A.N. This is something that I had buzzing round in my head and I just wanted to write it down so I could free up some space. There's no real pairings in this folks, except maybe a little Elizabeth/William...and I may add in a little Jack/Anamaria if I get bored.
So, just a reminder; this ignores the new film 'On Stranger Tides,' and carries on from the third film and my little short, 'A Pirate's Life: Aftermath of a Maelstrom'. Okay, so if ya didn't read it go do that now and come back after!
Lastly in case any of you didn't already know I do not own anything related to Pirates of the Caribbean...now you can read the story!
A Pirate's Life: After the Aftermath
Chapter 1: A New Recruit Joins the Pearl
Captain Jack Sparrow stood at the helm of his beloved ship the 'Black Pearl' with naught but clear, open ocean on all sides. The dark ship creaked under the wind, the sails rustled and the calm ocean sang beneath the 'Pearl'; it was like music to his ears.
The 'Pearl' was his. He wouldn't ever allow another to captain this beautiful vessel. After a long, loud and rude shouting match in Shipwreck Cove it had been decided that since Jack had been responsible for the ships' creation over 10 years ago it was rightfully his. Not Barbossa's, and again, things had turned in Jack's favour.
She was born from anger and vengeance from the ship known as the Wicked Wench as it had sunk down into the depths by the fire of the East India Company...and Cutler Becket. Raised by Davy Jones for a bargain struck by Jack, it was reborn; scorched by cannon fire and smoke it was pitch black and a force to be reckoned with.
Had Barbossa known that the Keeper of the Code was Sparrow's father he would most certainly have thought twice about betraying and marooning Jack Sparrow. He had expected to be shot dead by the fearsome captain Teague who was well known for his hatred of deserters and betrayers, as per the Pirata Codex. But he had not been shot dead, again...at least not yet.
It had been agreed and Barbossa had managed to bargain his way to a new crew and ship called the 'Neptune.' It was a fast, strong ship with enough power to match the 32 x 32-pound cannon of the 'Pearl'. And a large enough crew to carve out a new legend for themselves in the seas.
Jack's own crew of Joshame Gibbs, Anamaria, Pintel and Ragetti, Mulroy and Murtogg, Cotton...and his parrot, Marty, and the rest of the scabrous dogs that served his ship had followed him after the meeting at Shipwreck Cove.
Anamaria's return had surprised him somewhat; after the meeting following the battle of the Maelstrom they had docked at Tortuga to celebrate and she had turned up. Then she'd simply ordered him to shut up and steer the ship. He had no idea where she had been for the last few years but Jack figured that if she wanted to she'd tell him she would eventually, but until that day he wouldn't...and didn't ask questions.
It made for a strange set up on the 'Pearl', as Jack favoured both Gibbs and Anamaria so they both took on the duties of first mate. But Jack never did things conventionally so no one seemed to pay it any mind. If he was honest with himself Jack was really quite fond of this crew and he had been touched to see that they had chosen to remain on his ship than jump on the 'Neptune' at the first opportunity.
Tia Dalma...or Calypso as she now was controlled the seas wildly, often sending violent storms to the pirate captain to test his skills and at the end of each one he could hear her laughing at them from the clouds. But she never killed them...at least not yet. He didn't know whether she actually liked him or hated him. She was nuts! But he could hardly cast judgement on the sanity of any living being...sea goddess or human.
After having navigated through a particularly violent storm just yesterday the captain was in good spirits. He loved sailing through storms. Though his crew often disagreed, they trusted him enough to see them and the ship through it...Despite his occasional madness they couldn't deny that he had a way with the Pearl that no one else did. His skill had allowed them to remain afloat and in one piece aboard the fastest ship in the Caribbean.
They also had gained a good haul from a merchant ship not long ago as it was sailing past them without much of an escort. It had been easy pickings for the buccaneer crew of Jack Sparrow to quickly board the ship and take its loot before the king's men even had time to load the guns. They had been inexperienced and young, it was cruel perhaps to scare them out of their wits but at least the pirates had left them alive in a long boat hopefully bound for shore.
At the moment Jack was simply sailing by the wind with a ship well stocked with rum and gold, he and the crew were happy men...and woman.
It was a warm, scorching day even for the Caribbean climate so the crew had opted for doing as little work as possible and most were lounging around gambling and drinking while the Pearl was merely driving by the wind. Jack himself was well used to the heat but he found it impossible to wear his justaucorps coat and it hung beside the wheel on one of many hooks and pointed nails for such a purpose.
He could feel the sweat gathering beneath his hat and bandana as dripped from his forehead. But the gentle breeze blew his long dreadlocks about his face and the sleeves of his patchy cotton shirt were blown about, cooling him down somewhat. His loose sleeves frequently blew back with the wind revealing a badly scarred left arms and a right forearm with a tattoo and pirate brand. As well as the tattoos and black bullet wounds on his chest, which mostly, were hidden by his long hair and shirt. (*1)
"Sail ho!" Marty shouted from the crows nest. He often boasted being the smallest pirate in the Caribbean, but whether or not that was accurate he did certainly have keen eyes.
"Who is it?" Jack asked curiously. As much as he loved treasure he wasn't sure if the Pearl could retain her legendary speed if they loaded her with even more loot.
"That ain't like no merchant ship I ever saw, Cap'n," Gibbs replied from the rail as he looked once more through the spyglass. The ship ahead had grandeur far beyond a mere merchant vessel. It was painted in a rusty red with elaborate gold patterns and murky sails giving the impression of power and dominance.
Gibbs caught the golden star carved and painted on the wood and with a grim look he walked over to Jack. "Cap'n...'s the 'Troubadour'," he handed the spyglass to Jack who confirmed with an equally grim look that it was indeed his fathers vessel approaching.
"Aye," he answered quietly. He shook his head sadly and wondered what on earth Captain Teague would want with him enough to sail out and search for his only son...only known son...without sending word. Or at least leaving word at Tortuga for him to find.
"Orders, sir?" Gibbs' strong, throaty voice brought Jack from his reverie and he looked around as he sighed.
"No shootin', no fightin', no nofin'," Jack replied and Gibbs nodded uncertainly as he left the quarterdeck shouting orders to the crew.
Jack caught the end of his first mates' speech as he shouted, "..With a will..." and the captain stared out at his fathers' ship. He used to envy his father; his reputation, his crew, his intelligence and cunning and the respect he got. It now wasn't really respect Jack cared about, it would be nice sure, but he had his ship - his pride and joy and a good crew, what more...besides rum and treasure, did he really need?
"Cap'n...we got company comin'," Marty bellowed as the crew looked across the waves to see a small bot being rowed by two men and a third sitting at the front. Anamaria ran up from below deck and leaned across the railings with the crew to watch the boat row in.
They soon reached the 'Pearl' and climbed aboard where they greeted Jack with slaps on the back and warm handshakes. These men had known the captain of the Pearl since his childhood when he served upon the 'Troubadour' under his fathers' orders.
"'Ere, Jack, from yer old man," said a man with scraggly greying hair and raggedy grey clothes that still showed that he demanded respect. Known simply as Tom, he handed a note to Jack who left the helm in the capable hands of Mr Cotton.
The other two men were just as aged and raggedy but their swords and pistols showed that they were not to be slighted. Scot, or Scottie as he was called was the tallest of the three and Bartholomew, or Barty as he preferred was the muscle man.
Jack took the stained paper from Tom and read his fathers scrawled handwriting. It merely stated the captain wished to come aboard the 'Pearl', so Jack looked up to address his crew. "Heave to, drop anchor!" he shouted without elaboration. The men obeyed without question and soon the 'Troubadour' was coming up to the Pearls' starboard side so that the two were broadside each other in the calm blue waters of the Caribbean.
"'Ello, Jackie boy," the old pirate captain said as he walked across the gangplank and stood before his son. Behind his father a small boy ran along and onto the 'Black Pearl' with a look of awe and wonder. It was just as his mother had described...only better!
Before Jack could reply to his father he saw this small boy run across the deck, up the ladder to the quarterdeck and towards the wheel that was being guarded by the ever faithful Mr Cotton.
"Oi!" Jack shouted and waving his arms around he ran after the boy that was now trying to relieve Cotton of the wheel. The parrot was squalling wildly at the boys' actions as if to relay the mans' own indignation. "Not good! Ya little whelp, no one touches that wheel 'cept me," he shouted at the child.
"But he is," the child answered as he stared back in wonder at the strange captain of the 'Black Pearl'. He looked particularly fascinated by the beads and trinkets in the mans' hair.
"Captains' orders, though ain't it," Jack lead the small boy back down on to the deck where a woman in oriental garb was looking around. "Oh..." he stopped dead in his tracks, "Wot 'as ol' Jack done to possibly merit such an unofficial, and unannounced visitation from her majesty the King, on this superlatively exceptional morning, might I ask?" Jack bowed a mockingly low bow to Elizabeth Turner and doffed his tri-corner hat.
It had been five years since he'd seen Elizabeth Turner, Pirate King of the Brethren Court. And yet for some reason here she was...apparently traveling on his fathers' ship and now standing on his deck, with his father, first mate Gibbs and Anamaria and with the rest of his crew.
"Will, come here," she said as she rolled here eyes at Jacks highly exaggerated flamboyant gesture. "Jack, I'd like you to meet my son William Turner the third, Will, this is Mr Gibbs, Anamaria, and Jack Sparrow," she said smiling.
"Captain...captain Jack Sparrow," Jack sighed, was it really so hard for people to remember that? She was doing it just to irritate him, he knew that.
"I've been showing Will every pirate ship in the ocean," Elizabeth told him.
"Yeah, we've already seen mistress Ching's flagship, the 'Otter'..." (*1) the boy counted on his small fingers.
"Ah, and 'ow is the old 'Sri'," Jack asked the eager young Will with a smile as he asked after the memorable Indian with an unfortunately high pitched voice. Jack wiggled his finger at his throat and asked, "...'Is voice is still..."
"Uh-huh," the boy nodded with a snort, "And we saw the 'Neptune'," he added.
"...huh..." Jack nodded slightly with a slightly distant look in his eyes."Mister Gibbs," he called.
"Aye Cap'n," the man said with trepidation as he walked over to Jack.
"Be so good as to give young Master Turner 'ere the grand tour...and...err..." he turned his gaze from Elizabeth to his first mate, "...hide the you know what..." he instructed, making an obvious drinking gesture with his right hand.
"Aye, Cap'n," Gibbs nodded with gusto as he glanced over at Elizabeth and turned to walk away motioning for the boy to follow.
"Jack..." Elizabeth sighed and Jack spread his arms in a flamboyant shrug with an innocent look on his face.
"Wot?" he asked. But she merely shook her head as she watched her young son skip happily after Gibbs. He was joined by several other crew members, all of whom found it exciting to have a young child to show off their grand ship to.
Jack watched as his father sauntered over to lean against the rail and strummed his fingers on the dark wood. "So wot's any 'o this gotta do wif you?" he asked the man.
"I'm naught but a humble pirate doing as his King commands, Jackie," the older man replied with an enigmatic smile to his son.
"Captain Teague offered to escort us safely from the 'Neptune' last week when they docked at Tortuga. Will's a little too young to be going there yet," she explained with a disapproving look.
"Oh, joy...Hector's still wif us then..." Jack sighed, ignoring her jab at Tortuga.
He had to admit part of him was at least a little bit relieved that Barbossa was still among the living. Hector had once been a friend after all, and at times they did share the odd conversation that reminded him of the old days. Before the mutiny, before the festering 10 years of hatred to when the two were good friends.
With his mind even more addled than it had been thanks to his trip to the Locker Jack found it difficult at time to difference reality from dream. He spoke often to himself...more than he used to and he saw things in his dreams. Terrible things. It made him increasingly tired but he knew how to hide it well. Perhaps it was because of this that he found it easier to converse with Barbossa without wanting to shot him again...It also probably helped that the man wasn't after his pride and joy anymore as well.
Just then the crew all looked across at the hatch that lead down into the hull as a loud crashing and clattering infiltrated the hot, stagnant air.
"No...don't do that boyo..." Gibbs shouted in confusion and shock, "Cap'n...the loot!"
"Me gold..." Jack cried and then a smashing sound echoed in the ship and the crew shared looks of pain and horror as the sounds continued.
"JACK!" Gibbs shouted with more concern, "The rum...I mean...the you know wot!"
Jack jumped up and with a quiet exclamation that sounded like 'Eep!' he ran with his erratic swagger down into the hull. He completely forgot the crew, his father and Elizabeth as he ran down to the small boy that was attempting to destroy his life by destroying his rum.
"Not good! Not the rum!" he shouted and soon the crew saw Jack bringing the boy onto the deck and he stood the child beside the main mast. "Don't ever do that again," he told the boy.
"Why?" The boy laughed at the mans' tone of utmost seriousness over one smashed bottle. It had been an accident anyway, he hadn't meant to smash it...he'd just dropped it when Gibbs had made him jump telling him to put it down.
"Why?" Jack repeated incredulously, as he ignored Elizabeth's quiet laughter, "Why? 'Cos I need rum! That's why!"
"Why do you need rum?"
"Why do I need rum?" Jack repeated again, his voice increasing in its pitch. "Wot 'ave you been teachin' this kid?" he threw up his arms in despair and shared a glance with his first mate who looked thoroughly shaken and irritated.
"'S bad luck to be 'avin' little 'uns aboard, sir," Gibbs told his captain, "'Specially ones't take after you know 'oo." He not so conspicuously tilted his head towards the boys' mother who now looked annoyed.
"Wot if he 'as...y'know...special powers like his da'..." Ragetti whispered to his uncle, but Pintel only nudged him in the elbow and told him to be quiet.
"If it's not too much trouble, Jack, Will and I would like to sail on the 'Pearl' with you and the crew for a while," Elizabeth told him and walked closer to him.
But as she got closer Jack took a step back and she then stopped in melancholy understanding. She only gave him a pleading look, and Jack got the feeling that there was more to this unusual request than met the eye. But he'd have to deal with that later.
He turned to the child that was regarding him with a similar pleading look. The boy looked just like William...who looked just like old Bootstrap. Black hearted pirate captain or not how could he say 'no' to this child? Bootstrap had been like a brother or a second father, he'd kill him from beyond if he found out Jack had turned away his only grandson.
"No more smashin' 'o me rum?" he addressed the child who looked up at him in the bright sunlight.
"No, sir," Will answered as he shook his head and stood up straight.
"Or me gold?"
"No, sir," the boy repeated.
"Well then," Jack smirked and took of his hat to place it on Will's smaller head so that it covered his eyes,"Do you have the courage and fortitude to follow orders and stay true in the face of danger and almost certain death?" he recited quickly as the boy propped up the hat with his small fingers.
"Aye, Cap'n" the boy nodded with a smile and the crew cheered for the boy.
"Right, Mister Gibbs," Jack called, "I give you, your new pirate in training," he waved a hand at the small but enthusiastic boy and Gibbs gave his young captain a look that clearly said; 'why me?' But Jack either didn't catch it or be was choosing to ignore it, Gibbs believed it was the latter.
"Aye," the old sailor nodded and the boy jumped up in glee.
"Thank you, Jack," the boys' young mother said to him but again he seemed to not hear or he ignored her.
"Where ye headed to, boy?" Teague asked him.
"Aye, we will be needin' a headin', Cap'n," Gibbs added and Elizabeth chuckled.
"Righ'," Jack pulled out his compass from his belt but frowned as he saw the needle spin widely in all directions as it had been the last few days. It was because of this he had been sailing the Pearl with the wind. He didn't want much more at the moment than open ocean, and that was all around him so that was what it was pointing to. So his directions and navigational skills were somewhat lacking as of late.
He began to pace and walk in a small circle whist rattling the compass and talking to himself...or so it seemed to his crew. "'Ell know 'at!" he muttered and the crew shuffled nervously on their feet doing their best to ignore their seemingly mad captain. "Not my bloody fault...righ', come on...let's see...now...set sail...in a...well...a err...that'll be a..."
"Cap'n?" Gibbs questioned while the young Will looked on with an amused smile. When he last saw his father abord his ship 'The Flying Dutchman' he had said that Captain Sparrow was a little mad...he never said he was funny!
But it seemed that Jack had given up on the compass and he snapped the case shut in favour of his index finger which was now pointing upwards at the sky. "That way," Jack announced pointing slightly to his right.
"A...aye, Cap'n," Gibbs nodded and taking the boy with him he walked away shaking his head.
Jack called after the child as an afterthought; "And don't lose me 'at!" then he turned away and looked back to the wheel expecting his father and his crewmen to clamber back over the gangplank back to the Troubadour.
"I wouldn't mid seein' how the 'Pearl' 'andles," Teague said with his arms folded and Jack stared at him with a confused look on his tanned face.
"Ay?" he questioned but as it seemed his father was rooted to the spot he only sighed, shook his head and threw up his arms in surrender. "Suit yerself," he muttered.
"Scot'e, send orders ter the ship ter follow the Pearl," Teague ordered the second man beside him and the man ran back across to the Troubadour.
"Sure she can keep up?" Jack asked his father with a grin which was returned to him.
"No worries, mate," his father replied and Jack's shoulders slumped in surrender.
The younger captain then turned to address his crew, "On deck, yer worfless sea dogs! Weigh anchor! Man the braces! Le' down an' haul t'run free!" Jack shouted at the men...and the woman...lounging around his ship.
They instantly threw down their mugs, cards and wagers as they began running around the deck and climbing the rigging. Jack walked away from the small group still standing out of the crews' way and swaggered back up to the helm to take the wheel.
(*1) If you haven't watched the deleted scenes from the first film then you won't get this so go on YouTube and search it. It's the scene that was unfortunately cut from the film when he and Elizabeth are marooned on Rumrunners isle. I say it should have been left in since it shows that Jack can be serious and strong as well as witty but what ya gonna do, mates?
(*2) 'The Otter' - Sri Sumbhajee's flagship.
A.N. Now then...what'd ya think? Let me know, criticisms of all kinds are welcome. I did look up actual nautical terms so hopefully they're used correctly.
I am also working on the assumption that because William Turner the second can't step on land yet that other people can still visit his ship for short periods of time. So Elizabeth and their son can still see him, just not for long, and not that often. It makes for a happier kind of story line, now leave a review!