A.N.: This was probably my favorite chapter to write. Most of Admiral Nelson's lines in this chapter come from the song of the same title in Hamilton: An American Musical. Credit for such an incredible goes to Lin-Manuel Miranda. Enjoy!


Ch. 11 History has its Eyes on You

(Contains a tribute to Hamilton)

"Let's begin," Adam stated. With most of the Spiral council being preoccupied with dark pirates on their own fronts, they were communicating via holo tables. "Jillian was able to steal a data card that contains all of Flint's plans before joining us. Jillian, if you could do the honors." The former dark pirate walked up to the table and inserted the data chip. A layout of Skull Island projected onto the table.

"This is Flint's new Skull Island. Most of the buildings have been torn down and replaced by armaments. Protected bunkers, cannons, dark energy generators, you name it." The map zoomed out from Skull Island and showed the rest of the skyway. "The real problem is his fleet. As soon as a ship gets too close, he sends out every ship at his disposal and attacks. Nothing left, salvage or survivors." The privateer moved the map back over Skull Island, zooming in on the tower. It was massive, made of black obsidian in the shape of a two-pointed trident. "Flint's tower is another story. Surprisingly, very little security. Just thousands of steps between you and the top. He has a giant pool of dark energy and he controls it all from the top floor. It's how he's been able to take control of your troops in every realm."

"But, I thought he could only control those with dark energy inside them," Nelson inquired.

"We all have darkness inside of us, Admiral," Jillian corrected, "It's these select individuals that have the potential to control it. It's why Blaze and Lenora could control it; they both had parents who could manipulate that energy. They had those abilities passed down to them. Somewhere in their lineage, there was a dark energy user and they inherited a fraction of their powers, giving Flint an opening to their minds and bodies. That's why my wife kept me from being exposed to this energy. She knew that once someone got a taste of that power, there was no going back, unless Flint sets you free."

"So, Flint has to let them go?"

"No," Jinx stated, "He craves power too much. The only way these people and all of the Spiral go free is if we kill him and destroy his tower." Adam went through all of the data Jillian had given them one more time.

"You said that he sends all of his ships out when a ship gets too close?" Jillian nodded. "And he decimates them with cannon fire until there's nothing left?" Again, the dark pirate nodded. "I have a plan."


"Captain Silver!" Admiral Nelson raced after the young musketeer. Adam was already loading supplies onto the Golden Archer. "This plan of yours-"

"Admiral Nelson, as I explained to everyone already, this plan will work. You just have to trust me."

"Trust is not the issue here, Captain Silver," Nelson clarified. "I just wish to impart a story before you leave." Adam let Lenora, Gracie, and Blaze keep loading the ship as he listened to the one-armed dog. "I was younger than you are now when I was given my first command of a ship. We received word of pirates attacking Port Regal so we went to help, but it wasn't just one ship; it was a whole fleet of pirates. We were told to hold our position, but I disobeyed my orders and went to help. I led my men straight into a massacre and witnessed their deaths right before my eyes. Then, the pirates reached me. I was fighting ten at once when an eleventh snuck behind me and severed my arm. It was at that moment that the help that was ordered to arrive finally came and forced the pirates off the island. I passed out and hours later woke up in a hospital ward, bandages over my stump arm. I kept thinking about how I'd be reprimanded for my actions, but a reprimand never came. Despite my strict disregard for orders, I had held off the enemy long enough for help to arrive in-time. History had its eyes on me that day. And today," Nelson put his one hand on Adam's left shoulder, "It's true for someone else. I know that we can win. I know that greatness lies in you, but you need to remember, from here on in, history has its eyes on you."

"Come on, Adam," Blaze called out, "It's time to go!" Adam gave Nelson a quick hug.

"You take care of yourself out there, Captain Silver." The two broke their embrace as Adam ascended the boarding planks to the Golden Archer. He turned back to the admiral.

"Admiral Nelson," the captain called out, "How do you know we can win?" Nelson laughed.

"Because I believe in you."

"Sagittarius, how long till the steak should be finished?" Sagittarius floated over the small pan that lay over the fire in Adam's cabin.

"One: I can't believe to delegated me to steak duty. Two: Just a couple more minutes." Adam moved the steak around in the pan, allowing it to get evenly cooked. He held a pad of papers in his mechanical hand, reading over them one last time. "We still have twelve hours until we put your plan into action."

"Thank you for reminding me of this plan that the Spiral is depending on." Adam flipped through the pages. This plan will work. It has to. A knock at his cabin door broke him from his thoughts. "Come in." Lenora entered his cabin.

"How come whenever I come in here, you're always going through papers?" Adam smiled.

"It's what I signed up for when I started a war," he chuckled. He put down the papers on his desk. The musketeer noticed that Lenora was holding a bottle. "What's with the bottle?"

"It's yum. I, uh, thought you might want something to drink." Adam took the bottle. There were already two glasses set out on the table. The steak he'd been cooking was split in two on two separate plates. He poured the contents of the bottle into the glasses and pulled out a chair for Lenora. Beaming with joy, Lenora took her seat, letting Adam push her chair in. Adam took his own seat across from Lenora. "Seems like someone had some romantic ideas to follow up on before we throw ourselves into hell for the good of the Spiral."

"Who? Me? No, I just thought that, with what's at steak, we couldn't let it go to waste." Lenora blinked.

"Did you just make a pun?"

"I did." Adam took a sip from his glass of yum. "Before all of this, I was the king of puns. Then I met Ryan and, well, let's just say he's better at making puns than me." Lenora cut her half of the steak and took a bite.

"I know I should be mad about the whole pun thing, but this steak is delicious." The couple finished their meal. Lenora took one last sip of yum before asking, "So, what do you think our odds are of winning this?"

"With you here, our chances are much better." Lenora blushed.

"I see that you're really laying on the compliments, Mr. Silver. Got something in mind now that we've finished our meal?" Adam grinned. He got up from his seat and made his way over to Lenora. "Maybe a way to pass the time?" Adam rested his hands on Lenora's shoulders, the cold metal scaring the swashbuckler for a second. He leaned closer to Lenora's left ear.

"I may have a few ideas." Lenora leaned her head back and allowed their lips to meet. Adam left a trail of kisses down her neck. He picked her up in his arms and carried her to the bed on the far side of his cabin. The red-haired swashbuckler giggled as Adam threw her onto the bed.

"I think I may know what your ideas are, Mr. Silver." Adam crawled onto the bed until he was right on top of Lenora.

"You may want Draco to go into privacy mode." Lenora turned on privacy mode. Adam pulled off his shirt. Lenora ran her fingers along his finely toned abdominal muscles. "See something you like?"

"I think what I like is still hidden," Lenora chuckled as she removed her shirt. Adam brought their lips together, their tongues fighting for dominance in each other's mouths. Lenora broke off the kiss, saying, "I love you, Adam."

"I love you, Lenora."


"I will always watch over you my son."

"I'm sorry, brother."

"Death isn't an end once and for all; it's just a new beginning."

"Don't give up."

"No apologies; did what was right. I don't fear death and I don't fear you."

"I'll see you in hell."

"I won't let Flint control me anymore. You don't need to see this."

"You didn't know anything about what I was doing. I couldn't let him hurt you. I have to leave before he comes back. I won't make you leave, but I think you should."

"Take care of her. Keep her safe for me. I'll miss you."


Adam's eyes shot open. He looked to his right to see Lenora, her arms wrapped around him. The musketeer sat up, leaning on his elbows. Lenora woke up as her arms fell from Adam's body.

"Hey, you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'm just … I guess worried is the best term."

"Hey, just remember, we're not alone in this fight anymore. You did that."

"We did that," Adam corrected. He leaned down and kissed Lenora on her nose. "It's almost time to get ready." Adam got up from the bed. Lenora covered herself with the blanket. "You know, I wish we could do last night all over again. And again. And again." Lenora laughed. "So what do you think our chances are of winning this?"

"Should have known I'd be asked that question," the red-head sighed, "There's gonna be casualties and there's no guarantees we're getting out of this alive." Adam sat down next to her.

"Don't think like that. Every fight we've been in could have been our last; every bullet we've dodged could have been the one."

"There have been a lot of bullets."

"And this time around," Adam chuckled, "They're just a little bigger." Lenora let out a dry chuckle. Adam got back up, continuing to get dressed.

"I don't know what I'd do without you." Adam tossed Lenora's shirt to her. She quickly pulled it over her torso and got up from the bed. She wrapped her arms around Adam. "No matter what happens today, I won't let you lose me again." Adam took her hand in his own and kissed it.

"I believe that."