The Trench Coat Pirates

Chapter uno

It began with a pub. Not a special pub, just a pub. There was about…twelve? Yeah, twelve people in it, including the bartender, but it soon became thirteen because just then, I walked in. I was wearing a long trench coat that reached the floor, a black fedora, black pants, black t-shirt, no shoes (I like black), I had a sword sheathed on my waist, and I had a toothpick in my mouth. Everyone looked up when I entered. It gave me a chill, but I didn't show it. I walked up to the bar and sat on a stool. "Beer," I said.

"You got money?" the bartender asked.

"Yeah…" I said quite confused.

The bartender grabbed a mug, put it under the tap, and poured a cold beer before giving it to me. "Sorry 'bout asking if you had money first."

"That's fine. Has someone been stealing drinks?"

"Yeah, Karynne."

I chuckled. "Rin."

"You know her?" I went to say something, but just then, a floating blanket entered the building. It wobbled along. A couple of guys moved some chairs out of the way. It approached the bar, and a hand came out from underneath. It felt along the surface of the bench. I slid by beer into its reach. It latched on, pulled it under the sheet, and shuffled out. "So you know her?" the bartender asked.

"Sadly," I replied.

"Well, I guess you can pay for her tab." I stiffened. "You do have money…right?"

"Well… here's the thing… uhhhh…." I ran for the door and out the pub. I looked around for the blanket wearer. "There!" I charged at her and pulled the blanket off. It was Rin.

"Who are you? What day is it? Who are you?" she screamed.

"Still pretending to be senile to get out of trouble?" I asked with a smile.

"JAMES!" she shouted as she glomped me.

"The one and only!"

Just then, a group of Marines came around the corner. "There he is! There's the pirate!" one shouted.

"Pirate?" asked Rin. "You're living the dream!"

"Yeah, now let's run."

"Good idea."

We ran down an alley and hid behind a pile of crates. "I thought they came this way!" a Marine said.

"Keep looking!" another ordered.

They all ran off. "So," Rin said as she stood and brushed herself off, "you're a pirate now?"

"Yeah," I replied as she helped me to my feet. "I left home a couple of months ago."

"Cool." She then noticed the sword sheathed on my waist. "Oh my gosh! That's one of the legendary swords!"

"Hm?" I looked down at my black sword. "Is it?"

"Yes!" She pulled it out of its sheath and looked at it. "That's so cool!" I put my hand out for her to give it back. She sighed and did so. I sheathed it again. "I've got a job!"

"Then why do you steal drinks?"

"That is my job!"

I stared at her ear-to-ear grin. "Awesome!" I gave a thumbs up.

"Why are you here?"

"Because the Marines chased us, remember?"

"No. I mean in this town."

"Oh. I'm looking for a crew!"

"THAT'S COOL!" She shot her hand into the air. "Can I join? Please, oh please, oh PLEASE?"

I stroked my chin. "I don't know. I don't want you cramping my style."

"I won't! I promise! Please let me join!"

"Fine."

"YAAAAAY!" Rin started dancing like a maniac.

"Hey! There's the pirate!" a Marine shouted.

"And there's someone with him!" a second yelled.

"GET THEM!" a third commanded.

"Uh-oh," I mumbled. "RUN!"

We started running down the street. "Do you have a ship, James?" Rin asked.

"Of course!" I said. "That's it!" I pointed to a giant ship.

"THAT'S YOURS!" Rin screamed. "IT'S HUGE!"

"What?" I asked. "Not that one. The one behind it."

A small boat soon came into view. You couldn't really call it a boat, though. It was more of a couple of logs and a sheet. "Oh, that makes sense…" Rin sighed.

We jumped onto the boat and began paddling away. "HEY, GET BACK HERE!" a Marine called out.

"Make us!" I shouted. Just then, a bullet rushed past my head. "Huh…"

"PADDLE FASTER!" Rin commanded. I did as she wished and paddled as fast as I could. It was like someone attached a rocket on the back and we shot off into the ocean. "OH, NO!" Rin screamed.

"What is it?" I inquired.

"I left all my stuff back there!"

"Oh, well!"