Thanks to ellennar, Takada Saiko, Heldin, bittersweet46 and Captain Blackbird. You guys are great :)
.......................................................................................................
Captain Askew stood and watched as the last of the chests and barrels were loaded into his holding room, each taking two men to carry. The chests were surprisingly large and he'd insisted they open the first one so that he could inspect it. The items filling it had been packed carefully, expensive fabrics acting as cushions for fine crystal, with the heavier items in the bottom. It wasn't the most space effective packing job, but then Askew figured he could always rearrange things later. Glancing around the store room area, he was again reminded that he would have to abandon the location soon. It wouldn't do to have the whole crew of the Black Pearl knowing where he made berth. Oh there had been rumors before, but this would not do, and besides, there was another place he'd long since decided would make a fine location for his stores – Isle de Muerta.
If all went well he wouldn't have to worry about the crew of the Pearl giving away his location here – they'd be too busy taking him to Isle de Muerta or dying if they refused. The Black Calamity was so badly damaged at the moment that even with most of his crew working to repair her, it would be far too long before she would be sea worthy. There would be too much time that his island and its flawed fortress would be vulnerable.
Though at first Askew had planned only to get the map (and the entire holdings) from the Pearl, the Captain had now decided that he could make good use of such a fine ship. Better use than its current young and inexperienced Captain at any rate, he decided.
The Pearl was armed and Askew's building not strong but Captain Turner, while clearly brave, wasn't capable of organizing and effectively defending his ship. Askew didn't doubt that the crew could be overtaken, especially with them divided as they were now.
There were five crewmembers of the Pearl who had brought in the chests and barrels, six if you included her Captain. Askew had more than twice that number of men inside the room, waiting around the sides. It would be simple enough to overtake his enemies with the possible exception of Turner. If the boy was even half as handy with a sword as Askew suspected, he would be a formidable opponent. Still, sheer numbers would work in his favour, and with the head of Captain Turner dangling from his hand, the remaining members on board the Pearl would give up easily enough. Given the young man's lack of experience, Askew decided the men might just be willing and pleased to find themselves under the rule of a more competent Captain. Askew smiled as he imagined the looks of fear and respect he would get as he boarded the Pearl with Turner's severed head. In a last minute decision, Askew decided rather than just kill Sparrow and dump the body, he'd take HIS head along too. He held back a giggle that threatened to burst out of him. Askew still remembered the first time a superior had mentioned that were it not for his good tactical skills, young Askew would have found himself confined to a sanatorium for the rest of his days. He'd been more careful to hide his excitement and eccentricities after that. Indeed, he'd become highly skilled at appearing quite normal and controlled. Dropping the final, and apparently rather, heavy chest in the middle of the room, Will walked up to Askew. The five crew members moved back against the far wall, trading menacing glares with Askew's men.
"Fourteen as agreed. Now return Sparrow to me," Will said, sounding slightly winded. Carrying the chests up the beach and into the building had been long and tiring.
Askew smiled graciously at Will. If he hadn't realized it before, Will would have noticed then that there was something off about the man. At times he acted as polite and cordial as one would expect of a fine Naval Captain. Yet in other moments there was a dark, sinister glint to his eye, and it was more than that of a pirate; it was the menacing look of the dangerously insane. Being on the receiving end of his imitation polite smiles was more unnerving for Will than if the man had just outright glared at him.
"Certainly Captain Turner. I'll bring him in right now," Askew said with sickening politeness. He opened a door and leaned around the edge, pulling something up from the floor.
Jack had been sitting against the wall outside the chamber, his hands bound and a guard holding a loaded pistol against his head. The last two things, in addition to his generally weakened state, had induced him to keep still and quiet. But when Askew roughly yanked him to his feet, Jack let out a pained yelp. He suddenly found himself pulled into a large room. At his end was himself and Askew, who regrettably was holding something decidedly sharp and pointy and digging it into his back with enough force to hurt, but not enough to cut though the fabric.
Along the sides of the room were men, a few of whom he recognized from his recent time onboard the Black Calamity. On the far side of the room was a handful of his crew. In the middle were a number of chests, the one farthest to the right opened and displaying treasure. A small and easily distracted part of his mind noted that the crystal in the chest was from the last ship they had raided.
But what caught his attention the most was Will, staring at him. Relief, shock and confusion were all apparent on the young man's face. He watched as Will soundlessly mouthed his name. Jack wanted to go to him but the dagger pressing into his back made him think otherwise.
"You know Turner," Askew began, his previously expressionless face suddenly taking on a new look. "I think it would be better if there were a few changes. Since neither you, nor Jack, can take adequate care of the Black Pearl, it would be best that I became her new Captain."
Askew pulled the dagger away from Jack's back. Jack felt relief for a moment before he felt the cold knife blade return, now pressing dangerously against his throat. "So I'll be taking your ship and the treasure, and Isle de Muerta will be mine."
Will held his ground. If he blew it and moved too soon, Jack could die. If he hesitated too long, it could end just as badly though. Will had had never wanted to play a pirate captain. He'd never wanted to be a pirate at all. Looking into Jack's eyes, Will searched for a sign. He wasn't a Captain, he didn't know what to do. He certainly didn't know how to lead a crew into battle. A swordfight with an opponent was one thing, but this was entirely different. Yet Jack had taught him the importance of the opportune moment. If only Jack would give him some sign when that was...
"And I'll also be taking both your heads. A little something for your crew to remember you by as they rot on the deck. Two captains who couldn't handle the Black Pearl," Askew said.
Jack felt Askew's body shift as the man prepared to cut his throat.
"That just can't happen, mate," Jack said, feeling the dagger blade scrape against his throat as he spoke. His voice was rough and weak.
"And why is that Mr. Sparrow?" Askew asked, tightening his grip, preparing to slice Jack's neck open.
"Because I'm CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow!" he said loudly.
Will watched, frozen in shock as Jack's body fell to the ground at Askew's feet.
...............................................................................
Tbc...
....................................................................
Heldin: Thanks! And don't feel weird for thinking Askew is kinda cool. Much as you want to hate the guy, he's got something going for him. I'm blaming that on the fact that when I was writing this story I had a terrible time with it and kept thinking how much I'd rather be working on a Once Upon a Time in Mexico fic I had in progress. So Askew really is sort of a mix of Sands from OUATIM and Norrington – like Sands in speech and behaviour to a degree and Norrington as a visual and in movements/mannerisms. Askew's just pulling some of Sands' "coolness". Although after this chapter you might not like him so much though, eh? A real nutbar that one is.
.......................................................................................................
Captain Askew stood and watched as the last of the chests and barrels were loaded into his holding room, each taking two men to carry. The chests were surprisingly large and he'd insisted they open the first one so that he could inspect it. The items filling it had been packed carefully, expensive fabrics acting as cushions for fine crystal, with the heavier items in the bottom. It wasn't the most space effective packing job, but then Askew figured he could always rearrange things later. Glancing around the store room area, he was again reminded that he would have to abandon the location soon. It wouldn't do to have the whole crew of the Black Pearl knowing where he made berth. Oh there had been rumors before, but this would not do, and besides, there was another place he'd long since decided would make a fine location for his stores – Isle de Muerta.
If all went well he wouldn't have to worry about the crew of the Pearl giving away his location here – they'd be too busy taking him to Isle de Muerta or dying if they refused. The Black Calamity was so badly damaged at the moment that even with most of his crew working to repair her, it would be far too long before she would be sea worthy. There would be too much time that his island and its flawed fortress would be vulnerable.
Though at first Askew had planned only to get the map (and the entire holdings) from the Pearl, the Captain had now decided that he could make good use of such a fine ship. Better use than its current young and inexperienced Captain at any rate, he decided.
The Pearl was armed and Askew's building not strong but Captain Turner, while clearly brave, wasn't capable of organizing and effectively defending his ship. Askew didn't doubt that the crew could be overtaken, especially with them divided as they were now.
There were five crewmembers of the Pearl who had brought in the chests and barrels, six if you included her Captain. Askew had more than twice that number of men inside the room, waiting around the sides. It would be simple enough to overtake his enemies with the possible exception of Turner. If the boy was even half as handy with a sword as Askew suspected, he would be a formidable opponent. Still, sheer numbers would work in his favour, and with the head of Captain Turner dangling from his hand, the remaining members on board the Pearl would give up easily enough. Given the young man's lack of experience, Askew decided the men might just be willing and pleased to find themselves under the rule of a more competent Captain. Askew smiled as he imagined the looks of fear and respect he would get as he boarded the Pearl with Turner's severed head. In a last minute decision, Askew decided rather than just kill Sparrow and dump the body, he'd take HIS head along too. He held back a giggle that threatened to burst out of him. Askew still remembered the first time a superior had mentioned that were it not for his good tactical skills, young Askew would have found himself confined to a sanatorium for the rest of his days. He'd been more careful to hide his excitement and eccentricities after that. Indeed, he'd become highly skilled at appearing quite normal and controlled. Dropping the final, and apparently rather, heavy chest in the middle of the room, Will walked up to Askew. The five crew members moved back against the far wall, trading menacing glares with Askew's men.
"Fourteen as agreed. Now return Sparrow to me," Will said, sounding slightly winded. Carrying the chests up the beach and into the building had been long and tiring.
Askew smiled graciously at Will. If he hadn't realized it before, Will would have noticed then that there was something off about the man. At times he acted as polite and cordial as one would expect of a fine Naval Captain. Yet in other moments there was a dark, sinister glint to his eye, and it was more than that of a pirate; it was the menacing look of the dangerously insane. Being on the receiving end of his imitation polite smiles was more unnerving for Will than if the man had just outright glared at him.
"Certainly Captain Turner. I'll bring him in right now," Askew said with sickening politeness. He opened a door and leaned around the edge, pulling something up from the floor.
Jack had been sitting against the wall outside the chamber, his hands bound and a guard holding a loaded pistol against his head. The last two things, in addition to his generally weakened state, had induced him to keep still and quiet. But when Askew roughly yanked him to his feet, Jack let out a pained yelp. He suddenly found himself pulled into a large room. At his end was himself and Askew, who regrettably was holding something decidedly sharp and pointy and digging it into his back with enough force to hurt, but not enough to cut though the fabric.
Along the sides of the room were men, a few of whom he recognized from his recent time onboard the Black Calamity. On the far side of the room was a handful of his crew. In the middle were a number of chests, the one farthest to the right opened and displaying treasure. A small and easily distracted part of his mind noted that the crystal in the chest was from the last ship they had raided.
But what caught his attention the most was Will, staring at him. Relief, shock and confusion were all apparent on the young man's face. He watched as Will soundlessly mouthed his name. Jack wanted to go to him but the dagger pressing into his back made him think otherwise.
"You know Turner," Askew began, his previously expressionless face suddenly taking on a new look. "I think it would be better if there were a few changes. Since neither you, nor Jack, can take adequate care of the Black Pearl, it would be best that I became her new Captain."
Askew pulled the dagger away from Jack's back. Jack felt relief for a moment before he felt the cold knife blade return, now pressing dangerously against his throat. "So I'll be taking your ship and the treasure, and Isle de Muerta will be mine."
Will held his ground. If he blew it and moved too soon, Jack could die. If he hesitated too long, it could end just as badly though. Will had had never wanted to play a pirate captain. He'd never wanted to be a pirate at all. Looking into Jack's eyes, Will searched for a sign. He wasn't a Captain, he didn't know what to do. He certainly didn't know how to lead a crew into battle. A swordfight with an opponent was one thing, but this was entirely different. Yet Jack had taught him the importance of the opportune moment. If only Jack would give him some sign when that was...
"And I'll also be taking both your heads. A little something for your crew to remember you by as they rot on the deck. Two captains who couldn't handle the Black Pearl," Askew said.
Jack felt Askew's body shift as the man prepared to cut his throat.
"That just can't happen, mate," Jack said, feeling the dagger blade scrape against his throat as he spoke. His voice was rough and weak.
"And why is that Mr. Sparrow?" Askew asked, tightening his grip, preparing to slice Jack's neck open.
"Because I'm CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow!" he said loudly.
Will watched, frozen in shock as Jack's body fell to the ground at Askew's feet.
...............................................................................
Tbc...
....................................................................
Heldin: Thanks! And don't feel weird for thinking Askew is kinda cool. Much as you want to hate the guy, he's got something going for him. I'm blaming that on the fact that when I was writing this story I had a terrible time with it and kept thinking how much I'd rather be working on a Once Upon a Time in Mexico fic I had in progress. So Askew really is sort of a mix of Sands from OUATIM and Norrington – like Sands in speech and behaviour to a degree and Norrington as a visual and in movements/mannerisms. Askew's just pulling some of Sands' "coolness". Although after this chapter you might not like him so much though, eh? A real nutbar that one is.