Churning Seas
Author's Note
This is another hybrid, post-Yuna's speech, adventure fanfiction. FFX is tied with PW once more in a different manner!
And I will not use Al Bhed on this fanfic. Everybody uses Common (or English for that matter) in this fic, since I will not take the trouble of going to Al Bhed translators.
Chapter 1: Disappearances
"Another ship?! Gaah!" Cid, the Al Bhed's burly leader, slammed his fists in his desk. He had received yet another report of an Al Bhed patrol ship being attacked by unknown entities. So far, three patrol ships have been assaulted and sunk, and the Al Bhed's navy is slowly becoming apprehensive, especially the ones in patrol around Spira. They will never know if they will be the next to be attacked.
"Sir, this ship had sent its last transmissions near the Baaj Temple. The last transmissions were received about five minutes ago; if we were to search the skies, we might be able to find the attacker."
"Is that so, is that so.." Cid thought to himself, then, standing up, he ordered, "Prepare the Celsius' flight crew. Refill the fuel tanks and check the main gun and the machine guns. We will depart for Baaj." He then left his office, and made to his daughter Rikku's workshop. As he entered, he saw his daughter welding some metal parts into an incomplete robot. At his arrival, Rikku stopped the welding and looked up to her father with a smile.
"Hey, Pops," she started. "Something wrong?"
"Sadly," he replied, sitting in a chair. "Another attack on our patrol boats. We're going to Baaj to investigate, so fix yourself up and bring that underwater robot with us."
"Roger!" Rikku chirped, scurrying to her room and closing the door. A muffled "Go ahead, I'll be there in a minute." was heard, and Cid walked out the door and towards the airship loading docks.
The S.S. Liki was plying to Luca on its daily course. The waters were very calm, buffeted only by the breeze, and the passengers are busy in their own affairs in the deck and cabins. The captain was leisurely standing in the bridge when a sailor walked up to him and said, "Sir, I believe that we are being pursued by a ship."
"Really? Give me that glass." The two then walked out of the bridge and onto the left side of the deck. What they saw was only a small black shape in the horizon, but when the captain used his spyglass, what he saw shocked him: It was a black ship, with black sails billowing in the strong Lucan wind. It showed no flag or any marking, and it seemed to be going at a fast pace, even without the help of engines.
"This is odd," the captain started. "Never in my long years have I seen such a ship before..increase the speed of the engines. Contain the passengers in the lower decks and the cabins. If this ship is hostile and wishes to see the destruction of this ship, I'm afraid that their wish would not be granted. Also, get the guns from the chest and arm you and your fellows. The extra one will be mine."
Soon, the passengers were guided to the safety of the engine rooms, the lower deck and the cabins, and the crew are all in the upper deck, all of them wielding a gun, holding it warily, looking at the black ship pursuing them.
"Sir, the ship still is approaching at a greater speed than us," a sailor reported to the captain. "We can increase the speed to maximum, but I'm afraid that our power levels are low, and we might not make it to Luca if we do."
"Fine, increase the speed by a turn of the throttle and a pull of the engine controller. We must not be caught up with them at all costs. Also, keep watch of any patrol boats and give them a signal." The sailor went into the bridge and did what he was ordered to.
The two ships still were far away from each other, but it was evident that the black ship, which they discovered to be much larger than the small Liki, was gaining on them, fast. They did not stand a chance if they chose to face the pursuer and fight it; their only chance was to sail out quickly and make it to Luca with the pursuer still a distance away. If perchance the crew of the offending ship board them, the captain swore that he would not let these "pirates," as he gritted through his teeth, touch any of his passengers until he gets them to safety or until he lay down dead. He had a duty to protect his passengers, and he sticks to this duty.
A sailor's shout shattered his thoughts. "Sir! Luca is about twenty minutes from here!"
"That is good. Let's hope that we will reach Luca before we get fired upon," the captain replied.
Some minutes pass, and the black ship is now clearly visible, and is obviously going much faster than before. Luca still is but a hazy image in the horizon, and the captain ordered the sailors to increase its speed even more. But, with the black ship's swiftness, it reached the Liki a minute later. The sailors can't help but shudder at the ghastly image of the ship, when suddenly, an order was heard. "Fire!" The captain immediately shouted, "Everybody down!" when loud bangs and a blinding flash overtook them all.
Some time later, an announcement suddenly flashed in the Luca announcement board:
Earlier this morning, the S.S Liki was pursued and fired upon by an unknown black ship, which sped away after the attack. The Liki suffered major structural damage, and three sailors were injured. Fortunately, no other people were severely injured or killed, and that the Liki made it to the port without capsizing. This is the fourth attack on different ships throughout the region by unidentified or unknown vessels. All seafaring vessels are advised to be wary on their guard, or to cease operations as long as the threat is at large.
The Lucan port authorities have been alerted and patrol boats have been dispatched. The Al Bhed also are exerting efforts to control the threat, but as for now, the sea is a very dangerous place for anyone who wishes to transverse them.
A black-clad man, standing in a corner, looking at the announcement board, laughed to himself softly. "They will never know what will hit them..and that meddling priestess will never know. They'll be barking up the wrong tree too." He laughed softly again, a laugh full of evil. "The Black Sparrow will be the one to put the blame. It's going to be very fun seeing the outcome of this little..misunderstanding." And with another soft laugh and a swish of his cloak, he was gone.
Post-Chapter A/N
I have nothing to say in this A/N. All I have to say is already said above. By the way, this chapter, including its author's notes, was edited this 28th of March, 2009, and edited once again this 3rd of January, 2010.