Inspired by Viria's lovely pirate AU fanart.

"Man overboard!" one of her men shouted.

Captain Chase turned from her post at the quarterdeck. Overboard? The seas were calm, the skies clear... Why would anyone possibly be off ship?

She pressed herself against the railing and lo, there he was. Draped over a broken foremast that floated in the surf was a boy who was not much older than she. A tattered sail fanned out beneath him like a ghostly hand holding him aloft. From the way his clothes barely hung from his tanned frame, he had been floating for a day at least. He appeared to be unconscious, and he definitely was not a part of her crew.

Her men grew restless and began calling their concerns and she knew they had every right to be worried. Was this the work of the Argo II? That ship had been tracking them for weeks. Its captain, Valdez, had been clever in his tactics, but Chase was cleverer and she knew it. Yet somehow he would always appear, almost out of nowhere, emerging from surprise storms like a monster. But this was unlike him. If he was resorting to destroying other ships, he was getting anxious and impatient.

She could have easily let the drifter go; he was never her problem to begin with. He must've been long gone. He was just another soul claimed by the sea. That was, until she saw the boy in the water was breathing.

"Bring him aboard!" she barked.

In a matter of minutes, he was lugged over the side of the ship and dropped on his belly on the warm deck. He was sopping wet and smelled like seaweed. Chase stepped toward him while her crew spread out to give them room. The boy must have heard her boots because he stirred and opened sea-green eyes. For being on the ocean for what appeared to be a long time, he looked relatively healthy.

"What happened?" Chase asked, skipping formalities. She stared down at him from beneath her wide-brimmed hat, using her gray gaze to be the first line of intimidation.

The boy groaned and pushed himself into a seated position. Up close, Chase noticed that he was handsome. Sharp jaw, broad shoulders, and a mess of dark hair - he didn't look the type to be called to the seas. He regarded her through squinted eyes and looked her up and down.

Chase stood taller.

He smirked, "A glass of water would be great, thank you."

"Why were you drifting on that mast?"

"Because I thought it would be fun."

"I saved your life. Now answer my questions."

"Real hospitable getup you've got here. It's nice. I've always wanted to be interrogated first thing in the morning."

Chase reddened. She did not like to be mocked, especially in front of her men. She instinctively tightened her grip on the knife at her side, her leather gloves squeaked against the hilt. The boy noticed it and decided to start playing nice.

"Call me Jackson. Percy."

"You can address me as Captain Chase. This is my ship, the Architect. Now, tell me why you were stranded and I won't return you to that state."

Jackson rose to his feet and wavered as if he were getting used to the action. He brushed a hand through his hair, removing the wet strands that stuck to his forehead and looked out over the water. "Never thought I'd end up like this..."

What was he talking about? The captain pressed, "Was it the Argo II?"

"The what? No. Never heard of it. I'm just a fisherman, you know - with fish."

Chase pursed her lips, silently urging him to continue. This boy was getting on her nerves more and more by the minute.

"The ship name that attacked me... I think it was Backbiter."

The word rang in her ears, almost as if it had physically left a mark on impact. She barely heard what he said next. That ship was impossible. He must have been misunderstood. But it couldn't be real.

"It was this big, big gold ship with gold sails, blew mine sky high. Tried to put out the fires, but it was too far gone. I think I knocked my head on something because I don't really remember much after that. Then you came along."

"You're lying," Chase hissed. "Why would Backbiter target you?"

"Beats me. Maybe 'cuz I'm so pretty."

The captain puffed up her chest and bristled. Jackson seemed to know he was hitting a nerve.

"Look, I'm totally grateful that you pulled me out and 'saved my life' but I could really use something to drink and some food. Is that so much to ask?"

Captain Chase settled. It seemed like this stranger was telling the truth. It didn't sound like he had any negative intent, just someone caught in the line of fire. However, if he was a spy for Argo II, Chase would see to it herself that he pay for his betrayal. Backbiter hadn't been spotted in years, but its captain and crew were ruthless. If this was just a ploy for Chase to reveal her location so hastily by making a poor decision, Valdez would utilize it. But if Jackson was telling the truth, there were bigger things to worry about.

"So be it," Chase said, after she cleared her throat. "Bring him to the galley. See that he's fed."

"Sweet!" Jackson beamed. To Chase, he had such a peculiar vocabulary.

Some of the men parted the group for Jackson to leave, but Chase turned to her lieutenant and spoke in a hushed tone, "Make sure he behaves and doesn't stray. If he causes trouble, alert me at once. Our cargo is too precious for prying eyes."

"Aye, cap'n," he said with a nod.

Jackson was rolling up his sleeves as if he were going to plunge headfirst into the nearest mound of gruel. "So what's for dinner? Got anything blue? It's a long shot, I know, but worth a try."

"Uh, cap'n..." the lieutenant said, his voice wavering.

Chase then noticed what her second in command had spotted. A tattoo, faded from the sun, extended up the boy's forearm. It looked like a letter - no, a symbol. But it was as clear as the day. A trident.

Jackson was immediately seized by her men, his shoulders were grasped so hard he yelled out in a mixture of pain and surprise. "Hey! What did I do?"

The captain sauntered toward him once more, "It would appear, son of Poseidon, that we are sworn enemies. My mother Athena and your father made sure of that."

She removed the glove from her right hand and revealed her own tattoo.

Jackson just looked at it with unimpressed confusion.

Displayed for the boy to see was the image of an owl, given to her many years ago by her mother, the same way this boy was given his. And their parents definitely did not get along.

"You just got yourself into some very deep waters, Mr Jackson." She couldn't help but smile. This rescue was proving to be quite more valuable than she thought. "Your father might pay for you in plenty, but your enemies might pay for you more."

Jackson gaped, open mouthed, then managed a weak grin. Simpering wasn't going to get him out of this one.

"What do you think, boys?" The captain raised her voice to address her crew. "Does he make for a handsome ransom?" The men cheered.

"Who are you people?" he asked.

"Pirates, Mr Jackson. And the best of them."

The men cheered again in agreement and dragged the boy away. Chase put her glove back on and smiled to herself. She needed to bring drifters aboard more often.