Chapter XXIII

The Endless Storm (Part I)

'Thank you so much for escorting me here.' Relena squeezed Lady Une's hands which she had taken in hers.

'It was my pleasure.' The older woman shook her head dismissively. 'I'm glad you found your crew and even more so that they took you back in. This was what Treize would've wanted. I'll be happy to report back to him.'

'He won't come after us, will he?' the blonde felt the need to ask despite Une's reassuring smile.

'Not right at this moment, no. Treize has much to do in Port Royal before the Libra can set sail again… Others might pursue you, however, so I'd sail east for now if I were you.'

'I'll tell Heero. Thank you again, Lady Une. I wish you a safe voyage.'

'Good luck, Relena. Stay safe.'

'I will.'

She stood at the port until the other woman's ship set sail. Seagulls cried in the distance and the breeze – cool against her skin – smelled like rain. The sound of approaching footsteps did not startle her. Relena felt at peace. 'I hear you've become first mate.' Quatre's voice reached her a second before he halted beside her, his eyes also lost in the horizon. 'I still find it hard to believe…'

The hood of her cloak fell off her head as she spun towards him. 'Why?'

His lips curved downwards. 'If you had seen the way Heero was during the voyage here…' he shook his head as if to clear it. 'What matters is that you may influence his decisions now, maybe even bring him back to what he used to be.'

'I too hope things can go back to the way they were before…'

'I'm sure you'll be able to knock some sense into him.'

'Quatre…'

'Yes?'

'If you're so sure things can be good again, then why not stay? Why leave?'

'I…'

'It's Heero.' She said, looking at something over his shoulder. 'I need to go… Will you think about it? We'll be setting sail soon and we're still in need of hands.'

Relena did not wait for his answer. Quatre turned around, following her with his gaze until she had met up with the Peacemillion's captain at the end of the wooden dock. He was far enough that Heero could pretend not to have seen him even though he had. The blonde man knew he had been watching them, watching the young lady, guarding her like a hawk. Yes, he was sure Relena would be able to resurrect the man's more human side… If only he gave her a chance.

XXX

'Do it.' He told her unsympathetically. 'Laugh.'

She clenched her teeth, bit her lip and threw a hand over her face, but at last she gave up. Zero, perched on the captain's shoulder, completely ruined his mean pirate image. 'I'm sorry.' She said chuckling. 'Have you tried waving him away?'

'There's nothing I haven't tried.'

Relena saw him glare at the parrot who simply took as couple steps away from the man's face and toward his arm as if he were completely unaware of the danger. Heero looked away resigned. 'So?' she changed the subject. 'Where are we going?'

'To buy provisions.'

'And after that? Where are we going once we've set sail?'

'I do not know. Somewhere, anywhere.'

'I heard a monster's been tormenting the residents of a nearby isle… They've put a price on its head.'

'We're pirates, Relena. Not knights.'

She went quiet. Zero kept walking on the captain's shoulder. 'Couldn't we just sail with no destination in mind?'

'No purpose?' he wondered, a frown on his face. 'We might run out of food on the way if we do not have a plan.'

'Une warned me we'd rather not sail towards Port Royal, but east.'

'That's not a very promising start…'

The few working ladies that stood in front of a rundown brothel giggled and whispered to each other as they passed, sending lascivious looks their way. Relena tried to ignore them, but the parrot whistled. 'Ahoy!' he said, twisting his neck towards the women. 'Ahoy!'

'Shoo!' the blonde waved her hand, glaring at him.

'Ack!' Zero jumped up, flapped his wings and landed on the captain's head. The man stared at her with a blank expression as if wondering what the hell she thought she was doing.

'You hadn't tried that.' Relena shrugged and they fell silent as the market slowly, but steadily engulfed them.

They negotiated with fishmongers, fruit vendors, butchers and tailors, arranging for supplies to be delivered to the Peacemillion at the docks. As soon as their stocks had been replenished they would be setting sail. By the time they returned the sun was starting its descent. Quatre and Dorothy stood by the gangplank waiting for them.

'I need a ship that'll take us to Africa. I'm willing to pay.' The blonde man went straight to the point.

'Ye wish to board as passengers.' Heero surmised.

'All aboard! All aboard!' Zero offered his contribution.

'Ah…' Quatre faltered at the sight of the parrot, but noticing the captain's narrowing eyes, decided not to ask. 'Aye.'

'Couldn't find anyone else to take ye?'

'No one's willing to sail that way.'

'They say a nearby isle's haunted and any who get near it will befall a foul fate.' Dorothy watched them closely, arms akimbo. 'No reasonable amount of gold will convince the cowards.'

'So?' the blonde man picked up where she had left off. 'Will the Peacemillion take us?'

The first mate was ready to say 'aye', but she held herself back though it was clearly hard for her to. Heero's eyes narrowed again, a mere fraction. 'I'll consider it.'

Quatre nodded gravely, he had already expected that sort of reaction. 'We're still staying at the Scroll and Talisman… Whenever you wish to find us.'

They stood there, impassively, as the couple retreated. Relena fought the urge to question Heero's decision, she had the feeling he was merely being childish and stubborn, wanting to make the blonde man somehow pay for abandoning the ship. Literally. 'This is what we'd been waiting for. A purpose. A destination.'

'Aye.' He conceded, but would not elaborate and resumed walking.

'Heero.' She had to pick up her pace in order to catch up to him. 'You said repeating the captain's orders wasn't the first mate's sole obligation. Am I not entitled to give you my opinion? To make sure you make decisions that favour the entire crew? They were the ones who put me here, therefore I represent their interests as much as you do.'

He stopped, repressing a frustrated sigh. They both knew what she said was true on every account. A first mate was to a captain as an advisor was to a king. 'Anchors aweigh! Anchors aweigh!' Zero urged them on.

'Not yet, bird. Not yet.' He told the parrot sternly, then turned to Relena. 'Very well… Speak.'

For a moment, under his undivided attention, she faltered. 'I think we should take Quatre and his entourage to Africa. Not because we need the money, but because we need hands and this voyage might be long enough for us to convince them to stay. I know Dorothy wants to so, even if they end up not staying in Africa, we won't have sailed in vain. You know we need to sail one way or another. You can't stand to linger here any longer.'

In all honesty, she was prepared to have her idea completely dismissed, but that was not what the captain did. His eyebrows knitted lightly, thoughtfully. It was only a glimpse she got, before he turned around and resumed walking. 'We do need arms…' he mused.

Relena smiled. She could sense something good brewing.

XXX

A lady danced not far away from them, her bosom almost spilling out of her corset as she giggled at the uninhibited customers who tried to cop a feel. Across the room, a sick looking brunette, face covered with heavy makeup, waved invitingly at them. The waitress presented her tender backside as she refilled their drinks, but the men showed no interest in any of the women surrounding them.

'Her reasoning's impeccable.' Was Trowa's final verdict.

Heero's frown deepened.

'Shut up! Shut up!' Zero said in his stead as if he had read the man's mind.

'Would ye, please, retrieve the bird?' he motioned towards the parrot with growing irriation.

The lookout crossed his arms. 'He likes ye. Nothin' I can do about that. I do wonder why though…'

'I know ye're angry.' The captain sighed, growing serious.

'Angry?' the word was clearly not enough to describe Trowa's feelings. 'I've a right to know what became of Cathy's murderer!'

'I gave ye a shot way back when…'

'An' I lost it. I know. I was fine with ye doing the honours this time. That ain't what's upset me.'

'I shall not talk about it.' Heero said, threatening to stand up and leave. They glared at each other for a long moment, but at last the lookout turned his head away, towards one of the waitresses, and motioned with his mug for the captain to sit back down.

'Ye're being a fool.' Trowa saw the need to inform his companion after a minute of heavy silence.

'And what are ye doing 'ere? Sittin' and drinkin' in a house of pleasure.'

'Ahoy!' Zero seized the opportunity to join in.

'Shut up, Zero.' Both men snapped at once before turning moodily back to their drinks and sipping.

'How am I being a fool?' Heero humbly asked.

'Well…' the lookout cleared his throat. 'Ye wanted their plan to succeed even more than Jay or Lowe ever did, and ye fooled yerself into believing ye could be a mindless, heartless weapon. Ye told Lena ye wouldn't take her back because that's what ye wanted to do, that's how strong and unnaffected ye wanted to be. A day later ye let 'er convince ye to do exactly that. Face it, Heero. No man's truly heartless no matter how much he may wish to be. Not even you.'

'I was drunk when I took her back in.'

'Aye… Keep tellin' yerselef that and mayhaps it might 'come true.'

There was a pause, however pregnant. Trowa could practically hear the captain searching his mind for a snarky riposte. 'Don't think I'm the only one who lies to himself. Ye keep saying ye come here for fun, but we both know there's a specific wench ye come here to see. I never butted in yer affairs, Barton, so don't come butting into mine.'

Zero looked like he was about to add something, but one look at Heero's lowered eyebrows had the parrot pirouetting and resuming his endless walk on the man's shoulder. 'I thought that's why ye'd come here.' The green-eyed pirate said finally. 'So I could meddle, because the smart part of ye knows ye need someone to.'

The captain snorted, but the silence that followed was light, it was the kind of silence they were used to. 'It's like an addiction… this thing…' he commented suddenly, quietly. 'Like I become someone else, like I lose control when I'm around her… I guess I'll just have to overcome it.'

Trowa glanced pensively at the other man's mug. 'By replacing it with another addiction?'

Heero shrugged. 'Whatever needs to be done.'

'Ye really think ye can stop yerself from feeling? By sheer will? Having Darlian around won't make things any easier for ye, if ye do.'

'Shut up! Shut up!' Zero said, pausing awkwardly between the words, giving the order his own parroty intonation.

'His timing's faultless.' The captain observed matter-of-factly.

'As I said…' the lookout resumed. 'Ye're being a fool.'

'I must do this the hard way… So I'll never need to do it again.' Heero finished quietly, but resolutely. Trowa said nothing, pretending not to have heard him, his eyes fixed on one of the many circling strumpets. Beside him, the captain downed the rest of his rum and pushed himself to his feet. 'So? What's her name?'

'I'll tell ye if ye tell me what became of Lowe… and Jay.'

One side of the captain's mouth curved upwards in a sad, distasteful sort of smile. He eyed one of the women and she smiled at him. She was strangely attractive… Like no other prostitute had ever been. It was Zero who clarified things for him. 'Re-le-na!' he quacked. 'Re-le-na!' his foot seemed to point towards the wench.

Heero's eyes narrowed. No, it was not Relena, but there were enough similarities for the rum to make him see his first mate in the girl's place… Dark blonde hair, bluish-green eyes and a petite frame. He turned around. 'I'll see ye back at the ship.' He informed the lookout. It was hard for him to admit it – even if only to himself – but he feared he might have bitten more than he could chew after all… He feared Trowa might be right.

XXX

'It's a deal.' Quatre said with a nod and shook the Peacemillion's captain's hand.

'We're ready whenever you wish to set sail.' Relena said, beaming at the blonde man.

The sun shone mercilessly over their heads and none of the surrounding pirates looked too eager to get to work. There were no complaints however, for they all knew they had spent far too long lingering in Tortuga and there was always the chance their returning comrades' might suddenly change their minds again.

Taciturn Heero merely nodded and made a motion with his hands towards the sleeping quarters, or rather to the stairs leading to them, as if telling the blonde and his entourage to make themselves at home. They had agreed to work instead of pay in exchange for the voyage and the captain had dismissed the ne'er'-do-wells he had nearly – out of desperate need – hired. Relena assured him that, by the time they reached their destination, Quatre would have changed his mind about leaving. He hoped there would be decent pirates in Africa in case she turned out to be wrong.

'I'd like to set sail right away if everyone's in agreement.' The blonde man glanced around and was met by many gazes and many nods.

'Give us a few minutes to get ready and we'll be on our way.' The first mate assured him, turning to hurry after Heero towards the quarter deck.

'Atribute tasks as ye see fit.' He told her as soon as they were alone by the helm.

'Should I make a list? Bring it to you when I'm done?'

'Nay. Just give them all notice and prepare to raise the anchor.'

She watched him walk away quickly, dismissively. He had been avoiding her or trying very hard to, at the very least. His reasons were clear to her. He loved her, but he did not want to so he wanted her gone and yet there she was, beside him almost all the time. It was not intentional, Relena had not meant to become first mate and impose her presence on him. It was undeniable how happy she was, but she would have been satisfied simply returning to the crew.

'Trouble in paradise?' Dorothy reached the quarter deck, the usual smirk on her lips.

'I don't want you to meddle.' The other woman warned her. The constant heat and the captain's distant, dismissive behaviour had made her edgy.

'You wound me, Miss Relena. Why would you assume I'd do such a thing? I only try to help when asked.'

Relena's eyes narrowed. What kind of fool did the other woman take her for? But though the word 'liar' crossed her mind, it never escaped her lips. 'He needs time. This needs time.' She told Dorothy… and herself, trying to make her voice sound confident. 'I can assign you to swab duty.' She added as a safeguard.

'That's mean, Miss Relena.' Dorothy sounded mocking yet the first mate managed to do no more than glare at her. 'I came here to offer a hand!'

'Dorothy…' Relena sighed, unable to stay angry. 'Why don't we go down to the quarter deck and get everyone together so we can distribute tasks? I can't wait to leave this island behind… And the last few months with it.'

XXX

They dropped anchor as soon as the so called haunted isle appeared into view. A cold rogue wind rattled the sails as a fleet of dark grey clouds started to approach. Trowa studied the small mound of green covered sand in the horizon. Heero and Relena were waiting for his report, but he did not notice anything unusual. The winged skull flag flapped wildly above his head. A storm was coming, but that was long overdue. The island had been deserted, but that hardly meant it was haunted, all it meant was that the locals were extremely supersticious or cowardly or both.

'That the isle?' Duo asked joining him in the crow's nest. He squinted, trying to see with his naked vision something the lookout's telescope might have missed. At last, he failed. 'Looks safe enough.' He shrugged.

'Aye.' Trowa conceded though he was not entirely convinced. 'Ye really think 'tis a good idea?'

'What? O' course! 'Twas Chang's idea!'

The lookout sighed, handing his telescope to the braided pirate as he climbed onto the rope that connected the main mast to the aft mast. He walked the line with ease, almost distractedly, and slid down to the deck below, landing beside the helm. Startled, Zero, who had been walking up and down the railing, waved his wings and squawked. 'There's naught to report, Capt'n.' he informed, shaking his head.

'As I thought…' Heero crossed his arms, frowning lightly. 'We've wasted our time with a made up ghost.'

'There must be something!' Relena protested worriedly. 'Anything! Why else would people have spread the story?'

'Merchants spread stories, lassie.' Howard, who was leaning against the nearest mast, scratched his head, a sympathetic look in his eyes. 'Tales to scare their competitors. That's how they monopolize their markets! Well… At least, for as long as the story holds...'

'But would people really abandon their isle, their homes, without a single proof?'

'Simpletons are supersticious. More than we know.' It was Quatre who said it as he reached the quarter deck. 'I still think it's worth investigating though.'

'What's yer interest in this?' the captain's eyes narrowed at him, but the blonde man was unfazed.

'My interest is the interest of all those who are being deprived of food and other essentials because merchants are afraid of sailing these waters.'

'Ever the altruist…' Howard smirked. 'That's our Quatre.'

'Exactly!' Dorothy's voice rumbled like thunder under the steadily darkening skies. A lightning fell in the distance, cracking the massive wall of clouds for a fraction of a second. 'And as your employers we demand you take us to that isle!' she ordered haughtily.

One of Heero's eyebrows rose warningly, but the blonde woman did not waver. 'A storm is coming.' It was the first mate who spoke, stepping between them. A thunder echoed around them and the parrot shouted obscenities, his yellowish eyes wide and his feathers ruffled. 'Perhaps it would be best if we docked there either way. Ghost or no ghost.'

Everyone started speaking at once then, attracting the rest of the crew to the quarter deck to spy on the commotion. It was the rain that decided for them, however, for it started pouring so suddenly and heavily they could barely hear or see each other past the thick curtain of droplets. A wave rocked the ship. 'Half sails ahead! To the haunted isle!'

The Peacemillion jerked backwards as she mounted a large wave, then forward as the hull slid down the watery slope formed by the raging sea. 'This storm ain't normal!' someone shouted as the crew picked themselves back up. Heero held the helm tightly as the ship tried to escape his control.

'What're ye implying? That the ghost has caused it?' came the immediate reply. The men were speaking so loudly the captain and first mate could hear them at the quarter deck.

'It's Rashid's men.' Relena said suddenly, answering his unasked question though – in truth – she was speaking mainly to herself. They kept forgetting the Maganacs had been born and raised in the deserts and only become sailors very recently. It was probably their first real storm at sea.

'Brace!' someone shouted suddenly and the captain barely had time to crouch, tightening his hold on the helm as a giant wave crashed right over their heads.

The first mate pulled herself to her feet with the help of the railing, coughing and spitting salty water, her legs shook and so did her hand as she raised it to wipe water from her eyes. Worried, she turned to Heero and met his serious gaze. She hated him then, at that one moment, hated him with every fibre of her being because in the face of imminent death his reservations seemed unbelievably stupid. As a matter-of-fact so did hers. She wanted to punch him so, but, instead, she turned to the main deck and shouted. 'No sails!'

With a nod, the captain approved her decision and turned back to the helm. Just a little longer and they would reach the damned island. He wondered if they would really be safe there…

A second wave crashed over them then, though this time they were prepared enough not to lose their feet. Heero thought he could hear someone hurling on the main deck. It was never unexpected in such situations. 'Relena.'

'I know.' The first mate was already repeating her order for the sails to be shortened. Now it was up to the captain to manoeuvre them towards the island. 'Is there anything else I can do? To help?' she was frowning worriedly at him, after all it was no easy task he had to accomplish. Trowa and Hilde were already by the anchor, waiting.

For once, he allowed himself to openly meet her eyes. 'Nay.' He said simply, but gratefuly and honestly. She saw and heard it even through the pouring rain.

The Peacemillion battled the waves, bobbing up and down, splashing more water over the already soaked and freezing crew, wobbling dangerously sideways at times, making Relena's heart rush all the way up to her throat. Finally, they reached the island. The hull colliding against a sandbank, sending all those still standing to the floor. The anchor was dropped, unasked, and – for a moment – the pirates were quiet, allowing their hearts to slow down and regaining their breaths. Deep down they all expected the next wave to push the ship back into the marrow of the storm… It never happened. Then another Maganac bent over the railing, retching, and they were all brought back to reality.

'Is there anywhere to hide in dryland?' Hilde was asking Quatre when Heero reached the main deck followed closely by the first mate.

'That land's anything but dry.' Duo squinted, trying to see past the curtain of rain and the darkness, but all he could distinguish were the silhouettes of a few lonely palm and coconut trees, their leaves waving violently in the wind.

'It's too dark to see…' the blonde man complained, clearly divided.

'The sandbank will hold 'er in place.' The captain said calmly. 'We need only watch out for lighting… Otherwise, the ship's our safest choice.'

'We can explore the devil's island come morrow.' Howard agreed.

'Don't even say that, ye old heathen.' The braided pirate crossed his chest.

XXX

Palm tree leaves waving on the breeze, white sand reflecting the sun into their eyes, tufts of grass straining to survive amidst the heat, crabs rushing by, clear blue waters… All in all, the haunted island looked like no more than any other ordinary, small and deserted isle. And yet there was something about it that was not quite right. Or, at least, Relena thought there must be for when she arrived at the main deck that morning she realised that – for some reason - no one had dared step foot on the island.

Heero was cross.

'There ain't nothing out there.' Duo was telling the captain, his conviction plain.

'Then why not go on a reconnaissance?'

'The question's why go if there's nothing to see?'

'He doesn't have to go, Heero.' Relena argued gently, rationally. 'I'm sure there are others who'll wish to.'

He scoffed. 'None of them do.'

She opened her mouth to protest, but the looks she found on the surrounding faces were not reassuring. 'Not even you, Quatre?' The blonde man had seemed the most interested in solving the riddle of the haunted island and yet… This suddenly reminded her of the sirens' den and how Heero and she had had to face its dangers on their own. She turned to the captain. 'If no one wishes to explore the island then…'

'It's not that we don't want to know what's in the isle, ye see…' Howard began, scratching his bearded chin. 'It's just that ye should go. To set an example, ye see. Ye've just been named first mate, for the first time, and Heero – as our captain – has a lot to make up for…'

Relena actually felt offended for the captain, but Heero turned towards the railing and the shore beyond. 'Very well, then… But whatever loot we find will be ours. In its entirety.'

'Ah… Surely there won't be much sugar left behind in this silly isle. Eh?' the old man met his crewmates' eyes looking for a light.

'O' course not, old man!' Duo reassured him. 'Who'd leave their few precious belongings behind? No one's that scared.'

'Nor that stupid…' Hilde agreed. 'Besides… We're filthy rich already. Ye two go ahead and stuff yer pockets with all the seashells and coconuts ye can find.'

'Hey!' Auda started complaining. 'We are no— Ow! Master Quatre?!'

The blonde man looked both surprised and horrified. 'What? Oh! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to!'

'Why don't you just go?' Dorothy urged them on. 'The sooner you go, the sooner you'll get back. The sooner you get back, the sooner we'll be out of here.'

The captain studied her and Quatre for a moment as if questioning their intentions. Relena did not seem to share his doubts. She laid a hand on his arm, trying sheepishly to gain his attention. It sent a jolt throughout his body, and Heero immediately stepped back, clearing his throat. If she was hurt or offended or if she noticed it at all, she did not show. 'Give me a moment? There's just something I wish to take with me.'

'Hn.' As the first mate walked away, he shook his thoughts back into order and turned to Trowa. 'Barton?'

'Aye, Capt'n.'

'Gather everyone and try to get the ship off this shoal while we're gone.'

'Aye, aye, Capt'n.'

Heero turned towards the trees and sighed discreetly. There was something fishy in the air and it had nothing to do with the island… He hoped it was just paranoia, though deep down he knew better than to dismiss a gut feeling, still…

'All set.' Relena reemerged, carrying a cutlass on her hip. He wondered if she knew how to use it and, if she did, who had taught her to… The images of another man teaching her, touching her, being on the receiving end of one of her smiles filled his head uninhibited.

The captain's nails dug into his palms and his jaw clenched as he walked past her, even thinking had become dangerous… 'Let's go then.'

Stepping over the leaves felled by the storm and the seaweed brought to the shore by the waves, they made their way in the general direction of where they believed the local village had probably been built. 'Must we really steal? We are rich now.' The first mate trudged after him, sidestepping plants and crabs and bugs.

'There can never be too much food and water on board when ye set off on a voyage.'

She picked up pace until she caught up with him. 'You hesitated there. That's not what you were going to say.'

'Hn.'

The ambiguous answer did not appease her. 'Heero…'

'We're pirates.' He said, once again unable to give her the silent treatment. It pained him too much to, so he answered her however hurriedly, and wished the questions would stop coming. 'It's what we do, what we live for.'

'Plunder?'

'Nay.' He stopped just as they reached the outskirts of the village. Relena halted too, watching him closely. 'Adventure.'

Her eyes followed his gaze then and it was when she saw it…

The ghost.

Of its own volition, her hand shot out and her fingers wrapped around the captain's arm. This time he did not pull away, he merely tensed. 'Can you see…'

'Aye.'

It was an old woman, her skin grey as a corpse's and her hair as white as snow. She sat at the edge of a broken rowboat next to one of the abandoned huts, her face in her hands, weeping quietly. 'How can anyone be afraid of her? Maybe she only needs help.'

This time it was Heero's fingers that wrapped around her arm, the look on his face as hard as stone. 'There must be a reason why the locals left.'

'What harm could she possibly do to us? We need to talk to her.'

'We should leave. We've already had to face a storm and are lucky to have survived.'

'You too think she caused the storm?'

'I do not know, but I suspect… If all she did was sit 'ere and cry, ships wouldn't have stopped sailing these waters.'

Relena pried his hand open, pulling it away from her arm and holding it in her own. He let her. She met his eyes. 'We made it here. We survived the storm, as you said. There must be a reason why.'

Her eyes sparkled up at him. He nodded, telling himself he was too tired to argue with her. Relena beamed at him before taking the first step towards the ghost. Heero wondered – if they died – what they would be dying for. Adventure, his romantic reply echoed in his ear. Trowa had been right… He was a fool.