Chapter One: Bad Eggs
"We're rascals, and scoundrels, and villains, and knaves.
Drink up me hardies, Yo ho!
We're devils, and black sheep and really bad eggs.
Drink up me Hardies, Yo ho!" Jack Sparrow sang louder and louder with every swig of rum.
He was rowing one of the lifeboats from the Pearl, so that the ship wouldn't have to get anywhere near Port Royal, Commodore Norrington, or anyone that might get it in their head to go on a pirate hunt. When he finally got the boat close enough to the dock he managed to lurch, stumble and roll on to it. He started to sway along the dock when a sharp voice behind him made him jump.
"Hay! It cost a shilling to tie up your bout and I'll need a name," the man called. When he recognized Jack he swore under his breath.
Jack's brow crinkled as he considered how to answer the man. Then he said, "My name is Smith." He staggered over to the small lifeboat and kicked it as hard as he could, which sent the boat gliding out into the bay, and Jack flying backwards on to the dock. Once he got his feet back under him, he turned to the dock manager. "Well that takes care of that problem." He said and started to walk off.
The dock manager stood there glaring at Jack's retreating back. "But…" he started with no real thought for what he would say.
"What is it now? I gave you me name and am obviously not tying up me boat. So what's the problem?" Jack said impatiently. He really ought to be getting on to the pub; he had dropped his rum bottle which had been empty anyway.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Jack Sparrow," said a voice that Jack recognized.
Great he thought rolling his eyes. He turned around and quickly discovered that rolling his eyes had been a bad idea. The whole world seemed to swim before his eyes. Closing them, he said, "Norrington." When he opened his eyes the first thing he noticed was that the Commodore had a lovely young lady standing at his elbow. She was tall for a woman and had unfashionable red hair that he found nonetheless, attractive. "Well now who might this lovely be?" Jack asked Norrington.
"That is none of your concern." Norrington said icily.
"Now James," the young lady said into his ear. "My name's Jessica," she said, holding her hand out to Jack. "And who are you?"
"My name's Captain Jack Sparrow, luv," Jack said flipping his hands in an absurd motion before taking hers and kissing it. He lingered in the kiss before looking up flirtatiously into Jessica's eyes. He shot a glance at Norrington who had become decidedly tight around the mouth. Jack smiled to himself.
"You're a captain?" Jessica asked.
"A pirate captain," Norrington interposed. "Who will be going right back to jail where he belongs," he emphasized the last words. He then signaled one of his soldiers over and took a pair of irons from him and quickly put them around Jack's wrists.
"Not getting off to a very good start, am I?" Jack asked Jessica as he was being dragged by the two guards. He was starting to feel rather queasy to the stomach.
"Why did you come to Port Royal?" she asked as she walked with the men.
"I came to tell a friend of mine that some certain undead pirates are back and could be coming here to Port Royal." Jack said. He was starting to feel rather ill. It must have shone on his face. Jessica at least noticed.
"That's ridiculous we hung all of Barbossa's crew." Norrington said.
Just then Jack tripped and fell on his face. Then as the two guards were trying to pull him back up he fell of the dock. The water was shallow here and there were a lot of large, sharp rocks in the sand. Jessica could see a stream of blood as Jack's head managed hit one of them.
"Hurry, get him out of there!" she said to the two guards. Once they had Jack back up on deck she knelt by his side and examined the wound just above his left ear. She looked up at Norrington, "James, he needs a doctor." As though to verify the observation Jack retched and vomited on to the dock, then fell into unconsciousness.
Jessica looked back at Norrington who had his eyes closed and was pinching the bridge of his nose. "Well what do you suggest we do with him now?" he asked her.
"I will take him home. He can stay in one of the guest bedrooms until he recovers." Norrington still looked skeptical. "You can place him under house arrest and post a guard."
"Very well." He sighed and signaled the guards to take off the handcuffs and to fallow him. "I don't want you to be left alone with him. You are always to be accompanied by your butler or one of the guards."
Jessica looked at her fiancée and said, "James it will be alright. And besides," she said squeezing his arm, "it should only take a day or two. My sister and I can handle the captain."