Just like last time, the sudden shift to a new place was only mildly disorienting, but Oliver shrugged it off quickly- his first priority was to make sure the area was safe, just in case... and not to gape at the incredible sight before him.

His heart nearly stopped at the pair standing just a few feet away, and he was instantly on guard. Both were tall, around seven feet... if he didn't count their horns- one bore curling, ram-like horns that started at his temple and arched back over his pointed ears before wrapping back around to jut out near his jaw, while the other's horns started at his temple, curving out only slightly before shooting up several inches over his head...

Their horns ended in sharp looking points, though 'Pointy', as Oliver dubbed him, had the tips covered in golden caps, where 'Ram' didn't.

Both men- he assumed they were men, though there was no guarantee of that... and he didn't particularly like assuming such things, especially with an alien race- were broad shouldered and powerfully built, with reddish skin- not from a sunburn; their skin had an actual red tone to it, though 'Ram' was a bit darker, almost blood red.

If not for the red skin, pointed ears, and horns- and the pitch black fingernails that ended in sharp points- they could have almost passed for human, just fairly large ones...

Thankfully, neither appeared to be armed.

Oliver stared at the duo, and they stared back, both sides analyzing the other... and curious... Though something about the way they stood, and their bearing, struck him... Their backs were ramrod, hands behind them... and the confidence they both bore...

It felt like they were standing at parade rest; they definitely felt more military than merchant... though maybe they were just retired or something?

His eyes briefly flitted to the ship nearby- almost certainly their ship, seeing as they all stood on a dock and this was the only ship tied up to it. Unlike his friend Gary, Oliver hadn't watched that much of the History Channel... so he had no idea what type of ship it was. But, at a glance, he could see it was clean and orderly... and likely armed.

While he couldn't be certain, the hatches on the side of the ship definitely looked like gunports to him... and there were ten of them, just on this side of the ship...

Oliver was starting to doubt the 'merchant' story... which almost made him laugh, since he was considered a 'merchant' as well, and he went everywhere heavily armed.

With the pair of men still studying him, apparently happy to make him wait and see how he reacts, Oliver finally took a moment to truly appreciate the world around him. While it was still obviously night here, the moon was high above and nearly full- and there were a handful of lights off behind him, where he could see a city spread out... yet the world still felt darker. He would have chalked it up to the wood of the dock and ship just being a darker brown... but even the water looked darker, more black than blue- even here so close to the shore...

Maybe it was just because it was night, but he didn't think so. He would just have to see when the sun rose...

Glancing over his shoulder, the city was more dark wood and stone- and quiet. Apparently, it was still early in the morning. For just a second, Oliver hoped they wouldn't sail for at least a day or two; he would love to have the chance to see the city... and check out any shops he could find.

He had no idea what sort of interesting things they would sell...

"Is it common for your people- whatever you are- to ignore the man that hired you?"

The rumbled question drew Oliver from his musings on what goods were available. Turning back to face the pair, he could see that 'Pointy' was glowering at him. For just a few seconds, Oliver simply stared at the man with an indifferent look on his face.

"I didn't ignore you." He answered with a shrug and a small, cheeky smile. "The first thing I did when I arrived was to determine who was nearby and whether they were a threat... And I didn't consider you a threat."

Pointy's glare was withering and his nostrils briefly flared in restrained anger- or perhaps indignation. "You don't consider me a threat?"

"Could you be a threat? Probably." Oliver shrugged again. "But it was more likely that one of you was the person that hired me... and if my employer is a threat to me, then the job is already doomed."

"I'm guessing you're the Captain." He said bluntly, staring at the man. Nodding his head slightly to 'Ram', he added on a question- while subtly probing for information. "And he's... what? Captain of the Marines or Master Gunner?"

Ram arched an eyebrow at the question, though a small smile played across his lips. "Well, he's not an idiot, sir... Just an asshole."

"Thank you." Oliver responded cheerfully. "It's always nice to be appreciated!"

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Captain 'Pointy' sighed, shaking his head. "I'm Captain Sterling, and this is Marine Captain Ramsbottam-"

Captain Sterling's introduction was cut off as Oliver began to laugh- first just a small titter, before devolving into uncontrollable giggling... and Ramsbottam just sighed.

"Go ahead and get it out of your system..." He sighed again. "I've already heard all the jokes- and yes, I saw the humor in it... the first fifty times..."

As Oliver started to get his laughter under control, the Captain just shook his head- this was the person hired to help protect the ship and what it carried? He was already skeptical of a single person being worth the cost... but this man was either insane or a joker.

And he didn't know which would be worse.

"If you're quite done..." He drawled, clearly unhappy. "This is my ship, The Isadora..."

He paused, clearly waiting for a response- and likely expecting more jokes or laughter... and was immediately disappointed.

Oliver looked admiringly at the ship, nodding his head. "That's an excellent name; honestly I was expecting something ridiculous and cliché, like 'Black Rose' or 'The Fist of Justice'. Isadora was a good choice; did you pick it?"

Captain Sterling hesitated, reeling from the disparity of the man's answers- one second he was laughing at an obviously crude joke, and the next he was earnestly complimenting the ship... Was he a fool? Or just toying with them to get them off balance? He wasn't sure.

"I named it after my daughter, actually..."

Oliver nodded, though a brief flash of emotion passed across his face- too fast for the Captain to really read. "That's... really nice, actually. I like it."

The Captain nodded, feeling pleased by the answer- perhaps this strange person wasn't all bad, if he could appreciate the ship being named such... though he was still a bit rude. Waving for the pair to follow, he led them quickly onto the ship. "Welcome aboard... But, before I have someone show you to your cabin, I would like it if you answered a few questions... starting with your name?"

Oliver smiled sheepishly, picking up on the mild scolding in the question- it really was kind of a dick move, not introducing himself to the people he would be working with. "Yeah, that's fair. My name is Oliver Silk... and I hope you don't mind if I ask a few questions of my own before we're done?"

"That's reasonable..." Sterling shrugged, and his voice turned stern. "Though my first question is a big one: Why do you think that you deserve how much we are paying you? And by that I mean... why are we paying you more than our entire contingent of marines? Because, from where I'm standing, I don't see how that makes sense."

"Counter question..." Oliver said, turning to glance at Ramsbottam. "How are you armed? And by that I mean the ship and your men?"

"I fail to see how that-"

"Just humor me, please. I promise I will answer your question, and even offer a demonstration... Though the demonstration will have to wait until after we leave port, for obvious reasons. A general answer is fine, if you prefer. Are we talking swords and bows? Or guns and cannons?"

While the Captain just glowered at him, Ramsbottam spoke up- apparently their relationship was fairly close, otherwise he couldn't imagine the man speaking for his superior. "All of my men are armed with a sword and a flintlock pistol, though the ship's best marksmen have rifles. And, of course, the ship has cannons... Is that not standard where you are from?"

"And... I suppose there isn't a better time to ask, but... what are you?"

Oliver grunted as he considered the answer- if they had flintlocks and cannons, odds were good his guns would work... and the System hadn't mentioned things being too different... "Oh, I'm human... I'm guessing you don't have people like me around. And I have no idea what you are, either, so it's a fair question."

"But as for why I'm worth it... Well, I'm better armed- and heavily armed, to boot." He grinned at their skeptical looks. "I know, sounds crazy, right? I'm not even carrying a bag..."

Holding up an empty hand, an apple suddenly appeared in it- pulled from the warehouse- and Oliver took a bite of it, trying not to smirk at their surprised looks. "I have my own way of carrying what I need- and no, I won't give you details about that; No offense, but I'm not going to hand out all my secrets."

"But! I'm not just better armed- and armored." He added, glancing at the simple, but well made, leather armor they wore. "I also have other abilities that make me dangerous- wait, do you guys have magic?"

"What is this 'magic'-"

"Ok, that answers that." Oliver continued, deciding to just steamroll the conversation- he was sure they wouldn't like it, but that wasn't his problem. He was there for a job, not to make friends... and he didn't want to make friends, not after the heartache he felt leaving the Rach. "The short version: if I'm within a hundred feet of your sails, I can set them on fire. I can also heal people using my special powers... and I can kill people with my mind."

"Kill people with your mind?" Captain Sterling snorted in disbelief. "So, you're a madman? Ramsbottam, have this man removed-"

"Is that barrel important?" Oliver asked, pointing at a barrel sitting across the deck from him. Before either could answer, he manifested a Mind Bullet and sent it flying- in an instant, the crack of wood splintering rang out, a hole punched into the barrel... and water started leaking out. "Ah, drinking water? Yeah, sorry about that. I'll pay to have it replaced, if you want."

The two of them gaped at the display, having seen nothing more than him point his finger and a hole get blasted in the barrel- but both recovered quickly.

"Well... I suppose that... is an answer." The Captain spoke slowly; if all of the 'abilities' Oliver mentioned were like that... Maybe he could be useful...

As long as they could reign in his obvious insanity.

Clearing his throat, he nodded. "We set sail at sunrise; we'll have to wait for your demonstration after that."

Turning to leave, the Captain nearly missed a step at Oliver's next question- though he recovered quickly, the moment of hesitation likely wasn't missed.

"This is a Navy ship and not a merchant ship, isn't it?" Oliver asked, staring intently at the Captain- and not missing his reaction. He hadn't been sure before, but seeing that... "Why lie about that? I mean, I'm still here for the job... But I'm a lot less likely to trust you if you start this relationship with a lie, you know?"

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