Chapter 30: Tribulation Force
Jack Sparrow knew he was in trouble. There was little that could be done against the Devil. Hey, a guy who can match wits with God is not one to be trifled with...God...
Hmm. Perhaps it's not too late to make amends...So Jack Sparrow, for the first time in his life, knelt in his cabin, and prayed.
God is a strange concept. It is the idea of one, all-powerful being controlling everything. It is a concept borne of man, for there is no other creature that could have such little faith in its own kind to need to turn to a higher power. But then again, there is that little thing about when a person prays for the first time, and miraculously, his wishes come true.
And God is always up for a match with Satan.
So some commanders are given new orders. Some orders concerning a new suspected pirate fleet in the Caribbean. They are ordered to investigate. The ships that form this Naval fleet include; the HMS Harbinger, the ship that Governor Swann once crewed upon; the HMS Ranger and Sojourn, ships from the deep Atlantic, patrolling for African pirates; the HMS Mercury, returning to England from transport duty; the HMS Mars, a warship that just wrapped up a scouting mission of the French coast for possible invasion—even in times of peace, enmity remains between the two countries; the HMS Pursuer, now commanded by the Commodore Nathaniel Gillette; and two new ships—the HMS Jupiter and the HMS Leviathan—two ships of immense size. They are wider than the Dauntless is long, and longer than any shipbuilder could possibly imagine. This coalition of 8 ships slowly approach a rendezvous point off the Caribbean island called Tortuga.
Jack Sparrow's fleet is given orders; they are to prepare for a battle fiercer, grander, and with far more at stake than the one they engaged in barely three days prior. The captains would have, under normal circumstances, told Jack Sparrow exactly which bodily orifice he could use as a depository for these orders but for one thing; in his eyes is something they have never seen; fear. So they move. Even Amy and Mera Sparrow are ordered to assist in readying the fleet. They help amazingly well, though they confront Admiral Sparrow about his broken promises.
"So..." Mera crossed her arms. "Where's this 'master swordsman' of yours?"
"And what happened to catering to our every whim?"
"Ah, that was only for your first night, luvs. From then on, you're a member of the crew like everyone else." At their look, he said, "Well, I can't afford to make exceptions. Once it gets out that a pirate is going soft, people might disobey him. And then it's nothing but work, work, work all day long."
"You're mocking us," Mera accused.
"Of course I am. It's my right to as Admiral of the fleet. And your master swordsman is right behind you." Both turned to be greeted by William Turner.
"Would you girls care to accompany me? There are some new concepts I have that I think might intrigue you."
Meanwhile, John Depp and James Norrington were given a far more difficult assignment; recruit Bootstrap Bill Turner for commanding the Implacable.
"No. Whatever you want, whatever Sparrow wants, I don't care," Bill said. John noted that this was awfully reminiscent of his conversation with Sparrow and company right before the arctic escapades. He'd kept this up for the past half-hour. "I'm tired of crewing on ships."
"That's not what we're here to offer, Bootstrap." Bill turned.
"Yer that Commodore, Norrington, aren't you?"
"Was. Now a mere captain in the service of Admiral Jack Sparrow," James bowed. "The same offer we're making you; captain of the Implacable." At Turner's look, "Yes; the ship from Port Royale."
"Hmm. Command my own ship, eh?" A moment passed, and then he said, "I'm in."
