CHAPTER 10: ASTOUNDING REVELATIONS

When Robin and Starfire woke up the next day, they found themselves welcomed to the pirates, Black Swords and a filling breakfast. The Captain of the Black Swords was a great storyteller and told many of their adventures on the sea.

But Robin had to get down to business. And so, he asked, "Did you recently catch anyone else, besides us on this ship?"

The pirates looked puzzled as they shook their heads.

"Oh." Robin said disappointedly.

When the pirates came to the subject of where Robin and Starfire were from, the two looked at one another uncertainly.

"We are from … a faraway land." Starfire answered.

"How did ye come on our ship?" a pirate asked.

Robin and Starfire didn't how how to answer that question. It was obvious they had seen that white glowing portal open and them falling out of it. How are they to explain how that happened?

Finally, Robin swallowed and said, "We're from the future."

A sea of stunned expressions greeted him. Then, after a few minutes of silence, the table was filled with raucous laughing. Pirates thumped the table and on each other's back, even the Captain of the Black Swords was tearing as he shook with laughter.

"That's a good'un, me lad!" The Captain wiped his eyes as the laughter finally died down.

And though Starfire and Robin tried to explain that it was true, each time, the pirates would just go to fits of laughter again and again.

"Fine, it was just a trick." Robin said, "With lanterns ... And a boat." he added.

Now, the pirates looked doubtful but they soon shrugged it off as the Captain asked, "Then why did ye come here?"

"We are wanting to find a friend. Well, two friends. They are lost somewhere in the vast Carribbean Sea." Starfire replied, "And we come to your ship in the hopings of your help and assistance."

The pirates looked at the Captain for the verdict.

The Captain hesitated, but he finally replied by giving a nod.

Robin suddenly felt himself fill with hope instead of disappointment, there was only one ship they haven't got on yet … And he had a particularly good feeling about that one ship.

"Do you pirates know where the Red Daggers are located?" Robin asked.

The Captain broke into a wide smile, "Th' Red daggers? Why, they be our fellow friends! Th' last we've seen them, thar Captain told me they were headin' northeast, t' an island where they might find supplies!"

Robin and Starfire looked at each other in excitement, they know where the ship is going, and very possibly, they might find Beast boy and Raven on board! And best of all, since they were friends, the Red daggers might be willing to let Robin and Starfire, acquaintances of the Black Swords, onto their ships to search!

"So you will help?" Starfire clasped her hands together.

"Aye! 'N we'll set sail now!"

Finally! One step closer to finding Raven and Beast boy!

Robin and Starfire couldn't wait.

Raven rushed back to the cabin.

"Th' Captain opened a seemingly empty treasure chest. Then from inside, I guessed he had a key or somethin' but he unlocked a sort o' secret compartment."

She stopped short at the door.

And there it was the seemingly empty treasure chest at the side of the bed.

Raven hurried towards that and opened it. Yes, it was unlocked and nothing was inside. Puzzled, she looked around the interior of the chest. It was just all wood. Then, she looked at the exterior. She ran her smooth hands around it. Then she felt something poking out from the side.

Raven peered and saw it was a loose nail. She pushed it in and suddenly, there was a "Click!" from the chest.

Raven looked inside the chest again, and to her surprise, the bottom of the box had slid open to the side, revealing, not a secret compartment, but a secret room!

There was also a metal ladder that led all the way down. Raven looked around. Certain that nobody was following her, she climbed in.

And down he ladder she went. After a few breathless seconds, her feet touched the wooden floor. She sniffed, this room was old, and it smelled musty too. Then, she caught of whiff of dust and sneezed loudly.

"Raven?" a voice behind her called.

Raven gave a yelp and jumped.

"It's me, Beast boy!" a face emerged from the darkness.

"How did you …"

"I followed you." Beast boy said, then lighted the lantern from the cabin above. Now, Raven could see the room here clearly.

Everything was wooden and it was actually quite a small place. It was empty, say, for just a few tables and chairs. It had shelves on the walls but all that was there now, is dust.

"I turned into a spider. You were being so evasive and distracted lately." Beast boy explained.

Raven sighed, "Sorry. I know. It's just that … I had to do something important."

"Would you mind explaining what that is? I don't know why, but I keep getting the feeling that you don' t trust me." Beast boy said softly, the hurt in his voice clearly showing.

"No, it's not that … I just …"

Suddenly, there was a burst of light from the back of the room as something … or someone materialised …

"Hugh? 'ave ye come?" a soft voice, the same voice who wailed so loudly last night sounded.

Gasping, Raven and Beast boy turned around slowly and came face to face with a …

"Ghost!" whispered Beast boy in a slightly strangled voice.

The ghost, was a woman who looked like she was in her early thirties. She was white in colour with a mysterious, pulsating white glow around her figure. She was also wearing almost exactly what Raven was wearing, only she was dressed up more elaborately. She had hoop earrings and bangles on her wrist. On her left hand, her fourth finger had a huge diamond ring.

The woman walked closer to them slowly, then, after surveying them closely, she sighed. It was full of disappointment.

"May I ask, are you … the Captain's wife?" Raven approached slowly.

Beast boy stared at Raven, how did she come up with that?

"Aye." the woman replied, slightly surprised, "I'm Katherine."

"But how … ?" Beast boy asked, astounded.

Raven sighed, here comes the part of where she would have to explain everything.

"You see, when Thomas told me that the Captain took out his savings to pay the ransom from a seemingly empty treasure chest, in a secret compartment or room," Raven gestured to their surroundings, "he said that the Captain did not take out one thing - a red diamond ring.

That is the Captain's wedding ring, the one Katherine here, has on her finger. It was special to him and he didn't want to give it to Death Skulls. The ring was what Katherine, his beloved wife gave him on his very special wedding day and so he didn't want to give it away.

But then, when the Captain moved out of the cabin, it was strange he did not take the treasure chest there. And that's how I had the hunch that the seemingly empty treasure chest Thomas was talking about, was the one in the cabin. Also, when the Captain moved out, Katherine started to well, call for him, by thumping on the floor above and by calling the Captain's name, 'Hugh'."

Here, Katherine smiled sheepishly.

Raven continued, "She did this because the diamond ring the Captain left in here was stolen."

"Stolen? But how do you know? And who stole it?"

"It was a young boy." Katherine said softly, her anger carefully hidden behind her calm expression.

"George." Raven confirmed.

"The Cabin Boy?" Beast boy choked.

It was small, quiet George? But he seemd so innocent, so harmless, so insignificant. He's the thief? Beast boy mulled this over and he still couldn't think of why George was the thief.

"The other night, when George said that he cleans out all the cabins, including the Captain's, I realised, he could have spent a lot of time in here and discovered the treasure chest's secrets, perhaps by just dusting it. It was very easy to find the loose nail there." Raven explained, then continued.

"And today, as you would know, Beast boy. I was very distracted. And that's because I was thinking of George and his strange behaviors. I woke up this morning to question George about the Captain's cabin and if he knew anything about it. He was very evasive and firm when he replied that he did not know anything else besides the wails and thumping.

Then, this whole afternoon, he was acting very strange. I saw him at the ship's wheel, with a compass and holding the piece of parchment he dropped last night. The one I picked it up. The one he took so hastily from me and hurried away so quickly, after thrusting it deep in his pockets. I suspect that's a map."

"Why?" Beast boy cut in.

Raven looked slightly annoyed at the interruption but continued, "Because later on, he was looking at a boat. A small wooden boat that is normally used in cases of emergency, like when the ship is going to sink. He kept running his hands over the rope, holding the boat to the ship. It was as if he wanted to untie it and … escape. And besides, when he was at the wheel, he had a compass with him, and he was consulting that piece of parchment. It was obvious what it was then.

Then, just before dinner, I went to find him in the kitchen and saw him looking intently at something small, red and sparkly in his hands. He almost dropped it when he saw me come in and quickly put that something in a small, black, silk pouch. It was be very valuable and rare for him to keep it out of sight and only to take out when he's alone to admire.

I suspect that what George was holding in his hands just now, is the red diamond ring he stole from here."

Raven concluded. Then, she realised, this must be the longest she's ever talked.

"Aye. Th' lass be speakin' th' truth." Katherine nodded in agreement, her face now showed that she was clearly impressed with Raven's sharp mind.

"Oh! So that's why you make those noises at night! That's to alert the Captain, or anyone about the stolen ring!" Beast boy cried, finally piecing it all together.

Katherine nodded again, "Th' ring be Hugh's. It belonged t' 'im. 'n th' Cabin boy must give it back. I shall not be able t' rest peacefully if it ain't returned t' th' rightful owner. Both o' ye must get it back as I be confined t' this room. I cannot leave as I be bounded t' this place."

"Don't worry. We'll do everything we can." Beast boy promised, determined.

"Well, we've to hurry. It's getting late." Raven spoke, trying to make her voice sound more neutral again. It's always so hard, trying to keep her emotions in check … like when she was explaining everything to a clueless Beast boy. She thought she sounded too breathless, too eager to get everything out.

"But why? We have got plenty of time!" Beast boy questioned.

"Remember the map and boat? I think George is planning to escape tonight when everyone's asleep."

"Right!" Beast boy paused for a moment as he took this all in, then, he smiled at Raven, "You're pretty smart."

Raven found herself returning a small smile back, "I know."

Grinning, Beast boy grabbed her hand, "There's not time to waste! We've got a ring to save, Sherlock!"

Rolling her eyes, Raven flew out of the room with Beast boy as a sparrow, right by her side.

George looked left and right. He had just served the pirates their dinner and he doubted they would come out onto the deck now, especially when there was a very delicious feast on the table right now. One thing that puzzled him though, was where Beast boy and Raven were right now …

Ugh! Raven, she kept following him everywhere! George shivered, he had a feeling that Raven knows something about him, something that is not quite right. Everytime he looks into that deep violet eyes of her's, he feels as if she was looking right into his soul, searching, searching for answers …

But how can she know? She really couldn't possibly, he didn't give too much away after all! Or did he? He did know it was foolish of him to check the wheel in broad daylight but that shouldn't be enough for Raven to know what he was planning. And anyway, he didn't expect her to think much of that.

Then he realised what really gave him away, the kitchen incident, in the evening. He should have taken a look at it in his own room behind the kitchen, his own private space, where he can unlock and lock the door whenever he wished. Anyone could just barge into the kitchen like her and catch him!

George thumped his forehead with his hand, he really was stupid!

Then, he consoled himself. She hasn't done anything, and he doubted she's told anybody. She's just a girl, a guest on board the ship. She doesn't know anything and will probably forget about what she's seen after a few days. And besides, he was already so close, no one could stop him now if they tried.

So George loosened the knots on the ropes, cutting them with a sharp knife if it was too difficult to untie. Then, when the boat was free, he dragged it slowly, inch by inch to the edge of the deck. After that, he started to flip the boat so it was sideways, and pushed it off the deck with a mighty heave.

George breathed heavily, catching his breath and hoping no one heard that splash of water below. He checked his compass again and slung a heavy makeshift cloth bag over his shoulders. He checked his surroundings once more. This is it, goodbye to the horrid Red daggers, it was time to reunite with his true team, his true family who raised him, who put him on this ship since he was eleven to spy here.

It was time to go back to the Death Skulls.

A/N: I certainly had fun writing this chapter! It took a lot of planning, and I had to make tons of changes, but finally, the whole plot for chapter ten was confirmed. I don't know how many of you had suspected George from the beginning, but originally, I wanted Thomas to be the culprit. Later on, during the feast, I changed it to George. The Cabin boy, always insignificant, so quiet, it seemed perfect!

Please review to tell me about your thoughts! I hoped I made the right choice! Thank you!

Oh ... and I'm so, so, very sorry ... I deleted the next chapter accidentally! Now, I'll have to rewrite it all over again on my computer! Expect a short delay, I'll try to upload it ASAP. Don't hate me. :(