Hugh sat in his cabin, the rock of the boat a gentle reminder of how far from home he was. He looked over the browned paper in his hand, and sighed. He should be proud, five million berries is quite respectable for a starting bounty. Though it took so long for him to get it, not to mention Oriel still has a larger bounty of twelve million.
He looked at his captain's bounty, Issac “The Zombie '' Kirkman with a fifteen million berry bounty. How did he get so high? They must have given him his old bounty back, so that means in this last encounter he earned five million berries alone.
The news reported them as being the newest threat to the North blue regime, calling them the Undead Pirates. Issac loved that name, even taking it into his jolly roger, a Skull on a tombstone. Issac had been proud of his new bounty, calling a small party with the rest of the crew to celebrate.
It was the regime that did it. They just had a bad encounter with the group that ran the North blue. Hugh was surprised that the Navy even reported the bounties about them since the Northern Regime handled most legal matters. Hugh was just lucky, he had struggled and fought off a Regime higher up, meanwhile Issac fought their commander, alongside Oriel.
Hugh laid back on his bunk, he was off duty for a while and would get some rest. They still had so much of the North Blue to pass through, picking fights with the people that ran the place was stupid. Preparing for the inevitable conflict that would come, Hugh began to drift.
It was a solid thirty seconds of sleep before Hugh had been awoken to his cabin door being pushed wide. Two crew members stood in the doorway, the panic on Hugh’s face reflecting on theirs.
“What is it?” Hugh said urgently, getting to his feet and towards the door.
“We got a problem sir.” a crewman, Dave, said. “Sea King was spotted not far.”
Hugh was beginning to head up the stairs towards the deck. “That isnt good, are the cannons loaded?”
“Yes sir.” Dave said. “Once it is within range we will try to fire, scare it off.”
Hugh nodded. “And the Cpatian?”
“Well sir.” Dave said, looking low. “That is what we need you for.”
Hugh sighed as he reached the deck. There, laying on the deck, his eyes lifeless, was Issac Kirkman. His frizzy black hair was laying on the deck like a mop. He still wore that black trench coat with a silver trim, he said it reflected his identity. Yet it looked silly hanging from his corpse, exposing the underside and plain grey shirt below. From his mouth seemed to be a smokey trail that lead to what looked like a ghostly version of himself.
“Im not doing it!” the ghost yelled out. “Itll kill me!”
“Even if it does youll be fine!” A crew member had yelled out, he waved what looked like a giant butterfly net at the ghost, trying to catch it. The nets were of Hugh’s design, turns out Spirits had a struggle with five pointed stars, so he made nets with those as the netting for when the captain left his body.
“Not if he eats me!” Issac’s spirit said. “I need a body to get back to!”
“I doubt it can fully digest bones, just become a skeleton!” The crewmate yelled out again.
“Even if that were true id be poop on the ocean floor!” Issac’s spirit yelled out. “Not to mention, I'd have to lose my gorgeous looks!” Everyone in earshot gave Issac a cringe look. He was handsome, but it was so annoying to hear him speak like that.
“You have to do something.” Dave said to Hugh.
Hugh sighed. “Sorry, there is only one thing to do in a time like this, where is Oriel.”
It took only a moment for Hugh to find the second mate, Oriel. She sat watching the Sea King’s back break the water, only a few minutes away. She had silvery hair, yet was as young as Hugh and Issac. She was beyond beautiful, though Hugh had no interest in her. She turned her smokey eyes towards Hugh, they looked like they enjoyed seeing the sea king.
“What can I do for you Hugh.” Oriel said with a clever smile, she loved to tease Hugh, meaning this would hurt.
“The Captain needs you.” Hugh said, trying to keep a calm face.
“Oh is that so?” Oriel said, her lips curling into a large devious smile. “And what do I get for this?”
“Living?” Hugh said casually.
“I'm sure i'd be fine.” Oriel said, turning back to the Sea King, it grew closer.
Hugh bit at his lip, he had no doubt she would be fine. “What do you want?”
She tapped her finger to her lip. “What do I want?” She said to herself. “How about, a hundred berries? Sounds like a fair trade?”
Hugh bit his lip, it wasn't that bad of an offer. However they both knew she would include a favor that he would have to do for her later. “Fine, just hurry.” Hugh said begrudgingly.
Oriel smiled in satisfaction, then began to walk towards where Issac’s soul continued to dodge the net. She walked with a grace, as if the wind guided her step. Knowing her she probably could tame the wind.
“Oh captain.” Oriel said, bending forward below the spirit. She was known as the Oriel ‘Zombie Hand’, because she had the only ability on the crew to encourage our cowardly captain. “That Sea King is really bothering me, would you please take care of it for me?” She ended it by loosening the top button of her blouse, and giving the soul a long wink.
Issac’s soul returned to his body in a flash, the body standing straight and saluting. “Of course! How dare this beast bother someone such as you!” Isaac said with a confidence he never showed.
Yes, the leader of the Undead Pirates was a coward, and a pervert. He had other good qualities, he was fantastic with a Sabre, and his Devil fruit complimented him well. When he got serious he was a force to be reckoned with, it is what drove this crew to stick with him through his fits of cowardice. Things had become much better when Oriel joined the crew, a focus for him to latch onto.
The Sea King surfaced, its long Orange body stretching towards the sky. Issac gave it a simple smile, pulling free his Sabre, and raising it in a salute. “You are bothering the lady beast!” He yelled out. “So you must sadly die, don't worry, it isn't as bad as you might think.” Then he shot forward, leaping to the railing of the ship, and into the air towards the Sea King.
“Undeath’s Breath.” Issac called out, his sword becoming frosted on the blade. He slashed the blade deep into the beast's throat, ice forming on its wound. His second hit came lower as he began to fall, though this was even deeper. The ice made the beast straighten as one would when an ice cube was pressed to their neck. The Sea King fell back, fleeing. Sadly the monster would die before long, the wounds were too deep for him to survive, and they would never heal.
The crew began to cheer for their captain, who turned and gave a cheeky grin, and thumbs up. He did all this before plummeting into the sea. Hugh was in the water before Issac even broke the surface, he knew how this went. Isaac’s body went limp from the sea water, he would be unable to move while he was submerged. On his way down, Hugh had thrown the rope ladder over the side for him to use.
He grabbed hold of Issac under the water, putting his arm over his shoulder. Issac’s mouth was agape, he was letting water just flow into him like the idiot he was. Hugh reached the surface, Issac beginning to cough out the water.
“I thought I was dead.” Issac said and Hugh pushed him onto the rope ladder, he had to help him till he was out of the water completely.
“Wouldn't have affected you that much!” Hugh yelled out.
Issac turned and gave Hugh a smile. “Thank you, Hugh, I would be lost without you.”
“Oh shut it!” Hugh yelled out, his face growing how. “If you want to thank me, maybe try protecting us without Oriel’s interference!”
“I don't have a clue what you're talking about.” Issac said, holding out a hand for Hugh to take. Hugh smiled and took it, letting himself be pulled up onto the rope. This cowardly, perverted man, was Hugh’s Captain, and he would have it no other way.
