Well, this is rare, me having two chapters so close together. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Michael awoke when he felt the boat rock violently, and shot up, "What's happening?" he asked looking at the other two.
"It would seem that the admiral has navigated us into a hurricane," Adewale answered as he looked outside, "I think it is time for us to make our escape. It would be a shame if we were to die here."
Edward and Michael nodded in agreement, and the three of them grabbed the bar, and pulled it out of the deck, "That was easier than I imagined it would be," Michael thought aloud as they stood up
Edward and Ade ran to the doorway, and looked through. Deciding that they didn't have time, Michael ran through, pulled the guard's sword from its sheath, and stabbed him with it before he could react. He looked back at the other two, and motioned for them to follow. Michael ran into the next room, and stabbed the one of the next guards in the back, while Edward knocked out the other. They did the same thing in the next room, but this time killed both due to Edward having a sword.
The three made it to the ladder leading to the surface, and in front of them was Edward and Michael's equipment that had been taken from them, though the Clock of Eden was not among it. Michael cursed as he took the pistol and the sword he had been using prior to being on the ship.
"Take only what you need," Adewale warned them as he went up the ladder.
As Edward reached for the second hidden blade that was taken from him, Michael grabbed his wrist, "Let the real assassin handle that weapon," he told Edward, grabbing the blade, and putting it on his right wrist. He tilted his head towards the ladder, and followed Edward to the upper deck.
"There are some more prisoners at the edge of this boat, and more ships than I thought," Adewale told us as we surfaced, "I reckon there are two crews worth of prisoners here."
"Then we take two ships," Michael responded as he checked his hidden blade to make sure it worked, "Ade, you and Edward head for that brig you were talking about, I'll find another suitable vessel for us to use. It will be easier getting out in two ships if they try to attack us."
"Good thinking mate," Edward replied as he patted Michael on the back, "We'll see you on the other side of the storm," Edward ran to the railing and used the rope to swing over to the next ship.
"Good luck, and try not to get yourself killed Ade," Michael said as he nodded at the former slave.
"You too," he nodded then followed Edward.
Michael knew that if he tried to take on the crew of the ship he was on, he would be killed fairly fast. He would have to take this slowly, and methodically. He looked below him and saw two guards, bigger than most of the others. He dropped down behind them, and took out his pistol. He walked up behind one, and aimed at the other, once he was sure this would work, he fired. The bullet lodged itself in the brain of the brute, then he took his sword and stabbed the second one. With both of them dead, Michael checked their bodies for anything useful, and found a few more bullets and some gunpowder bags. He quickly refilled his gun, and loaded another bullet. Michael looked around, and saw that there were no more guards in this area. He ran to cover and peaked around seeing two more guards, these ones were looking at the other ships, seemingly doing nothing but hoping they would survive the storm. Michael looked back at the two brutes, and saw the axes that they were carrying. Deciding they would be useful, he ran back and picked one up. It was heavier than he thought it would be, but it wouldn't be hard to swing it. Michael ran at the two guards, and swung the axe in a wide arc, missing the first one's head with the blade, but getting him with the handle. The guard fell over the railing, and the second guard noticed the axe head coming towards him just before it was lodged into his brain. Michael tried to get it out, but it was stuck.
He gave up on the axe, and saw that there were only two more guards on the deck, and ran at them. They were shocked to see him, giving Michael the chance to draw his pistol and fire at the first one. As soon as that guard hit the floor, the second went to draw his sword, but was stabbed before he could. The prisoners that had seen the exchange cheered, and held out their cuffs. Michael took the keys off of the guard he just killed, and unshackled the men, "Can any of you steer a ship?" Michael asked.
"I can," one of them answered, "I once sailed for under the Queen's flag."
"Didn't need a backstory," Michael replied as he looked at the front of the fleet. He saw the brig that Adewale was talking about, then a frigate that was next to it, "See that frigate in the front, take these men, and wait on its hull. When I get the rest of the prisoners, we'll take the ship and sail for freedom."
"Aye captain..." The man said as he waited for Michael to introduce himself.
Michael looked at the man, "Arias," he said, then jumped into the water.
Michael liberated the men from the rest of the ships on his side of the fleet, and made it to the frigate that was next to Edward and Adewale's brig. He climbed up the hull, and looked at the men who were waiting for him to give the word. Michael prepared to throw himself over the railing, and took out his sword, "Alright! Let's take the ship!" Michael threw himself over the railing, and charged into the battle along with his soon to be crew.
The battle didn't last long since the previous crew of the ship was taken by surprise, and any who didn't quickly surrender were swiftly killed. Michael walked to the railing and watched as Edward did the same thing to his ship, "You ready?" he shouted across to him.
"Aye, we are mate!" Edward answered as he took the helm of his ship, "To freedom! Drop the sails!"
"Drop the sails!" Michael echoed as he walked up to where his helmsman was stationed, "Do you think we'll make it?"
"I do sir, there is no better sailor than me," the helmsman spun the wheel and followed the wind out of the storm, the frigate being faster than the brig, it took the lead.
When the ship was sailing, three more Spanish frigates came out of the storm, and attempted to stop them. Michael's helmsman was able to manuever out of their firing range, but not before lightning struck the water in front of them, creating a rouge wave, "Rouge wave!" Michael shouted as he saw it coming.
"I see it, everyone brace yourselves!" He pointed the ship directly at the wave, and it passed under them like nothing had happened, "I'd like to see those Spanish bastards do that!" the man laughed manically as the storm soon began to break.
"That was over faster than I thought it would be," Michael said as he sat on the railing, he looked to the side to see that Edward's ship was also no worse for wear.
"That's the thing about storms, you can never tell when they are going come, or leave, name's Jacob Carver by the way," he said as he looked at me, "So cap'n, where are we heading next.
"Don't know, need to talk to our compatriots before I know that, pull us next to the brig," Michael started walking to the railing, and watched as Edward's ship came closer to them, "So captain Kenway, where are we going next?"
"I reckon we go to Nassau, safest place I can think of right now," Edward answered, as he walked over to his own railing, "I think it would be a good place to drink to our freedom."
"Sounds good," Michael said in agreement. Michael knew where Cuba was, but not where Havana was specifically. He hoped that Jacob would be able to sail them there, "I'll see you there Edward."
Michael walked back over to Jacob and looked at him, "You know where Nassau is?"
"There isn't a pirate in the seven seas that doesn't know where it is, that's our destination?"
"Yes it is, Set a course for Nassau, Jacob," Michael said as he walked down to the deck to examine his crew and the frigate.
One of his crew members, an older one walked over to him, "So cap'n, are you going to name the ship, after all it is bad luck to not have a named ship."
Michael looked at his with a curious look, and chuckled. Michael didn't believe in luck, but right now he was feeling that it might have more to do with his fate than he realized. This caused him to decide to name his ship, "I think we'll call it the Liberty," he answered the man after a few seconds of thought.
"That's a fine name sir, suitable for our type of company," the man went back to where he was, tending to the cannons, and left Michael to what he was doing.
Michael noticed that the ship wasn't in too good of a shape, but it wasn't in the worst conditions either. He would have to consult Jacob about it since he was a seasoned seafarer, where Michael was working off movies and video games. After he finished checking on the condition of the crew and ship, Michael went into the captain's cabin, and wasn't surprised to see that it was the cleanest part of the ship. Michael walked over to the desk in the middle of the cabin. He saw a map on it, and on it the various trade routes of the Caribbean. Michael took out a piece of parchment paper, and a quill from the desk, and began creating a scale version of the map equal to the one he ripped before he was imprisoned. It took him an hour, but when it was done he was able to briefly remember some of the spots that had X's on them. Michael wondered why these spots were marked, but could only think of one reason that Templar's would have a map like this. After he had made the smaller map, he put the X's on the larger map. It was likely that these X's meant that there were Assassin Strongholds in those regions, and they were going to exterminate them. It would be best if Michael got there before the Templars did, and warn them if he could. He rolled up the smaller map, tied a piece of twine around it, and put it in the drawer. Once done, Michael went over to the Captain's dresser and looked through the clothing. He took a black jacket, and white shirt out of it, and put them on over the rags he was already wearing. He then pulled out a white pair of pants and some boots, and replaced his old clothes with them. After he finished he looked into the mirror and smiled. He at least looked better than he did, though he would need to shave soon, because his beard was getting a bit scruffy. Michael pulled his hair back into a pony-tail, and walked out of the cabin.
Michael went to the helm, "How long until we reach Havana?"
"I reckon a few more hours," Jacob answered as he looked at me, "We have a strong wind, and a light ship."
"We'd go faster with more sails," Michael said as he looked up, "Oh well, can't have everything."
"Don't say that, we're pirates, what we can't have, we take."
"Everything is permitted, eh?" Michael chuckled at his own joke.
"Exactly captain," Jacob answered, laughing with him, "Also, who is going to be your quartermaster?"
"I imagine you would, if you want."
"I would like that, Quartermaster of the Liberty, it has a nice ring to it."
"It does, so the crew has been talking about the name have they?"
"Yes, they have," Jacob looked back to the sea, and watched as the water parted around their ship.
"Well, I'll be in my cabin, get me when we reach Havana," Michael nodded to Jacob, and went back to his cabin, where he continued to study the various maps on the desk inside.
I decided to give Michael his own ship because it would be better to not have Michael just tag along with Edward and Adewale. If you liked this, don't forget to follow and review.
