with a wall of cheering, clapping pirates. Behind them was a big painted sign bearing the legend WELCOME HOME, JACOBY!

Jacoby turned to Bo Yin. “I suppose I have you to thank for this, do I, you little scamp?”

Bo Yin shrugged, but she was smiling broadly. The cheers and claps kept coming. Jacoby stood, then reached for Jasmine’s hand and held it tightly. He hadn’t anticipated such a rapturous welcome and he found himself genuinely overwhelmed.

“Thank you!” he said to his comrades, but his words made little impact against the sea of noise. “Thank you!” he repeated a second, third, and fourth time as the cheers and claps kept coming.

“Come in!” Cheng Li called, setting her reading glasses down on her desk.

“It’s me—Jacoby,” came the voice from outside.

“Ah, good,” she cried. “Just a minute!” She pressed a recently installed button under her desk and blackout blinds smoothly descended across all the portholes in her cabin. At the same time, the lights within the room accordingly grew brighter.

“Okay,” she called out. “You’re fine to come in now.”

Jacoby stepped inside and closed the double doors behind him.

Cheng Li rose to her feet, smiling. “So, how does it feel to be back?” she asked, meeting him in the center of the cabin.

“Mostly good,” he said, glancing at the blinds. “But weird in some ways.”

Cheng Li shrugged. “Bound to,” she said. “It’s early days.”

Jacoby’s smile gave way to a frown. “I don’t want to be a burden—not to you or any of the crew.”

“A burden?” Cheng Li asked. “Why would you think that?”

Jacoby stared directly at her. “Arriving under cover of darkness, waiting for the blinds to fall before I enter your cabin—I can’t even go up on deck anymore until nightfall.”

“A few minor adjustments,” Cheng Li said calmly.

“Not exactly minor,” Jacoby murmured.

Cheng Li folded her arms. “It’s Alliance policy for every Federation vessel to have a Nocturnal on board,” she said. “Thus far, The Tiger has been the exception due to our close relationship with Commander Furey.” She smiled as she spoke Lorcan’s name. “But now the time has come to have a full-time Nocturnal on our crew.” She unfolded her arms and stepped closer to Jacoby. “And I cannot think of anyone better qualified for that position than you.”

Jacoby managed to force a smile but it was clear he didn’t quite believe her.

Cheng Li continued more forcefully. “Jacoby Blunt, you are an integral part of my crew and you have a key role to play in winning this war. Whether you fight by day or by night, you remain one of my best warriors. You’re still deputy captain of this ship.”

Jacoby’s surprise was evident. “I thought you’d given that job to Connor.”

“Connor took over your responsibilities while you were away recuperating, but, now that you’re back, the position is yours again—assuming you still want it.”

Jacoby’s eyes were wide. “Of course I want it,” he said. “I just figured you’d tell me I had to take it easy and give myself time.”

Cheng Li shook her head decisively. “I’m not running a greeting card company. I’m a senior commander engaged in the biggest war ever to hit the oceans.” Her almond eyes had never gleamed with such conviction. “There’s no time for anyone to take it easy. You had the chance to convalesce at Sanctuary. Now that you’re back, I expect you to give one hundred percent, just like before. Take the blood you need from Luna, stay out of the sunlight, and work your butt off to justify my absolute confidence in you.”

“Yes, Captain!” Jacoby exclaimed, grinning broadly as he saluted her once more.

“At ease, Deputy Blunt,” Cheng Li said, shaking her head. “Oh, and if you’re looking for a new role model, you could do far worse than to emulate Commander Furey.”

Jacoby gazed in wonder at his captain and commander. She was certainly one of a kind.