It had been a few hours since Niles and Andrea spoke to the two Guardians about what was going to happen next. There could be no doubts among the crew if Niles was going to take his sky barge into what seemed could easily turn into violent conflict with the Guardian order. He knew people could, and probably would die. It was important to make sure the crew was with him.

Niles was on deck alone, thinking in the dark. He found it less distracting to have the deck lights switched off. How would he go about breaking the news to the crew? Most of them would probably follow him, though he couldn’t blame them if they didn’t want to. Who would willingly risk their life—and it would be a pretty big risk—to save the world from alien beings invading from another planet?

It sounds ridiculous, he thought. But the threat was real. That’s why he was willing to risk everything, because if he didn’t there was no telling what could happen. He had seen all the evidence. Even... Thinking of the frozen corpse the order had locked away sent chills up his spine.

Will the rest of the crew believe me? he wondered. Will they just take my word for it?

He thought Andrea seemed to be having trouble accepting the reality of it all. She hadn’t seen the proof like he had. If she had, there would have been no doubt in his mind that she would be just as resolute in stopping this threat as he and Jon. She was obviously worried about her little brother and sister which distracted her from the larger, more important picture. He knew it.

Niles felt slightly guilty. If he had told Andrea what he was thinking to her face... Niles turned. Looking at the luminous cityscape of Daura, he decided he would just tell the crew and not worry about presentation. If they were willing to trust him they would trust him. It wouldn’t matter how he delivered the information. Without hard evidence the crew would probably think he sounded insane. Even he had difficulty digesting what he had learned at first.

After waiting silently in the chilly darkness for several more minutes, Jon and Emma emerged on deck looking expectantly toward Niles. He glanced around at the other occupied platforms near the Dusty Maiden to make sure no other crews were on deck. Then he went down the companionway and into the galley. He could have decided the meeting would take place there, but there was no one out on the platforms at this time of night anyway. Even if there were, the platforms were spaced generously apart to leave room for the various sized gasbags in common use. As he grabbed a hot mug of coffee, he told Andrea to assemble the rest of the crew on the main deck. Then he returned to Jon and Emma who were patiently waiting.

The crew was assembled by the time he had finished his mug. He noted the curiosity in their expressions as he cleared his throat. “When Jon took me into the Guardian temple he showed me things... things I can’t pretend I didn’t see.” No one spoke, though the curiosity on their faced seemed to deepen. “What I’ve recently learned is something none of us can avoid.”

“What is it?” Sidney asked. His eyes were wide.

Niles held his hands behind his back. As he moved from the center of the group and out of the way, he said, “I’ll let Jon explain. He’s the one who brought me into the fold.”

Jon stepped forward.

With Niles as a witness, it had taken the Guardian about an hour to explain everything. A few of the crew had interrupted with questions but Jon had told them that it would be best if he could explain everything first, and then accept questions later.

After Jon had finished explaining everything he answered a few questions, then Niles stepped forward. “Listen,” he said to the crew. “It’s all true,” he said for what seemed like the hundredth time. “I saw all the evidence when I was at the Guardian temple. I even saw one of their corpses. Ugly bastards. What I need to know is whether you’re okay with this. It won’t be easy, and it’s sure to be dangerous. If you prefer not to stay on my barge, I fully understand and there won’t be any hard feelings from me. So, what do you say?”

There was a long silence as Niles looked at each of his crew members. They all seemed uncertain. Afraid. He wondered what was going through their heads.

Do they believe me? he wondered.

Walter stepped forward, crossed his thick arms. “We’ve been in the thick of it a few times, Cap. I don’t see how this is any different. Hell... I’m in!”

“Glad to hear that,” Niles said as he nodded to Walter trying his best to hide his relief.

“Well I’m coming,” Sidney said. “This sounds awesome.”

“Sounds good. But you better obey orders.” Niles said, jabbing a finger toward the furnace boy.

“You have my vote, Captain,” James said. “Anyhow, without me you’d all starve anyways.” He laughed.

“Can always do with your cooking, James.”

Everyone but Andrea and Andrew stepped forward to confirm they were staying onboard the Dusty Maiden. But Andrea didn’t have to come forward, she’d been the most loyal of them all, the one Niles could trust the most.

He could hardly believe it. Did they believe Jon? Did they believe him because he trusted Jon? All he knew was that his crew had decided to stick around, whether because they actually believed his and Jon’s story or that they were just loyal, he didn’t know.

“Well, Jenkins...?” Walter said, addressing Andrew in his rough voice. “Are you with us or not?”

Andrew, his eyes unfocused, didn’t answer the mechanic. “Give him a moment,” Niles said. Andrew seemed to be battling something, some doubt, or uncertainty.

Andrew was the only dedicated deckhand. His duties were to load and unload cargo and keep it in proper order as well as take up arms during encounters with pirates. He’d worked for Niles for almost five years now. He was a trusted member of the crew.

Is he not going to stay? he asked himself. “Come on, Andrew,” Niles said enthusiastically. “Don’t make me go searching up and down the docks for a new deckhand. It’s hard to find good crew.”

Andrew pursed his lips and shook his head. “Nah, Captain. This isn’t any good.”

“What do you mean?”

“What I mean is... I think you’ve all taken a good tumble into a sand trap

“Is that how you really feel?” Niles asked.

“Sorry, Captain, but that’s how I feel,” he said with a nod.

Niles felt a slight pang of regret. Maybe it’s for the best. No one should stay on the barge unless they wanted to be there. Being captain, he had enough responsibility for the protection of his people without having to worry if staying aboard the Dusty Maiden was more his choice than theirs. He would never forgive himself if a member of the crew died having only stayed aboard because they felt they owed him something.

“I’ll pack my things, Captain.”

Niles nodded slowly. Then to Walter, James, and Sidney he said, “I need to know right now if there’s anyone else who isn’t completely sure about staying.” No one spoke up. “Anyone?”

There was another moment of silence. Then Jon said, “It’s settled then.” In a whisper he added to Niles. “I think we should get going soon.”

After the meeting, Sidney went bellow while Walter and James remained on deck going back over what had transpired only a few minutes ago.

Niles clutched the side railing as he regarded the illuminated cityscape. High and low—all over above and beyond, he could see the deck lights of sky barges entering and leaving the city as Guardian war barges circled high overhead, patrolling the small metropolis.

A warm breeze brushed gently by. It felt so good in the chilly desert night.

“I love night time cruises near the cities,” Andrea said, moving silently beside him.

He could feel the heat radiating from her body. “Me too.”

“Are we heading out in the morning?” Andrea asked.

“Yes.”

“All right. I’ll make sure everyone’s ready.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m scared, Niles.”

He turned toward her, put an arm around her shoulders. It wasn’t something he normally did. “I know. Me too. But it’s something we have to do.”

She nodded.