As miserable as he was feeling Jack Sparrow was not keen on subjecting himself to another awful morning after the drink-fuelled madness of the night before, so he drank three pints of ale and left the tavern quietly. The port was eerily hushed and calm, it was hard to believe that any chaos ever took place, unless you looked closely at the evidence: the splintered pieces of wood left from broken cases scattered across the jetty, there were now four ships moored in the docks where seven once stood. Two stately vessels swiftly trailed behind The Oracle as it left the bay and sought refuge elsewhere. Jack looked out towards the mouth of the bay, instead of seeing miles of ocean he was looking at the majestic galleons, the proud and unyielding courtesy of the Spanish Royal Navy. Jack Sparrow bowed his head and crossed his arms as he fell into deep thought and a taunting memory.
"A penny for your thoughts Jack your soul never seems to drift away from reflection" Gibbs chirped as he strolled up to the forlorn pirate.
"I would not want to trouble you Mister Gibbs, a captain should not show weakness to his crew, the lesson was a hard one that cost me my ship and ten years of my life. I will not lose control like that again" Jack sighed, as he stared down at the water.
"I was a friend before I became a first officer Jack; I thought I made that clear on our last trip" –
Jack frowned and patted his friend on the shoulder, he was ashamed of himself but the truth was he never indulged in many friendships with the exception of Bootstrap Bill Turner and his ridiculously conservative son.
Jack was about to speak when he saw a watchful Lieutenant spying on them; within thirty minutes of reaching Havana's harbour, the over-zealous crew of Antonio Perez had been deployed to secure the town. Any carouser or troublemaker would be detained in the old barracks that was further inland, needless to say most of the local rogues had left town for the night. Leaving the more plucky and stalwart pirates at the mercy of disciplined, no-nonsense naval mariners.
"I was just thinking about the few occasions a pirate would go against an upcoming stockade, most of us wouldn't care: we stay out of their way, they stay out of our way - that's how it's always worked right?" Jack explained, a furrowed brow exploiting the anxiety he felt.
"It was last time I checked Jack but it's a case of each to his own, you cannot expect everything to be followed through…We're pirates!" Gibbs chuckled, the laughter did not seem to lift the mood at all Jack Sparrow faintly smiled but Joshamee Gibbs knew it was superficial.
"No, something's not right with this; the departure was made with too much haste. Ruby-Rose was hiding something from me I know she was" Jack answered softly, a sense of worry was cascading over his conscience and he could not ignore it. He had known many traits of a pirate – some traits were surprising and others downright unnecessary but he had never seen such a strong sense of urgency as he witnessed earlier that afternoon.
"I can't go on like this I'll drive myself mad, lust is one thing but panic is quite another. I need some answers maybe my father knows something" –
He started walking toward home but halted as he saw his first mate beam a wide smile, it made Jack uncomfortable.
"What is it that you find so amusing Mister Gibbs?"
"Nothing Jack, I'm just astounded by the consideration you have for your fellow man…or should that be fellow woman" Gibbs teased
Jack leaned over his friend and once again used his honed art of fabricating the truth and misleading the gossip-mongers in order to protect himself and those he loved. But Joshamee Gibbs was a friend and he did not want to the trust between them to be trampled on.
"I would very much appreciate that whatever idea is floating about in you head stays floating about in your head, Savvy?" –
"No problem Jack, it's none of my business but I just want to say I'm…pleased Ruby-Rose seems to me a fine lass" –
"Yes that she is Mister Gibbs…one of the finest, now let's pay my dear father a visit"
The two friends strolled down the promenade, dusk was slowly approaching and the town's fishermen were returning with their catch, the netting bulged with dozens of dead fish and the smell had started to drift. But fortunately for those who disagreed with the smell there was one last market trade of the day – The fish market stood further in-land and was often where pirates and housewives would fetch their supper: The women bought the fish and the pirates would hover around a stove where cockles, chestnut and crab fish would be served. It was at the crossroads of the Sparrow home and the fish market where Jack bumped into Emilio Federico and his son Miguel, it had been eight years since they last sight their eyes on each other.
"Hey Milo, are you still swimming with the fishes?" Jack jibed heartily; he saw that the seaman did not recognise him. Emilio roped a protective arm around his son and watched the trickster closely; it took a few more moments of silence before the penny dropped.
"Jacob Sparrow, I started to think you would never come back to us…Como estas antiguo amigo, Como estas!" He chuckled shaking he head 'Milo' stepped forward and warmly embraced his friend. Gently thudding each other's backs the men separated and Milo Federico introduced his friend to his shy and subdued boy who only gathered interest after his father explained that Jack Sparrow was the man behind all the bedtime stories.
Joshamee Gibbs stood there in silent bewilderment as he picked apart the scraps of English that was thrown between Jack and the Cuban. Their dialect was natural flowing and swift and the first mate witnessed his Captain transform into a much cheerful state for mind, his body language was loose and informal – almost juvenile. Joshamee was quietly relieved as he spied Jack's father coming down the lane towards them, however it was short-lived as Caleb Sparrow joined in the conversation in the same yet perhaps more superior fluency.
"I'm glad I caught you Dad, are you off to the tavern?" Jack asked his father in English
"My dear boy, there is more to a retired pirate than his booze you know? I have business to attend to" – Caleb replied scornfully
"Fair enough you don't have to chew my ear off Dad it was only a question, I'm concerned about Ruby-Rose. The way she left was abrupt, perhaps a little too abrupt" –
"Jack Sparrow, she is a grown woman it's rather late and rather stupid to be worried now"
"If we set sail tomorrow we would only be a day behind The Oracle, that's a decent amount of time to me" –
"Jackie boy you know full well I was not talking about the voyage, besides she hardly tells me anything these days. I have no idea where the ship's heading?" Caleb huffed, frustrated with his son's irritating sense of denial
It was at this point where young Miguel to the folds of his father's jacket and put it around his mouth to stifle a giggle, Caleb caught the mischievous glint in the boy's eyes and knelt down to face him.
"Miguel, your little giggle is telling me that you might know something we do not…is that right?"
The boy shrugged, trying to stop the cascade of excitement that was bubbling over inside him: Earlier that day he had listened in to a discussion between Ana Maria Varens and Christine Jamieson, it was a heated debate about the forthcoming voyage but he felt flustered as he could vaguely remember the name of the ship that was mentioned. He whispered it to his father and his father informed the three men.
Both Jack and Caleb tried to remain as patient as possible with the child's fleeting memory but nevertheless urged Miguel to blurt out as many of the broken ideas about it as possible.
The boy was mortified by all the scrutiny, he could sense his father was displeased with his vagueness and tried desperately to pick his little brain for the answer.
"Sol flor, dorado sol" The boy spluttered
Jack and Caleb looked at each other, there was a repetitive of the world Sol meaning Sun. A dreadful thought exploded in both their heads: Jack shook his head vigorously and Caleb crossed his arms and tapped his right foot nervously.
"…She wouldn't be that daft would she Dad, women are supposed to know better aren't they? Nah she wouldn't be so, wouldn't be so…"
Caleb coughed as he tried to gulp away the frog in his throat, his mouth was dry and his palms were sweaty.
"La…L La solsticio, I remember Mister Sparrow la solsticio" Miguel beamed a smile as he triumphantly solved the puzzle. He was awarded for the trouble by his father as he hugged him but the boy soon became confused as he saw the two men frown.
"She's gone after The Solstice, a flagship of the Spanish Maine, an entire nation's pride and joy. I don't suppose Olivia mentioned if she was insane?" Jack groaned sarcastically
"Pipe down Jack, there's a reason behind everything. She might have seen the ship as a challenge, to push the bar out. She's a good pirate but maybe…maybe not that good to fend off a schooner and two heavily-armed escort frigates" Caleb's voice quivered with such fear and emotion that Jack warily placed a hand on his father's shoulder to comfort him.
Caleb composed himself and firmly shook Emilio's hand and bid the fisherman goodnight. Jack patted his friend on the back and turned to the boy.
"Muchos Gracias, pequeno Miguel…well done" Jack stood up and walked beside his father and first mate Gibbs, who was intrigued by the events that unfolded.
"What'll we do Dad?" –
"The obvious thing son, we have to go after her" –
"What happened to your faith in her, all this talk about Ruby-Rose being a skilled and capable pirate" Jack grumbled, trying to master the growing fear that had gripped him like a vice.
"She is skilled and she is capable but with the likes of The Solstice and it's formidable crew, she might as well be just another rag-tag thief" –
"That isn't making me feel any better Dad" –
"It wasn't meant to Jack" –
They entered the house, the vision of Ruby-Rose standing there hours earlier only made her adopters feel worse. Gibbs knew what was in store and could not make his mind up whether he was happy at another chance of adventure or not. He had been the roving wanderer since he abandoned the eight years earlier not long after sailing with Governor Swann and the young Elisabeth to their new home in Port Royal. But the truth was he never could stick the idea of living within four walls, the sea and it's charms suited him tremendously
"So Cap'n Jack when would you like The Black Pearl to set sail?" Gibbs enquired with a grin.
The Sparrows' paused Jack looked at his father before meeting his friend with a steely-determined look on his face.
"Dawn Mister Gibbs, we will leave these shores at dawn" –
"Aye-aye Captain Sir"