A/N: Well now, it has been a month since I last updated. And finally, I have finished this chapter over break. I feel bad for putting it off so long, but I'm almost done. I think there will be one or two more chapters after this one. At least it's long and there is a flashback built into it. Writing Fairy had better update soon too!
I awoke to screaming sounds and a sharp pain in my side. I heaved and saw my hands wet with blood. As I looked around, I saw that I was lying in Jack's cabin, but nobody was around. Lifting myself up, I steadied myself against the swaying wooden wall and felt my heart twist.
Slowly, I made my way through the room, trying to piece together scattered thoughts. The island, the chest, Jack, Davy Jones. They all played some key roll in the past events. There was a gunshot, yes, I remember. A gun in my hand, and it was pointed at… Jack.
Another scream interrupted my thoughts, "Hard to starboard!" Elizabeth's high voice rang out to the crew as I thrust open the door to see the Flaying Dutchman along side the Black Pearl.
"Brace up the foreyard!" Will equally ordered as the crew got ready for battle.
"Hard to starboard." Gibbs echoed the command as sailors rushed in all directions.
Davy Jones's heavy voice cut through the noise, "Send his beloved Pearl back to the depths!"
"Fire?!"
Instinctively, I fell to the ground as cannon balls erupted around me and my wound reopened from the impact.
"Son of a holy bitch!" I swore, "Jack! Elizabeth!"
I spotted Gibbs through the smoke and scurried up to him, "Is Jack all right?" I asked, disjointedly.
"What!" He yelled over the whizzing bullets and falling timbers, "Jack? Yes! Here!" He handed me a curved sword and swung around the mast to attend to the unguarded left side of the deck.
"She's on us! She's on us!"
"Let them taste the triple guns!" Jones roared.
I sighted Elizabeth by the wheel, "She's falling behind!" The woman observed with a hint of hope in her voice.
"Aye and we've got her!" Gibbs came up behind me.
"We're the faster?" Will asked.
"Even with the holes?" I inquired, still unsure.
"Against the wind, the Dutchman beats us. That's how she takes her prey. But with the wind…" Gibbs elaborated.
"We rob her advantage." Will finished.
"Ah!."
"We're not outa the clear yet." I warned, "Jones will just get his monster on us."
"Aye." The rest approved.
"Okay, so, I need nitro right now! Jack!" I shouted.
"Oy, Rummy, what is it?"
I pulled him off to the side, "You said you had nitro."
"Right, I'll get someone to bring that up."
"Good, oh, and I'm sorry about almost killing you and all." I apologized hurriedly.
"No hard feelings love."
I waited impatiently for them to bring up the explosives. Everything had almost come into place. I pulled out the harpoon and cut some of the extra line on the ship. I had to kill that beast! For Toby's sake, I was going to get my revenge even if it killed me. When the Kraken attacked, I would have a lethal harpoon, ready to throw into one of its saucer shaped eyes. I figured that would be the weakest spot, and closest to the brain.
A large wooden crate was hauled up the stairs and set heavily on the ground.
My heart raced in alarm, "Wait! Wait! Be careful, unless you want us all dead!"
I waved my hands around, "Back up! Back up!" I pried the old crate open with my knife, "Okay, Jack, nice going, how long have you had this stuff down there?"
He shrugged.
"Damn," I peered into the damp crate to look at a last long cylinder of nitro, "This isn't good. Do you know what happens to nitroglycerine in ninety plus degree weather?" I asked, "It sweats…nitroglycerine."
I looked up to the whole crew staring at me; I was the center of attention. Of course then idiot one and two scrambled onto the deck.
"Hold it! Them two! Get the hell out of here. Jack, I don't care where you put those two, just get them as far away from here as possible!" I ordered, "This is no time to screw around."
Pintel and Ragetti were about to protest when Will closed the grate on them, shutting them in. I took a deep breath and began to carefully lift the stick of nitro onto the deck, keeping in mind that any small shudder could cause my body to be blown into bite-sized pieces. There was complete silence around me. Nobody dared to udder a word, they all watched as I cautiously shifted the stick into the carved out harpoon. I took the line and securely wrapped it around the explosive.
"Is that it?" Elizabeth asked, uncertainty in her voice.
"Yeah." I replied, "Now I wait. Probably going to need to get a head shot. Only how do I get it to come to the surface?" I muttered to myself.
I wondered how I was going to accomplish this problem. How would one draw the Kraken's head from the sea? I had faced many problems in my life, but none quite like this. I could feel anger in me as my nerves tensed, this was so discouraging! Almost like when Beckett had seized my ship three years ago. My thoughts brought me back to that infuriating day.
I looked out at the rising sun of another mild winter's morning. The Jade Chalice glided smoothly through the dark waters. It was just me and the night watch standing on deck. We were returning from the Acoundi Island with another heavy shipment of rum. I expected to sell it to my customers at Port Royal, overpricing it too. Port Royal's many rich inhabitants could be expected to pay almost double what I charged at Tortuga for the same rum.
I smiled, congratulating myself on this. The popularity of my rum was soaring, mostly thanks to the advertising I had invested in. Toby and I had talked to some of the local printing presses and paid them to promote my beverage in them for a fee. It seemed to be working extremely well; I calculated sales increasing up to fifty percent this year.
We had almost reached this very routine route to Port Royal when a British Navel ship slid out from a rocky cove and aligned itself next to the Jade Chalice.
"Prepare to board!" I heard one of the redcoats yell.
"Scott!" I called the look out down from his post; the man jumped nimbly on the rope works of the sails and landed acrobatically in front of me.
"Captain! Should we take a hostile approach?!" He asked, reaching for his sword.
I rushed onto the top deck, scouting for any way of escape. Many sailors feared the navy, it was almost impossible to get around the corrupt British legal system unless you were one of the fat cats. Frustrated, I saw they had slyly cornered us.
"No, there's nowhere to run. They've caught us off guard, coming into port. They knew we wouldn't be expecting this!" I sighed, "Wake the crew and tell them to hide anything they don't want seized. Now step too!" I ordered just as a heavy wooden plank fell onto my deck and ropes conjoined the two ships.
Swiftly, I walked up to them as soldiers poured onto my deck. Before I could speak, I had at least a dozen muskets pointing at me. I waited for the captain to approach. He pushed through his men and stood in front of me. I was surprised to see he was a young, tall fellow, with a shrewd face and long black hair tied in a ribbon behind his ears.
"Greetings sir, what seems to be a big enough problem to where you have your whole fleet ready to kill me?" I asked in a sweet voice hidden with venom.
"Are you the captain?" The man asked a little taken aback.
"What? Surprised, because I'm a woman?"
"Umm, not at all." I could see he was lying.
"Frankly I'm surprised you're not a cabin boy." I replied with scorn.
Behind me I could tell the rest of my crew had been with strained and now soldiers were ransacking my cabin. No doubt pilfering my hard earned cash.
"Yes, well… my lady, I am Captain Winthrop, and we seem to suspect illegal trading of alcohol that is in direct violation with the embargo of 1768."
"And what is this new embargo that I have never heard about?" I asked.
"It's… it's simply a restriction on all merchant ships. They are not allowed to trade with any non British settlements or colonies, which we have recorded you trading with the Spanish colony of San Maria." The captain explained.
"Hmm, well technically San Maria was a British colony up until a year and a half ago, and I haven't been there since then." I answered him truthfully.
"We have records of you recently selling liquor there." The stickler countered.
"What are these records?"
"An eyewitness and documents from the Golden Ridge Tavern." Captain Winthrop enlightened me, "And therefore, you are under arrest by his Highness, the British Royal King in direct violation of the Embargo Act of 1768." He spoke in one breath, "Also, the punishment is the gallows and your sailors are liable to be drafted into the king's navy." He finished.
My voice rose with fury, "Oh my God, this is ridiculous! I demand a trial!" I burst out, "I want to see that eyewitness!"
"A trial is not necessary with solid evidence." Captain Winthrop informed me, "You will be taken to Port Royal prison and there you will await your execution date."
"You navy boys think your so high and mighty!" I accused them, "Just wait, I won't go to prison. You picked the wrong captain to mess with!" I threatened in anger. Captain Winthrop just turned around, ignoring my enraged ranting with an indifferent shoulder.
A couple of hours later, I found myself locked behind bars in a small, filth encrusted cell. The other occupants surrounding me had already taken the liberty of annoying the hell out of me with their perverted fantasies.
"Hey babe, why don't you come closer to the bars. Maybe help a fellow out. Down here can get pretty lonesome without company." A man with years of dirt layering his face drawled in a low baritone voice.
"Go screw yourself and shut the hell up." I replied, my anger rising.
I stood up and paced in the tiny cell, feeling my fists tense in resentment for all those around me, the government, and anyone else who could easily get beneath my skin at the moment.
Fiercely, I kicked the iron bars of my cell only to feel a volt of pain rush threw me. The sound vibrated around me and the man in the cell next to me hoarsely let out a laugh. I flopped back down onto the decomposing straw and felt the immensity rush over me. What was I going to do? My life would end because of some snooty rich king who walked all over his people.
I was cut short by the echoing footsteps of someone descended the stone steps of the prison. A short man in a curt red uniform approached. His pale skin and sallow wig stood out in the dim light.
I was sure he would be the one to issue me my time of death, and when the creature stopped at my cell, my stomach dropped unpleasantly.
"Captain Rummy, I assume." He spoke in a nasally tone.
"So when will I be killed?" I straightforwardly questioned with mock light heartedness.
He let out a quiet chuckle, "Yes, I was informed you were a peculiar breed. Yes." He spoke to himself with a half smile, "Let me introduce my self. I am Commander Cutler Beckett and I have an offer for you."
I stood up, taking interest now. I was at least five inches taller than this petite military officer. I could tell he lived a prolific life, and most likely only received such a high position from his thickly stuffed pockets.
"What does this offer consist of?" I furthered.
He cleared his throat, "As of now, your crew is on the Constrictor where they will stay, serving the Royal navy." He explained, "And you were set to be sentenced two days from now for your crime."
I pursed my lips, thinking about Toby and the rest of my hand picked crew living that dangerous life. Those that served had such a low survival rate. It was something like two years. Well, I suppose it made sense. The British were continually capturing colonies, fighting pirates, or conquering natives.
"Anyways, I have an alternative." Beckett went on in his lofty polite voice, "You can have your life and your crew's freedom back if you serve the East India Trading Company."
"The East India Trading Company?" I asked, "I've never heard of it."
"It has been newly formed, but basically it incorporates all British merchants under one system. They will gain protection from the navy and benefits for a small tariff of their monthly revenue."
"So you'll tax my profits." I asked, "In exchange for my freedom."
"Exactly," He reinforced, "All you need to do is sign here." He held up a thin parchment with fine printed paragraphs. Underneath, there was a line for my signature.
I leaned up against the bars. Squinting to read in the bad light, I knew this agreement would be much more complicated than this Cutler Beckett was making it out to be. There would be loopholes and double phrased sentences that would allow them to screw me over, but what choice did I have? I couldn't let Toby be practically a slave. What about his family and kids?
"How much would the percent be?" I posed.
"Oh, say 8.3" He answered.
"I do need to support eighteen men." I spoke through my teeth.
"Would you rather face the gallows?" Beckett raised his eyebrows.
"Alright, I'll sign." I took his quill and feeling like I was backed up into a corner, I wrote my name.
"Great, now Captain, you will be reporting to me. I will assign your routes and stops."
"What! I should get the liberty to choose my headings!" I cried in outrage.
"That's not how it works. The company has full authority to determine the paths of its employees." He replied haughtily, "Oh, and if I even get a whiff of any attempt to cheat the company out of profits," He cautioned, "then you'll find yourself right back in this comfy cell, awaiting the same sentence."
I was brought back from my memories by Will's loud voice, he was arguing with Jack by the wheel, "My father is on that ship. If we can outrun her, we can take her. We should turn and fight." Will bravely explained to him.
"Why fight when you can negotiate? All one needs… is the proper leverage." Jack held up his jar of dirt.
The ship beneath me suddenly lurched beneath my feet and I fell to the ground. The harpoon fell out of my hands and hit the ground. My eyes tightened close as I expected an eruption of fire and debris, but nothing happened.
I let out a shaky breath and picked it up, what had broken was Jack's jar of dirt, and now he was frantically searching the soil for something. I got up, cursing my ill heart and the injury in my side which was far from healed. If we weren't in such a disastrous state, I would be resting. All this running around would be the death of me.
"Where is it? Where is the thump thump?!" The Captain wasn't making any sense.
"We must've hit a reef!" Gibbs called out in bewilderment.
"No. It's not a reef! Get away from the rail!" Will yelled to the crew as I heard something large move beneath the surface of the ocean.
"What is it?" Elizabeth asked.
"The Kraken. It's happening again!" I yelled, running up to them with my harpoon. This time, I had to get its head out of the water. That was the only way my plan could work.
"All guns, defend the masts!" Gibbs ordered.
"It'll attack the starboard. I've seen it before. Break out the cannons and hold for my signal." Will commanded, taking his place as the rest of us hurried about. I vaguely wondered where Jack was in all of this.
A deep rumbling sound developed and with stern faces, we waited in ominous silence.
"Easy, boys!" Massive tentacles crept out of the water and suctioned up the side of the ship, feeling around like blind alien creatures.
"Will?" Elizabeth's voice called with uncertainty and fear.
"Steady! Steady." Will continued.
"Will?"
"Hold. Hold…" The arms were slinking on board now, and everyone drew closer to the center of the ship.
"I think we've held fire long enough." Pintel's voice shook.
"Will!" Elizabeth was close to fainting.
"Fire!" Will Turner roared over the blast of cannons and fire.
The cannons hit their mark as some of the Kraken's many arms were blown apart. Chunks were ripped off and as the tentacles retreated, some were still glowing with heat. Cheers bloomed as the crew realized they had warded off the monster.
"It'll be back. We have to get off the ship." Will warned.
Elizabeth approached with fret, "There's no boats."
"Right, Will, we can use some of the gunpowder to keep it off the deck." I suggested.
"Okay. Pull the grates! Get all the gunpowder onto the net in the cargo hold." The blacksmith regulated. He then handed Elizabeth a shot gun, "Whatever you do, don't miss." He trusted her.
Elizabeth then turned to me, "Rummy, go see where Jack is. I think he may have left."
I nodded, "You'll be okay on your own?" I asked.
"I can handle a gun." She replied with courage, "As soon as you're clear."
I pivoted and ran to the end of the ship to see the last long boat occupied with none other than the heroic Captain Jack Sparrow.
"Jack!" I yelled to the fleeing man, "Where are you going?!"
He stopped rowing and floated there looking at me, "So you're just going to leave! Let someone else protect the Black Pearl during its darkest hour. You coward!" I condemned him.
"You all should do the same!" Jack Sparrow called back, "If you know what's best for you."
"Are you not the pirate captain I always knew? Who got himself out of the stickiest situations?"
Jack didn't respond, the Kraken exploded out of the sea, arms flailing, it had begun. I ducked as one whipped above me and shattered a beam. Salt water sprayed onto the deck and I just managed to yell, "Remember you owe me! Back on the island, for saving your ass, Jack!"
That's all I could get out before a tentacle slammed in front of me and I leaped aside feeling the pain in my side.
"Pull away!" Will's strong voice yelled as he tied the gunpowder and rum together.
"Heave! Heave! Like you've been paid for it!" Gibbs bellowed over the destruction and the barrels were hoisted up. Will hung onto the side of the net holding the gunpowder and attempted to attract the Kraken attention. I also got ready, poised with my harpoon if I saw its head emerge.
"Euh! Come on! I'm over here! Come on!" Will waved his knife, slashing at tentacles. As he was hanging, his foot got caught in the net.
"Shoot Elizabeth! Shoot!" Will screamed as the Kraken's arms wrapped around the net.
I looked to her, but she hesitated, waiting for Will to fall free. Quickly, I climbed the rigging, trying to get to Will before the explosion. I held my breath and made a hurdle for the net. My skin burned as I grabbed the rope and got a hold. Will was above me, his foot caught.
"Give me your knife!" I yelled through the chaos.
Grasping the knife in one hand and the net in the other, I began to hack at the rope to cut Will's foot free. My knife sliced through the last one and Will dropped to the deck. Following him, I let go and felt my body dropping. There was a whoosh of hot air and a roaring ear blasting noise. Barely realizing I hit the ground, I covered my head and knew that the gunpowder had exploded.
Looking up, I saw Captain Jack Sparrow with the shot gun in his hands.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed it. I only hope that maybe I'll get some more reviews from different people during the break. Merry Holidays and good luck in the next year!
TeTc
Chinchillas are friends, not furs!!!