text: The next day...
  
  "All hands on deck! Everyone to their stations now!"
  
  You run across the deck, the thunder of your steps ringing in your ears, as you dodge several of your own members attempting to get to the helm of the ship. Suddenly a crash of sound explodes in the air as the Queen Anne's Revenge fires her wall of cannons toward the target. Some of the iron bullets strike the ship, splitting the bow and splintering several chunks of wood on the side of the ship.
  
  You command several men to go below decks and to light up the cannons for a backup volley. As you do, several small firearms from the top deck of the enemy ship are being fired by the crew and one bullet barely grazes your sleeve. You wince in fear however shake it off then take cover in the entrance of your cabin.
  
  About five minutes ago, Captain Teach and his fleet spotted the merchant ship and attempted to board it, assuming it would be an easy target. However, the ship immediately parried as it saw rowboats approaching. They used pistols and muskets, firing upon the men in the ocean who barely made it out. This then erupted into an invitation for battle as Captain Teach raised his black flag and unsheathed his sword.
  
  "Give them no quarters! Send them to Hell!"
  
  You can hear Captain Teach's fearsome voice ringing across the ocean as you grab your flintlock and head out onto open decks. Suddenly as you head out, you see a flash of fire on the side of the enemy ship as it instantly fires a volley of cannonballs in the direction of the fleet.
  
  Most of the cannonballs land into the water or fly overhead however one cannonball manages to fly into the top deck of your ship, sending wood soaring in every direction as you and your men trip or get blasted back by the impact. The searing metal melts anything within direct contact and reeks of charred wood. You lie on the deck, your brain rattled by the impact of the cannonball however you quickly recover and force yourself up.
  
  Suddenly you see Fin running over, a blunderbuss held within his hands. Sweat is dripping from his forehead as he begins to worry about you.
  
  "Sir! Are you wounded? That last volley managed to hit us although fortunately no one seemed to die. Those dastardly men will pay for this!"
  
  Fin's face scrunches up as he stares out at the enemy ship, tightening his grip on the gun. You hold up your flintlock and get ready for action as you stand next to Fin.
  
  As you look out, you remember that you should have a volley attack being prepared which might do enough damage to end it however your sense of revenge has thickened. You feel as though there are better ways to deal with your enemies...
  
  > Fire!
  You regain your senses and begin to think logically. There is no point charging into senseless battle when you can win from afar.
  
  You look at Fin and give him a command.
  
  "Tell the men to fire the cannons! Give those merchants Hell!"
  
  "Yes sir!" Fin dashes into the lower decks as you stand, ready to fire back at the enemy. Just then, without any warning, you feel a low rumbling in your ship and hear the sound of explosions as the cannonballs soar from the port side of your ship into the enemy ship. Instantly you see and hear the crash of iron into the side of the enemy ship as wood chips fly out and several bodies hit the water. As you look out at the ship, you can see the splintering and cuts that you imbedded into the wood. The ship looks as though it were slashed by a giant beast, its structure barely held together as cannonballs rest on the inside.
  
  As Fin reappears from the ship, you can see the rowboats of Captain Teach's ship approaching the enemy ship. You smile and tell Fin your thoughts.
  
  "We have won this battle! That last volley should have secured our victory. Now we let Captain Teach finish the job."
  
  You go around the ship, congratulating your men and telling them to go rest as you assess the damage taken from battle. You stare at the site of the cannonball where it tore straight through the main deck. Although it was an ugly sight, you were sure it was possible to repair.
  
  After several minutes, you and the fleet find yourselves near a few islands where you can see small figures being thrown onto the sands of the shoreline. Once the bodies hit the sand, you see Captain Teach rowing back to Queen Anne's Revenge when suddenly the enemy ship bursts into flames.
  
  You stare in disbelief, Fin next to you as he exclaims, "I am glad we are on this side."
  
  The fire begins to engulf the entire ship, turning it into a bonfire on the open waters. You can see the ash and smoke even from this distance as the fire becomes gigantic, as though a star were being formed. The crackling of the flames swallows any oxygen nearby as it continues to grow and as it hits water, shrinks and sizzles.
  
  Once Captain Teach reaches his ship, the Queen Anne's Revenge begins to sail away and you follow. As you sail, you stare at the fire, your mind filled with satisfaction and adventure.
  
  "This is the life I desired all those years ago... Nothing better than this." You softly speak, your voice barely heard by Fin who looks out at the flame. He stands in silence as the flame slowly burns in the distance, gradually consuming fuel until it dies on the ocean...
  
  > Time passes
  Several months later...
  
  Life had seemed to pass by in a flash. Captain Teach and you continued to raid ships, plundering them for supplies and spreading fear across the east coast of North America. The fleet had even increased itself to four ships. Captain Teach had gained a reputation for himself, in one such instance being nicknamed "Blackbeard" for the obvious reason. You were gaining a name as well, being a pirate captain under the wing of Captain Teach although your fame was not as tremendous as Teach's.
  
  A few days ago, Captain Teach and you had set up a blockade in Charleston Harbor in South Carolina, plundering any unlucky souls who attempted to pass. No one could stop you as they all cowered in fear at the pirates who stripped them of their precious cargo. However after several days, Captain Teach had heard information in a local tavern about how a man named Woode Rogers had accepted the order to exterminate pirates in the Indies. Hearing this, he ordered the fleet to sail toward Beaufort Inlet, a location near North Carolina.
  
  Now you stood at the helm, blindly following Captain Teach who is sailing near a seashore. Fin stands next to you, a bottle of whiskey in his hands as he drinks and speaks.
  
  "Where is he headed now?" Fin takes another swig of whiskey and looks at the frigate flagship.
  
  "Somewhere up north. We are attempting to escape some hunter."
  
  "Hunter? Someone is hunting us?"
  
  "Not just us but all pirates in the area. I do not know much about it but Captain Teach had heard about it in Charles Town." As you say that, the ship creaks and water crashes against the bottom of the ship heavily. Land is getting closer and closer.
  
  "Why do we not fight? We are not some merchants on the sea, we are pirates! We have plundered the best of them, why is he scared of this man?" With that, Fin throws up his hands, accidentally splashing a few ounces of whiskey onto the main deck.
  
  "He must be worried about the firepower, this is not some merchant. It must be a-"
  
  Suddenly, with no warning, there is a loud grating sand and the snapping of wood which causes you to jerk your neck toward the sound.
  
  There you saw, the Queen Anne's Revenge driving itself into the shoreline. Her mainmast cracked and hull diving into the sand. You instantly freak out, turning your ship toward starboard when you see Captain Teach running to the stern and gesturing to you. "Throw your ropes! Pull her out! Now!"
  
  You frantically start yelling at the other men who run all over the ship, grabbing all the hooks and ropes they can find. Fin places his bottle of whiskey down then runs to go help. As your men hand you the gear, you begin to sling the ropes and hooks toward the Queen Anne's Revenge. Once the hook clings on, you tie the other end to various parts of your ship such as the masts. As you do, your ship sails starboard, attempting to pull it out using the force of the Vindicta.
  
  However as you struggle to pull Teach's ship out, you hear another horrific sound of a ship clashing with land. You turn to your left to see a sloop crash into the shore, its bow completely snapped and hull buried.
  
  "There is no saving these ships, is there..."
  
  After a few more minutes of struggling, Captain Teach finally ordered his men, including himself to row to the other remaining ships, your Vindicta and the Revenge. Captain Teach and most of his crew return to the Revenge while others find themselves on your ship, including Captain Hands of the Adventure, the sloop that has just crashed.
  
  You actually never really met Israel Hands, only ever heard mention of his name from Captain Teach who has high regard in those that were similar rank to him. Hands walks past you without any words, his face void of any expression. You turn around to attempt to make conversation but hesitate and keep your trap shut.
  
  You continue to sail onward leaving the flagship and sloop. No one decides to say anything about what had just happened so the ship remains silent for a while.
  
  Just then, you see a hook on the side of your ship and from it is Captain Teach who looks unexpectedly determined. He heads over to you and begins to talk.
  
  "We need to speak in private. This is urgent."
  
  You nod and lead Captain Teach into your cabin where he begins to speak to you in a hurried tone.
  
  "This may sound odd but I need to camp out on your ship for a while. Bonnet has made his way to get a pardon from Governor Eden and I plan to take the supplies on the Revenge. Bonnet is not much help to me and there are too many men on that ship. Now that he is attempting to give up his title, it is a perfect time to take advantage. If you allow me to stay, I will award you with a few shares as well."
  
  > let him stay
  "Why would I say no sir?"
  
  Captain Teach laughs then pats you on the shoulder. "I knew I could count on you Rogers."
  
  He then leaves, just as quickly as he came. You sit behind your desk, slowly patting the flintlock in your trousers, your mind rampant with thoughts.
  
  What was happening? First the ships crash and now Captain Teach wants to jeopardize one of his own ships?
  
  It all seemed so crazy and your mind was almost hesitant on allowing Teach to stay however you trusted him. He has not let you down before so you will not let him down now.
  
  Although, you suspected that tomorrow was not going to be another day of piracy...
  
  > Time passes
  Several months later...
  
  Your entire world had flipped. Captain Teach stayed true to word, ransacking the Revenge and marooning the entire crew on an island while abandoning the ship in some nearby island. Even a few days after that, those who had been part of Teach's crew began to riot and were immediately tossed off the ship, not leaving many men on board your ship.
  
  However, not long after that, Captain Teach did the unexpected. He accepted the pardon of Governor Eden and was retiring his streak of piracy.
  
  You were dumbfounded. Was this the same man you met almost a year ago? It seems insane although you still respected Teach who would take you in and treat you as a close comrade.
  
  Teach found himself a home while you, Fin and the few left on your crew would go stay in inns or sleep on the Vindicta. The next several days after that, Teach attempted to live out life as a landlubber, going out to get drinks with the crew, gambling and taking trips out to Hands' and his favorite spot, Ocracoke Inlet. However, it grew too boring to him and soon he returned to piracy once more, using your ship as his vessel although he allowed you to drive the ship.
  
  It was late 1718, you and Teach were out with a few others, entertaining each other on an early morning in Ocracoke Inlet. It was quite misty and the Vindicta was anchored while you and the crew spoke.
  
  "That woman, I swear, she could have been a bear! Hairy and scary she was!"
  
  The men explode in laughter including yourself at Captain Teach who was telling stories to pass the time. Fin spat out his whiskey and quickly apologized as he attempted to restrain his laughter.
  
  "I did not think you would into animals sir." Fin replies to Captain Teach who laughs and retorts.
  
  "Not after that! I rather be sent to Hell then be with that!" Captain Teach takes a chug of whiskey from his own bottle and gives a hearty laugh.
  
  The conversation goes on for a while when suddenly one of the crew members runs into the lower decks.
  
  Fin looks at the man who has ran and questions you, "Where is he going? Forget to get his share?"
  
  Suddenly you hear the cannon and everyone on the deck snap their heads toward the direction of the shot. A small boat with Union soldiers on it, barely get hit by the cannonball which splashes nearby. They quickly retreat as you and the crew quickly stand up.
  
  Captain Teach stands, his hand on one of his flintlocks as he announces to those nearby, "Those government scum! They have come for our heads! Prepare for battle if need be!"
  
  Captain Teach runs over to the anchor cable and slashes it with his cutlass as the crew unfurls the sails and you begin to get out of the area. As you do, you spot two sloops which both unfurl their Union flags prompting you to point your starboard side at them in case of attack.
  
  "Into the channel by that beach!"
  
  You turn the ship toward the way that Teach had announced as you constantly glance at the sloops which quickly approach toward the Vindicta.
  
  After a few minutes, you enter a narrow channel, barely large enough for you to sail through but you carefully steer the rudder toward the right direction. The two sloops are extremely close to your frigate, prompting the crew behind to fire a volley straight at them. A crash of thunder rings throughout and the result in devastating as one of the sloops is completely torn up, crashing itself into the sand nearby where it goes out of commission.
  
  The other sloop is heavily damaged with a few bodies flung out of the sloop as the cannonballs make contact. However it continues to sail, despite its wretched state.
  
  It begins to inch closer and closer until they are just about touching. Suddenly Teach yells to the crew,
  
  "Get the hooks! We are boarding and taking these men down to Hell!" The entire crew shouts in response and adrenaline begins to pump through you as you quickly swing a hook onto the sloop, pulling it closer.
  
  The two ships make contact and the entire crew yells as they jump onto the sloop, ready to fight against the few men visible on the main deck. One of these men, dressed in formal Naval attire approaches Captain Teach with a blade in his hand.
  
  "Blackbeard... I have heard much about your infamous ways. You have made quite the name for yourself however it ends today! I am Lieutenant Maynard and I plan to be the one to take down you demons!"
  
  Captain Teach gives a laugh and draws his cutlass, "Let me inform you that I plan to give no quarters to you nor will you give any to me!"
  
  Maynard smirks then retorts, "I was not expecting quarters nor was I planning to give you any!"
  
  With that, all the latches on the ship open to reveal that the rest of Maynard's crew had hidden beneath the main deck, only to reveal them for a surprise attack. All of you are shocked as they shout and begin to shoot, one of the bullets grazing one of the pirates who flinched then charges.
  
  "Give them no mercy!" Captain Teach runs toward Maynard draws his flintlock and fires but misses. Teach does the same and to the same effects, prompting both of them to throw aside their pistols and draw their blades. They clash while you draw your own pistol and fire upon one of the soldiers.
  
  The bullet enters the soldier's body who groans as you take your blade and slash his neck, pumping out a spray of blood as he falls to his death. You stood for just a second, you mind wrapping around the fact that this was the first man you killed.
  
  It was an odd feeling, one of remorse yet hate. However you forget it and charge another man. You begin to clash while the entire pirate crew fights against the soldiers. There is rampage of shouts and screams as well as the sounds of gunshots as they whiz by or knock out unlucky souls. The fighting is fierce and you begin to sweat as the sharp ringing of your sword against the enemy plays every time you parry.
  
  As the battle drags on, the pirate crew and yourself begin to slowly move toward the bow where you catch Captain Teach in the corner of your eye as you kick the enemy soldier you had been fighting. The soldier tries to get back up however he is shot and a puddle of blood begins to soak his coat.
  
  As this happens, you notice that Captain Teach is mortally wounded. Most of his clothes are ripped and torn apart, he has a few bullet holes in his body and at least a dozen bloody slashes across his chest and back. However Teach continued to fight Maynard who is getting visibly tired.
  
  "What are you?! Why will you not fall already?!" Maynard screams as Teach swings against his blade.
  
  "I am Edward Teach! And you are going to Hell first!" Teach then shatters Maynard's sword who looks in disbelief as shards of metal go flying. Maynard then pulls out another pistol however Edward charges, his sword aiming for Maynard's neck.
  
  It was in that instant, you catch another soldier run toward Teach with a sword drawn. You stand right next to the soldier and right now you could jump to save Teach. However your life might be over...
  
  > save Teach
  Without any thoughts in mind, you throw yourself toward the man reaching for Teach. You feel a tremendous burn in your stomach as you scream in anguish, the blade slipping through you without any trouble. Captain Teach turns toward you and stares, his eyes widening as he shouts and slices Maynard.
  
  Maynard shrieks as his neck now has an open gash. He talks to his knees, his body attempting to restabilize when Captain Teach kicks in his chest. Maynard groans, his body turning into a rag doll as It crumbles up. Captain Teach then leans over and gives one final slice to his neck, beheading the enemy leader.
  
  Just like that, everyone stopped to see the infamous Blackbeard laughing as he held Maynard's head. "Who wants to be next!"
  
  You smile as your body is dropped, the blade still within you. Your vision is heavily blurred as all you feel is a burning sensation in your stomach. Captain Teach looks at you, pain in his eyes when suddenly he grabs one of his pistols and fires at the man who stabbed you. The man screams as the bullet enters his head cleanly, ending his life in an instant.
  
  The body stops next to yours and you lie there, unable to think clearly.
  
  You can hear a voice which sounds like Fin's but it's muffled, "Rogers! This is not how you die! Rogers!"
  
  Captain Teach walks over and crouches, giving some final words.
  
  "Thank you for saving me lad. I will remember you, Captain Rogers."
  
  You give one last smile as your brain fries, your body completely shutting down. Your life was over.
  
  You ended as a pirate and history intended to keep you that way. Hundreds of years later, when kids heard tales about Blackbeard, they would also mention your name as the man who saved him. You were one of the few pirates that got to be close with Blackbeard and reaped the benefits.
  
  You were in the history books and as you lie buried in Ocracoke Island, Captain Teach inherited Fin who never fully recovered from your death. He would eventually separate and form his own crew but that is another story. However Blackbeard would continue to fight on, escaping death and eventually would find himself meeting Hornigold again in a duel on the seas. Captain Teach died a long time after you did however his death was mysterious and no one knows how he died.
  
  All they know is that Blackbeard was the image of every pirate in history and you were his right hand man.