"So what's going- oh, we're going on board your ship? Okay then, whoa watch where you're pointing that gun there." Luke snapped as the Redshirts 'ushered' him and Ashton onto the pirate ship.

"Luke, shut up." Ashton hissed. They had their hands raised to their heads as the pirates kept their guns trained on them. "You're going to piss them off more!"

"Wait, where's Michael and Calum?" Luke asked.

"Who? There's more of you?" A pirate groaned. "The captain is not gunna like this."

"Way. To. Go." Ashton shot Luke a look.

Luke shrugged. "I'm just wondering if they're okay from that cannon."

"But now they know there's four of us!" Ashton huffed.

"It is what it is."

"Guys!" They heard a shout. Everyone looked over the side of the ship to see Calum and Michael running out of the ruined library, to the beach- where the ship was docked. "Were you really gunna leave without us? Talk about rude!"

"See?" Luke told Ashton. "They wanted to come with anyways!"

"Doesn't anybody here understand how dangerous this is?" Ashton whined.

"Get them aboard then put them all in the dungeon." One pirate said to
another.

"Whoaaa, you have a dungeon on your ship?" Michael asked in awe as he and Calum were brought aboard. "This is just like in my videogame!"

"That's it. We're screwed. The treasure is lost forever. We're gunna get arrested." Ashton threw his hands in the air. "Goodbye freedom."

"Drama queen." Luke snapped.

The pirate shoved them into the brig, locking the cell door behind them.

"Who's your captain? I demand to speak to him!" Ashton yelled.

"You'll speak to him when he wants to speak to you." The pirate snapped.

The ship started moving suddenly.

"Where are we sailing to?" Luke asked nervously.

"Open sea right now. Once we get our map back, we'll have a destination." The pirate said.

"But we don't have the map! This dumbshit burned it!" Calum cried, slapping Ashton.

"Ow! Hey!" Ashton snapped and slapped him back. "I only burned the copy, you fuck face!"

"We have the first clue though!" Michael said, stepping around the Cashton fight to stand beside Luke. "We'll tell you if you let us go."

"I don't make the deals here." The pirate shrugged and made to leave. "I'll tell the captain you're here."

"But wait!" Luke cried as the pirate left them. He growled and faced Ashton. "I hate you."

"Feelings mutual." Ashton glared.

"This is all your fault." Luke shouted.

"What?" Ashton exclaimed.

"You're the one who made us go to the library where the pirate guys were!" Luke crossed his arms. "Now we're heading off to God knows where and it's all because of you!"

Ashton shoved Calum out of his way and stormed up to Luke, standing so close that their chests bumped.

"How was I supposed to know they would cannon their way in? It's your fault for telling them that Michael and Calum were with us, they could have stayed behind and sought help." He jabbed Luke's chest. "We're all in this together now, so don't be a prick."

"It's still your fault that the police are after us." Luke hissed, stepping impossibly closer. "You just had to keep the scroll at the bank, huh?"

"I couldn't control what my great grandparents did!" Ashton pushed Luke.

"Yeah? Well, at least my grandparents manage to stay alive!" Luke shouted, shoving Ashton back.

Ashton, Michael and Calum gasped.

"Dude, not cool." Calum shook his head.

"Hey now, let's not start something." Michael tried holding Ashton back, but the furious boy threw him off.

"You take that back. Right now, Hemmings." Ashton seethed.

Luke crossed his arms. "No."

"Take it back!" Ashton shouted, stepping forward.

The giant ship tilted to the side as it crashed over a wave, and they all stumbled to the right.

"No!" Luke yelled.

Water crashed over the side of the ship, splashing against the small, circular, window. It dripped to the floor and Luke slipped on it as the ship suddenly rocked the other way.

They all fell to the other side, landing in a pile.

"Take it back now, or else!" Ashton shoved Luke off him violently as the water rose to their ankles.

"Make me!"

"Oh I plan to." Ashton snarled. He grabbed Luke's shoulders, planning to ram the boys head against the window, when Luke suddenly stopped moving.

And he casted his eyes down to Ashton's lips.

Ashton froze too.

Another wave jolted the ship, breaking them all apart.

"Guys, quit fighting!" Calum cried. "It's like you said, we're all in this together, we can't start arguing now!"

"I know what I said, but I can't stay with that disrespectful asshole anymore." Ashton walked to one corner of the brig. He crossed his arms and hid his face, making sure Luke couldn't see his lips anymore.

"Yeah, same." Luke snapped and sat down, right into the water. "Hey, when did all this water get here?"

-

It was night when the storm finally settled and calmed down.

Luke was huddled in the corner opposite of Ashton. The sound of footsteps coming down the wooden staircase stirred them all awake and he stood up.

"Hello, guests." A voice said.

"Who are you?" Michael asked.

"My name is Willem Janszoon." The voice smiled and stepped into the light.

"Wait but, you're dead." Calum frowned.

"Nah, that's my great grandfather and my dad." Willem waved them off. "Unfortunately, they passed the name down every generation. You didn't let me finish, I'm Willem Janszoon the third."

He stepped close to the cell door. "And I hear you found my ancestors old treasure map."

"Yeah, we did." Luke walked closer. "But we don't have it, its back at home."

"And the first clue was you, so now what do we do?" Michael asked.

Willem smiled. "I have the second clue." He unlocked the door. "Sorry about the wait, I was busy dealing with the storm."

He led them to his office. "Have a seat."

There were only two chairs, so Calum and Michael sat and Luke and Ashton stood behind them, Ashton making sure to keep plenty of space between him and Luke.

"You deciphered the map?" Willem asked, sounding impressed.

"Yeah, we had to use a scytale." Luke nodded. "It led us to the library, where uh, you found us."

Willem sighed. "My great grandfather was obsessed with treasure, and when he discovered Australia, he found it's beaches abundant with it. He dug up every last piece and hid it all together. He created a map that marked where that place was, and all the Willems after him have been trying to find it, but with no luck." He looked up.

"But with your help now, I'd like to team up and find the treasure. I'm the only one who knows what the second clue is anyways, so you need me."

"How do you know what the second clue is?" Michael asked suspiciously.

"My great grandfather passed it down to us as the only clue." Willem smiled. "To show you that us Redshirts aren't as bad as Joseph makes us seem, I'll tell you the clue and then you can decide if you want to join forces or not. If not, we will gladly sail you back home, no strings attached."

"Sounds okay to me." Calum said. "I'm in."

"Yeah, me too." Michael nodded.

"Same. I'm in." Luke said.

"I'm not."

Everyone snapped their heads to Ashton.

"What do you mean you're not in?" Luke hissed.

Ashton ignored him and crossed his arms. He looked at Willem. "I'd like to go home please."

Willem nodded. "Alright. Im sad to see you go, but I won't force you to stay. But to the rest of you, here's the second clue." He leaned forward.

"Riddle me this; buried under something that gets bigger the more you take away, hides a clue that will lead you to the bay. You must be specific, as this clue is in the Pacific. Knowledge is key, and when you discover it the happier you'll be, for then you'll be closer to your treasure and if you get stuck, just look for the feather."

"Ugh, does it have to rhyme?" Michael grumbled.

"What gets bigger the more you take away?" Calum wondered.

"What does it mean by 'look for the feather'?" Luke frowned. "A bird?"

Willem shrugged. "I'm as clueless as you. I didn't even know what the first clue was until now."

He stood up. "We will head back to Sydney right away, and then we'll sail to the Pacific."

He locked eyes with Ashton. "Are you sure you wish to leave?"

Ashton matched his gaze. "Very."

"Ashton, why are you doing this?" Calum whispered, grabbing onto his arm.

"It seems your friend wishes to join up with a different team." Willem said smoothly.

"Huh?" Luke snapped his head up. "What team?" (Wildcats!)

"Our old police friends." Willem led them out of the office.

"How do you know that?" Michael asked.

"I know his type. He wouldn't come this far to just quit. He doesn't trust us and wants to team up with the police instead." He grabbed Ashton suddenly and stomped backwards down to the brig. "Which is why I must do this. The FBI is our number one enemy, any allie of them is a threat to us."

Ashton didn't protest as Willem locked him back in the cell.

"Wait, but, wait." Calum frowned. "I'm so lost."

"Ashton?" Luke asked timidly.

Ashton crossed his arms and looked away.

"You traitor!" Michael hissed, hitting his hand against the bars. "How long have you been planning this? Since your interview?"

"Ash, is this true?" Calum asked.

"Sorry, Cal." Ashton whispered, finally meeting someone's eyes.

"You were going to take all the treasury and credit for yourself!" Michael accused.

"You're no longer our friend here, Mr. Ashton." Willem said. "But I will still bring you home, safe and sound."

He left and slowly, Michael and Calum followed.

Luke stayed behind and walked up to the door.

"What's your plan here exactly?" He asked.

Ashton turned away. "No plan. I'm just done."

"Joining with the FBI isn't being done." Luke glared and hooked his fingers around the bars. "What are you doing? And why are you doing this?"

"I told you, I'm done."

"Is it because of what I said? I'm sorry okay? I take it back. Now stop this and join us! Willem is the good guy here." Luke huffed.

"Leave me alone."

Luke tightened his grip. "Whatever, I never wanted to work with you anyways."

He stomped back up the stairs, paused, and turned around.

"Asshole." He snapped, before blowing out the torch.

Leaving Ashton in complete darkness.
-------------------------------------------------------

Im finally done with school aayyyye