This caused a great deal of consternation among the crew, it was the ship? Sure they all believed in a theoretical way ships had a soul. But as teachers, particularly physics ones always tell us, there’s a pretty big gap between theoretical knowledge, and the actual evidence actually showing itself in a tangible sense.

Right now, for the first time, the crew were beholding the evidence, and it was freaking adorable in a particularly unique, and war-scarred way.

“Goddess Briony Deyp, I have a request I wish to make, and it is one only you could grant.”

“Well fire away, I don’t smite...... much”

“As you have no doubt noticed by now, I am wounded, and this may be my last voyage.”

This was met with murmurs of dismay from the crew, The Wellerman was one of them, and they had fought so hard to keep her afloat to here.”

“When your time comes, your time comes little one, ships, like mortals don’t get to live forever.”

“Nor would I wish to, but I am a ship, and there is one wish all good ships share, one that only you can grant.”

At that Captain Acab stepped forward, he was clearly trying very hard to pretend not to be crying. But this was hard. “Whatever it is Ma’am, please grant it, me and the crew would be happy to dedicate ourselves at the temple if it would grant Weller here what her heart desires.”

“You don’t even know what the wish is yet” Briony noted, with a chuckle, “and it’s not like a few human souls are worth that much to me.”

“Doesn’t matter, never did, never will, she’s seen us through some pretty hairy times, even when she should by all rights have sunk she always saw us home right. Now it’s time we do what we can to repay that. She’s earned that much.”

“Indeed she has, though I daresay when you hear her wish spoken aloud you’ll be kicking yourselves.”

“We’ll see, but no regrets from us, she’s family.”

At this Briony turned to The Wellerman with a smile. “Very well, they asked for it, state your wish little one.”

“My wish is the same as that of any other ship, my crew are far from home. The only thing I desire, is to see them home safe and well, no matter what ridiculous voyage they have undertaken this time, and I have to say that even for my crew taking on a fully grown Megolodon, and a killer rubber duck is pretty damn ridiculous, honestly I don’t know what goes on in those heads of theirs sometimes.”

She scolded them, but the smile on her face was clearly that of a parent who was proud of how their kids had turned out, but had no way to say so without repercussions, or egging them on. (In some of their cases it was absolutely the case, Tom for example had first signed on as a cabin boy, and now he was practically twice the size he had been when he started off, maybe three times if you counted all that muscle. That boy had never met a weight he didn’t lift, he wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, but he could definitely lift heavy things.)

“Are you sure that’s what you wish Weller, we could work something out and fix you up here.” Captain Acab asked, he was really hoping she would change her mind.

“and sit in dry-dock while you lot break your backs, and the bank, to get me back in order. You can’t manage that and we both know it, get out there and meet somebody new.”

“That’ll never happen, I’d sooner retire, and I’m fairly sure I speak for the whole crew here”

There was a chorus of agreement from behind him, for a lot of them the ship had been family, and home, when they had neither. Briony politely held her tongue, she quite liked this little ship, but rules were rules, if and when she sank she was to stay there. There were no loopholes there, in theory the hulk could be refloated, but it would be an empty, lifeless thing. After all, who puts their faith in a wreck?

“So that is your wish, I can grant it for you, but remember the moment you touch the ocean floor you are mine forever.” Her voice was heavy here, it was clear to all that her fate was inescapable.

“Yes that is, I ask you to please grant it, my crew will keep their promise to you.”

“They’d better, a mortal who can’t keep their word is completely worthless in my eyes, and crossing me is a sure fire way to never be welcome on the sea again as long as they live.”

“You heard The Goddess boys, remember if you do break your words I will never forgive you.”

With that done, she took the crew to one side, one by one, she’d wanted to talk to them all for so long, and now she finally had a chance to do so. Not a single crew member was missed, and once that was done, they gathered on deck.

“Are you done yet?” Briony asked impatiently, she’d let them get their goodbyes, but immortal or not she didn’t have all day. She had a lot to do.

“We’re as ready as we’ll ever be” Wellerman replied.

“Then get your crew secured as best you can, get them lashed to the mast, or strapped in below decks, this is going to be a bumpy trip.”

“But, how are we supposed to sail her back if we’re all strapped down? No disrespect intended your worship.” The captain asked.

“Does she look in any state to be sailed back? I’ll get you back to your own shores, the rest is up to you, but it’s not going to be an easy trip.” With that done, the crew did the only thing one can when instructed by a goddess, they obeyed. Carefully strapping themselves in, then things went to hell fast, as Briony Deyp picked up the ship, aimed at the shore so far away it barely showed up on the horizon, and YEETED.