Calamity's eyes flickered open. Dim light from the room's porthole shone down upon her moist face. She had been crying. Pulling the blankets over her shoulders, she cradled herself, soft weeps escaping her lips.
Grief smothered her heart, but she couldn't fight back, for she couldn't deny reality. She sniffled and stared up at the night sky. Like the dark skies of Marleybone, she thought, remembering a distant wish from her childhood.
"Mommy, where is that ship from?" Her tiny voice queried as she and Estelle Avery watched ships coming in and out, leaving the docks of Skull Island.
"Marleybone," her mother answered.
"Have you ever been to Marleybone, Mommy?"
"No, but your father has," her mother explained.
"Oh." The young girl continued watching. "Marleybone has pretty ships. I wanna go to Marleybone." She looked up at her mother. "Can we go there someday?"
"Sure." Estelle smiled. "We'll go together, just you and I."
Calamity's heart burst, and she let out a loud, sobbing moan into her pillow. Her eyes burned with salty tears, and her soul screeched with longing for the warmth of her mother's arms. She could still see Estelle's face so clearly; colorful hazel eyes, her soft brown curls, and her round, supple cheeks, pink with life. And she could still smell her perfume as if she stood right by her side. "I miss you so much." She whispered to silence. She closed her eyes tightly. Please come back, please bring her back to me, she prayed. For just a single day so we can go to Marleybone together, that's all I ask. But her wishful thinking only rubbed salt in her fresh wounds. She knew they could never come true.
Having sailed off early in the morning, they arrived at their destination quickly, so by the time Calamity awoke, they were already docked. Groggily, she made her way up to the top deck, dressed with her sword sheathed on her back. They were currently docked at a place Calamity guessed was Port Regal, but she had never been outside Skull Island. She spotted Ann leaning over the side railing, staring into the distance. She strode up to the blonde Privateer. "Morning." She grunted.
"Oh, good morning, Calamity." She greeted in reply. "How did you sleep?"
"Well." Calamity answered.
"We've got business with the governor this morning." Miranda announced, coming up behind them. She laid her arms over their shoulders. "A little meeting of sorts. He claims he's got important information."
"What do you think it could be?" Ann inquired.
"Not sure." The Captain shrugged. She stepped back. "Could be anything from a weapon delivery to simply taking news to the front lines. Ann, could you wake the others? We'll be leaving soon."
"Aye." Ann nodded and trotted off to her duties.
"As for you," Captain Miranda turned her attention to Calamity. "I want you to stay behind and watch the ship."
"What? Why do I have to do that?" She objected.
"Just in case those Armada officers there and there recognize my flag," she explained, pointing to one side of the skyway and then to another. Calamity followed her hand. An odd machine floated among the islands of Port Regal skyways opposite Valencia's stormgate surrounded by Armada fleet ships. She blinked, taken aback. Why are they here? I thought Horace said Skull Island was a safe haven for pirates. "If it looks like we've been spotted, I need ye to abandon ship and come find us in the governor's mansion immediately. I'll let the Redcoats know so they'll let you in. Understand?"
"A-aye." Calamity nodded.
"Good. We'll see ye later." Captain Miranda finished and left her alone. Calamity's mouth gaped open. How could Horace have lied about our safety? How can we be sitting idle when they patrol our stormgate and build fortresses right under our noses? How could this be a safe haven when our enemies are right next door?
The apprehension that had settled upon Calamity faded into boredom. The urgency of her task could not outweigh it's dullness. So she sat back against the post of the navigation wheel, keeping watch, resting, and scorning her father within.
Miranda and the rest of her crew returned, sauntering across the docks. Calamity stood and met Ann as she entered the ship. "How was the meeting?" Calamity yawned.
"Well worth the time it took." The blonde answered. She stepped a little closer to Calamity before whispering. "We've got a plan to bring down one of the elites."
"What? How?" Calamity's eyebrows lifted.
"One of our captains have received Phule's exact location and has orchestrated a plan to bring him down." Ann explained, eyes shining. "It'll be a huge step in the resistance's plan to recover Valencia and the Spiral."
"But that's crazy!" Calamity exclaimed. "You can't just go into Valencia and kill one of their elites. That's suicide. Just talking about this can get us killed."
"We can and we will." Captain Miranda stated, halting behind her. She glowered. "You agreed to join this crew, Calamity. You know what risks we're all willing to take. If you're such a coward, we can leave you here. This war means more than a few lives. Spit on my orders, and you're spitting on the graves of the pirates who died under my command. If you're so hesitant to face a scrap-of-metal elite, then you shouldn't have joined my crew. Are you with me or should I leave you behind?" She waited. "Answer me." Indignantly, Calamity returned the captain's glare with her own stern expression. They're all crazy if they think they can just waltz into Valencia and take one of it's most powerful commanders. But Horace would have never let me leave Skull Island, let alone travel as far as Valencia. Going back to that man sounds more oppressive than the bonds of mortality. "Fine. I'll stay."