[i]WHAM![/i]

"That'll teach ya, you bloody scumbag," the young man spat as Gideon saw stars. He stared up at the darkening sky, trying to wonder about what just happened. He wasn't completely sure on the whole thing. One minute, he had been chatting up the young cute barmaid and the next, he was flat on his back out in the street. Gideon sat up, placing his arms between his legs like a little child and blinked slowly as the rain water dripped down into his face. He just shook his head and stumbled to his feet, the weight of the blow and how drunk he was overtaking him. The barely lit street gleamed in front of him as he headed down toward the docks, but as he walked, he asked himself more than once, "Where did my life go?"

He was formerly one of the most feared and respected captains on the high seas. Now he was a lowly deck hand, reduced to tending his own ship without a crew all because of one minor mistake. He growled as he thought of the pirate lords. They would take him back if he pulled of a heist. An amazing heist. One that would bring all of them much money and fame and power. But unfortunately, there were only legends of places like that. He stumbled the rest of the way down the street. 

"I recognize a man down on his luck when I see one," a loud voice came from nearby and Gideon glanced up. Over on the side, he noticed an older man, leaning up against a wall. Stepping out into the moonlight, he saw the grimy beard and recognized the hard eyes of Fingerless Joe Jack, one of the stranger pirates on the high seas. Gideon just rolled his eyes, but hopefully unnoticeable to Fingerless Joe. "'ello Gold."

"Jack," Gideon said, narrowing his eyes. "And why would you want to help me? I 'ear you help no one but yourself." 

Joe cackled maniacally and moved in closer. Gideon's hand immediately when to his saber and Joe held up his hands, laughing loudly again. "Steady, boy. I mean ya no 'arm. I just want to tell you about a little temple, on an island, not too far from here." Joe reached into his bag and pulled out a map. "You see, there is an ancient temple just a week's trip yonder east. Inside, there is a golden statue, very small, but worth a lot of month, especially to the British as a bargaining tool to the Order of Askarnia, the women who guard the temple and who's people live on the island. If you were to steal the statue and take it to the pirate lords, I am almost sure that you would be reinstated in the legion." 

Gideon, as Joe told the story, smiled widely and said, "May I take the map then?"

Joe cackled again. "Only if I get a piece of the loot. Whatever cut the pirate lords give ya, I want a fourth." 

Nodding slowly, Gideon took the map as it was handed over to him, but he smirked in his mind. They hadn't shook on it, therefore, a deal was not struck. Gideon waved the map at him before taking off down the dock to his boat. He climbed aboard, gripped the slick wooden ladder with his thin fingernails and hoisted himself up overboard. He slid across the slick wood and headed to the wheel of the boat. He smirked again. It was time to get his position back.