Pirates We Be (Part 4)

Dru stayed standing behind her desk.

“So you recognize me then? I suppose that means you have half a brain..”

“Of course I recognize you, we’ve met before, you know.” Gabe took a step closer.

“I seriously doubt so.” Dru retorted, “You’re still alive…not for long.”

“You’ve still no idea who I am… do you?” Gabe asked with a shake of his head. “Funny, with all the gossip going around about you wanting my neck you think you’d at least recognize me.”

Dru laughed,

“Oh, my. A boy playing a man’s part. I doubt that the child I stare at is the incredulous phantom pirate… But we’ll see!” She drew her blade in one swift movement and swiped it at her long haired opponent.

Gabriel swung his hips outward and simultaneously drew his cutlass. He swung forcing Dru to block his blow narrowly. Gabe’s free hand knocked the desk between them to one side and gained that ground on her, forcing her backward.

“You’re not bad,” she quipped as she grabbed a chair and flung it at him.

Gabriel dropped his cutlass and caught it, immediately using the oaken seat to crush his enemy into the wall.

“You’re not a match.” He said as he pressed his full weight against the chair, causing her trapped arm to drop her weapon.

Gray stared down blue. Heavy breathing was the only sound for some moment, before Dru spoke up.

“There’s no way you’d get off this ship alive if you-“

“Don’t you think I know that? I haven’t come here to kill you. You brought me on this ship when you halted mine.”

Dru managed to lift a dagger from her hip and made a stab at her oppressor.

Gabe jumped back in time and the chair fell to the floor.

“What did you hope to accomplish then, if not bloodshed?” Asked Dru, the only one armed.

“You called me out, dear. Who am I to deny someone who’s affected me so much?”

Dru rolled her eyes,

“Please, stop this nonsense and give this a proper end.”

“The is just a prelude. I will fight no more today.” Gabe turned toward the door and placed his hand on the knob.

Dru didn’t hesitate and threw her dagger at the back of the other pirate.

A crash sounded and dagger hit flesh. Gabe saw white light and found himself crushed to the floor behind the heavy wooden door. A body lay at his feet, with a dagger square in his chest. Gabe realized he had just had his life saved by mere bad timing on this poor blokes part, and he looked up just in time to see his enemy had regained her rapier and was about to strike against him. He swung out his foot and tripped her. She fell back and stumbled over her fallen Jones, landing hard on the wood floor. She half-raised and was met by a blade at her throat.

Gabe held her crewman’s blade. He heard a yell from outside and realized they must’ve seen the man go down.

“Something to refresh your memory.” He sliced her across the cheek in a cut that mirrored his own before he dashed out the door like a madman. Grayes yelled across to him and tossed a rope from the rigging. Gabe jumped onto the ships railing and caught it, swinging madly back onto his own ship.

Dru emerged from the cabin, pistol in hand, and pulled the trigger, never breaking stride and running after her opponent. Gabe felt a bullet pierce his shoulder and his grip failed just in time for him to hit the deck. He rolled to the side clutching his wound, hidden from the possibility of more gunfire.

“Raise the sails! For the love of GOD raise the sails!” He yelled irritably as his crew was already doing so.

Dru grabbed a line and swung over the open water, hitting an alien deck with her feet, only too late realizing her ship was being left quite easily behind by the faster clipper.

“Leave it to a woman to shoot a man in the back, you filthy-ARRG!!” Gabe cursed as he pulled the round bullet from his wound. Luckily, it wasn’t too bad, but that didn’t change the fact that it hurt like hell.

“Watch your mouth, “ growled Dru as she raised her gun.

“Watch your neck.” Said a voice from behind as a blade slid in front of her throat.

“Ah. Grayes..” Gabriel rose to his feet.

“Take me back,” growled Dru.

“Pistol..” Gabe reached out a blood stained hand and waved his fingers.

Dru let it go and kicked it to him.

“Take me back,” she repeated.

“I don’t think so. I’m not facing your crew again today. Behave well and we’ll dump you off at Nuevo Gernona in three days. Behave badly.. and well.” Gabe looked over her shoulder at Grayes. “You can guess.”

Gabe walked to Grayes side and he removed the blade. Gabe slid his hands to Dru’s waist. She tensed but did not move for fear of the sword.

“What the hell do you think-”

“Don’t flatter yourself. I just won’t have you run around my ship armed. “ Gabe grumbled as his hands patted down her legs. “I seriously doubt you’d be offended by such touched anyway. Lift your leg.” He insisted.

She growled but did as he asked, already deciding that his death would be a tortuous one. Gabe removed her boot and pulled out the dagger and handed it to Grayes. He did the same with her other leg and found nothing.

“Okay. That’ll suffice. Grates, find her a sitter… I’m going to get Cookie to look at this.. “ he gestured to his wound and walked off.

Dru looked over the sea, by this time the Midnight Sail was a mere speck in the sea.

She’d really gotten herself into a bind this time.