Snippet #2671272

As Mr. Franklin, Mr. Donovan, and Mr. Carrington all scrambled over the the Illustrious the pair of ships and their crews were in an all out bloodbath. Despite the complete desolation they had suffered, the opposing crew still put up a dogged fight, showing their worth even if the battle was all but over.
The trio crashed into a group of survivors and quickly made short work of them before Carrington pointed towards the stairs leading below deck.

"You know what to do gentlemen!", he yelled over the din of battle, and shooting a man point-blank in the face as he finished.

As the man fell, Carrington quickly placed his pistol in its holster and took that of his slain opponent. He rushed off into the fray, a maniacal smile spreading across his face the deeper he went into the ferocious melee. The acrid stench of spent powder filled the air in an oppressive fog that sent a thrill through the insane navigator's body. He rushed into another group of battling Navy and crew, intercepting a blow aimed at the new Lieutenant, potentially saving her life without her knowledge.
They were all screaming and roaring like madmen, and Carrington was no different, blood filled his thoughts and murder fueled his tired body.
It must have been his strange way of moving, or perhaps some kind of natural talent, or just pure, dumb luck that kept him from harm as he weaved through the chaos. He would take a languid step forward and then lunge, stabbing his blade into an enemy and narrowly dodging the swing of an axe, or he'd pivot without rhyme or reason and empty his pistol into another, barely being missed by the shots of others.

By the time the captain called him up, Mr. Franklin, and Mr. Donovan were creeping from below deck, both sporting fresh wounds and spots of blood here and there and carrying a sack over their backs. They had standing orders from Carrington, typically with the captain's blessing, to ransack important cabins when prudent, just in case the ship capsized before they were able to properly plunder it. They were both burdened with functional clothes and boots, as well as anything of value they could reasonably carry, and more maps and charts to add to Carrington's collection.

The crowd of men that have moved up to witness the spectacle of the captain's triumph parted as Carrington made his way forward. He had been able to see most of what had occurred during melee.
"What do we do with a cowardly captain, What do we do with a cowardly captain, What do we do with a cowardly captain... Early in the morning?", he sang quietly, almost to himself.
As the crowd parted, it could be seen that the blood of the slain clung to him like a horrid, crimson shroud. Ten more pistols were added to those that were there before, his trophies for each man killed. In one hand he gripped one of his newly gotten pistols by it's barrel, the handle of which was dripping as much blood as he was, making it clear that it had been put to work as an impromptu club, and in the other he held a mangled head, loosely gripped by its hair.
The grim visage of Carrington made his way to stand before both captains, but he never took his eyes from their prisoner. He placed the pistol back into his belt and grabbed another, the one that Miss Thomspon had recieved and then given to their stowaways, and extended it back to Nathaniel.

"I believe you misplaced this, Sir.", he said quietly, choosing the words carefully.

After handing the gun off, he smiled once more at the enemy captain, noting his trembling, and placed the head in the man's lap. Captain Fotheringay began to shake even more, and his lips began to tremble, however, he stop in shock as Carrington placed a bloody finger to his lips.

"Shhhh, dignity, Captain, dignity."

All reserve the man had broke down and he began sobbing and crying for help. Carrington snapped his fingers and pointed towards the humiliating man and several of the crew held him while the navigator deftly bound his hands and feet and began hoisting him high, belying his apparent strength.
A few more notes came to mind as he pulled, and Carrington sang out, "String 'im up by 'is 'ands and 'is ankles, String 'im up by 'is 'ands and 'is ankles, String 'im up by 'is 'ands and 'is ankles... Early in the morn..."

With the last bar, he finished tying the captain down and turned, a sadistic, triumphant look in his eyes only to have the last word cut out by the sound of a gunshot. One of the enemy crew that had survived the assault and had apparently wanted a measure of revenge leaned again the mast, the smoke of the shot billowing about his form moments before the crew descended on him and slew him.
Carrington meanwhile, had a look on his face that was a mixture of mirth, confusion, and surprise. His hand had instinctively gone to the point of impact, and the force of the shot itself sent him reeling back and he tumbled over the side of the ship.

-------------------------------------------


Back aboard the Acheron, Mr. Franklin and Mr. Donovan were heading to the cabins when the door they were passing opened up, revealing the three stowaways that they had imprisoned. Mr. Donovan instantly reached for an axe at his side, but Mr. Franklin held him back, and instead handed him the sack he was carrying.

"If you'd be so kind as to take these to Mr. Carrington's cabin on your way to the Captain's, I would be appreciative.".

The grizzled pirate nodded his head, took the bag and left in response.

Mr. Franklin calmly drew his pistol as his friend departed and he smiled at the women. He might have been almost handsome despite his age, if it weren't for his mangled right eye and the spiderweb of scars surrounding it. But, he smiled at them nonetheless and said, "Now ladies, this puts me in a quandary. Y'see, the Captain wants ye off the ship, and ne'er said a thing about killin' ye. And I'm not much one fer killin' womenfolk. Leaves a darkness upon the soul that's hard to be rid of. So, I'll letcha go by without action, since the Captain doesn't want ya aboard regardless. But if it's a fight yer lookin' fer, ye might kill me, but one of ye will die with me." He emphasized his point by cocking his pistol and taking a step back to let them pass.

About the time, commotion was once again begin heard over the din of the waves.