The Call of the sea.
By Latanya
Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with the Pirates of the Caribbean or NUMA but I do own Pearl, her yacht "The Black Pearl II" and anything else that I made up. Also, I re-wrote chapter one because I decided that it wasn't right.
Chapter Two: Rockslides and strange treasures.
When the storm that had been bothering her finally cleared off, Pearl made her way out on deck to make sure everything was still there. Kicking a few dead fish over the side, she made sure the sail was still there and that her diving gear and other things were safe and dry in the chest. Pulling out the strange compass, she went back inside to set the direction she was to head in.
"Thank god that blasted storm is over." She muttered, making herself a hot chocolate. "Don't think I have to many days left before I find the Isla de Muerta and the Black Pearl."
She was right for once. Within two days, which she spent running a side scan as she traveled to see what was below water level, she found herself navigating her way carefully though the reef which surrounded the island. Following the instructions in the dairies, Pearl safely made her way through despite how many times she managed to nearly give herself a heart attack.
When she laid eyes on the fog-covered island, Pearl's heart leapt into her mouth and she laid her hands on Jack's diary as if to say, "Look Jack Sparrow, it's your island. Can you see her? The Black Pearl?" Smiling, she went about setting anchor and getting ready to embark to shore. But not before she ran a sonar scan of the seabed to see if she could find the Black Pearl.
Upon finding what she believed to be the ship, Pearl poured herself a glass of wine and sat down to study the image on the screen. It certainly looked like an old ship and from what she had seen of the wrecks they'd passed on the reef, it was in better condition. Her plans were to dive down after she came back from checking out the caves on the island.
Once everything was ready, she lowered the dingy into the water and threw her backpack down into it. Rushing back to her bedroom, Pearl pulled on a waterproof thermal jacket on over her wetsuit, cotton pants and sleeveless shirt. She wore dive boots, gloves and a belt with a pair of knives and a shark spear. Leaping lightly down into the dingy, Pearl hoped she wouldn't have to worry about anything at all that might need her to use the weapons she carried.
Heading across the water to the mouth of the cave, Pearl made sure she had a spare torch attached to her belt as well as the one she held in her hand. Turning it on when she went inside, Pearl guided the dingy carefully through the water as far as she could before securing it carefully to the side while she got out. Looking around, she was sure she could see gold beneath the water and shrugged.
"My god, this place looks like it hasn't been disturbed for decades. Guess no one likes going through those reefs with their ships. Can't say I blame them, but then, I know that I'm insane." She muttered as she walked around, exploring the cave.
In one place, there was a rock fall covering the entrance to a tunnel and upon studying it closer, Pearl was certain that it was not new and not natural. It looked to well devised to be natural. Besides, when she looked up at the roof, there was no sign of a fall ever having occurred there. Returning to the dingy, Pearl recovered a shovel and set about attempting to clear the rocks away.
"Ahha! If I move that rock there, the rest should fall away and leave an opening big enough for me to get through." She moved the shovel to work on the rock she'd noticed.
Leaping back just in time, Pearl watched the rocks fall through to the ground and leave the top half of the tunnel open. Shining the torch through the hole, she spent a moment contemplating the idea of going through. It didn't seem to welcoming but she knew what she had to do. If there was something to discover in there, she would find it and she would be happy about it.
"Ah, there is nothing for it. Go on through Pearl and find what is to be found. It's not like you're going to touch any cursed treasure if it does exist since you're not that stupid."
She carefully climbing through the remaining rocks and bounded along the tunnel before turning back to look at where she had come from. Shaking her head and holding the torch carefully so that the beam lighted clearly where she was going, Pearl hummed a song softly. When she found herself looking at a large cavern filled with glittering treasure, the woman had to sit down to regain her thoughts.
"By Jesus, would you take a look at that!" Her voice was barely hearable and in her hand, the torchlight trembled.
Finally able to stand again, Pearl started her exploration of the treasure cavern and carefully made her way over to the large chest, which was atop a mound of treasure and rocks. From what she knew of the story behind the curse of the Black Pearl, that chest had to be the Aztec blood gold that Cortez received to stop him from killing any more. Reaching out a trembling hand, Pearl picked up one of the coins to study it closer. There was a loud sound and she spun around to see what it was, slicing open her hand at the same time.
"Shit!" She cried, dropping the coin back into the chest and staring at the blood on her hand as it dripped down on to the coins. "Oh boy, that can't be good."
There was a shout from behind her and Pearl only just managed to duck when a knife came flying towards her. It embedded itself into the chest while Pearl crouched down, looking about for where it came from.
"I shoulda' known some bloody fool would find this place." A man showed himself, walking towards Pearl with a sword drawn and ready. "A man canna get no peace any more."
Staring at his clothing, her mind worked back to the last passage in Captain Jack Sparrow's diary and clapped her uninjured hand to her head. "Well that figures you silly girl. The man is going to kill you now because of it."
"Come out, come out, wherever you are." He called softly, "Capt'in Jack Sparrow knows yer there. Don't hide, it'll only make it worse for yer."
"And why should I come out when you're only going to kill me?" She called back, pressing her back against the chest and pulling one of the knives from her belt.
"Well, well, well, the one who woke me up is a bloody woman. I should 'ave known." The man muttered, shaking his head.
"My name is Pearl Sarah Turner." Her voice rung out around the cavern.
Pearl could hear his groan clearly and Captain Jack Sparrow cursed, "Even worse! A bloody Turner woman! Well, yer life is safe Miss Pearl Sarah Turner, no need to worry 'bout me harming ye."
Lifting her head, she turned to look at him over the top of the chest, "I didn't do anything terrible did I? You know, nothing to do with this curse of yours…."
He arched an eyebrow and smiled at her, "Well, it's obvious to me that ye spilt some of yer blood on that there chest. If ye hadn't, I wouldn't be awake now would I?"
"Crap." She sat back down and rested her head against the chest, "This is just what I wanted. Wonder what Elizabeth would say if she found out that I resurrected some pirate from the 1700's?"
Making his way towards the strange woman, Jack couldn't help but wonder what the year was since her clothes had struck him as very strange. "Now which Elizabeth would ye be talkin' 'bout there lassie?"
"My older sister Elizabeth Turner. Of course, you wouldn't know her or me for that matter but we're descendants from Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann."
Coming around to stand in front of her, the pirate stared down at the strange clothes she wore and the curious object in her hand which shone out light, "Beggin' me pardon lassie, but what be the year?"
She took a deep breath, "This is the year 2004 which is somewhere between 200 to 300 years after you sailed the seas with your ship, the Black Pearl. Now tell me Captain Jack Sparrow, how is it that I managed to resurrect you when Will Turner lifted the curse all those long years ago?"
"I don' know why it didn't work on me missy but as soon as I can find me some moonlight, I'll be finding out if it has this time." He shook his head and looked around. "Now where did I leave me 'at?"
Watching him wonder around looking for his hat, Pearl couldn't help but admire his ability to totally disregard what she had told him. Standing, she dusted herself off before following after him. Trying not to get in his way, the marine archaeologist kept glancing at her watch and pursing her lips in thought.
"Ye know, it's mighty strange that ye 'ave enough Turner blood in ye to wake me up. Are ye sure ye 'ave the year right?" Jack asked, frowning down at his hat.
Pearl nodded, "Oh aye, I've got the year right Captain. Do you want me to prove it to you? I can show you my yacht and I can show you your ship if you don't believe me."
"Yacht? What be a yacht?"
Smiling, she pulled her jacket off and bundled it over her arm. "But first, if you're to be coming out of this cavern with me –"
"Who said I'd be leaving me 'ome? If what ye say be true, I've been living 'ere for hundreds of years."
"Somehow, I don't think you're going to resist a chance to see the world." She replied.
He raised an eyebrow again, "Look lady, I'm Capt'in Jack Sparrow. I've seen all there is to see of the world and there be nothing I want to see again."
Bursting out laughing, Pearl tossed her red braid over her shoulder, "Have it your way Captain, it doesn't bother me at all. You're quite welcome to stay here and I'll make sure I block up the tunnel again on my way out. Hopefully, no one will ever come here and discover you again though the likely hood of them being Turner's will be slim."
She turned her back on him and started out of the cavern, heading back to where she left her dingy. Jack Sparrow watched her go for a moment before chasing after her. Walking beside her, he said nothing and she ignored him completely. It was when they reached the rock fall that Pearl finally spoke again.
"As I was saying before you so rudely interrupted me back there. If you're going to leave this cavern with me, you must agree to do whatever I tell you and to learn what I have to teach. In order to survive, you must adapt to the world otherwise, you might end up in jail or a mental home."
Jack thought about it, turning his head to glance back the way they'd come. "Now look 'ere missy, I don' take no orders from a woman."
"Oh good, we've established the fact that I am a woman and that I gave you an order." She rolled her eyes. "Do you want to survive in one piece Mr Sparrow?"
"Captain. Captain Sparrow." He corrected her.
'Oh god, this is not going to be easy.' She pursed her lips and grit her teeth, "Of what ship would you happen to be the captain of Mr Sparrow? The only seafaring vessel out there that I saw was my yacht and I know who's the captain of her."
He looked stunned, "Me ship's gone! How'd she go?"
"From what I can tell, she's at the bottom of the sea Mr Sparrow, which is why I am here. I intend to dive down on the Black Pearl and recover what I can as well as map out the wreck."
Slumping against the rock wall of the tunnel, Jack shook his head sadly, "She's gone… my ship is gone."
Climbing back out of the tunnel, Pearl went over to her dingy and tossed the jacket in before returning to where she left the shovel. That was secured back in its place and she turned to stare at the rock fall and the tunnel. If Jack came, she would be fine with it but if he did not, she wasn't sure what she would do.
A few moments later, he climbed out of the tunnel and walked towards her. "I'm comin' wit ye Miss Pearl Turner and I'll except yer terms but I want to see me ship."
Nodding, she flashed him a sad smile, "I'll see what I can do about that but I'm afraid you won't like the condition she's in. Now, get in the dingy and I'll take you to the yacht."
Doing as he was told, Jack clambered down into the dingy and sat tensely, watching every single move that Pearl made. He was being to unnerve her and Pearl closed her eyes before she started the motor up and guided the little boat out of the cave. Turning around, Jack stared out at the water, hoping to see his ship there but the only thing he could see was a strange ship of sorts that he assumed to be Pearl's yacht.
"That there a yacht?" He asked.
"Indeed it is Mr Sparrow. That yacht there is my baby, the Black Pearl II and she's named for your ship." Came her response.
He looked around at her, "Now how exactly did ye know about me Pearl?"
"Our family kept the stories alive. I even possess Will and Elizabeth's diaries along with the chest of French gold coins that you left the family. That was how I knew where to look for the Black Pearl." Her face lit up as it finally hit her. 'I've found the Black Pearl and Captain Jack Swallow is sitting in my dingy asking me about my yacht. Elizabeth, eat your heart out.'
"What be so funny? That smile on yer pretty face is unsettling."
She laughed, blushing, "I was just thinking about my sister. Elizabeth will never believe me when she hears about this."
"Eh, do ye want to be telling the world?" He asked.
"No, not at all. You're right, I won't say a word but I wish Elizabeth could have seen this because she's always teased me about me belief that the Black Pearl existed… that you existed." Pearl sighed, bringing the dingy up beside the yacht.
Grabbing the ropes, she turned the motor off and secured the dingy. Climbing up onto the deck of the yacht, she turned around and held out a hand for Jack.
"And bring my jacket with you." She muttered loud enough for him to hear.
Picking up her strange jacket, Jack took the offered hand and leapt up onto the deck, landing beside Pearl. He looked around in amazement before staring at Pearl, "I think ye 'ave a lot of teachin' to do."
Pearl smiled again, "Yep, I think I do to. But first, I'll show you around the yacht before taking you to your room. Then I'm going to go for a swim and I'd recommend you join me because, god knows, you're filthy."
"Hey!" He cried, "I'm not filthy lassie, rather, yer to clean."
"Well if you want to stay on board, you do what I tell you Ms Jack Sparrow and I tell you to clean up because I'm going to teach you to be a gentleman of this age." She led him inside and showed him around the yacht.
When she stopped outside the door into her "study", Pearl wondered if he was ready to see what technology really was. Deciding to show him later, she took him to the spare bedroom and wondered what she would give him to wear. Leaving him there, she returned to her room and stripped out of her clothes and started to pull on a bikini when there was a knock at her door.
"Wait a moment Mr Sparrow." She called out, quickly putting on the top half of her bikini and wrapping a sarong around her waist. "Come in."
He opened the door and took one long look at her room before his came to rest on her. "Well I can see ye're dressed differently again. What exactly are ye wearing?"
"It's called a bikini and its what women wear when they go swimming. Now, I should have a look and see if I have anything you can wear. Never know what I might have in here." Pearl went over to the draws and had a look inside.
While he watched, she pulled out several pieces of clothing while muttering to herself quietly. Walking over to him, she held up a pair of shorts, two shirts, a pair of long cotton pants and a pair of men's boxer shorts. The grin on her face startled Jack and he felt tempted to walk backwards out of the room before she could do anything.
"I've found some things that should fit you Mr Sparrow and if you would kindly strip out of those dirty clothes, you can put these boxers on and come for a swim with me." She put the other clothes down on her bed and turned her back while holding the boxer shorts out.
"Whoa, ye want me to strip? Ye mean ye want me with no clothes on so ye can put those things on me?" He looked even more startled.
"You can do it willingly or not but you will do it. Don't be ashamed about stripping in front of me because I've seen plenty of men and I'm sure plenty of women have seen you." Pearl rolled her eyes.
He took his clothes off and reached out for the boxer shorts Pearl held out for him. "How do I put 'em on?"
"Firstly it's, how do I put them on? Not how do I put 'em on." She corrected him before adding. "Like a pair of pants. The white label, tag, whatever you want to call it, goes at the back."
"Savvy." Jack muttered while attempting what she said for him to do. It took a few tries but he succeeded at last. "Now what? I've got them on."
"In stead of savvy, say all right or whatever word you substituted savvy with. Before I can take you back to civilization, you'll have to learn to speak correctly, dress correctly and I bet I'll even have to teach you how to eat correctly." She turned around and studied him with a faint blush to her cheeks.
Sneering, Captain Sparrow couldn't help but tell her, "I can speak, dress 'n eat correctly as ye so nicely put it. Though I don' know 'bout yer time."
"Let's try that again Sparrow. Repeat after me, I can speak, dress and eat correctly as you so nicely put it. Though I don't know about your time."
"Right. What you said."
She sighed, 'This is going to be absolutely hopeless. I'm just praying that he can at least read.' "Tell me Jack Sparrow, can you read English?"
"Yes I can. Why?" He eyed her suspiciously.
"Because I'm going to give you some books to read about the modern history of the world. Now, let's go for a swim shall we?" Pearl picked up her belt again and secured it around her waist.
Following her out onto the deck, Jack stared at her when she undid the knot holding the sarong around her waist and let it drop to the ground. Licking his lips, he walked over to her and smiled.
"Ye know lassie, we don' 'ave to go for a swim. I can think of better things to do."
Shaking her head, Pearl went over to the side of the yacht were the gate for the gangplank was and dived off. "No, I think a swim would be best don't you?"
Jack rolled his eyes and followed her into the water, "Just so yer know, I think there might be sharks in this 'ere water."
"Why do you think I'm carrying a shark spear on my belt." She relaxed in the water as he swam over to her. "Now, since you warned me about them, we'd better not get to far from the side of the yacht."
"Great." He ducked under the water.
Waiting for him to surface, Pearl pulled on of her knives out of her belt and smiled. "Sparrow, come here."
He swam over to her where she was treading water. "Yes lassie?"
"Turn around."
Frowning, Jack turned his back on her and smiled when she wrapped her legs around his waist and chuckled as she played with his hair. He didn't realize until to late what she was going to do.
"What'd you do that for?" He shouted, pulling away from her.
Pearl treaded water with a smile of triumph on her face. In one hand she held her knife and in the other, the hair she'd just cut of Jack's head. "Can't have you going about with dreadlocks and long hair. When we get back on board, I'll use a pair of scissors and cut it neatly. But don't worry, I won't cut it any shorter than your shoulders."
He moaned, "But ye cut me hair!"
"Get over it Sparrow." She replied, returning her knife to the belt and letting his hair float away on the water.
When she was satisfied that he was clean, Pearl returned to the yacht and helped him up. "I'll be right back with those scissors so you'd better stay right there."
"This 'ad better be worth it lassie." He growled, watching her walk away. "Though yer to pretty to want to hurt."
By the time the night was over, Pearl had Jack's hair cut neatly at shoulder length and his face shaved neatly. He was also cleanly dressed and seated at the table like a civilized man. That night, she sat down and started to teach him how to eat using a knife and fork.
Watching him again for the millionth or so time, Pearl couldn't help but wonder what it was going to be like. 'Is this really worth it?' She thought to herself before smiling faintly, 'Aye but he's so gorgeous that it'll be worth the trouble I guess. My only hope is that he will learn and use what he learns.'
