Disclaimer: I don't own them… But just you wait, I will…

Reviews:

Kelsey Estel – I think you're right about the chapters, and I hope these coming up will be more satisfying for everyone. Long chapters make people happy. However, this one isn't as long as I was hoping it would be, because I had to work out exactly what was going to happen next, when we'll see Sparrow, etc. Plots are good. And I was on vacation for a bit, but that's not a very good excuse. So, if you will take this chapter as a marker of my kink-removal, and expect another soon…

erosgirl – Yeah, sure. You say the first part was odd? I agree. But it brings 'insight' to the story. That's why it's there. I think.

I'm glad you feel I kept Jack in character. It wasn't hard. He's Jack. Good thing all the same. I like Jack. Hate to do something bad to him.

I am just going to do a bit of adjusting; each part of chapter two is going to be its own chapter, to make everything simpler.

Finally, a bit more about chapter lengths. This chapter is about the same length as the rest of them so far; with vacation and the new fic I'm working on right now (which WILL NOT interfere with this one, if I can help it) I haven't been working as hard as I wanted to on making this one longer. I'm either going to just have longer chapters, or update more often. I am sorry about the lack-of-actual-stuff-happening here, but I now have a solid plot going and a pretty good chapter here (if I do say so myself), which is pretty good with my current time crunch (if I do say so myself). Expect more. I'll get it to you!

CHAPTER FIVE

A month deep in the voyage, Will stood at the bow of the ship, as usual, awaiting the dawn. Below him the polished figurehead of a devil holding an hourglass and sword imposed its will to the empty ocean; at the pinnacle of both masts the same motif was blackened into a blood red background. The Revenge was not a large ship, but it was fast, well-armed, and (as according to the usual strategy employed by the Dread Pirate Roberts) intimidating. Ebony skeletons were carved into every wooden surface. And once out at sea, the strange polka dot sails were actually quite intimidating.

Will gazed across the water. There had been two battles with small vessels, both of which he had participated in, and both of which had yielded little profit. Every man of each crew was dead – or a fresh addition to the crew. As most of them were snoring below decks, Will felt it safe to assume that the Dread Pirate Roberts was not as malicious as he tried to convince the world he was. He isn't black hearted at all, Will thought, he loves his men, and he's polite, and doesn't kill people if he can help it. Or does kill them, quickly, if they are wounded and will die anyway. I don't think he would ever actually kill a man in cold blood… without good reason, anyway.

The eastern horizon was gaining a slight radiance, chasing away the last few stars from the sky. Will turned to face it fully, resting an elbow on the rail, and drawing back one boot to rest with the other.

The bloody sails rustled. The gruesome dark ship was peaceful, rocking slowly as the waves lapped against it. This was the quietest moment of the day, when nothing was visible but the pale glow in the east, and sometimes pinkeye clouds settled on the sky.

All at once, the horizon ignited, a yellow flame shooting up and in all directions to light the day. There was a purple cast to the sky yet.

"SHIP AHOY!" Will turned sharply to stare up to the crow's nest. Joe the Fiendish, that was the only man aboard with such an… enthusiastic voice. Will pivoted again to scan the perfect picture of a sunrise, but finding nothing he shouted up, "Where away?"

A few scuffling sounds seemed to indicate that Joe had nearly fallen out of his perch. "Who's that?"

"Turner."

"Oh! Will, I don't think you can see from down there. Climb up!"

He pulled himself up the ropes to the lookout point, and followed Joe's finger with his eyes. There was a ship, barely perceptible from the high perch without a spyglass.

"I know that ship."


As Joe ran to fetch the captain, Will busied himself with thoughts of why the Dauntless was even out of Port Royal. After Governor Swann had died, god bless, the new official had not allowed even the King's Navy to leave the port, except on his personal business, which was never elucidated.

But what was important now was to ready the guns and the small number of oar ports in the hull; maneuverability and speed would be essential if the encounter proved unfriendly. Most of the crew was now conscious and hard at work.

The Dauntless approached silently, slowly, but with the sails of the swift Revenge filled and the helm turned, the ships advanced with renewed speed.

Will was struck with a thought, and ran below decks to find the captain. He assisted a group of pirates in their task of positioning the heavy cannons, but as Roberts was not to be seen he quickly returned to the top deck.

Now Will could see him, sequestered with Westley at the tiller. He ran up the wooden slats that served admirably as stairs, and heaved, "Captain, I know that ship. If the commodore of the fleet is on board, and I think he is, he's the only one who could have gotten that ship out of port, I may be able to negotiate with him."

"Negotiate?" Roberts asked. "How do you know that ship, Turner?"

"It is the flagship of the royal fleet at Port Royal. I used to live there, the Commodore was in love with my fiancé, we had adventures on that ship. It's a long story, but I think he may be looking for me."

Roberts shook his head. "You have strange friends for a pirate, Will. But if you think it's best."


The white flag was waving at the pirate ship's masthead. Commodore Norrington didn't trust them to be peaceful; he ordered the crew to keep their arms at the ready. Norrington didn't trust pirates. As he always said, "Violent and dissolute creatures, the lot of them." He didn't trust any pirates, and only liked two. But they didn't count, of course. One just about stole the love of Elizabeth from him, and the other… The other, Norrington didn't really like at all. Perhaps he didn't hate him…

In any case, if Turner wasn't on that ship, they wouldn't even be able to defeat the brigands in battle. Governor Dorgan gave unusual orders, but threatened that if the navy brought in so much as one pirate to be hanged, he would hang the man responsible himself. Every man in the fleet knew he was a little insane; his rages had already led to the 'lawful' execution of four men.

No providence of England should have to accept leadership like that. That was tyranny.

The ships grew closer.

END OF CHAPTER FIVE

YAY CHEESY CLIFFHANGER