A Pirate Problem
Doctor Demetrius glanced at the Aether
monitor on his wrist. By its readings it
appeared that the atmosphere was calm. Best gift Charles ever got me. After several quiet days of travel the airship
had finally breached dawn on the edge of the Barthew’s property. Judging by the clock on the wall he had about
one hour until he landed at the Barthew residence. I think
I’m due for a smoke. He made his way towards the upper deck. As he ascended the ladder to the exterior deck,
he felt a jolt to the ship, and one of the crewmen rushed past him.
“Doctor, stay below deck. We’re being boarded!” the crewman shouted.
“Well, this is a fine time to choose!”
he shouted back. Blasted pirates, damn
them all.
The Doctor quickly made his way toward
the center of the deck, where Captain Kruler was standing. “Fine time for some target practice, wouldn’t
you say?” he said grudgingly.
“I quite agree,” replied his friend as
he pulled his revolver from his hip.
Drawing his own revolver, the Doctor
fired a single shot, hitting a pirate square in the chest. The projectile promptly incapacitated the
vandal, and Demetrius smiled to himself. I
suppose I’m not as out of practice as I thought. Glancing to his left he noted that the
Captain had also fired towards the advancing brigands. The two men slowly began to drive the boarding
party back.
Kruler stowed his revolver in its
holster and motioned for Doctor Demetrius to step back. The Doctor discharged the shotgun shell from
his weapon and subdued a pirate that had gotten past their notice. Kruler then drew his cutlass and jumped
towards several of their unwelcome guests.
Captain
Kruler flashed a menacing smile at the pirates as he advanced. His experience with the weapon was vast, and
these pirates had chosen the wrong ship to rob. They had no idea what they were in store for,
yet. As the blade spun and whirred, he
parried blows and cut through the pirates, who quickly realized that they were
outmatched. Of the twenty something men
that had boarded the vessel, only seven remained after Kruler had finished his
dance of death. The carnage he and his
devastating blade had left in their wake was unnerving, even for the pirates. After surveying the blood stained deck, the
cowardly pirates that remained promptly turned tail and ran.
Replacing his blade on his belt strap,
Kruler laughed heartily. Demetrius
joined him.
“We certainly showed them didn’t we?”
“I don’t think they were prepared for
old Irontooth to come out and play ha-ha!” Kruler agreed.
“No one is ever prepared for that. It still scares even me sometimes. And I’ve been fighting alongside you for
years,” Doctor Demetrius remarked.
“Ah, well
that’s the beauty of it, isn’t it?”
“Certainly
is my friend. It certainly is.”
“Well, I’d
best get back to the command deck, Doctor.”
Demetrius
nodded. When the Captain saw that his
friend was not inclined to accompany him inside, he inquired. “I came up here to have myself a pipe. I was interrupted and I fully intend to have a
hit of the old tobacco!” He laughed.
“Suite
yourself, old friend,” Kruger shrugged. Never before had he met a man who was as calm
as the Doctor after a fight, and never since. “By the way, we’re due to arrive at the
Barthew’s shortly.”
“Will you
be joining me then?”
“Charles is my friend as well as yours,
is he not? I would sooner see him than
remain behind.”
“Good,
good.”
The Captain
turned and made his way down the ladder, towards the command deck below. Demetrius took a long hit of his pipe.
I hope we can make it to Charles without any
more trouble. I’ve never enjoyed these
bouts with ruffians quite like Delvin. He thought.
The doctor
then retired to his quarters. He awoke
several hours later to Captain Kruler knocking at his door.
“Doctor
Demetrius! Wake up old chap! We shall be arriving presently at the grounds of
the Barthew mansion.”
Rousing
himself, Doctor Demetrius accompanied the Captain to the observation deck at
the front of the ship.
The Barthew residence slowly came into
view as the airship descended.
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