The captain turned to his first mate, who exercised his will admirably.  The first mate was quite a bit younger than he, among the youngest on the crew, but had risen through the ranks quickly, gaining the respect of nearly every man on the ship.  He may have even been younger than Joanna, but was strapping, mid-length brown locks framing a handsome face.  His body was lean but powerful, and his features did not appear unkind like most of the men.  Even in his youth, he seemed more disciplined than most.<br/><br/>With a short nod, the captain acknowledged the first mate's instincts and his eyes to the two stowaways.  "That is a most unfortunate oversight, young miss," the captain explained.  "We will not be returning to London.  Too many bluecoats, and now that we have what we need, there's no need for us to return."  He turned on his heel, pacing around the girls in a predatory manner, however it mostly seemed to back his men away from them, creating a ring of space between the girls and the men who craved flesh or blood.  In both a literal and figurative sense, it seemed the captain was all that stood between the girls and an uncertain fate.<br/><br/>"As you can see, you're something of a distraction on my ship," he explained.  "Whether your soft features or sharp tongues," he explained with a pointed glance at Ellen.  "I'm not sure I could guarantee your safety here."<br/><br/>"I'll keep 'em plenty safe, cap'n!" one of the more haggard of the crewmen claimed, taking a few leering steps forward.  "So safe, I'd never let 'em out of m'bunk!"  A raucous cackle erupted out of the crew and the man took a step forward, grabbing at Ellen's backside.  His fingers had scarcely grazed her pert posterior through her dress before the captain's fingers gripped tightly around his wrist, jerking him away, thumbs locking against his palm.  He twisted the man's arm violently, jerking it behind his back as a loud 'pop' echoed around the ship.<br/><br/>The pirate snarled in agony, his free hand reaching to his belt for a flintlock pistol stowed there.  The captain released his hand and he whirled to bring the pistol to bear, his other arm flopping raggedly as he spun, but the captain remained one step ahead, raising an elbow into the pirate's twirl and clocking him in the jaw.  The captain then whirled, catching the pistol under his arm and jerking the man's hand, loosing his grip and allowing the weapon to be snatched from his fingers.<br/><br/>When the captain turned to face the man, he bashed the butt of the flintlock into the pirate's nose, and as he staggered back, fired the weapon down into his boot, grazing the outside edge of his foot.  The pirate fell back, crying out in surprise from what he must have thought would be a more definitive hit.  As he landed on the ground, howling and backing away, the captain dropped the pistol to the floor and kicked it over to him.<br/><br/>"Did anyone else want to try their hand?  Hmm?" he asked, turning to the crew.  "Are they so tempting to you that you'll test my patience for a feel?"  Unsurprisingly, no one had anything to say, though the first mate had a small smirk on his lips, seeing justice dispensed so quickly and without question.<br/><br/>Vance Harrington returned his attention to the girls.  "As mentioned.  You're something of a<i>distraction.</i>And now, because of your transgressions, I find myself short-handed, so I ask you:  Is what my men say true?  Are you really good for nothing more than attracting sharks?"<br/><br/>The elder of the two girls spoke up.  "Your crew is wrong," she said defiantly.  A brief murmur of surprise came from the men, and even the captain raised a curious eyebrow.  "Let me work for you.  I'm a quick learner and willing to learn anything.  I can learn how to clean or cook, anything you need help with."<br/><br/>"I see," the captain replied skeptically.  "You think that you and your sister--"<br/><br/>"<i>Not my sister,</i>" the elder girl replied sternly.  "She's not a part of this.  She's to be left alone, but given food and safe passage."<br/><br/>The captain's eyes narrowed.  "You would have me feet two mouths for the sweat of a single worker?" he asked, an uncharitable tone rising in his voice.  "You'll have to work twice as hard as any of these men for that kind of bargain."<br/><br/>"I'll do it," the girl replied.<br/><br/>Harrington sucked in his breath, a look of annoyance wrinkling up his features as he considered the proposition.  Even the crew seemed to hold their breath; Harrington was not known to be a bargaining man.  A long, frustrated exhale escaped him before he finally spoke.  "You should know, young miss, that if you fail to do so, I will either give both of you to my men, or to the seas.  When that time, I'll make you choose your fate, or I'll slit both of your throats where you stand."<br/><br/>The elder girl did not seem cowed.  "I'm glad I'll never have to make that choice, then."<br/><br/>Harrington sighed, an action which counterintuitively resulted in a rueful smirk.  "Very well then, young miss.  You have yourself a bargain."  The crew half gasped, half mumbled in shock.  "There's a cabin with a bunk bed in the lowest deck.  It is currently storage for cannonballs, but if you can clean them out and make room for yourselves, it just may serve you well.  Take care of it, and if you finish before dinner, you may eat with us and introduce yourselves properly.  Report to my chambers in the morning for your first assignment."<br/><br/>His orders given, there was only one more thing to address.  "And to any of you who get any ideas about why these two have been kept above the waves, remember this:  They are under<i>my</i>protection, for the time being.  Give them food, give them water, give them work, give them<i>hell</i>.  But should any man touch a hair on their heads, he will answer to me.  Understood?"<br/><br/>Grunts of approval came from the crowded men.<br/><br/>"Good," the captain grunted back.  "Now,<i>get back to work," </i>he snarled, storming back towards the navigation deck and leaving the wounded pirate to stand on his own, hobbling towards a few crewmates who popped his shoulder back into place.