Ahoy there maties! Just recently watched all the Pirates of the Caribbean movie collection and they gave me a great idea for a new Sword art online story. So sit back, relax, drink some rum and enjoy the story!xxxooo
Unknown VR World, July 2nd, 2027
In the middle of the night, a triple masted, double decked piracy era frigate sailed calmly through the black colored ocean with only the pale moonlight of the clear nights sky and the two whale oil lamps posted at the sides of the helm as the only sources of light. The wind as calm as the ship's rigging on the quarterdeck calmly swayed with it as the pure white sails lightly pushed the ship forward along the sea. The ten large neatly polished cannons (Five at port and Five at Starboard) gleamed in the moonlight on the quarterdeck and the only sound was the waves crashing softly against the hull of the ship. The hull was yellow with black stripes as any British warship did in that era and the top sail was decorated with the British flag and on the lower part of the stern, written in gold was the ships name:
HMS Bloodhound
At the helm, a sailor was holding on to the wheel and whistling a naval martial tune happily with content. The sailor was wearing a white, blue stripped t- shirt with the sleeves ripped short along with ankle long white trousers. He was barefoot and also wore a red bandanna as a cap. His whistling ceased when another older man in Full British Captain's Navel uniform including a Naval hat and wig walked up the wooden steps to the helm to join him, the hilt of a shiny cutlass poked out from its scabbard attached to his belt and a flintlock pistol rested in it's holster strapped sideways to his chest. He strolled onto the Helm with his hands behind his back in a business matter.
"Evening captain" the sailor greeted the man respectfully in an English country accent. The other man nodded back.
"Evening" he said in a posher English accent as he looked over the quarterdeck of his ship with a smile "Any trouble on watch?" He then asked.
The sailor shook his head "No captain. Scout hasn't seen anything up in the crow's nest" he replied. The captain huffed then flicked down is right index finger to bring up his menu. He looked along the ship's inventory.
"Still, last raid gave us a lot of gold and cargo" he said "Spanish Corvettes, they're too easy nowadays, its actually really getting quite boring to raid them. Set a course for the nearest port so we can repair any damage to the ship and sell any of the cargo that we don't need" he ordered "Might have enough gold in the end to finally by that Iron hull upgrade that I always wanted" he added in a mutter to himself.
"Aye captain" the Sailor said ''Your coordinates sir?'' he asked.
The captain took out a compass from his inventory and looked down at it. The arrow pointed to the Northeast.
''Three degrees starboard'' he ordered. The sailor nodded and steered the ship slightly to the right. The Captain smiled and ran his hand across the rail ''Still sail's like a dream, I almost don't regret buying a Brig'' he muttered.
''Captain?'' the sailor asked ''You ever hear talk about the Grand quest the Dev's released?'' Clearly he was a player not an NPC. The captain turned to look at him.
''Of course I have'' he answered ''I heard about it in Port Royal yesterday at the Inn we stayed at. About that Island that no one can see on the games world map'' he said.
''Aye, that be it'' the Sailor said ''I also hear it's where that Ancient sword is hidden''
''The sword of Triton?'' the captain asked with a raised eyebrow ''The most powerful weapon in the game?'' the sailor nodded once more ''Aye, Legend has it that whoever wield's that sword, controls the tides and winds. And with that...Rule all the ocean'' he said. The captain huffed.
''Impossible, no one has ever seen Isle Da Sirena before'' he said ''And besides, even if they did it's too dangerous to embark on such a quest anyway'' he added as he leaned over the rail overlooking the quarterdeck.
''Really?'' the sailor asked ''Why'd that be captain?''
The captain turned his head to face him ''Because of the-
''Ship Ahoy!'' a female voice from the crow's nest interrupted him. He looked up ''Where?'' he called back up.
''East of Starboard side!'' she pointed to the right. The captain took out his brass telescope and looked through it to see another triple masted, double decked frigate far out to sea on the right side of the ship. However, this frigate was not garbed in the same style as his own. The Hull and sail were colored blood red and the figurehead was a skeleton with a spear in one hand and a goblet in the other. A similar style applied to the top mast's flag which had a demon with the spear and goblet, as if toasting it's victims. Two large skulls decorated the sides of the bow, The captain recognized the description of the ship and had a terrified look upon him as he lowered the telescope.
''The Queen Anne's Revenge'' he muttered in shock. The sailor gasped as he heard that ''Lord help us all'' he said as the Captain ran to the front of the Helm.
''All hands on deck! Pirates sighted on Starboard side! This is not a drill!'' he yelled. Upon his command tens of men and women, all in sailors clothing rushed up to the quarterdeck from below, manning the sail rigging's. The captain turned to his ships driver ''Hard to Port! We need to stay ahead of them until we reach Port Royal in the safe zone! They won't dare attack us there'' the ordered him. He nodded.
''Aye, Captain!'' he said as he turned the wheel left quickly so that the ship turned around away from The Revenge.
''Full bore, straight ahead!'' the Captain yelled over the helm railing.
All the ships sail's blew forward at high speed as a crew member leaned over the rail on the starboard side to see a large ship behind them in the distance.
''It's The Queen Anne's revenge sir!'' he yelled to the captain.
''I know!'' he called back as another sailor in similar uniform and weaponry as the Captain, only his hat was shorter and didn't have a wig ''What's the problem captain?'' he asked. The captain looked to him with dread.
''The Queen Anne's revenge, First mate'' he answered. The First mate did the religious sign's for mercy ''Lord have mercy on us'' he muttered.
''She's gaining on us Captain!'' the female scout called down from the crow nest. The captain and his first mate leaned over the helm rail on the starboard side and saw the demon ship closer to them then before and only getting closer.
''What do we do captain?'' asked the first mate. The captain thought for a moment before frowning with determination.
''Hard to Starboard and make ready the guns to broadside!'' he ordered his crew from the helm, his first mate looked shocked.
''Are you crazy sir?!'' he shouted as he followed his Captain across the helm ''We cannot defeat The Revenge!''
''Maybe'' the captain said ''But if we cannot outrun them, I will not let them take The Bloodhound without a bloody good fight!'' he finished as the ship turned around to face The Revenge on its side. The crew on The Bloodhound loaded the five cannon on the quarterdeck and the seven each on the two gun decks below on the starboard side ready to fire on command. While the Monstrous Zombiefied crew on The Revenge did the same with their six cannons on the quarterdeck and the ten cannons on each of their two gun-decks below, both crew's yelling battle cries at the other.
A tall figure in a long black trench coat stood at the Helm of The Revenge. He wore a large black pirate hat with a long red feather pinned on its side. He also wore black Boots and carried a black cane with a silver skull-head as it's hilt, he covered the lower part of his face with a half skull mask and wore old-fashioned glasses over his pale black eyes. A shining red jewel sparkled on the ring on his right middle finger that he wore. He smiled underneath his mask as he saw the opposite ship ready their guns.
''Bold...Yet foolish'' he muttered before a woman in crimson red pirate outfit run to the helm.
''Orders, Captain?'' she asked. The figure turned his head to face her.
''Turn this, pathetic excuse for a ship into kindling'' he ordered before the woman smirked darkly as she turned to the Zombie crew.
''Fire!'' she yelled.
''Fire!'' The Bloodhounds's first mate yelled.
The deafening sounds of cannon fire echoed through the sky as both ships exchanged shots with each other, the cannons muzzles exhaled smoke after it was fired only for a cannonier to push down a bag of gunpowder with a ramrod before another crewmate loaded the cannonball into the muzzle for the cannon to be fired again. The Bloodhound stood it's ground or rather sea, A cannonball from The Revenge narrowly missed the British Captains head as it penetrated through the rail of the helm sending tiny shards of broken wood flying. The Bloodhound was taking a grave amount of damage. Crew members yelled in pain before disappearing in blasts of pixels as they were killed by The Revenge. The twenty cannons were soon cut down to seven.
The figure unsheathed his cane to reveal a long, thin blade, almost like a katana and raised it high in the air.
''All hands lower the planks, prepare to board you cack-handed deck apes!'' he ordered.
A large number of his zombie crew unsheathed swords and short axes before they grabbed the wooden planks and lowered them over the side of the quarterdeck to create two bridges to other ship while others equipped flintlocks and muskets to cover their approach.
As the Captain watched his remaining crew of The Bloodhound tended to their wounded while The Revenge ceased their cannon fire, he noticed some big, hulking silhouettes coming from the smoke, then he heard roar's of battle and came to realize that the Zombie crew were boarding.
''All hands prepare to drive back all boarders!'' he ordered, unsheathing his sword for it's scabbard. His crew all unsheathed their weapons and ran to collide with the zombie boarders. Soon, the sounds of clanging swords and gunshots from both flintlocks and muskets filled the air as the crew fought with the Zombies for dominance over The Bloodhound's quarterdeck. The Revenge's zombie like crew were ferocious in their swordplay and showed little to no concern of their own safety as they cut down the crew one by one while only losing a couple of their own in return despite their bold attempt to defend their beloved Bloodhound.
The captain shot a charging duel-axe wielding zombie in the head with his flintlock, its head exploded in pixels as the rest of its body toppled over the railing into the sea below. The captain smiled before turning behind him to engage in a sword-fight with another Zombie wielding a broadsword while another was holding down his first mate on the deck's floor.
''Captain! Help me'' he cried to him. The captain looked to him before the zombie he was fighting knocked him out cold.
Soon, the five remaining crew of The Bloodhound including the Captain and his first mate were being tied up from behind by their wrists on their knees in a row as the figure and the woman in red walked casually across the planks and onto the semi destroyed quarterdeck. The figure looked along his captives.
''Five men still alive captain, the rest have departed'' One of the Zombies informed him in a throaty voice
''Which one of you is the captain of this vessel?'' the figure asked calmly.
''I am'' the Captain answered.
The figure walked to him and knelt down to face him ''Evening'' he greeted, the captain said nothing.
''Aren't you gonna say 'Evening' back?'' the man asked impatiently. The Captain remained his silence as the man stood up ''You do realize who I am, do you?'' he then asked.
''Yes...Captain Locke'' The captain revealed the mans identity ''The Captain of The Queen Anne's Revenge and the most vile, most cruel pirate to ever play Skull and Bones Online'' he added. Locke chuckled.
''Hear that boys?'' he asked his crewmen ''That's the reputation those Noobs in the ports and Islands have given me'' the Zombie crew and the woman all chuckled ''Though they always seem to confuse vileness with professionalism, as if I'm a bad man'' he added before the Captain spat in Locke's face making him recoil a little.
''How dare ye!'' the woman yelled angrily as she unsheathed her cutlass and held the Captain by his throat.
''Withdraw Cutter'' Locke ordered her as he regained his posture ''Now'' he added with a warning tone. Cutter slowly backed away from The Captain before Locke pointed the end of his cane to his face.
''Don't, you, ever, fucking do that again'' he warned ''I will shut that shit down, no exceptions'' he added as he walked back and forth along the line of captives as his zombie crew stood at attention.
''That first one was free'' he said with a sadistic smile underneath his mask ''It's an emotional moment, I get it. Many players here tend to shiver in fear at the very mere mention of my ships name. They think i'm here to steal their hard earned ships and crew...But I always think; why should I waste my time trying to build my own fleet when I already have the best goddamn ship that the Pirates faction possess's?'' he asked himself rhetorically.
''The Queen Anne's Revenge!'' he marveled his own ship before turning himself around to face the captain again ''Beside's, I have my sights set on a far more 'Valuable' commodity'' he explained ''However, if I don't attack a ship every now and then everyone forgets who rules the sea and what else will I have to feed my crew here?'' he asked looking to the zombies.
''Isla Da Sirena'' Locke said to the captain ''Where is it?''
''I don't know'' he replied. Locke looked to his other captives ''You know, my crew haven't eaten in weeks'' he said as the zombies growled in hunger ''And when they get hungry, they get very, very angry as well. A deadly combination. There's a name for that, its, er...'' he paused and clicked his finger trying to remember.
''Hangry, sir'' Cutter answered.
''Ah that's right. 'Hangry'' Locke smiled as he looked to the four other crew men.
''You'' he pointed to the fattest one in a chefs outfit who quivered in fear as two zombies grabbed his arms ''You look well fed. What is your profession on this ship?'' he asked him.
''I'm, i'm, i'm the cook sir'' he stuttered his reply, Locke smirked ''Then I suppose you won't have any trouble feeding my crew for the night?'' he asked. The cook shook his head ''N,no. Not at all sir, I'll whip 'em all up something from the galley and-'' he said before Locke raised his ringed hand.
''Oh, that won't be necessary'' he said ''I think you'll find my crew like their meat...raw and tonight...your the main course!'' he clicked his fingers making his ring glow red and the zombies begun to maul and eat the Cook as he screamed in pain.
''No!'' The captain yelled in grief as the cook disappeared in a blast of pixels. Cutter chuckled at the scene.
''Cold blooded!'' yelled the First mate in anger. Locke turned his head to face him.
''The real world is cruel'' he said ''Why should the virtual world be any different?'' he asked as he walked back to the captain.
''That dreaded game took my beloved wife away from me'' he begun soberly ''And so after I got out of SAO, I made it my mission to teach the world that even in the VR world, you cannot be safe from the real worlds vast cruelty. Besides-'' his demeanor changing to calm ''It's only Virtual. It's basically all fun and games here right? It's not like Sword art online, were if you die in-game you die IRL. All your Player crew mates that died here are probably respawning in the nearest Empire controlled Island even as we speak, the NPC crew however will probably need re-recruiting though'' he smiled to the captain ''So, no hard feelings right? Though your cargo will probably be lost after we destroy your ship. But hey, you can always buy another one right?'' he said standing up and turning to Cutter.
''Lock him in the brig and find the magazine on this piece of crap'' he ordered. Two of the zombies left to find the magazine below while Cutter dragged the Captain on-board The Revenge.
''And what of the rest?'' asked a zombie. Locke looked to them.
''Ready the long boats'' he ordered ''Allow them to sail back to Port Royal safely, for now'' he ordered. The three other zombie dragged them on-board The Revenge but lead them to a small rowboat hanging by a rope over the bow. The zombie pushed all three of them one by one onto the boat and cut the rope, making the ship fall down to the sea with a splash. The first mate sat up while the driver and the other NPC crew mate picked up two oars each and started rowing away from The Revenge.
Meanwhile, Cutter walked the Captain to a small cell underneath the ships decks.
''Your effects, your hat and your coat, now'' she ordered opening her menu to trade.
The captain reluctantly opened his menu and transferred all his weapons to her and he now wore a long sleeved white shirt without his hat. She unlocked the door and threw him inside before locking it again afterwards.
''H, how long am I to stay in here?'' he asked as Cutter started walking away. She stopped and turned her heels to him.
''Until you tell us were the Island is, ya fucking scurvy dog!'' she yelled and banged her fist on the bars before walking away. The captain looked through a crack on the hull to see his ship. The two zombies ran back on The Revenge and removed the planks connecting them.
''Power set sir!'' one of them called up to the helm.
''Make way and hoist anchor!'' Locke ordered from the helm as the driver steered the bone wheel to move the ship away from the semi-destroyed frigate until the whole ship blew up in a ball of flames right before The captains eyes. the zombie crew cheered in victory as Locke and Cutter marveled the scene from the aft.
''That'll make these sea dogs think twice before they try to sail my waters again'' Locke muttered as he and Cutter went inside the Captains cabin to Logout while the captain sniffed at the loss of The Bloodhound and laid down on the small bed in his cell.
''Please, let someone come and put an end to all this madness'' he whispered, opening his own menu to logout.
''Anyone'' he added as his avatar disappeared.
End of prologue. Hope you enjoyed this little sneak peak for a future project after my other stories. Be patient and read them until the first official chapter is released. Cheerio and goodnight!xxxooo