Epilogue

"I am a Slave of Duty," said the Pirate Frederic. "As a child I was regularly apprenticed to your band. It was through an error - no matter, the mistake was ours, not yours, and I was in honor bound by it."

Jay had taken Marrissa to see a Gilbert and Sullivan Opera. Normally, Marrissa would have objected, pleading that she had too much work. For once, she hadn't even attempted to. She would have missed out on what was so far looking like a very good Opera. Imagine, apprenticing a boy to a pirate instead of a pilot. Marrissa giggled.

Oh, it was nice to sit here next to Jay, with his strong arm around her shoulders, relaxed enough to giggle at the absurdities of the Pirates of Penzance, despite the formal dress she was wearing. The play was preformed on an almost empty stage, with just suggestions of the scenery. At the moment, it was a pirate vessel with a crowd of pirates surrounding the main characters of Frederic, the Pirate King, and Ruth.

"Well, then, it is my duty, as a pirate, to tell you that you are too tender-hearted," Frederic said. The actor reminded her a little bit of her cousin Martin. He had the same basic build, and affected a similar smile. "For instance, you make a point of never attacking a weaker party than yourselves, and when you attack a stronger party you invariably get thrashed."

"There is some truth in that," said the Pirate King, who reminded Marrissa of Commander Riker. Both had similar swaggers to their walks. Marrissa found herself agreeing with that tactical advice, as well.

"Then, again, you make a point of never molesting an orphan!" Frederic exclaimed.

"Of course: we are orphans ourselves, and know what it is." Samuel, another pirate said.

"Yes, but it has got about, and what is the consequence?" Frederic asked. Everyone we capture says he's an orphan. The last three ships we took proved to be manned entirely by orphans, and so we had to let them go. One would think that Great Britain's mercantile navy was recruited solely from her orphan asylums - which we know is not the case."

"But, hang it all! you wouldn't have us absolutely merciless?"

Merciless pirates, that was the norm, not this. Oh Marrissa could tell this opera was going to be fun to watch. She relaxed, snuggling up to Jay, letting his arm reach down to her waist. Her attention moved to the stage, the play no longer being analyzed but enjoyed. Not for a moment did her job enter her mind again that night, those worries being retired for now.

After Act One ended with the hilarious "I am an orphan boy," Marrissa walked out for the intermission. She snared what she was sure was sparkling grape juice from one of the circulating waiters as she waited for Jay to return.

It was a good thing she consumed it, and it's successor quickly, because as she turned around to look for Jay, she bumped hard into Commodore Portinmire. The glass flew out of her hand, but somehow Portinmire caught it. "Good Evening, Princess," he said. Marrissa had chosen to go with her more civilian attire, with her rather daring deep blue and silver evening dress. At the last second she'd put a simple silver tiara in hair to hold it back instead of her customary quick pony tail. "Are you enjoying the opera?"

"I am, sir," Marrissa said. The next sentence spilled out of her, her intention to hide it washed out. "Sir, I want to thank you so much for accepting me on the Indefatigable. The Stargazer is my first time living away from my family. And well, I needed the support you gave and respect you showed for me.." Marrissa felt her cheeks warm, and a giggle escaped her.

Portinmire appeared to be unaccustomed to such compliments, and merely nodded his acceptance of the thanks. He turned to the approaching Jay, "Good Evening, Lieutenant," Portinmire said. "I assume you are the Princess's escort for the evening."

"I have that honor, sir," Jay said, smiling. Marrissa liked Jay's smile. It brought out that cute little dimple on his left cheek. "I think you've had enough to drink tonight, your highness. If you'll excuse us, sir, I believe they're about to start the Second Act."

Marrissa leaned into Jay as he lead her out of the atrium. His arm wrapped around her as he held her close and secure. It was time to find out how the pirates would find out about the Major General's terrible story.