High Flier

Chapter 3 - Alex's Task

~Pirate Rhi

Hey guys, I'm back with another chapter of High Flier. I've been at camp all week, and I'm completely wasted, but I'm posting another chapter for you because I know how much you've all been waiting for it…lol.

Thanks to all you people who read and reviewed and even to those who just read. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Anyways, without further ado, here's chapter 3…

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Alex was awoken with a start the next morning when she was thrown out of her hammock by the violent rocking of the ship. Rubbing her sore forehead, she struggled to her feet, wondering what the hell was going on. Glancing out the small porthole, she saw large, grey waves tossing the ship about. The sky was dark and covered with angry black clouds. Every now and then and flash of lightning would streak its way down from the clouds, followed closely by a rolling peal of thunder.

Bursting out of her room and racing up the stairs and onto the deck, Alex was greeted by pouring rain, soaking her in an instant. The ship bucked violently, and she was thrown to the side and slid down the deck a bit before she grabbed a hold of a nearby piece of rope.

The crew were running around, checking ropes and sails, holding onto various ropes and other fixed objects to prevent themselves from being washed overboard and down into the oblivion of Davy Jones' Locker. Jack was at the wheel, skillfully steering his way through the terrible storm. He was shouting orders to the crew over the roaring of the ocean.

"Drop the canvas!" he yelled.

The crew scurried around, untying the knots in the ropes skillfully, releasing the sails from their bonds. They rolled them up and stashed them in a safe compartment, safe from being washed overboard and into the water.

Alex watched the crew struggle to get the last sail down. It seemed to be tangled up with another rope high up on the mast. The sail was flapping wildly in the strong wind, and the crew were yelling amongst themselves as to the best way to get it down. About five of them were holding onto the rope, preventing it from getting blown away. None of the crew seemed too eager to scale the mast to untangle the ropes in a storm such as this.

Alex looked up at the mast and the rigging. It didn't look too difficult to climb. The mast was a lot different from a tightrope, and it'd be more slippery, but she was confident that she'd be able to cope with it.

Letting go of the rope she had been holding onto, she crossed the slippery deck as quickly as she could with the ship bucking violently beneath her. She reached the mast and quickly planned her route, then she started climbing quickly and gracefully. She was in her element once again.

* * * * * *

Jack manned the wheel, keeping the ship steady. This storm was one of the worst they'd ever come across, and he was slightly worried about how his ship would pull through. He looked at the crew dealing with the sails. Five of them holding on to the rope for dear life, arguing amongst themselves about how they were going to get the sail down. They would have to get it down soon, he thought, because if they don't, we're not going to have a sail at all.

"Get on with it, you scurvy dogs!" he yelled at the top of his voice, in an effort to be heard over the noisy storm.

That was when he noticed the slight figure of Alex cross the deck, walking erratically to combat the rocking of the ship. She stopped at the mast and started climbing. He resisted the urge to run after her and stop her. He had the ship to take care of, he reminded himself. Reluctantly staying at the wheel to steer the ship, he resigned himself to intently watching her progress up the mast.

* * * * * *

Alex's foot slipped on the wet mast for what seemed like the millionth time. Ignoring her racing heart and her own doubts, she pressed on, finally reaching the crossbar of the mast. She could feel the crew's eyes on her as she drew herself up to her full height on the slippery crossbar, pausing for a moment to catch her breath and adjust to the wider sways of the mast.

Deciding it was now or never, Alex put one tentative foot forward, then another, gradually adjusting to the different feel of the wooden crossbar. Her tightrope instincts came back with a rush and with that new confidence, she moved quickly across the beam to where the ropes were tangled up.

Alex sat down on the beam and hooked her legs around it as she used to on the trapeze, letting her body swing freely below underneath it. She stretched her arm out towards the knotted ropes, swiping past them a couple of times before she grasped them in her hand. She quickly unknotted the tangled ropes and let the sail drop to the deck where the crew quickly rolled it up and stowed it away with the other sails.

Relieved that the task was over, she swung herself back upright and brushed her wet hair from her eyes.

Quickly navigating the slick mast again, she soon found herself back on the deck, where she looped the loose end of a rope around her waist and waited out the rest of the storm.

* * * * * *

Despite its ferocity, the storm was rather short-lived and burned itself out soon after it had begun. The skies cleared, shining a beautiful blue, the wind dropped and the seas became a crystalline blue once more. A rainbow curved high into the sky in the distance.

Alex watched in wonder at the sudden change of the weather. In fact, if it hadn't have been for her soaking wet clothes, it wouldn't have seemed like there was a storm at all.

Unlooping the rope from around her waist, Alex moved into the sunlight in an effort to dry out her clothes quickly. She wringed the water from her hair, dripping it onto the deck.

Jack left the wheel for the first time that day, leaving it under the guidance of Anamaria's steady hand, and approached Alex. "That was a very stupid thing, y'know?" he said, enunciating his speech with his hands. "But it was also a very brave thing. You've definitely got talent, luv."

"I never did mention what I did at the circus, did I?" Alex said. "Flying trapeze mostly, with a bit of tightrope and gymnastics thrown in to make things interesting."

Jack was about to say something, but was interrupted by a shout from the man on lookout up in the crow's nest.

"Captain! Ship ahoy!" he yelled, pointing out off the starboard side of the ship.

Jack turned and looked where the lookout was pointing, and sure enough, there was a ship sailing towards them, not too far off.

"What be the ship?" he yelled up to the lookout. "And how far off does she be?"

The lookout paused a second before yelling back "The Emerald Dragon. Looks like a Chinese merchant ship. We're gaining on her quickly. I'd say less than an hour!"

Jack put a finger to his lips as he thought of the treasure the ship would have, giving him a mischievous glint to his eyes. He winked at Alex, and strode back up to the helm, regaining the wheel off Anamaria.

"Ready yerselves, men! And prepare room for our booty! We've got ourselves a new challenge!"

The crew scurried about the ship, readying the ship and preparing themselves for the upcoming battle by collecting their swords and strapping small daggers to their belts.

Alex stood in the same spot, watching the crew rush about her. She didn't know what to do, so she thought it better to stay right there so she would not get in anyone's way.

"Alex!"

Alex turned around and saw Elizabeth's husband, Will, coming towards her.

"I think you should have this. A little self-protection, eh?" he said, handing her a small, but sharp dagger wrapped in a piece of cloth.

Alex took the dagger from Will and tucked it into the waistband of her pants. "Thanks." She said.

"You're welcome. You should get yourself inside, where it's safer. Liz is in our cabin, you can go in there if you want. Now I must go and see what Jack wants from me." Will hurried off to the helm, leaving Alex alone again.

Alex, deciding that she would much rather be inside, than stuck in the middle of things that she did not care for, made her way to Elizabeth and Will's quarters. She knocked quietly on the door.

"Come in." Elizabeth called from inside.

Alex opened the door and entered the nicely furnished room, closing the door behind her.

Elizabeth rose from the chair she was sitting in. "I'm so glad you came. I hate it when they do this. Not knowing how the battle's going is horrible. And the worst part is wondering if Will's okay."

"He'll be fine. I've seen him practising with his sword. He's very good. He can hold his own. And Jack will be there if he gets into trouble." Alex reassured her.

"I suppose so." Elizabeth said, sinking into her chair again.

* * * * * *

Jack grinned as they quickly gained on the Emerald Dragon. He ran his hand along the wheel lovingly. His Pearl was the greatest ship a Captain could hope for. His other hand was resting on the hilt of his sword, which was always at his waist. He kept his thoughts on the challenge ahead of him, planning ahead, as always. He didn't expect the ship to give him any grief, as it appeared to be a merchant ship, but you never know, there could be some idiot who fancied himself as a master swordsman, that could prove to be a pain in the arse.

He gave the wheel a slight adjustment, so that they'd come up alongside the merchant ship. His eyes flicked up to their Jolly Roger flag, flapping proudly in the wind. He grinned and started humming his favourite song.

"Captain! Captain!" the youngest crew member, River, yelled as he ran up to the helm. "Look!" he pointed towards the other ship's mast, where their own Jolly Roger flag was being hoisted.

Jack grinned at this latest development. "Interesting." He said, more to himself than anything else.

"What do you want us to do, Captain?" the boy asked, his eyes wide.

"We'll continue as planned." He said to the boy. "Ready yerselves, men!" he yelled to the crew.

The crew lined the sides of the ship, armed with their swords and other weapons of choice. A couple of men went down under to man the cannons. They all stood prepared, looking menacing with their hands resting on the hilts of their swords.

There was silence as the Pearl pulled up alongside the Emerald Dragon. The crew of the Dragon were also prepared for battle, refusing to give in easily.

Jack made his way down onto the deck, walking deliberately and firmly. He stopped in the middle and stepped up to the side of the deck, next to Will, in the gap reserved for him opposite the Dragon's captain.

"Well, if it isn't the Mad Hatter himself." He stated. "Got yerself a new ship, I see."

"Aye, that I have." The man replied. "And I'll be wanting meself some swag to be fillin' these holds of mine."

"You should look at gettin' that swag elsewhere, because you ain't havin' any of mine."

"I'll be seeing about that." The man sneered. "Men, attack!"

The silence was suddenly invaded with the loud yelling of both crews of men. Grappling hooks were tossed through the air from both ships, and members of each crew swung to the opponent's ship, slashing away with their swords at the enemy.

Jack was immediately occupied with attacks from two of the Dragon's men. Parrying their slashes, he fended each off until he got them in just the position he wanted them in. Quickly performing a complicated maneuver, he caused the two men to crash their heads into each other, hard. While they were dazed, he gave them each a push, sending them into the ocean with a large splash.

He had little time to be proud of his achievements, before he was attacked by the next man. He'd come to the conclusion that the Dragon's crew wasn't very well trained. He was certain that his crew would come out on top, as they were all good swordsmen.

* * * * * *

Elizabeth and Alex sat on the edges of their seats, literally. The sounds of the battle raging outside did not ease their worries one bit. Elizabeth, of course, was worried about how Will was faring, and Alex was spending most of the time assuring her that Will was doing fine.

They'd heard that the ship they originally thought was a merchant ship, was now a pirate ship, and that didn't ease the tension one bit.

Both women froze when footsteps slowly, but confidently echoed down the hall.

Elizabeth looked at Alex with wide eyes. Fear was written all over her face. "Who do you think that is?" she breathed, so quietly Alex could only just hear.

Alex looked back with equally wide eyes and shrugged. She quietly slipped the dagger out from under the waistband of her pants, removing the cloth covering. The dagger gleamed, reflecting the light shining in from the small window. She spied one of Will's swords in the corner of the room and pointed towards it.

Elizabeth, getting Alex's silent meaning, silently picked up the sword, gripping it tightly in her hands, causing her knuckles to go white.

The footsteps stopped outside their door, and the door handle turned. The door creaked open to reveal an ugly pirate, grinning menacingly at the two woman holed up in the small cabin.

"Well lookee what we 'ave 'ere." He growled, chuckling evilly at the looks of fright displayed on Alex and Elizabeth's faces. "Time to 'ave me some fun."

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Well, I hope you all enjoy this lovely little cliffhanger, I'm gonna go to the movies now and watch Once Upon a Time in Mexico now that it's FINALLY out here…I'm so excited. I'm even going on my own cuz none of my friends can come with me…I want to see it that much. It took me a while to convince my mum that I'd be okay going by myself…lol. Anyways, I've gotta go now…I've gotta find my car keys…they're somewhere in my messy room…

~Rhi