Our Future is in Our Past
Chapter Three
By Captainkodak1
The street was filled with dust as Drakken and Shego made their way into town. A number of wagons rolled up the street filled with goods from a ship tied at the docks. The dock master was directing a number of men that were unloading the ship. A few of the people walking along the docks stared to the two of them. One lady took a good look at Shego. Shego looked back at her.
"I got seasick."
The lady just nodded and walked on up the street. Shego turned her head to Drakken.
"Dr. D, do you get the feeling we are a little over dressed?
Drakken turned around and looked at Shego then back at himself. Shego was wearing her hair tied back with a bandanna, a large baggy white shirt covered by a leather vest, baggy pants and knee high boots. Drakken was wearing the same outfit when he was taken over by the pirate spirit.
"Well Shego, we have to look the part. Now, let see if we can find, oh whatever his name is."
Shego rolled her eyes.
"Blackbeard, otherwise known as Edward Teach, one of the most bloodthirsty pirates ever to sail the sea. Just how do you think we are going to even get close to him without knowing him. By the way watch where you are stepping."
Drakken took another step and stepped on something rather soft, squishy and warm. He looked down and scowled back as Shego, who was starting to appreciate the trees changing color. Drakken took a step back and wiped his boot off on some grass. At that moment, the door to a tavern smashed open and a man came flying out to land on the ground near Shego. He stood up and looked around blearily at Shego.
"Well now. What do we have here. Maybe another Anne Bonny or Mary Reed? Come here lass and let's see what you got."
He lurched over and made a grab for Shego. In three swift moves she laid him flat on the ground. She heard a roar of laughter and turned to see a mountain of a man standing in the door of the tavern.
"Well that was a sight to see. One of my own seaman taken down by a strip of a woman."
Shego snarled back.
"Watch it furface, this strip of a woman will lay you ou..."
She was interrupted by Drakken pulling on her sleeve.
"Sheeeegooooo, let's not make the man we want to see angry."
Then Shego turned to take a better look at the man walking toward her. He easily was several inches taller and many pounds heavier than she. But that was not what really caught her attention. It was his beard and hair that did that. His hair and beard were jet black. The beard was long and had been braided in sections. His hair was long and brushed back. The large wide brim hat partially hid his eyes.
Teach looked at the two of them.
"Just who do you be?"
Drakken was about to talk when Shego stepped forward and took Teach by the front of his coat with both her hands. She lifted him partially off the ground and hissed back at him.
"He is Blackeye Brown, he may not be the baddest but he is bad enough. We need your help. Our crew mutinied and set us adrift. We heard you took the Queen's pardon and hoped that you might give shelter and a meal to a fellow brother of the sea."
Teach looked down at Shego then broke out with a laugh. He shrugged his shoulders and broke Shego's grip with ease.
"Now there's a woman! Thomas! Get over here man. Take the wagon and give these two a ride to the house. Have the cook fix them something to eat, then give them a room. I'll be back later this afternoon. I need to go talk to the two brothers about running some cargo for me."
Teach turned away and started walking toward a small house near the end of the dock area. Smoke was coming from the chimney and was wafting away in the breeze. A heavy set seaman walked up to the two of them and raised his hand and touched his forehead in a salute.
"Howdy Cap'n, if you and the lady will follow me I'll take you out to the house. The Captain has a good table when he has the mind to pay for it or he hasn't been drinking too much."
Thomas motioned for them to follow the two of them.
"My name is Thomas, Thomas Miller. I am one of the Quartermasters for the Captain. We were in town getting some supplies to take to the house. The Cap'n has taken favor to a pair of young brothers. They showed up in town awhile back and started a small business with their boat. We met up with them one day and invited them aboard. They insulted the Captain and when me and a couple of the lads stood up for our Captain, they took on all of us. One disarmed Israel and decked him flat. I charged the other boy and ended up in the bloody water for my trouble. The Captain may like them but personally I waiting for a chance to get back at those two."
As Thomas spoke Drakken and Shego followed him to a wagon sitting next to one of the docks. Thomas climbed up and gestured to the seat beside him or in the back.
"You can sit up here with me or sit in the back. The back might be a little softer cause you can sit on some of the supplies back there."
Drakken nodded.
"Thank you my fine man, I think we will take you up on the softer ride."
Both of them climbed into the back of the wagon and took a seat on a pile of canvas. Thomas slapped the reigns on the back of the horse and he started off. Thomas turned the horse and wagon around and headed out of town. Shego noticed that they passed the house that Teach was walking up to. He knocked on the the door and waited. Just as they passed the door opened and he stepped into the house. Shego could see a figure standing in the darkness of the house, something about the figure was familiar but Shego shook her head. Nahhhh... the dude in front said two brothers lived in that house. They would still have to be careful. Those two would know how to hide in the crowd. But that red hair would be something she would be able to see from a good distance. If they could catch the two of them maybe she would get Blackbeard to make them walk the plank or keel haul the two of them. She sat back in the back of the wagon and relaxed. So far their plan was working well. First, they needed to find out if and where Teach had any treasure. Second, they needed to get a DNA sample from Teach. When they got back they could create an entire navy of Blackbeards totally at their command.
Picking up the plates they used for breakfast, Kim got ready to wash them off before they got ready for the day. Morning had come early and they had gotten up, dressed and ate. The door rattled as someone knocked on it. Glancing over to Kim, Ron walked over to the door and opened it. Captain Teach was standing in the door. He took his hat off and greeted the two.
"Grand morning to the two of ye. May I enter?"
Ron stepped back and let the former pirate enter. He shut the door behind him and gestured to the small table.
"We don't have a lot right now but you are welcome to have a seat."
Teach bowed and flourished with his hat.
"Tis an honor to share a table with you."
Sitting in one of the chairs, he placed his hat on the table. Kim took a seat on the bed while Ron took a seat in the other chair. Teach pulled a paper out of his coat.
"I've got a cargo I need you to pick up out on Ocracoke and bring in it into here. The cargo belongs to his honor the Governor. His man will meet you here at the docks when you let him know. I'll pay double the normal amount if you can get the cargo back here, safe, sound and no questions."
Kim glanced over at Ron.
"We will do the best we can Captain Teach. Should we come out to the house once we are finished?"
Teach shook his head.
"No lad, no need for that. The Governor's man will have your pay. Now, what is that smell?"
Kim smiled as she stood.
"Ron fixed us something to eat before we went out, we have a little left would you like some?"
Teach glanced over to the fireplace where the pots were.
"Sure lad, if you don't mind."
Ron shook his head.
"Naw, it'd just go to waste."
Ron went over to the fireplace and loaded one of the plates up with the apples he had fried along with the firecakes he made on the hearth. He set the plate down in front of Teach as the captain pulled a knife from his belt. Cutting the food with his knife and using the point to spear up the food he started to eat. Within a minute he had finished off the remains of the food.
"By my word that was good. Lad, I need you to show my cook how to do some of that."
Laughing Teach stood, walked over to the door and opened it. Stepping outside, he placed his hat on his head.
"My men out on the island will expect you within a day or so. They'll load her up for you, then you can bring it back to here. Good luck lads."
Teach turned and walked up the street yelling as some of his men. Ron closed the door behind him.
"Well, I guess we better get together some food and drink, and then head out there."
Nodding, Kim reached over and took off the canvas bag that was hanging on a peg on the wall. The bag would hold their food. Two stoneware jugs under the bed would hold the light ale they would drink. Fresh water was not really available and you could never be sure it was clean so they made sure to drink the ale as much as possible. Picking up the two jugs, Ron headed out the door for their boat.
Kim filled the bag with hardtack, some dried fruit, dried meat, some cheese and what little bread was left. She grabbed the two coats hanging on the pegs by the door and made sure both of their stocking caps were in the pockets. Putting on her coat and pulling down the stocking cap on her head, she picked up the bag of food and placed Ron's coat over her arm.
Turning as she exited the door, she made her way around the house and down to the dock where their sloop was. Ron was untying some of the lines as she approached. She handed him his coat and hat.
"Put it on. It's cold out here and it'll be colder out on the water."
"Ah, Kim. I don't need a coat, you know I don't get sick."
Kim just crossed her arms.
"Okay, when you catch a cold I'll have to fix some chicken soup for you."
Kim smiled and watched as the arms of the coat appeared to fly into the air as Ron put the coat on fast. The stocking cap was on his head and gloves on his hands before Kim could count to three. After Ron stopped getting his coat and hat on she handed him the bag of food.
"I'm going back to make sure the fire is out and to lock the door."
Ron nodded.
"Okay KP."
Kim stepped back in the house and walked over to the fireplace. The coals were barely warm. Standing, she looked around the room to see if there was anything that they might need. Walking out the door, she turned, closed the door and locked it. Putting the key deep in her pocket she made her way down to the boat. Stepping aboard, she took a seat at the tiller. Ron untied the last line and pushed the bow of the sloop away from the dock. Turning, he pulled the main halyard and raised the main triangular sail up. Ron tied off the sail rope, and ducked as the wind caught the sail and pushed it over his head. Staying low, Ron scuttled back to where Kim was sitting at the tiller. Soon, they were away from the docks and heading out to open water. After a few minutes, they saw Teach's house on the horizon.
The breeze coming down the river pulled at Shego's hair as she stood at the crest of the hill looking out over the water. Miller had brought them up to the house and dropped them off at the front door. The cook was fixing them something to eat so Shego was taking the time to scout the area. She had already spotted a couple of small boats they could steal if needed. But taking one right under the guns of Blackbeard's ship could not be a easy thing. Shego had also noticed that Blackbeard's ship was riding normally in the water. That meant there was no cargo aboard. That meant no treasure.
Walking down toward the water, Shego found a well worn trail making it's way from the water up into a grove of trees. She followed the trail until she came upon an area in the tree where the ground was covered by large rocks and lots of them. Shego bent down to examine them. Being in the open they were all dry, but Shego could see signs that they had been submerged in water at least part of the time. A few of the rocks had a white substance on them. Shego scratched at the white substance with a fingernail and took a whiff. Smiling she tasted the white substance. It was salt. There could only be one reason why a huge pile of rock that had been in salt water would be out in the open.
Shego turned and glanced through the trees back at Blackbeard's ship. All these rocks were ballast stones. That meant for some reason Blackbeard had to lighten his ship by removing them. A smile crossed Shego's face. A lot of gold would weigh down the ship making it necessary for the crew to remove ballast. But with no ballast rocks on board and the ship still riding normally in the water, that meant something really heavy was on board. She had to get on that ship to really find out. Making her way out of the trees, she climbed toward the main house. A small boat was making it's way out into the deeper water. That must have been the sloop that belonged to the two brothers that were moving that cargo for Blackbeard. She stopped and watched the sloop make it's way past here. The brothers were sitting in the back when one of them stood up to adjust the main sail. There was something about the way he moved that was familiar but it was hard to tell at this distance. Turning around she headed back up toward the house. She was hungry and ready to eat. That cook better have something ready and Drakken better not do something stupid.
Raising the spyglass, Ron got a good look at their destination. They had been sailing for nearly five hours across the Pamlico Sound and were approaching Ocracoke Island. The spot where they were directed to was on the tip of the island. Ron could see a number of men moving wooden kegs and large trunks along on the sandy beach. As he watched through the spyglass one of the men stood up and looked out straight at him. The sailor turned and appeared say something to another one of the sailors. That man turned and appeared to order some of the men to start loading the kegs and boxes on the beach into a couple of rowboats along the shore. Ron put the spyglass back in the case and took his seat next to Kim. She keep a tight hold on the tiller as they approached the section of beach. The two rowboats were coming out to meet them. As they approached the two boats one of the men in the boats motioned for them to lower their sail.
"Lower the sail Ron, then I'll drop the anchor."
Ron stood and let the sail down and tied it off around the boom. Kim made her way to the bow, picked up the anchor and tossed it over the side. Letting the line go her fingers for a few moments, she tied the line off. The two rowboats approached in the calm water to the lee side of the island. One of the men called out over the water.
"We will bring the cargo out to you. One of my men will board your vessel and help you stow your cargo. We wouldn't want anything to happen to it. That might just make the Captain mad."
Kim and Ron helped the other man to board their sloop and open up the small hold. Kim looked up to see several rowboats making their way out to their boat. The men in the first rowboats started to pass the cargo over to Ron and the other man. She climbed into the hold and helped to place the cargo.
Squinting, Kim sat up from her pallet on the sand. Glancing over to her side she noticed that Ron was still asleep. It had taken longer than expected to load their boat and by the time the men were finished it was too late to head back to Bath. The second mate let them use one of the tents where they stored some of the cargo. It was not perfect but it was out of the wind for the most part. She stretched her arms out and sighed. They would have to head to to Bath first thing, she didn't want the Governor to be waiting for them too long. Reaching over she shoved Ron.
"Wake up Ron! We need to get back."
Ron moaned, grumbled and rolled back over asleep. Kim glared at him then gave him a kick. Ron winced and sat up quickly.
"Owww, hey KP what's the deal?"
Kim stood up and shook the sand out of her hair.
"Come on Ron. We have a long trip back and the sooner we start the sooner we will be back in our own cottage. Besides, they were expecting us yesterday and I want to keep Captain Teach happy with our service. Unless you are ready to see his bad side."
Ron thought of the stories he had read of the pirate. Jumping up he started to brush the sand from his clothes.
"I'm all about being on time. Let's find the mate and get him to take us out to our boat."
Kim smiled at him.
"I thought you might see it my way."
Pushing open the tent flap Kim stepped out of the tent. Glancing around she noted that most of the men were already up and moving around. She recognized the second mate and stepped over to him. He looked up and noticed the two of them walking toward him. He took his hat off and wiped his brow with his sleeve.
"I was just coming to get ye. I've got a boat ready to take ya back to your sloop. My men kept a good eye on her and she's fine."
Kim nodded.
"Thank you sir, we were hoping to get back as soon as possible. I didn't want to keep the Governor or the Captain waiting on us."
The mate laughed.
"I would not either lad! The Captain, he does have a temper. Though now that he has taken the Queen's pardon he is a little better about it."
Ron looked around at the remaining cargo that was sheltered under a number of tarps and trees.
"Where did all this stuff come from anyway?"
The mate glared at Ron, then quickly changed his expression."
"Ahhh lad, we and the Captain found a ship adrift and boarded her. Nobody twas aboard so we claimed salvage on her. Too bad she was so badly damaged she sank. We did well to get most of the cargo off before she sank."
Ron was about to ask another question when Kim punched him in the arm. Before he could protest she started to run for the rowboat.
"Last one to the boat has to pump out the bilge."
Ron turned and chased after her. She slowed her run so that they both arrived at the rowboat at the same time. Ron was about to say something when her eyes told him to shut up for now. Both of them climbed in and one of the crewman rowed them out to their sloop. After climbing aboard, they checked everything out and made ready to leave. Ron pulled up the anchor and set it down. Then scuttling to the center of the boat, he undid the sail and raised it up. The wind caught the sail and soon they were sliding across the water. The wind was from the southeast so they had an easy run. Ron sat down beside Kim.
"What was the deal back on the beach?"
Kim rolled her eyes.
"Ron, they are pirates. Do you really believe that story? I noticed that some of those kegs had been sanded down in places. Places like writing might have been or where something split on it. I took a look at one of the boxes when I was putting it in the hold. I found something that looked like blood on an inside seam."
Ron turned a little white.
"You mean..."
She nodded with a grim look on her face.
"Yeah, I think that the Captain's pardon is just a ruse."
Ron looked down at the hold a moment and shook his head. Kim glanced over at him.
"Don't believe me. Check that crate second on the left on the port side."
Ron shook his head.
"I'll take your word on it."
Kim grinned and gave him a playful push.
"What's wrong. Can't stand the sight of a little blood?"
Ron shook his head.
"As long as it's not mine or more importantly yours! Anybody else's does not bother me."
Kim stared back at him, then started to smile.
"Ron Stoppable, you have the weirdest ways of being romantic. That has got to be the grossest, most romantic thing you have said yet."
Ron laughed and looked back at her.
"Hey I am what I is."
Kim laughed and motioned for him to sit down next to her. Looking around, she didn't see any other boats so she leaned over and gave him a kiss.
"Now that's a promise for later tonight."
Ron smiled.
"I can't wait."
Kim stretched a little as they reached the mid point of their trip. They still had at least two and half hours to go and there was no land in sight. Looking around she noticed a set of sails off to her right. As they sailed on, she kept watch. The one sail was soon joined by two more smaller ones and they were getting closer.
"Ron, give me the spyglass and take the tiller."
Ron handed her the spyglass and slid into her seat next to the tiller. She stood and raised the spyglass to her eye. The larger ship was coming at them from the right and fast. The two smaller sloops had split up and were coming up on each side of them. Something didn't feel right and she didn't like it. Handing the spyglass back to Ron she got back in her seat.
"Put up the jenny Ron. I don't like the look of these guys coming up on us. We need to make a run for it."
Ron jumped up and soon had the jenny up. The sail snapped full of the wind and the small sloop leapt forward. He scuttled back to his seat and looked up at the two sloops coming at them. The larger ship was falling back, but the two smaller one were closing in. Kim tried to run before the wind as best she could, but if she held that course one of the smaller sloops would easily cut them off. Turning slightly she tried to stay ahead but both sloops were gaining. She motioned for Ron to take the tiller again so she could take look through the spyglass at the closest sloop. She could she a number of men running back and forth on her decks, but what caught her attention were the three men loading what appeared to be small cannon mounted on the rail of the sloop. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed a flag going up on the rear of sloop. Moving her view through the spyglass to take a look at the flag, her heart jumped. It was a black flag with a skull and crossbones on it. They were Pirates!
Kim took her seat again.
"Ron, if there is a way to put up more sail now would be the..."
Before she could finish her sentence there was a loud crack from the nearest sloop. She jerked her head around to see a cloud of smoke coming from the bow of one of the sloops. There was a loud slash just in front of them. Kim turned away from the shot, when there was another crack from the other side. This time the shot went through their mainsail. She shook her head.
"Ron, we can't lose them If we stop and get between them. They can't shoot their cannon without hitting each other."
"I got your back KP! Any ideas on how to take these guys on?"
Kim looked back and watched as the two sloops bore down on them on both sides.
"I guess as always we will make it up as we go."
"KP, I do wish we could have a better plan than...ahhhhhgggg"
Ron ducked as another cannon shot cut a hole through the jenny. He clambered back to the where Kim was and jerked the tiller to the right. At that moment one of the pirate sloops rammed alongside of them. Just as the boarding crew jumped onto their boat, the boom of their sail swung that direction due to Ron's turn. The boom sent the boarding crew spilled like bowling pins. Of the ten pirates that had jumped on their sloop six were knocked overboard. As Kim turned to face the rest of them Ron ran.
"AHHHHHHH don't cut me!"
As he ran he tripped over a couple of ropes. Those ropes just happened to be the same ropes that held the sails up. The sails came flapping down and covered the other four pirates and knocked them to the deck.
Kim looked at the struggling pirates.
"That'll work."
Just then the other sloop came alongside and six more pirates jumped on their boat. Kim got into her stance when she heard Ron scream. A shadow passed by her head. She looked up in surprise and realized what had happened. When Ron tripped over the ropes his feet got tangled in the ropes, the heavy sail yanked him off his feet and now he swung from the main mast like a screaming wrecking ball. Ron swung over and decked four of the six pirates that had boarded their sloop. Three of the four went over board, the fourth grabbed onto Ron. They swung back to the other side with Ron screaming and the pirate hanging on for dear life. Just as they reached the other side the pirate lost his grip and fell landing on two more pirates that were attempting to board Kim and Ron's boat. Kim always marveled at the Ron Factor. With it in full force he had single handedly, he had put nine pirates overboard, trapped four, and knocked out three.
The was just one thing. There were plenty more pirates where the others came from. Kim picked up two of the cutlasses that had fallen to the deck and faced four of the pirates as they advanced. Ron swung by, still screaming when one of the pirates dodged out of the way and sliced the ropes with his cutlass dropping Ron to the deck of the pirate sloop with a thud. Kim didn't have time to see how he was. The other pirates were advancing on her. The closest one slashed at her, she dodged and parried the thrust of another. Backing up she parried another thrust and brought the side of the cutlass crashing against the pirates head. He fell to the deck with a groan.
The other charged at her. Dropping her cutlasses she dropped under their thrusts and with several quick blows brought down three of the four around her. The other backed up as four more joined him. Kim was gasping for air as they advanced on her. Then she heard Ron call out from the other pirate sloop.
"Hey KP, do you think one of these things might be handy."
Kim's eye grew large as she looked over to Ron. He was holding an old fashioned pirate grenade and the fuse was burning. The pirates started to yell when they saw what he was holding. Kim screamed at him.
"Ron, that's a bomb, get rid of it!"
"Ahhhhhhgggg" Ron screamed as he dropped the grenade. It took three bounces and rolled into the small hold of the pirate sloop. There was considerable screaming as the rest on the pirated on that boat either jumped overboard or jumped on Kim and Ron's sloop. Ron took just a second to jump back over on their boat. Smoke and flames jetted out of the hold and several ports on the side of the pirate sloop.
The blast knocked everyone down with Ron landing on top of Kim. As he stood to get off of her one of the pirates took a belaying pin and brought in down on top of his head. Ron dropped to the deck like a sack of potatoes. One of the other pirates raised his cutlass to strike at Ron. Kim got up and jumped over Ron, blocking the man's arm with her hands. She threw one punch to his chest, then followed with a hay maker that lifted him up and dropped him to the deck. A blow to her back sent her sprawling to the deck. She rolled over and looked up to find a cutlass at her throat. Slowly she laid back on the deck as she raised her hands. The edge of the cutlass did not move as it pressed against her skin. Looking up into the feral eyes of the pirate, she closed her eyes and waited for the cut.
I hope that you have enjoyed this next part of the story. I know some of you are wondering about Blackbeard's behavior. He's not acting like the pirate in all the stories we have heard. Oh, he was bad, and he did do a lot of what we have heard about. But I have placing this story in an interesting part of his, his final day. Teach took a royal pardon and settled in a small town called Bath. He appeared to live the life of a country gentleman and was quite close to the royal governor. Did he really stop pirating? History is unsure. It is known that he turned some interesting cargoes over to the Governor during those times and came up with the story that he had found the ships floundering with no crew. I thought this would be an interesting time to set the story. A lot will happen soon so stay tuned. Shego and Drakken will get in the Blackbeard soon. What about Kim and Ron? Well, have to wait till next time!
I do have a picture I posted on my DA account of Shego dressed as a pirate. Take a look and see.
Thanks for reading. Please leave a review.
This is the Captain! Arrrrr!
Shiver me timbers!
Stand by your guns for the next chapter.