TITLE: Adventures at sea 1
AUTHOR: Anne
RATING: from FRT
HMS Surprise, 28 guns, 197 souls
Somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, March 1805
Lost in the middle of the Pacific Ocean Dr. Stephen Maturin was ready to die. He was so totally, so completely exhausted that all he wanted was to rest even if it would be for eternity. He had done his best to stay on the surface of the water for two very long days and nights, he thought, but he couldn't continue to swim much longer. He knew that his best friend Jack Aubrey would never abandon his search for him – and that the other man hoped to find him, but it was too much for him to continue to fight to survive. He really needed to close his eyes and sleep.
Maturin was ready to let himself sink in the deep blue water to end his life when suddenly he saw in the sky a huge swirl of orange bright light materialize right above him… and a half-naked man forced out of the light and to fall in the water not far from him. The huge swirl of bright orange light disappeared shortly after with a suckling noise and Stephen saw a dark haired man come out of the water a few meters from him. The deep curiosity taking over his desire to die and rest encouraged him to gather his last strength to swim towards the man who had just fallen of the sky. He wanted to know everything about him, and especially where he came from – could it be paradise? Was he an angel? He mused, so yes, where were his wings? Was he a fallen angel who had been chased away from paradise? That would explain why he didn't have his wings anymore… did the Lord made a mortal of him to punish him from a great sin?
More than furious, Rupert Giles hit the water with his fist a few times grunting to let off stream, wondering where Ethan bloody Rayne had sent him. All that the sorcerer had said to him before the vortex which the Chaos mage had created sucked him up and sent him God knew where, was, "You're going to be happy Ripper, you've always loved Horatio Hornblower's adventures…" The Watcher suddenly shivered with dread, realizing that Ethan had probably sent him to the past, at the end of the 18th century or at the beginning of the 19th century and breathed. "Dear God!… then louder, angrily, he cried out, "And in the middle of the ocean! And half-naked! Damn you Ethan!" Ethan had left him clad only in his pants in order to make fun of him. Thank goodness, his glasses were in his pocket. He thought.
The Watcher wondered how he was going to survive lost in the middle of the vastness of the ocean – or was it the vastness of the sea? - When he suddenly turned around hearing somebody shouting, "Help me! Help me!" and saw a man drowning not very far from him. The moment of surprise past he swam at top speed towards him and crossed an arm around the other man's chest to hold him above the water. Giles then realized that the man had lost consciousness and given his state he knew why: the skin burned by the sun and furrowed by water and salt clearly indicated that he had spent several days swimming. He was absolutely exhausted, thirsty and hungry.
Giles wondered what had happened to the man he was holding on to – for now because he knew he couldn't hold on for a long time, swimming with just one arm. He didn't want to think about it, but he knew he would have to release the man in order to keep himself alive. He could not hold on to him and keep himself swimming while hoping a ship would come by for a long period of time. And amazedly he blinked twice seeing a ship on the horizon, his sails full set.
[Wish granted!] He thought, smiling happily.
Three hours later – which lasted an eternity for Giles still supporting the other man on the surface of the water, swimming with one painful arm, the ship – a frigate the Watcher noted – dropped anchor not far from them.
*
* *
Later aboard the HMS Surprise
Once aboard the ship, two seamen laid the unconscious Dr. Maturin down on the upper deck, slowly, gently, while two soldiers framed Giles. The Watcher saw a man both tall and large wearing a blue gold- laced coat and white breeches heading towards them swaying automatically with the movement of pitching. His hair, seen under his cocked hat, which he wore athwart, was blonde and braided into a clubbed pigtail. Giles guessed that he was soon going to meet the captain.
His mind full of questions the man with the golden epaulettes glanced inquisitively at the tall, muscular and soaked man wearing only his pants and his spectacles who was standing beside his unconscious surgeon and then knelt beside his best friend he considered as his own brother. With fear in his heart, he took the physician's limp hand in his, pressed it, and then looking up suspiciously at Giles, asked him, "Who are you sir? What happened to you? On board what ship were you? What are you? A pirate?"
Giles started, "My name is Rupert Giles captain. I was… " And then he abruptly stopped, thinking, [he's not going to believe you old man and you could possibly be hanged or burnt for sorcery - in a short time…]… He added, "It's a long story captain, and with all due respect you should take care of your unconscious friend here lying down at my feet right away before asking me questions which can wait."
Captain Aubrey nodded, "Of course, you're right." He looked up at Pullings and then ordered pointing at Giles, "I want that man – who could be a pirate - clapped in irons at once Mr. Pullings! I'll interrogate him later."
Lieutenant Pullings nodded, "Master at arms! Take that man in the brig and clap him in irons!"
"Aye Sir!"
The two soldiers framing Giles seized the Watcher and started to take him away. Giles suddenly stopped, turned around, looked at Captain Aubrey and stated, "Captain, your friend is very weak, therefore do not bleed him to lower his fever! [Useless and barbarian practice!] You would be only making him even weaker. Wash his skin with fresh water to take away the salt collected on it and to hydrate it. Then cover his body with an ointment that will grease his skin to prevent his skin from drying out and help retain the moisture. Awaken your friend and make him drink water with a little added wine, he's thirsty and needs to be hydrated, and make him eat something – a soup, a stock would be perfect. Then, let him sleep, he needs to rest. Everything will be fine after that."
The captain bowed his head in thanks to Giles for his much-needed advice then watched the soldiers taking the man to the brig. He looked with awe at the back of the man noticing the numerous scars, which marked his athlete's body. Scars, which had been caused by weapons with blades and by bullets. Aubrey nodded musing that the man was most certainly a pirate to have such combat souvenirs. Yes, the man was definitely a pirate lost at sea during the latest tempest. He yearned to question him and dozens questions came to his mind. But at the moment, he had to take care of Stephen whom two seamen had hoisted on a gurney and fastened it with ropes so that he couldn't fall out of it. They would take the doctor down to the orlop deck where the sickbay was located.
*
* *
Later in sickbay
Stephen half-opened his eyes in almost darkness, his whole body aching, his mouth was dry and his throat on fire. He lay still, attempting to get his bearings, looking around trying to make out where he was and finding it difficult to see clearly and he just waited for the minute or so it took for his eyes to adjust to the very low lighting and until the blurred shapes in front of him began to take on recognizable images, before lifting his head. He found himself in sickbay sprawled on the middle of his operating table on a makeshift mattress made of blankets, his head resting against a pillow.
He smiled weakly seeing Jack at his side and tried to raise himself up on his elbows. The movement caused lights and pain to flare in his head and he settled back on the blankets, groaning at the nausea rolling in his gut. He closed his eyes briefly then opened them again as he heard Jack's voice saying to take it easy, his voice soft.
"Jack?"
The captain smiled broadly, took Stephen's hand in his again and stroking the back of it with his thumb he then said, "Hello my dear, I'm very happy to see you again safe and sound – and I'm very happy that you are now awake. You need to drink and eat." He raised the doctor's head gently, wet the dried, cracked lips with a wet cloth, then he carried a glass of water mixed with wine towards them. Stephen drank just a drop of the cool and pinkish liquid to hydrate his dry throat, then a mouthful, another one, and so on until the glass was empty and his horrible thirst was assuaged.
Stephen managed to smile and murmured, "I knew that you would not abandon me Jack …" He found it difficult to keep his eyes open. His head felt as if it was full of cotton wool, wet, soggy cotton wool.
"Oooh…"
The captain smiled in his turn, broadly, "I shall never abandon you anywhere brother, you are very dear to me." He smirked and added, "Besides I need you to play cello. A duet composed with one person is not a duet any longer." He gestured with his head towards Killick and the other man came closer holding a soup plate of warm stock with a spoon.
The doctor closed his eyes and reluctantly re-opened them when he felt Aubrey shake his shoulder. The blur above him wavered in and out of focus. Gradually it metamorphosed into Jack's smiling face. "You'll sleep later Stephen. It's time to eat your stock."
"Yes mummy," Stephen said amusingly.
The captain frowned and waved a finger menacingly, "You're mocking me sir! I could have you flogged!"
Stephen nodded faintly, "Yes you could and in my current state it would certainly kill me."
Aubrey grinned, "I was joking my dear Stephen. I could never hurt you, you know that."
"Yes I know Jack."
Killick held the doctor in a sitting position; Aubrey took the spoon and began feeding Stephen like a baby, shaking his arm from time to time to keep him awake. "Stay with me Stephen!"
Reading gratitude and pleasure (to be loved and to eat) in the surgeon's eyes, the captain continued making Stephen eat the soup, slowly, so that the doctor would not make himself ill. Then when the dish was empty, Killick lay the physician down, gently, eliciting a long moan from him and then left the sick bay. He came back shortly after holding bucket filled with steaming water on which floated a big sponge. "Killick is going to wash you now Stephen, to remove the salt collected on your skin and also to hydrate it." Aubrey explained.
The doctor nodded faintly, "Good idea."
Jack nodded in his turn, "Yes I think so. The man that we rescued with you told me what to do. He also gave me other advice. Good advice. It looks as if he were taught in medicine. Perhaps he is doctor like you?" [A doctor-pirate, very interesting…]
Maturin moaned with both pain and with pleasure when Killick using the sponge started to smoothly clean and moisten his dry body. His body felt as dry as firewood and felt as he imagined roasted slabs of smoked bacon to feel. Then, he said, "That man saved my life Jack. I was totally exhausted and ready to commit my body to the sea, when he took hold of me and held me on the surface while I fell into unconscious. I would like to see him to thank him, where is he?"
The captain embarrassed shook his head, "Later Stephen, later. You're in no condition to have a visitor."
The doctor smiled weakly, "Ah! Yes, I understand. You put him in the brig, didn't you? He's not dangerous; he's a good man. I know it, I can feel it. You know that I'm a good judge of a man's character… [It's a part of my job as a spy to trust and or to be suspicious of someone at first sight]. You know Jack I think he's… he's… [He's a fallen angel; if I tell what happened in front of Killick, I'm sure he won't be able to hold his tongue…] Killick, please leave us."
The captain's steward nodded, `Yes doctor,' and left.
Jack's eyes suddenly shone with intense curiosity, "Something private to tell me my dear?"
Stephen nodded. "Yes I do"
*
* *
Later
Captain Aubrey was drinking a glass of Port, examining the map of the coast of Brazil when the door of the great cabin opened and Killick entered, preceding two guards framing Stephen's `fallen angel'. Jack ordered the soldiers to leave them alone and then asked his steward to leave too. Once alone, he invited the man currently dressed in too small clothes for him (borrowed from a seaman) and wearing eyeglasses to sit down at his table.
"I am Captain Jack Aubrey, commanding officer of the HMS Surprise." Jack introduced himself.
Giles pushed his spectacles up his nose expecting to be questioned relieved that irons no longer immobilized him.
The first question surprised the Watcher by its content, "Are you a fallen angel, sir?"
Puzzled Giles frowned, "A fallen angel?" Then the Watcher realized why the captain had called him so – the man that he had saved drowning had seen him fall out from the vortex. He smiled then shook his head, "No, I'm not a fallen angel, just a man. Do you believe in magic Captain, in sorcery?"
Aubrey was surprised by the question then he nodded, "Yes I do, why this question? Are you a sorcerer?"
Giles shook his head, "No, but I am the victim of a sorcerer who used magic to make me travel back in time to get rid of me - forever. You see captain; I am a man of the 20th century. I was born in 1954 …"
The captain was more than stunned. " * What? * "
Giles continued, "I'm the librarian of Sunnydale High School, California. But it is a cover because in reality I am a Watcher. I have to … "
Jack lifted his hand interrupting the other man and said, "I know what Watchers are and what they do, sir. One of my uncles, Andrew is a Watcher himself. He has never had to train a Slayer but he dedicated a big part of his life to accumulate texts, scrolls and books, tablets, parchments, etc, to continue augmenting the fund of the library of the Council and I know that all the Watchers are honest men and never lie … "
The Watcher exhaled a sigh of relief and then smiled, "Then you believe me captain? "
Aubrey nodded, "Yes I do sir." He grinned and added, "A man from the 20th century… it's incredible, amazing! Fascinating! I'd like to ask you thousands of questions…"
Giles shook his head, "You know I can't tell you anything, and I'm sure you understand why captain – it would change history."
The captain nodded, "History have already been affected by your apparition here sir. Who knows would have happened if the man you saved had drowned?"
Giles frowned, "He's an important man?"
Jack nodded, "For me yes, he's very important. He's like my own brother, but beside that, yes, he's an important man. He's a spy and his work is very necessary. He could one day prevent Napoleon from invading England Will Napoleon will invade England sir? "
The Watcher shook his head again, "I can't tell you. I'm sorry."
The captain frowned menacingly, "I could force you."
Giles looked down at his crooked fingers – those Angelus had broken as an appetizer before torturing him, remembering vividly his terrible sufferings. He looked up at Aubrey then and said, "You would torture me? I was tortured once, horribly and I said nothing. It would be a waste of time captain, believe me. And I'm sure that you wouldn't do such a vile thing. You are a gentleman, a man of honor and I know that you understand the importance to keep History undamaged. " He sighed and then added, "I'm trapped here with no way to go back in my time and I don't find it * fascinating * captain. I have a Slayer to train and to protect, and thus to protect the world… Well, I had. The Council will send a replacement – well already have surely… I lost my Slayer, my friends, my job, my world… actually I'm quite depressed."
The captain gave a glass of Port to Giles who accepted it with pleasure and swallowed the amber liquid little by little, savoring it. Alcohol burned his throat and fell directly in his empty stomach leaving a trail of fire behind it but invigorated him.
The captain nodded, "I'm sorry for what is happening to you sir, for your great loss and I sympathize, but I'm sure that you will quickly get used to this new life which presents itself to you and will find your place in this beginning of the 19th century world. I know that Watchers all have a big sense of adaptation. Until we come back in to our homeland in a few months, I can offer you to remain aboard sir and to be the doctor's assistant, because I think that you have an extensive knowledge in medicine – that's quite normal for a Watcher in charge of the Slayer often hurt by evil creatures, like vampires and demons... "
Giles nodded too and added, "And who tends his Slayer when she's hurt. I accept your offer captain with pleasure and I thank you very much for receiving me aboard your ship."
The captain smiled, "It's the least that I can do to my express gratitude to the man who saved the life of my dear surgeon, - Stephen Maturin – it's the name of the man that you saved drowning. For this, thank you very much. Stephen is my best friend, almost my brother and his death would have left me heartbroken and grieving till the end of my life." Aubrey continued, "Your name and post will be written on the manifest of the Surprise as soon as possible, sir, what means that you will be part of the navy of His Majesty George III and that you will have to accept the regulations and of course to obey my orders. I shall introduce you to the crew and officers as er… I shall have find something credible to tell them about you."
The Watcher nodded again, "Can I ask you what happened to the doctor captain?"
Jack sighed, "He was thrown overboard during a tempest while he looked at birds with his telescope. You see Stephen is a great spy and also a passionate naturalist ready to risk his life in the name of science to discover an unknown beetle. As soon as the tempest ended I instantly began searching for him. I knew that Stephen would hang on to life and that I would end up finding him. And I was right. Would you like to see him, sir? Of course if you are too tired, that is understandable because you look exhausted … "
Giles smiled, "I'll sleep later captain. I would first like to see the doctor, and see how he is. But first captain, I' d really like to know today's date.
"17th of March 1805."
"Dear God!"