Daniel stepped with purpose as he crossed the upper gun deck, supplies in hand. He felt poorly for his most recent patient, a powder monkey had badly injured their hand. Of course he did what he could to salvage it but with the state of the ship the wound would likely become infected and the good doctor would have to amputate. At least there was a good amount of rum aboard this Man of War, it dulls the bite of an amputation. While walking away he could overhear the murmurs of comfort another monkey tried to provide. It yanked on his heart strings but there was nothing else he could do to help, so Daniel made his way to his domain on the orlop deck.

It was a nice, fairly safe place on the second last deck of the sturdy vessel. He had no other company than his more critical patients, cargo and the odd prisoner tossed into the hold. His captain did not take kindly to having extra mouths to feed so if he wasn't required to have one he didn't take one. As part of the crew, Daniel was fitted with a cutlass made of strong metal. It had served it's previous owner well from the stories he heard, though no-one spoke of how the man came to meet his death. From the way this ship was run, Daniel could only assume that the sailor had not met God or the Devil but Davy Jones instead. He hated this place.

"Mind yer step down 'ere." a familiar voice called to him. Danial had descended the stairs only a flight before running into a recurrent patient.

"an' why is that mayhap?" Daniel responded, stepping off of the stairs to allow other sailors passing.

"A She-devil, demon o' shadows be on yer deck." He responded in his gruff tone from decades of salt and sea. Daniel recalled the ship that their crew had just successfully plundered and skirted away from. A bounty is what the captain was after and he did well, they managed to secure the woman. Daniel had yet to see her but he certainly herd her. As soon as the men had un-gagged her for the captain to speak with her she spat curses and insults mightier than any blade. He had heard rumors of the woman as he tended to the wounded, making his description of he seem accurate.

"Aye, as long as she be silent an' not aiming to slit me throat I mayhap survive." Daniel jested back. His crew member did not look pleased but did not say otherwise. No-one had real friends here and that simple courtesy warning was as close as it got. Still, the hold was on the opposite side of the ship with mounds of cargo between it and his hammock. Daniel descended the stairs and quickly arrived at his station. Moving his cutlass out of the way he sat in the hammock. The wench seemed interesting but he knew better than to mess with the captain's 'guest'. After all, the captain always had his way first with the ladies, not like Daniel himself ever touched a woman in the wrong manner. If she did not want any of what he had then so be it. Daniel just shut his eyes for a quick stolen nap when he heard heavy boots descending the stairs. Jumping up he snapped to attention.

"Even' cap'n." He remarked, careful not to meet the ruthless man's gaze.

"Attend to the prisoner. She be makin' the deck a mess."

"Aye cap'n." He responded, turning to grab any necessary supplies before he made his way. He didn't know what kind of a mess she was making be it feminine, bloody wound or illness. For his sake he prayed it was not illness.

Upon retrieving any necessary supplies he made his way to the hold.

Lady Avery Shade hung on the main deck on the mast, her eyes closed as she heard the water hitting the old wood of the ship she was held on. The chains that held her to the mast cut into her tanned skin, wet and dried blood around her lower arms. She was weak and sick, but the fire burning in her soul kept her from giving into these monsters. She was the captain of the ship ShadowStrike. A childlike name she knew, but she had been a child when she named it. Her father let her name his new ship as a gift for her, telling her it would be hers one day. And hers it still was.

The pirates who had taken her wanted to know where the Strike was, but she hadn't spoken a word since they had found her in the small village she was visiting and took her, Shade going with them willingly as long as they didn't hurt the people there. When one of the men tried to break the deal by taking a woman to rape her, Shade pulled a saber free and ran him through, the pirates unable to stop her let alone move. So now she hung on the mast, feverish, wounded and beaten and starving...but still silent.

When she had been brought to the captain gagged he asked her again where her ship and crew were. Then he ungagged her and she called him a list of names that a dumb man wouldn't even begin to understand. So he had her taken to the deck and beaten to get her to talk. She remained silent as the men went on beating her, one even tried to take a feel but she kneed him hard in the jewels causing him to fall back and the crew laughed at him.

Finally after a few hours of this the captain came up and said "Are you ready to talk yet, wench?" Avery looked up at him, her bright eyes still holding a fire within them. She said "I have a few more choice words to call you if that's what you mean..." He hit her hard across the face then said "With all this blood she'll bleed to death before we get any answers...I'm fetch the doctor and have him clean her up...do not unchain her...if the rumors about her are true..." He vanished and Avery lowered her head, spitting up blood.

After a bit she heard steps and sighed. "If your here to beat me again, just make it fast...I'm trying to sleep..." She coughed again, her fever getting worse.

"Calm yer storm Miss Shadows, the cap'n sent me t' attend t' ye." Daniel spoke with smooth confidence. Despite the dislike he held for his captain and the rules of the vessel, he was no fool to disobey. She didn't look well at all, so much for the hellfire she was to hold. He was mindful of her regardless. To hold up against his captain for so long was almost unheard of. Daniel ever so slightly let out a tired sigh, half to feign dominance to keep himself safe and the other half to express his drained state. His patience had run thin from handling the rest of the crew. Yet, it was sad to him to see anyone so broken and sickly. "Yer gonna 'ave t' trust me." he said, not taking his eyes off her for a moment. While still a way he crouched down to lay out his tools and remedies. He then sat with his kit rolled out in front of him, deciding to start with a conversation. It was easier to teat someone who had a shred of trust than to force aid.

"What ales ye Miss Shadows?" He asked, crossing his arms. "Aside f'rm the cuts an' bruises." He wanted to know exactly what kind of illness he was dealing with here. He wanted her symptoms since it looked like a good shot of rum wasn't going to do the trick on it's own. While sitting there he thoroughly looked her over, allowing his eyes to wander. First, Daniel's eyes were caught on the colour of her hair in the lamplight. It was like that of all the ships his captain had set ablaze. Then he evaluated her face. She looked somewhat malnourished with little colour. The re were also bruises, a black eye and a few small cuts from goodness knows what. Her eyes, though tired, still held fire. Daniel's gaze began to travel down the rest of her body, noting her curvy structure as well as any abrasions or tender areas form the way she had positioned herself. He meant no disrespect but rather evaluated her with a professional manner sprinkled with noted attributes.

Avery looked up at him and then said weakly "Just a fever from infected wounds...nothing a cleaning won't fix...I'm suprise this crew has a doctor...you a blood lusting killer like the rest of them..." She flinched in pain, her arms killing her.

"If you won;t mind...could you just loosen the chains? I can't feel my arms and I might need them later in life...don't worry, I won't eat you" She smiled weakly

A few miles away Bane Wolfgang was at the helm, looking out at the water. He was not liking his captain's plan at all. He muttered to himself "This is nuts...no black piece is worth this..." He looked at the chart next to him and then said "We should catch up with the Man of War by tomorrow...hopefully the captain can last that long..."

Daniel watched her every move closely.

"I only take a life if that life be aiming t' take mine own." He responded curtly. It was certainly a part of the job he didn't like. He had valor once, as a part of the king's navy. They were taught many good and many corrupt things. He wouldn't have known it at the time, being on the other side of the fence has a tendency to put many things into perspective. He lived by a dirty code now, he understood its purpose but hated the grime that accompanied it.

"An' 'bout yer bonds, I been given orders not t' touch 'em. C'n treat an'thin' else an' 'round 'em though." Daniel planned to do as much as he could for the woman. Standing up now he moved close to her, all the while keeping his hands in her field of vision. "I'm gon' t' take a good look at 'ese wounds." he articulated. He bent down now and gently ran his hands around the wounds, pressing around and on them to evaluate her pain. He had one of her guards bring a lamp close so he could get a good look at the colour of the wounds and flesh.

"Ye be in luck. I think I c'n help mayhap." Daniel quickly moved back to his pack and separated what he would need while sending another guard off to fetch the rest of the supplies he would need. "I'm gon' clean ye up, sew a few o' yer wounds close an' bandage ye up. Don' cast a care at the fever either, ye'll be 'right soon enough." The guard returned with the supplies he needed.

"'ere, drink this." he said, uncorking a cloudy bottle with bronze liquid in it. "t' dull the pain." He brought the mouth of the bottle to her lips and awaited for her to accept it or pull away.

She pulled back, shaking her head. "Can't risk it...I need my head...I can handle any pain that dirt bag dishes out...but you doctor...you interest me. How did a gentle soul like you end up with blood thirsty brutes like these?" She nodded to her guard. She flinched as he touched her wounds but kept her mouth shut. She just had to last till morning and her crew would be here to make these monsters pay for what they had done. But she couldn't let on the so near attack so she lowered her head, closing her eyes.

Then she muttered "Bane...please hurry..."

on the ShadowStrike Bane growled softly. Scarlet, the ships cook, was standing by him and asked "You alright, Bane?" He nodded and muttered "I can sense the captain...she needs us..." He turned to the one at the helm and said "Can we get more from the sails?"

"'ave it yer way." Daniel said, somewhat solemnly putting the cork in that bottle and putting it down. He took a stone bowl and medium sized stone, putting herbs into it and grinding them up. This set, though old was his only prized possession. It allowed him to press into the herbs without splitting the bowl or loosing any of the herb's potency. "That be a tale I don't tell lightly." He said, still facing her and grinding away, occasionally adding more herbs as he went. He took a taller bottle with clear liquid in it, another uncommon prize. He added a little to the ground plants and continued to mix it. He always found the methodology of making a salve to be relaxing. Daniel often found it easy to loose himself in his work, the only think he sort of enjoyed on the entire vessel. He placed the bow of completed spread on the ground.

"'ere. If ye wan' t' keep yer head an' not 'ave a rough time, take this." He said, cutting a small piece of a kind of treated root and bringing it to her mouth. "Tis ginger, calms the belly." In his other hand he had a small piece of wood, slightly rough with splinters and teeth marks. He offered it to her as well.

She bit into the ginger, knowing the root well from Scarlet. Then she took the wood piece and bit into it, ready for the pain about to come. Thru the wood she asked "You aren't happy here then I take it? By my guess you were forces to work on this ship?" She closed her eyes as he started to put the medicine on her wounds, pain screaming from every open wound.

Bane pulled up his scope and looked east, seeing a ship a few miles away. He smiled and closed the scope saying "We are coming for you captain...just hang on a little longer...just a little longer..."

Daniel's hands were skillful though a bit rough. He worked as fast as he could, trying to inflict as little pain as possible. He re-opened what he could to set it right, digging away any crusted puss or debris. Daniel drizzled the clear alcohol in the deepest and most infected wounds with a rag, being careful to clear away blood as puss as he went. He pressed and spread the salve into and around the immediate area of her wounds, wrapping them in fairly clean cloth. He tied each knot, spread just enough salve with care and purpose. The wounds that needed a stitch or two were swiftly sewn up, though sure to leave a nice scar.

"I get by." Daniel said simply, answering her question as a passing comment. Yes, he hated it here. No, this was not his first choice of where he wanted to be and it never was. A ship was not his home despite all the years he had spent aboard one. His answer was in fact as much the simple truth as it was vaguely flippant. He continued to work on her wounds, beads of sweat slipping down his neck. He knew better than to voice his opinion with two loyal crewmen here supervising the two. She was also a strange pirate to him, how could he trust her with such potentially devastating information?

"Almost done Miss Shadows." he said, moving to less severe areas of injury. "th' worst is over." He was glad he was done under the chains, relieved that he was able to work in that area without taking off the bonds. It took quite a bit of work and shimmying, his own hands cut from the metal. He could only imagine what he put her through. Finally he came to the end of his work, wiping the last bit of salve just under her eye where she had bruised and one of the captain's rings had split her skin.

"'ere ye go, a fine job." Daniel was pleased with his work, marking her paled face. "I did warn ye 'bout th' pain." He said, about as much of an apology as he could comfortably say in front of other crewmen. Daniel placed his hand open in front of her mouth for her to spit the small piece of wood into. He wouldn't have been surprised if it had been badly splintered from her teeth. The woman could hiss. "Ye may want t' spit." he suggested, meaning for her to be careful not to swallow any splinters from the wood.

Avery spit the wood out, gathering what spit in her mouth she could and spit at the feet of one of the guards. She smiled weakly and said "A present from me to you..." She flinched and then looked into the doctors eyes for the first time. She read him like a book as he cleaned up. He hated it here. He didn't belong. This made her smirk a little. Two peas in a pod they were. Then she frowned, knowing the attack that would be coming in hours. She looked at the doctor and knew she couldn't let him die in a place he hated. She moved her leg slightly so that when he moved he would trip over it.

When he did he landed right on top of her, his ear by her mouth. When he started to say sorry she said quietly "Say nothing just listen. When you hear the alarm bell ring and the first cannon hit this ship, you must come to me as fast as you can. I won't let you get hurt alright? Nod if you understand"

Against his will, Daniel smirked and her snide remark towards the guards. The woman certainly had fire in her, but hellfire? She had been calm with him thus far but who was to say that things couldn't change.

Daniel landed on top of her with a thud. He cursed himself for being careless and potentially undoing the work he just did. As she spoke he hesitated but nodded softly against her skin before pushing himself up off her.

"Stupid, girl." he growled, looking his work over. Her words spread though him like ice. The ship was to be attacked, and if his captain found out he knew then his life would end right there. He should tell the captain but, she trusted him enough to tell him. That in and of itself stumped his mind. He did not want to be used, he was no pawn to be toyed with. It was the strain underneath her urgent tone that made him think her intentions may not be all that cruel. He wasn't sure, he couldn't act now. Daniel decided to play it off.

"Back 'n th' hold wi' 'er." He instructed, standing. To his relief, his work had held up but no doubt caused her pain. Daniel packed up his things to return to his side of the ship. All the while he pondered what to do with this new information.

The guards pulled her down, making her sigh. Hopefully he would take her warning. After all, if she really wanted to be free it wouldn't take much...

Hours later Avery hung in the brig, taking deep breaths. She could tell whatever the doctor had done had helped a bit. She could move better now, her hands not limp from lack of blood flow. She looked at the porthole and muttered "Bane...please be quick my friend..."

The ShadowStrike was only a few yards behind the Man of War, and Bane was grinning brightly. "Almost there, Captain...they haven't even seen us yet...shall we knock on the door?" The crew yelled and Scarlet said "I'll get the medbay prepped...which I will remind you all that I am not a doctor. We need a new one soon...your all lucky I can patch you fools up..." Bane sighed, knowing Scarlet was right. But he needed to get his captain back first. He waited till they were right behind the ship then said "Open fire men!" The crew sent cannons flying, hitting the Man of War on the deck.

Avery heard the crash and smiled weakly. "That's my crew...come and fetch boys..."

Daniel had been checking his stock when the the entire vessel tipped with with an impact. He heard the crew scurry around, haste being maid to the gunning and poop decks.

"What th' bloody hell was 'at!?" he cursed, with only himself to hear it. He grabbed the pre-arranged bundle of herbs he had made for when fights came to the ship among other things, stuffing them in a rather large leather bag. It was soft with use but stained with salt. Slinging it over his body with one hand he reached for his pistol with the other, he had placed it on a nearby crate. Shoving it into his holster he flew up the well worn stairs. As he reached the upper gun deck, the Sailing Master's Mate called out to him.

"Daniel, the cap'n wants ye t' relieve the sailors watchin' the prisoner. We need the man pow'r more than a healer." The young man called. Daniel nodded in response and rather quickly made haste to the hold. Having to cross the poop deck, he saw that a large, dark vessel was in hot pursuit of their man of war 'Berenice'. Daniel practically slid down the stairs, bursting into the holding area.

"Go'n join the frey boys! The cap'n called all hands to the guns." he said, his heavy boots landing on the floorboards with heavy thumps as he advanced on them. "I got the wench, now get!" They took off at a run, smiling all the way. It was sick how these sailors both feared and reveled in a fight. As soon as they were alone, he turned to the woman in chains.

"Be this yer ship?" he demanded, perturbed by the attack. His fate was sealed. Either he leave with her, his being sent here a stoke of luck or fate, or face death at his twisted captain's hand. The cannons roared, feet fell heavy on the boards above them, cheers erupted. Thankful, Daniel didn't hear much splintering of wood. He was begining to connect the dots, why she was the one to be kidnapped, the new ship the overheard the cap'n and quartermaster discussing... "Yer damned vessel be the one the cap'n after." he growled, peeved at the situation but not hostile.

Avery looked up at him and smiled slyly. "Indeed it is...your captain is after my ship the ShadowStrike...little did he know that when he took me he wasn't taking a member of the crew...but its captain. I was sick of him hunting us down so I...set a little bait.." She stood up and twisted her wrists, the chains falling to the floor. She walked over to the bars and said "So I set up a trap so that when your captain took me, thinking I was someone close to the captain of the Strike, my Quartermaster was watching from the crowd then readied the ship to follow. I am here for another reason but that's not important at the moment..." She pulled out the hair stick holding her hair out of her face and went to working on the door lock, counting the space between cannon fire.

"My boys are close now...judging by the time space of fire and impact...there" She pushed the door opened and looked at the Doctor. "I like you, doc...your not like the others aboard...if you want to get off this ship, you better stick with me." She took off running, heading for the back of the ship.

The Strike was next to the Berenice now, Bane yelling orders. "Let's get this done boys! The cap will be needing us now!" The crew cheered as Scarlet stopped Bane. "Bane, this plan only works if the captain gets what she's after..." Bane smiled and said "She'll get it before the meeting time...trust her, Scarlet...she's the best pirate I have ever met"

"Oy!" Daniel called, following her at a mad dash pace. He was surprised that she managed to get out of their hold, then again the whole ship was an old model. He figured that's why there were more guards there earlier. "Ye gon' cost me, me soul!" Daniel pondered what she had said sarcastically. 'Come wi' me if ye wan' off th' ship me arse, more like if ye wan' t' live.' Still, he followed her in hot pursuit, praying all the way to Sedna (Sea Goddess) that they wouldn't be found out.

Avery threw out an arm as men ran by, nodding. "Alright...most of the crew should be on deck by now so...means the captains cabin will be empty.." She took off running again, keeping out of sight of the crew as much as she could.

When they reached the captains cabin she opened the door and said "Fool forgot to lock it...makes my job much easier" She slipped inside and shut the door behind the doctor. She looked around and said "alright...if you wish to be helpful I'm looking for something in a black box or bag...its about the size of fist..." She started to pull the cabin a part, looking every she could think could be hiding spots.

Daniel had only been in here a hand full of times. The captain was a conservative man, kept much information to himself. He never left out any important information that the crew needed though. It was only ever the captain in this room, maybe the quartermaster.

"We need t' get out o' here is what we need t' do." Daniel said gruffly. Despite him wanting to flee, his life on this ship was over and she was his only hope to keep his sole in his body. He had the idea to grab her and run but he dare not touch a woman, let alone the Demon of the Shadows, without an invitation. Daniel huffed, torn at what to do. After standing there conflicted for a few moments he finally crossed himself and began to rummage around in the room with her.

"What be so precious that ye be willin' t' risk ye life fer and the lives of yer crew?" He asked from across the room, combing through the upper shelves of a bookcase littered with all manner of things. He tossed papers on the ground as he looked, pulling books out of the way. A set of 3 books that were strangely standing upright fell off one of the lower shelves that he had moved on to. It landed with a thud and there was a small opening in the book case. Daniel crouched down to get a better look. His hand wouldn't fit in the small hole but he grabbed a utensil from the floor that the woman had flung off the table. The captain must have just finished dinner. Soon, he had fished out a small velvet bag. Holding onto it tightly he turned to get the attention of the fire haired woman.

"Is this what ye be lookin' fer?" He held it out to his side slightly, planning to use it as a bartering chip to find what she wanted so badly with him. She owed him that much after destroying his chances on this vessel. He thought he may be so bold as to ask her name, since he would likely be serving her upon her vessel.

Avery had been looking for a hidden door in the desk when he spoke and looked up, seeing the bag and smiling. "That's it! Perfect" She jumped up and went to him, looking around wildly. "We need something to tie it to my belt so it won't go anywhere..." Then she saw the look on his face and she sigh.

"Its something very important to me and my crew...its a unfinished mission for someone dear to me...and my crew understood the risks of getting this back to where it belongs..." She held out her hand said "Please Doctor...we need to go now if we are going to survive this" They heard another cannon hit and Avery muttered "The crew must be upset...they don't normally fire this much..."

Daniel still wasn't sure how valuable he was to her, of if she would dispose of him at the last second. She didn't seem like that kind of woman but one could never be too sure. Being a pirate was a tricky business, you could trust everyone and no-one. He did agree that they had to get moving. using his free hand he slipped the leather thong holding his hair back away from his scalp.

"Alright, lets be gone then." He said, threading the piece of worn leather though the drawstrings. "But I be keepn' this 'till we reach yer ship." Daniel tied the black velvet bag to his own belt, pulling his coat over to hid it after doing so. It was the best way to add value to himself, to secure his life as best he could. "I won' be runnin' off, don' worry Miss Shadows." the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, somewhat glad to be leaving this vessel and crew behind. "What be yer plan t' get off this seaworthy beast?" he inquired. Daniel's demeanor returned to that of professionalism and seriousness.

Avery smiled then pulled a pendent off her neck and put it around him. "If we get split up, my crew will see this and know your with me...whatever you do, do not touch the stone in that bag...and my name is Avery..." She ran out the door, knowing he was right behind her. She looked around the hallway and said "The crew must be on deck...we need to get up there without drawing attention to ourselves..."

Bane landed on the deck, looking around the deck for his captian. "Come on cap...where are you..."