Artemis slipped through the dark alleys, a black cloak and hood helping her blend in with the darkness of the night. Like a cat, she hid and made her way towards the bathhouse, avoiding pirates and soldiers of the EIC.
At last, the building came to view and just in time. Under the dim light, she noticed Barbossa and Elizabeth being lead inside and she knew that her time had come. She hid from shadow to shadow and made the turn of the building before finding what she was looking for.
A very simply door, barely noticeable with two guards standing right outside. Her hand went to her sword but then a different plan came to mind. She grabbed a nearby stone and threw it to a nearby alley.
The sound of something, clacking drew their attention and after speaking to their native tongue, one of them went to investigate. Nothing was heard or seen. A few moments later the man came back but seemed to have lost weight.
His fellow guard noticed and was about to draw his sword but a strong hit on the head with a rock knocked him on the floor unconscious. Artemis raised her head and lifted the straw hat she was wearing.
The robe of the pirate stunk of sweat but she would need it until she was in the safe ground. She dragged the unconscious man into the darkness of an alley and tied both of them with a rope she had brought with her.
Then she ripped some of the other's guy robe and stuffed it in their mouth to keep them quiet before walking through the back door.
She passed few other men but kept her face hidden and with a faint nod she was allowed to pass. Walking a few corridors, she ended up behind a changing screen. The light was not strong enough to make it transparent and allowed her to hide there.
Making a small hole carefully with her dagger, she had a view of the whole room. At her very right, Sao Feng sat all mighty with steam coming from the wooden planks below him. Across from him, different hot baths with his men sitting there.
Tattoos of dragons could be seen on their backs. Her eyes went to the two figures that were pushed in, Barbossa and Elizabeth. The man was fine, but the woman was stripped of every clothing she had until she was wearing a simple bathrobe.
She stayed quiet and listened to their talk.
"Captain Barbossa. Welcome to Singapore" the Pirate Lord said and then turned to one of his female servants. "More steam" The woman pulled a rope and soon steam once again comes from below him. "I understand you have a request to make of me"
"More of a proposal to put to ye. I have a venture underway and happen to find myself in need of a ship and a crew"
"This is an odd coincidence"
"Because you happen to have a ship a and crew you don't need?" Elizabeth asked.
"No. Because, earlier this day, not far from here, a thief broke into my most revered uncle's temple and tried to make off with these. *holds up the charts* The navigational charts. The route to the farthest gate. Wouldn't it be amazing if this venture of yours took you to the world beyond this one?" Sao Feng explained, and Artemis bit her bottom lip.
Damn it Will, she mentally cursed as she realised that her friend had failed but wondered if he was okay or had been got caught.
"It would strain credulity at that" Barbossa said.
Sao Feng then motioned to his men and they ended up pulling Will up out of a tub of hot water that was right next to the changing screen Artemis was hiding. She bit her bottom lip and her hand instinctively went to her sword but held herself.
The Pirate Lord was about to talk when another man approached her and Artemis recognised him as one of the two guards she had knocked out. Curses left her mouth in whispers as the man spoke to his boss.
"I see. Apparently, there has been another intruder who knocked out my guards and is at this moment somewhere in this room. You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"
"Of course not. We came here to negotiate" Barbossa said but Sao Feng didn't believe him.
"Make this spy of yours come forward or you will die at this spot"
With his words, all men drew weapons from the water or their waists and pointed them at the duo. At the same time, Gibbs was very close using the backup they needed.
"There is no need" Artemis said as she took off the robe and exposed her usual outfit. She walked into the light and took off the straw hat as well. Sao Feng looked at her and recognised her, causing a sadistic smirk to appear on his face.
"Artemis Crow… Jack's Sparrow little bitch" he said and in seconds, the redhead had a gun aimed at Sao Feng's head. All the swords were directed to her direction.
"Try it but my bullets are faster than your swords" she said calmly as Barbossa kept glaring at her.
"If I remember correctly, you came here to negotiate. Killing me won't help it"
"It will. You being alive or dead plays a small role. Simple the latter option won't have us to make deals with a fat coward such as yourself"
Barbossa bit his bottom lip and rolled his eyes, now sure that they were done for. To his surprise, Sao Feng started to laugh.
"Such fire. The rumours are not doing you any good" he said and motioned for his men to lower their weapons. "Very well. Shall we return to our discussion? Where were we? Oh yes, this man *points at Will* is the thief. Is his face familiar to you?"
All three of them shook their heads in denial but the Pirate Lord was smarter than he looked.
"Then I guess he has no further need for it" he said and makes a move to kill Will with a knife, but Elizabeth gasped while covering the mouth with her hands. That was all he needed. "So, you come to my city and betray my hospitality"
"Not true. This lady simply cannot stand watching a man being killed" Artemis explained.
"Do you think I am a fool?!" he asked as he turned to her with an angry look.
"Sao Feng, I assure you, I had no idea..."
"That he would get caught?!" he shouted and interrupted Barbossa. "You intend to attempt a voyage to Davy Jones' locker. When I cannot help but wonder, why?"
Barbossa then tossed a piece of eight to Sao Feng who caught it.
"The song has been sung. The time is upon us. We must convene the Brethren Court. As one of the nine pirate lords, you must honour the call"
"More steam" was all he said. The woman pulled the lever, but no steam comes. "More steam!" She pulled the lever again as our 3 heroes exchange worried looks. At last, steam came. "There's a price on all our heads, it is true. Since it seems that the only way a pirate can turn a profit anymore is by betraying other pirates..."
Loyalty is dead I see, Artemis thought and rolled her eyes while one hand was holding the pistol and the other was on her sword.
"...the first Brethren Court gave us the rule of the seas. That rule has been challenged by Lord Cutler Beckett"
"Against the East India Trading Company, what value is the Brethren Court? What can any of us do?"
Artemis scoffed.
"Unbelievable" she muttered under her breath, but it was heard. However, the attention drew Elisabeth who marched forward. You can fight! *steps forward and one man grabs her shoulder and she shakes free of him*Get off me! You are Sao Feng, the pirate lord of Singapore! ...would you have that era come to an end on your watch? The most notorious pirates from around the world are uniting against our enemy, and yet you sit here, cowering in your bath water!"
"Elizabeth Swann, there's more to you than meets the eye, isn't there? And the eye does not go wanting. But I cannot help but notice. You have failed to answer my question. What is it you seek in Davy Jones' locker?"
"Jack Sparrow" Will said as the girls giggled. "He's one of the pirate lords"
"The only reason I would want Jack Sparrow returned from the land of the dead... is so I can send him back myself!"
"Jack Sparrow holds one of the nine pieces of eight. He failed to pass it along to a successor before he died. So, we must go and get him back"
Suddenly, Sao Feng noticed the tattoo on one of the men in front of him which had begun to drip off.
"So, you admit, you have deceived me. Weapons!"
All the swords and guns were once again brought forward and aimed at our heroes. Artemis subconsciously had taken out her sword and raised her gun towards Sao Feng.
"Sao Feng I assure you, our intentions are strictly honourable-"Barbossa words were cut shorts by four swords popping up through the floorboard. Elizabeth and he caught them and laughed awkwardly at the situation.
"Drop your weapons or I kill the man!" The pirate Lord ordered as he placed his blade on the neck of the same man.
"Kill him, he's not our man"
"If he's not with you, and he's not with us...who's he with?"
East India Trading Company soldiers suddenly bust into the room and a fight quickly started. Artemis freed Will and together with Elizabeth, started to fight the soldiers while trying to make an escape through the backdoor.
The soldiers stood information but before they could fire, the floor beneath them exploded and Marty with Gibbs and the rest of the crew charged with their weapons.
"Come on!" Artemis ordered as she pulled Elizabeth out of a bullet's way while guiding everyone to the backdoor. She shot a solider before he could hit them and sliced another one while everyone, including Sao Feng, ran for their lives.
Through the steam and the crowd, she spotted a face. A man dressed fully in black shot one of Sao Feng's men and then turned his head. Their eyes met and a shiver went down her spine. The man didn't shoot her but seemed slightly surprised to find her in the chaos.
She didn't stay to find out why. She ran through the back door and along with the others, escaped in the middle of the night.
Our heroes now away and temporary safe from the soldiers, met on the docks.
"You got the charts?" Barbossa asked Will.
"And better yet, a ship and a crew" he explained and pointed at the men behind him.
Artemis looked at Will, having the feeling that something odd was happening. The whole secret deal and persuasion seemed… stinky. However, she didn't let her thoughts be heard and instead kept them in herself.
"Where's Sao Feng?" Elizabeth asked.
"He'll cover our escape and meet us at Shipwreck Cove"
"This way, be quick" one of Sao Feng men who Artemis later found out that he was called Tai Huang, lead them where the ship was.
The very next day, far away from our heroes.
A certain man dressed in black walked towards his boss. Becket kept his attention on the special coins in front of him and then looked at his mercenary.
"A piece of eight, nine of them you say?" he asked.
"Our new friend in Singapore was very specific, nine pieces of eight" the man, Mercer, explained.
"What's the significance of that, I wonder?"
"Does it matter? There's nothing can hold against the armada, not with the Flying Dutchman at the lead"
"Nothing we know of. Did your friend happen to mention where the Brethren Court are meeting?"
"He was mum on that, sir"
"Well then, he knows the value of information. Best keep this between us. Don't want anyone running off to Singapore, now do we?"
"There is one more thing sir"
Suddenly, James Norrington entered through the door.
"Ahh, Admiral" Beckett greeted him.
"You summoned me, Lord Beckett"
"Yes. Something for you there. Your new station deserves an old friend"
Norrington walked towards the case on the desk and opened it, only to find his sword which was given to him when he was promoted into commodore. As James was busy looking at his sword, Mercer decided to finish his report.
"Sir, there was someone else in there… Ms. Hazelstone"
James, overhearing the familiar surname stretched his ear to listen better while Beckett grinned wickedly.
"Well, well… so our dear Artemis is in the scheme as well…How fascinating"
"What is your orders sir?"
"She will be dealt when time is right. For now, we focus on our plan. The Brethren know they face extinction. All that remains is for them to decide where they make their final stand"
