Turning Tides

Prologue

In the grand scope of things, having their head dangling from the edge of the boat, the world blurring around her was the least of her concerns. It was almost the opposite of a concern but a respite from being thrown around for the last few hours. Sloan looked into the dark ocean as waves lapped up the side kissing their forehead and melting some of the accumulated mud and dirt.

"Finally ready to talk girl?" The rough voice of the boat's captain sounded from somewhere at her feet. Boat not ship, it did not deserve such characterization.

"Wouldn't hurt to be specific, I've been talking but it doesn't seem enough for the likes of you." The words came out scratchier than she would have liked but at least they managed to keep the wobble out.

A sharp kick to her side had her gasping for breath, the waves below becoming fuzzier.

"I would shut up before I decide I don't care enough about the map to keep you alive. It's no wonder your crew abandoned you and stole your boat, you're a shit captain if that can even be said about you."

The waves kept lapping as gently as they could so far out in the ocean. Despite current circumstances, it was a very nice day out, with minimal clouds in the sky. Something glinted a few feet below the surface.

"You are very wrong sir. This is a boat, that is a ship." From the surface, the foremast rose elegantly from the water, followed by the rest of the glittering ship. Shouts resounded from around Sloan from the boat they were on as well as the newly arrived ship.

"What-"

Bodies swung from the glittering ship onto the deck of the boat. Within seconds the clank of metal hitting each other became obsolete. Sloan turned from her front to her back. The captain was no longer focused on "interrogating" and was instead fighting back two individuals dressed in black. One of them flipped their blade, catching its handle out and swung solidly at the captain's head. The blow was strong enough to knock the captain down in a crumble. The individual turned to Sloan and grinned.

"Are you just going to lay there and let us do all the work?" The man pulled off the black bandana wrapped around his head, stepped forward and offered out his hand. Sloan grabbed it tighter than they normally would've and glared.

"Fuck off Terry." Terry let out a deep laugh.

"Good to see you're still around Cap." He offered up his blade as well as a sword strapped to his back. Sloan took them and relished the immediate relief that came from safety and familiarity.

"Don't lie, Terry, I know you're dying to get your hands on my beauty." The two turned to face the ongoing struggle. It was clear to anyone who could be watching that Sloan's people would come out victorious. It was always clear.

Movement caught the corner of their eye and they spotted someone who was not one of her crew attempting to get across to Sloan's ship.

"Not on my watch." Sloan took a breath and threw the small blade in a perfect line. The blade hit the man square between the shoulder blades, the force of it toppling him over the side into the sea.

"Let's get out of here, I'm quite bored of these men." Sloan grabbed a rope dangling from one of the masts and used it to propel themselves from the boat onto the ship with a hard thud. One by one her crew followed. The remaining few kept the men from following.

"Prepare the ship she's going under!" Sloan cried making her way to the quarterdeck. Movement around them indicated immediate follow-through. 

A glow from the center of the ship began spreading. It crept down the floor, dropped over the sides and crawled up the masts. Soon the entirety was covered in the glow and surrounded by a purple-ish glow. A warning rumble sounded and then the ship began sinking inch by inch.

 The remaining crew members on the boat took a running leap and dove into the water in synchronicity. There was barely a splash as they entered the water. They swam rapidly to the underside of the ship and seemed to melt into it, seconds later appearing on the inside. 

The rest of the ship sunk into the water. Sloan eyed the top of the foremast. Once it was fully submerged in the sea they turned to the steering wheel grabbed it with both hands and swung it towards the right. The ship pivoted and headed east. Despite being completely submerged the ship did not seem to be touched by the water, as if the glow was hydrophobic. Sea life past the shift soon turned into multicoloured blurs as the ship picked up speed. 

Sloan let out a hoot as the sea welcomed them back like a cool embrace.