I am so sorry it took so long and I totally deserve all the angry reviews you can throw me. Please, forgive me. I have a job now at the two local newspapers as an amateur journalist and I'm so happy. Also, Christmas was a nightmare! I'm glad it's over because I am beat, I love my family but they do get on my nerves. Anyway, please read and review. I'm so sorry!
P.S. My friend told me I have to write this thing that says I don't own POTC. Who thinks I do though, honestly. This is the first and last I'm gonna write, though I may have written one before, I wouldn't remember. If anyone sells POTC on ebay, it will be mine but until then…
Chapter 27: Time War
Christian made his way slowly along the beach, hidden from view of the pirates on the deck above him by the trees and shrub around him. The haunting song had ended abruptly a few minutes before and Christian continually glanced over his shoulder, watching for signs of trouble. Why had it suddenly stopped?
He crouched on the edge of the beach, facing the back of Mulan's ship and watched the people on the deck, the tops of a few guard's heads just visible over the railing high above him. He blew out a long deep breath and whipped sweat from his forehead with a shaking hand.
How was he going to get on board? Sitting back, Christian watched the ship through the darkness, trying to time the movement of the guards on board. The men, it seemed, had no pattern to their movements and Christian pounded on the sand with his hand. How could this happen? He'd had a nice practice starting back in Port Royal, he'd been happy! Damn Jack Sparrow!
Jack Sparrow? Christian's eyes racked the deck and he watched the pirates moving on board. Jack Sparrow? He'd grown up listening to the stories, why couldn't he use that to his advantage? What would Jack Sparrow do?
Stories came flooding back to him. He filtered out the nonsense ones, ones that had absolutely no truth at all and pondered over the ones that had some to most accuracy. Suddenly, an idea struck him and he watched the back of the ship. There were a series of ropes used for rigging and lowering rowboats. Maybe, if he climbed up the rigging and used the cannon ports for a foothold, he'd be able to get onto the deck. He'd worry about the next part when he came to it.
Clouds were heading towards the moon and soon they'd obscure it completely. Christian waited and watched with baited breath and soon the darkness was complete, giving him the cover he needed. Stealthily, he left his hiding spot on the edge of the trees and ran, bent-backed, along the beach towards the water's edge just as the clouds un-shrouded the moon and it shone down on him again.
The water was cool, the waves tossing his body as he waded into deeper water and began to swim, reaching out and grabbing a soaking wet length of rope and hitting the deck as a wave tossed him into it. Looking up, Christian watched the deck above him cautiously. No one seemed to have noticed anything and he began to climb, using his arms to pull himself up, gritting his teeth against the noise of the water as it dripped from his clothes.
The climb was tough, especially with his cloths sticking to him and the water in his shoes making his feet slip around as though they were a size to big. At the top, standing on the ledge of a running board just below the railing line, Christian cautiously peered over the edge and watched the knot of pirates across the deck. There was a crate, he could just make it out between the sea of legs and there was Jack. Christian watched as Jack was shoved into Commodore Norrington and they toppled to the deck in a heap.
A movement off to his left caught his eyes and he looked over just in time to duck as a guard turned his way and began to walk by. Crouching on the runner board, he listened intently to the sound of footsteps. As soon as they had died away, Christian looked over the railing and spotted the man standing not to far away, watching the scene near the crate.
Christian ignored what was happening and climbed over the edge quickly, ducking behind crates and boxes. He took off his shoes and put them down silently beside the boxes. He didn't want to risk someone hearing him coming. Standing again, he bent low and ran to the stairs leading down to the lower decks, his feet slapping loudly on the warped wood.
Where were all the guards? Mulan, Marko and Barbossa must have been confident that there was no way someone would get on board. Making his way swiftly through the maze of passages below, Christian paused only long enough to peer around corners before moving on. It seemed to take forever, every room he pushed into was empty and soon, disheartened, he pushed into what felt like the hundredth room and gasped.
Anamaria held her breath as the bottle tipped, the liquid quivering just on the edge of the bottle's mouth. What would happen when the liquid touched Barbossa? She'd heard the tales Jack had told about his fight with Barbossa and really didn't wish to find out first hand. She had to do something.
Taking a deep breath she brought her head forward and then back sharply, smashing it into the man's face behind her. He howled with rage and pain and fell back, letting go of her just as the others reacted, Men came after her from all sides as her allies began to fight back also.
Anamaria spun around one man, narrowly avoiding his blundering form as another came at her. He blocked her every move to escape and finally she had to just pop him in the face with her fist.
Jack had been knocked into the crate and lay on his stomach, sprawled on the ground at its base. Anamaria rushed over to him and dragged him up as the others, somehow, procured swords and were fighting hard but they were outnumbered and had no chance in hell of beating them.
"Jack." Anamaria cried, pulling his arm around her shoulder. He leaned on her gratefully until she pulled him around to face her. "Jack, I wanted to tell you before that…"
"Look, luv." Jack yelled over the battle, glancing down at Barbossa's bones in disgust. "I'd love to chat but…" A man lunged at them and hit the crate, his sword sinking into the thick wood. With one quick move, Jack wound up and punched him square in the face, dropping him instantly. "Ouch!" Jack hissed, rubbing his knuckles. Anamaria grabbed his hand and began pulling him along, ducking under swinging arms as the others fought.
"We have to find Will and Bill." Anamaria called over her shoulder, swiping black hair out of her face. "I don't know where they…" Mulan was facing them across the deck, a sword in his hand, his eyes shinning with malice. Jack's grip on Anamaria's hand tightened painfully and his face moved into a half grimace, half growl.
"Bloody hell." He hissed, trying to move forward but he ended up tripping over his own feet and running headlong into Anamaria. She caught him and held him up as he watched Mulan.
"Look around you Jack." Anamaria yelled. She whipped around and punched a pirate square in the side of the head. He fell over and then she continued. "We need help."
"And where are we going to get that?" Jack yelled back. Anamaria stared around desperately. She wished they had the Pearl. As they turned to go the other way, Mulan attacked from behind.
Christian raced across the room and began playing with Will's bond but they were iron and he couldn't pries them loose from the beam they were connected to. Desperately, he moved to Bill.
The ropes were tied tight but, after a few frantic moments, Christian finally wised up and began looking around for a weapon.
"My boot!" Bill yelled, wiggling his left foot. "There's a dagger in there!" Christian yanked Bill's boot off and looked at the ceiling as the sounds of battle broke out above. "Jack must be alive then?" Bill asked, smiling. Christian nodded. "No one but him could cause a racket like that." Christian smiled began to look around frantically.
"Where is the key?" Christian asked, turning his back on Bill and moving to the small wooden desk in the corner. The candle had been extinguished some time ago and there was no light to be had in this dark corner.
"I believe I saw that slimy bastard Mulan put it into one of the drawers…the top drawer." Bill was working on Will's wrists, trying to relieve the pressure the iron was exerting on them. "That bastard."
"You talk as if you know him." Christian said over his shoulder, riffling through the blackened drawer. Bill's derisive snort made him turn around and abandon his quest for the keys for a brief moment.
"I did." Bill said quietly, but loudly enough for them to hear. "He…" Bill looked over at Christian. "Keep searching, we don't have all day." Christian sprung back to work, pulling drawers completely out of their holds. As he pulled the last drawer out, a pile of papers fell to the floor but nothing else. There was no key.
"Where's the key?" Christian hissed frantically, tearing through the papers fruitlessly. No matter how much he searched through the mess at his feet, he knew he wouldn't find anything. It was hopeless. Christian stopped and looked up, watching Bill and Will in the middle of the room. Will's back was to him but Christian could guess the look on his face was much like the one his father wore, afraid and angry. "What do we do?"
"It has to be in there, Mulan was over there." Bill cried, not bothering to keep his voice down as the roar above them grew to breaking point. "It has to be there."
Christian shook his head and picked up one of the drawers, ready to throw it when he caught sight of a small glittering light on the bottom of it. Stopping in mid throw, Christian dropped the drawer onto the desk top and stared in utter amazement at the small gold key. It had been hung on a small hook in the wood, the perfect hiding place.
"Got it." Christian pried it off the hook and, slipping on the papers littering the floor, made his way over to Bill and Will. Bill snatched it from him and began unlocking the shackles that held his son's wrists tightly in their iron grip. "You're welcome."
"Thank you, doc. Now, go find a sword." Christian stared at him.
"A sword?" He said blankly. All this excitement had made him feel rather dumb. "Sword…oh, yeah, I'll just go…" Instead of continuing to make himself look more stupid, Christian wobbled off around the room searching high and low for a sword, any sword.
He found a knife lying on a table in the corner and picked it up. Bill's amused and slightly annoyed voice cut through the darkness. "That's not a sword. Bloody hell, what did they teach you in that medical school of yours?" Christian turned and glared at him for a second before looking under the table. Between the spindly legs, half concealed in darkness he could see a blade.
"I…I found one." Christian pulled it out and held it into the pool of light for the other men to see. Bill grinned and Christian was amazed to see how much he looked like his son when he did so.
"Good, bring it over here." Christian did as he was told as Will's arms, both free now, fell to his sides and he began rubbing his wrists.
Bill took the sword as Christian took Will's wrists and began examining them. They were bruised and cut, blood running in small streams down his forearms to his elbows. Christian rummaged in his pockets and found a small handkerchief which he pulled out and tried to tear into strips but the fabric was to strong and wouldn't give.
"Here." Bill held up the sword and Christian ran it along the blade until it was ripped enough for him to do the rest. "Your welcome." Bill said, moving to the door. Christian looked up but didn't answer as he began to pull the fabric apart.
He tied it tightly around Will's wrists and then turned to Bill. "Clear?" Bill nodded and Will and Christian followed. At the door, Bill handed Will the dagger from his boot.
"What's this for?" Will asked. Bill looked at him as though he was crazy and didn't answer. Will tucked the dagger into the top of his pants and followed his father out into the hall. Christian, thinking that he might need a weapon (But knowing if he'd be able to use it) turned back into the room and grabbed the knife from the spindly legged table.
"Just in case." He whispered. He met up with the others in the hall and they
headed to the deck as fast as they could. They had to get up to the deck and fast, a roar of anger had erupted on top and a low chant was beginning to rise into the sky.
To My Reviewers (The greatest people on the planet):
Starknight: Hey! Nice to hear from you. I hope you like the story, once you get through the 26 chapters. I'm glad you were impressed, this is the longest I've stuck with anything so I'm proud to but some people have like…50 so. Thank you and I hope I hear from you again soon.
forceflow46 Yep, u had it about right. I had a lot of problems but I won't try and justify it any more. I'm so sorry. Forgive me. I hope I made up for it, kinda. But I really didn't like this chappie much. I'm my own worst critic though and I'll let you decide. Oh, it's belated but good luck with the snow. Maybe U can make mine go away now. I have a date on the 22nd so…
Toxic-Beetle: It's okay, review when you can. I do that to, I read a story and then review or I think I reviewed and then I forget. It's funny. Best fic's you've ever read? Wow, thank you that's very nice. I don't think it is but, I'm the writer so…I wouldn't. Thank you very much. Just one second, Jack wants to say something… "Divorce? That's such a strong word, luv. I prefer short separation." That's what I said, thanks. Lol
DragonHunter200: It's okay, I always have things I could have sworn I did, like change my socks. I could have sworn I'd done that and here we are a week later and they have crawled away. LOL. You know what, even if it was a triumphant return of the favorite line thingy, it is still appreciated and Jack loves it. Oh by the way, the order of your review confused me but I got your email and it was all good. It made me laugh afterwards.
xImmortalx: Hey, ur not the slowest updater, I am! Sorry it took me so long, I've been saying that so much but you know school and all. Jack gay?! It's possible I guess…my dad thinks so but I like to tell him it's all in his imagination. My dad's just mad b/c I like a guy only 10 yrs younger then him. LOL.
Alteng: Mean to the Turner's? A little bit of torture never hurt anyone. LOL. Yeah I thought of the thing with giving it to Elizabeth first but I needed it this way so…I don't remember why now but there was something important about the order. I made it up last summer on the lawn mower. LOL. I was confused with the Hector thing for a minute. Then I figured out who you were talking about and I hit myself. It was funny.
Padme17: I got what you were saying, now lets see if I can confuse you…I didn't know if it was possible for a story to get interesting at the height of interestingness but I guess if it could, it wasn't as interesting as it could be. Confused? Probably not. LOL. Keep reading and reviewing. Oh, and the supernatural stuff will stay. Supernatural stuff is the easy part, and I love supernatural. The India lady, I got the idea from my aunty. She looks like that (even though we're not from India she looks like and Indian so it was cool)
And to anyone else I forgot, I'm sorry. Either you didn't send in a review or it got deleted. Either way, I appreciate it all the same.
