Indeed the escape racked up an extra fifteen guineas to her head as she sailed away with almost everyone from her crew. Only five were lost, died on the run or died by surrendering, which guards killed on site. The men who surrendered deserved to die. There would be no room for cowards on her ship. But the debt was paid, according to Jack. No ties, no loose ends with her. It did hurt her heart as she sailed away and into the seas, towards Tortuga to repair her damaged ship.
"Gregorik! Hoist the second mast and aim east!" Alastia ordered her quartermaster as she made way towards her new Captains Quarters to clear out Smerlock Grainger's old things that Alastia didn't need nor want. She also needed to assign her first mate, but she'll do that later. But she'd keep a few of Grainger's things. The holder of a nine pieces of eight, a holder Smerlock earned, more like stole from his own father, when he was a holder of the piece before making residence in a watery grave. The holder was a band of leather, stamped with a hot iron with a sort of ancient language, or drunk man's gibberish. Either one of the two. The band fitted perfectly on her wrist. Old and worn enough to slide on easily whilst keeping firm hold. Imbedded in the center was the piece of eight, a half silver half bronze coin that gleaned in the sunlight.
She ended up keeping most of his things, his guns knives, anything's of the sort. His hats. She gave the unwanted clothes for grabs for the crew.
"Who was Grainger's cabin boy now?" Alastia spoke to the crew who were fighting for clothes.
The boy who she'd never really took notice of raised his hand. He looked to be no more than eleven, twelve at most.
"Come here. Now what be yer name."
"Captain used to call me Jules... but I didn't like it much..."
"Jewels y'say? Don't you reason it a bit lady-like of a name? Unbefitting of a boy I say. How bout you pick a new one?"
"Well, I's always liked the name Quill. Or Sam. Or Tukes. Or Vermeer. Or-"
"Let's just stick with Quill aye?"
"Yes Captain!" Quill exclaimed, bloody lip swelling from the tussle over Graingers clothes even though they were too big for him now.
" Now Quill, bring me some ale from the hold to meh office. I need time alone, y'get? But tell crew we can celebrate our escape. No rum er ale, don't need no sloppin' drunkards steerin' us from 'one clear for duty, save fer crow's nest an' steer. Now go." Alastia said with a small smile before closing herself in Captains quarters.
This was it. What she wanted...right?
Well, for the most part. Pirate,yes. Captain, definitely. Feared and loved, yes. So what was missing?
Jack. Alastia had always thought that Jack would see her succeed. Well he was in a way...
"Shoot her!" Jack squealed most uncharacteristically, as Alastia held her double barrel pistol to his head, cocked and loaded, beads of sweat forming on Jack's head.
"Let me and my crew loose! I got yer precious Captain prisoner! If you not want his brains all over this here wall, y'do as I say!"
"I said shoot her!"
"Captain there isn't a clean shot! I'll have to shoot you!"
"Then don't bloody shoot!"
"Listen to yer dear Captain now. One folly move, and I'll blow all three yer brains out!"
"Nary! You can't do that, before we shoot ye dead!"
"I ain't a quickdraw fer nothin..."Alastia said in a deadly whisper. Both Jack and the guards paled at those words.
Jack knew this was a ploy, and Damm well this was only acting, or at least he hoped. But what unnerved Jack the most were her words. They held truth to them and her Spanish lilt made it sound only more deadly. On all other accounts, Jack would have found her voice pleasing, just not now with a loaded pistol to his head.
The guards did as she was told, and her whole crew attacked the guards instantly, killing them silent, save for their muffled screams.
"Want to take care o him Captain?" A huge burly and none to bright pirate asked, snatching Jack up from her arms, and slamming him against the wall, making Jack gasp from the blow.
"Put him down now Weshire! Now! And softly mind you! He is a friend, y' oaf!" Alastia commanded in a angry whisper.
Weshire put Jack down, his coat rumpled and Jack slightly spooked to say the least.
"This is the end, Alastia. I helped you get your crew out. Now I can live without my debt haunting me." Jack said as he caught his breath
"What do you mean..." Alastia said her excitement from the standoff fading." All those years ago, when we were children...no more. You saved mine, and now I saved yours..."
"Come with us Jack! I''ve got-"
"-No, Alastia. This is where we depart. Now no time for sentiment, there was never any time for that... go up those stairs and take right, a way to bypass almost all guards, many prisoners never know what's back there. Now, in a room to your left, listen Alastia, in a room to the left, there will be two guards, and a hole in the wall we never fixed from a cannon misfire. That's your way out. I will alert the guards. And soon you'll be chased, but you and your men will have upper hand. Should you do this, your men shall be free-" lips crashed into his for only a moment.
"Goodbye Jack, because I know that the next time we meet, you'll fulfill yer duties an' kill me."
Alastia waited for any argument from him but when none came from mouth nor eyes, Alastia walked away.
"Wait! I need to show injury or the plan will never work!"
"That be right, how could I forget." Alastia turned, marched straight out to Jack and full knuckled boxed him in the nose, ending with a sickening crack.
Blood stained her fist and she wiped it on his ornate coat,and he almost yelled in pain, but ended in a whimper. When Jack looked up, they were gone.
"Here be yer ale Missus Captain." Quill said timidly carrying a standard, while Alastia sat at her desk, chewing sweet toffee she'd stolen from Jack's office.
"Thank you, Quill. Here." Alastia said solemnly, tossing a toffee treat to the boy.
"Thanks Captain, won't tell a soul!" Quill said as he closed the door.
Alastia needed to be alone. To think, to mourn.
She would have never though that her only friend would turn enemy.