Chapter Text
“I’m tellin’ ye cap’n. It’s a bad omen.”
“Shut yer gob. Ain’t no bad omen. Poor sod’s a victim o’ one o’ those teleportn’ experiments what ‘appens up north most like.”
“Rest o’ the crew don’t see it like that cap’n”
“We’ll drop ‘er off in the next port. We can do that much. No get back t’ work!”
Groaning, Leona sat up, slowly. She was only dimly aware of the voices outside. Her head was still spinning and her vision was blurry at best but she could make out that she was in a small cabin. Dimly lit and sparsely furnished, she could make out a sitting desk with a lantern, an old wooden chest, the cot she was currently on, and a large man. She squealed, startled to find that she wasn’t alone. The man, however, tried to calm her as best he could.
“Easy there lass! Don’t be alarmed. This just be our ship medic’s quarters. Ye a’right? Can’t say we’ve e’er had lightnin’ deliver anyone on our deck b’fore. I’d be much obliged if ye were t’ fill in the missin’ pieces o’ yer story though.”
The large man grabbed the chair from the desk and seated himself a bit closer, draping his massive arms across the backrest of the chair. Even in the soft light of the lantern she could make out that he just about looked like a storybook pirate. Has she not been so shaken up, she might have laughed.
“Er.. Well.. Sir.. I was supposed to be teleported home but.. Well.. I think something went wrong.”
She visibly jumped when the man belted out a loud, barking laugh and slapped his knee, pointing in her direction. “Ha! I KNEW it. Teleport gone wrong. Me crew be thinkin’ it a bad omen. Bunch o’ superstitious bilge rats, they are. Aye. Donchya worry lass. We be pullin’ into port on the morrow t’ restock supplies in Limsa Lominsa. I regret t’ say that’ll hafta be yer port o’ call as we won’t have the supplies fer an extra mouth t’ feed all the way t’ Radz at Han.”
With a relieved sigh, Leona nodded. She had no idea where the places the man had named actually were but, assuming she was at least in her own world again, she’d just need to find a telephone.
“Take as much rest as ye need lass. Ye be welcome on deck if ye like. Supper’ll be served in.. oh. ‘Bout three bells. Now iffin’ ye’ll excuse me. I be needed at the helm.”
The captain tipped his hat as he headed out the door, leaving Leona alone in the cabin. Her vision had cleared up but her head was still protesting her insistence on being in an upright position. She allowed her mind to contemplate food for a moment before her stomach made itself clear that it was going to return anything that was sent it’s way.
She fished the receiver from her pocket and winced as she confirmed what she had expected. The screen was badly cracked, half of it didn’t even work, and the half that did only flashed an error screen that she couldn’t read through all the damage.
Tucking the receiver back into her jacket pocket she let herself fall back onto the cot, groaning as her heart sank. She had no idea how far from home she was now. Worse still, she had just left the only friend she’d ever known and now she wasn’t even sure if she’d reached her own world. Even if she had, with the receiver as badly damaged as it was, any chance there might have been to find a way back to visit was gone.
With a sigh, she rolled onto her side, curling her knees up to her chest. She felt more alone now than ever and deep down she wondered if she hadn’t been better off staying than going home.
Who am I kidding? I didn’t belong there. Then again.. Where do I belong? It’s not like anyone’s ever wanted me around. ‘Cept him..
Leona absently ran her fingers across the jagged scar across her throat, tears welling up. She had convinced herself that returning home was something she had no control over. It was mandatory. It was her job. She had no choice in the matter. But was that really the truth?
For now, she tried to shove all those thoughts to the back of her mind. She was still tired and her headache wasn’t improving. Sleep would help, she thought, so she tried to focus on the soft movements of the ship. Before long, the gentle rocking of the vessel upon the ocean waves lulled her to sleep. Her sleep, however, would be anything but restful.