Helena watched another soldier slide off the end of her katana, adding to the pile of bodies around her on the upper deck. Guard still up she looked around frantically. For this instant, however, she was alone. Behind her, Hawk finally managed to kick his opponent in the groin and then use the opening to nearly sever his neck. With a nod at Wells, the saturnine man went dashing to the foredeck just as Jinx appeared on the stairs, his red-headed shadow momentarily absent.
Panting, the first mate sketched a weary salute. "We can't take much more of this, Captain," Jinx said.
Helena nodded grimly. "Neither can they. They must be running out of men at this point."
"Why are they pressing so hard?"
"I've no idea, but given that they clearly came for capture and not to simply destroy us…." She trailed off.
Jinx made the connection.
"This is about an Artifact."
"I believe this is about much, much more than one Artifact. But we have no time for that. The tide is turning, but we need more. Can Claudia make any more of those…whatever they were?" Helena was getting her wind back, one eye on the battle and one on the galleon.
Jinx nodded. "She went below to do just that."
"Then go help her. We need to end this, and we need to win."
Jinx's response, however, was lost on his Captain. For at that moment, Helena heard a cry and looked up. High in the rigging Sarah was being throttled by a Spanish soldier.
Wells didn't hesitate. No guns were at hand so she simply yanked loose a tether line from the railing and used it to swing from the upper deck to the rigging. Katana at her back, she swarmed up the ropes, but she was not as tiny and quick as Sarah and Helena's heart pounded in her throat with fear she might be too late.
The feel of the steel of her blade sliding through the attacker's body brought a level of satisfaction that was likely unseemly. As Helena gently helped a gasping Sarah into the crow's nest, she really didn't give a damn.
"Sarah, darling…" she questioned, sliding her katana back into its sheath.
"M' a'right Captain," the girl coughed roughly and smiled weakly. "Just got me by surprise be all. Go, I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
The tiny crewman straightened. "I said so, din't I?"
Wells smiled and nodded. "That you did. Carry on then." And turned away from where Sarah was reloading her bow.
Pausing in the rigging, Helena took in the fight. Just now starting to climb the second mast, Claudia and Jinx were apparently about to enact an encore to their earlier explosion. The Captain's eyes followed Claudia's movements as she secured another keg, watching its arc with enormous satisfaction. The fireball erupted over the galleon, turning the air to flame and reflecting off the inky water, as if opening a portal to Hell itself. She made a mental note to ask the young midshipman whatexactly she had concocted to make that kind of explosion at some future date.
Below her, Helena's crew fought brilliantly, in most cases back to back with several of their comrades, but the Captain didn't see….
Her eyes roving the tangled chaos of men and women and weapons, it was the cry of "it's her!" in Spanish that drew Helena' gaze directly below her, where Myka was fighting too many soldiers.
Helena was moving before the realization even made it through her mind.
The Captain made it halfway down the mast before she chanced to look below her. Just in time to see the butt of a rifle connect with Myka's temple, crumpling her like a rag doll to the deck.
After that, the next thing H.G. Wells knew, she was standing over an unconscious Command Bering, surrounded by the bodies of dead soldiers, several of whom no longer had their heads. The moments in between were utterly blank.
Claudia just finished celebrating the success of the second mini-bomb (her term) with Jinx when a sound of inhuman rage tore through the general cacophony of the fight. Jerking around, Claudia and Jinx watched in mingled horror and fascination as the Captain quite literally leapt off the rigging, falling several man-heights and tackling several soldiers who were standing over a downed Myka.
Heart in her throat and mouth hanging open, Claudia could only stare as Helena's katana came singing out of its scabbard and the woman lit into the men surrounding Myka. Between their shock and Wells' rage, it was truly more of a slaughter than a fight and she heard Jinx gasp as one, two, three, four, five, six enemy soldiers fell; two of them removed of their heads completely.
Blood dripping from the curve of her blade, Helena stood motionless for a moment, her whole body rigid as if waiting for another opponent. Finally, something seemed to snap her out of her state and she shook herself, dropping to her knees to press her fingers to Myka's neck. Claudia could only stare hopelessly for what seemed like an eternity until Wells' whole body relaxed slightly and she looked up, her face showing its relief.
Slowly letting go of the breath she had been holding, Claudia turned to stare at Jinx. She was quite sure that they wore matching stunned expressions.
After Helena's attack, the remaining Spaniards began to surrender. One by one at first and then in greater numbers they threw down their weapons. Between the crew of the Time Machine's clearly unexpected ferocity, Claudia's little surprises and the Captain's homicidal rage, the Spanish dead littered both ships like cord wood. The crew of the Time Machine suffered no losses yet, but many of Wells' people had been hauled below decks badly injured. Though the doctor worked ceaselessly, the outlook for several was grim.
Bit by bit, Wells' crew organized themselves and their prisoners. The Spanish dead they merely dumped over the side of the ship, silencing protests with fists. They were too angry to feel any charity to their attackers. Helena in particular had a fey look in her eyes that sent the captured officers to cowering.
Clean up and medical crews were detailed among the able bodied. The remaining Spaniards were locked away below decks on their own ship, and Helena ordered the galleon searched from top to bottom.
"I want to know how they managed to take us by surprise," she snarled at Jinx. The first mate merely nodded and turned to yell orders, Claudia a red-haired shadow behind him. Before she could follow, however, Helena laid a hand on the young woman's shoulders.
Her heart in her throat, Claudia turned, only to see the Captain's expression gentle.
"I and my crew owe you a great deal Ms. Donovan. Those ingenious devices of yours likely saved the day."
Stunned, Claudia blinked and then her face split in a huge grin. "Well since you totally saved Myka's skin, we can call it even," and with a wink, she was off after Jinx, leaving the Captain to smile briefly and shake her head.
Dawn was fast approaching when the last of the enemy dead was cleared from the decks and the Time Machine was declared sea-worthy, if in need of repair to sails, rigging and some of her railings. The galleon was likewise sea-worthy, but thanks to Claudia, only just. She had only one mast that remained whole and great chunks burned from her upper deck.
"But she'll sail Captain," one of her engineers reported.
Wells nodded. "Good." She turned to Jinx. "Make her ready. We're headed for port. We need to regroup, resupply and figure out our next move. And we need to do something about that," she gestured to the galleon.
"What are you thinking Captain?"
"Not what Mr. Jinx…whom." And a crafty expression stole over the Privateer's face. "We make for Olhão."
"Not…"
"Oh yes, we're going to see my dear friend Señor Alfonso." Helena chuckled darkly.
Jinx merely gave an aggrieved sigh. "You know the last time we had dealings with him…"
"Oh I'm sure he's forgotten that by now. Besides, he will have information," her expression turned deadly once more. "And we must know what we are up against, Steven. There's a game being played here and I've no intention of being a pawn any longer. We searched that ship stem to stern and not only could no one find anything that might be an Artifact, but the Captain had vanished with the ship's log."
"You think he went overboard with it?"
"I do. All the rowboats were accounted for. In this water? This far from shore? No one could survive that swim. Which means someone was willing to die to keep a secret. I doubt we'll get anything useful from the crew either."
Looking at the anger sparking in his Captain's eyes, Jinx found himself in agreement with her conclusions. Since there was nothing he could do about it at the moment, however, he turned their conversation to immediate matters. "I will make sure the crew rotates through a rest and gets something to eat. I suggest you do the same."
Helena touched the young man on the shoulder and smiled wearily. "Thank you my friend, but I must see to the wounded first."
She turned to leave then, and thus didn't see the grin tug at her first mate's face.
"Just so long as it's one in particular, Claudia is going to be thrilled," he said to himself.
Below decks it was quieter than one might have thought. Katherine had been working tirelessly and those crew with minor wounds already had their injuries cleaned, stitched or bandaged by those of their fellows skilled in minor medical treatments.
Helena stopped to speak with each of the wounded. Many suffered gashes, a few were shot and there were some broken limbs and a missing finger. They were tired, and in pain, but well cared for, all of them quietly celebrating the defeat of the galleon. For now, Helena put aside her unease and the questions that the missing Spanish captain presented and gave them her unstinting regard. They had all earned it. More than earned it.
Not all were so lucky however. Four of her crew lay near death and finally, Wells walked softly to where they were sleeping. Unsurprisingly, she found Katherine in tired attendance.
James looked up at Helena's tread and smiled wearily. It told the Captain what she needed to know: her friend was hopeful.
"I praise the day you stole those bandages," Katherine said softly.
Helena merely quirked her lips and reached over to a sideboard, pouring a cup of fresh water and handing it to the other woman. Katherine took it gratefully, gulping it down with no regard to manners. "Ben's lost an eye, but he'll still be too handsome for his own good with a patch. Sorento will likely have a limp all her days, but I think she'll the keep the leg. Foster and Wolcott…" James trailed off and sighed. "I believe they will recover, but they took deep wounds to the chest, and in Wolly's case, the shoulder joint. They may be through for this life."
Wells let her eyes close as the familiar ache of sadness and guilt swept through her. She hated to lose people.
A soft touch at her arm brought her focus back to her old friend. "Don't, Helena. We all know the risks. And 'tis hardly as if you're leaving them marooned somewhere. Any of us could quit this life and live comfortably tomorrow. We stay because we want to, and that is a gift none of us would have if it weren't for you – the chance to choose. Don't belittle their sacrifice by making it your fault. "
The Captain shook her head and ran a hand through her tangled hair. "How is it you always know just what to say to me, old friend?"
Katherine's eyebrow climbed toward her hairline, pulling a tired chuckle from Helena.
Turning back to one of her patients, Katherine fiddled with a bandage and then spoke casually. "I placed Commander Bering in your quarters again. Her head wound did not seem severe, but she's likely to wake disoriented and confused. It would be helpful if someone would watch her so that she doesn't do unthinking injury to herself."
For a long moment, Helena just stared at her friend and then snorted. "If I didn't know better I would say this is a plot. What happened to 'be careful'?" Wells bit her lip, hating the harshness of her voice.
As usual, however, Katherine remained unruffled by Helena's mercurial temper. "That was before I heard that you dove from the rigging and single-handedly slaughtered six men to protect her," James looked at Wells evenly. "It appears, Captain that you may already be past the point of caution."
"And if I am?"
Katherine smiled, wry and familiar. "You yourself taught me that we have but a short time on this earth. Do we always choose the safe path and hide away from aught that might cause us pain? Or are we Icarus, to dare the fall and gain flight, even if it is only for a moment?"
Helena blinked, then shook her head. "You would use my own words against me?"
James' grinned, unrepentant. "They were apt then, why not now?" Upon seeing her friend's hesitance, Katherine reached out and took Helena's hand. "Don't try to make tomorrow come faster than it will. Right now, she needs a friendly face to be the first thing she sets eyes on. After that….the future is only set once it is behind us."
In the end, it came down to weariness. Helena was exhausted. She had no more strength to fight the very real desire to simply seeMyka and assure herself the Commander was well. So with a gentle squeeze of Katherine's hand and the doctor's assurance that she would get some rest herself, Wells made her way to her quarters.
James' parting shot, "And make sure you eat something!" followed her.
Helena responded with a rude gesture.
A lantern hung from a hook on the wall, providing soft golden light when Helena opened her cabin door. Outside, the sky was beginning to fade to grey, so she turned the wick down and closed the curtains in case Myka's eyes found the light painful. Then Helena quietly pulled the chair close to the bed and eased out of her bandoleer, placing her katana against the chair and finally dropping her weary body into the chair, allowing herself look at the woman sleeping in her bed.
Myka still wore the clothes she fought in though her face had been cleaned. A bandage covered the wound on her temple, and though Katherine had assured her it was mostly bruising, that sickly white strip of cloth against Myka's skin filled Wells with rage so strong her knuckles turned white on the arms of the chair. The anger died nearly as quickly as it rose though, she was simply too tired to sustain it.
Leaning forward, Helena gave in to the desire that had haunted her from the moment she witnessed Myka's attack. Ever so carefully she reached out and stroked the sleeping woman's uninjured temple, her fingers combing through soft brown hair before slipping down to rest against the pulse point in Myka's neck. It was only then, with the sure, strong proof that Myka's heart still beat under her fingertips that Helena finally felt herself relax. Not totally – that wouldn't happen until the sleeping woman opened her eyes – but she was able to shed the last of the anger and adrenaline of the fight. Her body informed her that she would pay for her actions tomorrow, but as Katherine had so truly spoken…that was tomorrow.
Tonight, or rather this morning, Helena gave in to the exhaustion nipping at her heels. Her ship and crew were as safe as they could be, and while there was always the possibility of another Artifact attack, well, if it came, it came. Until then, Wells lay her head next to Myka's shoulder and slipped her hand into the sleeping woman's, quickly falling into oblivion herself.
Helena's dreamless sleep was broken by a tug on her hand. Struggling to throw off the last remnants of sleep, she sat up abruptly. The sun was pouring through the partially opened curtains, lending Myka's pale skin some much needed warmth, though the sight of the bandage still pained Wells.
The tiny movement came again and Helena squeezed the hand she was holding. "Myka wake up," she coaxed softly. It quickly became clear that the injured woman was struggling to do just that, and Helena was grateful to Katherine's suggestion that she not be alone as the Commander began to toss and turn.
"Myka, come my dear, wake up…Myka…Myka!" Wells called in alarm as the woman gave a short cry and her eyes flew open.
For a moment there was no sense in the hazel irises and Helena had to restrain Mayka from trying to move, lest she do real damage to her still healing body.
"Myka stop, stop, it's alright darling you're safe, you're safe…" Helena repeated the words until with a last shudder the body under her hands went limp.
"Helena? What…? What happened?"
Giving a silent prayer of thanks that seemed to be over, Wells eased her grip on the injured woman's shoulders. "You were hit over the head during the skirmish. I'm afraid you were out cold."
Helena could practically see the wheels in Myka's head turning.
"The galleon, the crew, Claudia?"
"All presented and accounted for. Your Ms. Donovan very nearly saved us, and while we took some damage, both ship and crew are largely sea-worthy. The galleon is ours and we are headed to port to regroup."
As she spoke, Helena absently stroked her fingers through Myka's hair once again.
For a long moment, neither woman spoke, the silence stretching between them, heavy, but not uncomfortable. It took far too long for Helena to realize what she was doing and with an inward sigh, she steeled herself and sat back, snapping the tension that now seemed to spring up between them whenever they were close.
"I should go and check on matters. Rest darling. You're going to need your wits about you soon enough."
Helena stood, slinging her sword over her shoulder and walking rather stiffly to the door. Sleeping in the chair had been a ridiculous idea, she ached everywhere. The shallow cuts she pretended she didn't have and the bruises she had been ignoring now decided to make themselves known. All at once. Still, she was at least standing.
Helena's hand was reaching for the latch when Myka's voice stopped her.
"Helena, when you're done…would you come back?" the tone was soft, hesitant even.
It made Helena's heart soar.
"It would be my pleasure," she smiled back at Myka, slipping out the door.
When she returned several hours later after seeing to the status of both ships and finally getting her wounds treated, Myka was asleep again. A much more rested Dr. James had been to see her, however, and reported her condition as satisfactory.
"All she needs now is sleep. And I could say the same for you." James said pointedly, glaring at Wells who was doing her best not to limp.
The Captain merely chuckled. "I plan on getting it. We're making berth in a cove I know just south from Olhão. I don't want Alfonso to know we're coming. Until then, Mr. Jinx and Ms. Donovan seem to be running my ship quite handily without me," she said with a shake of her head.
Katherine made a soft sound of amusement, nodding in agreement, apparently satisfied her Captain wasn't going to do anything rash and returned to her patients. Helena slipped back to her cabin. The sun was sinking toward the horizon and Helena's body was informing her that she was nearing the end of her rope. Removing her katana, she slipped off her boots and finally changed from her blood spattered clothes into a clean shift. She was about to take a spare blanket and settle into her chair when her name being spoken stopped her.
"Helena G. Wells, if you are thinking about doing something ridiculous and self-sacrificing like sleeping in that chair, don't."
Wells grinned ruefully. "I was merely being considerate."
"Don't be an ass, Helena. Come here." And with that, Myka scooted over and indicated her side. "I got hit in the head and I'm sore and out of sorts but I am not dying and I won't break."
"Well, I certainly cannot argue with that logic."
"You never could," Myka grinned wickedly for a moment before wincing and settling back down.
Tossing the blanket over the bed, Helena did as she was bid, easing in beside Myka. For a long moment both women lay tensely, as if afraid now to move, and then Myka sighed. Rolling over, she pressed her body against Helena's, resting her head on a slim shoulder and throwing her arm across Helena's middle.
For one instant, Wells froze, and then she remembered Katherine's words. Ah well, if I am to be damned to Hell, I might as well enjoy the journey, she sighed inwardly, letting go of any last though of resistance. Moving gently, she wrapped her arms around Myka and pulled the other woman closer, pressing a soft kiss to tousled hair.
"I am so very glad you're safe Myka," she whispered.
Her answer was Myka's arm tightening around her. "And I am glad that you were there, once again, to rescue me, Captain Wells," Myka replied teasingly. Helena could hear a note of true gratitude under the playful words though and threaded her fingers in Myka's hair, stroking the back of her neck. For a moment Helena wondered who told Myka that particular bit of information, then decided it didn't matter.
"As often as need be darling. As often as need be."
Outside the sky darkened and the Time Machine neared her berth, while in the Captain's cabin, two women found their own safe harbor, at least for a moment, in each other's arms.
