Hidden Past

Chapter 1: Singapore

Snap.

The hangman got more shoes to his collection.

"In order to effect a timely halt to deteriorating conditions, and to ensure the common good, a state of emergency is declared for these territories, by decree of Lord Cutler Beckett, duly appointed representative of His Majesty the King. By decree, according to martial law, the following statutes are temporarily amended: right to assembly, suspended."

Snap.

"Right to habeus corpus, suspended."

Snap.

"Right to legal counsel, suspended."

Snap.

"Right to verdict by a jury of peers, suspended."

Snap.

"All persons convicted of piracy, or aiding a person convicted of piracy, or associating with a person convicted of piracy, shall be sentenced to hang by the neck until dead."

By the time little James stepped up to the hangman's noose there had been nearly an army of children before him. The courtyard was silent and bleak as the stool got placed righr in front of James. Thankfully, Port Royal had lost none of the hospitality toward pirates that they had when Jack landed there nearly a year and a half ago and so the hangman was kind enough to not only help James up on the stool harsh enough to leave a bruise, but also to gift him a necklace of rope.

Today was a really shitty day for James and so, to make the end not so bleak (though ir was still very, very bleak) he began to sing. Why you ask? Just to fuck with the red coats.

"The king and his men, stole the queen from her bed." He took in a shaky breath as the weight of thw situation made his shoulders sag. "Ans bound her in her bones." He let out his breath. "The seas be ours and by the powers, where we will, we'll roam."

Old Henrick was a pirate once, a long time ago. It was a life he left behind when he found himself a bull-headed lass who he loved with all his heart. When she passed, he became a drunk, perferring to drown her memory than to live with the knowledge of not having her. In fact, Henrick could care less that he was about to die, about god damn time, he thought spitefully to himself. However, the litrle boy on the stand with him did not deserve to die.

So he had absolutely no woes with joining in on the old pirate song with his grim fate in sight. "Yo, ho, haul together. Hoist the colors high."

The pair were elated when for the next line more joined in. "Heave, ho, thieves and beggars, never shall we die."

Beckett grinned at the sound of singing. He had had a shitty time since Victoria sailed away on her old ship nearly a month and a half ago. Really he was craving a war, and he just got his wish.

Unfortunately for him he was not the only one having a lucky day.

It was night in Singapore as Victoria stood in the Pirate Lord's presence, distracting him.

"Your highness, I must confess that this is quite a shock indeed. I was not expecting you." Sao Feng stated with a smile, kissing Victoria's hand.

She smiled, ever the temptress. "I was not planning to be, however my ship was wrecked in the storm and you have always been so kind."

His chest pumped out with pride. "It is a standard with you my dear."

Her eye lashes fluttered. "Much appreciated these days." With a deep breath, she moved closer. "Singapore has been very hospitable but I need to get home, do you have any idea how I could go about acquiring a ship for the journey?"