The brief flicker of purple-light from Noah's iris went unnoticed as his face pressed against the rough, damp deck. Green-lifeforce faded from the exposed metal as Noah observed them up close.

A boot dug unexpectedly into his chest as Noah was flipped onto his back. He could now see the skinny face of a bearded black man smiling down at him, framed by the fiery sky above. The ebony-skinned man was of thin build with signs of malnourishment. Most of his teeth were noticeably missing as he spoke to Noah.

"Welcome aboard, fishbait," the black man had a broad smile displaying the gaps of his missing teeth."

The man spoke with a thick accent before stepping back to motion the two guards forward. The pair simultaneously reached down to haul Noah to his feet with practised ease. They supported him from slumping back to the beckoning deck.

A voice speaking the language he heard earlier addressed the gap-toothed man from behind, hidden from Noah's view. He didn't have the strength to raise his head to look at the new arrival.

"Today is your lucky day, Fishbait. The boss has taken pity on your wretched soul. He has blessed you with a meal before you will be put to work on the oars," the man said before giving instructions in the unknown language to the two armed men holding Noah.

The man appeared to be the only one among them who spoke English. Noah finally got a clear look at the boss behind him. The boss was grade two, subtle green-lifeforce moved under his exposed obsidian skin. He was clean-shaven, tall, dark, and handsome with an athletic build. His heroic face was highlighted by a diagonal scar across his cheek, which didn't ruin his appearance but enhanced his features.

Noah was dragged into one of the makeshift huts built on the deck. Inside the room, it was too dark for Noah to see. His enhanced vision no longer worked after Ronan withered his lifeforce, leaving him weaker than before the arrival.

***

Once inside, the guards roughly placed Noah into a seated position on the floor. One of the pair ignited a match as he carefully lit an old brass oil-lantern hanging from the ceiling.

On the surface of the tarnished brass lantern, Noah was able to see his distorted reflection. He no longer had the attractive heroic appearance he'd gained after reaching grade two. He was now a weathered man who had passed his prime into antiquity, just like the lantern. His hair and beard had lost their lustre, becoming a dull grey colour. His skin had become shrivelled, his arms and shoulders were riddled with fractal-pattern scars from the damage of Ronan's [Electric Touch] ability.

As the first guard lit the lantern, the other had briefly left the room and returned with a set of ragged clothes. He threw them at Noah to cover his nakedness. Afterwards, the pair left Noah to dress, returning a short while later. They were carrying a chipped bowl filled with questionable cold goop of a reddish-pink colour. The goop was some kind of fish broth that had been left too long. It had solidified into an unappetizing jelly, still containing traces of bones.

"Could I please have a spoon?" Noah asked as his belly rumbled hungrily.

The answer he got was a slap across the face from one of the guards, the other roughly thrust Noah's head toward the bowl. His [Battle Instinct] ability flashed in the depths of his iris, but once again failed to activate. The light from his eyes remained unnoticed as it was hidden by blinking as his eyes watered.

Noah decided to eat the questionable goop without complaint. He didn't have the strength to stand, let alone retaliate. The white guard was the one that had slapped Noah. His companion behind Noah was the third Haitian man on the fishing boat.

The white guard was below average height, but almost as wide as he was tall. He had a muscular build with a beer gut and bad tattoos that could've been done in prison. The black guard was his companion's opposite. He was tall and lanky with smooth, unblemished ebony skin.

The white guard coughed up phlegm then spat it into the bowl before turning to his companion to comment in the unknown language as they both laughed. Noah put the bowl down and attempted to rise to his feet. The black guard easily prevented him with a rough shove towards the floor from behind.

Both guards began to kick and stomp the helpless Noah, spilling the questionable goop across the deck. The guards stopped after Noah could no longer resist. The guards reached down to haul Noah to his feet before dragging him out of the ramshackle hut.

The white guard pushed Noah onto an empty row bench, thrusting an oar into his grip. The black guard leaned in front of Noah with a contemptuous expression as he instructed him in the unknown language, pointing between Noah and the oar. Noah understood the message. The guard was telling him to row. Noah could only weakly nod to show that he conceded.

That seemed to satisfy the pair as they left him alone. Noah noticed the couple intently watching a young man as they left. The boy was in his mid-teens with blonde hair, too young to even grow a beard. The boy was slender with delicate, pretty, and slightly feminine features. The boy shrank away from their gazes with an expression of shame, rowing harder as they passed his bench.

Would it have been better if they never fished me out of the ocean? This place seems like it'll be a far less pleasant death than simply drowning. I can only wait and recover my strength to retaliate. Is this helplessness how blanks feel?

Noah sat in silent contemplation. Noah let out a sigh as he could only try to recover his powers. It wouldn't be an issue for him to handle the two guards and have his revenge with his abilities. Until then, he can only keep his head down as he didn't even have the strength to overpower the slender timid boy if he wanted to right now.