Blacks and blues painted the sides of a Skull Island frigate towering over lesser ships below. Lunar light shone upon its splintery, wooden Hull and reflected into the blond's eyes. Calamity slowed to a halt at her side. "Here rests Captain Miranda's pride and joy," Ann placed her hands on her hips. "Our mighty warhammer, the Silent Pheonix."
"Fine vessel." Calamity nodded.
"Aye." She agreed. "Let's go meet the captain." Without hesitation, she marched up the gang plank. Calamity sighed. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. She followed Ann, feeling a little less eager. Ann led her across the empty upper deck and into the lower parts of the ship. Several different sections spanned out along a central hallway leading to the open kitchen and dining space.
Ann took to one of the first doors, letting them into an occupied bedroom. A woman sat upon a bed in the center of the room surrounded by a desk, dresser, and various paintings hanging on the walls. She lifted her dark brown gaze and pulled her hair out of her tan face. "Ann, what're ye doin'? Who's this ye brought?" The woman scowled.
"Cap'n, this is Calamity. She's Carter's replacement."
" finally left us, did he?" She shook her head and turned to the ginger. "What reason do you have for joining my crew?"
"I don't have anywhere else to go," Calamity answered with a shrug.
"Is that so?" The captain's eyes darted to Ann. "And do you understand what you're requesting?"
"To join your crew." Calamity blinked. A small chuckle escaped the captain's lips.
"Ann, would you give us a moment please?"
"Yes, Cap'n." Ann turned and obeyed swiftly. Calamity net the captain's intense gaze.
"Do you know what this is?" The captain began. "Do ye understand what you're agreeing to? Cause if ye don't, I'll just be leaving ye here."
"What is there to understand?" Calamity frowned.
"We ain't just some ordinary band of misfits," Miranda said. "Me and me crew serve a greater purpose. Surely even a youngin' like yourself knows about the war with Valencia?"
"Aye." Calamity nodded. All too well, her heart grieved.
"Then surely you know of the Valencia resistance?" She went on. "Those opposed to Kane's tyranny? Those who fight for humanity's freedom?"
"Aye, Captain."
"Good." She stated. "We are the resistance. We've been workin' with 'em for a long while now. Doin' jobs and things of that such. Just little favors for the Spiral."
"You work for the resistance?" Calamity blinked dumbfounded. "You're the ones fighting in this war?"
"Aye, isn't it wonderful?" She waved sarcastically. "We risk our lives everyday on the mission field. Our heads ride on the Armada's most wanted list, and we live a life of paranoia, seeing our enemies in the faces of our friends. We sleep with an eye open and cover our tracks wherever we may step. We live with our lives on a thin line. Are you sure you want to join our crew? Ye can't turn back once ye do. Ye've got to dedicate your life to this cause. Are ye willing to do so? Are you willing to give your life to save this world and all the others?"
Calamity hesitated. Yes I am, she told herself. I've got nothing to go back to and no one to miss me. I'll fix the problem that Horace failed to solve. I'll do it for mother. "Yes." Calamity answered firmly. "I am."
"Very well," Captain Miranda smirked. "We'll make fine fish food. What are ye? A scrawny Privateer?"
"No, Buccaneer." Calamity corrected. Scrawny Privateer? What's that supposed to mean? She scowled.
"Right, ye'll have to prove yer skill t'me then." Miranda eyed her skeptically. "Ain't never seen a Buccaneer o' yer stature."
"Excuse me? And waht about you?" Calamity challenged. "Not much of a captain."
"You'd be right." She chuckled. "I didn't choose the pirate life, the pirate life chose me." Calamity folded her arms over her chest. She thinks I'm joking. How stupid can she be, making comments about me, and then weakly avoiding my offense and pretending it was a joke? Maybe I should've stayed with Horace.
"Calamity." Ann called from the doorway. The angered girl turned at the call of her name. "I've prepared your room for you and there's a few people I'd like you to meet." She nodded towards the hall. "C'mon."
"Alright." She grunted. Giving the captain a parting glare, she left with the blond pirate.
The plain room was identical to the captain's except that it was empty apart from a single, readily made bed. Calamity sat down on it's edge, sinking into the soft mattress. "Comfortable?" Ann questioned.
"Aye."
"Good." Ann smiled. "Let's go meet the rest of the crew. They're all in the kitchen."
"Sure." Calamity shrugged and stood up off the bed, following the blond out of the room and down the hall. Turning into the kitchen, Calamity surveyed the small group sitting around a table in the center of the room. A mouse fencer sat on the side, right hand locked in an arm wrestle with an eagle hoplite in black and blue armor. A cat pirate stood aside, looking on. This is the rest of the crew? Calamity frowned, unimpressed. "Give it up, Patience!" The eagle taunted. "You know you can't win!"
"But I can try!" Grimaced the mouse. A second later, the eagle slammed her hand down with a loud thud. "Gah!" The mouse gasped in pain, releasing her grip.
"I told you so."
"Hello, Ann." Greeted the cat pirate, drawing attention to the two. "Who's that?"
"Well, Carter left us," she said simply. "And Calamity here joined us."
"What a shame," commented the eagle. "That boy's just wasting his time."
"Calamity, eh?" The mouse raised a brow. "What kinda name is that?"
"It's a fine name." The eagle complemented. "If you're looking to threaten someone."
"It's rude to judge someone by their name like that, you know." Ann scowled at her crewmates. "She didn't choose that name, after all." Actually I did, Calamity thought to herself. "Anyways," Ann turned to Calamity. "This is Patience, she's from Scrimshaw, and she's a very skilled Swashbuckler."
"Aye, that lad Carter couldn't lay a finger on me." She boasted.
"That's Maximus." She pointed to the eagle. "He's from Ithaca in Aquila. And that's Abel, he's from Skull Island."
"Pleased to meet you." The cat pirate nodded in respect.
"Aye." Calamity nodded back.
"So where're you from, then?" Patience inquired. "And why'd you want to join our little crew?"
"Flotsam." She lied. "I'm a traveler like you, and I want to see the Armada brought to their knees."
"How bold." Maximus said. "Typical."
"Do you think you're just gonna bring the Armada down with your two scrawny hands?" Patience scowled.
"Nay." Calamity reflected her hostile demeanor. What's wrong with these pirates? Why are they trying so hard to start trouble with me?
"So I thought." She spat. "Ye can't. None of us can. No matter how hard ye train, ye'll never be able to topple the Armada. Not alone anyways. We work as a team. Don't go off playing hero on one of our missions, understand? Ye'd endanger us all with that kind of stupidity. Stop yer dreamin.' This is reality."
"Heh, I think she understands as much." Ann rested a hand on Calamity's shoulder.
"She ought to," the mouse scowled once more. Calamity held the glare, staring her down. She must think I'm stupid or something. I understand how the Armada works. I'll bet she's never lost anyone to the Armada. I'll bet she's full of crap. Nothing but trash.
"Alright, let's go get some rest." Ann suggested to Calamity. "It'll be a long day tomorrow."