^ Wouldn't put it past her... she's a strangeee pirate all right.

Great chapter. Would have liked a little longer chapter, but I'm good. It had better be longer next week!

Sweetheart
 

*Peeks in slowly* Ha, Ahoy mates! I'm aware that this chapter is a little... well, okay, we'll just go with late and cut off little from the title, but what can I say? I'm easily distracted. It's here though, and we'll hopefully have one this Friday as well! So, without further ado...

Sweetheart

:Coin::Coin::Coin::Coin::Coin:

The call came from the crow’s nest in the early morning. It was one of those times that Kat was actually on deck. She pulled out her telescope and searched the direction of the call. Black and white sails met her eye. She lowered it and turned to Lawrence standing at her side. “Shall we engage?” she asked her first mate.

Lawrence looked straight ahead. The argument about the scroll the night before still hung between them. “It’s your choice, Captain,” he said coldly, emphasizing her title.

She wanted to speak with him now – yell at him, really – but that black and white was taunting her. Now was not the moment to recede from her apparent Captain’s strength and give into emotion.

“Mark course to intercept!” Kat ordered. She closed the telescope with a snap. “Raise British flag! Let’s see how close we can get without raising too much suspicion. Make sure those cannons are readied!” She shouted her orders left and right. The crew scattered as they tried to follow them as quickly as possible. Lawrence went below decks without a word, making Kat sigh internally at his stubbornness.

Within the next half hour, the Mercenary had lined up with the galleon. Kat was manning the wheel and led her frigate carefully to their target, bringing the broadsides even with it. When she felt they were at the best position, she let the fury fly.

“Broadside Port!” she screamed, and she heard the order echo until the cannons exploded from below. The cannonballs screamed towards the galleon, speeding through the hull. Despite the strength of a galleon’s hull, with a ship right next to it, it stood no chance. Through the holes, the crew saw men running around in panic. Man on the top deck aimed chainshots at the sails, forcing the EITC to slow. One lucky shot even caught the main mast, and it fell across the desk.

The galleon would not be going down without a fight, however. Its own broadsides fired at the Mercenary, penetrating the lower deck. Kat heard the shattering of her hull as the blasts rocked the ship. Her teeth clenched in frustration at the sounds, and she called the order to send another round of broadsides. “Fire when ready!” she yelled. Her cannonballs were sure on the planks of the EITC, causing damage that made her grin.

Kat belted the order to pull back the sails and to prepare for boarding. Men got out their hooks and ropes as Kat brought the ship around on their remaining momentum, and they were soon launched. Kat checked that her sword was safe by her side before launching herself over to the EITC Galleon.

At her move, the rest of the crew swung over to the ship, and the battle begun. Kat drew her black handled blade with a grin that dared the men to approach her. One black uniformed thug swung at her head, but she ducked and struck his leg. A small chuckle escaped her throat with the adrenaline rushing through her veins. She saw her crew dancing in circles lightheartedly around their foes, messing with them a little. It was rather enjoyable to watch the black and white run around confusedly with her men taunting them. Where there had only moments ago been worry, now there was fun. These were the moments she lived for.

But a flash of red suddenly appeared on the deck, and not the rather burnt color of Lawrence’s hair. This was bright and shiny, with white trim. This was the uniform of a Navy officer.

Kat wondered somewhere in the back of her head why the Crown would be involved on an EITC ship, but she didn’t acknowledge the thought too deeply. Instead, she dodged and weaved through the many men towards that unique form. She wanted to be the one to take this one.

Curiosity did kill the Kat.

She was raising her blade to strike the man in the back, when someone yelled at him in warning, and he spun around. His blade met with incredible ferocity over their heads as her eyes absorbed the other’s face; the sharp, pointed features that led to a wide chin and a small, tight lipped mouth; the light brown hair swept back in the sea breeze; the large nose with the smattering of goatee just framing his mouth beneath it; and finally those dark, almost black eyes that made her feel as if she was staring straight into the coldest, most calloused abyss that ever existed. She knew this man.

“Katherine?” he spoke in a low, rumbling timbre. Kat tore her sword away from his and backed up a few steps. He didn’t follow, nor did she want him to, but just stared at her in confusion.

“Gregory,” she breathed. Her face was white, as if the sea foam itself had replaced her blood. The sword she had taken from Jenkins dangled lifelessly at her side. She was trapped in a state of shock.

“You’re alive,” they said unanimously. The fact that they did as much seemed to stun them both back into silence. Kat’s crew and the EITC still waged war on all sides of them, but they were immune.

Finally, Kat seemed to revive her thoughts as memory returned to her. “You left me,” she growled. “You abandoned me! You-”

“Gregory?” Sarah’s cry of surprise drowned out Kat’s next words.

Charles, who had been fighting right next to her, whipped his head around as well. “Gregory Randolph?!” he yelled. At the sight of the man, he began to charge like a bull towards him, and death would have met one of them had Sarah not been there to hold him back.

“What’s going on?” Lawrence, noticing the action, asked above the battle, looking from one family member to another.

Kat shot Gregory a scathing glare. “Everybody back to the ship!” she ordered as loud as she could. A few people glanced at her, and she heard mutters of ‘What?’ beginning.

“Now!” Her projection was so strong that her voice cracked a little as she hit the pitch. Everyone immediately moved to action, grabbing ropes and swinging back to the Mercenary. Kat waited until her entire crew had left before taking the final rope in hand. She glanced back at the Navy Officer still staring at her.

“I’ll be seeing you, sweetheart,” she hissed. Something fell from her hand and rolled into the hold before she dropped off the edge of the galleon.

Her boots landed hard on the deck of her ship. She buckled at the knees, feeling them protest, but she didn’t care. “Get us out of here!” she yelled. “I don’t care which direction, just move!” The crew automatically jumped into action and got the ship moving as fast as possible. Kat looked back to the EITC and saw the smoke from her grenade’s explosion. She nodded coldly in satisfaction.

“What the bloody hell was that?!” Lawrence demanded of her. She just turned away and began walking towards the wheel. Not wanting to be ignored again, he roughly grabbed her arm. “Stop walking away from me!”

“It’s nothing!” she shouted in his face, trying to flee his grasp. He only gripped harder.

“Stop telling me that!” he yelled. “You look as though you’ve seen a ghost!”

Kat stopped struggling against him, and her eyes got a distant, fearful look. “I have,” she whispered.

The question was on the tip of Lawrence’s tongue, but Sarah, who had been standing nearby, spoke first. “You said he was dead,” she stated.

“I thought he was!” Kat claimed. She finally pulled her arm from Lawrence, whose grasp had loosened in his confusion. “I just assumed that…” Her voice trailed off as she travelled into a memory.

“Who is he, Kat?” Lawrence asked quietly, feeling his anger fade out of fear for Kat’s state. He waited silently for an answer, but Kat was stoic and not giving it away.

“That was her husband,” Sarah told him, watching her sister’s face closely for a reaction. “Gregory Randolph, Officer of the British Royal Navy.”

Lawrence’s eyes seemed to bug out of his head. “You have a husband?!”

Kat sighed and put a hand to her eyes. “Lawrence, remember that very first day that we met? You kept calling me ‘Mrs.’?” She chuckled without humor. “’I am not a Mrs., Lawrence. I am merely a Miss,’” she quoted from that day three years before. “That was the day I had been betrayed, abandoned by the man I had given my vows to. While I was being given assistance in escaping that grimy little island he had stranded me on, after accusing me of infidelity, I heard cannons shooting off, and I knew that his ship was being attacked. I had assumed he had sunk.” Her gaze returned to the EITC ship they had left behind. “Apparently not.”

They were all silent and contemplative for a moment until Kat seemed to regain control of herself. “No matter now, though. We can’t do anything at the moment. The ship is in too bad of a shape.” Her gaze travelled to the flames on her port side. “Enough of my emotions. We do nothing about Gregory.” ’For now,’ she silently said.

:Coin::Coin::Coin::Coin::Coin:

While writing this chapter, I attempted to draw Gregory Randolph so his image would be much clearer in my mind, and so that writing his description would be much easier. I should have that picture up on my profile within the next few days.

Well mates, what do you think? Rather shorter than I had anticipated, I must admit, and honestly, it took me a while to get this chapter exactly how I wanted it. Tell me what you think, aye? Thanks for last week's reviews, and Thanks for Reading!

- Kat Crestshot

Oh well that was different. Shoulda seen that coming... interesting plot twist. Nice chapter.

Nice Crest I have always enjoyed your stories. Exellent chapter!

Woot! nice chapter. i like that part were Greg blows up.

*pokes Crest*

Alright. Where's the chapter? It's been a couple weeks now. Don't make me take your rum! :P

Her End
 

Har har har Crest.

You got me :p I seriously have been here for about 2 hours reading. It's an amazing story. I love it. Keep writing.

Oh that was mean. Although I did fall for the outline spoiler. Heh.

Haha, here's a few bottles of special Em's Rum to make up for the bottles I took. I'm good with waiting. I know the chapter will be awesome.

Hmph, you got me. Nice work there. /clap

I'm fine with waiting, as long as it is epic, 0_o got that!

I'll have to agree with Sharky here.

Captain
 

It's been quite a while, hasn't it mates? But I happen to still be alive and... well, we'll just say I'm alive, haha. Somehow, along the course of the past two months, I was able to get a chapter all written and such. Incredible, huh? I'm wishing none of you gave up hope on me. As it is, perhaps you should go back and re-read the last chapter... just as a refresher, ha. But, without further ado (other than my rambling of course) I give you...

Captain

:Coin::Coin::Coin::Coin::Coin:

The days after that saw Kat locked in her cabin even more than before. This time, however, there were no furious screams at crew members to avoid it, or really any words at all. When Lawrence went up to see her, expecting another fight over leadership, he merely walked in to see her sitting in a chair, hunched over and staring at the wall. She didn’t even acknowledge his entrance, even after a quiet, worried murmuring of her name. He slowly backed out of the room and shut the door with a quiet click, feeling as if he was intruding on some private train of thought.

The crew questioned him on her behaviors again, curious as to where their yelling, yet jovial captain had disappeared to this time. Lawrence held no answers other than to try and send Sarah, then Charles, then Luckie up to her, but all came back with the same response.

“It’s like she’s not there.”

After three days of becoming exasperated with worry, Lawrence decided to try again, not caring what tactics he had to use to get her out of this state. He marched up there with purpose and flung the door open, hoping to grab some of her attention.

Well, she had changed chairs, at least. Though he wasn’t overly fond of the rum bottle in her hand.

“Kat?” he asked quietly. He crept over to her and gently shook her shoulder. “Kaaat,” he said, drawing out the name annoyingly. Her only response was to move the rum bottle to her lips for another sip of rum.

He grunted in frustration and moved to kneel in front of her chair. “Will you bloody see me!” he demanded, gripping her arms tightly. He finally felt as if she was coming back when she flinched in pain.

“Get off,” she croaked, her voice cracking from obvious lack of use. He immediately let go of her arms and stared at her for a moment. There was hope, expectancy of something else from her in his eyes, but she gave him nothing, instead turning back to stare at the wall.

He sighed. “What’s wrong with you this time?” he asked, a hint of exhaustion in his voice. It felt as if this happened many times before, and the game was getting old.

Kat took another sip of the rum before letting her voice vibrate again. “It was smoke,” she said cryptically.

Lawrence’s brow furrowed. “Smoke?” he asked, wondering if she had finally lost it. “When was there smoke?”

“Smoke, Lawrence, grenades,” Kat told him, pushing the words forward as if he were an idiot. “It wasn’t an explosive, it was just…smoke.” She sighed. “And it was stupid.”

Lawrence thought a moment, then his eyes widened in realization. “The EITC ship.”

Kat tilted her bottle towards him in acknowledgement. “Now you get it.” She muttered lower, as if to herself, “Stupid idea, is what it was.”

Lawrence was unsure of the importance of this. “Why didn’t you just leave a normal one then?” he asked in confusion.

Kat’s gaze turned back to the faraway stare at the wall. “Because I wanted him to get away,” she whispered. “I couldn’t…” She swallowed. “I couldn’t kill him right then, but god, do I regret that decision.”

Lawrence was silent as he absorbed what she was telling him. Knowing Kat, he knew that he had to sway her from thinking about anything other than her crew. “What ever happened to leaving it behind you?” he asked, anger beginning to invade his voice, but he didn’t wait for an answer. “You have a crew out there waiting on orders from their captain, and I shouldn’t have to remind you that’s you. Get out of your slump, and get out there and give them a mission!”

“A mission,” Kat murmured. She was thinking actively now. “A mission!” She snapped her fingers and launched out of her chair, the bottle of rum tumbling carelessly to the ground. Lawrence moved to pick it up off the carpet while Kat sped to the door. She flung it open with vigor and called up into the rigging.

“Goldeagle! Get down here!”

A brown head peeked over the side of the crow’s nest. “Aye, Captain!” a woman’s voice yelled back, with just the slightest tremble as if fearing she had done something wrong. She swung her legs out of the basked and scrambled down faster than any other crew member could, meeting Kat at her doorway in seconds. “Something the matter, ma’m?”

“Not at all, Emily,” Kat said. She ignored Lawrence’s skeptical snort in the background. “Come in for a moment.”

Kat had found Emily Goldeagle on her first trip to Padres del Fuego, just after she had gotten the Mercenary. She was part of the original crew, and had been a loyal rigger since the very beginning. That, however, wasn’t the only thing the woman was good at.

“You just might know these waters better than I do, Ms. Goldeagle. I’ve never really roamed the Hinterseas; never had the opportunity.” She led Emily across the room to her maps. “These are likely far from accurate as well. I bought them off an old, shady dealer. So tell me, Ms. Goldeagle… where would the closest Navy friendly port be?”

Emily walked closer to the wall that mapped out a good portion of the Caribbean. She narrowed into the Hinterseas, bringing her fingers up to gently stroke the paper. “Here,” she said, her hand settling just east of a wild island and north of Padres. “The Navy has a fort here, one most of the Caribbean hasn’t caught onto yet.”

“How do you know?” Kat asked.

Emily turned to her with a grin. “When you live on Padres for a while, it’s not difficult to notice the sheer amount of supplies they pull from there. Not to mention a group of us went out and followed one of the ships. We were curious as to what was going on, naturally.” She sighed. “The place is huge. Truly a feat, and an expensive one, by the Royal Navy. It’s a small island with huge towers, higher than twice the height of the Mercenary’s masts. Definitely intimidating. My group and I practically fled at the sight.” She looked up at her captain suspiciously. “Ma’m, you aren’t thinking…”

“Thank you, Ms. Goldeagle, that will be all,” Kat quietly interrupted.

Worry crossed Emily’s face. “Captain, I must insist-”

“I said that will be all,” Kat said, placing a firm hand on Emily’s shoulder and directing her towards the door. “To your duties.” Emily looked displeased, but followed her orders obediently.

When the door closed with a click, it seemed to echo, but she knew better. Kat reached into her pocket for the source of the sound. Her fingers came in contact with a cool metal, and the chittering stopped the moment they wrapped around the object. Out of her pocket came the compass that would not point North, but to what she most desired. After months of spinning aimlessly, round and round, the arrow finally stood steady. And slowly, Kat felt a grin spread on her face, and the glint returned to her eye.

“We have a new heading.”

“You can’t be serious,” Lawrence scoffed. His arms were crossed and he was staring at her disapprovingly.

“What?” she asked innocently. Lawrence tapped his foot in impatience.

“Kingshead,” he said. “The mythical bastion of the Hinterseas that you plan on going after.”

“Think about it Lawrence,” Kat said, walking to him. “Think about what we can get if we defeat Kingshead. Not just the riches that are no doubt held there, but think about being known! The crew of the Lightning Mercenary will go down in Pirate Lore!”

“But that’s not what you’re looking for,” he said, pushing past the gibberish she was throwing at him. “You are going to risk the lives of your crew for a revenge that is better left behind. That is not your responsibility as Captain!”

“My responsibility as Captain is to lead my crew!” she pushed back. “I decide what adventures we undertake, and I weigh the risks that go with them!”

“Well you’re not weighing them very well, are you?” he asked without the opportunity for answer. “You’re not thinking with your head. You’re not even thinking with your heart!” He got very close, so that they were toe to toe and growled at her. “You are thinking with that red hot rage in your soul. That is not what you should be using when you make decisions using your power!”

“I don’t care Lawrence!” she burst out to him. “This is important! I have to get rid of this... this blemish on my past! Wouldn’t you do the same if you ever met the man that betrayed you on that merchant ship?”

This comment made Lawrence pause. The fire of fight faded ever so slightly from his green orbs. He took a step back from her, suddenly aware of how close they had gotten to each other during their argument. With a sigh, he wearily rubbed his eyes. “You won’t give up on this, will you?”

“You know I won’t.”

“Aye…” There was silence for a moment as Lawrence thought, and Kat waited for his response. She already knew what it would be.

“Fine. I may as well back you up on this,” he told her. He began walking to her door to join the crew again. “But you’re the one that has to tell your sister about this insanity.” He opened the door and made his way into the Caribbean sun. Kat eagerly followed.

“Mates! We have our heading!”

:Coin::Coin::Coin::Coin::Coin:

Good enough for you mates? Perhaps a little too short after I've been keeping you in suspense for 2 months, but I promise, I do have a chapter half written after this one, and my school year is almost up, so.... Free Crest pretty soon. :)

Thank you to Emily Goldeagle for letting me steal her. :)

So, for those of you still lurking around this dusty old story, Comments? Concerns? Reasons to yell at me for being gone so long? I'm here. Haha, Thanks for reading!

-Kat Crestshot

WHY THE- oh I suppose I should get to the comments. Right, right.

Anyway, Great chapter mate!

Great chapter! 'nuff said.

Ooh, I like it. I wonder what your crew will find at Kingshead....

Haha. Awesome chapter. We're attacking Kingshead... whee! I of course, shall take on Remington and win :laughks2:

Oohh yay.New chapter.Cliffhanger for next one...ugh.But still,new chapter.Bottles of rum heading your way.Shhh,they're Sharky's.

Kingshead
 

I should really get better about this, huh mates? I keep saying it'll pick up, and then it neeeeeever happens... I'll try not to make that mistake this time, haha. Thank you everyone who has still been reading my story, even through all of my various silent bumps, and thank all to those who review, whether it be here on the thread or via other communications! So, the ranting stops... HERE!

Kingshead

:Coin::Coin::Coin::Coin::Coin:


“You’re completely bonkers.” Kat sighed at the statement she must have heard at least fifty times over the past three days. The majority of them had come from the brother standing next to her.

“I know Charles,” she said again turning to the grinning youth. “I know.”

He just grinned wider, and Kat felt irritation shoot through her at his boyish attitude. “Don’t you have something better to do? There’s plenty of rum for you to get drunk off of.”

Charles’ face brightened ever so slightly, but the glee already on his face almost disguised the flash. “You give me permission to break into the rum store?” he asked excitedly.

Kat sighed. “As your sister… god yes.” Then she thought a moment. “As your captain, don’t tell anyone else.” Charles ran off into the hold with more energy than Kat could even imagine at this point. “And grab me a bottle!” she called after him.

“You wouldn’t be so stressed if you just gave up this wild idea, you know.” Lawrence’s voice came from behind her. She wearily turned to him.

“I must. You know that.”

“Yah, yah, I know,” he said, brushing the statement off. “It doesn’t hurt to try and give my side of the argument again, though, does it?”

“Land ho!” Emily’s call came from the crow’s nest. “Kingshead fort, dead ahead!”

Lawrence and Kat exchanged a glance. He got closer to her and placed his hands over hers on the wheel. “You go change and get ready,” he told her with tenderness in his eyes. “I’ve got the wheel.” Kat marveled at that look for a moment, but sense returned to her, and she walked off. She wondered how he had been so vehement and argumentative about Kingshead just a moment before, and then so calm and… reverent. It didn’t occupy her mind for long, however. She had to force herself to remember the mission at hand.

It unnerved her to not cinch her cutlass around her waist, but she knew the necessity of keeping it behind. Instead, various daggers were tucked into her coat, and two smoke bombs next to them. A small pistol with only three shots sat in the left side of her coat, in case she needed to quickly draw it, but she prayed it wouldn’t come to that.

She exited the cabin, and much to her surprise, found Lawrence leaning on the wall outside. He lightly grabbed her arm, preventing her from traveling further out to the ship.

“Can we talk for a moment?” Something shadowy darted behind his green eyes, something of worry and fear. She glanced out to the rest of the ship, figuring they would be fine a few minutes more.

“What about?”

Lawrence removed his hat from his head and toyed with it, twirling it in his hands. “We’re about to do something very stupid and dangerous storming this fort, you know. I’m done arguing about it,” he said, seeing her about to protest, “but I still want to talk to you before we go.” He sighed lightly and placed the hat back on his head before taking her hand. Kat was taken aback by the gesture, and she was sure it showed on her face. “Kat… how long have we been dancing around each other? Three years? It’s too long.” He bravely stepped closer, cautious, as if she was some wild horse. “Before we go in there and face death and odds greater than ever before, let me in.” His hand reached up to her face, stroking lightly. “Just let me in.”

Kat’s mouth was open, gaping at him. “Lawrence…” Her mind raced, wondering, wanting to let those words become true, but she forced herself to smile, to put on the mask for the one person she never wanted to. “Lawrence, we’ll be fine. It’s nothing we haven’t faced before. You’re just worrying too much. It's turning you into a sap.” She took her hand from his, feeling the chill of the wind invade. “We’ll talk after we survive this thing.”

“But Kat…” he began, but she held up a hand to stop him.

“After. I promise.” She walked away from him, knowing the implications of what she had just done.

She let the crew spread the word that Lawrence would be acting captain onshore, rather than gathering them all on deck. They were all busy hiding certain wares in secret compartment, in case the Navy decided to take interest and arrest them. Kat took her time in moving from place to place, overseeing the actions of her crew, while keeping an eye, yet evading the man who would soon be taking control of her ship.

Kat gave no loud, eloquent, motivational speeches this time. There was no need for it. Her crew knew why they were there, even if it was not voiced aloud. They stayed at their stations, preparing to port, yet not knowing what to expect.

The ship slowly made its way to the wooden dock of Kingshead, the battlements shadowing them with their sheer height. Through the tall brown doors up the wood and stone dock emerged a stream of red coats that lined up on the planks, awaiting the arrival of the Mercenary. Kat felt herself tense in anticipation, her eyes flicking among those that stood there, searching for a familiar, broad face, but none jumped out at her. Instead, her gaze settled on a ship on the opposite side of the dock. There sat a tattered galleon, its sails missing and its hull torn in places. She knew without it being said that it was the EITC ship she had left dead in the water a few days before. He was here.

The ship stilled next to the dock, and the Navy soldiers shimmied stiffly towards it. As the plank clattered down, wood on wood, the soldiers had no qualms about walking right up it. The crew found bayonets pointed in their faces as one man walked calmly among his soldiers. “State your business!” he barked out, his beady eyes flicking around, obviously searching for the captain.

Kat stood behind Lawrence as he stepped forward, separating himself from the crowd of the crew. Many of the bayonets turned towards him, but he regarded the weapons coldly. “I am Joseph Dumas, captain of this ship,” he told the commander. “We are merely a merchant ship blown off course, so we bode no threat to your or your…” he glanced up at the shadowy walls, “fortress. I ask that your men stand down against my peaceful ones.”

The commander approached Lawrence slowly. Kat was proud to see him not make the most miniscule movement away from the officer. He met the gaze fully as he spoke again. “Please.”

The redcoat studied her first mate for a moment longer, then seemed to shrug. “Weapons away, gentlemen,” he said, facing away from Lawrence. He glanced over his shoulder again. “Welcome to Kingshead, Captain Dumas. It is my hope that you will not need to stay with us long.” He walked down the gangplank to the man that stood there. “Mr. Scern!” The man snapped his legs and arms together in true naval fashion and stood at attention. “See to it that our guests are properly attended to.” He spared one last look towards the Mercenary and those residing onboard before walking back up to the wooden double doors.

Scern now boarded the ship, observing the ragtag crew with a sneer. “This lot looks no better than pirates.” His eyes slid over each member slowly, but paused on Angel standing half behind Luckie. One side of his mouth tipped up nastily. “Some of them, at least.” Angel’s brown eyes fell further behind Luckie as she shied away from the leering man.

“Well, in any case,” the man continued, turning to face the crew, a medal on his uniform reflecting sunlight into Kat’s eye, “It is my duty to make sure that you all stay in your proper place while you reside here. I see no reason for anyone to leave this ship unless you are assisting with your own repairs. This is a fort, not a playground. I don’t expect you to be here long, so let’s make this as bearable as possible, yes?”

Lawrence coughed, bringing Scern’s attention to him. “You say there is no need for the crew to be off ship, yes?” His gaze momentarily flicked to Kat, and she suddenly understood what he was doing. “I mean, believe me sir, we want to spend as little time here as is humanely possible so we may continue on our business.”

Scern sniffed condescendingly at him. “I don’t believe there was much need to clarify, Captain Dumas.” He turned on his heel and walked off the ship, the other soldiers in tow, sparing one last sadistic glance towards Angel.

When Kat was certain they had left, she turned to Lawrence. “So what shall my role be if I am not part of the crew?”

“Well your first role is that of the Captain, yes?” he said. “That’s not necessarily considered part of the crew. And I that doesn’t work, there’s always our usual backup plan.”

Kat raised her eyebrow. “You mean that of your wife?” Lawrence nodded. She rolled her eyes. “That will do. All that’s left to do is wait for the opportune moment.” She walked to the edge of the ship, leaning out over the water that separated it from the dock. The walls of the fort stood menacingly above her, threatening to capture her very soul.

She shook off the ominous feeling. Her imagination was running wild now that she had the fort and Randolph right under her nose. She called Lawrence to her side. “Soon, they will have us walk up to the fort so we can gather supplies to fix the ship. We’ll both have to go, with you as Captain and I as part of your ‘crew,’ but the majority I think should stay behind and be prepared to ready the ship, just in case.”

“Just in case?” Lawrence looked at her sideways with confusion evident.

“Just in case we need to make a quick escape.” She looked down at the waters moving below her feet. “This is an assassination after all.” She pushed herself off of the edge of the ship and glanced around at her crew. Most were just lounging around on deck, unsure of what to do. Luckie and Angel chatted to one side of her, the young girl visibly shaken by Scern. Her brow furrowed and she sighed. She had begun to second guess their coming here, but there was no use dwelling on it. All she could do now was hope the same thing everyone else was; that they would all be gone from here quickly.

“Be sure to spread word around to the crew that at the first sign of smoke during our journey, they had best prepare the ship for departure.” She glared at the British flag hanging from the top of the fort. “I’ll not be making the same mistake of a giant speech in plain view of the enemy.”

:Coin::Coin::Coin::Coin::Coin:

I keep leaving you with cliffhangers. I think it's just a habit by this point.

Well, mates, perhaps not what you were expecting/wanting after a 2ish (or is it 3ish? I forget) week delay, but it's also one of the reasons why it took so long to write. Transitions are always the most difficult, for some reason.

Anyway. Tired ramblings aside, please, tell me what you thought! Who knows how comments can influence the outcome of the story, aye? It's like the experiment if you simply observe it, the conclusion is different than if the phenomena had been left on it's own. Good god, I think too much and use too many big words when I'm tired...here you go mates! Keep popping in for my random postings! Haha, Thanks for reading!

-Kat Crestshot

Great chapter Crest (again)!!

What Stealth said! Can't wait till the next one.

Does this have a happy ending? Please tell me it has a happy ending. - casually pulls out big scary sword-

Hahah, great chapter. I liked.

No! Happy endings are weak, don't listen to Em! :P

Anyways, that chapter was good, especially for a transition, I can't wait for the next chapter!! :D

Yes!New chapter.

Smoke
 

Ahoy mates! Thanks for still hanging in there on this story! Considering I know that you guys want this a lot, I'll just let you get straight to...

Smoke

:Coin::Coin::Coin::Coin::Coin:

Kat’s prediction ended up being correct. Before the sun had set, Scern had come back down to the ship and requested a number of the Mercenary’s crew to assist in the transfer of supplies. Lawrence was careful to leave certain crewmembers aboard, such as Emily, who would be quick to ready the ship if the need came. Kat noted out of the corner of her eye Luckie sending Angel down into the ship before falling in line with the rest headed up to the fort.

Lawrence and Charles stood near Kat on the trek up the docks. The group, led by Scern and some of his soldiers, passed through the giant wooden doors and into a large field. Kat looked around in wonder at the feat the Crown’s military had pulled off on such a small island. Men stood in the distance, practicing formations led by an officer. Kat narrowed her eyes slightly towards them, but saw no figure that jumped out at her with recognition. She instead continued to follow the steady, well measured steps of Scern, her eyes glancing around, looking for a good moment to dart out of sight and begin her explorations.

The crew was led past the field and under another arch. Kat’s eyes picked up on a rather inconspicuous, yet heavily guarded doorway as her boots squelched through the mud of a nearby pig pen. She made note of the area, as well as the ramp to her left as they fell into the shadow of trees. The hill they marched up led to a town scattered with soldiers or black and gold EITC uniforms, along with the occasional common dress.

Scern began leading the group to the left, closer to a large, storage like building. Kat found her opportunity to break away from the group, so she tapped Lawrence briefly on the arm as she darted past him and into the crevice between two of the buildings. She pressed herself against the wall, listening to the men enter the warehouse. The door finally shut, and she let her breath go.

Her compass clicked as she brought it out of her pocket and flicked it open. Slowly it spun, pointing to her right, down the alleyway. Kat snapped it shut and crept slowly down the narrow hall, but kept it close in her hand. This wasn’t a place she felt like getting lost in.

The dark of the alley was short, and she emerged with the warehouse still on her left. The buildings were much more condensed on this side, but the area was empty. Kat glanced around, noticing guards stationed at the top of a bridge, and she shrunk into the shadows, silently watching them. They paid no attention to the ground below them, however, but instead stood there chatting with each other, bayonets held loosely at their sides. She walked slowly out into the area, glancing around her with her hand twitching to grab a dagger from her coat for protection. Across the small lane she quickly darted, the sunlight off a window blinding her for the briefest of moments. She was out of view of the guards, at least. Now it was just a matter of exploring the buildings around her to find her prize.

The door she was leaning on suddenly fell away, but Kat was able to catch herself. Her heart pounded with adrenaline rushing through her from fear. A large hand roughly grabbed her shoulder and spun her around. She met closely with two dark, cold eyes.

“I thought I saw you from the window,” Randolph growled, sheer fury mixing with his words. His grip was too tight against her shoulder and pressing in just the right spot so she couldn’t move her arm. She was stuck as he pushed her against the wall of the doorway.

“You and your little pirate self, and your little pirate crew. Did you enjoy leaving me to die in the middle of the ocean? Did you?!” He accentuated it with a sharp squeeze to her shoulder, and Kat couldn’t help but gasp in pain. “I’ve heard of the mischief and the conning you’ve gotten up to the past three years, Katherine. Well,” he grinned maliciously. “Good luck doing that from now on.”

Without warning, his hand shot from her shoulder to her forearm, viciously pulling up the sleeve of her shirt. During his rant, Kat hadn’t seen the rod Randolph had held in his right hand, but she certainly felt it now as he burned a red-hot P into her skin. She screamed in pain, falling to her knees while Randolph stood over her, cackling.

He finally pulled it away, letting it dangle at his side next to her face as she moaned in pain. “How does it feel, Katherine?” he taunted. “Do I need to make it feel better, love?” His face turned into a sneer.

Kat didn’t let herself fall to his goading, instead weakly reaching into her coat. “You wish,” she hissed, pulling a grenade out and setting the fuse to the brand. It lit and she flung it with her good arm into the lane. She stood and kicked the metal pole into his face. The hot iron seared his skin, the embers burning what stubble he had. It was he who yelled in pain this time, and Kat ran back the way she had come while he was distracted.

Kat turned out of the alleyway, only to run into her crew, who looked at her curiously. “Back to the ship!” she yelled, gripping her arm tightly. She glanced behind her to see smoke rising, and Randolph coming through the alley. “Now!” Without waiting for confirmation, she began running at top speed down the hill and back to her ship, feeling the P on her arm jolt with little shocks of pain.

“They’re pirates! Seize them!” Randolph cried behind her. She didn’t look back, but she heard the drawing of swords. Whether they were friend or foe, she couldn’t be sure. All she knew was the need to run, to escape, to find something to get rid of the searing burn in her skin. Cries reached her ears along with the clashing of swords, but she just ran, down the hill, past the other warehouse, under the archway to the field. She saw through the far gate the sails of her ship being set up and could almost hear the anchor being raised. Some sliver of hope popped up inside her that maybe, just maybe, they could get out of this alive.

That’s when she made the mistake of turning around.

Her men had engaged with the Navy everywhere she turned. Their numbers were monumentally overpowered, and most had just begun fleeing back to the ship as she had been doing. The thing her eyes focused on, however, was the battle between a red haired, emerald eyed man and the swine she had once called a husband. As she stared at them, their blades became locked, sweat pouring down their faces in the Caribbean heat. Randolph suddenly raised a hard black boot and kicked Lawrence in the chest, knocking him backwards and stunning him. Lawrence fell to the ground, and Randolph’s gaze immediately turned to her. He began storming towards her, and Kat felt her legs were ready to pounce away from him, but instead Lawrence sat up from the ground he had been shoved onto and flung his dagger towards Randolph. The aim was true; the small blade sunk into the back of Randolph’s thigh, and he roared in pain for the second time in minutes. He turned from Kat, his leg buckling as he fell on Lawrence and soundly punched him across the face, then under his chin, and again in the ribs.

“Lawrence!” Kat cried, and she tried to leap to his aid, but Charles’ large form appeared and pushed her backwards.

“Go, Kat, go!” he yelled at her, but she shoved herself against his arms.

“Charles we have to help him!” Charles glanced behind him to see that two more soldiers had come to their officer’s aid, and were dragging Lawrence’s unconscious and beaten form up further into the fort.

“We can’t help him right now, Kat!” he claimed. Knowing prematurely that his sister wouldn’t give up, he kneeled down and flung her over his shoulder, taking off at a run for the ship. She tried to beat on his back, but hissed in pain at the burn on her forearm. That didn’t stop her from screaming obscenities and cries to be freed as they got closer to the ship, though.

“If we go back, we’ll all die!” he shouted as he boarded the Mercenary.

“Set sail as quickly as possible!” he ordered the crew with the Captain still on his shoulder. She wiggled and screamed and tried kicking her way free, but Charles didn’t let her down until the ship had left port, and she was forced to watch the fort shrink in the flames of the setting sun.

:Coin::Coin::Coin::Coin::Coin:

And now I'll go off under my rock to avoid the slings and arrows of misfortune.
(If you got that reference, I love you.)

I have to thank Pieisbetter2 for a sentence used in this chapter. Can't be caught plagiarizing, now can I?

I know you all have waited for this chapter, but it was worth it, aye? I'd love reviews, especially on this chapter mates (minus the giant sword, if you please Em). It's good to know that as unreliable as my postings are, there's still people here waiting to read the story. So, I hope you enjoyed! Thanks for reading!

-Kat Crestshot

Heh heh. Hanging... bad pun.

Anyway, good chapter mate! Poor Lawrence @_@

p.s. I dare you to figure out what my user title means :P

Oddly enough i know what it means lol... and WOOT way to go Crest! As always it is lovely

Great chapter.

/applaud

Great chapter, and great story! Wish they'd come out faster though.. :P

^ With ya on that.

NUUUU. Make it turn out happily D:

In all seriousness, I hope this turns out happily. Because otherwise I will be unhappy. And unhappy Em's aren't good.

What If's
 

The muses have been kind to me this week, mates. So, as an early 4th of July present (or just a general present for those of you out of the US), here is...

What If's

:Coin::Coin::Coin::Coin::Coin:

Do or die.

’That’s what it should have come down to,’ Kat thought bitterly. She stood at the wheel of her ship, keeping it steady while she reflected.

They had lost ten members of the crew at Kingshead. Whether they were dead or merely jailed and awaiting a rigged trial, she couldn’t possibly know. Of all those that had been left behind, emerald eyes always came to her mind first, but of course that wasn’t all. Faces of those crewmembers who had fought by her side in Tortuga or risked their lives climbing the rigging swam through her mind, but also the friends she had laughed with in candlelight as they drank rum and played poker below decks.

Kat suddenly started, believing a flash of green hair had appeared emerging from the galley, but it was only Angel as she sullenly began scrubbing the decks. She sighed at the tricks her mind was playing. The last thing she wanted was a reminder that Luckie, of all the people, was gone as well.

Morale on the ship had been low in the days since Kingshead, but that wasn’t much of a surprise. Angel seemed especially downhearted, considering Luckie had taken on the role of a mother figure for her. The crew seemed to walk around in a daze, some of them at times turning to ask for help from a colleague, only to remember that they no longer numbered 32. Crewmembers would pass by her, and she would feel the heat from their glares, knowing that they blamed her for this damage. She knew they had every right to.

Contact between her and her brother had been minimal the past few days as well. She understood and appreciated why he had dragged her out of the fort, but that didn’t necessarily mean that she was happy with him about it. He, thankfully, had noticed it and had been avoiding her as well. Sarah, though, was caught between the two siblings in the worst of ways. She had tried to talk to Kat the day after they had escaped Kingshead, but that had only culminated in a yelling match.

“He was only doing what was best for you, Katherine!” she had pleaded, but Kat had refused to give in.

“What would have been best was if I had helped defend my crew!” Kat yelled back. “You know the tradition of a captain going down with his ship, but what about his crew? Hang the Code, those men and women have been with me through every insane endeavor I have put my mind to!” She had slammed her hand down on her desk at this point, forgetting about the P burned into her arm. It sent a jolt through her, and she hissed in pain.

“Yes, because you’re supposed to fight with a small dagger and a freshly injured arm,” Sarah replied, her voice laced with thick sarcasm. “Would you just stop?”

“No I will not!” Kat thundered. “I left him behind!”

The statement made them both pause. “Them,” Kat had then corrected quietly. “I left them behind.”

“That’s not what you said.”

Kat was silent. Then, a simple “I know” was uttered from her lips. “I left him behind,” she whispered. “After Solomon, I promised him that I would never do that, but I did. I did, just as I abandoned Solomon once before.” Her injured arm came up to rest on her chest, her hand settling over her heart. “But it hurts so much more this time.”

A single tear formed and ran a river down her cheek. This, to Sarah, was more terrifying than if Kat had burst into screams of fury and pain. “Lawrence Mcrage has been with me since the very beginning. He saved me from death in an unforgiving ocean all those years ago, and he saved my life again when he threw a knife into Randolph’s leg, only this time, he may have traded his own. After so much, Sarah…” She sighed and placed a hand to her closed eyes, seeing fire and emeralds. “After so much, I have continuously denied the one thing we both desired most in this world. He saw the danger of Kingshead when I refused to, and somehow I think he knew that he wouldn’t come out of there as expected. He knew, and he tried to talk to me, but I denied him once more. What if that was the last time?

“What if I never tell him I love him?”

Kat had sunken into her desk chair, and Sarah came to stand in front of her. “Life wasn’t made dwelling on what if’s, Kat.” She took her sister under the chin and tilted her face up. “You will be able to say those words, and I am going to help you be able to do that. Perhaps you have burned all of your bridges in the Royal Navy, but I doubt many words have spread about my turn to piracy.” She walked over to the map of the Caribbean Kat kept on her wall and pointed to the island in the center. “I think I know where we need to go.”

So now, two days later and three days after Kingshead, Kat manned her ship for Port Royal. She trusted her sister’s plan, just as she trusted that the system of the law on Kingshead was not much different from anywhere else, and just as she trusted Randolph would be playing chess with her as he used to in their parlor; waiting for her move so he could pull the single piece right out from under her that would completely destroy her game.

Her arm buzzed, and she shook the sleeve of her shirt back to reveal the still scalding P. Randolph shouldn’t have burned it onto her. It was only proof that she had more to fight for. She hissed as the sleeve fell back over it.

And somewhere else, miles away in a jail cell, Lawrence Mcrage screamed as the same symbol was burned into him.

“And I was under the impression that pirates were far more substantial.” The man dressed in the black and gold of an EITC uniform stood just in front of Lawrence while two more spread his arms out to his sides. His shirt had been stripped from his body, leaving his bruised chest exposed, along with the new, bright red P. “I suppose not.”

Lawrence lifted his head, his usually sparkling green eyes glazed over with something much more sinister. His breath was heavy as he spoke. “What I wouldn’t give to see you in this same position screaming louder and writhing on this ground at the slightest touch of that poker.”

The man grinned toothily, exposing the yellow and rotten pieces. “But pirates don’t get their wishes granted. Not in the eyes of the law or the God who will condemn you to Hell.”

Lawrence snorted wearily. “You call this lawful or moral? Torture and branding me like I’m an animal?” He looked the soldier solidly in the eye. “In that case, I’ll enjoy seeing you burn right next to me.”

The small room echoed with the backhanded slap Lawrence was given across the face. “How dare you accuse me of such things!”

“That will be enough, Mr. Remington,” a voice spoke from the jail’s stairway. A soft clunk of a crutch was heard as its source came closer. Around the corner entered Randolph, a crutch under one arm and two soldiers of his own behind him. “I’ll be taking it from here.”

Remington’s back straightened stiffly. “Very well, Mr. Randolph.” He motioned to the ones holding Lawrence back, and he was abruptly dropped to the floor. The new scarring mark on his chest burned as it hit the dirt and he grimaced while he pushed himself off the floor to greet Randolph. He looked coldly up at the man that surrounded him, finding Remington glaring back. “Feel free to summon me if you need… assistance with him, sir,” he said. He stared at Lawrence threateningly for a moment longer, walking up the dark stairs and out of the jail.

Randolph glanced at the slam of the door before turning back to Lawrence. “So you’re the little mongrel who stabbed me in the leg,” he sneered. “You should work on that aim.”

Lawrence grinned. “Who said my aim was off?” He stood, and Randolph’s guards stiffened, but the officer stood still as a rock. “If I had aimed anywhere else, I could have killed you. That honor is saved for Kat.”

He suddenly felt himself shoved backwards by a dull point into his stomach. His back slammed into the wall and he slumped down to the floor. He gingerly rubbed his new bruise as Randolph clunked forward towards him.

“If you think that my leech of a wife is going to get anywhere near me, that’s where you’d be wrong,” he growled in Lawrence’s face.

“Denial is unbecoming of you, officer. If you don’t recall, she’s not your wife anymore,” he taunted back. Randolph’s crutch came up and smacked him across the head, the wood roughly connecting with his skull. Lawrence was forced to the floor again, this time with stars forming in front of his eyes. He heard Randolph as if through a well.

“She’s quite the fighter, I’ll give her that. Gave me quite the burn.” He turned the side of his face towards Lawrence and lightly stroked the bright pink scaled breaking his beard. “I don’t think I would have ever expected that from her all those years ago. And to see her brother and sister as well… Perhaps I would have expected that from Charles, but never Sarah.” He shrugged. “No matter. They’ll all be on the noose soon enough.”

The image rushed into his mind of Kat’s buckled boots dangling a foot off the ground, her eyes staring out at the world lifelessly while a rope was wrapped around her neck. His breathing sped up and slowly, his fists and teeth begun to clench.

“She was always rather whiny and sniveling. It will be good to have that gone from this world.”

Lawrence lurched at Randolph’s feet, too quick for the redcoats to react. With his weight taken from his good leg, he slammed onto the ground, and Lawrence immediately grabbed him by the neck. “Whatever love she gave you was more than you will ever deserve,” he growled, his hot breath coating Randolph’s face.

The points of two swords touched Lawrence’s back. “Touchy, aren’t we?” Randolph said as Lawrence slowly rose off him. “Quite the temper you’ve got there.” He spoke the words contemplatively while one of his men assisted him to his feet and the other kept his sword trained on the highly agitated Lawrence.

“You don’t know the half of it,” he grumbled venomously.

“We could utilize that…” Randolph muttered, as if to himself. Lawrence’s scowl only deepened.

“What, are you offering me a position in the Navy?” he scoffed. “I’m a pirate, not a member of an ever corrupt English society.”

Randolph smiled grotesquely. “You know, Mr. Remington is quite skilled in the art of torture. I believe it stems from his deep delight of it.”

Lawrence’s eyes narrowed. “I’ll assume I should take that as a threat.”

“For a pirate you’re quite…” Randolph let his finger trail along the hilt of the blade in his belt, “sharp, Mr. Lawrence.”

“My name is Mcrage,” he snapped so viciously that the soldiers raised their swords to his chest again.

But Randolph only chuckled softly. “I had been wondering about that. Well,” he turned towards the door as if making the motions to leave. “Since you have denied me once, I doubt you’ll change your answer anytime soon.” He began walking up the stairs and called backwards, “I suppose I’ll just have to send Remington in again while we wait for Katherine!” One of the departing soldiers took the lone torch on the wall and the door slammed behind him, leaving Lawrence and the jail to descend into darkness.

:Coin::Coin::Coin::Coin::Coin:

I've gotten lucky the past two weeks or so. Not quite sure when the next chapter will be out, so I'm sorry for that. I'll try and keep the muse locked in her cage.

Thank you for the reviews! Even the ones that tell me I'm slow posting warm my heart. :laughks2: Happy Fourth of July! Thanks for Reading!

-Kat Crestshot

Good chapter mate!!! I think I know what shall happen next. ;)

The plot thickens... -insert dun dun dun dun music here-

And a chapter that doesn't involve killing someone off for once :O Me liked. You post another soon.

Huh.That scum Randolph.
But a very good chapter as always Kat.

New Plans and Drunken Soldiers
 

Ahoy mates! Late chapter (I know I know), but this has been in the making for a while. Little stops and starts, you know... Anywho, you don't want to hear my excuses. Instead, here's...

New Plans and Drunken Soldiers

:Coin::Coin::Coin::Coin::Coin:

“Throw her in the brig!” Randolph commanded in a harsh voice. His eyes looked cold, and strong hands grasped her arms, dragging her across the deck of the ship.

“No, sweetheart, I swear I didn’t! I would never…I, I couldn’t!” Katherine struggled viciously against her captors, yelling out to her husband. They only held her tighter, not caring about the fact that she was female. That only made them fiercer towards her.

“You think I can believe you?!” her husband thundered. “You are nothing but a stupid, stupid woman! I should have never brought you aboard this ship!” His voice quieted with his next line. “The men were right. A woman on a ship is bad luck.”

Then the most sinister of smiles came to his face. “But I have the one thing you most desire, don’t I?” The fog around them parted just enough for Kat to see bright red hair being dragged away from her, up a hill. “He’s mine now. Soon enough, I’ll have you again as well. You will all die.”

With that, the men dragged a struggling, crying Katherine across the deck and she was thrown across the floor…

But she didn’t end up in a dark, dank brig. Instead, she was shoved into a hard backed, ornamental chair. Randolph sat across from her, his hands folded in front of his face as he stared avidly down at the black and white board between them.

“You always feel the need to protect your precious Knights, don’t you Katherine?” he murmured in his contemplation. His fingers tapped his white rook forward to take the pawn that had protected the knight.

“He is the most unique of the players,” Katherine murmured. Her fingers lightly touched the head of the black stallion. She twirled the piece on its square, contemplating her next move.

“That is your problem, Katherine,” Gregory scolded her as she moved the knight in its unique L shape. “They’re just pieces, not people. The way you see them as such hinders the way you play.” He immediately moved his rook horizontally and snatched her noble knight between his fingers, leaving it right next to her queen in the middle of the board.

“No, it’s a player,” she protested softly. “Even the pawns have their own specific characteristics. If they didn’t, nothing would happen in this game.” Her dark queen moved diagonally away from the rook, two spaces away from Gregory’s king.

“Checkmate…”

~~~~~

Kat walked into the dark room of the Royal Anchor. She marveled at the irony of the name as she approached the bar. It was the middle of the day, so the tavern was busier than she usually saw it, but it was a good place to blend in. She had dressed herself in casual men’s attire, and kept her forearm turned downward, should anyone have the unfortunate chance of catching what was behind the bandage.

Her hair tucked into her weather beaten hat, falling gently over her eyes. She sat at a barstool, listening to the feet screech in the hushed aura of the Royal Anchor. Josie came across from her stool with a glass in one hand and a rag in the other.

“What’ll it be?” she asked, the perfect example for an up and coming bar wench.

“A bottle of rum,” Kat growled in the deepest tenor she could manage. She allowed her eyes to drift up to Josie’s, and saw a spark of recognition, but not full comprehension, in the other woman’s. The confusion was evident in her stance as she slowly set down the glass she held. She reached behind her for the bottle, keeping her eyes on the curious figure in her tavern.

“Three gold,” she told her patron. Kat grunted with a nod to the redhead as she passed the gold across the wooden bar. Josie swiftly grabbed the coins and tossed them in the till, and Kat noticed with satisfaction that Josie slipped the other object into her apron pocket.

She waited on that bar stool for an hour, silently nursing a bottle of rum. Men entered and left the tavern to the joyous tunes of a flute and guitar, but she paid little attention to the sounds. Instead, she sat in quiet contemplation, almost brooding, as she waited for Josie to give her a sign.

“Adam, take care of the customers for a few minutes,” Josie said to her young barkeep, bringing Kat out of her haze of thought. “I’m taking a break in the back room for a few minutes.” She tossed her rag to the boy, catching Kat’s eye as she slid out the door behind the bar. The door slammed shut, and Kat barely contained her patience for a few minutes more before slithering out of the front door, leaving her empty rum bottle behind.

She pulled her dark coat around herself a little tighter, glancing shiftily around the building behind the brow of her hat as she exited. A regular trickle of people passed her by, paying her no attention as they made their way to barter for various wares. She easily, without needing much subtlety, slipped around to the back of the Anchor, quickly climbing the stairs and entering the back door Josie had once given her the key to.

“I was wondering when you would be back in Port Royal,” Josie said after the door had firmly closed.

“Purely out of necessity,” Kat said softly. A stream of light flowed through an open window, and she quickly closed the blinds. “If I didn’t absolutely have to be in Port Royal, I wouldn’t be.”

“Then what’s with the disguise?” Josie asked curiously.

Kat didn’t turn away from the closed window as she spoke, but her knuckles whitened on the sill. “I’m surprised you haven’t heard, with all the sailors that pass through your bar. Started a full out revolution on Tortuga, among other things. The Navy isn’t fond of me lately. I figured, considering what I usually wear, this would be simplest.”

Josie approached her from behind. “Well, good move on slipping me that key, then, so I knew it was you.” She took Kat’s arm as if to draw her away from the window, but the pirate hissed when it hit the bandage. Josie’s eyes widened when she saw it, and she gently opened Kat’s arm out to her. The cloth fell away easily, for Kat merely looked away in shame, and she heard Josie’s breath catch as Randolph’s reminder was revealed. “They marked you,” she murmured, and Kat looked back briefly enough to see the horrified look in her face. “Kat…” she said slowly. “Where’s Lawrence?”

Kat’s mouth hardened into a straight line. She jerked her arms from Josie’s grasp and wrapped it in the bandage again. “He was captured by the Navy,” she said. “We needed to come back here to get plans and information. My sister and brother are out now trying to get as much. I hope you don’t mind that I told them to meet me back here.” Her eyes strayed low to her bandage the entire time she spoke. “I’m sorry we had to meet again like this.”

Before Josie could respond, Adam knocked on the door of her quarters. “Josie, we got a bloke down here getting restless. Looks like he’ll start a fight any minute now!”

Josie sighed. “Be right out, Adam.” The boy’s steps disappeared down the staircase, and Josie turned to speak quietly to Kat. “You know you’re free to stay here as long as you need.” Then she disappeared through the door that led to the main bar, leaving Kat to more quiet brooding.

She sat there for the rest of the day until a banging came to the back door. “Kat, are you there?” Charles’ voice leaked desperately through the door. She leapt to her feet and turned the knob, finding Charles and Sarah there almost stumbling into her in their haste to get through the doorway. Sarah kicked the door closed behind them from her position where she had fallen on the floor.

“Should I just assume things didn’t go well?” she sighed, looking at her breathless brother and sister. Charles looked up at her with sheepish eyes.

“Yah, you could say that…” he muttered.

“We tried throwing Father’s name around a little, but that apparently doesn’t work outside of England.” Sarah slumped in the lone chair in the room Kat had just vacated. “Then, on a chance, we tried associating ourselves with Randolph and telling them we were sent to retrieve information on Kingshead fort, but they just got even more suspicious and asked Charles for credentials. That’s around the time we began to run.”

Kat felt the fury rise up in her, and she finally lost her cool as she slammed her fist into a nearby wall. “Well now what do we do?!” she shouted, ignoring the way her hit had rattled her entire arm, including the scarring P. “We can’t just go charging in there again!”

The three sat in silence; Kat attempted to regain her control while Charles and Sarah tried to figure out how to react to her. Kat’s hat had flown off her head with the force of her blow, allowing her hair to fall and frame her tormented face. The images of Randolph growling in her face as he scalded her and Lawrence’s prone form being dragged away from her flashed in her mind. She breathed heavily and clenched her teeth while she stood there.

Footsteps thundered up the bar staircase and Josie charged into the room, slamming the door behind her. “What happened?” she demanded, looking around the room. She did a double take to Sarah in the chair and Charles leaning against the door. There was a pause, and Josie moved to the immobile Kat. “I’ll assume these are your siblings.” Kat was unable to answer, so instead Josie held out her hand in greeting to the others. “I’m Josie Mcreedy.”

Charles and Sarah glanced at each other, and Charles pushed off the wall to take it. “Charles Crestshot,” he told her. “This is my sister, Sarah.”

The introductions and pleasantries were cut short by Kat, who had finally regained control of her emotions. If the three looked closely, however, they would see the flames still dancing behind her hazel orbs, the ones that had been lurking there ever since Lawrence disappeared. “We need a new plan.”

“Well if you’re going to talk, go down to the bar and grab some drinks,” Josie said. “I’d prefer knowing you were safe down there.” A shout came from below, and Josie rolled her eyes. “I still have to deal with that, so I’ll meet you in a few minutes. Go the front way.” She darted back out of the room, and Kat heard her yell at some “Mangy mutt!” only seconds later.

Kat sighed and picked her hat up from the wooden planks. She placed it gently back on her head and began to hide her hair again. With every strand she tucked away, she felt as if she was retreating further and further inside of herself. After double checking her bandage and being sure it was tight, she walked out into the cloudy day, not paying attention to her siblings following behind.

She made a circle around the block, paranoia lurking in the back of her mind. Charles and Sarah didn’t follow closely, instead choosing to go straight into the bar. On her walk, she was able to see the common folk she didn’t usually interact with go about their daily ways. Children ran underneath her feet, almost knocking her over in their innocent haste for play. A woman stood behind a stand, calling out and advertising her wares. A long bearded man leaned against a building nonchalantly, smoking a cigar. Something in her heart tugged towards all of these people, towards this calmer, nonthreatening life.

Bright red suddenly appeared in the picturesque view, cutting the tension Kat felt in her heart, and instead transferring it to her muscles. There didn’t seem to be a need for it, however; the Navy soldiers that walked through the crowd were young, rowdy, and apparently off duty. They laughed and shoved each other around playfully as they walked. Kat kept her eyes on them as they passed by, and one word reached her ears; “Kingshead.” Her body tensed even more as her mind worked on overdrive, imagining the possibilities. When they didn’t notice her, she began following them, almost certain that she knew where they would be going in this part of town.

The group of men, with Kat following closely, approached the Royal Anchor. They entered ahead of her, and she waited another minute to do the same. She looked around, finding her family filling two of the seats at the bar, and the soldiers having claimed a darkened corner.

“I think I figured out what we can do,” she murmured as she sat next to the two. They exhibited minimal surprise to their sister appearing out of nowhere. Instead, they listened carefully to her words while Josie brought out a few drinks.

“See them?” she muttered in her low voice, gesturing gently towards the corner of raucous men. Charles’ head whipped around, causing Kat’s hand to shoot out and tightly grasp his shoulder, bringing his attention back to her. “Not like that, you idiot!” she hissed. “I heard them say something about Kingshead on the way here. Perhaps we can use them.”

Sarah began opening her mouth to say something, but a unified cry drowned out whatever words she had. “To promotions!” one redcoat cried. Josie went over there with a tray of mugs while one man in the center of the group received cheers and slaps on the back.

“Sarah, I think you know what I’m going to ask you,” she said, slowly turning back to her. She raised her eyebrows, and Sarah’s eyes widened.

“Kat, you can’t possibly expect me to…” But Kat silenced her with a simple stare, and Sarah saw the desperation haunting her sister’s soul.

“It’s our best shot. I would do it, but we know that’s impossible.” Kat held out her bandaged forearm. “Please.” It was not a request, but a statement. She tore herself away from her sister’s eyes, unwilling to discuss the matter anymore, and called Josie over.

“Josie, make sure those men over there get all the drinks they need,” she said. “Every drop is on me.” Josie nodded and went to fill more tankards to deliver to the table. These boys were about to learn the true meaning of alcohol.

As the bar got emptier, the soldiers got louder and more rowdy. Their raucous laughter echoed, grating on Kat’s eardrums, but she forced herself to put it to the back of her mind. The time soon came, though, when Kat figured they were all susceptible to their own wiles.

“Now,” she whispered without looking at her sister. Sarah had been building up her act as the night had grown longer, leaning back against the bar and feigning interest towards the corner. When they began to notice her, she stood. Her gaze resembled that of a grinning tigress on the prowl as she approached the group that had begun to throw cat calls at her. She ignored each one, instead eyeing the young blonde in the center.

“I hear you’re the man of honor tonight,” she began. Kat’s head turned almost unnoticeably so her ear was directed towards them. She heard the rustle of cloth beyond the other chatter as the man straightened his uniform.

“Yes, tha’s me.” His voice was slurred slightly away from the refined arrogance Kat could hear behind it.

“Do you have a name, Mr. Man-of-honor?” Sarah asked, a suave tone entering her voice. His friends began oohing and laughing more, but the blonde instead stood (rather unsteadily) from his chair.

“Lieutenant Jonathan Mellow, miss,” he said, bowing clumsily and kissing her hand.

“Mellow you certainly are,” Kat heard Charles mutter under his breath, and the two shared a soft chuckle.

“Is that so?” The slight screech of a wooden chair on the floor was heard as Sarah gently pushed the Lieutenant back into his chair. “Well gentlemen, what happens to be the occasion? Did the fort get a new shipment of gunpowder or is it King George’s birthday?” A fake, tinkling laugh rang out, and the others echoed it in their deep roars of hysteria.

Lieutenant Mellow grinned up at her. “Actually, miss, i’s my promotion. Fin’ly movin’ up.” His grin suddenly faltered a bit. “Wha’s your name again?”

Sarah waved her hand carelessly, as if brushing the question away. “Oh, I suppose you can call me…” She sat in his open lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Angel.”

Kat and Charles both snorted from their listening posts.

Mellow, on the other hand, hummed almost inaudibly. “I think I like the sound of that.” The other two siblings exchanged looks of disgust at the words.

“So, Lieutenant, what duties does this promotion entail?” she asked, running her fingers gently over his clean, boyish face.

“Unfortunately, a transfer,” he sighed. “You eva’ heard of Kingshead, Nayana?” Kat’s ears perked up at the word. This was what they had been waiting for.

“Only rumors,” Sarah said innocently. “It’s supposed to be some impenetrable fortress in the middle of nowhere.”

“No’ quite in the middle of nowhere, but tha’s essentially it. Only the elite are assigned there,” he boasted. Kat could practically hear his chest pop out.

“How exciting,” Sarah said girlishly, but Kat heard the sarcasm behind her words. “Well, Mr. Elite, think you can help a girl out?” Sarah asked, walking her fingers up his chest. “I’ve fallen into a terrible rut lately. Can’t fend for myself, you see. Could you take me with you, help me get some work at this fantastic fort?”

Mellow looked cautious and confused, as if trying to think logically through his drunken haze. “I’m not sure if I have that power,” he said slowly.

Sarah grinned deviously. “I have an idea.” She stood and pulled at his hands so he would stand with her. “Let’s talk about this upstairs. Alone.” She dragged the Lieutenant out of the room and up the stairs to the jeers of his friends. Kat and Charles, on the other hand, looked at each other in alarm.

“You don’t think she’ll…” Charles started. Kat shrugged.

Josie came to stand on the other side of them. “I wouldn’t worry ‘bout her,” she said nonchalantly. “She seems to be a smart girl, I think she knows what she’s doing.” She passed a key over the counter to them. “The both of you go up to your room and sleep some now.” She shooed them out of the bar and they solemnly walked up the stairs to the rooms.

Sarah stood in the hallway, her voodoo doll twirling in her hands. She glanced up at the sound of footsteps and smiled genuinely for the first time in over an hour.

“I put him to sleep,” she told them without preamble, waggling the doll. “When he wakes, he’ll think that I convinced him to take me along. His ship leaves in two days. The Mercenary can follow it back to Kingshead, and we’ll go from there.”

Kat ran forward and hugged her sister tight. “I love you, Sarah. I’ll be thanking you forever.”

Sarah wrapped her arms around Kat in return. “I love you too, my sister,” she said quietly.

:Coin::Coin::Coin::Coin::Coin:

I thoroughly enjoyed writing Sarah's moments there at the end. I was a giggling mess as I wrote.

Well, as always, tell me what you think! (of the chapter, maybe not on my late schedule :pirate2:) I adore your reviews, so thank you very much for the ones on the last chapter! Thanks for Reading!

-Kat Crestshot

I loved it!

There's something about your story that really captures the essence of the Caribbean. It's kind of like a perfect balance between the Caribbean that exists in game, and your own creation, as though you've been able to bring it to life. I simply adore your story, always have, and always will!

That was an awesome chapter. Plus, it didn't kill anyone off. Good job.

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Better make that a rum cake mate or Crest will go ballistic.

Influence
 

Ahoy there me mates. Hope you haven't missed me too much. ;) School brings inspiration and... *ahem*...

Influence

:Coin::Coin::Coin::Coin::Coin:

The light of a new day shone on Lawrence through the small window granted to him in his cell. His head shifted, then turned into the shadow. He slowly blinked, bringing himself out of the bliss and ignorance of dreams, and back to the pain of reality.

Reality burned.

First, the sunlight burned his eyes, the harsh glare making the world blurry for a moment. The cells of his chest burned at the realization that he no longer stood in free sunlight, but encountered a scratchy, hardwood surface that the Navy called a bed. His back was no longer whole, but broken strips of his skin and soul burned as the air invaded the red and swollen wounds. Blinking back into reality, his mind burned when he saw the cold stone wall instead of the wide, blue sea, reminding him that he was still trapped.

He didn’t allow himself to move yet; if he did, it would just emphasize the pain he already felt. Instead, he let his mind wander through the past few days, despite the trauma they would bring to the forefront of his mind.

Remington had been enjoying his new toy far too much. The man was seemingly soulless. Every scream, every twitch, or any sign of pain Lawrence gave up he seemed to fed upon. His cold eyes would alight whenever he entered the jail, and Lawrence would know that his body and sanity would be tested again. The day before, he had been blindfolded with his hands tied behind his back and lead out of the cell, then forced to walk around on his own. More than that, though, they had set it up so he walked into swords and poles. Disoriented and confused, he had even fallen down a set of stairs, only to be forced back to his feet to the sound of more laughter. Randolph, however, seemed to be absent from the ‘festivities.’

Lawrence had just decided to attempt to get up, but the creak of the jail door forced him to sit up instead. Down the stairs, boots clicked and echoed, with the addition of an extra, wooden thump. Lawrence knew exactly who his thoughts had called.

“I was wondering when you would return,” he said loudly, and the slow walk paused. Lawrence attempted a grin, but with his pain, his mouth only leaned towards the left in a small grimace. “Have you enjoyed Remington’s reports on me?”

The clunking resumed, and Randolph rounded the small spiral staircase. He still leaned on his crutch, but here was a slight difference; he no longer seemed to clutch it quite as tight or put as much weight on it. “To be honest, no,” he said, stepping in front of the door. “There are better ways to get what I want form you, but Mr. Remington has some influence with higher-ups that I didn’t feel like passing up.” He took a set of keys from his pocket and began to unlock the gate that separated the both of them. “No, I have far more influential means.”

Lawrence frowned deeper. “What are you doing?”

Randolph finished jimmying with the keys and swung the door open. “You and I are going on a little tour of the fort, Mr. Mcrage.”

“What about your guards? Where are they to protect your life?” Lawrence stepped to the threshold of the jail’s exit, but did not pass through it. “I could grab you and kill you right now, and nobody would be able to save you.”

Randolph just smiled coldly, and the ice echoed in his eyes. “But you’re smarter than that, Mr. Mcrage. If you killed me, there would be nowhere for you to run except into the unforgiving ocean – which, I’ll tell you, is many hundred meters below us – or into the noose. You may as well slit your own throat if you were to do that.” He stepped a little away from the cell door, as if inviting Lawrence out of it. “Besides, you said it yourself; that honor is saved for Katherine. Now, after you.”

Lawrence slowly stepped out of the cell, both out of caution and the screams in his muscles. He stood in front of Randolph, waiting for him to move first, but with a flourish of his hand, he motioned Lawrence forward. With extreme hesitance, he rounded the steps and walked into the fort proper.

Despite the slivers of light he had been getting the past few days, the sun still blinded him. He put a hand up to block it, and was surprised to see a scrape on the back of it. It must have come from the fall yesterday. Was he really that far gone that he was beginning to lose feeling of the simplest things?

A tap on the back of his leg brought his attention back to Randolph. He looked a little impatient as he stepped forward in front of Lawrence. “Come along, Mr. Mcrage. I have many things to show you and little time in which to do it.” He began walking across the second level they were standing on, above a small courtyard where Navy and EITC soldiers alike wandered. Lawrence turned to look at the other side, and saw with surprise the entire ocean laid out in front of him. A longing suddenly filled his heart for that freedom.

“Mr. Mcrage!” Randolph barked. Lawrence tore his gaze away from the blue waters, knowing if he didn’t comply, things would only get worse.

“You would do well to remember how to listen to orders, Mr. Mcrage. It will help you greatly while you’re involved in the service,” Randolph sniffed.

“And you would do well to remember that I have already said no, Mr. Randolph,” Lawrence replied as they began walking again.

“We’ll see, Mr. Mcrage,” Randolph murmured. He waved his hand across the scene before them. “This is the top of the fort. It mostly holds the jail and watchtowers, and occasional excess storage. We have to make sure we’re not ambushed by pirates or the Spanish or anything else of the sort.”

“Yes, and we all know how well that worked,” Lawrence snarked. A crack sounded out as Randolph brought his crutch to Lawrence’s head. He tilted dangerously to the edge of the fort, only to be pulled back by the man who had just hit him. Bright white stars turned in front of his eyes, and he rapidly blinked to try and rid his vision of them.

“You should be more careful with your balance, Mcrage,” Randolph growled. “Now keep walking, and keep your insubordinate mouth shut!” Lawrence rose to his full height, rubbing the new bump on his temple and shooting a glare at his captor, but began walking alongside him nonetheless.

The two slowly made their way down the fort, Randolph spouting a monologue the entire time. He was ridiculously proud of ‘his’ fort, as was clear by his overblown voice. All it made Lawrence do was yawn. He cared more about scrubbing barnacles off a deck than how many soldiers could shoot from the bridge at once. It was only when they were past the bridge he was more attentive.

They had entered another section of the fort, one with multiple raised platforms and a small well a few men lurked around. Upon one of the platforms perched Remington, staring coldly at those that surrounded him. The sight of him renewed fire in Lawrence’s veins. Randolph called his name, and Remington turned his head sharply. His rotten teeth were revealed in a grin when he spotted Lawrence. He bounded down the stairs of the platform with as much dignity he could muster.

“Are you in need of assistance, sir?” Remington asked, looking sinisterly at Lawrence. His brow furrowed more towards the nonverbal challenge. Remington only looked more pleased that he hadn’t broken Lawrence yet.

“I do, actually,” Randolph replied. “The both of you, follow me.” He walked brusquely towards the well, and Lawrence wondered for a moment how odd it was to bring Remington along for a drink. Instead, Randolph turned to a small building next to it. He opened the door to walk in, and Remington gleefully shoved him through it.

As Lawrence ran into the wall on the other side of the door, something rang in his mind that this place was familiar. He peeled himself away from the stone to the jingle of his keys and the creak of an iron door. Slowly, he walked down another small set of curved stairs, cautious of what he would find.

There stood Luckie, her arm grasped by Randolph and looking exhausted. Her eyes, however, shone at the sight of Lawrence, even if the rest of her looked beaten.

“Mr. Mcrage, I would like to extend to you again the offer to join the Royal Navy,” Randolph spoke.

Lawrence looked irritated by the question again. “I am only loyal to freedom,” he replied. “That is something you are unable to offer me.”

“Are you loyal to freedom, Mcrage, or to the woman who represents it for you?” Randolph argued, his voice raising. “You cling to the hope that she will appear in a puff of smoke and free you? You believe she is loyal to you in return?” He released a sarcastic laugh. “Yes, I once believed the same, and look where that got me!”

“You betrayed her!” Lawrence roared, and began charging at him, only to be struck down by Remington. That only slowed him for a moment. He leaped up again, and Remington tackled him with a punch to the chest that Lawrence tried to roll away from. The two tussled on the ground for a moment with grunts and cries of pain, only to have Randolph’s voice rise above them both.

“I’d let Mr. Remington hold you back if I was you, Mcrage!” The red haze cleared enough from Lawrence’s eyes for him to see Randolph, his crutch on the floor and standing behind Luckie with a knife to her throat. He stood quickly, preparing himself to try and help, but Randolph shuffled backwards and pressed the blade closer.

“Nah ah, there will be none of that,” he said, as if this were a business dealing or he was speaking to a disobedient child, not threatening the life of another human being.

“So she told you it was all my fault, did she?” Randolph taunted. “She told you she was left helpless and alone in that tiny jail cell for no reason at all. Well she’s a liar, and now it looks like she’s gone on to do it professionally. But no, she wasn’t innocent at all, Lawrence, not even back then. She was the one that broke our marriage vows. I suppose it’s a good thing. She finally managed to get those Sunday school morals stuck in my brain.” His head turned so that it was at Luckie’s ear. “That all women are influenced by the snake!” he hissed.

He turned back to Lawrence, who was having his hands shackled in front of him by Remington. A crazed, ferocious grin had spread across his face. “You’re not as cold blooded as most pirates, Mr. Mcrage. I can see this. Come, feel the sharpness of this blade.” Remington pulled him forward, and Randolph dragged the dagger across Lawrence’s shackled palms, making him gasp at the new blood being drawn. “You won’t let her feel that in a place far more… sensitive.” He ran the flat edge of the metal across Luckie’s neck, making her shudder. His eyes turned back to Lawrence’s. “You won’t let her die. Now say yes to my offer.”

Lawrence froze with terror and indecision. The cuts on his hands burned, like the sunlight had earlier, but he was far past feeling it. His thoughts raced from loyalty to life, and all the repercussions that could come from this moment, depending on what he chose. A soldier entered the jail, telling Randolph that the ship of new men had docked, but he screamed at the boy to leave. There was the scrape of boots moving quickly across the stone floor as the man scurried away. It all flitted at the edges of Lawrence’s attention.

“I need an answer, Mr. Mcrage! I am not a patient man!” Randolph moved the dagger just a little across Luckie’s neck, and a small bead of blood dropped from her skin onto the shining metal. The sight brought all of Lawrence’s thoughts to a screeching halt.

“Yes.” The word was a whisper, and Lawrence thought for a moment it wouldn’t even be able to be heard. Then he realized that the jail was perfectly quiet, and all the noise that had been building up was in his own head.

Randolph smiled, all traces of proper and elegant gone from him. “Good man.” He removed the dagger from Luckie’s throat and shoved her back into the open cell. The door slammed on her, and Lawrence saw her crawl to a dark corner and curl up. Her eyes had lost their glow at his answer.

“Mr. Remington, take the new soldier to be fitted for a uniform.” He approached Lawrence slowly and unlocked his shackles. “I’m sure you’ll want this back, Mr. Mcrage. I’m sure you’ll enjoy your life of service.”

Remington grabbed Lawrence’s arm and turned him roughly to go out of the jail, grumbling, most likely about his toy being taken away. When he entered the sun again, he looked down at the object that had been handed to him. The black sheath was pulled away to reveal his dagger, the one that had been taken from him upon his capture. Its beauty was tainted now; he couldn’t bear to look at what he had given up. With his head bowed, he slipped it back into its cover and into his belt, walking with Remington to start a new era.

:Coin::Coin::Coin::Coin::Coin:

We'll see when a new chapter comes, shall we? Thank you for reviews (as sarcastic as they are, Ms. Goldeagle), despite my completely erratic posting style. I love you guys! Thanks for reading!

-Kat Crestshot

YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY i have read all the chapters i missed and yay i was in some XD HUGS!!!!!!! glad ya still writing some haha HUGS!! :D haha

I am not sarcastic! :laughks2:

But anyways, I loved that chapter, as always. :)

Right now my only problem is the erratic posting style.Everything else is fantastic.

So.

Who wants me to finish this?

I mean it's only been two...years.....ha ha ha

Me me me!
Can't say I've kept up too well with this one, but I don't want it to sit in the dust, either!

I feel like you were a given ;)

I guess it only took my bugging you to make you post :p Finish it!! :D

Okay, so here's the plan. I'm gonna try to write as much as I can in one go, and try to post as much of it as possible all at once before the site merges. If I don't, I'll give you all a place to go to finish up the story (and I may post all previous chapters there as well). As for now, I'm about 5 pages in writing, but the problem is, there's probably at least another 50 to go to end it. We'll see how this works out.