Smoke and Carnage drifted over several miles over the ocean as Ruby-Rose fought for The Oracle and the freedom of all who sailed on her, the smoke was coming from a frigate that had caught fire from a broken lantern, oil spilling across the deck with the flames sprinting closely behind. The Oracle's crew were struggling to stand fast in their posts as the smoke loomed around them. The pirate princess fumbled for her scarf and covered her nose and mouth with the crimson fabric.
"Bring her to starboard Albert…to starboard! She roared, throwing her arm in the desired direction, looking out at the frigates she saw the bow of The Solstice and felt strange relief that it was still afloat. 'Well, at least that's one less thing to worry about' She thought.
She jumped down the steep ladder and into the lower bowls of the ship, crawling over the cannons she knelt beside Quinn and peeked out of the bay window. She grabbed the cannon swab and frantically cleaned the chute before grabbing the gunpowder and shoving the ball in.
"I have an idea, not sure it would work but we're running out of options…aim the cannons at the masts it doesn't have to be accurate just try and topple the sails. If we do that we might have a chance" Ruby-Rose devised nervously
"Why don't we just sink the blighters, what's so wrong with aiming for the hull of the boat" Beckett exclaimed, with soot and gunpowder burns dotting around his face.
"I am not particularly fond of a noose, are you bruiser? That's what will happen…I could just imagine doing that for The Solstice but not over some damn frigate!" The exhausted captain replied she could see the gunner had no intention of obeying her. She leaned closer to the brute and showcased her authority over him.
"That bay window is rather small but I dare say a body could still squeeze through it…Would you like to try Mister Beckett?" Ruby-Rose suggested menacingly. Beckett looked up at the crew members that were assisting him; a wicked grin appeared on each face warning him the Captain threat was very real.
"No Ma'am, I feel now is not the time"
"Very glad to hear that Bruiser…now get back to work or be ready to look into the eyes of Davy Jones – that goes for all of you!"
Captain Sparrow raced back up to the surface as soon as she leapt up on deck she felt the rumble of fired cannons. An almighty crash thundered across the waves, she turned around and to her delight saw the frigate's mast crash into the sea. She began to laugh uncontrollably as the crew of the second frigate abandoned ship and swam over to the safety of The Solstice…After three hours of a long hard battle, victory was finally hers.
The Oracle travelled swiftly over the waves, her crew sat on the upper deck dazed and exhausted by their ordeal. Some talked amongst themselves, each shaking their heads at the calamity. It was nobody's fault for they all had chosen the hazardous profession of piracy and it was never a thing of beauty – reward…perhaps, adventure…always but never ever beauty.
"Well Ruby-Rose, another feather to add to your cap eh?" Ana Maria said hoarsely
"Perhaps a little tattered this time Ana Maria" The captain coughed, disrupted by Giles frantic cries
"WATCH OUT!" He shouted but it was too late and before she knew it Ruby Rose and her crew were thrown backward by gravity. She landed against the door of her cabin, Ana Maria and Thomas Laurie fell beside her.
"Will I ever get a moments peace! Pay the seams, check for breakages" Ruby-Rose order, rolling her eyes as she spied Michael Giles still clinging on to the crow's nest for dear life.
"Mister Giles, a report if you Please?"
Giles warily leaned across his pedestal and was astounded at what he saw he found it hard to believe so he gazed at it a second time. A shadowed mound of rock…they had found land.
"We've run aground Captain" He finally replied, his captain responded by shooting off the floor and raced towards the ship's bow.
"We've been sailing blind all this time and nobody informed me! Ruby-Rose fumed, sarcastically laughing at how the battle had left her crew in such a state it was ridiculous to comprehend.
"I hope you have a good excuse lad?" The Quartermaster demanded
"Aye I do…smoke inhalation – I can't do my job while spluttering my guts out can I?"
The young captain started to grumble as her patience wore thin, she ripped the scarf from her neck and held it in a tight fist.
"Very well, repair what you can and we'll check the hull in the morning – Goodnight gents I'm off to bed" Ruby-Rose sighed; stomping into her cabin she slammed the door highlighting her displeasure at an undignified end to what was quite a gruelling day.
By morning half the crew were busy with repairs but as they were short on materials a plan had to be devised to acquire them from the nearest town, all that was left to do was to find out which coast they had landed on. Ruby-Rose took her telescope and walked away from the rocks and along the cove. Crossing over the hill she caught sight of a lighthouse on the far side of the island. She traipsed carefully over the mud as she thought it would be better to don a disguise than to risk being recognised in her crimson fashions. So she wore a yellow corset dress complete with frills, a brooch and hair tied up in graceful plaits. Ana wore something a little more simple but no less expensive or elegant; for they both knew were the garment came from – a heavily loaded merchant ship that was disabled just off the shores of Portugal the year before. Their weapons were neatly wrapped up in their folded jackets looking at the down below them Ruby-Rose took the telescope and scanned the area. She went through scores of unfamiliar faces, most of them looking Hispanic in origin.
"Looks like we made it to Colon, don't see many naval officers around thank God, wait I see something…" Ruby-Rose evaluated, she was distracted by a pale blue banyan coat, with glittering seams. She followed this vision and examined it head to toe – He was definitely an officer of the British Navy; Tidy Monmouth cap, a white bag wig, and a long gold-coated sabre fastened at his hip.
"Hang on a minute I may have spoken to soon…" The young captain announced rather deflated – no matter how hard she tried an obstacle would always appear when she least expected it.
Then suddenly she turned his face and she could see him and an image from the past pulverised into her sight: With skin slightly tanned, eyes as bright and beautiful as an infant's. He had the stern look of a soldier, so much so that the pirate princess was in shock.
"It never rains but it pours, the world is full of illustrious harbours and I choose the one with him in it" She groaned, leaning against a boulder.
"What is it, what do you see?" Ana broached softly
"Take this and tell me I'm seeing things please…Look out to the group near the barracks do you see what I see?" Ruby-Rose winced, looking up into the bright, clear sky anxiously waiting for Ana Maria's answer. She glimpsed over as Ana Maria raised her eyebrows, confirming the blighted pirate's worst fears.
"Unfortunately…yes" Ana Maria murmured
"Would you kindly enlighten me on what you two find so fascinating?" Laurie quipped as he knelt beside the Jamaican with absolutely no clue as to what was going on.
"Nothing, just an old skeleton from a cupboard – we should try to avoid him if we can" Ana Maria suggested.
"Who…?" Continued the Scotsman
"Anthony Roivas, his name is Anthony Roivas" His Captain answered grimly