Rio21
It was drugs she decided after too many evasive answers and two hours of sitting on one of the crates.
The so called hand picked crew looked like a bunch of beach bum stoners.
She wondered if they were even being paid in cash or some supply of whatever it was they were guarding.
Regis had armed them to the teeth.
With pistols, swords and knives strapped to their persons they sat around the hold.
One of the crew gave them a deck of cards to pass the time because they were expected to remain in the hold the entire trip.
The crew was not to be anywhere near the crates. Which Rio was convinced contained drugs.
Mostly likely in powder form if the residue on one edge of the crate she was currently perched on was any indication.
The hold was stuffy and a sweet cloying smell lingered in the air.
She hoped they trip wouldn't take too long because the smell was making her nauseous.
Between the sweet smell and the swaying of the ship. Rio could hardly eat anything when dinner came around.
As Regis instructed they only ate what the rest of the crew was eating.
Sending only one of their party halfway up the stairs to check.
Regis was very distrusting of these so called hand picked men of his.
Then again if profits were as bad as everyone said she couldn't really blame the guy.
She nibbled on the bread piece that came with her soup and tried to calm her stomach down.
Suddenly shouting was heard up above and another set of sails was unfurled.
The ship lurched forward underneath their feet. Moving faster now than it did before.
Rio went to the stairs to check what was going on.
She spotted the quartermaster hurrying to and fro and flagged him down.
"Whats going on?" she said
"Pirates, trying to out run them" said the man
Then he hurried away.
She watched them start throwing unnecessary items over board to lighten the load and ducked back downstairs.
"Whats going on?' said Mulan
She was currently playing a version of solitaire Rio didn't recognize.
"Pirates, there trying to out run them" said Rio
"Killian?' said Aurora
Her voice a bit higher than usual meaning she was scared.
"Don't know can't go look but I think we can out run them whoever they are.
They are throwing stuff overboard to lighten the load" said Rio
They heard a heavy splash and they went to the only window in the room.
It was actually a small porthole. They looked out in time to see what looked like a cannon hit the water.
They were throwing the weapons overboard to gain more speed.
What looked like the captain's furniture soon followed.
Rio wondered if they intended to actually throw everything that wasn't nailed down overboard.
Another splash alerted them to something else going overboard.
Whatever it was bobbed to the surface and Rio groaned.
The idiots were throwing the food overboard.
She covered her eyes with her hand at their shear stupidity.
Someone screamed and a splash was heard again. Aurora looked out the window.
"Oh my lord someones in the water" said Aurora.
Rio lowered her hand. She squeezed in beside her and Mulan.
Sure enough there were several men in the water.
Whatever this cargo was it must have been very expensive for them to be willing to toss crew overboard to keep it.
The ship increased in speed and they heard the sound of cannons going off in the distance.
The pirates were firing on them. Aurora gasped and almost screamed in fright. Mulan quickly covered her mouth.
"Now I really want to know whats in these crates" said Mulan
"So do I but I think Regis may just shoot us if we open them." said Rio
"So who says we have to open them" said Mulan
She drew her knife and slid it between the boards on the side of the crate.
Shoving it in to the hilt and then withdrawing it.
A white powder covered the blade.
Mulan touched it and then brought her finger to her mouth.
She quickly spit out whatever the powder was.
"Well?' said Rio
"Poppy powder, refined though. Must be a fortunes worth here" said Mulan.
She sheathed her knife and Rio noticed she didn't clean it off.
Great so she was right Regis was a drug runner. That was just wonderful.
All the more reason to get scarce the second they landed wherever it was they were landing.
One thing was for certain she didn't really want to get involved with these people.
If they weren't so desperate to get off that island they would have never taken this ride.
A steady litany of splashes and shouts filled the night. They started counting them.
She wondered if they would be dumb enough to try and throw them overboard when they ran out of expendable crewmen.
The ship was going quite fast now.
The sound of cannons had long since ceased and they no longer could see the other ship on the horizon.
Perhaps they had out run the pirates.
All had grown quiet on the deck above and she wondered just how many men did they sacrifice to get away.
She glanced at the cargo and frowned.
She sure hoped it was worth it but it still left a bad taste in her mouth.
A few more hours later the crows nest called down that land was spotted and Rio woke Mulan to take her turn sleeping.
They were almost to port and Rio wanted to get some sort of shut eye before they landed.
The bump of what sounded like wood on wood woke her some time later and she turned towards Mulan.
"Were docking" said Mulan
Aurora stirred awake. She had slept fitfully again and had to be woken a few times already.
Rio was concerned about the woman. A continual lack of sleep couldn't be good for anyone.
She had gotten to know both women and their stories a little bit better.
Not having much to do except talk to fill those long boring hours since they left the island.
Both of their stories were unique to this place and not at all what Disney portrayed them to be.
They got the basic outline of the stories right but of course the details were lost in translation so to speak.
Personally Rio preferred this world's version. They were more real.
The characters were less caricatures noticeably flawed and well human.
It just made for a more interesting tale if you could understand their motivations easier.
She now had a pretty good idea of just who she was dealing with.
As well as their opinions on a variety of subjects.
She trusted them a bit more now that she knew more about them.
They debated long and hard on what their next course of action should be.
Beyond the obvious of avoiding Cora and Hook that was.
"Do you remember what this guy was named thats supposed to take the cargo?" said Rio
She was itching to get a move on and starting to get impatient.
So it was relief when someone finally gave the secret knock that Regis told them to wait for.
Rio cautiously opened the door. Mulan and Aurora were behind her with weapons at the ready.
A flamboyantly dressed black man was standing at the door.
He pulled his rather large hat , that made the one she borrowed from Killian look fashionable off of his head.
"Ladies what a pleasant surprise, I'm Jasca and you three lovelies must be the guards" said the man
He flashed them a set of brilliant white teeth.
In a grin as wide as the jokers. His head was bald and ironically he wore an eye-patch.
He was dressed like a gay version of a pirate.
If he burst into song ala penzance she wouldn't have been surprised in the least.
"Yes we are, what's the password?" said Mulan
They were in a hurry to get out of there and didn't want to waste any time. The man smiled again
"Oh that of course would be, charming isn't so charming is he?" said Jasca
To which Rio supplied the rest of the password phrase to confirm.
"No he's a right ole son of a gun" said Rio
She barely suppressed the grin that phrase brought to her lips.
Snow and Emma would have been completely offended.
Especially if they knew what a son of a gun was referring to.
As it was only Rio and possibly Mulan knew what they were implying with that colorful phrase.
Jasca chuckled and called over his shoulder for help with the crates.
"Ladies I'll take it from here" said Jasca
He detached a bag from his waist and pressed a gold coin into her hand.
Rio gave it a strange look and Mulan tucked hers away as did Aurora.
"Good day ladies" said Jasca
He tipped his hat at them and with that they were dismissed.
They gratefully climbed the stairs and exited the ship as quickly as they could.
They couldn't help but notice how few of the crew were left on deck.
At least half of them were gone and Rio fleetingly hoped the pirates had at least picked them up.
When they couldn't catch them.
They exited the dock and Mulan was standing there getting their bearings.
Great she was still thinking in nautical terms thanks to him.
"Swan's landing, it's a normal town" said Mulan
They all sighed in relief. Thankful to not be dealing with any more smugglers.
"So now what?" said Aurora
"Now we get supplies and get out of town" said Mulan
"You think the pirates that chased us was Hook huh?" said Rio
"The thought occurred to me" said Mulan
"So where do we go for supplies?" said Aurora
"Not sure, but this street is a safe bet to find a store that has what we need" said Mulan
She started up the road and the others followed her.
The city wasn't bustling by any means. In fact some of the businesses were boarded up.
Most likely trapped in Storybrooke she reasoned. Mulan had stopped and them ascended some stairs.
Rio followed her inside with the princess right on their heels.
The proprietor looked up when they entered and frowned at them.
She was certain it was from the way they were dressed.
Which was like a tavern whore unfortunately.
Not only that but they were literally bristling with weapons.
Not the most reassuring of images for a potential customer.
Mulan quickly found some blankets and travel supplies.
"Can I help you ladies?" said the clerk
He sounded less than enthused by their patronage.
Rio spotted some canteens and a compass that wasn't magical.
That with the proper amount of polishing could be mistaken for hers.
"Yeah how much for what my friends looking at?" said Rio
"Oh those are much too expensive. Perhaps you'd like something more for indoors" said the clerk
Rio's temper rose. She could guess what the man was implying.
"We'll be the judge of that thank you"said Aurora
Her voice was curt and cool.
She sounded just like a princess at that moment.
The man looked startled by her response. As if he expected them to just up and leave.
Mulan gathered up a few things and took them to the counter.
Blankets, trail rations, some wire for snares, another flint and a set of clothes.
Rio grabbed a change of clothes too.
There was no way she was tromping across the enchanted forest dressed like a whore.
Too many men would get the wrong idea and she didn't need the issues that came with it.
Aurora followed suit and they soon had a pile of purchases on the counter.
The man huffed about the price until Rio produced a gold coin.
He quickly quieted and Rio was sure that he gypped them on the price but didn't really care.
They wanted to be out of town before Killian found them here.
They left the store with their arms laden with stuff.
They stopped by a small park like area and Mulan situated the gear into three packs.
They opted to change once they were out of town.
Since there was no public restrooms or anywhere else to change.
They quickly made there way out of town with Mulan in the lead now.
The first stop was Cora's old village.
They followed the road until Mulan decided they were safer if they cut through the woods.
She was trying to avoid any bandits that might be on the road.
She found a copse of trees and the girls took turns changing into the breaches they bought.
Discarding the dresses in the bushes after they were done.
They resumed walking for a few more hours until the sun started to dip and Mulan called it quits.
They made camp for the night and broke out the trail rations.
They scarfed down their meal and retired for the night.
Once again Rio missed that warmth and his presence.
She felt bad about how they had left it but he really gave her no choice.
She wasn't about to abandon the only family she had ever known for him. He had to know that. Didn't he?
She closed her eyes against the rising grief. A tear trickled down the side of her face and hit the floor.
It was well and truly over. Yet her heart still longed for him.
She turned over, wishing she had her i pod to drown out her grief.
Her chest hurt and she wanted to just scream in frustration.
To yell and scream at him for being so stupid.
For not believing in her and for trying to save her at the expense of her loved ones.
She couldn't have lived with that. He should have known her better by now.
It had been several months already. If her internal reckoning was correct anyways.
She spent three months in this place already.
Two of which were on board a pirate ship.
As lover to a man it turns out she didn't know very well at all.
He watched the village for a few minutes. Until he decided he was being foolish.
He had faced men who didn't want him there before and they didn't do anything.
They could ask him to leave but he was willing to bet they couldn't make him.
It wasn't until he spotted a familiar set of sails and the cut of a vessel he would rather avoid.
That he had second thoughts.
"Make to port but be ready to pull out at a moments notice." said Killian
They pulled up to the dock and his men quickly moored the ship.
Taking a handful of well armed men with him he made his way towards the local tavern.
If anyone had seen them they would be in there. He entered and the room fell silent.
Patrons pointedly looked away. He refused to let it bother him. Most of these people were rivals anyways.
He had no reason to be friendly to them.
He spotted the back of a familiar looking uniform and almost groaned out loud.
He hesitated for the briefest of instances. If anyone would know about the girls it would be the general.
Now all he had to do was get the old man to talk to him.
He slowly approached the old man and took a seat next to him.
"Your too late you already missed them" said Grey
"Da" said Killian
"Boy" said Grey
"How.. do they fare?" he said
"Sailing smooth and away from port" said Grey
Killian frowned he hated it when the old man got cryptic.
"Best you leave them be" said Grey
Killian sighed and slouched in his seat.
"I can't do that" said Killian
"Yea you can, ya just don't want ta" said Grey
He turned to look at his boy and frowned.
"You haven't aged. t' ain't natural boy" said Grey
"No old man tis the price of magic though" said Killian
"Still trying to avenge that whore I see" said Grey
Killian stiffened his eyes flashed in anger.
"Don't call her that. You've never even spoke to her" said Killian
Grey snorted
"Didn't need to any woman who'd leave her flesh for a strange man.
Isn't the type of woman I'd converse with" said Grey
Killian almost got up and left because he's heard this rhetoric before.
"You need to concentrate on them dames that's living,
not keep chasing the ghosts of those who ain't" said Grey
"You spoke with her?" said Killian
"Aye, a right feisty one she is.
A bit on the crazy side but thats to be expected she chose you. Though I can't see why" said Grey
"Thanks" said Killian his tone one of pure sarcasm.
The old man snorted.
"Do you know where's shes headed?" said Killian
"All three of them are headed towards the mainland, left a few marks ago.
If you hurry you might catch her or not"said Grey
"Thanks da" said Killian
"Your welcome boy" said Grey
Killian headed for the door.
"Boy" said Grey
Killian turned back to the old man.
"Treat this one right kid or I'll keel haul you myself" said Grey
"Aye, working on it"said Killian
He walked out the door. After a quick check with the harbor master.
Mostly involving the copious exchange of coins on his part.
He had the name of the ship they were on and it's purported destination.
He quickly boarded his ship and fired off orders to cast off.
Then he went to his cabin and plotted their course.
He had managed to get it marginally clean. His books were mostly back on their shelves.
The broken items were tossed overboard. He would have to replace them later.
The windows had boards on them temporarily.
He would get the windows replaced once he landed on the mainland.
It was more important that he reach her before Cora found out the compass was missing.
Her purse sat on one of his shelves.
In a place once occupied by an antique vase Milah had bought at a bazaar.
He had hated the thing and was actually glad it was gone.
The bag kept reminding him of her though and he was half tempted to chuck it overboard.
Something stayed his hand though.
Maybe because it contained so many things that held memories for him.
From the small bottle of perfume in the bottom. To ironically the first aid kit.
She would have a scar now because of him.
She had shown him more honor and loyalty that first few days than he had ever felt for his whole life.
He couldn't lose her he just couldn't.
He finished plotting out the course crossed to the door and poked his head out.
He gave Barnes the course then vanished back inside.
He lifted the bag from the shelf and went through it.
There was literally so many fascinating things in that bag.
From the small mirror in the case to the small box with glass on its front.
She had called it a smart phone. He touched the surface and nothing happened.
So he held down one of the buttons.
The small glass piece suddenly lit up and he almost dropped it in shock.
The time displayed across the screen along with the date and day of the week.
He snorted convenient he reasoned. Several small images appeared on the small screen and he chose one at random.
Music suddenly filled the room. At least he thought it was music.
Some of the lyrics were a bit risque. A girl singing about kissing another girl and liking it was unheard of.
It made him grin. It was something she liked and it amused him that she did.
He touched another image and more images filled the screen. They were Rio and her friends.
Taken at moments they had been happy or surprised.
He paused when his own image appeared on the small had she wanted to save his memory?
He felt absurdly touched and then guilty.
She had shown him nothing but loyalty and he repaid that with a harsh punishment.
When she had every right to be angry with him. He rubbed his forehead and tried to shut the device off.
A love song started and the lyrics were making his heart ache.
It was love and no it wasn't over. The song was wrong and he didn't want to hear it.
He held the button down. The screen went black and the music stopped.
He sighed in relief. He would rather hear about the girls kissing than a broken heart.
He heard the crows nest yell something about sails.
He left the phone on his desk and exited his cabin.
The news quickly was relayed to him and he took the spy glass from Barnes.
"Should we give chase Captain it could be them, it's too far away to see their markings" said Barnes
"Aye best possible speed lets catch them and see" said Hook.
The rest of the sails were unfurled and the ship picked up speed.
His ship was smaller and faster than the merchant vessel they were chasing.
He could tell it was fully laden just by the way it floated.
The other ship's crew must have spotted them and were letting loose all of their reserve sails.
He smirked because there was no way it could out run them.
Then the other ship started tossing stuff overboard.
Leaving a trail of floating debris behind it. When it left crewmen behind it made him angry.
So he ordered the canons fired on them hoping to slow them down.
"Should we snag the flotsam sir?" said Barnes
Noting three men clinging to a barrel and some boards.
He briefly considered it but stopping would insure they lost them.
"No but drop one of our boats. We can pick them up later if we loose the ship.
They're sure to know where its heading if nothing else" said Killian.
He closed his spy glass and stood there thinking.
He didn't spot her on deck but that didn't mean she wasn't on board.
God help the captain of that other ship if he found her floating in the jetsam.
He'd personally hunt the wretch down and gut him like a fish.
A resounding splash sounded behind them and they lurched forward faster.
The other ship was tossing its cannons overboard.
That made him curious as to what the ship was carrying.
What was more important that the lives of their crew?
What could be more expensive than much needed weapons.
The other ship pulled ahead. Hook's crew struggled to make sure their ship stayed on its tail.
The other ship was throwing everything but the kitchen sink overboard in a desperate bid to outrun them.
No scratch that, he thought as a sink sunk beneath the waves as they passed it.
It was succeeding though and Hook wondered if it was worth throwing stuff overboard to catch it.
"Captain were losing it" said Barnes
Hook stared at the disappearing sails on the horizon.
"Then let it go, we'll find out where it's heading from their discards. I'm sure they'll be glad of a ride to dry land" said Hook
Nodding in understanding. Barnes ordered the ship around to go back for the deserted men.
He was grateful their captain wasn't so hell bent on catching the other ship.
As the other captain was at out running them.
They didn't have to go very far to meet up with the men from the other ship.
Who miraculously survived. Hook invited them aboard and they repaid his kindness by spilling the beans on their former captain.
The ship turns out was hauling poppy dust.
Expensive to be sure and probably worth these men's wages for a lifetime.
Not something he was really interested in.
At least until they complained that they hadn't tossed the guards locked in the hold with it.
"What guards?" said Killian
"These whores they picked up on the island.
Regis armed them to the teeth, so don't even think about it. Thems some mean dames" said the man
"How many of them were there?" said Killian
"Three, third ones a bit soft and kinda young but nice to look at all three of them are" said the man
"And there destination?" said Killian
He suspected already but wanted it confirmed.
"Oh that be Swan's Landing " said the man
Killian nodded.
"You may stay on as crew if you would like or I can drop you off there" said Killian
He did need to replace the crew members that had gotten killed because of those girls.
"One quick question though, were any of those dames a red head?' said Barnes
"Yes why you know im?" said the man
"Aye" said Killian
Barnes looked at his captain and then left to start giving orders to make for the port.