A stunning black ship with black sails made port in Tortuga. It had been a few years now since Jack had been in Tortuga. But now that he was off clear, he could go wherever he pleased. The only problem was that he didn't have a crew, so he naturally went to the best place he could think of to find one.
Normally, he liked to recruit people he knew formerly. Jack Sparrow knew a lot of people. Finding them was the difficult part. He only picked Tortuga because he knew it was a general hub of activity for all pirates.
He found a few old mates and a few new ones, but he did have his eyes open for someone else in particular. On any normal day, Jack would have never recruited her, but stories about the gal had been circulating like wildfire lately. She really was a pirate worth having aboard, so Jack had to look for her. He knew she had to be around Tortuga somewhere. The only question was, where?
Jack left the crew to ready his ship, which was sitting in the harbor, and he scoured the island for her. He knew that having her as a crew member would be very advantageous to him, but there was also a catch. This was a sea lioness he was dealing with. The rumors were often correct: she didn't stay in one place for long. She was said to be unreadable, and yet, she was very literate when it came to reading others. She had become quite dangerous in those three years since Jack dropped her off in Tortuga.
Jack walked into a shady, tough-looking tavern. He eyed the corners of the rooms, and then every other place he could think of. Then, he headed upstairs to the second floor and scrounged every crevice there. Still, he could not find her. He had a good feeling that she was in Tortuga, but if he couldn't find her, he couldn't find her. It just didn't seem quite right.
Just as he was coming back down the stairs, he noticed a man with long red hair leaning against the railing, seemingly minding his own business. Jack slowed his step, and smiled. He reached the bottom of the stairs and rounded the corner to face the lad.
"What's a rather scrawny lad doing in such a burly tavern?" Jack asked smoothly. The man didn't look up at him, but he smiled. Jack knew there was only one way to make sure this was her.
He pulled his sword from its hilt and pointed it at the man, who had already pulled out his sword in anticipation. This was her.
"Geneva," Jack said softly, and she looked up at him enough so that he could see her crazy green eyes.
"Jack," she replied, a grin tugging at the corners of her full lips. She was a beauty, but a dangerous one. Jack really couldn't help himself.
"I knew I'd find you here," he continued, sheathing his sword. She did the same, and he took a step closer to her.
"Did you?" she inquired, her eyes only beckoning him more.
"Oh, yes, love," he said, coming even closer to her. She was irresistible, even to him.
Before he knew it, she had a dagger pointed at his throat, which kept him from advancing. He could only smile nervously. Her face was painted with a knowing, but very authoritative expression. Her grin only confirmed this. She held a position of power over many men.
"What is your purpose?" she asked quietly, and Jack smile in response, doing his best to ignore the dagger.
"I need a crew," he said, and that was all he said. That was all she really needed to understand the circumstances. She turned her head to the side in thought, still keeping her eyes on him. She squinted at him.
"Promise me it'll be interesting," she said lowly, keeping the dagger at his neck. Jack knew.
"It will be," he cooed, and then tried to pull back from the blade some. He liked his neck.
Geneva followed Jack to the harbor, and there, just as Jack had described, was the Black Pearl. It was a beautiful ship, but as the name also suggested, it was entirely black. She could hear the clamor of men already aboard, but this did not intimidate her. She walked up the ramp slightly behind the captain.
She certainly had a commanding presence, especially when she was not disguised as a man. Just as she stepped onto the main deck, she attracted the attention of almost all of the crew. Shock played across their faces, as she knew would happen. Jack had been right, and he didn't even know it. This would be interesting.
"Captain!" exclaimed a few of the men, who she assumed were quite high in the ship's hierarchy. One of them had a large black hat. He put up the biggest fight.
"We can't have her aboard," he demanded. He was quite a bit older than Jack, but still moved around just fine. He looked experienced. Geneva only watched him.
"Why not?" Jack asked, rather amusedly shocked at his subordinate's reaction. The man held his ground.
"She's a witch, Jack," he said gruffly. Jack cocked his head.
"She is not," the captain replied. "I know her. She poses no threat."
"As first mate, I'm warning you, Jack," the man persisted. "She's a dangerous lot."
"Well of course she's dangerous, Hector," Jack mused. "I know how to pick dangerous mates. Don't you think that was my intention?"
"Still," Hector said sternly. "I won't be stayin' aboard the ship with the likes of her here."
"Then I'll gladly take the first mate's position," Geneva interrupted, catching the attention of both men. "If he'll give it up so easily, there's nothing to him."
Hector glared at her, but she was unfazed. A grin played across her face. She loved where this was going. She was in total control.
He suddenly pulled out his sword and pointed it at her. She remained extremely calm, not bothering to pull out hers yet.
"You challenge me?" Hector growled. He would be formidable. This was only exciting to her.
"I think it's you who have challenged me," she said lowly, grinning even wider and pulling out her prized Spanish rapier. Hector only squinted his eyes. He was being careful.
"I don't think this is what you want to do, Barbossa," Jack whispered to the man. Barbossa turned gruffly.
"You brought her here," he hissed.
"It's a bad idea," Jack warned, and Geneva looked at Jack now, a fire in her eyes.
"If you interfere, I will fight both of you at once," she suggested, and Jack took a step back. He wanted nothing to do with that.
Barbossa took a step toward her, and she turned her attention back to him.
Then, he sprang toward her, putting his body into the swing. Her sword met his and they locked. She found his eyes and imprinted on him. Then, she jumped back, and grinned in amusement.
This time, she swung first, and their swords met again. He parried. She dodged and jumped backward, and then charged. There was another clamor as their swords struck one another. His breath was shaky. He was not expecting her to be this good.
Adrenalin flew through her veins. She'd never felt so alive. She jumped off a barrel and dodged another swing. He chased her to the port side, and she turned and faced him again. She lunged first and swung wildly. She was too fast. He couldn't keep up with her like this. Her form was unpredictable. He needed an advantage.
He pulled a sword off the hilt of another man and thrust it at her, but she pulled out her cutlass and met it immediately, like she had seen it coming. With another swift movement, she knocked it out of his hand almost as quickly as he had gotten it. This woman was something else entirely.
Another crew member tried to join in the fight. She cut him down without batting an eye. Barbossa grabbed his sword as the man fell, and brought it up to block the swing of her rapier. Her eyes could see right through him. She swung hard, but she didn't knock the sword out of his hand.
She jumped backwards to avoid his advances, and suddenly, a different look appeared in her eye. Barbossa took advantage of this and charged towards her. She tried to block, but her cutlass flew from her grasp.
She watched her cutlass roll away from her, and she quickly blocked his next swing, despite the fact that he had one more sword than she did now. There was something else in his look. There was a reason behind his eyes. She wasn't interested in his position anymore. She saw something she liked more than fighting him. So, she was prepared to lose in order to win.
He could not see this. He only saw an opening in her form: a weakness to take advantage of. She dodged again, for all she could do was dodge with only one sword. He soon had her cornered, and knocked her rapier away as well. She had no defenses left, and stood there as he pointed his sword at her neck. Yet, she was unafraid, and she smiled.
"You put up a riveting fight," she commented, her eyes sharper than the sword at her neck. Barbossa could only feel confusion at her response, and she could see this easily. She could feel it.
"That was quite enjoyable," she continued, her voice soft and flowing. Her smile softened, but her eyes were still keen with purpose, and he could not ignore that.
"I can see why you're the first mate," she said, and her charm reached his heart, captivating it far too quickly. Barbossa lowered his sword, and she walked past him to collect her swords. He had beat her, and yet, she had somehow won still. He couldn't put his finger on it. But he couldn't get the look of her piercing eyes out of his head, and for a clouded array of reasons he couldn't begin to place.
