Basil Darkratte
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Chapter 7: Unauthorized Actions
Back in Port Royal the next day, the sun was just appearing from the clouds. The town was just as busy as the day before. That Explosive event that happened the previous day was still fresh on everyone’s minds, but that didn’t stop them from doing what they usually did on any given day.
Back at the naval fort, in one of the High offices that overlooked the ocean, the Naval Port Commander, Edward Winston was at his desk. The weather outside did not match his mood. Earlier that morning, he was given news about a ship that pulled out of dock, which was unauthorized, was sunk. Just what he needed! Not only he had to talk to the base commander later that day about some idiot that was dressed in some bloke’s Naval Uniform, ( and somehow manage to slip pass) he also had to explain to the Governor and to His Majesty, how the ship’s captain set sail, without permission, and managed to let the ship be destroyed! He also heard about the Governor’s mansion being broken into to, but that didn’t concern him. As of now, he was waiting for Terrence Becket the man who caused him all this grief. He was lucky that another naval ship that was returning plucked him out of the water. If it was up to Edward, he would’ve left him in the water.
Edward runs his hand through his hair and leans back. He turns his head left and right, until he heard that faint cracking sound. He does the same with his knuckles. He gets up, and opens the doors behind him the leads to the balcony. There is a slight breeze, and the air smelled of salt, the ocean was directly ahead. The sun glistens on the water; its rays warming up the island from the cool night.
Edward put his hands on the railing, and closes his eyes, he felt the warmth of the sun on him, and he hears the calls of seagulls. He looks straight down to see some civilians, and a few Solders walking to where they had to go, some were already at their posts.
With a sigh, he goes back inside. There was a huge map of the world, old and new, that took up most of the wall, opposite his desk. Elsewhere around the room, there were rolled up parchments, book shelves’, books – some on the floor- a wooden globe, a fire place a cabinet that had the finest of rum and wine.
Edward sits back down on his leather chair; the table was mahogany, imported. It was here before he came in and definitely will still be here long after he’s gone. On the desk is a few more books, blank parchments, an ink well, and two quills. He looks at the clock, ten minutes after ten. Seeing that Terrance wasn’t coming anytime soon, Edward decides to get started on the letter directed to the King of England, stating that, one of their ships were lost in an unauthorized sea battle, and that the captain of that ship left port illegally. He was up to the part stating that he’ll report to England with the caption, to discuss the future of that captain, and the possible, removal of himself from power. Edward faced the risk of being demoted, and that’s the best case scenario.
He was half way done with the letter when a young lieutenant opened the door.
“Commander,” he said, “Captain Beckett is here.”
“Bring him in,” Edward said flatly, not bothering to even look up.
In comes Terrance, escorted by two soldiers. He is disgraced; his uniform is all stained, his hair matted with dirt. He had a few scratches on his face from the day before. He was tired, dirty, and under a lot of pressure. It was only going to get worst.
After the solders left, there was dead silence in the room; only the ticking sounds of the clock, quill on paper, and the sounds from outside could be heard.
Edward, who still wasn’t looking up, gestured to Terrance to come forward. He stood at attention, (The best way he could given how he was at that point, which very wasn’t good.) He looks straight ahead – outside- daring not to look down.
Edward continues to write, the scratching of the quill against the parchment seemed to be relaxing to Terrance. With the slight breeze, he closes his eyes and breaths in deeply. Everything was forgotten…
“I’m vexed, Captain,” said Edward, and Terrance was brought back to reality, “Very Vexed.” He puts his quill back into the ink well and looks up, unfazed by Terrance appearance. “Do you know why?”
“Commander-”
“You Pulled out of port without any bloody authorization to do so! What drove you to do something this reckless?”
“Sir,” said Terrance, “There was a pirate ship…”
“So that suddenly gives you permission to leave port without any orders?”
“Jack Sparrow was on that ship, Sir”
“I don’t care if that darned Edward Teach was on the ship as well…!”
“It was the Black Pearl, Commander,” said Terrance, this time looking down directly at Edward, “There is a Bounty on him and his ship. As I understand, any naval vessel that sees a ship or Captain that is in a bounty has a right engage them.”
Edward chuckles to himself, what a weak defense – if any.
“While you are right about the naval engagement for anyone under the bounty, but it only works if that bounty was set by the Navy! And the last time I checked,” he searches through the papers on his desk then soon finds what he is looking for, “It’s the East India Trading Company that sent out the bounty, not us! And therefore it’s up to them to catch him!” He slams the paper on the desk, “Which leads me to believe you did all of this because of you brother, correct?”
There was a pause as neither of them said anything. Edward sighs, gets up, and walks to the cabinet. He takes out two glasses and a bottle of rum.
“Yes I did sir,” said Terrance, he remembers that day when he got the news.
Edward pours the rum in the two glasses; he offers one to Terrance who takes it. The Commander then leads the Captain to the balcony.
“I lost a brother as well,” said Edward, “A few years ago. But it wasn’t in battle- his ship went down in a storm. But I moved on, which is what you should do to.”
“How can I? I can’t forgive Jack for taking the life of my brother!”
“So you just went after him then?”
“To avenge my brother!”
“You were blinded by revenge, Beckett!” Edward snapped, “And because of that, men were lost and a ship went down!”
Terrance faces him, “I had to go after him, and it was my best judgment-”
“You best Judgment?! My God! Your Judgment was clouded by pure revenge!” He pauses, “I don’t think you understand the seriousness of your situation, captain.”
Edward walks back inside, and Terrence follows, “You think all of what you did would just blow away into the wind? You have to face the consequences. You are going to have to speak to the King.”
“The King of England?” Terrance said, slightly surprised.
“Aye the King of England, who else do you have in mind? The Tax Payers are not going to be happy that their money went down the drain. They went through tax increases, to have this ship made. It took over a year to be made – only to be destroyed in minutes because of you.”
There was a quick pause; Edward takes a sip from his glass. He continues, “You’re not the only one who has problems, Beckett. I also have to answer to the King.”
He picks up the letter.
“You see this? This letter is to the King. I wrote it up before your sorry self came into my office. It states that we’ll be going to England to come up with a verdict for you… and me.”
He leads Terrance to another balcony; this one looks over the town.
“A verdict? What’s the punishment? ” asked Terrance.
Edward chuckles, “For me, Suspension from duty, or sent to prison. But once they find out that I had no control over what you did, the punishment, as you put it, would be much lighter.”
“And what about me, Sir?”
“Is that a hint of fear in your voice, Beckett? For you, Demotion, prison or…. worst.” He looks down at something below them. He leans his back on the railing, “We leave in two weeks. Until then, you are hereby relived from active duty. During this time, you should make up some sort of defense. But I highly doubt it’ll hold up.”
And with that, Edward leaves Terrance on the balcony. Terrance looks down and sees what Edward saw: the Gallows.
“Keep this in mind, Beckett,” Edward said behind him, “The Royal Navy does not play around when it comes to matters like this. Whatever the punishment, you’ll have to face it. Do I making myself clear?”
“Yes sir.”
“You may leave.”
Terrance places his glass on a table. He looks at Edward once more, who was sitting down at his desk, and leaves the room, Navy Soldiers outside waiting to take him away.
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