Hi there. No one believed me when I said my dad hated me but now I guess you all have proof. He's booting me coming my 18th birthday, May 9th, and by Johnny Depp's birthday, June 9th, I'll be on my own. And then of course, the date I want this fic to be finished, July 9th, well, we'll see about that.
Chapter XI – The Plot Thickens
Robin woke in a small room, tied to a chair, her dress tattered at the hem and stained with sand and grit. The room was dark but she could see gray light from behind the curtains of the windows. She was gagged and her voice didn't reach very far. The ropes at her wrists and ankles chafed whenever she moved and she was mightily thirsty.
She had been sitting for some time wondering on how she was going to escape when the door opened and Tavington entered.
"How are you faring, my dear?" he asked. She glared at him and attempted to kick out at him. He only laughed and pulled the gag from her mouth.
"Fuck you, asshole!" she exclaimed, spitting at him. "Let me go!'
"No, my dear," he told her in a patronizing tone. "You are my ransom."
"What do you want? Elizabeth is already married! Go crawl into a hole or something."
"Would you take her place?" he asked her, looking meaningful.
"Of course not," she answered. "I'd rather marry Norrington than you."
"You may get your chance," he told her angrily. "I've sent off my terms and the Commodore himself is coming today to negotiate."
"Negotiate! There's nothing to negotiate about! You will let me go and leave this place."
"Not until I procure what I want," he told her. "You see, I may not be able to have Elizabeth, but I can surely have you. No one has laid claim to you, poor girl."
"Fuck off," Robin spat. "You aren't fit to wipe the Devil's boots let alone marry me."
"My aren't we humble," he laughed, tipping her chin up. "Or, I can receive a certain bit of information on the whereabouts of the Sparrows." He watched in glee as Robin's eyes grew wide.
"I have no idea," she told him, very convincingly. "Ryoko never told me where they were going."
"Ah, but you do know," he told her. "The coachman of Norrington's carriage is under my employ. He heard you tell Norrington you knew about it but you didn't tell him loud enough to hear the location. And who is this Ryoko person you speak of?"
Robin looked angry enough to boil concrete with her blood.
"You see, if I cannot have Elizabeth, and you are this unwilling, then I will still rake in the guineas for killing those two swashbuckling fools. I can buy all the whores I want, then," he smiled at her. "Are you going to tell me?"
"Never," she told him simply. His hand came out of nowhere and struck her across the face. It didn't really hurt, not really, but she knew that behind that controlled blow was much more strength, and she was afraid. She moved back to look at him.
He stood there, exercising his wrist, turning it in slow circles so that the crack of bones moving could be heard.
"You do know that I will not stop, correct?" he asked her.
"I've seen your set of morals," Robin snapped. "You'd stab a defenseless girl to get what you wanted."
"That's right," he answered truthfully. "You're very defenseless right now. Take care that I not find reason to repeat the action, in a perhaps more deadly spot."
He chuckled softly and cracked his knuckles ominously. She swallowed. The next blow was harder, but not aimed at her face. She let her air out on a loud violent exhale, her stomach pitching from the blow. 'I'm going to faint,' she thought. 'Damn that corset.' But Tavington was dancing about shaking his hand. The blow to the whalebone had hurt him as well. Robin hung her head down and pretended to be unconscious, hoping maybe he would leave and she could try getting out again. He replaced the gag carefully and did leave, locking the door from the outside. She looked up immediately and began working at the ropes, biting into the gag as her skin became raw and bloody in the effort.
Meanwhile, Tavington was choosing a weapon from his collection of silver knives.
…
"I will go," Norrington told Will. "There is no getting around it. It may be my fault that all this happened."
"But you are still wounded," Will pointed out, trying to keep the Commodore in bed.
"Let me go," he told him tiredly, pushing the younger man away feebly.
"You may be killed, sir," Will told him. "What would Fort Charles do without you?"
"You've still got Lieutenant Gillette and Captain Groves." Norrington answered fruitlessly. Will shook his head.
"Sir, you and I both know that Gillette is useless as a commander and Groves lacks in responsibility."
"That, you are right," Norrington agreed. "But who do you suppose would go in my place?"
"I will," Will answered, smiling a little.
"No, Mr. Turner," Norrington. "You must be there for Elizabeth, especially in light of the news. You're going to be a father."
"We could send Gillette or Groves," he suggested. Norrington shook his head.
"Gillette would give in to terms too easily and Groves, well, he might kill the man in a rage, which might not be too lamentable except for the blood spilt would reflect upon me."
"But you cannot go," Will said shaking his head.
"I must. It is an act of duty and even if I am killed, which I doubt, I will not regret it," Norrington held his head high.
"You have feelings for Miss Skiles, don't you?" Will guessed. Norrington didn't answer and was saved from doing so when Angelique entered timidly.
« Angelique, » Will began. « Tu s'habille Monsieur Norrington, s'il te plait. Il va a la maison de Monsieur Tavington. Regarde son cicatrice, aussi. »
"What did you say to her?" Norrington asked as Will was leaving the room.
"I told her to help you dress and to check your wound, Commodore. You are going to Tavington's house."
Norrington nodded. "Thank you, William Turner."
"Thank me when you come back alive, James Norrington," Will answered nodding back. He disappeared around the doorjamb and left Angelique to cluck nonsense French over Norrington.
…
Ryoko awoke much later than normal, her head pounding, but not as much as it usually did after she drank herself silly. Jack was not in the room and she thanked God for that after she threw the covers back.
She looked down at herself and almost freaked out for one simple reason. She wasn't wearing anything. She ran frantically around the room, throwing on clothes when she found them. She didn't find her future undergarments and was left to improvise. She used a scarf to support her chest and was satisfied with the appearance when the shirt was buttoned. She refused to think about what might have happened the night before, whether it had been a dream or not. She purposefully blocked it out, knowing if she mentally reviewed it, she would not be able to look Jack or her friends in the face.
She was looking through the closet when she came across a dark purple dress that looked very familiar. It was the dress Elizabeth had worn on the Pearl when taken by Barbossa. Ryoko pulled it out and put it up against her.
"This might actually fit," she muttered to herself. "Not now, though. I am not wearing that today." She replaced the dress and ran an ivory comb found in a drawer through her hair. This took several minutes for her hair had become quite tangled. She was determined, however, to rid it of knots.
She sighed as she looked at the ends. They were split beyond help and there was nothing left to do but to cut them off. She tied them back and went below to fetch a basin, filling it with a little water from a barrel.
She sat it in front of the mirror in the cabin and looked down into the basin, which was strangely clear, showing her reflection very unmistakably.
"Who have I become?" she asked herself, glancing from the basin to the mirror. She looked back into the water mirror and saw someone different from in the normal mirror. The big mirror showed who she thought she was, but the water mirror showed her the truth. She was not a 21st century teenager anymore. She was a pirate, or more specifically, a pirate's wench. She cringed when she thought of that and wet her hair, happy when she spilt her reflection into countless pieces.
She cut off about six inches and was glad that it actually came out straight, though she missed her long hair. It had been down to her waist and now barley came as far as her mid back. She shook her head to clear it of any rogue hairs and took the basin out to empty it, not risking another glance in the truth-telling mirror.
She returned to the cabin, put on her boots and a vest, tying her hair back and making sure both the skull ring and the emerald were around her neck. They clinked merrily together, as if they were meant to ride upon the same neck.
She moved down to the below decks were Heather, Kristin and Diana were playing with Jack the monkey. The monkey never came near Ryoko again, though he had the first night she'd been in the cave.
She could only think of one thing that had changed and sighed, pushing it from her mind. She sat on a hammock and talked to the girls.
"Well, we're bound for Tortuga," she announced. "I hope you're excited."
"It'll be just like the ride!" Heather exclaimed. "My dad has so many CDs and things at home from Disneyland. Any pirate fan, or Small world fan or any fan would be in heaven at my house!"
"Well," Ryoko said, grinning. "I've got a fair bit of Disneyland paraphernalia at my house as well."
"You're talking like a pirate, Ryoko," Diana muttered. "Snap out of it."
"I am a pirate, luv," she grinned imitating Jack to the point of creepiness. "And I may well be," she added, switching to her normal voice. "Even if there was a way to get back, I don't think Jack would let me go."
Diana grinned. "But don't you have someone you like back in our time?"
"Who?" Ryoko asked. "Oh, him. He can go to hell, for all I care. He may have said he cared for me but as far as I'm concerned, I have no feelings for him anymore. I don't think he ever cared to begin with. Stupid teenage boys. They should all be shot."
"Besides, it doesn't matter who this guy is," Heather commented. "His competition is Jack. No man could win with that sort of opposition."
Diana and he other girls giggled. Another voice rang out on deck and the pounding of small feet could be heard. Coming down the stairs a moment later, was Eric. She cried in delight when he spotted Ryoko and launched himself in her direction.
"Scarlette! Scarlette! You're alive!" He crawled up in the hammock she was swinging on and latched onto her arm.
"Of course I'm alive, silly," she told him. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Jack said you were sleeping like the dead," Eric told her.
"Oh," Ryoko couldn't help but blush. The girls started laughing and make suggestive comments.
"Oh, knock it off," Ryoko told them. "Diana! I'm ashamed at you of all people, who know me the best of everyone here."
"But you are married to him," Diana pointed out. "This isn't like the Gallegos or Arenas comments."
Ryoko shook her head. "And you'll be glad to keep those two ... rumors a secret. I've left those behind."
Diana laughed and the other girls looked confused. Ryoko decided to enlighten them as lightly as possible.
"Let's just say I've been called other names beside Sparrow or Maxwell," they seemed to understand but Eric was still confused. "I'll tell you when you're older," she told him and he whined.
"I be eleven and ..." he counted on his little fingers. "Seven eighths. My birthday's December 1st!"
"Really?" Ryoko said in mock surprise. She looked thoughtful for a minute. "Does anyone know the date?"
"We were captured on November 10th." Kristin answered.
"That was almost a week ago," Heather added. "So around the 14th or 15th."
"I was brought here July 16th," Ryoko thought. "No way has it been that long. I've only been here about a month and a half, not four months."
"Maybe time flows differently back home," Heather suggested.
"Or maybe when we came here," Diana thought. "It wasn't July. Maybe it was September."
"Eric," Ryoko told the boy. "Go and ask Jack what day it is."
"Okay," he answered and scampered up the stairs.
"He's so cute," Kristin gushed. "He's so tiny! Where did you find him?"
"He was a stowaway on a passenger ship we were riding on," Ryoko explained. "I was bringing him food and water when Jack found out. Then we were attacked by Barbossa and the other ship, the Chinese one. Eric ended up coming with us on our escape."
"Why wasn't he in the brig with you two?" Heather asked.
"Barbossa pressed him into service, I guess," Ryoko answered shrugging. "He was knocked out in the fight, trying to get away I suppose. One of the sailors brought him back over to us."
"Thank God," Diana added. "Or he'd be dead right now. The Opal sunk after just a few shots with no one to retaliate."
"I'm just glad The Poison Dragon wasn't around," Ryoko added. "Jack claims that he could have taken both ships down but I doubt it. The Dragon could have come around behind the Pearl and then where would we be? Jack would be dead and I might be as well."
Eric came down and smiled. "He said it's September 1st, Tuesday, 11:36 ½, 1758, AD."
"It figures, him being the joker, though I'll debate on the time," she answered. "He doesn't have a clock."
Diana suddenly gasped and grabbed a handful or Ryoko's hair. "You cut it!"
"I had to," Ryoko sighed. "It was all split to hell."
"At least it doesn't look like it has things ... growing in it," Heather said giggling. "Jack's hair is frightening."
"But he's still hot," Kristin gushed. "Sorry, Scarlette."
Ryoko shrugged and grinned. "I don't care if you look at him that way."
"Let's take a vote," Heather suggested smiling. "Jack or Will?"
"All for Jack," Kristin said, raising her hand. Ryoko looked around and raised her own a bit hesitantly.
"I vote for Robin and Claudia as well," Ryoko added. "So that's four."
"All for Will," Heather added, raising her own, as did Diana, strangely.
Ryoko raised her hand again. "I'm voting for Lizzy and Elizabeth of course."
"That's four!" Heather exclaimed. Kristin's hand shot up again.
"Five here," she grinned. "Anamaria counts."
"Jack'll win anyway," Ryoko told them. "You don't know how many dirty looks I got in New Orleans from women he knew and I'm sure there'll be more in Tortuga. Scarlet and Gisele will be there. (Notice the different spelling. Scarlette Sparrow, Scarlet of Tortuga) I'm afraid of being lynched or something."
"Ryoko, Scarlette, whoever my friend has become, you are not yourself," Diana told her. "You were the scourge of Warren High. The girls were afraid of you, as were most of the boys. No woman is going to get the best of you and I only know a few men who have, one being Jack."
"Shut up," Ryoko snapped playfully.
"You know, it seems as though Jack is your rival as well as your husband," Heather observed. "You two are too alike."
"Are we?" Ryoko asked and the girls nodded.
"Ryoko," Diana said. "You are the only girl I know who would do some of the things you do. You aren't afraid of what others will think and I don't know anyone, with the possible exception of transvestites, that is as comfortable in men's clothing as you, nor any who wear it as well."
"And from what I can see," Kristin added. "You'll kill to preserve yourself as well as anyone under your protection. Jack told everyone about what happened in the cave. You risked your life with an unloaded gun by slicing open your arm and for what? To save a bunch of pirates and girls you didn't even really know?"
Ryoko didn't answer. She was flattered by their images of her and didn't think herself much worth such praise. She had just done what she though was right, or what would get the job at hand done. She had no idea it would speak to them so.
"And she can talk like him as well," Heather pointed out rather absently. Everyone laughed and quieted as they heard footsteps on the stairs. Dobereiner saw them and smiled.
"The Cap'n needs everyone on the main deck 'bout now."
"Thank you, sir," Ryoko told him.
"Ah, tis nothin' Mrs. Sparrow," he answered and disappeared above the deck.
The girls and Eric followed him up from the deck, the monkey perched on Diana's shoulder. They emerged among most of the crew. Ryoko was left to thread her way through to a spot where she was likely to be able to see better, being the shortest adult on board, minus Marty of course. Eric followed her, grabbing her hand and clinging to her, slightly intimidated by all the big seamen around.
She caught sight of Jack, high upon the railing above the door to the captain's quarters, waiting for the crew to quite down. His manner commanded their attention and it was hard to think of this man ever becoming victim to the gibbet.
Finally, the crew reached a conclusion in their noise making and stood quiet, ready to receive news from the captain.
"Good day to you, ladies and gentlemen, or ungentlemen if you like." He grinned, his golden teeth flashing. "We're but a few hours from Tortuga." The crew and passengers cheered loudly.
"I'll ask half of you to stay aboard the first three days," he told them. "I'll not want me ship being stolen. The next four days, you'll switch. Captain, Quartermaster, Boatswain, Surgeon, Gunner, and passengers are exempt from this. I trust you to divide the watches amongst yourselves. You don't have to go your watch out all at once but I expect you to switch with another if you're to go a town, understand?"
"Aye!" the crew exclaimed.
"Well, then," he concluded. "Back to work for now. When night falls, we'll be in Tortuga."
The crew returned to their business, leaving Ryoko and Eric near the stairs to the top deck, along with the other girls near the opening to below decks. Jack saw her and before she could run, he'd vaulted over the railing and landed beside her. Eric made sounds of admiration and Ryoko had to grab him before he went to try it himself.
"You are definitely a bad influence on this boy," she told Jack.
"On you as well, it seems," he teased, hooking her around the waist and pulling her up against him.
"Um ..." she squeaked uncertainly but he persisted, whispering in her ear.
"We've an audience, luv," he reminded her. She relaxed, knowing that it would seem strange to her friends if she were to resist too much. He didn't give them much of a show to her relief, only kissing her forehead and smiling. He released her and she turned to walk to her friends, attempting to keep her face calm. He grabbed her arm again and spun her around.
"You've cut your hair," he pointed out, frowning. "Why?"
She shrugged. "The ends were ruined. They needed to be cut or they'd keep breaking off."
He shook his head. "Never stopped me."
She laughed aloud. "I can see that." She walked back to her friends and their comments and they disappeared below.
Jack grinned at her retreating form and shook his head.
…
Barbossa and Belle were in Mei Lin's room arguing. Mei Lin and Dante sat in the corner listening to their voices.
"I think we should leave him in Tortuga when we get there," Barbossa suggested. "He's only getting in the way as it is."
"You can't do that to the man who brought you back not once, but twice!" Belle exclaimed. "He isn't hindering you that much."
"He's given grog and all manner of other things to the sailors and he let them get at the chest!" Barbossa exclaimed. "Half the crew is cursed, our stores are ruined thanks to all the drunken sailors about devouring it and it's his entire fault!"
"Barton meant well," she told him. "But when you think about it, it's a good thing some of our crew is cursed. They cannot die and don't need to eat, therefore that's stress we don't have to waste on them."
"True," he answered. "A tad true, it seems, but I still don't want him here."
Belle sighed and shook her red locks from her face. "You can't just leave him there."
"Why not?" Barbossa growled. "It's not like I'll be leavin' him to die. He can hunt in the streets for no one cares if a body goes missin' in Tortuga. On a ship, that's hard to conceal and the two of us are takin' as much already. He's exhausted the store of rats and started in on the Chinks."
"I'll kindly ask you to watch you manners, good man," Dante said from the corner. "And I have an idea for your purposes."
Barbossa grunted to show he was listening.
"I believe Jack and Scarlette Sparrow are in Tortuga for one simple reason. They haven't been there yet on this chase you've given."
"What's yer point, Smith?" Barbossa snapped.
"Allow me to take Mei Lin, Barton, and Belle if she wishes, and catch them," Dante suggested. "It is not a foolproof plan but with a vampire or two, a Chinese martial master, and me, I believe we can work something out."
Barbossa considered it. "What's in it fer me?"
Dante smiled. "I knew you'd ask that. Jack and Scarlette will be caught and killed of course. The bounty hunter will flourish with her prize, and you will be the only demon on board this ship. Mei Lin also wants to see those two dead."
"What if the plan fails?" Barbossa asked.
"I always have a backup," Dante told him, taking out the paper Mei Lin had found. He unrolled it and handed it to Barbossa. The sea captain read the paper, holding it at arms length and still squinting. After a few minutes, he grinned evilly and tossed the paper back to Dante.
"You are a genius after me own mind, Smith. I'll go with yer plan and I'll be on me way back to take care of the loose ends. I didn't want it to come to this, but I suppose it'll have to. Send a letter to New Orleans with the results of yer conquest."
Dante smiled and nodded. Mei Lin looked lost and Belle was smiling. She had read and grasped the plan as well.
The only one in the room who didn't know what was going on was Mei Lin and she certainly wouldn't have stood for it if she did. Or perhaps her hatred for Jack had made even her own mind that twisted.
…
Robin had not freed her hand and had almost given up for her wrists had swollen badly due to the constant friction on them. She heard footsteps outside her door and hung her head in feint unconsciousness again. The door opened and she saw Tavington's boots, his silver spurs clicking with each step. He brought her head up and she slowly opened her eyes.
What she saw horrified her. He held up a long shiny silver blade and the look on his face let her know he wasn't afraid to use it on her. He pulled out her gag.
"Are you going to tell me where they've gone or am I going to have to persuade you?" Robin weighed the consequences in her head. This guy was a lunatic and she tried to imagine him up against Jack. Tavington was larger than Jack was physically and more insane when it came to fighting. She didn't want to chance them together because if Jack died, Ryoko would probably kick it as well.
She sized up Tavington and imagined her friend going at it with him as well. Would Ryoko stand a chance to this man? Ryoko was fast, this she knew, but as strong a woman as she was, men generally had her on the upper body strength. Robin swallowed and made her decision.
"My answer will not change," she told him bravely.
"So be it," he grinned. He laid the cold blade against her upper arm and she shut her eyes, preparing herself for the pain when a loud knocking sound interrupted them.
"Tavington! Open the door!" Norrington's voice was very clearly heard throughout the wooden house. "I'm here to negotiate the cessation of hostilities against Miss Skiles."
"Where have I heard that before?" Robin asked herself aloud while Tavington went to answer the door.
"Are you alone and unarmed?" Tavington asked, leaning against the closed door, the rough wood coarse beneath his hands.
"You may search me, for I am alone," Norrington answered from outside.
"It's a pity that wound didn't kill you," Tavington commented, opening the door.
"Where is Robin?" the commodore asked, at once hostile.
"She's fine," Tavington told him. "Aren't you, girl?"
"As long as you stay in that room I'll be fine," she snapped. Norrington seemed to be relieved.
"Well, name your terms, Mr. Tavington," Norrington told him.
"I want the location of the Sparrows," he snapped immediately.
"Why would you want that?" Norrington asked.
"Because, my dear stupid Commodore, I am going to kill them!"
"Will you let her go if I tell you?"
"No!" Robin shouted. "Don't tell him that!"
"I must," Norrington answered her frailly. "Anything to get her out, do you understand?" the last was said to Tavington.
The man nodded. "I will leave this house with you two in it. It is up to you to get her out."
"Your word?" Norrington asked.
"Of course," they shook on it and Norrington took a deep breath.
"The Sparrows are in Tortuga," he told him. "If you succeed in killing them—"
"You're gonna get a shit load of money," Robin snapped from the other room. "I hope you're satisfied."
Tavington nodded. "I am indeed. Well, then Commodore. The best of luck to you. I leave you here to free her." He picked up a small traveling bag, pre-packed, and left the little wooden house.
Norrington groaned and moved to the other room. Robin sat there, still tied to the chair with a scowl on her face.
"Robin, you are well I hope?" he asked.
"I'll be fine once you get me out of here," she told him. "There are knives somewhere in this place. I heard him sharpening them earlier."
Norrington found them without difficulty. There were several different kinds and he paused a moment to look them over.
Robin screamed his name and he hurried over to her room.
"He's set the house on fire!" she exclaimed. The smoke was coming from the front room. Norrington sliced through the ropes binding her and she burst from the chair, falling on the floor. Her ankles had been tied too tightly for too long and she couldn't walk yet. Norrington pulled her to her feet and lifted her up, groaning as his wound split open again. He stumbled to the front room, seeing the door ablaze, the flames licking scorching paths over the wooden frame.
She pointed and he followed her gesture. There was a window. He moved as quickly as his wound and her weight would permit and set her down. There wasn't much in the room besides and old desk and chair, a small bed and an empty closet. He grasped the chair and let it fly. The window exploded, shards of glass raining down on the mud outside, sticking treacherously out of the mire like glittering crooked teeth.
Norrington lifted Robin up again and carefully helped her over the jagged sill. She gasped as her shoes sunk into the mud outside the window, the glass cutting into the fabric. She held onto the wall, which was growing hotter by the second as Norrington hoisted himself out. He stepped lightly and whistled. His horse came running from around the corner and he helped Robin to sit sidesaddle, pulling himself up behind her. He spurred the horse and it leapt over the muddy streets to the Governor's house.
Meanwhile, Tavington was meeting his good friend Captain Arod (the very same) and scheduling a voyage to Tortuga.
…
The gangplank was being lowered to the dock and Ryoko was excited. She'd never been to Tortuga and was looking forward to it. She, at Jack's request, had changed into the purple dress that Elizabeth had worn and to her glee realized it did fit her. Elizabeth may have been skinnier than she, but after a good part of the last month spent at sea, Ryoko was thin enough. She, however, kept her boots instead of the little shoes in the closet. One, they were too big, as most things were, and two, they hurt her feet.
The plank hit the dock with an audible noise and Jack, being first to disembark, offered his arm. She took it and allowed him to lead her down the wooden plank. Following them were the two Oregon girls. Diana had decided to stay on the ship, giving reason that she felt sick. Anamaria, Gibbs, Nathaniel, Stevenson, and Armstrong followed them, as well as a number of other sailors, bent on visiting family in the town.
Jack was pointing things out to Ryoko and explaining their purpose and telling stories while she laughed at the drunken men blundering about, hanging on his arm like a trophy wife, her golden hair brilliant over her shoulders, the cloth of her dress playing its lighting trick and appearing a deep red in the firelight.
Jack stopped cold, spotting something she couldn't see. "Oh, no."
She looked at him quizzically but her answer came soon enough. Five women in ravishingly beautiful dresses were watching them, one of their number walking up to them.
"'Allo, Jack," she said to him, a scowl on her face.
"Hello Gisele," he smiled warily, the corner of his mouth moving only.
Ryoko let go of Jack's arm and smirked. He looked at her in alarm but she shook her head. He was on his own until the wolves turned on her.
The women crowded around him and he looked much the same as when the pirates of Barbossa's crew had pointed their weapons at him before he'd jumped after Elizabeth and his pistol.
"I missed you, Jack," a darker woman purred in his ear. She was a beautiful woman from Africa, her hair short and her skin gleaming in the firelight. She blinked gorgeous black eyes at him.
"Oi missed ya most o' course," Gisele told him, pulling him away from the other women. The tall redhead growled.
"He's mine, Gisele."
"No way Scarlet! Oi've known 'um longa than any o' you!"
"I'll bet any of you that he prefers me," said the darker one.
"What gives you that idea, Cassandra?" a smaller one with dark brown hair asked. "Maybe he prefers smaller women, like me."
"Dream on, Ellie," the last one, a pale girl with long blonde hair so pale it seemed white. "Everyone knows Jack like me, Phyllidia, the best."
Jack had slowly and sneakily stepped away from them when Cassandra pointed to him. "Let's have him choose."
"Oh, dear," he yelped, running to stand behind Ryoko, his hands on her shoulders, ducking behind her.
"It serves you right," she told him. "Don't hide behind me."
"I've a right to," he told her. "They don't realize who you are."
"This is a really bad idea," she told him. The five women were standing before her frowning.
"Hi there," she greeted nervously. "I'm Scarlette."
"So am I," the other one snapped. She was very tall and Ryoko noticed with a slight annoyance that she was again the shortest.
"What do you want?" she asked them. Phyllidia answered this time.
"Jack needs to stop hiding behind you and come out. He's supposed to pick one of us."
Ryoko looked back at Jack. "You're lucky tonight. Get ready to run if this heats up too badly, but don't leave me. If you leave me here and run for it, I swear I'll kill you." He gulped and nodded, standing up straight. Ryoko faced forward.
"Back off, chickies," she told them. "I'd say Jack Sparrow's already chosen."
"And I suppose you think you're the one, right?" Ellie asked her.
"Damn straight," Ryoko told her. "Who is he hiding behind, eh? And if you've a problem, take it up with me, you hag!"
The women gasped and Jack mentally laughed. Ellie came up to Ryoko and the rest backed up, Jack backing against the wall and keeping an eye out.
Ellie pushed Ryoko a little and the future girl started laughing.
"Are you going to try and fight me for him?" she asked. "Obviously my reputation does not precede me." She shoved Ellie back and the Tortuga woman realized her mistake. This new girl was strong.
She stumbled and finally fell on her ass, the voluminous dress miring her. Cassandra and Gisele helped her up, dusting her off.
"I don't know who you think you are but we're not going to let you keep Jack all to yourself," Cassandra growled, her voice very deep with hint of some language Ryoko didn't know. Of all of them, this one seemed the most dangerous.
"Be my guest, if you think you can take him from me," she told her. Cassandra and Scarlet, the two biggest women moved forward. Gisele and Phyllidia moved up behind them to wait in reserve.
Cassandra and Scarlet reached for her at the same moment but were surprised greatly when Ryoko moved forward, allowing them to hold her arms. She twisted her arms and grabbed each of them instead. Using the momentum of her own movement, she spread her legs out and pulled the girls with her. They were drawn backwards and tripped over her legs, their height a disadvantage for once. Scarlet fell first, Cassandra landing on the redhead's face and upper body.
Jack shook his head and smiled. The last three girls lunged at her and Ryoko laughed aloud again. She kicked one in the stomach, pulled another down by her hair and at the last she merely looked. Phyllidia, having not jumped into the fray stood alone.
"Who are you?" she asked Ryoko, and with all Jack's confidence as he had told the pirates in the cave after Elizabeth's blood failed, she told her.
"I'm Mrs. Jack Sparrow."
Phyllidia gulped and fainted on the spot, landing next to her comrades, her platinum blonde hair pooling in a liquid fire puddle. Jack swaggered from the wall, laughing to himself, his face a great big grin. "Well done," he laughed draping an arm around her shoulders. "I couldn't have done better myself."
She shrugged his arm off her shoulders and sniffed. "Don't get used to it, babe. Once I'm done with this masquerade, you're on your own."
Jack smiled and pulled her close, using her waist instead. "Some masks become so natural, they never change."
She fixed a dark gaze on him and he finally let her go, taking her hand instead and walking away, pulling her along.
He led her into The Faithful Bride where many of their crew was waiting. After some surveying of the crowd, he sat at a table, she sitting next to him, and he ordered rum of course. She ordered water and was laughed at by the man.
"We ain't got no water here, miss," he told her. She frowned and Jack took over, ordering the same for her.
"You don't have to drink it," he told her.
"Then why order it?"
"I'll drink it."
"Mr. Sparrow, sir?" cried a small man.
"Aye, that be me," Jack answered, raising an arm. The man sped to him and handed him a few worn envelopes.
"These've been here the last two days and I was told to hold 'em for you." Jack handed the man a piece of eight and he bowed, running off.
"I wonder," Jack said, handing one of the envelopes to Ryoko. It was addressed to Scarlette Sparrow. She opened it and found it was a letter from Robin. She read the first line and groaned.
"I'm going to kill her."
"Why?"
"This is why."
Dear Ryoko, excuse me, Scarlette Sparrow
I hope you're having fun out on the big ocean with none other than Jack Sparrow, you lucky woman. I wish I were in your place and so does Claudia. She ended up going to the Swann's ball with Gillette. He he he. Of course, I shouldn't be talking because I had to go with Norrington (gag). Everything is good here. Lizzy found a guy exactly like DJ and she's not as sad anymore. Your brother is being a little punk but making swords for Will and guess what; you and Jack are welcome back in Port Royal! Norrington issued a notice just the other day saying as long as you are in Port Royal, the bounty hunters cannot collect their bounty on you, unless of course you're brought in dead. He also said if you committed any other crimes while there, he'd remove the protection.
We miss you a lot even though we hate your guts for being there with Jack. Just kidding of course. We know you're not really married to him.
Lots of Love,
Robin Skiles, Elizabeth Talbott, and Claudia Gonzales
"Cool!" Ryoko exclaimed. "We're allowed back in Port Royal!" She glanced at Jack warily. "You're not going to make me continue this act are you?"
He grinned. "I am."
"Why?"
"I already told you! Your friends, especially the one with the glasses, are not airtight. They'll leak our secret abroad faster than an uncaulked ship. No, it's safer this way."
"It seems to me," she told him. "That everyone who's tried to attack me so far has done so to get at you. I think your name is doing more damage than it's helping. And what is the big secret? No one really cares except whores and they certainly aren't trying to kill you … at least not for the most part."
He smiled at her. "I know you have a point, but you haven't run into the dangerous sort yet."
"Like Barbossa and his cronies aren't dangerous!" she exclaimed. "Forget it! I'm telling my friends the truth. I'll not be having them mad at me because of you and your useless mind games."
Jack's eyes grew wide but at that moment, a man stormed in a fright and collapsed in his hurry to get inside. He picked himself up and stumbled over to the bar.
"The bandits have returned," he told the man.
"Lucky for us," he said uncaringly. "That our exterminator is here as well. Oy, Sparrow. You need to go and clean out Unorna's men again."
"Hey," Jack exclaimed. "I don't work here. Clean your own bandits out."
"I'll pay you," the man told him. Jack froze.
"How much?"
"Four escudos," the man told him. Jack scoffed.
"For the job I'm takin' on you've got to have more to offer than half a doubloon."
"Fine, I'll give you a doubloon!"
"No," Jack told him, taking a long drink from his mug and slamming it down on the crude wooden table.
"Come on! That's eight escudos! Sixteen pieces of eight! One hundred and twenty eight reales!"
"You're not persuading me, man," Jack muttered. "I want ten doubloons and not a farthing less."
"All right, so it'll take my whole life savings," the man shouted. "But the bandits'll take that anyway if they aren't stopped. Done."
Jack stood and put some coins on the table. Ryoko stood to follow but he turned and waved her down.
"You stay here. Find Gibbs and have him take you to the ship."
"I'm not staying," she told him angrily. "We haven't finished our argument."
"There isn't one," he told her. "You can come but I doubt you'll be able to catch up with me." He smirked at her. "I have a feeling you would say we weren't finished with the argument until you had what you wanted anyway." She stood immediately and followed him as he weaved through the tables. He darted out the door and she followed, immediately lost.
Jack must have expected her to give up when she couldn't find him but Ryoko was as stubborn as he was and she returned inside to grab the man who had called.
"Show me where they've gone," she commanded.
"Listen, lass," he said with a thick Scottish accent. "I'm not goin' anywhere near them bandits, understand. I came 'ere ta get away from 'em and lost all me money in the bargain."
"You'll take me there or I'll kill you myself," she threatened.
"No offense, lady, but yer the size of a lit'l un."
"Come on! You're not gonna help me because I'm short?"
"No, unless ye can persuade me some other way." He wiggled his eyebrows.
"I've just thought of something," she snapped. "If you don't, I'll tell my husband what you just said." She didn't mind switching sides on her own argument to threaten.
"Who's that?" the man asked, unimpressed.
"Jack Sparrow."
"Ah, this way, then. O' course I'll tek ya to the bandits."
"Thank you."
…
Jack was running on the roofs of the buildings and hadn't heard the exchange. He knew exactly where the bandits were going and didn't want to risk Ryoko. These were the sort of people he had been talking about in the pub. They did not hesitate for anything and a girl like Ryoko would run high to their liking, unless a name such as Sparrow followed her own. In fact, not many other names would do to keep her safe from them. He was glad he'd left her behind in her stubborn fit.
He jumped into the loft of an old abandoned barn, thinking briefly about tarantulas and shivering. He tumbled into the hay, falling all about, dreading the spindly legs any second when he hit the ladder. He shimmied down it and ran on, entering their midst almost as soon as he left the old barn. They were dressed almost as outrageously as he was, with beads and such hanging from their hair and ears, one man with a golden rod pushed through his nose.
Everyone froze when they saw Jack standing there. He grinned and bowed to their leader who smiled at him in recognition.
"Jack Sparrow," the man said. "Come to eradicate us again, I suppose. How much are they payin' you this time?"
"Ten doubloons," he answered, smirking.
"Ah, your wages have gone up since last we met," he assessed. "Well, we'd better get going boys. Our treaty with Captain Jack Sparrow stands until Unorna dies. Let's go." The leader grabbed his black horse and threw himself up, riding off, his men following. They all had wild black hair and exotic eyes running from a Caribbean blue green to a pale violet.
"Well, that much is done," Jack said to himself. He walked back to the Faithful Bride and sat down. He saw Gibbs there and was confused for a moment. Ryoko was gone and Gibbs wasn't. There hadn't been enough time for her to be returned to the ship.
He came up to Gibbs who was laughing and joking with the men at the table and tapped him.
"Oh, hi there Jack. Hey men, here be Captain Jack Sparrow!" the men grinned and applauded and Jack gave a little nod before talking to the partially inebriated Gibbs.
"Have you seen Scarlette?" he asked.
"Oh her? Yeah," Gibbs told him. "She grabbed that pale man that come in here screamin' about bandits or sommat or other. Took 'im out and disappeared fer all I know. I thought you had her."
Jack frowned and sort of tossed his head aside, hitting the table with his hand a little too hard. The men inside the pub all stared at him, not wanting to move for fear of spooking the unpredictable captain. He looked around, moving only his eyes and smiled hesitantly. The men took their drinks back up and resumed their raucous conversations.
He strode outside and looked around him. There was nothing to see and the noise of the pub prohibited his hearing. He walked quickly and obviously agitated out towards where the bandits had been last but before he got there, he heard a shout, too high to be a man but not quite a scream.
"Put me down!"
"That's her for sure," he muttered, running again.
…
Ryoko and Colin, for that was the Scott's name, ran toward the square where the attack was taking place. A few minutes before they got there, Jack had cleared them out and what they had run into was the tail end of the bandit party.
"Hey, Makeo!" one of the men called. "Over here! Come quick." The leader of the bandits rode to where the man was pointing. Ryoko stood there with a shivering Colin by her side. She was not afraid but Colin had just wet himself.
Makeo jumped from his horse and strode over to her. He was handsome, with exotic looking dark skin and bright green eyes, golden hoops through his earlobes and many a ring on his fingers. He wore a turquoise vest over brown breeches and black boots freshly stolen from one of the houses.
"Hey, girl," he said to her. "You shouldn't be here, you know. We're bandits." He reached out to touch a strand of her golden hair and Colin fainted. The men behind Makeo laughed and pointed at the wet spot on his pants.
"What a baby," she muttered, looking down at Colin. "To think some men are just that weak is pathetic."
"You can be assured that I am not that weak, not weak at all," Makeo told her. "Come give me a tumble, darlin'."
Ryoko looked at him, her own green eyes flashing. "I don't think so."
"I don't care what you think, honey," he told her, throwing her over his shoulder. She yelped and beat upon him with her fists but for all her strength, he didn't release her. She didn't panic until he threw her over the front of his barebacked horse and began to ride off.
"Put me down!" she yelled, but the horse did not stop and soon the lights of the town faded away in the darkness. She managed to throw herself clean from the horse, skidding along in the dirt and shrubbery beyond the light of town. The man who had swiped her dismounted and called along to his men that he would be along shortly. He came after her, stepping lightly in the solid night.
She crouched below a shrub, holding her breath and grabbing a fistful of sand. Her heart pounded stridently in her ears but she knew from experience that he could not hear it. He walked very close to her and stopped, his foot kicking up a bit of dust. She shut her eyes against it and slowly let her breath out, drawing another one. Apparently, that was enough because he laughed and lunged at her. She spun away quickly, tossing the sand in his direction. She missed his eyes, but he spat and hissed, having caught a mouthful.
She ran and in one leap, bounced onto the horse' back. With a short kick to the side, the horse took off. Makeo was left standing in the bush. He smiled and whistled. The horse abruptly changed direction and headed back to its master. Makeo swung onto the horse right behind Ryoko and slowed the animal, all while fighting her. He then tied her hands behind her and shook his finger in her face.
"No more trying to get away, now, girl," he told her.
"My name isn't girl," she growled.
"Well, what is it?"
"Ryoko."
"Well, Miss Ryoko, pleased to meet you. Off we go." He kicked the horse and they trotted along.
…
Jack ran until he had to stop or fall from exhaustion. He'd passed the outskirts a while ago and the darkness around him was oppressive, Jack expecting any manner of creature to come out at every second. He'd already stepped on a snake and tripped over some four-legged animal.
"Blasted woman," he muttered. "I told her to stay put but did she listen to ol' Jack? No! Of course not! Women always know what's best for 'em it seems. I should've left her with Gibbs to be sure."
"I would halt there if I were you, man," a deep voice told him. Jack couldn't see anything and blissfully sank into unconsciousness when the man hit him over the head. He picked up the fallen pirate and carried him off to the bandit's lair. He wasn't the first man to venture out that far.
…
"Let go of me, you psycho," Ryoko exclaimed, pushing away from Makeo.
He only laughed and dragged her into the brightly lit cave. There were piles of plundered articles, making the place almost as brilliant as Isla de Muerta. Ryoko was brought before an old woman who sat upon a purple cloth, an old bandana tied around her head, beads and feathers decorating her hair. Her face was a tanned cocoa brown and framed by her graying dreadlocks. She had large black eyes and smooth hands.
"Unorna," Makeo began. "May I have this one? She was all alone and was quite defiant."
"Maybe," the old woman told him. "Who is she?"
Makeo shrugged and Ryoko piped up. "My name is Scarlette." He gave her a dirty look.
"She told me her name was Ryoko."
"Which is it?" Unorna asked her.
"Pick one!" Ryoko answered. "I don't care. They both work."
"Is that all?' Unorna asked, looking down at her rather haughtily.
"Yes," Ryoko hissed, jerking away from Makeo and stepping on his foot. He jumped and grabbed the back of her neck, folding her over his leg and putting her on the ground rather forcefully.
"That's a mighty pretty bauble you've got 'round your neck," a man's voice pointed out. He came around the corner and Ryoko felt like she'd seen him somewhere before. He was an older man and his hair was dark brown, longer than shoulder length and streaked with grey, tied back tightly, obviously not one of the bandits.
He walked up to her and pulled the emerald into clear view. "Where did you get this?"
"None of your business," she snapped, keeping the emerald from his grasp, lashing out with her teeth even as Makeo held her hands. "I'm not giving it up. It was a gift."
"I've seen it before," the man told her. "On an older neck than yours, cheeky lass. Unorna, I wouldn't let Makeo have this one just yet."
"And why not?" she asked.
"You'll find out soon enough," the man told her. "I'll not say anything for fear of being wrong. Wouldn't want to get anyone's hopes up."
"Makeo," the woman addressed the man. "Go ahead and entertain Scarlette for awhile. When Bill here decides its safe, I'll let you have her."
"Aye, ma'am," Makeo nodded, gripping Ryoko's wrists. He dragged her off down a dark hallway crudely carved out of the stone and into a room where he closed a door and locked it.
Ryoko broke away from him and ran about in the dark room, not sure where she was going. All she knew is that she needed to find a weapon and quickly. Before she could find anything, strong arms closed about her waist and threw her down. She hit the ground hard and before she could get up, he was on her, pinning her down with his weight, his long hair falling over her shoulders.
"Let me go, asshole!" she shouted, attempting to get away from him. "I'll kill you like I killed those pirates!"
"Kill me will you?" he asked. "All I have to do is chase you around this room until Unorna decides your fate. There are no weapons in this room and you can't see. I could do just about anything I wanted to you, including this." He found her mouth and kissed her. She froze for an instant, trying to think past his mouth and her anger took over. She pushed at him and actually succeeded in lifting him off her partially. He was amazed at her strength.
"Get off now," she commanded, and to her surprise, he did.
"So you've killed pirates, eh?" he asked from somewhere to her right in the impenetrable darkness. "How'd ya do it?"
"I shot six, stabbed one, and the last, I broke his neck for the same reason I should kill you," she snapped. "No one comes on to me like that without a price and if I can find you, I'll give you a piece of my mind."
"There's a reason I'm leader of the riding bandits, hon," he told her. "Surely a girl like you is frightened of me just a little."
"Nope," she told him. "I'm sort of attached to a guy like you. He swears the world is terrified of his name."
"No one I know has a name that powerful, save for two," he answered in the dark. "One is Christ, but if you're 'attached' to him I'll be burnin' in hell fer what I just pulled. The other, I wouldn't see as a marryin' man, though I suppose it's possible."
"I didn't say I was married," she growled.
"Oh? Then what did you mean by attached?"
"I … I'm not really sure."
"Ah."
"Makeo!" a voice rang out in the hall. "You better bring that girl back. She's already spoken for. It seems Bill was right about her."
"Dammit!" Makeo cried. "Fine, missy. I guess our time together is over." He pinched her bottom as she stood.
"Good thing, too," she snapped as he dragged her roughly from the room. "Any longer and I would have strangled you."
They entered Unorna's room again and ran into Jack.
…
He had woken in the hall of Unorna, staring at a face he'd never thought he'd see again. He sat up quickly to make sure he wasn't dreaming and caught sight of Unorna. He swayed shortly and stood, looking around.
Bill stood beside him and Jack looked the man over. "So this is where you've been. I thought … he had gotten you early. It's been … ten years."
"Aye, that it has," Bill answered, grasping Jack's hand and ignoring the rather odd assumption. Jack looked up at Unorna.
"I take it you know why I'm here," Jack told her, swaying in the brightly lit room, his gaudy accessories clinking audibly.
"That I do," she answered. "Is the spell on your door still working?"
Jack nodded. "All but for me and one other person for some reason. I'm not sure how she's doing it but the door opens for her."
"You should know why, Jack," Unorna told him. "Did Libussa not tell you?"
"Who?" Jack asked.
Unorna smiled. "One of my two sisters. We received a prophecy about you and she set out to find you. Libussa, the Oracle of Tortuga. And you know my other sister as well …."
Jack shivered visibly, remembering his encounters with Unorna's unnamed sister. He brought the subject back to Libussa.
"Oh, her," Jack muttered. "I met the old broad, and she had a convulsion and died in the bar."
"No," Unorna answered. "She is very much alive, stuck in prison at the moment. She's what some newfangled doctor calls narcoleptic. Has false deaths all the time."
"Ah," Jack sighed. "Well, where is Scarlette?"
Unorna nodded and one of the bandits left, returning a moment later with Makeo dragging Scarlette.
"Jack!" she cried, throwing Makeo off and running to him, glad to see him for once.
"No way," Makeo exclaimed. "Is that who you were talking about?"
"Perhaps," she told him coyly and Makeo knelt.
"Please don't kill me sir," he told Jack. "I didn't know. I'll do anything."
"What's he talking about?" Jack asked her.
"Nothing," she answered. "Unless he wants to annoy me, that is."
"Not me, not for a thousand crowns." Makeo was still kowtowing, though in a less than serious tone.
"Well, then," Jack said. "I'll not make the journey back to the ship under darkness. Have you a room for us, my friend Unorna? By the way, this is the gypsy woman who bewitched my door and this, well, say hello to none other than Bootstrap Bill Turner and you've obviously met Makeo. Lady and gentlemen, meet Scarlette Sparrow."
"Obliged," Bootstrap Bill said, taking her hand.
"You do look like Will!" she exclaimed. "That's why you seemed familiar."
"And you were exactly who I thought you were," he told her, pointing to the emerald. "I knew Elise before that rapscallion at your back was born and she used to wear that all the time."
"I'm so glad to know you let Makeo take off with her even though you knew," Jack joked. Bootstrap Bill shrugged.
Unorna piped up. "If she had told us, I would not have allowed Makeo to go off with her."
"I told you!" Jack eyed Ryoko smugly and smiled in a most irritating way. "I was right, was I not? Are you still second guessing my judgment?"
"Shut up, Jack," Ryoko told him, laughing as well. "You win, this time."
"Ah ha!" he laughed, swinging her around the cave. "Of course I win! I always win, luv. You should know that by now."
"Oh, please forgive me," she said sarcastically, placing a hand over her heart, her other hand clasped in his grip. "I doubted the great Jack Sparrow!"
"Captain Jack Sparrow, luv," he reminded her.
"How could I forget?" she asked, still sarcastic, allowing him to spin her into his arms. She smiled up at him a bit teasingly and he kissed her quickly. Even Bootstrap Bill was fooled, Ryoko having become a much better actor in the last few days.
She was stabbing her own heart however. She still felt angry about the situation, but that may have been perhaps because she was starting not to mind too much that her role commanded proximity.
"This calls for a celebration," Unorna announced. "Makeo; get everyone together."
"Aye, ma'am," he saluted and disappeared down one of the caves again.
…
Meanwhile, on the other side of Tortuga, Heather and Kristin were exploring on their own. Their strange clothing merited that they were left alone by the men of the town. They walked by a scene where several women, a few of them bruised, were arguing over something. They distinctly heard the word 'Sparrow' and decided to listen.
"I swear that's what she said!" Phyllidia exclaimed. "Mrs. Jack Sparrow! He's married! The papers were true. Oh, Cassandra! Do you know what this means?"
"It means its history for us," Cassandra muttered, waving a bedraggled fan over her face.
"And I always thought he loved me!" Gisele cried.
"You old bag," Ellie snapped. "If the redhead wasn't in the hospital with her nose broken right now I'd take you on."
"Meaning you can't face off without her, right?" Gisele laughed cruelly.
"That girl licked all of us," Cassandra pointed out. "I don't think you should be pretending that you're tough when all she did was pull your hair and you fainted." Gisele shut up and the future girls laughed amongst themselves. Obviously, Jack and Scarlette had a run in with Tortuga's finest and come out best.
The girls left the women and wandered around some more, laughing at certain things that had appeared in the movie or the ride. Plenty of men were chasing women and vice versa for several different reasons. There was a man being dunked over and over into a well, coming up sputtering and crying out while his wife called "Carlos! Don't tell 'em!" from her window above the street. Tortuga seemed to be all the down and dirty from all over the Caribbean, rolled right into one town. It smelled pretty badly in places but then so does everyone.
"Come on!" Kristin shouted. "Let's act out Jack, Will, and the two women!"
"I don't know," Heather said hesitantly. "I'm pretty sure that one of them was back there."
"Who cares!" Kristin cried. "Let's do it! I'm Jack!"
"I'm Will," Heather claimed. "And I guess I'll be the whores, too."
Kristin and Heather stepped back a few paces and began walking forward, talking amongst themselves.
"What do you think?" Kristin asked.
"It'll linger," Heather told her with a little disgusted snort.
"Let me tell you. If every town in the world were like this one, no man would ever feel unwanted. Scarlet!" Kristin went over and came back to Heather, who pretended to slap her.
"Not sure I deserved that," she commented. She turned around and said. "Gisele."
"Who was she?" Heather asked.
"What?" Kristin said. Heather slapped her again and jumped back behind Kristin.
"I may have deserved that," Kristin muttered. The two girls laughed again and smiled, waving as Anamaria walked by.
"Hello, ladies," she said. "Do you want to come with? I'm goin' to visit me father."
"Sure," they answered, following their Quartermaster.
…
The gypsy bandits were laughing and running about, a few of them playing a fiddle, violin, and another string instrument, the music coming from quite like an Irish jig. Ryoko was laughing and attempting to dance with Bootstrap Bill while Jack spoke with Unorna in the corner.
"I need to have a talk with your sister," he told her under his breath. She grinned and touched the tip of his nose with her finger. Her laugher shook her considerable bosom. Unorna was what was known as a 'big' woman. She wasn't fat, no, more solid. Her face was beautiful and would have not been so much so had she not had her extra weight. She fixed a glance on the dark pirate.
"Having second guesses, Jack?"
"No, not I," he answered. "I just need to know whether this whole heir thing is going right. You know, if I've got the right person or not."
"You have, you can be sure of that," Unorna told him. "For I remember her face from the prophecy. I know what your next question is and I'll leave it for you to answer yourself, Jack Sparrow. Is she the mother of your heir or merely the discoverer? That ring around her neck is the answer to that question. You'll understand what I mean soon enough." Unorna smiled mystically at Jack and he shook his head.
"Damn you and your mystics," he swore.
"You damn me," she smiled. "Was it not my third sister that told you that to survive, you would have to find a woman who could live with what you were and work well in the situation?"
"Tia Dalma is more cryptic than you are," he answered.
"We all see the visions, Jack," Unorna told him. "Scarlette is as close to your character as you will ever find, and notice that you would not have found her had your rivals not conspired. Perhaps part of her arsenal has not even been shown yet. There are enemies of yours that have yet to show themselves and when they do, you can be certain that she'll be there."
"As long as they aren't old enemies."
She smiled at him. "Many of them will be men you have hated, not ones you will hate. Being your enemy seems to be a lifelong commitment."
"Here's hoping the same is true for being my friend." He groaned, thinking that this statement was already untrue. At least two of the men he considered to be his main enemies had at one point in his life been friendly. Jack was getting frustrated with Unorna's lack of actual information.
"How is your mother, Jack?"
"She's faring as well as she can, being bedridden and all that. Still conniving enough to send me out for strawberries while she drills Scarlette."
"So you two have been to see her recently?"
"Aye," he answered. "That's where she got the emerald."
"Hey, Jack!" Bootstrap called. "Get down here, man! Yer woman's about worn me out!"
"Oh, no," Ryoko cried. "You've done it all yourself."
Jack grinned at Unorna. "I'll be back to talk with one of you before I leave." He walked out to Ryoko and Bootstrap Bill. The music had stopped for a bit, the musicians resting their fingers.
"All right, what did you want?" he snapped jokingly at Bill.
"This one has too much energy," Bootstrap pointed at Ryoko. She raised her eyebrows and smiled.
"Don't I know it," Jack grinned. "She'd probably die at waltzes however. Scarlette's a perfect pirate's woman."
"Gee, thanks," she muttered sarcastically. "I haven't seen you out there yet, Mr. Sparrow." The strings began to twanging warm up and they burst into another song, dubbed by them as Tortuga Jig. He grinned and grasped her hands, pulling her out with him. The gypsy dancers all backed off to watch.
"Nice try, Sparrow," she growled in mirth. "I took an Irish dance course when my mother was alive. I can do this." and so they did. Jack had many different cards up his sleeve, using different techniques on her but she matched him move for move, the gypsy bandits cheering them on as they danced to the reeling strings. Unorna watched from her seat and smiled, watching Jack and Scarlette move around the clearing, both so quick and agile with their moves.
They sat down, breathing hard when the song ended, their faces flushed. The gypsies cheered loudly and Jack held out his hand. She took it, smiling. Bootstrap Bill sat down laughing beside them and slapped the table.
"Dammit, Jack," he laughed. "I'd say you actually have a rival in her."
"You don't know the half of it," she told him.
"So, how's me son?" Bill asked. "I meant to ask earlier but we kinda got distracted."
"He's fine, Bill. The curse has been lifted," Jack told him.
"So I've noticed," Bill muttered. "At the most inopportune moment, you can be assured. I was at your mother's house when she was still well and you know your mother's cooking? Ah, yes, fatal it be. Anyways, I told her I couldn't eat even if I wanted to and she forced it on me. Lo and behold, I chewed it up and swallowed, actually tasting for the first time in years. I of course threw it all back up on her table but who's to blame me?"
Jack laughed a short burst of sound. Elise Sparrow was a tough old woman to be forcing her casserole on Bootstrap Bill.
"Will's married now," Ryoko told Bill. "To a pretty woman named Elizabeth. She doesn't really like us in the house."
"Or even in the barn," Jack added. "Damn tarantulas." Ryoko started laughing and Jack gave her a stern look.
"You were running from that damn spider just as much as I was, luv," he pointed out. He looked to Bootstrap for support and yelped as Ryoko ran her hand up his arm like spiders' legs. She couldn't stop laughing after that, and Bootstrap was doing it as well.
"I do have a question for you," Jack fixed his dark eyes on Bootstrap. "How did you get away from that cannon, mate? I saw them strap you rather thoroughly. Were you attacked by a shark?"
Bootstrap looked at Jack then and an actual fear passed over his face. "Did you get the Pearl back?"
"I did," Jack answered. They looked at each other, both with some sort of knowledge beneath their eyes. Ryoko looked from one to the other.
"What is going on here?" she asked.
"Nothing," the two men went back to their drinks and stopped looking all foreboding. Ryoko frowned but let it go.
A tall woman with long, straight, black hair and eyes that were such a light brown they were almost golden came up wearing very nearly nothing, a red dress that began at her breasts and ended a few inches under her butt. She played lightly with Jack's shirtsleeve. He turned and his eyes grew very large.
"Ayeka," he muttered. "What—"
"Hush, Jack," she cooed. "Come dance with me, now. Like old times." She shot Ryoko a glance as she pulled Jack to his feet. He was completely mesmerized. Ryoko raised an eyebrow at the woman, with her bronze skin and gold jewelry. Jack, unlike with the Tortuga whores, was actually affected by her charms and she reeled him out onto the floor.
"Who is that," she asked Bootstrap as they moved about the floor.
"Oh, that's Ayeka, Makeo's older sister," Bootstrap answered. "Apparently she and Jack have a history. She's testing you, I think."
"The hell she is. I'm going to ignore her," Scarlette took a drink.
"Ignore her? Why ignore her?"
"Because that's how you deal with women! If you rise to the bait, it just makes them happy as all hell!" There was suddenly a cry from the floor. They looked and found a startlingly funny scene. Jack was on his butt on the floor looking up at Ayeka who had just thrown him down.
"Impossible. You wretch!" She whirled to the table and looked at Ryoko. She pointed a bright red fingernail in her direction. "You! I challenge you!"
Jack stood up immediately. "No! You can't challenge her! She's not a bandit."
"Hey!" Ryoko shouted. "What's this all about?"
"Are you his wife?" Ayeka shouted, enraged, her arm swinging to point at Jack, who had to duck because he was too close.
Ryoko frowned, not wanting to get into any more conflicts due to Jack's little pretense. "What if I am?"
"Then you will die!"
"Oh?" Ryoko took a step forward. "And you're the one who'll kill me?" A challenge like that was different, of course. This woman was out of control.
"Halt!" Unorna shouted from her place. "Any challenges will be fair and Scarlette must be dressed for the challenge."
"What?" Ryoko was dragged off yet again and Jack was not happy.
"This is not going to happen," he growled. "Ayeka, take back the challenge."
"No," the girl spat. "I want what's mine, and you, my dear, were mine long before she ever saw you."
Jack slapped a hand to his forehead. "Why me? Damn these territorial women."
Just then, the far door opened and Ryoko emerged in a similar outfit to Ayeka's, only hers was purple. Her golden hair was tied high on her head in a ponytail that cascaded her hair along her ears. She was barefooted and obviously uncomfortable.
"All right, how are we doing this?" she asked, feeling quite ridiculous.
A long black whip was tossed to her and Ayeka snapped her own on the ground.
"Wait, we're going to whip each other?" Ryoko asked incredulously, her voice cracking with the hilarity of the situation.
"First to strike blood three times is the winner," Ayeka shouted, standing with her feet apart. She cracked the whip again. "Any questions?"
"This is hardly fair," Ryoko sneered, cracking her whip wickedly. "I've never used one of these before. What are the rules?"
"Only the three blood mark is the rule, nothing else," Ayeka grinned.
"Well, in that case," Ryoko growled invitingly, gripping the leather. "En guarde, babe."
"This is bad," Jack groaned. He watched in horror as the two women circled each other. Ayeka was the first to attack and Jack saw a flash of hope as Ayeka swung to strike, Ryoko rolled towards her and wound her whip around one of Ayeka's ankles. Ryoko pulled hard and flopped Ayeka down on her back. There was a bloody gash where the whip had rubbed her ankle raw.
"First blood," Ryoko purred. Ayeka sat up and whipped hers out. Ryoko blocked it with her hand, protecting her face, but the leather left a dripping mark on the side of her left hand. The score was tied.
Ayeka flipped onto her feet and Ryoko was off rolling again. She sprung up to her feet and jumped to avoid the crack of Ayeka's whip. She cracked her own and interrupted the stroke of Ayeka, swinging in a counter attack at the girl's legs again. Ayeka moved just in time, cracking her whip as she did, opening the skin at Ryoko's shoulder.
Ryoko swung backwards and opened not only the cloth but the top skin of Ayeka's stomach. Tied again. Jack wanted to cover his eyes.
Ryoko smirked and ran at full tilt towards Ayeka. The taller woman smiled and went to strike, easy and over. This match was no challenge. Only, Ryoko was from the future and the fact that the only rule was that you had to bleed the other three times to win made this an entirely different match.
Ryoko threw her whip at Ayeka, hitting her in the boob, distracting her so her swing was less than powerful. The whip wrapped around Ryoko's forearm and the future girl grinned. She grabbed it and in one strong jerk, she disarmed her opponent. She crossed the last few steps to Ayeka who was trying to pick up the whip Ryoko had thrown and punched her in the jaw. Ayeka fell to the ground and spat out … blood.
"Third blood, mine," Ryoko spoke smugly. "I win."
"Thank God, I quit," Jack said, pushing away from the table. "I'm goin' home."
Ayeka glared at him and hissed like an angry cat.
He walked over to Ryoko, careful to step wide around the pissed bandit woman. "Good fight, luv."
Ayeka looked up at them, a trickle of blood dripping from her mouth. "Fine. You win. I renounce all claims to this man."
"What?" Ryoko growled. "That's what this fight was all about? You just wanted Jack?"
"Of course," Ayeka answered, standing up and once again towering over Ryoko. "He's exactly what any woman would want. Most of us are just not bold enough to act on it. Those silly 'proper' women … they could never do it. It would be the scandal of their towns."
Ryoko shook her head and left to change back into the Barbossa dress. She rejoined the table just as Jack was leaving.
"Bill, before I retire, I need to know something," Jack asked. "Were you the one who named the monkey?"
Bill burst out laughing again. "How did you know?"
Jack grinned. "It was beyond Barbossa to think of something so clever. I trust you'll join me when I leave. You could be first mate. Up until now, Anamaria's been taking on both that and Quartermaster."
"Don't you mean Quartermistress?" Bill asked. "And aren't women bad luck on board?"
"Only to you and Joshamee Gibbs," Jack told him. Ryoko stood and began to walk towards one of the openings. Jack waved to Bill and followed her, putting an arm around her shoulders.
Bill turned around after they had gone and thought it over in his head. First mate on The Black Pearl. It had a nice ring to it, but what would be the price of fame?
…
In Port Royal, Elizabeth sat up again. The room was dark and Will was downstairs talking to Norrington about Robin. She had had another dream, this one bad. Barbossa was alive and he was converging on Jack along with many others. She recalled at least four men and two women, all set on killing Jack and she shivered. Deciding that it could wait until tomorrow, she laid down and went back to sleep.
In the room below, Robin cried. She had had the same dream.
…
Hi there again. You like! Please say you like! I'll just say one note. Irene Trimble is a dumb butt. She wrote the junior novelization for Pirates of the Caribbean and it SUCKS! Most of the lines are crooked beyond help, there are scenes missing, though she included the deleted ones, and she doesn't even know half the pirates' names! I want to shoot her! And, her book is only 122 pages long. What an amateur. She's like forty! I'm seventeen and you guys have seen what I can do, not that I'm bragging …. Okay, maybe I am just a little ….
Revisited gossip—Back to the Hobbit … something happened, and now I'm the Elven Queen as well. Yippee! I'm Legolas' Mommy!
Revisited 11-8-06
