Chapter 3: Scheming and Accusations

The plans of a man, a fugitive and a Brit

Percy rubbed the deck of the Black Pearl as they were finally in the open waters, much to his displease. He breathed in the salty sea air - much better than the alcohol stench in Tortuga - and glanced at the others. He had learned their names, but was already forgetting the most. By now, he really hated that not-remembering part.

He narrowed his eyes at Norrington - the former commodore. At least he remembered his name, even if it wasn't that hard to do. After all the commotion in Tortuga, he had the feeling he couldn't trust the guy. As if all he did was for himself.

Norrington caught him staring and their eyes locked. Dark brown against sea green. "What?", Norrington asked him with a slight annoyance in his voice. "You know, it's really rude to stare." Percy averted his eyes and continued rubbing the deck. He didn't think it would be wise to react to that statement. He could already hear her saying: "Wise? Who are you and what have you done with my Seaweed Brain?!"

The son of the sea god gritted his teeth and held his head when he had another headache-attack. For once, he was glad that he was rubbing the deck, since he was already on his knees. This one was even worse than the one he had 2 months ago when he remembered his name and heritage. He closed his eyes and almost ripped the wood off the floor as he held it.

A faint image of a blond, curly haired girl with grey eyes made its way in his head, but before he could remember her name or see her face clearly, it was gone, together with the headache. He panted and opened his eyes again.

He looked around him, but luckily no one had seen him heaving that attack. Until he looked at Norrington, who was frowning at him. Oh no, not him... He was staring at Percy ever since they had locked their eyes, he realised. He hoped it wasn't the case, though. "What?"

The former commodore narrowed his eyes at him. "Why were you in Tortuga?", okay, that absolutely wasn't the question Percy had expected. He had expected him to say something like: "Are you okay?" or "Should I get you an Aspirin against the headache?" but Percy guessed Norrington wasn't much of the caring type. They don't even have Aspirins anyway, Percy realised shortly after.

He shook his head and tried to concentrate on his conversation with Norrington. Stupid ADHD... Yes, he had remembered his ADHD and dyslexia problems about 6 weeks ago. Luckily, dyslexia wasn't much of a problem in this age, since not many people were able to write or read. Especially pirates. Even though Jack and Gibbs were able to read and write, he realised. He noticed Norrington staring at him, again. Right. Concentrate. "What do you mean?"

"Maybe you haven't noticed, but I've been in Tortuga for a long time. Every time, I've seen you in that god-forsaken pub. It wasn't hard to miss, really, since you actually stood out quite a bit", Norrington explained. Percy still didn't get it, though.

"Is it so weird for me to be in Tortuga?"

Norrington frowned. "Tortuga is a port for pirates. You aren't a pirate. Believe me, I can see that clearly."

Percy took that as a way to question the former commodore. "You aren't a pirate and yet, you were there just as much as I was. I've heard stories about you from the crew, former commodore. I should be the one asking you why you were in Tortuga. Maybe you have plans for yourself?"

He didn't take the bait, though. "So, you're admitting you aren't a pirate", Norrington noticed, completely ignoring Percy's accusation. "In all those weeks I've seen you in the pub, there were countless people searching for new crew-mates, but still you didn't go with them. Yet, when a dumb-witted pirate comes along, you were immediately ready to set sail. What are you scheming, Perseus?"

Percy winced at his full name - he really shouldn't have given them that name - though he soon regained his posture. He knew he couldn't tell Norrington of his heritage, nor that he was from another time. The reason why he had registered himself as a member of the Black Pearl's crew had been simple. He just followed his gut feeling. Before he could answer, something else distracted him. Again.

"Beckett?", Gibbs asked Elizabeth surprised. He, Elizabeth and Jack were standing at the other side of the deck. In Jack's hands was a leather covered piece of parchment and he looked at it intently. It seemed this also caught Norrington's attention, since he saw him looking at them too in the corner of his eyes.

"Yes, they're signed. Lord Cutler Beckett of the East Indian trading Company", Elizabeth answered. Jack stuck his tong out in disgust when he heard the name.

"Will was working for Beckett and never said a word", Gibbs accused. Percy figured Elizabeth would snap at him and say that it wasn't true, but to his surprise, she didn't say a thing. This made Percy frown. I thought she loved that Will... "Beckett wants the compass. There's only one reason for that..."

"Of course", Jack realised, "he wants the chest." Both nodded in agreement.

"If the company controls the chest, they control the sea", Percy frowned at that. The sea wasn't to be controlled, nor tamed.

"A truly discontent motion, love...", Jack said to Elizabeth.

"It's bad. Bad for every mother's son that calls himself a pirate", Gibbs added. He looked up to the black sails. "I think there could be more speed to be coaxed from these sails. Raise the fore yard!", he ordered the crew as he walked away. Percy agreed with Gibbs and he would do whatever it costed to not let the company rule the sea. He frowned and used the currents behind the ship to speed things up a little. Not too much, though, otherwise the others would be suspecting something.

Due to him using his powers, he lost a part of the conversation between the three. "- you're standing here with the price", Jack said, "full pardon", Percy saw Norrington's head perking up at that in the corner of his eyes, "commission as a privateer on behalf of England and the East Indian trading Company. As if I could be bought at such a low price." Jack put the leather parchment in his pockets.

Percy returned his attention to Norrington, who was staring at the two with a certain glint in his eyes. Subconsciously, he knew that glint all too well: hope.