Dart and his crew arrived in Badon late at night. This wasn't a problem though, because Badon was the type of town that only really came alive after dark. Various inns and pubs lined the main street. Drunken sea shanties and other nonsense floated across the night sky.
"Follow me mates, Dart knows the way!" he shouted with a big whoop. This was more like it. This was familiar turf. He started out at a fast pace, turning right here, left there, and doubling back once or twice. Dart's crew was getting tired. They had been walking around Badon for almost half an hour. The only one who didn't seem to mind was Dart, who could be heard muttering under his breath things like, "That can't be right," and, "I could've sworn…" Finally, after what they were sure only seemed like forever, Dart stopped and let out a triumphant shout.
"Har, I found 'er! It may have taken a little longer than planned, I'll admit, but here we are. Ladies and gents, welcome to the Blue Mermaid!"
For the first time, Dart's crew looked up at what Dart was pointing at. It was an old inn. The faded sign above the door informed visitors that it was indeed the Blue Mermaid. Through the windows they could see that the place was packed with big, beefy sailors.
"Looks… charming," Raven offered weakly. The chair that came flying through the window punctuated this. They were almost as surprised by this as the man who was sitting on the chair.
"Arrr… ain't she beautiful. The Mermaid's like a second home to me. Well don't be shy! Let's go in!"
One by one they stepped over the drunken sailor and entered the inn. Rebecca hadn't thought it was possible, but the inn was even worse than it seemed from outside. It was an orgy of bedlam. Fights broke out spontaneously all around them. Rebecca instinctively drew closer to her older brother.
"Har, it's good to be home!" Dart shouted over the noise as he took a swing at a stranger and sent him flying.
They made their way towards a relatively empty table, cleared away the unconscious sailors and empty tankards, and sat down.
Dart was the only one who seemed to be enjoying himself. Wil, Rebecca and Canas all looked quite uncomfortable. Raven sat, stony faced as usual, and trying to give the impression that this was the kind of place he went to all the time. Heath looked aroundwith a look of mild bewilderment, there was nothing like this in Bern. Legault had darted off shortly after arriving, ostensibly to perform his duty as a spy, but if any of the sailors woke up with lighter pockets, no one in Dart's crew would have been surprised.
"Dart matey!" came a shout from the crowd. Dart and his crew looked towards the voice. Coming through the crowd was a big burly sailor, followed by four other equally burly sailors. Dart smiled and leaped from his seat. He ran towards the approaching men.
"Flynn, you old sea dog," Dart said, grasping the lead sailor's hand in friendship. He did the same for the other four men. "What're you still doin' hanging around these parts?" He led them towards the table, and they all managed to squeeze around.
"An' 'ere I thought you'd be 'appy to see us," the sailor named Flynn said, giving Dart a playful punch that would have floored a normal man. Dart laughed and returned the favour.
Wil coughed politely. "Uh Dart, who are these, uh…gentlemen?"
Flynn laughed out loud, showing off a mouth full of gold teeth. "It's been a long time since anyone called us gentlemen, eh boys?" Flynn's men gave a good laugh. "But he's right Dart, ye know. Aren't you gonna introduce us to this scraggly bunch of landlubbers you've paired yourself up with?"
"Right, right, where's me manners. This is me makeshift crew. I met 'em during that Dragon's Gate business. I told you 'bout that didn't I?"
Flynn spat out the beer he was drinking. "You're gonna head out to sea wit this pathetic bunch o' weaklings? I always knew goin' on that little adventure rattled your brains matey. What was Fargus thinkin' lettin' you wander around with some rich princes? It's made you all soft matey." With this the sailors burst into a raucous laugh.
Dart and Raven leaped from their seats at the same time, hands at the hilts of their weapons. Dart spoke first.
"You'd better watch yer tongue mate. This crew 'eres seen more action 'an you'll ever see," he growled.
The oldest of the sailors, who was named appropriately Ol' Jack, raised his hands and spoke. "Peace friends. I'm sure Flynn didn't mean nuthin' by it."
"Yeah mate, just a little joke between friends. No 'arm done, eh?" offered Flynn. Flynn was a big man by any account, but he paled next to Dart's strength, and he knew it.
Dart took his seat, seemingly like nothing had happened. Raven took a few more seconds, but eventually sat down.
"You still haven't told us who these men are," said Raven, still angry about what had happened.
"Well ain't you a bucket o' sunshine boy. Allow me to introduce me self." Flynn paused here for dramatic effect. "I am the feared pirate, and former second mate aboard the Davros, known as Flyin' Flynn. These are my," he chuckled to himself before continuing, "associates. This here's One-Eyed Bill," he said pointing to a bald man with an eye patch over one eye. "This ugly lump of a man we call Hastings. Ha, don't bother talkin' to 'im, he don't have a tongue to answer with!" The pirates burst into laughter, Dart and Hastings included. "Slave traders, you know. This ones called Ugo, and last, and probably least," more laughter from the pirates "this's Ol' Jack. Lord almighty man, ow' old are you now?" which was met by even more drunken laughter from the pirates.
Through this whole exchange Dart's crew sat silently, nodding politely whenever the occasion called for it.
"Now mates," Dart said, slightly more serious, "Why're you still in Badon? I thought after the old Cap'n died, you would've gone off your separate ways."
"Well now 'ow could we do summat like that, when our dear Cap'n Dart needs us so?" A round of 'Hear hears' from the other four followed this.
"I don't think I follow you mate. I ain't in any great need, ye see."
"You're goin' off to find Han Gak's famed treasure, an' you're tellin' your dear matey Flynn that you ain't in need o' my assistance. That's cold mate, real cold." Flynn flashed Dart a great golden toothed grin.
"Now wait one-second mate, 'ow the hell do you know about Han Gak's treasure?" Dart demanded furiously.
"Every man that's ever set foot on the deck of a ship knows about Han Gak mate." Flynn flashed him another grin.
"Answer the question you little whelp, or you an' my axe are gonna get acquainted, real personal like, savvy?"
Unfazed by this threat, Flynn smiled again. "Har mate, it ain't difficult. Every sailor worth 'is salt in Badon knows about your little treasure hunt."
"I'm afraid he's right you know," said Legault, who had managed to slip between Canas and Heath without anyone noticing. "It's quite common knowledge around these parts. You're lucky you have you're reputation Dart, or I do believe you would be dead by now," he said quite matter-of-factly.
Dart sighed. "There ain't nothing to be done about it now, I s'pose. Oh, and Flynn, the Davros leaves within the week."
"Ha ha, I knew you'd come 'round, mate, I knew it. Hey! Barkeep another round!"
True to his word, the Davros was ready to go a few days later. Early one morning, Dart's makeshift crew stood before him, in a line, with the Davros behind them.
"Now maties, I ain't one for speeches, so I'm gonna make this short. Assembled before me are some o' the finest warriors I've ever laid eyes on. I've got every confidence in you lot. I know each and every one o' you is willing to die for this cause." Legault let out a snort. Dart continued on, a little louder than before. "We're settin' off on an treasure hunt today today, but this ain't no ordinary treasure hunt. People are gonna tell our story a hundred years from now, about how we went to the island that none dared set foot on, and came back rich as kings!" And with that Dart let out a great whoop and raced up the gangway, his crew right behind him. And so, under the misty early morning sun, the Davros set sail, with little fanfare. Which is a pity, for the finest pirate ship to ever sail the open seas would never see land again.