Chapter 11: The Battle of Tortuga
Jack Sparrow was in a fitful sleep. He heard that voice again...I'm coming for my apples, Jack. He then heard a clanging noise, like a bell...
And woke up to the sound of cannon fire.
The Battle of Tortuga was on.
Everything was going as planned. The Implacable was moving forward towards the Pearl. Meanwhile, the Polaris and Artemis flanked Sparrow's immense armada, while the Flagrant moved in.
"All hands to the guns!" Jack was engaging in the artillery fight of his life. "Bring some cannon to the deck! Anything we can bring to bear on the Implacable; do it!" He charged to the helm. "Raise topsails; I want our port side fully facing him. Get me as close as you can," he ordered Cotton. He nodded fiercely and spun the wheel to and fro, getting close to the Implacable, bit by bit.
But not fast enough; they were still getting pounded. "Where's the fleet?"
Then Jack looked behind him and saw they had their own problems.
"Get me close to the Flagrant; I want boarders on him immediately!" James ordered. "Get cannon topside and open fire on the Marines onshore. Maintain fire on the Polaris; let's let Master Turner do his work."
"Sir!" A hand pointed out to sea. Great. A new problem; boarders.
They rowed up towards the Dauntless. "Fire on the boarders!" Boats exploded as men leapt from them and swam towards the ship.
The Elizabeth lunged at the Polaris. Elizabeth got it close enough to get aboard it.
"Boarders away!" Will led the men across on the ropes as Elizabeth grabbed a rifle.
"Boys, let's give 'em hell!" She aimed, and shot.
"Fire!"
Another boat exploded. More got past. "Get them off my ship!" James, angered, drew a pistol and fired at a Marine coming aboard. Then he drew his sword, and indicated four sailors. "You four—with me!" He led them to a boat and entered the water.
"Come on!" Will led the charge on the Polaris's bridge. He pulled a new sword from his belt. It was one that had a curved blade, making it sweep far more deadly and dangerous than an English sword. He'd stolen the idea from a Japanese swordsmith he'd met once on the high seas. The sword sang as he spun it, swishing through ropes and men alike. A sail fell from the mast to knock out three Marines. Then he saw the Captain flee up the mast. He followed.
At the top, they fought. Will leapt, and parried, amused, as if this were an elegant farce. When the captain jumped down a sail, Will back-flipped down to face him. He swung and parried attack upon attack. He sidestepped, cutting at his legs. The Captain's sword swept the blade aside, then moved on Will, who casually brushed aside the swipe at his head. Then, in an unorthodox move, Will grabbed the blade and kicked the Captain off the sail.
On deck, the captain smiled at Will, who held the mismatched blades menacingly. "Good; very good. You must be Will Turner."
"So?"
"So...I have a proposition for you..."
The Dauntless was under merciless assault by the Navy. However, one boat swept closer to the others. James leapt to another boat, tipping it over. It was a slow process, but it worked.
The Valiant swept around, creping up on the Flagrant from behind. Captain Parker gave orders. "Get cannon loaded. We need to free up the other ships." He opened fire madly on the Flagrant, then swept inside its guard. It was time to even the odds.
