The Phoenix's Tear

Chapter 1

I yawned to myself as I sliced his arm open. "This is too easy."

"Van Steen!" my first mate shouted. I quickly whipped around and put my sword up to block the blow that would have cleaved me in two if it weren't for my first mate's watchfulness and my quick reflexes.

"Thanks!" I shouted and finished off one more sailor. I looked around and saw the only live opposing crewmembers were standing around looking resentful. I grinned and addressed the crew.

"Gentlemen!"

"We're not gentlemen!" one of my sailors interrupted me.

"Yes, but we must show propriety in front of these fine gentlemen," I remarked, motioning to the crew glaring at me. I gave them my sweetest smile and then continued.

"Gentlemen, the ship is ours! Lock the survivors in the brig, search the ship, and bring all treasure and anyone you may find to me!" I walked to the helm and wrapped my fingers around the wheel. I mused that it seemed to be a shame to destroy such a beautiful work of art. It would break my heart to blow it up. Suddenly, a brilliant idea came to me. "Do I have any other kind of idea?" I asked myself and chuckled slightly. "I'm sure that this ship is nicer and bigger than my old one. I can split my crew and take both ships back to Tortuga. I've always wanted to be a commodore."

"Men! Change of plans. We're taking this ship with us to Tortuga. Say hello to Commodore Arundel Van Steen! You half go back to the other ship and the others stay here with me!" I shouted and motioned who was to stay on this ship and who was to return to the other. I smiled deviously at the crew who had returned to the deck and who were adding to the rapidly expanding pile of swag at my feet.

"Are you sure this is wise Captain…er…Commodore?" My first mate Thompson asked me, "I don't completely trust some of these new crewmembers we just picked up."

"Well, that's why you're going back to The Phoenix's Tear, to keep an eye on them. You know that I trust you to do anything that I'm not available to do at the moment."

"Aye commodore," he said dejectedly," Just be careful."

"I know," I responded, "Sail to Tortuga and make sure that you keep in sight of this ship. If it makes you feel any better, I made sure to split up the new crewmembers between the ships."

"That does a little, but I've just got a bad feeling about this is all."

"Always that superstitious one eh?" I said sarcastically.

"Don't begrudge an old sailor his instincts that you so rudely call superstitions, it's saved me many a time."

"You know I listen to your feelings, but it's time to get moving, go back to The Tear, Thompson," I told him, and shouted, "Let's go men!"

I murmured back to Thompson, "Let's just get to Tortuga and then we can decide what to do about those crew members." He nodded and crossed back over to The Phoenix's Tear.

"Commodore, we're ready to go!" my Bo 'sun Marks shouted.

"Alright men! Lower the mainsail and pull up the anchor!" I held onto the warm, smooth wood of the wheel and smiled to myself. "Commodore Arundel Van Steen, it has such a lovely ring to it," I thought. I looked over to the helm of The Phoenix and saw Thompson staring worriedly at me. Trying to allay his wariness, I took off my hat, waved it over my head, and shouted "Tortuga!"

"Aye commodore," he responded, looking none too happy.

"Ahh well, he'll just have to get over it and get my lovely to Tortuga in one piece." I felt no apprehension about the current topic Thompson had reminded me of. My gut told me that it would be fine.

And a captain, excuse me, commodore's gut never steers her wrong