Chapter 2: Return of notorious captain Flint and his crew

Jim ran out in panic to the deck looking for Amelia.

"Captain!" it was kinda weird he calling Amelia captain if he was the captain of this ship. Oh well… "I have to talk to you."

"We're kinda busy with counting the bodies Hawkins. It will have to wait." She said ignoring him.

"Please! Just listen!"

"What's wrong, Jim?"

"Look at the watermark. Just look!"

Amelia hesitated but then took the cloth and looked at it. "What's your point, Mr. Hawkins?"

"This watermark is not Savages'."

"I'm pretty sure it is."

"No, look."

The picture was in a shape of ¤ and inside was a skull in shape of Flint's head. "Savages have the letter 'S' over Flint's head. This one doesn't have it."

"What do you suggest?"

"This is Flint! This was his sign! I'm sure."

"Nonsense Mr. Hawkins! Flint is dead for the last 100 years and we both know it. You said you saw the body yourself."

"I know, I did. But this is his sign! Look at it. Ask Ben. He was on his ship."

"I'm sure this is just false alarm. Anyone can make a watermark like this. There's no proof Flint's crew just attacked us. Braise yourself now captain. We're about to land."

There was no use. She wouldn't believe him. Jim decided to talk to Doppler and Ben. He found them in Doppler's and Amelia's cabin. "Doc," Jim said.

"What's the matter Jim? You look pale." Doppler asked.

"Can you please look at this?"

"Can we please discuss about this attack later? I can't-"

"Doctor, please."

Doppler looked at Jim and took the piece of cloth. "Yes, I don't see anything strange. Just a message we'll be dead if we don't hide."

"No, look at the watermark."

Doppler took off his glasses and looked better. His eyes widened. "Oh m-my…"

"I told you!"

"What is it?" Ben asked.

"Savages' sign has an 'S' over Flint's skull, this one doesn't. It's Flint's mark! You know. You've been on his ship, right."

"Flint's dead Jimmy."

"I know! But look at the watermark!"

"Jim," Doppler said. "I think anyone can do this mark. They're just trying to scare or confuse us. It's not what you think it is."

"But some stories say Flint could be still alive somewhere."

"That's what they are. Stories."

"You're copying my mother's words! Treasure planet was also a story but it was real though. We were there."

"This time I'm sure they're just stories and legends. You shouldn't believe everything. Come, we should get off this ship."

Jim felt useless. Just like few years ago when no one would take him seriously. Now it was just like it was then. "Ben? Don't you think it's Flint?"

"I hope and I don't think it's him Jimmy. Can we please go now?" he said pointing towards the doors. Jim sighed and followed them out to the High Point port that was on the cliff where the water was running down into the canyon somewhere deep below under the fog the water made. It was beautiful (Imagine Venice with waterfalls on a cliff). The water was fizzing all the time. It was hard to imagine how the citizens lived here without getting crazy from this sound. Amelia was now giving orders to the crew. Jim felt useless. It sucked if someone else takes over your position. Amelia thought he's too shocked to give orders, like he was a kid! Well, he was…

"How are we going to come back?" Jim asked Amelia. "We're in danger. We can't be on a ship on our own."

"I think there's a passenger's ship heading to Montressor. We'll act like we're normal passengers. Hopefully the pirates won't find us earlier." She said.

"What about the crew?"

"They'll be leaving on other passenger's ships five by five. We don't want anyone to suspect anything."

"And until we leave?"

"You should go back to the ship. Take all your things. I'll send someone to clean the bodies and give them a proper burial."

Jim and Ben, without admiring the city, returned back on the ship. Ben went down to his cabin, Jim went to his room. He sighed. This shouldn't happen. Why were the pirates here if they didn't took anything and swore they'll be back? Jim kneeled down and picked up his bag. When he stood up he felt something cold on his neck, realizing it's a blade. He wasn't alone.

"You know why I'm her for."

A girl's voice? That surprised Jim. "Actually," he said with his heart beating as crazy. "I don't!" he said, grabbed the bony wrists and turned the hand around so she couldn't fight back. The girl wine in pain and dropped the blade. But around her belt she had another one. With the free hand she grabbed it and swung it inches from Jim's face. He moved back reaching one of the swords that were on the wall as a decoration. The girl lifted her blade in a shape of sharks fin to give him the fatal hit but he blocked her. Apparently she wasn't physically strong or ready for a fight. The blade fell out of her hands leaving her with no weapon. She looked around and then ran out.

"Hey! Wait!" Jim called and ran after her. The girl was sprinting down the pier looking back to see if Jim is following her. He couldn't see her face because she had a cowl over her head that was also covering half of her face. She was pushing the passing by people away trying to lose Jim, but he was faster. He was inches from her when he grabbed her and dragged her back towards the ship. She was yelling and fighting back. Everyone was looking at Jim like he was the attacker.

"It's ok, she's a thief." He said. He dragged her up on the deck and pushed her in the galley quickly moving away on a safe distance. "Who are you?" he asked puzzled and scared a bit. Of course he got no answer. Suddenly she reached the knife on the table throwing it towards Jim who moved away and grabbed her hands. She was fighting back but he somehow managed to hold her.

"What's going on? Mr. Hawkins! What are you doing?" Amelia asked when she came on the ship followed by Doppler and Ben.

"She tried to kill me. She's still trying to kill me! Help me hold her." Jim said pushing the raging girl away from his face. Ben and Doppler walked closer to hold her.

Amelia rolled her eyes. "Move." She said and hit the girl in the back of the head so she fainted and collapsed on the floor.

"That was easy." Ben said.

"What happened?" Doppler asked.

"I don't know." Jim said a bit breathy and confused. "She was in my cabin. She tried to kill me. She said she's looking for something and I know what it is. Though, I don't."

"We'll wait her to wake up and then we'll find out." Amelia said. "Tie her up in here. Be sure she doesn't run away. Mr. Hawkins, you found her, you watch her until she wakes up. We have some bodies to clean up."

"But, she tried to kill me! I'm pretty sure she'll try again. And-"

"That's an order, Mr. Hawkins."

"So much about me being he captain…" he said after she left. "Doc, how do you stand her?"

"I just… she's not that bad you know." Doppler said and left the galley. Jim sighed and sat down on the chair facing the chair on which the girl was sitting, tied and unconscious. Jim looked at her and her gear. Her hair was black, messy and cut layered and shorter in front with a long braid clamped on the back. Her clothes were in steampunk style. She was wearing a dark brown leather jacket, under it she had a black shirt/corset looking cloth. Her trousers were baggy with brown and light brown stripes, stiffed into her black boots that looked like martins. Around her belt she had two daggers and a sword in a shape of a shark fin with a sharp wedge at the handle. On her head she had some kind of goggles, around her neck the cowl she had on her head before. Under her jacket she had a gun and compass. He couldn't help but to somehow like her. She wasn't that bad looking. Actually she was really pretty. She was that kind of girl you just have to like when you see her.

Her head started to move a bit. She was waking up. Her green eyes opened and blinked few times.

"Good morning." Jim said. When he said that she winced. After that she started moving around trying to free her hands. "No use, you're tied."

She gave him the angry look. "Who are you? Why are you here? You understand me, right?"

"Yes, yes, I do. I'm not dumb!" she suddenly opened her mouth. Her voice wasn't strong, actually quite soft, but now kinda angry and tired. Her face and voice were telling him she was around 15, maybe 16 years old.

"You said I know what you're looking for."

"Yes, but right now it's kinda useless. Let me go and I won't take anything. Deal?"

"No, no, no. You're staying here. Actually coming with us." Jim's voice was betraying his confusion. He tried to sound strong but he failed.

"I'm not going anywhere with you and whoever is with you."

"That's not in my power but I think you are."

She wined and rolled her eyes. "Can you just let me go and we forget about this?"

"If I let you go you'll try to kill me again. And I want to know what are you looking for and who sent you."

"What is this, an interrogation or something? I'm not telling you anything!"

"Fine, I have time. You can tell me or the police when we come back to Montressor Spaceport."

"Ok, ok, fine. I'll tell you." she said. Jim became tense. "But first untie me."

"I don't think so."

"Come on, I have nowhere to run anyway."

Jim stood up and cut the rope of her hands. Oh his surprise, she didn't attack him or ran of. Then she took few steps back. That was not what he expected. "I'll leave slowly, ok?"

"Tell me why you're here." He said and pointed a gun he had. His eyes popped out when he saw what he just did. His hand was shaking. She grinned but then her face became serious again.

"You have something that doesn't belong to you. And I want it back."

"That is…?"

"The map."

Jim's eyes widened. "Map?"

"Yes," she said and took a step closer. "The map." She said with a creepy voice.

"I don't have it."

"Bullshit." She said and pulled her gun out. They were facing and pointing guns to each other. "I know you do. You were on Treasure planet."

"Yes but then it blew up with the map on it. We ran out the portal."

"Yes but the portal didn't close! That means the map is still in one piece."

"I don't have it. And what do you mean the portal didn't close? So what if it didn't?"

"You don't know don't you?"

"No I don't! And put the gun down or else."

"What are you gonna shoot me? I don't think so. The gun is not even loaded."

Jim looked at it. She was right. No time for a conversation. He'll trick her as he did before. He grabbed her hand and took her gun. "Now it is."

The girl smiled and lifted her hands up. Jim saw something on her wrist. He looked better and saw a tattoo. "Oh crap… you're Flint's pirate!"

"Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I can't be one. Besides, I'm not really a pirate. Flint calls me a spy, or a professional killer."

"But Flint is dead!"

"I don't think he ever died. Depends what parallel universe you're talking about."

Jim's hand shaken. Parallel universes? Those were Flint's pirates. Flint was alive. And this beautiful girl was his pirate. Everything was real. He was right. "Captain! Doc! Ben?" Jim called with a shaking voice. Ben ran don the stairs.

"What is it captain Jimmy sir- whoa!" he stopped when she saw the girl. "Is that…?"

"She's one of them." Jim said.

"Who?"

"Flint's pirate, damn it!"

"Since when? Wait… I thought Flint was dead. Since he left on the planet!"

"He's alive."

"For the past few years." The girl said.

"Whose bones were then those we saw on the planet?" Ben asked puzzled.

"Have you ever heard about faking?"

"He took out my memory… is till can't recall everything."

"And you won't."

"Shut up." Jim said to the girl.

"Is she awake?" Amelia suddenly ran in the galley.

"Yes. She's one o them. Flint's alive, captain! Look at her tattoo. It's the same as on the watermark."

Amelia grabbed her hand and looked at her wrist. "Where did you get this?"

"Don't really remember." The girl said calmly, like she wanted to annoy them a bit.

"We need to take her to the Spaceport."

"They'll hang her." Jim said.

"Don't they hang all the pirates?" Ben asked.

"Yes, but she could be useful."

"Why?"

"If Flint's alive, she'll bring us to him."

Amelia took the rope and tied her wrists again. "Quickly, we have a ship to catch. Get your gun loaded Mr. Hawkins, we'll keep an eye on her."

Jim grabbed her under her hand and pushed her out. They walked few piers down and saw their ship. Amelia knew the captain so she managed to get few extra cabins for them. One will be for Doppler and Amelia, the other for Ben and Jim and the third for the girl. They'll guard her in shifts, hoping no one will suspect anything. Before Amelia let Jim in the room she asked: "What did she said?"

"She wanted the map. And she said Flint was alive." He also wanted to mention the parallel universes but he stopped.

"Do you think she's lying?"

This surprised him. Amelia was always sure in things but now she asked him for opinion. "I don't know. I hope so."

"Be careful."

Jim nod and walked in the room. The girl was sitting on the chair tied again as she was in the galley. Jim walked in slowly and carefully. He wasn't sure if she already managed to get free of the rope. She lifted her gaze up to him. Her eyes were telling him she was desperate even if she tried to hide it. Jim suddenly felt sorry for her.

"So, uh… what's your name?"

She didn't answer, just gave him an angry look.

"I'm Jim Hawkins."

"Scarlet. Scarlet March." She answered reluctantly.

"Why are you here?"

"Heaven didn't want me and hells afraid I'll take over it."

Jim wanted to answer but she got confused.

"Look, don't try to start a conversation because you'll have a monolog. I'm not talking to you. Leave me alone."

"Hey, don't be mean now. You were the one who attacked me."

She lowered her head annoyed. "Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?"

"Keeping me alive! You should've killed me before. Thanks to you're they're gonna hang me."

"You've heard Captain Amelia. She said they won't. She's a big fish, she has the power to protect you."

"After I won't be useful they'll hang me. They do the same to all the pirates."

"Why did you join them?"

Scarlet rolled her eyes and turned her chair away from him. Jim sat down on the bed looking the cupboards in front him. This cold pirate had something that was attracting him, even if she really hated him right now. After some time he realized he's tired. Without even knowing he crashed out.