Captain Jacques LeLupe stroked his graying hair thoughtfully as he watched the Surprise glide smoothly along beside his ship, the Aigle. "Lucky" Jack Aubrey had given in without a fight, but he still wasn't sure if it counted as a prize or not. After all, the Surprise had not surrendered anything or struck her colors in any way, but what was Jacques supposed to say when he sailed into Toulan? Oh, oui, I brought the ship in, but it has an ambassador on board, so I cannot claim it? He would be the laughingstock of the entire French navy.

LeLupe watched one of the lieutenants have a hurried discussion with a midshipman on the quarterdeck with mild interest. The lad saluted and trotted below, and the lieutenant leaned against the rail. He stared back at the French captain, making eye contact, but LeLupe did not look away. He was famous for his staying power in staring matches seeing as his odd yellow eyes always seemed to scare his opponent.

But not this Englishman. The man didn't even blink. Unsettled, LeLupe broke the contact and snapped at a passing seaman to bring him something to drink. Usually a quiet gentleman of unnatural calm and patience, LeLupe had been badly shaken. He cast another glance over his shoulder at the officer, still staring defiantly back at him. The French captain wondered why this man affected him so, when so many others had never even bothered him. "Le Rocher" was his nickname with his men: The Rock. So far in this voyage, he wasn't living up to the name.

Tom slid away from the rail, satisfied that he had temporarily cowed the French captain. He allowed himself a slight smirk before walking over to speak to Jack. "Sir, did Lord Northshire specify that we were to be escorted into France?"

His captain gave him a startled look. "Well, no, he didn't, but it's a condition that we must bear, I'm afraid. Why do you ask, Tom?"

The First Officer looked thoughtfully back at the Aigle. "Because it doesn't seem right, sir. I mean, think about what we'll look like pulling into the harbor with the French ship beside us-we'll look like prisoners, not ambassadors. That's not a very good first impression."

Jack sighed and nodded absently. "I know, I know. Don't think I haven't thought about it too. I haven't really negotiated yet with the captain...perhaps I could speak to him."

"Now?" Tom asked hopefully.

"Yes, I suppose now would be a good time," Jack agreed. "Tell Mr. Hollar to hail them, will you?"

The bosun obliged, and soon Captain LeLupe was standing on the deck of the Surprise with a few of his officers. Jack looked him over. He was a tall man, but graceful and wise in his actions. His officers obviously respected him, and he spoke kindly and fairly to each of them who approached him or asked him a question. His commanding figure stood proudly even on an enemy quarterdeck, and Jack instinctively thought well of him, despite his thoughts of the last French captain the Surprises had encountered.

Mowett, too, seemed to be remembering Captain Cym. He rubbed his bandaged shoulder unconsciously from time to time and took a small step back whenever LeLupe seemed to shift in his direction. Tom finally cast a murderous glance at him behind Jack's back, and he stopped fidgeting.

At the sight of Tom, LeLupe drew back. His yellowish eyes narrowed, and he cast his gaze suspiciously over the lieutenant. Tom kept a politely blank face on and gazed back, and the French captain looked away. This was undoubtedly the lieutenant that had stared him down, and LeLupe resolved to find out about him.

Jack approached the French crowd confidently and cordially invited the captain and his officers to dine with him tonight. LeLupe accepted gracefully, of course, and Jack ushered them into the great cabin, where Killick had set the table with the captain's second-best dishes. Seeing this, Jack scowled and resolved to get back at his steward somehow, then motioned out the cabin door for his usual dinner table guests to come in.

This included the three lieutenants, Mr. Allen, Mr. Howard, and several of the midshipmen. The mids gulped at the sight of their guests and placed their napkins on their laps with trembling hands; tonight, their behavior would be scrutinized by both the captain and the French officers. The pressure was laid on thick.

Jack did not mention his request to LeLupe through the appetizers or the first part of the meal, seeing as it would be considered bad manners. Instead, he talked very little, allowing LeLupe to ask questions of the officers. The French captain took advantage of this by turning to Tom, Mowett, and Blakeney's side of the table with a wolf-like grin and asking, "So, lieutenants, tell me a bit about yourselves. Have you been officers onboard the Surprise for long?"

Mowett felt distrust well within him. The last time he had been questioned like this was by George Lurdes in the tavern in London, and he was even less comfortable here, talking to a known enemy instead of a suspected one. He looked pleadingly at Tom, who took the hint.

"I don't believe we were introduced, sir. I'm Thomas Pullings, First Officer, and this is William Mowett, the Second Officer, and William Blakeney, Third Officer." He motioned to each of them in turn as he spoke their names. "And yes, we have been officers long-at least, Mr. Mowett and I have."

"They were master's mates, both of them, aboard my first command, the Sophie," Jack said fondly with a smile at the senior lieutenants. "They're my officers of choice, you might say. We're old acquaintances."

As Tom and William swelled with pride, LeLupe turned his attention to Blakeney. "And you, little monsieur?"

Blakeney narrowed his eyes. He loathed being called little, but, being in the same rank as the two other lieutenants, he was used to it. "I've been midshipman here for three years, sir," he said reluctantly. "I was recently promoted to lieutenant six months ago, just as an acting officer, but the Admiralty approved the promotion and I stayed where I was."

LeLupe nodded with a smile. "I see, I see. So," he said, moving back to Tom and William, "I take it you have known each other for a long time?"

Tom had just taken an overlarge bite of bread, and he kicked Mowett under the table, signaling for him to answer. William answered hastily, "Uh, yes, yes we have, sir. Mr. Pullings has been my good friend since we were boys, and we joined the service together."

"Such friendships are truly wonderful," said LeLupe with a reverent sigh. "It makes me wish I had not turned away some people that would have been a good friend. I think we all need a good friend in the Navy, would you agree, Captain Aubrey?"

Jack nodded solemnly. "I do indeed, sir. I do indeed."

As the officers were dining, the crew were feeling irritated. The water barrel was empty, but no one felt like going down to the hold to get a new one. Finally, Mr. Lamb and Joe Nagle were "volunteered" to fetch a spare, and they stomped down into the hold grumbling.

It was pitch black down there, and the echoes seemed to be deafening. Nagle lowered his voice instinctively. "Where's the bloody thing?"

Mr. Lamb was struggling with the lamp that he had brought, but finally lit it. The dim light cast strips of shadow over the smashed water barrel lying between two boxes of dried meat. The carpenters gasped, and Mr. Lamb swore. "What happened?" he fumed, going down to check the boxes. "I packed these meself: made 'em tight so they would trap the barrel between them. There's no way it could have fallen!"

He inspected the barrel closer. "In fact, I think this barrel's been tampered with." He turned to Nagle with serious eyes. "We better tell the captain, mate. There's a reason for this."

Nagle nodded solemnly and turned to leave, eager to get out of the hold. A strangled choking noise made him turn back, and his eyes went wide with horror.

A dwarflike figure stood before them. It was shrouded in a long black cloak and a heavy mask-a Venetian mask, it seemed to be, but a terrifying one with features that seemed slashed or scored with a sword point rather than the skilled chisel of a caring craftsman-and a light black veil that allowed a good view of that terrible mask. Baggy silk pantaloons stained with what looked like blood billowed out, its constant changing of position confusing the watchers' minds. Only the creature's hands were visible, each holding a knife. The hands were twisted and scarred horrifically by fire.

A dry wheezing noise emerged from the thing's throat: a laugh. "You cannot escape Excessum Vereor, sailors. I am Death and Fear, Fear and Death, and you cannot escape either. You are afraid now, I can see, and Death is inevitable. Embrace it, and come to me, for I will find you."

Nagle and Lamb were speechless with terror. Nameless dreads filled their minds as they stared, unable to move, as the creature advanced with weapons drawn...

Muhahaha, the evil creature is revealed! Anyone know Latin? I put a bit in there, though the meaning's a bit obvious. Very Gothic little ending, and sorry again for possibly my worst cliff-hanger yet.

I hope you liked the new French captain. I went a little overboard with the last one by turning him into a raving lunatic...well, it was FUN! But LeLupe is better than the last, I assure you. Oh, and that name comes from one of my friends at school, Tommy LeLupe, so back off and no copying. It's a bit ironic because he's only 15 percent French and 85 percent Irish and his last name's French. Am I rambling? Yes, I am. Well, let me deal with the reviews and then I'll go ramble somewhere else.

Bean02: Yes, Tom's behavior there is inspired by SEVERAL different people who do exactly the same thing, including me. It's very interesting how our minds work. And Tom, good for you, you got the fat-dripping, chocolate and mint smothered thing away from her. Now give it to me-

Tom: ((hugs ice cream)) NEVER! BACK OFF!

Me: ((chases him)) Don't worry, Bean, I'll get it back sooner or later...perhaps I can borrow Olivia for a few minutes?

Miss Flossy: About Mr. Hollar speaking in French-don't think he knows the language. Oh well. But I'm making a lucky guess that there would be at least one person who speaks English on the French ship (the French guys from the Acheron hailed the Surprise in English during the movie) and I guess Mr. Hollar was the nearest available person with shouting power. Speaking French was kind of a bonus, if you get what I mean...and this chapter is really to your taste if you liked the "it" in the hold! Oh, I think I'm gonna give them nightmares...