Chapter 4 - The Fortress

One week after leaving the Jamaican doctor's house, Lurg and Admiral Serathagar arrived at the Royal Command Fortress on the island of BakoBaki. Admiral Serathagar gave Lurg a tour of the complex. The Command Fortress was the largest military installation in the Caribbean. It covered almost the entirety of the island, which was about two square miles. It housed fifty thousand soldiers, ten thousand sailors, and nine hundred war ships. The fortress had sixty-five forward cannons on each of its five walls, with their shot ranging from 5 lbs to 20 lbs, and a range of over six miles. The walls of the fortress were made of five foot thick concrete with a steel overlay that was an additional three feet thick. The fortress even had its own agriculture system and it was built around the source of a river, so there was plenty of water. An iron mine deep in the fortress provided iron ore for the forge to craft into steel for weapons and armor, as well as raw materials for cannon balls. The powder magazine was the size of a large house. All in all, the fortress was impregnable, as well as self sufficient, and could withstand siege and blockade for years if need be.

Once Lurg had seen most of the fortress, Admiral Serathagar showed him to his quarters. His room consisted of three rooms, each one larger then anything he had ever stayed in before, and much larger then his quarters on board the Judith Prosperous. There was a small coal stove he could use to cook on, as well as a pool that was filled with water that had been used to cool the equipment in the forge, so it was always warm as it constantly followed in and out of the pool.

"This is amazing," said Lurg, walking around the room.

"Aye, we take care of our own. Eat some food Lurg, you haven't had anything but the witch doctors potion for two months, you must be famished. Make sure you get some sleep tonight, tomorrow begins your training."

Lurg wandered around his new home, examining every corner. He walked over to the marble table in the center of the eating area. On it was a variety of fruits, cheeses, and breads, as well as several roasted turkey legs and an entire cask of rum.. Lurg ate until he could eat no more, he tried everything and the food was the best tasting food he had ever eaten, although he could not be sure if this was because he had not eaten any real food for over two months or if it was because the food really was that good. Either way, Lurg did not care, he just ate. When the feast was over, Lurg staggered around the rooms searching for the bed. He had finished nearly all of the rum, and it took him several looks in each room to find the bed. Once found, he laid down and decided that this was the right way to live. The bed was the most comfortable of his life, filled with the down feathers of a rare bird, it was like sleeping on air. It did not take long for him to fall asleep.

"We have to leave now," shouted Skully. "If we don't we're all gonna end up like Lurg. He gave us a chance, let's not waste it."

"We can't leave him," shouted Audra, Bella and Hackin' Eve in unison.

"We don't have time to argue, I'm the captain, this is my ship, we're leaving NOW."

"Arggh!"

Lurg awoke screaming, his chest on fire. He clutched at the scar on his chest, waiting for the pain to subside. Sitting up in bed, drenched in sweat, Lurg's body shook as another wave of pain wracked through him. It was quickly followed by a wave of nausea. Lurg leaned over the side of the bed and wretched. Most of his dinner was now in a fairly large puddle next to his bed. Lurg stood up and spit the vomit that remained in his mouth onto the floor. He paced around the room for a while, finally heading out to the main room. He picked up the cask of rum and finished it off.

"Arggh!" he screamed as he threw the empty cask across the room, shattering it against the wall. "Enjoy your time while you still have it Skully One-Eye, for when I find you, it will be over."

Lurg laid awake in bed for the rest of the night, unable to sleep after his dream.

There was a knock on the door in the early hours of the morning. Admiral Serathagar walked in, followed by two soldiers.

"Good morning Lurg," said Admiral Serathagar, "Rough night?" he questioned when he noticed the large pool of vomit near the bed. One of the soldiers accompanying him turned and threw up into the sink.

"I had the dream again. Every time I close my eyes, I see it. I see them leaving."

"And did your chest hurt as well?"

"Yes. Just like it always does after the dream."

"Curious," said Admiral Serathagar, "Perhaps it is your subconscious preventing you from forgetting what happened. Perhaps you will not be able to rid yourself of these dreams and pain until you resolve it. You must kill Skully One-Eye."

"I intend to. I will make him suffer for what he has done."

"We must get going. There is not much time and you have much training to complete if you want to destroy Skully One-Eye and Barron von Black. Remember that von Black is the man who originally trained Skully One-Eye. If not for him, Skully One-Eye could never have hurt you."

"Yes. They both shall die by my hand."

"Then let us go, your training begins now."

Admiral Serathagar led Lurg to the training grounds and introduced him to Commander Deforge, the Royal Drillmaster. Deforge had Lurg complete many tedious tasks to determine the degree of his capabilities. When it was over, Deforge was impressed with Lurg. In fact, he was the finest physical specimen Deforge had ever seen. The only thing holding him back was his technique. Deforge handed Lurg a large wooden claymore.

"Attack me," he commanded.

Lurg lunged forward and slashed wildly with his blade. The commander dodged easily and knocked Lurg to the ground.

"Get up. Again."

Lurg attacked again, and again he ended up on the ground, looking up at Commander Deforge.

"Again, and this time hit me."

Lurg attacked and was rebuffed again and again. Each time he was knocked down. His frustration was mounting and it was obvious as his attacks became more aggressive but also more wild.

"No. No. No. How do you expect to defeat Barron von Black and Skully One-Eye when you can't even hit an unarmed man? I heard many good things about your ability with a sword. Obviously I was misinformed. You cannot continue to fight like a common soldier if you wish to enact your revenge against Barron von Black and Skully One-Eye. You must become one with your blade. Anticipate its movements, its desires. Feel its energy flow through you. When you are one with your blade, only then will you defeat Skully One-Eye and Barron von Black. Only then will you be unstoppable. Now attack me again."

Lurg continued to train with Commander Deforge for six days. Each day he made more progress and by the end of the sixth day, it was Commander Deforge who was on the ground looking up at Lurg more often then not.

Clap. Clap. Clap. Admiral Serathagar had entered the training room and watched the end of the fight.

"Excellent my son. I had not expected you to progress so quickly."

"Commander Deforge is an excellent teacher."

"Aye. He is."

"Unfortunately, I cannont take credit for his prowess,"said Commander Deforge, "Lurg has amazing natural ability and talent. I just helped him bring it to the surface. As much as I would love to continue to train with him. I believe he is ready."

"Excellent," said Admiral Serathagar, "Well you have done amazingly well Lurg. I have something for you, a gift for completing your training."

Admiral Serathagar motioned to two soldiers across the courtyard. They walked over carrying two large boxes. Lurg opened the smaller of the two and in it was a shining breast plate. Crafted to fit Lurg's body perfectly, the armor was made from the finest steel, with a silver overlay that shined in the sun. The insignia on the breast plate was the head of a roaring lion, made out of pure gold. The second box contained a giant claymore. The massive sword had a six foot blade that was four inches wide. Unlike most swords, the blade is not form a sharp point at the tip of the blade, but instead had a slight incline that formed an almost flat tip. The hilt of the sword was made from braided leather, with a very large diamond embedded in the pommel. The guard of the sword was a lions head with its mouth open in mid roar, and from its open mouth erupted the massive blade. The sword itself was made form steel, but had a silver overlay similar to the armor that made the blade gleam. Lurg just stood admiring his new weapon and armor.

"Now," said Admiral Serathagar, "Would you like to see your ship?"