In Another World With a Battleship?!

Roy had reached the top deck of his impossible new battleship, heart hammering so loud he half-expected his Presidroids to ask if his chest was malfunctioning. Between the metallic whir of servos and the crash of ocean waves, the surreal moment felt like being stuck in a futuristic war movie. Except, of course, Roy was no seasoned soldier—he was a trembling high schooler whose crowning achievement so far was surviving daily social anxiety, being fairly good theater kid, and a nationally ranked ping pong player.

The battleship deck stretched out in a labyrinth of sleek railings, missile pods, and automated turrets, all suspiciously quiet. Just a gentle hum of internal machinery suggested the massive ship was, in fact, teeming with advanced systems. He ran a hand over the nearest cannon, wincing at how shiny and real it was under the warm sunlight.

"C-Captain Gunn?" a crisp, synthesized female voice echoed through unseen speakers. "We've been awaiting your arrival on the bridge."

Roy nearly jumped out of his soggy sneakers. Spinning around, he only spotted a row of saluting robots behind him. They looked like they'd stepped out of a sci-fi flick—gleaming exoskeletons, glowing eyes. He cleared his throat, trying not to squeak.

"Yes, uh, I'm here," he said. "And… yeah, I guess I'm… the Captain."

The word "Captain" sent a tremor through him. He felt like a toddler wearing his dad's suit, but his dad never wore a suit. So whose suit is it? Nonetheless, he steeled himself and marched, well, more like tiptoed, across the deck until he found a short flight of steps leading into the bridge. Inside was a semi-futuristic control room filled with panels, holographic screens, and enough blinking lights to shame a spaceship. A plush captain's chair sat in the center, like a throne daring him to sit.

"Welcome, Captain Gunn," said the same synthesized voice, now coming from a console at the front. The top of the console opened up and a glass enclosure with a beautiful flower contained in it ascended. A holographic silhouette flickered into view—a girl with softly glowing vines for hair. Within the console's transparent enclosure, the flower pulsed with light and delicate electrical lines. Her avatar perched on the edge of a petal, eyes bright with digital intelligence.

"Sorry that I didn't show myself to you before. I am Serenity, the primary AI caretaker of this vessel. I'm delighted to finally meet you for real."

Roy blinked. A plant-themed AI lady was not on his bingo card for the day, but here he was. "Uh… hi. Serenity. Right. Neat."

Her avatar bowed politely. "Your biometrics suggest heightened anxiety. May I recommend a brief breathing exercise, or perhaps a hug from a Presidroid?"

Roy's cheeks burned. Even the AI was pointing out his jitters. He fumbled to respond, but a nearby console beeped, saving him. On a monitor, he saw the beach below, where roughly a dozen classmates paced in the sand, glaring at his ship.

"They are demanding entry onto the ship, Captain," Serenity observed. "Shall I deploy anti-personnel turrets?"

He jolted. "N-no, don't shoot them, you...botanical weirdo! Those are classmates—grumpy ones, but still classmates."

"Understood. Turrets remain on standby." Her projected gaze shifted. "It appears three individuals are waving politely."

Roy squinted. On the screen, Emiko, Hina, and Alejandro—the Triplets—stood in knee-high surf, calling for "Captain Roy Gunn" in that half-nervous, half-hopeful way. He let out a breath. At least they'd apologized earlier (sort of). He turned to Serenity.

"Deploy…some, uh, transport or ladder or whatever, so only those three can come up. Keep the rest at bay. And bring me, like...six pistols or something. I don't want them pushing me off the ship."

"Aye, Captain," Serenity replied, a faint amusement in her tone. On the monitor, a hatch opened on the warship's side, rolling out a smaller chain ladder. The other classmates yelled in envy, but a perimeter of armed robots ensured no one else got close. Roy grimaced. Another crisis for another day.

He hustled back onto the top deck to intercept the Triplets—if "intercept" was the right word for trying to look composed while every nerve screamed, I have no idea how to be a Captain. When he arrived, the siblings were already staring around in awe. Alejandro gawked at the cannons, Hina let out a small shriek when a Presidroid saluted, and Emiko folded her arms tight, looking both impressed and damp from the climb.

"This is insane," Hina managed, voice shaky. "I can't believe you really pulled this off, Captain. We all thought you'd just pick something small and hide."

Roy gave an awkward shrug. "I, uh, paid attention to the freebies—like bullets for a gun—so I asked for the whole bundle." He coughed. "Anyway… welcome aboard."

Alejandro whistled low. "Gotta say, it's genius. Nobody's gonna push you around now."

"Mm," Roy muttered, sensing a tiny amount of envy beneath their admiration. He wasn't used to so much attention, especially not this brand of wide-eyed respect. "You said you wanted to make a city or something?"

Emiko nodded. "Yes, Captain Gunn. We're planning to build it right from here, set up walls, a fortress—something safe. But we'd feel, like, a thousand times better if you could help us protect it. At least in the early weeks, so we don't get overrun by monsters or pirates?"

Roy swallowed a knot of guilt. He did hold a massive advantage over them. The Triplets weren't the worst, though. The worst they did was laugh at some of the jokes made about him. He fiddled with the collar of his soggy shirt. "So… what do I get out of it?"

They brightened, glancing at each other. "We can share everything we gather," Hina offered. "And we'll address you respectfully—Captain Gunn. No more ignoring or being jerks. We'll even stand up for you if the others try to mooch."

Emiko chimed in, "We were serious about wanting to ally with you. If we discover treasure, you get first dibs. We'll also protect your privacy as best we can. We swear."

A swirl of emotions churned in Roy's chest. He wasn't so naive as to believe every word, but in a way he wished he was. After being bullied or invisible most of his life, the promise of respect felt...weirdly good. He took a steadying breath.

"Fine," he said. "But you make sure everyone follows the rules and calls me Captain Gunn. And you keep them from pestering me for free rides or tours. Deal?"

"Deal!" they said in unison. Emiko even bowed a little. "Thank you, Captain."

Roy led them below, into a small lounge area the robots indicated. The battleship came with some higher quality living spaces—"complimentary features," as Serenity had assumed. The lounge had stark, metal-paneled walls, a few chairs around a table, and monitors showing maps, sonar, and camera feeds. Roy plopped down, exhaustion nibbling at his posture.

The Triplets took seats across from him, rummaging for notepads in some attempt at organization. Alejandro leaned forward. "All right, Captain. We want to form a settlement that basically becomes a mini-kingdom. Emiko, Hina, and I will handle day-to-day stuff. You'll have the ultimate veto power."

Roy leaned back slightly. "You act like I want to stay here."

"You haven't left yet, and had plenty of time to!" Alejandro countered, a faint smirk coming right after.

Emiko leaned in excitedly. "People will flock to us for safety. That means workers, trade, cash, alliances—and you'll get in on it all."

"Sounds... good," Roy said, rubbing his neck. "But I'm not letting anyone else on the ship for now. Only you three, only if you need to come aboard."

They nodded, sympathetic. Hina scribbled on a tiny chalkboard. "Need anything, Captain? It's kinda silly, but we can fetch stuff if you're hungry. My infinite pantry works if I write the item's name...though we have to set it up first."

Roy's stomach growled. He blinked at Serenity's camera lens, half-embarrassed. "Uh, a cheeseburger? And maybe some fried rice?" he mumbled. He felt silly ordering diner food at a time like this, especially when he had a copy of her pantry and cupboards full of food right behind them.

Hina gave him a thumbs-up. "Done. We'll handle it as soon as we deploy the mansion's pantry."

Alejandro snorted. "Cheeseburger and fried rice? Captain, no wonder people bullied you."

Roy felt a brief sting but managed a shrug. "All right, well—deal's a deal. Let me know when you set up."

They wrapped up details, then asked Roy to let them back onto the beach to gather supplies. Roy obliged, figuring it was a good chance to see who else had stuck around. Some classmates might've already wandered off. So they headed back topside, where the chain ladder still hung.

Down on the beach, a cluster of people paced near the water, and Roy spotted Kelvin gripping his pistol like it was a security blanket. He scowled at the surf, but the presence of robot guards on deck kept him from sprinting up the ladder.

"Right, we'll come back soon," Emiko said, carefully stepping onto the ladder. She and her siblings waved goodbye as waves splashed their legs. Roy's anxiety kicked up, but he told himself they'd manage. They had a steel mansion and infinite cleaning supplies; that had to count for something.

Suddenly a shout from a scowling classmate—someone Roy recognized as a stapler-throwing maniac—rang across the sand: "Hey, Captain! Let us on that tub, you cheat!"

Roy gave a half-wave, then signaled to Serenity. The ladder creaked upward, leaving the angry mob stranded on the beach. He felt a pulse of relief at the silence—at least the robots had that under control.

He made his way back to the bridge, steps slower now that adrenaline was fading. The sky had shifted into oranges and pinks, painting the ocean in pastel shades. Sinking into the captain's chair, Roy realized how drained he was. He pressed a button labeled EXTERIOR AUDIO OFF and, just like that, the frantic yells from the beach vanished from the speakers. Sweet mercy.

"Captain Gunn," Serenity's voice chirped gently, "shall I scan the coastline for potential hostiles or monsters?"

Roy ruffled his hair, stifling a groan. "Sure. Don't shoot unless they're actively attacking us. Keep an eye out for giant sea beasts or something equally nightmarish, I guess."

"Acknowledged," she replied. "Sonar indicates unusual formations on the seabed north of our position. This could imply large aquatic creatures. We can investigate or avoid."

Roy let out a tired laugh. "Monsters. Of course. Why wouldn't there be? This day's been a real theme park ride."

He stared at the consoles in front of him, a swirl of contradictory emotions: fear, relief, disbelief. Just this morning, he'd been a bullied nobody. Now, he owned an overpowered warship, half his classmates wanted to mooch or murder him, and an AI with glowing vines was calling him "Captain." He found it oddly thrilling in a terrifying way.

Dusk settled in, a gentle darkness creeping over the waves. The hush on deck made his shoulders loosen. Aside from the occasional screech of gulls and the hum of the ship's machinery, everything felt...peaceful.

He meandered to the panoramic window. Tiny lights from classmates' conjured gear or makeshift torches danced along the shore. He wondered how many were cursing his name right now. Probably a bunch, he mused, a tiny grin tugging at his lips. But for once, the fear of being hated didn't hollow him out. He had weapons of mass intimidation if he needed them—a thought that brought both comfort and a pang of guilt.

He pressed a button to dim the bridge, letting the screens cast a gentle glow. Sea air drifted in through an open hatch, salty and cool. This is my ship, he thought, heart fluttering with a blend of pride and panic. I have to figure out how to not screw everything up...again.

Outside, water lapped at the steel hull, a lullaby of soft splashes. Roy sank into the captain's chair, exhaustion draping over him like a heavy blanket. Serenity's avatar flickered, the flower's glow pulsing in a soothing pattern.

"Captain Roy Gunn," she said softly, "you appear fatigued. May I offer a calming playlist or perhaps a mild sedation protocol? You do have a copy of the Unlimited Medicine Cabinet just waiting in the Compartment of Requests."

He let out a weak laugh. "We have sedation protocols? Are you offering me drugs, Serenity?" He rubbed his eyes. "No sedation, though. Just give me a heads-up if some giant scaly monster surfaces and tries to eat us, okay?"

Serenity's vine-hair shimmered in a nod. "Of course, Captain. I'll maintain watch. Rest as you need."

Roy closed his eyes, letting the quiet hum of the engines cradle him. "Right. Gonna get some shuteye... Then tomorrow, I guess I figure out how to handle this new world. And my new job title."

A gentle hush fell, punctuated only by the faint beeps of distant consoles and the rhythmic lap of waves against iron plating. For once, nobody could corner Roy or make him feel small. He had a fortress, an AI ally, and a weird sense of hope.

"Sweet dreams, Captain Roy Gunn," Serenity whispered, barely audible above the night breeze.

Roy's lips curved in the ghost of a smile. "Yeah… sweet dreams, huh?" he muttered. "Don't be so corny."