Death & Dues (Part 2)
It had only been three weeks and the whole damn town of Bilgewater was turning on itself like a school of razorfish trapped in a net. Gang turned on gang, Crew against crew, nothing was safe from the relentless fight for control of Bilgewater. And to think it all was going so well in her head. Miss Fortune, or "Captain" Fortune as she now called herself, sat in the captains cabin of her new ship, which was now being peppered by pistol and cannon fire. The Gangs planned on taking her ship as a sign of their superiority in hopes of gaining control of Bilgewater, Sadly for them Captain Fortune and her men where better equipped for the fight that had been lasting longer then she had hoped. It all was so well planned, she killed Gangplank, the town saw HER as leader and fell in line, she runs Bilgewater and made it a better place, Simple! But things didn't go as she planned, in fact, they didn't even come close. Not long after she destroyed Gangplanks ship "The Dead Pool" she set to work in cutting down any of those still loyal to Gangplank. It went as well as she hoped, she finished off Gangplanks control and things seemed to finally look clear for her to fit into her new role as leader. No more then three days later, a local Pub was blasted to splinters, the day after, a fire broke out in the Slaughter Docks, and it just kept getting worse. Miss Fortune forgot the BIGGEST problem with Gangplank being leader of a town full of law breaking criminals, without Gangplank there was no one they feared, no one to keep them in line, no one to stop them. And thus, Bilgewater went from hell hole, to hell itself. Miss Fortune sat in her cabin listening to the gunfire echoing through the town and outside the ship, wondering how long before a shot came flying through her window. The door of her cabin burst open, it was Rafen, he had a shot to his right shoulder but it looked like he could have cared less at the moment.
"Ma'am, we have pushed off the Hooks, for now at least"
The Hooks, Fortune thought she had rid the town of them when this all started, but as it turned out, the Hooks could spawn like rats if left unchecked for to long.
"Whats the status of my ship?" she said not looking up from her desk, her voice cold, tired and through gritted teeth.
"Damage, but sea worthy"
The next thing she asked was one she had asked half a million times before. "...Any word on the body?"
Rafen sighed and gritted his teeth, the pain in his shoulder finally coming to bare.
"No ma'am, as I said before, we haven't found anything..."
"And why is THAT?" she said, her temper and lack of sleep becoming quite evident.
"Cuz I have been keepin' your Ship afloat, 'Captain' Fortune" he growled, Fortune had started this corps hunt weeks ago, and wouldn't let anybody stop looking for the dead body of Gangplank.
Miss Fortune sat back in her chair and then slammed a fist on the desk. "why is there no BODY?!" she shouted or of frustration.
Rafen just looked at her, she was no longer the Miss Fortune he knew anymore, she was someone else, a madwoman on a crusade for control of a uncontrollable city of Murderers, Thieves, Gamblers and of course Pirates. As much as he wanted her to be that kind of Captain, he knew she didn't have the skills to do so. She was a MASTER manipulator, but when it came to keeping this city in line, only one man managed to find the answer, and that answer was "Fear" of the purest kind.
"Ma'am...with all do respect, I really should get back to the crew, keep them ready for the next gang that shows up"
Fortune simply turned her chair to look outside "alright, and get your shoulder checked...don't want it getting infected"
Rafen nodded and responded "Ay ma'am" and then closed the door behind him.
As the door closed the sudden close sucked the sea breeze right out of the room, sucking the life out of the candle next to her.
"Dammit" she cursed. She then got up to grab the candle...but stopped...she wasn't alone in the cabin...someone was here. She grabbed her pistol Shock and brought it up and clicked the hammer to prime it, Awe was in the holster on the chair so she had her backup. She lit a match and slowly touched it to the candle, the candle slowly brought light back into the room...and her feeling was right, she wasn't alone. Standing before her was a figure that stood bigger then any man she had ever seen, and as the light hit him, she knew it wasn't a man. His slippery skin glistened in the candle light, his eyes glowed gold, his body was so wide she questioned how he even got in the door. Knowing him and the legends behind him he probably didn't even use the door. His grin was wide, filled with jagged teeth and a long slippery wet sickening tongue, which he used to lick his lips lewdly at her. He was dressed with a Vest and a Black Vest Coat and atop his head was a black top hat almost comically to small for his head, a hook fitted in its collar. She knew who he was, it was the Legendary River King, Tahm Kench.
"WELL I do declare, Tis a most Gracious Honoa' to meet the new Leada' of Bilgewater Miss 'Captain' Fortune" he said his smile getting even bigger in what seemed to be impossible.
Fortunes face was filled with both Fear and Anger, she had no wish to have ANYTHING to do with Tahm, and at the same time he wanted to blow that smug disgusting smile of his face.
"What the hell do YOU want Tahm?" Shocks Barrel never left Tahms body.
Tahm Laughed, his stomach jiggling with an unpleasant sound of sloshing liquid and possibly something he had for dinner tonight, some poor soul most likely.
"Why I have come to simply give my Regards, After all you have done such a Wonderful job...what is it...Sprusin' up the place?"
His grin was the most unsettling thing she had ever seen. She felt as though it was the last grin most men would ever see.
"I mean miss Fortune look at what a GREAT job you've done, everybody in Bilgewata' is etha killing or end up bein' the latta" He walked to the left of the desk, Fortune moved to the to the left as well to keep as much room between her and Tahm.
"Simply amazin' what you've done Captain, Simply...mmmm Delicious..." a drop of drool hit the flood with a sickening "splot". Tahm always hungered for the despair of humans, this must have been his equivalent of an all you can eat buffet.
"You still haven't told me why your here, in MY cabin, and I'm pretty sure its not to 'Lavish' me with your honeyed words"
"Ohhhhh not Lavish Miss Fortune...more like Baste" his gaze fell from the window to her and his tongue slipped out of his mouth to lick his lips of any drool he had hanging. He then moved back to the front of the desk, Miss Fortune returned to where she once stood aswell, she got to see the spot of drool Tahm dropped on the deck, she was disgusted at how Big it was, almost like a puddle from just one drop.
"Word around the dock says you're still lookin' for the body of the late Captain Gangplank"
Now he was getting to it, Fortune looked him up and down, not giving him any kind of read on her. "Let me guess, You had it for Lunch, right?"
Tahm let out a HUGE belly laugh, a laugh so hard that his tongue fell out of his mouth. "No no dear, I simply have come to lend my aid is all"
Miss Fortune kept her stone faced persona. "Go on..."
"Well ya see Captain, I might have a good idea of WHERE to find the body of Gangplank"
Fortunes face slowly softened, this might be her chance to-
"Course...nothin' I EVER do I is Free"
-And THERE it was, Tahm was up to his old tricks again, he was looking to make a deal with her, and if ANYONE in Bilgewater knew anything about Tahm, is that a Deal with Tahm is the worst kind of deal to ever make. No Matter HOW good the deal is, it will Always end with sadness and Pain, his Favorite Treat. He gaze returned to its steel cold response, this was already a bad idea.
"Now Miss Captain, I can Take you to Gangplanks body...that is...if your willin' to make a Deal with me"
Fortune already knew how this would work, it was gonna go one of two ways. One, Tahm takes her to Gangplanks body, he IS alive and well, and just before she can react, her worst fear comes true, and Gangplank guts her then guns her down, the proverbial "death from the Grave" or Two, Tahm takes her to Gangplanks body, he is dead, she brings his body back for all to see and demands that they fall in line and respect her rule. they chose instead to take her down and kill her in a mob. no matter what path she picked, Tahm would find a way to pick the worst path to travel.
"I want you to take your deal, stick it in your bottomless Fish Sticking Guts, and get the Hell off my ship, NOW!" She dropped the candle on the desk and then grabbed Awe and took aim with Shock already set to fire.
Tahm didn't even flinch, his smile didn't even twitch. "I see that ma Reputation Proceeds me, how Very Displeasin'"
Miss Fortune growled "I'm surprised you even came here, why would I make a deal with You?"
"Cuz your Desperate Darlin'" His voice was deep and pleased.
Fortunes face felt a ping of truth behind his words, she WAS desperate, but not THAT desperate. "Get Out Tahm"
Tahm sighed, his Smile finally faded and his jagged teeth stopped shining in the candle light. "Well, no sense in stayin' where I am not Wanted" He took the hat off his head, twirled it on one finger, caught it, then slowly bowed again to Miss Fortune. "Until next time 'Captain' enjoy the title...while it lasts that is" his laughed one last time before the candle flicked and then, in a split second, as the candle blinked, Fortune too Blinked, and Tahm was gone, as quickly as he had appeared. Miss Fortune stood there, her hands finally shaking from the encounter. Not more then a second later, the ship suddenly Slammed to the left, tossing Fortune to the ground.
"The hell?!"
Rafen burst through the door again, this time his arm was bandaged up and his shoulder was as good as knew. "Captain! we've just been broadsided!"
"By Who Rafun?" She asked grabbed Shock and her hat off the desk.
"Look like the Hooks again Ma'am, they have managed to shanghai a ship from the docks and fit it for combat, she be barin' down on us with cannons at the ready, the crew is scramblin' to respond to the attack, we need you at the helm Ma'am!"
Miss Fortune looked outside and saw the glow of the ship as she started making a pass "Ready the men and be set for boarding parties, I'll be on deck as soon as I get my guns loaded"
"Ay Ma'am!" he then slammed the door, Fortune could hear him shouting orders as soon as he left.
As she took Awe into her hands she saw a reflection of herself in the window, what she saw was herself...but also someone else. She wasn't the same person she was before, she was a completely different person now. As she saw the person in the window she looked herself in the eye and as she felt the ship take a blow from a cannon she whispered.
"Was it wroth it?"
The Men could hear the Cannons from where they were. Some laughed and joked at how things REALLY had gone downhill since they last docked, some questioned if taking control of Bilgewater was too far gone, but the rest where to scared of the swamp around them to even care about Bilgewater and the state it was in.
Suddenly they heard a rustling from the bushes, the men took to the bushes and took aim. Out stepped a Man with a new Metal robotic arm. The trip to get his new arm was a risk worthy of taking. He walked past his men, grabbed a crate and then sat down on it.
"Captain Gangplank...you look...uhhhh" a crewmen started.
Gangplank looked at the man, the man saw Gangplanks gaze and his words suddenly stopped dead and he kept his mouth shut.
"Whats the word?" Gangplank said grabbing an Orange.
"It Seems that Bilgewater is caught up in Gang wars, all fighting for control now that they think your gone sir"
Gangplank simply huffed "Looks like Little Miss Fortune wasn't able to meet the expectations"
The crew laughed, but Gangplank didn't even smile, his knew arm stung like hell fire, but he saw a silver lining in all this. This new arm of his could be a great way to keep men inline...and crushing skulls.
Suddenly the crew heard another rustling in the bushes, a men took aim.
"Stand down men" Gangplank ordered "We are Guests here, it be impolite to try and kill are host"
The men where confused, but slowly put down their weapons.
"Apologies, we just got back from Noxus, not exactly a trip to a sunny isle if ya catch my meaning"
Out of the bushes stepped the Huge Fish like River King, Tahm Kench.
"Ahhh Gangplank, its Been Far Too Long"
Gangplank smirked at him "Likewise ya great Catfish"
"Word has it you're Dead Captain"
Gangplank took a bite of his freshly peeled orange "The Shadow Isles have yet to lay claim to my soul devil fish"
Tahm laughed, "As if you'ed go without a fight"
Gangplank nodded "So whats the word on MY town?"
"You mean besides its new leader is as Scary as a wet Kitten?"
Gnagplank smiled, that was the best thing he heard all day. "Ay, besides that...but still worth notin'"
Tahm Smirked, his jagged teeth dripping with drool. "Filled with sadness and Despair, in Ma opinion, Absolute Paradise"
Gangplank got up and cracked the gears in robotic knuckles. "Alright boys...its time to go get back MY Town"
The men let out a might Cheer.
Tahm smirked and looked at Gangplank "Hey Captain, can you Humbly do me a Favor?"
Gangplank turned to meet Tahm and waited for the request "what be that?"
Tahm Kench smiled a huge evil smile. "Make this the worse day of Miss Fortunes life"
Gangplank smiled "...I Plan on it..."
-The End-