Aftermath
By: L'Morgan
Disclaimer: I guess I really do need to remind you all that anything and everything related to Pirates of the Caribbean, their characters and settings are all the property of Disney - Disney - Disney - nobody - but -Disney ---- I-just-borrowing-to-play-with-and-giving-back. Only Disney can make money on anything to do with Pirates of the Caribbean. NOT ME!
We all know that if I didn't state that here, you would think I owned and was making a mint of money off all the cool Pirates stuff - right? Hummmm - hey folks, you know what? I think I 'just might' own a bridge in Brooklyn - would you like a price quote? World famous even! It's really cheap, I promise you, honestly!
Email: LMorgan1688@yahoo.com R&R! Constructive criticisms and help keeping characters IN character loved. If not your type of story, please move on to something else? And yes, I have taken a few liberties with history, but hopefully not too many to make it not fun?
*************************
Summary: Jack Sparrow once observed that apparently one good deed could be enough to condemn a man. After the earthquake destroys Port Royal, what part does a well known pirate figure in the aftermath? Action/Adventure/Angst PG-15 for violence and disaster setting. Mild W/E pairing, J/A pairings.
Chapter 2: Standoff
The galley came up to the entrance of the harbor and slid to a stop. They had stayed far out of range of the guns from the big fort, as well as those from the stranded or listing Navy vessels. Just because a ship couldn't maneuver in the water, didn't mean someone couldn't load a cannon and send shot flying their way.
The grey haired Mr. Gibbs stood at the helm, while nearby Jack leaned on the railing, using his spyglass to watch the fort and harbor in general. The view wasn't the best at this distance, but it was clear that there was suddenly a lot of activity and running around going on at the top level. The level where they housed those blasted guns of theirs. Apparently they had been noticed.
"Sure a lot more water in that harbor than there used to be Capt'n" Gibbs observed and Jack sighed and nodded as he straightened.
"Bits and pieces of buildings as well in the water. And the dock is just not there anymore - not even a trace of it." He said wryly as he folded his arms over his chest and stared at the scene before him with a calculating look.
"Bring out the sweeps - but make not so much as a single stroke. Those bloody idiots in that fort are going to have to take a shot at us sooner or later. Matter of pride. Can't just let a pirate vessel sail in completely unmolested." he said as if thinking aloud, and jerked mildly as if on cue, there came a muffled boom from the tower.. And about 75 yards in front of them, the splash of a cannon ball hitting the water.
Gibbs frowned at him.
"I do wish you wouldn't always be so accurate Capt'n" he said darkly, and Jack gave him a confident smile as he chuckled softly.
"Nice thing about the Royal Navy Mr. Gibbs - they do seem to be a bit predictable. Image and pride - all that rot." He observed and Gibbs nodded. He had served in said Navy in the past and knew well just what 'all that rot' could encompass.
"Do you want to return fire sir" asked a crew member from the lower deck and Jack shook his head.
"No, - but go below and see that all of our passengers are secure. I don't want anyone up here being mistaken for a hostage. Not unless we need them to be anyway." He said and the man nodded and left. Jack stepped to the rail and looked down to watch the many oars come out of the sides of the ship, then he opened his spyglass again to study the tower of the fort.
~ ** ~
Commodore Norrington also had his spyglass trained on the pirate vessel, not breaking off his view as the Governor came rushing up to him followed by Will and Elizabeth who stopped just a ways off, all three looking worried.
"What are you shooting at?" the Governor demanded and Norrington grimaced.
"The first of what will surely be many more such problems. We have a visitor at the entrance to the harbor - a pirate ship." He said darkly and they all looked alarmed.
"Good Lord man! We won't be able to hold them off with these few cannon!" the Governor reacted with and the Commodore lowered the glass with a glance at the younger two.
"I could hope that this is Mr. Sparrows' way of paying a social visit - but somehow I doubt it. The ship is very low in the water, which means she is heavily loaded. And he's just sitting there. Ran out the oars, but it's just sitting there - watching - waiting. Once darkness falls we won't be able to see if they move. Not with those black sails." He said gravely, and now while the Governor looked even more alarmed, both Will and Elizabeth frowned and stepped up to look over the side and see the ship sitting there.
It was indeed the Black Pearl, there was no mistaking that part of the puzzle.
Just then another cannon went off and they all cringed at the loud booming noise. and stared as the ball again fell far short of the ship.
"Why are you shooting at them? That isn't exactly the best way to keep them from wanting to destroy what little is left of Port Royal!" the Governor exclaimed in alarm and the Commodore scowled.
"A pirate is a pirate. Besides, God Willing - If we were able to sink that thing in the bay - that would certainly be a warning to any other such brazen attempts." He growled and Will scowled.
"Jack is NOT just another pirate and you know it Commodore. He hasn't come near this town in years.How do you know he hasn't come to offer help?" he asked and the Commodore smirked.
"I do not see why you insist on taking the side of such a blatant criminal Mr. Turner, but I can assure you it does nothing to further your future in this colony. Just because he has had the sense to be afraid to enter our fair waters does not mean he hasn't been a major nuisance to the rest of the colonies. and I can assure you that he most certainly has been! I can also assure you that Mr. Sparrow is no more out there to offer the good people of Port Royal his generous assistance, than I am about to take wing and fly off for the winter migrations. The man is a criminal Mr. Turner. You would do well to remember that he still has a noose awaiting him, one I would be only happy to see put to good use. With any luck, the earthquake will have been very kind in leaving the gallows intact." He said very aristocratically, and Will clenched his jaw in anger and started to move to confront him further, only to have Elizabeth stop him with a hand on his arm and a meaningful look to her eyes. Reluctantly he relented and said no more.
*******************
Disclaimer: I guess I really do need to remind you all that anything and everything related to Pirates of the Caribbean, their characters and settings are all the property of Disney - Disney - Disney - nobody - but -Disney ---- I-just-borrowing-to-play-with-and-giving-back. Only Disney can make money on anything to do with Pirates of the Caribbean. NOT ME!
We all know that if I didn't state that here, you would think I owned and was making a mint of money off all the cool Pirates stuff - right? Hummmm - hey folks, you know what? I think I 'just might' own a bridge in Brooklyn - would you like a price quote? World famous even! It's really cheap, I promise you, honestly!
Email: LMorgan1688@yahoo.com R&R! Constructive criticisms and help keeping characters IN character loved. If not your type of story, please move on to something else? And yes, I have taken a few liberties with history, but hopefully not too many to make it not fun?
*************************
Summary: Jack Sparrow once observed that apparently one good deed could be enough to condemn a man. After the earthquake destroys Port Royal, what part does a well known pirate figure in the aftermath? Action/Adventure/Angst PG-15 for violence and disaster setting. Mild W/E pairing, J/A pairings.
Chapter 2: Standoff
The galley came up to the entrance of the harbor and slid to a stop. They had stayed far out of range of the guns from the big fort, as well as those from the stranded or listing Navy vessels. Just because a ship couldn't maneuver in the water, didn't mean someone couldn't load a cannon and send shot flying their way.
The grey haired Mr. Gibbs stood at the helm, while nearby Jack leaned on the railing, using his spyglass to watch the fort and harbor in general. The view wasn't the best at this distance, but it was clear that there was suddenly a lot of activity and running around going on at the top level. The level where they housed those blasted guns of theirs. Apparently they had been noticed.
"Sure a lot more water in that harbor than there used to be Capt'n" Gibbs observed and Jack sighed and nodded as he straightened.
"Bits and pieces of buildings as well in the water. And the dock is just not there anymore - not even a trace of it." He said wryly as he folded his arms over his chest and stared at the scene before him with a calculating look.
"Bring out the sweeps - but make not so much as a single stroke. Those bloody idiots in that fort are going to have to take a shot at us sooner or later. Matter of pride. Can't just let a pirate vessel sail in completely unmolested." he said as if thinking aloud, and jerked mildly as if on cue, there came a muffled boom from the tower.. And about 75 yards in front of them, the splash of a cannon ball hitting the water.
Gibbs frowned at him.
"I do wish you wouldn't always be so accurate Capt'n" he said darkly, and Jack gave him a confident smile as he chuckled softly.
"Nice thing about the Royal Navy Mr. Gibbs - they do seem to be a bit predictable. Image and pride - all that rot." He observed and Gibbs nodded. He had served in said Navy in the past and knew well just what 'all that rot' could encompass.
"Do you want to return fire sir" asked a crew member from the lower deck and Jack shook his head.
"No, - but go below and see that all of our passengers are secure. I don't want anyone up here being mistaken for a hostage. Not unless we need them to be anyway." He said and the man nodded and left. Jack stepped to the rail and looked down to watch the many oars come out of the sides of the ship, then he opened his spyglass again to study the tower of the fort.
~ ** ~
Commodore Norrington also had his spyglass trained on the pirate vessel, not breaking off his view as the Governor came rushing up to him followed by Will and Elizabeth who stopped just a ways off, all three looking worried.
"What are you shooting at?" the Governor demanded and Norrington grimaced.
"The first of what will surely be many more such problems. We have a visitor at the entrance to the harbor - a pirate ship." He said darkly and they all looked alarmed.
"Good Lord man! We won't be able to hold them off with these few cannon!" the Governor reacted with and the Commodore lowered the glass with a glance at the younger two.
"I could hope that this is Mr. Sparrows' way of paying a social visit - but somehow I doubt it. The ship is very low in the water, which means she is heavily loaded. And he's just sitting there. Ran out the oars, but it's just sitting there - watching - waiting. Once darkness falls we won't be able to see if they move. Not with those black sails." He said gravely, and now while the Governor looked even more alarmed, both Will and Elizabeth frowned and stepped up to look over the side and see the ship sitting there.
It was indeed the Black Pearl, there was no mistaking that part of the puzzle.
Just then another cannon went off and they all cringed at the loud booming noise. and stared as the ball again fell far short of the ship.
"Why are you shooting at them? That isn't exactly the best way to keep them from wanting to destroy what little is left of Port Royal!" the Governor exclaimed in alarm and the Commodore scowled.
"A pirate is a pirate. Besides, God Willing - If we were able to sink that thing in the bay - that would certainly be a warning to any other such brazen attempts." He growled and Will scowled.
"Jack is NOT just another pirate and you know it Commodore. He hasn't come near this town in years.How do you know he hasn't come to offer help?" he asked and the Commodore smirked.
"I do not see why you insist on taking the side of such a blatant criminal Mr. Turner, but I can assure you it does nothing to further your future in this colony. Just because he has had the sense to be afraid to enter our fair waters does not mean he hasn't been a major nuisance to the rest of the colonies. and I can assure you that he most certainly has been! I can also assure you that Mr. Sparrow is no more out there to offer the good people of Port Royal his generous assistance, than I am about to take wing and fly off for the winter migrations. The man is a criminal Mr. Turner. You would do well to remember that he still has a noose awaiting him, one I would be only happy to see put to good use. With any luck, the earthquake will have been very kind in leaving the gallows intact." He said very aristocratically, and Will clenched his jaw in anger and started to move to confront him further, only to have Elizabeth stop him with a hand on his arm and a meaningful look to her eyes. Reluctantly he relented and said no more.
*******************