In the center of the room, surrounded by his own crew for and audience,
Bloodshed was finally ready to put and end to it all. This was his moment
of glory, to return all the pain and punishment these two pirates had
inflicted upon him, regardless of whether he deserved it or not. Having
walked away from Jack, he now stood looking into Julianne's cold and
contemptuous eyes, Bloodshed smiled slyly.
"Now then luv. Shall we", he asked.
She did not answer.
"Aw come on poppet", he continued, pulling her up to stand next to him. "It isn't all that bad is it? Who knows, you might even enjoy it", he finished, whispering into her ear, one hand cupping the side of her face affectionately.
"I told you before", Julianne answered in an emotionless voice. "I'd rather die."
"And so you shall", Bloodshed threatened, grabbing her roughly by the back of the neck. "But not before you've given me what I want", he finished pushing her jacket back and out of his way.
And that's when Jack totally lost it.
Throwing himself full force into the two men to his left, he was consumed by a rage unlike any he had ever known. Ripping his sword from the hands of one of the stumbling men, he turned swiftly, slicing across the torsos of the two men on his left.
In the hall, both crews took his actions as their sign to take action as well. From either side, they poured into the hall wreaking havoc on every one of Bloodshed's crew.
Jack, who now found himself surrounded by at least nine men who had jumped on him the second he took out the first two, fought back with an animalistic fury. Every direction he turned, another man came at him, but despite the blows that befell him, Jack would not be undone. He felt the sting of a blade bite into his calf but paid it no heed. He felt the burning of a blade that tore across his arm, but still he fought on as though he had not felt a thing.
Left and right he swung his cutlass. Ripping into human flesh, breaking through bone, he began tearing his way through them making toward Bloodshed. Soon those original nine men became eight, and eight became seven. How many fell he could not be sure, they seemed to come at him endlessly, and each one he cut down with no regard for the slaughter he riegned upon them, or the injury that was beginning to mutilate his body. The only thing on his mind was killing Bloodshed, saving Julianne.
Back in the center, Bloodshed found himself at a loss for what to do. When Jack first struck, he grabbed Julianne viciously and held her tight intending to threaten Jack into stopping by holding her at gunpoint. However, when the two opposing crews stormed the hall just moments later, he realized that he would have to abandon his plan and fight for his life. To his surprise though, not one sailor came near him. All around he saw his own crew members falling to enemy swords, and still, not one threatened him. Even those who he threw swings at him backed away from his attacks.
Though he puzzled over this fact, behind him Julianne knew what was going on. Jack had told the crews that Bloodshed was not to be touched. And they obeyed loyally.
At some point, it appeared that Redford picked up on this as well and decided to use the fact to his advantage. Grabbing Julianne by her bound arms, he ripped her away from the bed and attempted to make for the door. Unfortunately for him, though Jack and Julianne's crew would not touch him, they refused to stand idly by and let him escape with their captain.
Seven men became six, six became five. Blood poured from just about every part of Jack's body, but still he was relentless in his wrath, unforgiving in his carnage. His massacre descending upon them swiftly and severely. Throughout the room his and Julianne's crew were overtaking them, and finally some of them could come to his aid. Chopping down a man that stood in front of him, just as Gibbs and Dipst cut down two at his sides, Jack plunged forward, his sword heading directly for Bloodshed.
Seeing this, Bloodshed was aware that his moment had finally come. Quickly raising his pistol, he aimed it directly at Julianne's head. Time stopped, and so did Jack's sword in mid-air as he stared in horror at the scene in front of him. This was the end of the road, someone was going to die.
Standing absolutely still, Julianne watched Jack watching Bloodshed. As he shifted his gaze slightly towards her, what she saw in his eyes was enough. Someone was going to die, and it wasn't going to be her, or him. Without another moment's consideration, Julianne threw herself backwards onto the bed and kicked Bloodshed from behind with all her might. His pistol shot wildly in the air, the bullet lodging somewhere in the ceiling, and he fell forward towards Jack, unable to stop himself.
But Jack had been ready for it. Though they had only maintained eye contact for that one brief second, Jack knew that Julianne would find a way to make things work. And he had been right. The second he saw her fall backwards he understood what he was supposed to do, so when Bloodshed came falling toward him, Jack put forth his sword and drove it through the other man's body.
And that was the end of it. Bloodshed's weight leaned heavily on an already weakened Jack, and before long he was forced to let him fall to the ground. After which, he promptly did the same. Throughout the room, the few of Bloodshed's crew that remained alive immediately surrendered themselves, but no one seemed to notice. They were all staring at Jack, who now lie face down on the cold, stone floor, barely breathing.
Ripping the set keys off of Bloodshed's dead body, Julianne quickly unlocked the irons that bound her and cast them aside. Throwing herself onto the ground next to Jack, she rolled him over gently and checked for a pulse. It took some time to find it, and in the moments before that happened, panic gripped her and tears began to blur her vision.
"LET'S GO", she barked suddenly at all of her crew members.
"What would you 'ave us to with them", Gibbs asked referring to Bloodshed's left overs.
"Leave them. We've no time to take on prisoners or destroy the Cay. We've got to get back to the ship and get the hell out o' 'ere. SO MOVE!"
There was a mad scramble after that. Dipst and Gibbs dutifully came forward and lifted Jack carefully and carried him out, while Anamaria ushered everyone out. Looking around at the devastation the filled the room, Julianne was the last to leave. Walking for the door, she stopped just before exiting and turned to those who yet remained alive.
"Remember this, should any of ye decide ye want to take up yer lost Captain's cause in the future", she warned and headed out.
***
The trip back to the ships was not a pleasant one. The saying 'silent as the grave' didn't even begin to describe the lack of conversation. In the lead rowboat, Julianne sat with Jack's head in her lap, her face devoid of any expression. When they reached the ships, they opted to haul the entire boat up onto the Renegade, to avoid causing Jack any further distress.
Dipst and Gibbs took Jack into Julianne's cabin, and laid him gently on the bed, while Anamaria ran brought her buckets of fresh water. As Julianne began to work on cleaning Jack's wounds, both first mates and Gibbs stood across the room waiting for her orders. Outside, the crews were at the ready to set sail at any moment, but Julianne disregarded everyone. Engrossed in the task at hand, Julianne worked silently, stopping occasionally to wipe the tears from her eyes.
As the three stood there in silence watching her, the became aware that they were not alone. At some point, Will, Elizabeth, and Norrington had entered and also looked on concerned. Eventually, it was a hiccup from Gabrielle that tore Julianne's attention from Jack momentarily. Without turning around, she spoke to the three pirates.
"What condition are we in", she asked through stifled sobs.
"The men are weathered, but ready and waiting for yer orders Captain", Dipst answered.
"He needs a doctor. I can't fix this", she replied after a few moments. "and I don't know how long he'll last in this condition", she continued, but was overwhelmed by grief. "I don't know what to do. Where the hell can we take him", she cried.
The three pirates were at a loss. None but Anamaria had ever seen Julianne cry, and even she could find no words to console her friend. In the end, it seemed that the least likely of the six of them was the one who stepped forward.
"Jules", the Commodore said taking her by the shoulders as he kneeled down next to her. "Jules listen to me. It's alright. We're very near Port Lucaya, less than half a day away. We can take Jack to a doctor there."
"John", she snapped back at him. "Do you honestly think any proper settlement is just going to welcome a bunch of pirates. They'd 'ave us all hanged.'
"You forget. I am the second highest ranking officer in the Caribbean. If I say Jack is to be taken to a doctor then he will see a doctor."
Julianne was not convinced, but seeing no other option, she forced to give in.
"Fine", she conceded, then turned to her pirates. "Get us movin", she ordered them. "The Commodore will the take helm, you two follow with the Pearl. Will and Elizabeth, I want you in yer cabin for the night, and Dipst, keep everyone in order out there. I want no disturbances until we reach the Port. Savvy."
Six heads nodded, and with a jerk of her own head she directed them out. One by one they all left the captain's quarters of the Renegade, Norrington last in line. Turning at the door to get one last look at his cousin for the evening, his heart broke at the sight he beheld.
"Please, don't leave me", he heard Julianne sobbing lightly over Jack's motionless body. "Jack, you've got to be alright. You can't leave me."
Stepping outside, Norrington found the other five still convened in a group just past the door. Out of all of them, the three pirates looked grim and stood a little apart talking amongst themselves while Will and Elizabeth listened.
"It just can't end like this", Dipst said shaking his head.
"Aye, after all we've been through, it'd be an awful shame", Gibbs agreed.
"What do you mean", Elizabeth asked naively.
The all turned and looked at her solemnly. Being the one of them who could put it best, Ana answered. "There's more at stake 'ere than ye realize. If Jack dies, in a way, we all die."
"I don't understand."
"No ship sits well with losing its captain. And when it comes to the Pearl, well, Jack is the Pearl. Without him, what's the point? Ain't a one of us who'd willingly step up and be her captain after him."
"We'd be two captainless ships sailin round without any point or purpose", Dipst added.
"How does Jack dying have anything to do with the Renegade not having a captain", Elizabeth inquired again.
Anamaria sighed, this girl just didn't understand. "If Jack dies, Juli dies. It's as simple as that. Would you want to live without Will?"
Elizabeth shook her head no.
"Exactly. Only difference is, you prolly wouldn't actually kill yourself."
At this, Commodore Norrington's eyes widened in fear. "Let's get moving", he remarked sternly. "We aren't doing him any good by standing around and talking", he added before walking away from them.
"Now then luv. Shall we", he asked.
She did not answer.
"Aw come on poppet", he continued, pulling her up to stand next to him. "It isn't all that bad is it? Who knows, you might even enjoy it", he finished, whispering into her ear, one hand cupping the side of her face affectionately.
"I told you before", Julianne answered in an emotionless voice. "I'd rather die."
"And so you shall", Bloodshed threatened, grabbing her roughly by the back of the neck. "But not before you've given me what I want", he finished pushing her jacket back and out of his way.
And that's when Jack totally lost it.
Throwing himself full force into the two men to his left, he was consumed by a rage unlike any he had ever known. Ripping his sword from the hands of one of the stumbling men, he turned swiftly, slicing across the torsos of the two men on his left.
In the hall, both crews took his actions as their sign to take action as well. From either side, they poured into the hall wreaking havoc on every one of Bloodshed's crew.
Jack, who now found himself surrounded by at least nine men who had jumped on him the second he took out the first two, fought back with an animalistic fury. Every direction he turned, another man came at him, but despite the blows that befell him, Jack would not be undone. He felt the sting of a blade bite into his calf but paid it no heed. He felt the burning of a blade that tore across his arm, but still he fought on as though he had not felt a thing.
Left and right he swung his cutlass. Ripping into human flesh, breaking through bone, he began tearing his way through them making toward Bloodshed. Soon those original nine men became eight, and eight became seven. How many fell he could not be sure, they seemed to come at him endlessly, and each one he cut down with no regard for the slaughter he riegned upon them, or the injury that was beginning to mutilate his body. The only thing on his mind was killing Bloodshed, saving Julianne.
Back in the center, Bloodshed found himself at a loss for what to do. When Jack first struck, he grabbed Julianne viciously and held her tight intending to threaten Jack into stopping by holding her at gunpoint. However, when the two opposing crews stormed the hall just moments later, he realized that he would have to abandon his plan and fight for his life. To his surprise though, not one sailor came near him. All around he saw his own crew members falling to enemy swords, and still, not one threatened him. Even those who he threw swings at him backed away from his attacks.
Though he puzzled over this fact, behind him Julianne knew what was going on. Jack had told the crews that Bloodshed was not to be touched. And they obeyed loyally.
At some point, it appeared that Redford picked up on this as well and decided to use the fact to his advantage. Grabbing Julianne by her bound arms, he ripped her away from the bed and attempted to make for the door. Unfortunately for him, though Jack and Julianne's crew would not touch him, they refused to stand idly by and let him escape with their captain.
Seven men became six, six became five. Blood poured from just about every part of Jack's body, but still he was relentless in his wrath, unforgiving in his carnage. His massacre descending upon them swiftly and severely. Throughout the room his and Julianne's crew were overtaking them, and finally some of them could come to his aid. Chopping down a man that stood in front of him, just as Gibbs and Dipst cut down two at his sides, Jack plunged forward, his sword heading directly for Bloodshed.
Seeing this, Bloodshed was aware that his moment had finally come. Quickly raising his pistol, he aimed it directly at Julianne's head. Time stopped, and so did Jack's sword in mid-air as he stared in horror at the scene in front of him. This was the end of the road, someone was going to die.
Standing absolutely still, Julianne watched Jack watching Bloodshed. As he shifted his gaze slightly towards her, what she saw in his eyes was enough. Someone was going to die, and it wasn't going to be her, or him. Without another moment's consideration, Julianne threw herself backwards onto the bed and kicked Bloodshed from behind with all her might. His pistol shot wildly in the air, the bullet lodging somewhere in the ceiling, and he fell forward towards Jack, unable to stop himself.
But Jack had been ready for it. Though they had only maintained eye contact for that one brief second, Jack knew that Julianne would find a way to make things work. And he had been right. The second he saw her fall backwards he understood what he was supposed to do, so when Bloodshed came falling toward him, Jack put forth his sword and drove it through the other man's body.
And that was the end of it. Bloodshed's weight leaned heavily on an already weakened Jack, and before long he was forced to let him fall to the ground. After which, he promptly did the same. Throughout the room, the few of Bloodshed's crew that remained alive immediately surrendered themselves, but no one seemed to notice. They were all staring at Jack, who now lie face down on the cold, stone floor, barely breathing.
Ripping the set keys off of Bloodshed's dead body, Julianne quickly unlocked the irons that bound her and cast them aside. Throwing herself onto the ground next to Jack, she rolled him over gently and checked for a pulse. It took some time to find it, and in the moments before that happened, panic gripped her and tears began to blur her vision.
"LET'S GO", she barked suddenly at all of her crew members.
"What would you 'ave us to with them", Gibbs asked referring to Bloodshed's left overs.
"Leave them. We've no time to take on prisoners or destroy the Cay. We've got to get back to the ship and get the hell out o' 'ere. SO MOVE!"
There was a mad scramble after that. Dipst and Gibbs dutifully came forward and lifted Jack carefully and carried him out, while Anamaria ushered everyone out. Looking around at the devastation the filled the room, Julianne was the last to leave. Walking for the door, she stopped just before exiting and turned to those who yet remained alive.
"Remember this, should any of ye decide ye want to take up yer lost Captain's cause in the future", she warned and headed out.
***
The trip back to the ships was not a pleasant one. The saying 'silent as the grave' didn't even begin to describe the lack of conversation. In the lead rowboat, Julianne sat with Jack's head in her lap, her face devoid of any expression. When they reached the ships, they opted to haul the entire boat up onto the Renegade, to avoid causing Jack any further distress.
Dipst and Gibbs took Jack into Julianne's cabin, and laid him gently on the bed, while Anamaria ran brought her buckets of fresh water. As Julianne began to work on cleaning Jack's wounds, both first mates and Gibbs stood across the room waiting for her orders. Outside, the crews were at the ready to set sail at any moment, but Julianne disregarded everyone. Engrossed in the task at hand, Julianne worked silently, stopping occasionally to wipe the tears from her eyes.
As the three stood there in silence watching her, the became aware that they were not alone. At some point, Will, Elizabeth, and Norrington had entered and also looked on concerned. Eventually, it was a hiccup from Gabrielle that tore Julianne's attention from Jack momentarily. Without turning around, she spoke to the three pirates.
"What condition are we in", she asked through stifled sobs.
"The men are weathered, but ready and waiting for yer orders Captain", Dipst answered.
"He needs a doctor. I can't fix this", she replied after a few moments. "and I don't know how long he'll last in this condition", she continued, but was overwhelmed by grief. "I don't know what to do. Where the hell can we take him", she cried.
The three pirates were at a loss. None but Anamaria had ever seen Julianne cry, and even she could find no words to console her friend. In the end, it seemed that the least likely of the six of them was the one who stepped forward.
"Jules", the Commodore said taking her by the shoulders as he kneeled down next to her. "Jules listen to me. It's alright. We're very near Port Lucaya, less than half a day away. We can take Jack to a doctor there."
"John", she snapped back at him. "Do you honestly think any proper settlement is just going to welcome a bunch of pirates. They'd 'ave us all hanged.'
"You forget. I am the second highest ranking officer in the Caribbean. If I say Jack is to be taken to a doctor then he will see a doctor."
Julianne was not convinced, but seeing no other option, she forced to give in.
"Fine", she conceded, then turned to her pirates. "Get us movin", she ordered them. "The Commodore will the take helm, you two follow with the Pearl. Will and Elizabeth, I want you in yer cabin for the night, and Dipst, keep everyone in order out there. I want no disturbances until we reach the Port. Savvy."
Six heads nodded, and with a jerk of her own head she directed them out. One by one they all left the captain's quarters of the Renegade, Norrington last in line. Turning at the door to get one last look at his cousin for the evening, his heart broke at the sight he beheld.
"Please, don't leave me", he heard Julianne sobbing lightly over Jack's motionless body. "Jack, you've got to be alright. You can't leave me."
Stepping outside, Norrington found the other five still convened in a group just past the door. Out of all of them, the three pirates looked grim and stood a little apart talking amongst themselves while Will and Elizabeth listened.
"It just can't end like this", Dipst said shaking his head.
"Aye, after all we've been through, it'd be an awful shame", Gibbs agreed.
"What do you mean", Elizabeth asked naively.
The all turned and looked at her solemnly. Being the one of them who could put it best, Ana answered. "There's more at stake 'ere than ye realize. If Jack dies, in a way, we all die."
"I don't understand."
"No ship sits well with losing its captain. And when it comes to the Pearl, well, Jack is the Pearl. Without him, what's the point? Ain't a one of us who'd willingly step up and be her captain after him."
"We'd be two captainless ships sailin round without any point or purpose", Dipst added.
"How does Jack dying have anything to do with the Renegade not having a captain", Elizabeth inquired again.
Anamaria sighed, this girl just didn't understand. "If Jack dies, Juli dies. It's as simple as that. Would you want to live without Will?"
Elizabeth shook her head no.
"Exactly. Only difference is, you prolly wouldn't actually kill yourself."
At this, Commodore Norrington's eyes widened in fear. "Let's get moving", he remarked sternly. "We aren't doing him any good by standing around and talking", he added before walking away from them.