Disney Lawyers: I don't make money. You don't sue. We're good.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The cannons fired on both sides, but the Charles seemed to be winning. Will wondered where Rookwood and the Governor was. Then they sent over a twelve pounder and that seemed to do it. The crunching of wood was followed by a great splash as the pirate boat began to break apart.
"Prepare the long boats for the survivors!" cried the large man.
When he came to, Norrington was in his rented room with a doctor. His chest hurt, but he tried to lift himself anyway. The doctor stopped him. Luisa had put on one of his shirts and coats as best she could and was near the door.
"Where are you off to?" he asked.
"They slandered my name. If anyone should slander it, it shall be me. Rest, I saved your life twice today and I don't intend to do it again," said Luisa and she looked towards the doctor, "Watch over him, por favor."
"Si," said the doctor and she was on her way.
The pirate prisoners were forced onto ship and made into a straight line. The crews of the Charles and the Dauntless gathered around them.
"My dirty pirate brethren," said the large man, "it is time…to rejoin you."
Everyone suddenly turned on the Dauntless crew with guns and knives.
"Put your hands behind your head and slow-like, mind you," cried the large man.
"Why? Why should we comply?" asked Gillette.
There was a hand signal, followed by cannon fire and the Dauntless with a hole ripped in her side. Everyone complied. Will was still able to give Elizabeth a reassuring squeeze, but she had a plan. She turned to nearest former denizen of the Black Pearl.
"There are a few missing from your number."
"Some were lost in the cursed battle while others gave up our way of life."
"How did you escape from the ship?" asked Elizabeth.
"Aye, we have the Governor to thank for that. He rescued us in exchange for information. He was quite brassed off when he found out."
"When he found out what?"
"When he found out that his father had been murdered."
"Who was his father?"
"That was when I was told of the treasure of Port Francis which should be all up to speed," finished Jack, although it was about as reliable a telling as a tabloid.
"Ah," said the Governor, "I noticed with keen interest how you twisted certain truths."
"I'm not sure that I understand."
"I have planned this moment for over a year. We have already met you see. I saw my father off on his first voyage on the Black Pearl," said the man. He took off his hat and wig, leaning in close to Jack. His wig was black, but his real hair was a reddish brown as were his eyes. "Recognize me, Jacques?" he asked as a flicker of recognition went across the captain's face.
"Duncan Barbossa," said Jack, "Our first cabin boy."
"Couldn't keep my father's name once he was a well-known pirate," explained James.
"No, certainly not."
"That doesn't mean that I disowned him completely. I kept close ties with pirates and once I was made Governor, after the first unfortunately died despite my attempts to save him from that shark, I sacked all those employed by His Majesty. I employed only pirates for a moment just as this. Tonight the treasure will be made entirely mine and I will kill the famous Jack Sparrow, just as he did my father."
Duncan got up from his seat and retrieved two swords from a sideboard. He offered one to Jack.
"Based on previous conditions, the match appears slanted."
"It is," said the Governor, smiling.
Jack had no choice. He stood up and took the sword. They danced slightly, waiting for the first move. Then Duncan tried for a thrust that was quickly blocked by Jack. The match had begun.
"They sank the Dauntless!" cried Anamaria and Mr. Gibbs just stared in disbelief.
"What are they playing at here?"
The Black Pearl loomed above Luisa and it was her only hope. She made her way up the gangplank only to be stopped by John.
"Halt! What is your business here?"
"The welfare of captain and ship," said Luisa and shoved him aside.
"Jack should be safely in a cell until the morrow when our plan is hatched," said Mr. Gibbs, coming to John's aid.
"By morn, Captain Sparrow may already be a corpse."
"What mean you by this?" asked Anamaria, upset.
"The Governor is not who you think. He is the son of Barbossa."
"Barbossa?" asked Gibbs, confused.
She nodded.
"He plans to kill Sparrow and sink this very ship with the combined forces of the former crew and the crew of the H.M.S. Charles. You must sink the Charles."
"That is the one thing we cannot do," said Mr. Gibbs.
"The Turners are aboard that ship," clarified Anamaria.
"Then they will be dead, too, unless we fight," said Luisa, firmly.
"Ready the men," ordered Mr. Gibbs to John.
"What is the son capable of?" asked Anamaria to Luisa.
"Your captain received thirty lashes, at his command, mere hours ago."
Luisa didn't have time to finish her statement before Anamaria was already gone.
The crew of the Dauntless lay face down on the deck with their hands tied behind their backs, Elizabeth included. She watched with her limited vision as a pirate approached Will.
"You there, you seem to be the leader," remarked the dark-skinned pirate, "Come with me!"
He was dragged to his feet and she couldn't see him anymore. Elizabeth felt the ring and the scar they shared, trying to reassure herself that that wouldn't be the last she saw of her husband.
Jack and Duncan struck and blocked and struck and blocked again. It was repetitious so Jack jumped onto the dining table. Duncan followed. They sidestepped the food well until Jack stepped onto a serving platter and briefly lost his balance. Duncan took the opportunity to swing and Jack had to quickly duck. Then he slipped off the table and James flipped in front of him. Jack kicked at the younger man so he fell, but Duncan still blocked the following sword move and followed it with a deliberate cut to the older man's left leg. The cut clothing revealed a place that had been scarred over before. Jack let out a short howl of pain before controlling himself again.
"So, that's true as well," remarked Duncan. Jack didn't like Duncan's tone one bit, he had done his research. He flew at Duncan with such a rage that could be akin only to a mother bear. They fought a long time, gathering nicks, cuts and torn clothes, but while Duncan was tiring, it was not as much as Sparrow though Jack was trying hard not to show it. The place on his leg was bothering him again as well as his beaten back. Duncan struck again and this time, it was too quick to block so he had to move out of position. He turned and was going to follow through, swinging his sword, but Duncan saw his opportune moment. He changed the position of his attack and brought the blunt side of the weapon down hard on Jack's injured back. Jack fell on all fours. He grit his teeth, but pain flashed on his face. He tried to get up, but the steel of Duncan's blade bit at his neck. Duncan kept it there and walked around the great sea captain.
"The great Captain Jack Sparrow is beaten. I'll take the utmost pleasure in killing you now."
"Wouldn't want anything less now, would we?"
"Not only will you be destroyed, but your ship will follow as well."
"Not the Pearl," said Jack, the fire returning.
"From tip to stern, I'll watch her burn," said Duncan, pleased.
Hatred emanated from Jack.
Mr. Gibbs drowned his flask while the crew of the Black Pearl waited outside in the dark. They would have to move soon.
The large man eyed Elizabeth with a mischevious glee.
"What a pretty thing. Such a long time since I've seen a thing so fair and felt her flesh."
Elizabeth furrowed her face. She would defend herself by any means necessary. He was running his fingers along her ankles. She tried kicking backwards, but he just caught her leg and then rolled her over.
"Feisty, that's even more to my liking. I believe she's coming below deck with me."
He pulled her, but then there was the sound of a gunshot and the large man fell.
"No one harms Elizabeth or the crew of the Dauntless," ordered Mr. Gibbs.
"By whose command?" asked one of the former Black Pearl pirates.
"Joshamee Gibbs, of the real Black Pearl."
"Except that we outnumber the Black Pearl's crew."
"You'd be forgetting you're taking orders from a Barbossa," reminded Luisa, "They never tell complete truths and fail at their plans."
"And what would you know of it?"
"He's my husband," she replied, bitterly, "I overheard his plans one night and he saw fit to have me ruined. His comforting words are nothing but lies. He keeps the treasure all to himself and will kill anyone in his way."
"You are the one that speaks falsely! Once the Pearl is only lumber on the sea bottom, the treasure is shared by all."
"He had no intention of ever doing that. Instead, he has cannons, from the fort, fixed on this ship. Once Sparrow and his ship are taken care of, then this ship will be sunk as well."
"That's madness. No ship would be left to carry the treasure."
"There is a merchant ship on the other side of the island. Once the sun rises, the men will load the treasure onto it, unknowingly. The treasure will be disguised in wooden cargo boxes which lie in wait under the Governor's house."
"I still don't trust her. She's a female," said a pirate.
"There is only one way to find out. Go to the Governor's house."
"Very well, I say. Let us sate their curiosity and prove them wrong."
The others grumbled their consent.
"That's what I like to see," said Duncan, studying Jack's face, "No one will stop what I've put in motion…and certainly not your friends."
He turned to face Will who was trying to sneak up on him.
"Come to save your friend? You will no doubt meet the same fate."
"Will, my boy catch!" said Jack, throwing his sword. Will caught it easily and swung it in a circle.
"Do you fear a fair fight?" asked Will.
"No, I'll welcome it," said the Governor and he came toward Will, "Bootstrap's spitting image from head to toe."
"Yes and your father sent him down to Davy Jones' locker."
They regarded one another and then Will made the first move.
Duncan blocked and said, "As first mate to Captain Hyde, your father should have been given the ship when the captain died. It's curious how that didn't occur."
Will attacked harder, striking and hitting so that Duncan was losing. Duncan went for his pistol, but Will wasn't going to be fooled by that again. He lightly touched the sword to Duncan's wrist so that Duncan couldn't move an inch without cutting himself.
"I don't like your insinuation about Jack's allegiances."
Then they heard the sound of a door scraping. They both turned to see Rookwood trying to open the door that Will had broken open. It finally fell of its own accord.
"Master Duncan, things have gone ill!" he said, running towards them.
"Where is Luisa?"
"She has escaped."
"What about the pirates?"
"They are headed here presently with weapons."
Duncan relaxed his blade, as did Will, so he quickly went for his piece.
"Bravo," said Duncan, coldly, and shot Rookwood dead.
"Now, I tire of our game, fun as it has been," said Duncan and he cocked the pistol again. This time it was aimed at Will.
