A Pirates Life
Summary: The year is 1773 and Pirate Captain John Sheppard just gatecrashed a jailbreak, but that means he now owes the enigmatic blue eyed stranger a favour. He just doesn't realise the trouble one favour can gleen. (Entry for SGAReverseBigBang, inspired by the art work entered by Kay_Greatness)
Notes:Location of Art: Live Journal. Artists Name: Kay_Greatnes
A Pirates Life : Chapter One
John cracked an eye open, tensing warily as he heard the little guy sharing his cell move from the bunk opposite. When he had been thrown in the cell earlier that same day, he had considered his cellmate to be harmless, big blue eyes had watched him suspiciously from behind gold rimmed spectacles, coupled with wild hair that looked like it hadn't been tamed a day in his life. Standing no taller than John's shoulder in a long waistcoat buttoned up irregularly and overlaid with a matching brown coat that went down to his thighs, covering most of the short trousers, his long socks nearly hidden in the long boots that sagged with the weight of their own soft suede. The little guy looked odd, but definitely harmless, or at least John had thought so.
John waited, coiled tight like a spring, ready to react to whatever attack the little guy used. Captain John Sheppard was a survivor, his lithe wiry frame belying the strength within it, giving him the element of surprise in many a situation. His eyes soon became accustomed to the darkness, picking out the shadowy silhouette of the little guy slinking through the dark, but not towards John as he had expected but towards the cell door. He was surprisingly quiet on his feet, not a sound as he paused by the door, looking over his shoulder to check John who quickly closed his eyes, knowing the whites would be clearly visible in the darkness. When nothing further happened, he risked opening them slowly to find that the little guy now had something in his hands as he did something to the lock. John saw a sharp spark of light and white smoke flow out of the keyhole.
This time when his strange cellmate looked over his shoulder, John stared back. John watched as the guy stiffened, obviously frozen in shock to find his cellmate awake. Behind him, the cell door creaked slightly open and light from the corridor entered the cell, casting shadows around the room. John raised his eyebrows in surprise, "I don't know what you did to that door, but I need out too. How about we join forces?" John whispered softly in the dark. He was due to be branded for Piracy in the morning, before they hanged him the day after, seemed a waste to John but they seem to think it was the principal of the thing that he be branded before he died. With no other option, he'd been hedging his bets on fighting his way out anyway he could come morning. But why wait for morning when fate lends you a hand.
"My plan is only for one," the guy said quietly, his voice thick with an accent John didn't recognise, and then slipped out of the cell. John scrambled quickly to his feet and followed with the stealth of a cat. He watched the man slink down the corridors, creeping along the edges of light that pooled on the dirt floor, cast by the torches mounted in the wall sconces. He was developing more and more respect for this stranger as they progressed through the prison, beginning to wish he'd struck up a conversation with him now so he knew something of who he was and curiosity burned in him to find out what he was in for.
As this enigma walked past an archway in front of John, a soldier stepped out of the shadows, the little man oblivious as the glint of the soldier's sword sparked in the light of the torches as the soldier laid the blade against the little man's neck. John heard the sharp gasp of shock as the man felt the cold steel against his skin, body jerking to stillness. "I realised that if you could afford to pay me what you did, then you probably have more. Tell me where it is."
John crept up behind the soldier with his usual stealth, making use of the shadows and the guard's preoccupation with his cellmate. John's first thought to grab him from behind, but at the last minute the soldier sensed his proximity and turned, bringing the sword round but luckily John was already close enough to be within its radius. He swiftly reached out and gripped the wrist holding the sword, holding it at bay as he used his other hand to hit the soldier in his temple with a short, powerful jab.
The soldiers eyes rolled back in his head as he fell backwards. John used the grip he still had on the soldiers wrist to control the fall, trying to make it as silent as possible as his free hand quickly took the sword from the guards unresisting hand. Once the soldiers body had settled on the floor, John let the limp arm fall across the body as he cast his eyes around the shadows for any movement, stretching out his sense of hearing, listening for any noise to see if they had attracted any attention. He was met with only silence, but still held his newly acquired sword out at the ready. He turned to the little guy to find him watching him with wide, awe inspired eyes that held just a small amount of fear.
"Your plan got room for one more now?" John whispered with a smile.
The guy nodded, jerkily and quickly, casting a glance to the sword still in John's hand before looking back up to his face, a quick study of his eyes. John didn't have time to figure out what he wanted to see there before the guy was nodding. "Yes," his eyes fell to John's empty gun belt, now sadly bereft of John's gun, having been disarmed when he was arrested. "You'll need that. There is minimal staff in the kitchens at night and most are busy with the guards, this being their main meal for the night shift. There should only be the cleaning staff, mostly children. We should be able to slip through," another glance to the sword before looking up at John again, this time his eyes intense, "without hurting them."
John smiled, "I do not hurt the innocent. Lead on."
The man nodded with a tentative smile and slunk away into the shadows, John following in his wake. Once they reached the kitchens John paused and opened the door a crack. On a large table were plates of food and they only had to wait a few moments before the night kitchen staff picked up the plates to carry them to the guards' dining room. John knew they had only a short time before one of the servers or cooks would be back, so he quickly hurried his companion across the kitchen, nothing but two startled boys with big wide eyes to follow their passage through. As they exited into the courtyard, John turned right towards the guard house and the only exit from the compound. The little man grabbed his arm and pulled him back, "too many that way. Follow me."
John paused, but he wouldn't have got this far if not for his strange companion so he nodded and followed. John figured the man must have been planning this escape for awhile and this may very well be the only opportunity John would get to avoid a painful branding and a long drop with a short rope around his neck and so for now continued to trust the plan. Trepidation and doubt that he had made the right decision grew as he followed the man around the corner and back into the keep, travelling up around a stone spiral staircase. The knowledge that his exits were becoming fewer made his heart beat in his chest. The feeling of becoming trapped was making him panic, well accustomed to keeping his feelings tied down John had been able to keep it at bay but it rose with every step until he stepped out onto the roof, looking up into a starlit night.
He quickly scanned the roof and realised there was no other exit apart from the doorway he was standing in. The only thing he could think was, trapped. His gaze quickly found the man who had led him here to find him by the parapet, picking up a bow and arrow.
John walked over to him warily, keeping sharp attention on his surroundings, listening out for steps on the stairs behind him. The little guy was fixing something to the side of the bow, before pulling the arrow in place to notch against it. Instead of looking down the bow, he was looking at the needle pointing up from the extension he had added, seeming to line it up against some specific point in the distance.
As he released the arrow, John noticed the light rope attached to the rear of it and as the arrow sailed through the air, the rope snaked through the night in its wake. The arrow thudded silently into something hidden in the darkness. John watched silently as the little man pulled something out of his trousers, threading it onto the rope. He then pulled out an iron bar from his boot and knotted the rope to it with small dexterous hands, before locking it into place between the turrets of the roof.
He turned to John, "If you fold your belt in half and hang it over the rope, you can hold each side and it will hopefully hold your weight. The rope was only intended to hold my weight, I can give you no promises. I'll wait at the other end for two minutes, no more.. There is more at stake than just my freedom." With that the man put his hands through the loops of the contraption he had screwed onto the rope and simply leapt off the roof.
John watched him swing briefly before gravity took him smoothly down the rope and he quickly disappeared into the darkness, gliding silently over the compound. John realised he was standing alone in enemy territory, trying to distinguish his rescuer in the darkness, instead of following him to freedom. He quickly sheathed his sword in the frog of his baldric belt, unbuckled the pistol belt from his waist and folded it in two over the rope. He took a deep breath, his respect for the unassuming cellmate going up once again as he pushed off into the darkness. His heart thudded painfully, yet adrenaline thrummed through his body as he sped through the darkness. Nothing beneath him, the wind in his face just like when he stood at the prow of his ship. This was like flying, John loved it, even as it scared the living daylights out of him.
John was enjoying the sensations so much he nearly didn't notice how fast the exterior wall of the compound was approaching. He suddenly realised he didn't have enough information, Am I supposed to let go and drop before I hit the wall? He looked down, the drop did not look healthy, he looked back at the wall, but neither did hitting that wall at this speed. John tried to see where the rope ended but couldn't see anything. He was just beginning to think that he should let go when the clouds moved, letting through a sliver of moonlight. Not enough to light up the night, but enough to glint of the rope and show him the way it lead between the turrets of the outside wall, also enough to show him that his legs were about to be cut off.
John quickly lifted up his long legs as high as he could, literally swinging between the stone turrets, passing them by, nothing more than black shadows in the night. John let his legs fall back down as he swung over the road. Once over the road he noticed the drop in speed, the belt starting to snag, causing his grip to slip and looked down to find the ground a lot nearer.
Determined to make the decision himself, John let go with one hand, keeping hold with the other, hoping to drag his belt with him as he'd need it soon enough, and lucky not to need it before now. The image of himself sailing over the soldiers heads with his trousers around his ankles drew a low chuckle as John dropped to the ground, rolling as he landed and making his way into the shadows of the bushes that lined the road behind him.
He looked around, both for any witness' to his surprise prison break and for the man he owed it all too. A light touch on his arm had him turning sharply, a hand striking out like a cobra to grip into the cloth, his other hand coming back, ready to punch. He quickly realised he held his cellmate in his grip, eyes wide as they stared at him in surprise.
"Sorry, didn't realise it was you," John whispered as he released his grip on the man's vest. Instead holding out his hand in greeting. "Captain John Sheppard."
"Radek Zelenka," the man answered in his thick accent as he shook John's hand gently. The bland expression on his face changing to a frown. "Captain? As in Captain of a ship?"
"Hopefully," John answered. "If I can get to Athos before Ronon takes his inheritance. You said there was more at stake, than your freedom? Well, I owe you mine, so, if I can help at all?"
"If you have a ship, then yes. I need passage but time is of the essence," Radek looked around nervously, "And we should leave now, they will notice we are missing very soon. Are you okay to move?" Radek asked, one hand waving vaguely in the direction of the rope, still overhead.
"Yeah, fine. That was fun!"
Radek had been about to move away, but turned back to John in surprise, "Fun?"
"Yeah, I'm thinking of rigging something like that up from the main mast," he walked passed Radek, oblivious to his expression of wary shock.
"The flying through the air with nothing under your feet, through a camp full of men with rifles. You thought it was fun."
"Yeah, didn't you?"
"I was too busy being terrified."
John laughed softly, starting to lead them away towards the outskirts of town, stopping as a shadow loomed out of the darkness. Radek bumped into the back of him, looking around John in confusion, yelping in surprise and fear when he realised why John had stopped. John thought he would know that silhouette anywhere but this was the wrong place to find it, "Ronon?"
"John," the silhouette replied, as if it was perfectly expected to find each other in the shadow of the prison.
"What are you doing here?" John hissed.
"Came to get you," Ronon replied.
"How'd you know I'd escaped?" John asked warily, were they looking for them already?
"Didn't, was gonna get you out. Now I don't need to. Who's the squeaky guy?"
"Squeaky? Oh," John huffed a laugh realising Ronon had given the moniker due to Radek's squeal of surprise. "Ronon, meet Radek, he's the guy that broke me out of prison. Any chance you got Atlantis with you?"
Ronon turned from frowning in curious surprise at Radek to smiling widely at John, "As if I'd go anywhere without her, she's round the head. Boat waiting in the bay. You ready to go or you wanna talk some more?"
John laughed. "Damn good to see you Ronon. Come on Radek, I'll introduce you to the best ship on the high seas."
"M'not squeaky," Radek mumbled grumpily as he followed John and Ronon down to the beach.
Ronon ensured they avoided any patrols, or anyone who preferred moving around at night, such as thieves and poachers. After a while John could hear the distant ringing of an alarm and knew their escape had been found. Unspoken, they picked up their pace.
They made their way stealthily to the boat in silence. John saw Ronon casting appraising glances at Radek, no doubt respecting his silent movements. John was taken again with curiosity over Radek's history, being able to move silently was generally a lesson that was learnt through necessity, and the story was never good. John knew Ronon's story, and he'd never met a man who could move as silently as Ronon, he hoped he never would. So, seeing the little man move almost as quietly piqued John's curiosity, and made him wary of hearing Radek's story.
It was a simple matter to push the rowing boat from where Ronon had hidden it behind some rocks onto the water and John and Ronon began to row, with Zelenka sat in the stern. They didn't need words or numbers to get their strokes in time as they'd had much practice over the years and some of those times they hadn't even been sober.
As soon as they rounded the head of the bay though, all thoughts were banished as John took in the silhouette of Atlantis, his ship. It was nothing more that a vaguely darker shape in the black of the night, but he'd know her anywhere, he didn't think he loved anything on this earth the way he loved Atlantis. She'd given him purpose when he'd needed it most, and she gave him freedom. He'd never stop loving her for that. Already the smile was breaking out into a grin as they neared the dark boards of her flank.
As they pulled alongside a ladder fell down the side, John took the bow rope and clambered up the rungs, eager to feel the deck underneath his feet, to feel that peace that settled over him when he stood on board Atlantis. Markham was ready to meet him at the top and gave him a hand up. "Welcome aboard, Captain," he said with a wide grin as he took the rope from his hands, putting it into the pulley system, ready to bring the cockboat aboard when they were all up.
"Pleasure to be aboard, Markham," John replied with a mirrored grin, just as wide, before turning to help Radek over the rail and onto the deck. Ronon clambered over a second behind him, the other rope in his hand, passing it off to Grodin.
As the ropes creaked, pulling the boat into safety John turned to Ronon. "Get her underway, then meet me and Radek in my room."
"Aye, Captain," Ronon answered.
John nodded, knowing Ronon would do what is necessary, it was why he'd left the boat to him in his will. "This way, Radek," he said as he led Radek below decks. As they entered his rooms he reached for an apple, holding one out to Radek, "Hungry?"
Radek took the apple quickly, biting deeply, as John reached for another with his free hand. He poured them both a glass of ale and led the way over to his maps, "So, Saviour of mine. Time to return the favour. What treasure do you seek passage too?"
"My Captain," Radek began, but when he said no more John realised it wasn't an honorific to begin his request, but his actual request.
"You could ask me anything and all you want is passage to your Captain," John verified, knowing his own bafflement could be heard plainly. Radek just nodded. "You know, we could have use of you here, you don't need to return to your Captain to find work."
Radek looked instantly wary, as if John would lock him in irons to fill out his time like a slave. "Only if you want to," John assured quickly, having noticed Radek's reaction.
"Thank you Captain Sheppard, but my first and only loyalty is to my Captain. But please not to be telling him this."
John smiled in bemusement. "Most captains would reward such loyalty."
"He would be insufferable," Radek mumbled as he started sorting through the maps. He seemed to find the map he needed, he turned to John to get his attention as he ringed a group of islands with his finger, "Here, these are the ones I need to reach. I thank you for your help. Get me here and back to a port with my Captain and your debt to me will be paid in full and then some."
John pulled the maps to him, taking in the destination. A group of islands in the back of nowhere, no regular shipping lanes and nothing to lure anyone. No towns and some didn't even look habitable. It must be the Captains nest, normally kept a secret at all costs, John was surprised that Radek would direct them to it so openly. He wondered about a captain that would engineer such loyalty, he must be quite a man, but before he could ask anything more Ronon entered, "Your orders, Captain?"
He was always so formal in front of strangers, John wondered how long he would consider Radek a stranger, how long before he fell back into common place and talked to John as he normally would. John pulled the maps even closer so he could point out the islands to Ronon. "This is our destination. I owe Radek here a favour, this trip is for him. We won't be expecting any danger so we will use the trip to get Atlantis back into shape. Also, I'll need you to find cabin space for Radek, the trip should take three days with good weather and he'll need somewhere to sleep."
"Aye, Aye, Captain." Ronon answered, scooping up the map and left to instruct the crew.
John caught the way that Radek suddenly became interested in the remaining maps again when he said they would find no danger. He had figured that with Radek aboard they would have the right signals to approach the nest unchallenged, but now he wasn't so sure. "Your Captain's not going to fire on us when we approach, is he Radek?"
"No, no. I think he will be very happy to see us."
He still sounded cagy but John had given his word to help Radek, he owed him not only his freedom but most likely his life, knowing his original plan for fighting it out of the prison had not had much chance of success. His first loyalty however, was always to Atlantis and his crew. He'd be sure to get Atlantis in top shape before they approached the islands and hopefully they wouldn't have to test her.
"Okay, good to hear."
"If you could show me to my cabin, Captain. I didn't sleep well in prison and I could do with putting my head down."
"Sure, Radek. I think I'll be doing the same. Come on," he led Radek out on deck and beckoned Ronon over, "Can you show Radek to his cabin and then come back and see me. We need to go over the schedule for the crew before I retire."
Ronon nodded and left with Radek below decks to the cabins. Sheppard returned to his cabin and waited for Ronon to return, leaning back in his chair with his feet up on his desk as he thought things through. When Ronon entered, John asked, "What do you make of him?"
Ronon shrugged, "Unusually quiet on his feet, strange accent. Seems okay."
John didn't bother to ask if Ronon trusted him, Ronon didn't trust anybody but John. John pursed his lips, face falling into a frustrated frown.
"He got you out," Ronon said, obviously believing this gave Radek a point or two in the plus column.
"I know, I know," John agreed. "I trust him, I have since I first met him, and as much as he surprised me in the last five hours, becoming far more than the scared unassuming little man I first thought he was, I still trust him. I just don't know why I do and that bothers me. He's holding something back, I know he's not telling me everything and yet I still want to trust him. Crazy, right?"
Ronon shrugged, "Your gut has saved us many times, so maybe not so crazy. What's his story?"
John lowered his feet from the desk to the floor and leaned his elbows on the desk. "I didn't really get to find out. He broke out, did something to the lock, it flared like he'd shot it but with no noise apart from a low fizzing and sharp flash and then the door was open. I tagged along and saved him from a soldier trying to get more money out of him, Radek must have bribed him to bring the things he used to break out, so he let me go along with him. He had something set up on the roof, shot this arrow into the darkness, hell of a shot, one I've never seen anyone make before. He had this," John made some haphazard shape with his hands, "contraption for sight on the side of the bow, must have helped him find his target. Then we just slid down the rope, right over the top of the compound and through the turrets. We'd only just landed when you found us.
"We were out, from cell to freedom in the time it takes to get a pint at The Boar. He's clever, really clever, and as you say surprisingly quiet on his feet. Yet there was a moment when he stared me down, made me promise not to hurt the kitchen help as we passed through before he'd continue. He broke a pirate Captain out of prison, the day before he is scheduled to be hanged and all he wants in return is to be taken to his own Captain. There's something though, we're not getting the full story. It's another reason why I want Atlantis in full fighting shape before we get there. Whatever he's not telling us, I want to be ready for it. In the meantime, keep your eye on him and report anything you think I should know. Pass the word to the crew, befriend him, maybe he'll let something slip. Okay?"
Ronon nodded. John then moved on to discussing plans for getting the ship into fighting shape, checking the stocks and all the other jobs that came with Captaincy. It was three hours before he saw his bed, he more or less fell into it and slept like a log. The feel of Atlantis out on the open waters lulling him into a peaceful sleep. He never slept anywhere as well as he did here.
The next three days passed quickly, the crew hard at work and John was always a hands on Captain so each night sleep came even easier, soothing burning muscles and tired limbs.
Radek also helped out, making little changes here and there that made the ship run smoother, handle better and quicker, all under the watchful gaze of Ronon who was never far from him. John made sure to pass by himself enough to oversee the changes too. He noticed Ronon's behaviour changed over the three days, from looming attention to relaxed assistance. Ronon was bonded to the crew of Atlantis through battle, but he found too many people too much to deal with over long periods of time, needing to find his own space before long after so many years alone.
However, he never seemed to tire of Radek's company, they seemed to bond over humour, Ronon's loud laughter often heard booming out over the last three days. If John hadn't already owed Radek, he would have owed him for that alone, Ronon didn't laugh enough for John's tastes and to hear him laugh with someone else apart from John and the oldest of the crew made something ease inside. Ronon was also the least trusting of strangers and the most protective of John and Atlantis so to hear him so relaxed around Radek also told John that there was nothing untoward to worry about, but still the knowledge that he didn't know the full story kept nagging at him.
Eventually on the third day, the islands came into view. John pulled out his eyeglass and scanned the horizon, finding nothing suspicious as his sight glided over a calm sea against an azure sky. The islands showed no sign of life bar one column of dirty grey smoke that curled up from one of the islands into the crystal blue skies, smudging against the clear white clouds floating lazily over it. Radek, who had been at the rail since the islands had come into sight, pointed excitedly. "There, there."
John nodded, "Head for the smoke," he confirmed to Lorne, who stood at the ships ornate wheel, hands as loving and guiding as any parent. John continued to scan the horizon with the eyeglass as they neared the island. His whole body was strung tight, waiting for something to happen. Throughout their approach the coast remained clear, as they neared the island John focused his attention to it. When they rounded the final head, they saw the long stretch of white sands edged by palm trees. The smoke had come from behind the first line of trees, to the centre of the beach.
As John gave the order to lift out the cockboats, he realised what had been bothering him. There was no ship already in the safe haven of the cove, no cockboat on the beach or moored by the trees. Then he remembered Radek's words, "and safe passage to the nearest port." That's what had been bothering him, but he'd been too tired at the time to take in the full meaning. If this was his Captain, then where was his ship? Why would he need return passage for him and his Captain? He turned to Radek, "Why is your Captain stranded on an island in the middle of nowhere without a ship, Radek?"
Radek looked sideways at him, his gaze quickly returning to the island dead ahead of them. "You promised me safe passage to the island and return passage for me and my Captain to the nearest port."
"I did," John confirmed, "But my first responsibility is to my crew. I need to know the risk to them before we approach the island. If you don't tell me now, I will lift the boats and turn Atlantis around."
Radek sagged slightly, but soon straightened and turned to John, blue eyes burning with defiance and anger. "My Captain was betrayed. He was stranded here to die," he looked back at the smoke, it was no longer rising from the island, but he looked instead at the remnants that were nearly dissipated in the skies above with a smile, "but he is a hard man to kill, My Captain. Stubborn that way, he is." he turned solemn again as he turned back to John, "I give you my word that neither I nor my Captain intend mortal harm to your crew."
John studied his face and found nothing to belie his words. "Okay. Let's go get your Captain." John smiled in response to the one that broke out on Radek's face. He had to admit, he was curious to meet Radek's Captain. Betrayed by some or all of his crew implied a bad Captain, yet to instill such loyalty from a man of Radek's skills implied a good Captain. The man was already a contradiction and John was curious to meet such a man. Then there was the fact Radek asked him not to relay his own loyalty to his Captain, when most Captains would reward loyalty of this magnitude with great rewards. Yes, John was curious indeed.
They clambered down into the boat, Radek, John, Ronon and six of the crew armed with rifles. John nodded to Lorne as they pushed off, "Keep her safe for me, Lorne."
"Aye, aye, Captain."
John left the rowing to the men, and kept an eye out for possible trouble, still scanning both in front and behind with his eyeglass. But to his relief they soon reached the beach, pulling the boat up out of the sea and leaving one of the crew with it. Ronon led them into the trees, John happy to let him lead knowing he would have the spot where the smoke rose clear in his head and his path to it laid out as if torches led the way. His sense of direction and tracking skills were unmatched by anyone on the Atlantis, in fact unmatched by anyone John had ever met, to the point where sometimes it felt like magic.
They only trekked a short distance before the trees broke out into a wide open space. Yet already Ronon had disabled five traps, making them all step carefully along the path. Radek's Captain had obviously been expecting trouble. As they broke the line of the trees they found the fire still smoking slightly in front of a shack, a platform raised slightly off the ground made of palm trees and topped with palm leaves. "How long has he been here?" John asked, thinking only a short time had passed, but to make all this he must have been here months.
"Three weeks," Radek answered, scanning the campsite.
John turned to him in confusion, "But all this.."
"He is very resourceful," Radek interrupted with a proud smile.
John thought back to the five traps, and took in the surroundings. Fresh water running along pipelines, a shack that looked better built than some town houses. John spun at Ronon's roar, drawing his sword as he did, to find him hanging upside down from a rope trap. The fact Ronon had missed it more shocking than finding Ronon hanging upside down. "Yes, I'm beginning to get that."
As they moved in to cut him down Radek stepped forward, "Wait!"
They all froze. "There will be more. Everyone stay where they are, please." Instead of moving towards Ronon, Radek turned toward the trees surrounding them. "Rodney. It is me, Radek. I come with friends. Cambridge."
John frowned at the last word, such a non-sequitur it had to be code, he just hoped it was in their favour. "I trust that 'Cambridge' is good."
Radek turned to him with a smile, "It's Sweden that banned coffee. The University of Cambridge appointed Isaac Newton a Lucasion Professor of Mathematics, thus recognising genius when they see it. Normally I would disguise the word, but I am amongst friends and do not see the need."
John raised his eyebrows in surprise at such candor, but before he could say anything something broke the tree line. A dishevelled man, hair and beard long and scraggly, a once beautiful coat of dark green velvet stitched and etched in gold, now torn and bedraggled in dirt. Open to reveal a once white silk vest, now of the same state as the coat. Blue eyes burned from a face shiny and red from sun and sea winds.
Eyes that focused only on Radek and stumbled straight to him, pulling him into a tight hug, "Radek," the word almost a sigh of disbelief.
Radek hugged him back, "It is good to see you My Captain."
John was just starting to wonder about the source of Radek's loyalty when Rodney suddenly shoved Radek at arms length. "Where have you been?! I've been here for three weeks! Do you know there are lemon trees on the other side of this island, I could have died."
Radek frowned at him, "I was a little busy, for starters I had to wait till we reached port. I could hardly demand they go faster so I could get free to come get you. I had to get myself arrested so they wouldn't get suspicious and question anyone else who had stayed. Then I had to break myself out and get back here. I can't believe you. I rescue you and all I get is not fast enough. You... you infuriate me you ungrateful man."
"Yes, yes, thank you very much. Are you done whining? Can we leave now or do we have to listen to you go on about yourself some more. Honestly, Radek, you really need to calm down that ego of yours, not everything is about you you know."
"Arrrrrgggghhhh, I don't know why I came back."
His Captain waved a hand in the air and walked over to his cabin as he spoke, "Because I'm your Captain who is the wind beneath your sails, and a genius." Instead of walking to the door, his Captain walked to the square cutout in semblance of a window, he reached in and released something inside and then pushed, the whole panel swung in like a door and his Captain disappeared inside.
John looked back to the obvious doorway and realised a trap lay in wait there. He stayed very still. "Radek?"
"What?!" Radek snapped as he spun towards him, then took a deep breath. "I'm sorry Captain Sheppard, he drives me insane."
"Traps?"
"Oh, right." Radek turned back to the hut, just as his Captain appeared back in the window doorway with a sack full of lumps and bumps. "Rodney, where are the traps?"
"Hmmm, oh, yes." Rodney picked up a large stick and walked round the back of the shack, little sounds of snicks and bangs following in his path as he released trap after trap, coming around the back of the hut and behind the tree Ronon was still hanging from. Five snaps and the leaves moved as the traps sprung free, one or two at the very feet of his crew. If Radek hadn't shouted when he did then he would have had more than Ronon hanging upside down. "Stay very still," came Rodney's voice from the darkness of the trees, followed by four more snicks, followed by a rustling sound as something in the ground released and four long spears whistled into the camp, one landing two paces in front of John.
Rodney stumbled out of the tree line behind John. "Paranoid much?" John asked.
Rodney cast him a glare, "I'm still alive so I'd say my paranoia level is just right, thank you very much. Right, all traps released, just a few to clear near the beach incase anyone ends up shipwrecked here. Can we go now?"
"Erm," John said and motioned towards Ronon, still swinging gently from the rope trap that had first captured him.
Rodney frowned and looked in the direction John had indicated, his blue eyes widened when they took in Ronon and his glare, seemingly only noticing him now. Still upside down, Ronon's wide arms folded over his chest that just seemed to emphasise his huge biceps even more so.
"Woah, what did you do?" Rodney exclaimed, "Shave a bear? If I let him go, he's not allowed to hurt me, kay?"
"Just let him down already, would ya?"
Rodney stomped over to the tree trunk and drew his sword. He was about to hack at the rope when he hesitated again, he turned back to John, straightened his shoulders and stuck out his chin, "He has to promise not to hurt me if I let him go."
John sighed heavily, "Ronon tell him you won't hurt him if he cuts you down."
Ronon just glared.
"Ronon," John demanded, though some might say whined.
"Promise," Ronon said sulkily.
Rodney nodded and hacked at the rope. Just as the rope nearly broke Rodney stopped, "Oh, I just realised," but too late the rope snapped and they all watched Ronon crumple to the floor with a loud ooof. Rodney quickly trotted over to John and stood behind him, "Erm... sorry?"
John turned his head sideways to take in Rodney, shaking his head with a smile. This was the Captain that instilled such loyalty? He held out his hand, "Captain John Sheppard."
"Oh," Rodney held out his hand, "Captain Rodney McKay." Rodney said Captain the same way his father had said Lord. A certain smugness in the title. It used to irritate him when his father said it, but it just made him smile again when Rodney said it. He was quite a character.
John sheathed his sword, "Okay, lets get out of here. You want to get your stuff?" John asked Rodney, indicating the sack he'd left by the hut. Rodney skirted round the camp, John realised he had been avoiding Ronon who had now stood up to his full height, brushing off leaves while glaring at Rodney. Hardly a brave and bloodthirsty pirate, John thought to himself.
There was a little "oh" from Rodney, like he just remembered something else as he swung the sack over his shoulder, he then walked over to the actual doorway and, using the stick still in his hand, he pressed the ground in the doorway and quickly withdrew the stick. A slab of wood with nasty looking wooden spikes leapt up and filled the doorway, it would have been a nasty death. Okay, so maybe a sneaky and bloodthirsty pirate. Rodney fell in next to Radek, "Tell me you have coffee."
"Back on the ship."
"What, you couldn't have brought me a tankard?"
"I don't know what I was thinking, I thought getting you off the island was the priority."
"Multi tasking, Radek. Is that too much to ask?" Rodney was probably about to say more when he realised that Ronon was right behind him and he quickly trotted up to John, casting nervous glances back towards Ronon. "So, tell me you have a razor, this beard is driving me crazy."
"All the things you did back there and you couldn't come up with a razor, what's wrong with your sword?"
"I was worried that if I cut myself it might get infected. Do you know there's lemons on this island. I'm deathly allergic to citrus. Not to mention bugs. Do you know how easy open wounds fester, the skin rots and it ain't pretty. I nearly did my back in rolling those palm trees into place, do you have any idea what would have happened if I'd...
John listened to him rant on about horrible and lonely deaths possible on an island as a thought occurred to him and had to be voiced, so he interrupted, "You are actually a pirate Captain, aren't you? Because I only just realised Radek never actually said Pirate and I'm starting to wonder if maybe you're just Captain of McKays Pleasure Cruises or something." John tried to keep his face deadpan as he heard Radek snicker behind him, but couldn't keep the smile from his face.
"Pleasure cruis...!" McKay spluttered. "Of course I'm a Pirate Captain," he exclaimed, obviously affronted, "and what's more I'll have you know I'm a very good Pirate Captain. Wait, just what are you implying?"
"A pirate Captain without even a boat is not that good of a pirate Captain McKay" John teased.
"Oh I have a boat and it's a beauty, it just happens to be in that swine Kavanaugh's hands at the moment and when I get hold of him..."
John's eyebrows raised at the inventive torture Rodney spewed forth, even to the point he started to feel a little sorry for this Kavanaugh. He sensed Ronon approaching and turned to see him watching Rodney with a look of approval and a spark in his eye. Ronon always seemed to appreciate violence if it was deserved, and he seemed to like Rodney's inventiveness too.
John would have thought it was just words of anger, but there was something under that anger, something of steel that spoke more of a promise that Pirate Captain Rodney McKay was going to see every one of his threats carried out against this Kavanaugh and it made John wary because this sounded like revenge. John loved his ship, but anger and revenge of this depth, there was something more to this story than a stolen ship and it was not something he wanted to be dragged into.
They broke the cover of the trees, back onto the white sands once again. He signaled his crew member all was well and was thankful of a chance to distract McKay from his rant, "How about you clear the rest of your traps and then we can be underway."
Rodney stuttered to a halt in his litany, "What, oh yes," he started to move away before he stopped again, "You will be here, right? You'll wait for me?"
McKay's face looked so fearful of being left behind again that John immediately forgot to be wary of him, "Yes, of course," he said gently. "We won't leave without you," he promised.
Rodney seemed to realise his unease had been easily read in his face and immediately became sheepish, seeming unsure how to proceed he dithered for a moment before a quiet but heartfelt, "Thank you," left his lips and then disappeared back into the trees.
John looked after him perplexed. Most of the time Rodney seemed quite harmless, every expression readily available on his face for all to read, wary of danger, overly informative of every emotion and thought that passed through his mind but then there were the very effective traps, the efficiency of that camp and the violent litany of inventive tortures readily spoken.
McKay was a contradiction and yet John again found himself liking the stranger instantly, and trusting him, just as he had Radek, without a reason other than his gut said so. He'd only just met the man and already he felt he'd been hurled around in a hurricane and lost at sea. He resolved then and there, to get these two to port as soon as his sails could get him there, wave goodbye to them on the jetty and sail for the open seas, and try never to think of them again. Though even that might be hard, they were two of the strangest, enigmatic, contradictory, likable fellows he'd ever met.
As McKay disappeared into the palm trees there were the sound of traps being released. One made a big impact, the sound of leaves rustling violently and a loud thrump, muffled by the rest of the trees. It was easy to see his vulnerable side, Sheppard just had to remember this side too, the one that made clever traps that could kill a whole landing party, hidden well enough to catch Ronon.
McKay came stalking back out of the treeline, he had a forceful walk, or at least it might have been forceful if he wasn't slip sliding all over the place as his feet sunk unevenly into the loose sand of the treeline, gaining more purpose as he found the more compact sand near the shoreline. He walked up to and past them as he spoke, "Well, I'm more than ready to leave. Get me off this sandpile Captain Sheppard and I'll help you track down the man that sold you that porcupine as a wig."
The group hurried after him as he made his way to the boat, "Hey!" Sheppard shouted, "It's not a wig and it does not look like a porcupine and I don't think you're in any place to talk. I've seen ladies in port with less hair than you."
McKay gave him a once over, "Oh I doubt they were ladies, Sheppard, and if they were when you found 'em, I doubt they were when you left 'em."
"You do remember I'm your rescuer, the one with the ship. Aren't you supposed to be nice to your rescuer?" Sheppard asked with a wide grin, already forgetting his earlier warning to himself as he bantered with McKay.
McKay didn't say anything until he'd clambered aboard the cockboat, and obviously thinking himself properly ensconced he continued. "I'm a Pirate, Sheppard. I'm not nice to anyone."
Radek climbing in beside Sheppard agreed heartily, "It is true, he is not nice to anyone, anyone but the ships cat."
"You like kitty kats, McKay?" Sheppard asked, voice teasing as he climbed aboard as well, the rest of his crew pushing the boat out into the waves before joining them.
Rodney glared at Radek, "Why I continue to let you breath will forever be a mystery to me."
The glare was a force by itself, enough to make Sheppard blink, but Radek just laughed. "He likes kitty kats because he just a big kitty kat himself. Cuddly but with sharp claws."
Rodney fumed in the bow of the boat, "Radek, would you not tell other Pirate Captains that I'm just a big kitty kat." He turned to Sheppard, "He's lying of course, he's just upset because Samson ate his winged rats."
The smile fell off Radeks face, "Not winged rats! Pigeons are clever birds that have better sense of direction than you!"
"They do not!"
"Do to!"
"Not."
"Do."
Sheppard just couldn't help himself, he started laughing, earning two sets of blue eyes to glare at him. He shook his head, how had he never heard of Captain Rodney Mckay and his crazy crew before now, he'd paid good money for shows that were nowhere near as entertaining as these two. As the cockboat came alongside his ship he tried to apologise, "I'm sorry," he said between laughs, "But are you really sure you're actually Pirates, I mean you do know what a Pirate is, right?"
He stood up chortling, about to reach for the ladder as McKay stood up next to him, glaring at him. He didn't say a word, he just pushed Sheppard overboard. John hadn't been expecting it and sailed over the side of the boat. He surfaced spluttering, just to see McKay turn calmly and start climbing the ladder up the side of Atlantis.
He would have set Ronon on them, except Ronon was stood in the boat looking down on him with a wide grin and it just didn't seem worth it, besides he had questioned the Pirate Captain twice now on if he was a Pirate. In most circles once was enough to get you killed, so maybe twice did deserve a ducking. "Stop smiling and help me up," John gruffed at Ronon, as he reached a hand up towards him. Ronon just grabbed his hand and pulled him clean out of the water. His strength really was something. He clambered aboard the cockboat and up the side of Atlantis.
John stood on the deck, dripping wet, his black leather clothes clinging uncomfortably and feeling heavier, but better than if he'd been in normal pirate garb. John probably would have been pulled under by the extra weight of the wool he used to wear, until Ronon hadintroduced him to leather. More durable by far, more exotic and John loved black, and black in leather compared to wool was like comparing dusk to midnight on a starless night. Right now though, John just wanted out of the damp clothes. He swung his head back to flip the water soaked hair out if his eyes and glared at Rodney, who took a step back, before John stomped off to his cabin. He may have deserved it, that didn't mean he liked it, or wanted his crew to think it was acceptable to dunk him in the sea. He'd find a compromise when he got back, after he dried out and sorted out his hair. John would deny it but he was proud of his hair. Porcupine indeed.
He stomped into his cabin and peeled off the leather, his skin sticking to it as he pulled it away, grimacing with each reveal. Eventually he had all the clothes off and picked up the heavy blanket he used to dry himself with, scrubbing at his skin, bending over to dry his hair. He was just finishing dressing in another outfit when there was a knock at his door. He swung open the door to find Ronon filling the narrow corridor.
"Captain McKay's cleaning himself up in Radek's cabin, Radek's with Lorne in your rooms."
John nodded, "Okay, I just want to check out the decks and then we can go see what their plan is."
Ronon stepped back and John stepped into the space he had created, pulling the door closed behind him, before leading the way back up to deck. John walked his decks, talking to the crew, checking the rigging as he went. Radek's modifications had made a supreme effect to the running of Atlantis. John could feel the difference under his feet and it felt almost as if she could fly, as he made his way up to the wheel. He was stood, looking down on his deck when McKay came up from the lower decks.
The change was remarkable. The long straggly locks cut back to curl in at his neck, the clean shaven chin showed a strong profile and, with nothing to distract, his sharp blue eyes shone out as they flicked from place to place over the decks, cataloguing everything. John could see the sharp intelligence, the purposeful stride that spoke of a man used to wheeling power and biceps that likewise did the same. McKay followed Markham as he led him across the decks, trailing a finger along the balustrade as he did so, a proprietary caress like one would a lover and it made John swallow, suddenly self conscious of the way his eyes catalogued Rodney.
McKay seemed to sense he was being watched and stood still, his eyes finding John. He stood watching him for a moment, for once his face unreadable, before nodding in deferment and following Markham into the Captains rooms below them. Markham walked away and back to his duties, Lorne exited the rooms soon after and made his way up to his place at the wheel.
"He say anything," John asked Lorne.
"Nothing worth repeating. Mostly ranting about how ungrateful his Captain is," Lorne blushed a little, "just don't make the mistake of joining in. As much as he rants against the man, he is incredibly resentful of anyone else doing so."
John smirked. "Point taken." He turned to Ronon, "Shall we?"
Ronon nodded and they made their way down to the mid deck and through the double doors into the Captains Room. McKay and Radek had their heads close together, pouring over the maps in quick whispers that stopped as soon as he entered. Two pairs of suspicious eyes cast quickly to the door, pinning John in place, before they turned back to each other again. They seemed to be having a silent conversation as McKay lifted the tankard to his lips, but everything seemed forgotten as took a sip, filling the room with sounds of pleasure. John's eyebrows rose in surprise as he quickly found his seat at the table. He'd only heard sounds like that in one room and it wasn't the Captains rooms, part of him thought it might be polite to leave.
"You want to be alone with that drink?" John managed.
Rodney stopped the noises, eyes flicked open as he turned and glared at John. His cheeks flamed red in either embarrassment or anger, John wasn't too sure. "Three weeks without something makes you appreciate it more," Rodney replied defensively
There was a snort from Radek, "You're the same after three hours."
Rodney turned his glare to Radek, "Okay, so I appreciate coffee, I don't see what's wrong with that."
Radek shrugged noncommittally. John watched the byplay, Rodney seemed comfortable in Radek's company, he didn't seem to look for the things Radek only showed in Rodney's absence, extreme loyalty and quick to defend him and the obvious care Radek felt for him. Instead he seemed to respond to the sarcastic insults and responses, even if he did glare, there was an obvious care and respect returned and nothing demanded.
McKay was unlike any Pirate Captain John had ever met, McKay was more like himself. But where John had found himself Captain of a crew and struggled between the equality he wanted and the obvious distance being a Captain of men created, Rodney seemed to expect and revel in the title. However, he didn't demand the respect that came with it, that most captains only got through fear. McKay seemed to have it without inciting fear and John wondered how Rodney could instill that in spades in this one man and yet have a whole crew turn against him. So many contradictions and so much John still didn't understand, sure he didn't know the full story behind the mutiny..
His thoughts were interrupted as Rodney lowered his mug and fiddled with it, like he was suddenly nervous. "I just wanted to thank you," Rodney said, with a quick glance to John and then back down at his coffee, "Radek told me you're doing this as a favour, not for money. I... er," one hand came away from the tankard to twirl in the air, "I didn't realise, if I had I might not have pushed you into the sea... so you know... that...thank you."
John noticed that McKay didn't actually say he was sorry, neither did he say he wouldn't have done the same thing, just might not have. John also noticed a wariness in their countenance when he entered that made him wary in turn. There was so much he didn't know. He smiled wide, body loose, nothing to betray that inside he was coiled like a spring. "S'okay." He shrugged.
McKay nodded, then drained his mug and rose to refill it from the sealed drum on the side. John's eyes followed his shoulders down to a rear, trapped in tight burgundy leather trousers that were slightly too tight for him, and John would swear belonged to Ronon. John swallowed again as he mentally kicked that thought out of his head, glad that Radek had also got up for a refill and was currently blocking that view of him, but not enough to block Rodney's wide shoulders. So wide. John mentally kicked himself again and averted his eyes to the maps strewn over the table. He thought back to the deck, wondering why he didn't notice the trousers then, but realised he'd never looked away from Rodney's face, from those blue eyes, except to see what had sparked that propriety look to find Rodney's fingers caressing the rail. John coughed to clear his dry throat and decided he needed something else to focus on.
"So, which port do you want to be dropped in?" John asked.
.McKay and Radek cast quick glances at each other as they made their way back to the table. "He's a good man," Radek said softly but sincerely as he took his seat.
Mckay stared at him a moment more before taking a deep breath. He nodded glumly as he took his seat opposite and looked down the table to Sheppard. "Okay, Radek here says I can trust you. That conniving, toad faced, lilly washed pasty, no good..."
"Rodney," Radek said sharply.
Rodney pursed his lips, "Kavanaugh stole my ship. I was carrying something precious," he casted a glance at Radek that clearly stated he's not about to describe it further, "and we know where he is heading. We can..." Rodney stopped and took a deep breath, "If you would help us," he started like each word was spoken over broken glass, "we can follow him, find him."
"What's the treasure," Sheppard asked. He wasn't going to help them in some revenge vendetta, he wouldn't risk his crew in something so foolhardy, but curiosity had got the better of him.
Rodney stared at him, his eyes flicked over John's face as if cataloguing facts and figures John couldn't see. In the end Rodney took a heavy breath and answered. "Jeannie Miller," he said, his voice nearly breaking and Sheppard realised that to Rodney she was a treasure. Rodney wasn't chasing Kavanaugh to get some trinkets and coin back, he was going after the woman he loved. The fear for her, the love of her was there in his face for all to see. It surprised John, he could have sworn Rodney had been appraising him when he looked at him back on the island, and if he was truthful to himself, it disappointed him to find out he was wrong. Just as well he hadn't embarrassed himself, it was obvious his advances would not have been greeted well, McKay already belonged to someone else.
"He took her just to get at you?" Sheppard asked in disbelief.
"He... he wants to ransom her."
"Who to?" John asked curiously.
"I'm hoping her husband," Rodney's voice was full of dread, the full realisation of the possibilities that a woman could be ransomed or sold into were obviously as clear to him as they were to John.
Her Husband. So McKay was in love with a married woman. Had she left her husband for him? Or had he taken her and then fallen in love? But there had been something else in his voice, something telling to John "But you don't think it is, you think you know who he is selling her to?"
McKay's jaw tensed before he bit out his answer, "I don't know."
Even though John knew Rodney was lying, positive he did know who, he was still torn, loathe to turn away from a lady in distress and knowing the kind of fate he left her to ate at him, but his first duty was always to his crew, such was the burden of a Captain. He knew that vendetta's never ended well, and he would be chasing down an unknown enemy, a clear risk to his crew and for no gain. He couldn't ask them to do that for a favour he owed.
"I'm sorry, but I can't help you. I won't endanger my crew and I can't risk throwing their lives away on a quest that is not of their choosing or to their gain. I promised you safe passage to a port, and I will continue to supply that, but I cannot and will not offer you more. I'm truly sorry."
Rodney's jaw was tense when he nodded. "Of course, I understand," he bit out. He looked over at Radek, seeming to say something with his eyes that John could not understand.
Rodney stood up straight, ramrod straight and walked down the table, dragging a map with him under his fingertips. He pointed to a place on the map, "If you'll take us to this port, we'll make our way from there. I think we should retire to our cabin, we have lots to plan for now that we have to find a ship and crew. Thank you for your help, Captain Sheppard."
Each formal word felt like a slap in the face to John, but he couldn't alter his stance. Instead he nodded his agreement and watched Rodney leave his rooms, Radek trailing after.
"What do you intend to do, Rodney?" Radek asked softly once they were secluded in their cabin.
"He's taking her to Koyla. I can't let that happen. Every day wasted is a day she is closer to danger. She's my sister, Radek. I can't let anything happen to her."
"What will you do?" Radek asked again, softer this time, almost a whisper, as if he was afraid of the answer.
Rodney looked up at Radek, his face resolved in determination, "You said you managed to disable the ship before you disembarked, he's running slow and thinking he has all the time in the world. The port we told Sheppard to take us too already puts us on the same course. Teyla is still aboard, keeping Jeannie safe with others to watch her back. I'm going to do the only thing I can, I'm going to take over this ship and chase Kavanaugh down, before he can meet with Koyla."
Radek gasped in disbelief, "Rodney."
"My Sister," was all Rodney said. The words were little more than a broken sob. A man on the verge of tears, struggling to restrain emotions that were beyond his control, for the one person who not only accepted him just as he was, when even his own parents couldn't, but loved him regardless. The heartache at just the possibility of what might happen to her showed that if this came to pass it wouldn't just break Rodney McKay, it would kill him like a shot to the heart.
Radek just nodded. What else could he do but follow his Captain.
The sailing was smooth as the ship sailed through the changing seas, from the deep blue Atlantic to the azure Gulf of Mexico. Blue clear skies and cool starlit nights passed by overhead. Rodney thought Sheppard was suspicious, not that he showed anything on his face except for that lazy smile of his, but Rodney would have been suspicious if it was his ship. Still Sheppard let them make the modifications, having been impressed by those already done by Radek on the previous journey.
Rodney knew himself and Radek were being watched, their work inspected, but he was confident the modifications were subtle enough that they wouldn't guess the real use of them. The fact that most of the modification did improve the running of the ship only helped their ruse. Sheppard wouldn't guess that they wanted a fast ship for their own uses. They were already three weeks behind Kavanaugh and Rodney just hoped that his own ship having to stop and restock their hold would cause enough of a delay for them to catch up. He also hoped that those loyal, those amongst his original crew, would also help where they could, confident their Captain wasn't far behind. Rodney also knew that Kavanaugh was overconfident, and would most likely consider Rodney stranded on that island for months to come, and so wouldn't be wary of attack, or feel the need to hurry.
So, knowing how precious time was, they worked eagerly during daylight hours, poured over plans at night by candlelight. The evenings though, were spent with Sheppard, sharing meals and conversation until retiring to his cabin with Radek at an hour that would not cause Sheppard to wonder what he was up to in his absence. Trouble was the more time he spent in Sheppard's company the more he liked him...liked him alot. John was quick with a smile and laughed as Rodney eviscerated the other pirate Captains, sometimes joining in like a naughty schoolboy. A quick wit and a subtle intelligence, hidden behind a sprawl that made Rodney's back flinch in sympathy.
He found these evenings both a delight and a curse. Rodney struggled with the conflict over what he was about to do even as he laughed with Sheppard, marring the joy he felt with guilt that ate at him. Also as their time drew nearer and the deadline loomed, he was often distracted by the plans he should be making, the modifications he should be working on, but he couldn't drag himself away. Knowing these intimate, delightful evenings with Sheppard were also drawing to a close made him want to savour each one and when he should have taken his leave earlier, he found himself staying later instead. During these evenings he found himself telling Sheppard how he had come to his present state.
Rodney considered himself more a privateer than the stereotype bloodthirsty pirate, but as the Golden age of Piracy was drawing to a close the difference these days were marginal. If he were ever arrested they would condemn him as a Pirate, not a Privateer, so he took the title they would give him. He had always hated rules; asking from an early age why a man without even a third of his intelligence had the right to rule him, to judge him. Even with his history of rebellion he was relatively new to Piracy.
Rodney's father, Captain Aeneas McKay, had sworn an oath as a British Government Privateer, but when they discovered he had also sworn an oath to the Dutch Government and still commandeered his own prizes at sea, betraying both oaths, they condemned him as a pirate in 1740. Before they could detain Aeneas, he ran with Rodney and his younger sister. Their mother had died years before, Rodney often wondered if it was just to get away from their father. Rodney had almost understood the desperation but as luck would have it, his father died of dysentery 16 years later, leaving Rodney to take over his Father's captaincy at twenty-five.
Most crews would not have followed such a young Captain but his crew had known that the riches they enjoyed were down to his planning, not his fathers and so they followed, eager for more riches of the same. He had started smuggling coffee to the Swedes the same year, abhorred by the idea that someone should be deprived on the whim of a government. He turned out to be very good at it.
The Swedes overturned their ruling in 1769, having realised they were unable to stop the smuggling, and realising the money they were missing out on in taxes. So, some thirteen years later, Rodney found himself with a ship, a loyal and like minded crew and nothing to do. So he decided to stick with what he knew and changed location in order to do it. The Swedes had known who he was, but had been unable to find his hoard every time they boarded his ship for a search and therefore unable to prove it.
However, they had started boarding with axes and it was only a matter of time now, so he moved down to the Gulf of Mexico. He exchanged sacks of coffee for kegs of rum. Sacks of coffee had been more versatile to hide than kegs, but Rodney was an inventive man and enjoyed the challenge. Unfortunately, some of his crew had ties they were unable to leave, forcing him to replace them with unknown sailors. This unknown entity was to be his undoing.
What he didn't tell John was that by smuggling coffee to the Swedes he came into direct competition with Koyla. When Koyla had failed to get his smuggling secrets from Rodney, he had tried to get his sister, Jeannie. Just as clever as Rodney and aware of his tricks, she would be easy to force the answers from and may even be forced to create some tricks of her own for Koyla to use.
It was thoughts of how Koyla would force the information from Jeannie that made him wake up in a cold sweat at night, throat dry from screaming her name, to find Radek stood over his bunk with a ready glass of water and worry in his blue eyes. Originally a cabin boy under Aeneas McKay, he had become Rodney's friend first, and then his joint second when he became Captain.
"We will catch them, Rodney," Radek whispered fervently in the darkness of their cabin, "and until we do, Teyla is watching over her." His words gave Rodney balm, Teyla was his joint second, in charge of the crew and more adept at leading them into a fight, while Radek helped him with the planning and the running of the ship. The Trinity they created was a formidable force and he was forever grateful to have them at his back. Knowing Teyla remained with Jeannie to protect and look after her was the only reason Rodney was able to think at all.
"We reach port tomorrow night, we've done all we can, Radek. If we fail..."
"There is still time, Rodney, he is a good man." There was no need for Rodney to ask who Radek spoke off. He had continually urged Rodney to try again with Sheppard, to appeal to his humanity, to lay all his cards on the table this time and hope that Sheppard would agree to aid them. He too hated the betrayal they were about to action.
"No. He is already suspicious, if he learns what is really at stake then he might suspect the lengths I'd go to and if he says no again, in which case we may not be able to succeed. He is suspicious, but not enough to guess what we have planned. The sheer audacity would mean it wouldn't occur to him and because we are only two, he thinks we cannot sail the ship alone. It is only because he does not realise we have made the impossible possible that we may succeed. I cannot risk failure, to tell him would be a risk I just can't take...not with Jeannie. You know this Radek. How many times do I have to repeat myself. It is decided. Good man or not, tomorrow night we take his ship."
Rodney fell silent in the darkness of the cabin as he hunkered back down under the covers. Nothing sounded from Radek. In twenty-nine years, he had never doubted that Radek would follow at his back, but with so much as stake the doubts started to creep in. "Are you still with me, Radek?" He asked quietly.
There was a frustrated sigh and a brief swear word in Czech from the other bunk that drew a smile onto Rodney's face, knowing the answer before Radek voiced it, "Of course," he snapped, then quieter, "I just wish we didn't have to betray John Sheppard in order to do so."
Rodney sighed, "Aye, me too."
They were silent after that, both drifting off into a hard worn sleep, both dreading the morning.
To Be Continued
Notes:
Authors note: This is the first competition I didn't complete and I'm gutted about that, but I have been working on the rest and posted on A03. I will post the next two chapters with this one, the last chapter is currently under final beta and will be posted soon.