Memphis watches Homestead at the wheel of his ship.

The Captain at his own helm was something to see.

Memphis leans back and takes a deep breath, staring up at the sky, then turns and stares off the starboard side.

Ran and Howl's little boat is following them.

What hell I've been through. If only they knew. If they really knew. If they hadn't come. Now look where I am! She lived across from that! How could she not know?!

Memphis shakes his head, trying to clear it. He takes a grateful breath, knowing he is alive and well, and then goes back to watching Homestead, who is still off in his daze.

When Ran finally woke Memphis up, he was amazed to see Captain Homestead's junk ship, there on a strange sand bed.

They had come across each other's paths a few times, and had recognized one another, but had never spoken nor been introduced.

The Captain offered him a ride as they were heading back to The Abode.

Sailors always seemed to know each other. Those who knew the sea stood together.

Fishermen would be jealous of others who made their life off the sea, but they also would rather be in their competitor's company than some land lover.

Memphis had always seen Captain Homestead of a an old rogue. Couldn't be trusted, but would probably be the one you would want in a fight, fair or not.

Or in an adventure or hustle.

When Homestead would arrive at the Moon Isle, it was like a rock star from the old age was there. Men, women and song.

Never a lack of confidence.

That seemed gone, now.

Something was off.

The Captain starts mumbling again.

Memphis just watches, but slowly comes up next to him.

The two stare out at the endless sea.

"What did you see?" Memphis asks. "Ran said you saw something. You've been saying it under your breath."

"A beast," Homestead answers quickly.

"There are many beasts in this sea. Everything has been different since the blasts."

"I know that. I've seen them all. I had never seen this before."

Homestead then looks at Memphis.

"It got in my head. It gets in everyone's head. The beast from the sea. It never stops."

"Is it still talking to you now?"

"No."

"Then it stops," Memphis offers.

"Well, I don't forget it."

Stolen story; please report.

Homestead goes back to look out at the sea in silence, but eventually talks again.

"It wants a challenger."

"Most things in power do," Memphis replies quietly.

"A sword. A sword," Captain Homestead starts saying under his breath, like a mantra.

"What sword?" Memphis asks.

"I don't know. A sword from before," is all the Captain gets out.

Memphis thinks about it.

"I heard of a sword. Rumors from other fishermen. It was called The Sword of Eden. Used by angels to block the garden. Used in endless wars of the demonic and divine."

Homestead snorts and spits. A little like his old ways.

"You Moon Isle people are always speaking nonsense."

"You say we speak nonsense? You are frightened over a mutated sea creature."

"It was not one of them!" Homestead yells. "I know them. I've seen whales and sharks and squid, mutated and burnt, big and small. I've seen harmless fish become the size of this ship with scales like the fallen. This was not that."

"Then why do you think the sword I heard of is nonsense?"

"I don't know. You are crowding me."

Memphis obliges and steps backwards with the rhythm of the ship.

Homestead thinks about it.

"Did anyone see this sword? Is it out here?" Homestead asks.

"Some have seen it," Memphis responds.

"Have you?"

"Maybe."

"Where is it?"

"Out there," Memphis points at the sea.

"Well, we may need to go find it."

"Why we?"

"That beast could end everything."

"How do you know?"

"It told me. It tells everyone. We need to help Orion."

"What does it want with Orion?"

Homestead turns. "That's who it wants to fight."

Memphis gets the chills. Thinking of his friend who saved his life, having to fight some monster beast in the sea.

"Why him?"

Captain Homestead does not answer for some time. So long, Memphis thinks he didn't hear him.

But he did.

"Because he is good," Homestead finally answers.

Ran watches the two old pirate like men on the ship as she guides her own.

"What do you think they are talking about?" Howl asks. "Crazy old fools. Some mates shouldn't even get to live."

"That's not very nice," Ran responds over her shoulder without turning around.

"Neither one of them are very nice! Bastards, they are."

"You are quite the character yourself, Howl."

"I know what I am. I know who I am. I own the island. You'll see. You'll see, darling."

"I'm sure I will," Ran responds.

She then turns her attention back to the two, who seem to be in a very strange yet paused discussion.

What did he see?

How is this all connected?

"Ahhh!" Howl exclaims.

Ran turns.

The smaller islands before The Abode start to pop up, as do the monolithic ships and strange things sticking out of the water that lead the way home.

"I missed her so," Howl says. "You'll love your new home."

"I doubt I will be welcomed," Ran says with a tint of regret in her voice.

"You'll be the queen of the island! Talk of the town!"

"No. They'll wonder why Orion and Cole aren't back. And why I'm asking for them to go find them."

Howl goes quiet, thinking of how his local islanders would take to such a thing.

"You are right, princess. That ain't gonna go great!"