Chapter 4- Betrayal

Um. Yes, yes, I know, I've gone a month without updating already, and I know there's no excuse… but this chapter was very hard to write because it portrays a key event in Jack's life and I wanted to do it justice. So please, please don't hate me for taking so long! And please, please, please review!

I feel like I should mention that today (September 19) is International Talk Like A Pirate Day. This occasion was what really motivated me to upload today… Oh, and some of you may have noticed there's a new summary up. I was hoping it would be more enticing.

I can't find where he said this (If anyone will tell me I'd be grateful), but apparently Johnny Depp once said that he thought Barbossa's first name should be Hector. In my opinion, that's as close to canon as we can get, so I have taken this idea.


"If there is a curse, which I'm still not convinced of, " Jack said, approaching his father with a grin on his face. "I'd hazard a guess that it's soon to be broken,"

"Oh?" Tom asked, squinting up at him. "And how d'you reckon that?"

"You are not looking at Jack Sparrow," he replied with an air that attracted curiosity like rancid meat did flies.

"Oh?" Tom repeated. "Have you gone an' changed yer name, or somethin'?"

"Nope," Jack said. "Even better. I am no longer merely Jack Sparrow. I have become…" Jack grinned, seeing a reluctant sort of intrigue on his father's face.

Tom noticed him looking and scowled. "Get on with it," he grumbled. His tone seemed to suggest that he had much better things to do than listen to Jack rave on. This effect was rather spoiled by the fact that he was sitting in a gutter.

"I have become," Jack continued. "Captain Jack Sparrow," he could not hide the grin of wild euphoria that invaded his face.

"Oh," Tom said. "Is that all?"

"Is- is that all?" Jack asked incredulously. "Do you know how bloody hard it is to get a ship? It's not a little boat mind you, not a sloop either, but a ship! True, she's only a three master, but still… do you have any idea how much a ship like that costs?"

"You got it legally, then?"

"Not it!" Jack said exasperatedly. "Her. You don't know the first thing about ships, do you?"

"Not really," Was the reply.

"I can tell. You could show a bit more respect," Jack said.

"How is this going to help you break the curse, though?" Tom asked, ignoring Jack's response.

"Well, I figure me and this ship will go on to do great things, you see," he said.

"Aren't you a bit young to be a captain?" Tom asked skeptically.

"I'm twenty!" Jack protested. He had been working for four long years for this, the moment when he could tell his father he had his own ship, and he was very resentful that it wasn't going at all like he had planned.

Tom squinted up at him. "No you ain't," he said. "You're still nineteen, and will be fer six months,"

"I am not!' Jack said hotly. "I turned twenty in March!"

"Did not," Tom replied. "You were born in December,"

"No, I wasn't,"

They glared at each other in silence for a moment.

"Honestly," Jack said, shaking his head. "Doesn't even know when his only son was born. I don't know why I bother. Look- I have to be somewhere. I won't get to stop by again before I leave port, but listen- when you hear stories about a ship named the Black Pearl- you'll know I've stole my way into legend,"

"That's just a bunch o' melodrama," Tom said.

"Oh, stuff it," Jack did not say. I have only said that he said this because "stuff it", unlike what he actually said, is fit for repeating in polite company.

With that parting shot, Jack walked away. Tom watched him go.

"You still could fail!" his father yelled after him. "Anything could happen! The ship could sink, or your crew could turn on you, or you could get caught by the navy! Do yeh hear me? Anything could happen!"

Jack ignored him. What did he know, anyway? He tried to use these thoughts to comfort himself, but he was, in truth, greatly unsettled by his father's words- because, of course, any of those things could happen.

No, of course they won't! Jack tried to tell himself. You're being stupid! But however much he tried to tell himself this, he was still reluctant to believe it. The truth was that ever since Charlie's death, Jack's luck had seemed to worsen. He had had a number of near-death experiences that almost certainly would not have happened if Charlie had still been there to look after him. Due to his miraculous escapes, some had begun calling him 'Lucky Jack'. Jacob thought he was blessed, but Jack privately thought that cursed was more like it.

Jack had been so caught up in his thoughts that he had not noticed that he had arrived at the Faithful Bride, which was his destination. He walked in and scanned the room to see if his first mate, Hector Barbossa, had arrived already. Jack saw him in a shadowy table in the corner. He walked over.

"'Ello Hector," he said. "How are you doing?"

"Just fine, Captain," Barbossa said with a smile that always put Jack at ease. "I've got the crew all sorted. Every one of them's signed your articles,"

"Good!" Jack said, smiling. "Yer doin' a fine job, Hector,"

"Thank you, sir," Hector replied.

As they discussed the crew and the upcoming voyage, Jack thought again what a lucky find Hector had been. He seemed to be a good man, and honest too. When Jack had come to the pub a few days ago to look for a first mate and crew, he wasn't expecting it to be so easy. But Hector had approached him almost at once. Jack had immediately seen the gleam of interest in Hector's eyes when he told him about the treasure of the Illa de Muerta that he planned on going after. He was glad to see Hector wasn't bothered by the legend of the curse. Jack wasn't either. He didn't believe in that sort of thing.

When Jack had mentioned how hard it would be to put together a crew who shared these views, Hector once again pleasantly surprised him by offering to collect a crew himself. Pleased at having found such an enthusiastic first mate, he agreed.

Later, Jack looked back on those days and hated himself for his own naïveté. He had made a very easy mistake common in those whose lives had not yet fully hardened them- he trusted the wrong person.

Barbossa was not so confident as the blissfully ignorant Jack. There was a wild card thrown into the carefully calibrated mix of the Black Pearl's crew, and it- or, more accurately, he- was the thorn in Barbossa's side. Jack had himself chosen the ship's gunner before even meeting Barbossa. He was a good friend and had followed Jack when he left Sweet Vengeance. His name was William, but few called him that. To most he was known as Bootstrap Bill Turner.

Barbossa was worried that Bill would ruin his plan. When it came time to act, where would his loyalties lie? Barbossa wasn't afraid to use threats and force to influence Bootstrap's decision, but would he let himself be manipulated? Or would he stand by his friend no matter what? He could only hope that Turner could be persuaded to help him. If not? Well, Barbossa hoped to maroon Jack alone, but maybe it would be better to give him a little company.

-

On the third day and second night of the Black Pearl's journey at twenty minutes before midnight, Barbossa, who was at the helm, turned to Pintel, who was standing behind him. "Go fetch Bootstrap," he ordered.

Pintel blinked, decided that Barbossa was definitely talking to him, and asked, "Why?"

Barbossa rolled his eyes. Pirates were a superstitious lot, and it hadn't been easy to find a crew that would both go along with the mutiny and not be cowed by the supposed curse. Some of them were intelligent; they knew that Barbossa could give them more than Sparrow could, wanted the wealth the gold would supply, and didn't believe in ghost stories. Some, like Pintel, were stupid; they wanted gold, and Barbossa had told them that he could deliver and Sparrow could not. Sometimes, however, he regretted his decision to sign on Pintel and those like him. This was one of those times.

"Because I told you to," Barbossa said impatiently. "Just tell him I need to see 'im!"

Pintel shuffled off, returning a few minutes later with Bootstrap.

"What's happening?" Bootstrap Bill asked. "Pintel said you needed to see me,"

"Yes, I did. Pintel?"

Pintel stopped picking his nails and looked up at Barbossa. "Huh?"

"Take the wheel,"

Pintel did.

"You see, Bootstrap, it's like this," he said, walking away from the wheel. "I know that you're a friend of the Cap'n's, but surely you can see that I could give this crew more than he can,"

Bill looked at him warily. He wasn't stupid. He thought he could guess where Barbossa was heading. "What are you sayin'?" he demanded.

"Well, me and the rest of the crew think I would be a better captain than Sparrow. All I ask is that you don't get in our way when it comes time for us to act,"

"The only action you have to take is to call a vote," Bootstrap replied. "If the majority want the captain to step down, then he will,"

"Aye, that's true," Barbossa agreed. "But we need for 'im to be out of the way altogether,"

"You're planning a mutiny," Disgust enveloped Bill. "I won't let you get away with it!"

"Hm. That's what I was afraid of," Barbossa glanced at Bill's right hand. He smiled when he saw a ring on his finger. "You're married?" he asked.

"Aye," Bill replied cautiously.

"Got any children?"

"A boy. Why?"

Barbossa smiled malevolently. "It would be too bad fer him if I had to kill you, wouldn't it?" Bill paled. "Of course, side with me…" he continued. "And you won't need to worry about it,"

Bill stood motionless. What were his options? Side with Jack and be killed along with him, dooming his wife and son to poverty, or betray his friend and secure their future? What was the obvious answer? Bill loved Victoria and Will; they didn't deserve to be poor. And Jack could take care of himself- couldn't he?

Bill heard the voice of Jacob, another friend of Jack's who had stayed behind on Sweet Vengeance. "Look after 'im, Bootstrap. Jack's still young. He's too compassionate, sometimes. Keep 'im from gettin' hurt," Bill closed his eyes, trying to erase the memory. He didn't want to betray Jack, but he had no choice! Surely Jack would understand.

"Alright," he said, very quietly. "I'll go along with it,"

Barbossa laughed, making Bill hate him, and himself, even more. "I thought you would. Now- go an' fetch Sparrow,"

"Why?" Bill demanded.

"Because the time to act is now, Bootstrap. I need you to prove your worth,"

Bill turned to go.

"Turner?"

"Aye?"

"Tip 'im off an' I'll have your head,"

"I won't tell 'im," Bill said, feeling incomparably low.

It was five minutes until midnight.

-

Bill knocked on the door of Jack's cabin. After getting no response, he knocked harder. "C'mon Jack, just open the bloody door. Don't make this harder on me," he muttered.

"Come in!" Jack called, sounding drowsy.

Bill entered. Jack was sitting up in bed, still looking half asleep. "What's goin' on?"

"Uh, Barbossa needs to see you up on deck," Bill improvised.

Jack's brow creased. "Why? Somethin' wrong?"

"Aye," Bill said, avoiding Jack's eyes. "Something is,"

"What?" Jack asked.

"I'm not sure, but you'd better hurry," Bill felt as low as he ever had.

"Alright," Jack said, pulling on his boots and grabbing his coat.

Bill saw Jack's hat lying on his desk. "You're rather fond of that hat, aren't you?" he asked.

Jack nodded, looking confused.

Bill picked up the hat and handed it to him. "Take it with you,"

"Why?" Jack asked. "William… what's happening out there?"

"I wish to God I could tell you, Jack," Bill said sadly. "But I can't,"

He walked away quickly before Jack could stop him.

What the devil was that about? Jack thought, walking up to the wheel. It takes something powerful to spook William like that. He said something was wrong… Worried, Jack sped up.

He reached Barbossa, who stood behind Pintel at the helm.

"William said somethin' was up," he said to Barbossa.

"Aye. Something is," Barbossa said.

"What's wrong?" Jack asked Barbossa concernedly.

"You see, Jack, this is nothing personal," Barbossa began. "It's not about you, it's about the treasure. I'd've exploited anyone in your place,"

"Hector… what are you talking about?" Jack asked warily.

"Do you honestly not know?" he asked. "You're more naive than I thought. It's over, Jack,"

Jack shook his head. "No… you don't mean… you can't…" A feeling of despair was growing in the pit of Jack's stomach. He seriously thought he might be ill. Surely, after how hard he had worked… he couldn't loose everything now!

Barbossa gave him a fiendish grin. "Like I said, mate. 'S nothing personal,"

Jack's heart was racing, and suddenly he found himself very angry. "Why, you backstabbing-"

As Jack began to speak, Barbossa rolled his eyes. The last thing he needed was Jack going on a tirade, trying to make him feel guilty. "All right you lot," Barbossa said. "Get over here,"

They came. Like ghosts appearing on the spot, the entire crew of the Black Pearl slipped from the shadows. They eyed Jack with eager anticipation, the way a crowd will breathlessly watch an execution. They all knew what was coming… and they were drawn to the events not only by Barbossa's orders but also their own morbid curiosities.

Jack didn't spare them much more than a glance. His eyes sought the one man on this ship he still thought was trustworthy.

He found him standing behind Ragetti. Oh so reluctantly, still feeling like shit, Bill met the eyes of his captain and friend.

"William…" Jack's voice cracked. He gulped. "William, please…"

Bill closed his eyes briefly. "I'm sorry Jack. If I'd've had any other choice…"

"I was under the impression that betrayal was always a choice," Jack said harshly.

Bill bent his head. "You're right. I chose to go along with it… but dammit Jack, he would've killed me… an' I got a family teh think of…"

Jack sighed and nodded resignedly.

"A very touching and sentimental scene that was," Barbossa interjected. "But I really have other things I'd rather be doing with my evening."

Jack turned on his former first mate. "You. I trusted you! Do you have any idea what this ship means to me? Do you have any idea what I wet through to get 'er?"

Barbossa looked bored with this tirade.

"Do you?" Jack screamed.

Barbossa raised an eyebrow. "Pitiful. I must admit, I expected something a bit more impressive."

The crew laughed. Jack spat at Barbossa's feet.

An invisible line had been crossed. Instantly, Barbossa's face became serious and the crew stopped laughing.

Barbossa jerked his head at Jack. "Take 'im to the brig."

Eyes gleaming, the crew surged forward to seize Jack. He fought them off as best he could, but he was unarmed, and a cutlass at your throat is a wonderful motivation to stop struggling.

Barbossa shook his head at Jack. "Got a bit of a fighting spirit in you, eh?" His eyes moved to the crew. "Beat it out of 'im. Take it as far as you like, but kill 'im and I'll keelhaul the lot of you!"

The crew laughed. "Aye, Cap'n." they said.

-

Well, there you have it. Was it worth the wait? I hope so. In the next chapter- the marooning, and Jack's infamous escape from the island.