"Grandpa, what have you gotten yourself into this time?" The young man approached Mr. Norman with a tired look in his eyes.
"Nolan, do you remember all the stories I told you about my life before coming to this world? About the NS Scorpion and my adventures with the crew? How we fought on equal footing with the pirate Blood Beard?" Mr. Norman spoke with excitement in his voice, reminiscing about his past.
*Sigh*
The young man sighed and said, "Of course, I remember. You tell these stories every day until my ears bleed. I mean, I understand you're a drifter and you've suffered a lot in this world, but do you have to keep repeating it endlessly?" He looked like he was fed up with Mr. Norman's stories.
"How dare you talk like that, you brat! Well, anyway, guess what? She has returned," Mr. Norman continued speaking with an excited voice to the young man.
"Who has returned? Wait, don't tell me you cheated on Grandma and the person you cheated with has returned?" the young man asked, his voice filled with surprise.
"No, you stupid brat! I'm talking about the NS Scorpion. She's returned safely after all these years, well, kinda. She needs some work, and that's why we came here," Mr. Norman explained, his excitement evident.
*Sigh*
The young man sighed again and said, "Grandpa, are you having one of your delusions again? This isn't the first time you've said something like this. Last time, you even shot a guy in the hand and I had to apologize to him and compensate him as well." He appeared exasperated with Mr. Norman, then continued,
"So, who are these guys?" He directed a curious and slightly skeptical look toward me and Lucas.
"This is the guy who found NS Scorpion. His name is Francis Slander, and this is his companion Lucian Nightshade. And Frankie and Lucas, this is Nolan Bessac, my grandson, the young genius I told you guys about earlier," he introduced us to each other.
So, the young genius that Mr. Norman was praising earlier is actually his grandson? No wonder he spoke so highly of him. While I was thinking about that, Nolan looked me up and down, sizing me up, and spoke once again.
"Grandpa, are you sure about this? Because he kind of looks like, well, a cannibalistic pirate. And that's not all, didn't you say that the NS Scorpion got lost fifty years ago? How could he have managed to start and helm a vessel that was nearly half a century old and hadn't been used for that long?" Nolan said, eyeing me suspiciously.
Do I really look that suspicious? It's not the first time - first, it was the survivors on the cannibal's island Mermaid's Veil, then it was Mr. Norman, and now Nolan. I can't help but feel a bit hurt.
"He may look like that, but he's the real deal. He really brought NS Scorpion back, and that's not all – he brought something that is sure to surprise you," Mr. Norman told him with determination.
*Sigh*
Nolan sighed once again and said, "Fine, I'll come and take a look. If I don't, you'll keep pestering me and I won't be able to work in peace," he told us with a shrug.
…..
After a few minutes, we reached the private dock owned by the Scorpion Syndicate. Once Nolan saw the NS Scorpion, his eyes widened with surprise, and he started to talk while stuttering.
"Gr-grandpa, you really were telling the truth. To think someone actually found the lost NS Scorpion. But how did she run properly after not being used for nearly half a century?" His voice was filled with surprise and excitement, and he asked us with a puzzled expression.
"Well, the NS Scorpion, being a nuclear-powered submarine, operates through a complex process involving nuclear reactors. Let me break it down for you.
Nuclear Reactor: The heart of a nuclear-powered submarine is its nuclear reactor. This reactor generates heat through nuclear fission, a process where atomic nuclei split, releasing a tremendous amount of energy in the form of heat.
Steam Generation: The heat produced by nuclear fission is used to heat water, creating high-pressure steam. This steam is similar to the steam produced in conventional power plants, but it's used in a different way in submarines.
Turbine and Propulsion: The high-pressure steam powers a turbine, which is connected to a generator. As the turbine spins the generator, electricity is produced. This electricity serves multiple purposes, including powering the submarine's systems and charging its batteries.
Battery Charging: In addition to producing electricity, the generated power is also used to charge the submarine's batteries. These batteries provide power for the submarine's operations when the reactor is not running or needs to be shut down.
Propulsion: The electricity generated by the reactor can also be used to power an electric motor that drives the submarine's propeller. This is how nuclear-powered submarines achieve propulsion underwater. Unlike conventional submarines that rely on diesel engines for surface propulsion, nuclear submarines can remain submerged for extended periods without the need to surface for air and engine recharge.
Cooling System: The reactor generates a significant amount of heat, so a complex cooling system is essential to prevent overheating. Cold water from the sea is used to cool the reactor and condense the steam back into water, allowing the process to repeat.
Control and Safety: Advanced control systems regulate the reactor's power output and maintain a safe operating temperature. Safety measures are in place to prevent any potential nuclear accidents, making these submarines extremely secure.
Nuclear-powered submarines offer distinct advantages over conventional submarines, including longer operational ranges, extended time underwater, and greater stealth due to reduced noise from the propulsion system. However, their operation requires specialized training and rigorous maintenance due to the complexities associated with nuclear reactors.", I explained as best as I could
When I finished my explanation, I noticed everyone looking at me with curious expressions.
"I didn't know you were so knowledgeable about nuclear submarines," Mr. Norman remarked, surprise evident on his face.
"Well, I tend to be curious about many things, so I've picked up a lot of random facts along the way. However, if you were to ask me about how a nuclear reactor actually works, I wouldn't be able to provide as much insight. My time in the Navy did expand my knowledge in these areas, though," I explained with a casual shrug.
"W-well anyway, I have experience working with a few submarines before, and with Grandpa's help, I can fix her up and even make her look as good as new," Nolan confidently stated, continuing with enthusiasm.
"So, is this the surprise you were talking about? This submarine?" Nolan inquired, looking at Mr. Norman for confirmation.
Mr. Norman's face took on a sly expression as he snickered, "Well, this is part of it, but what I'm about to show you next is unlike anything you've seen before. Brace yourself brat." With that, he signaled for Nolan to follow him into the NS Scorpion.
Once inside, we made our way directly to the captain's quarters and opened the military trunk containing the weapons. Nolan's eyes widened as he took in the sight of these unfamiliar armaments. Turning to Mr. Norman, he couldn't contain his astonishment.
"Gr-grandpa, are these weapons from your world? They're truly unlike anything I've ever seen before. What are these peculiar contraptions? This one resembles a mounted weapon, and this smaller version seems like a handheld variant," Nolan questioned, his curiosity evident.
With a mischievous grin, Mr. Norman replied, "Those are the weapons from the Monstrous Mermen. They shoot pressurized water. The larger one is more potent but heavier, while the smaller one is portable and slightly less powerful. Now, do you grasp the extent of your Granpa's greatness, you ungrateful brat?" He added the last part with a playful smirk, his satisfaction clear.
"Wh-what? These are from the Monstrous Mermen! How in the world did you manage to acquire something like this? If word gets out, people will stop at nothing to obtain these," Nolan exclaimed, his curiosity mixing with a sense of resolve as he studied the weapons.
"We-well, technically, Frankie is the one who brought them here," Mr. Norman admitted, avoiding eye contact.
"You foolish old man! So you were just trying to steal credit for his hard work?" Nolan's tone turned furious as he confronted Mr. Norman.
"Of-of course not. I know how much he suffered to obtain these," Mr. Norman said apologetically.
*Sigh*
Nolan sighed once again and said, "Forget it." Then he turned to me and asked, "You're Frankie, right? How in the world did you manage to acquire these?" He looked at me with curious eyes.
So, I began recounting everything that had unfolded until now – my experiences on the cannibal's island, Mermaid's Veil, my journey to the Mermen Island, the encounter with the Monstrous Merman, and even the story of Captain Francis and the crew.