Chapter X

The Captain's New Pair of Hands

Under the suspicious gazes of the crew, Jay limped up the steps to the quarter deck, cane in hand, and made his way to the helm. He ran a hand over the carefully carved wood, his smirk widening. 'I don't suppose ye need a helmsman?' he asked when he heard the captain's familiar steps behind him.

'Chang and I can manage just fine.' Heero informed him. 'Yer job is to decipher that cryptograph and we won't set sail before ye do.'

'Aye, aye, Capt'n.' the old man smirked at the other's harshness. 'Give me one night. That's all I ask.'

'Oy, Heero!' Duo called from the main deck. 'Where do ye want this?'

The captain leaned over the railing to find a huge cherry wood chest sitting next to the main mast. He turned to Jay with raised eyebrows, but the old man merely shrugged. 'The gun deck should do fine.'

'What's 'e got in this chest?' the braided man asked Trowa who was helping him carry the heavy trunk. 'His entire life?'

'It's a life indeed.' The old man was suddenly beside them. Duo shrieked, nearly dropping the chest on his feet. 'Careful with that, lad.'

'Mind givin' us a hand?'

'How 'bout a hook?' Jay smirked as he raised the shiny silver hook very close to the braided pirate's neck.

'Ye better get to work, old man.' Chang cut in displeased. 'Ye have no power left here. Now, ye do as we say.'

'Aye, aye. As soon as me chest is safely downstairs, I'll start working… Maybe our dear capt'n could spare me one of these fair lasses to lend me a hand.' His eyes fell on Hilde and Relena who stood side-by-side watching the scene unfold.

The Chinese man looked up at Heero who clutched at the railing with a scowl. 'As ye wish.' He said with a shrug for, even though he knew the captain wanted to protest, he knew he had no valid reason to.

'Come, deary.' Jay motioned towards the blonde lady. The shorthaired one was not only glaring at him, but also not half as interesting as the blonde… A woman who could catch Heero's eye was certainly worth knowing.

Relena hesitated only briefly, seeing the displeased look on the captain's face, but her curiosity won over her desire to please him. Whether the old pirate should or should not scare her, the truth was that he did not and she could see he knew more than anyone else about Heero and those shady times in his life he was not willing to share with her himself. She followed Jay rather eagerly up the stairs to the quarter deck. They stopped by the captain.

'I trust ye will let me use yer cabin for me work. I wouldn't like to disturb the crew's sleep.'

'Just make sure ye finish that as fast as possible.'

'Ye may keep us company if ye like… I know ye worry about the lass.'

Heero snorted and left the two to themselves. Relena did not know what to make of the captain's reaction, so she said nothing as she followed Jay. Those rooms had become like her home, and she set out to organize the table for the old pirate as soon as they stepped inside. He watched her thoughtfully and quietly, not in an intimidating way but in a curious fatherly way. For a moment, he reminded her of Pagan and she had to blink back tears.

'There.' She said, turning on her heels to smile at him. 'Whenever you're ready, sir.'

'Oh, there was no need, lass. The cypher's already solved.'

'What? But, then why…?'

'Ah… I wanted to talk to ye in private.' Jay rested both hook and hand on top of his cane. 'Ye haven't been here long, have ye?'

'Uh…' for a moment Relena wondered whether it was wise to trust that man with any kind of information, but she could not see any harm in answering that one question and he did not seem to bear any ill intent. 'No, I haven't. Not as long as the others, at least…'

'If ye don't mind me asking, lass… Just an old man's curiosity… How did ye come to be on the Peacemillion?'

She smiled at that, despite the rather depressing beginning her story had had, and picked up an abandoned shirt, folding it as she took a seat on the captain's bed. Far enough for comfort, but not enough not to be heard by Jay. 'I'll tell you my story, if you tell me yours.'

He smirked. 'Bargained like a true pirate.' He chuckled then and put away the cane as he stretched his wooden leg. 'Very well… I'll tell ye the tale of the captain's new pair of hands. I'm sure ye are going to like that one since ye seem to be so interested in Heero Yuy.'

Relena had the decency to blush. 'I…'

'No need to explain, lass. Just tell me yer story once ye've heard mine.'

XXX

Odin Lowe walked into his cabin with all the authority of a captain. Heero lifted his eyes off the paper he had been working on and waited in tense silence for whatever his father would say. Jay was a tad bit slower to respond. He finished the sentence he had been writing with a flourish, set his pen down in the ink bottle and examined the parchment carefully for smears. Only then did he lift his eyes to meet the captain's irritated gaze.

'Leave.' Lowe told the boy. 'Find Barton and make yerselves useful.' He started pacing as he waited for his son to leave, as silent as a ghost. As soon as the boy was gone, he turned to the old man, leaning towards him with his hands on the table. 'How is he doing?'

'He's a good student. Intelligent and dedicated. We're making progress.'

'Aye… Except that he doesn't seem to be making any progress in anything other than math and astrology. Ye said ye could turn 'im into a weapon! Rid 'im of all weaknesses so he need never know the pain I have known!'

'All in due time, Capt'n. I've dedicated me life to this… To perfecting the recipe that'll turn man into something else… Something more. This requires patience.'

The captain snorted, clearly having run out of his. 'Ye say he's making progress, but he's supposed to be me quartermaster and all ye do is keep 'im locked up in 'ere and drown him in old texts. I want to see 'im in action. Enough theory!'

'I understand, of course, Capt'n, but the lad's only twelve. Hardly old enough to be quartermaster. I do agree he needs more practical lessons though… Something that'll help 'im overcome his feelings of empathy and compassion.'

'Aye.' Lowe agreed, clearly pleased. 'Ye keep yer promise, Jay, and I'll make ye a rich man. Richer than the king himself.'

Jay chuckled. 'I care about no treasure, Capt'n. Me interest's merely academic. Besides… Ye and I, both, know ye ain't sharing.'

'We'll see about that.' The Peacemillion's captain smirked. 'We're docking in Kingston in a couple o' hours. Feel free to wander round if ye'd like. I'll take the lad with me for some practical lessons.'

XXX

He attracted attention wherever he went. It was impossible not to with a wooden leg, a hook for a hand and a heavy cane to support him, but Jay took it in stride. He liked to make up tales of how he had lost his limbs, especially to amuse the street urchins that always ended up following him, filled with youthful energy and boundless curiosity.

Kingston was a big town and therefore crawling with miserable children, hungry and uneducated. They tailed him as he strolled aimlessly around the market. At first, they were hesitant and somewhat shy, but they quickly grew bolder when they realised their interest and attention amused the creepy old pirate. Once the first question was asked, a hundred soon followed until Jay decided to take a seat by the harbour to entertain the little mudlarks with his tales.

The truth was he had been captain of his own ship once and been through his fair share of dire situations. He had started off young and had a relatively long career for a pirate. It was impossible not to get a little maimed along the way. Once he had lost the hand, however, he had decided it was time to pursue different interests, and that was how he had become a scholar. Set on putting to paper the things he had seen and learned, in order to create a method, a formula that would make weapons out of men. The perfect pirate… Free of all compassion, of all human weaknesses. To the innocent brats, however, he told amazing tales of memorable battles and whaling expeditions, of gigantic sharks and monsters of yore. Sometimes he liked to believe those stories himself.

A particular orphan caught his attention that morning… The boy was scrawny, with long brown hair braided all the way down his back, he was dressed in rags and filthy as a bilge rat. Nothing out of the ordinary, except that his eyes had a certain gleam in them that reminded Jay of his own young pupil. The waif must have been around the same age… So much unexplored potential. He did not talk to the brat and, before Jay had finished his tale, he was already gone. A shadow amidst the crowds of Kingston.

The old pirate returned to the Peacemillion when the sun began to set, painting the horizon a rosy orange. He did not, for a single second, imagine he might be followed or that his pursuer might succeed in making his way onto the ship. Still he was not very surprised when, a couple hours later, his dinner was interrupted by the shouts of the tripulation.

'Thief!' someone yelled.

'I've got the damn sneaky bastard!'

'Don't let 'im escape!'

'Call the Capt'n!'

It was the street urchin from the harbour. Jay recognised him the moment he laid eyes on him, struggling in vain against the hold of a particularly bulky pirate. The starved, scrawny lad did not stand a chance. 'Lemme go, ye mongrel!' he shouted anyway, spending what little energy he had left.

'Stop fighting, gamin. Ye ain't goin' nowhere. So sit tight 'til the capt'n gets 'ere.'

The boy did not listen and, once he had tired himself too much to struggle, started to curse and taunt the pirates instead of falling quiet. Thankfully, for him, instead of angry the men were amused. 'Did ye' hear that?' one of them asked with a wide smirk. 'Lil' fella's got quite a big mouth on 'im.'

'Got a dirty mouth that one.' A less amused one said somewhat horrified. He'd seen the cross hanging across the boy's neck and his fear of god had caught up to him. He tried telling the others they should free the child, but all they did was laugh and mock him. They were still chortling when Odin Lowe arrived shadowed by his son, his feet heavy on the steps.

Silence reigned in the sleeping quarters as the captain approached the young thief. 'Look what we have here…' he grinned widely and everyone on board knew it did not bode well. The orphan finally stopped struggling as Lowe paced slowly in front of him. 'What's yer name, brat?'

'Maxwell.' He answered. 'Duo Maxwell.'

'He's only a hungry orphan, Capt'n.' the religious pirate decided to plead on the boy's behalf. 'He didn't mean no harm… Mayhaps ye could give 'im some bread and send 'im on 'is way…'

'Only an orphan, eh?' the captain repeated somewhat thoughtfully. 'Empty his pockets.' The bulky pirate, who had been restraining the boy, was quick to oblige, holding the brat with one hand and easily searching him with the other. All sorts of coins, jewellery and pistol cartridges fell on the floor around them. Lowe smirked. 'If a hungry orphan was all he was, he would've stolen bread… A thief is what he is. And ye know what we do with thieves 'round here, boy?'

Duo was trying very hard to keep up the brave act. He gave the man a wavering smirk. 'Aren't ye all thieves yerselves?'

The captain laughed. 'Witty! The lad thinks he can play us, mates!' the crew roared with him in his laughter. 'Let me show ye what we do with those that try to steal from us… Where's yer advocate? Ah! There ye are, Prisk. Come on, man. Come 'ere.'

Dan Prisk's feet seemed rooted to the deck. Odin Lowe never used that friendly tone…and his smile was like the devil's. He would have run, would have fought, but he was surrounded by his evil bloodthirsty crewmates and the men pushed him towards their captain with devilish smirks on their faces. One of them pushed Prisk to his knees and held him down at a mere sign from Lowe. It was all the scared pirate could do to make the sign of the cross.

'Heero. Come 'ere, son.'

Jay stepped closer when he saw his pupil make his way to the centre of the circle. As much as he felt for the boy, Duo, he was more interested in how his student would react to this particular lesson. Life was what it was… Cruel and unfair. He had taught the lad enough by then for him to be able to handle his father's lesson.

The captain pulled a battle-axe from the nearest stilt and put it in Heero's hands. Duo's already large eyes widened further and he gulped. He had killed people before, but out of necessity to either steal from them or defend himself, never out of pleasure… And the captain's son… There was not a single emotion on his face, it was blank, so blank and empty it was scary.

Odin Lowe nodded to the man holding Prisk and the pirate pushed his captive forward until the man's hands were on the floor, supporting him. Then the captain laid a hand on his son's shoulder. The crew cheered him on. 'Make it a clean cut.' He said quietly, simply.

Duo closed his eyes… He was next. Suddenly, he wanted to cry. He could hear Prisk crying despite the roars of the crew. The blade hit the wooden deck with a sickening thud, but it wasn't any more sickening than the now handless pirate's screams. Somehow, to Duo that seemed even worse than dying… The maimed man sounded as if he had gone mad.

'Get 'im out of me sight.' Lowe ordered, waving Prisk away. 'Ah, ye' missed the show, Mr Maxwell… What a pity.'

'What shall we do with 'im, Capt'n?' the pirate holding Duo asked.

'Since we've just lost a pair of hands…' the captain's words gave rise to a round of laughter. 'I have a proposition for ye, Mr Maxwell.'

'What?' his voice came out as a hopeful whisper as he raised surprised eyes to the older man.

'Ye will have to pay for yer blunder, of course, but… But ye are welcome to join the crew afterwards if ye wish.'

'What do I have to pay?' he croaked, his throat painfully dry.

'Just a few whip lashes… One for each of the goods ye stole. Or tried to.' Lowe's smile was pleasant and his tone smooth.

'And if I refuse?' Duo asked just to strengthen his resolution.

'I believe we both know the answer to that question…' the captain did not wait for the boy to confirm he would be joining. 'Red, give Heero yer whip.'

Duo met the other boy's eyes. There was something there… A crack. Though his face remained blank. He was human after all and cutting off a man's hands had affected him… He was just very good at concealing it. And Duo had thought he was the master of deception…

They did not even bother taking his shirt off, but he did not dare say a word. He was grateful enough they pushed his hair out of the way. The cheering of the crew covered his shouts, he could sense Heero had taken pity on him for surely he had more strength than he was applying… As lash followed lash, however, Duo regretted being so greedy, stealing so much… And just when he thought he would not make it, it stopped.

'I think that's enough.' An ancient voice said and the crowd parted for Jay. 'What do ye say, Capt'n? Ye don't want to kill the lad just yet.'

'Aye… I think it's enough. Red, find 'im a hammock. After that ye are all dismissed for the night.'

The old man waited for the crew to disperse and approached his pupil. He laid a hand on Heero's shoulder. 'Get Barton and go back to the shore. Fetch a medic.'

The boy's eyes narrowed. 'The capt'n won't appreciate that.'

'Let me handle yer father. Ye do as I tell ye.'

XXX

'Ye're too soft on those boys.' Lowe told him as soon as Jay walked into his cabin.

'I ain't soft, Capt'n.' he replied with no small amount of irritation. 'I just think it counterproductive to wound one's own working hands so severely.'

'But surely ye agree with me, punishment was needed.'

'Aye.'

The captain, feet resting on the table, bent forward as he reached for the bottle of rum. 'How do ye think he fared? Heero, I mean.'

'He did well, all things considered.'

'And yet he ain't where we want 'im to be.'

'He's got more heart in him than we'd anticipated… But we'll get there eventually. All in due time, Capt'n. All in due time…' Jay walked around for a moment, waiting for Lowe to get a tad bit more inebriated before he made his confession. 'I've sent for a medic. Surely ye don't wish to lose a brand new pair of 'ands?'

'As I said, doctor. Soft.'

'Ye won't object?'

'Ye went behind me back, Jay. I should have ye whipped, but what no one knows cannot harm me, can it?'

'Only the boys know, Capt'n, and they know better than to gossip.'

'Aye. That they do.' Lowe made a gesture, signalling for the other pirate to sit and have a drink. 'What do ye think about our new acquisition?'

'I had seen something in him earlier, Capt'n.' Jay finally took the offered seat.

'The kid 'as guts, I'll give 'im that.' The captain smirked.

'Aye.'

'Sneaking into a pirate ship… Stealing from the best of robbers?' he laughed. 'Bold to say the least.'

'I call it desperation, Capt'n. Cold and pain and hunger will do that to anyone, especially a child.'

'Is that what ye think about 'im? That he's only a desperate child?'

'Nay, Capt'n. I did see something in 'im earlier and I don't think me old eyes have deceived me. He was already on 'is way out when they caught 'im.'

'Aye… He's got some useful skills, I wager. We could put them to good use. I'm sure ye wouldn't mind adding another brat to yer list of subjects.'

'If I learned something throughout me life, Capt'n, it is that the best crew is that which is not only trained, but raised to suit one's needs.'

'I couldn't have a better one then.'

Jay smirked. 'Nay. Ye could not.'

XXX

Relena did not know what to say. It was hard for her to even fathom such atrocities, least of all Heero committing them… She could only be grateful he had not grown up to be a pirate of the likes of his father. How he had escaped such horrid fate she could not even conceive, but she knew the old man sitting across from her was certainly not the one to thank for that.

'I can see I have shocked ye.' He was smiling at her in his amusement. Relena did not bother lying to him. 'Ye can tell me yer story another time.'

'Yes, please.' She nodded. 'I don't think I could… After… I… I need time to think.'

'I know ye do, lass.' Jay stood up, leaning heavily on his cane. 'For all it is worth though… I think there's more of his mother in him than we could've ever imagined.'

'Did you know her?'

'Nay, but some of Lowe's old crew did. She was a good woman, but she fell in love with the wrong man and that love destroyed them both.'

'I don't think it was love that destroyed them.' She immediately contested with vehemence. The old pirate smiled as if he had already expected her to protest. 'Had she loved him enough she would have waited for him and, even if she hadn't, if Lowe had loved her enough he would have been happy for her.'

'Would they? I wonder…' Relena had the feeling, by the smile she saw on his face, that he was mocking her, but she could not tell for sure – Jay seemed quite interested in everything she had to say – so she gave him the benefit of the doubt. 'Will ye come?' he questioned suddenly.

'Where?' she frowned, caught off guard.

'To take the solved cypher to yer captain.'

She stood up, hurrying to open the door for the old man. 'I'll accompany you.' She informed him as he limped past her and the two made their way out onto the quarter deck.

It was completely dark outside, but for the light of the moon. Jay nearly tripped on Shadow as she rushed by. 'What are ye doing out here?' Wufei questioned them, his voice cutting through the silence so suddenly Relena's heart stopped for a second before dashing wildly.

'Looking for the captain.' The old man informed him simply.

'Shouldn't ye be working on that cypher?'

'Aye.' Jay smirked. 'It's done.'

'Done?' it was Quatre who asked, hurrying up onto the quarter deck. His eagerness to discover the solution had kept him awake.

'Aye.'

'What does it say?' he questioned anxiously. 'The cypher… What does it say?'

The old man arched a curious eyebrow. 'Do ye not sleep? Where's yer captain?'

'Here.' Heero stepped out of the shadows of the poop deck.

'Ye were there the entire time? Couldn't ye have just come out?' Wufei questioned, earning himself a scowl.

'What's the solution?' the captain asked Jay.

'It is not what ye expected…'

'I knew it.' Quatre cut in. 'It's the curse, isn't it? It's the counter-enchantment.'

'What is he talking about?' Relena asked Heero with a troubled frown.

'The sleeping wench.' It was Chang who clarified. 'He's talking about the sleeping wench.'

The lady's eyes lit up as they met Quatre's. 'She'll wake up then?' she asked hopefully.

'I believe she will.' Jay nodded, leaning heavily on his cane. 'As soon as the words are spoken.'

The captain and first mate exchanged grave looks. 'Winner.' Heero called out. "Bring the woman up. Do not wake the others.'

'I'll ready me weapons.' The Chinese man told him quietly.

Relena turned to him with wide, disbelieving eyes. 'You're going to kill her?'

'If we have to.' The captain refused to meet her gaze lest she should make him feel guilty. His fingers danced an old dance with the handle of his pistol. It was not that he wanted to kill the stranger, it was just that once she woke up she might prove to be a threat to the crew and the ship, and he was the one responsible for bringing her on board. He would allow no room for mistakes.

'If she's a siren…' the blonde lady suddenly took his restless hand, forcing him to meet her eyes. 'If she really is a siren and she takes away your minds… I promise I'll do it. I'll kill her.'

Heero saw the fear in her eyes, fear that it would come to that. He squeezed her hand. 'Don't.' he said simply, gently. 'I don't want ye to change. If she's a siren, she'll take us down with her. Ye keep the ship and flee.'

'By myself?' she sounded horrified.

'With Schbeiker.' He told her and she saw the corners of his lips curve upwards in the safety of darkness. Her mouth fell open slightly in her surprise. The captain was making fun of her?

'She would never let the sirens kill Duo.'

'Then let 'er kill the siren for you.'

Despite the morbid subject, she smiled at him. 'Then we can continue our journey without any casualties.'

'I hope so.' He finally pulled away as he stepped forward to join the others. Jay was watching him a little too close for comfort, but Heero tried not to let the old man, and the memories his presence unintentionally evoked, get to him. He had enough on his plate as it was.

'Here.' Quatre said out of breath as he made an effort to lay the woman down as gently as possible.

'Could I have some light?' the old man asked with a touch of irritation. He was not young anymore and the moonlight did little to help him read the cypher he pulled from his pocket. The blonde pirate hurried to find a lantern at the captain's agreeing nod. Chang was already cocking his pistol.

'As soon as ye're ready.' Heero told his former tutor and waited with crossed arms and a frown. He was as worried as the Chinese man, if not even more so, but he knew better than to let it show.

Jay waited for Quatre to approach with the burning lantern before starting to read. Relena was immediately transported back to her childhood, to the mornings spent at church with her mother, listening to the priest babble in Latin. Her mother would be entranced while she – no more than a child, bursting with joyful energy – would fidget restlessly on her seat, bored out of her mind.

As soon as the old man went quiet the blonde lady moaned and stirred. Wufei's arm was firm as he aimed the pistol at her head. Quatre fought the urge to assist her, help her sit up, offer her a glass of water. The others watched with batted breath. Shadow was – at last – the first to approach, entirely unconcerned. Heero made to rescue her – sure that Trowa would kill him if something happened to the cat – but he had not taken more than a single step when the stranger's eyes opened.

There was a long moment of tension during which all men present wondered if they had gone mad or if they were still themselves. Relena clenched her hands in expectation. 'Ugh…' the woman groaned, clutching at her head. 'Ewww!' she squeaked when she realised the nasty state her hair was in. It was only then that she seemed to realise she was nowhere familiar. Her greyish eyes searched the faces of all those present, but she found no one she knew. 'Who are you and where am I?' she demanded.

'You are on board the Peacemillion, miss.' Quatre told her gently as he kneeled by her side. 'Somewhere between Japan and the New World. I am Quatre and these—'

'Yes…' her eyes narrowed at him in realisation. 'The lost heir of the Winner family… I remember your voice. I thought it had been a dream.'

'You could hear us?' the blonde's eyes sparkled in delight. 'I'm so sorry we had to—'

'Enough chit-chat, Winner.' Chang pulled him by the collar, away from the woman, and stepped up to her himself, pistol still at the ready. 'Let's go straight to the point, woman. Tell us where the treasure is.'

'Treasure?' she asked with a confused frown just as Relena appeared in front of the first mate's gun.

'I can't let you do that.' the lady pirate protested, spreading her arms. 'She's not our prisoner and she's just woken up!'

'Ye' can't tell me what I can and cannot do.' The Chinese man did not even flinch. 'If she wants to stay on board she has to give us something in exchange.'

When both sides refused to give in they turned to the captain. 'Put the gun down, Chang.' Heero said calmly. 'He's right.' He added, meeting Relena's surprised gaze before turning to their captive guest.

She looked him up and down and smiled seductively. 'And you must be the captain… I remember what happened now and I know the treasure you speak of.' The last part she addressed to the first mate with a discreet snarl, before turning back to Heero. She stood up as elegantly as she possibly could, holding the sheet that covered her. 'I'll lead you there…'

'I suppose ye have conditions?' Jay smirked knowingly.

'Look who's a clever old man.' She returned his smirk with one of her own.

'Go on, woman.' Wufei fixed her with a displeased glance. 'We haven't got all night.'

Heero nodded. 'I'd like to weigh anchor first thing in the morning if you'd please.'

'I wish to be named captain.' She said simply, watching in pleasure as a heavy silence descended over the ship. 'Oh, and, please, call me Captain Dorothy Catalonia.'

A.N.: Despite the goryness in this chapter, I've kept this story T rated... Please, if you believe the rating should go up, let me know. Random pirates' names were all provided by an online pirate name generator. According to it, me pirate name is Oscar "Black Eyepatch" Rye. P) Arrr!