Chapter One -Part Three-

She raised her pistol to her head again. “Ye silly bilge-sucking ain’t gonna get ye nowhere.” The trigger clicked. “Ye feedin’ the fishes, aye?”
Reluctantly, she replied. “Naye.”
“Aye, then.” The pistol returned to the side.
Professor spoke, cool, calm and collected. “Okay. We’ll get out ship tomorrow at sunrise when the ports awaken.”
“We pillage tonight!!!!” Captain Tuna raised her arm.
Felix punched her in the arm, shaking her head. “No we aren’t going to “pillage” tonight...or whatever you people call it...”
“I have some money with me.”
Captain Tuna nudged Captain Felix. “Money?!”
The Professor raised an eyebrow. “Yes, Tuna, Money. I’ll get a ship and we’ll start from there.”
“And me crew?!” Captain Felix spoke.
“That...my fellow captains....I leave to you...”
Captain Felix looked at her. “Don’t look at me mate. I ain’t got no crew.”
“I just got out.” Felix pointed out. “Do I look like I have a crew?!”
The professor walked towards The Winkles Rusty Cavern. “I’m off for some shut eyes. See you two, sunrise. Alive.” She disappeared into the backdoor.
“What now?!” Captain Felix shrugged.
“I’m going...You go find Professor-What’s-Her-Name her crew.” Captain Tuna walked into the backdoor as well.
“AEEIII!!!” She called out but Tuna acted like she didn’t hear her and entered.
Captain Felix sat there, crouching, holding her head, thinking. “Holy shit!! How am I gonna find a crew...”
The silence in the night. Brings a certain peace to the place. She sighed, walking along the pavement. The night sky shimmered, the stars danced in the darkness in the sky that seem to linger on forever. To infinity. The streets were empty by now. There’s nobody but her. Constantly she sighed. The moon didn’t show tonight. Shielded by the clouds. She heard. Within the silence, footsteps. Not hers, someone else’s . She was sure it wasn’t hers. The steps were uneven. Quick. Quick. Slow .Quick. Slow. Captain Felix hesitated to turn. This isn’t exactly the place to feel okay when you know someone’s following you. She began counting the streetlights. Pass the first one. The steps quicken a little when she quickens hers. Pass the second one, slightly flickering. Her steps slowed, so did its. Trying to see for the corner of her eye without looking, she strained hard. Captain Felix watched her feet. Thinking. Pass the third one. Then the fourth, the fifth, and the sixth. Then she decided, if it was keeping its distance, at then there, she’s have a clear shot even in the dark. She slowly reached for her pistol. Avoiding any suspicion. Her grasps was hard on the handle, finger on the trigger. 3. 2. 1. Captain Felix turned, immediately pointed the pistol at whoever it was.
“Aye. Aye. Aye! Lax mate!!” The random voice in the shadows spoke. Raising both arms, signing not to shoot. “Mean ye no harm.” Then there was a sneer. “Captain Felix III.”
As suspicious as it gets, she held tight to her stance with the pistol at him. “Who ye may be?”
“Barbossa as ye service.” He took off his hat and bowed. “Port Cannbrium.” He showed the port. With stationary ships and cartons over cartons of god-knows-what for tomorrows take off. “My home.” He took a step forward. She took a step back. Keeping the distance between them. “Aye, I know it like the back of me hand.”
“I need a crew.” The pistol lowered a little. Barbossa smiled. “Aye, make be it, down the street into The Creepy Creek Inn.” He pointed down into the darkness. “Most of the buccaneers be there.”
An eyebrow raised, she was reluctant to believe. Barbossa offered, “I’ll take ye there. Get ye one of the best crews ye’ll eva’ find.”

The Creepy Creek Inn. Unlit, old and rusty building by the port. The place for those who travel alone and those landlubbers out there on the road to pirate-hood. The wooden door had a small window. She followed behind Barbossa as he knocked the door. “Aye mate!! It’s me, Barbossa.” The grumpy voice said something behind the wood but hardly could make out a word he was saying. “This be Captain Felix III, in need of a crew.” The small window slammed closed. Then the clicks and clanks of the locks behind the door. Then the door creaked open. Silently she followed Barbossa into the room. Some of them were seated gulping down bottles after bottles of rum. Barbossa signed for her to sit while he got her crew up and running. He disappeared.
No doubt most of the people in here weren’t old salts. Some looked like they had just ran away from home and decided to be a pirate.
“Aye. In here Capt’n.” Barbossa lead her into the room past the crowd. Solemnly she followed. “Men!! Front and centre!” Hearing the feet scramble she grinned. Pathetic. She looked, observing every single speck of dust on their unworthy faces. “Barbossa...?” She said. He turned and quickly realized what he forgot. “Aye. This be your new Capt’n. Capt’n Felix III.” Whispers start to sound. Louder and louder upon her name. She rolled her eyes. “Silence.” She spoke. Sharply she turned. “Barbossa!! This be my crew?! Blimey! These are mere landlubber my man.” Barbossa shoved his pistol in his boot saying, “Aye, they may look that way. Rest assured. All present ‘ere are me old salts.”
She grinned. “Alright then.” She pulled out her pistol. Pointed at them. “Now. How many of ye “old salts” dare stand here. In front of me. And believe I aint gonna blow your brains out.”
All immediately stepped back.
One didn’t move. She raised an eyebrow. Imbecile . The pistol clicked. He didn’t move one bit.
Barbossa watched from behind. Attentively.
There were silent whispers from the back. As the boys spoke quietly amongst each other.
He saluted her. “At your service. Captain Felix III.” And bowed.
She sneered. “You really think I wouldn’t pull the trigger?”
“Aye. No mam.” He shook his head.
A sinister smile engraved on her face. “Good.”
She began to leave to room. “You!” She pointed at him. “Have them all ship shaped by tomorrow.” Silently she exited. “Aye madame!”

Chapter One -Part Two-

The cavern. Music blaring. Crowds talking. Pirates slopping down rum and sharpening weapons. Respected men, on studies, quietly sitting in the corners of the room, trying to escape the noise.
“Lassie!!” Drunken, oversized, called out.
The prisoner turn, insulted in a way.
“Why ye hanging with the landlubber!!” He was practically screaming at the top of his lungs.
It rolled its eyes and followed the Professor quietly behind, squeezing through the crowds.
“Wait here.” The Professor told. It watched her walk up to the counter, whispered a word or two to the bartender and signalled for it to follow as she entered the wooden door leading away from all the commotion.
“Prof.” The prisoner whispered.
Professor Louisa IV ignored. Instead she walked up to someone sitting by the oil lamp. Shook hands and sat beside her.
“This is Captain Tuna Whiskers XV.” She introduced the girl in crimson. He hair laid about shoulder length, curled at the ends. Her cutlass laid beside her. She stood.
“And who this matey be?” She pointed.
“This-” Professor spoke.
“Captain Felix III. Scourge of the seven seas.” She tipped her hat.
“Ahhh...so I’ve heard.” Captain Tuna went back tied her cutlass around her waist, put on her hat. She straightened her clothes and buckled in her pistols. Her boots met her pants at her knees.
“Shall we Professor?” Somewhat she ignored Captain Felix.
She lead the way out the back door.
“We set sail by the break of dawn.” She set.
Captain Felix cleared her throat. The Professor spoke. “We don-”
“No boat, matey.” Captain Felix cut in.
Captain Tuna laughed a bit. “Ye running a rig on me aye?”
“I ain’t, bucko” Captain Felix shook her head.
On hearing that, Captain Tuna grabbed Professor Louisa by the collar with a dagger to her neck.
“Why I oughta blow this man down send ye scurvy to Davy Jones for good!!”
The pistol clicked. Aimed directly at Captain Tuna’s head, Captain Felix spoke, “Betcha ye be going to Davy Jones before Prof.”
She stared through the corner of her eye. “Captain Felix III, scourge of the seven seas, scallywag, I’ll make ye walk the plank after me blow this man down.”
The Professor spoke in stutters. “We can just get a ship and-”
Captain Tuna yanked at her. “Aye! That be good!” She rolled her eyes. “If me had loot!!!!!!!!!! Me ain’t got loot.”
Professor Louisa stood almost off the ground. Captain Felix still held the pistol to her head, fingering the trigger.
“Lass, put the landlubber down.” Captain Felix calmed her tone. Hoping to stop the insanity.
Captain Tuna slowly lowered down her dagger and released Professor Louisa. The professor ran behind Captain Felix just in case.
Captain Tuna had a grin. “Mate, dead men tell no tales, now do they?” With that she plunged her dagger into Captain Felix’s abdomen.
“Ahhhhhhhhhh!!” Captain Felix held on to where she was stabbed. The professor aided but couldn’t do much.
“Better luck next time, bucko.” Captain Tuna began to walk away.
She turned and continued. “Pppffftttt!! Ye ain’t the scourge of the seven seas no more. Ye going to Davy Jones!!!” Then added with a cackle.
Professor Louisa, worried as hell, tried to help. “Felix. Felix. You a’rite?”
Captain Felix stood, though still holding on to the area she got stabbed. “CAPTAIN FELIX to ye!!!!”
“Kay. Kay.” Captain Felix went back to bending down in pain.
Weakly standing up, Captain Felix spoke. “Aye!!! Captain Tuna, ye scumbag!”
The professor worried about Captain Felix’s condition, tried to see, but Captain Felix brushed her off.
Captain Felix yanked out the dagger. “Ahhhh!!! FUCK!!!!”
“Me rum!!” The dagger hit her canister she used to keep her rum, putting a hole into it.
Captain Tune looked back and sweared. “FUCK!!!”
Captain Felix pulled out her canister, shook it to see if there was any left. And threw the canister aside. She wiped her lips and clicked her pistol to Captain Tuna’s head again.
“Even if ye stood there, I send ye to Davy Jones!”
The Professor rolled her eyes.
“Alright already!!! Stop with the Davy Jones threats!! No one’s going to Davy Jones!! Not today!! Not tomorrow!! Not ever!! Captain Tuna Whiskers XV get over here!! Captain Felix III put away your pistol before I crush it!!”
Sternly she ordered and screamed at the both of them.
“Aye, prof.” Captain Felix shoved her pistol back to where they came from.
Captain Tuna reluctantly walked back.
Before she reach, Captain Felix asked, “Prof, Ye can’t have two captains on one ship ye know...”
“Of course I can!!!”
“Naye, Prof, Naye. There’d be a munity, except it’s capitan on capitan.” Captain Felix shook her head.
“Ye cowardly swab!!!” Captain Tuna remarked as she rejoined them.

Chapter One -Part One-

A half eaten bun flew into the cell. The humid air. That cracked four walls. A pair of knee high leather boots sat. There was silence. The guard sat, slouching back on his chair, legs on the desk. He was way overfed. If I’d get out, I would out run him for sure. His eyes shut, most probably going for his nap again. Most of the cells were shared. Some ran their steel cups against the bars making a sound, breaking the silence. Some just made with their voice. Behind bars, majority buffed, muscular, notorious, one of the greatest most feared of the seven seas. The men had marks on their skins, tattooed. There were missing limbs and body parts in some; normality.
They roared. They shouted. Taunted. Banged. The guard fell, awaken from his slumber. He greeted her. Well dressed, educated, armed. She had her long auburn hair tied up in a pony tail and wore a hat. Her cloak draped to the uneven prison grounds. There was a silent conversation between them. Amongst the deafening sounds they prisoners were making, it looked like a quiet play. Their fist sounded against the cold metal cell. They slowly walked down the corridor, past every single cell, every single prisoner. And everyone of them stopped after they had passed. The sound grew faint and soon disappeared. The guard had her wait while he gets his keys. The keys rang, echoed.
“Are you sure about this, miss?”
She silently nodded.
“These held captive are one of the most feared of the seven seas!” He warned.
She nodded.
He walked back. Stopped at one of the cells.
“This is BlackPitch. Imprisoned for-” He scavenged through the bundles of keys.
She stared. Dissatisfied. The muscular man’s eyes pierced through the iron bar. He had a scar over his left eye making it slightly closed. His bald head, untamed moustache and tattooed filled arms; figures, he’s but an ordinary plain old pirate.
Feeling a bit irritated, she stopped him. “Did you not hear me? I want intelligence, not brawns.”
He nodded and moved on. Trying hard to cover up his mistake. Mumbling words of silent anger to himself. He stopped at another. Fiddled the keys, not bothered to give her a proper introduction on the prisoner. She cleared her throat. “Oh...yes..yes..” He stood straight and pointed.
She tried to see through the darkness. The prisoner was about five feet four. Worn out boots and tattooed filled limbs. There were stitches up the legs and around the arms. Dirty filled fingers, stained from the oil and rust.
“This is Baron Vendetta. Baron’s been on coun-” She stopped him again.
“Did I not make myself clear?! Especially on WHAT I wanted?!” She grabbed him by the collar. “Or do I have to do it the hard way?!?!”
Shaken, he nodded quickly and brushed himself. He ran to the last cell on the right. “Come. Come.”
“I’m sure you’ll want this.”
She crossed her arms. Stomping her feet a little on the uneven prison grounds. He fiddled; looking for the key. He smiled and showed her the key before inserting it into the lock. Click. Didn’t budge.
He tried another. Click. Nope. He began to shiver a bit trying to find the right key and the extremely large bundle of lookalike keys. He showed her again; she rolled her eyes. There was a silent grin from inside the cell.
Light from outside shined into the cell but the prisoner sat at the darkest corner. Only the boot showed. Black leather, well taken care of and polished as well. The pair of legs were crossed as if very relaxed and comfortable. A glimpse of the long ends of the clothes the prisoner wore showed, the ends were bordered with a golden bronze ribbon. The rest remained in the shadows.
She rolled her eyes again. Click. He slammed himself into the cell gate in desperation and ended up falling back on the gravel. She slapped her forehead.
“You were saying?!” She was losing her patience.
From all the snacks he’d gobble down during his duty, he won’t be getting up anytime soon.
There was a solemn laughter from inside.
She walked back to the cell. Strained her eyes to see. “Who are you?!” She asked.
An evil grin showed. “I.” The pair of boots disappeared. The sound of them hitting the floor, the prisoner was getting up. She patiently waited. “I.” The prisoner repeated, still walking in the darkness. She silently waited. “You. I know who you are.” A pair of eyes glistened. “Professor Louisa IV.” A sinister tone echoed in that cell. She stepped back a bit, wondering how it knew. “Scared?!” The prisoner asked. She stood her ground and ordered. “Show yourself!!” The prisoner remained in the shadows. “Before I do, may I enquire. Why.”
“For personal reasons.” Enough said. The prisoner stepped into the light. Wearing the tri-cornered hat, fairly short haired, the collar of the top stood bordered with the same golden bronze ribbon as the one at the ends of it and three golden buttons buttoned at the abdomen. The white shirt inside turned a yellow from all the debris and dust in the cells, tightly wrapped though ripped at some parts due to past battles. The shorts covered just what they were supposed to. Black leather reached up to the knees. The sleeve folded up half the arm. The prisoner bowed. “At your service, Professor Louisa IV.”
A slight smile craved on her face. “Unlock this cell and you can come with me.”
“Hah!!!!” The prisoner laughed. “If I wanted to escape this dump I would’ve done it a long time ago, Professor.” The prisoner pointed and her. “And I most certainly can.”
“Go ahead then.” She grinned a bit at her own challenge.
She watched the prisoner pull out something from behind the right ear, then the left and placed both in the keyhole. The lock clicked randomly as the prisoner twisted and turned.
The cell door creaked open. The prisoner stood proud at the opening. She stared but smiled at the prisoner. Examining the prisoner up and down once more. No tattoos; no scars.
Silently they walked out, leaving the guard on the floor.
In the mist of the corridors the prisoner spoke. “Aye!! One sec. Me sword and me guns.” The prisoner pointed. The Professor nodded and walked up to the counter, explained and nodded to the prisoner. Briskly the prisoner grabbed what it needed. On its way out something caught its eye. “Ooo...shiny...” Looking around. Nobody’s looking. It grabbed the pair of well polished pistols and the dagger. Probably owned by one of those in the cells. But then again, who cares!! Running a little, catching up with the Professor.
Out in town, they went through the port. “Do you have a ship?” The prisoner asked. The Professor stared as if it had just asked the stupidest question ever. But solemnly said,”No.”
“Aren’t you supposed to get ME a ship?!”
“Aren’t you supposed to OWN a ship?!”
The prisoner stood silence, not knowing what to say. There was a long silence between them through the buzzing of the mongers at the port.
“Say.” The Professor broke the silence. “What shall I address you by?”
The prisoner laughed. “I thank you Professor for freeing me. But I find no necessity to get acquainted now.”
“Oh, believe me. We ARE going to have to get acquainted.”
The prisoner shook its head. “Nope. Not a chance Professor.”
“As a matter a fact, we are, doing it now.” The Professor grinned.
The prisoner pointed to turn left. “And what you purpose to do there exactly, I mean at The Winkles Rusty Cavern.”
The Professor entered. “You’ll see.”