Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls for your evening entertainment I present two things, the first is that I do not own anything but Scarlet and her ship, second, I present this chapter of the story. Will you people please review me, I'm startin' to feel lonely. (pulls out hankie) Anyway, here it is.
Strange Bird
Chapter Eight
The sword came down with a dull thump as it severed the rope holding the two ships together. A pregnant look passed between the two captains, but not long enough to be widely noticed. Then Jack brought his right arm up in a salute to Scarlet, "May we meet again under such happy circumstances, Gooday Captain Free." She returned the salute, and then turned to give out the orders to her crew, ending their parting conversation.
As Jack watched her sail away, he had a small idea. He wasn't done learning of Captain Scarlet; he thought that perhaps there were going to be quite a few "accidental" meetings to occur. Nobody told Captain Jack Sparrow when an encounter was over, Captain Jack Sparrow made encounters go on as long as he desired.
Now to decide where the first one should happen. During their drunken card game the night before, he thought he'd heard her say that in a few weeks, she'd be going to Tortuga to restock on supplies, as they were running low. A few more raids, and then on to the pirate heaven, that's where he'd see her again.
Not to mention, it would make his men happy, rum and women always made his men happy.
This was better much better, sailing on the open ocean towards Tortuga, the long way to give good opportunities. Despite the general rumor that women who weren't whores disliked Tortuga strongly, Scarlet found it quite pleasant. It was fairly easy to be anonymously loud there, not to mention, getting obliviously drunk there was also rather simple. She had a lot of things she wanted to be oblivious to lately. Many things she didn't want to remember.
"Alberts, on deck." Her first mate appeared in front of her, "Aye, Captain?" "Make for Tortuga, but take the Eden Route." Alberts grinned at her and turned to do as she bid, "Aye Captain."
The Eden Route was a route to Tortuga that she had discovered about two years ago. It cut into a route that merchant ships used to get to the Caribbean. You couldn't use it all the time, or else the Navy would get nervous and find another one. It was a little out of the way, but fruits were always guaranteed.
James walked in front of the rows of lobster colored men, watching with exasperation as Barot once again dropped his musket, "Barot, front and center."
The gangly soldier in training came forward stumbling several times, "Yes Commodore?" "In battle, the only thing separating you from your demise are you wits and that weapon on your soldier, if you can keep your grip on neither, how do you plan to survive Her Majesty's Navy?" "I'm sorry sir." "Don't apologize to me, Barot, just remedy the problem." "Yes sir." "Back to your place, Barot." "Yes sir."
The teenager walked back to his place in line, trying, James was pleased to see, very hard to look dignified and military. Every time he trained a group such as this, he recoiled at the thought that they were the future of the British Royal Navy.
But in the end, most of them turned out to be relatively impressive soldiers. He supposed it was the fear of failure that made him recoil so. Life was not so unbearable, he was the most respected Commodore in the Caribbean, and had wiped out a goodish number of the local pirate threats.
True, Jack Sparrow still refused to be caught in truly dishonorable circumstances, but all else was well. To tell the truth, if he ever did catch Sparrow, he'd almost miss the competition. Each pursuit of the seemingly inebriated pirate captain ended with surprisingly innovative forms of escape on Sparrow's part.
When he captured that most worthy opponent, what else would live up to it? He turned to the trainees, "You are dismissed." They saluted and made their hasty way out into Port Royal, some to their homes, some to taverns to visit their favorite wenches, and some of course, to find food.
The blue Naval tri-cornered hat laced with gold brocade was becoming uncomfortable as the Caribbean sun caused it to become sweaty on the inside. James removed it
The cumbersome wig his station forced him to wear did not aid his condition. Underneath the powdered mass of stolen hair was a much less heavy head of dark brown hair. In direct contrast to the wig, it was unruly and curly.
Of course, few or none of his officers knew this, the only time he wasn't in his elaborate headwear was when he slept, or perhaps during his late night swims. He loved the ocean, why else would he have gone into the Navy.
In that aspect, he almost envied Jack Sparrow. All the head gear on that head was by choice, beads, braids, bones and bandannas.
"Commodore Norrington, Sir!"
James put the hat back on and turned to face his Lieutenant, "Yes Gillete?"
"News from The Crowning Glory."
Norrington instantly became more interested; the ship was over a week late in coming in. They'd heard no news from other ships, and he'd been becoming concerned, "Yes Gillete?"
"They docked just now and sorry shape they're in sir."
"What do you mean?"
"Sir, all of their cannons are gone, they were attacked by pirates twice, and sir, they are missing several crew members, dead."
"Is Captain Brookes still living?"
"Yes sir."
"Could he tell you what pirate captains attacked him?"
Gillete's eyebrows crinkled. This part of the story, it seemed, confused him, "Well sir, the first one assaulted him, fought his crew, took his cargo, hung his cannons over the side of the ship, and bound himself and his crew in the galley. Then, he says, while he was indisposed from the first onset, another attack from Captain Sparrow, came. Sparrow used his captivity as leverage to get the story from them and then left them tied up. Before leaving, he says, Sparrow cut his cannons into the ocean."
"Did he not tell you who the first captain was?"
"He would not say sir, he refused."
James felt most displeased, "I can't imagine why, Brookes has always been most liberal in his accusations."
"That he has sir, and was most pleased to give over Captain Sparrow's suit, but of the first encounter, he seemed rather embarrassed."
James passed displeased and was angry, "Return to Brookes and tell him I demand to know the identity of his attacker, if he refuses again, tell him it will be considered insubordination and that he will be punished."
"Yes sir." Gillette turned and left in the direction of the docks.
James shook his head in exasperation, good lord deliver him from the pig- headed men of this world.
Strange Bird
Chapter Eight
The sword came down with a dull thump as it severed the rope holding the two ships together. A pregnant look passed between the two captains, but not long enough to be widely noticed. Then Jack brought his right arm up in a salute to Scarlet, "May we meet again under such happy circumstances, Gooday Captain Free." She returned the salute, and then turned to give out the orders to her crew, ending their parting conversation.
As Jack watched her sail away, he had a small idea. He wasn't done learning of Captain Scarlet; he thought that perhaps there were going to be quite a few "accidental" meetings to occur. Nobody told Captain Jack Sparrow when an encounter was over, Captain Jack Sparrow made encounters go on as long as he desired.
Now to decide where the first one should happen. During their drunken card game the night before, he thought he'd heard her say that in a few weeks, she'd be going to Tortuga to restock on supplies, as they were running low. A few more raids, and then on to the pirate heaven, that's where he'd see her again.
Not to mention, it would make his men happy, rum and women always made his men happy.
This was better much better, sailing on the open ocean towards Tortuga, the long way to give good opportunities. Despite the general rumor that women who weren't whores disliked Tortuga strongly, Scarlet found it quite pleasant. It was fairly easy to be anonymously loud there, not to mention, getting obliviously drunk there was also rather simple. She had a lot of things she wanted to be oblivious to lately. Many things she didn't want to remember.
"Alberts, on deck." Her first mate appeared in front of her, "Aye, Captain?" "Make for Tortuga, but take the Eden Route." Alberts grinned at her and turned to do as she bid, "Aye Captain."
The Eden Route was a route to Tortuga that she had discovered about two years ago. It cut into a route that merchant ships used to get to the Caribbean. You couldn't use it all the time, or else the Navy would get nervous and find another one. It was a little out of the way, but fruits were always guaranteed.
James walked in front of the rows of lobster colored men, watching with exasperation as Barot once again dropped his musket, "Barot, front and center."
The gangly soldier in training came forward stumbling several times, "Yes Commodore?" "In battle, the only thing separating you from your demise are you wits and that weapon on your soldier, if you can keep your grip on neither, how do you plan to survive Her Majesty's Navy?" "I'm sorry sir." "Don't apologize to me, Barot, just remedy the problem." "Yes sir." "Back to your place, Barot." "Yes sir."
The teenager walked back to his place in line, trying, James was pleased to see, very hard to look dignified and military. Every time he trained a group such as this, he recoiled at the thought that they were the future of the British Royal Navy.
But in the end, most of them turned out to be relatively impressive soldiers. He supposed it was the fear of failure that made him recoil so. Life was not so unbearable, he was the most respected Commodore in the Caribbean, and had wiped out a goodish number of the local pirate threats.
True, Jack Sparrow still refused to be caught in truly dishonorable circumstances, but all else was well. To tell the truth, if he ever did catch Sparrow, he'd almost miss the competition. Each pursuit of the seemingly inebriated pirate captain ended with surprisingly innovative forms of escape on Sparrow's part.
When he captured that most worthy opponent, what else would live up to it? He turned to the trainees, "You are dismissed." They saluted and made their hasty way out into Port Royal, some to their homes, some to taverns to visit their favorite wenches, and some of course, to find food.
The blue Naval tri-cornered hat laced with gold brocade was becoming uncomfortable as the Caribbean sun caused it to become sweaty on the inside. James removed it
The cumbersome wig his station forced him to wear did not aid his condition. Underneath the powdered mass of stolen hair was a much less heavy head of dark brown hair. In direct contrast to the wig, it was unruly and curly.
Of course, few or none of his officers knew this, the only time he wasn't in his elaborate headwear was when he slept, or perhaps during his late night swims. He loved the ocean, why else would he have gone into the Navy.
In that aspect, he almost envied Jack Sparrow. All the head gear on that head was by choice, beads, braids, bones and bandannas.
"Commodore Norrington, Sir!"
James put the hat back on and turned to face his Lieutenant, "Yes Gillete?"
"News from The Crowning Glory."
Norrington instantly became more interested; the ship was over a week late in coming in. They'd heard no news from other ships, and he'd been becoming concerned, "Yes Gillete?"
"They docked just now and sorry shape they're in sir."
"What do you mean?"
"Sir, all of their cannons are gone, they were attacked by pirates twice, and sir, they are missing several crew members, dead."
"Is Captain Brookes still living?"
"Yes sir."
"Could he tell you what pirate captains attacked him?"
Gillete's eyebrows crinkled. This part of the story, it seemed, confused him, "Well sir, the first one assaulted him, fought his crew, took his cargo, hung his cannons over the side of the ship, and bound himself and his crew in the galley. Then, he says, while he was indisposed from the first onset, another attack from Captain Sparrow, came. Sparrow used his captivity as leverage to get the story from them and then left them tied up. Before leaving, he says, Sparrow cut his cannons into the ocean."
"Did he not tell you who the first captain was?"
"He would not say sir, he refused."
James felt most displeased, "I can't imagine why, Brookes has always been most liberal in his accusations."
"That he has sir, and was most pleased to give over Captain Sparrow's suit, but of the first encounter, he seemed rather embarrassed."
James passed displeased and was angry, "Return to Brookes and tell him I demand to know the identity of his attacker, if he refuses again, tell him it will be considered insubordination and that he will be punished."
"Yes sir." Gillette turned and left in the direction of the docks.
James shook his head in exasperation, good lord deliver him from the pig- headed men of this world.