Okay here's the great escape for our characters from Port Royal. Hopefully it won't be as lame as I think all my action writings are, lol.
Disclaimer: I own Briana. That's about it. Still cool though I guess!
Ch 11: Formulating a Plan
Norrington didn't fail to notice how ironic it was that he had been escorted into a prison cell by some of the men who had been under his command in the past. The cells he and his shipmates were placed in were dark and dank with little light filtering in from the high windows inside them.
He looked at Briana who was seated beside him with her knees pulled up to her chest and her brows drawn in thought. Her brows were drawn together and her expression was troubled. Who could blame her in this situation.
"Are you alright?" she said not looking at him.
"Never better," he said dryly.
"Sorry," she sighed. "I only meant-"
They were interrupted as they were joined by a figure outside their cell.
"I'm sorry about this James," Gillette said.
"I'm sure you are commodore," Norrington said keeping his stony gaze focused anywhere but the man addressing.
"There's nothing I can do I'm afraid," Gillette said uncomfortably. "If I tried anything Lord Beckett would have me hanged for treason without a second thought."
"That man is still a lord after what happened?" Will said in disbelief and anger.
"He is," Gillette replied gravely. "And he's still quite upset over your betrayal."
"I suppose we're to be hanged in the morning?" Norrington inquired unfazed.
"I'm sorry James," Gillette said earnestly. "Truly I am."
Norrington didn't reply so Gillette walked off to leave the occupants within the cell to their thoughts.
"This is all my fault," Elizabeth murmured in the next cell in her husband's arms. Will proceeded to comfort his wife while the other couple remained silent for a bit more.
"They might still let you go," Norrington said without looking at Briana. "They can't prove you've done anything wrong."
"Oh so you propose I just let you, and Will, and Elizabeth hang then?" she said in a hushed voice.
"Yes that's exactly what I'm saying," Norrington said impatiently.
"Thanks, but I'm not deserting anyone to save my own skin," Briana retorted.
Norrington acknowledged the pang of guilt her declaration brought out. In the past he would have done anything to ensure his survival. Hadn't he done it once before when he'd handed the heart of Davy Jones right to the East India Company?
"Well, well," a clipped British accent said as a man approached their cell. "I never anticipated that fate would deliver you into my custody again. Miss Swan, Mr. Turner, and Mr. Norrington."
"Beckett," Will said with contempt.
The man in question walked to stand before their cells. He looked the same as the last time he'd met with the Black Pearl crew. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back with the same pleasant smile he wore when things were going exactly as he wanted them to.
"I had rather hoped to see all of you again," Beckett said in a pleased tone. "And I'm very happy to say without a doubt that the three of you will hang tomorrow as you should have when last we met."
He stepped closer to the second cell, and looked in at the occupants.
"And I see you brought another acquaintance to share your fate," Beckett remarked. "A pleasure."
"Are you going to gloat any more, or are we allowed a few hours peace without annoying, short Englishmen lingering before we die?" Briana said in a restrained tone.
"Oh quite a spirited woman," Beckett remarked. "Or rather bad mannered. I would expect no less from those of Irish blood."
Briana's fist tightened in anger. Unseen by the others Norrington covered her hand with his as a warning to not try anything.
"I will be gone soon," Beckett replied gesturing to someone they could not see. "However, seeing as how you pirates always have a tendency to escape, I thought it appropriate to bestow you with a parting gift in case you should be so lucky once more."
A tall gaunt soldier came to Beckett's side bearing a red hot iron shaped like the letter p at the end.
"It does seem unfair that Jack Sparrow should be the only pirate of his crew that I've branded so I thought I should extend the same courtesy to you all," Beckett said with a hint of menace. Several other guards appeared to help in the process as the door to the second cell opened.
"I think I shall brand you first Mr. Norrington," Beckett said as the door clanked open. "I'm afraid I'm still a bit put out over the way you betrayed me."
Norrington didn't reply, although a thin sheen of sweat had formed on his brow. He turned away as two guards took hold of him and Beckett came forward baring the hot poker. It was so hot Norrington could feel the heat emitting from it as it came nearer to his skin .When it was nearly touching the flesh it was intended for Briana couldn't stand it anymore. She sprang out of her seat to knock the poker out of Beckett's grip.
"Isn't it enough that we're going to die without you doing that to us?" Briana shouted as a guard held her back from jumping on Beckett.
"Well, this is rather too unpleasant for her I suppose," Beckett said darkly. "Lieutenant, why don't you take her back to your room and calm the lady down?"
"No!" Norrington said suddenly struggling to get free of the guards holding him back.
"I'll do my best sir," the soldier holding Briana said with a wolfish grin as he hauled the whimpering woman away.
"Very good," Beckett said in satisfaction.
--
Inside a locked storage room the soldier stalked to Briana with his pants unbuttoned, and his eyes glazed over in lust. He forced his mouth on hers and tried to pry her mouth open while he fumbled to get her pants open. Briana fought the urge to be sick and raised her knee to his groin when she had a clear shot.
"Dammit!" the man shouted as he doubled over in pain. Briana yanked his head up to punch him straight in the eye.
"I hope it swells shut in the morning," Briana muttered as she set to work stripping the unconscious, ignorant man of his uniform.
"You okay in there?" someone inquired from the other side of the door.
"Get lost," Briana said adopting her male voice. "I can't concentrate with you talkin." She stripped the soldier and was relieved that the other man seemed to accept her words.
"Alright, alright," the man on the other side of the door.
"Oh thank the lord," Briana muttered as she peeled off her clothes. It was a good thing men always took her for nothing more then a weak, defenseless girl at first glance. It definitely came in handy during times like these.
She made quick work of changing into the soldier's clothes which were just a size too big for her. She inspected the belt and was disappointed to find no key on it. She swept her hair back and shoved on the white wig her would be rapist had worn. She examined herself in her reflection in the window in the room and was sure her appearance would do being dark as it was outside.
"Now what to do with you," Briana remarked turning back to the unconscious man lying stark naked on the floor. Knowing she couldn't afford to waste much time, she used her clothes to gag and tie the man up so he couldn't call for help, or run off to blow her cover when he came to. Then she dragged him over to a dark corner where hopefully he wouldn't be noticed until morning.
Then she hurried out the door and headed in the direction of the holding cells. She tried to appear cool and confident as she approached someone hidden partially in the shadows ahead of her in the otherwise deserted hall.
She nodded her acknowledgment and meant to walk by when she heard the telltale click of a gun being cocked.
"Just stay quiet unless ya wanta end up with a piece a lead in yer head boy," a familiar female said grimly.
"Anamaria?" Briana said in relief.
"O'Connor is that you?" the piratess said spinning her prisoner around to look at. "I hardly recognize you with da hat."
"We don't have time to get into that," Briana said quietly as she pulled the woman into the shadows. "They've got the others in a cell and I don't know how to get a key."
"That's easy," Anamaria smirked replacing her gun in her belt. "All you have to do is arrest me."
--
Norrington's jaw clenched and unclenched as he thought of what must be happening to Briana right now. To think that there was nothing he could do to stop something that was happening so nearby made him feel completely useless. It felt like he had failed at much more then protecting a fellow crew mate. In fact the fresh burn that had been laid into his wrist after Briana had been hauled away paled in comparison to how he sickened he felt from being without a way of helping her.
He didn't even bother to look up as two officers that came up to the cells. Then one of them slipped the key into the lock of the other cell and his attention was caught.
"Let's go you two," Anamaria instructed the Turners.
"Ana?" Elizabeth said in disbelief as the cell door creaked open.
"Aye, now get a move on. They'll have discovered what we're up to soon," Anamaria said impatiently as she tossed the key to her matching uniformed associate.
Norrington looked hard at the figure opening his cell and felt relief wash over him.
"How did you get here?" Norrington said rising from his seat as his cell opened to him.
Briana smiled briefly at him. "Later. Let's get out first."
She moved to start walking toward the exit when Norrington grabbed her firmly by the arm and spun her around.
"There's a better way," he stated. "A back staircase used during special circumstances."
"Then lead on," Briana replied.
"I will, but follow behind me with your musket at my back so it looks less suspicious," Norrington said.
"Alright," Briana said removing the weapon from her belt. "After you."
"You three follow at a distance. If you hear trouble we'll manage it if it comes, if not we'll direct you to follow us."
"We'll wait for you then," Elizabeth said as the two started off.
"Very well," Norrington nodded as he started off with Briana behind him.
All seemed to be going well as the two walked along. Norrington was relieved that they were almost safe when a figure appeared in front of them.
"James what are you doing?"
"Gillette," Norrington ground out. Behind him Briana aimed her weapon at the man before them.
"Wait a moment. Just wait," Gillette said raising his hands in surrender.
"Let us pass Gillette. We're getting out one way or another, but you don't have to die for us to do that."
"I won't stop you," Gillette replied. "But there's no way you can get out of Port Royal."
"Leave that for us to worry about," Norrington said.
"The soldiers haven't gone searching for the Pearl have they?" Briana said in a panicked tone.
"No. Beckett figures that Sparrow would leave all of you in an instant to save his own skin," Gillette said. "You're wasting time though. You should leave now. Every second that passes hinders your get away."
"Anamaria we're clear," Briana called behind her into the darkness.
"I wouldn't say that," a gravely male voice replied.
Briana felt a cold dread at the words as her ship mates came into view as a man with a mascot pushed them forward. He smirked.
"Looks like your little escape isn't-"
Before the man could complete his sentence Briana aimed and shot him in the shoulder with her own gun. The boom seemed to echo as the man stumbled back and dropped his gun to hold his bleeding shoulder.
"Come on," Anamaria ordered taking the man's weapon and rushing ahead.
"It's through that door," Norrington said gesturing to a bolted door in the wall. While Anamaria opened the lock on the door by striking it with her gun, Briana could only stare at the man laying on the floor. He was bleeding everywhere and moaning with pain and it was because of her. What if he died right here without anyone he loved to be with him as his spirit passed on?
"Move," Norrington said grabbing her by the shoulder and pushing her into the open doorway where the others had already gone. Briana stumbled onto the staircase and Norrington had to steady her. When her balance was righted, Briana shot down the stairs as fast as her legs would allow. Then in no time she was in the open air outside the fort. She followed the path her friends had taken as their retreating figures ran along the structure that was so near to shore that no guards were stationed there. She never knew if any soldiers were following because she never looked back, and the only thing she could hear was her own ragged breathing and the pounding of her heart.
The pirates moved stealthily with Anamaria leading the way to a secluded lagoon where a row boat was tied up. Somehow all five of them made room and they were on their way back to The Black Pearl and out of the soldier infested vicinity of Port Royal.
--
There's another one. Fluff was pretty nonexistent but I'll add some in the next chapter for sure. Thanks to everyone that's reviewed and kept this story going. I plan on updating the next chapter really soon after I get a little bit of feedback. Hint, hint. You guys rock!
