Vengeance AU – stand alone
Notes: This was initially a 100 word
challenge to incorporate the words, "I thought you said...", but I
went a little long. So it's over 100, but shorter than my normal epics.
Thanks, Cin, for getting me to write
this. I needed a laugh.
Vengeance AU
Captain Vengeance continued his tale
to Rakehell, his First Lieutenant aboard Vengeance. "I swung, hit, and he
dropped his sword."
"What were your instructions
for the mast, Capitan?" Second Lieutenant Caballero called across the
deck.
"See if she can be salvaged. If
not, we'll have to replace it," the captain yelled back.
"He dropped his sword?"
Rakehell scoffed. "Did he surrender?"
"You remember that quivering
soldier?"
Both men laughed behind their masks.
"Capitan, we can save it,"
Caballero bellowed.
"Proceed," he called back.
"The next man, while you scared
the cook below decks, charged me at the rail. We were right by where the water
started lapping over the edges from the waves, the bow dipping for the sea, and
it came down to a choice. Feint, or sink."
"Feint or sink?" The sound
of a saw covered the last few words, forcing Rakehell to repeat them for
clarification. They continued their inspection of the bow, leaning forward to
examine the bowsprit.
"Capitan! Your orders?">
"I said feint or sink, didn't
I?" The captain said much louder to Rakehell.
"You did," Rakehell
allowed.
"Si, Capitan."
Captain Vengeance turned his head.
"Did Caballero want something?" They looked, but the Second
Lieutenant was issuing orders in his native language.
"Seems fine.So you feinted, and he sank."
The captain nodded. "Worked out well for me. Let's check the hull."
A day later, Rakehell and the
captain returned to Vengeance's cove to check over the last repairs from their
sea battle. Both men started.
"What the hell?" Captain
Vengeance yelled.
"Isn't that sissy
looking?"
Bright pink paint covered the main
mast. Both men put their backs into rowing out to Vengeance, climbing aboard
quickly.
"Who told you to paint the mast
pink?" Captain Vengeance asked before he even cleared the rail to set foot
on the deck.
"You did."
"When?"
"You were at the bowsprit. I
called for your orders."
"I said feint or sink."
"Oh." Caballero lowered
his head, bit his lip, and tried not to smile. "I thought you said paint
her pink. I wondered at it, but you are Capitan."
"Paint it black! I refused to
sail with a pink mast."
"Color sure inspires a
reaction, though," Rakehell remarked. "We wouldn't be mistaken for
Vengeance. More like a rich merchant's vessel. Could help us hide in plain
view."
"No."
"Not even one sail?"
Rakehell teased.
"No."
"These boys put a lot of work
into it. Just for them?"
"No."
"For
amusement?"
"No."
"You know any other word than
no, Captain?"
"Keelhaul." He clamped
onto his First Lieutenant with a hard grip, starting to drag him toward the
rail.
"Paint it black," Rakehell
immediately ordered, shaking the captain off of him.
Caballero laughed, issuing an
explanation and new orders to the amused crew.
THE END