New Ambitions

The sun had only just begun to climb over the horizon, casting a pale, golden light over the deck of The Abyss. The ship rocked gently on the soft waves, but Jacob's mind was far from the tranquility of the sea.

This was the first time he had ever freed slaves.

Standing alone at the quarterdeck, he gripped the railing, staring out at the endless expanse of water. His thoughts churned like a storm as he recalled the events of the raid on La Fortune. It wasn't the bloodshed or the battle that weighed on him—he'd been through countless skirmishes before. No, this was something entirely new. The faces of the children they had rescued haunted him. Their wide eyes, filled with fear and uncertainty, had been etched into his mind ever since they had come aboard.

In his past life, before the mutiny, before becoming captain, Jacob hadn't given much thought to the plight of slaves. He hadn't been heartless, but it had always been someone else's problem—something that happened in the background, far from his reality. But now, after seeing it up close, after pulling those children from the belly of that wretched ship, he couldn't unsee it.

Children. Some of them barely old enough to walk, let alone understand what had been done to them. The youngest—a little girl with dark, matted hair and a quiet voice—had clung to him after the rescue, her small hand wrapped around his fingers.

He had never been prepared for this. Being a pirate captain was one thing—leading men, fighting battles, plundering ships—but this... this was different. He couldn't just sail away from this problem. He had taken these children, these people, away from the horrors of slavery, but what had he brought them into? Port Serpent's Reach was no place for the vulnerable. If he left them here, they'd likely be sold back into chains before the week was out. He knew that all too well.

What good is it to free them if they just end up right back where they started?

A part of him wished he could ignore it, pretend it wasn't his problem. But that wasn't who he was anymore. The man he had been before the mutiny—the man who only cared about his own survival—was gone. He was a captain now. These people, especially the children, were his responsibility. And that weight sat heavy on his shoulders.

The sound of footsteps behind him broke through his thoughts. Garrett, his ever-loyal first mate, approached with his usual quiet confidence, stopping a few paces away.

"You've been up here a long time, Captain," Garrett said, his voice a low rumble. "What's on your mind?"

Jacob didn't turn around, still staring out at the endless blue horizon. "The children," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Garrett nodded grimly. "Figured as much. This is the first time you've ever freed slaves, isn't it?"

"Aye," Jacob replied, his grip tightening on the railing. "It is."

Garrett stepped up beside him, his weathered face hard and unreadable. "We've done something good, Captain. Took those kids out of a living hell. You can rest easy knowing that much."

Jacob sighed, shaking his head. "I can't rest, Garrett. Not when I know what'll happen if we leave them here."

Garrett's gaze hardened. "You're right. Port Serpent's Reach ain't a place for people like them. You leave them here, and they'll be back in chains before the week is out. This port's no better than the slavers we took them from."

"Exactly," Jacob muttered. "What's the point of freeing them if all I'm doing is handing them over to another master?"

Garrett studied his captain, a note of sympathy flickering in his eyes. "So what do we do, then? We can't keep them all aboard The Abyss. We're not equipped for that."

Jacob turned to face him, his expression grim. "We need something more. Land. A safe haven. Somewhere we can take them where they won't be hunted down the moment we sail away."

Garrett raised an eyebrow. "A place of our own? That's not exactly a pirate's dream, Jacob."

"It's not about what we want," Jacob replied, his voice firm. "It's about what they need. If we're going to keep freeing people like them, we need a place where they can be safe. A place where they won't be thrown back into slavery the moment we leave."

Garrett's expression darkened, but he nodded slowly. "You're talking about something big, Jacob. Something bigger than piracy. You know that, right?"

Jacob's jaw clenched. "Aye. I know. But I can't look those children in the eyes and tell them I'm doing everything I can when I know damn well I'm not."

As the morning sun climbed higher, casting its warm light over the ship, Jacob called for Barret "Old Wood" Hawkins to join them in his cabin. The ship's carpenter, known for his meticulous work and fierce loyalty, arrived with his sleeves rolled up, still dusted with sawdust from overseeing repairs.

Barret sat across from Jacob and Garrett at the large wooden table, the room quiet save for the creaking of the ship. He looked between the two men, sensing the gravity in the air. "What's this about?" Barret asked, leaning forward slightly.

Jacob didn't mince words. "It's about the children we rescued. This was the first time I've ever freed slaves, Barret. And I can't leave them here. This port will eat them alive."

Barret's face darkened, his brows furrowing. "Aye, I've been thinking about that myself. Port Serpent's Reach isn't exactly a place for mercy. They'd be back on another ship in no time."

Jacob nodded, his voice heavy. "That's why we need to change things. We need to build something. A place where they can be safe. And that means we need more than what we have right now. We need gold, land, connections. If we're going to keep freeing people like them, we need somewhere to bring them."

Barret leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Land, eh? That's no small thing, Jacob. Pirates don't exactly settle down and build homes."

"I'm not talking about settling down," Jacob said firmly. "I'm talking about creating a place where people like those children can live without fear. But we need more resources to make that happen. Which means selling the cargo from La Fortune to Serrano."

At the mention of Serrano, Barret's face twisted into a grimace. "You sure about that? Serrano's not the type you want to be in debt to."

"I don't plan on being in debt," Jacob replied. "We sell the cargo, get the gold, and start planning. This is only the first step."

Garrett crossed his arms, his expression cautious. "You're talking about a long game, Jacob. And Serrano's not the only obstacle in our way. Are you sure you're ready for this?"

Jacob's eyes hardened, his voice resolute. "I don't have a choice, Garrett. I can't turn my back on this. If I don't do something, those children will be back in chains before I can blink."

The room fell into a tense silence, the weight of Jacob's words sinking in. Barret and Garrett exchanged a glance, both men understanding the gravity of what their captain was proposing.

Finally, Barret nodded. "All right, Captain. I'm with you. But we'll need to be smart about this. Serrano's slippery, and we can't afford to let him get the upper hand."

Jacob nodded, a flicker of determination sparking in his eyes. "We'll be smart. But we have to act. This is the only way forward."

Jacob's words still hung in the air when Garrett leaned forward, nodding slowly. "You've already sent Kwame ahead to grease the wheels with Serrano's people. He'll have made sure everything looks legitimate, but we need to be prepared for Serrano to try and push the deal in his favor."

Barret grunted. "He's a man that looks for weakness. If he senses we're desperate, he'll exploit it."

Jacob crossed his arms, his gaze sharpening. "We're not desperate. And that's the story Kwame will reinforce. We're pirates, yes, but we're not in a rush to unload our cargo. We make it clear we're willing to walk away if the deal doesn't suit us."

Garrett tapped the table thoughtfully. "So we're playing this like we've got options, even though we don't?"

"Exactly," Jacob replied. "We need Serrano to believe he's dealing with a crew that has choices. We've captured La Fortune, but that's not our only source of wealth. He needs to see us as an outfit with other ways of making coin, other avenues to sell goods if we don't like his price."

Garrett considered this for a moment, then nodded. "We make it seem like we've got access to other buyers. That we're not dependent on him."

"And that's where Kwame comes in," Barret added. "The man knows how to play that game—he'll talk trade routes, other merchants, even hint at rival buyers. Serrano won't know who to trust, but he'll see enough to think twice before trying to cheat us."

Jacob leaned forward, his tone firm. "Right. The goal is to control the narrative. Serrano needs to believe we've got options, and we've got the upper hand. The more we keep him guessing, the more leverage we hold."

Garrett smirked. "And while Kwame's laying the groundwork, what about the rest of us?"

Jacob's eyes glinted with determination. "We go in ready for anything. Serrano's slippery, and we can't trust him to stick to the deal if he thinks he can turn it to his advantage. We need to be prepared to walk away—or force his hand."

Barret uncrossed his arms, his voice pragmatic. "And what if things turn sideways? What's the play if Serrano tries to double-cross us?"

"If that happens," Jacob said quietly, "we'll show him what happens to men who try to cheat The Abyss."

Garrett and Barret exchanged a glance, both men understanding the weight of their captain's words. Violence wasn't the preferred outcome, but it was always on the table when dealing with men like Serrano.

"All right," Garrett said, rising from his chair. "I'll get the men ready for tonight. We'll have to be careful, but if we play it right, we'll come out ahead."

Barret stood as well, nodding to Jacob. "I'll make sure the cargo's accounted for and secure. Serrano doesn't need to see anything we don't want him to."

Jacob nodded in approval. "Good. We'll act as though we're in control, even if Serrano suspects otherwise. This is the first of many steps. If we're going to build what we need—what I know we can—we have to play this perfectly."

With that, Garrett and Barret exited the captain's quarters, leaving Jacob to his thoughts. He could hear the muted sounds of the crew going about their work above deck, the steady rhythm of the ship carrying them forward. Tonight would be a pivotal moment, one that could either secure the wealth they needed—or plunge them into deeper danger.

Jacob took a slow breath, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders once more. He had freed those slaves, and now the consequences of that act were catching up with him. If he was going to build a sanctuary, a place where the oppressed could find refuge, he needed the resources and the power to do so. And if tonight's deal went as planned, it would be the first step toward that goal.

As nightfall approached, the ship rocked gently in the harbor, a subtle reminder of the constant motion of the sea. The crew gathered quietly on deck, preparing for the night's meeting. Below, in the captain's quarters, Jacob fastened his coat, glancing once more at the charts on his desk. They showed more than trade routes—they showed possibilities, the shape of the future he envisioned.

Garrett knocked lightly before entering, his face unreadable but his eyes sharp. "Kwame's set up the meeting. Serrano's expecting us."

Jacob turned, his expression hardening. "Good. Let's get this done."

The crew descended into the heart of the port as darkness blanketed the streets. Serrano's domain was always a place of whispered deals and silent exchanges, where the line between friend and foe was as murky as the waters they sailed on. They made their way to the meeting point—a secluded room tucked away behind a merchant's store, guarded by men who bore the distinct look of mercenaries.

As they entered, Jacob's eyes fell upon Serrano—a thin man with sharp features and an air of danger that seemed to cling to him like a second skin. He stood behind a table laden with wine and fruit, a shallow smile on his lips.

"Captain Jacob," Serrano greeted, his voice smooth as silk. "I've been expecting you."

Jacob nodded curtly, stepping forward. "Let's get to business."