CHAPTER 6

One awoke abruptly on a cold hard floor, the back of his head aching for some reason. He couldn't remember what had happened, or where he was, and he got the feeling that he wasn't alone.

"Where am I?" he asked, and began to open his eyes.

"Easy." ordered a gentle female voice. "They just knocked you out, thats all."

One sat up, and rubbed the back of his head. He could see Rottenbeard and his crew sleeping in some prison cells to the left on the other side of the room, but who was it that had been talking to him?

He turned his head to the right, where a green haired female was knelt at his side.

"You're Captain Harvey's daughter, Leena." One proclaimed, then realized that she probably already knew that.

"Thats right, and you're One." she told him as she stood up from the floor and sat down on a bench against the wall.

"How'd you.."

"Know who you are?" she continued. "Come on, did you forget? You showed up when we were about to capture Rottenbeard. You're the reason I got kidnapped."

"Oh right." One remembered, lowering his head in shame.

She softly reached for his chin, and raised his head back up.

"Don't worry, I don't hold grudges, and I can tell that you're a kind man. You didn't mean to cause any trouble."

"I may not have meant to, but it still happened. That's why I'm here, I promised your father I'd rescue you."

"Was getting captured part of the rescue plan?" Leena asked with a smirk.

One couldn't help but laugh at his own misfortune.

"I didn't really have a plan.." he began to explain, lowering his voice to a whisper. "..but if we want to escape, I think teaming up with Rottenbeard would be our best bet, until the ghosts are gone."

Leena nodded and whispered back.

"Good idea. So that means we've got a bit of time until he wakes up, I want to know all about you."

"You don't want to hear about me." One assured her, pulling himself to his feet.

"Yes I do, please tell me." she begged, looking up at him. "You seem so different, I want to know."

One laughed again. Leena wasn't like any girl he had met before. She was gentle and understanding one minute, and tough and demanding the next. He wasn't sure what to expect from her, and that captivated him.

"Tell me about your crystal then. Why do you want it back so badly?" she continued to pry.

"It was a gift from my father." One stated bluntly.

"Oh I see.."

One looked deep into her green eyes, and suddenly wanted to tell her everything. Something told him that he could trust this girl.

"He gave it to me before he died." he continued. "See, this type of crystal is very rare, and can only be found on the island where I grew up."

Leena grew wide eyed with interest.

"Where was that?"

"Far far to the north." One responded, pointing in it's direction.

"So why'd you leave?"

One turned to face the small barred up window, and stared out into the fog.

"When my father died, I left the island hoping to find my purpose. Ever since I was little, he always used to say 'One, you're going to be the start of something great. You're going to make a difference'. I don't know what he thought I'd do, but I left to try and find out." explained One.

"It sounds like he meant a lot to you."

One nodded, and faced her.

"I don't know what I would have done without him. He taught me everything I know."

"Arr how sweet!" a gruff voice interrupted from across the room.

"Shut up Rottenbeard!" hollered Leena.

"Why don't ye come ere' and make me, lassie?" he taunted as he stood up in his cell.

"Why don't you do something to take back your ship instead of sitting around being a lazy good for nothin' oaf?" she retaliated.

"I can't help it lass, It's in me blood."

One turned to Leena with a grin.

"Well then, let's hope he doesn't reproduce, for everyone's sake."

Leena laughed out loud, as Rottenbeard grumbled and went to wake his crew.

- - - - - - - - - -

"Wake up, ye useless swabs!" ordered Rottenbeard, kicking and shaking the cell walls.

"I'm up, I'm up." mumbled Pinchpenny, and climbed to his feet.

Tricks and Quicksail sat up next, rubbing their eyes.

"What be goin' on cap'n?" asked a disoriented Quicksail.

"We've been locked up in our own bloody prison, matey. That's what." replied Rottenbeard. "Tricks, have ye got yer lock-picks handy?"

"Of course, whaddaya take me for?" she sneered, and reached into the bag on her belt.

Within seconds, she had picked the lock to her cell, and was working on freeing her crew-mates.

"What would I do without ya lassie?" praised Rottenbeard while she worked on his locks.

"Not a whole lot, I reckon." Tricks replied, as she stepped back, letting his cell door swing open.

Rottenbeard stepped out and joined his crew. He looked them over, and realized that someone was missing.

"Crikey! Someone go and wake Zigzag." he ordered.

"I got it." volunteered Quicksail, and headed into Zigzag's cell.

When Zigzag had finally joined them, Rottenbeard and his crew made their way towards the exit.

"Tootles!" Rottenbeard waved slyly to One and Leena as he passed by.

"Rottenbeard, wait!"

Rottenbeard took a step back, and peered his head around the corner.

"Let us help you." offered One, holding onto the prison bars.

Tricks appeared from behind Rottenbeard to offer her thoughts on the situation.

"You must be dreamin'!" she laughed. "What would we want with a couple of no good landlubbers?"

Rottenbeard thought for a moment, and something seemed to dawn on him.

"They may be landlubbers, but we be needin' all the help we can muster against Blackjack and his pirate ghosts."

"Me thinks the captain's lost his marbles." whispered Pinchpenny to Zigzag as they waited in the doorway.

"Tricks, let these scalleywags out." Rottenbeard demanded, and she reluctantly stomped towards the locked door.

As she picked the locks, Rottenbeard began to eye them suspiciously.

"But If there be any funny business, they'll both be walkin' the plank!"

One and Leena exchanged glances as they followed Rottenbeard into the hallway. His crew wasn't exactly thrilled at this new turn of events, and eyed One with resentment. They still had a score to settle with him for what happened back at the tavern.

Rottenbeard stepped ahead and turned to face them all.

"Alright me hearties, we be needin' to split ourselves up. Quicksail, go with Tricks and get the Quicksailer up and runnin'."

"Aye aye cap'n." they said in unison, and hurried off down the hallway.

Rottenbeard watched them go until they rounded a corner, and then continued with his orders.

"Pinchpenny.." he began, but realized that his first mate was nowhere in sight. "Blimey, where in the blazes has Pinchpenny run off to?"

"He went to check on the treasure cap'n." Zigzag regretfully informed him,

"Aye I shoulda guessed." snorted Rottenbeard. At least he could count on Pinchpenny to make sure the treasure was safe.

"Alright, the rest of ye blaggards, follow me." he instructed, waving an arm to the staircase ahead, and breaking into a jog. "These ghosties'll be wishin' they never messed with Rottenbeard!"

"Yo ho!" shouted Zigzag excitedly, thrusting his arm into the air as he scurried after his captain.

One looked at Leena and shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, I guess we'd better follow the captain."

"Alright, but don't be surprised if I start a mutiny." joked Leena.