Jim woke up to the sounds of shouting and movement far off in the underbrush. Starting awake he looked towards the noise then out to the harbor. The Ship was still there. Getting to his feet he started carefully picking his way along the forest floor away from the noise.
This is bad, this is really bad. If they didn't leave without him that means they are looking for him. It must be a hell of a lot of money they are getting paid if they are willing to search an entire island for him. He was too preoccupied with his thoughts he wasn't looking where he was going. Letting out a shout he fell to the ground. Cursing himself he listened, it was silent then...
"He's over here lads! This way!" Getting to his feet he ran forgoing stealth for speed. He ran out of the trees and down the edge of the beach. Putting everything he could into moving his legs faster he didn't dare look back. Well until he felt his legs tangle together. As if in slow motion he looked down to see a rope with some weights around it wrap around his legs tripping him as he began to fall. Hearing shouts and laughter behind him, he groaned, he forgot pirates were nothing but dirty rotten cheaters. He let out a yelp as he was hefted up onto one of their shoulders.
"Thought ya could get away?" the man laughed out
"That was the plan, yeah." Jim just sighed and propped himself up against the man's back. "Who you taking me to anyway."
The man laughed again. "Ain't none my business, all I know is there's a bounty out for ye. Someone is payin' a pretty penny for your head. Still attached of course and unharmed else we don get paid. So play nice."
Jim just sighed again. Fuck Pirates. Metaphorically... I mean one literally. Dammit Jim, not the time.
Being thrown in the brig a second time was more humiliating than the first.
"So, how did that escaping' go." The man in the next cell over asked.
"Shut it" Jim growled back, before turning into the wall.
A sharp rap on the bars woke him hours later
"Finally awake boy?" a shrill voice asked from the entrance.
"No. I'm dreaming I'm stuck on a ship with the ugliest set of mother fuckers to ever live." he cracked open an eye looking towards the Pirate on the other side of the bars. "Oh wait, that's not a dream. And looks like they sent the ugliest one to watch me. What? Afraid I'll die on your watch? Wouldn't be much use to you then would I?"
The pirate just huffed and walked away "That one's mouthy. No idea why they would want one that rude." she grumbled to her watch partner.
"They who? Who are you taking me to?" Jim turned his head towards the pair but they actively ignored.
"Hey! I'm talking to you." Another pirate sitting further down looked up and sneered "Not you ugly, I'm talking to the banshee bitch."
She scowled at him "We would be better off dropping him with the rest. Imagine traveling all that way having to listen to the whining."
The other one rolled his eyes "I'll let you bring that up to the Captain. I'm sure if you're willing to give up the rest of the pay out of your cut she would think about it. Well, no. think of the wrath to come down on us if we show empty-handed or don't show at all. Good luck convincing Captain of that." The other one snorted then they both fell silent.
OK, Jim. Time to think. So what plans A and B didn't work. Plan C is sure to be a success. The third time is the charm, right? His head throbbed as if in response. Or no more plans. They said they were taking him to someone. Maybe the time to escape is when they finally dock, it's not like you can escape into the void of space. He leaned further back into the wood and let the hum lull him into a light sleep.
The days started to merge, wake up to breakfast thrown in his cell, play with morph, talk to the other prisoners, be taunted by the crew, eat dinner, fall into a fitful sleep. Rinse repeat.
Even though he told himself he wouldn't try and escape he still kept a sharp eye out. Unfortunately, it seemed his last escape left them wary, as they always kept at least one crew member down in the brig, which according to the other prisoners was new since he came back. The favored guards seemed to be BB (Banshee Bitch) and BU (Big Ugly) aka the one who had carried him after he escaped.
They docked a few more times, each time the brig got more empty till Jim was the last one left.
After the last person was off the ship and they had taken off the Captain came down. He had only seen her briefly before when the merchant ship was taken. Now that she was closer Jim had time to study the woman. She was tall and slim with a blueish-grey skin tone, instead of hair it looked like she had appendages if the small tips poking out from under her hat were any indication. Looking her in the eyes he noticed silver-raised facial markings almost like a mask.
"Hello, Mister Hawkins. My name is Lir Sindi. I am the Captain of the Hispaniola. I have a proposition to make you."
"What could you possibly want with me?" he snapped out.
She tutted and looked further down at him "None of that now, I feel it will be beneficial to us both. See I hear you have been asking questions. And I have a few of my own. Answer my questions and I will let you out to rejoin the crew, you can have a proper hammock, real food, and reduced workload."
Jim thought for a moment before humming. " You sure must want answers bad if you're willing to offer all that."
"I am not cruel Mister Hawkins, I do what I must to survive and keep my employers and crew happy. I do not torture, or intend to maim or kill. If a peaceful solution can be found I go with that one."
Jim huffed "Tell that to the last crew you took hostage. You sold them out to be slaves!"
"That I did, but I also freed the children they had aboard in some of the crates they were transporting."
"The what?" Jim blanched.
"You didn't know?" she tilted her head looking for any lies. "Ah, I see. Well, those men you were on a ship with were smugglers, their brand of choice was orphans of war. The more exotic the better. You see people with an abundance of money tend to pay for the things they have never seen before. Which leads to my questions if you would be so inclined."
Jim shook his head "I can't promise I'll answer all of them but I will try my best."
"That is all I ask. Thank you. Now." she paused looking him up and down. "Who are you and why would Long John Silver be paying 15,000 Gold to have you returned to him alive and unharmed?"