Chapter 12
"Gibbs!" The helmsman called as Gibbs, Ana-Maria, and Bootstrap stepped up to the quarterdeck. "We've got a bit of a problem, sir."
"What sort o' problem?" Ana-Maria asked, taking on a commanding air.
"Th' ship that destroyed our opponent . . . she's British Navy." The man replied nervously.
"I'm well aware of that." Ana-Maria growled, in no mood to deal with fools whose only ability was to state the obvious.
"And she's on our tail!" The helmsman yelped in distress.
The three spun to stern and their eyes widened as they confirmed the news. A British man-o-war was gaining speed, closing the short distance between the two ships.
"How's she gaining?! This is supposed to be the fastest ship!" The helmsman whined, his eyes wide in fear.
"She's got a top wind that we don't." Gibbs answered automatically.
~*~
"How are we supposed to neutralize the poison if we don't know what kind it was?" Will asked, looking to Chelsea for the answer.
"The best thing we can do for the moment is clean his wounds and set a course for Providence." Chelsea answered, taking a damp cloth and rubbing it over the gashes on Jack's back. She took great care to wipe out each wound individually, applying pressure to thoroughly cleanse it.
"Why Providence? It's a pirate haven, true, but what good will that do us?" Elizabeth questioned, taking up a rag and following Chelsea's lead.
"There's a...specialist there." Chelsea said slowly, not sure how to phrase it.
Will and Elizabeth looked up in confused shock, Elizabeth's hand drifting away from the wound she had been cleaning. "Specialist?" They asked in unison.
"I know it sounds off, a specialist in a pirate haven, I mean, but he really knows his stuff. And, lucky for us, his stuff is poisoning." Chelsea said calmly, her eyes not leaving Jack as she spoke. Her hand suddenly froze in place and her brows furrowed.
"What is it?" Elizabeth asked, catching the change first.
"He doesn't have much time."
The other two turned their attention back to the unconscious man and noted that his breathing was becoming slower and shallower by the minute.
A resounding boom pieced the silence and made them all jump quite noticeably. Will sprang to his feet and mechanically dashed for the door.
Elizabeth rose to follow, but stopped when he wheeled back to face her.
"Elizabeth, you and Chelsea must stay here. It could be dangerous."
"Uh...I suppose so." Elizabeth said, deciding for once he was absolutely right. If the two of them stayed below, they could tend to Jack's wounds.
~*~
The shot flew across the bow of the Pearl, announcing a challenge.
"Jack Sparrow, Captain of the Black Pearl, heave to and take in sail!" The shout echoed across from the man-o-war.
Ana-Maria stepped forward; prepared to take command and do anything she could to protect Jack's ship. "First mate o' the Black Pearl speakin',"
"Where's Sparrow?"
Before Ana-Maria could answer, Will stomped up from below decks. When he saw the commanding officer on the opposing vessel, his jaw dropped.
"I say it once again, heave to and take in sail!" The called repeated, this time more urgent.
Ana-Maria's gaze grew icy and Will stepped up quickly before she could say or do anything more.
"Commodore Norrington,"
"William Turner." The commander returned the greeting with a brief nod. "What is your business aboard the Black Pearl? Surely you haven't taken up the account?"
Will shook his head. "No sir. I will gladly discuss the matter, but more private conditions would be preferable."
"Agreed, stand by and prepare for boarding."
Ana-Maria and Gibbs swung to face Will with scowls of disapproval.
"Don't worry, surely the Commodore won't try to take the Pearl in this circumstance?" Will inquired, trying to reassure the edgy pirates and get their opinions at the same time.
Ana-Maria snorted, in amusement or disgust, Will couldn't say for sure. "Stupid whelp. Ye'll git us all hanged."
"Trust me?"
A moment of silence elapsed before Ana-Maria grudgingly nodded.
The three stood in silence for what seemed an eternity as the anchors on both ships were dropped and a rowboat was lowered from the man-o-war containing the commodore and two other officers. The boat seemed to make its way to the Black Pearl in slow motion, but by the time it had been raised to deck level and its occupants emerged, only a quarter of an hour had passed.
The commodore strode in his brisk military fashion towards the three, his officers flanking him on either side.
[a/n: Please review.]
"Gibbs!" The helmsman called as Gibbs, Ana-Maria, and Bootstrap stepped up to the quarterdeck. "We've got a bit of a problem, sir."
"What sort o' problem?" Ana-Maria asked, taking on a commanding air.
"Th' ship that destroyed our opponent . . . she's British Navy." The man replied nervously.
"I'm well aware of that." Ana-Maria growled, in no mood to deal with fools whose only ability was to state the obvious.
"And she's on our tail!" The helmsman yelped in distress.
The three spun to stern and their eyes widened as they confirmed the news. A British man-o-war was gaining speed, closing the short distance between the two ships.
"How's she gaining?! This is supposed to be the fastest ship!" The helmsman whined, his eyes wide in fear.
"She's got a top wind that we don't." Gibbs answered automatically.
~*~
"How are we supposed to neutralize the poison if we don't know what kind it was?" Will asked, looking to Chelsea for the answer.
"The best thing we can do for the moment is clean his wounds and set a course for Providence." Chelsea answered, taking a damp cloth and rubbing it over the gashes on Jack's back. She took great care to wipe out each wound individually, applying pressure to thoroughly cleanse it.
"Why Providence? It's a pirate haven, true, but what good will that do us?" Elizabeth questioned, taking up a rag and following Chelsea's lead.
"There's a...specialist there." Chelsea said slowly, not sure how to phrase it.
Will and Elizabeth looked up in confused shock, Elizabeth's hand drifting away from the wound she had been cleaning. "Specialist?" They asked in unison.
"I know it sounds off, a specialist in a pirate haven, I mean, but he really knows his stuff. And, lucky for us, his stuff is poisoning." Chelsea said calmly, her eyes not leaving Jack as she spoke. Her hand suddenly froze in place and her brows furrowed.
"What is it?" Elizabeth asked, catching the change first.
"He doesn't have much time."
The other two turned their attention back to the unconscious man and noted that his breathing was becoming slower and shallower by the minute.
A resounding boom pieced the silence and made them all jump quite noticeably. Will sprang to his feet and mechanically dashed for the door.
Elizabeth rose to follow, but stopped when he wheeled back to face her.
"Elizabeth, you and Chelsea must stay here. It could be dangerous."
"Uh...I suppose so." Elizabeth said, deciding for once he was absolutely right. If the two of them stayed below, they could tend to Jack's wounds.
~*~
The shot flew across the bow of the Pearl, announcing a challenge.
"Jack Sparrow, Captain of the Black Pearl, heave to and take in sail!" The shout echoed across from the man-o-war.
Ana-Maria stepped forward; prepared to take command and do anything she could to protect Jack's ship. "First mate o' the Black Pearl speakin',"
"Where's Sparrow?"
Before Ana-Maria could answer, Will stomped up from below decks. When he saw the commanding officer on the opposing vessel, his jaw dropped.
"I say it once again, heave to and take in sail!" The called repeated, this time more urgent.
Ana-Maria's gaze grew icy and Will stepped up quickly before she could say or do anything more.
"Commodore Norrington,"
"William Turner." The commander returned the greeting with a brief nod. "What is your business aboard the Black Pearl? Surely you haven't taken up the account?"
Will shook his head. "No sir. I will gladly discuss the matter, but more private conditions would be preferable."
"Agreed, stand by and prepare for boarding."
Ana-Maria and Gibbs swung to face Will with scowls of disapproval.
"Don't worry, surely the Commodore won't try to take the Pearl in this circumstance?" Will inquired, trying to reassure the edgy pirates and get their opinions at the same time.
Ana-Maria snorted, in amusement or disgust, Will couldn't say for sure. "Stupid whelp. Ye'll git us all hanged."
"Trust me?"
A moment of silence elapsed before Ana-Maria grudgingly nodded.
The three stood in silence for what seemed an eternity as the anchors on both ships were dropped and a rowboat was lowered from the man-o-war containing the commodore and two other officers. The boat seemed to make its way to the Black Pearl in slow motion, but by the time it had been raised to deck level and its occupants emerged, only a quarter of an hour had passed.
The commodore strode in his brisk military fashion towards the three, his officers flanking him on either side.
[a/n: Please review.]