Chapter Text
Being lonely out at sea was never the problem, it was the being lonely when you returned to the land that was the worst possible feeling. At least when you were out at sea, there was an excuse for it, but on land when you're surrounded by people, folk tended to question why you would ever feel isolated. That was how Yang felt at least.
In truth, life for Yang couldn't be any lonelier. Most people at least had some friends or a family to return to after a long few months on the ocean, or at least were old enough to head to the bar and have a social drink with friends they hadn't met yet. Not her. The most social interaction she tended to have was a word with the inns for her next room for the night or rant from the barman about being too young to ask for a beer. Sometimes people would ask for the tale of her lost arm, or even how the metal one that replaced it was made; but when she began to answer, they really they weren't interested at all. The land held nothing of value for her anymore, other than an office to visit to tell her what the next ship she was boarding would be.
"Yang Sheng Qi?"
That time had come to find out for her next voyage. Approaching the taller dockkeep, she used her metal arm to haul her bag of belongings onto her shoulder and stood up straight to look as professional as possible. Good impressions could sometimes mean being put on the better ships, and Yang had her eye on one in particular. A brand new ship that had only returned from its maiden voyage a few days ago, boasting it's speed and comfort for its passengers.
"The Ember Celica."
Yang had to double check she heard that right. Blinking and tilting her head, she asked; "I'm sorry?"
"That's right." The dockkeep replied, looking down at his list once more to confirm. "Yang Sheng Qi, scheduled for the Ember Celica's two pm voyage to Menagerie and back. You'll be escorting a very valuable cargo under the guidance of the King's equerry, Captain Peach."
Yang's curiosity piqued. Lesser goods were her usual cargo, transporting beer to the local inns or taking wools to the closer markets. None of those were classed as valuable. And for it to be lead by someone so close to the king as well... "Huh... How valuable we talkin'?"
"Not a clue, but Vale Palace commissioned us to fetch it. But looking at where you're going, I got a feeling of what it is though..." The dockkeep looked up from his paperwork, asking; "You know what Menagerie is, right?"
"Nope! Never heard of it." Regardless, she said it gleefully. It was hard to be concerned or confused about where she was going when it meant traveling on a ship she adored from the day it was shown in the papers. It meant adventure, excitement. And if this cargo was valuable, it meant she really was moving up in the world.
"Still, not too shabby for an orphan with a tin can arm, huh?" Yang asked, shrugging the metal arm holding her belongings. "Delivering for royalty, traveling on the best new boat... This is gonna be a hell of a ride." Realising at this point she was talking to herself, she quickly snapped back to reality, beginning to walk away with a cheery expression. "Thanks again!"
Such an expression was not shared by the dockkeep, who could only sigh sadly as he looked back down at his paperwork, ticking off the name and staring at the same word again. Menagerie.
"Poor kid... Won't be so cheery if she sees that cargo I bet."
The journey was long and tiring. Six weeks on, and the Ember Celica was finally there. The seas hadn't been all too rough, but it was all hands on deck to man the sails and keep the ship up to speed. Not to mention the scrubbing and cleaning, among other lesser tasks she was asked to do.
It didn't matter. The longer the journey went on, the more excited she was getting. She was delivering to royalty ! This was a huge honour and a tremendous opportunity, the very least she could do was be willing to keep it clean for her captain and the more experienced sailors. The huge payment at the end was another bonus. Maybe now she'd finally have enough to afford a place of her own for when she got back and wouldn't have to rely on inns generosity. That would be a big achievement at the young age of fourteen.
The time at Menagerie seemed more like a holiday than a job. The Captain Peach's insistence on loading up the cargo with his first mate and the veterans sailors meant she got an evening of luxury. Higher class sleeping arrangements, good food, and excellent service. Everyone was so friendly in the barracks at the coast, Yang could only wish she could see more of the island. Yet every time she asked to see more, the subject was either changed, or she was talked out of it. Perhaps on a second journey, she'd see more of the island.
After a well-earned rest, the Celica was back on its six-week journey once more to return to Vale's shores. Cargo safely loaded below deck, and smooth seas all around; Yang really couldn't have asked for an easier job. The crewmen were just her type; loud and brash, but overall friendly people eager to have fun, but what she really fell for was the ship. It was something of beauty. As she stood against the railings and watched the sun touching the horizon, that was all she could think about. How it glided through the seas at high speeds as though the waves were never there, how it shone like the sun after a good scrub, how easy it seemed to maneuver... She knew this was where she wanted to be more than anywhere else...
"Hey, Sheng Qi!"
By now Yang had gotten to know most of the crewmembers by the sound of their voice, so she turned toward this one with a smile, leaning against the railing. "Yo Dove! I'm just enjoyin' the view."
"Well you've been enjoying the view for nearly an hour now, it's kinda freakin' me out." He chuckled a little to ease the tension, however, he reached into his pocket to pull out a small piece of parchment paper, handing it toward her. "Can you do me a favour and give this to Cardin on the orlop deck? Peach put me on Crow's Nest and I forgot to give him this earlier."
"Yeah sure." Although she took it from him straight away, she had to take a moment to pause, raising an eyebrow. "The... orlop deck?"
"Yep, orlop deck." But when Yang still looked confused, he rolled his eyes. "Bottom deck! God, did you lose some of your head as well as that arm?"
"A'right a'right! Jeez. Any more arm comments and you'll be gettin' a metal fist in your face." She chuckled to herself, making her way to the stairs to head lower. The Orlop deck... If there was anywhere they'd want to store valuable cargo, that would likely be it. She'd be seeing what all the fuss was about after all. Descending further into the ship, below the cabin decks and food storage, she continued to hum and chant quietly to herself to keep her good spirits.
"Yarr harr, fiddle de dee, sailor's life is a life for m-"
But as soon as she entered the lowest deck of the ship, those spirits were completely destroyed.
The valuable cargo wasn't some fine goods from a far off land, nor was it treasures that glimmered gold, or wines that were a century old. This valuable cargo wasn't even livestock, but it was certainly a living thing.
People.
Stepping out into the lower deck, Yang looked all around wide eyed, eyes unable to look away. Hundreds of people, all different ages, and sizes contained together in locked cages with barely enough room to sit comfortably, or chained to the wall to keep them running. Each person was different, but they had one thing in common; all of them had a unique animal trait somewhere on their body. While some had ears or tails, others had scales or feathers. But all of them appeared just as terrified as her.
"Hey hey, it's the tin can!"
But even the voice of Cardin didn't quite break her out of her trance. When she looked at him, it was still with a fearful expression. She didn't know what to think, or how to function. She could only focus on the horrendous cruelty she could see in the room... and right in front of her. Seemed while the newcomers were the subject of harsh jokes during their arrival journey, they voyage home meant they'd switched their attentions to torturing others...
A blonde boy, one who looked little more than a year older than her, was chained to one of the bars on the far end of the ship. Unable to defend himself, Yang could see the obvious lash marks across his back, red from where the skin was so close to breaking. The only thing that made him look different from her or Cardin was the long blonde tail poking out from his shorts, curled up in pain. Seemed she interrupted them from doing more damage.
"Um, earth to Yang?"
Snapping back to reality, she looked over to Cardin again and realised she hadn't heard a word he said. “H-huh?”
Rolling his eyes, he laughed. “Looks like you need to make some new ears! I just asked what you were doin’ down here, young’ins are on scrubbing duty.”
“U-uh… Oh, I-I had an um…” Still barely able to focus, it only just occurred to Yang that she had a job to do down here. Upon realising again, she quickly patted herself down, retrieving the parchment paper and passing it over to him. But she was barely focused on that. All her attentions were on the boy below, everyone around them. Hundreds of them, chained and treated as subhuman. Even if they weren't human, this wasn't right.
All that distracted her was Cardin’s chuckle to himself. “I gotta pick some out to go to Atlas, huh? Should be simple enough. That’ll be all, tin can.”
It couldn't be said sooner. Yang wasted no time backing away, continually staring at each and every captive as she made her way back to the stairwell. How on earth did she not know of this when she first got aboard? Or anyone for that matter? Either way, that was her job. To escort the ‘cargo’ to the royal kingdom of Vale.
The dream job had turned into a nightmare.