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Speaker 2: Calaroga Shark Media.
Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome to Romance Weekly. This episode is titled
Pirates of New York, Part four, the final plunder.
Speaker 2: The year was seventeen eighty four, and the bustling port
of New York was a far cry from the towering
metropolis Kara had left behind. She stumbled onto the wooden dock,
her head spinning from the jarring time jump. Beside her, captain,
Rusty Cutlers, steadied himself against a barrel, his sea legs
adapting quickly to the familiar surroundings. Welcome to me, world, Lass,
Rusty said, a mix of pride and uncertainty in his voice.
Kara's eyes widened as she took in the scene. Tall
ships crowded the harbor, their masts reaching toward the sky
like a forest of wooden giants. The air was thick
with the scent of salt, tar and something decidedly less pleasant.
Oh my god, she whispered, her hand flying to her mouth.
We really did it. We're in the past. The reality
of her situation hit her like a cannon ball. Gone
were the comforts of modern life, no cell phones, no internet,
no air conditioning. She was suddenly very aware of how
out of place she looked in her jeans and t shirt.
A group of rough looking sailors eyed her curiously, whispering
among themselves. One of them, a burly man with a
scraggly beard, called out, oi, captain, you've brought back quite
the exotic wench from your travels. Rusty's hand went to
his cutlass, his eyes narrowing. Mind your tongue, you bilge rat.
This lady is under me protection, and you'll treat her
with the respect she deserves, or you'll be swimming with
the fishes. The sailors quickly backed off, but Kara could
still feel their eyes on her. She moved closer to Rusty,
grateful for his presence. Thanks, she murmured, I guess I
need to work on blending in. Rusty nodded a thoughtful
look on his face. Aye that you do. Come, let's
get you some proper attire. The next few hours were
a whirlwind for Kara. She was fitted for a new wardrobe,
long skirts, billowing blouses, and a sturdy pair of boots.
The corset, however, proved to be a challenge. How am
I supposed to breathe in this thing? She gasped as
Rusty's first mate's wife, a kind woman named Mary, laced
her up. Mary chuckled, You'll get used to it, dearie.
Just be thankful you're not expected to wear the fancy
court dresses. Those will make you faint in this heat.
As Kara struggled to adjust to her new outfit, she
found herself facing numerous other challenges. The lack of modern
plumbing was a shock to her system. Chamber pots and
outhouses were a far cry from the porcelain thrones she
was used to. I never thought I'd miss indoor plumbing
so much, she muttered as she tried to wash her
face with water from a bucket. Food was another adventure.
The lack of refrigeration meant that everything was either fresh, salted,
or pickled. Caraa's first encounter with hard tack, the staple
food of sailors, left her wondering if she'd chipped a tooth.
It's like trying to eat a brick, she complained to Rusty,
who laughed heartily. Aye, it takes some getting used to,
but it'll keep you alive on long voyages. Here tried
dip it in your grog. It helps soften it up
a bit. Kara took a sip of the grog and
immediately sputtered. The strong rum mixture burned her throat, nothing
like the cocktail she was used to back home. Despite
the challenges, Kara found herself adapting surprisingly quickly. She threw
herself into learning the ways of eighteenth century life, determined
to make the best of her situation. Rusty was a
patient teacher, showing her how to tie knots, read star charts,
and even handle a cutlass. You're a natural lass, he
said approvingly as she successfully parried one of his attacks
during a sword fighting lesson. Kara grinned, feeling a sense
of accomplishment. Maybe I was meant to be a pirate
all along. As the days passed, Rusty noticed Kara's growing
comfort with her new life, but he also saw the
wistful looks she'd get when she thought no one was watching.
One evening, as they stood on the deck of the
Salty Wench watching the sun set over the harbor, he
decided to broach the subject you're missing your home, aren't ye,
he asked gently. Kara sighed, nodding. It's strange. I'm loving
this adventure, but there's so much I left behind, My family,
my friends, my career. They probably think I've disappeared off
the face of the earth. Rusty took her hand, his
calloused fingers gentle against her skin. Lass, I've been thinking,
we need to find a way to get you back
to your own time. Kara looked at him, surprised. But
how we don't exactly have a quantum entanglement analyzer lying around.
Rusty stroked his beard thoughtfully. No, but we do have
something else. Legends speak of a mystical artifact called the
kron Or Stone, said to have the power to bend
time itself. Kara's eyes lit up. A magical time travel stone, Rusty,
that's brilliant. But wait, if it exists in your time,
why didn't you use it to get back to the
future when you were stranded? Rusty chuckled, Because, my dear,
it's not just lying about waiting to be found. The
stone is said to be hidden on a mysterious island
guarded by fearsome creatures and deadly traps. Of course it is,
Car sighed. It wouldn't be a proper pirate adventure without
a dangerous quest, would it. The next morning, Rusty gathered
his crew to announce their new mission. The pirates cheered
at the prospect of a treasure hunt, even if the
treasure in question was a magical rock instead of gold
and jewels. As they prepared to set sail, Kara found
herself wept up in the excitement. She'd fully embraced her
new pirate look, a billowing shirt, fitted vest, and sturdy boots.
With a tricorn hat perched jauntily on her head, she
looked every inch the pirate lass. You clean up nice, Caara,
Rusty said appreciatively as she joined him at the helm.
Ready for your first real pirate adventure, Kara grinned, feeling
a thrill of excitement. I I captain the Salty Wench.
Set sail with the morning tide, leaving the familiar shores
of New York behind. As they ventured into open waters,
Kara marveled at the vastness of the ocean. Without the
constant hum of engines or the glow of electric lights,
the world seemed both larger and more intimate days turned
into weeks as they followed cryptic clues and half remembered legends.
Kara threw herself into the life of a pirate, surprising
herself with how quickly she adapted. She learned to navigate
by the stars, to predict the weather by watching the
clouds and sea, and even to climb the rigging with
the agility of a seasoned sailor. Their journey wasn't without peril.
They outran a British naval vessel, navigated through a treacherous reef,
and narrowly escaped a kraken, which Kara was pretty sure
wasn't supposed to exist outside of myths. But hey, time
travel was real, so why not see monsters through it all.
Kara and Rusty grew closer. Late nights spent pouring over
maps turned into long conversations about their hopes and fears.
Rusty opened up about the loneliness of command, while Kara
shared her dreams of making a difference in the world.
You know, lass, Rusty said, one night, as they stood
at the rail watching phosphorescent creatures dance in the ship's wake,
I'm starting to think finding this stone might not be
such a good idea, after all, Kara looked at him questioningly,
Why is that Rusty took her hand? His expression serious,
Because the thought of sending you back to the future, well,
it's tearing me apart. Kara's heart skipped a beat. Rusty I,
but before she could finish, a cry came from the
crow's nest.
Speaker 1: Land ho.
Speaker 2: The mysterious island loomed before them, shrouded in mist and
looking every bit as foreboding as the legends suggested. Jagged
cliffs rose from turbulent waters, and an eerie glow emanated
from the dense jungle that covered the island's interior. Well Lass,
Rusty said, squeezing Kara's hand, Shall we go find your
ticket home? The landing party consisted of Rusty, Kara, Pegleg, Pete,
and a few of the hardiest crew members. As they
made their way through the jungle, Kara couldn't shake the
feeling that they were being watched. Their path was fraught
with danger. Quick sandpits, poisoned dart, shooting statues, and carnivorous
plants all tried to impede their progress, but with Kara's
knowledge of movie tropes, guys don't step on that suspiciously
flat stone, and the pirate's resourcefulness, they pressed on. Finally
they reached the heart of the island. In a clearing
stood an ancient temple, its weathered stones covered in strange
symbols that seemed to shift and change as they watched.
Speaker 1: This is it.
Speaker 2: Rusty breathed the resting place of the Kronos Stone. As
they entered the temple, the air grew thick with tension.
Ancient mechanisms whirred to life, and the floor began to shake.
In the center of the main chamber, floating above a
pedestal was a glowing blue stone no larger than a fist,
the Kronos Stone. Kara whispered in awe. Just as Rusty
reached for the stone, a booming voice echoed through the chamber.
Who dares to seek the power of time itself? Spectral
figure materialized before them, a bearded man in flowing robes,
his eyes glowing with other worldly power. I am the
guardian of Time, the figure intoned to claim the kron
Or Stone. You must prove yourselves worthy. What followed was
a series of riddles and tests that challenged not only
their intelligence, but also their hearts. The final test came
down to Kara and Rusty to claim the stone. The
Guardian said, one of you must sacrifice your chance to
use it. Only through selfless love can the power of
time be mastered. Kara and Rusty looked at each other,
a silent understanding passing between them in unison. They both
stepped forward. I'll stay, they said together. The Guardian's stern
expression softened into a smile. Well done, you have proven
yourselves worthy. The kron Or stone floated down into Kara's hand.
As she touched it, she felt a surge of power
coursing through her. The stone will grant you one journey,
the Guardian explained, use it wisely. As they exited the temple,
victorious but subdued, Rusty turned to Kara, Well, lass, I
suppose this is goodbye. Kara looked down at the stone
in her hands, then back at Rusty. She thought about
her life in the future, her job, her family, indoor plumbing.
Then she thought about the adventures she'd had, the wonders
she'd seen, and the man standing before her. With a smile,
she handed the stone to Rusty. Actually, I think I'll
stick around for a while. The future will still be
there later, but right now, I've got some pirating to do.
Rusty's face broke into a wide grin. He swept Kara
into his arms, spinning her around as the crew cheered.
As they sailed away from the mysterious island, Kara felt
a sense of excitement for the unknown future ahead. There
would be more adventures, more dangers, and undoubtedly more time
bending shenanigans. After all, with a magical timestone in their
possession and the vast ocean before them, the possibilities were endless.
The pirate and the time traveler had many more stories
to tell, and the world past, present and future had
better watch out, so Captain Kara said, adjusting her tricorn
hat with a mischievous grin. Where to next, Rusty laughed,
pulling her close wherever the wind takes, As me dear,
the adventures only just begin in And with that, the
Salty Wench sailed off into the sunset, ready for whatever
time twisted tales awaited them on the horizon. The crew
raised their tankards in a rousing cheer, celebrating not just
their victory but the promise of count us adventures to come.
As the ship disappeared into the golden glow of the
setting sun, one could almost hear the whisper of time itself,
acknowledging that sometimes the greatest treasures are not gold or jewels,
but the bonds forged in the fires of adventure and
the love that transcends the very fabric of time.
Speaker 1: Romance Weekly is a production of Calaroga Shark Media executive
producers Mark Francis and John McDermott. Portions of this podcast
may have been created with the assistance of AI.
Speaker 2: Calaroga Shark Media