The sea sprayed into my red hair, and the wind ruffled my blue uniform while the seagulls called out my name. The feel of the sturdy oak wheel in my hands and the billowing sails above my head gave me the sense of freedom as the Star Stream plowed majestically through the Pacific. With its three masts and snow white sails, the Star Stream was the fastest and most important ship in her majesty's fleet. And I was its master. Its noble captain! I, James Whitby, ruled the seas! Pirates bowed before my might, and the ladies at court fainted at the mere sound of my name! I smiled broadly at the thought and picked up my spyglass, gazing out across the waves.

Ho, there! I spied another ship, one much larger and grander than my own beautiful schooner. It had blood red sails and woodwork. A skeleton took up the stem of the ship, and as I looked to its flag, I gasped in horror. A black flag with a skull crying red tears fluttered angrily above the rigging. It was the notorious Captain Blood! A pirate with more gold on his head than Blackbeard, Captain Kidd, and Barbarossa combined! I reached for my sword, crying out as I did, "All hands on deck! All hands on deck! The Scarlet Rogue is on our tail!"

My crew scrambled into their places, loading cannons and preparing to fight for our very lives as the Scarlet Rogue and her crew drew closer and closer. I swung the Star Stream around so she was facing the blood-red ship, glaring at the figure of Captain Blood across from me. My men scattered to their posts as the Rogue and Star Stream neared each other. Tension built on the two ships, and the crews became restless. They started shouting at each other, calling each other names and poking fun at the others' mothers. I only paid attention to the man steering the ship. He looked rather tall, much taller than as described in the stories I had heard. Of course, those stories were hardly ever accurate. I shook my head. This was no time to be looking at fairytales and fish stories. I was facing the legendary pirate now, giving me my own story to tell when I made port again. I faced the brigand, my sword drawn and ready. He glared back at me, a smug smile on his pockmarked face. He had wild black hair and an unkempt beard. Even from this distance, I could see bits and pieces of food that had gotten stuck in the black wires. His teeth matched the color of his hair: black. But it was not his hair and teeth that gave him his name. His clothes were a deep red, like fresh blood, and his eyes were such a shade of brown that they, too, looked like blood. He sneered at me, drawing his rapier and shouting at his men. They took up the cry as our ships came abreast, and then it began. We boarded each other and instantly screams replaced the war cries. Our men were cut down, but we didn't care. Captain Blood and I stared each other down. I grabbed hold of a rope and swung across, landing on the deck of the Scarlet Rogue. Two pirates charged me, swords swinging above their heads. I didn't even take my eyes off of Captain Blood as I flicked my sword to either side of me, feeling it slice through the soft skin of the pirates' bellies. Another came from behind and tried to take my head, but I was already cutting his leg at the knee. He fell, screaming for his mother. I sent my sword into the chest of yet another attacker, ripping my blade out of him only to lob off the head of another pirate. I fought off every man that approached me, all the while keeping my eyes on the sneering, leering Captain Blood. His blood brown eyes grew angrier and angrier as I slaughtered more of his men. Eventually, I had to tear my eyes away from him for the number grew too great. I swung my blade left and right, lunging and parrying here and there as I crossed blades with every single pirate on board. I became surrounded by bodies as I killed my attackers one by one.

My blade suddenly dinged as it crossed paths with the blade of Captain Blood himself. We glared at each other, our eyes burning. He reeked of rotting flesh, spoiled food, and too much ale. His blood red uniform, I now noticed, was covered in stains. What kind of stains I would never know, nor would I ever care. As if in silent agreement, we backed away from each other a few feet, giving us enough room to analyze each other. His sneer turned more into a leer, and finally he started chuckling to himself. I only glared at him, keeping my thoughts to myself and not showing any emotion other than complete determination. His repulsive chuckling was making me even angrier.

"So," Blood snarled in his low, gruff voice, "the Queen herself sent ye out ta be rid o' me? Ye'll be doin' no such thing, Scrawny Jack! Ye can't even lift that there sword properly!"

"Just watch me!" I raised my sword and lunged, slicing through Captain Blood's cheek. He let out a yelp, and just as I went in for the final blow...

"Get yer hide back to work, cabin boy!" Captain Morgan snarls, dowsing me with scrub water. I shake my head and glare at him, picking up my rag and swabbing the deck again. My clothes are rags, and again I'm a cabin boy aboard the Star Stream, a pirate hunting ship. I pick up my empty bucket to fill it again and look to the starboard bow, catching a glimpse of blood red sails.