Passing Ships

Chapter 10: Catching Up

"Waahhhhhhhhh!" James rolled over to look at the baby lying in the smaller hammock next to him. JD'd been screaming like this for the past two weeks as the crew of the Redemption tore through the ocean in search of Beckett's ship.

"There, there, little man." James said as he scooped him up. "I miss your mum too." He soothed the little boy and tucked the blankets a little tighter around his drowsy form. "Let's go see what your Aunt Elizabeth has for you to eat."

James, Elizabeth, Will, in fact the whole crew, with the exception of Barbossa- who had flatly refused to touch the "little creature", had been taking turns tending to Emily's baby. As a result no one had been getting much sleep and ship had gained many tiny sails in the form of nappies.

James walked up on deck to see if Elizabeth was there with Gilda, the ship's goat and JD's salvation. Instead he found Barbossa standing at the oaken rails, Jack on his shoulder, glass in use. "There's a sail on the horizon. An East India merchantman if I can guess from this point." He smiled. "The time is at hand." He took a step back from James when he noticed the baby, gave him an exasperated look, and headed back towards the helm.

Ever since Emily had left JD with the crew of the Redemption they had been formulating a plot to relieve Lord Beckett of his prize.

First, it would be James to formally board and address Lord Beckett. There was a phony letter composed for the purpose and a made-up story about electing Beckett the new leader of Port Royal. If James was convincing, it would be a subject that Beckett wouldn't be able to resist. At the same time, Elizabeth and Will would sneak over to steal the heart away. With any luck Beckett wouldn't even know it was gone until they were well on their way. It was a simple plan, but one that could go drastically wrong with even the slightest diversion.

The weather-gage had been with them, so with luck, the Flying Dutchman was still far behind. It looked as if they had reached the King's Ransom first. Today would be the day it would all be decided.

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Emily's transformation had been quick. It appeared Jones knew exactly what she would become when he accepted her proposal to join his crew. Jack and Bootstrap had watched with dismay as her skin had gone from pale and smooth to brown and rough. Her hair, her clothes, her features had taken on wooden characteristics as the hours passed. At the end of two weeks, Emily awoke to realize that she wouldn't be sleeping in a bed much longer. Jones would have his new masthead before the week was out.

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Lord Cutler Beckett was not a man easily fooled. He was wise in the ways of the ocean, having spent much of his life in and around the East India Trading Company. His profession had gained him many friends, and quite a few enemies. Some that had parted his company with a "P" forever emblazed upon their arm. So, it was with suspicion that he noted the arrival of former-Commodore, and now Privateer, James Norrington aboard the King's Ransom. It was only when the letter from the King of England was presented, scrutinized, and deemed acceptable that Lord Beckett smiled.

James praised the ship from its magnificent sails to the gleaming sides and immediately asked for a tour of the decks, with a promise that they would take in the hold afterwards.

When the two gentlemen were safely installed in the forward decks, Elizabeth and Will dropped their cloak hoods, climbed up, and slipped in through one of the side gun ports. They made their way towards the captain's cabin, where Elizabeth had a sneaking suspicion she knew where Beckett might have left his treasure.

"Will, you have to be quiet!" Elizabeth hissed, "I saw Beckett's man just outside the cabin windows. One more bump from you and we're finished."

"Are you sure Beckett would have the captain's quarters?" Will stopped. Of course Cutler Beckett would have the best cabin in the ship. Will shook his head. He looked around the room as Elizabeth began searching the desk.

"I don't understand!" She looked up at him over a mountain of ship's logs, "It's not here. Do you think he has it on him?"

"Well, do you think a man like Beckett would want to tote around a rotting heart on his person?"

Elizabeth pulled a face and went back to tearing through Beckett's desk drawers.

"What exactly are we looking for?" Will whispered again. He moved towards the large windows at the rear of the cabin. They showcased the entire ocean, glowing red and orange as the sun marked its trail in the sky.

"It's a rectangle box, wooden, with the initials EIT carved into the top. I don't think it had a clasp on the front, but I'm not entirely sure. The last time I saw it I swear I was in too much of hurry to really notice."

"No, there's not a clasp-only a little wooden hinge over the front. Ornamental, really, but quite well made."

"You found it!"

"It was right here on the window seat. Beckett must have been contemplating its uses when we arrived. Should have taken a little more time to hide it better, eh?" Will smiled at her.

Elizabeth took the time to admire William Turner the younger before standing up again. He might not have Jack's unique enthusiasm, but he was dashing in his own way.

Will walked over and offered Elizabeth his hand to help her up. "Let's get going. Norringtons' probably bored out of his skull by now."

"Oh, I don't know. James Norrington and Cutler Beckett could be two men that might have seen eye-to-eye if they'd met under different circumstances." Elizabeth smiled and Will nodded his head in agreement.

James Norrington, however, was not enjoying his time aboard the King's Ransom. Beckett's ship was truly beautiful and well maintained, almost navy in its way, but he could barely keep his mind in the here and now. His navy disposition was the only thing saving him at the moment. He kept glancing over to the larboard side, watching to see if Elizabeth and Will had made it back to the launch. He hoped that Beckett hadn't noticed. At the moment it did not seem as if he had, by the way he kept droning on and on.

"And so you see, Mr. Norrington, I've had these winches installed so the cargo can be handled with greater skill. It was a diagram I drew up myself and do plan on placing on the rest of the fleet when I get back to England. But, it seems that his majesty…"

Beckett was thrown against the rail and Norrington to the decks with the first impact. The ship's bell was tolling and a strong voice boomed "All hands to stations!" by the time James picked himself up and noticed the smoke rising off the side. They had been hit by a cannon ball, that was certain, but from where?

"Lord Beckett! A ship! It raised i'self from a sea jus off a the bow, sir." A young sailor with a bleeding lip rushed forward.

James hurried to the side. No. It couldn't be. Not already.

Beckett was on his way down the stairs and running across the decks towards his cabin when he saw the door burst open and Elizabeth and Will rush out.

It took but a second. "No, Miss Swann. I don't think this will happen again." His voice was deadly calm. And before the pair knew it, Beckett had his side pistol aimed.

A shot fired. In the chaos and clearing smoke, Will Turner slumped to the deck in front of Elizabeth.

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I am sorry about the delay, but I feel a roll coming on. We're getting to the good stuff now. Reviews are always welcome.