Lucky Jack Aubrey
New Citizen/New Sailor
Every hand to his rope or gun; quick's the word and sharp's the action.
Posts: 12
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Post by Lucky Jack Aubrey on Aug 17, 2006 20:56:17 GMT -5
"On deck, there! Land ho!"
Aubrey's head snapped up from the map table at the lookout's cry. Striding to the door of his cabin, he paused only briefly as his steward, Preserved Killick, draped his uniform jacket over his shoulders and plopped his hat athwartships on his yellow hair.
Aubrey left the muttering and complaining Killick behind him as he strode through the hatch to the forecastle, acknowledging the officer of the watch's salute.
"Where away, Mr. Blakeney?"
"Sir!" the young eleven-year-old midshipman squeaked. "Slade reports land, two points to port."
Aubrey leveled his spyglass to the horizon, where he could dimly make out the hazy peaks of distant mountains.
"Tortuga, sir," said Pullings, the first officer, perusing a map. "Here, just north of Port-de-Paix. French territory, sir."
There were general snorts of contempt from the nearby crewmen.
Aubrey lowered his glass. "According to that last brig-of-war we intercepted, the Black Pearl was bound for here. Most likely to refit and hire a crew."
An ancient, gnarled sailor named Joe Plaice stepped to Aubrey's side, touching his knuckle to his forehead. "Axing yer pardon, sir. Ye'll more than likely find many pirate vessels in Tortuga 'sides tha Pearl. One'a tha biggest pirate havens in all tha Caribbean, it is."
"So it is," Aubrey murmered. He'd have to play this one carefully. It wouldn't do to go charging into the harbor guns a-blazing, that would bring the entire pirate fleet around his ears. His quarry was the Black Pearl, the rest would keep until later.
"Right. We'll hold position here, Mr. Pullings. Mr. Boyle! French colors, if you please. No need to spook our fox just yet."
The Surprise spilled the wind from her sails, and eased to a stop just over the horizon from Tortuga Harbor.
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Rhal
New Citizen/New Sailor
Posts: 10
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Post by Rhal on Aug 17, 2006 22:57:24 GMT -5
*Rhal folded his arms across his chest and cocked a brow as Aaron started to explain to him the personal relationship he'd had with Kat.* Never made one advancement huh? Gotta admit, mate, tha's hard ta believe with yer face. *He said, snorting again. Aaron was clean-cut and he'd noticed plenty of women looking at the guy hungrily...although it was something Rhal always tried his best to ignore.
He finished off his mug of rum as he listened, watching Aaron curiously as the story continued. Waving down a barmaiden and winking at her when she returned with his drink, he glanced over his shoulder at the darkened corner where Kat had dissapeared to. He glanced about it for a moment then slowly returned his green eyes back to Aaron and he smirked.* The lass sounds more like a damn man than a woman! Glad I didn' know 'er, wouldn' even wanna mess with that. *He said with a shake of his head as he took a swig of the cool rum.
He cocked a brow at the mention of how there had been talk of banishment and what not and then laughed a little.* Ah, there ya go, try an' kill someone 'o can kill you better. *He snorted with a roll of his eyes. Now he was glad he didn't go over to the woman and try to kill her...but he hoped that maybe someday if someone ever did manage to take her down that he was there to see it, if not do it himself, that would be one hell of an interesting sight!
As Aaron stated he was going to leave, Rhal simply tipped his head and gave him a half wave before downing the rest of his own rum.* Alrigh' mate. *He said, slamming the empty mug down the worn table. He gave his chest a couple of pounds and after belching rose from his seat and strolled out of the pub as well. Now that the story was over and his only company had left his mind reverted back to the woman from earlier in that morning.
Strolling the streets, cursing and mumbling to himself all the while he suddenly spotted the familiar golden locks out of the corner of his eye and spun swiftly to face the woman. She was across the way, sitting against a barrel with a couple other woman, talking animatedly about something. An oily smirk crossed his lips and his eyes flashed dangerously as he wrapped his hand firmly about the handle of his dagger and stalked swiftly towards the woman.*
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Post by Evelyn on Aug 17, 2006 23:30:23 GMT -5
Evelyn rolled her eyes at Eric's remark. "Put a sack over yer head? Don' give me any ideas love." She insisted with a smirk. Evelyn knew she fussed over him at times but she deemed she had a bloody right to at this point. They had spent enough time together. Besides, she had been the reason he was on this ship at at all at this point. Walking past the eyes and small scuffles going on in the streets she decided to keep her eyes on the road instead of glancing over at anyone so that nothing would be provoked.
The next sensation to tingle at her sense was the feeling of Eric's hand calmly placed upon the small of her back, a place it seemed to gravitate towards often. Then scanning the streets he finally picked out a tavern. "Why that one?" she asked suspiciously raising a brow turning to look the establishment over before stopping in her tracks. "An'...who says 'd wanna go straight into a tavern? 'm not THAT ready ta have a drink you know. I can bloody well control myself." She answered again a bit annoyed and crossing her arms.
There was a minute breeze that swept past them then, offering a small relief to the constant bombardment of moist warmth that clouded them while in the Caribbean and on land. On a ship there was usually some sort of breeze that remained for the most part constant. On land the weather grew that much more unbearable and it was already starting to cause her body to collect a small sheen of delicate sweat on her skin.
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Post by Saber & Kat Tompson on Aug 17, 2006 23:34:07 GMT -5
Saber sighed as she shut the door to the house. She hadn't shed a single tear, but her face was still downcast. She never knew why she insisted on returning to that place. It haunted her... the scream... the last thing she ever heard coming from her mother. Her mother, her beloved mother. With her bright green eyes, and red hair. She had been a quiet small woman, and Saber loved her as much as a child could love anything. Saber reckond that was one of the reasons she put up with Kat... because she looked like her. They both had inherited their mother's good looks, but Kat had gotten her mother's hair, eyes, and figure. While Saber had been given the dark locks, and blue eyes of her father. Her father... the man who had killed her mother. His treatment of the women in his family still clashed in Saber's mind. Kat was the only one he ever seemed to enjoy being around. Probably because she looked like Amelia, and had her father's brash way with things.
Saber sighed and rubbed her left arm. Her fingers traces the scars that criss crossed over her arm through the linen shirt. A painful reminder of her days working under her father in France. She sighed and looked at her hands. She imagined the blood stains on them... the blood of Shakes. She had killed him after a time, but that had only been after... after... well... she didn't want to think about what happened after she had left France.
Slowly she walked through Tortuga, ignoring everything and everyone. Men called to her, women sneered at her, hands touched her. But she shrugged it all off.
Kat watched as Aaron got to his feet, and left the bar. She saw him glance at the corner, and smirked. She could tell he couldnt see her... but she could see him. Then his sullen dark friend also left. Kat felt that age old curiosity swell in her. Just what was Aaron doing these days? And who was this new dark scoundral? She knew she had been gone long... but it wasn't in the habbit of 'the boss' to hire new people, when she knew he had pleanty to do his bidding.
"Well," She muttered "It hasnt killed me yet." Getting to her feet she began to follow the men out. She was careful about it, and appeard unobtrusive. When she got outside, she didnt see Aaron anywhere. He had gotten too much of a head start. But the dark one... he was still there. Swiftly, quietly, she bagn to follow. Sticking to shadows, and alleys, she moved at an alarming rate, keeping up with him, even though she was taking a much longer route.
Suddenly the man stopped, got a look on his face that boded no good, and began to walk swiftly towards a group of women. Kat prided herself on reading eyes, and the look the man had told her he was going for a kill, not pleasure. Well... Kat wasnt about to let a man get away with a kill in her old teritory without asking first. Without breaking stride, she curved around, and with perfect timing, stopped in front of the man. "And just what are ya doin' might I ask?" No smirk was on her face.
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Rhal
New Citizen/New Sailor
Posts: 10
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Post by Rhal on Aug 18, 2006 0:01:08 GMT -5
*Rhal had been so intently focused on the blonde woman that he hadn't noticed the red head from the tavern step in front of him until he had bumped into her and heard her spoke. Stopping suddenly he took a few steps back to look at her and then glarred at her a little. What in the hell was she doing getting in the middle of his buisness? He figured she already knew the answer to his question or she wouldn't have stepped in.
His hand tightened around the handle of his jagger and he itched to use it, no longer caring which woman he ended up using it on...perhaps he'd get lucky and get to use it on both.* It's none of yer buisness, now step outta my way. *He snarled, taking another step towards her. Remembering what Aaron had said he avoided give her a look over, but he was staring intently at her face, an angry scowl crossing his own expression. He didn't see how she could've done all those things the man had told him... she didn't exactly look intimidating...in fact he couldn't help but notice she was on the attractive side.
Still, it was only feeding his anger that she was getting in the way. Now the trio of women he had been coming towards was watching him curiously, trying to get a good glimpse of his face but he made certain to keep it hidden from them, knowing if the blonde saw it that she would flee. He'd finally found her, he wasn't going to let some bloody wench get in the way of what he was owed.*
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Post by Captain Morgan Barbossa on Aug 18, 2006 0:08:07 GMT -5
(Aubrey, you pwn me ) ::Barbossa sneered at Itami. The last thing he needed was to have this madman following him and Chris around the city. It was hard enough to find time alone with her on the ship, so he'd been hoping to make the most of their time in Tortuga while it lasted. Of course, that would be impossible now. He grumbled to himself as he none-too-gently removed Itami's hand from his shoulder::
"Just try ta stay in sight." ::Slipping an arm back around Christiana's waist, he began to lead her in the opposite direction down the street::
::She clung slightly to his jacket as they walked, keeping an ever wary eye on the Japanese man behind them. She didn't like the idea that he was coming with them, but what could she say? The only one Itami bothered to listen to was Barbossa, and clearly the pirate captain wasn't in the mood to argue with him just then::
::That man...he gave her chills every time she saw him. Something about his presense, about knowing the terrible things he was capable of, put her on edge. Ever since he'd joined their crew, her nerves had grown more frazzled with each passing day. The effort of avoiding him at all costs was really beginning to take its toll on her mind.... Though, having him in such close proximity now was most decidedly worse::
::She swallowed and leaned closer to Barbossa as she whispered,:: "Isn't there some way to get rid of him? Perhaps we can find the others and ditch him with Aaron...." ::Then, thinking it might help to offer some incentive, she squeezed his arm and added,:: "I'd like to spend some time with you...alone."
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Itami
New Citizen/New Sailor
"Your pain is my purpose...."
Posts: 27
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Post by Itami on Aug 18, 2006 0:46:43 GMT -5
::With a smile, Itami took a step back to allow Barbossa and Chris to pass. He fell into step not far behind them as they made they way down the street, letting his gaze wander over his surroundings::
::This was the first time he'd been to a place quite like this. As a child in Japan, he'd grown up in the country with his small family, far away from the activity of a town full of people. When his home was destroyed, and he began traveling with a band of marauders, he'd been amazed by the sheer size of the rest of the world. He'd been impressed by large cities like Paris, London, Richmond -- places literally buzzing with life. And yet, he'd gotten bored with them very quickly. The people in those cities were all the same; faceless, cold, and uninteresting. Like dolls. And he'd always preferred his toys warm-blooded::
::Which was what made Tortuga such a rare treasure for him. Here, everyone seemed to have a story to tell, and demons that followed them as clearly as their own shadows. Many, it seemed, came to the city already seeking death::
::Men with nothing left to live for...they were always the most fun. And Tortuga was full of them::
::Itami smiled inwardly as he let his gaze travel back to the couple in front of him. He caught Chris staring at him, and shot her a crooked-tooth grin before she turned away with a visible shudder. Ahh...dear Christiana. So many ghosts in her past, so many lies that haunted her steps. Since he'd come aboard their ship, she'd lived in constant fear of him, trying to hide behind Barbossa for protection. What was it that she feared so much? Was it his appearance, or his obsessions?::
::Or, perhaps, the thing that frightened her most was his ability to see through her masks, and peer directly into her vulnerable soul::
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Post by Captain Morgan Barbossa on Aug 18, 2006 1:05:23 GMT -5
(Sorry for the multiple posts, guys.)
::The faintest of blushes tinted Barbossa's cheeks as Chris spoke to him, and he pulled her a little closer against him:: "I think th't sounds like a wonderful idea, lass...." ::He needed to find Aaron, and he needed to find him soon. By now he'd likely have left the ship and would be wandering the town looking for some female company.... But that could be found anywhere in the city, and Tortuga wasn't exactly a small place. They'd need to split up if they wanted to find him::
"Chris, d'ye mind keepin' an eye on Itami while I go look fer th' others?" ::He knew she was less than fond of the Japanese man, but he would feel safer at least knowing someone was watching him. And besides, leaving Chris by herself in a place like Tortuga was foolish. He trusted Itami to be around her more than he trusted the lowlives that roamed the streets::
::She stared at him wide-eyed for a moment in shock, then gave a submissive bow of her head:: "A-aye.... Just hurry back...." ::She leaned up to kiss him softly, then released his jacket. Barbossa smiled::
"O' course, lass. Itami, be'ave yerself. I'll be back soon." ::With that, he turned and headed down a side street, taking a familiar shortcut to the center of the city. With any luck, he'd find Aaron, and possibly Rhal, in one of the pubs there....::
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Post by Saber & Kat Tompson on Aug 18, 2006 1:31:10 GMT -5
Saber wandered the street, weaving in and out of drunks and wenches, her mind a million miles away. It wasnt exactly the safest thing to be doing. Walking around without looking or caring where you were going. Especially not in Tortuga. Her hand had slipped from the hilt of her sword, and was nervously fingering the sliver, sword shaped pendant around her neck instead. She glanced down at it for a moment, and smiled even so slightly as she looked at it. Suddenly, she ran headlong into someone. She gave a small cry, and drawing back, almost fell backwards into the street. The man she had bumped into also almost fell, and grabbed her arm to support both of them.
Her eyes darted up to the face of the man, and her mind froze. With fear, or wonder she could not tell. Her mouth went dry, and her breath became short as she stared up into the face of the last person on earth she wanted to see "Morgan." It was a statment... not a question. There was no mistaking who it was.
Kat raised an eyebrow, her mouth staying in that tight thin line it usualy stayed in. "Well then... seeing as you are on my old hunting grounds, I'll make it my business." Her hands went to her hips, and she twisted her head slightly to pop her neck. This man, if he had been with Aaron probably knew of her. And the way he was careful to not give her any looks showed he knew a bit about her reputation as well. Still... he obviously underestimated her.
Lazily pulling two knives, seemingly from nowhere, she began to twirl them in her fingers. "So then... are you going to tell me your buisness with those women... or are ya not?"
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Aaron Fletcher
New Citizen/New Sailor
"Love and War... Preferably make lots of both."
Posts: 36
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Post by Aaron Fletcher on Aug 18, 2006 14:02:37 GMT -5
(I'm going to bring Nakia in for this one post... just because it will be really hysterical for me XD )
When Aaron left the pub, he began to wander the streets without a real destination in mind. He had said he was going to go find Barbossa, but he really didn't want to. After all, it wasnt as though the man really liked him. Chris didn't like him either... which was a real ego buster on his part. And besides, even if he did find Barbossa, Itami would like as not be with him, and Aaron did not relish the thought of seeing him again. That Japanese man gave him the creeps. It was as if he could look inside of you, and just know every little bit of you. Aaron twitched slightly as he probbed the thought of the man from his mind. Ugh... why think about him where there were so many more interesting things to think about?
Like women for example... His eyes wandered back and forth as he walked, looking at the various women who sat and walked along the streets. Many returned his glances, and he got a few winks, and blown kisses in the bargin... but none of them really appealed to him. Then he saw her. Tall, graceful... well endowed, her long black tresses dyed with blues and purples flowing gently over her bare shoulders. She stood, with her face turned away from him, leaning againts a wall. But anyone with a figure like that was worth effort on his part, so changing course slightly, he made his way over.
Walking up behind her, he placed a hand on her shoulder. The woman didnt start or jump... seemingly she was used to that kind of thing. She simply turned and smiled up at him. Suddenly her smile turned to a look of shock, then anger, and before Aaron could say or do anything, he was standing back a couple of feet holding a hand to his stinging cheek.
"Fletcher... I should have known you'd show back up."
"Nakia? What the... You're still hangin' around here?"
"Where else do you think I would be, you no good son-of-a..."
"Oh shut up. It's not my fault you made a deal with me father, and it turned out bad fer you!"
Nakia turned her back on him and folded her arms across her chest. Aaron sighed, and tried to get her to face him. "Look... I'm sorry about what happened, and I'm sorry about the whole Suerill mess last year... but can't we forget all that? Just fer righ' now?" he ran his hand through her hair, and got it slapped. "ouch hey!"
"You forget Mr. Flecther... I only have to obey men who are residents of Tortuga... you left, you are not a resident... I do not have to obey you." And with a huff, and a flick of her hair, she strode down the street.
Aaron rolled his eyes... he obviously wasn't going to get anywhere with that one... oh well... there were pleanty of fish in the sea. Moving back out into the middle of the street, he began his search again. He rubbed his hand and his face a little as he walked. One thing for sure... Nakia didn't like to be messed with.
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Post by Captain Morgan Barbossa on Aug 18, 2006 14:35:52 GMT -5
::Barbossa hurried down the street, eyes quickly scanning everyone he passed in hopes of catching a glimpse of that man's platinum blond hair. Aaron had to be close -- there was so no way someone like him could resist the call of this district....::
::With his gaze roving everywhere but ahead of him, it was no small wonder that a slender figure suddenly collided with his chest, sending both of them stumbling backwards. Reflexively, Barbossa shot out a hand to catch her wrist before she could fall, then sneered down at her:: "Lass, watch where ye be go-...!"
::He stopped short, eyes suddenly wide and fixed on the young woman's face, all thoughts of Chris or Itami or Aaron banished by shock. This girl...looked just like...but it couldn't be! What would she be doing back in Tortuga?::
::She whispered his name, and he felt his blood run cold::
"...Saber."
::After a moment, he realized with a start the he was still holding her wrist, and quickly dropped it with a frown:: "All these years, lass.... I was beginnin' ta think I'd never see ye again." ::To himself, he added, And I'd hoped ta keep it that way....::
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Post by Saber & Kat Tompson on Aug 18, 2006 15:06:53 GMT -5
Saber couldn't tear her eyes away from his face. Her eyes had a mixture of shock and fear in them. Barbossa and Jack had long been enemies, and to the best of her knowledge, she had been the only to ever swear allegence to both of them, albet at different times in her life. She thanked her lucky stars she was alone, so that none of the crew would discover her secret, but then a thought hit her. She was alone... with a man she had left and betrayed. A man she had tried to kill at least once before in her life. She gulped slightly... what would he do to her?
She stumbled back a few steps as he dropped her arm. She noticed his frown, and took it as a bad sign. She finally dropped her eyes, and looked at the ground, her mind fumbling for words, and her hand fumbling for the hilt of her knife... merely a self defence procaution."Aye... I thought I wouldn't be seein' you around either." She said biting her lip, and not making eye contact. How was she going to get out of this? Should she just turn and run? What if he tried to kill her? He certainly had the right to.
Saber licked her lips, and took a hesitant glance up at his face. he was still frowning. Oh why oh why did he have to show up now? He was the last person on earth she could ever possibly want to see... and yet... it was good to see him. Saber thought back to her dreams of the night before... this had not been in them. Well at least what had been in them hadn't come to pass, and she said a silent prayer of thanks for that. But still how to get away? "Mor... Barbossa... I... I just..." What to say to the man you used to love, and left? "It's... I'm sorry... please..." She stummbled and stuttered on her words.
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Itami
New Citizen/New Sailor
"Your pain is my purpose...."
Posts: 27
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Post by Itami on Aug 18, 2006 16:02:50 GMT -5
::Itami scowled slightly as Barbossa spoke to him. 'Behave'? Despite what his captain and crew might think, he was not, in fact, a child. He did not need a babysitter, nor did he need to be looked down upon by the likes of this man, or any other. Certainly assigning someone so weak as young Christiana was nothing short of an insult!::
::And yet, for now, he would settle for a cold nod and once again allow his captain to believe he'd won::
::With a dark scowl, he watched as Barbossa rushed off down a side street, leaving him alone with the young woman. She was staring hard at him, trying to disguise her fear with false confidence -- Itami could see right through her bluff. He always could::
"It would seem we're alone now. Shall we play a game to pass the time...?" ::His scowl broke into a dark grin, his crooked teeth flashing slightly in the mid-day light::
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Post by Captain Morgan Barbossa on Aug 19, 2006 22:45:23 GMT -5
~Bossa
::Barbossa was silent for a long while. The shock of, quite literally, running into Saber was threatening to dig up painful memories he thought he'd buried for good long ago. But now, staring down into her eyes -- so full of hate, and most likely fear -- he couldn't help but picture her eight years younger::
::The last time he'd seen her, she'd given him a look very much like this. At once, it had both melted his heart, and steeled it against ever feeling again. He'd loved her once...he'd cared for her more than he'd ever cared for anything else in his life. But, when she'd looked at him with all that fear and uncertaintly welling in her eyes, he'd known she could never feel the same way for him. After that night...she'd left without a word....::
::He'd never even found out what'd he'd done to hurt her::
"Ye...don' have ta apologize, lass." ::He wasn't sure why he was saying that -- did he even mean it?:: "It does me good ta see ye again...."
::Deep down, he knew that was a lie, as well. But for now, at least seeing her alive came as something of a relief::
~Chris
::Christiana swallowed hard, trying her best not to meet Itami's gaze. Alone with him for one minute, and she was already wishing Barbossa would come back....::
"What...kind of game?" ::she asked, voice sounding oddly high-pitched and strained. She didn't like where this conversation was going. Why couldn't that damned madman have just stayed quiet?!::
::Fighting the urge to reach for her knife, Chris took a wary step backwards in the direction Barbossa had gone. If anything were to happen -- and from the look on Itami's face, it was a high possibility -- she would at least have a running start::
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Post by Saber & Kat Tompson on Aug 19, 2006 23:04:59 GMT -5
Saber took another hesitant glance up at Barbossa, he wasn't really frowning anymore, and his words weren't ones of hate. Although knowing him as well as she did, she could tell he didnt mean a thing he was saying. But at least he didn't yell at her, or demand to know what had happened to her, or... try to kill her. She gulped a little, and shook her head. "Morgan... I mean... Captain... Barbossa... you... I ..." her mind couldn't take this... memory after memory flashed in front of her eyes. The months she had spent with him, the time they had shared, the night she had left. Why had she left? She had still loved him... but she couldnt risk her life... or the life she had carried inside of her with the whim and fancy of a dangerous man.
She couldnt tell him. She could never tell him about Cate. If he found out... what would he do? He had always made it plain and clear that he wasn't fond of children. Granted... Cate was gone now... dead for all Saber knew. But if he discovered thats why she left, would he be angry? Would he be confused? What would happen. So instead she quickly looked slightly frightened up into his eyes, let her hand close on the hilt of her dagger, and took a hesitant step backwards. She was ready to run if need be... she couldnt be seen with him... she just couldnt!
Not after all the years she had spent gaining the respect and confidence of the crew! And Kat! what would Kat say? If Kat was to show up she would probably falsly accuse Barbossa for trying to accost her or kidnap her or somthing, and try to kill him... and if Kat found out the truth... Saber didn't put it past her sister to attempt to kill her as well... or at least expose her and her past to the rest of the crew... her eyes darted from side to side, looking to see if anyone was about, and to see which would be the best way to run if need be. She glanced back up at Barbossa "well... I... it was good to see you.. but... I probably should be going." She took another step backwards.
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