I couldn't resist, mates. I finished the chapter, and I just couldn't resist. So, as an early Christmas present, I'll give ye salty sea dogs the first chapter. Maybe, if I finish it, the second, before I head to th' grandparents internet-less homes. I really hope you guys'll like it!
And just to make things clear, italics are past memories.
I present to you...Far Together, Close Apart!
"Watch out for those ro..." The voice was cut short by the sound of crunching wood. I stood up from where I was sitting against the starboard side as I heard the noise and I looked into the water. The Singapore docks were less than 400 feet away and our ship's hull was being destroyed by rocks. Not the best way to start an adventure...
"De ship won't last long with 'er hull like that." Marty yelled while running up on the main deck of the little ship. "She's sinking!"
"We'll have to swim to shore." Will said, walking toward the bow. "Come on. We have to get off the ship!" He beckoned us to jump off the side. A few of them began to dive off the ship, but I stood where I was.
"We have to get off the ship!"
"But Jack is trapped! We have to help him!"
"We can't move this mast. If there's a way out, he'll find it. We have to go before the Malvagita gets here. Come on!"
"Come on!" Elizabeth yelled from the prow. "Selesta!" I blinked a few times and walked toward the bow. The rest of them dove off into the water as I approched, and the water on the ship's deck began to slowly seep around my ankles. I shook away the horrid memories from my mind. With one last glance around the sinking ship, I dove into the cold waters of the unforgiving ocean and gasped at the suprising temperature of the water. You'd have thought that it would be warmer there, but maybe it was just me. We slowly swam to shore, trying to be inconspicuous about it.
"Follow me." Barbossa said as we stepped onto the sandy beach. He nonchalantly began to walk toward the pier, trying to look as though we were always there. No one noticed us as we began to duck down under a closeby dock. "We need a plan." He began, but was stopped short by the sound of marching feet on the dock. We looked up through the cracks in the boards and saw uniforms.
"The East India Trading Company is becoming unstopable." Gibbs shook his head.
"Unstopable save for one chance." Barbossa said, still watching the marching soldiers. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of eight.
"Spin it." He held it out to me. I shrugged and did as told. The coin began to ring; almost as if it were singing.
"What does it mean?" I asked.
"The Brethren Court has been called." He took the coin back from me. "Now we need Jack even more than before."
"Why?" I asked.
"He's the Pirate Lord of the Caribbean, Selesta. We need him to return. He didn't pass on his title to a successor before he died, and without him there at the court meeting, nothing can be done." I shook my head.
"I knew it." I said, just loud enough so only he could hear. "I knew there was an alternate reason to why you wanted Jack back." He said nothing, but looked away slowly.
"We need a plan." He repeated, acting as though I'd said nothing.
"Where is this Sao Feng?" Will asked.
"More than likely he'll be in his bathouse. Only his preferred customers are allowed in."
"Is that where we'd find the charts?" I asked.
"No." Barbossa shook his head. "He keeps 'is charts in a temple. Which one...now that's where 'm uncertain. I can promise ye though, it'll be in the one that's most heavily guarded that ye'll find it in."
"That I'll find it in?" I questioned. "I suppose that means I'll be the one who'll be searching for it."
"Ye'd suppose right." Barbossa nodded.
"And why, if I might ask, am I being volunteered for this?"
"Because, in case ye haven't noticed, most of us here aren't good for sneaking, though ye've proven yerself quite good at it throughout the years." I sighed. He proved a point.
"Fine." I shrugged. "I guess I'll go."
"You're not going alone are you?" Will asked.
"I guess so."
"I'll go with you." He volunteered.
"Will, no..."
"Two minds can work better than one. Besides, I don't trust you alone. You're too prone to trouble." My mouth opened in protest, but then I closed it again and nodded. He was right. I was being proved wrong quite a lot today...
"Alright." I nodded. "When should we start searching...Captain." I grimaced as I forced myself to say it. 'It's alright Selesta, he won't be captain for long...' I told myself while glaring at the conceited smile plastered across his face.
"Now."