A/N A bit of fun with this story. Ok, I only own Hope and her crew and ship, nothing else. Happy now? (Nod your head)
Jack's POV:
When I awoke I was in a dark room and had no idea where I was. My first guess was a jail of some sort, but I did not think so... even jail's had a bit of light. I then realized that the ground was rocking slightly... obviously I was on a ship. I groaned when I realized I had a bit of a headache... quite obviously a hangover. I then suddenly thought that if there was something in the room with me, they would now know I was awake. Sure enough, I soon heard a voice. It sounded feminine, but how was I to know, I had a hangover.
"Well, well, it looks as if the famous Captain Jack Sparrow has finally decided to grace us with his presence."
I realized I was sitting and tried to stand up, but found that I was bound to something... was it a chair? I couldn't think straight, nor could I see anything.
"Why the need to keep me in the dark?" I tried to ask, and I was cut off.
"I suppose you're right... James, the lantern."
At the next moment, a soft light filled the room, and I took the opportunity to look around. I was obviously in the dining room of a ship... which I did not recognize. I was sitting on a chair bolted to the wall, and my hands were bound to the seat. In front of me was a large table, and several more seats, and off to one side was a galley. I looked at the people in the room. There were three men, one of them sort of small, and against the door off to my right was a girl, sitting in a chair against the door at the far end of the room. Her red hair was framing her face, hat covering her features, arms folded across her chest. I smiled. As long as there were women around, there was my own charm to set me free.
I turned my attention back to the three men, and studied their faces. The two taller ones looked weary and windswept. So did the shorter one, only he looked much younger. He spoke, again in that strange voice.
"You're probably wondering why you're here. I would just like to start off saying that we are not enemies of yours. But until you show a reason to be, we are not your friends. In a tight spot, we will not hesitate to abandon you. Is that understood?"
"Aye," I began. "Where is your Cap-" But I was cut off again.
"I am the captain of this ship, The Red Diamond." Said the short one. I was surprised. This young lad, command a pirate ship? Obviously they were pirates, the way they were dressed and their effects... and the lass in the corner wasn't wearing a skirt. The short one continued.
"You were brought here because of my reasons, which will be revealed to you soon enough." The lad paused, as if waiting for a comment from me.
But when I opened his mouth, I was cut off again.
"I have women on my ship which you will respect. You will respect me. You will listen to orders. YOU WILL NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, TOUCH MY HELM WITHOUT MY PERMISSION. You will do your share of work. You will either sleep in the brig..." Jack could see a smile. "Or you will make do with sleeping in the cramped cabin, which I'm afraid is the only empty cabin we have at the moment. You, in turn, will be treated with a fair amount of respect, as a fellow captain deserves. You will not ask me questions, and you will not mock me in any way. Is that clear?"
Jack sighed. "Why can't I just return to me own ship?" He asked.
"Well... I mean, don't ask questions! You will learn about that at some other time. For now, I believe introductions are in order. James..."
But the man at the Captain's side was way ahead of the boy, already unbinding my hands. I stood up, rubbing my wrist, and found that I was about as tall as the man, James, about 5 inches taller than the captain. I was sure this meant that I had more authority. But the captain's next move changed my mind.
The boy stepped forward and took off his hat, holding out his hand, and I discovered that this boy was a she. You never mess with female pirate captains, no way, not wise. I would not, in any way, be able to take control of this ship.
This girl was thin and tanned, but I could see she was strong. Her eyes were a grayish blue, but they were hard and cold, like ice. She would be hard to break. Her black hair was stringy and thin, and it fell a little below her shoulders, hanging about her face in an unattractive way. She was small, but I could tell already how much power she had over her crew. No mutinies in this bunch. And this was not the type of women I see in my bed, either.
"I am Captain Hope Raven." She told me, shaking my hand firmly. "This is Marcus..." She gestured to one of the men, with red hair and shallow green eyes. "And this is James..." The other man, that had unbound me, looked at me. He had dark eyes... a little bit creepy, but the first thing I noticed was he had a scar across his cheek.
The Captain must have noticed my questioning stare, because she reminded me
"I said no questions, Sparrow. I won't ask about you, you won't ask about me. Understood?" I nodded. She showed her approval. "I will say this again... you will touch none of the females on this ship, including myself, unless, of course, you want to spend a little bit of time all by yourself on an island." She turned around and started to walk toward the girl against the wall, who stood up. They talked quietly for a moment, and I finally saw the girl's face.
She was definitely prettier than Captain Hope. Her eyes were set, blue like Hope's, and determined, like her mouth, and she had a light reddish hair, sort of a strawberry blonde. Her hat was at an angle, and her hair was tied back, but very windswept, and though I could not hear their conversation, her expressions showed anger. And frustration. She kept throwing nasty glares at me. And it ended with Hope looking back at me, and then angrily turning back to the girl, and then the girl nodding and staring at her feet. Finally Hope motioned for me to come over. James and Marcus escorted me.
"Captain Sparrow," She did not even wait for me to acknowledge her acknowledging me. "This is my sister, Luna. She will show you to where you will be staying. And she will be NICE." She said, throwing a sharp look at the girl, Luna, who looked at her feet.
Luna's fist's curled, and I could see anger hidden beneath her eyes, but she simply sighed and motioned for me to follow. Which I did do. But I didn't unleash any charm. I had the feeling this girl did not like me. But I did try to make small talk. Maybe I could be her friend.
"The captain is your sister?"
"Yes. Don't ask questions." She answered, obviously irritated.
"I take it you don't like me." I told her, hoping it wouldn't sound like a question.
"No. I really love you. I will jump into bed with you, first chance I get." She said sarcastically, opening a door and looking in to it, muttering something.
Oh, I love sarcasm. It's perfect for witty remarks. Well, almost perfect.
"Well, that'd be very kind of you, love, but I think we should start out just being friends." I told her, flashing my famous grin, which she did not see, since she was not looking at me.
She whipped around and before I knew it, her dagger was at my throat.
"I am not your 'love' you cocky arrogant, irritating, annoying, womanizing bastard. And I am not your friend. My stupid sister just had to bring you onto this ship because she admired your eccentricity and she is so weak that she needs your help dealing with something I could handle with my eyes closed." She closed her eyes for a moment, and then turned around and sheathed her dagger, but this time I heard her mutter, "I would've made a better captain. Father should've left this boat to ME. I don't have to take orders from miss I-am-your-captain, do-as-I-say." She muttered this under her breath, but Jack heard her loud and clear. And it was very clear that there was some jealousy between sisters. Not a good thing...
Luna walked slowly from the galley to another row of cramped rooms. I noticed one was padlocked shut, and one of the looked quite a bit larger than the rest. Probably captain's quarters. One had several men inside, and one had a few women inside, chatting excitedly. Finally, Luna led me to the very last room, which was very cramped, with only room for a medium sized bed and about another foot of room between that and the door. I realized as I inspected the room, that Luna had left and gone into the room with the women in it. I then felt weariness overtake me, and I took off my hat and effects and jacket, boots too, and nearly collapsed into the bed in which I would be spending the next few weeks in.
When I awoke, I noticed there was a small table jammed into the space between my bed and wall. On the table was a tray loaded with a few dried things, some jerky, and... Fresh bread. Great! It had been a while since I had had anything but hardtack. I ate quickly, but then curiosity overcame me, and I walked out onto the deck. I could see people, men and women, running around doing various tasks that were given to them by... Luna. For a moment, I was afraid that in the time that I had been asleep, there had been a mutiny.
I asked Luna about it, and she laughed, a cold sound, and told me that I would be expected to perform my duties starting tomorrow.
"But the captain said she wants to speak with you before then. I do not suggest you go to her now, though. She is asleep in her quarters, and will not like it if you burst in on her. Yes, she needed sleep, definitely, since she hasn't slept since we cast off from Tortuga"
But my sense of curiosity got the best of me. I wanted to see her quarters too, and I was sure I could be totally silent.
I remembered the large room I had seen, and I went to it, opening the door softly. But it creaked slightly, and I cursed myself.
The room was fairly spacious. It had a large, comfortable bed and a dresser with a mirror over it. In one corner was a desk, and on the desk was a few papers and a writing case, and... a few jewels.
The room was very messy and lived-in, like mine. Clothes were all about, and even a few feminine garments were lying in little piles on the floor. I could see on her dresser lay so beads and bangles, as well as some jewelry. Her effects were lying against one wall, but I noticed with a little discomfort that her gun was not with them. First, I looked at her, lying there on her bed. She was sleeping peacefully, and very scantily dressed, but I noticed that her covers were wrapped carefully around her, almost done that way on purpose, so that I could not see anything worth seeing, except for the deep red covers, no doubt bought for the RED diamond. I looked at her face, at her short hair, and decided that my first impression had been wrong. She was not pretty, not at all. But her eyes made you suspect that she knew something about you that you were hiding, even when they were shut. I had the sneaking suspicion, for a moment, that she knew I was in her room, spying on her, but then it was gone. Quite a shame, it was, that she was not pretty, because she seemed to have every other characteristic needed for living. Not that you have to be pretty, but it can be useful if you're a pirate, especially a female, because men are easy to handle. I looked around the room again, remembering where I was.
Then, I walked over to the desk and looked at her little jewels, a ruby and some jewelry encrusted with diamonds. Then I turned to her dresser, and looked at the beautiful wood. This dresser was expensive... probably stolen. Something caught my eyes in the little mirror above the dresser. I saw my own face, and then felt something pressed against my temple. The end of a gun, its silver flashing from the light coming through the window. I could see it in the mirror. I turned around and found myself face to face with Captain Hope. Her red sheet was wrapped tightly around her, but she was a little flushed. She sounded more than a little annoyed, and was angry.
"I am a very light sleeper, Captain. I heard you the moment you stepped into my room. I do not suggest that you try doing this again. It is a bit... I don't quite trust you. Are we understood?" I nodded, hoping she would put the gun down.
She did not. She pointed it toward the door of her room.
"You will leave right now. In ten minutes, come back to this room. Knock before you enter." I left quickly.
I wasn't sure what else to do, so I just stood by the door and waited. I waited for a while. I heard sounds behind the door, soft sounds, the rustling of clothes, jingling of beads or trinkets, the soft footsteps of someone who carries himself lightly. I finally heard a sigh, so I knocked on the door.
"Come in, Sparrow." She said from inside. She sounded bored. When I walked in, I saw she was sitting on a chair in a corner, her hat covering her forehead, but not her eyes or face. She looked a bit mysterious... creepy. Powerful.
"I'd like to make a few things clear, Captain Sparrow. Um... can I call you Jack? It would be much easier, and between the two of us... you know, what do you think?"
"Jack is fine." I urged her on.
She motioned to a chair. I sat down. I had the feeling she was going to take a while to get to the point. She sighed.
"You have to understand, Jack. You're replaceable. That won't change, no matter how you sweet-talk. I need your help, but I can just as easily get some other famous pirate. It's not that hard, just pay somebody to dope them with alcohol." She paused and looked up at me, and I swear she could see right through me. It was unnerving. I did not like this woman. And now I knew how she had gotten me on her ship... drugged rum.
"I need your help, Jack. I have been having a bit of trouble lately with my crew. There will be a mutiny soon... I can feel it. The only reason they've done nothing to me yet is because they believe that I have magical powers or something. They are cowards." She looked up at me again, and gave me a smile. "But you know already about this, do you not? I know Luna spoke to you... if not about the mutiny, then perhaps a bit about sibling rivalry?"
She was scaring me. She knew that Luna would tell me about the mutiny, so she had Luna take me to the room.
She laughed, a clear sound, when she saw the look on my face.
"I predict and plan, just like you, Jack. Don't look so surprised."
"Anyway, I need your help. I know that my crew will do nothing about me for a while; at least until you are gone... they are even more scared of you. But my sister... she is foolish and jealous, and I think that will get her in trouble." She threw me a sharp look. "I am not going to kill my own sister, Jack. I need you to do something about her."
I was a bit... taken aback. Did she want me to kill her? What was I supposed to do?
"What do you want me to do?"
She was surprised. "I don't care. Come up with something. Anyway I really need you here, also, to find out why my crew feels so threatened by my presence, or is Luna telling them lies about witchcraft?"
I did not ask her what she meant. I was pretty sure I knew why her crew hated her... she was scary. A bit like me, only small, and feminine... not quite as cocky and irking, either. I was still not sure if I wanted to do this... then again, what choice did I have? "I want you to swear one more thing, Sparrow;" she stopped and paused. I signaled for her to go on. "Do not, ever, even try to steer this ship or tough my helm, and don't captain my ship, savvy? Swear. On your honor, please. As a pirate. And please do not break this promise." Her eyes were begging me. I wondered why it mattered so much to her.
"I swear." I said simply. She looked as if she did not think I understood exactly what she was asking.
"Tell me about how you got his ship." I asked her; curious as to what she would say. She looked angry.
"Don't ask me questions. I don't dwell on the past." She thought for a moment. "I need to you take morning watch, and... No, just morning watch. Luna will tell you more about our bell system... I think. I've put her in charge for awhile, and she is simply soaking it up; control, I mean."
I left as soon as I could.
Captain Hope Raven. I had never heard of anyone like her. I was not sure if she knew how intimidating she was... I kept thinking that the mutiny would happen before she knew it.
What's she hiding in her past?
I walked up onto the deck and watched Luna stand in front of the wheel. She obviously desired greatly to be Captain... she was eyeing the helm fondly and ran her fingers lightly over it. She would every once in awhile bark out some order, but in between she would admire the ship and the sea.
She really was a very pretty little thing... taller than her sister, but then again, she was sharp with me, like she wanted no part of my fascinating life. I watched her brush her hair back from the wind, and then turn the wheel just slightly, and then she looked up, and caught sight of me staring at her. She appeared to be very angry, and beckoned me forward.
I stepped forward fearlessly, not really aware that she was mad.
"You enjoying the view, Sparrow?" She asked between gritted teeth, her eyes, which resembled Hope's, bore into me, but were nowhere hear as creepy as the Captain's.
"Yes indeed, it's beautiful." I told her. I felt that she may have softened a bit, but then she said
"Don't waste your flattery, Sparrow, you won't get anywhere." She turned away, but not before I heard her mutter "It would probably work better on my stupid sister anyhow, that slut..."
Luna really had a very big problem with her sister. I thought of how I could word my next sentence.
"You know anything about a mutiny?" I saw her stiffen. "Captain seems to expect one. But I just say, can't wait to get rid of her. Bit scary, her eyes are." Luna seemed to relax.
"I agree totally. Did you know she was accused of witchcraft? Three times?" "Really." I said, trying to sound interested. Luna lowered her voice.
"There will be a mutiny. I won't say when, and I won't say whom, and I won't say who's in charge. In fact, we've done a round robin. But if you mutter a single word to the captain, I'll make you wish you were dead."
"Oh, I'd never wish that." I told her cheerfully.
"I think you might if your goods were cut off." She told me threateningly.
I left quickly.
A round robin? Hmmm... That could mean trouble. No, that definitely means trouble. The round robin, an oath signed by the crew to overthrow the captain, in a circular format so that no one appears to be in charge of the thing, so anyone can get blamed.
But I could not tell the captain. I was a bit scared of Luna, I admit, and I was scared of the captain. Even so, I had more faith in the captain than Luna; Luna hated me, I knew it. But Luna said the captain Hope... admired my eccentricity.
Then again, Luna lies. Luna is full of hate and rumors. Hope only needs me for her own purposes.
I wondered why the crew was so full of hate for her. Besides her being creepy. An untold story.
I wished I knew of their past. It could help me solve this mystery. I decided to ask... Hope again. I didn't dare ask any of the crew... they might suspect something.
I went to her cabin, and knocked lightly on the door.
"Yes? Come in..." A voice said from inside. Hope. I walked in and found her standing by her desk. She was scribbling something on a paper on the wooden surface. When she saw it was me again, she crumpled the paper into a ball and threw in into a bag by the wall.
"Captain Hope, I was wondering if you could tell me more about your past. I think it would help me, and I know you said..."
"No." She said, her eyes digging into me, as if to say 'is-that-all-you-have-to-say?'
"But I bet if I knew something I could help you find out why your crew hates you." I reminded her.
She pondered this.
"No." She said, turning away from me.
"Please?" I practically begged her. (I didn't of course. Captain Jack Sparrow does not beg.)
She shook her head and took out another piece of paper. She began writing on it. I watched the ink begin to take shape on the page with fascination.
"Are you still here?" She asked me, obviously irritated.
"Oh, no. I left five minutes ago." I told her, edging toward the door. She turned and faced me, and I stopped moving.
"Sit down." She gestured to a chair. I sat uncomfortably on the chair and squirmed a bit until she started to speak.
"My father was a pirate. My mother was too. Simple as that... I had a good childhood, being the oldest sister. My younger sister, Luna, and my younger brother, Nathaniel, were not always given things as I was, because they were younger. They were uncommonly jealous. One day, they attempted to kill me. They killed my mother instead, having mistaken me for her. My father loved me so much... he sent me away, where they could not harm me, where I could not be harmed. I was sent on a ship to London, but pirates attacked the ship. Horrible pirates, nowhere near as wonderful as my father and his crew, took me captive. But I escaped, and went to Tortuga, where my sister Luna found me. She took me to my father, and I found out that my brother Nathaniel had been killed. My father died soon after, but he told me that he had promised Luna that if I did not return, she could have the ship, but as long as I was alive, it would be mine. And that it was my responsibility to take care of his ship."
She paused and looked away, at the jewel on her desk. But I could see a tear glistening on her cheek. Then she continued.
"I was Captain for about two weeks, and everything was going wrong. I was inexperienced, and did not know how to handle a ship. I abandoned my crew for awhile., and in that time, Luna captained it for me. But while I was gone, I made a friend in an old pirate captain, who taught me how to give my own orders. and to be passionate about what I do. So I went back to my crew, and I think..." She faltered. "I think they were all scared of me or something. Like Luna had told them something, or like I had done something..."
"I'll tell ye what ye did." I interrupted her, now understanding. "Ye abandoned yer crew right in the face of danger! Backings away from responsibility when they needed a captain. Regardless of how good you are now, they don't trust you now."
She was crying, and wouldn't look at me. They were silent tears, but I felt bad.
"I know." She whispered. "I'm a horrible captain." I held her close to me, whispering to her that it wasn't true, that she was strong and brave, she just needed to get her crew to trust her again, but she tore away from me, as if she was afraid of my touch.
"Please leave, now, Jack." She said, and she was no longer crying, she was totally calm. But her eyes were dull, and I could tell she was in pain.