Game

There was a scream as somebody was thrown out of a bar's window. The man who threw it laughed in amusement. He was a tall man, over six feet tall, with bulging muscles over his entire body. Although his men were not as tall as him, they all were just as muscular.

The bar keeper and the maids all hid behind the counter, until he called to either of them to serve him. The man as truly a terror. He sat down at a chair that looked as if it were a throne.

"Bring in my prize. I wish to be amused." he motioned to his men. The men in the back shifted as a single person was shoved toward him. Their hands were bound behind their back, a burlap bag covered their face. The men forced the person to kneel before their captain. He reached down and pulled off the sack, revealing Captain Jack Sparrow himself.

"Good evening Mr. Sparrow." the man said

"Captain Brodin, I hope you're well. For it won't be long until I am saved by my own crew." Jack said. Brodin and his men laughed.

"The crew that does not know where you are? The crew that is wandering the town wondering, 'where's me captain? Where'd good 'ol Captain Jack go?'" Brodin laughed once more, "They'll never find you here, I can assure you. And once we move you onto my ship, I'm going to sail to England, your head hanging off the bow." He pulled a knife out and held it against Jack's face.

"I trust my crew to save me." Jack said, although it was clear in his voice, he was nervous.

I rather dou-" Brodin started. The door to the tavern was opened. All eyes turned to who entered. Although Jack felt relieved, he was also terrified when he saw who it was.

"Pardon me, but have you see-" Jewel started, before she noticed her father on the ground, "Oh there you are dad."

"Dad?" Brodin asked, looking from Jewel to Jack. He chuckled. "So there's your little spawn, Sparrow."

"I'm going to leave now." Jewel said, turning on her heel. Two of Brodin's men grabbed her arms though to pull her back.

"Gibbs! He's in here! Help us!" Jewel screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Gag her now!" Brodin ordered. A man tied a cloth around her mouth just as Gibbs and the rest of the crew threw open the door, swords and pistols ready.

"Lower your weapons, or else." Brodin said. His men all pulled out their weapons to aim at the Sparrows.

"Brodin, called one of the luckiest pirates alive." Gibbs snarled with a sneer.

"The very same." Brodin said, bowing slightly. Jewel's eyes grew wide, then focused on the floor. Those who knew her realized what was going on. She was coming up with a plan. The crew all lowered their weapons so their captain and his daughter will not be killed.

"Now with nobody watching the Black Pearl, I guess we'll just take it off your hands." Brodin said. His men chuckled around him.

"Are you as lucky as they say?" Gibbs dared to ask

"Hmph, of course. I'm the luckiest pirate on these waters." Brodin bragged

"Well... I don't believe you!" Gibbs said. His statement earned gasps from everybody in the bar.

"Gibbs, what are you doing?" Jack whispered harshly

"And just what game are you challenging me to?" Brodin asked

"Cards." Gibbs nodded, "I win, you let us all go. You win all of us, the Pearl, it's yours."

"GIII!" Jewel yelled through her gag

"Gibbs! You are not risking my ship!" Jack yelled

"Hm," Brodin said in thought, stroking his barren chin. "Very well. Men, table! Chair! Make quick, you ninnys!" His men all shifted in setting an area up, grabbing a table and a seat for Gibbs. While Jewel and Jack were kept behind Brodin, the rest of the Black Pearl's crew remained behind Gibbs. One of Brodin's men held up a deck of cards.

"What will it be then? Gin Rummy? Brag?" Brodin asked

"Poker." Gibbs growled

"You are a brave man, Gibbs." Brodin said, shuffling the cards. Jewel looked to her father, worry in her eyes.

"I know luv." Jack said. With the cards dealt, Gibbs and Brodin looked at their hands. They would glance at one another to see if there was any kind of reaction to them. They showed no signs of happiness, or anger, or sadness as they would shift their cards, discard one, or draw another.

It was all very nerve-racking to watch. Especially when your life hangs in the balance.

Jewel struggled against the hand that grasped her arm. He moved his grip higher making her wince once he grabbed her bullet wounds.

That just healed you dolt! Jewel thought angrily. Brodin drew one card and a smirk appearred briefly on his lips. It vanished just as quickly as it came though.

That smirk could have meant anything. All eyes were on Gibbs to see some form of reaction. He sighed and laid his head down on the table. An action nobody was expecting.

"Well, it seems then the Pearl is mine. Isn't that right my ladies?" Brodin asked, laying down his hand. Three queens. Brodin stood and walked to the Sparrows.

"You already know what I have planned for you." he pointed to Jack then held Jewel's face in one hand, "You on the other hand can be useful in more ways than one girl."

"Is it wrong for me to rest my head?" Gibbs asked loudly. Brodin looked back at him. He was standing, his cards still in hand.

"And how can you beat me, old man?" Brodin asked. Gibbs still stood tall.

"Where is that other queen?" he asked, before slapping his cards onto the table.

It was a straight flush.

"Now may I have my captain and his daughter?" Gibbs asked

"But..." Brodin said, in shock. "I'm the luckiest. I was told by a witch I would be unbeatable!"

"Don't always believe what you hear, mate." Jack put in. Brodin growled, then looked back at his captives, then at Gibbs. He had the men and weaponry, he could kill them all and be done with it. But... It didn't seem right, thinking about it.

"Release them." Brodin growled. Jewel kicked her captors' knees when she was freed before joining Jack, Gibbs, and the rest of her friends.

"You aren't going to pursue us?" Jack asked

"I may be a pirate, but I am also a man of honor. You were won over." Brodin said, waving his hand for them to go.

"And your crew agrees?" Jack asked

"If they don't they'll have to answer to me." Brodin said, looking back at the men. Not one made a sound.

"Leave." Brodin growled. They did so without hesitation. Once they were outside, Jewel gave Gibbs a hug.

"Thank you so much Gibbs!" she said

"Think nothin' of it." Gibbs said happily, "I was just doing my job of keepin' you both out of harms way."

"Job well done then." Jack complimented the man, "Job well done."