Author's Note: Jack Sparrow, Elizabeth Swann Turner, Mr. Gibbs, Tia Huang, The Empress and The Black Pearl all belong to Disney, but I'm very happy they are willing to share with us. Any resemblance of characters in this story to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. This story is intended for the enjoyment of its readers—nothing more.

A Tourist

Chapter One

The storm was ferocious. The wind howled as enormous waves threatened to capsize The Empress. Captain Jack Sparrow, lashed to the helm, used all his skill and strength to guide the stumpy, misshapen Chinese junk through the storms. With each gigantic wave, he cursed the odd ship yet again for not being his beloved Black Pearl, and vowed to regain his Pearl with his last ounce of strength. Jack was the only man on board the Empress with experience enough to bring them safely through the ocean's onslaught, but even his expertise was being tested this time. The sky was as black as night and a few lanterns had been lit on deck to see where beams had fallen or ropes had become unfixed. Jack struggled with the helm, fighting to turn The Empress into each wave, for had the stumpy ship taken many large overboard washes it would likely founder, and be lost in the ocean's depths. The rightful captain of The Empress, Elizabeth Swann Turner, stood amidships, clinging to the mainmast, yelling instructions to her Chinese crew. The crew had sailed for much longer than she, and knew far more about weathering a storm than their young captain, but being loyal and admiring her, followed her instructions even as they performed the tasks they knew to be necessary to keep the ship afloat.

Elizabeth peered through the rain toward the helm, hoping for a sign from Jack that the worst might soon be over. She looked then out at the clouds, and could see them swirling in an arc from sea to sky, angry dark grey clouds blotting out the sun and scudding rapidly across the horizon. Suddenly Jack yelled, "Hang on!" in a panicked tone as a huge blast of wind caught the ship, sending it sideways across the waves through walls of water and spray.

As quickly as slamming a door, the ocean was calm. The wind died and the sky was clear. Looking up, the people on board The Empress could see bright blue sky and sunlight shining through. However, on all sides the clouds made a wall, and it was clear the ocean was as rough under those clouds as that they'd just sailed through.

"What happened?" Elizabeth cried. "Why is it so calm?"

Jack held on to the helm but took a moment to gulp a swig of rum from a bottle he'd stuffed into a pocket. As he lowered the bottle, he replied, "We're in th' eye of th' storm, th' hurricane, and it won't last long. Come up here wit' me, Lizzie, and tie yerself to th' railings so I kin keep an eye on ye."

"Jack, I'm fine here and my men need me."

"Don't be daft Liz—ain't ya seen 'em doin' things afore ye tell 'em? Ye be a good captain, but yer men are better sailors. Hurry—we're heading toward those clouds yonder."

Elizabeth started up the stairs to the quarterdeck and began to cross to the mast just as a powerful gust of wind and a huge wave crashed over the side of the ship. Screaming, she was thrown onto the deck, with her right leg twisted under her body. Struggling with the helm, Jack was unable to rush to her aid, and called over the roar of the wind to the crewmen to help her. Several of the men hurried toward her, but one ran to the companionway leading below deck. The water washed over the railings and the winds howled as the ship was tossed in constant motion, and Elizabeth screamed in agony with each shift in position. The crewmen gathered around her and prepared to lift her when sharp commands in Chinese came from below decks. The men gently removed their hands from Elizabeth and edged back, away from her, as Hua Tuo, the physician, scrambled out onto the deck. Quickly kneeling by her side, the doctor assessed her injury and instructed the men to get a flat board so that she could be carried into the Captain's cabin. Although it was a struggle to move and to keep Elizabeth steady, eventually she was carried inside and placed on the large chart table. The ship was tossing viciously, and each lurch made Elizabeth moan with agony.

"Coptin Turnah. I gif you poppy now. Will hep wit pain. Trink dis, peese," as the physician put a small bottle to Elizabeth's lips.

"No, I must speak to Tai Huang—can you find him please and bring him here, Quang Huynh? " she panted.

As the small man left, the Chinese doctor shrugged, but did as his captain bid, moving to place a small pillow under her head and some rolled cloths on either side of her body. In a few minutes, the door opened, allowing a shower of rain to enter along with the First Mate, Tia Huang.

"Ms Elizabeth—you sent foah me?"

"Tia Huang—thank God you're alive. You're in command now. Good doctor Hua Tuo will take care of me and it seems I will not be captain for a while. Take care of the ship and do as Captain Sparrow commands, " she gasped, before taking the bottle from the doctor and swallowing the contents in one gulp. She couldn't help but shudder at the taste, and sheepishly glanced at the doctor saying, "Sorry—it's very bitter."

The aged Chinese physician smiled, bowed and said, "Yes eet is, missy. Eet is de poppy, but you will not be feeling what we do to leg, and eet be better."

Meanwhile, above deck, Jack and the Chinese crew of The Empress struggled to remain afloat and keep the storm from breaking up the ship. The waves crashed over the deck, and at least two crewmen were washed overboard, with no hope of being saved. The winds blew steadily with such strength that The Empress was being shoved sideways across the water by the power of the wind against her hull. No sails could have survived the strength of the storm, and only Jack's strong grip on the helm maintained a controlled swoop and dive through the crests and troughs of the raging ocean. Hours passed with the struggle for survival continuing unabated, allowing no rest or reprieve from battling the winds and the waves.

Finally, late in the day, the winds lessened and the sea calmed. Jack slumped against the helm, his hands frozen in position on the spokes until he realized others might see his exhaustion, if they had strength to notice through their own depleted strength. Rowsing himself, and calling, "Mr. Gibbs. Take the helm, man. " he waited for his trusty friend and erstwhile First Mate to take the wheel from him. "Good man, Gibbs. I'll be below."

"Aye, Captain. See to our Miss Elizabeth 'n git some rest yerself, lad" , slapping Jack on the shoulder.

Jack stumbled down the stairs, catching himself from slumping at the bottom only by holding to the posts, and aimed toward the door to his cabin. Allowing his shoulder to lead, he swung open the door and saw Elizabeth, strapped to the board, atop the charts table. Her head lolled to one side and her injured leg was encased in boards and cloth wrappings. Jack quietly moved to the table and rubbed his hands along Elizabeth's arm and up along her jaw to her cheek. "Lizzie, Lizzie. What hev ye done now?"

Behind him, the cabin door squeaked open and the physician came back in, "Coptin Spaarah. She be fine. Her leg broke but now strayt. She take de poppy, and no feel de pain."

" Hua Tuo. T'ank ye fer tykin' care o' me girl. She does git herself inta some messes," turning to smile at the doctor. "An' if ye'll forgive me, I am goin' to me bed," as he peeled off the wet coat, shrugged out of the waistcoat and kicked off the boots. His hat, however, was placed carefully on a shelf, turned upside down to dry. Then flopping face first onto the bed, arms outstretched, Jack went to sleep.

He did not hear the doctor close the door behind him