Captain Laura looked into the ocean waves for the source of the voice. One of the planks had an unusual blob on it. She raced into the bridge and pulled back the throttle before she collided with it.

The ship slowed to a crawl, with the man drifting off to starboard. She looked down into the water as the waves bounced her up and down.

“Well, well,” she said. “I don’t believe my eyes. Pirate Eric, what are you doing down there?”

Pirate Eric looked up through his black cowl. “Ah, Mistress Laura. So lovely to see you again. Your hair looks ravishing as always,” he said through a parched voice. “Such a lovely coincidence to see you on this fine day. Would you be so kind as to pull me on board?”

“Is that piece of driftwood your new vessel? I hope you didn’t pay much.”

“As it happens, I was taking my new ship out to… on a shakedown cruise. Then, would you believe it, one of the imperial battleships came poking by.”

Laura leaned down off the railing. “Uh-huh. And then what happened?”