1Disclaimer: Treasure Island is not mine. Neither is Star Trek.

Chapter Two

They got out of there as fast as they could, but there wasn't much wind. Three men rowed up beside them. Their ship wasn't far behind.

"Prepare to fire," Avanwe ordered, fitting an arrow to her bowstring. Balo and Noka followed her lead.

"Wait," Latano said. "We may be able to outrun them."

"How?" Balo asked. "There's no wind."

"Avanwe?" Latano asked. "Could you . . . ?"

"I can do better than get us out of here," Avanwe smiled. "You have only to ask." She raised her arms and the wind started to blow. "Lower the sails," she ordered, "and prepare for a storm." As soon as the sails were down, thunder started to roll.

"Quite illogical," one of the men in the boat remarked as they rowed back to the ship. The moment they were back on, however, a bolt of lightning struck the ship, incinerating the helm. Pouring rain put the fire out immediately. Silver grinned. This was more than he'd ever expected from their lookout.

Peter took a megaphone from his cape and handed it to Silver. One of the men on the other ship waved a white flag. Athos nodded to Avanwe, who lowered her arms. The rain gradually stopped.

"Wow," Balo said, drenched and shivering.

"Next time, bring your umbrella," Eric smiled, wringing the water out of his hat.

"You got any rope in there?" Silver asked Peter.

"Aye. Here."

"Noka, come with me. Athos, if anything happens, you're in charge."

"Nora, you'd better come, too; we may've hurt someone," Noka added. Silver nodded, and the trio swung over to the other ship.

The name on the side read Enterprise.

"I'm Captain James T. Kirk of the Enterprise," a man said when they landed.

"Captain Long John Silver of the Flammifer," Silver replied.

"This is my first mate, Spock, and this is Doctor McCoy."

"This is Noka and our doctor, Nora."

"What do you want from us? We don't carry money?"

"Oh, is that so?"

"Now, Spock!" Kirk shouted, drawing his gun. Spock quickly caught both Noka and then Nora with a neck pinch. Silver swung back over to the Flammifer, but Kirk fired. He reached the deck just before collapsing.

"Avanwe, can you do anything?" Eric asked.

"If I start to, they could kill Noka and Nora."

"He's not good, Athos," Rona interrupted, examining Silver. "We'll need Nora, and fast."

"Then I'll be right back, maybe," Athos replied, taking the rope. "Latano, you're with me. If anyone can talk peace with these ones, you can. Eric, until Silver wakes up or I get back, ship's yours." He and Latano swung over.

"Ready to be reasonable now?" Kirk asked.

"I'm the first mate. Send Nora back. I'll stay in her place."

"Reasonable, Captain. The trade would be in our favor," Spock advised.

Kirk nodded. "Very well. Bones, give the doctor the rope."

"Nice ship you have," Latano commented when Nora was safely back on the Flammifer. "The helm should be easy enough to fix, and then you'll be up and running in no time."

"What's your point . . . I don't think I caught your name."

"Didn't throw it. Name's Latano. This is Athos."

"You're awfully polite for a pirate."

"I've fount that insults bear little weight against two prisoners, Captain . . ."

"Kirk."

"Captain Kirk. Has a nice ring."

"Flattery won't get you anywhere, pirate."

"You must be carrying something, then."

"Why do you say that?"

"You're trying too hard to get us to leave you alone. If you had let us search the ship, and we had found nothing, as you say, we would have done so."

"Logical," Spock nodded.

"Shut up, Spock," McCoy warned under his breath.

"So you do have something," Athos grinned.

"We're a merchant ship," Kirk said, trying to sound calmer than he felt. Suddenly, it started to rain again.

Athos grinned. "Avanwe could blast this ship to pieces if she wanted to, or burn it up just like your helm. I suggest you surrender."

"You're in no place to. You are our prisoner," Kirk objected.

"True enough. But . . ." He nodded to Avanwe on the Flammifer. The wind started to blow again, the thunder to roar, the lightning to flash.

"Fascinating," Spock commented.

"How many are on your ship?" Latano asked, motioning to Athos to stay out of the discussion.

"One hundred and twenty-seven," Spock answered without hesitation.

"What he said," Kirk agreed.

"Get them prepared to come on board our ship."

"Why?" Kirk asked.

"Because it's only a matter of time before lightning strikes the tallest thing around. Your ship is taller than ours. Prepare your crew."

"Logical," Spock agreed. "Their ship is much smaller than ours."

"But then we will be your prisoners," Kirk objected.

"Nonsense. You shall be our honored guests. We are at your service, good gentlemen." Latano bowed graciously.

"You're different from other pirates we've seen," Doctor McCoy said suspiciously.

"Have you encountered many?"

"Too many."

"You don't have a high regard for us gentlemen of fortune."

"We have no reason to," Kirk said distrustingly.

"Then we shall do our best to give you reason. Prepare your men."

"How is he, Nora?" Morgan asked.

"Not good, le Fay."

"This is my fault," Eric sighed. "I should've recognized the name. The Enterprise."

"We all should've, Eric. This isn't your fault," Peter said kindly. "You need to stop blaming yourself for everything. A good gentleman of fortune will accept good and bad fortune alike."

"You're right, of course. Keep the storm going, Avanwe. It's our only chance. Need any help, Nora?"

"Yes. In my room, there's a green bag. In the front-end pocket there're some leaves. Bring them here."

"What'll they do?" Silver asked in a weak voice.

"They should slow the bleeding."

"Where's Athos?"

"He went over with Latano. That's why I'm back. He stayed in my place."

"Foolish."

"But necessary."

"Doesn't he know what these people do to pirates?"

"Sssh. Don't try to talk," Morgan said, taking his hand. Nora did a good job of stating facts, but comfort was not her area of expertise. "He'll be fine. If I know Athos and Latano, they and Noka already have a plan. They'll be out of there in no time. But now you need to get some rest, Captain Silver. Oh, good. Here comes Eric. Whatever Nora's got in that bag should do the trick."

"Uh, Morgan . . ."

"Quiet, Nora. Thank you, Eric."

Nora kept her mouth closed as she placed the leaves on Silver's wound and rebandaged it. "Ah, Morgan," Silver said quietly. "You remind me of myself so many years ago. We're the kind as is likely to get hurt, that we are."

Morgan smiled. "If you think I'm likely to get hurt, you haven't seen Peter in action yet."

Peter smiled. "She's right, Captain. Me and Noka. Warriors to the core."

"That's good," Long John said as Morgan helped him to his feet. "That's very good. We need people like you."

"All right, Captain Kirk. Have your men swing aboard our ship. Quickly, now. The storm could get worse." Almost as a demonstration, the lightning flashed again. The thunder rumbled. Kirk nodded to Spock, who got the men moving.

"Well done, Latano," Athos smiled.

"Well, you know negotiation is my speciality. Just keep your big mouth out of this and we'll be fine. Now go find Noka."

"Who's the first mate here?" Athos laughed. He knew better than to second-guess Latano's judgement. Soon, everyone but Latano, Kirk, Spock, and McCoy was on the Flammifer.

Suddenly, lightning struck the mast of the Enterprise. "Go!" Latano shouted to the others over the wind, handing the rope to Kirk. Spock and McCoy grabbed hold. They would've actually made it, too, if another bolt of lightning hadn't struck their rope, setting it on fire and knocking the three of them unconscious.

Avanwe didn't notice. Her eyes were closed, her hands raised, guiding the full force of the storm, engulfed in its power.

Latano jumped from the burning ship. Peter, Morgan, and Athos jumped in from the Flammifer. Eric, Noka, and Tandro got to work lowering a boat. Silver joined them. Balo helped Nora get her medical supplies ready.

Peter easily found Kirk and tried to keep his head above the water. Athos grabbed McCoy and Latano helped Morgan with Spock, who was already shaking himself awake. They barely made it to the boat before another huge wave came along.

"Get them up!" Athos shouted when the Enterprise shipmates were in the boat. "Come with me," he said, motioning to the others. Morgan couldn't tell why at first; the salt water was blurring her already pathetic vision.

"The Enterprise," Peter explained. "It's sinking." Morgan got the point. The four of them swam over. Athos dove, and came up with a bag. "Merchant ship, indeed," Latano commented, following his lead. Peter and Morgan did the same.

They came back on board the Flammifer with four bags of loot. "Well done," Silver said, leaning heavily on his crutch, but still smiling.

"Only one problem," Athos said, pointing to Avanwe, who still hadn't calmed the storm. The wind was getting stronger now, and the crew of the Enterprise was getting more upset, soaked, and angry, except Spock, of course, who was only getting soaked, and McCoy and Kirk, who were still unconscious.

"Avanwe!" Silver shouted, but she couldn't hear him over the wind. Spock couldn't get close enough to do anything; no one could.

"Morgan!" Athos shouted over the wind. "Can you . . ."

"I can't talk to her, no. Her mind is blocked."

"You have to do something."

"I don't think . . ."

"Morgan, if there's anything you can do, do it!" Silver shouted. "That's an order!"

Morgan looked at Spock, who shook his head. He couldn't get close enough to try a mind meld. Morgan closed her eyes and lifted her hands slightly. It helped her concentrate. She'd need to.

Morgan knew exactly what she had to do. She had to go slowly or Avanwe would notice, and more than likely fry her brain or something of the sort. But she couldn't take forever, either. The Flammifer was the only ship they had left. If it was destroyed, they could all die.

Slowly, Morgan let her mind slip into Avanwe's. She could feel the storm's power, the rage in her friend's mind, the confidence and the authority. Obviously, she didn't know what she was doing, how much damage she could cause. She was basking in the strength of the storm.

"Can she really do anything?" Spock asked.

Athos nodded. "If anyone can, it's her. But Avanwe's mind is more powerful than anyone she's had to deal with before. She might not have the strength. Change that. I know she has the strength, but the ability to focus that power . . . I don't think so."

"I may be able to help."

"If you can, do it," Silver exclaimed. "Why is everyone hesitating?"

"Because Avanwe didn't," Peter said, "and look what happened."