Author's Notes: This chapter is written as a *Flashback* Apologies for the short first chapter, this one is longer, I promise :) This is set approx 15 years before the film...
Many thanks to Otherhawk for the review, here's part 2 just for you ;-)
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#2 – The "Intrepid Explorer"
The first rays of sun began to spread through the strange half-light of dawn, like molten gold flowing across the ocean, bringing with it a new day. Jack stood at the bow of a beautifully crafted ship, looking out over the ocean and watching the display of lights on the water. Suddenly a dolphin leapt from the water in the ship's bow wave, slicing back under the surface with extraordinary grace and agility. A smile spread across his face as he watched a second dolphin join the first, then another until there were five jumping and swimming an intricate dance just ahead of the ship. They were a beautiful sight to behold, free and untamed, just like Scarlet...
"Mr. Sparrow!" A deep male voice boomed, coming from the helm of the ship and interrupting his silent musing. Jack spun round to face the direction of the shout, hiding his fear as he saw the serious expression on the face of the speaker.
"Yes, Sir?" he answered, his hands shaking slightly though his voice remained calm.
"Come here boy!"
"Yes Captain," Jack replied, walking slowly towards the heavily set man at the helm. He had no idea if he was in trouble, but he suspected he probably wasn't. He knew that Captain Wolf was fond of him; he saw Jack as the son he had never managed to have. Although, given Jack's uncertain parentage and his mother's familiarity with Wolf, the Captain may well have been Jack's natural father. He stopped a few paces from the Captain, waiting to discover the reason for the summons.
"I understand you were entertained during our stop at Tortuga?" Wolf queried, his tone serious.
"Yes Sir..." Confused, Jack remained still, not daring to look at his Captain.
"Did you enjoy yourself boy?"
"What?" Jack exclaimed, looking up at his Captain. A shiver of fear ran down his spine as he waited for a reprimand from Wolf, wondering if he should not have allowed himself to become involved with the pretty young strumpet.
"Did you enjoy yourself?" Wolf repeated, his voice low and his tone soft. A slight smile tugged at the lips of the older man as he looked down at the young man he considered his son. The gentle morning breeze ruffled his dark brown hair, while the morning sun caused the streaks of grey to shine like polished silver.
"Yes Sir, I did. Was I not supposed to dally with the young wench?" Jack whispered, his tone anguished. He was a pirate; breaking the rules was part of his everyday life, but the very idea of somehow disappointing the man he thought of as his father was more than young Jack could bear.
"Orianna tells me that young Scarlet enjoyed herself a great deal. Apparently you greatly exceeded her expectations..." Leaving the sentence unfinished, Wolf smiled at Jack, a hint of pride in his green eyes. "Don't worry Jack, ya didn't do nothing wrong. Long as ya treat em good and don't go hittin em or nothing, you'll never be short of pleasurable company."
"I'll be sure ta keep that in mind Cap'n," Jack replied, a roguish look on his face.
"You're a fine man Jack," laughed Wolf, clipping the younger man round the ear playfully. "Now get back t' work."
"Yes Sir!" Bowing jauntily, Jack headed back towards the bow of the ship and began securing rigging lines, whistling a merry little tune as he worked.
The sunset that
night was one Jack would always remember; the varying shades of reds, yellows
and purples made the sky appear to be on fire. Jack watched in fascination as
the colours changed and darkened, and the sun sank slowly beneath the horizon.
He'd been feeling rather good about life in general all day, helped in
no small measure by the knowledge that his Captain not only loved him as a son,
but was also beginning to respect him as a man. He watched the last rays of
sun fade into night, then turned and headed for the Captain's stateroom.
The two men always shared the evening meal together; it had become a tradition
they always upheld, even when they were in port. Entering the large, richly
decorated room, Jack took his customary place at the table, to the right of
Captain Wolf, and waited for the two cabin boys to finish bringing in the food.
"So, how ya feeling tonight Jack? Well rested and ready for action?"
"Aye, that I am James. Are we headin anywhere in particular?" The curiosity in Jack's voice brought a smile to Wolf's tanned, weathered face. It was one of Wolf's few idiosyncrasies that he insisted, when they were alone together during the evening meal, that Jack called him James. It had taken many years to get Jack to do it and, now he was older, he finally understood what an honour it was.
"Ever heard of Port William?"
"Aye, it be a new town, some three days sail from here."
"That's right m'lad. An it be a wealthy town at that. The Governor there is a little picky about those he allows to dock, so we'll be having a bit of a fight on our hands, no doubt."
"So that's why we docked in Tortuga last night? So the crew would be well rested an happy afore we go into battle?"
"Ah, I always knew you were a smart lad Jack!" Wolf laughed, clapping his hand on the young man's shoulder and giving it a little squeeze. Jacks smiled back, pleased he had once more made his captain proud. "Won't be long afore ya be Cap'n of your own ship, lad, with a mind that sharp."
"No Sir, I'll always be you're First Mate!"
"Jack, m'lad, I won't be around forever y'know. One day ya may even come to love your own ship as much as I loves the Explorer. But let's not think of such things now lad, we've much preparin to do before we be reaching Port William."
"Aye, that we do," Jack agreed, digging in to the delicious food before him. Their conversation was friendly throughout the rest of the meal, dealing with plans for the forthcoming attack, but Jack could not seem to shake the strange feeling of worry that had begun gnawing at his heart.
Stifling a yawn,
Jack walked slowly towards the bow of the Intrepid Explorer just as the sun
began to emerge from the horizon. Taking his customary place by the railing,
he rested his arms on the smooth wood and looked out at the ocean ahead of him.
Sleep had done nothing to assuage the feeling of worry inside him, but a quick
glance over his shoulder at the helm brought him a small measure of comfort.
Captain James Wolf stood at the wheel, his eyes fixed on the horizon, looking
as strong and healthy as he always did. Although he would never admit it, the
thought of being Captain of his own ship had indeed crossed Jack's mind
in the past. The years onboard the Explorer had opened his eyes to a world he
had only been dimly aware of before. When, as a gawky lad of fifteen, he'd
first sailed out from England with Wolf, he had never imagined the sights he
would see, nor the people he would meet. Now, five years later, he was not only
a lithe, fit young man but First Mate on the most notorious pirate vessel in
the Caribbean. He always attracted the attention of the young ladies whenever
they were in port, and had earned quite a reputation as a ladies man. Only Captain
Wolf knew that his encounter with Scarlet in Tortuga two days before was the
first time Jack had had sex. He was skilled with both sword and pistol, and
had never been beaten in a fight.
A slight movement
in the water ahead of him caught Jacks attention, and he silently cursed his
inattentiveness. Varying sized pieces of wood were in their path and it took
Jack a moment to realise their origin as he stared out at the sight before him.
"Captain! Ship ahoy, dead ahead!" he bellowed, feeling the ship beneath him begin to turn as Wolf hauled the wheel around, turning them hard to port in an attempt to steer the ship away from the burning wreck in their path.
"Heave to and take in sail!" Wolf barked, thankful for the calm seas and light wind. The crew scurried around, furling sails and lowering both anchors to halt their forward passage.
"Launch the boats. We'll look for survivors first, then plunder anything we can retrieve!" Jack shouted, knowing the crew would obey his orders as their First Mate. Hurrying to the waist, Jack helped the sailors lower the boats, joining one crew while Wolf joined another. Rowing out to the wreck, Jack thought there was little chance of finding anyone still alive, but Wolf was adamant that survivors were the main priority whenever they came across the victim of another pirate's attack.
"Ransoms are easy money lad." Wolf had told him when Jack had asked the reason he insisted on that particular rule. Several times since then, Jack had seen the wisdom of those words; bartering with a rich family, for the safe return of a loved one, had indeed proved easy money. A flicker of green in his peripheral vision drew Jack's gaze and he saw two bodies in the water, both female, arms draped over a section of the broken mainmast, heads just above the surface.
"There!" he snapped to the oarsmen, grabbing a handful of material as he reached down and hauled one of the women into the boat. Checking for a pulse, he discovered she was still alive; a nod from one of the sailors indicated that her young companion was also still breathing. They continued their search, but found no more survivors amongst the burning wreckage.
"Return to the ship," he ordered, knowing the other crews would bring back any further survivors and plunder they had managed to salvage from the wreckage. As soon as the boat touched the side of the ship, Jack climbed aboard and lifted the eldest girl's unconscious form in his arms, carrying her towards the stern. Gently laying her on the smooth wood of the Quarter Deck, he reached down and brushed the hair from her face. He froze, his fingers still lightly touching her face, as her eyes opened and she looked up at him, her gaze steady and showing no hint of fear...
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My, that was a long chapter wasn't it? Seems to have posed more questions
than it answered though, eh? So come one, hit that review button... you know
you want to...
And yes, I do know there are several double negatives in there LOL
*Self confessed
Feedback junkie* :)