WesternOutlaw

Thanks IS. I think that's the nicest compliment one could provide. I'm glad you enjoyed it and had a chance to participate.

Why don't you put your collection on Ebay, DJ? Never mind. I see you answered my question already.

Oh, I'll answer some of your questions, but I almost forgot to share the individual character bios. Here they are. Each person received one of these before the story. Each of you were encouraged to play your part: Captain Maxwell Macleod: Captain of the Sea Ghost. Captain Macleod is a huge

Well, that's another story now... I don't think a Part 2 would be fun. Next time, something completely different. I was honestly trying to wrap this up. I was having difficulty keeping it going with just a few characters left. It's hard as I have to write for the others - like Mr. Mason. Thanks IS. You certainly conveyed a lot of energy and motivation in keeping the story going. If I ever do something like this again, I would definately want you participating. When this was first going (first few weeks), I wanted to make it more like a cliff-hanger, every week. It didn't work out that way as people were posting so frequently. People complained that it moved too fast, but that's what made it fun (at least for me). That was intentional. I couldn't give it away and wanted a real surprise/twist ending. -------------------------- And on a side note, Mystery Ship generated over 1,350 posts. Now I need to rest.

Thank you Hink. I must admit that I enjoyed the beginning very much, but as less people were posting, it became more difficult to keep my interest. I had taken down my actual set a number of weeks ago and was unable to take any new pictures. You made a very good Captain, and I think if it had not been for you, Scotty, the Skipper, Diver Dan, and Bennie, the ending would have been very difficult. I kept it goinfg for the sake of you and the other final participants. It was a bit long, but it had a lot of story. I've enjoyed it, and one never knows how these stories will work out over an Internet forum. I think this was successful - maybe just a bit long. Thanks for the feedback. B

If any of you have any questions or comments in regard to the final ending of Mystery Ship, please post here.

"I cannot think of the deep sea without shuddering at the nameless things that may at this very moment be crawling and floundering on its slimy bed, worshipping their ancient stone idols and carving their own detestable likenesses on submarine obelisks of water-soaked granite". Dagon - H.P. Lovecraft ----------------------------- The End

"Come Bennie, it is time now", the Creature that was the Harbor Master calls as the SLOSHING sound of sea water gurgles in his throat... Bennie walks over to the side of the railing, climbs on top, and jumps into the water... (SPLASH) "Oh, and we will be back for the Monolith Captain", he adds (SLOSH, GURGLE, SLOSH!) :-X How nice, How nice... Thank you Captain, Thank you (SLOSH)... And looking out of the port hole below the water level, the thing that was the Harbor Master was seen...

You hear the voice of the Harbor Master within the water, at least what may have been the Harbor Master. "Thank you Captain. I thank you and your crew. It all worked according to plans. The Deep Ones were able to load the monolith aboard your ship. It has been delivered to Haceta as it was planned. I thank you Captain". SLOSH! Slosh! SLLLOOOSSSHHH!

The Harbor Master slowly walks away laughing as the Captain grabs the tarp to Container #5. Scotty and the Skipper help him pull it off discovering.... Discovering... A singular object that was merely a gigantic piece of stone. The object was a well-shaped monolith that did not look like something created by man, nor something created by nature. On the object was inscriptions and crude sculptures, hieroglyphics unknown to men. They were in the shape of aquotic symbols including fishes, eels, octopi, crustaceans, molluscs, and whales. Also on the monolith, was a bas-relief that depicted what appeared to be men, at least a certain sort of men. Their faces and forms were human, but they had webbed hands and feet, wide and flabby lips, bulging eyes, and other grotesque features. And the container smelled with the horrible scent of dead and rotten fish. Seaweed clung to the monolith and a puddle of salty sea water filled the bottom.

But it was always empty my dear Captain and other crewmen. I would suggest that you try the grey crate covered with the tarp, container #5. Shall we Captain?

The Captain punches 6 4 4 1. The yellow steel enforced cargo container door marked "Research & Development" begins to slide open. Inside, the container is............ Is.......................................... EMPTY! X-O

The Minnow... The Ship Number... 6441. ;-) Why don't we try it, shall we Captain. Why don't we also let your guests out of the galley to allow them a chance to see what they have been fighting over. Shall we?

Oh, that would be the one. grabs the piece of paper with the the numbers 441 on it This is the code; but then again, it was with you the whole time... Points over to the Minnow

Harbor Master: Captain, I must know. Has anyone tried opening Container #6? Fish! The smell of fish! SLOSH... I can't get the smell of fish off my hands. NO! Stop. SLOSH... It's ringing. Let me go! Shhhhhhhlllllooooosssssshhhhhhh, I'm here Bennie. I'm in your cell.... Sloshing around. Smell the fish Bennie!

Well, now. It looks like the cargo containers have been untouched. Very nice. I don't suppose that any of you found the small piece of paper I dropped before departure? It was the code to Container #6.

Would you care to take me to the cargo, Captain?

Part Ten: The Discovery The Skipper, Diver Dan, Gene, and Bennie have been locked up in a makeshift brig within the galley. The Sea Ghost's engine has been repaired as the ship nears its starting point, the small port Heceta in Washington state. The Minnow follows behind slowly, driven by Scotty. The ship has arrived during the break of dawn. The harbor master sees the ship from Point Heceta lookout and quickly makes his way down to the ship yard. A man in a rather nice suit stands waiting as the Captain and the rest of the crew climb off the ship. "Mr. Mcleod, I am assuming that since you have returned to port within five days, I need to know if anything unfortunate has happened to the cargo", the Harbor Master asks inquisitively.

Always has to get the last word :-P .

So, the Skipper and Diver Dan were working with Gene to steal the mysterious cargo... But, Diver Dan was going to double-cross the Skipper and steal the cargo for himself... Diver Dan snuck aboard the Sea Ghost and stole the Creature suit from Mr. Mason's cabin. Dan was the one outside the Galley dressed in the suit. And an insane Bennie killed Stinky and cut the rope holding the Minnow. That leaves only one question. What is the mysterious cargo? -------------- End Part 9

You can see from looking at Bennie that he is not sane. Look at him crying in the corner. He's drooling and talking as if he is the creature. Whatever happened to him in the accident definately drove him insane. But I think we've finally figured out the tangled plot of this mystery.

Bennie! How could you? Kill Stinky... 8-

I thought we all loved Stinky *wub* .

Then my only question is, Who killed Stinky?

You must have missed it Skipper. I'm sure you didn't look as closely as we did.