The gangplank hit the dock with a solid 'thunk' and the pirates eagerly filed off the ship with Darwin taking the rear. He now sported an eyepatch and a hefty belt both of which he thoroughly despised. For one he was particularly fond of the use of both eyes and secondly the size of his belt buckle made it nearly impossible to bend over without impaling his stomach. How did pirates live like this?

The Pirate Captain strutted down the boardwalk as if he owned the place, winking and 'how-de-do'ing' everyone they happened to pass. A few pirates waved back but most either rolled their eyes or ignored him. He scarcely noticed. He was much too busy being proud of himself and pointing out his wanted posters.

While the Captain pranced at the front of their little band Charles straggled a bit behind as he took in the new surroundings. The place seemed to be a cross between a pirate themed carnival and a strip mall…or at least that's what he would have thought had there been strip malls in the 1830's. One shop after another along the boardwalk advertised everything a pirate could possibly want: buckle polishing, artificial limbs, used parrots, explosives and of course all things even remotely nautical. A few had holes in their signs as if they had been hit by cannon fire at one time. High above and behind the buildings turned a creaky Farris wheel that looked as if it had been thrown together from old ship parts.

Charles nearly jumped out of his skin as a window from one of the shops exploded outward sending shattered glass and a very irate pirate skidding across the boardwalk. The pirate stopped rolling at Charles feet. The rough, overly tattooed man shook a hook and hollered several choice nautical insults at the proprietor who in turn pulled out a pistol and shot the pirate's hat clean off his head.

"Oy! That's my favorite hat!" With that the pirate whipped out his cutlass and headed back toward the shop.

Charles scurried quickly away, not wanting to know the outcome of that little skirmish. But no sooner had he taken two steps than a huge, muscular pirate came roaring out of an alley with a smaller pirate held high above his head. With a great heave he tossed the smaller man splashing into the bay.

The big man dusted off his ape-like hands, clearly satisfied. "That's the last time he'll say my mama wears army boots!"

"That's right Sonny." Said the burly woman with two peg legs.

With a shudder Charles hurried to catch up with the crew then realized with a start that they were nowhere to be seen. He turned a frantic circle in the center of the boardwalk. There were pirates everywhere! Pirates with artificial limbs, eyes patches and wooden teeth, pirates fighting, singing or just lounging on the beach. There were pirates on ships, in the ringing or on the sails, there were pirates with parrots swords and garbage pails.

But none of them were his pirates! Where could they possibly have gone in the few seconds he hadn't been paying attention. He was just about to start the preliminary stages of panic when the Albino Pirate poked his head out of a dingy looking pub called 'the Barnicle's Face'.

"What are you waiting for?" Albino asked with an expansive wave, beckoning him inside.

The place was dark, rowdy and smelled of cheap spirits.

"Over here,Chuck!" The Pirate Captain called from the table by the giant stuffed octopus.

"Pardon me...um...terribly sorry." Darwin gingerly navigated through through the crowd of piratical patrons, trying to ignore some of the funny looks he received as he meekly excused himself. Someone's peg leg suddenly appeared in his path and down he went, face first into the floorboards.

"What's the matter, lubber? Leave your sea legs at home?"

Charles stood, dusted himself off and brusquely straightened his over-shoulder bag trying to ignore the raucous laughter. It was like being in school all over again. He took the empty seat between the Pirate with the Scarf and the Albino Pirate.

"Watch where you step, Chuck." The Captain said cheerily. "The floors are uneven."

"Mm." Charles frowned noncommittally.

The Pirate with a Scarf gave an apologetic shrug.

The Captain flagged down a barmaid.

"What'll ye 'ave, mates?"

Charles raised a finger. "Tea with just a spot of...OW!" A saltshaker bounced off his face. He rubbed his left cheek and glared in the Pirate Captain's direction where he was certain the projectile had come from.

The Captain completely ignored him. "Grog all around." He said with a toothy smile.

The barmaid gave Darwin a suspicious glance before heading off with their order.

"Don't embarrass me, Charles." The Captain said once she had gone.

Darwin shrugged. "I'm really not that fond of grog."

There was a gasp around the table and a few heads turned in adjacent tables. The Pirate with the Scarf clamped a hand over Darwin's mouth and the Captain threw the pepper at him.

"Good old Chuck, always making jokes!" The Captain said loud enough for the whole bar to hear.

Darwin slapped Number Two's hand away.

Quietly the Captain added. "I know you've got a big mouth, Chuck. But really, man! Use some common sense!"

"I'm sorry." Darwin blinked a couple times looking more bewildered than apologetic.

The Pirate Captain seemed to forget him entirely as a few pirates came in and waved at him.

"Nice poster, Captain!" One shouted, pointing to the 'wanted' poster near the bar wall that announced a 100,000 doubloon reward for the Pirate Captain's capture.

The Pirate Captain waved the compliment away in a pretense of humility. "Oh, it's just a hundred thousand doubloons. Nothing at all! They did capture my smile quite well I think."

The Pirate gave a nod and went back to ordering.

"Wow, Captain!" The Albino Pirate exclaimed. "People in here actually talk to you now!"

"Ye've earned their respect, Cap'n!" The Pirate with Gout added with a cock-sure fist.

The Pirate Captain twirled his moustache feeling quite important. "I-I have, haven't I?"

The door to the tavern swung open and the tavern hushed a bit as everyone paused what they were doing to watch a red-clad woman with a giant sword at her back saunter confidently into the room.

Charles jaw dropped to the table, both shocked and amazed at what he saw. "Who's that?"

"Cutlass Liz." Number Two whispered back.

"She's wanted in five of the seven seas!" The Pirate with a Hook where his hand should be said.

"She's one of the most famous pirates ever!" Said the Pirate with Gout.

"Aside from me, of course." The Captain added.

"B…but she's wearing pants!" The little scientist stammered, his cheeks flushing. Perhaps he should be averting his eyes.

The Surprisingly Curvaceous Pirate seemed to shrink a little in his chair.

Cutlass ordered a grog and leaned casually against the bar. She glanced in their direction and catching sight of the Pirate Captain she gave him a small nod of acknowledgement before turning her attention to her drink.

"Did you see that?" The Captain elbowed his first mate in the side (quite thankfully the one that wasn't injured). "You saw it didn't you, Number Two?"

"Congratulations, Captain." Number Two said with a smile. "Cutlass doesn't give out nods of acknowledgement lightly."

"Perhaps I should go talk to her." The Captain moved to get up.

"Mmm. Might be pushing your luck."

"A little forward? Perhaps you're right."

The barmaid returned with their grog. She slammed the cups on the table, sending foam sloshing.

Polly wandered about the table, sticking her beak into the occasional cup.

Darwin stared down at his cup and made a face. He had been drinking grog for nearly two months now and he was just about at the end of his rope. He had hoped, coming to shore in an actual…er…restaurant…sort of…he would be able to order something different. A cup of tea, a glass of sherry, wine….anything besides grog! But after what had just happened a few minutes ago he decided to keep his mouth shut and just drink the sludge.

"Ah! Bellamy!" The Pirate Captain waved furiously at a green-clad pirate with a black goatee. "What do you think of the poster?"

Bellamy raised an eyebrow and sauntered in the direction of their table. "And what poster might that be?"

The Pirate Captain looked a bit disappointed. "My wanted poster."

"Oooh. That poster!" Bellamy gave a sarcastic slap to his forehead. "You mean the one that looks nothing like you."

The Pirate Captain frowned a bit and pulled a copy of the paper from inside his coat. He squinted at it. "What are you talking about? That looks just like me."

Bellamy gave a cocky grin. "Your nose is way bigger than that."

The Pirate Captain shrugged a bit, completely missing the insult. "Eh…perhaps your right. But 100,000 doubloons! Pretty impressive, eh? Not many pirates are wanted for 100,000 doubloons!"

Bellamy nodded casually. "Yeah, no one ever thought you'd be worth half that much. That's really a ridiculous amount of dough for stealing one lousy parrot, though."

The Pirate Captain blinked. He had expected a little respect. Not more insults.

The Pirate with the Scarf leaned close to Darwin. "How much you are wanted for is a big deal here." He whispered. "It's rather like winning your science show."

Now that was something Darwin understood. "Actually,"

Everyone turned to look at him, somewhat surprised that he was entering this conversation.

Darwin was pleased he had managed to get their attention. "The Captain not only stole Polly back but he also sunk Queen Victoria's flagship, a vessel about ten times larger than his own, with nothing but vinegar and baking soda."

Bellamy stared at Charles as if he were a glob of seaweed that had stuck to his boot than turned back to the Pirate Captain. "Well, you better watch your back, Pirate Captain. Guys with a price like that on them don't live very long." With that he stalked off toward the bar.

"Well," The Pirate Captain watched him go, clearly disappointed. "That was uncalled for."

The Pirate with the Scarf put a hand on his shoulder. "He's jealous, Captain."

The Captain looked startled for a moment and then a huge smile burst across his face. "He wasn't he!?" He had never had another pirate captain be jealous of him before. It felt rather good.

"Did you see the way he kept clenching his fists?" The Pirate With Gout added.

"I think Charles, here, helped with that." Number Two gave Darwin a smile that seemed the equivalent of a pat on the shoulder.

The Captain nodded. "Good thinking, that vinegar and baking soda, bit. Ooh!" Something across the pub caught his eye, completely diverting his attention. "The board's open. You lads up for a game of darts?"