Pyrates of the West Coast

[The Doctor]

Seeing Monsignor Diego at the entrance to the companionway, Jack beat back toward the disheveled cleric.

"Monsignor, you said that someone grabbed your boot, yeah? Where, in your stride upon the stairway, did that occur? Was it your right or left boot they took hold of?" Jack barraged the Monsignor with questions, knowing full well he may never know the answer. But any clue was worth it's weight in gold.

[Diego Santana de la Vega]

Jack! I have walked these stairs walkways floors deck a thousand times I have practiced in full speed and with eyes closed just in case I would might should need to know! Did you know there are 87 steps from the lowest to the highest deck? Did you know the distance from main stair to aft is 44 steps and main to fore is 32. Did you know that each floor ads three steps to each stairs as they go down? Never mind.... I was certainly grabbed five steps from the bottom on the right side on my right ankle..... as if it were I was tossed foreward head over heels I landed there. (pointing) you can see what little dust is about is cleaned onto my robes right there I in mid air knew of said sabbotage during its occurance and turned back to look at me adversary only to be wrapped in my robes and without any sight at all. So land as I did I came up fast and clearly was less than a flash of lightening looking right to where the ankle grabbing bilge rat should have been postured, (pointing) there within the rise and angle beneath the stair. Talk about feeling stupid well that's when I thought I must have gone out if even for a brief pause you know blacked out. No one not a soul was there. I got up and I was a flash of light lookin both fore and aft down the passageways and no one was there no one in the cause way but I think this floor holds a secret waiting to be found.....Just then I turned and looked behind me where the barrels were against the wall tied into place... Jack these are suppose to be full! I remember when I got up after rolling into them.... (turning and pointing) this one (as I leaned over...) this one (and I knocked on the top just to prove me mention of it) is empty! I kicked it and the lid fell off and it fell wide open...... A hiding place (i sad aloud)?

[The Doctor]

Jack held up his hands, to hopefully calm the most excitable Holy Man.

"Monsignor, I meant no disrespect, assuredly. Your metrics are no doubt spot on. Given that, I'll beg your pardon..."

Jack raced past the Padre to the gun deck, and loudly announced "The four of you - yes, you! Sweep forward, two to starboard, two to larboard!" He wheeled, pointing with his pistol, "And you four! Sweep aft, two starboard, two larboard! Leave nothing unturned! Check the most unlikely of places!! I want the intruder, and I want him now!!!"

[Diego Santana de la Vega]

Yes yes indeed... He's on this floor (I knows it) and he's the one who tripped me as well.

[Dorian Lasseter]

::After a short walk around the main deck, the QuarterMaster headed back to the Captain's quarters... there he found everything as Mr. PEW had reported, the charts spread out, the signs of a struggle, some blood on the deck, chests ransacked, and weaponry missing from the hangers on the bulkheads... Slowly and deliberately Mr. Lasseter looked at everything in the Captain's rooms, moving things to look under and around, then replacing them where they lay... trying to get some sense of what had happened... looking at the charts and other papers on the table, noticing the arraingements of measuring impliments, the quillpen and ink tray on the corner, with a short stack of parchment... ::

Ahhh.... Damn me fer bein' ashore when this... whate'er twas tha' 'appened, occured... Can't leave me ship wi'out somat happenin' *chuckle*

Wot ta do.... carry on... aye.... for'ard... inta wot lies ahead...

::He sat in the chair nearest to the table, suddenly very tired... ::

[Tudor MercWench Smith]

Armand was escorting Tudor out of the cantina where they had been drinking, in a quest for the stables, when Tudor's ears pricked up, much like the horses they were going to find. Her head quickly snapped to the bay where the Watch Dog sat anchored, and she noticed a diffrent flag flying.

"The signal flag is up . . ." She said, squinting to see in the distance. "Something's wrong." She turned to look at her companion and with silent understanding, they both started running towards where the cutter had been tied off earlier.

[Diego Santana de la Vega]

I went over to the galley where I relieved Meg (such a nice lady she is) I tasted her scones there and poured meself a hearty tankard of rum and sat down thinking about this mess on board.

[Pew]

::I finish searching the ship for the Captain and go back below decks to the Ward Room. I see Mr. Lasseter looking through the chests and scouring trhough the charts that were on the table.

"Beggin' yer pahdon sah, I do see as it may be an inopportune time to ask ye this especially with the Captain missin' an all . .. "

Mr. Lasseter folded his arms and stood ramrod straight.

"Well sah, as I was searchin for the Captain I been wondering who may know we're 'ere in port. I know the Dutchie be still below decks and the Frenchman would not have prollems with the Watch Dog 'ere . . "

He placed his hand on his hip and began to look impatient as if all of these thoughts had already raced through his mind . . .

"What I be tryin' to be sayin' to ya sah is when Eric Franklin and I met wit the Lady Ilex, she asked if our Captain be aboard. It struck us a might strange she ask us, as if she knew the Watch Dog be in port before we even got there. If'n she did know, she may also know what may 'ave become of Cap'n. Permission to go ashore and find the lady . . . "

[Dorian Lasseter]

::The QuarterMaster stood and stared at Mr. PEW for a time.... mulling over what he had said... finally, he nodded....::

Sound idea Lad.... a moment afore ye go....

::He headed to his quarters, fished some keys from a pocket and uncovered the iron bound chest, which he unlocked and brought fourth a leather pouch, filled it with several coins, then closed and locked the chest, returned to the Ward room...::

'ere, Lad... this might help... take Mr. Franklin again and another lad... fer safety... come back soon as ye can, e'en if ye needs ta hire 'nuther boat ta do it...

[Pew]

"Aye sah. Mr. Franklin, Pete Straw and myself will 'ead ashore . . "

::I collect our pistols from the armoury and head topside to find Eric and Pete. I tell them of our mission and we are to be back here as soon as possible. We head ashore not knowing how the town may have turned . . . ::

[Diego Santana de la Vega]

Main meal well it were gonna be late today I jes weren't in the mood ta cook today I been hopin that Mr Cage (LAzzarus) the bugger were well enough to and would be willin to take over these here duties in the galley but I dare say ............. Then it came to me! Dorian Mr passiter I yeleed to the tops o me lungs! Quarternmaster Sir! I ran up to the main deck and there as the barge were easing off to shore I seas him Quatermaster sir! aye do believe sir there are more men astray than we have a count on where is Mr cage? and the giant slave Ajayi????? I believe: One! that one or even both could have been privvy to the captains departure and followed sir? or Two they were working together and took him in shore fer his bounty!

Mr lassiter waved me off like a school girl saying we shall see monsignor we shall see!

I went back down to the stores fer decidn what it be were gonna be made for tonight.. I'm thinkin chipped beef,carrots, gravvy and biscuits......

[Pew]

:: The pouring rain effectively dispersed the crowd gathered in anticipation of the festivities, and the decorations that had seemed so fine were limp and bedraggled. Once vibrant colors mixed with the rain to form pale tinted pools alongside the docks.

We glided silently into the docks, with Eric showing us his expertise in the matters of small boat handling.

Pete Straw tied off the bow and Eric Franklin the stern. We climbed atop the wharf. Looking into the reservas and the pescaderia, we no longer smelled the fresh boucans being grilled. It now smelled of a late day fish market, with old catch.

Looking at the decorations in town Eric makes note, "Natal Day pahtie, eh?" "More than likely", "Ne'er seen this type of decoration though," replied our ship's cartographer. We tried to keep dry what powder we had with us for the pistols. Ducking into an alley, we could see the sky beginning to darken as it became progressively harder to see along Callalateral.

We ran into the pub Las Aves to shake off what rain we could and set down near the window, all the while watching the Watch Dog. The surly bartender slammed a bottle down in front of us and pointed towards the door. We spun around to see no one, yet just saw the door slam shut. Jumping up in a fit, knocking his chair to the floor, silence pervades over the bar for a second as Mr. Franklin races to the doorway. He reaches the door and blasts through it, looking up hill towards the fort then down the street towards the docks. No one, nothing, just the splash of rain drops in the puddles beside the cobblestone. Mr. Franklin returns to our table, with a bewildered look on his face.

"Someone knows we're 'ere and be makin a point of tellin' us." Eric reaches into his waist and rests his hand on his pistol. He sets his chair up, but does not sit.

Leaning close and with a sense of urgency in my voice I begin to explain to Pete, "Mr. Straw, I'm thinkin' mebbe we should 'ave you makes us a small Chart of what ships we be seein' 'ere closest to the Watch Dog and in port. Make note of any man-o-war ye sees with an ensign flyin' above. We mebbe have to be seein some higher ups 'ere to find the Cap'n. Mr. Franklin and I are going to see a lady who mebbe knowin' abouts were the Cap' be."

With that and a swift downing of the "rum" from the barman, Eric and I make our way back outside. The smoke sits heavily on our waistcoats like the first snow back home. Eric and I head back towards the docks, and The Red Curtain.::

[Diego Santana de la Vega]

I had pots a boiling and a nice dried rump roast seering and making the needed juices fer flavor as the salt and pepper went in I added six onions and three cloves of garlic when I realized I needed a gallon of the bad red wine...

[Dorian Lasseter]

::Mr. Lasseter stayed in the Captains rooms for some time, looking over everything there, trying to garner whatever information was there, something that would lead in a direction to follow where the Captain was, what had happened to him and Mr. Muller...

The charts, documents and other papers on the table were not unusual, no odd notations, no half written messages, nothing...

The ransacked chests showed that a quick search was made, but for what?

The missing waepons were a sign that whatever had happened, someone armed themselves quickly, but for what reason?

The blood on the deck and the broken stern window were the only hard evidence of some sort of an attack... the blood trailed both from the window and back to it... the possibility that someone broke in, cut themselves in the process had merrit, but so did the possibility that the window was broken in a struggle, and continued to struggle... then maybe went out the same window...

Too much had happened that was unknown to anyone.... anyone but the Captain and Mr. Muller... and whomever else was involved...

His head hurt from all trying to make sense of what had happened...::

Blast it ta hell.... I need a drink... or fresh air... mebee both...

::He walked to the door opened it and passed through, then locked it before turning and heading forward... he stopped in his cabin and procured the special bottle from the depths of his sea chest and headed on his way, stopping to look in on the Surgeon...::

[Tempest Fitzgerald]

The soft rap upon chamber door broke her concentration away from text's spell. With permission of entrance voiced, the Quartermaster appeared and shut the door quietly behind. Tempest raised a brow to the air of distraction that shrouded his form and she cocked her head slightly as the deep green eyes spyed the familiar bottle held in his right hand. Closing the book she stood, her focus traveling to his face and the expression of strain gracing it then back to the bottle.

" Ordinarilly, I would assume this to be a social call...But, your face betrays something underlying that does not seem to be of such casual nature." Her brow furrowed briefly in puzzlement, "Please, allow me to obtain a glass for you and do make yourself comfortable..."

Returning with glass in hand, the Surgeon sat opposit of him and allowed silence to hang the air momentarily. Leaning back against the solid hiegth of chair, she exhaled softly and crossing booted ankle to rest on other knee, eyed the Quartermaster. " So...do tell what brings you to my door step with a troubled soul?"

[Kendra The Sea Maid]

"How long do I have to stay in this bunk?"

"Just until you can get out of it, with out fallin over miss. The doctor placed you in my care, you still need to rest," But I have work to finish. . .and. . .*the room started to spin again*

"I will not argue with you, you will lie there and rest, or I'll have some one tie you down!"

*With that she punched her pillow, laid back downn folded her arms and pouted!*

[Dorian Lasseter]

:: the QuarterMaster sat heavily, a look of thanks on his face as the Surgeon handed him a fine crystal goblet, of which he smiled at, then opened the bottle, poured two fingers depth in, brought it up to his nose and inhaled slowly... A smile again graced his lips as he downed the elixer... He refilled it and offered it to Tempest who sat across from him as she asked him what his troubles were that brought him there...::

Oh... th' usual... burden o' command, along wi' th' disappearance o' Cap'n William, in wot looks ta be a brutal manner....

I canna tell iffn' someone broke in th' window in th' ward, r' iffn' it got broke out from inside... ain't no glass shards ta be found... blood tha's tracked to and from it... An' so far we hasn't got any messages as ta say iffn' he been kidnapped...

::He shrugged then and took a deep breath::

I plan on movin' th' ship soon if we don't hear any news otherwise... I fear news of 'r captain found the wrong ears... we all may be in fer trouble....

Yer thoughts on th' matter?

[Tempest Fitzgerald]

She accepted the goblet, somewhat leary from past experience to its contents. Taking a small sample of the "rare auld mountain dew", she closed her eyes momentarily as the liquid fire coursed downward. Setting the vessel on desk surface half way betwixt, the Surgeon pursed her lips in thought before replying,

"There are elaments of this situation that are confusing to me, mon cher. If the ship has been under full watch compliment, even with those away at liberty, how could something of said nature occure...Unless, of course the scheaming were to be involved among the ranks here aboard. But, if that be the case, who would be the most likely involved in such a coup d'etat?"

Reaching across the small distance, she laid one delicate hand upon his arm as a sign of comfort.

" As for the moving of the frigate, that is a rather hard call to make. Are there any other ships in this harbour that could be considered allies? I am afraid that I have spent my off time here with the emptying of the Sick Ward, so you shall have to humor my inquisitivness."

[Tudor MercWench Smith]

The cutter, along with most of the crew who had been ashore on liberity already stood waiting on the warf when Tudor and Armand arrived, other crew members seen closing the distance. Gossip abounded amongst the crew as the cutter made it's way back towards the ship. "The Captain's gone missing . . . looks like a struggle . . . Muller is missing too . . ." Tudor's mind was racing at top speeds as she absorbed every word being said, and before the cutter had come to a full stop, she was half way up the rigging and on the deck, not noticing Armand following closely behind. After a quick inquiry of one of the crew members, Tudor headed towards the Surgeon's ward in search of the Quartermaster.

"What's happened?" She asked with out greeting as she unceremoniously entered the room where to Doctor and Mr. Lasseter were sharing a drink. Her whole body was tensed and her hands rested near to the pistols she had at her belt.

[Dorian Lasseter]

:: he thought for a moment before replying, when the Captain's Steward burst into the room... He held up his hand to Ms Smith, signaling her to stand down as he replied to the Surgeon's query...::

No... I think it weren't th' crew... Aye, we 'ave a proper compliment fer th' watches... but, I fear all were rather leasurely at it... time fer liberty, relaxin'.... not keep a sharp eye... mayhaps they was lulled into a sense o' saftey with 'r trip ta th' Don...

An' soon as Mr. PEW is back aboard... with whatever knowledge he has gained... then I'll see iffn' th' ship'll be moved...

::He then looked up at Ms. Smith... He then related all he knew of the events that had happened aboard....::

[The Doctor]

Jack returned from the aft hold, having dismissed the search parties. He admonished them to stay on the alert, and to continue patrolling the decks of the ship. He returned to the Armoury and quietly shut the door.

His jaw was clenched so tightly his teeth hurt as he slammed both fists on a storage chest. "Blast and damn it all!" he raged. "How does someone get aboard this vessel, attack her crew, and vanish like some infernal shade?!"

He wanted to tear the ship apart, plank by plank, to find the villian. His head ached from anger and worry, and he suddenly felt quite weary. Against his better judgement, he retrieved a bottle that he had stashed away. He took two healthy swallows and returned the bottle to it's hiding place.

He sat down, facing the door, and set about thinking...

[Tudor MercWench Smith]

A shadow crossed tudor's face as Dorian filled in the gaps of informtion. With a sneer, the hands that had been hovering over the pistols now flexed and grabbed the wooden stocks. Without a word, but leaving no one in the room in doubt of her intent, she spun quickly, shoving Armand out of her way as she stormed through the doorway, a murderous gleam in her eye.

[Tempest Fitzgerald]

The sudden force caught him off guard momentarily, but just momentarily. With the action of two quick strides, the Gascon caught Tudor by one of her shoulders and spun her about. The easy going expression that normally played his features was replaced by the mask worn before the call of chargez was announced. To assure that she would not slip loose, the other hand laid vice like grip upon her other shoulder.

"Non, mon petit oiseau...."

[Dorian Lasseter]

Dammit, Gerl!!!! Wot d' ye think yer about!

::The QuarterMaster jumped from his seat, sending the chair to the deck as the Captain's Steward bolted out and past the Surgeon's Steward...: She was up and gone before he could say more...::

Bloody... quick tempered, witless... Da'hell she thinks she gonna do...

[Pew]

::"Ahhh yes, The Red Curtain" said Eric Franklin, with his ever widening smile. Scurring along the street we dodge what few vendors are about on this evening. Pesacadores sell what's left of their catch from the day, while the drunken sots lay about on what barrels and netting set around. Spanish moss begins to sway in the trees from the light breeze that has picked up. Across the harbor we see the lanterns begin to be lit upon the different galleys and schooners at anchor within the bay. As we duck down the alley to the bordello, we notice something amiss upon one of the man-o-war docked closest to the wharf.

"Mr. Franklin, be those the men we be o'er'earin upon the bar the night before?"

"Aye, Mr. Pew, " Eric replies as he runs his fingers back through his dark soaked hair. "'ave you got your spyglass?"

"I b'lieve so Eric." Rummaging through my waistcoat I find and pull it apart. Putting it up to me eye I see the same young Spaniard upon the deck of the ship yeliing at an unseen subordinate. Tracing a line with my spyglass from the ship across to the The Red Curtain, I see the lady Ilex standing in her window, watching the argument take place.

"She's there, make haste."

Shoving the spyglass into my pocket, Eric and I wind our way around the corner to the front doors of the Bordello. Before we can get to the door we see the large men guarding the door and part the way for us, knowing to expect us. Smelling of stale alcohol, thick smoke and stories of a thousand men, the room is nearly empty. A small light shines under the doorway near the back of the main hall.::