I had to put this up, because the yearning of making the sequel was to powerful. This will be the only chapter I'll be putting up until I get TPOP done. Until then, let this little bit of drama and mystery dazzle you.

What I Hear

"Mr. Salam, keep it steady," I ordered as I left the quarter deck, leaving the wheel to my crew member.

"Aye, Captain Hollow," Salam replied as he took hold of the wheel. Living a new life gave me more purpose in my life. My memories of the journey I had 3 years ago made me realize how far I came from then.

My red eyes still shown that I still had my quick temper, but it was more under control to the point where the lust for a kill rarely ever came up. I always kept my silver hair the same length, to the middle of my ears, and my army green scarf now only covered my neck when pushed down all the way. Nothing was really that different in my appearance except that my black jacket was now unzipped completely and I was wearing full dark blue jeans, no pants leg off, making my black boots seem more like boots.

"Captain Hollow!" My lookout, Ms. Alla, called from above.

"Yes, Alla?"

"Interstellar ship approaching us from starboard side, sir!" I jumped onto the shrouds and climbed up to the crows-nest. "Course of action, Captain?"

I took the spyglass and took a good look at the ship. I noticed one man on the shrouds of the other ship waving in our direction. It was Jim Hawkins. "Don't worry," I said, "it's a friend." I took the spyglass from my eye and gave it back to Ms. Alla. "You act like we're pirates or something."

Each ship stopped beside each other and I crossed to the other ship. I went through the crew and into the quarters of where Jim resides. "You wanted me?" I asked, trying to sound as formal as I could get.

"This isn't business," Jim replied. "I wanted to let you know that there's a request at a nearby planet. Maybe you could get a good pay doing this." Jim Hawkins has been helping me out since I went into the exploring business, doing jobs for people around the Etherium. He didn't look much different since 3 years ago. The only three differences was that his hair was cut a little shorter, he lost the earring, and he has been getting a little more muscular since working on a ship.

"What's the job?"

"Nothing that big. Just some rich guy wants someone dependable to watch over his wife and daughter periodically while he's gone for a few months."

I was surprised by the simpleness of the task. "That's it? No traveling? No bone bending work?"

"I told him that I'd recommend someone for the job, and you're the first person that came to my mind." Jim then gave me a letter. "Take that letter to him to let him know that I recommended you. He first asked me to do so, but you know how I'm always moving around."

"Yeah. Being in the Galactic Navy takes a load off, doesn't it?" I asked with a smirk.

Jim laughed. "You've got no idea, Gale."

"So how far is this place?"

"A couple hours or so down to the south. It's a tan colored planet, so you can't miss it."

"Thanks Jim."

As I got back on my ship and headed toward the planet, I wondered what this guy had to offer with this job. How much trouble would this be, and how much would he pay for it? This seems way too simple.

We came up to the planet, looking as tan and bare as a desert and entered it to a nearby docks. I ordered the crew to come back within a moth to receive an update of the job I was on. As I asked around for the job that was posted, all said that the man lived in the center of town, but wasn't gonna be able to be reached until an event that is happening in their town is done.

I came in to a nearby Inn and almost everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at me. 'A suspicious town,' I thought as I went up to the counter. "I need a room for the next couple of nights," I told the counter man.

"Don't bother!" I looked back to see a young woman come in with the light from outside making her hard to look at. "The last room is taken!"

"And who are you supposed to be?" I demanded. The girl came over, having the door shut behind. The first thing I noticed was that her hair was silver, just like mine, except hers reached down to the upper part of her lower back, about where the bottom of ones stomach was. The hair out in front rested on her blue shirt that complimented her figure and her black pants and boots blended in together perfectly. As she neared, I then noticed her purple eyes. They gave me a sense of her wanting respect from everyone.

"I'm the person who get's first choice in this here town. Now move!" she demanded.

"I'll warn you that I haven't been around women that much, so I may not know how to treat them." I was trying to keep my irritation under control, but the girl was trying my patience.

"Well, then it's time for you to learn. Step aside!" I didn't dare move as she took a steep forward. She backed up, then a smile crossed her face. "Wrong choice." She then pulled out a handle to a sword and held it close to my neck as if she would cut it.

"You're missing a blade," I mentioned.

"Am I?" Then a ray of light and heat passed my neck. I felt the heat coming off of it and could tell one slice could rip apart any body. The ray was about 4 feet in length and gave off a yellow color, like that of an asura crystal.

I was impressed, but I didn't show it for it would give her the feeling that she was intimidating me and could over power me. After a minute of staring, she backed off and retracted the blade. "Do I... know you from somewhere?" she asked.

"Do what?!"

Now, how's that for a surprise? Someone Gale never knew comes up and says, "Do I know you from somewhere?" That would send me for a loop.