Part V – The Apple Barrel and After
"You do not say that with seriousness, do you?" Eugene asked Long John sheepishly.
"You forget, 'twas I who was old Flint's quartermaster," Long John replied. "Disciplining those lacking in obedience was my job, and many times I was commended for it. Even after a broadside took my leg, I hardly slowed."
The Perrserker sighed. "So we would be doomed to the brig even if you were in charge," he said.
"I hardly think so," Long John said. "If I were in charge, you'd be keelhauled."
The three imprisoned mutineers went very quiet at that.
"Now, now, it could have been worse yet," Long John sounded like he was trying to comfort them. "Flint would have you all thrown to the sea."
Someone in the cell must have fainted because there was the sound of a Pokémon falling over.
"Your point has been made, sir," Eugene said, fear obvious in his voice. "We shan't do anything but with your expressed approval."
"I should hope so; I plan to run a tight ship when Smollett and his officers are not an issue, as Flint did before me and as all successful buccaneers do."
Not since Blind Pew visited the old Admiral Benbow had Jim, Zoey and Ralph tried to be as silent as possible. Even during the blind pirate's visit, they were not trying this hard since, though Pew's blindness hardly impeded him, these pirates would be able to see them while they searched. Zoey and Ralph were almost biting their lips to keep themselves quiet, but Jim was a different story.
He was clearly having trouble processing everything he was hearing. The same man who had taught him some cooking techniques during the voyage, the same man who had treated with more kindness and respect than almost every other human he had met, the same human who had called him friend, was the ringleader of the mutineers that sought the crew's overthrow. The same mutineers that had tried to kidnap or kill his siblings; and Long John was their leader.
Jim looked to be on the edge of a complete breakdown as his pupils somehow shrunk in size. Zoey and Ralph had to keep their paws over his mouth to preemptively keep any sounds he might make locked up.
"On the matter of Smollett and his officers going to Davy Jones," the Perrserker started, "when is that set to happen?"
"It has already begun," Long John replied. "Mr. Arrow fell asleep in a longboat that someone saw fit to send into the sea without seeing if someone lay in there."
"How did that happen?" Eugene asked. "Mr. Arrow could tell if someone so much as looked at him as he slumbered."
"When he slept naturally, aye," Long John replied. "Such does not hold true in the event of a forced sleep from, say, some errant Sleep Powder upon my jacket."
Jim almost made a whining cry at those words. Zoey and Ralph pressed harder against his mouth to keep him quiet; not that they could blame him for his near breakdown. There were not any Pokémon amongst the crew who could learn Sleep Powder; there was only one possible place Long John could have gotten some on his coat.
"Is he truly out of our way?" the Perrserker questioned. "You did not hole the longboat?"
"It would make no difference," Long John replied. "That boat shan't survive very long on the open ocean, and his chances of being saved by a passing ship is little better. He may live. But should he, he shan't be fast enough to aid his crew."
"But why him?" Eugene asked. "Surely that Dewott captain would be more worth throwing overboard than the first mate?"
"Are you asking of me to try and drown a water type?" was Long John's sarcastic answer.
Eugene opened his mouth to reply but ultimately said nothing.
"Besides, 'tis much better to have that Alakazam out of our way. Not only would he run this ship tighter than Mr. Smollett does, he could have gleaned our true intentions from our minds; sensing our tension and stress as we draw near to our destination."
"Alright, Captain, if you have it all under control," Eugene conceded. "Though what are we to do once the officers are gone? We still lack the map, or even a clue to its location."
Jim shuffled slightly, reassuring himself as he felt a piece of oilcloth against his back.
"Leave that to me. We'll have the map before we make landfall," Long John replied. "Though, perhaps it has been made harder to find since your abortive farce of a search."
Eugene and the Perrserker went silent again.
There was then some tried groaning from the cell as the Morgrem regained consciousness and asked something in Poké speak.
"But what of after?" the Perrserker translated.
"After we have the treasure, you mean?" Long John asked.
"Aye, if we return to Hulbury we shall be imprisoned at the least."
"Well, you will be pleased to know we shan't," Long John said. "We shall decide on another port to land in once the Mt. Coronet holds as much treasure as she can carry."
"But what of your tavern?" Eugene asked. "The Spyglass still stands."
"She does, but she's not mine anymore." Long John casually replied. "She's been sold to a kindly old couple looking to make a business of their own. She's in good hands."
Long John gave a relieved sigh before his voice regained some harshness. "But do not concern yourselves with what comes after we have the treasure. A buccaneer can make no greater a mistake than looking beyond his prize before he even has it; he who does forgets the obstacles in his path."
"As we do," Eugene said. "Such as that uptight Smollett and the bumbling Squire."
"Or that the map's location remains a mystery with not a clue to speak of," the Perrserker added.
"Never mind the task of finding the treasure in the first place," Long John concluded. "As I have yet to see the map, I haven't any idea of how legible it is or is not."
"You went to university, Long John," Eugene protested. "You should be able to decipher whatever Flint wrote on that map."
Long John chuckled a bit at those words. "Though I appreciate the vote of confidence, we shall see. Flint was just as educated as I was; maybe even more so given how he educated himself. Perhaps that was why he was always a bit fearful of me; I could read nearly as many dead languages as he."
"What use would Flint have for such knowledge?" the Perrserker asked.
"Keeping secrets from the crew; some of whom could barely read anything, never mind a language as dead as its original speakers," Long John explained. "But Flint could not hide much from me without physically placing it somewhere I would not think to look."
"Did it work?" Eugene asked.
"Occasionally, aye," Long John admitted. "Perhaps Flint may yet have one last laugh from beyond his grave with what he wrote on that map."
The cargo hold went silent as Long John's words hung in the air and with them the possibility that the mutineers might not be able to read the map if they found it. The Morgrem said something in Poké speak again.
"Forget finding the treasure yet still," the Perrserker translated. "Who knows what troubles may await us on the island itself as we search for our prize?"
"I cannot imagine 'tis any more dangerous than the last time I was there," Long John commented. "The worst we should see is the curious wild Pokémon deciding to see what these unfamiliar fellows are doing on their island."
Eugene hummed as a thought came to his head. "Perhaps we could talk the more curious Pokémon into showing us where the treasure lies if we fail to find the map?"
"There is a chance," Long John agreed. "However, I expect they have largely ignored it. What use would island Pokémon have for old Flint's treasure?"
"I suppose it depends on what it is," Eugene offered.
"Mark me gentle-mon, there is little amongst that treasure that the island Pokémon would have use for."
"Have you laid eyes upon it, Long John?" the Perrserker asked.
"Not all of it," Long John admitted. "But an educated guess can be made based on what we took when I was his quartermaster."
"What would that guess be, Long John?" Eugene asked with clear eagerness.
Long John hummed a disapproving noise. "You look too far ahead again, Eugene."
"R-right," the Corphish mumbled. "My apologies, Captain."
Long John chuckled in a good nurtured manner. "Once more, focus on the obstacles in our path, not the treasure that waits at its end."
"What would you have us do then, Captain?"
"All you three must do is wait here until someone comes to free you. Then we shall be prepared to search for the map, and you might have your chance to redeem yourselves for your previous misstep. Am I marked?"
"Aye, aye, Captain Silver," the three prisoners replied.
Long John said nothing; he was presumably nodding in acceptance. "Then get yourselves some sleep, with luck we shan't be much longer before reaching the Decolore Islands and if you wish to redeem yourselves, you should probably be rested and ready to do so."
With that, there was the sound of Long John taking his leave. Thanks to the sound of his crutch on the wood, he could be heard crossing the cargo hold, working his way up the stairs, and finally exiting through the hatch in the ceiling.
The area went quiet again. The kids fighting valiantly to remain quiet until the prisoners fell asleep.
"[Perhaps when we awaken we shall be at the island,]" the Morgrem offered.
"Then here's hoping we fall asleep with all speed," Eugene added.
Fortunately for the kids, the Ruffian Pokémon got what he hoped for. It was only a few minutes before loud snoring sounded out from all three prisoners.
The kids could not get out of this place of horrible discovery fast enough; not least of all because they had to move slowly for fear of waking the snoring pirates.
The kids fled first to where they figured it was safest, Professor Livesey's cabin. Once inside, deep breaths were had all around as the trio tried to calm themselves.
"Arceus help us, Arceus help us, Arceus help us," Ralph began repeating over and over.
"Even if he were savvy to our present plight, I doubt he would come to our aid," Zoey muttered, her voice laced with fear despite her best efforts. "No, we must help ourselves. And there's only one way it can be done."
"Alert the Captain and the officers with all haste?" Ralph asked hopefully.
"Of course," Zoey replied.
"Thank Arceus; here I was worried you would try to face the mutineers all at once."
Zoey gave Ralph an askance look. "I am only daring, not suicidal."
Ralph nodded. "Still, perhaps we could remain here for now." He glanced out the window to see the sky tinged with orange. "The sun descends, evening debriefing will arrive soon. Shall we reveal what we have heard then?"
"Aye, we shall," Zoey confirmed before thinking it over. "Though perhaps we should do so before we eat; if our news proves as troubling to them as it is to us, our appetites may be lost."
"I agree, do you, Jim?"
There was not an answer.
"Jim?" Ralph asked again.
Jim was leaning against a dresser. He was also breathing rapidly and looking like he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
"Jim, are you well?" Zoey asked.
"He's one of them," Jim muttered with horror evident in his voice. "Long John is one of them."
"Jim," Ralph said. "It's okay, we'll tell the Captain what we heard and everything will be fine."
"I think something else bothers him," Zoey interjected.
Jim still was not listening to Zoey or Ralph, only to the sounds of Long John's voice declaring all matter of horrid things repeatedly in his mind.
"Long John is one of them," Jim repeated.
Zoey and Ralph simply stared at Jim.
"No, more than that. Long John is their leader."
"Jim?" Ralph asked.
It finally seemed to register. Jim slowly turned to look at his Pokémon siblings with wide horrified eyes.
"He would have…" he started. "He could have… He might…"
Suddenly Zoey tackled Jim to the floor.
"Zoey!" Ralph cried.
Jim said nothing; he was in shock both from Zoey's actions and the cold, serious look she was giving him.
"Yes," she said. "He would have done 'this' to us, or he could have done 'that.'" She leaned forward so her face was the only thing Jim could see. "But he didn't. However, he still might do whatever you're worried about him doing unless we tell the others with all haste."
The Zorua's face finally softened and she began nuzzling his cheek with her own. "For all my complaining and worries about being abandoned, it was probably good for you to have a new human friend and… I am greatly sorry that he has been revealed as a murderer and a pirate."
Jim could finally feel the shock of their discovery fading enough for him to form other thoughts again. Those other thoughts however began bringing tears to his eyes.
"He… he said he was my friend, that I was his friend," Jim said through his developing sobs. "And now he plans to hurt you, Professor Livesey, Squire Trelawney, Captain Smollett…"
"We know, Jim," Ralph said, easing towards Jim to begin nuzzling him as well.
"He knows I care about them, and he definitely knows I care about you. Does that mean nothing to him?"
"It seems to not," Zoey replied, sounding sorrowful despite the otherwise blunt statement. "All that matters to him is that treasure he so greatly desires."
"A treasure he knows we need to rebuild our home," Jim said before sobbing some more.
So much for making friends with humans, Jim thought.
"You may call me 'Livesey,' Jim. There is no need for formality between friends."
Prof— Livesey? Jim thought for a moment she was in the room with them, but a quick look around proved she was not.
"Do remember what you are asking of me, friend Jim."
The Squire? That was his voice, except he was not here either.
Jim wondered why he had heard their voices, and it dawned on him rather quickly.
"You have the right of it, Zoey," he said, his sobs beginning to abate. "You, I, our friends; we are all in great danger. We must tell them at the evening briefing."
The door to the cabin rattled. The kids briefly seized up, fearing a mutineer had listened and decided to act.
"Jim, Zoey, Ralph, are you within?" asked the welcomed voice of a familiar polymath.
Jim looked to Zoey and Ralph. "Or perhaps we can explain sooner than that."
Professor Livesey entered as Zoey and Ralph let Jim up from the floor. "Evening debriefing shall—oh!"
The Professor was cut off by Jim suddenly hugging her. Despite her surprise, she put an arm around the boy when she gave his face a good look over.
"Jim, you have been crying. What troubles you?"
"Livesey," Jim started. "When we have the debriefing, there is something I and my siblings must tell you and the officers."
Zoey was right. No one ate a single thing that Long John had made for their dinner, though whether it was because the story had taken their appetites, or they now worried it was dangerous, or they were repulsed at the idea of eating anything he made the kids could not tell.
Livesey had kept a comforting arm around Jim the entire time; he had come close to tears during a few points. As the story grew more damning, Smollet had the Bisharp guards scouting the room and the windows for spies. Squire Trelawney simply shrunk into his chair more and more until he was practically hidden behind the table. After the kids had finished telling of what they heard in the apple barrel, the Captain's quarters was very silent as everyone processed this information.
Trelawney raised his head out from behind the table. "Well then…" he began.
Everyone turned to look at him. Almost everyone in the room, Jim, Zoey, Ralph, Livesey, Salva, Chester, even the Bisharp guards wore extremely angry expressions and directed them at the man who had hired a horde of pirates to be their crew.
The only exception was Captain Smollett, but that was because his expression was outright murderous.
"I have no words, Squire," the Dewott finally said, his voice somehow more menacing despite the lack of overt malice.
"But I do," Trelawney timidly said, slowly raising himself further. "You were right, Captain; and you Livesey. I foolishly left the hiring of our crew to someone other than myself, or another officer of this voyage, and now we all suffer the consequences of my ineptitude. I own myself to be an ass of the worst kind, and a true twit of the gentry. However you may punish me, sir, I am most deserving of it."
Smollett lost his more murderous look, but it retained a wrathfulness he very likely wanted to unleash upon the Squire. "You have at the least admitted to your failure, Squire," he said. "'Twas something you refused to do before, perhaps there is hope for you yet."
Squire Trelawney nodded gratefully.
"At any rate, as much as I would indeed like to see you punished for your dangerously gross incompetence it must wait. This mutiny is so great we cannot leave out any loyal crewmember; even the most inept of them."
Trelawney nodded again. "I am at your command, Captain."
Smollett nodded in appreciation and turned his gaze to his untouched meal in front of him. "To think this rebellion is so widespread amongst the crew, I will grant that they have done little to show such intentions; our three prisoners notwithstanding."
"Especially Mr. Silver," Trelawney added. "He has never struck me as the buccaneer type, in all the years I have visited his tavern or onboard this voyage."
Jim sniffled a bit.
Livesey spoke up on his behalf. "Could you refrain from discussing him? Jim in particular takes his betrayal quite hard."
The Captain and the Squire nodded. Smollett then looked towards the globe in the corner of the quarters and then out the window. He sighed.
"We are definitely too far from port and too close to our objective to turn back now," he said. "We must press on with what loyal crew we have."
"Who amongst us are loyal?" Ralph asked.
"Everyone in this room for a start," Smollett began, "as well as the Bisharp outside."
"Perhaps the helmsman," Trelawney added. "But he has been so silent it is hard to glean much of him."
"Let him prove his loyalty," Smollett decided. "We must work with who we know to be loyal; counting the eight of us and the twelve Bisharp guards makes for twenty."
"Should the Pikachu colony be willing to fight that would bring our number to one hundred and twenty," Trelawney added.
"That does not sound so bad," Zoey remarked.
"If the mutiny extends as far as we fear, we would greatly outnumber our enemies," Smollett agreed.
"Though they would have a much more varied move and type set," Livesey added. "Further, we should not assume the Pikachu colony to be capable of battle; seeing as they accompany us on the premise of a holiday. We must act instead on the basis that it shall be the twenty of us to the sixty of them."
With the odds clearly not in their favour in a fight, everyone went quiet to think again.
"I've half a mind to blow up the ship," Trelawney said.
"If we must, we shan't until we make landfall," Smollett said.
Livesey did not look too thrilled at that idea.
"Any plans we make now are moot," Smollett resumed. "At the present time, we are still in the midst of the vast ocean, surrounded by enemies, and with nowhere to retreat and regroup. Any moves we make now will only alert the mutineers to our awareness of their plans and encourage a quick response. We must press on until we arrive at the island. Only then can we declare a new course of action."
"And what are we to do until then, Captain?" Zoey asked.
"Nothing that we are not already," was the reply. "We must simply continue our days as though we are still unaware of any mutinous conspiracy. If Arceus is with us, they shan't suspect a thing until we reach our destination."
"How long until we reach that destination?" Ralph asked.
Smollett turned to Livesey. "Professor?"
Livesey got up from her chair and walked to the globe on the other side of the cabin. "We should be arriving in the Decolore Archipelago within a day; perhaps less if the winds blow stronger. After that, 'tis only a matter of finding the right island. The landmarks upon the map should make that easy, assuming time has not eroded them to be unrecognizable."
"Let's hope it has not then," Smollett said. "With all that said, I adjourn this briefing. You are all dismissed, with the exception of Mr. Hawkins."
Jim was not all that surprised that Smollett wished to speak with him again; though he was surprised that Livesey did not immediately leave with the others.
"Jim, if you wish to talk more, you need only ask me," she said.
Jim turned to her and gave her a grateful nod of understanding. Livesey playfully ruffled his brown hair before taking her leave as well.
Alone with the Captain again, Jim turned his sight to the largely uneaten meal in front of him; one of several since no one felt comfortable eating Mr. Silver's food at the moment.
"Are you well, Jim?" Smollett asked.
"No, I am not."
Smollett sighed. "I cannot imagine how this has affected you, so I shan't make any claims of how you should feel."
"Thank you, Captain."
Jim heard the seat in which the Captain sat move and the sound of webbed paws walking towards him. He looked up to see Captain Smollett take the seat next to him as he had the last time they spoke in confidence.
"You may address me by name, Jim," the Dewott said. "Now is not the time for formality to add an air of distance between us."
Jim was a bit surprised Smollett was dropping the formalities; he had been the most stringent about their usage, the late Mr. Arrow notwithstanding.
"If you say so, Smollett."
"Now then, Jim, as you can likely predict I have a request of you."
"Do you ask of me to give you the map again?" Jim asked.
"Actually, no."
This took Jim by surprise. Considering how much time he spent with and around Mr. Silver, he would have thought that the first thing on Smollett's mind.
"I will uphold my end of our agreement from when last we spoke. I will not have you surrender the map to me unless another attempt to steal it or learn its whereabouts is made, and there has not been one."
Jim nodded in understanding.
"Though if you should ever feel uncomfortable carrying the map yourself, you are free to give it to me of your own volition."
"Of course," Jim replied.
"Rather, I wish for you to keep your distance from Mr. Silver, for your own safety."
Jim nodded. "I would sir, but I know not how. I am his assigned assistant in the galley."
"You shan't be for much longer."
Jim gave Smollett a confused look.
"I am reassigning you, Jim. In fact, for this assignment, it is best that you keep the map with you."
"What do you mean, Smollett?"
"You are to be our new lookout in the Crow's Nest."
Jim went quiet as he began processing this information.
"Up there you and the map will be quite isolated from any of the crew, safe from any attempts to take it or you."
"Long John makes trips up there sometimes, Smollett. He says it is for sightseeing, though perhaps it is instead for seeing where we are before we do."
"I agree that is likely his intent; which is why only you alone shall be permitted up there during the day hours. The only others shall be officers and important crewmembers."
"Will not my assignment there be suspicious, especially if I am to be undisturbed up there?" Jim argued.
Smollett raised a curious eyebrow. "Do you not desire this post, Jim?"
Jim shook his head. "I did not say that, I'm flattered you think me worthy of this post. But as you say, you're trying to keep me safe; I know not what the pirates will do to take the map."
"Nor do I Jim; but it will be quite difficult for anyone unwelcome to approach you up there unnoticed," Smollett reassured. "This compared to the galley where you are close to the pirates' leader and out of sight."
Jim gulped and nodded in agreement. Being out in the open where anyone who could help could see him did sound safer than below decks with only Long— Mr. Silver down there.
"I am convinced," Jim said. "I accept your offer of promotion Smollett."
Smollett smiled. "You will be a fine lookout, Jim," he encouraged. "Use the map to spot corresponding landmarks; they are clearly marked upon the map for that purpose. As well…" Smollett briefly got up from his seat and retrieved something from his desk; a spyglass which he handed to Jim. "Take this, you shall need it."
"Aye, aye, Captain," Jim said in reply as he took the spyglass in his hands. "I shan't fail you or our friends."
Smollett nodded in approval of Jim's eagerness and then sighed. "I only regret the loss of someone who could monitor Mr. Silver in the galley and ensure he does not seek to poison us."
Jim got somewhat somber about that as well until his expression changed
"That look of wicked mischief better suits Ms. Zoey than you Jim," Smollett observed.
"It's for an idea she would have imagined were she here and greatly approve of," Jim said. "Suppose we put Squire Trelawney to work by sending him into the galley as Mr. Silver's new assistant?"
Smollett's eyes widened for the first time Jim could remember in the entire voyage. "Mr. Hawkins," he began, "Squire Trelawney seems like one who would be incredibly terrified to be put near the pirate leader. More than that, he would likely be far more of a hindrance to Mr. Silver's cooking than an assistant."
Smollett then did something else Jim never thought he would do, gain his own look of wicked mischief. "I will tell the Squire of his new assignment right away."
Jim chuckled; Trelawney did say he was Smollett's to command now. Though one final question did come to mind with the unlucky Squire. "Smollett, we don't plan on destroying the Mt. Coronet do we?" Jim asked.
"Not currently," Smollett assured him. "But we shall see how far our enemy pushes us."
Jim gulped. Being stranded on an island surrounded by hostile pirates and possibly hostile wild Pokémon for who knew how long before being rescued did not sit well with him.
"That is all for now, Jim," Smollett resumed. "You may return to your cabin and get some rest; you have a new post to adapt to bright and early tomorrow."
"Of course, Smollett," Jim replied.
Jim had a poor night's rest that evening. The stress from the day's discoveries and discussions had left him feeling exhausted, but that same stress kept him awake for quite a while.
When he finally did fall asleep, he did not get to stay that way very long. The bell rang as it always did, and Jim had to quickly rise with everyone else. Fortunately, he did not need to report to his new post in the Crow's Nest until breakfast and briefing were over. He could take some time to let his body ease into active wakefulness instead of immediately going to work.
Unfortunately, this also meant Jim had nothing to do to entertain himself. He sat down and leaned his back against the Mt. Coronet's mainmast and waited for Professor Livesey to fetch him for morning briefing and breakfast.
Then the hatch to the lower decks opened up, the familiar head of Squire Trelawney who looked around frantically before settling on Jim with the face of relief.
"Thank the legends, Jim, I have need of you," Trelawney said in a whisper that was not as quiet as he probably wanted.
"What is it you need?" Jim replied.
"I need you to deliver breakfast to the prisoners in the brig," Trelawney whispered, motioning below him with his hand.
"For what reasons can you not do it?" Jim asked.
"Mr. Silver expects me to go alone, I have been trusted by the Captain to…" he trailed off, likely remembering to keep the real reason he was there quiet. "I am to learn the ways of the kitchen, I must watch Mr. Silver to do so," he amended somewhat unconvincingly.
This smelled somewhat odd to Jim. Silver had always accompanied Jim down to the brig to deliver the prisoners' breakfast when he was not doing it himself.
Of course, Jim now knew the likely reason why Silver preferred to deliver their breakfast himself. Though why Silver always went with him when he did still escaped him.
As for the present moment, the Squire was right this time. Better someone keeps an eye on the pirate making their breakfast.
"I'll do it, Squire," Jim said.
"A thousand thanks, friend Jim," Trelawney replied. He moved to the side to allow Jim to descend into the lower decks and gave him the bread and water intended for their prisoners. "May good fortune accompany you, friend. I hope you wish the same to me as I endure what is certainly the punishment for my stupidity."
Jim heard Silver groan with muted annoyance as Trelawney returned to the galley; Trelawney seemed oblivious, seeing as he was trying to hide the fear he felt at being so close to someone he knew to be a murderer.
As he descended the stairs into the cargo hold with the brig, Jim heard the prisoners doing their daily bickering. This time, however, it was not over whose fault it was they were locked up.
"I tell you, Hoenn is the best place to go spend the rest of our days!" Eugene said.
"Spare me, Johto and Kanto are much better suited," the Perrserker argue. "Their proximity makes them functionally one place instead of two!"
"Which means there shall be a greater chance of someone realizing our identities!" Eugene countered. "Every region holds the same disdain for pirates."
The Morgrem then made a suggestion in Poké speak, which prompted snorts and derisive laughter from his cellmates.
"Do you speak in jest?" Eugene asked.
"Who with a sane mind desires to go to Orre?" The Perrserker further questioned. "Though we are pirates, we must have some levels to which we are unwilling to go."
The Morgrem began to argue further, but the prisoners finally noticed Jim approaching with their breakfast.
"Well, see here what the Meowth dragged in," Eugene mocked. "No offence," he added to the Perrserker.
"None taken."
"I've your breakfast rations for the day," Jim said diplomatically. "It's your usual bread and water."
The prisoners growled. "Where's Long—" the Perrserker began to ask before the Morgrem slapped him into silence.
"Where's Mr. Silver?" Eugene corrected, avoiding usage of the nickname the former Cook supposedly reserved only for friends. "It's he who usually delivers our meals."
"He is busy with the officer's breakfast," Jim replied.
"So much so that he is not accompanying his assistant this time?" the Perrserker questioned.
"I am no longer his assistant," Jim said. "I've been promoted; I'm delivering your breakfast on the behalf of my replacement."
The response to this news by the prisoners ran a gauntlet. First, they looked surprised; perhaps that such a thing had even happened. They then looked angry, likely because this meant someone else might become their handler. But then they briefly looked nervous as the possible implications of this reassignment shuffling finally hit them. That look quickly disappeared though and was replaced with an attempt at indifference.
"Well, go for you, I suppose," Eugene said, clearly biting back a different tone than the uninterested one he was trying to speak with.
Jim ignored him. He knew full well why the prisoners were disappointed and rather hostile. Missing your informant already are we not? he thought. He slid their plate of bread and canteen of water through the slot in the cell bars without a word.
"Mr. Silver is a bit bore jovial when he serves us," the Perrserker snidely commented.
"My sincerest apologies for not providing service of his standards," Jim replied without any hint of sincerity. "Perhaps your attack upon my friends is the cause of it."
The Perrserker was briefly taken aback by Jim's uncharacteristically poisonous response, but it did not last long and he began glaring at him.
"You would be wise to mind that tone, Hawkins," the Perrserker warned, bearing his claws to make his point further.
Jim was unnerved but managed to hide it. He took to leave without further words, but the Morgrem spoke up in Poké speak.
"To what post have you been promoted to?" Eugene asked, translating the Morgrem.
Jim did not turn around. "You aren't in need of such knowledge," he said succinctly.
The prisoners snarled in anger as Jim left the cargo hold. Once he was on the gun deck he sat down and sighed in relief.
That could have gone far worse, I suppose.
Breakfast also could probably have gone worse. Given his less jovial disposition, Mr. Silver had clearly been run ragged by Trelawney's presence and was glad to be rid of him for the time being. It had also clearly impacted the meal he had made. Instead of the elaborate selection Silver made in Jim's company, here Silver had deigned to only make pancakes, toast, and scrambled eggs accompanied by milk.
Jim did not mind that much actually, it was nice to not have to pick and choose between several options this time once Trelawney assured them all it was not poisoned.
With breakfast eaten, Jim headed for his new position. He ascended the mainmast a settled himself in the wide circular platform near the very top. Once he got there though, he discovered something that made him feel a bit ill. It was not the height; rather the rockiness of the ship's movement was magnified all the way up the mainmast. Even the slight buckle could be felt, and Jim's stomach was decidedly less than pleased about it.
"I might have made a mistake," Jim groaned to himself as he felt his breakfast churn within him.
Fortunately, his breakfast remained where it was for the moment; even more fortunate that it did not distract him from looking out over the ocean and spotting something off to the right. Actually, it was several things, lumps of green and brown upon the horizon.
"Starboard, not 'right'" Jim reminded himself before crying out through his developing seasickness. "Land ho! Land ho! Starboard side, land ho!"
"Acknowledged, Mr. Hawkins!" came Captain Smollett's reply from the helm. "Helmsman, take her starboard!"
Jim retched as he felt the ship take an otherwise gentle turn to starboard upon the butter smooth sea. Her bow pointed directly at the islands in the distance.
He heard flapping wings behind and turned to see a Corvisquire carrying a familiar Rattata in its claws.
"Y-you can put me down now Zoey," Ralph said with trepidation.
Jim extended his hands and grabbed Ralph out of Zoey's talons, allowing the Zorua to turn back into herself and join them in the Crow's nest. All three stared out at the islands that were slowly, but steadily getting closer.
"There they are, boys," Zoey said. "The Decolore Islands."
"You don't suppose one of those islands is the one we're looking for?" Ralph asked hopefully, gesturing to the islands already in view.
"They're probably not," Jim admitted. "But here's to our finding it quickly."
"Agreed," Zoey and Ralph said.
Zoey gave Jim a curious look. "Are you alright Jim? You sound ill."
"Seasickness, Zoey," Jim answered. "Even the slightest rock by this ship is magnified twenty-fold up here."
Ralph gave a light retching noise next to them. "I see what you mean," he said.
"Once we reach dry land, Ralph, then we shall have a reprieve from this," Jim encouraged.
"That I greatly welcome with all speed," Ralph said. "Though, given what we now know, I cannot say I'm especially eager to arrive at our destination," he added quietly.
Jim and Zoey did not say anything, but they could both agree. Jim looked down; he could see everything and everyone down there through the web of rigging from his new post. He looked at the deck and especially the crew that worked upon it. Every single one a possible mutineer and pirate out to take Captain Flint's treasure for themselves; which would not be a big issue, Jim supposed, if it were not for them viewing everyone else on the ship as in their way and scheming to kill them.
Jim briefly glanced down at the top hatch. It was difficult to see given its position relative to the mainmast, but he could just make out part of it. Down that hatch, lurking in the galley was the leader of the mutiny himself, John Silver; the same man who had treated Jim more like a friend during the two weeks long voyage than pretty much every other human he had ever met.
He had not done so yet, but Jim had no doubts that Mr. Silver would show his true allegiance in due time, along with the rest of the mutineers.
But that hopefully would not happen until they reached the island, and they had to find it first.
Author's Note: Next term of University is bearing down on me, so the schedule's going be a bit inconsistent again. A shame too, we're so close to that island...