Those Condemned to Freedom

[Captain Del]

Ahoy mates!

Welcome to the humble abode of my story! For those who are veterans of my story, I welcome you back, and sincerely thank you for keeping this story alive and well. For those who are new to reading my works... you don't know what you've been missing

If you are new, you may want to read up on my previous 20+ installments, located in the links below.

Installments 1-19
Installments 20-27

Of course, if you don't feel like it, that's fine as well. The goal of my story is to allow for anybody to jump in to the adventure, and allow them to connect with the characters, possibly even provoking thought in your minds. Every writer’s goal is to have their story change a person's perception of the world itself. Let's let old Del try his work at it, aye?

And now, I present to you, the first chapter of "Those Condemned to Freedom."

EARLY WARNING: Some installments in "Those Condemned to Freedom" maybe be too upsetting to some people, due to the use graphic imagery, pyscology, and so forth. Proceed at your own risk.
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The New Order
1

July 4th, 1724

Delmaria and his crew had arrived in Port Royal in extreme quickness, managing to reach the island without gathering any attention at all. Graham Marsh welcomed the familiar face, as Delmaria had, as always, brought only the finest cargos, possessions his crew gathered while at the black market back in Rio Hacha.

However, Delmaria's face was far from familiar. In order to prevent themselves from being noticed and captured by the heightened security of the Royal Navy, the entire crew had given themselves a makeover. Delmaria's large, boasting beard, which twirled itself in to separate points at it's end, had been nearly completely shaven off, leaving only two small, bushy, parallel strips of black hair on his chin. The eccentric jewelry that littered his place was easily and carefully removed, preventing any blisters from forming. As for the daunting skull tattoo that outlined his face, Delmaria insisted that he refused to let it go, repeating that it was a part of his being. So, they took a few powders that Grace has bought, and smothered it over the ink. The transformation made the pirate look nearly 10, even 15 years younger, and was very popular amongst the crew - with the exception of Darkskull himself.

The pirates took up residency in the former residence of the Greer family. With Gordon out an about aboard the Black Pearl, and June's recent engagement to Blakely fellow, they were given permission to occupy the vacant house as long as they liked, until Gordon, whose name the house was under, was able to return to Port Royal and sell it. As strange as it was for the group of sea dogs to be working in disguise, it was an interesting and exciting change. Grace and Andrea had even taken the liberty of decorating the house with random furniture that had been thrown around under the deck of the Victory Shark, plundered from various Naval and Trading ships that had wandered in to unwelcome territory.

Delmaria studied various letters that had been sent to him, after a few of his landlubber friends had caught ear of his presence. They explained the recent on goings of Port Royal:

The recent spikes in Jolly Roger's attacks had been blamed on freebooters who roamed the islands of the Caribbean, trading with merchants of varied wealth and power. As such, the Navy, under the influence of the East India Trading Company, felt they had the guaranteed right to take drastic measure to "protect the island from wickedness."

Taxes on all goods coming in and out of the island increased significantly, especially on metals, both precious and constructive. Blacksmiths and Gunsmiths were also forced to hand over up to 15% of all profits from metal goods over to the government, unless they wished to be subject of "real 'force.'"

Guards now patrol all areas of the town more frequently, and have the right to pull over any person who looks, acts, or feels like a pirate. Any person that wishes to enter or exit the island is subject to profiling and interrogation, and any weapons found aboard the ship other than a few swords and the cannons for protection against pirates, would be taken, and horded in to Fort Charles, which has been blocked off to the public. Entrance to the King's Run and the Governor's Garden has also been restricted.

Along with these general punishments, the Navy made it very clear to the people of Port Royal was not allowed. They had taken all the pirates that lied dying in the jail, and had them lined up at the front of the now fully repaired Port Royal dock. All children under the age of thirteen were forced to watch each pirate, one by one, be tortured by having the symbol of the Royal Navy burnt on to their chests, and then shot through the temple of the head. While this went on, a High Officer read aloud a new law, which stated "Any persons that have partaken in piracy, are suspected of partaking in piracy, or have any affiliation with known pirates, shall be hung by the neck until death." So far, 17 people have been hung, 5 of them being children.

Riots have been taking place nearly every day, right outside the barricades blocking off Fort Charles. Once the first rock is thrown, the guards are instructed to arrest or kill as many protesters as possible. Over the course of the past five days, the jail cells have been filled to the brim, with conditions only worsening by the minute. As a way of punishment, instead of burying dead bodies immediately, they were laid out on the floor of the jail, and left to disgustify the place until the skin began to deteriorate.

Delmaria slammed his fist against the table where he sat, startling the crew. Except for Bankok, who was undoubtedly in a drunken sleep.

2

July 5th, 1724
1:35 PM

The crew began devising their plan as soon as Delmaria had received his letters, working through their dinner, and refusing to sleep or take breaks until everything was set in to a set schedule. So far, they had planned down how they were to get in to position.

"So, let's get everything straight. Every first Thursday of the month, the East India Trading Company ships make their monthly drop offs, unloading all the cargo they had gathered at the Port Royal docks, and then making their way back out. During this time, the doors of Fort Charles are left open to allow for the various boxes and crates to be horded in for counting, checking and taxing." Delmaria instructed to the crew, who huddled around him.

"Right. So, what does this have to do with anything?" Andrew poked his nose through the small circle.

"Well, at such a vulnerable time, we will be waiting at the dock under a shroud of darkness. Once the cargo is unloaded, we will sneak ourselves within one of the silk containers - as they are always unloaded last - in a cradled position so that their facing may shift if the position of the box does."

"All of us in to one container!?" Andrea cried.

"No, you nitwit. Now, if the Navy were in their usual mood, they would quit themselves half way through the list and-"

As they reached this point in over viewing their plan, a knock rocked against the outside of the door. Grace was given the list and disappeared in to the back room, with the others in tow. Delmaria shuffled his clothing in to order, and went to answer.

When he pulled open the door, he faced five orderly men, completely dressed in red shirts and pants, with a heavy white sash across their chest, buttons lining the torso. Each of him had to himself a bayonet neatly tucked in to the crevice where the arm met the body. Except for the man at the front, who seemed much more decorated from the rest. He lacked the sash which cut across the rest of his group's body, and instead was replaced by short, golden threads hooked at both ends to one button of a pair, creating a ladder affect. Over his heart sat a small array of shining, round medals, each to their own respective reason and dignity. To top himself off, he wore on his sleek, black hair a heavy, red ostrich hat, with a white feather poking out from the top. The sight of it was almost laughable.

"Good evening my fine sir." The officer spit out in an arrogant, "sophisticated" tone. "I am Captain James Dansburth of the British Royal Navy, specifically sent here to Port Royal at the request of Admiral Hugh Longshire's recent passing. As part of my right as a Commissioned Officer, my troop and I will be residing within the...." he read over the paper in his hands. "Balnette, residence. I believe this is to be you, correct sir?"

"John," barked Delmaria at the Officer. He didn't prefer being called by his "Englishman's" last name. "My name is John. And you will not be staying within my household."

"That's not a request, it's an order." Dansburth smiled.

"That's not a wish, it's a warning."

Andrea had by this time scurried out of the back room and to Delmaria's side, lovingly hanging over his shoulder. "Oh, hehe, please excuse my husband, gentlemen. He's in quite a bad mood today." She nudged her elbow in to his side, as she stepped out of the way, allowing the five soldiers entrance. "John, be a dear and get these fine lads a drink while I get them accustomed, will you?"

"Certainly...." Delmaria dragged his feet as he headed to the back of the room where the cupboard was, opening it and yanking out five wooden cups.

"Wine, if you happen to have any, please." Dansburth smirked as he plopped himself in to a chair at the table near the entrance to the house. As he and Andrea engaged in conversation, Delmaria, whose back was to the group, pulled out medium-sized bottle of red wine, and poured a regular amount in to each of the cups. As he placed the bottom down on the counter in front of him, he slide out a small tonic bottle that he had kept tucked under his shirt, held to his body by his tight leather belt. He dripped a few specs of the green liquid quietly in to each of the refreshments - which Grace had made for him earlier that day, "just in case" - and then hid it back at his side. He picked up the five glasses in a very awkward, grasping position, and placed them down on to the table all at once.

"Melissa, please follow me." He lightly pushed his hand on Andrea's back, and led her in to the back room where the rest of the crew hid, as the Navy drenched their throats in the poisoned wine.

Delmaria closed the door behind them, and quickly handed a potato bag to Andrea, Buck, Wisdom, Firesteel, and himself. He bent over, and told them in a whisper, "Alright, as soon as I open that door, we're going to have to burst out and wrap one of these things around the head of those mates, aye?" He peered his head through a small crack in the door, examining the scene in the living quarters. "Alright... Buck, Jack, you'll get the two mates by the door. Wisdom, the bloke that's leaning against the counter off to the side. Andrea, that mate that took your seat across from Dansburth.. Leave the Officer to me." He wrapped his hand around the door knob, and looked back at the crew, anxious and worried. "Make this count. Annddddd........ GO!"

The crew flung themselves threw the wooden door in a stampede, charging in to their respective targets. Before the soldiers had a chance to react, the pirates had gotten to them, pushing the bag over their heads and wrapping it tight. Each of them pushed their target's head against the wall or the floor, except for Darkskull, who took the liberty of using his favorite move, slamming the mate's head down face first on to the table. They all immediately slinked in to lifeless heaps, as the crew cheered loudly and laughed uncontrollably.

Grace and Andrew walked out from the back, studying the bodies lying helpless on the floor before them. "I saw no use in having to waste a perfect Sleeping Potion when you could have just done that." Grace snapped in only the most serious of attitudes. The rest of them just laughed.

"The trouble isn't knocking them out; it's keeping them in dreamland long enough so we can do what we have to get done." Delmaria winked as he knelt next to Dansburth. He smirked as he looked over him. "Forget those plans, mates. I've got an even better idea..."

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There we go, Chapter 1 in full! As you can see, sometimes the chapter may be broken up in to separate sections, depending on that part of the story. Hope you mates liked it! As usual, be sure to comment, critique, and rate!