Disclaimer: I should shoot myself I know…….I even have some real pistols here in the house too……Anyway R & R, enjoy -- Oh and I own naught buy me own stuff. Have fun ^_^;
P.S.: This chapter turned out to be waaaay longer than I expected, so it has been cut in half. What we have here today is part 1, the remainder is being written now.
The Black PearlIt was only the day after their narrow escape from Salvador, the ships that had been so adamant at first to give chase had given up surprisingly fast and left the pirates to take the rest of their journey away from South America in peace. Alexander and Zachariah had decided to take an alternate route and do what Alex deemed 'errands' and said they would meet them at an island near by soon. Dinner was being served in the galley at the moment; a nearby native fisherman had traded some freshwater eel from the mainland for a portion of extra rope they had laying around the deck. The ship's cook had not enjoyed preparing the eel, as it had to be skinned and handled alive and now he had the bite marks to prove it, but a delicious meal it still turned out to be.
Jack and Lucy were seated at their large, heavy table both pleased to have a real sit-down dinner for once, they usually were eating on the go now with all the commotion going on. So instead of grabbing a bite from the kitchen and making off with it in order to perform their respective duties the couple sat and relaxed in the comfort of cushioned chairs and ate at their own pace.
Each had a silver plate piled high with the barbecued eel, thank goodness for a Caribbean cook, biscuits and some Portuguese greens they had picked up while in town. An antique bowl of fruit sat in the middle of the table, all tropical fare that made the mouth water just imagining their sweetness, which was for dessert.
It only felt right to indulge for at least one night, they knew that the route to Madagascar would be long and soon enough they would be surviving on hard tack and dried meat, so they took their time to savor it.
"So, is your father expecting you or will we just be showing up on his doorstep unannounced?" she asked as she brought her cup to her lips.
" 'E knows I'll show up whenever I like, is always more fun like that," he took a drink from his bottle, he of course had chosen rum over wine.
"Ah, so I'll be a surprise then," the young woman snatched a biscuit from the tray just as her lover attempted to take it for himself.
"Aye but yer such a pretty surprise," he stole the butter right from under her hand and grinned cheekily. She shrugged and dipped the bread into the sauce that coated her fish, sopping up as much of it as she could before popping it into her mouth.
"Will it only be your father there, or does he have a crew with him?"
"Why all the questions, my dear?"
"I just want to be prepared for whatever awaits me there," she took another, larger sip from her goblet. "It's not everyday I meet my future father-in law." That did explain all the questions, not the mention when the subject first came up over dinner she had gone right through two cups of wine then attempted to snare his drink as well.
"Now, luv, there's no need for ye to be nervous. My father will love you, and if he doesn't then he and I will be havin' a long talk," he grinned and she giggled.
"If you say so," she finished off the last of her supper and pushed the plate away. "Then again if he's anythin' like you then I think I'll be more then able to handle it."
"Oh I'm sure ye'll see where I get me charming personality from," he too pushed aside his plate, but stood and made his way across the table. "But for now I think it's time we turn in for the night, my pretty," his hand was held out to her. A grin on her face, she took it and let herself be pulled from her heavy wooden chair to her feet.
"But it's still so early to go to bed," she made a pouty face.
"Now when did I say anythin' 'bout sleepin'?"
"Hmmm…." her arms wound themselves around his neck, idly playing with locks of his matted black hair. "You didn't, now did you? Well then Captain Sparrow, what do you suggest we do instead?"
"Ye will just have to wait an see."
After that there were no words spoken, he lead her from the main part of the cabin and into where they made their bedroom. The curtain that served as a door was pulled free from it's golden cord and left to fall down into place. Crewmembers knew better then to interrupt the Captain and the Lady when they actually had time alone to have dinner together, so most steered clear from any place near the cabin. For the unfortunate few who forgot……well they found themselves holding their ears shut with their hands or complained of temporary blindness for the remainder of the night.
Following Morning
Dawn always came too early, or at least it always seemed to for Lucinda, but duty called and that meant prying herself from her nice warm bed each morning against her better judgment. Her husband-to-be was already up and out, probably fully dressed and finishing up his breakfast even as she was just now waking.
"Jack..?" she called out groggily, rubbing the sand from her eyes. A reply came from the main cabin, proving her right, so she slid from the bed and searched for her dressing gown. It was to be found hanging from the wall on a shell-shaped hook; she pulled it around her body, tied the belt and walked barefoot out to the other room stifling a yawn.
"Eventually ye're gonna have to get used to early mornings," he was chuckling under his breath at her.
"Oh shut it, Jack," she looked about the table, searching for something to eat. "Did cook make any coffee this mornin'?"
"Don't think so, luv."
Several unpleasant words spilled from his beloveds lips, ever since he had let her try some of the damned drink she couldn't function most mornings anymore without it…not that she did too well before knowing coffee.
Lucky for him she shuffled to her trunk instead of taking out her aggravation out on him. A few minutes later she had successfully donned her gray/blue breeches, a clean shirt, stockings and a dark green vest, her boots were waiting for her at the stairs that lead to the deck.
"I'm goin' to the galley to have a word with cook," and then she disappeared into the harsh light of the day, leaving her fiancée chuckling once more at her morning antics.
Once on deck the clear blue waters of the Gulf of Guinea met her gaze, the sight stretched on and on as far as the eye could see with only the sky and clouds to go with it. Crewmembers were easy going today, it was still somewhat early and there was not much yet to do so most were simply tightening ropes or making small repairs. As the Pearl was kept is such ship-shape already, no pun intended, it was only occasionally when a major repair needed to be made and that was when an enemy gun got lucky.
She said a few 'good mornings' as she made her way to the stairs that lead deeper into the hull, but it seemed that Anna Maria had already been expecting her. Her friend was coming up those steep stairs, a tin plate in one had, a mug in the other, they smiled at one another and took a seat on a huge coil of rope nearby.
Already the fresh food was running short, but while good tasting, it was better to have some substance then none at all and every soul on the ship had experience with going hungry and did not complain.
The mug was filled with grog, a mixture of rum and water, as the later went stale but one still needed it to survive, by mixing them together it let the water last longer and the addiction most sailors had to the spiced alcohol be sated slightly. On the plate were two hardtack biscuits, not quite as hard as they would be a few weeks so that was a small comfort and several slices of greasy bacon.
"Ye really need to start getting' up earlier, my friend," the other woman teased.
"You try working a night shift for six years then change on demand," she broke off a piece of biscuit and dipped it into the grease to soften the bread. Breakfast was finished in between the usual female talk the two always had, this always the men on board either very uncomfortable or very curious as to what the fairer sex had to say.
But there was not even time to clean up the dishes afterwards, a call from the crows nest got everyone's attention.
"Ship sighted! Aft side!" all eyes went to the direction the look out called, there was a ship there some ways off but visible none the less.
Mr. Gibbs was just rushing by, probably going to fetch the Captain, when Lucy took hold of his arm.
"Spyglass," she looked at him, all frivolity gone, he handed the scope over no questions asked. With the glass in hand she made her way quickly to the aft rail and brought it up to her eye, adjusting the site a bit.
The vessel was flying a white flag with black lettering, an anchor with the letters E.I.T.C, but what she noticed was the uncommon number of people on the main deck. One of the men, an officer by the silhouette, raised up an arm and brought a cat o' nine tails down on the pitiful crowd.
"What do ye see luv," a hand clasped on her shoulder.
"It's a slave ship," she handed the spyglass to Jack so he could take a look.
"Aye," he said once he had examined it for himself, "and from the looks of things it's their break." Even though the sentence had no other meaning, she could hear the venom in his voice, he had been expelled from the East India Company for refusing to transport slaves, it was an interesting story that not even she knew all the details of.
"Orders, Capn'?" Gibbs asked.
"Make for it."
"Aye, sir," his first mate rushed off to carry out the order.
"What about the slaves on board?" Lucy asked him, her voice steady.
"We can take on those we can, and I'll have some of ours we can do without sail the others to the nearest free port," his voice was hallow, the very thought of what was going on aboard that vessel made his blood boil.
"You're a good man, my love," she patted his back before heading off to prepare the rest of the crew.
The first place she made for after making sure word had gotten out was to make a quick visit to the armory, the place was stacked full of all things sharp and made a loud 'boom.' She grabbed a belt from a peg on the wall and strapped it around her waist, cinching it tight then filling its sheath with the first cutlass she found. Two pistols were shoved in between the leather and her body, primed and ready to fire and to finish she took a small dagger and carefully slipped in her bodice hidden from sight.
When she came back up they were nearing the East India ship, and the enemy had obviously spotted them as the uniformed crew was running about madly readying their guns. She met up with Anna, who had materialized a sash stuffed with flintlocks and blades, they winked to one another in passing, both off to separate parts of the ship.
The first shot came from the company ship, they had seen the Jolly Roger flying proudly over the mast, and no doubt the trademark black paint had given the identity away of just who was coming at them. A large splash in the water sounded from about half the expanse between the two ships, either the East India crew were testing them or they were a horrible judge of distance. By now Mr. Cotton was steering the Pearl to her side, making the aft side guns visible to the slave ship, Lucy leaned against the rail, watching as the officers and other crewmen forced their 'cargo' deep into the hull again.
"Aim high, for the deck but be sure to try that new arrangement we made," Jack told Gibbs who nodded and shouted out the orders to the whole cannon crew.
"Do you think we'll have to board?" she asked him.
"Not if I get my way," he put his hand on her shoulder and waited until the one hundred guns were in range. A few more shots rang out from the other side, so close this time that salty sea water sprayed on their faces and stung their eyes, but none moved.
"In range, sir!" a young man covered in grime and quite possibly black powder yelled up from the gun deck, only sticking his head up through the stairwell.
"Fire," Jack said in a low tone, again Gibbs nodded and shouted out at the top of his lungs a repeat of the much awaited order.
Shots rang out from below the maid deck, smoke billowed up and red sparks flew from the gun ports. Some landed just out of reach, others blasted through the rails and across the deck to ram right through the other side. What did the most damage though were the cannon balls that his the stern and bow, the Pearl's cannons had been set up in what Jack has previously called a new arrangement, they aimed for where the enemy would lest expect and not only cause chaos but enough damage but not so much that the ship would be lost.
The tactic was working, but now the return fire was starting and both vessels were in perfect range of one another. One ball hit them just behind the figure head, not too bad but the carpenter would have a fit fixing it. A shot startled her, looking to the side she was up on the deck of the bow Marty had taken the swivel cannon and had fired right into a multitude of uniformed men. What held her attention was where they were clustered, it was the deck hatch to the hull, they should have not been there in the middle of a battle.
"I'll be back," she looked up to the man next to her, he nodded and released her from his hold. Up a nearby rope she climbed, about half way from the mast she stopped, a clear view of the other ship was hers from that height. Her green eyes searched the deck, it was easy to see who was in charge, his plumed hat was a dead give away, but even with out that the man's stance and posse of officers at his heels would have been obvious. The man was making his way towards the amassing group at the hatch, some had their guns pointing down into the dark hole, she pulled a pistol from her belt.
"You bastards," she held the flintlock out at her full arm's reach, one eye closed tight as they other took her aim. Just as they men made ready to fire she pulled the trigger, and the moment the Captain made to give his order he no longer had a mouth with which to speak. His body fell to the deck, his head covered in blood from a bullet to his jaw and throat- his men ran back in all directions.
"Nice shot, milady," the man in the nest called out to her.
"Thank you, Mr. Smith," she replied, her voice steady then wrapped an arm about the rope and slide down until her booted feet met the wooden planks again.
"They're tryin' to kill the people inside," Jack was waiting for her, helping her down. "I got the Captain, but I don't know if they'll still try or no."
"Right," he patted her shoulder and went off to inform his first mate and give new orders.
A ring of shouts filled the air, and shots from muskets, rifles and other hand held weaponry replaced the heavy rumble of the cannons. Many of the crew made blood curdling screams and held blades high in their hands, one thing she loved best was this part-scaring the enemy. Oh they had no intention of getting close enough to use those blades, but the East India men didn't know that. All those slimy rakes saw was a vessel full of very angry and bloodthirsty pirates, and from their point of view it would not be long until they had to meet them head on.
Closer and closer the Pearl creped and less and less shots came from the other ship, many of the crew were already throwing down their weapons. Finally some one ran up the white flag, and those on the black galleon roared in triumph and those on the opposite looked about ready to die themselves. Once close enough plank was brought out, Jack started first, Lucy followed then several crew came after her, all still bearing weaponry and wore their best 'scary' faces.
First thing Captain Sparrow noticed was the leader who had been taken down, he still held a loaded gun in his hand pointed at the open hatch. His lady sneered down at the corpse, but shuddered a little at her handiwork, a decent shot but she would have to get used to that quick.
A Lieutenant came forward, "you have our surrender," he stammered.
"Aye, that I do, but ye know that's not the end of it," Jack smiled a nasty smile.
"What do you want then?"
"How 'bout you bring up those poor souls ye have stuffed down there," he flicked his hand about in the general direction of the hatch.
"That is East India property-"
"And now it's not," their crew had their swords at the ready. The officer looked to his own crew, but they were proving to be a very large group of cowards. But what with having lost quite a few men, a Captain and were now faced with some very mean, very famous pirates none really wanted to die about now. Lieutenant of the stammer ordered some sailors to bring up the 'property', after a few minutes a group of about fifty people was hurried onto the deck.
"So few," Lucinda said after counting them all.
"We had some…difficulties….along the way," again this man was starting to get on her nerves.
"Meaning what?" she asked, her face angry as she stepped toward him.
"Why should I tell you, woman?" Ah, so the little snipe did have a backbone after all, he just wasn't brave enough to show it to other men but had no fear when it came to a female.
"Because I put the lead in your' commanding officers nasty little neck," her remaining pistol was out before most could blink and was currently pointing at the offending man's nose. "And if you wanna keep your face then I suggest you shut the bloody hell up and answer my question!"
Jack grinned like a mad man, nudging a uniformed man and saying, "I love it when's she's all feisty."
Meanwhile Lucy's prisoner decided it seemed like a good idea to tell the truth, "some got sick, they died on their own! Other's made trouble, Captain had them put down!"
"Now that wasn't too hard, now was it fancy boy," she lowered the gun and he sighed. But she fired anyway, the bullet embedded itself in the deck just a few centimeters from Lieutenant Stammer's big toe. "And now you'll be a nice English gentleman and release these good people."
Scared out of his mind, he gave the order and his men quickly opened the locks and soon chains were clattering to the ground.
"Lovely job, darling," was whispered in her ear.
"For now, I think I'll pass out once we're back," she whispered back. Her captain nodded, the first few times one really had to hurt and act one's part did take a lot of guts and energy but she had performed beautifully and made him proud.
Many of those now free were women and children, huddled together looking starved and scared. Most no doubt had no understanding of English, and would feel frightened of what might be going on, Jack and Lucinda felt so sorry for what they had to go through.
But some were men, a few older and a couple teens but some were grown men who seemed to have kept their strength across the voyage. These men looked at the pirates in interest, not sure if these strange people were here to help or repeat what the others had already done.
"Do any of you know what I'm sayin'?" she asked the group. They all looked to one another, then to one of the men, he stepped forward and looked her right in the eyes.
"I can, only some," he said slowly, his voice deep, trying to pronounce his words correctly. He was tall, a well built man with short hair and a very dark complexion.
"We're not going to hurt you," she placed her gun back in its place. "We want to help you."
"Help us?"
"Yes," she smiled a little. Jack looked on as his crew rounded up the company men and put them in the chains they had used on the imprisoned Africans. His lady was handling things on her own, one moment ago she had killed and went on her way and now she was as gentle as a lamb, it amazed him even now how many sides there were to Lucinda Rose.
"How?" the man cocked his head to the side, this white girl was not like the men around her, she seemed sincere.
"Our men can take your people somewhere they can live free," she explained as easily as she could.
"All of us?"
"If any want to come with us, that can happen too."
"Your name?"
"Lucy, and you?"
"Badawi," he answered just as Jack came forward. Badawi looked at him with suspicion, white men was not a people he was going to trust easily.
"This is Jack," she said quickly and held onto her lovers hand so the whole group looking on could see clearly she trusted this man.
"Some can go with you?" he went right to the point on his mind.
"Yes, if they want to, the rest can go with our men-they will be safe," she looked hopeful.
"What do you do?"
"Whatever we want," this time Jack answered.
"We will see," without another word Badawi turned and spoke in a rapid tongue to his people, they spoke back with several different expressions. Some looked apprehensive while others furious and some who seemed to cling to this man's every word. After some time the man turned toward them again, another man who appeared a bit younger then him stood next to him.
"Juta," Badawi gestured to the younger man, "my brother. We go with you, the others stay."
"Right then," Jack made the usual strange gesture of his own before leading the way back towards their own ship.
Anna was waiting on the other side, a shocked expression on her pretty face when her friend and Captain returned with two extra sets of hands.
"I'll never get how you two always get what ye want," she scratched her head.
"Pirate ingenuity," Lucy replied. "Badawi, this is Anna," motioned to her friend. The tall man looked at her with almost black eyes, Anna felt like an insect standing next to him but there was the advantage that she was at level with his impressive chest.
" 'Ello," she choked out, he nodded his head in return but only after he not so discreetly examined her from head to toe. Jack lead the two men to give a quick tour of the ship, trying to make sure he didn't get too excited and kept his language to the King's English and not confuse his guests.
" 'Ello, that was impressive for a first impression," Lucy teased.
"Oh stuff it," Anna felt her cheeks grow hot then stomped off to most likely dunk her head in a barrel of cool water. Her friend laughed a little, but once she found herself alone the adrenaline she had felt during the short battle began to wear off. The image of the man she gunned downed replayed in her mind's eye, she kept telling herself it was for the best-he was about to slaughter those people in the hull like animals. She felt tired, it an unusual morning, and she hoped she had some slow time before the next leg of the journey.