“Max Carver! Henry Thompson!"
Detectives Richard Philips and Oliver Park.
"NCPD! You're wanted for questioning! Hands behind your back!"
The cold metal of the handcuffs clicked shut around my wrists as we were led to the NCPD precinct. Inside, the bustling atmosphere was a chaotic mix of officers chatting, paperwork being shuffled, and the unmistakable aroma of freshly brewed coffee. I couldn't help but wonder what had landed us in this predicament. Was it something from our past coming back to haunt us, or had we unwittingly stumbled into trouble during our recent escapades?
"Oli, you take care of Henry. I’ll interview the pretty boy," Richard instructed as we were escorted into separate interrogation rooms.
"Aww, you're making me blush," I quipped in response, hoping to mask my unease with humor. As Richard started firing questions at me, my confusion grew. "What happened on that yacht, Max?" he demanded.
I furrowed my brow, genuinely puzzled. "What are you talking about?" I asked, trying to make sense of the accusations being thrown my way.
"2076! The yacht party that took place in the Pacific Ocean! We know you were there," Richard pressed on, his tone unwavering.
Glancing off into the distance, Max seemed lost in thought, as if grappling with memories that threatened to pull him back to a time and place long gone.
2076
Pacific Ocean
Near the borders of Panama
3:58 PM
A young Max is standing on a luxury yacht looking out over the Pacific Ocean while holding a glass in his left hand. The yacht was surrounded by people who were wearing pearly white clothes. They were mostly drinking or busy dancing to electronic music that would hurt your ears.
“You’ve been in that same spot for a while,” Henry said to him before asking if he was okay.
“Look at me. I’m a thousand miles away from home, in the middle of the ocean. I’m listening to music I can't stand and I’m surrounded by people who are off their faces on either drugs or sex. All in all, I'm doing fine.”
Henry laughed, "Oh, that’s funny.”
"Seriously, who’s idea was this? I hate the ocean. I’d rather be home.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“Hang on, you feared of the ocean.”
Max quickly turned his head. “Don’t even think about telling anyone!”
Henry started laughing, “Holy shit, you're scared of the ocean. Ha-ha... Come on, I need a refill.”
The two walked into the bar and made their way to the counter to order a refill of their drinks. As they waited, they couldn't help but notice Luca showing off his dance moves to impress a woman.
"He needs to work on his dance moves," Henry remarked to Max.
"Yeah, it's like he's trying to be the next George Ridge," Max replied with a chuckle.
Before long, Luca approached the two. "I hope you're not drinking," he teased.
Max and Henry were momentarily taken aback. "Ha-ha. I'm just kidding! You should've seen your faces," Luca said with a grin.
"Real funny. Can someone tell me why we're even here?" Max inquired.
"Does it matter? Just take in the atmosphere. It's perfect," Luca responded.
"I don't know about you guys, but I need to find a place to rest. My head is killing me," Max stated as he excused himself and left Henry and Luca behind.
As Max walked through the bustling crowd, Luca called out to him, "I'll send someone to keep you company, Max!"
Max raised his hand in acknowledgment and made his way downstairs to the bedrooms. He opened the door to an unoccupied room, laid down on the bed, and immediately closed his eyes, seeking relief from his pounding headache.
Hours passed until Max would wake up by falling off the bed. Picking himself up off the floor, Max opened the door, looked out to the hallway, and noticed someone searching each room.
Walking out to the hallway, the man turned around and pointed his gun at Max.
“Get down! Fucking on the floor now!”
“Okay! Hang on!”
The man walked over to Max. As the man got closer Max moved to the side and proceded to grab the man’s head and smashed it against the wall, disorienting the man. Max then punched the man in the face and quickly grabbed the gun from the floor and fired two bullets at the man killing him.
“The heck is going on.” He asked himself.
More footsteps could be heard coming closer. Max aimed the gun down the hallway, but thankfully it was Henry and Luca.
“Jesus. I almost shot you.” Max said aiming his gun away from the two.
“Glad to see you still alive,” Luca said.
“What the heck’s going on?”
“Pirates,” Henry replied quickly.
Max was confused. “Huh?”
“They were waiting for us once we reached the docks. Come on, let’s get out of here.”
The trio rushed outside and took cover behind the stairs as pirates started opening fire on the trio. Max poked his head out and started returning fire before ducking back down to reload. This allowed Henry and Luca to open fire.
The yacht was starting to be redecorated with bullet holes and shells. The trio moved up and went inside; once inside, they had to return fire from some pirates who were inside the yacht. Max saw a dropped assault rifle on the floor and rushed over and started opening fire on the pirates, killing them.
Moving forward, they noticed how the pirates got on the yacht. A throwable ladder was found on the side of the yacht. The trio used the ladder to get off the yacht and onto the docks; once on the docks, Luca spotted a car and suggested that they take the car to get out of there, but there was one issue that had been lingering, Max.
“Where is everyone?”
“What do you mean?” Luca asked.
“The people who were with us at the yacht. Where are they?”
“Does it matter?”
“Luca they were innocent people.”
Henry joined in with the conversation, “What do you suggest we do?”
“Given that we didn't see any of them, they must have been taken somewhere. We should try and find them.”
Luca was starting to get annoyed. “And how are we going to find them, Max? It's not like there’s a clue here that will lead us to them.”
A red piece of cloth that was stuck on a metallic frame.