Brockton Bay was never much of a tourist city, they didn't have that many attractions outside of the Boardwalk, and the many parahumans that called the small city their home. Boston had much more to offer, and they had a better maintained dock for larger vessels. There wasn't any reason for a cruise ship to make a stop in the Bay, unless something bad happened.
"Report." Armsmaster said grimly as he stomped onto the deck of the ship. A PRT officer was already waiting for him. The ship itself was badly damaged, with bullet holes and casings everywhere, and the occasional gap in the ship's structure. It looked like it had sailed through a warzone. Dozens of other officers were scurrying around, investigating every nook and cranny.
"We found the Captain, injured but alive. He's being rushed to the hospital, along with the other passengers." The PRT officer explained, following Armsmaster as he walked. The ship had already been evacuated by smaller boats by the time Colin arrived. He activated his scanners, and paused at a particularly large hole. Normally this would be handled by the BBPD, if these were normal pirates. The United States didn't have any pirates, none that Colin knew of at least.
"Hm, once they're cleared by the doctors, have your people question them." Armsmaster kept his focus on the hole. "This ship was made of heavy steel, they must've had a Blaster onboard, or heavy weaponry on their own vessel." He was mostly talking to himself.
Colin wasn't told many details, only that a crew of parahuman pirates had boarded the cruise ship, killed the guards and a few passengers, and kidnapped a few people. What a mess. He kept walking, heading towards the bridge following the GPS built in his helmet. The security cameras onboard should be able to reveal more information about the pirates.
Whoever they were.
The closer Armsmaster got to the bridge, the more blood and bullet casings scattered the deck and splattered the walls.
"Have the bodies been removed? Was it our officers or the survivors?" Armsmaster didn't turn his head towards the PRT commander. He stopped in front of the bridge door. The glass from the window had shattered, leaving shards all over the ground.
"Neither." Armsmaster could sense the tension in the Officer's voice. "We didn't find any bodies when we boarded. According to a survivor, the pirates threw their bodies overboard before fleeing."
"Strange." He opened the door and ducked to avoid hitting his helmet against the top of the door frame. Pirates in North America were a rarity, criminals were drawn to wealth and power, neither could come from the ocean, not with everyone scared by Leviathan.
The bridge was in the same shape as the rest of the ship, with the viewing window shattered and electronic shot up. It smelled like death itself had been there. Colin activated another scan, just in case there was something to be found. He had made this a habit in his pursuit of Sneek, Brockton Bay's infamous serial killer on a one man war against the Empire and PRT.
Spotting a terminal that had gone mostly unscathed, Armsmaster made his way to the computer. Any would work, his tech would allow him to access the systems that ran the camera recordings. Pulling a modified USB from his halberd, Colin jammed it in the opening, and called a friend.
"Colin." Dragon answered quickly. Her avatar appeared in the corner of Colin's HUD.
"Dragon." Colin responded. "Can you help direct me to the security cameras? I'd do it myself, but I'm pressed for time." He was going to personally question Captain Aubrey, once he was cleared for the interview, and a few other survivors if he needed more information, just in case.
"Of course." Dragon said warmly. Dozens of images flashed past Colin's eyes. Images of parahumans covered in barnacles, seaweed and animal features ravaging the ship. Eslach second caused his jaw to tighten. They appeared out of thin air, with the outside cameras catching only a single glimpse of their ship before disappearing.
A ghost ship made out of what looked to be driftwood.
A few days later.
"Are you sure you're not going insane, Armsmaster?" Director Piggot sounded annoyed, which she had every right to be. With the gangs and rogue vigilantes barely kept at bay, the Director had more than enough on her plate. Director Piggot, Deputy Director Calvert, and the rest of the Protectorate had their eyes on the famed hero.
"Of course." Armsmaster frowned. He was the wrong person they should be accusing of going insane.
"Ghost ships aren't real." Director Piggot spoke slowly, as if he was stupid. "Parahumans are."
"I'm well aware." Colin answered dryly. "However, most of the witnesses say otherwise." In all honesty, the so-called 'ghost ship' must've been the result of some cape power, or a weird Tinker specialty.
"And what did the Captain say?" Deputy Director Calvert spoke up this time. He was more reasonable than Director Piggot, even if he rubbed Colin the wrong way.
Colon pressed a few buttons on his datapad, causing a screen to lower on the far side of the wall, easily visible to everyone. The recording he had taken would be more effective than his own words. The screen turned on.
"Hello Mr. Aubrey." The camera in Colin's helmet was aimed at the sailor, who was seated in a hospital bed. "I am Armsmaster. Could you please state your name and occupation?"
"Jack Aubrey, C-Captain of the Excursion." The Captain said, his eyes darting around the room wildly. The Doctor had mentioned that his mental state was a bit fragile. Colin would have to be careful with the way he spoke.
"Can you please tell me what happened on February 20th, 2011, onboard the Excursion?" Colin continued, he spoke plainly and slowly.
Captain Aubrey hesitated, licked his lips, and was about to speak when he suddenly grabbed his head, gritting his teeth in pain.
"G-Get that blasted flute out of my head!" He shouted. Captain Aubrey started pounding his forehead. "She's coming for me, coming for all of us. M-Make it stop!"
"Who's coming for you?" Colin said as two male nurses ran into the room, restraining the captain, who screamed. Even as the Captain struggled, he made eye contact with the hero, sending a chill down Colin's spine.
"Death, the Devil of the sea herself, the Flying Dutchman!" Captain Aubrey howled when one of the nurses injected a sedative.
Colin paused the video, giving everyone a chance to breathe. "The rest of the crew reacted similarly when questioned."
"Well shit." Assault was the one who broke the silence. "Ghost ship or not, it looks like we have a Master on our hands."
Director Piggot glowered and pressed her hands together tightly. A ship full of parahumans that could strike any coastal city without warning was unheard of.
"Contact Chief Director Costa Brown."
A/N
It's been a while, but after some thinking, I decided that its time to bring in some more POTC elements, and more of the world outside of Brockton Bay/USA.
It's time to go on a short adventure with the crew!
