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“Lieutenant Lopez was a brave man and an excellent seaman. He was hardworking and dedicated, not only to his country for which he served but also to his family, whom now he leaves behind.”
Quackity’s head dipped, his teeth gritting to hold back the sobs wracking his body. Tears were streaming down his face.
His mother shifted beside him and he allowed her to pull him closer, gratefully hiding his face in her black dress as the grief flooded him.
Weeks ago his father’s ship had set sail on a mission.
Quackity had watched his father’s ship leave port, admiring the frigate’s beauty and imagining that one day it would be him leading missions out on the open sea. He never expected that that would be the last time he saw that ship or his father again.
Both had been lost.
His father’s body was luckily recovered but most of the crew was lost.
The funeral flew by in a blur, Quackity listening intently as the various Navy honors were bestowed. As his grief ebbed, a new emotion started to take its place. Determination.
Quackity swore, in that moment, that he would live to be as great as his father.
He enlisted as soon as he turned eighteen. He worked hard, focusing all his time and attention on the Navy.
He rose through the ranks fairly quickly as he was able to impress all his higher ups.
He was in his late twenties when he became Chief Officer. He served under Captain Schlatt, who hated pirates with as much ferocity as his own father had.
“They’re just gnats, annoying little gnats that need squashing,” was Schlatt’s favorite saying when it came to pirates.
One evening, he and Schlatt were going over their order they’d recently received - a mission in the west to deal with some pirates who had attacked a naval convoy - when Schlatt suddenly pulled the cigar from his mouth and asked.
“Did they ever tell you or your ma what really happened to your father?”
Quackity glanced up, straightening slightly. He shook his head, “The ship met some kind of ill fate and was sunk.”
“Of course,” Schlatt huffed, mumbling something inaudible under his breath as he took a drag of his cigar and exhaled smoke into the cabin. He looked Quackity in the eyes, “Your father was killed by pirates. The same ones that we’re going after now.”
Quackity’s eyes widened. Anger sparked low in his gut. “What?” He asked, almost in disbelief, “Captain, I’m not sure I heard that correctly did I?”
“No you heard me,” Schlatt’s eyes practically flashed as he stood from where he’d been seated and walked over, “The pirates we’re going after are some of the same ones who caused your father’s death.” Schlatt’s voice was a low grow and Quackity’s eyes narrowed as the anger seared through his veins. His fists balled into fists.
“They won’t get away from us,” there was a promise in his voice as he spoke, his eyes darting to Schlatt, “will they sir?”
Schlatt grinned around his cigar, reaching up to pat Quackity’s shoulder, “No. No they fucking won’t.”
They didn’t.
Within a week the pirates had been apprehended and taken back to shore where they were found guilty and hung.
Satisfaction settled like a warm embrace as Quackity watched the executions take place. Justice was being served, swift and severe. Schlatt stood beside him, chuckling to himself.
Months later, Quackity and the rest of the crew were spending some time on land. Quackity was visiting his mother when he was suddenly summoned to headquarters.
Schlatt had dropped dead from a heart attack.
The ship needed a Captain and Quackity was next in line. Quackity accepted and after attending Schlatt’s funeral, took the oath to become Captain.
He became known as the Scourge of the Seas as he rose amongst his fellow Navy officers as the best pirate hunter among them. He brought many to justice and the hangman’s noose.
One day, he received summons back to headquarters.
“Captain Quackity,” the high commander greeted as Quackity came through his door. Quackity saluted and after returning the gesture the high commander waved to an empty chair opposite of him, “come and sit.”
Quackity did as bid and waited silently to hear what the high commander had to say.
“Piracy has become a problem, as I am sure you’re well aware,” the high commander started, looking up from the stack of papers laid out on his desk, “You’re one of the best pirate hunters we’ve got and you and your crew have been doing an excellent job at bringing these criminals to justice.”
“Thank you sir.”
The high commander nodded. “That being said, this problem is a little large for one man to handle on his own. Luckily for us the British seem to have come to the same realization.”
The door to the office clicked open and Quackity turned in time to watch a man in British Navy attire walk in. He was tall and broad and one side of his face was completely covered. He was an older gentleman, experienced and rough around the edges.
“Sir,” the man nodded respectfully to the high commander before doing the same to Quackity with, “Captain.”
“Captain Quackity meet Captain Samuel” the high commander ordered.
“Captain,” Quackity nodded, respectfully just as the other Captain did.
“Samuel, your high commander has told me that you are one of the best pirate hunters they have. Is that correct?” the high commander questioned as he motioned Samuel to come forward and take a seat in the empty chair.
“It’s Sam if you would please sir and yes that is correct.” Sam took a seat, his tall, bulky frame folding to fit.
“Wonderful, Quackity here is ours,” the high commander smiled, waving his hand at Quackity.
The two captains shared a look. Sizing each other up slightly.
“Quackity,” Quackity’s eyes snapped back to his high commander as he was addressed. A folder is handed to him, “here are your orders. You and Sam will be working together in a joint stint in order to fight this war against piracy. Your orders are laid out in the folder. Do you have any questions?”
“No sir,” Quackity said instantly.
“Sam?”
“None sir,” Sam replied.
“Dismissed then, oh and gentlemen?” Quackity and Sam had gotten up and were heading for the door but paused at the high commander’s voice. They both looked back immediately to find the older man looking at them seriously, “Good luck out there.”
Quackity saluted and Sam nodded his head respectfully.
“Yes sir!”