Things get rocking in this one-- swordfights, cannon fire, and a
surprise guest!

Disclaimer: Characters and associated details are property of
Hanna-Barbera and are used for non-profit entertainment purposes only.

Archiving permission granted.

THE REAL ADVENTURES OF JONNY QUEST

Synopsis:  Now we get cooking.

"FORTUNE'S WIND", chapter 3

by Eric R. Umali

"Turn the Tide"

Shafts of smoky sunlight were the only illumination in this part of the
hold.  Barrels of provisions were stacked high among other uninteresting
crates and boxes.  Jonny, sword drawn, searched the place, looking for
whetever it was Black Dog had been told about.  Completing  a circuit of
the chamber, he headed for the far hatch that led to the aft cabins.

The first thing through the hatch was his sword, followed by a
cautiously exposed golden haired head.  Jonny clambered up into the
splendidly appointed officers' cabins.  Their exotic wood paneling,
spacious chambers and shining brass accoutrements were a far cry from
the crew's housing.  Finding no resistance, he climbed to the top deck,
the captain's quarters.

**********

The battle on the gun deck was furious.  Smoke hung heavily in the air,
but all guns were silent, having been replaced by the sabre and cutlass
and hands.

>From their respective vantage points, "Black Dog" Wildey and Captain
Benton Quest directed their troops.

"Take the fight to 'em, boys, but bring Quest to me!" hollered Wildey.

Hadji ducked, his black ponytail nearly being clipped from his head by
an exceptionally enthusiastic sailor.  The young man brought his wide,
curved sword up and moved to return the favor.

"We're beating them back, men!" cried Quest.  "I want Wildey alive!"

Commander Bannon muscled his way through the pirates, using his fists as
much as his sabre. They fell before him quickly, but kept coming back.

**********

Captain Quest's cabins took up the entire space of the upper aft deck.
A giant altar of an ebony desk faced the doors, a dozen windows with a
grand vista behind it.  His plush mattressed bed was recessed to one
side, and a myriad of sceientific and navigation instruments occupied
the other.  These Jonny examined first.  He concentrated on the many he
did not understand first.

Giving up on them, he turned towards the desk.  Behind it sat an
ornately decorated chest.  Jonny sheathed his sword, then drew his
dagger.  He jammed the blade into the lock mechanism.

"Step away from there, pirate."

He turned to the voice, dagger still in hand.  Standing before him was a
vision that Jonny was quite of two minds about.  On one hand, the
fire-haired young woman was the most strikingly beautiful girl he'd ever
seen.  Jonny lost himself in her sea-emerald eyes before taking in the
rest of her.  Below the flowing waves of red hair, she had on a dark
green shirt, with billowing sleeves.  A tailored brown leather vest and
what looked like tight riding trousers delineated a fine form.  Dark
brown boots encased her legs to halfway up her thighs.

On the other hand, this fire angel brandished a sabre, pointed right at
him.

"Now, see here, Miss...?"

"You hardly need to know my name.  Step away from the captain's things,
pirate, and face justice."

"Ha," he laughed.  "What was that?  'And face justice?'  You've been
reading too much."

She looked puzzled for a moment.  "And what would a pirate know about
reading?"  Jessica's hold on the pistol wavered imperceptibly.  The
pirate was the most handsome man she'd ever seen-- longish golden blonde
hair falling over glittering eyes the color of the open waters.  The
black vest she'd seen before was trimmed in gold.  With its tailored
shape and his exposed long, lean arms, he cut quite a dashing figure.

Jonny was about to respond when Jessica stopped him.  "I have no
interest in what you have to say, pirate.  Now draw your sword."

"Why would I do that?"

"To surrender it to me... or to defend yourself."

Suddenly, his hand was on her wrist, twisting the sword from her grip.
Jessica gave a small cry-- more in surprise at his ability to have
gotten so close so quickly than in pain.

Jonny backed away a few inches, Jessica's sabre now pointed at her
throat.  "Now," he began, a sort of lopsided smirk forming, "we can
carry on a civilized conversation.  That begins with introductions.  My
name is Jonny."

"No last name?  Very civilized.  My name is Jessica Bannon, though you
may not remember for too long."

"And why not?"

Jessica's answer took the form of a knee to Jonny's weak spot.  Dropping
the sabre, he staggered back, doubled over.  She retrieved her sword and
leveled it at the groaning pirate.

The sabre swung straight at his head.  Jonny's own sword flashed from
its scabbard.  The blades met with a sharp clang.

They stood with their blades locked.  Jessie's sabre gleamed, its
polished blade and brass basket and hilt showing little sign of use.  It
was her father's ceremonial sword.  Jonny's was like none she'd seen
before-- its blade thin and curved, with a gold hanguard and handle
wrapped in silken cord.

Both backed away and began the duel in earnest, the swords crossing
again and again.

**********

Out on the deck of the *Questor*, the battle was at full pitch.  The two
sides were at a stalemate, with no ground gained or lost.

There was a noise of glass shattering.  Everyone within earshot turned
to see the black mass fly through the broken window, crashing to the
deck.  Jonny scrambled to his feet.

"So what have you found, friend?" yelled Hadji from behind him.
Laughing despite being in the thick of the fight.

"A she-devil is what!" Jonny called back, and sprinted towards the aft
cabins again.  Jessica appeared in the doorway, then leapt to the deck.

She and Jonny continued the duel, surrounded by a massive audience.
Commander Bannon pushed his way through the crowd.

"Jessica!  What in blazes do you think you're doing?"  The big man moved
towards his daughter, only to be blocked by a dozen pirates who knew
this was Jonny's fight.  Bannon struggled against them mightily.

She answered pausing to trade blows.  "This... pirate... was in... the
captain's cabin!  He was trying to steal... Heaven knows what!"

Before Jonny could retort, the air was shattered by a deafening roar.
The bow of the *Questor* crumpled, skewing the long prow at an akward
angle, sending pirates and sailors alike into the drink.

Jessica turned from the damage to scowl at Jonny.  "Coward!  You fire
upon your own men?"

"That shot did _not_ come from the *Bandit Queen*!" Jonny shouted back,
as confused as everyone else.

Another boom, and seawater splashed onto the deck.  Jonny ran for the
railing to see another ship, guns at the ready, barreling straight for
them.  The *Questor* lay between this new ship and the *Bandit Queen*,
and it took another pair of hits.

"They've used our battle to sneak up on us!" he shouted.  Soon, Hadji
was at his side, his spyglass pointed at the interloper.  The battle had
been abandoned in favor of self-preservation, with sailors and pirates
scrambling back to their respective posts.  "Who are they, Hadji?"

The Indian adjusted his focus.  The billowing white sails sharpened in
his view, and he ran his sight up the mast.  "The Union Jack," he said.

"The Brits are firing upon each other?"

"These are colonial forces."

Jonny cursed.  "Damn them!  They're as bloodthirsty as any buccaneer!
Who is it?"  The "Black Dog" and his crew had faced the colonial forces
before, and always come out on top.  Jonny searched his memory for their
tactics and strengths.

Focusing on the deck of the fast approaching ship, Hadji made out the
huling figure commanding the ship.  He lowered the spyglass slowly.

"Who is it, Mr. Singh?"

"An old friend of ours.  The blackhearted governor of Jamaica himself."

Jonny spat on the deck.  His voice was a low, threatening hiss.

"Jeremiah Surd."

TO BE CONTINUED...