This POTC story is dedicated to Johnny Depp, the one and only Captain Jack Sparrow!
Revised and extended recovery-upload of my story "A Captain's Love: Black Pearl"
This is Part Three, mainly following the events of the second POTC-movie, "Dead Man's Chest", but, of course, also using the background and the OCs I created for my first POTC-Story.
When I reread my first story, lately, I concluded that some chapters are missing and that it has a lot of voids. So, I decided to revise it, to add the missing chapters, and to rewrite some of the already existing chapters. The original version(s) will remain published on my original account - YangHuiZhen - so, you'll get the chance to compare all versions...
I hope you'll enjoy this story and if you do so, feel free to tell me...
Disclaimer:
I do not own any rights to "Pirates of the Caribbean", its content or its characters (unfortunately), except for the OCs and the storylines I invented myself.
Prologue: 1715 – Flight of the Sparrow
The dinghy lay firmly moored and well hidden under thick undergrowth in the bushes, and he who did not know where to find it would not discover it even in bright daylight, all the more so as normally no one set foot in the small, nondescript bay in this part of the island.
Life on Shipwreck Island didn't take place in the hinterland or in idyllic little coves - there was neither time nor leisure for that if one was part of the Brotherhood, and those who came to the island to visit the mighty fortress of Shipwreck Cove had other things in mind than to enjoy archaic landscapes, wild plants, or the rugged beauty of the mountains and cliffs of which there were countless.
Those who habitually visited both the island and the fortress came to do business, to join the Brotherhood, or to indulge for a few days or weeks in the pleasures of life, which were card and dice games, binge drinking at the taverns, wild brawls and the regular visits to one of the countless brothels that were to be found everywhere in the well-fortified but run-down city.
Those who came to do business usually traded whatever they had plundered at sea and in the ports around the Caribbean and Spanish Main - from gold, silver, pearls and jewels, through powder and ammunition over to slaves, wenches and cattle.
Those who came to join the Brotherhood hoped to meet the demands of the fortress pirates, and had to agree to submit to the infamous pirate code at all times and under all circumstances, once written down by the legendary captains Morgan and Bartholomew.
Were you willing to bow to the strict rules, you were at the same time obliged to face the penalties, should you break any of the rules - and the penalties were severe according to the transgressions one could be guilty of:
They ranged from flogging, the loss of a hand after theft or the retention of loot, over having ones tongue cut out after being caught lying up to torture and death if one showed oneself to be incessantly stubborn and unreasonable.
And yet most captains found it the worst punishment if they were forced to strike their flag, to cut their ship's main mast, and to make it part of the fortress - a sign that they would never sail aboard their own vessel again.
Like these, there were many reasons why nobody on Shipwreck Island cared about the island's hidden scenic beauty, and also the two figures who sneaked to the hidden dinghy that night, for once had no view of the striking shorelines and starry skies, stretching above them as far as the eye could see and beyond.
It was a clear new moon night, and they were too anxious not to deviate from the narrow path, on which they scurried down to the little bay, to deal with other things that surrounded them.
Both were wrapped in wide black cloaks, hoods pulled down over their faces, and almost invisible in the dark, which offered them protection on their nocturnal excursion. They didn't speak, but the small gestures they used to communicate without words would have told even an untrained observer that they knew and trusted each other.
As soon as they reached the boat, both of them dropped their hoods and rushed to untie it and use their combined strength to push it down the narrow strip of shore into the water.
One of the two was a young man in his early thirties. His face looked tired and his eyes showed concern as he eyed his companion, a boy of about fifteen, before saying in a low voice: "You shouldn't have done that, Jack! You know your father and you know Finch! They'll know right away that it was you who helped me out of that cell!"
"Who cares," the boy contradicted: "Those two don't deserve any better! If I hadn't got you out of there, tomorrow morning you would be facing a penalty for something you didn't commit! Finch doesn't like you because he knows you see through him and what he's doing. He's just looking for a reason to frame you! So don't expect that I should stand idly by while they flog you, or worse!"
The older of the two pulled the boy into his arms and hugged him tightly: "I can never make it up to you, little one, and I really hate to leave you here. When Finch gets his hands on you, you won't have another happy minute." He got down on one knee in front of the boy and added: "Think it over again. You can still come with me."
"I can't! My ship is still anchored in the bay."
The other shook his head at this answer: "You want to risk your life? Because of that nutshell?"
"This nutshell is my only chance to escape the fortress at least sometimes. You don't have to understand that, mate! The main thing is that you are safe in the morning! That's enough for me!" The boy broke away from the hug and pointed to the dinghy: "Mast and sail are inside. I was able to gather food, water and rum for a few days, so, you should at least get as far as Port Royal or Tortuga with it. Also, I stole your compass from your chamber before they posted a guard outside."
"Thank you Jack! I took care of the rest, pistols and stuff, so, don't worry! And now," he gently stroked the boy's cheek, "it's time to say goodbye. I don't know if I'll ever see you again but please take care and see that you also get out of here in good time."
"Promised," the lad replied with a forced grin.
"I wish you were my son, little one, but that's the way it is, we can't change it. So, again: be careful when you return to the fortress! And now go! Do not turn around and no more talking back!"
By evening the next day, the fortress of Shipwreck Cove was still in shambles.
The prisoner whom they had wanted to judge in the morning had gotten freed from his cell, and had been swallowed up by the face of the earth ever since. The search for the man who should have stood trial before the tribunal for wrongfully withholding loot had been in vain, and neither in the fortress nor in town was there anyone who could tell of his whereabouts.
In the midst of this mess, was young Jack Sparrow right on his way to the pier to which his ship was moored, as he passed the ajar door to his father's office.
The boy with the deep brown eyes and handsome face was the son of the notorious captain and lord of the stronghold, Edward Teague, and he stopped abruptly when he heard voices from inside the room, who seemed to be in lively discussion: One was his father's voice the other belonged to his closest confidant, shadow, and informant - Seamus Finch!
Reason enough for Jack to delay the visit aboard his ship, and to listen for a while to what was so important to discuss between the two men.
Of course, the prisoner's escape was at stake, and Finch was about to brief his father on the results of the search - and above, that every corner of the fortress, the town and the bay had been searched, without finding a trace of the wanted man, and without being able to locate a single soul who could have added anything useful to the quest.
Finch!
Jack had no words for how much he despised this man and the way he managed to discredit anyone whose attitude he disliked before long.
It was Finch who had accused his friend of hiding and stealing loot, and it was Finch who had persuaded his father that the man ought to be made a merciless example of, in order to put an end to the habit at last.
The man they had wanted to sit in judgment on had long been a thorn in slimy Finch's side as he kept getting in his way and cooking up more than one of his schemes. All the more Jack enjoyed the thought that he had succeeded in freeing his friend from the clutches of this miscreant - and that no one in the whole fortress seemed to suspect him.
At least that's what he thought...
And so he was about to set off again, also because he didn't want to be found eavesdropping outside the door of his father's office when he heard Finch say: "Captain, you know full well that there is only one human being on the whole island and around the fortress of Shipwreck Cove, who would be brave enough, foolhardy enough, and crazy enough to sneak into the dungeons at night, to free a man he considers his friend."
"Do you hear yourself talking, Finch," Teague finally replied: "You don't actually believe yourself what you just said, do you? With all understanding, and pirate or not, my son is still just a child, who gets into one or the other adventure from time to time!"
Teague didn't sound like he was willing to believe a word Finch was trying to tell him but he was far from having reached the end of the plot he had spun together: "It is entirely up to you what you wish to believe and what not, Captain, but you know best how many times Jack has managed to get himself and others into trouble. No matter, whether intentionally or unintentionally! Considering his age, he definitely had one or two adventures too many already. And that's not just my opinion, sir! And since you are the Keeper of the Code, you should also consider that the boy doesn't give a damn about the rules and the duties the code requires of everyone here in the fortress! I think you are well aware of the fact that the only reason why the boy is still alive is, that he is your son! Never forget that!"
It was impossible for Jack to see his father's face but his long silence and the absence of a loud roar that should have put Finch in his place alarmed him - for both meant that he trusted Finch and, at worst, agreed. And so an icy chill began to creep up his back, when he heard his father answer after what felt like half an eternity: "Very well! If his friend is still nowhere to be found, bring the boy here instead. I agree, that tomorrow morning he should appear before the tribunal instead of his friend!"
Jack felt like paralysed as those words echoed inside him and he was unable to take a single step until he heard the answer Finch gave his father: "Aye, Captain! I'll make sure the boy won't get an opportunity to take flight as well! If I can track him down, the first thing I'll do is clip his wings so he can't fly away!"
And there was a vicious smile within his words.
Jack caught himself quickly, and before Finch could leave his father's office, he started running. He didn't care whom he crossed paths with on his way to the pier, he knew only one thing: He had to get his ship ready at lightning speed, and set sail within the hour, if he wanted to evade the tribunal - and what Finch had planned for him.
His lungs were burning when he finally got to the pier and he took heart when he saw his flag flying from the mainmast - but to his utter surprise all remained silent as he jumped aboard, and as his youthful voice echoed across the deck: "Weigh anchor, set full canvas, and set course for the open ocean! We have no time to lose!"
Nothing happened, and the faces he looked into as the men aboard surrounded him weren't the faces of his own crew - they were Finch's men!
"Just like I thought it would be," came the man's voice moments later as he and Edward Teague walked up the gangplank to the deck.
They didn't wait until the next day with interrogating him, they questioned him without further delay right aboard his ship.
Finch himself took it upon himself to ask him the questions and Finch also took it upon himself to slap him for every question he didn't answer, and for every answer that didn't correspond to what he wanted to hear.
It had been a lot of slapping and tears of anger, pain and helplessness were streaming down his cheeks while he got shaken by sobbing until his father finally released him: "Stop it! That will do! As you see you won't get anything out of him that way, Mister Finch! I think I still know him a little better than you do, and there's a far better way to punish him than to chastise him in front of everyone!"
And then his father said what would change his life forever: "Strike his flag and burn it! Reef the sails! Cut the rigging and anchor and fell the masts! I do not want this ship to ever leave the bay again!"
That same night he ran away, threw himself into the bay and got fished out of the sea by the crew of a foreign ship:
It had been the "Silver Stream" under the command of Captain Patrick Swallow...
