pirates rpg 2

[Niphredil]

Gavin was fast asleep in his quarters when the giant sea monster attacked the ship. He passed it off as simply being rough seas, and did not bother going above deck to look. Only later, when the rest of the crew had left the ship, did he go up to check on Lydia, and Gwen, who was staying with the girl, informed him of the attack on the ship; and when Gavin inquired as to the whereabouts of his sister she told him that she and Jose were in search of a British consolate, to leave Lydia with. There had been no change in Lydia's condition. Gavin would have stayed on the ship with her if Derek Bennet, who had also been on the ship, hadn't insisted the he come ashore for awhile to take his mind off things. The two of them were fast becoming friends. Of all the people he knew on the ship, Gavin felt that Derek was the only one he could really trust; he was already questioning his trust of Gabby and Will, who both seemed quite at home living amongst pirates. All these thoughts troubled Gavin's mind greatly.

Gavin and Derek wandered the streets of New Orleans for awhile until they came ot a pub that seemed quieter than any other that had passed.

"What's say we stop in for a pint?" asked Derek.

Gavin shrugged. "I suppose," he said, "and then I think we best be heading back to the ship."

They entered the puband seated themselves in a dimly lit corner. A short, rather chubby woman came over and took their order, and after a minute returned with two large mugs or ale. Derek began telling Gavin of his past, how he and his mother and older sister were abandoned by his father when he was a young child, and how he had joined the Royal Navy two years ago when he turned sixteen, so he could send money home to his family. All the while Derek talked, Gavin stared into the drink before him, never even taking a sip. Derek looked at him thoughtfully.

"You really do care for her," he said, " don't you?"

"What?" Gavin asked, coming suddenly out of his thoughts. "Care for who?"

Derek rolled his eyes. "Miss Thornton, of course."

"Oh," Gavin said. He sighed. "Yes, I... I suppose I do... care for her. And Jose and Gabby are seeking out the British consolate so they can leave Lydia here. I don't know what I'll do if she is left here. I do not want to be parted from her... and yet I also do not want to be parted from my sister."

"Torn between the two women you love," Derek mused. "My dilemma is slightly similar. Do I stay here with Lydia, and insure her safe return home to her family? Or do I continue to follow Gab-- uh, Calen."

Gavin raised an eyebrow. "Uh-oh," he said.

"What?" asked Derek innocently.

"You like her!"

"Calen?"

"No!" said Gavin. "Gabby." Derek looked down at his drink, muttering something that Gavin could not hear, and obviously turning red. "You really like her! Well, this is just perfect. You're just what I need to get her away from that blasted Spaniard!"

Derek looked up from his drink and started laughing. "I'll drink to that!" he said, clinking his mug with Gavin's. Just at the moment, a small group of rather loud men came into the pub. Derek recognized them as members of the crew of the Queen of the Sea. "Gavin," he whispered, nodding in the direction of the pirates, "look over there. Slowly." Gavin did so. "Oh no," he whispered back, "what should we do?"

"Sneak out of here as quietly as we can, and get back to the Pearl." Derek said. "They've not seen us yet; I think we may have a chance." The woman that had served Derek and Gavin walked by their table. Derek gently took her by the arm. "Miss! Do you have a back door to this place?"

"Yes," she answered.

"Well, where is it?" asked Gavin.

"It's in the front," she said sarcastically, "where do ye think it is?" She walked off in a huff, grumbling to herself.

Derek said suddenly, "They've seen us." Gavin looked over, and sure enough there were three very unhappy pirates staring at them, reaching for their weapons.

"So much for quietly slipping out the back!" Gavin said, as he bolted for the door. Derek dropped a few coins on the table for the waitress and quickly followed after Gavin. The pirates gave chase, laughing and calling after them to come back and have a drink with them. Soon enough, Gavin and Derek lost them, and made it safely back to the Pearl.

[tancred]

The British guards at the consolate barked questions to Jose and Gabby. The consolate and its ambassador were always targets of unrest when tempers flaired up between two countries, and thus guards always had to be on the watch. "What are you two doing barging in here," one growled.

"We mean no harm," said Jose, his palms raised outward in sign of peace. "We were merely on our way over here, when some rather surly looking men started to chase us. Probably thieves of some sort."

"Very well," said the lead guard. "However, you'll have to set aside your weapons if you have business here."

"As you wish," complied Jose. He removed his sword, pistol, and one of his daggers. Gabby still sat upon the floor looking quite scared. Jose helped her to her feet, removed her sword, and said to her, "I don't think George and his men will come anywhere near here. They're wanted pirates, after all. They'd be wise to stay a safe distance from here. Come now, we must see to this. For Lydia's sake."

Gabby got to her feet, and Jose showed the guards they had laid aside their weapons. The lead guard left, and came back a few minutes later with a rather old yet distinguished man in a bed robe and night cap. "What is it," asked the man. "And at this late hour! I was nearly asleep!"

"Your pardon, sir," said Jose. "I will therefore make this short. We have just arrived in New Orleans, and onboard our ship is a citizen of the Crown. She is very sick. Lonely, dispondent, and she reacts to almost nothing. We fear for her health. She is originally from Port Royal. If we bring her to you, could you see to it that she is returned there safely? Surely you would not leave a loyal subject to the Crown so alone and unaided?"

"No, assurredly not," said the man. "If you can bring her here tomorrow...say around noon, I can see what I can do."

Jose bowed, he and Gabby reclaimed their weapons, and they left. They were cautious in the streets, sneaking from alley to alley in the hopes of not bumping into George or his men. They found themselves at the harbor, but they weren't sure quite where. They had just decided in which direction the Pearl lay, and were walking that way when they stumbled upon a familiar ship. A ship that had two cannon wounds in its hull. A ship that was now without a flag from its mast, but a flag that was distinctive enough to be remembered. Jose's ghost ship...The Garnet!

[Niphredil]

Gabby and Jose managed to get back to the Pearl without incident. "So what is it with you and that ship?" Gabby asked Jose, as the walked the gangway that led up to the Pearl. "I'll tell you later," was his only response. Gabby wondered what the big secret could be.

As they came aboard the ship, they saw Gavin and Derek collapsed on the floor, both heaving as though they'd been running; Calen, Ana, and Jack were standing on the deck watching, with amused yet somewhat annoyed looks on their faces, Aimèe and Kira stumbling around the ship, obviously drunk. They were wobbling along when finally they both ran into the railing; they began feeling their way along it... it seemed as though they were looking for something.

"What happened to them?" asked Jose, as he and Gabby walked up to Calen and the rest.

"They've been stealing and drinkin'," said Jack. "That's my daughter," he said proudly, as he put one hand over his heart.

"Guess now she definitely won't be going anywhere," Gabby snickered, but quickly turned her snicker into a cough when she saw the look Ana was giving her.

"Oh, now who moved the bloody dock?!" yelled Aimèe, throwing her hands up in the air. Gabby coughed again, and walked over to where her brother and Derek were sitting on the deck.

"So what happened to you two?" she asked.

"Those pirates are here, with the Queen of the Sea," said Gavin.

"Yes, Jose and I um, noticed that a little while ago," Gabby said. She explained everything that the ambassador said, about bringing Lydia to him tomorrow around noon. Gabby watched as the look on her brother's face turned to sadness. He stood. "Um, if you'll excuse me... it's very late, and I'm tired." Gabby nodded and watched him walk somberly to his quarters. But he didn't go to his quarters; instead, he went to Lydia's quarters. He knocked lightly on the door; Gwen opened it. "Has there been any change?" he asked.

"No," Gwen responded, "No change." The poor French woman looked exhausted.

"You should take some rest," Gavin said, "I'll watch over her." Gwen smiled wearily and left. Gavin took a seat by Lydia's bedide, took her small hand in his, and stroked it lovingly. "I'm here, Lydia," he said softly, "and here will I stay."

Back on deck, all was quiet. Aimèe and Kira ended up laying down on the deck and falling asleep, so Emil carried them each one by one to their room, and laid them in their beds. All the rest went to bed, but Gabby could not sleep, for her mind was clouded with worry about George and the other pirates being so near. It was nearly dawn when she decided to stop tossing and turning in her bed and just get up. She took her blanket with her, holding it closely around her to keep off the morning's chill, and went above deck. She walked over to the rail and looked out to sea; it was a clear morning, the sun was just beginning to peak over horizon. She looked to the south, and could see the Garnet, and she again began to wonder why Jose had such an interest in it. But her curiosity was turned to dread as she saw the Queen of the Sea sitting just beyond the Garnet. She shuddered, remembering the day of the mutiny. Suddenly she felt the touch of a hand on her arm and she screamed. She turned and saw Derek standing beside her, his hands in the air, palms forward.

"What on earth are you screaming about?!" he asked.

"You startled me!" she yelled.

"Sorry!" he yelled back.

" Don't mention it!" she said. She wrapped her blanket closer around her, breathing heavily.

"I really am sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," he said.

"It's all right, Mr. Bennet," she said. "I've been very jumpy as of late."

"Call me Derek," he said. They stood in silence for a few moments, until Gabby spoke again, while still looking at the Queen. "I never thanked you, did I? For helping us, I mean."

"It was my pleasure to help you, Miss Scott." he said, glancing in the direction she was looking. "And I don't want you to worry about those pirates. They won't cause you any harm; we'll protect you. I'll... protect you."

She turned to him, a slight blush on her cheek, and said, "Thank you again. And call me Gabby."

"Gabby," he repeated after her. They looked into each other's eyes, and he used his left hand to brush a tendril of hair away from her cheek, and moved closer to her. She enjoyed the gentle touch of his warm hand on her cheek, but then the blush on her cheek deepened and she backed away from him. "If you'll excuse me, Derek. I've not had any sleep tonight, so I think I'll retire for awhile."

"Of course," he responded, "well, good night then." She gave him a small smile and walked away. "Good night, Gabrielle. My fair Angel from Heaven."

[Mrs Dan Hawkins]

Calen watched everything with a slight smile and rolled her eyes at Amiees outburst, but her eyes ended up on her ship , yes it was still Her ship.She wasn't about to give up on it that easy, as an after thought she looked for Hawkins' ship and after a few minutes searching her eyes found the familer shape of his ship in the distance , he would dock before nightfall.
Slowly everyone began drifting to bed .

"you commin Calen?" Ana inquired

"no i'll not sleep with my ship so close"

" it's not your ship anymore" Ana replied

"Yes it is , and i aint givin up on it!" Calen shot back

" that sounds familier" Gibbs said with a look at Jack

" what?" Jack asked

" you said that about the Pearl when barbossa had it " Will reminded him

"Well it was ,is !! "Jack yelled

"You wouldn't understand it's a captian thing" Calen drawled before turning to face The Queen Of The Sea marking her end in the conversation

Ana , Gibs and Jack left but Will stood next to his sister to keep watch of The Queen Of The Sea til dawn.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

[Niphredil]

Gabby slowly and quietly made her way back to her room. On the way, she stopped to look in on Lydia, and Gavin. "Have you been awake all night?" Gabby asked Gavin, who was still sitting in the chair by Lydia's bed.

"Yes," he said. "There's still no change."

"You should take some rest soon," she told him.

"I will, in a while. And what about you? You look as if you haven't slept at all. And was it just me, or did you hear a scream not too long ago?"

"I haven't had any sleep, no. And that scream was mine. I was standing on deck watching the sunrise and Derek came up to me from behind and frightened me," she said.

"Oh," said Gavin, "And did you and he... talk? About anything? At all?"

"Um," Gabby stuttered, "Well, nothing really..." she said. She felt the blush on her cheek returning, and she fought it as hard as she could.

"Mm-hmm," Gavin said, nodding his head slowly.

"What?" she asked.

"Oh, nothing," he said, with a wry grin. She rolled her eyes at him. "Promise me you'll get some rest soon?" He nodded. "Good. I'm going back to bed now," she said, exiting the room and shutting the door softly behind her. Gavin chuckled softly; he was quite pleased. Gabby finally got back to her room, and lay down on her bed. She still couldn't sleep, so she decided to think of something she loved. Dark hair, gentle hands, she smiled at these thoughts, deep blue-- brown eyes.... oh dear. The smile left her face.

[Lady Disdain]

"Promise me you'll get some rest soon... good I'm going back to bed now"

Bed, she was in bed again, the sheets were too warm, they stuck, why did her head hurt so much, everything was fuzzy, the fall, she fell, she must have hit, her why was it so dark?was it night already or was there a stome, a storm no night, bedtime but there was someone there someone watching her

Lydia's eyes flew open, fear evident on her face. She instinctively pulled to free her hand...

And found herself looking at Him. She stopped resisting, but he dropped her hand anyway, his face a combination of chagrin and and something else she could not recognize.

She could think of nothing to say, but just sat there, staring at him, her green eyes large, and bright with unshed tears.

"Ly - Miss Thornton. I - that is - we've all been so worried about you." He spoke rapidly, stumbling over his words. "Could I get you something? Perhaps something to eat? Or - a glass of wine, shall I get you one?"

Lydia shook her head, but still seemed unable to speak.

"Of course, you will be wanting quiet, I'll leave you to your rest Miss Thornton."

"No." The word was almost a whisper. "Please," she slowly reached out and took his hand in hers "stay with me."

[tancred]

Having had trouble sleeping himself, Jose had awoken fairly early in the morning. He was just in time to see Gabby walking to her quarters. Arriving topdeck, the only person found there was Derek, an odd smile upon his face. Jose thought about this for a while, shrugged it off, and went about his business.

Most of that day was spent resupplying the ship. Almost the entire crew was broken up into smaller groups by Jack, and sent off to acquire specific things for the upcoming journey. This took most of the day. Evening came, and Jose excused himself from the ship. He hoped to return soon, and then they could see about turning Lydia over to the British ambassador.

Although noone had, if someone had followed Jose on his private trek and if they were alert, one could have seen Jose meet a distinctly Spanish looking gentleman. The two men conversed in a dark alley in the relatively safe merchant's quarters of the city, but in a very secretive manner. They did not face each other. Rather, they stood with their backs against the same wall, and with a few feet between them. They did not look at each other. They merely talked in low whispers.

After that, Jose made his way back to the docks. What should loom up before him than The Garnet. Standing in the shadows, he observed the ship for some time. There was nary a light to be seen emerging from the windows of the ship, and no commotion whatsoever. Only a little movement here and there--the pacing back and forth of two men only.

Clinging to some of the ropes that bound The Garnet to the dock, Jose went hand over hand from the dock to the ship, and slipped over the boards. The two guards went about their business. They had the dull duty of guarding the ship while the rest of the crew hit the town for a night of revelry. Too bored to notice much of anything, they let Jose slip right past them below deck.

Jose searched below for the ship's flag. If this was indeed his ghost ship and indeed the ship that raided Cartenega those years ago, he needed proof. Amongst a pile of sails that were being mended, Jose found the flag he was looking for, red with black serpent and skull. This was the proof he needed, and it was likely the only proof he would get.

Jose was about to head back up deck, when he heard noises coming from a nearby room. Shuffling noises, followed by low groans. He drew his sword, drew nigh the door, and slowly opened it. The inside of the room was a mess. All sorts of junk was cluttered about it. Yet at one end was a bed. It too was rather messy, however, upon it sat a lone figure. It was a woman, and her back was to Jose. Her arms were folded about her body, and her shift fell slightly off her left shoulder. Where it had fallen off, there could be seen both fresh and old scars from the lash of a whip. Jose sheathed his sword, and cautiously walked about the bed in order to face the woman. She hadn't noticed or heard him, so deep in her own thought as she was. Yet when she finally was aware of him, she looked up into his face. Their eyes met...and the woman fell over in a faint.
*****************

A couple hours after Jose had left, he returned to the Pearl. A lookout saw him coming, recognized him, and quickly dropped the gangplank to the dock. Jose quickly ascened it to the ship. Gabby, Ana, and Emil were there. To their amaze, they saw that Jose was carrying an unconscious woman in his arms. Without a word, he passed them by, and made for the surgeon's quarters. The trio followed. Jose had laid the woman on a cot, and was going for fresh water. Gabby stopped him, and asked, "Jose, what happened? Who is this woman?"

"This is my sister."

[tancred]

Everyone had left the surgeon's quarters save Gwen and
the woman now revealed to be Jose's sister, Nonna. A
half hour later, and Gwen came out. "I have tended to
her more discrete wounds," said Gwen. "She has not
awoken yet. You can see her if you like, Jose."

Jose, Gabby, Ana, Gwen, and Damien reentered the room.
Nonna was lying on her stomach on the most
comfortable bed in the surgeon's quarters. The
blankets were drawn up to her lower back, and her back
was bare. There were several whip marks across her
back, and burn marks on her shoulders and arms.
Pulling up a stool next to the bed, Jose took a towel,
soaked it in a basin of warm water, and began to bathe
her wounds. He could not believe what his sister had
obviously been put through. He sighed in pity and
grief. The others sat or stood in silence round
about. Balm was rubbed into her wounds by Damien and
Gwen, and the fresher wounds were bound with linens.

Slowly, Nonna began to stir. "Shall we give you some privacy," asked Gabby.

"Yes," added Ana. "We'll let you two alone. We'll be right outside if you need anything, Jose." She placed a comforting hand upon Jose's shoulder, and left with the others.

Nonna's eyes blinked open slowly, adjusting to the light of the lantern next to her bed. When she beheld Jose, she almost jumped up in her bed. But she could only do so in pain, and she winced as she exclaimed, "Jose! I almost could not believe it was you that I saw earlier. I almost thought I was dreaming. And now, here you are. Mi grande hermano, Jose!"

"Ah, mi sita hermana, Nonna!" Jose embraced his sister as gently and lovingly as he could, and kissed her upon the forehead. They both wept for joy. After much drying of tears, Jose continued, "I am so happy to have found you, Nonna! I thought you were lost to me forever. I had almost begun to despair. I prayed to Saint Anthony of Padua daily for his intercession in finding you."

Nonna laughed. "Saint Anthony of Padua," she questioned. "Silly Jose! He's patron of lost items. Not lost people! Still, its a cute gesture on your part. It worked." She smiled wide, and Jose did, as well.

Jose grew grim again. "Nonna," he said slowly. "Tell me what happened that day in Cartanega. Please...I must know."

Nonna told her story. She stumbled in some parts, and there were obvious gaps in her story. "You should have seen Marcos, Jose. Oh, he was valiant! No pirate could approach while he was there. I don't know how many he slew in protecting us. It took a pirate sneaking up behind and shooting him in the back, and then several pirates ganging up on him and stabbing him to bring Marcos down. My poor, brave brother! Then, the pirates came for us. Rose, Momma, and I fought hard. We even took a few down with knives from the house. But we were overpowered. It was terrible. For the life of me, I have no idea why they murdered Momma and Rose, and not me. They died, and I lived. I still feel guilty about it. I struggled to get away, but they hit me over the head. I came to hours later on the pirate ship."

Nonna ended her story. Jose looked at her intently, waiting for more. "But what happened on the ship," he asked. "Tell me about the captain and the crew. Where you've been, and...what they did to you."

Nonna sighed. "Very well," she said. I wish not to go into details. You can see yourself what they did to me; it is written all over my body." She shuddered. "I know why they kept me around. I do not know why I was beaten so often. Perhaps it was because of my many escape attempts, my killing of a few pirates with knives I had taken and hid from the kitchen, my sabataging of little things around the ship from time to time, and my constant hatred and lack of respect for any of them, especially their captain."

Jose chuckled slightly. "That's my sister," he said. "Always the fiesty one!" He was very proud of her for her defiance.

"Of course," continued Nonna. "I'm an Ortega! I wasn't the only woman taken from Cartanega. I was the only one to survive this long, though. Only an Ortega could do that!"

"Of course," repeated Jose with a smile. "But tell me about this captain. Who is he?"

"He was Captain Albert Thallen," said Nonna. "A very cruel man, who would whip me from time to time. Yet he died while I was on the ship still. Then his wife, Carlita, became Captain Carlita Thallen. She hated me the most. And it was she who doled out most of my punishments. With obvious glee, too. I have never met such an unkindly soul! After that, the ship raided all about the Caribbean. Many ships fell to that dastardly crew. The only time it left this region was to return to England. I wasn't allowed off the ship, but I heard that Captain Carlita and all her crew were given medals and honors from Oliver Cromwell himself for service well-rendered to his government! Ah well. That is it."

Jose seethed inwardly. Nonna called him back out of his dark, brooding thoughts. "Jose," she said. "I'm sleepy. I think I'm going to get some rest."

"Very well," said Jose. "I will leave you in peace for a bit. Yet once you have fallen asleep, I will return and watch over you. I love you. I shan't leave your side again."

"Thank you, mi hermano. Gracias. I love you, too. And Jose, in all of this, I never gave up hope. I knew you would come for me." They smiled at each other, and embraced once more. Nonna closed her eyes, and relaxed like she had not relaxed in many years.

Jose extinguished the lantern, left the room, and immediately shrank to the floor with his back against the wall, and his head buried in his hands.

[Bosun]

Jack sidled into the mess hall and sat down heavily at a table with Ana, Emil, Gabby and Gwen. He'd just come from having a little chat with Damien.

"Picked up another one, have we?" he asked gruffly.

"She's Jose's sister," Gabby told him in hushed tones, not shifting her gaze from the motionless young woman.

"He has a sister?" Jack quirked an eyebrow. "Where'd she spring from?"

"The Garnet," Ana said softly.

"The Garnet?!" Jack almost leapt backward. "The Garnet's here?"

"It has been following us, Jack," Emil put in.

Jack stood up and crossed his arms, suddenly looking very sullen. "Yeah, but here, now? Why'd no one tell me? Oh, why should they, I'm only the captain..." He strode toward the door. "It's unhealthy for our general health and wealth to let that bloody ship get so close. Carlita's got it in for me, ye know, and when that woman has a grudge- ooh, it ain't pretty!" With that, he left the surgeon's quarters, turning back only to say, "We need to get a move on!"

The door swung shut, and on the bed, Jose's sister stirred.

Meanwhile, onboard the Garnet

Captain Thellen had barely acknowledged the two sailors standing watch who had hastily increased the speed of their pacing at her approach, and had passed them by without a word. In fact, she hadn't spoken all evening. Now, back on her ship at last, she turned on her heel to face her first mate, and spoke in a voice that was piercing and bored at the same time.

"Well, that was an utterly pointless waste of an evening. Why do I let you talk me into these things, Cartierre?"

"My apologies, Captain. You looked as if you could use some time off duty, and I had hoped merely to improve your mood."

"My mood will not be improved until I have the compass in one hand and Sparrow's bleeding heart in the other," she told him calmly. "I would tell no other member of this crew but you, Marcel, that having to wait to make a move is slowly driving me insane."

Of course, with Carlita, one never could for sure tell her mental state, unless it was one of extreme anger or determination. At times like though her banshee-like voice and rigid posture would show that she was not amused, so to say. But all the things that caused her uncertainty, she considered weakness, and she would rather die than be considered weak. Cartierre was the only one she seemed to trust with her feelings, because he was loyal enough to her that he would take her secrets to the grave.

"It will be all right, Captain," Cartierre assured her, as he always did. "Sparrow shall taste steel, and we shall taste gold."

Carlita suddenly gave a weary sigh. "Nonna hasn't been given anything to eat. See to that, will you?"

"Yes, Captain..." he trailed off, slightly confused, as the captain walked away to her cabin. "Will you not be coming?"

She stopped, closing her eyes, and speaking in a bitter whisper that carried on the cold night air, "I will not see the traitor." That was all that needed to be said. She waited for Marcel to leave the deck before she resigned to her quarters.

Twenty minutes later, she looked up from her desk at the sound of knocking on her door. "Captain," came her first mate's voice, "she's not there."

"What?!" She became a human torrent in a matter of seconds. She burst through the door, nearly knocking Marcel off his feet. " Do you mean to say, Mister Cartierre, that she has escaped? Even after the reprimand the whipping, th-"

"I am afraid so Captain. I can find her nowhere on board." A lesser man may have quailed under the captain's rage, but it took a lot more to rattle Cartierre's cage.

" Damn her!" Carlita screamed. "I could have had her killed for treason, but I spared her... This is how she repays me? Swanson! Baker!" she barked over the side of the ship, and the startled guards looked up at her. "The traitor escaped! What do you have to say for yourselves?"

Both men looked with wide eyes to each other, and then back at their captain, apparently wordless for fear. Carlita turned away in disgust.

"What shall we do, Captain?" Cartierre asked.

"We have to find her," she said, rubbing her chin distractedly. "We're wanted in more places than I care to count, and if she carries out her threat and reports our presence to the authorities, we would have to make an exit immediately, and that will hinder our keeping track of the Pearl."

"But won't George the Blade and his crew still be on their trail?"

She dismissed this with a wave of the hand. "I don't trust that blundering oaf any farther than I can throw him. We have to keep near to the Pearl at all times, at all costs. You two idiots!" she yelled down to Swanson and Baker again. "Make yourselves useful for a change and start searching for her." As the two of them scuttled off, Carlita turned back to Marcel. "As soon as other crewmen arrive, those still decently sober will go go looking for our dear Nonna aswell."

[Athena]

Kira stood out on the deck of the ship. Her bright green eyes staring avidly out at the sea. Sighing slightly she put her head on her hands. She was wear she was supposed to be, her new found friends were here. And yet, she was bored. For miles all that stretched out was the bright blue waters of the sea. Everyone else all seemed wrapped up in themselves and in their own troubles, no one really had much time to spend on some street rat. Kira grimaced at the thought of the name street rat. Surely she had come so far from being one. Why she was practically a pirate, albeit a small one. Kira shrugged her shoulders and wondered if anyone would wish to join her soon, if not, Kira might have to go find her own entertainment. And more often than not, that incvolved her stealing something from someone.

[Niphredil]

Soon after Jose brought his sister Nonna aboard the sun dipped below the horizon. Ana, Emil and Jack had left the mess hall to tend to some last-minute preparations before setting sail the next morning; Gwen left to check in on Lydia; Gabby left the mess hall, and was now sitting on a chair outside the surgeon's quarters; Jose was sitting on a chair by his sleeping sister's bedside, holding her hand in his. Nonna seemed to sleep peacefully through the whole eveing. Probably the most peaceful sleep she's had in a long while, Gabby thought to herself, as she sat quietly ready to do anything Jose needed her to.

Gabby was tired. She and Derek had spent most of the day helping the cook take inventory of what food they had already, and what was being brought aboard, and then they helped put everything into its proper places, and then when the cook decided that those places were in fact not proper, they'd move them again; and through it all, she and Derek chatted and learned a lot about one another. It was a long day; she thought, smiling to herself, but I enjoyed it. She yawned, leaned her head against the wall and closed her eyes, and soon she fell into a dreamless sleep....

~*~*~*~

Gavin left Lydia in the care of Gwen for a few minutes while he went and got some food for them. He stopped in to see Gabby, and saw that she was asleep; he didn't know where Jose was. Once to the mess hall, Gavin noticed that though most of the crew were present, Gabby wasn't, but he did see his friend Derek sitting alone in a corner, about to dig into... well, actually Gavin couldn't tell what that was on Derek's plate that the cook had prepared, but nonetheless, Derek was about to dig in to it. Gavin walked up to him and crossed her arms.

"What?" asked Derek, mid-chew.

"Where's Gabby?" asked Gavin. Derek looked around the room.

"She's not in here," he said.

"That's right," said Gavin, "That's because she's asleep on a chair outside of that Spanish's girl's room... and she's alone... and it's dinner-time... need I go on?"

"Not at all!" said Derek. "I'll go wake her and tell her to come to dinner," and with that he left Gavin standing in the galley shaking his head. It wasn't long before Derek came to the surgeon's quarters, and saw Gabby sitting sideways on a chair, her head against the wall. He went over and touched her lightly on the shoulder. "Gabby?" he whispered. Nothing. He shook her a little harder. She moaned and moved her head a little, but still didn't wake up. "Gabby?" he said louder, as he stroked her cheek with his hand. She opened her eyes.

" Derek, what-- ow..." she said, as she lifted her head and rubbed her neck. "What is it?"

"Time for supper," he said, "Is your neck hurting? I can fix that." And before Gabby could protest, Derek started massaging her shoulders. After a few moments, he leaned his head in closer to Gabby's; "Better?" he asked in a whisper.

"Mm-hmm," was the only response she could give; she put her hand on his, and looked him in the eye, but after a moment she looked away and letting his hand go, she stood up and cleared her throat. "Thank you, Derek, for informing me that supper is ready. You should get back to the mess hall; I'll be right behind you," she said.

"All right," Derek said, nodding his head and smiling at her. "I shall save a place for you." And with that he walked off. On his way back he passed Gavin, who was carrying a tray with two plates on it. "I told her about dinner," Derek said. Gavin rolled his eyes.

"If I wasn't holding this tray I'd smack you right upside the head!"

"Why? I did what you wanted," said Derek.

"No, you didn't you dolt! She was alone! Why didn't you take food to her and eat with her and be alone with her?"

"Oh, so that's what you meant..."

"Yes, that's what I meant! Oh, never mind. We'll talk later, right now I have to get back to Lydia." Gavin did so, and Derek continued on his way back to the mess hall.

Back at the Surgeon's quarters....

After Derek left, Gabby turned to see if Jose was awake. He was. He was sitting there, staring at her. Gabby felt suddenly uneasy. "Can I bring you anything?" she asked him. He didn't say anything, just shook his head no. "All right," Gabby said, "I'll come back in a little while."

[tancred]

The night had gone rather peacefully. Dinner time had passed, and midnight was drawing nigh. As peacefully as Nonna had been sleeping, she now awoke with a violent start, sitting up in bed and gasping. It startled Jose out of the daze he was in. With his hand against her shoulder, he eased her back down against her pillow. "Nonna," he said in a worried tone. "What is it?"

"A priest," she said in a tone that was both calm and yet urgent at the same time. "I need a priest."

Jose smiled. "Ah yes, of course," he said. "It has been some time since you've been able to go to mass, and you would like maybe confession and Holy Communion right now."

"You mistake me," replied Nonna with as much of a giggle as she could muster. "I need a priest for those things, yes. But all a part of Last Rites."

Last Rites. The words took a few seconds to sink in to the Spaniard's head. "Last Rites," he said aloud. "But that would mean.... But no, that's impossible! Nonna?"

Nonna answered gravely, yet the smile did not leave her face. "Jose, it is time."

Without much thought, Jose jumped up, and bolted to the door. He nearly knocked over Gabby, who was sitting beside the door on the other side. "What's wrong," asked the young maiden.

"Nonna needs a priest," said Jose. "I must go get one, and fast!"

"No you don't," said Gabby firmly. "You stay here with your sister. I'll go get the priest."

"You remember the small church we passed by the other day," said Jose worriedly. "Sainte Michel's?" Gabby nodded her head in the afirmative. "Good," continued Jose. "Its not too far from here. Find the priest there, and hasten back. But don't go alone!"

Ana passed by with a pastry in one hand and another in her mouth. Jose stopped her, and she looked about with a puzzled look of innocence on her face. "Ana," said Jose. " Do be a good squire and go with Gabby to fetch a priest for me. Please?"

"Alright," agreed Ana. "But only because you said please. I guess I'm a squire, but not fully enthused about it just yet. I don't eat pastries on the run for nothing, you know."

"Yes, yes," said Jose. "I shan't forget it in the future. Your island will be well-stocked with pastries!" Ana's eyes widened in joy, and she began to follow Gabby down the gang-plank.

Derek appeared, and made a move as to follow. Not fully knowing why, Jose stopped him. He had thought that Derek had been eying Gabby with a particular glint in his eyes lately, and that made him uneasy. "No, Derek," said Jose, a hand upon the spy's arm. "I believe we have less fun duties for a spy such as yourself to perform here."

Not knowing quite what to say, Derek complied, and went back below deck to look for Gavin.

Ana and Gabby made off, neither knowing that the bored and somewhat mischievious Kira and Susanna were following them. Jose quickly returned to Nonna's side.
***************

Ana and Gabby had been walking for some time, and were nearing Sainte Michel's. It was just then that they noticed a group of men walking down the street and talking to passersby. Not having any direct evidence, Ana grew uneasy all of a sudden. She grabbed Gabby by the arm, and pulled her into an alleyway. "Now what," asked Gabby.

"Shhh," hissed Ana. "Those are pirates over there."

"Then you see something I don't," hissed Gabby back. "How can you tell?"

"Just pirate's intuition," winked Ana.

The two women leaned forward, and listened. The pirates were inquiring all they met about a woman, and describing her. " Do you hear that," whispered Gabby. "They're looking for Nonna!"

"That they are, lassie," agreed Ana. "These guys don't look familiar, so they can't be from George's crew. From the Garnet, perhaps?"

"Probably," said Gabby. "Let's just avoid them at all costs, and get the priest back to the Pearl!"

The pirates drew nearer. Gabby and Ana clung to the building wall, their backs straightened in an attempt to blend in more with their surroundings. They hardly dared to breathe, and hoped they would be passed by unnoticed.

[~Kawaii~]

Aimèe sat aimlessly on the ship's railing with her back to the sea. The deck was unusually quiet, just one pirate who's name she could not re-call was up on the poop deck. Aimèe had no idea where Jack and the others were, though it was not long since she saw Gabby, Ana, Kira and Susannah leave the ship. She would have gone with them but she was comfortable sitting in the quiet with the sun on her back and didn't feel like leaving.

She sat for what seemed like hours in that same posotion, thinking about nothing in particular. Yet in reality it was merely a few minutes. Not half an hour had passed since the four left the ship when she heard a strange banging coming from below her. Slowly she peered over the edge of the ship to see what was making the noise.

There was a strange brightly coloured fish at the side of the Pearl, and it seemed to be swimming constantly into the side of the ship. Aimèe laughed and leant over more to get a closer look at the strange fish. Further and further she leant over, all the while laughing at the rather dimwitted creature below. When suddenly she lost her balance and slipped overboard, thudding against the Pearl heavily before crashing into the water below.

[Athena]

Kira paced slowly behind Gabby and Ana. Not far behind her was Susanah. Kira turned around and glared up at the taller girl,

"Shhhhh" she urgently whispered, "I don't know why I brought you if you were going to make this much noise!"

"Well I'm not as small as you" whispered back Susanah, "I can't fit into the spaces you can, and I am rather new to this sneaking around bit"

"Well try and watch where your stepping, and er, oh damn!" the exclamation at the end was because Susanah had walked straight into a stacked up area of boxes and cans which fell down with a loud clatter. Alerted by the noise, Gabby and Ana instantly turned from the wall to find the two girls looking rather sheepish.

"Well, well, well, what have we here?" said Ana, trying to hide a laugh. Gabby wasn't as succsful however and a snort of laughter betrayed her. Kira glared at both of the two taller women and then turned to glare at Susanah who was tangled up in the boxes.

"Honestly, why do I stick around with you ametuers!" exclaimed Kira, throwing her hands in the air with disgust. Alerted perhaps by the noise and talking, the pirates from the Garnet started approaching.

"Oh just great" moaned Gabby, "come on, lets get out of here while we still can"

[Bosun]

" 'Old it!" cried one of the pirates, and rugged man whose sickly yellow beard, contrasting sharply with his dark, grimy skin, gave him the nickname of Goldie. Right now, he was in a foul mood because instead of enjoying a night at a tavern with his belly warm with ale and a wench on his knee, he had been yanked out into the cold streets and sent to look for a wretched prisoner. As his companion continued to interrogate and old man passing by, Goldie sauntered up to the four women, freezing them in their tracks.

"Any of youse ladies seen a Spanish lass?"

Gabby caught her breath, currently struggling to pull Susanna clear of the boxes. Ana glanced back at her before gripping Kira's sleeve and pulling her back almost protectively. "Sorry mate, 'd love to help ye, but I'm sure we haven't, and we've got somewhere to be."

"Now 'ang on a minute," Goldie leered, sidestepping to block her as she made to leave the alley. "I'm sure ye've at least a moment to help out an honest Bob such as meself. Would ye just think?" There was a menacing edge to his voice.

"Look matey," said Kira, jerking herself free of Ana and folding her arms. "Maybe we seen some Spaniards, but this 'ere's a port, innit? There's bound t'be foreigners. Gis a bit more to go on, eh?"

The pirate nodded. "Fine. Young gal, bit older than yerself, I'd say, not bad to look at- quite fair, I s'pose. Hair 'air, darkish... Dark eyes... Bit on the scrawny side, what you migh' call malnourished."

As Susanna came clear of the pile of boxes, she asked Gabby under her breath, " Do you know who he means?" Apparently news of Senorita Ortega's arrival hadn't traveled far on the Pearl.

"Jose's sister," Gabby murmered in her ear as she helped Susanna to her feet, "she's on the ship, and we can't let them find her."

During this, Kira and Ana had been explaining very loudly how they had seen no woman of this description, but how they regretted being unable to help him.

"W-wait," Susanna interrupted. Her three friends and Goldie all looked to her sharply. " Did you say she was s-scrawny? Thin? With dark eyes?"

"Aye," he said, pushing past Kira to look closer at the stammering young woman.

"I think I might have seen who you're looking for," she continued, trying to ignore the tremulous thudding of her heart in her chest. "I saw her running into a street, quite near the tavern... It looked like she was heading further into town."

From behind Goldie, Ana couldn't help but smile at the girl's initiative; the town lead farther away from the harbor.

" 'Ere, Tom, this'n saw 'er!" Goldie called triumphantly to the other pirate. "Which tavern was it, love?"

Susanna faltered at this. She didn't know the names of any of the pubs... She looked to Gabby for help, but she seemed at a loss too. And Kira and Ana couldn't help because they had just claimed not to have seen Nonna.

"I d-didn't see the name," she said finally. "I-it's quite near here though-"

"Show us," commanded Tom.

"Oh, but I-"

"We really have to go, gentlemen, I'm sorry," said Gabby.

Tom narrowed his eyes. "Why?"

"Somewhere to be!" piped up Kira.

"And it's urgent!" added Ana.

" Does this require all of you to be there?" asked Tom.

"Of course it doesn't!" Goldie answered for them. "Cam on, you two lovely ladies just show us where she went and that'll do us well." He was hoping hospitality would make them cooperate. But if that didn't work, there were always other tactics. He grabbed Susanna by the shoulder and steered her out of the alley as Tom pulled Gabby along by the wrist.

"You'd better go on without us," Gabby said mournfully to Ana.

"Are you sure-"

"Yes," she replied firmly. "Please," she whispered through her teeth as Tom tugged at her arm.

Ana saw the determination in Gabby's eyes and nodded in understanding. Jose must really need a priest, she thought. "Come on," she told Kira, and the two of them continued on the way to Sainte Michel's.

Ahead of Gabby and Tom, Susanna was walking Goldie to the nearest tavern. Gabby bit her lip. This wouldn't take long, would it? After all, they just needed to give the pirates false directions, and then they would be let go. She hoped.

The Black Pearl

The former guards of the Garnet, Swanson and Baker, were trudging dejectedly along the dock. Jim Swanson was a tall, graceful man who carried himself proudly and always wore his long black hair loose and billowing like sails as he strode. Latimer Baker was younger and shorter, with a mop of windswept brown hair and stubble shadowing his jaw. They sullenly complaining about their captain's harshness when a sudden splash turned both of their heads.

"Whassat?" Swanson blurted out.

"Man overboard!" cried out Baker, running towards the Pearl.

"Latimer!" hissed Swanson, ducking after him. "What're ye playin' at? We're meant to be lookin' fer-"

"But Jim, he might be drowning, we can't just leave him!"

"We can an' will, 'afore Thellen sees fit to be whippin' us for incompitence," Swanson said, grabbing the lad roughly by the elbow. But before he could pull him away, Latimer kicked off his boots and dove nimbly into the water.

"Idiot!" Swanson screamed after him. "What kind've a pirate are ye, anyways?"

In the murk of the dockwater, Baker went down deeper and swam under a rather large fish that was in his way, and resurfaced where he could just about make out the traces of ripples caused by whoever fell in. Heedless of Swanson's cursing in the background, he took a deep breath and went under again, arms groping in front of him in hopes of finding a body- and he found one. He pulled it toward him and looped one arm around the waist- hmm, a slimmer waist than he had expected- and pushed toward the surface.

"Give me a hand here, Jim!"

"Blundering imbecile," Swanson continued to mutter even as he pulled the rescuee out of the water.

Baker gasped as he saw Swanson lay Aimee on the ground. "That's a woman."

"Ye don't say," Swanson glowered as Baker, still a little dumbfounded, clambered up out of the water. "Right, ye've gone an' saved the damsel, ya prat, can we please go now?"

"She's not breathing," muttered Baker, kneeling beside the girl.

Having just come up on deck, Jack had heard some of the commotion below. "Aimee love, d'ye know what's going-" he stopped as he looked toward the railing where Aimee had been. "That's odd," he muttered to himself, wondering where she had put herself now. His query of what was happening below still unanswered, however, he strolled over to the side of the ship, placed a hand on his hat to make sure it didn't fall off, and peered down the side.

A fish.

"Someone, help!"

Fish didn't speak, did they?

"Forget this, Latimer, I'm off."

Jack soon realized that there were people down on the dock, and looked over to them. One man was running away, and one trying to lift up a girl... She looked somewhat familiar...

"Aimee!" he exclaimed, his eyes widening in the first real concern he had shown for his daughter. In seconds he had ordered the gangplank down, and had rushed down to help the boy carry Aimee onto the ship.

"She's not breathing," Baker recounted to him, not recognizing the man as Jack Sparrow. They set her down on the deck.

"Not good..." Jack pushed down hard on her chest, and a second later she was coughing up the water that was clogging her throat. "Aimee! How many fingers am I holding up?"

"My eyes are closed, Dad..." Aimee groaned.

"Good, good, yer all right lass." Jack smiled proudly.

"What happened?"

"You fell overboard," Baker told her quietly.

"What?" She opened her eyes and jerked her head up, looking quite appalled. "I fell? And needed to be rescued? No! That doesn't happen! I, Aimee Sparrow, do not play the damsel in distress..."

Baker's eyes widened. Sparrow? Aimee's head dropped back again as she passed out, and while Jack was picking her up, Baker chanced a look around the ship. Black sails. The Black Pearl. He got up shakily and found his feet were walking after Jack as he carried Aimee to the surgeon's quarters. He'd just have to make sure he didn't mention he was from the Garnet...

The Garnet

Alone in her cabin, and indeed on the ship since Cartierre had left to collect the crew and send them out searching for Nonna, Carlita Thellen sat in a chair staring hard at the cabinet that contained her own personal supply of liquor. She wasn't a drinking woman, by any accounts. Most of the time. But when stress got to such a level... She stood up suddenly and strode across the room. Eyes blazing, she wrenched the cabinet door open and grabbed the first bottle to hand, which happened to contain a strong rum. After popping the cork out, she sniffed the liquid, swilled it around, contemplating, then placed the bottle to her lips and tipped her head back in a hearty swig.