Pirate's Reckouning

2

"Captain, captain!! Wake up, we're being attacked!"

Jax's voice cut through the quiet morning like a knife, sharp and urgent, his footsteps pounding down the corridor of the Maverick's Revenge. The sound of his boots echoed in the ship's narrow hallways, jolting Lexi from her slumber. She gasped, her heart pounding in her chest as she shot upright in her hammock, tangled sheets falling away like a broken web. Her mind struggled to shake off the remnants of a peaceful dream—one of warm Caribbean shores, of long-awaited reunions, laughter echoing through the air—but that dream was quickly drowned by the cruel, real-world urgency of Jax's words.

She barely had time to register the fog of confusion that clouded her thoughts before her feet hit the cold wood of the ship's floor. Her mind raced. Was this a trap? A trick? How could they be under attack so soon after setting sail?

"Hoist the sails and get ready for impact!"

Icy's voice rang out over the chaos, strong and clear. Lexi didn't need to see her to know that her best friend was already on the deck, eyes sharp and focused as always. Icy had a way of cutting through the noise, staying calm no matter how turbulent things became. Lexi could almost picture her, hands gripping the wheel with white-knuckled intensity, face set in a mask of determination as the first rays of light glinted off her sword.

In the next moment, Lexi was already dashing toward the deck, the salty air slapping her face, instantly waking her from her stupor. The faint pink hue of dawn bathed the horizon, but the beauty of the morning was marred by the sight that met her eyes: the Royal Vengeance, a warship of formidable repute, its black sails billowing like dark storm clouds, looming just off the port side. The enemy ship was huge, an imposing behemoth of sharp edges and glinting metal, cutting through the waves like a predator closing in on its prey.

And from it, assassins poured onto the Maverick's Revenge, a tidal wave of enemies descending with swords drawn, their faces hidden behind masks of grim determination. Lexi's stomach twisted in anger and frustration. How had they been caught so off guard? She prided herself on her vigilance, always keeping an eye on the horizon, always preparing for the unexpected. Yet here she was, scrambling to react as chaos exploded on her deck.

The clang of steel on steel rang through the air as her crew fought back. Carat's sharp blue hair flashed as he fired shots from his position, the sound of musket fire blending with the screams of combat. Jax, huge and powerful, was throwing bodies off the deck, his enormous fists sending enemies flying with a force that left no doubt of his strength. Lexi felt a surge of gratitude for him, even as her mind raced through strategies.

She gritted her teeth, her eyes scanning the carnage, frustration building as she saw the assassins closing in.

"I should never have let my guard down," she thought bitterly, the words burning through her. She cursed herself internally, feeling a pang of self-recrimination. How had she allowed herself to relax?

As she sprinted toward the fray, her thoughts turned to action. The Maverick's Revenge might have the advantage in speed, but in hand-to-hand combat, it was all about skill and numbers. And right now, the numbers were against them. Lexi drew her sword, its weight familiar and comforting in her grip. The blade gleamed in the rising sunlight as she joined the battle, her heart steadying with each swing.

"To the defense!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the clamor, rallying her crew.

Her command rang out as the crew responded with renewed energy. Carat dashed to the cannons, his slender frame agile as he loaded them with swift precision. Jax continued to plow through the boarders, his bellowing laugh echoing over the din of combat. Even in the face of an overwhelming force, there was something about Jax's boisterous spirit that lifted their morale.

But it was the cold, menacing gaze of the Royal Vengeance's captain that caught Lexi's attention. There he was, standing at the prow of the enemy ship with the arrogance of a man who thought he had already won, his sharp, angular features illuminated by the blood-red glow of the rising sun. Prince Hwa, the captain of the Royal Vengeance, was a man of fearsome reputation—ruthless, calculating, and vicious. His eyes locked with Lexi's across the distance, and a smile spread across his face, one cold and devoid of warmth.

"You thought you could escape me, Lexi?" His voice rang out across the water, a mocking challenge.

Lexi's gaze narrowed in return, her sword steady in her hand. Her lip curled into a sneer, her resolve hardening. She would not back down, not to him, not to anyone.

"You'll never take me alive, Prince," she called back, her voice carrying across the sea like a challenge.

The battle between their crews intensified, swords clashing in a deadly dance as the assassins pressed forward with unrelenting determination. Lexi's mind sharpened, each movement becoming instinctual as she disarmed one of the attackers, sending him sprawling into the sea with a forceful push. She moved with the precision of a predator, her blade cutting through the chaos as she parried a blow from another assailant, countering with a swift strike that sent him reeling.

But the Royal Vengeance's crew kept coming, seemingly endless in their numbers, each wave of attackers more relentless than the last. Lexi gritted her teeth, her muscles burning with exertion. They had to hold their ground—at least until they could get the cannons ready.

"Icy!" she shouted, trying to cut through the noise. "We need the cannons loaded, now!"

Icy's voice rang out immediately, sharp and commanding. "Load the cannons! Now! We need to fight fire with fire!"

Carat, his blue hair a blur, scrambled into action, pulling the ropes to ready the cannons as fast as his hands could move. His eyes flashed with determination, and for a moment, Lexi allowed herself a brief flicker of pride. He might have been young, but the boy was capable—fast, clever, and always up for a challenge.

Lexi turned back to the fray just in time to catch a blade aimed at her side. She dodged with a fluid movement, her own sword swinging out to deflect the strike. She countered with a swift kick to the assassin's chest, sending him stumbling backward into the chaos.

"We need to hold them off until the cannons are ready!" she barked, her voice strained with exertion.

Jax's deep voice rumbled beside her as he knocked two more attackers to the deck with a single swing. "We've got this, Captain! You just focus on stayin' alive!"

Lexi smiled grimly at his words, even as the situation grew more dire. The sun was rising higher, its golden light reflecting off the bloodied deck, casting a surreal glow over the battle. Time was running out. They couldn't afford to lose the advantage of surprise, not with so many enemies pressing in from all sides.

The fight seemed endless, but finally, the cannons roared to life, their blasts shaking the very air. The enemy ship was rocked by the force of the shots, and Lexi could see the crew of the Royal Vengeance falter for just a moment. That was all they needed.

With a rallying cry, Lexi led the charge, pushing the remaining boarders back toward the edge of the deck. The tide was turning, but the battle wasn't over yet. Not by a long shot.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, casting its warm glow over the chaos, Lexi felt a spark of hope ignite within her. They were going to win this. And they would send a message to Prince Hwa—no one could take the Maverick's Revenge so easily.