NOTE: Hey all, Chapter one is kind of a drag in my opinion because it's the start off of the story, but it will get better. I am new here to Fanfiction and would absolutely adore reviews and I do welcome people who are just dyeing to give me ideas for future chapters (not for chapter two, it is almost done).
Anyway, have fun reading my story!
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Chapter One-
Quite a ship, quite a crew
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"Thats quite a ship." He said, looking onto its starboard side.
"Yes, ship. Hmm..." Was the reply.
He walked around it, poking the big boat in random places and examining its sails. "It may just serve me more use if I could see the mast and sails up close Cap'n."
"I'm sure it would, but how do I know that you're not a pirate?"
The boy grinned, "Because if I were, you wouldn't be here right now, and I'd be behind the wheel driving away."
"Harsh much, lad, well I suppose you can have a look see."
The boy straitened the worn out leather captain's hat on his head, the edge of an equally worn and faded red bandanna sticking out of the hat. "Thats a fine idea, sir."
They walked up to the deck, the Captain stood back while the boy went over to the mast, examining the fine wood and noting the changes that may need to be made. The sails were fine, a faded white, but in good shape. Everything looked good in the boys opinion. This Sloop ship would due for his purpose.
"What's her name?" He asked.
"The Dolphin."
That would have to change. It certainly wasn't aggressive enough.
"Ill take her."
"Well, it is costly, I don't know if you could afford-"
He pulled out a pouch of gold coins and handed them to the Captain.
"Have fun with 'er then." He smiled and walked off the ship.
He was absolutely humiliated that he –a pirate- would have to pay for a ship, but he was desperate, and he didnt want to blow his cover.
He got off the ship and shouted, "Sam! Get your tail on this vessel, we have a crew to catch!"
A man with a scraggly black beard and an eye patch carefully fitted on his left eye came scurrying out of the towns stores and onto the deck, carrying a load of varies objects in his arms.
"You aren't but a boy, and you honestly expect to captain a ship?"
"Talk like that is what lost you your own ship Blackbeard."
"I still cant believe you convinced my men to throw me out! You're a horribly unpleasant fool to run a muck in my crew!" Blackbeard replied.
"You will get a ship, Captain Blackbeard, but I swear to you that that crew never would have done. They stank, and they drank too much. You may have the same name as that villainous Edward Teach, but you have yet to match his abilities."
"Cap'n, I must say that you have a horrid animosity to your own notoriousness."
"Which is why it isn't to be displayed at this time Sam. We have to find a proper crew, then we will sail under the conditions I choose for us." The boy replied.
"Of course, but Jack-"
"Eh?"
"Where will we find this crew of yours?"
"It's not exactly the finding of this crew I'm concerned about, but the fine tuning that may have to be done once we have the crew." Jack replied.
"Aye. You always did have your way with words."
"As for the moment, you're going to be a very busy man. Get her ready to cast off."
"Aye, Cap'n!" And he was off, untying the anchors, and rigging the sails. He kept an eye upon the clouds, making sure there wasnt a storm coming.
They were sailing to Tortuga nearly four hours later, Jack with a compass in hand standing at the wheel, and Blackbeard continuing to take care of everything that needed to be taken care of. The conditions were harsh, as it may have been obvious, there were only two men, one not more then 18 years old, to crew this ship, and it added its course of complications. But Jack Sparrow never quit; he just kept going.
About two days later they were making port in Tortuga. He was stunned to find the drunks there, running about and making fun with some girls. Some were all alone, acting like idiots.
"This is Tortuga?" He asked Blackbeard.
"Surprised?"
"Just a little, it is most certainly not what I had expected. Where are the sailors?"
"Everywhere."
"Frightening thought it is there mate."
"Indeed. So what were you expecting?"
"A little more decency and a sense of honor." Jack replied, walking into the bar.
"And yet you choose to visit the bar first, you have high expectations of these drunk men in here, dont you?"
"High expectation is not something I was looking for, I was hoping that these people in here would be slightly more decent than those outside. I personally think we should have stayed ported at Fort Hampshire and tried to find pirate sailors there."
"Pirates are of no sorts decent, my friend." Blackbeard went up to the bartender and said to him, "Two pints of rum to start, mate."
He went to work, filling two big mugs full of rum from a keg behind him. Blackbeard paid him and took the mugs over to a table, and sat. Jack joined him and only sipped at his mug.
"This isn't like you, Jack, your usually good with pirates to crew your ship." Blackbeard commented.
"Yes, well, it seems that this time the stacks are higher."
"And your making sense."
Jack took a sip of the rum and said, "Everything seems to be going wrong at this point, I'm wondering if men even sail to sail anymore, or if they just want the gold."
"They're pirates, Jack, not men."
"Indisputable pirates if I do say so myself. How am I ever to find a proper Sailing Master in this place, much less a Quartermaster to serve me!"
"Jack, you have your Quartermaster."
"You? Now who's not making sense?"
Blackbeard just looked at Jack dismissively and said, "So what is this mission your talkin' 'bout?"
"It's not a mission unless it need be a mission, but indeed, this mission is not a mission but more of a voyage. How much do you know about the Black Pearl?"
"You're mad, Jack!"
"In my humble and very personal opinion, it's a very good thing I be mad, otherwise this'd probably never work!"
"And if you cant find it?" Blackbeard inquired.
Jack thought a minute, then said, "I'll find it."
Blackbeard took a swig of his rum, some of it dripping down the edges of his graying beard, "So how do you expect to acquire this crew of yours?"
Jack stood up and signaled to the bartender. He came over to him and leaned across the table, "What can I get you lad?"
"How many of these foul smelling scallawags are decent sailors, eh?"
"A ton of um, why you be lookin'?"
"You expect me to sail a ship with myself and me mate here? So where can I find these men?"
"O'er there, he pointed to the right backhand corner where about ten men were gathered, Id be careful if I was you, they are tough."
Jack nodded and started making his way over where the man had directed him, Blackbeard following clumsily close behind. The men stood, they had rum on their breath as well as rotting fish, and their teeth were yellowed a crooked. Most wore bandannas on their sweaty head and those who didnt had dreadlocks that also smelled, adding to the overall stench of pirates in this bar. A few also had pieced eyes and other random parts of their face, growling tattoos, and they had mud smeared on their face.
"What do you want, lad?" One, a man who was short, but otherwise looked much tougher than Jack asked.
"Heard you were sailors."
"Arent all pirates?"
"Sure, but there not any sort of decent now are they? But that wasnt the question I asked, you see, when I asked you if you were sailors I expected a pleasant response saying, yes, indeed we are, why you be lookin'?. Well gents, I'll tell you: I am looking for decent sailors to crew my ship for the reason of obtaining bigger, more exuberant ship that you will also have the privilege to crew, so long as you dogs dont mind a boy as your captain. Savvy?"
The men looked around at one another, then the man who spoke before turned back to Jack and said, "You as Cap'n?"
"Aye, if you have any concerns about following a boy who grew up on the waste land you call the Seven Seas and would like to state them, dont speak now, and forever and always keep the peace between yous and I. Otherwise, speak and find yer tongue missing then try 'n' tell me that of which you have unimportant concerns about." Jack gave a quick grin and a nod and said, "Savvy?"
"You sure are tough enough with yer words there," Said another of the men, "But I'm not sure as thats good enough for us."
"Aww, but do you want to know?"
The man pulled out his cutlass and swung at Jack, who ducked, letting the blade swing over his head and pulling out his own cutlass to spare with him a little.
He swung wide, but the man blocked and parried, knocking Jack off balance, but he recovered in time to block another sharp attack and send off one of his own. His blade clipped the mans side and he stumbled back, tripping over a chair and giving Jack the opportunity to put his boot on his chest and his blade underneath his chin. "Anymore curiosities that could or could not get one of you killed?"
They all shook there head, and Jack let the man up, "And you," He said, "Am I tough enough to be your Captain or not?"
"You got a name, Cap'n?" He asked.
"Jack Sparrow, and I'm sure you all have names, but I have neither the time nor the energy to waist to learn them all at this time. Men, to the ship! Hoist anchor and rig the sails, we be off of this God forsaken port in two hours!"
The rain beat down hard upon the faces of the pirates, Jack at the wheel of the ship he now called the Barracuda, shouting orders every once in a while. He held open his compass -one that never pointed north, and only pointed to the thing you wanted most- that a woman, Tia Delma gave to him not but a year ago before he had even set eyes upon the not so ruthless Captain Blackbeard.
He turned the wheel when the arrow of the compass turned slightly. He was getting close; he could feel it. The wind picked up and the sails were now full of the sea gusts that beat on them. The deck was soaked, there was a plethora of rain beating hard upon the brow of Jack Sparrow, but he was determined to keep going.
"Keep an eye about," Yelled Blackbeard, "We are entering the king's waters!"
Jack looked up from his compass and looked around at the raging seas. He spotted something way far off, a ship; it was a navel liner. "Jack!" Blackbeard shouted.
"EH?"
"I see a ship!"
"Aye, a ship. Lower he colors, hoist the fake colors!"
"Aye, Cap'n!"
Jack had a feeling they were going to have a fight on their hands despite his best efforts to try and avoid it. He looked down at the compass again and smiled. "Not to worry darling," He said to the vessel, "It will all be over rather quickly and smoothly."
Then he shouted to the crew, "New plan, we are going to commandeer that ship!"
"Jack, what about the Pearl!"
"She will have to wait."