Pocahontas/Genderbent Tales
Chapter 2:Man Overboard!
A/N:It has been so so long and I am so sorry. The length of time that I have left this fanfiction hanging is ridiculous,and I am so sorry,thank you all for your support on this :) I'm really excited to get back on track with this again!Thank you all so much and I hope you enjoy this :) have a lovely day/night
The skies crackled lines of stark white against the darkly mystified sky.
The ship rocked side to side,violently streaming up large spouts of water as they streamed in from the sides,rising over the sailors as they desperately grasped onto the ropes,struggling to keep the Susan Constant afloat.
"Full anchor release!",the voice of one of the men on board rang out across the deck
"Give me a hand,someone!",the loud plea of one of the sailors cried as his hands slightly slipped off of the rope.
"Watch out!",the ship was struggling to refrain from tipping to one side completely as the sea's water strung into the deck,soaking the sailors as they climbed up from the ground.
"Faster!She's taking up more water!",the warnings came louder as Beth held onto the cannon for dear life. She screwed her eyes shut as the cannon began to lose it's stable ground against the slot provided.
"Jane!",Beth looked up as she yelled against the increasing volume of the crashing currents and sharp winds.
"Get down here!The cannons are breaking loose!"
Jane looked down from where she was,stopping the tying of the sails with the rest of the crew.
She furrowed her brows,grasping onto the nearest rope before swinging down to the deck of the Susan Constant.
Her boots hit the wood surface as the authority of the captain came in.
"Reef the topsails!"
"Aye m'am!",came the reply of the readily obedient crew.
Jane went over to Beth,placing her hands on the loose cannon before tightening the ropes on the weapon.
"Steady on the course,it's all right Beth. We'll get her tied off",she assured her friend.
The captain recognized Thomas as he was washed to the area near them. Jane nodded to Beth as she gestured for her to shuffle up backwards from where she was,she braced herself to yell instructions to Thomas so that he could do the same when a large current doused the deck,pushing Thomas down the tipping vessel. Jane held onto the rope,grunting as Beth did the same. Thomas had crashed through the wooden rim of the craft,sending some debris with him as he caved into the tide below him.
"Help!"
"Man overboard",the sound of one of the watchers alerted the crew from below as a floundering Thomas struggled to keep himself afloat.
They heard the slightly muffled yet sharp cries as Ben turned to some of the Englishmen.
"Stay your course"He murmured.
"He's lost"
Jane narrowed her eyes as she pulled the rope towards herself,tieing the end around her torso.
"Pull the pin!",she yelled. As she tightened the rope she ran across the ship,her boots hitting the hard surface as she picked up more speed.
"Aye M'am!"
Ben had caught sight of their captain as she dived over the edge and plummeted into the ocean.
"Smith,Captain Jane Smith,are you crazy?",Ben looked over the edge of the ship as Beth raced to get a better view of her friend.
"Jane!",she cried as she looked left and right frantically trying to get a glimpse,saying a silent prayer for her to be well.
"It's,it's alright Thomas!",her voice was sharp as she spoke against the currents,gasping slightly as she firmed a grasp on the torso of one of the youngest sailors.
She pulled him up as she gasped,Thomas doing the same.
The band of the rope snapped and Jane felt herself drift outwards to the violent currents.
"The rope!",one of the men said in surprise as Beth and Ben raced to the retreating material.
"Heave!Come on lads and lassie!Put your back into it!",their eyes were screwed shut with strain as Jane gripped the end of the rope,clutching onto a spluttering Thomas.
A large wave washed over them,plunging them both underwater,causing the young sailor to go unconscious. Jane held her breath,never losing a hold of the rope as the sailors aboard pulled with unwavering might.
"Pull!",the orders from above them came,Jane tightened her hold a little on the clothing of Thomas before she felt herself being hauled up,she grunted a little as her hands nearly slipped off of the rope before she reached the edge of the ship,the sailors ready to haul the both of them overboard.
Beth grasped an exhausted Jane under the arms as she settled her on the deck and Thomas lay on the ground next to her. He spluttered the remaining ocean water he had swallowed as he hunched his back over,his hands resting on the cold surface.
A blanket was brought for Thomas as Jane chuckled,closing her eyes with a languid smile,strands of her coming out of her ponytail. She loosened the tie on her blonde hair,shaking the rest of the water out.
"Well,that was refreshing",she commented as she wrung out the remaining water out of the cap worn by Thomas.
The blanket was draped over the relieved sailor. He chuckled as Jane slapped his cap over his head.
"Well done Smith",Ben commented. Jane smiled at the words of praise.
"Of course. You'd do the same for me",she said with a raised eyebrow.
Ben and Lon looked at each other before back at the sailor,chuckling nervously.
"Absolutely!"
"Of course we would have!"
"No doubt about it!"
Beth shook her head as Jane smiled,sighing.
Thunder seemed to strike again as the slightly illuminated face of Ms. Ratcliffe came into view. A deep set frown on her face as she stroked her chihuahua
"Trouble on deck?",she queried slowly and dramatically.
The blonde assistant of hers blinked with ridiculously large eyes,holding the lantern above the head of the Governess for more effect.
Thomas got to his feet quickly,covering himself with the dry towel.
"Governess Ratcliffe!",He said respectfully.
Jane did the same.
"Thomas fell overboard,Ma'am",Jane explained to the haughty Governess as her lower lip jutted out.
"Thank heavens he's been successfully retrieved",she said primly.
She looked at Jane with a nod.
"Well done Smith",she said shortly as her high heels clacked the deck.
"Don't lose heart,ladies and gentlemen",she said nasally.
"It won't be long until we reach the New World",and remember what awaits us there",a sly smile crept onto her lipsticked lips.
"And remember what awaits us there:,freedom",her chihuahua barked excitedly for effect as Ms Ratcliffe closed her right fist,the sailors in front of her jumping at the proximity and the sharp bark of the small dog.
"Prosperity",she bared her teeth as she shook her small fist slightly.
The chihuahua barked twice as the men recoiled.
They created two straight lines as the Governess walked down,her assistant close behind.
Her voice took upon the tone of something meant to be inspiring.
"The adventure of our lives, You are the finest crew England has to offer and nothing!Not wind nor rain nor a thousand bloodthirsty savages-"
Jane leaned back,pursing her lips against the rim of the crow's nest as Beth leaned in closer to hear her words.
"-shall stand in our way. Carry on ladies and gentlemen!",her voice rose up as the whoops of the sailors increased as they cheered at the speech.
"A stirring oration ma'am",Wendy said admirably.
"I'm sure the ladies and gentlemen were mostly exhiilirAated",Wendy felt herself get pulled to the other aside as her umbrella curled in on itself,her flats digging into the deck.
"Let us hope so",she looked at her long purple fingernails. She carried her chihuahua to be eye level with her.
"I'll need those witless peasants to dig up my gold,won't I?",her chihuahua,Primrose mirrored the bared grin on the Governess's face.
Jane tossed the rope to Thomas as Beth made her way to the sails.
"This New World's gonna be great,Jane.I'm going to get a pile of gold,build me a big house and if any Indian tries to stop me,I'll blast them",the sailor said matter-of-factly.
Jane quirked an eyebrow as she hoisted the rope over her shoulder and towed the cannon as Thomas helped to move the object.
"You just worry about that fortune of yours,leave the savages to me",she replied.