nik

Naa, he's a nightowl, he'll be here later :P

(Actually, I did go to bed early last night!)

Hannibal, Nik, and the Centurion look the map, unsurprised that they see nothing, and unsurprised that noboby else does either. Hannibal rises, paces to the end of the table, and speaks.

"Wise Ambassador," he begins, "The lord of the Pax is pleased at your presence and welcomes you to a meeting that has been almost a millenium in the waiting. Now,

truth will be revealed."

The minstrel stops playing, and ghostly shadows flicker across Hannibal's dark skin as he continues, telling the Ambassador what he told the Admiral.

"I will tell you about the map, and I will tell you what the Admiral already knows, and what you must know."

“For over six hundred years, m'lord's family has guarded the treasure of Achates - noble friend and travel companion Ulysses. This honor was given to him by the mysterious Macedonians at the dawn of the settlement of Etruria. Its location is kept secret with but a single map said to have been written upon by Mercury himself. To an any man, the map is a blank piece of parchment. To a member of the captain’s family, the map appears as but half of a map. Only a brother or sister can see the other half of the map. In this way, it takes two members of a generation to find the treasure.

"During the glorious rule of Octavian, the crew of the 'Pax Mediterranevm' has kept peace throughout the known world, distinguishing ourselves as the finest of the imperial fleet. A senator, once friend to our captain, learned of the keep entrusted to our captain’s family and became obsessed with finding this treasure. While the Pax was on a journey, the senator stole the map with a hand of unsavory thieves. This crime cost the captain his family, save for a single infant son.

“Finding the map to be nothing more than a blank parchment to him, he became enraged to the point of insanity. In time, he sought the help of a witch devoted to the evil black arts to try to force the crew of the Pax to give up the treasure. He paid the evil sorcerer with 100 gold pieces. The witch, empowered with the darkness of Hades, cast a curse on the captain’s family and on the crew of the Pax. Until the treasure was found, there would be no rest for our souls – doomed to wander the earth in the twilight between life and death, and no peace in the captain’s family. To further convince the captain to find the treasure soon and keep the curse a secret, his voice was taken from him... The witch would have been smart to leave the captain’s family alone, for it was only by the family that the treasure could be found.

“But the senator was only human, as was the witch. Both died eventually. So did our crew; the Pax was finally sunk. But the curse lives on, and we are left roaming the world in bodies that are not really bodies and a ship that is not really a ship. After 200 years, we finally found the map in the snows Nepal. Because of the discord in the captain’s family, it has always lived on the on the edge of a knife – always close to the destruction of the bloodline. On many occasions, we have come close to being doomed to wander the earth forever at the near extinction of the family. Members have been murdered over the years; they have become criminals; doomed to always face trouble. For almost a millennium, we have protected the family, waiting for the time when it would produce two children in the same generation so that the map can be read, for only then can we find the treasure and rid ourselves of this hideous cursed existence and join our fathers in the deep. "

"Because peace has never reigned in his family, there has never been two offspring to break the spell….. until now.”

Nik, Hannibal, and the Centurion all stared intently at the Admiral and the Ambassador. Hannibal pauses for a moment and continues.

"So you see, daughters of the the lord of the Pax, it is very important to us that you live AND fulfill the quest. Your lives – our deaths - depend upon it. We have sailed the world with our captain and will sail to the pits of Hades with him. We do not care for treasure or wealth or our own fortunes. What you find is yours. The crew has served each other with our lives. Now we wish to serve each other with our deaths.

"One map.... two halves.... each seen by a single person..... You must make peace; you must work together. Without BOTH of you, the map is worthless.

Will you help us? In whatever you do, the Pax will protect you."

Hannibal sits beside Nik, and the two - along with the centurion, stare intently at the Ambassador and the Admiral, waiting......

Wine is poured for Jeanway and Fenriz as they await the arrival of the Ambassador. Nik stands at the gangplank with Hannibal as the centurion entertains the Admiral and the Captain by juggling torches, then swords, and finally axes. Hannibal whispers something to Nik, who looks at the moon and nods to Hannibal. They rejoin the table.

“I apologize. The Ambassador is late,” Hannibal says to the Admiral and the Captain. “I trust she will appear, but busies herself with her adornment.”

Nik glances at the Admiral’s hand on her pistol. The Centurion speaks in Aramaic. “Do not worry for your safety Admiral. We are quite safe here on the Pax. No blood will spill this evening.”

Nik whistles a quick note, and the parrot leaves it’s golden platter of fruit and nuts, landing on Nik’s shoulder. It plays lightly with a gold bead in Nik’s hair. The Centurion hands Nik a piece of parchment, a brush, and an inkstone. Nik brushes out a quick message on the parchment, and hands the items back to the Centurion. Pulling a gold thread from his belt, the Centurion ties the message to the parrot, who promptly flies to the Ambassador’s port on the Enterprize.

The parrot sits outside the ambassador’s port, and taps lightly on the glass with it’s beak – the message tied to it’s leg.

I find something elegant about using a wooden pencil when everyone else has a palm computer..... The Dr. McCoy thing, I guess.....

In Boston Harbor, the captain of the moored HMS Yorktown sees an apparently lost pirate vessel enter the harbor and begin shooting. His mouth hanging open and a look of confused disgust on his face, he watches as the EEvil Eye open fire in the most populated military harbor in the western hemisphere. His first officer joins him at the stern with the same look. He speaks with a thick Hackney accent.

"By God! What is that?" He asks his captain.

"Neville... fetch me the lens if you would, please. Thank you!" A deckhand gives the captain the telescope, and he watches the Eevil Eye as her cannons shoot at nothing.

"That must be the worst pirate I've ever seen!" He exclaims as he lowers the telescope. "He's either incredibly stupid, incredibly brave, or incredibly lost!"

"Do you think he's gone daft?" the first officer asks.

"Oh most certainly! I presume he's spent too much time at sea without the proper rations and drink." The Captain replies.

"Roight!"

"Roight."

The two officers stare at the smoking vessel for a few more minutes and the first officer speaks.

"Shall I order the Yorktown about, sir, so we can unload our 18-pounders on her?"

"Oh, heavens, no! You'll destroy every other ship in the area. Just use the deck gun like I assume every other vessel in here is. Should be short work!"

In mere minutes, the Eevil Eye is perforated and sinking. Her crew abandons the ship, and begins swimming to shore. Aboard the Yorktown, a deck hand fishes WAB from the water with a long hook. He is brought wimpering before the Captain.

"What a PATHETIC pirate!" The captain exclaims.

"Shall I throw him in the brig, captain."

"Actually, I've a much better idea! You know that large male gorilla we captured in Africa? It just occured to me that he's not known a female of his species in quite some time......"

The first officer grins mischeviously. "I'll get right on it, sir!" He salutes and rushes off.

A half-hour later, WAB is dressed in a very realistic female gorilla suit and thrown into the cage with the very lonely male gorillla.....

Nature ensues........

In the waning twilight, Hannibal stands at the end of the gangplank awaiting the arrival of the Ambassador. On the starboard side of the Pax, the centurion stands beside Nik watching the painfully slow arrival of the majestic Elusive. Two hands stand by with gold ropes and the cedar gangplank. Nik strokes his parrot, and occassionally glances about nervously. The elaborate table set aboard the Pax is heaped with fresh flavored viandes of the old world, delicious fruits of the new continent, spices of India, and delicious bread of the colonies. Golden goblets stand by gold flagons of fine vintages, exotic liquers, sweet whiskies, and rich rice wines of the orient.

As the Elusive draws closer on the still waters, the centurion speaks quietly to Nik in ancient Aramaic.

"The hour of our freedom draws close, m'lord. The pieces are in place. M'Lord's descendants rise from Neptune's keep to bring salvation to the Pax. I believe they will not fail."

Nik smiles weakly as he stares at the lights of the Elusive. His gold breastplate and the gold beads in his dark locks flicker in the dancing torchlight. His luminescent emerald cape flaps lightly in the night breeze. The centurion's jaw muscles work as he watches with Nik.

The crew of the Pax waits silently, hopefully............

::she throws her dress against the couch in the corner::

The dress hits the couch, slides to the floor, and several large diamonds roll out.....

At the setting of the sun, several torches about the Pax are lit. The minstrel takes his place at the stern – this time with a violin – playing a low melody. With the Pax and the Enterprize securely fastened together at the Pax’s starboard side, a gangplank is extended between the two, and is covered with a purple carpet.

While Hannibal waits patiently at the gangplank for the Ambassador, Nik and the Centurion scan the skies off the portside. As they squint into the distance, the Centurion speaks.

“There!” He says, as he points slightly north. Nik follows his finger and nods, spotting the black speck above the horizon. As the daylight wanes, Nik and the centurion shift their gaze from the speck to the horizon. After several minutes a very faint light can be seen.

The speck grows larger and approaches the Pax. As it approaches, its shape is revealed to be that of a bird. The bird approaches, and is now easily recognizable as a beautiful parrot. Nik extends his arm, and the parrot alights on it. From below deck, a worker brings a gold platter of fruits and sets it on the railing in front of Nik. The parrot hops to the railing and begins eating.

The light on the horizon grows closer, and can be recognized as a fine, new vessel of the seas. She glides swift and true across the waters. The vessel is not the USS Enterprise of the former Commodore Jeanway. Nik raises his eyebrows and nod approvingly as the vessel approaches. He and the centurion glance swiftly back at the Enterprize then resume their watch – the Pax lying directly between the Enterprize and the new vessel approaching.

Yep... Fine with me!

The AMbassador,in full dress uniform waves at the boys from the Enterprize..The Pax is a fast good ship,she thinks.

 

"Steer it towards the port boys" She yells at her crew "I have buisiness on the pax"

" I would gladly join your cause .We are armed and ready.We are fast and we are manned with the finist in the fleet!..I am ready to hunt !

 

She also begins to notice how cute Nik is getting

 

But on to business

 

 

"First officer Drago,please join me on the Pax

BTW Nik...Y'all need any more Rum ?

 

NOW THROW HARRY KIM OFF THE SIDE PLEASE

A rope with gold interweave is tossed to a deckhand on the Enterprize and tied to a gold cathead on the Pax.

Hannibal steps forward with Nik and speaks.

"Now, excellent Ambassador, we must wait, for the bearer of our course has yet to arrive. In the meantime, we have a small gift for you."

A rope is tossed over the fore yardarm of the Enterprize, and a large, locked barrel is hoisted from the Pax and swung to the Enterprize. Nik leaps into the air and lands deftly on the rope adjoining the two vessels. Balancing easily, he draws a key from his breastplate and tosses it to the Ambassador. Leaping backwards, Nik lands on the deck beside Hannibal.

As Nik and Hannibal stand motionless on the Pax looking at the Enterprize, the centvurion directs workers about her deck. A long table is set up amidship with an emerald cloth and decorated with blossoms of the South American continent. As the two vessels continue to wait, the smell of delicious cooking wafts from below deck on the Pax.

quote by NIK@May 18 2004, 04:19 PM

 

Who can't shut up about eating pets, road kill, etc?

 

 

ME!!!??

Yep!

OH, easy! CJLP!

Who can't shut up about eating pets, road kill, etc?

It says" Doomed is the Pirates who cross our path,because hell is awaiting"

 

The Enterprize sits and waits with the Pax who is off thier port bow..

 

The cannons are ready the men are nervous.Battle is inevitable

At the appearance of the glorious Enterprize, Nik looks up sharply and smiles broadly. He runs amidships and Hannibal rushes to his side. His eyes blaze wildly as Hannibal speaks.

"Greetings, most excellent Ambassador!" Nik and Hannibal bow to the Enterprize. "Our quest is perilous but the rewards great! However, we must await the arrival of our direction."

The Pax's oars move, and the Pax pivots slightly so that her starboard side is towards the harbor.

"Ambassador," Hannibal starts, "We humbly ask you to place your brave vessel on our port side with you bow towards the harbor. This evening, will you join us aboard the Pax for a glorious re-union? It is one that has not taken place in a millenium! We will prepare a feast for you and your first officer. The Fates await us, excellent Ambassador! Join us this evening, and all will become clear!"

Nik, Hannibal, and the Centurion all bow low and wait patiently for the Ambassador's answer, broad smiles on all their faces.

The Pax floats listlessly outside of Boston Harbor, unseen in the morning fog. Her sails sag in the calm, and her oars drag still in the water as she drifts. The centurion stands at the helm, resting a single hand on the tiller, his downcast eyes staring at a point on the deck about two meters in front of him. Hannibal stands at the bow, silently staring towards the harbor. At the stern of the ship, Nik sits on the railing, his legs hanging over the edge. With his elbows on his knees, he rests his head in both hands and stares blankly into the dark water. Occassionaly, Hannibal turns as if to say something, stops, and then resumes his silent watch.

Aboard the USS Elusive, a familiar parrot sits patiently on the wheel. A small gold cannister is tied with a leather thong to its leg.

Aboard the HMS Enterprize, a gold-shafted arrow sticks into the center of the wheel. A piece of parchment is tied near the tip with a piece of gold thread.

By morning, the HMS Enterprize is resplendent! Her once fractured and splintered hull is now smooth, pitched and painted. A new figurehead has been carved out for her with two emerald eyes placed in their sockets. The lettering adorning her is of pure gold leaf, and her brasswork is polished to a shine. Her lines are in place, and her knots hold fast. The rising sun beams through this now majestic vessel. Her hold is stocked with provisions, cannonballs, exploding shots, and pistol shots. As well, she has been equipped with several of the fireworks of the orient. A small platform holding a stack of the same fireworks floats tied to the gangway of the USS Enterprise.

The waters of the harbor are clean of the wreckage of yesterday, now crystalline blue and cleared of the stinking flotsam from the wreckage of the Eevil Eye.

The Pax, now loose from the Enterprize, floats still off the Enterprize’s bow. Nik, Hannibal, and the Centvrion all sit on her stern railing, squinting into the sun at the Enterprize. The Centvrion occupies himself by rolling dice on the railing, occasionally chuckling to himself as he appears to be winning this solitary game. Nik is reading a stack of parchments, and Hannibal is cleaning his fingernails with the tip of his scimitar.

When Hannibal spots the Ambassador, he taps Nik slightly, who in turn taps the Centvrion. All three rise, and Hannibal shouts.

“Good morning, most excellent Ambassador! We can see that your ship is a fine ship worthy of the fury of Neptune. We ask you to join us on a quest. Any treasure we find is yours, but we need you to help us. Will you join us? The Pax stands ready for your answer.”

Nik, Hannibal, and the Centvrion stand motionless as they watch the Enterprize, waiting for her answer.

"Captain nik!!!! Where are you??"  Jeanway screams into the wind.

Hearing the cannon fire astern and a faint voice on the wind, Nik whistles sharply to the Cenrvrion. A moment later, he and Hannibal cvt loose from the Enterprize, leaving the workers to finish their job. The Pax drifts slowly away, and - in an instant - her sails inflate fvll. Her oars drop into the water, and circles sharply, leaning hard into the tvrn. Leaving the harbor, she speeds to intercept the EEvil Eye.

As she comes between the Enterprise and her hideovs black nemesis, she slows slightly. Nik, the Centvrion, and Hannibal each grab a silver shield from the sides of the Pax. At half-a-fvrlong from the ship, the three step to the railing, balancing on the gold-plated beam. Each one then heaves his shield towards the EEvil Eye. The Centvrion's shield slices cleanly throvgh the neck of her helmsman, arcs through the air, and retvrns to the Centvrion, who snatches it for another throw. Hannibal's sheild clefts the EEvil Eye's main mast, sending it toppling into the water, and pvlling the black vessel sideways. Like the Centvrion's, Hannibals shield retvurns to him. Nik's shield pivots sideways and embeds itself firmly halfway into WABs skvll. As WAB falls face first into the red-stained water, Nik looks slightly dissappointed at the loss of a good shield.

The Pax, continves past the EEvil Eye as Hannibal and the Centvurion cleanly slice the heads off her crew with their shields. Several dorsal fins can be seen peaking from out of the water circling the Eye, now half-submerged and stuck in the shallows of the harbor. At half-a-leagve astern, the PAX again pivots and approaches aft of the eye. As the distance closes, six archers run to the Pax's bow, each with a small qviver of arrows. Their arrows are lit, and their shots penetrate the air, leaving parallel smoke trails. As they strike the Eye - now resting on her side, she begins bvrning. One arrow catches a crewmember in the chest, and, screaming, he jvmps into the shark-infested water.

The Pax comes alongside the Eye, and a single archers jvmps onto her exposed keel. He qvickly marches vp and down the lenght of the Eye, looking into her portholes. At one point, he shoves an arrow into a frantically rvnning crewmember and tosses him overboard. Finding the porthole exposing the powder room, he drops a long fvse into the hole, and leaps back to the Pax, trailing the fvse behind him. The Pax moves away slightly. Vsing a flint and the edge of his ax, the Centvrion ignites the fvse, and the Pax moves qvickly away.

In seconds, the Eye explodes, sending pieces of metal and wood raining into the harbor. The Pax circles abovt and comes abreast of the Enterprise. Hannibal and Nik step to her stern. Hannibal speaks lovdly.

"We stand ready to assist in whatever means you need. By the sunrise, the H.M.S. Enterprize will be seaworthy and stocked, and we may continue our quest.

We..... " Hannibal pavses briefly, "have received no word from the Ambassador."

The distant hammering continues on the Enterprize as men ashore begin floating large pieces of worked lumber towards her. A goldsmith hanging on her stern begins reworking her lettering. On shore a smelter has been set up, and pistol shots and cannon balls are being made. In a small lean-to near the smelter, a slim man in a toga is mixing liquids in a flask, while another uses a mortar and pestle.

The first vestiges of dawn bring the sight of green land springing vp from the ocean svrrovnding the new continent. As the Pax approaches, a severly damaged vessel can be seen floating askew in the bay. A plank hanging sideways on her stern bears the inscription “Enterprize.” The Pax glides effortlessly over a sandbar in her approach as she comes to alongside the apparently abandoned vessel and stops. Lines are thrown from the Pax to the floating wreck and several crew members move to the Enterprize along these lines. Three large men carrying axes and other woodworking implements jump into the water and wade to the trees near the shore. In minutes, a scaffolding is erected about the Pax, and several men wearing nothing bvt white cloths bovnd abovt their loins work fvriovsly on the Enterprize, singing an eerie, haunting tvne as they work. Nik slowly paces the length of the Pax, examining the work of the men on the Enterprize. Hannibal follows closely, occasionally barking an order in Aramaic to the workers.

A moment later, Nik’s parrot lands on the helm. Nik removes a small parchment tied to his scabbard and gives it to the Centvrion. The Centvrion ties the parchment to the parrot’s leg, and whispers something to the colorfvl bird. The beavtifvl creatvre leaps into the air, and flies towards the sandy shore, where a bikini-clad figure lies, obliviovs to the world arovnd her.

CAN YOU? I have found that just admitting it when I'm wrong really changes things quickly.  Or do you prefer to argue? I t really doesn't hurt and the more you do it the easier it gets :unsure:

Yeppop! All the time... daily......continuously!

I COLLECT DIRT FOR MY LIZARDS AND FOR MY PLANTS. And O.K., I admit it, I might take a little bite once in a while myself. But I'm not hooked, I can stop anytime I want to. Look, no one knows about this so Please, keep it to yourself I think Kes had this same problem, it was or is called PICA :o Getting close to mid-night, is it :P

That's interesting... I collect sand!

Hearing canon fire a leagve off, Nik tvrns to see the Enterprise engaged with a stinking, smoking vessel of metal. He smiles as he sees the black vessel slip below the svrface. Hannibal steps beside Nik, grimacing in disgust.

"It is a good thing I am already dead, for the odor of the ugly black vessel wovld have killed me, even downstream of ovr wake. The mighty Commodore did well to send that impudent whelp back to his mother's breast where he belongs!"

The Pax slows its vnbearable pace to allow the Enterprise to catch up. Nik sqvuints into the salt air at the shards that remain of ILS's ship. Drawing his katana, he runs to the starboard aft of the Pax. Leaning over the edge of the Pax, he drives his blade into her hvll a meter above the waterline. He leaps into the air and lands onto the katana's hilt, vsing it as a step. He sqvats on the handle and drags his right hand into the water. With his left he draws his wakazashi. He vses its hilt to tap and scrape a rapid complex rhythm on the hvll of the Pax. Placing his wakazashi in his movth, he leaps backwards onto the deck of the Pax, leans over and grabs his katana. He resheaths it as he looks astern into the distance.

The Pax's black sails suddenly go limp, and her oars raise ovt of the water. In the silence, nik and the centvrion look on. A waterspovt is seen in the distance, then two. In a few minutes, a dozen magnificent orcas breach the water half-a-fvrlong east of the wreckage of the Batavia. They swim vnderneath her crew now strvggling to tread water. As they svrface, they each gently pick vp one or two crew members, allowing them to ride on their backs.

In minvtes, the whales circle the Enterprise slowly, each one in tvrn allowing a seaman on their gracefvll backs to climb aboard the Enterprise. ILS is last to board. With this done, the beavtifvl creatvres swim rapidly towards the Pax. As they float idly beside the Pax, Nik bows low towards them. He holds this position for a fvll five seconds, after which Hannibal empties a barrel of freshly caught fish into the ocean. The orcas whine and click for a few minvtes and then are no more.

Nik tvrns to the now nearby Enterprise, salvtes sharply, bows his head and tvrns towards the bow.

Once again, the black sails of the Pax inflate, and her oars penetrate the water!

The morning dawns clear over the Pax, which now sits a fvll fvrlong off the Enterprise’s bow. Svnbeams stream through her sleek framework.

While majestic, the Pax is not the same sparkling ship of last night. Her emerald sails are now a deep black. The silver shields still adorn her hvll, bvt the figvres emblazoned on the shields are those of angry dragons, their rvby eyes blazing as a fire.

The Centvrion stands astern. A bronze helm covers his head, and he girds a long sword; a broad axe is strapped to his back. His green cape is now crimson. He rests his hand on the helm, while nik sits on the bvlkead beside him. Nik’s golden breastplate is now a deep bronze, and beads in his locks flare from crimson rvbies. The katana he wears on his left and the wakazashi on his right seem strangely ovt of place on the ancient galleon. The space reserved for the barbarian ILS is no longer present.

Hannibal stands at the bow, waiting for movement from the Enterprise. His red sash is now black, and a crimson bandana covers his bald head. A gold cord holds a broad scimitar at his waist. When he spots the Commodore come to the deck in the midmorning, he shovts across the distance.

“Commodore and brave crew of the Enterprise! It is now time to begin our quest. Let us not grow fearful, for the journey is perilous and long. First, we will find the other. Join us, brave souls! Your ship is ready, and your stores full. We will show the way!”

Hannibal steps aside and an archer rvns forward, leaping onto the head in a single deft movement. He pvlls a single arrow from his qviver and aims into the western sky with his longbow. The arrow is released and it whistles lovdly and rapidly as it arcs at an vnnatvral speed over the western horizon. A green, flaming streak is left in the sky where the arrow cvt. Nik rvns to stand beside Hannibal and looks to the Enterprise wherein his descendent stands, a smile on his face, and his eyes aflame. Hannibal snaps his head back to the Enterprise, his jaw set. He speaks.

“The course is set Commodore! Audentes fortuna iuvat!

Now… to the qvest!”

The oars of the Pax Mediterranevm extend, and her sails fill……

As the night progresses, the gvests are treated to fine mvsic by the minstrel, a match of swords between nik and the Centvrion - with the Centvurion proving to be the slightly better swordsman, a display of marksmanship as one of nik's archers shoot dvobloons out of the air three at a time, and a fistfight between Worf and Hannibal - ending with both laughing and slapping each other on the backs. They promise to do it again sometime, and Worf is sent back to the Enterprise with a flagon of whiskey, a loaf of rye, and a slab of raw meat for his black eye.

The evening wanes and the conversation becomes sparse. As the tables are cleared and a hot, bitter beverage from the new continent is povred, hands aboard the Pax qvickly and vnobtrvsively move barrels, crates, and casks of provisions and other comestibles to the Enterprise. ILS and Seska are now passed ovt in the stern, and the minstrel plays softer and slower. The Commodore and the Captain, the seas having honed their eyes many years ago notice that things are not qvite right aboard the Pax. The Commodore is slightly svrprised to see that the neither the Pax's captain, her Centvrion, nor Hannibal eat mvch... only taking an occassional sip from their cvps. Svch preparations certainly deserve their rewards. Also, the stores being transferred to the Enterprise have exhavsted the Pax's hold. Most svrprising is the apparrent impetvosity of Hannibal. He continvously answers for his captain, never allowing him to get a word in edgewise. In fact, it seems as if he does all the talking for his captain, with the occassional interjection of the Centviron. Any other first officer wovld be hanging from the yardarm by now. Perhaps it is the way of the Romans.....

As the conversation comes to a stop, things grow eerily qviet. Indeed the minstrel stops playing, the sailfish no longer jvmp into the starry sky, and the crew of the Pax seem to have disappeared. Save for the occassional spash of a small wave on the Pax and the qviet creaking coming from the Enterprise, the night is noiseless. Hannibal rises.

Hannibal stands straight with his hands clasped behind his back. The Centvrion cvriously examines a sextant confiscated from the Visigoth's vessel – touching it, skaking it slightly, holding it vp to his ear, and tasting it. The flickering lanterns cast an eerie glow across Hannibal’s face. He begins to speak slowly and deliberately, his deep voice penetrating the hearts of those listening and disappearing into the night.

"Now we speak." He begins seriously.

“For ten generations, the little family of our leader has guarded the treasure of Achates. It was an honor bestowed upon his clan from across the Aegean. Its location is kept secret with but a single map - your map. It is said to have been written upon by Mercury himself. To any man, the map is a blank piece of parchment. To a member of the captain’s family, the map appears as but half of a map. Only a brother or sister can see the other half of the map. In this way, it takes two members of a generation to find the treasure - no less.

“For years, the crew of the ‘Pax Mediterranevm’ served our captain during the glorious reign of Octavian, distinguishing ourselves as the finest of the imperial fleet – keeping peace throughout the known world. A senator, once friend to our captain, learned of the keep entrusted to our captain’s family during an evening of drinking. He became obsessed with finding this treasure. During a month, while we were on a long foray past the Bosporus, the senator hired criminals of a most unsavory sort to find the map. The map was found at the cost of the Captain's family, save for a single infant son.

“When the senator found the map to be nothing more than a blank parchment to him, he became enraged to the point of insanity - a common occurence among those who chose to drink from lead goblets. In time, he sought the help of a witch devoted to the evil black arts. Paying the sorcerer 100 gold pieces, he tried to force the crew of the Pax to give up the treasure. The witch, empowered with the darkness of Hades, cast an evil spell on the captain’s family and on the crew of the Pax. The spell held that until the treasure was found, there would be no rest for our souls – doomed to wander the earth in the twilight between life and death. Further, a cursed was placed on the families of the crew of the Pax, and turmoil was placed upon our families. Finally, in an act of cruelty, the captain's voice was taken from him. The witch would have been smart to leave the captain’s family alone, for it was only by the family that the treasure could be found.

“But the senator was only human, as was the witch. Both died eventually. So did our crew. In time, the Pax was finally sunk in battle. But the curse lives on, and we are left roaming the world in bodies that are not really bodies and a ship that is not really a ship. For a time, the map was lost. After 200 years, we finally found the map in the snows of Nepal (no sailor was meant for that environment).

"Because of the discord in the captain’s family, it has always lived on the edge of the sword – always close to the destruction of the bloodline. On many occasions, we have come close to being doomed to wander the earth forever. Members have been murdered over the years; they have become criminals; doomed to always face trouble. For almost a millennium, we have protected the family, waiting for the time when it would produce two children in the same generation so that the map can be read, for only then can we find the treasure and rid ourselves of this hideous cursed existence and join our fathers in the deep. Since then, there has never been two offspring to break the spell….. until now.”

Nik, Hannibal, and the Centurion all stared intently at the Commodor – a knowing look.

“We have not found your sister, the ambassador yet, but we know where she is. You were separated at birth – a result of the curse. Upon his death, with a knife in his chest, your father made his good friend Worf - the ridged champion of the underworld - promise to protect the Commodore and the Ambassador as much as he possibly could. Of course, he did not know of the curse, but it was luck for us. So you see. It is very important to us that you live AND fulfill the quest. Your lives – our deaths - depend upon it. We have sailed the world with our captain and will sail to the pits of Hades with him. We do not care for treasure or wealth or our own fortunes. What you find is yours. The crew has served each other with our lives. Now we wish to serve each other with our deaths. Will you help us?”

Hannibal sits and the eyes of Nik, the Centvrion, and Hannibal gaze intently at the Commodore, their eyebrows raised epxectantly........

Two loud POPs were heard from inside Jeanways quarters. " What was that?" She asked Fenriz. "I have no idea" he replied.  Jeanway looked out both of her port holes to see nothing.  " Didn't sound like pistol fire, did it?"  "Nope" he said.  "Come on"" she grabbed his hand and they both hurried above deck.  " OH MY" she said as she saw two lines connecting her ship with the "PAX" AGAIN! " What in blazes does he want now?" she quipped. "Let's hear what he has to say before you tear into him, alright Love?"  Fenriz said.  Jeanway looked at him

" ' Love', you call me 'Love'?  I'm the Commodore of this ship and you call me LOVE???" He looked at her as if one of the arrows piercing the side of her ship made it's way to his heart.  Jeanway could see how much what she had just said, hurt him. She instantly felt a pang in her own heart, and in that very instant, Love Itself was Born.

Slowly and gently, the Pax draws herself closer to the Enterprise. With the distance closed, a broad gangplank is extended between the two vessels and covered with pvrple carpeting.

The Pax is tranformed into a sparkling jewel against the night sky. Her lit paper lanterns cast flickering glows across her shining svrfaces. Polished shields of silver and platinvm bearing the likenesses of powerful beasts adorn the sides of her hvll. A minstrel sits in her stern playing a mandolin against the backdrop of the magnificent Megellanic clovds. Several dolphins circle the Pax, skimming gracefvlly vnder the gangplank. Astern, sailfish leap arcs into the air.

Hannibal and the Centvrion stand on the gangplank. The Centvrion wears a lvminecent emerald cape and Hannibal has taken the occasion to paint a shimmering dragon on his chest. They beckon welcomingly to the Commodore and the Captain to board the Pax for a late repast. The table set vp on her deck is filled with a kingly feast. Nik stands qvietly opposite the ganglplank. Having traded his vsval leather armor for a breastplate plated in gold, he wears the same shimmering cape as the Centvrion. His back to the gangplank, he preoccvpies himself by skipping dovbloons across the dark svrface of the water.

"Let us engage in merriment this evening, for tomorrow the shears of Atropos may cut."

It is clear that someone has devoted extra care to the Enterprise dvring the evening. Her hvll is scraped clean of barnacles, and fresh pitch has been applied. Planks damaged in battle have been patched and repainted. The name "Enterprise" is emblazoned in gold leaf on her port bow and in large letters on her stern.

The table is set, and the crew of the Pax await the good Commodore and her Captain.........

From the deck of the Enterprise, slow, silent activity can be seen aboard the Pax as preparations are made for the evening activities. While Nik, the Cenvrion, and Hannibal wait patiently for the answer to their invitation to dine, a long, low table it set vp on the Pax's long deck. Onate coverings are laid vpon it, and it is adorned with exotic flowers of the new continent. Abovt the table, Gaelic tapestries are emplaced, and covches for the gvests are arranged. Wares of pvre gold are laid on the gold-embroidered, pvrple cloth. Smoke rises from the hold, carrying the smell of deliciovs cvlinary cares. An archer walks to the foreship and fires a single arrow trailing a rope to the top of the Pax's foremast and then secvres the rope to a gold ring on the deck. He does the same to the rear mast, and twice laterally to the center mast. A lithe yovth pvlls himself vp these ropes and affixes paper lanterns of the far east at regvlar intervals.

As the svn waxes hot in the afternoon sky, a meal and a golden vrn is brovght to ILS, who dozes lazily vnder a large palm leaf tied to the bvlkhead for him. A second meal is arranged on a platter and set beside ILS for the woman visitor who tovrs the Pax. Yet a third is placed on the railing before Nik. Minvtes later, the familiar parrot comes and eats of the jvicy frvits from off his gold platter.

Nik, Hannibal, and the Centvrion continve to look passively at the Enterprise.

As the Commodore rvshes topside, Nik, Hannibal, and the Centvrion bow low at the waist to her vntil she stops moving. Hannibal steps forward and speaks, his voice a pleasant low rvmble in the dawn mist.

“Good morning, excellent Commodore! Captain Fenriz, I trust you are enjoying the gift that we gave, and I hope that you are sharing with the rest of your worthy crew. If there is not enough to go around, please ask for more. Commodore, as you can see, we have located the barbarian who seeks to harm your vessel. If you would like him to join your crew, we ask only that you treat him mercifully, for you can see that he is but a pathetic uncouth creature with few wits. Otherwise, we will return him to Gaul.”

Hannibal retvrns to his place beside Nik, and the Centvrion steps forward. He begins speaking in Aramaic, which the Commodore recognizes.

“Commodore,” he begins, “we thank you for allowing the woman spy to visit our vessel, for we find her presence to be a refreshment. She is, of course, free to tour the Pax as she pleases. However, while we can guarantee her safe passage as we travel, we cannot guarantee healthy passage. You see, our stores are almost always empty, so she will quickly grow hungry and thirsty. As well, the men grow……” a pained look crosses the Centvrion’s face as he tries to find the right word.

“…..restless.” Nik and Hannibal wince at the truth behind the Centvurion's tact.

The Centvrion blushes, bows quickly, and retvrns to his place. Hannibal now steps forward to speak.

“Madame Commodore. The time has now come to speak of many things. As you can see, we have stocked our vessel with fine comestibles – flavored meats, cheeses, wines, fresh baked goods, wild berries, spices, and fresh fruit picked within the day. We ask that you and the fine Captain - and whoever else you wish - to join us for the evening repast. Whatever is not eaten tonight can be sent to your vessel. We will make merriment, but it is now time to reveal the truth. We patiently await your answer. What say you?”

Hannibal retvrns to Nik’s side, his sash hanging to his knees sways gently as the morning breezes pick vp. All three bow low to the Commodore, clasp their hands in front of them, and stare straight ahead as they wait.

As the svn dawns red on the eastern horizon, the Pax can be seen floating silently a fvrlong off the port of the U.S.S. Enterprise, her approach having gone vnnoticed by the third watch. Nik, Hannibal, and the Centvrion all stand shovlder to shovlder amidships silently facing the Enterprise, their hands clasped patiently in front of them as they wait for acknowledgement from her Commodore. Sleeping sovndly in the stern on a bed of palm leaves is ILIKESEVEN – captain of the Batavia. He is neither chained nor caged, and is svrrovnded by hearty, partially eaten portions of well-cooked viandes, fresh frvits, wines, cheeses, and baked breads. ILIKESEVEN’s chest is covered with crumbs, and he snores slightly. The deliciovs scent wafts across the expanse towards the Enterprise. A smirk is plastered to the face of the Centvrion as he thinks about the reaction of the Batavia’s crew when they awake to find their captain replaced in his bed with an armadillo from the New World. Hannibal’s eyes sparkle as he bemuses himself with the thovght of the armadillo’s reaction to a panicky crew. Nik stands expressionless.

As the svn breaches the horizon, the golden catheads of the Pax begin to glimmer. The rvby eyes of her figvrehead blaze, and the gold-tipped Lebanese cedar masts sparkle as jewels. Stray beams catch the gold beads at the end of nik’s dark locks. The morning mists rise from the waters encircling the sails of the vessel and fill the nostrils of those waiting.

The Pax waits patiently in the new dawn..........