Chapter Three: The Worst Pirate I've Ever Seen
Author's Note: Ahh, reviews! Thank you for your kind words, it's extremely encouraging. Ideas are brewing in my head and I'm pretty much laying them down as I think of them. So, although I have quite a few events already there, nothing is too planned. As for this being a Jack/OC fic. Well, that's yet to be decided. I'm trying to walk the fine line between a good story with a hint of romance and a Mary Sue and I'd hate to trip and fall into the dark side. So, what do you think? Should I give a shot at romance and make Jack find a special someone, or shall I not venture into dangerous territory? ;) I await your response. Until then, enjoy chapter three!
**********§**********
" It kills me, not knowing what's going on. She wont even tell us where she's planning to go?" asked Anamaria, clearly furious.
The original crew of the Black Pearl had amassed themselves in a small cabin, to discuss of the recent turnaround of events. Having their ship literally stolen right from under their feet wasn't an everyday occurrence, especially for a crew as capable as they though themselves to be.
" Jack'll be here real quick. He'll tell us everything that's going on, don't you worry. In fact, I think I hear him coming right." started Gibbs.
" What are ye all conspiring about in here?" asked one of Crowe's crew, as he burst through the door.
Three men in ragged clothing charged into the room and rounded the crew out the door.
" What are you doing? We weren't doing anything wrong, you idiots!" roared Anamaria, punching air as one of the men pushed her from behind.
" We don't want to be hearin' any whispers of mutiny from you lot. Best to keep you separated 'til your captain and our commodore decide what to do," mumbled a man, who not too long ago was referred to as David.
" What do you be meanin' by commodore?" exclaimed one of Jack's crew.
" Commodore Catherine Crowe, this ship is now hers, you know. Hey, don't question me! Just. err. just keep walking and. NO TALKING!" commanded David, seemingly very uneasy about his new authoritarian power.
Anamaria rolled her eyes to Gibbs.
" What a bunch of incompetent fools. I bet we could've gotten the Pearl back by force, but it's too late for that now. Of course, thanks to our brilliant captain, that bumbling jacka." she thought.
" What is our captain doing now?" asked Gibbs to one of the men.
" He's discussing with our captain. err. commodore. And I said to stop talking!" reinforced David, followed by inaudible mumbling.
" I don't think you should be counting on Cap'n Jack right now, Gibbs. I bet, right this instant, he's either getting drunker than he already is and trying to get that woman into bed or saying absolutely anything and promising her all our treasure." whispered Anamaria, trying to speak unseen by the guards.
Gibbs sighed loudly and looked to the deepening skies as he and the crew marched back on deck. He looked to the other side of the ship, where he saw two dark figures peering down at the calm sea, and prayed to the heavens that Anamaria was very wrong.
**********§**********
A young girl with raven hair sat on the beach and calmly watched the sun set on the horizon. Gusts of wind hit her back and pushed her hair onto her face. Amidst the black mass, two blue eyes could be seen, peering farther and farther away from the land on which she sat. She curled her knees up to her chin and began rocking slowly back and forth, while whispering a soft sea chantey. A woman came from behind and wrapped the child with a warm woollen blanket. The girl ignored the woman and continued singing in her tiny voice.
" Catherine, it's time to go home..." said the woman, speaking softly, barely audible over the wind.
The little girl turned her head towards the woman and smiled.
" A few more minutes, mother, please. Just until the sun sets..." she replied pleadingly.
The woman sighed and sat down next to her daughter. She put her arm around the small shoulders and held on tightly.
" What's on the other side of the ocean, mother?" asked the child.
" Some people say new lands waiting to be explored lie there. Others say monsters and dangerous savages await anyone foolish enough to come near. It's impossible to know for sure, unless you venture there yourself." Answered the mother.
Catherine turned back towards the ocean and smiled, a small spark igniting in her eyes.
" One day, you and me and father, we'll all go to the other side of the ocean. There, we'll have our own castle and our own island, and I'll have my own ship and I'll go from city to city helping people who need it. And we'll all live there, happy forever. And we'll always be together!" stated the girl, in a very determined tone.
They both got up and smiled at each other. Catherine skipped ahead of her mother and started singing once more. While her daughter wasn't looking, the woman glanced back at the ocean as a tear trickled down her face.
" Of course we will, Catherine. Together... forever..." she whispered to herself.
As she whispered, she took out a small gold band from her coat pocket. She looked down at it as another tear fell from her eye and on the ring. She looked back out at the sea and threw the band at the horizon. And followed her daughter up the sandy hills, never looking back again.
**********§**********
" What do you mean Port Royal is no good?" queried Catherine, clearly taken aback.
She had unrolled a crude piece of parchment and was holding it against the rails of the ship. It was a roughly drawn map of the Spanish Main. She bent down to have a closer look at the map and let out a muffled sound of anger.
" Sorry, love, but there are a few reasons why Port Royal is no good. Number one, I'm a wanted man there and you wouldn't want your Captain Jack getting captured and hung. No, that would be no good... Number two, I like way too many people there to be blowing up their homes. And number three, it's a very hard target. Royal Navy and all... No, no good," explained Jack.
Catherine's eyes darted back and forth over the map, and from the map to Jack, apparently trying to find some loophole, some passage around these problems.
" How about... Attacking a ship of the Royal Navy, just one, one's who's all by its lonesome self, while it's on patrol," she tried.
" Still no good! Their ships are better equipped than ours are and," he stopped to take a deep whiff of air, " by the smell of it, it'll be clear skies for quite a while, so there wont be anyone taken by surprise," he affirmed, evidently proud of himself.
" Oh, right, yes... I knew that! I was simply testing you. If you would have even SUGGESTED that we set off after a ship of the Royal Navy... I would've terminated our contract right away," she asserted uncomfortably.
She rolled the parchment back up and stuffed it inside her waistcoat, crumpling the edges. She shifted with unease as Jack stared at her, boring a hole into her soul with his eyes. He took off his hat and placed it on the deck, and advanced towards Catherine.
" Tell me, lass, how old are you again?" he queried playfully, with a smile.
She pushed the map further into her pocket, the dog-eared corners disappearing into the folds of her clothes, and turned to him. Suddenly, she regained her calm, confident dignity and arched an eyebrow defiantly.
" What does my age have to do with anything, Captain Jack?" she replied with a strange cold smile.
" I was just wondering. No need to be getting all offended, love. Just seems off to me that a young captain..." he began, but was interrupted by a slight glint in her eyes, " err... I mean a young commodore such as yourself should have such a large crew and such a very... nice looking boat as your Horizon," he declared.
She eyed him with suspicion before replying.
" I didn't steal the boat, if that's what you're implying," she said
" I'm not implying anything at all, and there isn't anything wrong with stealing, love... Except if it's from me, of course," he remarked swiftly, shaking his head.
They stared at one another for a few moments as an awkward silence overtook them. Catherine eyes started to sparkle as her mouth slowly formed a smile, when Jack interrupted her, just before she was about to say something.
" You have absolutely no idea about what you're doing, do you, love," he announced with a chuckle, arms crossed.
Catherine's smile quickly faded and changed into a frown. Her mouth left agape, she tried to verbalise the words that were racing through her head, but couldn't and just stood there like a fish trying to catch his breath out of water.
" You're quite possibly the worst pirate I've ever seen, Miss Crowe," claimed Jack, still smiling.
Catherine, taken totally by surprise, turned towards the sea and began to mutter, almost out of Jack's hearing.
" Yes, well at least I don't talk like some bloody eunuch... Stupid, know- it-all jacka..." she grumbled.
Jack, hearing this, also turned towards the sea and got closer to Catherine.
" Maybe I speak like a eunuch, but at least my ears aren't terribly uneven," he teased, flicking the top part of Catherine's ear.
Offended beyond words, Catherine slapped Jack's hand and turned to face him, smoke nearly spewing out of her terribly uneven ears.
" Your eyes must be much worse off than my ears if you feel it necessary to completely smother them with black make-up. So much for masculinity, Captain Jack Sparrow!" she bellowed, pointy an accusing finger at Jack's eyes.
Jack took a step back, his hands shielding him and he let out a small nervous laugh.
" Hush, love. No need to get all excited over this. I was just teasing you, that's all, lass. Common, we're going to have to get along better than this if we're to be Captain Jack Sparrow and Commodore Catherine Crowe, the most terrible pirates in the whole of Spanish Main together," he said, offering his hand in peace. " Truce, love?"
The tension in her face died away and she laughed, taking Jack's hand in hers and giving it a good shake.
" Sorry, but I'm not one to take insults too lightly. I was just about to say something before you interrupted me, but I can't remember what..." she responded, sinking into deep thought.
They both went back to leaning on the railing staring off into the distance.
" That's alright, love. Take your time, I'm sure you'll remember what you wanted to say," he affirmed softly.
They stood there in complete silence as she thought for what seemed like ages, until Jack broke the silence.
" Oh, and don't worry about your ears, love. They go really well with the bump on your nose..."
To Be Continued...?
Author's Note: Ahh, reviews! Thank you for your kind words, it's extremely encouraging. Ideas are brewing in my head and I'm pretty much laying them down as I think of them. So, although I have quite a few events already there, nothing is too planned. As for this being a Jack/OC fic. Well, that's yet to be decided. I'm trying to walk the fine line between a good story with a hint of romance and a Mary Sue and I'd hate to trip and fall into the dark side. So, what do you think? Should I give a shot at romance and make Jack find a special someone, or shall I not venture into dangerous territory? ;) I await your response. Until then, enjoy chapter three!
**********§**********
" It kills me, not knowing what's going on. She wont even tell us where she's planning to go?" asked Anamaria, clearly furious.
The original crew of the Black Pearl had amassed themselves in a small cabin, to discuss of the recent turnaround of events. Having their ship literally stolen right from under their feet wasn't an everyday occurrence, especially for a crew as capable as they though themselves to be.
" Jack'll be here real quick. He'll tell us everything that's going on, don't you worry. In fact, I think I hear him coming right." started Gibbs.
" What are ye all conspiring about in here?" asked one of Crowe's crew, as he burst through the door.
Three men in ragged clothing charged into the room and rounded the crew out the door.
" What are you doing? We weren't doing anything wrong, you idiots!" roared Anamaria, punching air as one of the men pushed her from behind.
" We don't want to be hearin' any whispers of mutiny from you lot. Best to keep you separated 'til your captain and our commodore decide what to do," mumbled a man, who not too long ago was referred to as David.
" What do you be meanin' by commodore?" exclaimed one of Jack's crew.
" Commodore Catherine Crowe, this ship is now hers, you know. Hey, don't question me! Just. err. just keep walking and. NO TALKING!" commanded David, seemingly very uneasy about his new authoritarian power.
Anamaria rolled her eyes to Gibbs.
" What a bunch of incompetent fools. I bet we could've gotten the Pearl back by force, but it's too late for that now. Of course, thanks to our brilliant captain, that bumbling jacka." she thought.
" What is our captain doing now?" asked Gibbs to one of the men.
" He's discussing with our captain. err. commodore. And I said to stop talking!" reinforced David, followed by inaudible mumbling.
" I don't think you should be counting on Cap'n Jack right now, Gibbs. I bet, right this instant, he's either getting drunker than he already is and trying to get that woman into bed or saying absolutely anything and promising her all our treasure." whispered Anamaria, trying to speak unseen by the guards.
Gibbs sighed loudly and looked to the deepening skies as he and the crew marched back on deck. He looked to the other side of the ship, where he saw two dark figures peering down at the calm sea, and prayed to the heavens that Anamaria was very wrong.
**********§**********
A young girl with raven hair sat on the beach and calmly watched the sun set on the horizon. Gusts of wind hit her back and pushed her hair onto her face. Amidst the black mass, two blue eyes could be seen, peering farther and farther away from the land on which she sat. She curled her knees up to her chin and began rocking slowly back and forth, while whispering a soft sea chantey. A woman came from behind and wrapped the child with a warm woollen blanket. The girl ignored the woman and continued singing in her tiny voice.
" Catherine, it's time to go home..." said the woman, speaking softly, barely audible over the wind.
The little girl turned her head towards the woman and smiled.
" A few more minutes, mother, please. Just until the sun sets..." she replied pleadingly.
The woman sighed and sat down next to her daughter. She put her arm around the small shoulders and held on tightly.
" What's on the other side of the ocean, mother?" asked the child.
" Some people say new lands waiting to be explored lie there. Others say monsters and dangerous savages await anyone foolish enough to come near. It's impossible to know for sure, unless you venture there yourself." Answered the mother.
Catherine turned back towards the ocean and smiled, a small spark igniting in her eyes.
" One day, you and me and father, we'll all go to the other side of the ocean. There, we'll have our own castle and our own island, and I'll have my own ship and I'll go from city to city helping people who need it. And we'll all live there, happy forever. And we'll always be together!" stated the girl, in a very determined tone.
They both got up and smiled at each other. Catherine skipped ahead of her mother and started singing once more. While her daughter wasn't looking, the woman glanced back at the ocean as a tear trickled down her face.
" Of course we will, Catherine. Together... forever..." she whispered to herself.
As she whispered, she took out a small gold band from her coat pocket. She looked down at it as another tear fell from her eye and on the ring. She looked back out at the sea and threw the band at the horizon. And followed her daughter up the sandy hills, never looking back again.
**********§**********
" What do you mean Port Royal is no good?" queried Catherine, clearly taken aback.
She had unrolled a crude piece of parchment and was holding it against the rails of the ship. It was a roughly drawn map of the Spanish Main. She bent down to have a closer look at the map and let out a muffled sound of anger.
" Sorry, love, but there are a few reasons why Port Royal is no good. Number one, I'm a wanted man there and you wouldn't want your Captain Jack getting captured and hung. No, that would be no good... Number two, I like way too many people there to be blowing up their homes. And number three, it's a very hard target. Royal Navy and all... No, no good," explained Jack.
Catherine's eyes darted back and forth over the map, and from the map to Jack, apparently trying to find some loophole, some passage around these problems.
" How about... Attacking a ship of the Royal Navy, just one, one's who's all by its lonesome self, while it's on patrol," she tried.
" Still no good! Their ships are better equipped than ours are and," he stopped to take a deep whiff of air, " by the smell of it, it'll be clear skies for quite a while, so there wont be anyone taken by surprise," he affirmed, evidently proud of himself.
" Oh, right, yes... I knew that! I was simply testing you. If you would have even SUGGESTED that we set off after a ship of the Royal Navy... I would've terminated our contract right away," she asserted uncomfortably.
She rolled the parchment back up and stuffed it inside her waistcoat, crumpling the edges. She shifted with unease as Jack stared at her, boring a hole into her soul with his eyes. He took off his hat and placed it on the deck, and advanced towards Catherine.
" Tell me, lass, how old are you again?" he queried playfully, with a smile.
She pushed the map further into her pocket, the dog-eared corners disappearing into the folds of her clothes, and turned to him. Suddenly, she regained her calm, confident dignity and arched an eyebrow defiantly.
" What does my age have to do with anything, Captain Jack?" she replied with a strange cold smile.
" I was just wondering. No need to be getting all offended, love. Just seems off to me that a young captain..." he began, but was interrupted by a slight glint in her eyes, " err... I mean a young commodore such as yourself should have such a large crew and such a very... nice looking boat as your Horizon," he declared.
She eyed him with suspicion before replying.
" I didn't steal the boat, if that's what you're implying," she said
" I'm not implying anything at all, and there isn't anything wrong with stealing, love... Except if it's from me, of course," he remarked swiftly, shaking his head.
They stared at one another for a few moments as an awkward silence overtook them. Catherine eyes started to sparkle as her mouth slowly formed a smile, when Jack interrupted her, just before she was about to say something.
" You have absolutely no idea about what you're doing, do you, love," he announced with a chuckle, arms crossed.
Catherine's smile quickly faded and changed into a frown. Her mouth left agape, she tried to verbalise the words that were racing through her head, but couldn't and just stood there like a fish trying to catch his breath out of water.
" You're quite possibly the worst pirate I've ever seen, Miss Crowe," claimed Jack, still smiling.
Catherine, taken totally by surprise, turned towards the sea and began to mutter, almost out of Jack's hearing.
" Yes, well at least I don't talk like some bloody eunuch... Stupid, know- it-all jacka..." she grumbled.
Jack, hearing this, also turned towards the sea and got closer to Catherine.
" Maybe I speak like a eunuch, but at least my ears aren't terribly uneven," he teased, flicking the top part of Catherine's ear.
Offended beyond words, Catherine slapped Jack's hand and turned to face him, smoke nearly spewing out of her terribly uneven ears.
" Your eyes must be much worse off than my ears if you feel it necessary to completely smother them with black make-up. So much for masculinity, Captain Jack Sparrow!" she bellowed, pointy an accusing finger at Jack's eyes.
Jack took a step back, his hands shielding him and he let out a small nervous laugh.
" Hush, love. No need to get all excited over this. I was just teasing you, that's all, lass. Common, we're going to have to get along better than this if we're to be Captain Jack Sparrow and Commodore Catherine Crowe, the most terrible pirates in the whole of Spanish Main together," he said, offering his hand in peace. " Truce, love?"
The tension in her face died away and she laughed, taking Jack's hand in hers and giving it a good shake.
" Sorry, but I'm not one to take insults too lightly. I was just about to say something before you interrupted me, but I can't remember what..." she responded, sinking into deep thought.
They both went back to leaning on the railing staring off into the distance.
" That's alright, love. Take your time, I'm sure you'll remember what you wanted to say," he affirmed softly.
They stood there in complete silence as she thought for what seemed like ages, until Jack broke the silence.
" Oh, and don't worry about your ears, love. They go really well with the bump on your nose..."
To Be Continued...?