Chapter 6

Stubing walked slowly back to his office. They had his radio removed from his office and stored elsewhere so that they could monitor all communication. He walked in and sat heavily at his desk running a hand down over his exhausted face. He froze. Just behind him he could hear someone moving. He considered taking his own advice and going for help but then this was his quarters. Whoever it was, he was trespassing. Stubing stood up abruptly and went to the door. Instantly he fired it open and caught hold of the culprit. His fist went up. It was paused in mid air ready to punch when he suddenly realised with horror he was holding his daughter.

Vicky saw the accident coming and scrunched her face up. He had a rough hold of the front of her jacket and obviously in that split second didn't know it was her.

"Vicky," he released his grip of her and bent to his knees to see her at eye level "Vicky what are you doing here, I told you to stay with the lady. What am I to do with you. Damn stubborn kid."

"Don't cry dad, I'm sorry. I couldn't stay away. I couldn't. What if anything happened to you."

He pulled her into his arms and tried in vein to wipe the tears streaming down his face.

"Vicky, my baby." He spoke In a whisper as he ran a hand down her mop of unruly brown hair.

They broke apart and she looked up at him. "Dad, why is your face all black."

She took a handkerchief from her pocket and tried to wipe the soot from his face. Stubing had forgotten to clean his face after the fire. He took her hand down from his face and looked at her.

"Sweetheart, you have to leave the ship at the next port. I can't explain now but it's important that you leave."

"Dad I have brought some friends aboard. They can help."

"No Vicky, a bunch of kids is not going….." The Captain stopped in mid sentence. He thought about the man who had escorted them through the games room. There was an air of professionalism about him as if he had seen this all before.

~o~

Gopher winced as Doc shone a light in his eye to make sure there was no damage. It wasn't easy as the skin around his eye was puffy and swollen.

"I don't see any major damage to the membrane or the optic nerve. Do you have any double vision or blurred vision?" He asked.

"No Doc, nothing hurt but my pride,"

"Yeah I know what you mean, we seriously have to do something."

They were both interrupted as an old man burst into the doctors office.

"Can you wait in the waiting room please I'm with a patient,"

But the old man came staggering up and took hold of his shirt.

"Doctor, I just need Xanax. I thought I could cope, I thought I was on holiday but these people they are just so insane. They will throw us all overboard."

Gopher gave Doc a look that said, ah go on, don't make him wait.

Adam went to his cabinet and unlocked it.

"So you've taken Xanax before?"

"Oh yeah, I was on them all the time. Shouldn't have left my meds at home."

"No always bring them or a prescription with you." Adam handed him the bottle.

"I'll see to it that all your meals are brought to your room so you won't have to see those men. What's your room number?"

"Aw thank you doc, thank you doc." Hannibal pretended not to have heard the doctor as he shuffled out and closed the door after him.

The two men exchanged a smile and continued on with their talking.

Hannibal met Face and Murdock outside. Face looked worried.

"Hannibal I've been back up to the VIP suite Vicky is not there. I've searched around. I don't know where she is."

Hannibal bit the end off his cigar and spoke around it.

"More than lightly the kid is with her father. I had a feeling she wouldn't stay there. It doesn't matter," he let out a puff of smoke. "She's probably better off where she is. Murdock find out which bar the dirt bags are hold up in. I'm gonna get some change of clothes and go join them."

"Won't that outfit do?" Face asked "you could take the old wig off and the moustache,"

"Face….a performer needs his props. I couldn't possibly do the next scene in this ensemble,"

"Aw Hannibal, please don't be on the jazz when BA is not here."

~o~

Vicky went quietly into the room. Isaac was sitting up but he was dosing asleep. Her baby face frowned at the bandage around his chest and his right hand. As she came closer he awoke with a start.

"Hay little momma, where you bin."

He reached out his good hand and took hold of hers.

"Isaac, what happened to you. Was it those men?"

"You don't worry about that Vicky just do me a favour and stay close to your dad."

"His face was all bruised Isaac and he looked like he hasn't slept." She leaned forward with a worried whisper. "Gopher's eye is all black as if he's been fighting. No one will tell me what's happening. Julie just looks upset when I ask her and tells me to go to my cabin. I don't know what is happening. All the kids are gone. Their parents took them off the ship."

"Vicky listen to me, no one wants to tell you anything but I think it's important for you to know. There are some bad dudes on this ship. You need to stay with your dad or Gopher. Don't wander around on your own."

"That's some good advice." Captain Stubing came in and stood by the bed.

"I'm sorry captain I'm just worried about her,"

"That's ok Isaac, Maybe it's time Vicky knew what is going on. These pirates are planning to stay with us on this whole voyage. You need to stay out of their way Vicky."

Gopher and Julie came in to see Isaac and what started as a visit turned into an impromptu meeting.

As the crew tried to decide what to do, the A Team had their own plans. They didn't want too much interaction with the crew as they were wanted fugitives. As Hannibal entered the bar he could see they were already starting in on Murdock. The Pilot was still wearing his cardigan and glasses and took to complaining about the pirates smoking in a non smoking section of the bar. They had surrounded him and were starting in on antagonising and swearing at him.

"What's the problem here," Hannibal asked loudly as he blew smoke from his cigar. He was now wearing a worn T-shirt and baseball hat and grinned bemusedly at the scene.

"This clown thinks we should put out our cigarettes,"

"Really…." Hannibal took hold of Murdock and threw him forward towards the door. Murdock lost his footing and collapsed to the ground. He got up and headed quickly out. The pirates roared with laughter and patted Hannibal on the back.

"What are ye drinking?" Hannibal asked heading for the bar.

The pirates weren't stupid. They weren't all in the bar getting drunk. There were always four stationed at certain points around the ship to watch the crew.

Face walked up to Murdock as he stood on deck.

"Hannibal in place?" He asked.

"Um hum," Murdock nodded as his keen brown eyes easily picked out their prey.

"Meet you back here in a little while," he drawled as he sauntered off to dispatch the guards.

Murdock punched the first one out easily and threw him into one of the lifeboats. He hid in there himself as he was tying the mans hands. The second man he pulled back and got in a headlock until the man feinted from lack of breath. He too was tucked away safely in another lifeboat.

Face found his first man. He pressed a firm hand over his mouth as he dragged him backward and punched him. The other guard turned and saw what just happened. Face was too cocky. He never thought to check where the other guard was. As Face tried to subdue the first man the second guard came up behind him and got him in a bear grip. The man Face was tangling with got up. Together they took hold of him and brought him towards the rails.

"Guys come on can we talk about this," Face grinned sheepishly.

Without so much as a thought they tossed him over the side of the ship.

Face was falling feet first into the ocean. Panic grasped at his heart as in mid air his limbs flailed wildly about. He hit the water with impact and for a moment lost all senses as torrents of water pulled him downwards. He began swimming for all he was worth to avoid being sucked down by the massive ship.

"Bon Voyage," they called out to him.

The other pirate threw out a Life ring.

"What did you do that for?"

"Ah it'll be funny. He'll likely be bobbing about for days before anyone finds him. He'll be well dead before then."

Face choked and spluttered his way towards the ring. He was a good swimmer but these were massive waves and he was weighed down by his clothes. His keen eyes saw something being thrown and hoped it was some kind of float. When he finally got hold of it he was exhausted and just held on to the ring with all he had left as the massive ship sailed further and further away.