All was quiet in Derzy on this night. However the fearless pirate captain Sergei Hankock tossed and turned restlessly in his bed. A cold sweat engulfed his face and the sound of groaning filled his room. He was in an inescapable nightmare. Or more of a memory.
# Inside His Dream
Sergei stood on the raggedy quarterdeck of a pirate ship. The smell of gunpowders was thick enough to cut through and the white smoke made visibility poor. Cut out against the impenetrable smoke cloud was the make out of a frigate on the opposing side.
On the deck of the ship he stood on, he could see his former girlfriend Valerie, standing at the helm with a slightly younger version of himself right beside her.
Valerie raised her cutlass
"Give 'em hell lads!" She shouted
The decks of cannon came to life. The ship rocked as the cannon fired in unison. Lead balls flew through the smoke almost faster than the eye could see. More smoke originated from the fresh volley. The sound of cannon fire was heard again seconds after.
In an instance cannonballs came flying at the ship at hypersonic speed. The balls punched through the wooden hull of the ship. Tiny splinters flew through the air slightly injuring a few.
"You fools! You're outmatched, you must retreat!" Sergei cried
Though he spoke to them they didn't react. They couldn't see him nor hear him.
"Gods please no. Please don't let me relive this again." Sergei said to himself
As another round of cannon fire was exchanged, Sergei walked over to his younger self.
"You're supposed to know better. How could you let her engage in this battle? Retreat now! Please I beg of you. Please." Sergei said
Sergei fell to his knees with tears running down his face. He began beating on the wooden hull with all his might.
"Sofier, Wodor, Nomon, some God, any Gods. Free me from this nightmare." Sergei said
The silhouette of the enemy ship began to become more and more detailed, it was getting closer.
The two ships fired another volley at one another before making hard contact.
The ship rocked violently as the privateer spilled onto the vessel.
Valerie and Sergei rushed into combat together with cutlasses drawn.
Future Sergei got up to follow his past self. The two lovers ran into the thick of the fighting. A colossal melee was taking place between the two factions. The clashing of steel and slicing of skin was abundant and Valerie rushed into it carefree.
Past Sergei rushed into combat by charging a privateer and plunging his sword into his groin.
"Aye good kill." Future Sergei said worryingly
Past Sergei flung his arms, slicing the throats of three other enemies.
"Good, now go cover Valerie." Future Sergei chided
An enemy officer then lunged at Sergei. He dodged it thus implanting his sword into the opponent's gut. Sergei then fed the man a quick three piece, before headbutting him and retrieving his sword.
"A bit flashy but it'll do. Now please go helo Valerie before-" Before future Sergei could finish his sentence a gunshot could be heard, followed immediately by a girl moaning.
Past Sergei looked in shock, and Future Sergei planted his face into his hands.
Past Sergei rushed frantically through the crowd shoving friend and foe alike.
Once he made it to the center of the melee he found Valerie lying face down in a pool of her own blood. Standing above her was a light brown skinned man with a smoking gun in his hand.
Both future and past Sergei's eyes filled with tears. He gazed into her motionless eyes to find that she was no longer of the living.
"She's she's she's dead." Past Sergei said
"Gods dammit! I'm reliving it again!" Future Sergei shouted
Past Sergei's sadness quickly transferred to rage. He rushed the pistol-wielding man only to receive a musket ball to the stomach, falling him instantly.
He reviewed in agony on the ground until the man stood over him.
"Filthy pirating scum." He said
Seeing their captain's go down the pirates dropped their weapons and surrendered.
Past Sergei seethed and cried.
"Who are you scum?" He said
"My name is Francisco. My title is Flail." The man answered
"I don't care if it's the last thing I do. I'll make sure you and your ilk will rest on Athletes doorstep." Sergei said before passing out.
# Room
Seegei woke up in a cold sweat and threw the cover from off of him. He screamed out loud waking several others in the next room. He ripped open his drawer and took his pistol before marching out of his room and into the street.
He made his way to the Sailors' Inn. He walked to the bar and sat down.
The bartender walked over to him.
"Anything I can get for you Sergei?"
She asked
"I'm not here for booze, I'm here for information." He said
"What info do you need?" She asked
"Do you know the whereabouts of a man named Francisco the Flail?"
"Aw. Sergei. You're still hurt over Valerie's death?"
Sergei slammed the counter
"Answer my question wench!" He shouted
"Last I heard he was gutting pirates off the coast of the three islands. Though that was some months ago."
"It's a good start." Sergei said
As he began to march out he said
"If I don't find him there I'll torture the answer out of others."
"Sergei, wait. Revenge might not be what you're looking for." The barkeep warned him
"I'm a pirate, revenge, rum, and rape are the three R's I live by." He said before he walked out