Pit of Vipers

Grace-2

"What do you think Oakridge is playing at? He's obviously planning something, taking the same route to Port Royal, going out of his way to leave you these little presents, it seems as though the only thing he hasn't done is propose the treaty." she nodded as they walked towards the forecastle. Passing men polishing and sharpening various tools and weapons.

"Oh he is undoubtedly planning something. Why do you think I called in my hounds? I want back up if things go south, I can only believe that he will have his fleet with him. He'd be stupid not to." Jack made a noise of agreement deep in his throat.

"Quite. You know, it almost seems like some sort of strange courtship." there was a pause then they both burst out laughing.

"Friend, you have gone mental! We're pirates, courtship is not what we do!" just then they heard Sanka yelling from above.

"Ship ahoy! Captain we're drawing near!"

"Kill the lights! Silence!" Jack shouted the order and the ship was thrown into brief bedlam as the crew flew into action to carry it out. A few moments later and all was silent save for the waves parting gently around the hull. The British vessel was a burning beacon to any with eyes. Grace quietly signalled to her men to prepare their grappling hooks as they drew steadily closer. She perched herself up on the forecastle rigging, readying to jump into the action. A slight commotion drew her eyes to the light on the opposite ship now no farther than a few yards away. Two drunk crewman were arguing over something unimportant. With a slight gesture of her hand, the grappling hooks flew and caught onto the other ship. Startled shouts woke the night and an alarm bell began ringing frantically. Grace was the first to make the leap onto the other ship, landing perfectly and drawing her cutlass. The two drunkards were knocked out cold before there was anything to be done about it. She turned towards the open holes on deck and began engaging the first men to come through. Even the alert ones were no match for her superior skills and by this time her own reinforcements were swiftly joining her.

"Pirates! Pirates! All hands on deck!" she quickly shot the idiot who was still ringing the bell even though it was quite clear that yes, pirates were attacking. The action was over sooner than Grace would have liked and she sent men to scuttle the ship for goods while she looked over her new prisoners. Only a handful of them that wore red coats had survived the skirmish, her men had a nasty bit of a grudge with the British Navy. Not that she could blame them. Per her orders, all higher ranking officers had been kept alive for ransom purposes. There were about twenty seven crewmen left standing, well kneeling more accurately, tied and accompanied by her brigands. Jack stepped up from behind her as she felt her head and realized her hat had fallen off. Quickly snapping her fingers, one of her men gave it to her while Jack began talking.

"You are all in the presence of the greatest captain to ever sail the seven seas, most of you will be given a choice. Join the crew or die, quite simple really." Grace set the hat upon her head and began to stalk down the row of prisoners. Most had eyes only for her chest, figures, one even let out a wolf whistle. Without speaking she turned and shot the man. That got their attention on her eyes. The pirate standing behind the recently deceased dragged the former prisoner by his arms and threw him over the side of the ship. She continued her stroll to the end of the line and grabbed a quivering man by his chin.

"You. what do you choose?" her voice was cold and deadly, her eyes were hard as steel.

"I don't understand the question ma'am." his voice shook.

"You will address me as Captain or not at all understood?" the prisoner's eyes widened as he did his best to nod frantically.

"Aye Captain."

"Now what do you choose?"

"Life, Captain." she nodded, patting his cheek in a condescending manner that only a woman can produce.

"This one'll be good for Captain McKendrick." the pirate behind him nodded and cut his bonds. She continued on down the line, leaving those who chose to die and loosing those who chose her crew. She stopped when she came to a man with bright eyes. He had a strong jaw and pronounced cheekbones, fine blond hair that fell slightly into his eyes and a gaze that could melt a lock. She ran a hand through his hair and pulled his face up towards her. "See I would offer you a choice if I didn't know exactly who you are." gasps erupted from the man's fellow prisoners but to his credit his face remained stoic aside from a little quirk in his eyebrow.

"Oh? And who am I?" heavens above that voice! Deep and smooth, like beautiful ocean depths untouched by her reach.

"Barin Cornett, professional pirate hunter for the crown." boos and hisses surrounded them from the pirates.

"So you've heard of me." Grace laughed.

"Still so cheeky! You're staring death in the eyes right now and look at you! Completely unphased! Even if I wasn't keeping you around for ransom I would definitely keep you alive." she added a lilt to her voice as her crew voiced their enjoyment. "That's it for the crew, the rest are ransom offers. Leave them untouched." a general grumble of assent met her orders as the pirates sprang into action to clean up their conquest. She grabbed a proffered cloth and began to clean off her saber. Jack came to lean next to her.

"Not much in the way of currency, about a hundred pounds if I had to guess. Plenty of supplies to augment our own, including some fancy wine the captain was stockpiling."

"Good enough, I want the ship set adrift after all of it has been transferred. Take the prisoners to the brig and keep the recruits away from anything overly important." Jack started to depart. "Oh and Jack? I want Cornett tied to the main mast." Jack, lovely patient best friend Jack, didn't even ask before continuing to carry out orders. Grace looked back as Jack grabbed the pirate hunter. His green eyes were locked solely on her. She winked and hopped over to Adventure's Promise, scaling up over the siding and greeting the kitten who had been impatiently waiting for her. "Hey baby! Were you a good girl for Sanka and Bleddyn? Oh Sanka beaded you again didn't he? Mummy will just kill him tomorrow." she draped the cat over her shoulders and walked towards the helm. "Jabari!"

"Aye Captain?"

"We'd best start heading to Port, that put us off significantly."

"You've got it Captain."

"Now, I am going to go sleep for a few more hours. If this ship is not sinking, under attack, burning or compromised in any other severe way... I don't want to hear about it." with that, she swept back around into the bowels of her ship and into her cabin.