Chapter 10: Stalking the Dauntless

Joshamee Gibbs looked through the Arctic fog. He could not see anything; he knew from the ice floe that the Dauntless and Britannia were ahead of them, but he could not figure out where the Elizabeth was. Its track had branched off from the main group, and since disappeared. Because of that, he stayed on watch. If the ship had looped around behind them, then they would have trouble. However, if it were still ahead of them, he couldn't know where it was.

"Gibbs?"

"Aye, Mary?" Gibbs turned to the younger man.

"The rowers are tiring. If we can just raise sails, we'll be able to let them rest."

"Good point. But, if we raise sails, we're as easy to spot as a spot of ink on parchment."

"Hm. So what shall I tell them, Gibbs?"

"Erm…tell half of them to take a break, then take over for the others. Keep them on rotation for a while."

"Aye, sir." The man walked away.

Sighing, Gibbs returned his eyes to the sea ahead. For the longest time, there was nothing but the two paths of the English ships.

Then something appeared in the gloom. As they approached, it took the form of a ship. Gibbs saw that it was the Elizabeth. He opened his mouth to order men to the guns, but seeing something, he paused.

Or rather, lack of something.

He took his scope out, and examined the other ship's deck. Not a soul. A moment of thought was taken. Then, an idea occurred to Gibbs. It was crazy-Jack Sparrow style crazy, but it could work. A smile spread across the bearded man's face.


The Dauntless cruised through the ice, searching for something that its commander knew to not be there. Admiral Norrington knew that the Black Pearl was not ahead of them, but they still went on, because they had little other choice. If the Elizabeth were to try to catch up, they'd go on their last course-this one.

So they slid through the frigid waters, hoping that Captain Parker would find them. Norrington shook his head. In the world of a pirate, that man would have been thrown on land and left there years ago. He had no real sailing expertise, and no obvious officer qualities. The fool was probably promoted for money, not worth. So in this case, as were many others, it was the pirates on the intelligent side of debate. So much for the stereotype of idiots and murderers, Norrington thought wanly.

Then Gillette called to him. "Sir, look astern!" James turned. There, in plain sight, was the Elizabeth, falling into formation as they watched. James stopped. Perhaps there was some worth in Parker-or one of his subordinates-after all.


Gibbs was fidgeting on deck. He and several other men were not in their normal garb, but that of the Royal Navy. On the Elizabeth, they had direct visual contact with both the Dauntless and Britannia. The Black Pearl, meanwhile, floated behind them, under Marty's practiced control. He sized up the odds in his head.

If it were just the Pearl, they'd require not just luck but the grace of God to beat three Navy ships. However, with the Elizabeth, a cruiser only surpassed by the Dauntless, the game changed drastically. The Dauntless would still be difficult to apprehend, though.

The Britannia, now…it would not be able to put up much of a fight, particularly if boarded before they caught on that the other ship was in enemy hands. Then, with the odds reversed in the Pearl's favor, the Dauntless would have a difficult fight ahead.

The problem was, Norrington was no fool-like Parker evidently was. He would use every trick in the book, and then make up some new ones to fight the pirates. And without Jack, Will, Elizabeth and AnaMaria, the mental odds were starkly in Norrington's favor. And, as Gibbs grudgingly knew, firepower or not, brains counted for a lot on the sea. Plus, there were Jack's orders to not harm the Dauntless or Norrington.

So, if he were to just grab the Britannia and run, he'd make off like…well…(A/N: Damn. Wish I'd thought of something better) make off like a pirate.

"Mack, get a boarding party ready. Arm them to the teeth. We have another ship to take."


The fight for the Britannia was intense, but brief. The other ship's captain was, unlike Parker, very intelligent, and noticed almost instantly that they were pirates. Swords were quickly drawn, and a quick fight ensued, but ended abruptly when Gibbs ran the other captain through. He had enough time to see the blade sticking out of his chest, then gurgle in surprise and die. With 20-some guns now on them, swords at their throats, and their captain dead, the crew was not in a fighting mood. The rifles, pistols and swords were placed in the powder magazine, and the crew locked in the brig below.

Mack had taken temporary command of the ship, and followed Gibbs's instructions to roll up sails one by one, until they were all up and far behind the Dauntless. They watched the immense ship vanish into the snow, as they promptly turned 'round and set all sails for Iceland, following the Elizabeth and the Black Pearl. Gibbs sat back in the Pearl's main cabin, smiling at his image of Jack's reaction to being commander of a fleet.


Elizabeth struck an Inuit 'cross the head, knocking him out cold. Will's saberstaff had since broke down the middle, and he was now fighting with a sword in each hand. Johnny was going at a leisurely pace towards the door as Jack and AnaMaria were back to back with each other, fighting two fairly large bothers. Elizabeth finished with her Inuit and ran to help AnaMaria. Two on one was still not gonna take this guy down, though. Even combined, the two girls were just able to keep the big man at bay.

Then a sword came through him, and he fell to the ground, with Will behind him. Jack's ended up swinging wildly at Jack, who seemed to be running in terror. Gleefully, the man followed, unaware of what he was doing. Then Jack nodded to John, who promptly cut through another rope, dropping an immense net on the brute.

That was the last of them. Elizabeth stood and looked at the carnage. They'd managed to go through scores of men, and there was little floor left bare.

"I think it's time to go home," Will commented lightly.

"Yes. Let's," Jack agreed.

They left the large temple, hoping to never see it again, and began the trek back to the coast of Iceland.