The next morning on board the Empress, a former flag ship of the Chinese navy fleet out of Hong Kong that now made home port in Tortuga.
Without much in the way of choices. Elizabeth had taken along Redd to Port Royal, Jamaica.
Not that she had ever agreed to Elizabeth Swann's new life or indeed this trip
Redd had put into Elizabeth's rather large cabin on the already impressive vessel. She wandered around it as she spotted various relics seemingly connected with her former love.
A small collection of colorful sea shells...
A huge and very sharp sword...
A large shark's jaw on the back wall...
And finally a massive chest of gold and jewels from her various raids
Redd seemingly was still confused by the woman who seemingly at one point couldn't be a sea fairing criminal. Her mind was still shaken by the experience of being shipwrecked by a group of ghosts near Bermuda, then ending up rescued by a love she herself truly give up all those years ago. Now she felt like a bloody madwoman to even take up the offer of marrying Governor Beckett and finding out her best friend in the entire world was nothing more then a fucking pirate.
But she felt deep down a burning love for the girl
Seemingly she was out of the frying pan and into the fire at that part of her mind
On the dock of the Empress stood Gibson was peering through his spy glass as he spotted a ship in the morning sun
"CAPTAIN"
Elizabeth now dressed fully in an man's naval uniform and carrying around a full painted skull mask, run toward her second in command. "What is it?"
Gibson handed her the spy glass as he answered "They been following us since we neared Jamaica.."
Elizabeth groaned at that "Could they be a merchant vessel?"
Gibson nodded "No i think its a Black Guard ship"
Now she was worried "Get the crew to prepare for battle but do it quietly. I have a guest to check in the meantime.."
Gibson was now the one worried "Captain do you think this girl and the Black Guard are connected somehow?"
"Truly i haven't the faintest idea...as of yet"
Elizabeth come into your're own cabin as Redd turned handling the dinner knife. She had the look of anger and disappointed on her rather pretty face to Swann's eyes, she wanted to touch that face but it now seemed foolish to so. Damn these feelings she had whenever this girl neared her.
"At least your're not naked this time around" Redd intoned to her as she laughed abit toward her
"AHAHAHA Do you wish me be like that all the bloody time Rebecca?"
Redd seemed confused by that as she throw the knife on the floor "Damn it and hellfire, what happened to you girl? the woman i know back in Dublin that long summer ago WOULDN'T dare be a pirate!"
Elizabeth seemed silent at first as she went toward the huge treasure chest in the back, picking up a rather sharp golden Spanish sword. Her actions done she turned toward the Redhead
"People change Redd, when me and my father come to the Caribbean it was with the backing of the crown of England..." She paused as overhead both of them heard the running of the crew around the Chinese vessel
Prepare all guns
Then she what on "...But in the end that same crown CAN'T protect everyone not even my father and that is why am going to make all pay!"
Quickly having to strip the sword around thigh and putting her skull mask "Rebecca whatever happens in the next few hours, just lock this door.."
Redd just stood there as Elizabeth closed the cabin door
"ELIZABETH!"
Meanwhile on the Black Guard ship
"Captain keep on this course to shadow that junk, we will then ram them to shore " Ordered the Lieutenant of the black clothed and blackened wigged soldiers
He was smiling as another man come near him "I will personally see that the governor himself do the hanging of this bothersome Pirate King..."
Suddenly they saw the junk turning towards them and not away from them as excepted "What the hell, ready the gun ports!.
If he wants a fight will give him one "
Both ships near enough to each other as the masked Elizabeth give the order...
"FIRE!"
Direct cannons hit parts of the Black Guard ship as the captain ordered return fire. The Empress slide along the more blocker cruiser, cannons blasted each other as Redd felt the cabin rocked in turn to the violence.
"HIT'EM HARD LADS!" cried out the Pirate King as the cannons kept returning fire as the commander held tight to one side of the damaged ship
Anger filled the Black Guard Lieutenant as the two ships now near each other "PIRATE KING, YOUR'RE HEAD WILL BROUGHT BEFORE GOVERNOR BECKETT!"
Now silence filled the air as the masked Pirate King simply laughed "AHAHAHAHA come and get it!"
As they swing over to the ship with saber in hand as the commander clashed with the King. The rest of the mixed crew of the Empress filled with Chinese, former slaves and Native Americans swing over as well as the battle against the Black Guards begin.
Redd run up from the cabin and watched as the two clashed with there swords over on the other ship
The two were matched well in both skill with the blades as there fight continued from the bow to the deck of the ship, one never letting up from the other. The commander's blade slashed the shoulder of his opponent as the King slash near his leg.
"GIVE UP, DEAR SIR" order the Pirate King as the Lieutenant dropped his saber "You have no idea as how much you pissed off all of the forces of us.."
In response the Pirate King cut the tall hat of the Lieutenant in half "Your're just an army of cowards and thieves"
The crew of the Empress cheered in triumph as the battle as won
Several hours passed as the crew gathered the goods from the bowls of the Black Guard ship
As the King gathered the remaining soldiers and the Lieutenant into the boats with a weekend's worth of supplies
"I am not a CRUEL man dear sir since it is your're Governor who i seek vengeance upon, your're men will head straight to Nassau empty handed but alive"
The Lieutenant nodded in disagreement "Beckett will kill you for this"
The masked king laughed abit before answering "AHAHA let him try...tell him i will not be so merciful once i have my blade at his throat"
The crew watched as the rafts drafted outward in the morning sun and then cheered, yelling with insults at the soldiers. All the while the Lieutenant suddenly noticed a long red haired coming up from behind the masked pirate.
"Lady Rebecca?"
Turning Elizabeth underneath her mask seemed to be smiling towards her
"You could have killed that man.." Redd said in such surprise as Elizabeth answered her
"That was not my goal at all Rebecca, i told you before hand what my goal truly is now.."
"Killing Governor Beckett!? damn it Elizabeth vengeance isn't always the answer to all the problems in the world and surely not..."
"CAPTAIN.. i think you better have a look down in the hold!" Gibson interpreted as Elizabeth smiled toward her
"Excuse me, my lady...Chang take Rebecca back to the ship and help her change into what the ladies wear in Port Royal.."
The older looking bearded Chang answered back "Of course captain, back my dear"
Within the hold
Gibson and Elizabeth come upon a strange sight in it, the eerie light from the surrounding candles glowed around them.
Skeletons surrounded the hold as one seemed to just had crawled to nearby wall in the back "What the hell is this?" Elizabeth looked both shocked and sickened by the sights around her.
Gibson take a look one of them and seemed to noticed a couple of things, "These poor souls were on this vessel long before the Black Guards"
Elizabeth noticed the skeleton in the back as she get a candle noticing something as well
"Something seems to be written here" both of them now looked at what the poor soul had somehow even in his last moments had written in his own blood
The evil creatures from the island prowl our ship day and night
A black Armada of the Damned guards the secret to the treasure which these now poor eyes have seen
Treasure of Sir Drake
The great pirate to the Queen of England and who survived that island of which me and my men have come back with...
But beware these who follow me to Drake's clues for...
Dead men tell no tales
Elizabeth looked at the dusty old skeleton as his right hand was clutched tight, as she pulled it apart. She found a small gold coin which in the light give off the eerie figure drawn on it. A Skull with an tall headdress on top it.
"Drake's treasure!...so this is Beckett's game!" Elizabeth smiled for she finally know to trap the governor once and fore all
Port Royal, the wicked city and home to the new "governor" French corsair Captain Avery
The crew of the Empress wandered the noonday streets of the wildest town this side of the Caribbean. Redd take in the scent of the places around her as Elizabeth seeming know the place by heart in a open men's shirt with a triangle black hat, a long black coat covering her with tight green pants.
Redd had found dressing up as a boy to be thrilling as she prefer her long hair into a short bow and dressed in a fierce red coat uniform.
She heard some wild tales about this part of Jamaica and what the dealings of the rather infamous "governor" were, truly the fact that the English government allowed scum like Avery around was a wonder indeed to her. Basically at first a excuse to make then war with Spain in the New World alot harder, but even after peace was made there deal with him don't end.
Captain Avery had caused the overall terror the English needed to own there little war here but in truth no told Avery that.
Maybe it was facts like that also caused the ever mysterious "Black Guards" to be formed in the first place.
But to Redd till this morning these were just "stories" to frighten anyone from ever going to the New World, and the riches it would offer.
All around her were men punching each other, the smell of rum filled the air. Women freely kissed and drink with each other as well there own brawling. There were redcoats with Dutch soldiers with drunken smiles passed by Elizabeth's crew.
Guns were randomly firing in the air and roars of laughter were heard
Truly to Redd's mind, Port Royal lived up to being the wickedest city in all Jamaica
"Helloooooo there Captain" speak a beautiful very tall black haired woman twice Redd's height toward Elizabeth, as she placed a long passion filled kiss to the captain's lips.
The rest of the crew just smiled widely but Redd who coughed aloud as Elizabeth just enjoying it. As they broke there kiss with her just smiling as wide as the crew's "Pardon me! um...dear Diana but we can discuss my travels in PRIVATE for another um...time"
The very tall woman looked abit disappointed with the response but just smiled "I can wait to feel your're marvelous arms again Liz.." Then eyeing Redd winked as she begin to walk away "...But don't forget i can't wait for long"
Redd growled out her words toward the still smiling Elizabeth "Those EVERY woman on this island have an affection towards you!?"
Elizabeth couldn't deny it "Let's just say every woman likes me with one exception.." she said rather sharply as if restoring these long forgotten feelings ever mattered now to Redd like it did to Swann.
"Come now we can't keep our fair "governor" waiting much longer" commanded the captain as the crew went ever deeper into the town
A man was thrown through the remaining glass window of the local tavern, a Redcoat surprisingly enough
"Hello Captain Elizabeth" speak the solider as the crew walked "Avery is wanting in the usual spot and he welcomes all to the Faithful Bride"
"YO-HO A PIRATES'S LIFE FOR ME
WE PILLAGE, WE PLUNDER, WE RIFLE AND LOOT
DRINK UP ME' EARTIES, YO HO
WE KIDNAP AND RAVAGE AMD DON'T GIVE A HOOT
DRINK UP ME'EARTIES, YO HO
YO HO A PIRATE'S LIFE FOR ME
WE EXTORT AND PILFER, WE FILCH AND SACK
DRINK UP ME' EARTIES, YO HO
MARAUD AND EMBEZZLE AMD EVEN HIJACL
DRINK UP ME' EARTIES YO HO
YO HO A PIRATE'S LIFE FOR ME
WE KINDLE AND CHAR AND ENFLAME AND IGNITE
DRINK ME'EARTIES YO HO
WE BURN UP THE CITY, WE'RE REALLY A FRIGHT
DRINK ME' EARTIES YO HO
WE RASCALS AND SCOUNDRELS, WE'RE VILLAINS AND KNAVES
DRINK UP ME'EARTIES YO HO
WE'RE DEVILS AND BLACK SHEEP, WE'RE REALLY BAD EGGS
DRINK UP ME'EARTIES YO HO
YO HO,YO HO A PIRATE'S LIFE FOR ME
WE'RE BEGGERS AND BLIGHTERS AND NE'ER DO WELL CADS
DRINK UP ME' EARTIES YO HO
AYE BUT WE'RE LOVED BY OUR MOMMIES AND DADS
DRINK UP ME'EARTIES YO HO"
The entire tavern busted in cheers as Redd suddenly realized something "...That's OUR song!? god damn it Elizabeth"
"TO THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE COAST!" yelled out Elizabeth as the cheers grow louder
Suddenly she heard laughter behind her and turned to see a skinny tall man who a poured white wig, in a blue naval uniform. Holding in his hand was a wine bottle, "Well madame Swann am glad you finally made it.." speak the man in a thick French accent as Elizabeth smiled
"Captain Avery, its a wonder that Port Royal is still standing with you as...Governor!"
"Gentlemen after a voyage am sure, my women will...care of your're needs" Avery clapped his hands as a whole group of them come near Elizabeth's half tired looking crew. One of them with long black hair had get close to the disguised Redd smiling at her
Before Redd could do anything, the woman grabbed her arms to pull her into the back alley and out of Elizabeth's sight "Come my dear, we go up stairs to a more private table to discuss our business aye" Avery said as she silently followed.
"I heard of your're little raid this morning of a Black Guard ship, am not right?" Avery said as he poured two glasses of wine for his guest
Elizabeth just smirked in her usual way as she answered "I had a foolish solider try to duel me and..."
"...You killed him no?" Avery seemed to like to interpreted her as Elizabeth continued "No i let him live to tell his tale and his ship had within its cargo hold a strange sight. Age old skeletons with one poor sailor spelling out in his own blood a message dealing with a fantastic tale about the lost treasure of Captain Drake!..."
Avery coughed out nearly half of his favorite red French wine as he heard that name "CAPTAIN DRAKE!?, the Queen's Pirate?...god's breath Elizabeth are sure you don't just make up it all up!?"
Elizabeth pulled from her carrying bag a skeleton hand and nearly smashed Avery's fine china cup with it "You CALL this a fantasy?"
Captain Avery now seemed scared as he spoke up again to her
"There are stories madame, through out the Caribbean of Drake leaving behind various clues across the islands to his treasure..."
Elizabeth seemed interested "...And now Beckett knows of least one of them!"
Avery continued "Maybe but knowing the stories told of Drake, he was no fool and an dandy like Governor Beckett wouldn't even begin to look for them!...no i doubt it"
Then Elizabeth suddenly realized something else from the hold "How about "dead men tell no tales" then?"
Avery spilled his wine this time once she said that...
Redd and long haired woman kissed in the alleyway in the back of the tavern
She noticed her features more clearly in the soft candle light as she was a raving dark Jamaican woman. Along her beautiful long arms was tattoos of various sea creatures and as she touched these lips again she noticed her own hand...
It was now tattooed with the same design of the ship that nearly killed her and it was burning into her skin.
Redd backed away in fright as the Jamaican beauty just smiled "So my sweet, you get marked by the Triangle"
"Who marked me?" she questioned as the beauty come near her
"They call themselves the Armada of the Damned, they want you and will do all in there power to get you..." her voice was clear and sounded English to her ears as the woman moved around her.
"It was said that the fiend that leads them, Jolly Roger was a man of good taste once he was alive...ahaha it seems your're the lucky one!"
Redd don't understand any of this "I did nothing to this Jolly follow and all i did was run into his ship!"
The beauty smiled bitterly "That is enough to make you marked in his insane territory that is the Triangle, he likes fear much likes a shark likes to eat. Jolly Roger follows no nation's colors since his death at the hands of Captain Drake.
His evil is like the devil unleashed on the very seas he once loved, but even the devil has his limits"
Redd walked toward her still looking at her hand "How do you know any of this?"
The beauty now laughed "Because i am Anamaria, the voodoo priestess from Louisiana who has come to put an end to Jolly Roger.
And you my dear sweet Rebecca of Dublin are going to help me!..."
"Those are EVIL words you spoke if you know the horrifying legend of Jolly Roger"
Avery said still shaking in fear as Elizabeth smiled "Beckett and his band of black heart assassins believe it will enough!"
He now walked to the edge of the top sitting that overlooked the entire tavern as his face turned bitter "No government in the Caribbean has ever linked Beckett with the Black Guards!. To them they are just another group of pirates raving the area as well as the coast of Louisiana like sharks..."
Suddenly Elizabeth realized something "That maybe the next area to begin our search!"
Avery was now smiling but clearly not amused "And so what our deal then?"
"The deal still stands, my ship and crew get a fair share as the articles allow from your're takings and I get in the end the finest ship in the Jamaican fleet!"
Avery laughed "You seriously think you can handle the Wicked Wench?"
Elizabeth smiled back at him "My dear frenchman, a ship like that only brings to the Brotherhood of the Coast and like or not am apart of that"
The usually fearsome Avery looked only a little worried as he speak up "I don't bet on it but getting of hold of the Wench is another matter.."
Suddenly the Captain was in the shot in the shoulder as Elizabeth watched him fell over the railing...
To the back of the tavern hallway come out a tall stock man in black dress uniform, the Lieutenant from early this morning.
Smiling grimly into the shocked angered face of Elizabeth "I had hope to be wrong in thinking that a mare WOMAN could ever be that hateful devil the Pirate King!"
As both just circled around the table at each other as Elizabeth answered "The Pirate King is a symbol in times of darkness, and i am using him now to avenge my father on the likes of you and Governor Beckett represents!"
The Lieutenant simply laughed "AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA what Beckett represents is order finally brought to the Caribbean, he will burn your're island down in flames and he will let you rot as we the secret army take over everything around you...and piss crew!"
Now it was Elizabeth who was laughing "AHAHAHAHA I think Jolly Roger would take issue with that!, don't think of that did you sir?"
The Lieutenant leashed out with his longsword as he met Elizabeth short saber as the two fought overhead as the crowd run from the tavern
Each inch of his blade nearly cut Elizabeth in the arm as her own blade cut him
"Your're made me a fool in front of MY man..."
"I'll not one to make a fool of anyone as heartless as you!" Elizabeth darkly said
In the mean time Redd and Maria had get to the badly injured Captain Avery as Gibson run toward them "Sis...somehow you are the cause of this bloody mess right?"
Elizabeth couldn't keep well enough with the Lieutenant's, his longsword still strike her several times. She was no closer to victory then when the duel begin as her closest friends were around the wound "governor" which the heartless man would kill once done with her.
Redd watched as Elizabeth suddenly dropped her saber "I SURRENDER!" to the now smiling soldier
"Finally...victory!, you my dear will die on the gallows. And your're friends will tell us all they know about getting the treasure afterwar..."
Before he could speak anymore, the Lieutenant was shot in the back as Redd held Avery's pistol. "You talk too much sir" she said quite with anger. As she run toward the nearly wounded Elizabeth
"The governor's men will come soon, go Captain and i'll try to explain everything to them" Gibson said as his fixed himself on the bleeding shoulder of Avery. "We aren't leaving here till then, mate see on the Empress"
Elizabeth smiled grimly as Redd shouldered her and made there way out of the tavern, Redd seemed to have her mind elsewhere. As they passed the now darkened streets of the city. A fiend from the Bermuda Triangle wanted her and seemingly she had no idea how to stop him.
Maybe this "Jolly Roger" would stop his hunt for her but that was a small chance in hell
For her only chance lay with a woman who seemingly abandoned her love in Dublin along time ago, to go off and play Robin Hood in the Caribbean. A woman who burned her and now maybe only last chance...
...That was a foolish thought in itself and Rebecca don't want to think about it anymore
Meanwhile in a shadowy alley near the tavern, a shadowy man in a poured wig smiled as the two women passed
"Such poor form Pirate King, i had hoped i taught you better.."
Next Chapter: Elizabeth's Revenge