Chapter XI

The Fall of the Rosa Dourada

Duo stared at the captain as if he had grown a second head. It was the least piratic thing ever to suggest one's own replacement, especially by someone they did not know and clearly could not trust. He had long realised Heero was mad, but not that mad. The man was surely out of his mind… And the worst part was they were actually discussing that possibility. Not only that, but the majority of the crew seemed to agree with it.

'Ye can't be seriously considering this.' He finally could stand the situation no longer. All eyes turned to him and he fought the urge to look away and pretend he had not been the one to speak. The sleeping quarters were eerily silent for a moment.

'We've got no other choice.' The captain told him. It was clear he wasn't pleased with their options either, as he sat on a barrel, elbows on his thighs, looking resigned.

'We could threaten her.' The braided man suggested rather desperately.

'We've already tried that.' Heero informed him patiently.

'Maybe cut off some of her toes?' he insisted.

Relena shuddered at the mental image and her eyes sought the captain. He did not seem at all affected, but then she did not know what she had expected… Knowing the things he had been forced to do as a child… She shuddered again and a hand squeezed her shoulder. 'Ye alright, lass?' Howard asked her.

'Yes, thank you.' She forced out a smile and turned back to Heero in time to see him frown worriedly at her. He looked away before she could reassure him.

'She won't budge.' Jay gave his opinion, stepping out of the shadows and closer to the lamp-lit circle. 'I've met the likes of her before. She'll do whatever she feels like, whenever she feels like without any apparent reason.'

'I thought ye were supposed to stay out of this?' Chang snapped at the old man. 'Must I remind ye that ye are no longer a part of this crew?'

'Chang.' The captain just wanted to be done with it.

'There has to be an alternative, Yuy.'

'There ain't. Either we hand her the control of the ship and hope she'll take us to the treasure or we refuse to abide to her wishes and spend the rest of our lives trying to find that treasure by ourselves.'

'Which won't ever happen.' Howard finished for him with a smirk.

'This woman's as close as any sailor's ever gotten to that treasure.' Trowa cut in.

'Aye.' Hilde agreed. 'But how can we be sure she'll take us there? What reasons would she have to?'

'She needs us. She cannot make it there by herself.'

'Have ye reminded 'er of that?' the black haired woman turned to Heero.

'Aye. She ain't worried about the treasure.'

'Her motives are incomprehensible.' The first mate agreed. 'She merely wants to be captain.'

'What if we get 'er there and she decides she wants the booty all to 'erself?' Duo was sceptical.

'Surely ye don't expect 'er to beat the nine of us in a fight.' Trowa felt slightly offended that the braided man would even suggest such a thing.

'I thought I wasn't a part of the crew?' Jay raised an eyebrow.

'That doesn't mean ye won't be fighting with us.' The Chinese man gave him an unfriendly and meaningful look.

'Let us vote.' Howard cut in, putting an end to the whole discussion.

'Aye.' The captain agreed. 'Ye may begin, Howard. Winner's guarding the woman so we'll have to count him out this time.'

'Well, then, Capt'n, I think we should replace ye. For the greater good o' course.'

'I say "nay".' Duo immediately protested, his arms crossed stubbornly. 'She's gonna fool us, she is.'

Hilde nodded seriously in agreement. 'I'm with Duo.'

'When isn't she?' Howard nudged Trowa with a smirk. The shorthaired woman glared fiercely at him, but he pretended not to notice.

The lookout stepped away from the old man. 'If the captain says this is our only choice, then… Aye.'

'As much as I hate to think of that… woman bossing us around.' The ladies frowned at Chang, clearly displeased by his comment. 'Romefeller's treasure's at stake. So, aye.'

All eyes turned to Relena then, knowing her vote would either decide the matter or tie it up. She met Heero's eyes, trying to figure out what he expected her to do. It was hard to even imagine anyone other than him as the Peacemillion's captain, and there was something inside her screaming at her to say 'nay', but Heero believed this was the best way to go, to abide to Dorothy's wishes, to play her game, and so did she. Trowa had put it well. He was their captain so supporting his decision, showing that they trusted him was indeed the right way to go. 'Aye.' She said, and he nodded at her discreetly, thankfully.

'It is decided then.' Heero suddenly felt weary. 'I shall give our new captain the news.' He walked past the others, as empty as if someone had just defeated him. He had never realised he cared about being captain or perhaps it was merely the way things had happened, either way he felt as if a part of him was suddenly missing.

XXX

Dorothy walked out of the captain's cabin with a wide grin on her face. She had slept soundly until midmorning and woken up bathed in warm sunlight. The clothes she had appropriated from the other women on board were hardly worthy of her status, but they would have to do for the time being. Her only real problem was the crew. They seemed to be early risers and did not look at all pleased at her late appearance, if she did not have such wonderful leverage over them she might fear a mutiny, but as things stood she would do as she pleased.

'Good morning, Captain.' Quatre greeted her somewhat awkwardly. She had purposefully picked him to be her first mate, not just because he had the knowledge, but because he was significantly less dangerous than the other two former high-ups and so easy to embarrass… He felt visibly uncomfortable being promoted when his captain and first mate had been demoted. 'What are your orders?'

'Let's set sail.' She told him, ignoring the contemptuous looks most of the crew was sending her way.

'Headings, Captain?'

'Greece.'

'East then. Through Panama?'

'Whatever course you deem best.' Dorothy waved her hand at him dismissively. She was screening the crew for a preferable helmsman.

'Well, then, Captain, I'd suggest—'

'Who would you recommend for a helmsman?'

'What?' taken by surprise, Quatre turned to his crewmates, trying to see what the woman was seeing. They were all impatiently standing there, clearly irritated by the delay, except for Jay, who was not a part of the crew and, therefore, amused at the whole situation, and Howard who stood polishing the railings and whistling. 'I would recommend—'

'Never mind. I choose the old one. He looks experienced.'

'Ah… Which old one?' he questioned. 'Howard?'

'Oh, no! Not the whistling one.'

'But… Uh…' Quatre trailed off, but she would not budge. She crossed her arms, staring expectantly at him. 'Jay is no longer a part of the crew, he's merely a passenger.'

'A passenger?' Dorothy questioned disbelievingly.

'In exchange for decyphering the tattoo on your back.'

'Well… I take no passengers. Either he works or he walks the plank.'

'But he's only got one hand!' he wondered if he should tell her that they did not even have a plank, but decided not to. If he wanted her to listen to him, he would have to stay on her good side. 'Captain? Before I fetch Jay, I'd just like to suggest that we make a quick stop in Tortuga to replenish our stock and…' Quatre cleared his throat. 'Recruit a medic?'

'Whatever you deem best.' She waved him away again. 'The crew needs to be kept happy and healthy, I suppose…'

'Aye, Captain.' He walked past the helm, leaning over the railing. 'Jay, the captain requests a word! The rest of you weigh anchor! All sails back to Tortuga!'

'Tortuga?' Duo turned to Heero with a sceptical look. 'What happened to the treasure?'

The former captain gave him a half-shrug as he stood up to loose the foresail. Relena hurried after him discreetly, as not to attract their new captain's attention to the fact that she was not doing anything useful. Heero did not seem very receptive, in fact he had been acting even quieter than usual since the voting, so she had to think twice before speaking up. 'I meant to vote "nay".' She said finally, when he seemed to be done loosing the sail.

Heero turned to her as if surprised to see her there and his expression softened. 'I know.' He tightened the rope and threw the end at her. Relena tied it for him unasked.

On the background, they heard Wufei snort. 'Winner… First mate…' he grumbled.

'You're not the only one who's unhappy.' She said, but could not help a smile.

He smirked. 'That's reassuring.'

'Does he have something against everyone? Chang, I mean.'

'Aye.' Heero confirmed shortening the sail at Quatre's shout. 'Except for Sally. He's got a blind spot where she's concerned.'

'Are they…'

'Lovers? Aye, but that's a secret.'

Relena was beginning to like that smirk, she chuckled. 'Why don't you tell him you already know?'

'Leverage.'

'That's wicked, Heero.' She could not stop herself from smiling, though she did mean what she had said.

'That's piracy.'

'And what leverage do you have over me?' the question slipped out before she could stop it. Relena was not sure they were intimate enough to be teasing each other like that, but, once it'd been said, she could do nothing except wait, with batted breath, for his answer.

Heero turned from the sail to her and realised he was no longer captain. There were no strings tying him, no obligations. Suddenly he craved her even more and it was hard to stop himself from teasing her back, coaxing a wider smile out of her, a giggle… It was she who had leverage over him. 'I fear I do not know enough about ye…'

'Well… I'm sure we can remedy that. What do you wish to know?'

His jaw clenched. It was impressive how innocent she could be, how trusting… It was endearing. 'Ye should be more careful with yer information.'

'I am careful.' She said, meaning that she trusted him. Heero understood and – even though he knew her trust was not misplaced – it still worried him. Relena did not look like she would listen to his warnings however. 'I am a good judge of character, Heero. Trust me.'

'Why did ye sail here? Leave England?' he loosed the sail again as they made it past an agglomeration of rocks.

'Things were not looking good for my father back there… He never went into much detail about his business with either me or Mother, but I knew. I could feel it. So he told me I was adopted and sent me here to live with my brother and sister-in-law. They were all that was left of my original family…'

'Didn't ye have an escort?'

'Pagan.' She said softly, looking down at the rope in her hands, with a sad smile. 'He was my family's butler…' Relena had to stop when her throat grew too raw to speak. She could barely picture his face anymore, but she knew she would always remember his love and kindness… 'He was like a grandfather to me.'

Heero took the rope off her hands with that gentleness that always surprised her. It was hard for her to believe the stories she had been told about him, but she did not have the heart to ask him if they were true. It must have caused him unimaginable pain to take part in such atrocities as those promoted by his father and Jay. 'I'm sorry.' He said and let his hands linger on hers a moment longer than necessary. Relena wanted more, but she knew she would cry for real if he showed her any more sympathy.

'I should make myself useful…' she wiped away her tears with an embarrassed chuckle. 'Before la capitaine notices I'm idle.'

'Man the sheets.' he suggested simply. 'Barton speaks French too.'

'A little more leverage for you.' She smiled and turned to do as he had suggested. 'How long do you think she'll last?' she paused, watching him over her shoulder.

Heero's eyes fell on Dorothy at the opposite side of the ship. 'We'll see…'

XXX

Sally leaned over the countertop, dishrag in hand and looked Quatre deep in the eyes. 'Ye're joshing me, right?'

He shook his head, sighing when her eyes widened in horror. 'I know.'

'Which one is she? The black haired one? Or the haughty blonde? Wait. No… Of course, it is the blonde. What did ye say her name was again?'

'Dorothy Catalonia.'

The owner shook her head. 'Doesn't ring any bells…'

'The worst part was that she named me first mate and now Chang's painted a target on my back.'

She laughed at his despair. 'Let me worry about, Wufei. Here. Have a pint of ale on the house.'

'I'm… I don't…' he shook his hands, but at last could not refuse her offer in favour of his father's religion. He was not home anymore.

'No wonder you're all looking so sour…'

'But the new captain isn't all…' Quatre shook his head suddenly wishing she had poured him something stronger. 'We have a long way ahead of us and practically no provisions left…'

'Found the location of Romefeller's booty yet?' she questioned with a wink as she polished a jug with her rag.

'Does he tell you everything?'

'I've got me methods…' Sally smirked. 'So?'

'Aye. That's what Heero gave up hat and helm for.'

'Mmm… Then why not buy provisions then? Isn't that why you're here?'

'Aye.' He nodded. 'Except that we have nary a penny left.'

'That ain't a problem. Here in Tortuga ye can pay in all sorts of coin...'

'We're broke, Sally.' He reiterated seriously.

'Oh…' there was a pause. 'That's why ye haven't ordered anything! What are ye all doing here anyway?'

'We've come to ask you to join us. Please, Sally. We had some trouble along the way that made us realise just how much we need an actual medic.'

'I wouldn't call meself that. Not anymore…' She said softly, humbled by the compliment. 'What did Wufei say?'

'He said… Uh… Why should I ask Sally to join us?'

She chuckled resignedly. 'Sounds like him alright.'

'So?'

'I need to ask a friend if she can take care of the tavern for me… Her answer might take a couple of days at least…'

Quatre let out a deep breath relieved. 'That's just fine. We'll need to find a way to make money and buy provisions… That should take at least a couple of days as well.'

'Actually, it might take a lot less than that.' Hilde collapsed against the counter next to the blonde first mate. 'Just heard a group of fellas talking about a Portuguese merchant ship lost in the area. Apparently she was bound for Lisbon when a storm threw her off course and she ended up here.'

'Is she still here?'

'Aye. Not for long though. There have been attempts... They say she's setting sail first thing come morrow.' She fidgeted for a moment as Quatre considered the information, but was far too impatient to wait for his response. 'Should we tell the captain?'

'I think we should tell Heero and Chang first…' he confessed, feeling somewhat guilty for not going straight to their new captain. It was not that he thought she was incapable of leading them, it was just that she did not have the experience and was unwilling to listen.

'Who did ye think I meant?' the black haired woman frowned at him as if he had a screw loose, and pushed away from the counter towards the table where the former captain and first mate sat in solemn silence. The blonde man waved to Sally before following hurriedly. 'There's a merchant ship in town.'

'A merchant ship.' The Chinese man repeated sceptically.

'Aye.' She confirmed. 'And they're setting sail soon so we must hurry.'

'If the news have reached ye then that means other pirates must have already tried their luck.' Heero leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. They were out of their depth here, but he did not wish to let the opportunity pass them by either. 'If she made it into open sea we could tail her. The Peacemillion hasn't seen a good fight for some time now.'

'Well, then it obviously should!' their new captain was suddenly standing behind them, head held high and arms akimbo. Relena and Trowa, who she had dragged with her on a stroll around Tortuga, looked relieved to reencounter familiar faces. 'Ah…' Dorothy raised her clasped hands in front of her chest. 'The sound of canon blasts, the smell of blood and the heat of rage and expectation coursing through your veins!' Heero, Wufei, Trowa and Hilde merely blinked at her folly while Relena and Quatre exchanged looks of horror and, across the room, Duo and Howard burst out laughing. Yet the blonde captain was above all that. 'Where's Jay?'

'On the ship, Captain.' the first mate reminded her. 'He offered to stay with her.'

'Go fetch him, will you? He promised to buy me a drink since he seems to be the only one on board who's generous enough…' she gave the rest of her crew an accusatory look.

'But, Captain… Someone must always stay with the ship.' Quatre tried gently.

'Then the other old man goes.'

'Are ye talking about me, Capt'n?' Howard approached humble and polite. 'Sally – the owner – says I'm the best singer who's ever visited The Scroll and Talisman. Ye can't have a shindig without a good shanty!'

'The best?' Duo stomped towards him. 'I know way more shanties than ye, old man. Yer decrepit head has nothing left in it!'

'Ye braided thumb-sucking mongrel… I'll show ye what a good shanty sounds like!'

'Oh, please do!' the captain cheered them on excitedly.

Quatre sighed. It was going to be a long night.

XXX

Trowa pointed the telescope towards the Santa Maria de Almada. The Portuguese ship had made it through the night and it was no wonder. Her crew was numerous and well-armed, not that a few sailors hadn't been killed during the nightly altercations, but still… The mark the pirates of Tortuga had left had been too superficial to bother the Santa Maria's crew and they prepared to set sail as soon as the first sunrays painted the horizon.

Once it reached deeper waters, however, the Peacemillion would not be far behind. The green-eyed lookout only had to tell them when. None of them was particularly happy about the new captain, but with Quatre pulling the strings in the background they were set on doing their best and, hopefully, coming out not only alive but richer.

'She's weighing anchor!' he shouted, squinting his eyes to be able to discern what he was seeing in the lingering darkness.

'She's weighing anchor!' the first mate repeated.

Howard and Duo hurried to raise Peacemillion's anchor while Heero, Wufei and Hilde prepared to loose the sails. Relena waited until she was needed. There had never been a situation like this one before so she was unsure how to proceed, what their needs might be so she could anticipate them.

'Half sail!' Quatre shouted and the ship started sliding forward. Dawn was upon them, but the remaining shadows were still thick enough for them to follow the Santa Maria unseen out of the port.

'Darlian!' Heero called her, handing her the halyard as soon as she reached him.

'I can't!' she shook her head with wide-eyes.

'Ye know how. We're down-wind. It'll be fine.' He told her hurriedly and left her to go to the bowsprit a few feet away. Telescope in hand, he planned what course to take. Quatre knew he would be doing that. There was no way he could give up control, not completely. He had an obligation to the ship and the crew, but mostly to himself and all that he had built.

Jay smirked when he noticed the illegal scheme the former captain and current first mate had going on. Quatre was more of a pirate than he wished to be, going behind his captain's back yet again… 'Veer left.' The blonde man told him, watching Heero attentively.

'I see what ye're doing.' The old man informed him quietly though he did turn the ship as told. The first mate frowned at him. 'Worry not, lad. Ye know… I think I may not be the best helmsman for a battle such as this…' he raised his hook for emphasis. 'Perhaps ye'd like to suggest someone else to our captain?'

'What are you doing?' Quatre hissed at him.

'Protecting me interests.'

'Dorothy let you back into the crew. She gave you an enviable place.' He reminded the old man somewhat horrified.

Jay raised an eyebrow at him. 'Didn't ye get promoted yerself?' he chuckled merrily when the blonde blushed. 'Aye… She may have done me some favours, but it's Heero I have a deal with and he won't be able to keep his end of the bargain unless he's in charge. So… Any suggestions?'

'Full sail!' someone shouted, the blonde could not tell who, but he could see it was about time they picked up speed so he repeated the order before turning back to Jay. He hesitated for a brief moment before turning to the captain who stood a few feet behind them. 'Captain, a word if you'd please?'

'What is it?' she approached them so they could hear each other better over the loud roar of the waves.

'I am sorry to say, but I think Jay is ill suited to steer the ship during a battle.'

'Why? Because he only has one hand? That's harsh, dear.' She laughed when he blushed, horrified. 'It's alright, Winner. Why don't you take the wheel then?'

'I'm actually an even worse suit.' He informed her. 'I was going to suggest Heero…'

Dorothy smiled knowingly, letting the first mate see she was not oblivious to their schemes. 'Very well…'

'Thank you.' He told her honestly, giving her one of his brightest smiles and shouted to their former captain to join them at the quarter deck. 'She said "yes", but she's onto us.'

Heero nodded and patted his shoulder in gratitude as he reached the helm. Jay stepped away to let the younger man take over. 'I hope ye haven't forgotten our deal.' He whispered before limping away without waiting for an answer.

'Let us see how good of a first mate ye are.' The new helmsman told Quatre, dismissing his former tutor's comment completely.

'Please, don't let Chang hear that…'

'Have Jay, Maxwell, Trowa and Howard man the cannons.'

'We'll be boarding her, right?'

'Aye.'

'Chain-shots then?'

'Chain-shots.' Heero nodded. They were getting closer and soon the Santa Maria's crew would realise they meant to attack and make their decision on whether to flee or retaliate. The way the former captain saw it they were more likely to retaliate since the Peacemillion was a lighter, faster ship and with a smaller, theoretically weaker crew. He, however, knew what they lacked in numbers they made up for in skill, but what if that wasn't enough? Relena was, of course, the first thing that came to Heero's mind. They were on opposite sides of the ship and he had no way of ensuring her safety so he would have to hope what he had taught her would be enough.

'She's turning to face us!' Trowa shouted suddenly as he made his way down to help man the cannons as requested.

'Shorten sails.'

'Half sail!' the blonde shouted as Heero steered the ship away from the Santa Maria's path, but in a way that they would still be able to pull alongside her in order to fire the chain-shots and board once the masts had been destroyed.

'We're ready to fire!' Duo shouted through the window.

'Good.' He muttered focused on the enemy's movements.

'What are you doing?' Dorothy returned to the quarter deck after overseeing the lower decks. 'Chain-shots?'

'Aye, Captain.' Quatre approached her. 'Two cannon balls connected by chains to help destroy the Santa Maria's masts so we can hook the Peacemillion to her and board her.'

'I know that.' She dismissed his explanation with an impatient wave of her hand. 'What I mean is… I want us to sink her not board her. So shots not chain-shots.'

'Sink her?' the first mate questioned horrified. 'But the loot! We need the loot to buy provisions to get us through the journey to Romefeller's treasure!'

'I'm sure we can find another ship to loot.' The captain was unconcerned. 'I want to sink her. I want to watch her catch fire and explode into millions of pieces.'

'No.' Quatre grew serious and stepped up to her before Heero could draw his pistol. 'I'm sorry, Captain, but I can't let you do that. You're probably not aware – like most people – but the decisions made on board of a pirate ship are made by all, through vote, and I am sure the crew would vote in favour of boarding the Santa Maria and looting it.'

'That's boring.' She told him. 'Pirates are supposed to be selfish and ruthless. There's no point being captain if you can't give orders… But fine. Let's board her and shed some blood.' She waved them ahead when they did not seem about to stop staring at her. 'Go on with your plan.'

'Are we ramming into her?' Quatre turned back to Heero.

'Nay.'

'Brace yerselves!' Hilde shouted behind them noticing that the enemy was about to fire.

'Ready…' the blonde first mate waited for the exact moment when the ships aligned to give the order. 'Fire!'

The blasts of cannons from both ships mingled together. Still they heard the screams and the sound of splintering wood as the Santa Maria's main mast succumbed to their chain-shots. The Peacemillion herself vibrated with the impact of the enemy's cannon balls. 'Did we do it?' Duo shouted from the lower deck.

They did not, but Trowa and Chang were already firing the harpoons either ways. If they were going to board the Santa Maria they had to do it fast. The Portuguese sailors were already preparing their muskets and swords. They were quick to slash through the ropes that tied the invading harpoons to the Peacemillion, firing their weapons desperately. Heero merely waited while Dorothy shouted at them to go and fight. Quatre sighed. As passionate as she was, he did not think she would ever have the makings of a true captain.

'All at arms!' he shouted when the enemy fire finally seized and Duo and Trowa were already jumping from swinging ropes into the Portuguese ship's deck. 'What a bloody mess…' he complained to his former captain as well as himself.

'There is no greater evil than anarchy*.' It was Jay who quoted as he took the helm so Heero could rush into the fight. Quatre followed when Dorothy raced after the former captain sword in hand. He hoped she knew how to use it…

XXX

'Took yer sweet time!' Duo used his foot to push a man off his sword, then turned to greet the former captain.

'Ye got here quite fast for someone who was supposed to be on the gun deck.'

The braided pirate smirked as he deflected an enemy's attack, inadvertently throwing the man at Heero who dispatched him with a well-placed shot. 'I wasn't at me post.' He bragged rather than confessed.

'I realise that.'

'What's it to ye? Ye ain't captain no more so ye can't say a word about it.'

'I wasn't going to.' He disarmed a man then and was quick to deflect a second enemy's attack. They had to get to the Santa Maria's captain. He was the only one that truly mattered for once he was gone the crew would most definitely surrender. There was no reward in fighting a dead man's battle and all men were looking for compensation. In a way, they were all pirates.

His eyes searched the deck. Trowa and Wufei were engaged in battle with their own enemies, surrounded by desperate and angry sailors, but Heero knew better than to worry about them. Those two could take care of themselves. Duo was slowly making his way to the prow where Hilde was having a bit of a hard time holding her own against a couple of mean looking men. Her only advantage being that they were more interested in playing with her than actually killing her, clearly underestimating her abilities. Quatre was the one closest to the aft where Heero expected the Santa Maria's captain to be. He stepped between the blonde pirate and an enemy, seizing the man's musket and hitting him on the head with its butt.

'Have you seen Dorothy?' Quatre asked, suddenly back to back with him, as Heero fired the musket at another sailor's head.

'Nay.' He discarded the unloaded weapon, redrawing his sword. 'Probably dead. Have ye seen the captain?'

The blonde pirate merely shook his head, shocked at the horrid image the other man's words had evoked. An enemy noticed his distraction and used the opportunity to attack, but Quatre quickly spun around, his scimitars digging into the man's side. 'I'm sorry.' He said as he watched the man fall.

'Don't let it get to ye.' Heero hurriedly advised as he left the blonde man to make his way to the aft.

'Heero! Please, help her! She's our only way to the treasure!'

It was the right cord to play, but a dirty one nonetheless. Now he was supposed to help the one who had stolen the captaincy from him when he would have rather seen her dead. It would have meant one less headache for him. He proceeded in his search for the captain, believing that ending the battle would be the best way to ensure not only Dorothy's safety but his whole crew's. Time was of the essence, but numerous enemies kept throwing themselves in his way. He easily dispatched them for they were all mere sailors, most barely prepared to fight.

When he finally reached the captain, he was surprised to find the man engaged in battle with none other than Dorothy and, even more surprisingly, she seemed to be holding her own rather well. The crew seemed torn on whether to help their superior or not so – as soon as Heero appeared from behind a tall pile of wooden crates – the sailors were all on him. He glared threateningly at them, but the men were confident in their numbers. The first one stepped forward thrusting his bayonet straight at the pirate, hoping to catch him off guard. Heero dodged easily, sliding out of the blade's path. His left hand locked on the barrel of the musket and he threw the man against his comrades when he refused to let go of the weapon.

A second man struck then, enraged at the treatment received by his crewmate. Cold blooded, the pirate used the sailor's fury against him, easily disarming him and slicing through his inexistent defence. The third enemy was better prepared. He took his time, forcing Heero to attack first. Their blades clashed and the man quickly shifted to the offensive, driving the pirate to take a step back.

'That's a pretty cutlass you got there, pirata.' Heero's eyes narrowed. That was as much of a response as he was willing to give, but the man did not seem to be done taunting him. 'I think I'll keep it to myself once I'm done with you.'

He advanced. The sailor had his moves perfectly rehearsed, but he had not anticipated the pirate's response and therefore was not ready to improvise. Heero watched him swing his sabre, he had been prepared to deflect a strike that never came. The pirate impaled him as soon as he lost his balance. 'Or I might keep yours instead.' He hissed at the man's ear before pulling his sword out of his stomach.

One of the remaining men – scared out of his mind – charged at the pirate from the back. A shot sounded, startling all present. Heero spun around in time to see his assailant fall on his knees, clutching a bleeding thigh. Relena stood on top of the crate pile, her pistol hand shaking violently as she tried to catch her breath. The first man to attack the pirate, now recovered from his tumble, saw her as well and was racing up to get her before Heero had come around from the shock of seeing her there. He made to follow the man, but the sound of a scream on the background captured his attention for a moment.

Dorothy had made it. She had defeated the captain.

Heero turned back to Relena, but she was gone. His heart stopped for a moment and he felt like he would suffocate. He drew his second pistol which was still loaded and with it tightly clenched in his fist he circled the pile of crates, preparing himself for the worst possible scenario. How he would react to it though was completely beyond him.

There was no one behind the crates, but there was no blood either. His heart started beating madly as he forced himself to run. The Santa Maria's crew started surrendering around him, falling to their knees and raising their empty hands. He barely noticed. He felt like he was walking underwater, like no matter how fast he ran his destination only grew more distant.

'Are you alright?' Quatre seized him by the arm as he hurried towards the prow. 'Are you wounded?'

'No, I…'

'Are they all here?' Dorothy cut in, smiling smugly as she surveyed their surrendered enemies.

'Aye, Captain.' The blonde man confirmed, meeting Trowa's and Wufei's gazes across the lines of kneeling sailors. 'They were transporting sugar and coffee beans.'

She waved a hand at him dismissively. 'Kill them all.' She said. 'We'll be keeping their ship.'

'What?' Quatre's eyes were as wide as the Portuguese men's whose death sentences had just been proclaimed. They might not speak the same language, but they certainly knew enough to understand what was going on.

'It's a much bigger ship.' Dorothy reasoned. 'We could buy more canons… Get rid of all these crates… I have a good Portuguese name for her. Rosa Dourada. How does that sound? We'll paint the railings gold.'

'What of the Peacemillion?' Heero managed to ask though his eyes still searched for Relena. The man who had been after her was kneeling amongst the other surrenderers and he had to fight the urge to grab him by the collar and demand to know where she was. That was not like him, that was not who he was… He was supposed to be the epitome of calmness, always placing the Peacemillion above everything else, never letting anything get to him.

'We'll either leave her or sink her…' she shrugged. 'It hardly matters.'

'It's a good thing Howard isn't here to hear this.' Duo whispered to Hilde as they guarded the Portuguese sailors.

'Aye…' she nodded thoughtfully. 'He'd surely have killed 'er.'

'Kill them.' Dorothy repeated eyeing her crewmembers all in turn. 'What are you waiting for?'

'We barely have enough people to man a sailing ship like the Peacemillion… It'll be impossible to sail a vessel this size!' Quatre argued rather desperately.

'Aren't we headed back to Tortuga? We'll recruit more men.'

There was silence as the surrenderers awaited their demise and the pirates waited for someone, anyone to protest. The blonde man tried all he could. There were no arguments he could think of that might convince her. It was when Relena stormed in from the prow, stepped between him and the captain and slapped the other woman as hard as she possibly could. Duo's and Hilde's jaws fell. Trowa's and Wufei's eyebrows rose. Quatre looked positively horrified. Heero had never felt such relief in his life, he had to lean against the nearest pile of crates in order to stay upright.

'You cannot do that!' Relena told her with finality. She was surprisingly composed despite her visibly accelerated breathing. 'You cannot make them kill innocent men! Men who have surrendered to you, who have trusted you with their lives, believing you to have the littlest bit of compassion in your heart to leave them be.'

'Miss Relena…' the captain finally decided to speak. 'Your passion is moving.' Relena gapped when Dorothy took her hands, smiling at her in delight. She had to hold back or she would tell the captain just how mad she thought the woman was. 'How would you like to be the Rosa Dourada's quartermaster?'

'What? No! Won't you, please, just give up on this madness?' she squeezed Dorothy's hands as she pleaded. 'Once we find the treasure you can buy your own ship, recruit your own crew… A crew that'll respect you and be loyal to you.'

The captain's smile waned and she let go of the other woman's hands. Heero's hold on his pistol tightened. He did not fear any of his crew might follow an order to execute Relena, but he knew Dorothy was capable of killing and he was not sure she wouldn't. Surprisingly it was Chang who stepped in. 'I believe we've all had enough of ye. A captain should earn his post, not buy it. This was by far the sloppiest and most reckless engagement we've ever been in and it is nothing short of a miracle that we're all still unscathed. Ye are inexperienced, self-centred and uncooperative. Ye are a tyrant not a captain.'

'Do you not want Romefeller's treasure?' the captain questioned evenly.

'Not if I have to sail under you.' Hilde stepped forward herself, visibly angry. She would have never come as close to dying had Heero still been their captain. There was no point in finding a treasure if she had to die for it.

'Aye.' Duo agreed, uncharacteristically serious. 'Ye went overboard, miss. And if we do nothing ye will drag us down with ye.'

'I call a vote.' Trowa said finally.

Dorothy turned to Quatre, but he shook his head sadly and looked away. Most people thought pirates worked under tyrant captains who imposed their power on threats and empty promises, but reality could not be further from that. The many had power over the few. On most pirate ships democracy reigned supreme and, after having sailed under Lowe, they could all more than appreciate it. She would learn her lesson the hard way.

'Let's get all we can carry back to the Peacemillion. Somebody tie up those men. We'll settle this when we're done.' Heero holstered his pistol as he walked past their current captain. The look in his eyes made it clear her captaincy would not last long.

XXX

As they prepared to set sail once more, Relena sat at the bowsprit watching the sunset as the light breeze played with her hair. The coin they had made with the sale of the sugar and coffee beans had been enough to replenish their food stocks, fix the ship and add to everyone's savings. She had used part of hers to pay for a decent few nights at The Scroll and Talisman with hot baths and decent meals as well as a couple of new dresses and, for the moment, she was perfectly content.

'Done moving back to your quarters?' she asked when she heard the captain's footsteps, but when there was only silence she turned around and frowned at his grave face.

'I thought you were dead.' Heero confessed, standing by the foremast and seemed as surprised by his words as she was.

She did not have to ask to know what he was talking about for she had seen the look on his face the moment she had stepped up to confront Dorothy. The others had been shocked, surprised, but Heero… He had looked as if he had just remembered how to breathe. 'I'm sorry.' She said, approaching him. 'I didn't think… When I saw him coming after me I just ran. I made it as far as the prow and hid behind a pile of crates while I reloaded my pistol, but he never came looking and I only realised it was over when I heard Dorothy order you to kill the hostages.'

He shook his head lightly, meaning she did not have to explain herself. All he needed was for her to stand there until he could commit to memory every shade of yellow and gold in her hair, every line in her face, every glimmer in her eyes and every quirk of her lips. So if he ever lost her… 'You may…' he cleared his throat, frowning for a moment at his own discomposure. 'If ye wish to return to the captain's quarters…'

'I do wish to.' She had to pause to reign in her enthusiasm. 'It's just… You're captain again and I…'

'I know it's…' he cleared his throat again awkwardly. He seemed to be doing that a lot ever since he had met her. 'Inappropriate. It's unworthy of a lady like you. That's why I thought we might get engaged.'

Her breath caught in her throat and, for a moment, she could do nothing but gape at him and shake her head lightly. She must have misunderstood him. Surely, he had not meant it the way she had interpreted it, but if not, then… How? Relena just could not stop herself from asking. 'Are you asking me to marry you?'

He straightened his back, holding his head high. It was done. There would be no taking it back, not that he intended to. It was scary how vulnerable he had just made himself, how easy it would be for her to break him once he had given her his answer… And yet, Heero was no coward. 'I'm asking permission to court you.'

She crossed what little distance remained between them, blushing when she met his eyes up close. It was still there, hidden just beneath the surface, that something in his eye that she did not think she would ever be able to live without again. 'Aye.' She echoed softly, raising her hand for him to take. He did not disappoint her and, when his free hand cupped her cheek, Relena closed her eyes and kissed him.


GLOSSARY:

Rosa Dourada - Portuguese for Golden Rose

Sheets - lines or chains, attached to the corners of the sails, that serve to extend those sails and/or change their angle to meet the direction of the wind.

Santa Maria de Almada - Saint Mary of Almada or Holy Mary of Almada. Almada is a Portuguese coastal town near Lisbon or in the region of Lisbon. Please, correct me if I'm wrong.

Pirata - Portuguese for pirate.


TRIVIA:

Panama Canal (Canal do Panamá) - it's an artificial canal that connects the Pacific and Atlantic oceans going through Panama. It only started to be constructed at the end of the XIX century, but – for the sake of 'fast travel' – we'll ignore that tiny little detail and pretend it's a strait and that it always existed. XD


SPECIAL THANKS to Cyn Finnegan to whom I owe the inspiration for the name Rosa Dourada.