The ship had pulled into dock in the wee-hours of the night, the crescent moon casting a faint glow on the dark waters beneath. The Captain stood before her crew, a wide grin crinkling those ever twinkling silver-webbed-blues. "Enjoy a bed that doesn't sway for the night, hopefully kept warm by some willing woman." She laughed, pointing as the plank was lowered for them to go ashore. "Not back by noon, you're out of a job." "Aye, Captain." The men chorused simultaneously before rushing down the plank and onto the docks, taverns and Inns soon to find themselves flooded with men who had been at sea for the last two months. The Captain moved to the few men left, a tanned albeit calloused hand finding the nearest one's shoulder. "Don't worry. You'll have your turn." She chuckled at their crestfallen faces. "Make sure the cargo's well guarded "til morning and you'll get a bonus." At the last few words, their faces rose toward hers hopefully before she pivoted upon a booted heel to face the man that waited silently near the bow. He was a beast of a man, standing nearly seven and a half feet tall, with arms like tree-trunks. His bald head gleamed in the moonlight, a single hoop dangling from an ear. He watched the Captain approach silently as he crossed his arms across his barrel of a chest. "You know what I need to do." She murmured quietly looking at him. He nodded in silence. "He's here." She slipped a rolled up paper from her hip, unfurling the parchment to stare at the picture. A woman had delivered the message an hour ago, a pretty young thing who claimed she didn't know who had paid her to deliver it. A coin paid for her troubles, the Captain had watched her disappear back into the town. With a grunt, Silver tucked the picture back into her pocket and looked at the man. "I'm going to shore.? He nodded, arms falling as he moved to follow her. There was no use in even trying to dissuade him, he would still find a way to shadow her through the town. The rolling gait of the Captain caused her boots to thud in a rhythmic cadence on the wooden planks of the docks as she made her way to the tavern she heard he'd be in. She had threatened him once before. If she saw him anywhere in her vicinity, he'd pay dearly. She was true to her word, and he just so happened to be in the same ports she was. Not her fault, but rather, she looked at it as luck for what he had committed years earlier. The door to the tavern was roughly shoved aside as she stepped in, heading straight to the bar to order a bottle of rum and a shot glass. A few patrons glanced up at the new woman, a few quickly diverting their gaze for whispers of her had already begun to circulate. The bottle found, the shot glass filled, she bided her time by taking shots and nearly emptying half the bottle before she saw him rise from a table in the corner. He turned, his dark eyes glittering in amusement as he stepped out the back door.

The return to the ship had been a quiet one from the gypsy. Staring at the stars and holding her fingers up to the sky as if to touch the moon itself.

From time to time she'd cast a look of worried eyes to Silver even though her silence was a serene thing. Occasional hip nudges to Ty. Ila mora but the man had gotten so big, it was hard to imagine he was the blushing fumbling dockhand she remembered.

Then again...so much had changed.

She climbed the ropes rather then the usual way which brought a wild laugh from Silver and a grin was slanted down to her from the gypsy.

Memories flickered like lamplight and shooting stars in her thoughts of years so long past where it seemed an equal time of sharing and comfort and running away.

Though the difference was now they weren't running away but facing it all down.

All the pain and torment, bittersweet ways of life all in their own newly fashioned ways.

"Se...we goin' te talk about dis or pretend dat de Patrol almos' had me playin' thief of de Starblade from de steel cage 'gain?"

A half ruse of a smile as the night emeralds shifted to her old friend. Brow lifting in question.

Xavier Faustus slid the bright Hawaiian shirt over his shoulders, not bothering to button it up. Afterall, he only had one destination in mind and she wouldn't give a damn what he was wearing. He reached up, running a hand through those wayward spikes that fell in a neat disarray, his other hand scratching that that perpetual five o'clock shadow.

"Hello ladies.." He smiled into the mirror before reaching down to finish off the last of his fruit drink.

He slid a cigarette out of the pack near his bed before flipping open the lighter and inhaling. The ship was abandoned as he wound his way through the ports, nearly deserted at this hour of the night. Half the people were passed out in the streets, the other half probably passed out in someone else's bed. God hoped the husband's wouldn't walk in to find them there in the morning.

Taking another inhale of the death-stick, he exhaled a small ring into the air, sending a smile toward the women that were still looking for someone to warm their beds...for a coin. A coin he would never have to pay.

"Oy Faustus!" One of the yelled, sliding a hand around his arm. "When you visitin' lil' ol' me again?" She batted heavily painted lids at him.

"YOU?" Another one of them screeched, bright red lips pursing in a scowl. "You know he'd be warming my bed first."

"Ladies..." Xavier held up a hand to silence them, both arms slipping around their backs to place a hard smack on each of their arses. "You know I love you both." He finished, continuing on his way.

"Aw, Xavier. Tease!" They shouted as he rounded the corner, another ship looming in front of him.

So she was here.

Xavier smiled to himself, flicking the butt to the ground and grinding it out with a shoe. He eyed the masthead of the ship, the women's lips open in silent song, her arms outstretched to the moon above. Fitting, he thought.

"Who's there?" A voice yelled down from the rail, a young head peeking over the rim. "Oh hell." the young man swore, catching a glimpse of Faustus on the dock. "I dinnae think she wants to see ya."

"Oh, I think it'll be fine." Xavier shot the man a smile.

"No, really. Bad timing, Faustus. Yer not welcome."

Xavier dug his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "Just let me up and we'll find out, Patrick."

The young man, Patrick, stopped for a minute before he waved a hand. Xavier swaggered up the plank. "Quarters?"

Patrick nodded. Faustus turned and made his way downstairs, two feminine voices catching his ears. So she had company, he mused. All the better. He raised the back of his hand toward the open door, rapping twice before he pushed it completely open. "Evening, ladies..." he smiled.

(posted with permission)

"You!" Silver hissed, the rum bottle nearly being dropped on the ground as she slid her leg off the arm of the chair to sit up. Rona's dark emerald gaze moved to rest on the slightly familiar face. She knew him' or so she thought. Judging from Silver's reaction maybe she didn't want to know him.

"Why the hell are you on my ship?" She hissed again, her long fingers tightly curled around the arms of the chair.

"Should I take it as a good sign that you're not trying to deck me right now?" Faustus grinned, crossing his arms to lean a shoulder on the door.

"It's still early." She replied, her gaze narrowing.

"Oh, come on now. You know you missed me hostuff."

She nearly leapt out of the chair, her hand snaking out to grab the rum bottle out of Rona's grasp as she stood, tipping it to her lips for a rather long sip. She stopped behind the chair, arms dangling over the tall back. "I'm going to ask you again, Faustus. Why are you here?"

"You're not going to introduce me to your friend?" He asked, sliding over to extend a hand. With her delicate fingers in his own he bent to place a gentle kiss on her knuckles. "Forgive her horrid manne's. Ah am Rona by de way." Rona nearly purred before she winked at Silver, standing to disappear behind the changing screen.

"Pleasure is all mine." He eyed Rona before turning back to the angry Captain.

Xavier reached into his pocket to produce a folded up piece of paper. His fingers worked quickly to uncrumple it before he held it up. It had a very good likeness of her face with a "Wanted for Questioning" written in bold above her head. "Way to make an entrance." He stated, tossing the paper toward her. "Seriously' You're here for what? A week, I gather, and already you're on a poster for "questioning?"" He lifted his fingers to make air-quotations around the last word.

Rona reappeared from behind the screen, amusement twinkling in her eyes as she looked between the two Sea Captains. "I'm going to go". let you figure this out.? Rona smiled to both before she disappeared.

(posted with all players permission)

Dirt and gravel crunched under her boots as the Captain wound her way through the Marketplace, getting further and further from the comfort of the familiar docks. She muttered under her breath about Rona and her wanderings before glancing at her companion. "Where the hell did she go?"

Faustus shrugged a shoulder, the hawaiian t-shirt way out of place in this god-foresaken place. The weather was so damn unpredictable. "How the hell should I know...she's your friend." He scanned the nearly deserted Market before he raised a hand, pointing to a group of people in the Market. "Over there" Just a shot."

"Ro?" Silver approached the group, watching as two of them broke off to disappear down the street. She peered at the man with Rona, the realization that it was Colt putting her somewhat at ease.

Rona stiffened with the cry of her name, a snap of her head turning her eyes toward the approaching woman.

"Rona!" she sighed, relieved. "Why didn't you come back" Where have you been?" She nearly scolded as if Rona was a child. She was worried " Rona was her only family.

"Rona?" Colt continued quietly, his fingers brushing the bruise at her temple. He wasn't satisfied without an explanation of how she came to be injured. The entrance of Silver and another unknown man confusing him even more.

Faustus drew to a stop behind Silver, crossing his arms to watch those few gathered. "Uh' Sil.." he pointed at Rona before he quickly looked up and down the road.

"Damnit!" She swore, a string of explitivies tumbling from her lips. She nearly shoved Colt out of the way with an offhanded "Hey Colt", bending down to peer at Rona's bruised face. "What the hell happened" You left for like an hour?"

Colt felt his shoulder pushed and he took the obligatory step aside for the heated Captain, yet he too came to approach Rona from the other side. It seemed as if Silver was reading his mind, and there were parts of Rona's injury that he didn't know about. He stood, listening to Rona and Silver, while giving a glance toward the man behind the Captain.

Faustus took a few steps forward, stretching out a hand. "Xavier Faustus." He introduced himself to the only other male present.

"Ah ..was givin" you both time te speak"te get'reacquainted." Rona explained softly, her head bowing. "Went te de pub.." She flinched as Colt touched her face, his hand withdrawing. Shame flickered in her eyes, her vulunerability magnified by the loss of those ribbons. She vainly attempted to hide her scarred wrists in her oversized jacket.

Silver stiffened, looking back at the cowboy. "Were you with her when this happened?" Silver noted the lack of ribbons instantly, the sound and look Rona gave causing the briefest flicker of pain to flutter over the Captain's face. Someone was going to pay for this.

"I was not. Just findin" out about this now." Colt responded, his face hardening. "Do you think Iw ould have let this happen if I was?" Silver was given an offended frown. Colt reached out to roughly shake Xavier's hand. "Name's Colt Farley." He responded before looking back at Silver. "You mind telling me what I don't know" That is, if you know" And were you with her?"

"It's not a matter of letting it happen, I'm not accusing you." Silver sighed, resting a hand on Colt's arm before she shook her head. "I wasn't there or I wouldn't be so surprised. " She shot back angrily, removing her hand.

"Who did this Rona." Colt didn't ask, it was almost an order. His voice was quiet and solid, as he like Silver, had a rage that needed to be quelled.

Faustus watched the exchange, irritated by how someone could do this to a woman, let alone a woman like Rona. He shoved his hands into his pockets, waiting until the moment Silver would reach her limit and the fun would begin. "We know who did this." He commented, his eyes falling onto the Captain with certainty.

"Tell me who it was." Colt turned, interested in Xavier's statement.

"Ah was buh moraself"was mora faul?" Rona winced as she stood swiftly. A palm pressed to the shoulder of both the Captain and the Cattlehand. In the moonlight and streetlamps those old wounds of being crucified so long ago stood out like angry, savage welts. They seemed fresh and raw without the protection of the ribbons.

Colt looked from Silver to Xavier, waiting for an answer. Yet Rona got his head to turn again. Silver froze, shoulders falling rigid at Faustus" point. She did know who it was. "Bloody hell." She grumbled, once again cursing like the sailor she was. She whirled on Rona as the gypsy's words fell to her ears.

"Your fault?" She all but yelled, grabbing the woman into a crushing hug. "Never say that again." She whispered into Rona's hair, unusually gentle fingers running down the gypsy's hair before she all but shoved her into Colt's arms. "You take care of her." She threatened dangerously before she turned on a booted hell. "I have to see a man about a beating."

Colt got an eyeful of those wounds before Silver hugged the gypsy. With her arms having been set apart from her form, he noticed something else chilling "her ribbons were gone. Those ribbons she liked so much. Colt was even more concerned as Rona was pushed to him, strong arms coming to embrace Rona protectively. "Tell me who it is. You know I can see it."

Rona yelped in sudden vocalization of the pain in her ribs, the crushing hug and push toward Colt reminding her of the broken ribs she was trying so hard to keep secret. She trembled like a green born filly on its first run. "Be careful Silver." She whispered as Colts arm came to encircle her.

Faustus bounced lightly on his feet, looking to the cowboy. "It'll be taken care of." He nodded to the man. "Sorry we met under such circumstances." He turned to follow after the angry captain. "Don't worry' we'll get him." He called over his shoulder.

(P.W.P)

"Well well well.." Kendrick started, folding his weathered hands on the bar. His face as a mash of bruises, his nose crooked on his face. His hands were wrapped around a pile of ribbons which were strung through fingers and tumbling onto the wooden table.

Silver's hand slid down to a passing table, her fingers curling around a pewter mug, which was swung with all her might at the man rising from his chair. The mug slammed into his skull with a sickening thud before he tripped over his chair and fell in a heap on the floor. "I got another message for you, since you apparently didn't get the first one." She hissed, watching as chairs tumbled over and men rose quickly.

Faustus" hands slid deep into the pockets of his khakis, his fingers slipping into a pair of brass knuckles that were clenched in a fist. At the same time Silver swung the mug, his own fist was swinging toward the opposite side of the table and connecting with a man's kidneys. He groaned, doubling over as Xavier swung another fist toward his jaw.

The tender cursed, pulling bottles off the shelves to hide them behind the bar before he himself slipped into the kitchen and watched from behind the shield of the door. Those patrons that were too drunk to move were now up and dancing through the tavern, using anything and everything in their favor. Chairs were swung, splintered table pieces picked up as weapons, broken bottles being whirled and thrown.

Silver and Faustus were in the thick of it, dodging objects thrown by people they didn't even know. Silver leapt onto a nearby table, sending a boot slamming into the jaw of some drunken bystander who just happened to be in the way. Xavier tossed a chair, sending a man reeling backward, only to be met by his brass knuckles as the chair was batted away.

When it was all over, the aftermath was sheer destruction. Few tables were left unharmed, almost half the chairs lying in pieces. Silver and Faustus were breathing heavily, half dragging Kendrick through the devastation. Silver shot the tender a glance as he peeked out from the kitchen. "You'll be paid handsomely for clean up- and to keep your mouth shut.?

He nodded vigorously. This had happened once before, though not to this degree of annihilation. She pushed out the door, Faustus behind her and Kendrick half conscious being dragged between the two.

Captain James Hargrove visibly grimaced at the informal greeting. "Captain Starblade." He replied curtly. "Good morning to you."

Silver waved a hand as she stopped a few paces in front of him. "Cut the formalities, Jimmy. What do you want?"

"You're wanted for questioning in the disappearance of Allastair Kendrick." Captain Hargrove stated.

"What' I haven't seen him in two days." She lied, her hands falling to her hips. "Questioning over?"

"Not quite. If you'll just come with us"."

"Fecking no, I won't." She shot back. "Questioning means I don't have to go anywhere, Jimmy."

Captain Hargrove sighed. It was never easy with this one. "Captain, there's no need to create a problem. We simply need to question you about your whereabouts and involvement with Mr. Kendrick."

"My involvement was a fight two nights ago. Damn near broke his face." She nodded, crossing her arms. "Last time I saw him."

"Captain?"

"Jimmy."

Captain Hargrove motioned behind him as two men stepped forward. "We'll escort you, miss." They took up positions on either side of her.

"Hell no you won't." She replied again, feet planting on the docks.

"Captain Starblade!" Hargrove ordered just as her fist pummeled into the side of one of the men's faces, a quick duck under an incoming jab having her sending an elbow into the other man's ribs.

"Call them off, Jimmy!" She shot back.

"Captain Starblade!" Hargrove barked again.

Silver narrowed her eyes, staring at the men approaching. Faustus whistled sharply from the deck above. The men paused in their approach toward the woman Captain. "Hargrove, damnit, you got no reason for detainment!" Xavier yelled down.

"I do now. Obstruction of justice, Assault on Police.." Hargrove began to list as two men yanked the Captain's arms behind her, securing them with cuffs. Silver swore loudly, eyeing the men on either side of her who watched her warily as they began the trek toward the jail.

James Hargrove tipped his hat toward Faustus and his crew, a smirk crossing his lips as he turned. "You have a pleasant morning.?

Patrick knocked softly on the door to the Captain's quarters, pushing the half open door to peer inside. Empty. He crossed the room to drop the small box onto her desk, pausing as he eyed the crumpled up paper. Knowing he could full well get in trouble for snooping, he reached down to tug a corner of the paper, the words becoming clearer as the paper was flattened.

Kendrick.

Patrick raised a hand to rub absently at his neck before glancing around the room. He turned back to the paper, noting the next word. Missing.

Sh*t. Double sh*t.

Patrick quickly turned and flew out of the Captain's room, out onto deck and then to the docks. He'd deal with Ty later; the First Mate no doubt going to have his hide for leaving his post with no explanation. Patrick nearly broke into a run as his boots thudded down the docks, his gangly teenage form dodging through the midday throng of people that populated the dockside.

He quickly turned left, running up the plank onto the Poseidon's Revenge and nearly colliding with Faustus. Xavier Faustus held up his hands, wrapping his fingers around the bony shoulders of the boy in front of him.

"Patrick?" He arched a brow, lowering his hands. "Everything okay' Why are you running on here like a bat out of hell?"

"Kendrick." Patrick wheezed, his shoulders slumping as he looked at the man in front of him.

Faustus sighed, crossing his arms. He and Silver, as well as the rest of her crew, had hoped to shield the boy from the news that the man had been in the ports. "He's missing. Why she's in jail, ain't it?" Patrick questioned.

Xavier nodded, reaching out to pat his shoulder. "Not your problem, Patrick. No need to worry."

Patrick frowned, digging his hands into his pockets. "It is my problem." He muttered, his head hanging as he glanced down at his shoes. "I started it."

Xavier shook his head, patting the boy's shoulder again before nearly shoving him toward the plank and back to the docks. "You didn't start anything Patrick. She's told you that hundreds o"times. " He grunted, spitting into the sea as he led the boy back toward the ship he came from. The poor lad had been, as best as they could tell, eight years old when that stupid fool Allistaire Kendrick came to port trying to sell him. Small, malnourished kid in chains damn near drove Silver off the deep end. Patrick had been on her ship for nine years now. "Damn Kendrick's problem, but apparently he doesn't have a problem anymore." Faustus smiled at that, catching the sidelong glance from the boy.

"She'll be fine, Patrick." Xavier stopped in front of the Siren. "Tell Tom I need to see him. You're Captain's coming back soon.?

Xavier slapped the boy on the back, turning back toward his ship. There were plans to make.