Progressive Story 4

[Mithra Dweller]

Nessie was choking on sea water. Her whole body heaved as she tried to expel the worst of it. Her chest ached terribly from the effort, and she wondered vaguely at that. However she couldn’t wonder to long for the man was issuing instructions for them to get moving, and to get out of sight. Still unable to talk without violently coughing, she had to just simply follow instead of coming up with a scathing reply that would probably include something about his overall intelligence. She was also fated to remain unable to speak for some time as she was unable to catch her breath during their mad dash through the foliage. When at last they were well enough away from the beach they slowed to a steady march. Nessie was exhausted. Nearly dying just after swimming to her limit would do that. Not to mention the run she just did. Finally she could take it no longer. Sitting decisively down she started to tug at the braids in her hair that were caked in sand and salt water. The man turned around when he noticed the absence of her breathing.

“Are you intending to stay there?” he asked.

“What do you t’ink?” She snarled. She didn’t want to be rude, but she was very tired of being constantly on the move, and she wasn’t going to take guff from anyone. Now that she had her voice back she was ready to let him have it. “I just had o’ night of pushing me body to its limits and now you want me to run as though the ‘uonds of ‘ades was after us. So, no offense, but I can’t keep up. So I is just going to sit here and take o’ breather before taking o’nother go at the ‘ole running thing.”

Michelle who was also panting rather hard, looked guiltily at the man before also sitting down beside Nessie. The man seemed to wrestle with himself for a bit before also sitting down, though he didn’t look happy about it. “Fine.” He said. “Five minutes. Then we keep going. I don’t like how close to the beach we are.”

“Listen, buddy.” Nessie was definitely losing any self-control she had. “I am going to sit ‘ere till I can breath again, feel my limbs, and re-braided my sorry excuse for ‘air. If you ‘ave a problem with that, then you can just go on without me.” Nessie gave a glance at Michelle. “And you might want to consider, that she can’t run so good neither.”

He looked like he might say something rude back to her, but he seemed to think better of it. So instead he sat there and watched the foliage for signs of anyone following. The seconds turned into minutes and the minutes soon became an hour. Finally Nessie stood, and said, “Okay, now I can go.” So they once more made their way into the undergrowth and continued their exploration of the unknown land.

[Shadow Viking]

"Woe is me..." warbled a sodden voice from the center of the crowd. Dead drunk, Lisbeth was hamming it up and entertaining "Woe is absolutely me... not you, not you, nor you, nor you, definitely not you, Regulus," she slurred, squinting at a young, mopey looking teen with the dark, shaggy hair under his tricorne covering one eye, "You poser. Woe is meeeeEEK!"
She rolled off the table.
"Oh dearie me there is a table there."

It was all regulars tonight, like the last couple of nights, or the last hundred- Lisbeth was having a hard time remembering at this point. Of course, she mused, anyone would be a regular now even if they'd been new a week ago, or a year, however long.

She had started off furious at Cornelius. Then she'd gotten depressed. Then she'd gotten bitter. But now, she'd honestly forgotten about him, and was mostly drinking for fun, or to dull the pain of the hangover from drinking too much the night before, resulting in an endless cycle that left her using almost as much of her stock as all her patrons were.

She had played some fierce betting games with a large group of her most loyal customers, and had won about 7 out of 10. Nobody really wanted to play anymore, so now everyone was taking it in turns to tell a story or play an instrument or put on a skit. Right now she was imitating a local lady who went through several suitors a season claiming that each in turn was her true love and weeping bitterly when they left her, until of course she met the next one. Lisbeth secretly thought she might just not like guys.

Lisbeth giggled. "That's quite enough of that. Regulus, come on, have a go!"
Regulus looked down at his feet and shook his head, though he was grinning a bit. It was at about that point, though, that they realised the door was open, and a silhouette stood leaning against a door frame.
"Hey! Regulars only!" Lisbeth snapped after a moment of silence. The rest of the bar laughed and went back to their drinks and conversations-

Only to look back up a moment later, as the figure stepped into the light and spoke.

"Where... grr... where is Cornelius?"

Nobody spoke. Everyone stared.

The stranger was in rough shape. Bruised and tattered, he had obviously been beaten by someone. There was blood on his shirt and pants, and his gut was bandaged hastily.
Oh, and he was holding a gun.
Which he raised.

"Where... is... Cornelius?"

***

The stranger had lowered his gun and introduced himself as R. Chandler once it became evident that Cornelius was not in the building. He had, however, not been happy with Lisbeth's lack of knowledge as to Cornelius' whereabouts; thankfully, a pub regular, Tony, had seen Cornelius and the Not-So-Late Black Eye down at the wharf, boarding a barque called Hoqwash, about a week ago.
They were "probably long gone an' all-"
Which was why Chandler, Lisbeth, Tony and Regulus went searching the docks for a fast ship and anyone who knew where the Hoqwash was going.
They found both-
Which was why they were at sea on a small, fast ship called Ophelia's Revenge, the captain and crew of which claimed to have overheard Cornelius and Black Eye discussing directions, though it didn't sound like they knew precisely where they were going themselves.

Lisbeth had also found out that she got seasick very easily.

[Bluesecrets]

On this strange journey, Michelle realized that not only had her life changed in a crazy way, but that she was beginning to realize what a pain in the arse, spoiled brat, complete idiot she had been. Putting on heirs every single day, thinking she was important, when she really was just the daughter of a shop keeper. She sighed and kept walking along with her rescuer and Nessie. She had no clue where they were headed. She was not even sure she really wanted to know. Just to be off that godforsaken ship with all those stinky people. She was so tired and hungry. She has wounds, scratches, bites, and they were all probably on the verge of being infected. A bath...this would be heaven to her. She sighed again and continued to follow.

When he finally thought they were safe, he stopped, "Ye girls rest again. I will find us some kind of shelter for the night. We dare not risk a fire tonight, but we need to find some food and water would be nice."

Michelle nodded and began looking around for any signs of water and anything to hold it in. She saw coconuts, but was clueless about how to open one. She'd learned that helping this man was far better than just sitting around. Get the work done, get it done right, and then she could collapse for the night.

[Elephant Captain]

One month, then two, and now three had gone by, with no sign of Mad Hair. Cornelius finally decided that he had had enough of this and went to the cabin where Black eye had spent most of the three months, only coming out when the ship had to stop somewhere to re-supply.

He was just about to bang (loudly) on the door, when it abruptly opened. Cornelius caught himself before he fell, but Black eye saw him fumble.

"Lost yer way, have ye Corny?"

"As a matter of fact, I am right where I want to be." he moved right up to the much bigger (But not much taller) Black Eye. "Right in front of you." He continued on before Black Eye could say anything else. "I have just about had it with you! Locked up in your cabin, coming out only when you have directions to give us, and not telling us anything about how or where you are getting these directions form! Further more--"

Black Eye slammed a big meaty hand over Cornelius's mouth, who, as usual, bit it. Unlike previous times (This happened almost once a week), Black Eye didn't even flinch, for his attention was directed at a crewman who was standing nervously aside. "What is it?" he said to the crewman.

"We've g-g-gotten to the c-c-coordinates you specified, s-s-sir" stumbled the crewman. Black Eye smiled. "Good goo-- WOULD YOU STOP THAT!" He quickly withdrew his hand away from Cornelius, who was now spitting vehemently. Black began contemplating on the best way to punish Cornelius for his insubordination, when a cry ran out from the crowsnest. “Sail two points off to port!” Cornelius momentarily forgotten, Black Eye rushed to the port side of the ship, and scanned the horizon with his spyglass. A moment of doing so, and he suddenly gave a loud, piercing yelp. “IT’S HIM! ALL HANDS ON DECK! MAKE SAIL! REVENGE IS AT HAND!” He then dashed to helm, took control over it, and the Blood Queen began to pick up speed, angling towards the Dark Thunder



Cap’n E

[Mithra Dweller]

Nessie fell asleep almost instantly once they had eaten. The meal of coconuts and some sort of rodent had sated her, giving her more satisfaction than she had gotten in weeks. The forest grew dark and she had felt twinges of unease, but had had no energy to explore. The others had remained awake for some time afterwards watching the fire die, but they too suucumbed to sleep eventually. Von Hunken (Michelle had revealed his name) slept lightly keeping an eye on the trees, yet even he was not prepared enough.

The fire had died to nothing more than a tendril of smoke that lazily made its way to the night sky. All was quiet and calm. If someone had been watching and had been looking closely they may have noticed that the darkness wasn't completely empty. Every few moments a soft rustling would break the silence, sounding like the wind blowing through the leaves. Yet there was no wind. No breeze lifted the leaves, but natives. Eyes glowed in the moonlight as they watched the weary group. Von Hunken leaned against a tree and the two girls slept curled around the fire pit. If they would have listened closely to the rustling they might have made out the sounds of the native's tongue. Flowing along in short clicks and vowels. If they could hear and understand they would have learnt that the natives found the group very interesting, especially the pretty one who slept closer to the man. If they had learnt that they might have been able to fight their way out, or perhaps divert the disaster all together,but they didn't hear, and they didn't divert the problem.

So it was that when Nessie woke, she didn't find herself comfortably on the ground next to the remains of their now cold fire, but tied to a pole in the midst of a horde of natives.

[Elephant Captain]

The Blood Queen wasn't a ship built for speed, but then again, the Dark Thunder was laden with cargo, for it had recently pillaged a fat little merchant ship. Therefore, the Blood Queen was slowly closing in on Mad Hair's ship.

It didn't take long for Mad Hair to realize that the innocent merchant ship that he had spotted wasn't so innocent. He quickly ordered a crewman to hand him a spyglass. A few minutes of scanning the ship, and he lowered the spyglass, frowning. "I don't recognize the ship. Either they are some navy ship in disguise, a stupid merchant in need of supplies, or a pirate. I rather doubt it be a pirate ship, for no sane Pirate would use a ship like that..." He trailed off lost in thought. Another while of studying the ship, which was flying no colours, he returned his attention to the crewman. "Tell the crew to stand by for battle. I suspect this isn't going to end nicely." Again, he raised his spyglass, studying the ship, which was still to far off to see much, though it had definitely put on all sail. Even the studsails, which really meant that the ship wanted to catch the Dark Thunder Something wasn't right here, but Mad Hair couldn't place it.

---------------------------------------

"I knew this wasn't going to end well."

Cornelius was watching the ship, scuttlebutt saying it was the Dark Thunder, Black Eye's old ship, and turned the borrowed spyglass to it's owner. "As soon as I saw that man walking, I knew something bad would happen. And if I live through this, I shall--"

"ALL HANDS ON DECK!" Bellowed Black Eye, interrupting Cornelius's thought. Wearily, he turned around to gather with the rest of the crew, though being mindful to stay as far away from Black Eye as possible.

"All right ye landlubbers, listen up! That there ship be our destination! And unless any of you feel like meeting Davey Jones face to face, I expect ye to arm up, and prepare to take it!"

A few crewman cheered loudly, with some others mumbling excitedly among each other. The rest, men like Cornelius who were here against their will, didn't say anything. Black Eye noticed these men, and spoke to them. "To all those who are 'unwilling' seaman, I'll put it in blunter terms: Either ye fight, or ye'll get killed by the crew on the Dark Thunder." Black Eye frowned. He looked as if he let slip some information he wasn't supposed to, but Cornelius was pretty sure he was the only one who noticed.

As the crews of the two ships began tensing up, the distance slowly closed between the two ships.



Cap'n E

[Bluesecrets]

Michelle woke with a start. "Cannon fire!" She gasped.

The man nodded. "Hush, I'm trying to figure out what direction it is coming from."

She silently began trying to make some food for them. It was morning, well it was light. As tired as she had been, it could be late afternoon for all she knew. Coconut..again. She really didn't like coconut. And maybe if she got lucky..she could get a fish out of the stream they were by. But she didn't really like fish either. Oh to have a good meal..a bath..some clothes that were clean...

And a loud BOOM went off again..

[Elephant Captain]

"FIRE!!!!"

The shout was yelled by both Black Eye and Mad Hair as the Dark Thunder and the Blood Queen pulled alongside each other. Cannons roared form both ships, many hitting the mark. amidst all the chaos, Black Eye could only think of one thing. Revenge..... Revenge on Mad Hair his former first mate. As the cannons form his ship roared at quite a furious pace, he made his way to the edge of the ship, where he intended to be part of the boarding party. After a few grappling lines, minutes, and rounds of cannon fire later, the two ships were almost scraping each other, and Black Eye grabbed at a line, and swung over onto his former ship.

But Mad Hair was waiting.

With a bellow of rage, Mad Hair rushed Black Eye as soon as he saw the former owner swinging over. Then they fought. Cutlass against cutlass, flintlock, against flintlock, all the time, cannon fire still roaring.

CRACK!!!!!

With a huge splintering of wood, the main mast of the Dark Thunder came crashing down, right on top of the Blood Queen! People screamed and dove out of the way, as many pounds of wood, sail, and rope came down. And still, the cannons fired, blasting away at the other ships.

But beneath all the chaos of battle, another sound arose. It was a quiet sound, to subtle for any one fighting to hear. Cornelius, however, wasn't fighting, and he heard it.

It was the sound of a ship taking on water. Lots of water. Fearing the worst, and wondering why the cannons suddenly had slowed their rate of fire, he went below deck. He quickly realized that it was the Blood Queen that was now sinking. He raced back up on deck, with the notion of not telling anyone, and realized that if the Blood Queen was sinking, why was it still level with the Dark Thunder The he realized the truth. Both ships were sinking. Now fully panicking, he rushed around, trying in vain to get killed all the while, and went to the nearest intact dingy.

Then the cannon fire stopped, and he realized just how close the waterlevel was getting to him. And suddenly, with a humungous boom, the Dark Thunder exploded. and since the two ships were barely a couple feet apart, the explosion tore into the Blood Queen as well. It flung onto it's side, and Cornelius went flying into the water, where he hit with a splash that was lost with all the other splashes that were cause by all the debris and other bodies that were flung into the water with him.


Cap'n E