Chapter two- Familiarity With Pirates


Francesca took her leave early from the reception, looking out on the sea from the balcony closest to the Dauntless. She sat at the edge, head toward the horizon, when something caught her eye.

"Captain Jack Sparrow..." she sighed, "The most amazing pirate in the world."

Then, she heard a splash.

"ELIZABETH!!!" the Commodore cried.

No matter how much she had thought, 'Please, Commodore, just let her drown,' Francesca knew that nothing Elizabeth had ever done deserved death by corset. But soon enough, she heard a second splash. Sparrow had followed her into the water!

"Sparrow!" she whispered to herself, "You fool, get out of sight of the Navy!"

Seeing the two appear only briefly before sinking into the depths again, she ran down the stairs reaching the dock just as the Commodore's men arrived. Elizabeth was stripped down to her undergarments, which must have been a relief. The Commodore glared at Sparrow with a look of pure disgust, staring a capital 'P' that had been branded on his arm.

"Had a brush with the East India Trading company, did we– Pirate?" he sneered.

"Hang him," the Governor ordered.

"Keep your guns on him, men– Gillette, fetch some irons," said Norrington. He lifted Jack's sleeve higher up his arm. "Well, well. Jack Sparrow, isn't it?"

"Captain Jack Sparrow, if you please, sir."

Norrington answered pompously, "Well, I don't see your ship... Captain."

"I'm in the market, as it were," Sparrow replied.

"He said he'd come to commandeer one," the first guard said.
"Told ya he was telling the truth. These are his, sir." replied the second guard.
Commodore Norrington inspected the items with a triumphant look on his face.

"No additional shots nor powder... compass that doesn't point north," he said, then unsheathing the sword, "...And I half expected it to be made of wood. You are, without doubt, the worst pirate I've ever heard of."
"But you have heard of me," Jack answered. Immediately he was clapped in irons.

"No!!!" Francesca cried. "You can't! He saved Elizabeth."

"Francesca!" Governor Swann demanded, "Return home at once!"

"I have just as much a right as anyone to demand that Jack be set free!" she turned to Norrington. "Please, Commodore, he has saved Elizabeth's life. The very least you can offer him is his life in return."

Jack looked her over, "And who might you be, trying to save a pirate, miss?"

"I'm Francesca Swann. I saw you rescue my sister Elizabeth. I should never forgive anyone who could send a hero to the gallows."

"I am no hero, love," Jack laughed softly, "Only in your eyes, I'm afraid."

"So you are not," said Norrington, "You admitted it yourself– you are no hero, you, Captain Sparrow, are a pirate."

"Pirate or not this man saved my life," said Elizabeth.
Norrington turned away from Elizabeth, "One good deed is not enough to redeem a man of a lifetime of wickedness."
"Though it seems enough to condemn him." Jack said matter-of-factly.
"Indeed," Norrington answered. Gillette moved away from Jack, only for a moment.

"Finally," Jack said, throwing his irons around Elizabeth's neck.

"No, don't shoot!" Commodore yelled.
"I knew you'd warm up to me. Commodore Norrington, my effects, please- and my hat. Commodore! Elizabeth. It is Elizabeth isn't it?
"It's Miss Swann," Elizabeth said coldly.
"Miss Swann, if you'd be so kind. Come, come, dear, we don't have all day. Now if you'd be very kind." He paused to watch her put on his holster, put his guns in the holsters, etc., shooting a devilish glance at Norrinton, then a wink at Francesca. "Easy on the goods, darling."
She put his hat on his head roughly. "You're despicable," she hissed.
"Sticks and stones, love. I saved your life, you saved mine, we're square. Gentlemen, m'lady," he said, looking at Francesca, then at Elizabeth, still hostage, "you will always remember this as the day that you almost caught Captain Jack Sparrow!" He shoved Elizabeth towards them, grabbing a rope and swinging onto a beam above the heads of Norrington's men.

"Now will you shoot him?" Governor Swann said.

"Open fire!!! On his heels." Norrington ordered at a deafening yell.

Jack narrowly escaped their gunshot into the marketplace. None had noticed where he'd gone but Francesca. She smirked, "The day they almost caught Captain Jack Sparrow..."

"Gillette, Mr. Sparrow has a dawn appointment with the gallows…I would hate for him to miss it." Norringon and Gillette soon walked away from the docks.

"Come now, Francesca- I think we've all had enough adventure for one day," Governor Swann replied.

'Not nearly enough...' she thought.

They arrived home again, but tonight was the night that would be remembered by all of Port Royal to the end of its days.

Sparrow had narrowly escaped indeed, entering the home and workplace of the blacksmith and his apprentice, Will Turner.

'That lass who tried to save me from the gallows... Wonder what her business is hanging around with that prude sister of hers... Spirit of a pirate, that one...' Sparrow thought, laughing softly, turning when he heard a bottle 'clink' against the ground.

Mr. Brown, fast asleep, obviously posed no threat. Jack approached him, observing the tattered work clothes and droning snores; he turned away from Mr. Brown, then abruptly turned back 'round again, yelling, "Whoa!" Mr. Brown did not awaken, or even move the slightest bit. He simply continued to snore. Immediately Jack grabbed a hammer, turned it to the sharp opposite side, and attempted to hack away at his irons. After much frustration, he turned to see large gears, and a donkey attached to beams at the bottom, obviously to make them move. He grabbed a red-hot branding iron from the coals, placing the end to the donkey. It brayed loudly, beginning to move. Jack hooked his irons to the first gear, and when the two gears met, the pressure broke his shackles.

Just then, Will entered. Jack had already moved out of sight, but had accidently left the hammer out of place and his hat near the furnace. Will noticed them, motioning to pick up Jack's hat. Jack tapped Will's hand with the flat edged of his sword, stepping out of hiding.

"You're the one they're hunting. The pirate," said Will.
Jack looked at Will, "You seem somewhat familiar. Have I threatened you before?"
"I make a point of avoiding familiarity with pirates," Will said, a hint of anger in his voice.
"Ah. Well, then it would be a shame to put a black mark on your record. So, if you'll excuse me–" Jack turned to leave, when Will drew his own sword and held it to Jack.

"Do you think this wise, boy, crossing blades with a pirate?" Jack growled.
"You threatened Miss Swann." Will replied dangerously.
Jack grinned, sliding his sword to meet Will's. "Only a little."

They fought, mostly parrying. Jack began, "You know what you're doing, I'll give you that. Excellent form but how's your footwork? First I step here;" He stepped, and they parried once, "very good. Now I step again. Ta." Jack walked to the door, but as he was about to open it, Will flung his sword pointed-end-first at the door. It was wedged in such a way that Jack could not unlock or open the door. He struggled, trying to remove the sword with no luck, then turned to Will again. "That is a wonderful trick; except once again you are between me and my way out, and now, you have no weapon." Will reached behind him and took a sword from the coals. Jack looked at the edge of the sword fearfully, then began to fight. As their swords clashed, sparks flew, and they circled the gears in the center of the shop.

"Who makes all these?" said Jack, looking in the direction of the swords hanging on a beam in the center of the gears.
"I do! And I practice with them three hours a day!" Will answered in a near yelling tone.
Jack replied, "You need to find yourself a girl, mate!" They fought once more, then Jack continued, "Or, perhaps the reason you practice three hours a day is that you already found one and are otherwise incapable of wooing said strumpet. You're not a eunuch, are you?" Jack looked down, then Will answered angrily.

"I practice three hours a day, so that when I meet a pirate, I can kill him!"

They fought again, until finally Jack lost his sword. He grabbed hold of a bag of sand and loosed it in Will's face. Then, he quickly got out his gun and pointed it at Will as Will cleared his eyes of the sand.

"You cheated." he said, finally seeing Jack's gun.

"Pirate," Jack retorted. Then, he heard the Commodore's men at the door. Will stood at the other exit. "Move away."

"No."

"Please move!"

"No! I cannot just step aside and let you escape."

Jack cocked the pistol. "This shot is not meant for you."

Suddenly, Mr. Brown, apparently awake from hearing their sword fight, broke his bottle over Jack's head. With a startled look, Jack fell forwards onto the floor.

The Commodore's men entered, along with Norrington. "Excellent work, Mr. Brown. You've assisted in the capture of a dangerous fugitive."

"Just doing my civic duty, sir," Brown replied sleepily.

Will gave both the Commodore and Brown a look somewhere between annoyance and confusion.

As the men picked up Jack, Commodore Norrington said, "I trust you'll always remember this as the day that Captain Jack Sparrow almost escaped. Take him away."