Fic: Daring Rescue, Daring Escape Ch. 1: Not the Brightest Plan
By Honorat Selonnet
Rating: K+
Disclaimer: Don't shoot. I'm not stealing them.
Summary: Another movie novelization—Jack's first rescue of Elizabeth. So far no oars over the head. You're all very kind. Much fun Jackness—at least I hope so.
Not the Brightest Plan
Jack had made himself right at home on the quarterdeck of the Interceptor. The earnest but none too bright marines, Murtogg and Mulroy, who had been left to defend the dock against the likes of him had long since succumbed to the pirate's charm and were seated facing him and listening, enthralled, to his narrative of one of his fabulous escapes. Well one of his narratives. This one involved the friendly cannibals on a neighbouring island. He had just reached the best part of the story.
". . . And then they made me their chief," he was informing his audience.
Suddenly a great splash interrupted him. Hey! Jack swiveled his head towards the sound. What was that?
"Elizabeth!" The frantic cry drifted out over the water.
Apparently some silly female named Elizabeth had just plummeted off the walls of Fort Charles. This fact seemed to disturb Murtogg and Mulroy who leapt up and rushed to the rail of the ship. Well, so much for the story. He joined the two horrified marines looking out over the water. No head of a swimmer appeared where the woman had fallen.
Perhaps one of these bumbling but well-armed geniuses would be going in after the lass. That would significantly increase his odds of seizing this sweet little ship. Hopefully, Jack pointed to the disappearing ripples. "Will you be saving her then?" he asked Mulroy.
"I can't swim!" the man exclaimed, looking at the pirate fearfully.
Jack pursed his lips in an artificial smile and turned questioningly to his other companion. Murtogg, his face pale, shook his head in terror. Jack really did not need this today.
"Pride of the King's Navy, you are," he grimaced in disgust, taking off his hat and slapping it into Mulroy's arms. He dragged his baldric over his head and shoved it at the bewildered Murtogg.
"Do not lose these," he ordered.
His coat followed his hat in Mulroy's over-burdened arms. His pistol joined his baldric with Murtogg. Without pause, Jack grasped a halyard, leapt lightly up on the rail and arched out in a perfect dive into the clear turquoise bay.
As he cut through the water, Jack had time to wonder why on earth he was doing this. He should have stayed on the ship. Let someone else rescue the woman. Now he would lose his element of surprise. Whoever had called out over the battlements would surely be arriving on the docks soon. And he would be forced to deliver this foolish female to a crowd of people. Not the brightest plan he'd ever come up with. In fact he could think of few worse ones for his purposes.
Nevertheless, he swam with sure strong strokes. He knew there was no one else near enough to stand a chance of getting to the woman in time. And every minute it took him to find her was one less minute in her chance of survival.
TBC