Operations of Secrecy:
The Black Pearl was making steady time through the night waters of the Caribbean. She was an aging ship, a ship well warn to the roots of the sea. She travelled along her course, familiar with the path. She was a ship raised on adventure and born of curses and yet she had a dignity and a grace that only the wisest and intelligent of beings could have. The Ship had taken on her own presents, much more than a vessel of wood and metal she was nearly and entity in herself. She was grand, the queen of the pirates, more myth than reality now. Her legend was great, greater even than her captain as she has seen a few in her days at sea. But this captain, Captain Jack, had been her founder, and he had been loyal and loving to this vessel and spirit. And thus, the Pearl would remain loyal and loving to this captain. Should she fall out of his hands again it would be only by destruction, and even then Jack could find ways to regain her. Until that time, she moved on silent winds toward a destination set by Jack.
The ships of Port Royal would be silent and the docks would be full. The problems of returning to Port Royal were many for Jack and his crew but there was much to be done and Port Royal was the centre of the operations. The pearl seemed reluctant to make a voyage to close to the settlement. The winds were lost from her sails and she slowed in the shallowing waters of the reef surrounding the island. Jack could feel in the movement of his ship, the reluctance and the fear. She was a familiar ship, but a ship branded as a destroyers of lives and bringer of turmoil. The last voyage into the heart of Port Royal had been by Captain Barbossa at the helm and brought much destruction to the settlement. The pearl did not want to return to such a place that she had played a roll in uprooting.
"How do you expect to get into the city, Captain?" Marty asked as he looked up at Jack Sparrow.
"Not quite sure," Jack said as he watched the rocky cliffs of land move slowly past the ship, "Way anchor!" he yelled and with a screeching sound and a loud splash the iron anchor was let into the warm waters.
"We are not yet close to the city, or the dock captain," Marty said as he looked over the railing.
"Ay, we're far enough off that the ship should be out of sight for a while," Jack said as he rocked slightly on the deck of the ship, "she doesn't want to make this return visit."
"The Pearl?" Marty asked as we too felt the slowing of the ship.
"Ay, she's weary, and doesn't want to be seen near this settlement," Jack stated as he moved his hand lovingly along a banister, "Keep a watch for ships of the royal navy, at sun up take the pearl away from the shore lines. Return to this spot in two nights and I will be waiting for you." Jack said as he walked away from the helm.
"But captain, are you going alone?" Marty asked as he ran to catch up with the captains large strides.
"Lower the raft!" Jack shouted at a few other crew members.
"Ay captain," they yelled back
"Must you go alone?" Marty asked again surely you should take someone with you.
"If I don't return in two days, send someone looking," Jack said as he rushed to the railing and another crew member through over a rope ladder, "I'll likely be in the gallows so you'll know where to look."
"Keep to the code! Keep to the code!" Cottons Parrot repeated.
"Cottons right Jack has much to do and do it alone," Gibbs said coming out of the shadows.
"What is he doing on the ship," Pintel asked and pointed at Gibbs.
"Ay, he's retired," Ragetti called out too.
"That be none of yer business," Gibbs hissed, "don't ask questions and be happy that Jack has pardoned you after the whole Barbossa turn of events."
"Thank you Gibbs for coming a long," Jack smiled.
"You're right, you are, the sea will always call to ya," Gibbs laughed, "I'll never give er up again!"
"Gibbs, be in charge while I'm in the city," Jack called back, "two days and be back in this spot." he called again and then lowered himself down the ladder and into the waiting row boat, "the Pearl will tell ya when to return."
Will and his father remained at the edge of the dock for a long time, watching the Blue Moon glide out into the moonlit waters of the Caribbean. The breeze of the sea was warm, salty and familiar. The lights of the city blazed through windows. Sounds of the shore and the city mixed with each other as the docks began to be filled with movement again.
"I'm sorry ya had to find things out this way," Bill said finally breaking the silence between himself and his son.
"Don't be," William said as he began to walk down the docks, "life is filled with too many harsh things. Some call them interruptions in life and other call it adventures. Before Jack, I would have considered it all aa misfortunes and did, when I was first attacked by pirates long ago, but it is true if you have the pirate blood in you, you'll always been drawn to the adventure. Something in the wind tells me that this is the beginning of yet another." he smiled and walked on down the dock, "if it hadn't been for Jack I may not be as happy as I am."
"Then you are living a fulfilled life," Bill asked as he kept close to his son.
"Ay, sir," Will stated with a grin, "my Wife is quite the pirate as well."
"Is that so," Bill laughed as he looked over Will again, "judging by your expensive looking get up I would think your were upper class, rather than the pirate you claim is in you!" Bill laughed as they entered through the gates of the settlement.
"I did have to revert to piracy to lift a certain curse, I will remind you," Will laughed, "and would anyone but a pirate sail to the ends of the earth in search of a dead man to keep a promise to his father?"
Bill nodded and smiled at his son.
"You there," a guard of the royal navy yelled.
"We don't take kindly to riff raff in Port Royal," another said from the opposite side of the entrance way.
"Stand down gentlemen, he's not to be worried about," Will said as he waved on to the guards.
"Begging your pardon Mister Turner," they said lowering their weapons.
"You are an upperclassman," Bill said with a smile.
"Ah only within the wall of Port Royal, and you'll have to be too," Will said as he pushed his father through the open doors of a small shop, "we best hurry, if you are going to meet my wife properly tonight, these shops will be closing too and you'll need at least some clothing that don't look like you've been dead for ten years."
"But I have been," Bill laughed.
"And I was a blacksmith before hand, we can all adapt," Will smiled as he motioned to some clothing and shop lady helped with some final tailoring, "besides, to meet my wife you must meet the governor of Port Royal and thus you must look the part," Will said as he placed a new feathered hat atop his fathers head, "alright I think this should be passable for the time being," he said and pulled a sack of coins from inside his own coat. He paid the shop keeper and walked to the door.
Outside in the streets, music could be heard from a near by pub. Laughing and jostling had commenced in the street. The night life had begun around the city. A loud chorus of, 'my name is Captain Kidd,' came from a pup door, accompanied by drums and drunks. Bill laughed to know that even the pirates life had its place in Port Royal.
"Not much of a change, at this time of night from Tortuga," Will said as they passed the pub.
"You've been to Tortuga?" Bill asked as he stared in the open doors.
"Have you not heard the legends old man?" A voice from the shadows interrupted them, "the great Captain Jack Sparrow escaped from Port Royal with the blacksmith son of a pirate. To commandeer a ship of the royal navy and to sale to Tortuga to gain a crew of misfit pirates to defeat the evil Captain Barbossa and regain the Black Pearl. The blacksmith saves his lady love, who seems more of a pirate than the blacksmith at times, and is soon to be the new governor of Port Royal. It is the perfect pirate tale," the voice was harsh and yet very enthusiastic.
Bill looked deep into the shadows of the ally ways, "who is that?" he called into the darkness.
"You look like a peacock Bootstrap, what have you let them do to you?" The voice said as it seemed to come closer.
"Jack come out of there," William whispered into the darkness, "you know better than to come to Port Royal, if anyone sees you, you'll be executed on the spot!"
"That's why I am hiding in the shadows halfwit!" Jack said as he grabbed Will's sleeve and pulled him into the darkness. Bill followed silently.
"Captain Jack Sparrow," Bill Gasped as his eyes adjusted to the darkness.
"Bootstrap Bill Turner, you're not dead!" Jack laughed.
"Nor are you," Bill said still feeling surprised and a bit uncomfortable.
"And neither is Barbossa, but that's a really long story," Jack laughed.
"We'll all be if we are caught with Jack!" Will sighed, "come along both of you, I know of a place to hide you, we can talk there!"
Through the dark streets of the city they rushed and up a newly made street. The long drive lead to a new, white washed manner house where some lights had been lit and the smell of paint was still fresh in the air. Elizabeth Swann stood on the steps and stared down at her husband and the two new comers.
"Where have you been all night, dinner is nearly ready," Elizabeth scolded as Will ran up the steps and kissed her gently on the cheek, "who is he?" she asked and motioned toward Bill, "and what the hell are you doing here?" she asked as she came down the stairs and came to face to face with Jack.
"Oh, love, come on, yer glad to see me!" Jack said slyly wrapping his arms around Elizabeth's waist, and kissing her on the cheek.
"Perhaps see but not smell," She said as she pushed herself away from Jack, "come on, the lot of you, get inside before someone sees the pirate!"
"Elizabeth, this is my father," William said as they walked into the newly finished house.
"Ah so you are alive, this will make for wonderful dinner conversation," She smiled, "but first you'll need to clean up," she said to both Bill and Jack, "I'll hold dinner while you bath and we'll find you something...more appropriate for dinner wear Jack."
"What's wrong with what I'm wearin'?" Jack asked, "I look damn good!"
"Perhaps for a barmaid in Tortuga who has lost her sense of sight and smell, but not in my house," Elizabeth said, "go now, by your own will or I will have the staff force you," she said as two other gentlemen in uniforms appeared through a doorway, "they'll escort or drag you Jack," she said and the men began to lead Bill and Jack away.
Once they were out of sight and earshot, Elizabeth turned back to Will, "we're dinning with pirates tonight?" she asked as she placed her hands on her hips.
"It's a good story," Will laughed and kissed her again.
"This had better be," she giggled, "or else I will turn Jack to the hang man again."
"I doubt that you will, I think another adventure is coming our way, we'll be sailing off into the sunset before midday tomorrow is my guess," Will smiled.
"No, I think we'll still be trying to get the smell of death off Jack Sparrow by midday tomorrow," Elizabeth laughed, "you had better clean up as well. Join me in the dinning room when your father and Jack are ready," she smiled lovingly back at him and walked through an open door.