Chapter 4 THE LOCKER SEPTEMBER 1675
The weeks passed and Flying Dutchman's wound slowly but surely healed. The three masted Dutch fluyt was soon ready to take on her new duties as the farrier of the dead.
Britannia had told her much in that time, explaining to her not just her duties as the ferryman, but also to the British Empire as well.
"Now I know you're Dutch." She said. "And you'll hate this but as my apprentice, you have a duty to protect the Empire as well as I."
Flying Dutchman frowned. "As if I'd ever help those lowly Brits!" She snarled.
Britannia shook her head. "Hatred will be your downfall with that kind of attitude, Dutchman." She said sternly.
Flying Dutchman opened her mouth to retort then closed it again. It wouldn't do to snap at her mentor.
A sigh escaped her and reluctantly, she nodded for the old sailing ship to continue. Britannia nodded her thanks and went on.
"I am the Protector of the British Empire. You are its Keeper. Your job is to act as the policeman of its waters and ensure trade runs smoothly. My job is to chase anyone out that doesn't belong." She said.
Flying Dutchman dipped her head. "I understand, Britannia." She replied.
"Good, then we should get going. It's almost sundown after all." Indeed she was right, the sun was beginning to touch the horizon.
"How do we get back?" Flying Dutchman asked. "With your powers." Britannia replied.
"Remember what I taught you. Draw strength from the changing cosmos, as the sun hands the sky to the moon's care. There is a powerful force there, harness it."
Flying Dutchman nodded, closing her eyes and concentrating hard. She could feel the sun's waning strength, and the moon's powerful pull.
There was a power transfer here, between Earth's two most powerful celestial bodies.
Flying Dutchman drew from that transfer, taking the power of the cosmos into her own body.
She could feel it like fire in her blood and it seemed like, suddenly, she knew what to do.
The power reached beyond her body's ability to hold it inside. Britannia came up close alongside as Flying Dutchman released it in the form of a bright green flash.
The next thing both ships knew was they were lying on their sides in an unfamiliar sea.
"Ugh." Flying Dutchman groaned.
"You alright?" Britannia asked.
"Yeah, a bit queezy though." Flying Dutchman replied.
"It'll pass." Britannia assured her. "For a first time that was impressive Dutchman, very impressive." She praised.
Flying Dutchman ducked her head shyly and Britannia laughed.
"Shut up!" She mumbled, blushing furiously.
The old sailing ship just laughed again.
Flying Dutchman growled when suddenly an idea came to her, a very naughty idea.
Eyes sparkling mischievously, she scooped up some water and launched it at her mentor.
"Ack!" Britannia choked as it struck in the face.
"That's for laughing at me." Flying Dutchman growled, crouching down, her stern wagging playfully.
"Oh so it's gonna be like that hmm?" Britannia asked, dropping down as well.
"Bring it!" Flying Dutchman hissed. "With pleasure." Britannia replied and lunged.
She bowled Flying Dutchman over where the apprentice sailing ship spat a waterspout at her.
"Eek!" Britannia giggled. "I'll get you for that!" She yowled as Flying Dutchman righted herself and raced away laughing.
"You can't catch me!" She sang. "I bet I can!" Britannia replied and tore after her.
The two ships kept this up for a good hour or two before Britannia finally gave up.
She collapsed on the water. "Ugh, okay. You win!" She sighed.
Flying Dutchman circled back to come up alongside her mentor. She was panting tired too.
"You sure gave me a hell of a chase." Britannia sighed.
"I'm faster than I look." The fluyt answered.
"Were you always rigged to run against the wind?" Britannia asked curiously.
"Somewhat. I was meant for the cape run and the builders thought it a good idea to give me the option of ever running into the waves or away from them." Flying Dutchman replied.
"Probably a good idea. Having no sails up is not always a good thing." Britannia said.
Flying Dutchman nodded her agreement. She helped her mentor upright and the two sailed on.
An hour later they came across a small dingy that might've once been part of a lifeboat for a ship.
There was one occupant still alive inside. Flying Dutchman's extra senses could tell that.
"How many?" Britannia asked her as her apprentice opened her jaws to taste the air.
"About 30 of them." Flying Dutchman replied after a moment.
She narrowed her eyes as the pair got closer to the boat. "The one that's still alive..." She murmured. "It couldn't be. It is! Vandecker!" She cried.
"You know him?" Britannia asked. "He was my captain." Flying Dutchman replied.
"Go on then, quickly now." Britannia ordered. Flying Dutchman squealed in delight and raced away.
"Vandecker! Vandecker!" She cried.
The man, weak from lack of food and dehydration looked up to see the fluyt charging towards him.
"Hmm?" He mumbled.
"Vandecker, oh please tell me you can hear me. I know that you're alive!" She cried.
"Yes, yes I am..." He sighed.
"It's me, Lang Schadow."
"Lang Schadow, I thought I lost you..." He murmured, reaching a hand out to stroke his ships nose.
Flying Dutchman gladly let him. "I'm alright. The maelstrom merely took me somewhere else is all." She said.
"Where did you go?" He asked.
"I was taken to a place called the Locker. It's where souls go on their way to the next world, a stopping ground if you will. For those who perish at sea." She replied.
"I see. And you were one of those souls?" He asked.
"No, I'm very much alive. The maelstrom was a summons." She explained.
"A summons? From who?" Vandecker asked.
"From me." Britannia replied as she approached. "Captain Vandecker, I do apologize for the manner in which I summoned your ship but she has a purpose she must fulfill in this world."
"And what purpose would that be?" Vandecker asked. "She is to ferry those lost at sea to the other side. The veil is becoming too thick for them to attempt the journey on their own." Britannia replied.
"So she's some sort of ferryman then?" He asked.
"Aye. But what's a ferry without her Charon." Flying Dutchman said. "You want me to be her captain." He realized.
Britannia nodded. "She must have a captain. Otherwise, she'll become mortal and die." She replied.
He nodded. "The dead deserve their peace. It's only fair we give it to them." He sighed. "Very well, I shall do as you ask."
Flying Dutchman pressed her muzzle to him. "Come on then captain, climb aboard." She said.
"So I shall my dear Schadow." He replied.
She giggled. "In the language of our fore fathers, I am known as Vliegand Vedmans." She said.
"The Flying Dutchman." He murmured.
She nodded.
"I'll need a crew." He said as he set foot on deck.
"I think I know just the place to find one." Britannia said.
Flying Dutchman looked at her mentor with a sly grin.
"Tortuga?" She guessed.
Britannia smiled back. "Tortuga."