Early the next morning, before the busses even arrive, Kade and Gideon, dressed in their blue naval cammie pants and black shirts, load up all their gear into Kade's black jeep. "You got everything you need, Treasure?" Kade's eyes flick up to her as she shoulders a seabag with her hiking backpack in another hand. "You can requisition any medical supplies you need from the ship. They're asking anyone with medic training to take it with them." Moving to her, Kade takes the seabag and throws it in the back before he does the same to her other one.

"Aye, I got everythin'." Truly eyes the black jeep. "I t'ought t'ere was a bus takin' everyone."

"There is," Kade agrees as he heads to the right-side driver's door. "It's slow, and doesn't have music, plus," he points to Petals sitting dutifully in the backseat behind him.

"He just refuses to listen to anyone bitching about his dog," Gideon opens up the back door and hops in beside the rottweiler. "And hates being a passenger."

Truly hops into the passenger seat. "Let's be honest. He just want ta get t'ere first."

"Aye, he aims to beat Raven," Gideon agrees as Kade kicks his jeep into gear and peels out of the row like Davy's on his heels.

Truly raises a brow as she grips the door and the center counsel, white-knuckled. "I t'ought he lived in Rimmeny?"

"He does," Kade agrees as he shifts gears and throws the back end of the jeep out in a slide as they round the corner and take the ramp for the motorway.

"T'en why are ye driving with the wind in ye sails!?" Her hand jerks up and grips the oh-shit bar.

Behind Kade, Gideon laughs as he casually reclines, looking far too comfortable with Kade's driving. "Raven's not driving thirteen hours. He's taking his chopper."

Truly squeezes her eyes shut tight. "Feckin' lads!" Several hours later, Truly finally sets her feet on solid ground at a heliport near the harbor, grumbling under her breath how he's just like her feckin' brothers and that lads suck.

As the sound of a helicopter fills the air and a red and blackbird begins to lower, a smug shit-eating grin crosses Kade's face.

Once the helicopter lands and the engine's cut, a man with dark wavy hair similar to Kade's hops out and walks back to pull a slender bag used to hold cutlasses and a seabag from the back of his bird. "Fucker!" He grins, locking his helicopter before he strides over to them. "What time did yuh actually leave, fishbait?"

"What I texted you," Kade retorts, giving the man a one-armed hug.

Raven scoffs as he steps back. "Not with the half sails way you drive." As his eyes land on Truly, he raises a brow and runs an appreciative gaze over her. "Yuh gonna introduce me to the lovely lass yuh brought me?"

Truly goes wide eyes as her gaze shifts from Kade to Raven. To her surprise, Kade counters his cousin when he steps forward to meet her.

As an all too familiar look crosses his cousin's eyes, Kade's body tenses, and his hand snaps out and pushes against Raven's chest.

Caught off guard, Raven's eyes widen, and a look of disbelief crosses his face.

"She's my treasure," an air of possessiveness unexpectedly fills Kade's voice, surprising them all. "You're not dipping into me wife."

"Your wife?" A look of utter amusement crosses Raven's face before a deep laugh rips from him, and he doubles over. Raven laughs for several minutes, grabbing his sides, but the others don't find his mirth amusing.

Not finding it the least bit amusing, Kade's eyes narrow on his cousin. There's nothing funny about me having a bloody wife.

"She really is his wife." Gideon crosses his arms as an air of unamusement surrounds him.

"Right." Raven wheezes. "And I'm Davy Jones." Trying to catch his breath, Raven wipes his eye as he stands. "Man, I haven't laughed like dat in ages." As he takes their unamused looks in, Raven sobers. "Yuh serious?"

"As I am about you never setting foot on the Ann's Revenge," Gideon counters, bringing up a ship nearly as old as the Devil's Sapphire and Black Raven.

Raven's expression suddenly hardens. "Yuh knocked her up?" His eyes drop to Truly's flat stomach. "Yuh know that's no reason ta marry. I'll could'a dealt with yuh mum. Yuh could've just claim di child when it was born if yuh wanted."

"She's not bloody pregnant." Kade's expression hardens.

Truly rolls her eyes as she turns and lets Petals out of the back of the Jeep. "Wanker," she grumbles underneath her breath.

At the term, Raven throws a playful grin at her. "Did yuh blackmail mi cousin then?"

"Blackmail," Truly scoffs as she steps out of the way for Petals to jump down and scratches the dog's hindquarters. "What te feck would I black mail 'im with?" Her look sours before she glances over at Kade, knowing the real reason he married her. "He lost a bet." She shifts back to Raven. "Ye happy now?" It stings a little, knowing that's the only reason he's with her, but the truth hurts. Truly rounds the Jeep to get her bags out of the back.

Raven raises a brow as his younger cousin doesn't counter her. "What di fuck did yuh bet on!?" A look of disbelief crosses his face.

Kade's lips thin. "If Killian wasn't off somewhere balls deep in a woman and suddenly cared who I slept with, I'd make her me wife."

For a moment, Raven just stands there and blinks. Even Gideon seems a bit shell-shocked by the wager and the fact he lost.

"We talkin' bout dat Irish brother of yuh's right? Di one with game as gud as mine?"

"Aye." Tru throws the backpack over her shoulders. "Me black-hearted daddy."

Ready to leave this damn conversation, Gideon turns and grabs his things out of the back of the jeep.

"Yuh black what?" Raven raises a brow.

"Kill adopted her and as his baby unicorn. He wouldn't even let me crack her cup," Kade reluctantly admits as he heads to the jeep and removes his bags.

Dropping his seabag, Raven bursts out laughing again. The idea of Killian as an overprotective dad is so foreign he can't even wrap his head around it. "Oh by thunder, I'm never letting yuh live this down." Sobering faster than he did before, Riven grabs his bag off the ground and shoulders it. "I want to hear more about dis later, but we got ships ta meet."

"Aye." Kade secures his cutlasses at his waist before he slams the back of the jeep closed before he locks it. Shouldering his seabag, he takes Truly's hand.

With a twinkle in his eye, Raven strides over to them both and offers Truly his hand. "Captain Raven Tenley, at yuh service." A grin she recognizes all too well from her cousin Blaine crosses his lips. "Cousin."

Kade's eyes narrow. "Don't ye fuckin' start."

"Truly." She sets her seabag down so that she can shake Raven's hand with her free one.

Raven flashes her a playful grin. "If yuh ever get sick of fishbait, feel free to give mi a ring." Quick on his feet, Raven jumps back, grinning as Kade pulls his arm back, threatening to slug him.

"Yeah, that's a hard pass." Truly dips down and picks up her bag.

Heading to the two sleek Atlantean Naval Cutters, Raven heads to one while Kade, Truly, and Gideon head to the other with Petals at their heels. At the sight of Kade and Gideon, an ensign snaps to attention. "Sirs, ma'am. Let me escort you to the logistics room."

"I don't need an escort on my own bloody ship," Kade grumbles.

"Ye could let ta lad do his job. Just sayin', it's an option." Truly shrugs her shoulders before her lip slightly curls up.

Gideon scoffs. "That'll be the day."

"I suppose the day right after he gets married."

Turning his head towards her, Kade narrows his eyes and glares. "Talk like that and I won't let you join us on the bridge."

"Aye aye, high cappy."

The ensign shifts back, a look of horror on his face for the way she just addressed a High Captain.

"She's cleared, ensign," Gideon throws her a stern look, reminding her on a ship, the ultimate authority is a High Captain, and on this ship, it's Kade.

"I'm going to find me the infirmary." Truly drops Kade's hand.

"Want me to stow your gear?" Kade stills, the rest of them doing so a well.

"Noh, goin' ta need it to pack me supplies in."

Kade's eyes flick to the ensign. "Go with her ensign and see she's given anything she needs and escort her to the bridge."

A look of brief confusion crosses the man's face. "Sir?"

"She's his personal helmswoman in case any sirens washed this way during ta storm."

Truly tries to hold back the odd look she wants to give over the irony of that statement.

"Of course, sir." The ensign snaps to attention, only to gesture for her to follow him. "Let me escort you to the infirmary, ma'am."

"I know where t'e feckin' infirmary is on a cutter." Truly grumbles to herself. "He only pawns ta ensign off on me."

"The High Captain and his First Mate's orders are absolute, ma'am." The ensign throws her a sideways look. "And without me, the bridge is strictly off limits to you. It's a huge honor to be allowed on it during a mission like this. Only those with top clearance are ever allowed within once Captain Brovern takes over."

"Don't I know it." Truly shifts her bag in her hands. "And I wasn't talkin' to ye, ensign."

When they reach the infirmary, Truly walks into the small room with a single examining table in the center. The officer on duty turns to see who is coming in. The lanky, auburn-haired man suddenly becomes erect and quickly turns to face her fully as he snaps to attention. "High Captain Davelvon." He salutes.

Tripping slightly in his step, the ensign's eyes widen before he pales and stands more erect.

"At ease, lieutenant, I am not on duty. Do not address me as High Captain here. I will only be addressed as ma'am and treated as a civilian during this trip, is that clear?"

"Aye aye, ma'am." The lieutenant relaxes his stance as ordered. "What can I do for ye, ma'am?"

"I was told that all trained medics are bein' asked to carry medic packs. I've come to claim mine." Truly tosses her seabag up on the counter and undoes the top, revealing the golden round handle of her cutlass with a siren nestled in the fine in the hand cover.

"Aye, ma'am." The lieutenant moves to a stack of large blue medic bags.

Tru, inwardly sighs, knowing the largest kits are for high-ranking officers. Let's hope Kade won't notice and start askin' questions. "T'e knowledge that I am a High Captain doesn't leave t'is room, gentlemen." She takes the medic kit and shoves it into the seabag before securing the top back up.

"Aye, ma'am," the lieutenant and ensign say in unison.

"Brill." Taking the straps in her hand, Truly pulls the bag off the counter. "To t'e bridge, Ensign."

"Ma'am," he snaps to attention before leading her out. "I'm sorry for my lack of formality earlier, ma'am. I would have never expected First Mate Rous to introduce you of all people as Captain Drake's personal helmswoman against sirens." He shakes his head. "Someone of your status is not a lady of the night."

"The first mate is as unaware of me rank as ye were, ensign, and he will remain that way." She cuts him a stern look. "Woman of t'e feckin' night." She grumbles under his breath.

When they reach the bridge, the ensign nods to the marines on guard. "She's the High Captain's guest."

A large marine turns and eyes the young ensign. "We're aware. Please head inside, ma'am. Captain Brovern's in the logistics room with the yellow hats." Using the slang term the sailors use to refer to the helmswomen and her spotters, who are heavily vetted and cleared to navigate the seas, no others dare treat.

"Brill, t'ank ye, lads." Truly walks into the helm of the Cutter and back to the logistics room, where several men and women are gathered around a conference table.

Lifting his head, Kade flashes her a smile before his eyes drop to a map. "You'll fit, but it'll be close quarters, Payne."

Beside him, a blonde woman in her mid-twenties stares down at the map of a shallow passage. "How close, sir?"

"Meters, Helmswoman, meters." The corner of Kade's lips turns up.

Payne's eyes bulge as she swallows, looking a little paler than she did before. "How many spotters will be on deck, sir?"

"All of 'em," Gideon answers from where he leans against the wall, knowing Kade will scare the poor thing and tell her none. "Five per side and two on the bow and two on the sensors."

Payne nods a brief look of relief in her eyes.

"Dismissed. Go study your charts, Payne. The rest of you refresh your close quarter distances." Kade orders, and instantly all the yellow hats snap to attention.

"Aye, aye!"

Stepping away from them, Kade joins her. "Get everything you need, Treasure?"

"Aye, and learned a few t'ings too." Truly drops her seabag next to Gideon and shrugs off her hiking backpack, letting it accidentally hit Gideon in the crotch. "Oops." She flatly apologizes when the man jerks forward and grabs himself. "Sorry." She hisses, with no hint of remorse in her words.

Hunched over, Gideon glares, knowing just what she means.

"I warned ye, she's a spiteful one." Kade leans in and gives her a chaste kiss. "You are the lady with me at night though," he softly teases.

Truly's eyes narrow. "Is t'at so? Ye better watch yeself or ye'll be spending ye nights ladyless." She lightly smacks his arm.

Kade grins, pulling her against him. "Are you telling me I didn't marry a lady?" The corner of his lip curls as his hand drops to her ass.

Her arms instinctively wrap around him, already feeling at home in his arms.

"Ooo." She seethes, though she softens at his touch. "Ye scallywag. Don't ye be trappin' me in yer words."

"Captain Brovern," a man dressed in a typical commanding officer's uniform clears his throat as he steps into the room, causing Kade to pull away.

"Aye."

"The civilians are here and coming abroad. Once we have a confirmed count, all the registered ones have arrived, we'll depart."

"Good."

Once everyone's aboard, they head to the bridge where the normal bridge crew takes them out of the harbor and closer to the Devil's Keys. It takes about an hour, but an alert resounds through the ship when the keys come into view, informing the crew to clear the deck.

"Clear the bridge, top security clearance only." Kade barks, and instantly all the yellow hats exit the logistics room and relieve their fellow crew members.

Assuming that she doesn't have the security clearance, Truly leaves and finds something to do below. To her surprise, though, Kade catches her arm.

"Stay or you'll miss the best part." He flashes her a carefree grin. "You can join Gideon and the spotters on the deck when they head out if you want."

Once the captain and the rest of the normal crew exit back into the logistics room where Petals stands guard over their gear, Kade steps up beside Payne. "Take us in, Helmswoman, the Brovern way."

"Aye, aye." Throwing the engine's control forward, the boat picks up speed heading straight towards the Devil's Keys. Beside them, the second cutter does the same, but they veer to the left, heading towards the islands farthest out where Raven's island is. Speeding past the biggest of the islands, Payne sharply turns right, angling around the second island that hugs the first as she heads to the third island, Deadman's Cay. Once she reaches its boundaries, the spotters and Gideon head out onto the deck.

"Slow us down, Payne, and take us around once before you head to where I indicated on the map, then kill the engines and wait until my return. I'm going on deck."

"Aye, aye."

Grabbing his pair of binoculars and one for Truly, Kade leads her out to the deck, where the rest of the spotters are spread out with their eyes on Deadman's Cay. As they step out onto the deck, the sea breeze instantly greets them, bringing a sense of contentment to Kade. "We're looking for obvious issues on the sandbars and reefs. Along with any damage on the shore. Ships tend to think they can cut through around me island and Slumbering Haven." He points to one of the largest islands in the keys. "They don't notice the reef and the sandbars until it's too late. Especially in storms."

"Aye, it doesn't help that sandbars are constantly shifting." Truly takes a deep breath in, enjoying the smell of the ocean breeze. "Ye may get it one time, but if ye take the same route, the next ye may find yeself run aground."

"Like that," Kade points off towards one of the cliff faces where two masts list up from beneath the waterline, their sales in tatters. "That's one of many wrecks around the cay. It's a hundred years old. All the modern ones have to be hauled away. We can't risk their fuel and oils contaminating the waters."

"I have a ship off the point!" one spotter calls out, sending Gideon instantly to his side. Kade and Truly quickly join him to find a small fishing vessel run aground on a sandbar, a giant rip down its front penetrates its haul, but luckily there's no sign of fuel in the water. "Payne," Kade calls over the walkie-talkie that'd been secured to his belt. "Stop the ship. We have a boat run aground. Have the rescue team disembark and confirm there's no one aboard and make them check that the tanks aboard are sound. They can rejoin us later."

"Aye, sir." The ship instantly slows. "It should be Aqualholic. We rescued the crew a few miles out of Lost Souls Atoll, but the team was unable to stop the ship from floundering. Communications is radioing in its location so it can be properly retrieved."

Once the landing craft's cleared, the cutter returns to its course around the island, where it's visibly clear there's damage upon the shore, especially the eastern side of the island. "Your professor is going to want to head up there." Kade points to a particularly damaged forest area. "He'll want one of the grad student botanists leading each group. "Devil's touch and Voodooman grow all over that part of the island." His eyes flick to her. "Be careful."

"I'm sure my professor is well aware of what needs to be done. We're having a meeting on the beach, and getting groups set up. There are several that are staying behind to set up clinic tents." Truly grips the railing. "It's shocking to think other scientists know what they're doing too, I know."

Kade rolls his eyes. "I know they took stock from the images we took from above, but I wasn't part of that part of the briefing. Now we're about to hit the fun part, you should stay out here and watch. Payne needs me at her side in case she chickens out." He grins. The mischievous twinkle in his eyes tells her he secretly hopes she does so he can steer the ship.

As the boat stills in front of a wall of high cliffs, Kade reenters the bridge. "Ready Payne? One false move and you'll be sending us to Davy. No pressure." He flashes his Helmswoman a playful grin.

Payne's eyes narrow before they flick back towards the front of the ship. "On your order, sir."

"Take us in, Helmswoman."

Moving straight for the cliffs, Payne's lips thin as she slowly angles the ship and turns towards the cliffs, revealing a large sea cave ahead of them to those on the deck.

"Slow and easy. Keep it to the center and trust your spotters and your eyes." Kade moves to her side. "She'll fit. I've done it a hundred times."

"Aye, aye."

As the ship enters the cave, Truly's eyes widen. Only a madman or a Brovern would even consider bringing a ship through this. She can feel the unease of the spotters as they peer over the sides and call their diminishing clearance numbers into the bridge, but Gideon appears completely at ease. After ten minutes, daylight illuminates the front of the bow, and a large lagoon welcomes them into the heart of Deadman's Cay.

"Good job." Gideon calls out to the spotters.

Moments later, Kade's voice fills the ship's intercoms. "We've reached DeadMan's Cay. All crews return to your stations and prepare to disembark our guests." After he relinquishes command back to the captain, Kade joins her on deck with a carefree smile and a glint of excitement in his eyes. "A fun rush, isn't it?"

"Aye, fun." An amused look crosses her face. "Should introduce ye to me uncle. I t'ink ye'll get along with him."

"I take it he likes a good adventure and has more of a spine than most then."

"Aye." Truly laughs. "Ye call it spine, me daddy calls it a lack of brain matter." As her gaze turns to the upcoming shore, Truly's smile quickly fades. "Oh me stars," she gasps at the destruction.