Ch. 11 A Desperate Plan
"I can't believe Pedro would actually do that," Jordan gasped. She received a wave of hushing from the people around her. "Sorry." Again she was shushed. Choosing not to say anything else, Jordan slumped in her seat between Bonnie and Ratbeard. Things had been awkward between her and the tall fox musketeer since she kissed Bonnie at El Dorado. "So, Ratbeard," Jordan asked, "What happened next?"
"One of the toughest days of our lives." Ratbeard rubbed the back of his recently groomed hair. "We lost a good man that day."
"We need your help." Adam sat at the table on the opposite side of Captain Steed. "We have information that the Toymaker knows how to defeat the clockworks and we need to find him." Captain Steed took a long sip from his cup of tea and frowned.
"I'm afraid I can't help you, Captain Silver," he replied, "I have built a resistance, but the Toymaker is being held on the edge of Cadiz. It is the most heavily fortified clockwork strong hold. I can't risk what troops I have until the final fight. Besides," The unicorn veteran continued, "You'd never save him in time. He's scheduled to be executed in a few hours."
"Then help us save him!" Catbeard protested. "You of all people must be sick of this unnecessary pain and death." Catbeard took one more complimentary sardine and walked to the door of Steed's Villa. "You know who you are and you know that you can't keep running from your past." As the cat walked from the room, Adam once again pleaded for help.
"If you can help us, you won't have to waste another life for Valencia. The rest of the Spiral's navy's will end this fight." Steed stood up and paced his way to the window.
"I've seen a lot of death; I'd prefer not to see any more." Steed turned to the young captain. "I can't spare any troops, but I can give you a way into clockwork territory." The unicorn pulled a small holo device, like the one Brave owns, and gave it to Adam. "This contains a list of all the clockwork patrols and when they leave. All I can give you is this and a wish of good luck."
"It'll do. Thank you, Captain Steed." Adam walked out to his crew. "We've got our opening. A patrol will be heading out in about an hour; if we hurry we can get to the outskirts of Cadiz."
"Adam," Brave said, "I need to get back to Rajah. This is where I'll be leaving you."
"Thank you for your help, Brave," Adam responded, "If it wasn't for you, our assassin would still be in prison." Adam held out his hand and the Admiral gladly shook it.
"It was no trouble; just make sure he stays alive."
"I promise." The Rajan Admiral turned and walked toward his own ship, departing from the island. Adam went with his own crew and opened the holo device in his cabin to study it one last time. There was a knock at his door. "Come in." Catbeard and Ryan walked into the room. Adam was still surprised by how quickly Ryan had recovered from his wound. Although the scar limited his sight, his fighting abilities had not been affected as Ryan increased his speed. This allowed him to react quicker than when he had two eyes.
"Adam," Catbeard started, "We need to talk." Adam motioned for the two to sit.
"This plan of yours, Adam," Ryan continued, "Is it really the best one? I mean, we promised Avery that we'd be right back at Skull Island after we finished helping Rajah."
"We were also promised that there wouldn't be any inconveniences on that mission. I'm done listening to an old fossil that won't do what's necessary." Ryan conceded the point and left the room.
"Captain," Catbeard continued his own point, "The fact remains that you want to go after someone who might know how to destroy the clockworks once and for all. If we follow Avery's orders, the Armada is destroyed. Why would you go out of your way to save someone who is already dead?" Adam rummaged through his desk.
"I wouldn't expect someone who knew their family to understand." Adam found what he was looking for and pulled out a framed picture. It was him as a baby being held by a younger toymaker. "He knew who I was when I was born. He knew my parents. If I save him, I can finally know who I am." Catbeard held the picture and grinned.
"I can understand your motivations, Adam. Really, I do." Catbeard set the picture back down. "But it's foolish. We can't keep wasting time when there is a war getting ready to start."
"That's not your choice. I'm your captain and you'll do as I say." Catbeard stood up from his chair.
"As you command, captain." As he opened the door, Catbeard whispered to himself, "Just as arrogant as his father."
In a matter of hours, the Golden Archer had reached the edge of Cadiz. Adam took Catbeard, Bonnie Anne, Ratbeard, and Wing Chun with him, leaving the others to protect the ship if they needed to escape in a hurry.
"Catbeard, you come with me." Adam drew his rifle. "We'll set up in that tower. The rest of you, try to hide in some of the nearby buildings. Don't get caught." The cat and human quickly climbed the steps, relieved to find that there were no clockworks in sight. When they reached the top, Adam aimed his rifle out of the window. From the scope, he could see where the Toymaker was to be executed. "I've got a clear shot. He'll make it out alive."
"I'll cover the door." As Catbeard moved to the door, he drew his cutlass. A loud thumping sound could be heard outside in the courtyard. Clockworks were moving in formation with a figure whose head was covered with a brown sack. An elegant armor-clad clockwork moved behind the prisoner with a sword at her side and a piece of parchment in her left hand. They reached the front of the crowd and the elite clockwork turned to her fellow soldiers.
"My name is Queen. By order of Lord Kane, the man known as the Toymaker is to be executed today in front of you all to be made an example for all of those who would dare oppose us." Catbeard joined his captain at the window.
"Adam, there's too many. I'm sorry, but we can't risk the rescue."
"You can either stay out of my way or stop me. I'm saving him."
"Do you have any last words, Toymaker?"
"My life is worth giving up if it means an end to the clockwork regime."
"Good-bye." As Queen raised her blade, Adam lined up his shot. Catbeard watched the musketeer, but saw something gleam from behind the Toymaker. He could faintly make out a clockwork pistol.
"No!" As the spark pistol went off, Catbeard pushed Adam out of the window's line of sight. "Are you alright?" Adam nodded yes then looked up at the cat pirate. There was a hole emanating sparks going through his heart.
"Catbeard," Adam gasped, "Your heart." The cat reached his right paw to the wound.
"I- I didn't even feel it." The cat collapsed, starting to cough up blood.
"No, you're going to be fine."
"Adam, you need to listen to me." Catbeard took Adam's hand in his paw. "Your father would kill me himself if he knew I was telling you this. You need to head back to Skull Island. He's waiting for you there."
"What? He's alive?"
"I'm sorry. My time is up." Catbeard stared up at the ceiling. "Remember Adam, death isn't an end once and for all; it's just a new beginning." Catbeard's eyes went white and rolled in the back of his head. Adam closed the cat's eye lids and picked up his rifle. He looked through the scope and saw Deacon in the fake Toymaker's clothes.
"Everyone," Adam shouted into his earpiece, "We need to get out now! Deacon is back!"
"What?!" Bonnie exclaimed. "That's impossible; we destroyed him."
"It's true. Now get back to the ship as fast as you can." Adam was making his way down the stairs, carrying Catbeard's body on his shoulders. He kicked open the door and saw ten clockwork marines chasing his three allies. He set down Catbeard and aimed his rifle at the squadron. He took out three and started to drag the cat pirate. "Ryan, I need help. Get to my position." There was no response. Adam timed his shots, but Queen and her private squadron of battle angels were closing in. Adam flipped his rifle around and smashed two clockwork heads with the butt of the gun.
"Destroy him." Queen motioned for the battle angels to begin their attack. Adam saw three angels charging and tossed the gun at them, knocking them to the ground. He drew his twin pistols and shot them in their heads. Adam charged at the remaining battle angels and disarmed one of their swords, picking it up and using it himself.
"You're finished Queen." Adam decapitated the last two clockwork battle angels and stabbed the blade into Queen's chest. As the blade penetrated, Queen's body appeared to shimmer. Confused, Adam moved the blade and realized that it wasn't the real Queen.
"Holographic projector. I'm sorry to tell you, darling, but I'm not on Cadiz." Adam looked at the sword he was holding. It was a lot less powerful than the weapons used by the usual clockwork soldiers. The blade was dull and chipped in a few places. "Tell me, when was the last time you checked in with Skull Island?" Adam's eyes widened. Throwing down the sword, he picked up his rifle and Catbeard's body and ran to his ship. He set down Catbeard's body and shot the few clockworks that were following him. Bonnie joined him and helped Ratbeard and Wing Chun get aboard. Ratbeard gasped for air after running for so long. When he lifted his head, he was staring at Catbeard's lifeless body.
"No." Ratbeard kneeled over the body. "He didn't deserve this."
"We need to get back to Skull Island."
