The Last Heist

I could barely keep my footing as the ship rocks from side to side. Shit! Why did everything have to go down the drain like this!? I don't think there is anything me or my remaining crew can do to get back from this. Who could have possibl- that rat! Ahhhh I can't believe I didn’t see it earlier. I’ve damned us all! Oh god, the hull has been breached. We're doomed…

“Alright men, we gotta make sure to buy enough supplies for the upcoming trip. You all have your tasks you need to do before we set sail. I expect them to be done by the time I get back from buying our four months of supplies. Now get to it men!” I bellow out towards my trusted crew of fifteen years. I have full confidence they will fulfill their tasks in time, they haven't let me down yet. Now my supplier should just be down this road and ah ha, there it is. Even after twenty years the old cod still hasn’t moved an inch, stubborn old man. I suppose I have no room to talk, even though I have to admit that retirement is nearing. I can’t quite move like how I used to back in my prime and my crew isn’t getting younger. I haven’t told them anything. I don't want them to worry for their captain. I also have to keep up appearances, they can’t think I've grown soft, my pride wouldn’t be able to take it. That’s why I plan to surprise them with this last job. One last heist on a ship full of wealthy aristocrats that probably can’t use a weapon to save their lives. If everything goes according to plan, we should all be able to retire to a nice place with lots of gold to spare. Oh, I can already picture it. Ahem, I have got to focus. I must not daydream before the last big heist. I can not let the last heist end up in failure. We would be the laughingstock of the pirate world if we did.

“Hello there you old decrepit sea sponge, do you have the supplies ready for me?” The frail old man looks up from his coin sack and looks me straight in the eyes. His eyes seem a little wet and he is red around the eyes. I wonder why? “Yes they should be right in the back. They are already in wheel barrels for you, old friend.” As he tells me this he quickly hides his coin sack underneath the table. Hm, never took him for the overly cautious type, especially since we have known each other for so long. Maybe he had a break-in recently? Eh, I’m sure it’s fine, he never has been one to hide his struggles from me, so if he doesn’t think it’s worth getting into, I’m sure it’s fine. Would you look at that. Everything is in perfect order, like always. This last adventure is turning out to go so smoothly. I couldn’t have wished for a better last voyage. Now I just have to get back to the crew with these supplies, wow, this load is really working me hard, wouldn’t have it any other way however. What is the pirate life, but not earned through hard work, even to the very end? “Catch Old man! Even if it's my last time buying from you, I’ll still pay you!” Hmph, he still seems bothered by something, maybe I’ll visit one last time after the heist, to see if he needs help with something.

Thank god, for me making this our last heist, I don't know how the boys feel, but I can certainly feel the age creeping up on me. Maybe in retirement I can properly focus on some romance, never told the boys, but I have for the past few years yearned for a partner of my own. The ladies we met on our travels were all fine, but they never could fill the ever growing feeling of hollowness in my heart. Except, of course, oooh Catrina. It wasn’t long we spent together, but those two months were some of the best days in my long life. If only I could pursue you my crimson rose, but alas your heart belongs to another man. While I can never have you, you have opened my eyes to the wonders of deeper forms of connections, for that I am eternally grateful.

Whew, finally made it to our beautiful ship. “Men, are the preparations complete?” “Everything is done and ready to go, captain!” My pride for this crew knows no limits. “Excellent, then said sail for our target men. Let’s make this one go down in history!”