Chapter 3

Portsmouth

Jack stood at the stern of the Black Pearl, looking through his spyglass. As he did, Gibbs wandered up behind him and leaned against the rail.

"What is it, Jack?" He asked, squinting in the direction Jack's spyglass was pointed. Jack smacked his spyglass back and returned to the wheel.

"Dauntless." He said simply. Gibbs looked surprised as he followed Jack.

"What're ye think'n we should do?"

"Nothing, other then let down the anchor. They have up their white flag." Jack looked back at The Dauntless. "I doubt Commodore Norrington would sail under false colors to capture me."

Gibbs nodded. "I'm no 'un to second guess ye, mate. I'll have em down." Gibbs mumbled. He shouted out Jack's orders from the quarter deck. "Heave to, take in sail!"

.....

Pintel was leaning against the main mast, looking up from time to time at Raggeti. He stood there until Raggeti came back down, being the loyal friend he thought he was.

"Did you see something?" Pintel asked as Raggeti climbed down to him. Raggeti shook his head.

"Cap'n says I had main watch an then the others kin take their shifts when I'm done." He sighed. "Other'n goin' ta Tortuga, r'we really heading anywhere particular?"

"Not that I know of." Pintel replied. "Why?"

"No reason." Raggeti leaned against the mast and looked out over the deck. "I was just think'n of a place to stop by."

"Where's that, mate?" Pintel asked. Raggeti was acting quite curious. Not that he didn't always, but curious in a serious way. Something Pintel didn't see much coming from his friend.

"Portsmouth." Raggeti replied softly.

"Why?" Pintel repeated.

"I used to live there." Raggeti said. Was he homesick, perhaps, Pintel wondered.

"Do you have family there?"

"Aye." Raggeti said quickly. He made a move to leave, but Pintel grabbed him by the shoulder.

"Parents, mayhaps?" He asked. Raggeti turned to him.

"Naw, they're long gone. I have a little sister there." He glanced away.

"How old?" Pintel asked, letting go of Raggeti's shoulder. He still kept an eye on his pal though. Raggeti thought back to the last time he had seen his sister.

"Twenty or so." He finally replied. "Half sister, she is, actually."

"Half sis by yer ma or pa?"

"Me dad died, mother remarried an' had me sis." Raggeti squirmed, glancing about. His short attention span was getting the better of him.

"You think she still lives there?" Pintel asked, meaning Raggeti's sister of course. Raggeti nodded and his eye drifted down as he watched a little bug crawl across the deck.

"Why haven't I met her before?" Pintel waved a hand in front of Raggeti to get his attention. Raggeti blinked and looked up.

"Cap'n Barbosa never let anyone stop anywhere's. We was to busy try'n to lift the curse." He replied. Hopefully he could get away and do something active now, since talking was not his favorite thing.

"Perhaps Cap'n Twigg will fancy the idea. He's got no curse to lift." Raggeti thought for a moment, another thing he didn't like to much.

"We're both men of high positions-" Pintel looked up the mast. "You literally." Raggeti looked up. Pintel took his attention back.

"I'll ask him."

"Thanks, mate."

.....

Elizabeth fumbled around in the dinning room of her father's house, pacing. It was reported that Captain Jack Sparrow was sailing near Port Royal, and The Dauntless was heading for it. She knew she shouldn't worry, since Norrington and Vice Admiral Lessont, along with Admiral Derrae, had agreed that they would ask for Jack's help, but she still worried.

"Elizabeth." Elizabeth stopped and looked up in the doorway to see Admiral Derrae. She curtsied daintily.

"Admiral, how nice to see you." He strolled into the room, and looked out the window Elizabeth was standing near.

"You father is attending some business, so he asked me to bring you the word." He mumbled stiffly, still gazing outside. "We've found that the pirates will be sailing to some pirate haven or another, and The Dauntless, after stopping to speak will the Pearl, will intercept them."

"And what of the ship that has been sacking towns and stealing?" Elizabeth asked curiously.

"Captain Sparrow will take care of that."

Elizabeth thought for a moment. "But he's a pirate."

"We hope to change that." The admiral chuckled slightly. "Hopefully..."

Elizabeth changed the subject. "Any word on the voyage of The Raking?" The Raking was the ship Estrella was sailing on to Portsmouth.

Admiral Derrae looked at her, his brow furrowed. "No, it's been unseen. It's nothing, really. Why do you ask? It's only a simple transporter ship."

"My friend is aboard The Raking." Elizabeth looked out the window, avoiding his stare.

"Well, I must be on my way now." Admiral Derrae sighed. "It was a pleasure. I don't get to speak to you much." He kissed her hand politely. Before he turned to leave he looked back at her. "My best wishes to you and your fiancé, as well."

.....

The Pearl creaked to a stop alongside The Dauntless, and the crew laid down a board for Jack. He nodded his gratitude and stepped up onto it. As he swaggered across Norrington and Vice Admiral Lessont approached the side of the boat to greet him.

"Now, I'm guessing this is not some wicked attempt to kill me, so name your terms." Jack said, hopping off the board in front of Norrington.

"Simply business." Norrington sighed, unwavering. Vice Admiral Lessont pushed forward. "If you're willing." He added.

Jack smiled. "That depends..." He tapped his chin. "I'll have to hear you out. Shall we go below deck, or we could all swing on over to me lovely ship instead?"

"We'll stay here. Thank you though, Mister Sparrow." Norrington huffed.

"Very well then." They all trotted off below deck, leaving the two different crews to stare each other down.

.....