A/N: Just wanna give a shout-out to all my fellow "Pirates" fans here in the U.S. who've bought AWE on DVD by now. Namely, the 2-Disc Limited Edition. It's great!
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Chapter 5
It was night, and Singapore was lit only by the Chinese lanterns and lights from small houses and other various buildings that were scattered throughout the area. The part of the island in question had a countless number of wooden bridge walkways and roads that crisscrossed with each other, since the majority of the island was situated on the ocean. Every single structure was held up above the smoggy water by wooden stilts that were evidently sturdy enough to hold a house. The roads, or more appropriately, long wooden platforms that served as roads on the edge of the island sported many small shops and stands where various items were sold. There were also houses and other places of business, leisure activities and, given the nature of most of Singapore's inhabitants, illegal dealings. After all, one of the nine Pirate Lords had a special setup here which allowed him to reside on the island whenever he and his crew weren't pillaging ships on the sea. This particular Pirate Lord of Singapore had been elected so after the former one, Sao Feng, had died many years ago. The Chinese pirate who had been chosen to take Sao Feng's place was named Cheng Lo, and he was as smart as he was ruthless. Many people in Singapore feared him, and with good reason.
Cheng Lo was a merciless pirate captain who took pleasure in inflicting pain and suffering whenever he could. His crew was comprised of only the most vicious and bloodthirsty Chinese pirates that were available to him, and his crew seemed to reflect Cheng Lo's personality quite well. They too loved violence, and hungered for the thrill of decimating a ship or simply stealing what was not rightfully theirs through various means of coercion. Cheng Lo was the epitome of the other type of pirate; one who made it his life's duty to relentlessly hunt down all those who attempted to eradicate piracy and ruthlessly eradicate them in return. In his time as a captain, Cheng Lo had served as commander for many attacks against East India Trading Company vessels, led three rebellions against other enemy forces and persuaded the Brethren Court to act in his favor more than once. Cheng Lo possessed not only violent impulses, but also an influential sense of authority that allowed him to get what he wanted. And that was all in addition to his short temper. But perhaps the most notable of Cheng Lo's abilities was the fact that he was highly trained in the style of fighting that was taught in Singapore; Cheng Lo was skilled both with and without a weapon. This was all a reflection of Cheng Lo's past, which was essentially the sort of dark and tragic past that can only shape such a remorseless man.
His place of residence in Singapore was a discreet and seemingly everyday establishment, much like Sao Feng's bathhouse. Cheng Lo and his crew had made their home, or rather their base of operations, a restaurant that was very popular among Singapore's locals. The restaurant in question was named The Red Dragon, although the big sign above the doorway had the name written in the traditional Chinese symbols. The interior of The Red Dragon was mostly lit by the most brilliant of red Chinese lanterns, blending perfectly with the black furniture and other furnishings. The main dining area, as always, smelled of the aroma of the steaming fresh food being served continuously. The men and women who sat at each table chatted animatedly as they went about eating their food, oblivious to what was hidden in the back of the restaurant. But, there were a select few who sat at their tables in absolute silence, their eyes darting all around. Either that, or they were sipping alcohol, having the appearance of one who was waiting for something. These people were the ones who had business with Cheng Lo, be it about money or other more sensitive matters. The way these people were summoned to Cheng Lo's private quarters was that beautiful waitresses would come over to them, pretending to take their order but actually giving them a slip of paper with a password on it and directions to the room Cheng Lo used for these matters. And currently, a stunningly gorgeous waitress was making her way toward a table in the far corner of the restaurant, where a cloaked and conspicuous-looking man sat.
When the man saw the waitress approaching him, he instantly became more attentive, recognizing Cheng Lo's message deliverer. The waitress came to a halt in front of the man's table, quill in her hand and the red light dancing off her smooth skin.
"Cheng Lo hopes that his inconvenient timing hasn't put you off in any way, Mr. Shen," the waitress said in her native tongue. "He had other matters to attend to and now he is ready to do business." The waitress handed Shen a slip of paper, which had the password that had to be used in order to be allowed access to Cheng Lo. "Proceed through the kitchens and then make two right turns in the hallway you come to," the waitress instructed Shen.
Shen nodded as the waitress casually walked away to another table. Shen waited a few moments before getting up from his table, grabbing the large and bulging sack beside his chair as he did so. Then, as calmly and secretly as he could, Shen slowly made his way toward the double doors that served as both an entryway and exit for the kitchens. The chefs cooking inside were all under the employment of Cheng Lo, so none of them batted an eye as Shen followed the waitress's directions on how to reach the Pirate Lord's private quarters. Once Shen had passed through the next set of double doors leading out of the kitchen, he found himself in a narrow hallway lit by dim lanterns hanging off the wall. Gripping the sack in his right hand tighter, Shen started to walk along the hallway, keeping an eye out for the door on his right that he was supposed to be looking for. Finally, he found it and Shen stepped through immediately; it was already ajar.
Instead of another hallway, Shen now stood in what appeared to be a dungeon, because the lighting was sparse, the only source of it being the moonlight from outside filtering in through a barred gap in the ceiling. At the far end of the room, two armed guards stood astutely in front of a great iron door with chains hanging from the top. Shen made his composure firm before he strutted over to the two guards, stopping at what he considered to be the proper distance from them.
The two guards stared at Shen impassively before one of them barked out, "Password?"
Shen stared down at the scribbled word on the slip of paper he held in his left hand and looked back up and cleared his throat prior to stating it.
When the guards heard it and became satisfied, the guard on Shen's right turned around, placed his weapon against the wall, and tugged on the chain hanging from the door. Shen noticed that this man was extremely well-built and bulky, and even though there was the occasional grunt of strain from him, the massive iron door was shifted aside in the span of seconds.
The moment the iron door had been fully opened, Shen was treated to the sight of a chamber bathed in an orange-red light with steam rising from all sides. All along the length of the vast room, there were many different stations set up where groups of three or four armed men (clearly pirates) stood and worked with poppies and knifes. The pirates were intricately cutting the pods upward. They then poured the contents into awaiting wooden bowls. Shen recognized this as the process of attaining opium, and quickly realized that he was in an opium den. And opium happened to be what Shen came for.
The pirates working feverishly to obtain the opium briefly glanced up from their job to observe Shen pass them, but went back to work just as fast. But Shen didn't have time to dwell on the behavior of Cheng Lo's men; a peculiar sound had now filled Shen's ears and he glanced ahead to see what it was. The sight now in front of Shen was one of savage violence: a man in elaborate Chinese piratical attire was kicking, punching, jabbing and doing whatever else he could to a large and bulging potato sack hanging low from the ceiling. The man was employing almost every fighting move taught to Singaporean students during their school years, and even improving upon them. Each time the man would hit the bag, the bag would shift in various ways...as if something alive were inside it.
The man was Cheng Lo, Pirate Lord of Singapore.
Shen looked to his left and noticed two people standing against the wall, observing Cheng Lo's exercise with expressionless faces. The first person Shen recognized was the waitress who had pointed him in the direction of this opium den. Shen figured that there must be another secret passageway that led to this opium den other than the one he had used. The second person standing against the wall was another well-built Chinese pirate, adorned in red and black, and carrying numerous swords of various shapes and sizes. He had no hair, save for a short ponytail on the back of his head and a mustache and goatee. From his appearance, Shen guessed that this man was Sheng Kai Shek, Cheng Lo's equally brutal first mate. Sheng Kai Shek was a man who had the appearance of a true warrior; he was muscular, hard-faced and looked like a man who would kill you as soon as look at you. Sheng Kai Shek's belt had weapons stuffed at every conceivable point, and each weapon caused its owner to radiate a certain sense of ruthlessness that not many people could match.
The abrupt halt of pounding sounds caused Shen to snap his gaze back to where Cheng Lo stood. The Pirate Lord had ceased with his exercise and, in his native tongue, ordered a nearby pirate to open the sack. The request was efficiently carried out with no sign of emotion from the pirate Cheng Lo had spoken to and soon, the bag was opened...causing a fully grown man to come tumbling out of it, curled up in the fetal position the instant his body hit the floor. The man who had been stuffed inside the sack only moments before lay on the ground, breathing in short gasps because of the fact that he was experiencing pain over every inch of his body. Cheng Lo glared down at him emotionlessly and said something else in his native language.
"The next time you wish to lecture me on my temper, you would do well to hold your tongue!"
The guard whom Cheng Lo had commanded to open the sack earlier approached his captain again, holding out a massive sword. Cheng Lo swiped the sword out of the pirate's grasp and slid it into the empty sheath resting upon his left hip. He turned back to his crew member.
"Take him around back to the alleyway. Make it look like he was robbed."
The pirate bowed to show his understanding, forcefully grabbed the still-quivering man, and started to haul the beaten person out of the opium den.
Cheng Lo, who had momentarily been occupying himself with straightening his robes, took a deep breath and elegantly turned to face his new visitor, hands on his hips so as to provide an imposing impression. He eyed Shen with a look that combined politeness with a slight tinge of superiority.
"Mr. Shen," Cheng Lo said in a voice that was as smooth as silk yet firm and powerful, "I welcome you to my paradise." He spread his arms wide, gesturing all around.
Shen bowed humbly to the Pirate Lord, not wanting to offend a man of such power. He waited a few seconds before straightening back up.
"I understand that you've managed to acquire the...funds I requested in return for the opium I promised to deliver."
"Yes." Shen walked over to a nearby table, untied the rope that was holding the sack in his grasp closed, and poured its contents out onto the table. Countless gold coins with intricate designs and symbols carved into them that were unlike any other type of gold coin came out of the sack and piled up on the wooden table. When every single coin had been emptied, Shen tossed the sack away and stepped back in order to give Cheng Lo room to properly observe the payment.
As Cheng Lo did just that, many of his goons gathered around out of curiosity, abandoning their other duties. At the table, Cheng Lo extended two long fingers with dirty fingernails, delicately picked up one of the gold coins, and closely examined it with his right eye.
"The coins don't require any careful scrutinizing, Cheng Lo. I assure you that they are in fact from the Emperor's private collection. It caused me considerable trouble, but I was able to obtain your requested amount nonetheless."
"These coins, Mr. Shen, are among the rarest and most valuable of our dynasty. Very well, I'm satisfied. Now, I will present you with what you want."
Cheng Lo nodded to one of his compatriots working at the opium tables. The pirate, along with a few others, lifted the top of the table up and brought it over; the tray was packed with bowls of opium freshly prepared for the occasion. The tray was placed atop another table so that Shen could take his turn examining what he gained from this little bargain.
Shen stepped forward and dipped his fingers into one bowl and scooped up the opium he managed to grasp. Shen then sniffed it and became satisfied when his nostrils were filled with the proper smell of the drug.
"Quite remarkable, really...the level of efficiency you hammer into your men's minds. This opium is some of the finest I've ever come across."
"Your words of generosity certainly will not be overlooked. But, you do understand that if the East India Trading Company were to get wind of my dealings with opium, they would arrest me as fast as a finger can pull a trigger."
"Of course, Cheng Lo." Shen bowed once more. "Rest assured that the specifics of our meeting will be kept supremely confidential." He turned around to further examine the opium.
From behind Shen, Cheng Lo casually placed his right hand on the pistol tucked into his belt and silently pulled back the hammer. "It's a curious thing. Extremely curious, indeed, how deception can be made obvious by our body language. Don't lie, Mr. Shen. I know that you secretly made a deal with the East India Trading Company: you deliver this opium to them, or rather an arrest warrant, I should say. Because that's what this opium will become." While Cheng Lo said all this, he had surreptitiously aimed the barrel of his pistol at the back of Shen's head. "And I promise you, Mr. Shen, deceiving a Pirate Lord is a crime punishable by death."
Shen, with a socked expression on his face, dropped the opium bowl and tried to turn around, but Cheng Lo pressed the barrel of his pistol harder against his head.
"Don't attempt to turn around. I'd rather not have to deal with the mess that results from shooting someone in the face."
Shen cleared his throat in order to regain his voice and then asked the most obvious question. "How did you know about my dealings with the East India Trading Company?"
"I have reliable resources within my reach. And I make a point of not going into business with a man without first discovering his deepest, darkest secrets. You were planning on betraying me to them...such dishonesty."
"You speak of dishonesty as if you yourself don't engage in acts of criminality."
Cheng Lo smirked. "Everything of that nature is merely a matter of perspective."
Shen felt the weapon's pressure subside from the back of his head, and when he turned around he found himself face-to-face with Sheng Kai Shek. Cheng Lo's first mate gave Shen a cold-hearted stare before swiftly plunging his sword deep into Shen's heart. Shen gasped in pain and allowed his body to fall forward onto Sheng Kai Shek's shoulder.
"But disloyalty is the same no matter how you choose to look at it," he whispered into the dead man's ear. Then, Sheng Kai Shek pulled his sword free, causing Shen's body to crumple to the ground. Sheng Kai Shek gazed at his blade, now soaked with fresh blood, and wiped the red substance off by using Shen's pant leg.
"Dispose of the body discreetly," Cheng Lo barked. "And hide the opium...we don't need prying eyes discovering it."
The order was carried out without any objection and within minutes, the opium had been stashed inside a secret vault and Shen's body had been dragged over to a hole in the floor that served as an entrance to an alligator-filled pool.
Cheng Lo walked over to the restaurant waitress, tucking his pistol back into his belt as he did so. "Is there anyone else who requires my attention?"
The waitress nodded. "There's a man here named Jonathan Barnet who claims to have important issues to discuss with you. He's waiting outside the door."
"Very well. Send him in."
Seconds after those words escaped Cheng Lo's mouth, the massive door that was moved by chains until it had been pulled all the way open. Cheng Lo stood in front, waiting with his hands behind his back.
The two men who were on the opposite side of the door were clearly men of class and dignity. They stood with straight backs, their chins held out prominently with stoic expressions upon their face. The man standing in front wore a Navy blue coat which covered the attire of rich men, and he also had a white wig underneath a hat atop his head. He was also decidedly younger than the man behind him, who was even more menacing upon first glance.
The first man stepped forward, holding out his hand. "Cheng Lo, allow me to introduce myself: Captain Jonathan Barnet."
Cheng Lo eyed Barnet's hand with an air that undoubtedly conveyed his belief that since he was a Pirate Lord, Cheng Lo was above everyone else. As a result, he chose not to shake Barnet's hand, under the impression that making contact with inferior beings would contaminate him somehow. And what resulted from that was Barnet retracting his hand, seemingly unfazed.
"As you no doubt know by now, I'm here on important business regarding both a mutual friend and enemy. I was wondering, though...could we perhaps speak in private?" Barnet indicated Cheng Lo's surrounding pirate crew.
"There are no secrets between me and my crew," the Pirate Lord of Singapore responded without hesitation.
"Yes, but the matters I wish to discuss are rather sensitive and I'm afraid too...delicate for any average set of ears. Please. I highly implore you to ensure us a bit of privacy."
Cheng Lo stared hard into Barnet's eyes, searching for any indication of weakness. Unable to find one, he could do nothing but oblige. He promptly told his men to leave him and his guest in peace until he summoned them back. The pirates all exited as told and Barnet didn't continue the conversation until he was satisfied everyone had left.
"Firstly," he said, "I feel I must inform you immediately that I happen to be an agent of the East India Company."
The moment these words reached Cheng Lo's ears, he grabbed his pistol again and aimed it right between Barnet's eyes, quick as a flash. But, with even more surprising speed, Mercer removed his own gun and took aim at Cheng Lo's head from over Barnet's shoulder.
Barnet smirked. "Please, let us dispense with such pointless threats. You can tell the measure of a man by how much he relies on barbaric tools such as guns and swords."
"And do you not consider yourself a man of force being a member of the East India Trading Company, Mr. Barnet?"
"I consider myself a man of principle, who uses force only when necessary. That's how I've been able to get where I am now. But let me assure you, Cheng Lo, I didn't come here to arrest you or to kill you. I'm here to make a proposal. And it would be better if we weren't pointing pistols at each other's heads."
Cheng Lo and Mercer each waited a few moments before lowering their weapons, and obviously they did so reluctantly.
"Very well. What is your proposal, Mr. Barnet?"
"I'll get straight to the point, shall I? As I said earlier, we each share a common friend: the Lord of the Underworld, Hades himself."
"How is that possible? How do you know of Hades?" Cheng Lo demanded.
"That explanation is immaterial. But am I correct in assuming that you possess a black candle which emanates purple flames when lit?"
Cheng Lo said nothing, merely stared stonily at Barnet.
"I'll take your silence as confirmation. I own one too; one that my men had to travel to the ends of the world to acquire. These black candles serve as a gateway between our world and the Underworld. They allow any human soul corrupted by ambition to communicate with Hades himself."
Cheng Lo raised an eyebrow. "I'm already aware of all this. But are you suggesting that I'm consumed by ambition, and not evil when I carry out acts of piracy?"
Barnet smirked. "There is no difference between ambition and evil; they're one and the same. But getting to the matter at hand, Hades sent me here to deliver a message concerning our mutual enemy: Jack Sparrow."
Cheng Lo's face darkened at the mention of Jack's name.
"It would seem that Captain Sparrow will soon find his way to Singapore, courtesy of the sea goddess Calypso, who was recently resurrected in human form."
"Calypso and Jack Sparrow?" Cheng Lo's voice was filled with hatred.
"Is there some sort of grudge you hold against them?"
"Jack Sparrow vanquished the soul of Sao Feng, a truly offensive crime. And Calypso killed the goddess we worship here in Singapore: The Dragon Lady. Legend talks of an epic duel between the goddesses which Calypso won. If she is in human form, then we must do everything in our power to stop her from regaining her powers."
"'We' meaning who?" asked Barnet.
"My crew. Here in Singapore, there lies a diamond known only as The Hurricane's Eye. The people of Singapore begged to protect Calypso's source of power, mainly to ensure that the killer of The Dragon Lady would never be Godly again."
Barnet listened to the short tale politely, but started talking again immediately. "Hades told me to inform you of Sparrow's impending arrival to Singapore. Calypso will find a way to capture him and deliver him to you so that you may do with him what you wish."
Cheng Lo smiled wickedly. "Is that so? Well, if that be the case, I'll willingly accept Jack Sparrow and whatever other pathetic fools may be traveling with him. But I will also want Calypso murdered while she is still in human form."
"Then may I suggest sending Sparrow on a wild goose chase? Convince him that you'll grant him a reprieve if he delivers this...Hurricane's Eye, is it, to you so that you can destroy it. That way, you can kill Calypso and still carry out whatever plans you have in store for Sparrow."
"A truly tempting idea, Mr. Barnet. But what's in it for you?"
"The guarantee that Sparrow will not interfere in any way with my plans for controlling the seas. He's ruined enough of my attempts already."
Cheng Lo scoffed slightly. "Control over the seas? How do you intend to gain that?"
Barnet returned Cheng Lo's mocking tone. "That's none of your concern. The bottom line is we both benefit from this arrangement. Whichever way you look at it, Captain Jack Sparrow will be out of our hairs permanently. And that, in and of itself, is reason enough to go through with this offer."
Cheng Lo turned away from Barnet and Mercer, rubbing his head smoothly while contemplating his answer. Barnet's relayed proposal from Hades did seem like the perfect solution to Cheng Lo's problems concerning Jack Sparrow, and all it took was a simple "yes" or "no" answer. Cheng Lo faced Barnet again.
"How long would I have to wait for Sparrow?"
"I'm uncertain of that particular detail, but you will be given him."
Cheng Lo started to think some more. Perhaps Barnet was able to read his thoughts at that particular moment, because he soon said,
"Any other alternative wouldn't be as perfectly crafted, Cheng Lo. And if you're having second thoughts on if Sparrow will escape from your grasp, know this: you are a paragon of brutality. Once you inflict enough pain on Sparrow, he won't even consider running. Cripple him and you will be able to control him."
Cheng Lo nodded. "Very well, Mr. Barnet. I agree to this proposal. It will feel satisfying to finally be able to enact revenge on Jack Sparrow for destroying Sao Feng's soul."
Then, quite suddenly, Cheng Lo grabbed Barnet's hand and forcefully shook it. "We have an accord."
