Title: The Fight for the Seas
Author: SailorNeo
Summary: The EITC has declared war on all pirates. Sequel to Freedom from the Curse.
Author's Note: I'm sorry for the delay. I just don't seem to have much inspiration for this story. At least, not where it currently lies. I do have BIG ideas for later on. I won't give up on this though.
Chapter Three: Sending A Spy
"How the hell do you get war out of what's best for the pirates?" Angelina asked.
"I don't know," Elizabeth said wearily.
"This is going to be both hard and horrible," Ana Maria said.
"I've got to send some people out to find out what's going on," Elizabeth said. "But I don't know who to send. Everyone I would send is probably wanted by the law."
"I'm not," Angelina and Ana Maria said.
"You're married to someone who is," Elizabeth told Angelina. "And he won't let you out of his sight. Ana Maria, would you be willing to go to Port Royale?"
"Of course," she said. "I've no brands or tattoos."
Angelina eyed Ana Maria. "I've prolly got a dress that'll fit her."
"Dress? Who said anythin' bout a dress?" Ana Maria asked warily.
"Well, you can't waltz into Port Royale dressed like a pirate," Elizabeth said, acting completely innocent. "You'll be hanged."
"And Liz and I aren't having all those children by ourselves," Angelina said.
"Oh crap," Ana Maria sighed as the two women advanced on her.
"You're sendin' us to Tortuga to scout?" Barbossa asked. "You know Jack'll just drink and go around with Scarlett and Giselle."
"Yes," Elizabeth said. "So I'm really sending you. And there's something else you're going to need to do for me."
"What?" Barbossa asked. "Find out what the company's up to in Port Royale?"
"No, Ana Maria's going to do that. But I'll need you to get her passage from Tortuga to Port Royale on one of the more respectable looking ships," Elizabeth said.
"Respectable lookin'? In Tortuga? That's not very likely," Barbossa told her.
"Well try," Elizabeth said. She frowned. "I would send her on The Empress, but that would catch attention."
"Why respectable?" Barbossa asked out of curiosity.
"She's going to be undercover. You can't sail into Port Royale on a pirate ship and try to find out about the East India Trading Company," Elizabeth explained.
"All right," Barbossa said. "I see your point. When do we leave?"
"In an hour," Elizabeth said. "The Pearl's getting loaded up now."
"An hour?" Barbossa asked. "You knew I'd say yes?"
"Actually Jack decided he was leaving in an hour. This seemed like a great opportunity," Elizabeth said with a grin.
"I am not wearin' this bloody thing!" Ana Maria shouted from somewhere outside.
"That's not right, Ana! It's 'I will not wear this dress!' You're never going to blend in if you don't speak correctly," Angelina said.
Barbossa's eyebrows rose. "You got Ana Maria into a dress?" he asked.
"It was hard," Elizabeth said. "Angelina's attempting to teach her how to be of the working class. Apparently she doesn't like it."
Ana Maria chose that moment to burst in. "You may be th' King, but I'm not wearin' this! Find someone else to do it!
"Ana! James won't let me go without him and he's sorta wanted by the EITC, Elizabeth and Will are wanted by the EITC, and everyone else is a pirate that's wanted by the EITC! You're the only one!" Angelina protested. "And sides, you look pretty."
Barbossa had to agree with Angelina. Ana Maria was in a simple dress, but seeing as she never wore any, it looked both strange and lovely on her. Her hair was pulled back and not obscured by that ridiculous hat of hers. "I must echo that sentiment. And Jack obviously is an idiot."
"We already knew that," Ana Maria said in irritation.
"Obviously," Angelina said. "Now come on, Jack has to see you."
"No," Ana Maria said, protesting as Angelina pulled her out of the room. "I don't want to see Jack!"
Well, Jack didn''t want to see her either. That's why he was leaving so suddenly. Ana Maria made his brain do strange things—like thinking about the future. The future was something that he didn't think about.
Ever.
It was all about the present for Captain Jack Sparrow. And at the current present, Ana Maria didn't fit into his plans.
"Jack!" Barbossa called. "We be takin' someone to Tortuga to find a ship to Port Royale."
"Why?" Jack asked warily.
"King's orders," Barbossa said, stepping onto the Pearl.
Jack frowned. "Fine. Tortuga," he said. "Who is it?"
"You know her," Barbossa said mysteriously.
Angelina stepped onto the ship. "She's not budging. And Will and James won't carry her so we're stuck."
"Pintel, Ragetti," Barbossa barked, "go get Ana Maria."
The two men darted off and Jack looked incredulous. "Ana Maria? We're taking Ana Maria to Tortuga?"
"Liz says you are, so you are," Angelina said.
"Let me go!" Ana Maria shouted as she was hauled up the gang plank. "get off of me!"
"Tie her to the mast if she tries to swim for it," Angelina said, heading down to the gang plank.
"I hate you!" Ana Maria yelled after her as she frowned.
"Do not!" Angelina called over her shoulder. "Toodles!"
Jack scowled at Ana Maria's back. This was not going to be a fun trip to Tortuga.
Not fun at all.
"I can't wait till they get back," Angelina said.
"You are a strange woman," James said. "You're torturing your friend."
"But all for the betterment of her and Jack's love life," Angelina protested.
"Still strange," James said.
"You're mean," Angelina pouted.
"But you still love me," James said.
"Against my will," Angelina said, turning her face up for a kiss.
