The Black Pearl

The Black Pearl

II

A dark blond teen was swinging in a hammock made of netting beneath the ship deck, the sound of footsteps could be heard above his head yet he didn't wake. "No," he mumbled as if in the midst of a struggle, "leave her alone!" he shrieked before settling down again.

"Maux lad? What's going on down there?" Jack quickly made his way down the stairs and flung open the door.

The teen mumbled and then said, "Five more minutes…" he turned over onto his side and was quiet again.

"Lad?" He walked over and looked down at the boy who was growing into a man under his guidance.

"Mmmm…" Maux didn't respond.

"Lad! Get up!" Jack proceeded to give him a quick slap so he could wake up.

"Huh? Aye Capt'n?" He woke up and saluted Jack with a serious look on his face.

"You were having a nightmare," Jack scolded him for his unusual behavior, "screaming about yer mum."

"My mum?" Maux scratched his head, "I don't know my mom or dad." He yawned and rubbed his eyes, "you're the one that raised me Uncle Jack."

Jack smiled but proceeded to correct him, "that's…"

"Capt'n Jack Sparrow to you," Maux mimicked his uncle's usual saying, "I know."

"That's a good lad," he patted the boy on the head, "'member we're raiding a world on the 'morrow." Jack turned around and started walking out, "be sure you get your chores done today too."

"Yes sir," with a quick salute Maux jumped out of the hammock and rushed to get dressed. Tomorrow would be the first day that he would be allowed to go on a raiding party and he planned to find as much loot as he could. "I'll be the first cabin boy to find riches amongst the desolate worlds that are out there!" he pulled on his boots and then grabbed his vest, "and one day I'll be a pirate Captain that rules all of junkie worlds!"

"That's a good one Maux," a voice called down from the stairs, "and what will I be one of the generals of your fleet?" Maximilian 'Max' Goof, a black dog like fellow who was the second cabin boy, came down the stairs skipping two at a time.

Maux smiled at his friend, "no you'll be right under me! You'll be the second in command and head of the fleet." With a few quick snaps his vest was in place, "then we can loot as much stuff when we want…"

"Where we want! And get whatever WE WANT!" They finished in unison. It had been their dream while growing up on the Black Pearl to become pirate captains but only recently had Maux gotten the idea of becoming a Space Kings.

Max helped Maux up with a laugh, "and then what? We go around cruising to keep the title?" Without even hesitating Maux nodded his head with a smile. "Fine. But we should probably learn how to fight first," Max chuckled at Maux's outlook on it all. "We should probably do our chores…" Maux nodded before they both raced to the stairs as if on some unheard bell.