A Mess of Pirates

Michael fell to the ground. One of the three men above him had shoved him for the tenth time and another shouted something next to his ear and yanked on the back of shirt. Michael quickly got up, trying not to anger them even more and not really having a choice. Directed by shoves and grunts, he stumbled ahead of his captures, swords at his back erasing any thoughts of running he had and kept his fear high.

‘This has got to be the worst day of my life,’ he thought as he received another shove.
‘Maybe this is all a dream. Maybe I’ll wake up really soon.’ But it didn’t feel like a dream. The crunch of leaves under his feet and the calls of the animals made everything seem so real. Another shove and Michael tripped and fell through a line of trees. Pain filled his head as he felt it smack against the ground, causing a groan to erupt from his mouth. More pain burst from his side as a foot made contact. The collar of his shirt was pulled, nearly choking him. His legs painfully and slowly supported him. His head lolled back. He felt something run down his face. A coppery taste filled his mouth. Another shove made him limp forward.

Brown structures that looked like houses came into view. Walkways made of dirt and rocks were teaming with people. One of his captors ran ahead and people started to stare. Many were dressed in bright fabric of colors Michael had never seen before. Each had what looked like tattoos on their arms. Shouts echoed and glares bored into him from all around. Michael lurched on. The pain in his legs and head slowly spread to the rest of his body. He followed the pathway in front of him, shoves once again steering him. After what seemed like hours of going through staring crowds, a large structure came into view. It was much grander than the others he had passed. Stone creatures lined the path leading to it, each looking as the crowd did. More people came out of it and leading them was a man with black hair that was pulled back and braided. His face was like a brutal angel’s that spoke of hard experience and there was a scar that ran down the bottom of his left cheek and under his chin. Dark clothes made him stand out and his green eyes were right on Michael. Fear shook Michael’s body as he was forced to halt and then pushed to his knees. His head rolled forward. Everything was getting hazy.
Voices around him were muffled. Someone yelled in his ear and yanked his head back by his hair. Kneeling in front of him was the green-eyed man. He was saying something and gestured toward Michael.
“I don’t… know what… you’re saying,” Michael mumbled sleepily. He was suddenly very sleepy. The man in front of him looked startled. He said something to someone next to him. A hazy figure split from the group. More voices came. One was loud and angry. Michael felt his body sway back. Something caught his arm. Seeing the hand on his arm, he tried to pull away but ended up falling. Something caught him again. Maybe it was the same hand.
“I…wanna…go home,” Michael mumbled before he lost consciousness.


Kail stared at…whatever it was. The creature lay limp in his arms. Obviously it had passed out. It looked normal but at the same time wasn’t. Where were it’s family markings? Where were it’s colors? The garments it had on were strange and the weirdest thing was how it spoke. Kail had only heard that language once before...
“Everyone can go now. You two,” Kail pointed at the men who brought the creature in, “Let’s move it inside. I want to study it.” Two others grabbed the body from his arms.
“Where should we take it Captain?”
“Take it to my room.” The two carried the body to the house.
“Captain, not your room!” screeched Mallcus. Kail just rolled his eyes as he turned toward the other. Mallcus was a short, bald, old man that would comment on everything Kail did. If he hadn’t been on the elders council, Kail would have probably shipped him off to do “work” someplace else.
“Why not my room Mallcus?” he said walking away hoping that the other wouldn’t follow. Much to his disappointment and annoyance, he heard the other start after him.
“Because! We have no idea what it is! What if it does something harmful to you? You are Captain! You must lead-”
“I know perfectly well what my job is Mallcus. I’ve been doing it for the past 2 years.”
“Then as Captain, you should know-”
“As Captain I have a right to obtain and study whatever may be a threat to our village. But we wont know that until we know more about it.”
“Yes but you must take in consideration…”
Kail’s paced quicken. He wanted as far away from Mallcus as he could get. Kail entered his room just as the two men laid the creature on his bed.
“Thank you. You may leave.” Kail wasn’t left alone for long.
“I wish you wouldn’t walk away from me like that,” Mallcus wheezed.
“I have a more pressing matter to attend to Mallcus as you can see. You should really go and get some water from the kitchen. You sound winded.”
“I am perfectly fine. Besides I would never even consider leaving you alone with this…thing”
“I wish you would,” Kail mumbled as he tried to focus on the creature on his bed.
“Did you say something Captain?”
“I would like you to leave Mallcus.” His patience was growing thin with the man.
“But Captain-”
“Mallcus! Leave!”
“Yes Captain.” Kail sighed and closed the door after the man before turning back towards the bed. Sitting down on the edge of it, he stared at the creature. What was it? Never in his life had he seen anything so strange though the dirt and blood didn't help. Kail went back to the door and opened it, looking down the hallway and found no one. No use in going to find someone when he could do it faster. His boots thumped on the wooden floor as he traveled to the kitchen. Walking into the room, laughter went to whispers. Ignoring them, he made for the sink in the back, reaching for the bowl and rag that were under it. A cough came from behind him.
“Good afternoon Unysa,” he said without turning around. Unysa was a big woman and the cook of the Captain's household. She had been a mother to him in his younger days and was still a voice of sanity when he needed it.
“What is that thing you took to your room?” she inquired.
“Now how did you hear about that?” Kail searched around the sink for soap.
“What is it?” The whole room was silent as he contemplated his answer.
“It is nothing to be worried about. Where is the soap Unysa?”
“That’s not what Mallcus says.” She handed him an extra bar that was in her apron pocket. ‘So that’s where they heard it.’ Grabbing the bowl of water, the rag and the soap, Kail walked toward the door.
“When did you start listening to Mallcus? It’s nothing Unysa. I assure you.” He kissed her on the cheek as he passed.
Back in his room, he set to cleaning the creature. First removing it’s garments and then using the soap and rag. As he cleaned, Kail looked over the body. It was a male. Or at least it had male parts. ‘It’s handsome in an alien way,’ he thought as he scrubbed the dirt and blood from it’s face. But it was alien. Alien meant danger and danger was never good for anybody. As he neared the end of his task, the creature groaned. Mumbling slipped from it’s mouth.
That language. Only the ancients spoke that language. And this creature was not an ancient. ‘That would have to wait until tomorrow,’Kail thought when a yawn erupted from his mouth. He put away the bowl and went to the other side of the bed. Before climbing into bed, he loaded his pistol and put it on the bed next to his spot. He blow out the candle and crawled under the sheets. He would deal with everthing in morning