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!
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Summary: Port Royal lies in ruins.. And now a new menace appears on the horizon. Where is Jack Sparrow and the Black Pearl when doom once again visits the town of Port Royal?
From Last Time: Chapter 12: Doom Revisited
In a flash Norrington took in the mans' state; bathed in perspiration, his harsh and ragged breathing, unsteady sway and the signs of exhaustion that were telling. Sparrow's opponent noticed as well and smiled victoriously. He lifted his weapon to deliver the coup de grace as Jack tipped over to lean against the wall, unable to stop himself. The pirate captains' dark eyes never wavered from the man's face even as at that moment he knew he could not muster the strength to raise his sword in defense.
And now the story continues:
Chapter 13: Judgment Day
With a violent leap and lunge to the side, Norrington appeared just in front of the pirate captain, bringing his full force to bear as he lent a hard straight edged blow to the attacker's neck with his saber. He jumped back, grabbed a fist full of Jacks' shirt with one hand and yanked the man hard, up to his feet. He stood the pirate captain against the wall behind him as the would-be slayer crumpled. The man's head suddenly tilted aside at an abhorrently improper angle, blood spewing all over the deck as his body twitched and spasmed. Two others tried to come for Norrington and Jack, but the gore strewn deck did away with the challenge before he had to.
He could feel Sparrow against the wall behind him, seeming unsteady and leaning against him very heavily and still breathing hard and fast. He wasn't sure at all that the man would stay on his feet if he moved or shifted his balance. Now they were really stuck! The Commodore was extremely glad he had left his heavy outer coat back at his cabin, but not even the ease of movement was going to help if the pirate still was in no condition to defend himself, and Jack didn't seem to be trying to get away from his support.
"Mr. Gibbs!" he yelled out, hoping to heavens that the man heard him.
"Commodore!" he heard in answer just seconds later. Suddenly he was pulled backwards, around the wall and out of the battle to find the large, normally gruff sailor holding him in one hand, and Sparrow in the other. Mr. Gibbs kept the pirate against the wall but was studying the youger man with great concern.
"Holy Mary, mother of God, Jack! I asked ye not to get very far ahead of me! Are you tryin' to get yourself killed today for some reason in particular?"
"They - he started it -" the pirate barely managed in a breathless tone as he gestured back in the general direction of the dead man on the deck. As if that explained it all? Then he leaned back against the wall as if relieved for several long moments. Slowly he straightened and seemed to catch his breath somewhat. Finally he looked at Norrington and scowled deeply.
"What? You're lucky I was there Sparrow!" Norrington shot before the one could say anything, and was amazed when suddenly Jack shook off the older sailor, pushed off from the wall and drug him through a large door just a few feet away. The darkness of the room was blinding at first. Norrington found himself shoved into a chair that apparently had a large table beside it.
"The door Gibbs -" the pirate said, as he moved to one side in the dark and lit a lantern. Light flared as he set it on the table. Norrington realized that they were in the Captain Jack Sparrow's cabin.
"What about the battle out there?" Norrington demanded and the pirate shook his head.
"Most of Cutter's crew is heading back to their ship. Yours combined with mine makes more of us then of them. And I'd rather not end up in that kind of bad place to be again. Not so quick, if you get my meaning. Won't hurt you to sit there for a moment either mate." He said as he swayed while finding his way around the table, clinking things rather clumsily.
"Jack Sparrow if it is your intention to hold me hostage -" Norrington started and the pirate turned back, looking amused but tired as he smiled mildly. He meandered his way over to rest one hip against the table beside the Commodore. Norrington noticed that he had a bottle of rum in his hand. He stared incredulously.
"In the middle of a battle, you're stopping for a drink?" he asked and the pirate gave him a kind look with his head tilted to one side, eyes intent as if carefully thinking over his answer.
"Not exactly - I suggest you take a swig though," he said finally as he offered it. Norrington shook his head and watched as the pirate shrugged and took a large swig himself. Suddenly and without warning he grabbed at Norrington's left shirt sleeve near the shoulder. It ripped easily at his tug and he upended the bottle over the Commodore's upper arm, setting off a fire that had the man yell out loud - only to find Gibbs holding him down from behind.
Norrington looked at his shoulder and was amazed to find a large deep slash across his upper arm that he didn't even know he had received. He gave the pirate a surprised look and the one nodded at Gibbs. The older sailor went to a drawer and drew out a package and brought it over to the table where the pirate leaned casually as he set the bottle aside.
"Have the same problem myself at times. Don't even realize I've managed to get myself hurt, until it's' all over - and then I pass out." Jack said kindly as he used a clean cloth from the package and gently dried the Commodore's arm where the rum had poured down it and onto the floor. Norrington just stared at him in amazement. He couldn't believe that he hadn't noticed, much less that this was apparently the first thing on Sparrow's mind?
He flinched mildly and the pirate grimaced with a softly muttered 'sorry there'. Norrington watched as Jack folded a different clean cloth into a pad, then carefully and gently lifted his arm and applied the pad over the gash and pressed on it firmly with his hand and kept the pressure on it.
"Decent of you to come to the rescue for me there Commodore. Ye have my thanks. I definitely wasn't able to get myself out of that one.... Course now, ye' probably didn't actually have any plans of doing such a thing for the likes of me," he said with a genuine smile at the military man, and then shrugged. "But - that's just how it goes sometimes in the thick of things. You end up doing things you wouldn't otherwise if you thought about it first!"
Norrington looked at him, suddenly a little uncomfortable with the unexpected lack of animosity on the pirates' part, and at having the man so close and awake and himself not the one in control. The only other times he had been this close to the man either one of them was behind bars, or one of them was hanging off a cliff. And the pirate wasn't being his usual smug self. It all just seemed surreal. Jack Sparrow was not supposed to seem like a normal person, much less saying thank you - he'd never expected to hear the man say those words. Not unless he was doing it to be annoying in one way or another.
"You're - welcome." Norrington finally said simply, not sure what else to add. The pirate smiled and sighed softly as if to himself.
"Funny ol' world we live in Commodore. Can't for the life of me figure out why we can't seem to just be rid of each other for a bit. Pretty big ocean out there and yet here we end up knocking heads as regular as the sun rises," he observed with a mild grin as he held the military officers' arm firmly and half turned to look through the package at his side. Finally he turned back and brought up a roll of padding and bandages. Norrington blinked at him in surprise.
"You don't need to go to all of this. We have supplies on the 'Freedom'." he said and the pirate shook his head mildly as he held his arm still, resting Norrington's wrist against him so he could reach the man's upper arm.
"Well, lets get you patched up enough so you don't end up pulling one of my famous stunts. I imagine if your crew sees us hauling you back unconscious, our heads would roll faster than a man can spit to the leeward side." He said quite carelessly. He proceeded to wrap the Commodore's arm with a gentleness of touch that surprised the other.
They heard three sudden, loud clangs of a ship's bell in a row. Norrington started up, only to find Jack's hand at his chest holding him down.
"Means too dark to see who yer killin', so everyone get back to where ye belong." He explained and Norrington frowned.
"My men won't know that." He said and Jack smiled with a half shrug.
"Mine'll tell em. It includes collectin' the wounded and the dead so you can do what's right by them as well. Pirate's tradition - not part of the code though." He said in a warm and friendly voice, and then looked over at Gibbs.
"How's my little surprise comin' along Mr. Gibbs?" he asked and the older man looked decidedly unhappy.
"Coming along just like you want Captain, but I still think you should reconsider this whole thing. Especially after what went on here just now. Ye be more tired than you think lad. I know ye better than you know yerself, beggin' the Cap'n' pardon." He said rather sourly.
The pirate chuckled as if amused, then looked up as the door to his cabin burst open and William Turner entered with Gillette in his hand, his pistol almost at the man's head. He pushed the soldier into the room. Gillette quickly caught himself.
"Ah! Dear William! So glad you could come for our little party! Tell me now, how did you manage to end up out here in the middle of all this fightin' and Elizabeth not know? Or is she going to be burstin' in right behind you any second?" Jack asked casually with an offhand gesture at the door they had just come through, and the young man frowned mildly at him.
"I came on the Commodore's ship. I jumped on at the last second. She doesn't know I'm here. I was helping with a wall when I saw the ships and heard the volley from the fort." He said and the pirate sat back on the table and sighed at him, shaking his head.
"Lad, lad, lad. Haven't I ever told you not to go, and do anything - stupid?" he asked - in that tone reserved for only that one particular phrase, complete with hand gesture, and the young man suddenly grinned widely at him.
"Well, no you haven't - not lately anyway! I found this good gentleman here, heading below for the gun decks." he said and the pirate smiled as he crossed his arms, parking them on his chest, one eyebrow arching curiously at the younger military officer.
"Looking for something in particular Mr. Gillette? It is Gillette, isn't it?" he asked as he studied the nails of one hand with a casual air.
"I just thought - well. If you are truly on our side now, you wouldn't mind?" Gillette said rather defensively. The pirate chuckled and looked at the Commodore and offered him the bottle of rum again, then winked so only the one in the chair could see. This time Norrington took a very small swig from it himself and stared at the younger military officer with dismay. Last thing he needed was for the idiot to go provoking the pirate captain at this particular moment in time.
"You don't see a British flag flyin' from my standard son. Even if you did - s'not polite to be too nosy on another man's ship without his invitin' said interest. You're flat out fortunate somebody didn't just shoot you first. It must be your lucky day!" he said as he left the table to circle the officer with a swaying walk. Suddenly he turned and with a hand on Gillette's chest pushed very close to the officer's face.
"Can't imagine what you'd want down there anyway boy. Just a bunch of old cannon and shot and so on." He growled very low and challengingly. The younger officer looked distinctly appalled and uneasy as he backed away, not answering the pirate. Instead he looked to Norrington in an appeal for help in distracting the 'madman' he found himself faced with.
"You don't have just regular ordinary cannon down there man - even I can tell you that. No cannon I've ever seen has that kind of range. What are they?" the Commodore spoke up with from his chair and the pirate half shrugged as he abruptly abandoned the younger officer to return to his spot, leaning against the large table.
"Ah - something I had somebody make for me back a couple of years ago when I first got the Pearl back and had to do all those repairs on her. Real mess Barbossa let her get into. I will admit I do have a weakness for pretty cannon, and nice thick armor. Oh well." He offered admittingly and both military men exchanged looks of concern.
"Armor? You have armor and custom made cannons -" Norrington asked in surprise.
"That must have cost no small fortune -" Gillette added as if thinking aloud, with a deep frown at the ground. The pirate Captain burst out laughing as if truly amused.
"Don't let it worry you lad - I can afford it!" he managed, shaking his head with a wide grin and chuckling more even as Gillette scowled at him now.
"Only because of what you stole from others - you, you - pirate." He spit out insultingly - surprised even more when his statement made Gibbs and Jack both laugh again.
"Jack - I hate to interrupt the two of you - but what's this Gibbs was telling me you have planned for later tonight? He was telling me one of his stories, right?" Will said with sudden intensity. Gillette and Norrington both looked at the pirate who took another swig from the bottle and seemed well pleased as he half sat on the side of the table.
"No, actually not. Not this time anyway. Bartholomew Cutter has been a menace to every living soul he comes across and I intend to put an end to his days. All Cutter is doin' is giving me a little motivation by comin' here now. Very cooperative of him really. Under normal circumstances I'd never expect to see the man. These aren't his normal waters," he said and Gillette just could not resist.
"You have no hesitancy about killing one of your own?" he asked snidely.
Norrington scowled abruptly at the younger man. "Gillette - that is quite enough! Mr. Sparrow is our ally in this cause. Please keep that in mind?" he said stiffly and sternly.
Jack just smiled at the younger officer, tilting his head and giving the man an intent look.
"It probably means little to such as you lad - but I happen to be a signed, sealed, and sworn member of the Brethren of the Coast. We take care of our own problems. Besides, better me than you and the Commodore here do it. On top of that - I really hate to pass up an opportune moment to set matters straight, lad," he said, a tone of menace coming to his voice, one booted foot swinging casually. Gillette shifted uneasily and looked away, suddenly silent for the moment.
Will scowled as did Mr. Gibbs. Commodore Norrington and Gillette both took notice and frowned at the pirate.
"Exactly what do you have in mind?" Norrington asked and the one smiled casually.
"Greek fire and the strategy of Drake. I figure - if it worked good enough to keep the Spanish Armada out of Calais in 1588 - it should keep Cutter out of Port Royal today." He said, and both military men did strong double takes at him, Gillette suddenly choking.
"I don't think you even know what you're talking about! Greek fire? Nobody even knows how to make that! The Spanish Armada? How on earth would you even know such things? You're insane, pirate!" Gillette reacted with unthinkingly - and did a double take at finding Mr. Gibbs suddenly at his side very close with a menacing glare.
"Mr. Gillette!" Norrington reproved sternly and the man gave him an astonished look, then flushed as Jack smiled at him very sweetly for a moment.
"I carry the ingredients to make my own version of it Commodore. Little petroleum, little sulphur, little quick lime, pitch. A secret ingredient or two of my own. All in different parts of the ship you understand, until we decide to make up a nice little batch. - and you remember our docking platforms that we left with your good Governor? Well, we have plenty more." He told them as if casually discussing the weather.
"Drake lit his and the Armada had a chance to take off when they saw them coming. Cutter isn't anchored and the 'Rover' is perfectly capable of taking off on us - so instead I'll just float one of those platforms around to his other side, attach a line or two to his railing - THEN I'll light it, and leave said 'Rover' before the gunpowder goes off. We've done it before when a situation called for using the stuff. The results are loud and very - bright - you could say" Jack explained further, with a casual hand.
"You - you - you -... I don't believe this! What on earth do you know about naval history? Sir Francis Drake and the Spanish Armada? Ancient Greek weapons? I really do not believe this" Gillette breathed in confusion and the pirate laughed softly. He tilted his head with a sly look as Gillette stared at him.
Norrington gave the younger officer a look surely meant to kill. This was enough to make him begin to doubt Gillette's' abilities. Military officers sometimes had to deal with allies and others they would not normally, if but for a common cause. Treaties were made for causes, not for personal preference. Gillette seemed to have missed that lesson somehow, he thought gravely to himself. Sparrow was not exactly the worse thing on earth after all! He had long suspected from the man's vocabulary alone that he was more than an uneducated street urchin turned pirate. The pirate could be annoying and obnoxious, yes - he had a veritable talent for such - but he wasn't being so far, except when reacting to the officer's provocations.
Jack shook his head at the younger officer and seemed to be growing rather annoyed even as he spoke.
"Look son - we have a bit more important things goin' on at the moment than to debate my education or lack there of, wouldn't you agree? Let's kill the bad pirates and be certain your good town is safe for another day, and then you can question me about which school do I happen to be an illustrious alumni of? The ~only~ important part of this is that I don't think we have to worry about Cutter knowing HIS history - at least until he sees that thing lit." he said with barely disguised irritation setting in. The younger military man stared at him, surprised at the formality and wording.
Jack gave the others a slow wink and unexpected twinkling gold smile and now seemed amused by the young military officer's silent reaction.
"Now - I know Cutter is not going to sit there all night and let us all get a good night's sleep. I'm sure he has something planned as much as I do myself. Let's just hope we beat him to it shall we say? Commodore, Mr. Gillette - I imagine by now your own crew is getting rather alarmed at noticing the both of you missing?" the pirate pointed out and they both nodded quickly.
The Commodore rose, surprised when the room swung dizzily around him for a second and the pirate instantly reached out to steady him. "I - I'm fine, thank you." the officer managed as his vision cleared and the pirate nodded as he pat him on the back and guided them to the door of his cabin.
~ * * ~
Commodore Norrington watched in silent worry as the last of the kegs were loaded onto the platform floating below. It was just shortly after midnight now. That thing had enough gunpowder on it alone to blast 5 ships to kingdom come, easily, in his estimation. There was just no end to the surprises Jack Sparrow was capable of, he decided. Of course none of it was lit yet, so the pirate's success was yet to be seen. He looked up to see the pirate captain coming towards him clad as usual, only minus his boots. Jack gave him an amused look.
"You really should be back on your own ship Commodore, resting that arm." Jack observed in a kind tone, and Norrington blinked hard at the man.
"Are you so sure you can do this? I mean - your own -" he started awkwardly, and left off with a nod at the pirate's shoulder and the one flexed his arm, making a mild face.
"Of course I can - I'm Captain Jack Sparrow!" he said brightly, in the matching tone.
Norrington gave him a weak smile. It was getting so enough had happened between him and this man that memories were sometimes touched upon - as had just happened. He had the feeling that the pirate was feeling the same thing by the unusual look that flashed across the man's face.
Sparrow shrugged with a smile. "Should be possible considering that the current is running into the bay for me and that'll just take it that way naturally. That's why I wanted to be sure we were on this side of the 'Rover' come nightfall." He said, rubbing at his shoulder where the gash had been without realizing it.
Norrington frowned at him with concern. He found that he actually wished the pirate wasn't so set on this idea of his, even if it probably was a brilliant one. He watched as the pirate sat up on the railing and swung his legs over. It looked awfully far down to Norrington.
"Its' going to be cold." He observed and the one chuckled and pat his good shoulder.
"Oh nonsense man - come on now - anyone would think you were starting to care here! Better watch it - If the illustrious Mr. Gillette hears you, the man will just fall over dead as stone! But look - if by some odd reason I don't come back - can you tell me you won't let Cutter get any of my crew? I'd rather have you shoot someone than let Cutter play with them if this doesn't work." He said, the last suddenly serious, with a hand on the Commodore's shoulder as he sat on the rail.
Norrington nodded just as seriously. "You have my word on that Jack." He said and the pirate gave him a surprised smile as he noticed, but made no mention of the use of his name by the military officer.
" I'm off then. I'll be seeing you after the fireworks!" he said, and before Norrington could react he was gone, having started down the netting on the side.
Norrington found himself watching with worry as the pirate got to the water and helped to spread the dark black cloth over the platform. He wasn't comforted much that it made the platform just about invisible. Gibbs came up by him, followed by AnaMaria.
"Where's Jack?" she asked and he nodded down at the water.
"That damn fool! He can't do that alone Gibbs! You know that and so do I!" she exclaimed and he sighed with an extremely worried look.
"That's why he didn't stick around to let us argue with him. You know how he is when he gets to being stubborn Ana," he told her. She nodded with a worried look down at the water. They spotted the pirate already with the platform some distance away from the ship. Quickly she began shedding her hat and shoes.
"Now just wait a minute here missy -" Gibbs started and she scowled at him.
"Oh hush you ol' fool - if it all goes the way he plans, I'll be back in half an hour with him and he can have a holy fit if he wants. You're welcome t' join him. You notice he didn' even ask for volunteers to help - most likely cause he's not sure he can pull it off either. He never asks for volunteers if he's pretty sure it's most likely suicidal - the damn fool of a man! Jack might not know that he can't do it all by himself yet - but you n' I do, and he's not gonna be alone when he suddenly runs into that fact." She growled, and then was over the rail to drop into the sea with a quiet splash before he could even react to her sentiments.
~ * * ~
Norrington found it hard to concentrate during the next half hour or so. It almost seemed hard to breathe. Where were Sparrow and the girl? Were they ready? He looked over at the crew members on the deck of the 'Pearl' - they had slowly drifted quite a ways off from the 'Rover'.
All of a sudden there came the sound of shouts and distant pistol fire and movement could be seen on the larger boat barely visible in the darkness. People running on the deck of the 'Rover'. One in a white shirt definitely. Being chased. He swallowed hard as the figure ducked and swung up into the rigging itself, then jumped for a yardarm, crossed it and slid down a far rope. The indistinct figures on the deck stopped in confusion and then realized where he had gone and took off again. Around again. Where was the charge? The girl? Why on earth was Sparrow still on the ship if it was about to blow up!
The figure in white came off the foredeck on another rope, only to have it chopped off short by someone above him and he fell heavily to the deck and seemed stunned. Roughly he was hauled to his feet and held between two and hit by a third and a fourth. Suddenly another figure jumped out at them, and there was the glint of silver and a cry of pain and then the two took off, her getting quickly far in advance.
The entire crew of the 'Pearl' watched at the railing as the figures were chased around the deck wall and out of sight. They heard a muffled boom from someplace. And then in less than 15 seconds later the entire deck of the ship erupted in a deafening roar of flame and fire and force, bits and pieces exploding outward in all directions. The crew of the 'Pearl' cheered, as did the crew of the 'Freedom'
The light was blinding. The wreckage rained down and floated upon the water for minute after minute. The smoke became thick and black. They all waited with baited breath for the sounds of splashing swimmers - a voice - a call - anything. But there was nothing. None of them even noticed the slow drifting away of the Ketchum.
The crew exchanged worried looks and waited longer, but still there was not even a sound. Just the brightly burning wreckage. Not even so much one member of the 'Rover's crew appeared. After 30 minutes Gibbs himself went out in the rowboat with three others to search. An hour later they returned.
Norrington stared as the older man climbed the ladder slowly. Gibbs reached the deck. His face looked lined and drawn. His shoulders bent and bowed by something too difficult to bear up under. The Commodore went to him quickly.
"Mr. Gibbs? You didn't find them?" he asked, trying to catch the man as he suddenly slid to his knees on the deck. The Commodore knelt down before him, watching as the man pulled something red from his shirt. A red bandana, with strands of dark hair caught in it. Norrington closed his eyes as his stomach lurched and the world reeled.
The design was too familiar, the way the knot tied too well known now. He closed his eyes to shut out the horror - squeezed them shut and wished with all his might that he had done something - somehow. He should have done something to not let this be what was happening. The man had been right there before him - bandaging his arm for God's sake! Smiling - winking, gesturing... Looking at him - talking to him. No, no this could not be the way it all ended he cried inside.
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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!
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Summary: Port Royal lies in ruins.. And now a new menace appears on the horizon. Where is Jack Sparrow and the Black Pearl when doom once again visits the town of Port Royal?
From Last Time: Chapter 12: Doom Revisited
In a flash Norrington took in the mans' state; bathed in perspiration, his harsh and ragged breathing, unsteady sway and the signs of exhaustion that were telling. Sparrow's opponent noticed as well and smiled victoriously. He lifted his weapon to deliver the coup de grace as Jack tipped over to lean against the wall, unable to stop himself. The pirate captains' dark eyes never wavered from the man's face even as at that moment he knew he could not muster the strength to raise his sword in defense.
And now the story continues:
Chapter 13: Judgment Day
With a violent leap and lunge to the side, Norrington appeared just in front of the pirate captain, bringing his full force to bear as he lent a hard straight edged blow to the attacker's neck with his saber. He jumped back, grabbed a fist full of Jacks' shirt with one hand and yanked the man hard, up to his feet. He stood the pirate captain against the wall behind him as the would-be slayer crumpled. The man's head suddenly tilted aside at an abhorrently improper angle, blood spewing all over the deck as his body twitched and spasmed. Two others tried to come for Norrington and Jack, but the gore strewn deck did away with the challenge before he had to.
He could feel Sparrow against the wall behind him, seeming unsteady and leaning against him very heavily and still breathing hard and fast. He wasn't sure at all that the man would stay on his feet if he moved or shifted his balance. Now they were really stuck! The Commodore was extremely glad he had left his heavy outer coat back at his cabin, but not even the ease of movement was going to help if the pirate still was in no condition to defend himself, and Jack didn't seem to be trying to get away from his support.
"Mr. Gibbs!" he yelled out, hoping to heavens that the man heard him.
"Commodore!" he heard in answer just seconds later. Suddenly he was pulled backwards, around the wall and out of the battle to find the large, normally gruff sailor holding him in one hand, and Sparrow in the other. Mr. Gibbs kept the pirate against the wall but was studying the youger man with great concern.
"Holy Mary, mother of God, Jack! I asked ye not to get very far ahead of me! Are you tryin' to get yourself killed today for some reason in particular?"
"They - he started it -" the pirate barely managed in a breathless tone as he gestured back in the general direction of the dead man on the deck. As if that explained it all? Then he leaned back against the wall as if relieved for several long moments. Slowly he straightened and seemed to catch his breath somewhat. Finally he looked at Norrington and scowled deeply.
"What? You're lucky I was there Sparrow!" Norrington shot before the one could say anything, and was amazed when suddenly Jack shook off the older sailor, pushed off from the wall and drug him through a large door just a few feet away. The darkness of the room was blinding at first. Norrington found himself shoved into a chair that apparently had a large table beside it.
"The door Gibbs -" the pirate said, as he moved to one side in the dark and lit a lantern. Light flared as he set it on the table. Norrington realized that they were in the Captain Jack Sparrow's cabin.
"What about the battle out there?" Norrington demanded and the pirate shook his head.
"Most of Cutter's crew is heading back to their ship. Yours combined with mine makes more of us then of them. And I'd rather not end up in that kind of bad place to be again. Not so quick, if you get my meaning. Won't hurt you to sit there for a moment either mate." He said as he swayed while finding his way around the table, clinking things rather clumsily.
"Jack Sparrow if it is your intention to hold me hostage -" Norrington started and the pirate turned back, looking amused but tired as he smiled mildly. He meandered his way over to rest one hip against the table beside the Commodore. Norrington noticed that he had a bottle of rum in his hand. He stared incredulously.
"In the middle of a battle, you're stopping for a drink?" he asked and the pirate gave him a kind look with his head tilted to one side, eyes intent as if carefully thinking over his answer.
"Not exactly - I suggest you take a swig though," he said finally as he offered it. Norrington shook his head and watched as the pirate shrugged and took a large swig himself. Suddenly and without warning he grabbed at Norrington's left shirt sleeve near the shoulder. It ripped easily at his tug and he upended the bottle over the Commodore's upper arm, setting off a fire that had the man yell out loud - only to find Gibbs holding him down from behind.
Norrington looked at his shoulder and was amazed to find a large deep slash across his upper arm that he didn't even know he had received. He gave the pirate a surprised look and the one nodded at Gibbs. The older sailor went to a drawer and drew out a package and brought it over to the table where the pirate leaned casually as he set the bottle aside.
"Have the same problem myself at times. Don't even realize I've managed to get myself hurt, until it's' all over - and then I pass out." Jack said kindly as he used a clean cloth from the package and gently dried the Commodore's arm where the rum had poured down it and onto the floor. Norrington just stared at him in amazement. He couldn't believe that he hadn't noticed, much less that this was apparently the first thing on Sparrow's mind?
He flinched mildly and the pirate grimaced with a softly muttered 'sorry there'. Norrington watched as Jack folded a different clean cloth into a pad, then carefully and gently lifted his arm and applied the pad over the gash and pressed on it firmly with his hand and kept the pressure on it.
"Decent of you to come to the rescue for me there Commodore. Ye have my thanks. I definitely wasn't able to get myself out of that one.... Course now, ye' probably didn't actually have any plans of doing such a thing for the likes of me," he said with a genuine smile at the military man, and then shrugged. "But - that's just how it goes sometimes in the thick of things. You end up doing things you wouldn't otherwise if you thought about it first!"
Norrington looked at him, suddenly a little uncomfortable with the unexpected lack of animosity on the pirates' part, and at having the man so close and awake and himself not the one in control. The only other times he had been this close to the man either one of them was behind bars, or one of them was hanging off a cliff. And the pirate wasn't being his usual smug self. It all just seemed surreal. Jack Sparrow was not supposed to seem like a normal person, much less saying thank you - he'd never expected to hear the man say those words. Not unless he was doing it to be annoying in one way or another.
"You're - welcome." Norrington finally said simply, not sure what else to add. The pirate smiled and sighed softly as if to himself.
"Funny ol' world we live in Commodore. Can't for the life of me figure out why we can't seem to just be rid of each other for a bit. Pretty big ocean out there and yet here we end up knocking heads as regular as the sun rises," he observed with a mild grin as he held the military officers' arm firmly and half turned to look through the package at his side. Finally he turned back and brought up a roll of padding and bandages. Norrington blinked at him in surprise.
"You don't need to go to all of this. We have supplies on the 'Freedom'." he said and the pirate shook his head mildly as he held his arm still, resting Norrington's wrist against him so he could reach the man's upper arm.
"Well, lets get you patched up enough so you don't end up pulling one of my famous stunts. I imagine if your crew sees us hauling you back unconscious, our heads would roll faster than a man can spit to the leeward side." He said quite carelessly. He proceeded to wrap the Commodore's arm with a gentleness of touch that surprised the other.
They heard three sudden, loud clangs of a ship's bell in a row. Norrington started up, only to find Jack's hand at his chest holding him down.
"Means too dark to see who yer killin', so everyone get back to where ye belong." He explained and Norrington frowned.
"My men won't know that." He said and Jack smiled with a half shrug.
"Mine'll tell em. It includes collectin' the wounded and the dead so you can do what's right by them as well. Pirate's tradition - not part of the code though." He said in a warm and friendly voice, and then looked over at Gibbs.
"How's my little surprise comin' along Mr. Gibbs?" he asked and the older man looked decidedly unhappy.
"Coming along just like you want Captain, but I still think you should reconsider this whole thing. Especially after what went on here just now. Ye be more tired than you think lad. I know ye better than you know yerself, beggin' the Cap'n' pardon." He said rather sourly.
The pirate chuckled as if amused, then looked up as the door to his cabin burst open and William Turner entered with Gillette in his hand, his pistol almost at the man's head. He pushed the soldier into the room. Gillette quickly caught himself.
"Ah! Dear William! So glad you could come for our little party! Tell me now, how did you manage to end up out here in the middle of all this fightin' and Elizabeth not know? Or is she going to be burstin' in right behind you any second?" Jack asked casually with an offhand gesture at the door they had just come through, and the young man frowned mildly at him.
"I came on the Commodore's ship. I jumped on at the last second. She doesn't know I'm here. I was helping with a wall when I saw the ships and heard the volley from the fort." He said and the pirate sat back on the table and sighed at him, shaking his head.
"Lad, lad, lad. Haven't I ever told you not to go, and do anything - stupid?" he asked - in that tone reserved for only that one particular phrase, complete with hand gesture, and the young man suddenly grinned widely at him.
"Well, no you haven't - not lately anyway! I found this good gentleman here, heading below for the gun decks." he said and the pirate smiled as he crossed his arms, parking them on his chest, one eyebrow arching curiously at the younger military officer.
"Looking for something in particular Mr. Gillette? It is Gillette, isn't it?" he asked as he studied the nails of one hand with a casual air.
"I just thought - well. If you are truly on our side now, you wouldn't mind?" Gillette said rather defensively. The pirate chuckled and looked at the Commodore and offered him the bottle of rum again, then winked so only the one in the chair could see. This time Norrington took a very small swig from it himself and stared at the younger military officer with dismay. Last thing he needed was for the idiot to go provoking the pirate captain at this particular moment in time.
"You don't see a British flag flyin' from my standard son. Even if you did - s'not polite to be too nosy on another man's ship without his invitin' said interest. You're flat out fortunate somebody didn't just shoot you first. It must be your lucky day!" he said as he left the table to circle the officer with a swaying walk. Suddenly he turned and with a hand on Gillette's chest pushed very close to the officer's face.
"Can't imagine what you'd want down there anyway boy. Just a bunch of old cannon and shot and so on." He growled very low and challengingly. The younger officer looked distinctly appalled and uneasy as he backed away, not answering the pirate. Instead he looked to Norrington in an appeal for help in distracting the 'madman' he found himself faced with.
"You don't have just regular ordinary cannon down there man - even I can tell you that. No cannon I've ever seen has that kind of range. What are they?" the Commodore spoke up with from his chair and the pirate half shrugged as he abruptly abandoned the younger officer to return to his spot, leaning against the large table.
"Ah - something I had somebody make for me back a couple of years ago when I first got the Pearl back and had to do all those repairs on her. Real mess Barbossa let her get into. I will admit I do have a weakness for pretty cannon, and nice thick armor. Oh well." He offered admittingly and both military men exchanged looks of concern.
"Armor? You have armor and custom made cannons -" Norrington asked in surprise.
"That must have cost no small fortune -" Gillette added as if thinking aloud, with a deep frown at the ground. The pirate Captain burst out laughing as if truly amused.
"Don't let it worry you lad - I can afford it!" he managed, shaking his head with a wide grin and chuckling more even as Gillette scowled at him now.
"Only because of what you stole from others - you, you - pirate." He spit out insultingly - surprised even more when his statement made Gibbs and Jack both laugh again.
"Jack - I hate to interrupt the two of you - but what's this Gibbs was telling me you have planned for later tonight? He was telling me one of his stories, right?" Will said with sudden intensity. Gillette and Norrington both looked at the pirate who took another swig from the bottle and seemed well pleased as he half sat on the side of the table.
"No, actually not. Not this time anyway. Bartholomew Cutter has been a menace to every living soul he comes across and I intend to put an end to his days. All Cutter is doin' is giving me a little motivation by comin' here now. Very cooperative of him really. Under normal circumstances I'd never expect to see the man. These aren't his normal waters," he said and Gillette just could not resist.
"You have no hesitancy about killing one of your own?" he asked snidely.
Norrington scowled abruptly at the younger man. "Gillette - that is quite enough! Mr. Sparrow is our ally in this cause. Please keep that in mind?" he said stiffly and sternly.
Jack just smiled at the younger officer, tilting his head and giving the man an intent look.
"It probably means little to such as you lad - but I happen to be a signed, sealed, and sworn member of the Brethren of the Coast. We take care of our own problems. Besides, better me than you and the Commodore here do it. On top of that - I really hate to pass up an opportune moment to set matters straight, lad," he said, a tone of menace coming to his voice, one booted foot swinging casually. Gillette shifted uneasily and looked away, suddenly silent for the moment.
Will scowled as did Mr. Gibbs. Commodore Norrington and Gillette both took notice and frowned at the pirate.
"Exactly what do you have in mind?" Norrington asked and the one smiled casually.
"Greek fire and the strategy of Drake. I figure - if it worked good enough to keep the Spanish Armada out of Calais in 1588 - it should keep Cutter out of Port Royal today." He said, and both military men did strong double takes at him, Gillette suddenly choking.
"I don't think you even know what you're talking about! Greek fire? Nobody even knows how to make that! The Spanish Armada? How on earth would you even know such things? You're insane, pirate!" Gillette reacted with unthinkingly - and did a double take at finding Mr. Gibbs suddenly at his side very close with a menacing glare.
"Mr. Gillette!" Norrington reproved sternly and the man gave him an astonished look, then flushed as Jack smiled at him very sweetly for a moment.
"I carry the ingredients to make my own version of it Commodore. Little petroleum, little sulphur, little quick lime, pitch. A secret ingredient or two of my own. All in different parts of the ship you understand, until we decide to make up a nice little batch. - and you remember our docking platforms that we left with your good Governor? Well, we have plenty more." He told them as if casually discussing the weather.
"Drake lit his and the Armada had a chance to take off when they saw them coming. Cutter isn't anchored and the 'Rover' is perfectly capable of taking off on us - so instead I'll just float one of those platforms around to his other side, attach a line or two to his railing - THEN I'll light it, and leave said 'Rover' before the gunpowder goes off. We've done it before when a situation called for using the stuff. The results are loud and very - bright - you could say" Jack explained further, with a casual hand.
"You - you - you -... I don't believe this! What on earth do you know about naval history? Sir Francis Drake and the Spanish Armada? Ancient Greek weapons? I really do not believe this" Gillette breathed in confusion and the pirate laughed softly. He tilted his head with a sly look as Gillette stared at him.
Norrington gave the younger officer a look surely meant to kill. This was enough to make him begin to doubt Gillette's' abilities. Military officers sometimes had to deal with allies and others they would not normally, if but for a common cause. Treaties were made for causes, not for personal preference. Gillette seemed to have missed that lesson somehow, he thought gravely to himself. Sparrow was not exactly the worse thing on earth after all! He had long suspected from the man's vocabulary alone that he was more than an uneducated street urchin turned pirate. The pirate could be annoying and obnoxious, yes - he had a veritable talent for such - but he wasn't being so far, except when reacting to the officer's provocations.
Jack shook his head at the younger officer and seemed to be growing rather annoyed even as he spoke.
"Look son - we have a bit more important things goin' on at the moment than to debate my education or lack there of, wouldn't you agree? Let's kill the bad pirates and be certain your good town is safe for another day, and then you can question me about which school do I happen to be an illustrious alumni of? The ~only~ important part of this is that I don't think we have to worry about Cutter knowing HIS history - at least until he sees that thing lit." he said with barely disguised irritation setting in. The younger military man stared at him, surprised at the formality and wording.
Jack gave the others a slow wink and unexpected twinkling gold smile and now seemed amused by the young military officer's silent reaction.
"Now - I know Cutter is not going to sit there all night and let us all get a good night's sleep. I'm sure he has something planned as much as I do myself. Let's just hope we beat him to it shall we say? Commodore, Mr. Gillette - I imagine by now your own crew is getting rather alarmed at noticing the both of you missing?" the pirate pointed out and they both nodded quickly.
The Commodore rose, surprised when the room swung dizzily around him for a second and the pirate instantly reached out to steady him. "I - I'm fine, thank you." the officer managed as his vision cleared and the pirate nodded as he pat him on the back and guided them to the door of his cabin.
~ * * ~
Commodore Norrington watched in silent worry as the last of the kegs were loaded onto the platform floating below. It was just shortly after midnight now. That thing had enough gunpowder on it alone to blast 5 ships to kingdom come, easily, in his estimation. There was just no end to the surprises Jack Sparrow was capable of, he decided. Of course none of it was lit yet, so the pirate's success was yet to be seen. He looked up to see the pirate captain coming towards him clad as usual, only minus his boots. Jack gave him an amused look.
"You really should be back on your own ship Commodore, resting that arm." Jack observed in a kind tone, and Norrington blinked hard at the man.
"Are you so sure you can do this? I mean - your own -" he started awkwardly, and left off with a nod at the pirate's shoulder and the one flexed his arm, making a mild face.
"Of course I can - I'm Captain Jack Sparrow!" he said brightly, in the matching tone.
Norrington gave him a weak smile. It was getting so enough had happened between him and this man that memories were sometimes touched upon - as had just happened. He had the feeling that the pirate was feeling the same thing by the unusual look that flashed across the man's face.
Sparrow shrugged with a smile. "Should be possible considering that the current is running into the bay for me and that'll just take it that way naturally. That's why I wanted to be sure we were on this side of the 'Rover' come nightfall." He said, rubbing at his shoulder where the gash had been without realizing it.
Norrington frowned at him with concern. He found that he actually wished the pirate wasn't so set on this idea of his, even if it probably was a brilliant one. He watched as the pirate sat up on the railing and swung his legs over. It looked awfully far down to Norrington.
"Its' going to be cold." He observed and the one chuckled and pat his good shoulder.
"Oh nonsense man - come on now - anyone would think you were starting to care here! Better watch it - If the illustrious Mr. Gillette hears you, the man will just fall over dead as stone! But look - if by some odd reason I don't come back - can you tell me you won't let Cutter get any of my crew? I'd rather have you shoot someone than let Cutter play with them if this doesn't work." He said, the last suddenly serious, with a hand on the Commodore's shoulder as he sat on the rail.
Norrington nodded just as seriously. "You have my word on that Jack." He said and the pirate gave him a surprised smile as he noticed, but made no mention of the use of his name by the military officer.
" I'm off then. I'll be seeing you after the fireworks!" he said, and before Norrington could react he was gone, having started down the netting on the side.
Norrington found himself watching with worry as the pirate got to the water and helped to spread the dark black cloth over the platform. He wasn't comforted much that it made the platform just about invisible. Gibbs came up by him, followed by AnaMaria.
"Where's Jack?" she asked and he nodded down at the water.
"That damn fool! He can't do that alone Gibbs! You know that and so do I!" she exclaimed and he sighed with an extremely worried look.
"That's why he didn't stick around to let us argue with him. You know how he is when he gets to being stubborn Ana," he told her. She nodded with a worried look down at the water. They spotted the pirate already with the platform some distance away from the ship. Quickly she began shedding her hat and shoes.
"Now just wait a minute here missy -" Gibbs started and she scowled at him.
"Oh hush you ol' fool - if it all goes the way he plans, I'll be back in half an hour with him and he can have a holy fit if he wants. You're welcome t' join him. You notice he didn' even ask for volunteers to help - most likely cause he's not sure he can pull it off either. He never asks for volunteers if he's pretty sure it's most likely suicidal - the damn fool of a man! Jack might not know that he can't do it all by himself yet - but you n' I do, and he's not gonna be alone when he suddenly runs into that fact." She growled, and then was over the rail to drop into the sea with a quiet splash before he could even react to her sentiments.
~ * * ~
Norrington found it hard to concentrate during the next half hour or so. It almost seemed hard to breathe. Where were Sparrow and the girl? Were they ready? He looked over at the crew members on the deck of the 'Pearl' - they had slowly drifted quite a ways off from the 'Rover'.
All of a sudden there came the sound of shouts and distant pistol fire and movement could be seen on the larger boat barely visible in the darkness. People running on the deck of the 'Rover'. One in a white shirt definitely. Being chased. He swallowed hard as the figure ducked and swung up into the rigging itself, then jumped for a yardarm, crossed it and slid down a far rope. The indistinct figures on the deck stopped in confusion and then realized where he had gone and took off again. Around again. Where was the charge? The girl? Why on earth was Sparrow still on the ship if it was about to blow up!
The figure in white came off the foredeck on another rope, only to have it chopped off short by someone above him and he fell heavily to the deck and seemed stunned. Roughly he was hauled to his feet and held between two and hit by a third and a fourth. Suddenly another figure jumped out at them, and there was the glint of silver and a cry of pain and then the two took off, her getting quickly far in advance.
The entire crew of the 'Pearl' watched at the railing as the figures were chased around the deck wall and out of sight. They heard a muffled boom from someplace. And then in less than 15 seconds later the entire deck of the ship erupted in a deafening roar of flame and fire and force, bits and pieces exploding outward in all directions. The crew of the 'Pearl' cheered, as did the crew of the 'Freedom'
The light was blinding. The wreckage rained down and floated upon the water for minute after minute. The smoke became thick and black. They all waited with baited breath for the sounds of splashing swimmers - a voice - a call - anything. But there was nothing. None of them even noticed the slow drifting away of the Ketchum.
The crew exchanged worried looks and waited longer, but still there was not even a sound. Just the brightly burning wreckage. Not even so much one member of the 'Rover's crew appeared. After 30 minutes Gibbs himself went out in the rowboat with three others to search. An hour later they returned.
Norrington stared as the older man climbed the ladder slowly. Gibbs reached the deck. His face looked lined and drawn. His shoulders bent and bowed by something too difficult to bear up under. The Commodore went to him quickly.
"Mr. Gibbs? You didn't find them?" he asked, trying to catch the man as he suddenly slid to his knees on the deck. The Commodore knelt down before him, watching as the man pulled something red from his shirt. A red bandana, with strands of dark hair caught in it. Norrington closed his eyes as his stomach lurched and the world reeled.
The design was too familiar, the way the knot tied too well known now. He closed his eyes to shut out the horror - squeezed them shut and wished with all his might that he had done something - somehow. He should have done something to not let this be what was happening. The man had been right there before him - bandaging his arm for God's sake! Smiling - winking, gesturing... Looking at him - talking to him. No, no this could not be the way it all ended he cried inside.
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