The Captain of the Bloodstone Pirates, Scarlet Black, steps into the women's main lobby room for the ship that was modified as a bath house in her fleet. She liked to join the other women of her crew rather than using the private bath for her and her husband, Blake, on their main ship. Though that bath was a common place she and him would use together at least two to three days a week.
She went through her cubby and got dressed into a tank top strapped corset with straps going over her shoulders for additional support. She threw on shorts and chaps and then her boots. Once she had strapped everything on, she put on her gloves and threw her captains jacket over her shoulders.
She stopped just before walking out and looked at herself in the mirror for a moment. She dropped the jacket over her left shoulder to admire the mark on her arm for a moment. Caressed it for a moment, and then left the jacket up back over her shoulder again and walked out.
Every man and women were keeping themselves busy among the fleet. Some ships were normal ships, and some ships served a specific purpose. Some ships were lodging for the crew, some were weapon forging and maintenance, some were for ammunition and cannon crafting, some were for equipment crafting and maintenance, and some were for basic use like food and just interacting and mingling of friends and casual conversation. The way their formation operated; these ships were on the innermost part of the fleet. Such as a comfortable way of life of an inner-city where the outside was the livelihood protection.
"I was so foolish," Scarlet thought. "If I had known Blake and I would have become this big, we could have kept her with us." With her athletic ability and powers, she jumped from one ship to another until she landed on the deck of the ship directly behind her main ship. Not a single person from her crew was allowed on this ship unless commanded, and when they were, it was to clean the ship and upkeep its maintenance. Other than that reason, it was vacant. "This ship, Evelyn," She looked up at the black mast and the ship's massive size, "It's yours. Whether you choose to sail with us, or on your own."
She laid on the deck of the ship just staring at the sky and every individual cloud pass by, making out different images they would make. She hung her arm over her eyes and sighed. She heard footsteps approaching and then a thud next to her. She looked over to her husband who was looking at the sky next to her. "Are you doing okay, your highness?"
Letting out a slight smirk, she replies, "Are you addressing me as Pirate Queen or in relation to the rank of my father?"
"As my wife," he says softly.
"Oh," she giggled a little. "Right." She sighed and said, "I think you know how I'm doing."
"I admit this passion has surprised me," Blake admitted to her. "We were on an important mission and now we're looking for our daughter. And you are hellbent on finding her."
"If I'm to be completely honest, I think they're connected, so even with her at the front of my mind and our mission at the back, it's what is driving me right now." She said sitting up. She looks over at him and says, "You haven't been completely honest, how do you feel about finding her?"
He sits up now too taking her hand in his, "Well our first blood child is important to us both. I had my boys for a long time before we met, and I'm not saying they're enough. I'm sure they'd love to meet their sister as well. We will find her my love. We will. But it takes time."
"Oi, mother, father!" They looked over to their left to two see two dark skinned men calling out to them. One who was short with short hair and the other was taller with dreadlocks in a bun.
"James, Arland, what is it?" Blake replied.
James and Arland were not blood sons of Blake and Scarlet. Blake had adopted them when he met them at the age of 18 while at port trying to support a ship at the beginning of his pirate journey. James was 8 and Arland was 6. The orphanage was full so they would be forced to turn away children who would result in being homeless. Those who did, would die in a few days before a week went by. And when they did, the government would just let the bodies rot there for a week before picking them up. It was Blake's first offense to becoming a pirate when he set fire to the noble of the areas home and killing half his guards. He then set out to sea with James and Arland. When he met Scarlet and decided to get married, the boys had become fine men and she was happy to accept them as sons.
James, the taller man, held up a newspaper. "Permission to come aboard!" Scalet called out. He wasn't on the deck for several seconds before the paper was snatched from his hands and she was looking at the headline. "Waterworld's Final Monster Issue!" It read. She read the article aloud. "Billionaire and retired Naval Legend Popeye S. M. Spinach has announced and shared with the public that because of the most recent repeated Sea Beast attack on his waterpark is the last time it can be rebuilt. He has said that despite he is shameful to send out a thank you to a group of sea beast hunting pirates known as the Crystalline Pirates, the damage of the park is irreparable."
She paused for a moment and then screamed, "IT'S THEM!"
"Forgive me for speaking out of turm, mother, but I think you need to keep reading," Arland said apologetically.
Giving him a side eye glance she then returned reading from the article, "The pirates and the Sea Beast they took down is not Spinach's reason for closing the park for good. After the first sea beast showed up, a school of Megladastrodon's surfaced, following by a triple S class ranked Megladastrodon. The exact Megladastrodon known to have residency in the Northern Sea named Kira has unexpectedly migrated to the southern sea and along with a massive number of her children. Government officials and Nobles are keeping a safe distance from Waterworld as they investigate the situation but at this time have spoken that they had not seen any sign of any of the Megladastrodon leave the area and venture out."
"A Megladastrodon in the southern sea," Blake said slowly.
"Why," Scarlet breathed. "Why would it come here?"
James sat on the deck along with his brother facing Scarlet and Blake and said, "Do you think it could be-"
"Do not continue that statement," Scarlet warned. She looks over at her husband with a sincere look and looks away and says, "Fuck."
"It's the only reasonable explanation," Blake says.
She moans and says, "I do not want to put the importance of finding our daughter on hold."
"She's nearly met what we've been trying to do for the past 20 years. That son of a bitch is now bringing monsters here, the southern sea. For fucks sake Scarlet, think rationally here!" Blake began to get on Scarlet's nerves.
Scarlet put her fingers on her temple trying to get her mind straight thinking about what to do. She does not want to abandon looking for her daughter. She looks up to James and Arland, then over to Blake. She then quickly turns to the boys again and says, "I got it!"
Reading her expression, Blake says, "No."
"Come on!" Scarlet says. "It's a great idea. Therefore, we can continue with our mission, and they could look for Evelyn!" She turns to them and says, "And you do want to meet your sister, don't you?"
With a smile, Arland says, "I sure would like to! If she's anything like you too I would be delighted to meet her!"
James looking at his brother's excitement turns to Scarlet and Blake and says, "What the hell. I'm in."
Blake sighs and says, "Geez. Fine. So, we stay in contact. I'll talk to Peter and get a technician assigned to both your ships and assemble the crew together to get some good trackers and navigators. You both know how to steer and are already skilled shipwrights, so I'm not too concerned about that. Always keep your lines open to give us updates and if we hear anything can relay it to you. You two and your ships are NOT, I repeat, NOT to go your own path but always stay together."
"It's so hot when he gives commands in a caring matter," Scarlet thought looking at him with stars in her eyes.
"Understood sir," James and Arland said in unison. And both took their leave in opposite directions since their personal ships were on either side of the ship Scarlet and Blake held onto for Evelyn.
Scarlet gets up runs to the main ship and into the captain chamber, gets on the microphone and makes the announcement, "Attention Bloodstone Pirates! Due to the recent newspaper, our original mission is going to continue as previously. We will be setting course for Waterwold. All weapons to be prepped immediately for battle with S to tipple SSS ranked sea beasts, nobles, and government officials. James and Arland will be breaking off from us as they continue to course for Captain Blackbeard and I's child, Princess of the Bloodstone Pirates. If any of you wish to join the crew for this expedition, please take a yellow wristband from your quarters and wear it. At sunset, meet on their ships and we will evaluate. For more information, please refer to today's newspaper."
She turned off the intercom as Blake and Peter stepped into the captain quarters. "So those bastards literally went back to the northern sea and brought a damn Megladastrodon with them?" Peter chuckled.
"Kira, to be exact," Scarlet said sitting in her chair behind the captain's desk.
"Oh," he said. Realizing he then continues, "Oh shit! Kira! Are you kidding me? Killer? Kira?"
"They're really looking to be a little too powerful," Blake said.
Peter started rubbing his head and said, "I mean. Wow. Shit."
"Please don't look that flustered Peter. You're going to begin to worry me," Scarlet said.
Peter composed himself and smiled, "No. No. Don't worry your pretty little head, Captain. Before we left our course, I was working on a triple S ranked harpoon that explodes. This just means I have to find it and get it out to finish it."
"We gave your four ships for technicians, and you lost it, didn't you?" Blake predicted.
"I wouldn't say I lost it," Peter began to laugh. "I just don't remember where I put it."
"Neptune's Sack," Blake cursed. "Anyway, we need some technicians and a hefty number of equipment to go along with James and Arland." Blake said as he changed the subject.
"It really makes me uncomfortable when you say that curse word," Scarlet interjected.
"Really? When you overuse the word fuck?" Blake laughed.
"Fucking right," She smiled. "Anyway," addressing Peter, "James and Arland are going to continue to search for my daughter so the ones who go with them will need to be equipped well, the best communicators to and from us and whatever else they need."
"Would two technicians per ship suffice?" He asks.
"I was thinking one per ship," Blake said.
"No, two would be best. I have two boys and two girls who work well together, and I don't want to send them out to be switching from ship to ship if they can just stay together. Plus, if Evelyn is with Jackson, the two boys from their island may be best suited to help them."
Scarlet and Blake exchanged looks and in agreeance they said together, "Sounds good."
With a brief pause, Peter then said. "Captain, if I may ask, has there been any development?"
Scarlet sighs and looks at Blake and then at Peter and then says, "I've tried time and time again but," She swallows and says, "Okay. I'll try again."
She swipes her hand in the air summoning a ball of light and then hold her hand open from underneath and closes her eyes and searches for a connection to the world within her for a hint of fire and finally gets through.
"Yes!" She gasps. In the ball of light, they all can see her, Evelyn. Resting peacefully in what looks like a bed. "That's her," Scarlet began to cry. "Blake look, that's our girl!"
With the largest smile she ever seen on her husband's face he said, "My goodness. She has your beauty. And that hair!"
Peter was smiling looking at Evelyn in the ball of light and then frowned, "I don't think she's all there."
"What?" They say together. "Of course she's there. And over there, that's your son, right?"
The image in the ball shifted to a redhaired boy sitting in a chair next to Evelyn. Peter smiled and frowned again. "I'm happy to see my boy," he said. "But I didn't raise a creep to watch a girl sleep."
Realizing what Peter was saying now they looked back at Evelyn and say her Siren mark glowing. "Shit!" Scarlet shouted and snuffed out the picture. She straight, and with the mark on her arm beginning to glow said, "I'll be right back!" She closed her eyes and then when she opened them, they were glowing, and she smiled as her consciousness drifted off.
Scarlet opens her eyes and looks around as the space between her and behind her, the temple of Neptune. She smiles as she sprints inside as fast as she could in this astral place.