Free Skyjackers: Episode 1: A Proper Nuisance (Skyjackers: Season One) by J.C. Staudt Page A

animals. He decided then that he would
save those horses—even if he had to battle ferocious tigers to do so.
    ***
    When the Maelstrom touched down outside
Alexander Atwell’s castle, Jonathan Thorpe couldn’t have said goodbye to his
old friend quickly enough. He was aboard in two seconds flat, ready to give
Manchester and the others a piece of his mind. Vin Harlow interrupted him as he
was about to call an all-hands meeting.
    “Admiral’s on the line for you, Cap’n,” Harlow said.
    “For me?”
    “Aye. He’s just finished congratulating Mr. Manchester on the
successful retrieval of the Finustrian crown jewels.”
    “Wait. What? Manchester didn’t retrieve them… I did.”
    “Well, sir, since you retrieved the jewels, and Manchester
retrieved you… that’s got a roundabout way of working out, as I figure it.”
    “That’s preposterous.”
    “Just telling you what I know, sir.”
    Jonathan reached the radio room in time to hear Manchester
laying on the charm. “It was nothing, sir. Nothing at all. Just doing what I
could in the line of duty. Any man worth his salt would’ve done the same.”
    Jonathan nearly crashed through the door. “Hello, Manchester.
Would you like some bread to go with all that buttering-up?”
    “Captain Thorpe. I beg your pardon, sir. I was just begging
the Admiral here not to go so hard on you. He’s awfully keen to speak with you.
Here you are.” Manchester handed Jonathan the receiver and stepped away.
    Jonathan muffled it against his chest and said, “I’ll deal
with you later.”
    Manchester tightened his lips, but said nothing.
    “Admiral Farrelly,” Jonathan said into the radio. “I—”
    “Thorpe.”
    Jonathan knew from the first word that this wasn’t going to
go well.
    “Thorpe, you’ve got a lot of nerve. I might’ve expected
behavior like this from some plebian cadet pulling pranks at the academy. For a
man of your rank, this is wholly unacceptable.”
    “If you’ll just let me explain, sir.”
    “Manchester gave me all the explanation I need. For a captain
to abandon his post is shameful. Just shameful.”
    “I didn’t abandon my post. They left without me.”
    “How did they leave without you if you were at your post?”
    “I—they—I only left for a short while.”
    “And what’s all this business about you tangling with the
Caines again? I thought I gave you very specific instructions to the contrary.”
    “You did, Admiral Farrelly. I was able to get the
crown jewels back, though.”
    “And you put your ship and the lives of your crew at risk to
do so. I’m told that redheaded bitch nearly blew the Maelstrom out of
the sky. Have you any idea the expense you might’ve caused the fleet, thanks to
your carelessness?”
    There were many ways Jonathan could’ve replied to that. He
could’ve mentioned that his crew had fled like cowards and left him alone to be
captured. He could’ve defended Vivian’s honor from the nasty name the Admiral
had called her. Or he could’ve pointed out that Vivian had only fired blanks
from her cannons to scare his crew, and so there was never any real risk of
damage to the Maelstrom . Jonathan could’ve explained that he had only
left the Maelstrom to help a friend. But how would he avoid telling the
Admiral he’d lied to keep that friend out of trouble? In the end, all Jonathan
could say was, “I do, sir. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”
    “I should hope not, Thorpe. Next time, instead of a
tongue-lashing, you may find yourself on the rather unpleasant end of a real
one.”
    The Admiral slammed his handset down so hard, Jonathan could
swear he felt the tremors in the soles of his shoes. You’re up a creek now,
aren’t you? he thought. From now on, no more mistakes. Duty first, and everything
else second .
    That was when Jonathan’s mother called.