DitD 41 first romance

  Hear thee and protect thyself. My name is Governor George Davies. As it is known I’m of Proper English descent however I am given my post by the king to handle the situation here in Saba. The English captured Saba from the Spanish during the Anglo-Spanish war. My charge is to capture pirates and hang them till death. Sadly, I have failed my liege of King Charles II and paid the ultimate price and am laid to final rest near my dearest Katherine Dwyer. Not my wife but the one I loved with all my being.

My spouse was that of noble birth from Anglo-Ireland seeking a rise is stature and position. She had little interest in me or my aspirations. I was able to convince her that an heir was the only way to raise our position in society. She was onboard.

At dinner I pressed the situation. “Dearest wife,” I said across the table. “Shall we attempt again tonight?”

“Aye… My love, tis a messy business. Tis not for the likes of us… at least, not presently. I will have a servant set the room and prepare me for the moment.” Aine O’Dwyer said wiping her hands down her dress. She clapped her hands over her left shoulder. 

A man in a fine cyan coat that came to his knees and a single roll wig. Approached her and bowed slightly. “Madam?” He said as he approached. His loafers clicked on the floor as he walked.

“Come with me, I wish to make preparations.” She said as she stood up. Her dress proofed back up. She walked out of the room with her green dress moving rigidly with her. I glanced down at my prepared pheasant. I had already eaten most of it however I could still eat a bit more. The breast still had a bit of meat on the bone. I forced my fork into the breast and began sawing the meat with my knife. I heard what sounded like the servant dragging a large dresser across the floor. The large dresser seemed too heavy as it started moving and then stopped. Over and over. I slammed my flatware against my plate with pheasant still attached to the tines. I pushed out my chair and began for the door. I walked down the hall towards her chambers. I could hear what sounded like whimpers. 

“Dearest!” I yelled, “Are you alright?”

“Aye…” she said though slightly winded. “Aye… OH GOD aye… just preparing for what’s to come.” She yelled back. “Just a minute.” I heard the sound of ruffling clothes and the sound of loafers landing on the floor. The door swung open and there before me was the servant sans his coat.

“Sir,” he said as sweat dripped from his brow. The wig was ruffled as well. 

“Fix yourself man. I can’t have you being seen in a bad way under my employ.” I said.

“Of course sir,” he said running passed me. He stopped in the hallway to pull up one of his socks. I walked in paying him no mind. 

“Love, are you ready?” I asked. She looked at me with appetite and cause. She stood up from the bed for which she was leaning. 

  “Aye, Sir Davies, tis you that need be ready.” She said. She started toward me pulling a kerchief from her bosom. “Take off your pants.” She said dabbing her brow from sweat. She placed her gentle hand upon my cheek slowly moved it down towards my chin. I could feel her other hand placed on my upper thigh. She moved her lips towards my neck. She reached up with the hand on my thigh towards the shoulder of the inside of my frock. Her left hand moved from my cheek to the other shoulder of my frock. She slowly removed the frock and placed it behind her. Her dress moved up slightly as she bent over and I could see her ankles through her socks. 

DitD 40 pirates

  “Cap’n can I speak with you for a moment?” Gragh asked. “GET TO YOUR STATIONS!”

“Take the helm left tenant and keep us on our current heading.” I said to Belmar. 

Gragh and I headed to the war room. Gragh looked a little concerned. “Cap’n, I don’t wish to question your…” Gragh started. I walked over to my bar and poured two drinks of brandy. “Are you listening Cap’n?”

“I am listening but I feel like we should drink to our started success.” I said. 

“Right,” Gragh said drinking the glass down like a shot. “So listen…”

“It’s more of a sipping brandy.” I said pouring another for Gragh. 

“I get it,” Gragh said sipping his newly poured glass. “Now, we need to talk about this Robinhood bullshit.” I sipped my brandy and sitting down at the head of the table. “Your values are truly astounding, but the crew doesn’t believe, how you and I do.”

“Did you know that schools use to provide a textbook per student. And now teachers have to pay for the books themselves can only afford a shared book for the entire class?” I asked. “As a textbook supplier that means poor income for me.” I stood up and walked over to Gragh who was hovering over a chair. “I have spent all of my savings on this ship and crew. So sure I want to provide the textbooks for teachers.” I put my hands on his shoulders to push him down into his seat for which he sat slowly. “But I’m conflicted as I also want more financial wealth for myself. And if you are going to be my secret left tenant then I expect you to keep that under your hat. Savvy?”

“Oh aye, Cap’n. But the crew…” Gragh started. 

“You tell the crew whatever keeps them loyal but keep my secret. Aye?” I responded. 

“Aye, what of Belmar?” Gragh asked. 

“Aye, Belmar was my left until he didn’t bother to put in effort. He refuses to relay my orders and worse he stands on the wrong side.” I said. 

“Aye?” Gragh said, “I think your priorities are swapped because of your history love.”

“True, however, my points still stand. He hasn’t proven his worth but you have been proving it since the army.” I replied. “Now, let’s get out there and jump through time.”

“Aye.” Gragh said finishing his drink and stood up. We both headed out of the war room and I went to the wheel. Belmar was reluctant to step away but stepped away regardless. I looked down to Gragh from the quarter deck. He gave me a nod. “ALL HANDS! PREPARE FOR THE TIME JUMP!”

“Captain, I suggest a small jump before jumping to the 1600s. For a test.” Hlam said walking up the stairs of the quarterdeck. 

“Where’s the controls?” I asked, “And how do I work them?” 

“There beside you” Hlam said pointing to some strange clock. “You just change the time on the clock and then pull the lever.”

“What’s the button for?” I said pointing at the button next to the lever. 

“That button?” Hlam asked and I nodded my head. “That button is to confuse you.” 

“That’s great but what does it do?” I asked. 

“Same thing as the lever. But in button form.” Hlam laughed. 

“Right. We are off.” I said. I changed the dial to 1601 and then pulled the lever. The whole ship changed from a faint blue glow to a bright green glow. The wind picked up in all directions blowing towards the center of the ship. The area outside the ship turned dark. And then everything returned to normal. “Did it work?” I asked. 

“I have no idea, Captain” Hlam said. 

“How would we know?” Belmar asked. 

“Again, I have no idea.” Hlam said. 

“Alright, let’s head back to port and keep our eyes out for anything unusual.” I said turning the wheel to the left to change course. 

“CAPTAIN! FELLOW FLYING SHIP APPROACHING!” Ossley yelled from the crows nest. 

“It didn’t work.” I said. The ship groaned. “I KNOW IT DIDN'T WORK. IM ASKING HIM!” The ship groaned again and then sudden flew at a speed that I have never experienced. Everything went black and then we all collapsed. When we returned to the conscious world I saw the most beautiful blue sky I had ever seen. The sky was always blue but this sky was like someone had painted the sky with cyan. 

DitD 39 Pirates

Belmar rushed onboard. “So then we are going to postpone the launch?”

“Not a chance first mate. We set sail immediately.” I said headed up to the wheel. “Weigh anchor first mate.”

“Shouldn’t the crew do that?” Belmar asked heading over to my right side. 

“Have you never read a pirate tale? You relay my orders to the crew.” I said. 

“The crew is right there.” Belmar said. 

“Gragh, you want to take over as my left tenant?” I asked. 

“Fine, I got this.” Belmar said. “WEIGH THE ANCHOR!”

“Start the bubble generator, and hoist the main sail.” I said. 

“WHAT THE CAPTAIN SAID!” Belmar attempted to relay. 

“WEIGH ANCHOR, HOIST THE MAIN SAIL AND KICK OVER THE BUBBLE JENNY!” Gragh yelled. The entire ship jumped to life. Gragh looked back at Belmar with annoyance. When Belmar caught Graghs gaze he shrugged. The bubble generator kicked on and the entire surrounding of the ship began to glow. It started wide and then began to shrink till the entire ship itself began to glow. There was a part of the bubble that didn’t hug the ship which was halfway up the main mast and around the main deck. It was customary for the bubble to leave area on the deck for the crew or rich people to mull. The ship began to float. And the sails were unfurled. The ship lurched forward and gave a begrudged grown.

“That’s it girl. You are back.” I said. The ship moaned louder. “Is that joy girl.” The ship groaned almost angry. “Well you can’t sleep anymore. We are now adventurers.”

“Captain, who are you talking to?” Belmar asked concerned for my sanity. The ship groaned in response to my statement. 

“Never mind Belmar.” I said. I reached down and grabbed the jet throttle. I pushed it forward and she lunged forward. The Aurora completely left the ocean and burst into the sky as I pulled the wheel backwards. Hlam burst out from below decks. We was wiping his hands with a rag. 

“Did you get in a fight with the engine kid?” Gragh asked. 

“Not that it’s any of your business but I just finished connecting the space-time engine.” Hlam said.

“That’s what name we are going with?” Gragh laughed. 

“It’s my machine.” Hlam said annoyed. 

“HEY, CAPN! I GOT THE TIME THINGY IS READY!” Gragh yelled up to me. 

“THAT WAS ME CAPTAIN! I DID IT!” Hlam yelled.

“YEAH! THATS OBVIOUS KID!” I yelled down to the Hlam. When I felt we were far enough out to shore I said to Belmar, “gather the crew.”

“Gragh, gather the crew.” Belmar said to Gragh.

“GATHER ‘ROUND ME DRUNKS!” Gragh yelled. The crew came from every part of the ship and faced the quarter decks. “THE CAP’N WISHES TO ADDRESS US ALL. Go ‘head Cap’n.”

“RIGHT! Can you all hear me ok?” I yelled. The entire crew cheered. “I’m not going to lie to you, this is not easy. Some of you may not return. But I’m tired of our society kicking the teachers. This was why we need to do this. I can’t make money if the teachers can’t get the books. Obviously you are here for money and we will split the booty evenly.”

“Yur loosen ‘em Cap’n.” Gragh said. 

“Right, we have the tech to take down some ancient bastards easily.” I yelled and all the crew yelled. “FOR OUR FREEDOM OF LIFE STYLE!” 

DitD 38 pirates

 My new outfit was perfect in size and exactly what I would have expected for a pirate captain. I walked out onto the main deck just as Ossley and Belmar pulled up. I looked up to the sky and noticed a small black cloud on the horizon. 

“I see you got the new clothes.” Belmar said. “Didn’t he have anything more regal?”

“Hurry on board. The weather is turning.” I said. 

“What? That little cloud?” Belmar asked. 

“Yes. I would like clear skies for our maiden voyage.” I said. 

“Relax Captain. It’s not going to rain.” Belmar said enthusiastically. 

“Look at the clouds Belmar. It’s going to rain.” I said. 

“I’m telling you that it’s not going to rain.” Belmar said with growing enthusiasm. 

“Belmar, don’t be an idiot, the clouds are forming behind your back. It’s going to rain.” Ossley said annoyed. 

“Would you people stop saying that? It’s not going to rain!” Belmar said. 

“Now I’m telling ya, it looks like rain.” Gragh said laughing. 

“IT IS NOT GOING TO RAIN!” Belmar yelled. Suddenly A crack of thunder with a flash of lightning scorched the sky behind Belmar.

DitD 37 pirates

  My name is Dwelvmar Crav Liff but no one would surrender to Captain Dwelvmar Crav Liff. The Liff name is synonymous with textbooks. Trouble is that we have education problems in the future to the point where the teachers are now purchasing textbooks, renting classrooms and even purchasing players for the sports departments to ensure that they can receive a paycheck. The better the athletic department determined a teachers salary. This meant that textbooks were generally bought by twos. Business was winding down and I was low on funds when I looked into history for inspiration. I was an ex soldier so I knew how to fight. And I had a few close friends who would help me regardless of the ask. But four people doesn’t make a band of miscreants and thieves. 

What part of history you ask? Pirates of course. Pirates had been glorified during the early 2000s and although the glamorous pirates of the 1600s through half of the 1700s were the pinnacle, they were rarely that glamorous in the 2000s. Piracy hadn’t stopped after the 1700s it just changed. Long gone were the democratic vessels on the seven seas and now it was people just stealing because it was easy.

Of course a lot has changed since the 2000s. In our modern day of 2132 we had advancements in technology. For instance, we discovered a way to make a vessel lighter then a balloon. The way to do it was to create an pocket dimension around the vessel and then make the pocket act like it was a light material filled with helium. Of course the pocket had to be formed with the propulsion system on the outside but it was interesting nevertheless. I happened to own an old wooden vessel from 1688 and a pocket dimensional generator. But I would need a pirate crew. I needed like minded individuals. So I gathered my friends to figure this all out. Gragh Martrak who would be my first mate. He was our heavy machine gunner in the army. Ossley Bral who would man the crows nest. She was the toughest woman I ever met and scary when hungry. She was small but could lift four times her body weight. She was impressive because she never even worked out. But I knew I could count on her to swing down from the crows nest faster than lightning and fight off more than her share. Lastly Belmar Pastev who would be the crew master and liaison. He had the smoothest tongue of any person I had ever met. The bar was full that night so we chose to drink in a nightclub down the street. They had private rooms for let. 

“This is ridiculous, liaison is a position for a friend when you have nothing else left.” Belmar said furiously. 

“You’re just mad because you always knew I was Dwelvmars best friend.” Gragh scoffed. “Also you have to do something about that name. What are you a bureaucrat?” 

  Ossley laughed spitting out a small piece of bacon snack that she kept in her pocket. “ALL HAIL! Captain Pretty-pants!” 

“I’ve actually been thinking about that. I was thinking of Captain Smit Ephihar Liff.” I said with a smile. 

“Captain Smite Liff,” Gragh said pondering. “I like it.” 

“No, it’s…” I tried to say but was interrupted. 

“I could follow a captain by the name of Smite Liff” Ossley said nodding her. 

“Yes, but it’s actually…” I tried to say again being interrupted. 

“Then it’s settled. I’ll try to get more people for the crew. Don’t worry, they will all follow Smite and his crew master Belmar. Everyone else will need to do the same.” Gragh declared. “I mean unless the captain feels adverse to this plan?” 

They all looked at me trying to get me to not make anymore mention of my name preference. “Yes, that is what I have been trying to say this whole time. Don’t interrupt me again first mate.”

We drank until closing time although I had far less alcohol then my rabble. I needed a clear head as I needed to plan our next move. I was so preoccupied that I hadn’t noticed that Belmar wasn’t drink as much either. Of course Gragh and Ossley were so drunk that I caught Gragh making out with the vending machine and slightly grinding on it and Ossley was making out with the back part of our bench. When they were plastered Belmar scooted closer to me and began to whisper. “I’ve heard of a genius boy in my science magazines.” Belmar was a science freak and had every magazine subscription known to man. “He has calculated a formula for an Einstein Rosen bridge. He was scoffed at by the editor and the author. They almost didn’t run the story but they had a slow month.”

“What’s your point?” I said hoping to brush him off. 

“He has the theory and possibly even the tech to make our pocket dimension travel through time and even possibly space.” Belmar said eagerly. “What do you think? First mate now?” 

“If you are right then yes.” I said.

“Don’t tell Belmar, or the Captain but Gragh here is the best kisser.” Ossley attempted to whisper to Belmar. “You know, since Belmar is the new first mate and all.”

I spent the rest of the night doing research on historical pirates. Pirates like Captain Edward Teach and Benjamin Hornigold. Edward Teach or sometimes referred to as Edward Thatch who’s success came from the fear he caused in his opponent’s and crew. Stories of heavy grog use with gunpowder rumors helped to solidify his strength with the proper fear tactic. This was his downfall with his crew but lacing his hair and black beard with lit cannon fuses caused quick surrender of his opponents.

Hornigold was completely different as his crew would follow him through the pits of hell. This was because he employed a pirate democracy. The crew had equal say in matters though the captain had the final say. But all booty and major decisions were agreed upon by the crew. That is how I would like to have my crew. Perhaps I could have the entire crew on board with the fear tactics of Blackbeard. We could be the most feared and most democratic group of pirates to ever live. 

THE NEXT MORNING was depressing for two of us. Gragh and Ossley wouldn’t even look at each other. They both ended the night huddled in an embrace with their inanimate objects. Each believing they made out with the other. I was not about to tell them otherwise. Besides Belmar tracked down the kid and I was interested in what he had to say. We arrived at the kids hovel which was not what normal people would call home. I knocked on the screen door as the door didn’t appear to be anywhere. I could see a kid running around room. It seemed to only have two rooms. There was trash and metal parts strewn about the area. The kid didn’t even look up. I could see filth on his face and hands and his blond hair had specs of crud in it with black stained parts of the hair. His shirt had holes in the side which was barely covered by a tattered lab coat. The lab coat was worse then the boy. His pants were the cleanest part of the boy which was really saying something as they were frayed at the bottom with holes in the knees and black stains on the thighs. 

“What’s his name?” I asked.

“Hlam,” Belmar stated. 

“YES, WHAT?” Hlam yelled from inside the room. He lifted head to see three grown men and one woman dressed nicely standing in his doorway. He lifted his goggles and began to tilt his head. I started to get excited when he pushed a button. The button must’ve been hooked to a trigger mechanism as it slammed a metal door from the floor to the ceiling flinging crap up destroying part of the screen and landing on us. 

“OH THIS KIDS ASKIN’ FORIT!” Gragh yelled. 

“Hold up Gragh. Have you noticed the state of living quarters he lives in?” I asked “He might think we are from social services.”

“Social Services? Are you dumb?” Hlam said over a speaker. “I have proven to them that I am self-sufficient they stopped coming three years ago. You are here to steal my work like all the others since those morons in the magazine.”

“WE ARENT THEIVES KID!” I yelled.

“Stupid, stupid, stupid. You are so stupid. The microphone works fine and doesn’t require yelling.” Hlam said back. 

“Not thieves? Aren’t we trying to become pirates?” Belmar asked in a whisper. 

“Pirates are thieves. THIEVES, JERKS!” Hlam said. “WAIT! PIRATES!!!”

“Ok, pirates but more like Robin Hood.” I tried to reason. 

“SHUT UP! Pirates… yes. PIRATES! True historical beings and not make believe people. EUREKA!!!” Hlam yelled frantically. “COLAB!? YES?”

“Yes…?” I said.

“You take me or this won’t work. Troubleshoot as we go.” Hlam said. 

“Ok Yoda…” I said joking. Gragh and Ossley chuckled a little then looked at each other and immediately looked away embarrassed. “Would you too go wait in the car?!”

“Bad idea Captain, they might make out some more.” Belmar scoffed. 

“No jokes, waste of time and lost on me as I don’t have a sense of humor.” Hlam said.

I whispered to Belmar, “They are safe there’s no booze in the car.” Belmar and I laughed as quiet as we could. 

“Seriously, no joking. I will be right out. Bring a truck around. Flatbed preferably.” Hlam said. 

“We don’t have a flat bed.” I said. 

“I’m aware, if you had one I would have said bring YOUR truck around. However instead I said bring A truck around.” Hlam said. “Hurry, it won’t take long to pack everything I need.”

“Listen kid…” I started

“No time. Make your useless point after we are on your ship. Ensure your ship is wood.” Hlam interrupted. All three of my companions began to laugh. 

“VSSHHH…” I sounded and then shook my head. “Belmar, as my new first mate, take tweadle dee and tweadle dumb here to get a flat bed truck for his highness.”

“I’m tweadle dee,” Ossley said. 

“Just get in the car, you are both idiots.” Belmar said. 

“Can you at least open the door?” I asked brushing the filth off my shoulders. 

“Door? Right.” Hlam said and the door fell back to the floor. “So you’re Captain, then there is Belmar and tweadle dee and tweadle dumb? Is that everyone in your crew?”

“I’m Captain Smit E Liff. I have a tall ship from the 1600s. My crew consists of Belmar who is my first mate, Gragh who is my crew liaison and Ossley who is our crows nest look out.” I said

“Understood. Can you grab me that hose?” Hlam said point in a general region of his trash pile. I walked in and grabbed the hose with my thumb and pointer. “More crew is yet needed.”

“Gragh has a bunch of crew that he is bringing on board.” I said. 

“Long John Silver, Captain.” Hlam said. 

“You mean treasure island?” I asked.

Hlam ran to the other side of what appeared to be a pile of trash. “Correct. Don’t trust a crew you don’t know personally.”

“Served in the Army with my team. I trust them with my life.” I said. 

“Just keep your wits about you and guard up Captain.” Hlam said. “Screw?”

“No, Gragh and Ossley just made out with inanimate objects.” I said.

“No, there…” Hlam persisted.

“Aren’t you a bit young to think about fornication?” I asked. 

“NO, That screw there, please hand it here” Hlam said annoyed. 

“Oh. Forgive me.” I said. 

“Just hand me the screw please.” Hlam said hanging his head. I left him to it and looked around for a place to sit. 

“So where are your parents Hlam?” I asked. 

“Parents? Do you mean the genetic material donator and the birthpod? They left when I was four. Something about being fed up with each other and me. Why do you ask?” Hlam said. 

“That’s awful. I’m sorry.” I said.

“Don’t be. I was better off. They couldn’t afford this house or any of my experiments. I write code on the weekend for companies and they pay me well enough to pay for the taxes on the house that I own, and to afford the food and equipment that I need.” Hlam said.

“What about…” I started. 

“Your crew is here with a truck. Grab that end.” Hlam said. 

I grabbed my end and began to lift. “Can you please…” I began. 

“Interrupting you. No. You use 800 words to say something that only needs 2. Don’t drop this.” Hlam said. 

“That’s three words.” I said snidely. 

“You’re also a moron.” Hlam said again. 

“Good talk cap’n?” Gragh said. 

“The best,” I said sarcastically. “Help me out here.” Gragh grabbed my end and lugged it onto the truck by himself. 

“Be careful. It’s delicate.” Hlam said worried. 

“Relax kid, I’ve been with more delicate.” Gragh glanced at Ossley. 

“Delicate like a tank.” Ossley responded. 

“Was the delicate thing also nuclear?” Hlam asked. 

“Oh! Now you have a comical sense.” Gragh said smiling.

“I could take you both in a fist fight at the same time and win.” Ossley responded fiercely. 

“No, you see…” Hlam started. 

“Settle down you three.” I exclaimed finally cutting someone off. 

“NO! The device is nuclear you morons. If you damage a single part of it we all die.” Hlam said. 

“That’s less funny, kid.” Gragh said. 

“Again, I wasn’t trying to be humorous.” Hlam said. 

After the truck was loaded and strapped down tight we started out towards my ship. I started to think about the fantasy of taking what we needed and nothing more. Returning to the future to supply all the teachers the materials they needed and more. Suddenly Gragh hit a pothole in the road at speed. 

“Captain, are you going to let him get away with this?” Hlam asked frustrated.

I looked to Belmar, “1st mate, handle this.”

Belmar looked at Ossley and gave her a nod. She whacked the back of Gragh’s head so hard I thought I could hear part of his skull shatter. This caused Gragh to grab the back of his head causing the flatbed truck to swerve into oncoming traffic Ossley pulled the wheel back towards our lane which cause Hlam to put his head in his hands. “We are all going to die.” Hlam said saddened by his recent discovery. 

“Just figger that out now kid, and crap Ossley not so hard!” Gragh said. 

“Then try not to hit bumps you moron.” Ossley said as she pulled back to give him another. 

“Ok… ok” Gragh said. The rest of the ride back to the ship was smoother. Gragh hit a few more potholes pushing his luck. Ossley cracked Gragh in the back of his head. Hlam feared for his life. Belmar yelled at Gragh and Ossley. Finally, I dreamt of a safer crew. 

We pulled up and the whole ship was filled with life. “Does anyone know who all these people are?” I asked. 

“Long John Silver” Hlam said staring at the floor. 

“You mean treasure island?” Gragh asked.

“That’s what I said and it’s none of your business.” Hlam said. 

“Relax, as the crew master I gathered a crew. All from our military career, Cap’n.” Gragh said. “All straight arrows and tough as nails. You’ve seen it yurself.”

Some of the crew started approaching the truck. “Captain… Captain… CAPTAIN!!!” Hlam said worried. He grabbed onto my shoulder and began to squeeze. 

“Take a breath, I now recognize the crew members.” I said reassuring. He released my arm and immediately pushed me away. 

“I know that! I just don’t want them manhandling my device.” Hlam said trying to convince himself. 

“Ok kid… we believe ya.” Gragh said sarcastically. 

The crew walked up to Gragh. “This the last piece?” They asked. 

“Yeah, take’er easy with it. The things Radio something or other.” Gragh replied. 

“It’s not radio something or other!!! It’s fragile and nuclear powered and has the possibility of going off based on how it’s treated.” Hlam said from the truck. 

“Right, so… Fragile and Radio something or other.” The crew members said. They unloaded the truck and placed it on the ship next to the bubble generator. Hlam was hounding them the entire time. Telling them where to put it and how gently to set the device down. I sent Belmar and Ossley to return the truck and get the car. Gragh checked to make sure the crew was settling in on the ship and that things were ready to make way. I went to my quarters and placed my pirate textbooks by my bed. I was going to need it for further research if we were going to be successful. My quarters were in the aft of the ship below the quarter deck. There was a small room in between my quarters and the outer deck. I made that my war room.

“Cap’n, can I see you in this second room.” Gragh said.

“War room.” I said. 

“Yeah… Sure… whatever… this is important.” Gragh said through the door. I opened the door and Gragh was walking around the table in the middle of the room. “We have no way of fighting back against our enemies.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“The cannons are blocked off with rubber.” Gragh said concerned.

At that moment Hlam walks into the war room. “We got a problem.” Hlam said annoyed. 

“Great maybe you two can solve each other’s problem’s.” I said laughing slightly. 

“Very funny. I am doubtful that you can even solve the problem.” Hlam said annoyed. 

“WHAT?!” I yelled. 

“The… um… generator is older and… uh… wont mesh with the… space time Modulator.” Hlam said sheepishly. 

“Great. Look, I’m sorry kid. Is there an adapter that we can use?” I asked. 

“Adapter? What’s an adapter?” Hlam said.

“You know, the thing that makes old and new tech work together. Like a larger hose connecting to a smaller hose.” I said. 

“That might work but I will have to play with my figures.” Hlam said heading out of the war room. 

“Now, Gragh… take the cannons and heat them until the rubber flows. Then pour the rubber into barrels. We might still have need for it down the road. Finally make sure no rubber remains. We don’t want the cannons to damage our ship.” I said. 

“Aye, spoken like a true Cap’n. It will be done.” Gragh replied. 

Belmar and Ossley were still out for a few minutes so I decided to take a stroll on the main deck. Officially she was a Elizabethan Galleon. I named her Aurora because she was the most beautiful of all ships and she was my true north. As I exited the war room onto the main deck I examined my vessel and crew. The sky was clear and I hoped that it would remain that way for the duration of our maiden voyage.  I walked down the stairs to the main deck and the crew nodded as I would approach. My hands naturally went behind my back as I strolled. 

“Captain!” I heard over my shoulder. I looked back and saw a large man carrying a chest. 

“Can I help you?” I asked. 

“A gentleman named Belmar told me to come by and assist you with your wardrobe. He said modern day cloths meets 1600s buccaneer. And preferably all black.” The gent said. I examined him up and down. He was in fancy penny loafers with very nice slacks and a French tucked tee shirt. Judging by his wardrobe I would be in good hands. “So where should we…?”

“The war room will be fine.” I said seeing the visible confusion on his face. “This way.”

The well dressed man followed me to the war room and he began to lay out garments and hats on the table. I reach towards the hats and the man slapped my hand away. “You’re not ready for the hats yet.” He said and he continued putting garments on the table. 

“I’ve worn hats before.” I said to myself. 

“Do you want the outfits or not?” He said looking over his glasses. Then he pulled out the outfit that immediately spoke to me. They were a pair of black cargo pants that were purposely tattered and frayed by the feet. A sleeveless black shirt with a red crab and it’s body was the shape of a skull. A light trench coat with a zipper and some metal hoops. 

I grabbed it before he set it down. “This is it?” I said. 

“That one? That was from a crappy party last night. I was going to throw it out.” He said growing concerned. 

“I will be wearing that one.” I said, “It makes me feel dignified.”

“It was a goth party. I didn’t even remember it was in there! Please reconsider.” He replied. 

“I have made my decision.” I replied. 

“Well then wear whatever hat you want.” He said throwing his hands in the air. 

I glanced over the hats and found one that had a black feather tucked into a single fold on the side. I grabbed it and put it on my head. “This is perfect.”

“I quit. You have no fashion sense whatsoever.” He said annoyed. 

“How do I get more of these clothes?” I asked. 

“I have more of these in my car trunk. Take them and never call me again.” He said as he threw outfits back into the chest. 

“Just take a member of my crew to get it from you. I need to evolve into my new outfit.” I said. 

“You’re an idiot,” I heard him say as I walked into my quarters. I excitedly tore my clothes off. 

Update

 Sorry for the nonpost for the past few days. Yesterday I was sick and Monday I wrote the story that I think might be my entry for the jade ring contest. I can’t post it here or an excerpt from the story but the story is a pirate, comedy, historic, action and sci fi. It’s been fun to write and once I know for a fact that it is my entry and which excerpt is being sent in I can post the rest here. Please bare with me as I play out the details. 

DitD 36 ghost hunters

 This section was incredibly hard to write as it is the conclusion to my first novella. It ends slightly abruptly which is where I like it. I have been struggling to write this which is why my posts have been a bit more infrequent of late but hopefully I will get over it soon. The ending is in this post and the beginning is not in this blog. I now have the daunting task of rewriting certain parts and editing the full story. I hope you enjoyed this one and I will continue my other works. I hope to have it ready for publishing by August. The working title right now is “follies in ghost hunting” but I haven’t settled on that yet. So stay tuned and Enjoy. 

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I reached to where the gun dropped. My arms were so weak and heavy but somehow I got my hand around the pistol grip. I pulled the gun into both hands. I knew I only had one shot so I had to make sure it counted. I raised my head and extended my arm slowly. I could hear a thud. I assume it was Steve hitting the altar hard. I got the pistol raised off the ground. I could hear a scream of pain as a sound of squishing occurred. I could only assume that was the dagger plunging into Steve’s chest. I pulled my head up enough to see. The dagger was plunged deep into Steve’s chest and blood was starting to flow from the displacement caused by the knife. I can’t shoot the nuns as the bullets pass through without ever touching them. I can’t shoot the shadowy which I could only assume was Nergal. So the only thing left was to shoot the dagger. Maybe the dagger was a link between the physical realm and the spiritual realm. I just needed a clear shot but I couldn’t figure out how. The dagger was almost fully submerged in the body of my closest friend left alive. ‘The hilt,’ I thought. But the nun holding the hilt was in the way. I aimed for the nuns torso. Maybe, just maybe I could get lucky. I would have prayed but I didn’t know to whom I could address the prayer. I suppose in a church I could pray to the Catholic god. 

Suddenly I heard a voice from down the flight of stairs. It sounded like words but none that I ever heard before. I heard a word that caused a guttural reaction to the shadowy figure. The word I heard was “Nabu”. What did it mean I wondered. It didn’t matter as my body felt a little stronger. I could see the nuns had cringed the same way as the shadow figure. I aimed for the hilt which was now slightly visible. I squeezed the trigger as the voice continued. I heard the bullet strike the dagger and the dagger shattered into a lot of little tiny pieces. The voice rang out the word of “Nabu” again. A field of light emerged from the stairwell. The light was blindingly bright. And then darkness. My strength had returned to me so I stood up and ran to Steve. I heard a loud cough but a cough filled with fluid. When I arrived at his body I could see the extent of the damage. The hole in his chest was deep and still had a few fragments inside the wound. But the biggest problem was the fact that a piece of the shattered blade had grazed the jugular vein in his neck. Blood was pouring out at an alarming rate.

“Steve!” I cried out, “stay with me you asshole.” I grabbed part of the altar cloth and wadded it up against his neck trying to stop the bleeding. 

“Apply…” Steve coughed, “a tourniquet” Steve said. Suddenly the all too familiar sight of him slipping into a blood loss coma. 

“No you fucking don’t you bastard. Aurora won’t let me come home with out you!” I yelled. A large tear began to well in each eye. I watched as the only person who knew my story and what I had seen and been through passed away. I was so preoccupied with Steve that I didn’t notice that the shadowy figure was gone and the nuns were unconscious on the ground near the altar. I fell to my knees. The hardest part was knowing that my bullet caused the blade to break. My bullet caused the death of my last battle buddy. The remaining blood from the recent corpse drained to the ground. Damon came over and placed a hand on my shoulder. I could feel his sweaty grip piercing through my sweat soaked shirt. I closed my eyes and felt the hand disappear. 

I felt myself rise up out of where I was and quickly drop back. I opened my eyes and saw the sofa of the RV. I looked up and saw cameras and light. I looked to my left and saw the spirit box and the infrared and ultraviolet lights. I stood up slowly as I could feel us moving. “How did you sleep?” a strange voice said. 

“ok, I guess. I had the strangest dream. And who are you?” I said trying to move to the passenger seat. 

“HEY, not to worry bud. I’m Dave and you are in my traveling ghost hunting band.” Dave announced proudly. 

“what do you mean?” I said. 

“Your crew of fantastic ghost hunters were the first group to ever see real specters and ghosts. So I picked you up outside of the church and started asking what you remember.” Dave gestured as if he was whispering. “That’s not much by the way.” Dave stopped gesturing. “And every morning we go through this rigmarole.”

“Steve, Pat!” I cried out a bit. I felt a hand on my shoulder. 

“Sadly your team didn’t make it. The doctor said that you have a wartime thing called dissociative amnesia. Apparently the trauma in the church was so great that you forget the events and even sometimes who we are. They say it’s a response that is used by the brain to help ease guilt and pain. But your with us now homie.”

“Aurora and the kids?” I asked. 

“We get you home every weekend. But you are providing a decent living for them now.” Dave said. “Now, did you remember any other details that you haven’t mentioned before?” Dave asked pulling out a tape recorder. 

DitD 35 space western

 The range was on the surface above the ice. Gun technology didn’t change very much from the 2020s. The changes made to moderate weaponry was things like adding tiny Gauss gun tech into them. My side arm was one of the latest upgrades. It was a 9 millimeter Glock that had the addition of mini Gauss and light amplification. A Gauss addition used electro magnets constantly in front of the bullet to pull it down the barrel. The light amplification used a laser light brighter then any flashlight on earth behind the bullet to push the bullet down the barrel. Of course the old tech was still in use as well with these additions. The kick you felt was from the rapid expansion of the gases caused by the heat of the gun powder. These new 9 millimeters could fire at a rate of 2500 feet per second. 

No matter the tech level it was still fun to punch holes in signs. I loved trying to make smiley faces. I just had problems when I would try to add the nose. I’m not really sure why the nose was even added to the smiley faces but they were. I could get the eyes pretty good with three shots straight up and down in a row. I could get the eight bullets to make the smile just right. Hell, i could even get the tongue done with five bullets. But the darn nose never looked right. 

“That’s pretty good,” Dave said. Dave was a local retiree. He loved to come and hang out where people were shooting to hang out and hear the news. In case you had not guessed the range wasn’t really a gun range. The United States of Space would come around once a month to place a new sign dictating what we could and could not do. And we would all take time out of our schedule to destroy those signs. 

“Yeah, I can never get the nose right.”

“Well, shit. Let me show you how it’s done.” Dave pulled out a rifle that looked to have every mod available. He leaned it against his motorized scooter. He pulled the trigger three times. “The trick is to go wider.”

He wasn’t wrong. The outside siren went off. “You better hurry home now, sir.” I said. “You going to make it?”

“Oh hell, I was headed to the bar anyway. It’s quicker then going home.” 

“Hop in sir. I’ll get you there in a jiffy.” I pulled open the door to my truck. “I’ll get your scooter after the all clear.”

DitD 34 fae girl

 Her parents gave her a sweet name of Eilidh. And she was truly radiant. Her mother wanted her to wear an eye patch over the fae eye but the father didn’t see a point. She was truly gifted. The patch did help with switching between fae and human realms. 

This is my area of expertise. The disagreements grew with every year and the eye patch was the final straw. The divorce papers were signed six years and two months after she was born. The divorce was brutal and with the parents being poor individuals it was like taking a small house and moving into two closets. At her moms place she was taught to be proper and walk straight and tall. 

Aye, and her father was ever more forgiving and fun. Whenever the father had a slight bit of coin he would dote upon his daughter. He use to take her to the tavern, and they would listen to the music. The barkeep was a friend of his and sneak them food. 

  For the most part she grew up happy with her father and taught upper crust stuff from her mother. Her father eventually found a job that he could use to supply his daughter with the financial stability of anyones dreams. 

Aye, but when she was ten she received word that her father perished at sea and was gone forever. She didn’t care about the money nor the status. She missed her father while he was away. We preferred hanging out with them at the fathers hovel as well. Easier to sneak around when no one is quiet and everything is fun. 

That’s very true Suir. She was a monster of strict rules. However we have gotten off track. When she was twelve she was thrust into the fae fight and saved both our worlds. It would leave our world scared forever but it was indeed, saved. 

Now, in order for you to understand the fae you must understand that some of the facts have been modified for religious reasons. Things like faeries. Those creatures that you have pictured on television and movies. Generally they are cute creatures with wings and tiny green dresses made from bits of tree. This is not only incorrect but a direct spit in the face of everything we hold dear. And leprechauns bring you cereal with specks of marshed mellows. Again, wrong. Tell them Daagh. 

Why me? You were half way to telling them. 

Because I’m the fun brounie and your the serious one. 

Suir is correct though. Faeries are scary critters with teeth like daggers. Worse yet is the leprechaun. But for now we will stick to telling you about the faeries.