Look at that! Another chapter has appeared. I hope you all enjoy it! We are getting into some of the scenes that I've had planned since I started this story, so it's been a long time coming. I can only hope I remember where I was going with all of this in the end.
Chapter 7
Each wave that passed beneath the Pearl was a gentle sway beneath her feet as Lena watched the ocean pass before her. While it was normally a calming view, her spot looking over the railing did little to ease her slowly building anxiety. The occasional word that carried over the wind from the men gathered around the chart helped little as well.
Even with a desperate need to come up with a plan to find supplies, they were still arguing. Lena wanted nothing to do with it. They were finally back in the real world, Jack was alive and safely at her side, they would be able to move on with any plans, and instead everyone decided to just try to shoot each other instead.
The whole group was insufferable. It couldn't be ignored though. She had a feeling that regardless of what Jack wanted, he would end up at the Brethren Court. He was severally outnumbered on the ship in that regard. But when he did, she would make sure to be by his side. Too many things had happened in the past that she could do nothing about because she hadn't been at his side. Granted, she wasn't sure what could have been changed even if she had been present, but it was worth a try.
She couldn't trust anyone else to have Jack's back. Everyone had their own goal they were moving towards and there was no guarantee she would enjoy that goal. After all, she had already lost Jack once when Elizabeth had the chance to do as she pleased. And Will was never on the top of her list of people to trust… It was strange really that a pirate would have the most of her trust. But it was true. Jack had done more for her recently than anyone else and was true to his word. Or as true as could be when he tended to leave out vital pieces of information at times.
Her thoughts were broken as she heard Jack make his way over to her, clearly not pleased with whatever plan was formed while she was over there.
"We'll be stopping soon for supplies and water," Jack said as he joined her at the railing, leaning over to look at the ocean as well. "And while I'm on shore, I need you to keep on eye on me ship."
Lena looked at him skeptically. "You don't want me to help?"
"Not when the welp'll be watching the Pearl. I trust her in your hands far more than his."
Lena half heartedly laughed despite it clearly not being a joke. "I'm flattered you trust me with her. Care to let me know what else you are planning aside from gathering supplies? Perhaps long term?"
Jack turned enough to face her, a smirk on his face. "I'll be sure to let you know when I know, love."
"Just… try not to spring too many surprises on me, please?" she asked as she looked up at him, though she knew that request would be nearly impossible.
"I'll try my best," Jack grinned before he leaned down for a kiss that lasted not nearly long enough. "Now it's time to get ready to go ashore. And I'll try to remember that. No surprises," he laughed as he spun around and walked off to gather the crew that would be coming along.
She knew it was an important job, at least in Jack's eyes, but Lena had to admit that she was not thrilled with waiting. Very few had been left on the ship. Will, Elizabeth, herself, and a handful of the crew from Singapore were all that were left aboard. Beyond being bored from simply waiting, Lena couldn't ignore the awkward tension that was surrounding the ship any time she came within sight of Will or Elizabeth, which made things quite difficult when no one was willing to go below ship. Clearly trust was lacking at the moment.
With her back pressed against the railing, Lena stared up at the blue sky, watching as birds flew overhead periodically. It was the only sound aside from hushed whispers and lazy footsteps as the remaining crew meandered across the deck. As she tilted her head back down and swept her eyes over the deck, she spotted Will still where he last was; nowhere close to anything that could help with stealing the ship or messing something up. And that left her with still nothing to do.
And so time ticked by slowly. Each minute that passed, Lena felt her mind wandering more and more as she wondered what Jack, Barbossa and the rest of the crew were doing. She hoped that they came back in one piece, rather than having tried to murder each other on the island. Certainly a possibility.
That's when she heard it, the startling splash of a ship far to close for comfort. Standing up in a rush, Lena stared out in alarm as she watched a pirate ship close in on them far too quickly. As she spun around towards the island, there was still no sign of the rowboats returning to the Pearl. They were on their own.
"Will! Lizzy!" she shouted as she pushed herself away from her resting spot and towards where they last were. It didn't take long for Elizabeth to notice what had alarmed her friend.
"We need to stall them!" Elizabeth shouted as she quickly looked around to come up with a plan.
"There's no way we can take an entire pirate crew with just us. And moving the ship impossible right now. There's no way we could get out of the way in time," Lena shot back as she looked back towards the approaching ship. "Will, what do you-" she cut herself off as she finally looked at Will. He was far too calm.
As if to deny her thoughts, he shook his head. "There's no point. They're going to board us either way. We just have to wait. If we try to fight, they'll kill us before the rest of the crew arrives."
"You want us to surrender?" Elizabeth shot back in disbelief, standing beside Lena as they both stared at him.
"You're out of your mind!" Lena cried as she looked back between him and the ship. It might as well have been suicide. But she had to admit, deep down, she didn't know what else they could actually do. Slowly, in defeat, she dropped her shoulders as she checked for her weapons just in case. They would have mere minutes before they would be surrounded if they were lucky. "Let's hope we make it out of this," she muttered as she watched the incoming ship. And that's when she noticed the flag. Sao Feng. She had little hope for a promising outcome.
They were severely outnumbered by Sao Feng's crew. Lena knew that the second she could see them. With men on all sides of her, she could do little to stop them as two of his crew members stepped beside her and grabbed her arms. There seemed to be little point in the action though, as if she had anywhere to go and anything to do that would make a difference.
And then came the demands from Sao Feng, expecting a captain to be present, and yet there was no one to take that title. Before she had a chance to say anything herself, Will had already drawn Sao Feng's attention and began talking to him. Too far away to hear what was being said, she could only hope for the best as she looked towards Elizabeth in hopes that she might have an idea of what he would say.
The conversation never started however as they were joined by the rest of the crew that had been on the island. One by one, they were pulled onto the Pearl and despite any fight they put up, they were quickly overtaken. Forced to the side, they were gathered off to the side as everything was drowned out by the cheering of Sao Feng's crew.
Finally, the last two missing appeared over the side and as Barbossa appeared from the side, he wasted no time before greeting their captor. "Sao Feng, you showing up here, 'tis truly a remarkable coincidence."
As he spoke, Jack used the distraction to sneak up and quickly ducked behind the other captain in a poor attempt to hide.
Clearly the attempt went noticed as Sao Feng turned his attention on him, forcing him to step out from behind Barbossa with his words. "Jack Sparrow, you paid me great insult once."
"That doesn't sound like me," Jack shot back as he straightened up just in time for Sao Feng to swing his fist, hitting Jack right in the nose.
In alarm, Lena stepped forward, slipping away from the distracted crew members, though it was short lived. Within just a few steps she was dragged back again, back to where she started.
Jack glanced her way as he pushed his nose back into position with a crack as he looked back at Sao Feng. "Shall we just call it square, then?"
Will cut in suddenly, stepping forward through the pirates as he addressed Sao Feng. "Release her," he gestured towards Elizabeth, "she's not part of the bargain."
"And what bargain be that?" Barbosa snapped as everything became clear.
Sao Feng ignored Barbossa as he turned towards his crew who were watching her, "You heard Captain Turner. Release her."
It all made sense then. How calm he had been despite the trouble they were in and what he was most likely saying earlier to Sao Feng. Lena was furious as she glared at Will. If only he hadn't been on the other side of the deck; she surely would have tried to hit him. She hardly wanted to believe that he would truly betray them, yet here it was in front of her. And clearly this had been a plan for quite a while.
"Captain Turner?" Jack questioned in disbelief.
"Aye, the perfidious rotter led a mutiny against us," Gibbs added, voicing what everyone else was thinking.
"I need the Pearl to free my father. That's the only reason I came on this voyage," Will explained, as if it would justify the betrayal he had just committed.
Lena couldn't believe that she hadn't seen this coming. Everyone had been so set on getting Jack that she didn't even question why. She had known the main reason for the group was to get him for the Brethren Court, and that was the only reason she needed. At that time, she could admit that she had given very little thought to why anyone was actually going along with the plan. She didn't need a reason back then. She just needed to know they were trying. And now she could see where that got her now.
Once Elizabeth was released, she quickly moved to Will's side as she showed how upset she was at the secret. "Why didn't you tell me you were planning this?"
"It was my burden to bear," Will said distantly.
Drawing attention back to himself, Jack started hollering dramatically, "He needs the Pearl! Captain Turner needs the Pearl! And you felt guilty. And you and your Brethren Court! Did no one come to save me just because they missed me?" As he paused, one by one a few of the crew members slowly raised their hand though it was clear that he received a few eyerolls as well. "I'm standing over there with them."
He only made it a few steps before Sao Feng halted his steps, throwing an arm over his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Jack, but there's an old friend who wants to see you first."
"I'm not certain I can survive any more visits from old friends," Jack admitted quietly, the dread clear in his voice.
"Here's your chance to find out," Sao Feng said as he dragged Jack towards the rails, creating a better picture of just who that old friend might be as a ship with white sails appeared closing in. "And don't worry, you won't be going alone," he added as he spun them both around.
As their eyes landed on Lena, whatever dread she had been feeling before multiplied as she realized what he meant. She could only think of one person that would have any interest in speaking with her specifically. As all the color drained from her face, she locked eyes with Jack, though they were both helpless.
