Before The Dawn

Chapter IV: Of Captains and Deals

By FalconWing

Jack swaggered into the cabin with all the outward confidence he could muster. The bloody shoes didn't make it any easier. Taking his hat off, he flung it unceremoniously onto the table in the center of room and took a good look around.

Under the windows at what was the stern of the ship was a desk of drawers and a large trunk, both obviously past their best. Tucked in a corner to the left, half hidden behind a screen was a small bunk. What appeared to be a door to another room, stood to his right. A layer of dust covered most of the furniture and none of it had been cleaned in quite some time. A rumpled map lay across the table, completely the general impression of disarray.

Making his way over to said table, he plonked himself into a chair and leaned back, swinging his feet onto the desk. Then, looking up, he nodded slightly at the man sitting opposite him – the only acknowledge Jack had paid him since entering the room.

He hadn't moved apart from giving a slightly puzzled expression and looking from Jack's hat, to Jack, to the hat again. Evidently the man had no control over his face to let such emotions play so openly across his features. One of the five golden rules of negotiating was to never show weakness. That included exhibiting such emotions as anger, love, hatred, sadness and, of course, mystification or puzzlement.

Not that Jack minded if this man had no command over his feelings. He was Jack's adversary: his loss was Jack's gain. Any fault on his part and it was Jack's for extorting.

We extort, we pilfer, we filch and sack…

Jack couldn't say why his mind chose that particular moment to bring that line into the forefront of his mind, but he wasted no time in shoving it back where it belonged and turning his mind back to his task. There was a time and a place for singing: when marooned and left to die or after finally getting back one's ship after ten years, they were prime examples of appropriate timing, but now was not was certainly not an occasion that merited a bawdy rendition of A Pirates Life For Me.

Instead, he turned his mind back to his task. He wriggled a bit in his seat so that the back of the chair scratched the itch on his back. Settling back again, he lifted his chin and met the other man's gaze. "The name's John. John Daniels. But you can call me Jack." He had decided not to give his real full name but it would be safer to stick to Jack. "And you would be Captain…?"

The man cleared his throat. "Tha' would be Cap'n Clavell. And wha' is it that ye want? Ye said ye needed t' speak to me." Jack took his time answering, alternatively making a closer inspection of this Captain Clavell.

He was a large burly fellow and looked perfectly capable of hacking of heads and skewering people. He had a thick neck, a shaggy mat of dark brown hair that reached to his shoulders and a scraggly beard, sporting some graying hairs. Hard, cruel – but not unintelligent – eyes observed him from over a strong nose, though they looked almost strained as though he had been ill recently.

Then the ship rolled again and Jack knew. Captain Clavell had been sea sick.

Jack held back a snort of laughter. He had been able to tell that the crew hadn't been at sea long, most likely learning only by trial and error – it had to have been sheer luck that they were still alive today and not at the bottom of the ocean judging by the way the ship was being sailed. But the thought of a sea sick captain was almost too much.

The loud sound of a fist striking a hard surface with strength brought Jack's attention back to the present. It seemed Clavell had finally lost patience. Jack smiled grimly and continued. "As I said you can call me Jack. Contrary to popular belief both amongst both your crew and the other hostages, I am not a wealthy upper-class landlubber." He gave a dramatic pause.

"Well then wha' are ye?" Once again the other man proved his impatience, though he couldn't keep the hint of interest from creeping into his voice.

Jack shrugged and leaned back, casually stating "A pirate." He watched Clavell's expression with amusement. "And I wish to join your crew." The other's blatant shock and disbelief brought a sparkle to Jack's eyes as he watched the man struggle to bring himself back under control.

Getting up, Captain Clavell began to pace, eyeing Jack doubtfully from through narrowed lids. The effect was somewhat marred, however, when the jolting of the ship caused him to scramble to keep his balance.

A small snigger escaped Jack's lips unchecked, stopping abruptly when a venomous glare from Clavell reminded him that while he was on the other man's ship and at his mercy it might not be such a good idea to anger him. Earning the Captain's animosity would not make his plan run any smoother. Quite the opposite in fact.

When there was still no response forthcoming, Jack figured that an attempt to ease the atmosphere wouldn't go amiss.

Twirling a hand absently, he began to talk. "You see I had just left the ship I was currently on and was waiting for a ship to take me back to Tortuga. When I heard about the wedding I figured such ripe pickings don't turn up often. So I managed to knick some suitable clothes and I snuck into the reception, sat through it and then went to the after-party."

Clavell was still looking skeptical so Jack decided to give him some validation of his story.

Reaching into the inside pocket of his vest, he withdrew numerous objects and deposited them in the middle of the table. "And I tell you, there was an abundance of various valuables just waiting for someone like me to come along."  On closer inspection they proved to be a finely crafted pocket watch, a large ruby dangling from a delicate gold chain and a ruffled piece of white lace.

Jack hoped Elizabeth would never hear about this 'borrowing without permission,' but what could he say? Wandering to and fro at the wedding there had just been so many people from the well-to-do, pompous community that he hated. None of them with any inkling that their unguarded pockets were being cheerfully plundered by the pirate in their midst. It was just too tempting an opportunity to even consider turning it down. Who was he to look a gift horse in the mouth?

Leaning down to finger the items, Clavell lifted up the ruby necklace and examined it. Apparently finding some satisfaction within the crimson facets, he pocketed it and grinned at Jack. "Ye wan' to join th' crew? Done." He held his hand and Jack rose to accept it, giving a firm shake. "I'll get Big Dan t' take ye to ye hammock. Ye won' wan' to work in those clothes I'll wager, so I'll scrounge up somethin' fer ye."

The captain gave a shout and the cabin door opened and Jack looked up…and up…and up. Big Dan indeed – the man was a bloody giant. Clavell spoke to the man directly. "Dan this is Jack Daniels. He be joinin' th' crew. Show 'im to a spare hammock."

Jack turned to follow Big Dan but paused at Clavell's voice. "Hey. Jack. Wha' ship was it tha' ye left?"

He swiveled back to face the captain. Jack grinned. "The Black Pearl." Jack turned around again and followed in Big Dan's shadow, leaving a very stunned man in his wake.

– – – – –

Captain Clavell stood stock still, utterly taken aback.

Even a recently turned water rat such as himself had heard of the Black Pearl. She was perhaps the most feared ship to ever set sail, along with her legendary captain, the renowned Jack Sparrow. And now the newest member of his crew had worked on her and sailed under Sparrow himself.

The fellow really was quite strange, wasn't he? This Daniels guy. There was something about the man that said he wasn't your average crew member. Clavell shrugged the feeling aside. If he followed orders well enough, Clavell might make him a mate or helmsman or some such. There was no need to give the man a swelled head, but even Clavell could recognize when they needed a person with experience on the job. If he didn't do well or got too bolshy then they could always throw him overboard. A pirate such as it appeared that he was wasn't likely to fetch a ransom at all let alone a generous one.

A greedy smirk curled the corners of his lips and an expression of unadulterated lust crossed his features. Even if Daniels had now been proved of no use in the money department, the others would provide him with a pretty penny. All he had to do was deliver the ransom notes and wait. He would be rich.

And while he was waiting there was no reason he couldn't take advantage of the power he held over his prisoners. He had already had that girl separated from the rest.

His strides grew purposeful as he headed toward the locked side door that led to another small room.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Thanks for reading everyone. Please review because I do like to know if people are reading this and if they enjoyed it or not. Constructive criticism is welcomed with open arms. Any reviewers are relentlessly well-regarded. Thanks to those who reviewed my last chapter: Alaawya, peachfreak, A Sly Fan, Lyn, A Nonny Moose, Opranoodlemantra, Savvyness and all of you who went back and reviewed the first two chapters.

By the way, I don't know why the lines and asterisks I usually use won't upload but if anyone knows why, can they please let me know cause that's twice in a row now that's happened.

I should update soon – I'm trying to do it every three days but if I can't please be patient. I promise not to leave it too long.

Lotsa love…

FalconWing.