Disclaimer: I now own the game 'The curse of monkey Island 4' though not the copyright This has nothing to do with the disclaimer, but it is about pirates……:P Woot! Go Starbuckaneers! Lol. Anyways….I am still no closer to owning any copyrights. Despite spending time on ebay. So please don't sue me!
Ch 18: Undersea Walk
Inuyasha pulled against the oars, and came up along side the Pearl. In the darkness, Elisabeth smiled and looked up at the side of the boat. Now all they had to do was go into the hold, free the crew, and get rid of the guards aboard the ship. She knew there was someone left on watch, since she'd seen the silhouettes.
Besides, no captain left his ship untended. It invited trouble of the worst kind.
"Free the crew, then take out the guards. That's what we'll do" Elisabeth whispered. Inuyasha gave the side of the boat –ship- a feral grin.
They crept upwards into the night.
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Jack scowled as a man shoved him off the boat and onto the stone floor of the cave. Yes, he knew they weren't particularly pleased with having to put up with him. No, it didn't mean they had to rub it in his face...or into his backside Apparently Norington hadn't mastered the concept of 'If you have willing men under your command, they are much better workers than sullen ones'.
Idiot. Any pirate captain could have told him that, even Jack…had he been so inclined.
He wasn't, now. That's what Norington got for his foul treatment of prisoners…
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Pintel walked along beside Will. He didn't feel particularly sorry for him, but at the same time thought it might be best to keep him calm. Maybe that way he wouldn't make some last effort at escape…"No reason to fret. It's just a prick of the finger, a few drops of blood." He smiled, which had somewhat less than the desired effect of reassurance.
Twigg snorted "No mistakes this time. He's only half-Turner. We spill it all!" He looked positively happy about that last bit. Pintel and Ragetti exchanged looks as Will was hauled off.
"Guess there is reason to fret." He snickered a bit. Ah well. If death for Turner meant freedom for him, he was all for it.
Will blinked slowly. He had done this himself, after all. If death was the price to be paid for Elisabeth's freedom, he'd pay it. But he couldn't help but feel cheated in some way. He wouldn't be able to help Elisabeth enjoy her freedom…
He wished he could have told her so many things. That he wasn't mad at her for taking the medallion. That he wished he could call her Elisabeth. That he would do anything to spend the rest of his life with her…..that he loved her. Oh gods, he loved her so much it hurt….he loved her more than life itself. It wasn't worth living without her around.
He smiled somewhat crookedly. He wouldn't be living without her, since the crew of the black Pearl were kindly going to take care of that detail soon. His hands started to feel clammy. Will was somewhat frightened. He'd never died before, after all...he loved life, but...he'd made sure Elisabeth would enjoy life for him. He wished her long and happy years.
He wished he'd had the nerve to kiss her….but stopped himself. That was nearly as bad as Miroku. Will in no way wanted to be like the….monk…. (How had he gotten to be a monk in the first place….?)
He sighed slightly, resigned. He might not want to die, but it was in a good cause. He just hoped that the rest of the people on that island with Elisabeth took care of her, and that they gave Barbossa hell from him, since he didn't think he'd have much opportunity to do it himself at this rate.
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Jack got to his feet, dusted himself off indignantly, and walked into the caves without a backwards glance at the men pulling back out to sea behind him. He didn't care for the British naval attitude, and he was fairly sure they didn't give a damn about him either, even if he got his head blown off by Barbossa in the next few minutes. Jack was pretty sure he'd come out of this alive, or he wouldn't be doing what he was doing, but there was always a risk. Ah well…that was what made life such fun. He loved risks.
He came out of the caverns behind the crowd of pirates and saw Barbossa once more on his golden heap, this time with Will as the sacrificial lamb. He looked ready to slit Will's throat any minute, and Jack couldn't have that at all. He started pushing through the crowd of pirates "Beg your pardon."
"Begun by blood…"
Jack grimaced from behind a particularly bulky pirates shoulder "Excuse me."
"…by blood un - "
Will looked up from where he was bent nearly double above the chest, and saw Jack. His eyes widened. It was impossible…was he dreaming? He blinked, and almost laughed. What a dream this would have been. He could wake up at home, safe, and Elisabeth would still be the governors daughter. He wouldn't have to worry about her safety or freedom…or his own life.
Wait…hadn't Sesshoumaru been able to fly? He hadn't looked too good after the battle, but maybe he had managed to fly them off the island. Elisabeth could be here right now, or Inuyasha, Kagome…Miroku…..he hoped he wouldn't have to 'persuade' the monk to keep his hands to himself again. He prayed they were all here, safe and sound. Especially Elisabeth.
"Jack! Where is everyone?"
Barbossa stared, gut suddenly cold as an ice floe. Jack was here. Did that mean that the...others... were? He'd thought he'd dealt with them permanently! He almost shivered as sailors superstition ran up and down his spine, but controlled himself, instead letting out a surprised "S'not possible."
Jack smiled, enjoying himself at his former first mates expense once more. "Not probable." He puffed out his chest slightly, as if to show that however improbable, he was there.
"Where's Elizabeth? Inuyasha? Everyone?" Will demanded, eyes hopeful. She had to be safe. She just had to be.
Jack waved it off. "Inuyasha, last I saw, was threatening to throw the monk in the sea, and Kagome was telling him not to. Sango was watching them. Sesshoumaru had his card face on, and Elisabeth is safe, just like I promised. She's all set to marry Norington, just like she promised. And you get to die for her, just like you promised... So we're all men of our word really except for Elizabeth who is, in fact, a woman."
Will's eyes widened. Elisabeth…had she really…?
He had been so sure…why had she promised Norington that? He had been willing to give his life for hers…didn't she love him? Was he, in the end, nothing more than the smith of Port Royal, sometimes friend to Lady Elisabeth?
"Shut up! You're next." Barbossa said, trying to convince himself golden eyed demons weren't going to jump out at him from the shadows. He leaned in closer to Will's throat, yellowed knife at the ready.
Jack smiled knowingly "You don't want to be doing that, mate."
Barbossa looked up at him. He smirked, and said "No, I really think I do."
"Your funeral." Jack shrugged easily, getting into the act now. He had put out his hook…now to see if Barbossa bit.
Will looked from Barbossa to Jack. Why was Jack here now? Perhaps he had a chance after all…or not. He didn't exactly trust Jack with his life. The pirate would probably spend it on rum. Yet, trusting him was better than the sure death Barbossa represented. Will was no martyr, and if the chance to spend the rest of his life with Elisabeth, even if she'd promised Norington…He closed his eyes in pain. Why had she done it? He had thought….really thought she loved him, blacksmiths hands and all.
It hurt to think about it. But even if he was hurting, he would rather it be by her hands than any others. It hurt more for it, and less. Something he'd never felt before, not this way. This was nothing like the ache of love from afar. It ran deeper…
"Why don't I want to be doing it?" Now Barbossa was curious. Clearly Jack had come to bargain, and if he thought he could pull something when Barbossa had all the cards, it must be good. Or the man was mad. Quite possible, considering.
"Well, because" Jack slapped a pirates dirty fingers off his shoulder impatiently "…because the HMS Dauntless, pride of the Royal Navy, is floating just offshore with a few people who really want to meet you on board. I think Sesshoumaru's been sharpening his sword just for you, Twigg" He said pleasantly.
Twigg went a pasty grey. How did that freak know it was him…?
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In the boats, sailors muttered amongst themselves, quietly. Still, the noise traveled far enough to reach the ears of Norington.
"What are we doing here?" Murtogg asked quietly.
"The pirates come out, unprepared and unawares, we catch 'em in the crossfire, send them down to see Old Hob." Mullroy snapped back.
"I know why we're here. I mean why aren't we doing what it was – what Mr. Sparrow said we should do. With the cannons and all?" Personally, he'd thought the pirates plan had more daring in it. Besides, shouldn't a pirate know a pirates mind better, and therefore how to counter it better?
Because it was Mr. Sparrow who said it." Norington bit out, annoyed with the men in his command. They didn't know poor strategy if it fired bullets at them. Sparrow's plan was trash, even aside from the fact it came from him and not the commanding officer.
Murtogg looked puzzled, completely missing the finer points. "You think he wasn't telling the truth?"
Up in the bow where no one could see, Norington rolled his eyes. Right. The day the pirate told the truth would be the day the four horsemen rode.
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Jack climbed up to stand beside Barbossa. When bargaining, never give your victim a chance of feeling superior, such as standing above you in height. "Just hear me out, mate. You order your men to row out to the Dauntless. After the last seabattle you fought, Sesshoumaru's still blind. Inuyasha's hardly better, and Kagome's looking after them. Sango's the only one able to fight. You've got no better time.
Send your men out, and they do what they do best. Robert 's your Uncle, Fannie 's your Aunt, there you are with two ships and no enemies. The makings of your very own fleet. 'Course you'll take the grandest as your flagship, and who's to argue? But what of the Pearl ? Name me Captain, I'll sail under your colors, I'll give you ten percent of me plunder and you get to introduce yourself as…Commodore Barbossa. Savvy?"
Jack felt pleased with himself for mixing the truth so well with the lies. Neither of the two brothers was laid up at all. He didn't think Miroku or Sango were either, and Kagome had certainly never been better. He recalled the scene he'd left in the cabin with a shudder. Miroku had, once again, made a pass at Sango. When she knocked him over the head, he'd somehow ended up sitting on Kagome…and had readily taken advantage of the situation. Inuyasha had been threatening to throw him in the ocean when Jack's presence had been 'requested' by Norington, and he'd gladly left before anything could occur.
Will kept watching as Jack bartered away, working things out between himself and Barbossa. There was no place for Will in those agreements. If Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru were laid up on board the dauntless, the pirates would have hardly any opposition except Kagome and Sango. He had never seen Miroku in a fight, but a monk didn't generally engage in combat, at least from his experience. It probably had something to do with all the praying in church instead of fencing. Sango and Kagome alone against a hoard of undead pirates wasn't terribly reassuring.
What…what if Elisabeth was captured or killed? Was she with them? He had to try and get out of here…when Barbossa was distracted. He couldn't escape now, when there was no hope of getting out of the cave alive. He had to wait for the right moment, and then go to warn the Dauntless that Jack had turned traitor and come here to make a deal.
Barbossa paused and looked at Will "I s'pose in exchange, you want me not to kill the whelp."
Jack held up his hands in protest "No, no, not at all. By all means, kill the whelp. Just not yet. Wait to lift the curse until the opportune moment. For instance…" Jack walked over, and Will watched closely as he picked up a handful of cursed coins. "…after you've killed the foreigners and the Navy…" he tossed the coins back, one by one "Every… last… one." Jack slipped the last coin up his sleeve, and only Will saw, and understood.
Jack was no traitor. He was here to rescue Will, and send the crew of the Pearl to the depths of the sea. Elisabeth would be safe after all…the rest of his companions might be better off than Jack had made out too. He smiled slightly, and looked at Jack, hoping the other man would know that he understood by his next words. "You've been planning this from the beginning. Ever since you learned my name." He worked hard to contain his smile of triumph as Jack smiled back in a lopsided way.
"Yeah." Jack was a slightly better actor than him…he even managed to imply 'isn't it obvious?' in his words. Barbossa chuckled at Will's 'betrayal', then got down to the serious part of their bargain. How to split the profits.
"I want fifty percent of your plunder."
"Fifteen." Jack countered, outraged. Even if he wasn't actually making a deal, that was cutting his own throat!
"Forty."
"Twenty-five. And I'll buy you the hat. A really big one…Commodore." Jack sighed. Somehow he'd known it would be twenty five. He momentarily forgot he wasn't making a real deal, and silently congratulated himself on ripping Barbossa off.
"We have an accord." Barbossa hated to let go of such a large amount of profit…but the hat cinched it. He would dearly love to be called commodore. As good as any British naval commodore…better, since he ran his fleet for himself and no one else. He might even get more ships, and have a huge fleet of pirate ships sailing from Tourtuga…he could rule the seas…
Jack grinned, and turned to the men gathered below the mound of treasure. "All hand's to the boats!" he stopped, and turned to Barbossa, cursing himself for that small slip. Barbossa would never let it go if he tried to give the orders. "Apologies. You give the orders."
Barbossa looked at him silently, and decided that since he was in such a good mood, he could let it go. Once. Jack thought they needed the boats? Unlikely. He had a far better way of attacking the Dauntless, something they would never consider. The British navy anchored offshore would die with a knife to their collective throats without knowing who stole their lives. "Gents…take a walk."
Pirates all over the cavern swarmed over the floor, gathering weapons and heading into the water. The dark waves closed over their heads without a sound.
Twigg held back Ragetti and Pintel as they made for the waters edge. "Not you two." He shoved a parasol and two dresses at them. "You're the distraction"
Pintell looked at the feminine clothing with dread.
Jack looked back at Barbossa, puzzled "Not to the boats?"
Barbossa smiled. "No. His smile crawled across his face further "They will walk to the Dauntless."
Jack paused. Then he realized what that meant. They would walk along the sea floor, and come up the anchor chains. No one would know until it was too late, not even Inuyasha or Sesshoumaru with their delicate senses. He carefully controlled his face. The boats with Norington's men would never carry out their plan, and might not know till it was over what had happened. His only hope was that someone, anyone, would look in the right spot and sound the alarm. Maybe.
Damn Barbossa. He'd been tricked.
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Norington watched in puzzlement as two women with parasols emerged from the cave mouth. What were they doing out here? Obviously, they had to hail the boat and bring the two ladies home safely.
He held out his arm "Hold your fire"
Ragetti watched the boats full of British soldiers from beneath the lacy fringe of the parasol Truth be told, this was better than fighting. He enjoyed tricking the men in red watching their boat glide by. A thought occurred to him. "This is just like what the Greeks done at Troy . 'Cept they was in a horse…instead of dresses. Wooden horse." Why couldn't they have had a horse instead of dresess?
Below the surface, pirates began to climb the anchor chain, inching up like ants on a plant.
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Governor Swann walked down the length of the deck, mulling things over. He really did regret having Elisabeth put in the captains room like that. But she had been so unreasonable…delusional. Who believed in magic, curses, and undead pirates except children being read a story? It wasn't even a terribly good story!
She'd been put in the room for her own good, though he was still mystified as to where the rooms former occupants were now. Probably trying to get to their friends on the Pearl. He snorted. Good riddance to bad rubbish. They'd get what was coming sooner rather than later, if everything went as planned. He didn't trust Jack, but the man wasn't able to betray them. Sooner or later, the pirates would come out of the caves and be killed or captured, and they would all be able to breath easier.
He arrived at the captains cabin, and looked at the guard posted. "A moment, please." The guard nodded and moved away from the door to give the governor privacy to speak. "Elizabeth? I just want you to know I, uh, I believe you made a very good decision today. Couldn't be more proud of you."
Hovering beside the window ledge, Sesshoumaru caught the man's words and had to wonder at his idiocy. Still, it was a good thing he'd heard. "We have to move. More people are coming, and they'll see the rope" Sango and Miroku nodded, and they inched over further, out of sight.
Oblivious to this, Swann kept talking to the empty room. "But, you know, even a good decision if made for the wrong reasons can be a wrong decision."
'These humans make no sense. A good decision is a good decision, and a bad one a bad one. It is results that matter and not always the method.' Sesshoumaru shrugged to himself, and double checked he was out of sight. It grated, having to hide from mere humans.
When Elisabeth's loss was discovered, or the rope, there would be a much larger search made. Even if he cut the sheets now, it was still obvious they had been there. The cloth ladder would float and show up against the darker ocean. Even the bed sheets ripped up on the floor were good indications of how she'd left. There was no point to cutting it free.
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"Lieutenant?" A sailor asked. What were they going to do about the two ladies stranded out here?
Ragetti smiled and waved "Yoo-hoo!"
Pintell rolled his eyes, and made a low sound of disgust. He couldn't believe Ragetti was actually enjoying himself…and not dying of shame the way he was. He felt a right fool, dressed up in this goddamn dress, with its hellish little buttons. He couldn't understand why women dressed like this…
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Governor Swann paused in his lecture. Usually by now Elisabeth would have made some sort of reply to him. 'Elizabeth ? Are you there? Elizabeth , are you even listening to me?" He opened the door, and his mouth opened as he caught sight of the makeshift rope. He knew immediately what had happened. "Oh, what have you done?" he whispered. Elisabeth was such a fool. She'd be killed out there…or worse.
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Sesshoumaru glanced out across the water, and frowned at the single boat. The people on it could only be one of two things; Pirates, or part of this 'British Navy'. Since he doubted the Navy dressed in anything other than the red uniform, it had to be part of an attack. Probably a ruse. No general sent two lone units into the middle of combat unless he had reason.
The attack would begin soon. They would need to get into position. Not much longer to wait.
"They're coming." Sesshoumaru glided forwards, and hoped over the rail, keeping silent within the shadows. Soon, that one pirate would be here, and he would have the opportunity to kill him unhampered by cave walls. Let Inuyasha charge into close confinement where he couldn't wield his sword to its full extent.
His brother always had been impulsive. He would stay and wait. Soon, that pirate would be here, and then he could kill him, movements unhindered by narrow cavern walls. It was easier to fight in a place of his choosing, and wait for the doomed pirate to appear. He would come. Jack's negotiating would make sure of that. Sesshoumaru smiled slightly, and checked to see if Toukijin was ready to be drawn quickly if needed. He still hadn't decided if he'd use his sword on these humans or not. Usually, he didn't bother with the sword for just humans. But this particular breed seemed to have trouble dying.
Sango and Miroku followed him, edging along the wooden frame of the boat till all three stood on deck, ready for whatever came.
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Pintel had had it. He reached forwards, and smashed the back of Pintells head. He smirked. That had felt good, after everything the other man had put him through…
Ragetti winced and rubbed his head. "Oooh!"
"Stop that! Already feel like a fool." He sat back, hoping Ragetti would have the sense to stow it.
"You look nice, though."
That did it. He had had it with this farce. To hell with orders. "I look nice!" He lunged at Ragetti, and they fought, dropping the parasol. Moonlight shone down, and turned their flesh to ash.
Norington gulped, and the crew of the Dauntless stared, finally awake to the danger that had slowly crept up on them.
Sesshoumaru lunged out from under the stairs, and started tearing through the ranks of undead. Sango and Miroku followed, fighting side by side. Soldiers stared, caught between a rock and a hard place.
The moment of indecision lasted only that. A moment.
Shouts rose, and both sides of the line closed for battle.
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There…one more chapter, since I decided social sucked. So I turned up the music and went to work on happier pursuits. Lol. I also did some cleaning of accounts, and some serious downloading (starts singing along to 'Don't Touch The Flame') So, anyways, I'm happy, here's another update……and social no longer sucks, since I'm no longer doing it. Woot. :P Thanks to everyone who reads…and reviews, aka feedback. You guys rock!
Me again: lol. Glad it was better and not worse than expected :P. I know I am by no means the best writer out there…far from it. (adores crossovers)
Shadow-Wolf-Jedi-Demon: oooo…trust me. If you had lunch with a few of my friends, you'd be wondering what there was to be scared of in that review :P. lol. And I'm happy you comment at all, so no need for apology. (still does a jig for every review…lol)
Lost-and-Lonely-Pheonix: lol. Yes…poor fluffy stuffed in a cupboard….
TrisakAminawn: No worse biological 'planning' than some of the species in this world :P…who came up with the Chihuahua or hairless cat! Lol. I saw a picture of something like that someone drew…Jaken accidentally dry-cleaned the fluffy….. hehe. (Still no problem with rants unless they're ten miles long…in which case they've evolved from rant to position paper) I know potc got pushed back…unintentionally, since I love them to pieces…something to work on a LOT when I rewrite this…eventually. When done. (shifty eyes) I did work on that this chapter quite a bit…invitation see if there's any improvement :P ………….oh…another note…poem thing. I know that it was fairly abstract, but most of those line breaks were to separate ideas within the poem. I see one break that could use seroius fixing, but…could you clarify that a bit? What specifically didn't work, so I can improve?
Naomi-Starcloud: lol. The way I'm updating, I sometimes wonder how many people will wait. Meh. Can't be helped…and it's not so much about reviews as about writing. And procrastinating on social. :P
Froggiesrcool: lol. Nice to put a name to 'trisaks little sister!' I mostly watch the anime, yes, but I've read parts of the manga too…I started reading it first, actually. :P and as for asking Kagome…we'll see. (has never really written much 'fluff/romance')
Bomhammer: Nice to know that there's one less person willing to stake me for the next ch! (can't understand it lol) And your right. I do this for me. Plus, to procrastinate on social like I am doing now :P
CometsChaoes; Oh…he doesn't think about Tensaiga much that I've noticed. It's not really his first thought to use the 'useless' sword. We'll see…and I think I explained the motives in this chapter for staying on the ship. Better maneuverability, and it's a fight of his choosing. Forcing your opponent to come to you. (sucks as a tactician :P)
Dog-Ear Fetish: oh dear…(doesn't want to be staked). Lol. I hope I'm doing a good job…I can never tell about my own writing till months later (when I look back and say. Omg. How could I post THAT!) Lol
Libraflyter: yes…it just isn't Jack without the rum! Lol. Thnx!
Thanks peoples! You're all awsome!
