DVD Malfunctions
Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean, or any of the characters. All rights go to Disney. And though this idea is cliché I like it anyway.
Chapter Two: Pirates Ye Be Warned.
Against the cloudless crystal blue sky and the deep clear waters of the harbor a mast comes into view. Standing atop the yardarm in all his swashbuckling splendor is Jack Sparrow. The wind clipped through his jacket and cotton shirt, sending a bit of relief on his tan skin from the hot Caribbean sun. His braided, beaded, matted hair was flying wildly behind him, and thanks to the kohl plastered around the chocolate eyes, he could see everything going on in port without the glare of the burning orb in the sky. His attention is drawn to something below, with narrowed eyes he jumps off the yardarm and rigging to - SPLASH into the foot of water filling the haul of the Jolly Mon a small fishing dory with a single sail. Jack sloshes through floating net buoys and fish heads picks up a tankard and starts bailing.
The boat slips by an arch made of sea stone; hung the remains of four pirates in the fifth unoccupied noose bears a sign:
PIRATES: YE BE WARNED
The boat slips past the gallows. Jack gazes at the pirates and the empty noose, taking off his hat he pays a moment of respect.
~*~
Hayley walked around in a full circle of the market and sighed. If she weren't such a tomboy she would ask for directions, but seriously it was a harbor and ships were huge, hard could it be?
"God damn it, where the hell is the docks?" Just then she turned and saw several large masts with cotton white sails being pulled up to the yardarms. Looking between the merchant stands she could catch glimpses of crew getting ready for departure or tying up the boat for docking. Hayley gave a small laugh.
"Ha, ha, ha, I'm such an idiot." And she started towards the docks, hands in her pockets. On her way over she saw a man in a red and gold frock coat, looking high wand mighty. He was then bumped into by a small kid in tattered rags who meekly apologized and was lost to the crowd. Hayley smirked at the man brought his hand up to the right of his chest. Spotting a stand who sold satchels Haley quickly swiped out, took a coin out of her pocket and put in grabbing a couple flat round stones from the ground as quickly as she could and put them in as well. Tying it off she walked over to the man who was about to be bombarded by another kid. Quick as lighting once the kid had gotten the bag and the man turned towards him, Hayley grabbed the kid's arm and held up the fake satchel.
"I believe this is yours?" the man grabbed the bag and slipped it back into his front pocket throwing a glare at the child.
"This is why I hate children, he spat at the boys feet and with his nose high in the air he walked away. The kid turned to Hayley beaming.
"Thank ye miss!"
"No problem, where's your partner in crime?" the first kid that Hayley saw walked over, her hat tumbling off her head in the rush, long hair spilling over. The girl grabbed the cap and pushed all the hair underneath. She too stared at Hayley with wide eyes.
"Next time," said Hayley quietly, "Make sure you have a satchel of each colour. Richies think their smart when they camouflage their money and jackets. Take a coin, and flat round rock, so when they shake the bag it scrapes against the risk making it sound as though it's all money. Got it?" They nodded enthusiastically and Hayley took two coins from the bag saying "you owe me at least this much," they skipped away and she made her way to the docks again. Pushing through a whole bunch of sailors in her new and improved outfit, some of the sailors gave her a funny look. She glared at them, putting a hand on the pommel of her pistol.
"What are you looking at?" she growled, but they averted their attention and went on about their duties, Hayley smiled. "That's what a thought." Then she spotted a small one sail boat coming into the harbor slipping past the arch of sea stone.
"Ha! Found him!" she waited at the dock behind the H.M.S Interceptor
~*~
The harbor dominated by the H.M.S. Dauntless, bustles with activity, well all except for Hayley waiting to make her grand appearance. A stevedore spots a tankard floating in the water and looks up just in time to see Jack climbing on the top of the mask. Ash the ship sinks just beside the dock he walked smoothly on onto it. The Jolly Mon has sunk. Hayley walks closer to the scene. Jack strolls by the harbormaster and his assistant, a young boy who totes the harbormaster's huge ledger. Hayley knew what came next so she looked over to the small stand at the end of that particular dock and swiped the small bag of gold that was there.
"Hold up there you!" Hayley hears the harbormaster says to Jack who suavely pivots on his heal to face the Harbormaster.
"It's a shilling to tie up your boat to the docks!" they both throw a glance towards the sunken vassal.
"And I shall need to know your name." Hayley walked up to them then, while Jack looked thoughtful the small boy opened the ledger and held it up. Hayley dropped three shillings into the book.
"What do you say to three shillings." She paused. "And we forget the name." Jack threw in a quick smile, the Harbormaster considered it. Then shut the ledger looking at the both of them.
"Welcome to Port Royal Mr. and Mrs. Smith" Jack gave a tiny bow and Hayley; close at his heals, walked behind him as they turned the corner and out of scene.
~*~
Janine headed back to the Callaway's, if she were going to look the part she was going to have to have a carriage, a sensible woman of those days did not walk anywhere. She got to the home and knocked three times and to her surprise, Eleanor opened the door in a crème gown, their butler moving past them to arrange the carriage. Janine curtsied.
"I'm sorry to disturb you again-"
"I'm guessing that you need to attend the ceremony as well?"
"Yes, how did you-?"
"Years of wisdom darling, it can do wonders. I will announce you as my granddaughter. Farley!" she called over Janine shoulder, "Miss Delrina will be riding with us, if you could prepare another seat.
"Yes, Madam." Was the immediate reply.
Janine curtsied again. "Thank you. You've done so much for me already and-"
This time it was Jonathan who spoke waving his hand in a dismissive manner. "Rubbish, what are clothes between relative, eh?" he winked at her and gave a wheezy laugh. "Come, come now." Said he, "we'll be late if we wait any longer. And Callaways are never late!"
With that they all filed into the carriage and rode off to Fort Charles. The Fort was huge, but then it was on top of a hill, however the cement towered over them with foreboding welcome. Outside two very large wooden doors stood two solders dressed smartly in red and white. They marched back and forth in front of the entrance with their firearm rested on their shoulder. Lady and Sir Callaway got out of the carriage and would have been followed by Janine if her dress hadn't caught on something in the carriage, Lady Eleanor looked at her.
You go." Janine said trying to find the snag. "I'll be there shortly." Lady and Sir Callaway nodded and talked to the guards out-front, one looked inside the carriage chuckled a bit and nodded. Lady and Sir Callaway walked past the wooden doors and through the arch and into the courtyard that was flooded with the important and wealthy, not to mention the two platoons that stood at attention. They had just gotten there when all the officers came out with the snare drums and in a line between the naval officers. Janine and finally pulled her dress free without tearing it and walked out of the carriage through the wooden doors and turned right, trying to scope out the Callaways-actually more like Elizabeth- in a non-noticeable way. Wincing after taking a couple wrong turns she noticed and arch and someone in a blue and gold encrusted coat. The Commodore. Perfect.
She walked past him saying, "Commodore," as he did a double take and turned left and went through yet another arch and pushed her way through the crowd beside Elizabeth. Janine decided to watch for a bit before she bothered her.
With choreographed precision, Swann removes the sword and scabbard from its case and presents it to Norrington, in full dress. Norrington accepts the sword, executes a flourishing salute, first to Swann, then to the officers, and then to the audience, assembled beneath the glaring sun. The audience applauds. Among the crowd is Elizabeth, who looks a bit ill. She winces, discreetly adjusts the corset through the material of the dress, trying to hide her discomfort. Janine winces for she knows her fate.
"Pssst, Elizabeth." Janine hissed out of the corner of her mouth. Elizabeth throws a quick and almost dirty glance at the girl.
"I know you don't know me but you must listen." Janine whispered keeping her face strait as possible, maybe it was the dress but there was something scraping against her leg. Ignoring it, Janine took the silver laced fan out of her pocket and started to fan herself whispering to Elizabeth.
"Will's medallion, I need it." Elizabeth's heart skipped a beat, no one knew about her and day she took the medallion from will. Only her, so how did this complete stranger know it all.
"Who are you?" Elizabeth whispered back, her corset taking in more space as air was let out.
"My name is Janine DelRoma, I'm not from this time, now don't talk otherwise you'll faint soon than you should." Elizabeth let these words sink in, albeit skeptically.
"I know you hardly believe in ghost stories, but what about fiction?" Janine gave a small chuckle. "Unlike you, I am not wearing a corset so just keep breathing and let me talk." Elizabeth gave a slow nod.
"Listen, that piece of jewelry you're hiding isn't just jewelry it's cursed Aztec gold. Any time you hold that you're in danger. It calls them Elizabeth." Elizabeth rolled her eyes. This was complete poppycock.
"Oh really, and who exactly does it call?"
"The pirates-" The scratching had just gone in a zigzag patter up her thigh, dresses don't make zigzag patterns on their wearers. Disregarding her conversation…not to mention the ceremony she screamed.
"GET IT OUT! Get it out, get it out, get it out!" Janine honestly didn't care how stupid she looked; she didn't want whatever was climbing up her leg to get higher than her calf. The entire assembly-so to speak-turned to her, she was shaking and twisting, subtle laugher erupted from the crowed, Norrington looked embarrassed and slightly 'why me, why now?' Janine didn't care if it wasn't ladylike; she hiked up her dress to her hips. There sitting quite contently was a long tiger centipede. With her hands momentarily busy a gloved one plucked it off and threw it on the floor. Looking at the man briefly she stepped on it a good 4 times. Once she was satisfied that its guts were all over the pavement. She smiled, letting the dress drop to her ankles again brushing off her hands. She looked down at the centipede.
"WHAT!" she brought her hands back like a gangster to emphasize her point. "That's right" she looked around to the man and could help but let blush flash against her cheeks. But boldly she stuck out her hand.
"Janine DelRoma, thank you very much, lieutenant-"
"Marks"
"Lieutenant Marks." There was a pause.
"My hand please miss," he said.
Janine blinked and let go as if his hand was on fire, "right." There was a small 'heh-hem' made by the governor and they saw everyone looking at her. She gave a slight bow like Jack swung her arm out to the Commodore.
"Please continue." she said, embarrassed and shrunk back beside Elizabeth.
~*~
Sam walked around the main village part of Port Royal for a while.
"Where was he going again?" she looked up onto the hill and saw a man coming down from it. "Oh yeah from Miss. Snoot's house. Doesn't he know she's going to betray him in At World's End?" Sam looked around, and on the corner of a tavern and a tailor, drunk and defiantly knocked out was what only could be taken as a pirate. And there sitting on his waist was a beat up old sword. With light steps she too the sword from his belt and ran just in case he woke up. She examined the blade. It was chewed up in so many places, seeing that dear William was getting closer she spotted a nearby rock. Sam raised the sword above her head and with all her strength brought it down, there was a SHING! TONG! SNAP! The half part of the blade that snapped off zoomed past Sam, grazing her cheek and stuck outwards into the door behind her. A trickle of blood ran down her cheek. She ran up to will and smiled.
"Hi my name is Samantha Silverthorne. Sam's fine. Um, I need you to fix this!" she stuck out the broken sword in front of her. Will looked shocked and took the blade from her.
"How did you break it?"
"I um…practice a lot…with rocks and rock people." Way to go Sam rock people? She slapped herself mentally, Will looked down at her and smiled.
"Rock people?"
"Yes! Rock people! The people you make outta rocks that you spar with. They do exist you know!" Sam sad in an FYI tone. Will laughed putting his hands up in defense.
"All right, all right. They exist."
"Thank you."
"Now about this sword, It will be five pounds to repair it."
"Sure I've got loads, best job possible." Sam you're broke you liar; you hardly have a dollar back home! Shut up! No-one asked you.
"So you know how to fight then?" Will asked as he led her to his shop. "His" shop.
"Yeah, I mostly learn it from the books I read though, like Forgotten Realms."
"I've never heard of those."
"Oh, they don't come out for another 200year or so."
"What?"
"I said uh, oh look at that bird!" Sam pointed to the sky, Will put his hand over his brow to shield his eyes from the sun.
"I don't see anything"
"you must've missed it." Sam covered. He might be handsome but sometimes the good-looking ones are so stupid.
~*~
Hayley looked at the Interceptor with Jack.
"So we're going to steal that one, by stealing that one?" she asked pointing from the Dauntless to the Interceptor.
"I prefer the nautical term of permanently borrowing"
"That's pirate term." Jack said nothing and motioned her to follow him.
Two marines on sentry duty, Murtogg and Mullroy take advantage of what little shade there is on the dock. But when Jack saunters up with Hayley at his side, they are immediately on alert.
"This dock is off limits to civilians."
"I'm terribly sorry I didn't know." Jack said, Hayley took his next line. "If we see one, we shall inform you immediately." They started to walk away but Murtogg and Mullroy stepped in front. Hayley heard music drift down from the fort and turned to the two officers.
"Apparently there's some sort of high-toned and fancy affair up at the fort, eh? Now how could it be that two upstanding gentlemen such as yourselves did not mar rate an invitation?" the two looked at each other and Murtogg spoke again.
"Someone has to make sure that this dock stays off limits to civilians."
"This must be some important boat." Hayley said. Mullroy looked at her slightly glaring.
"Ship."
"Ship, right. Boats fit on ships init that it?" Hayley weakly defended. Murtogg rolled his eyes.
"Captain Norrington's made it his flag ship. He'll use it to hunt down the last dregs of the Spanish Lake." Mullroy turned to him.
"Commodore."
"Right. Commodore Norrington."
"Aren't we in the Caribbean Sea?" Hayley asked, they ignored her. Jack took his lead.
"That's a fine goal to be sure. But it seems to me-" Jack walked a couple paces to the left towards the edge of the dock and Murtogg and Mullroy shuffled over. "-That a ship like that-" Jack indicates to the Dauntless. "-Makes this one here a bit superfluous really."
"Oh, the Dauntless is the power in these waters true enough-but there's no ship that can match the Interceptor for speed." Jack put on a thoughtful look.
"I've heard of one, it's supposed to be very fast nigh uncatchable…the Black Pearl" Hayley chorused the name with him, he looked at her.
"Sorry. Continue." Hayley said shrinking back a little. Mullroy scoffed at the name.
"There's no real ship as can match the Interceptor" Mutrogg looked at him almost affronted.
"The Black Pearl is a real ship." He argued.
"No, no it's not"
"Yes it is I've seen it!"
"You've seen it?"
"Yes."
Jack and Hayley put on an annoyed look and rolled their eyes.
"You haven't seen it."
"Yes, I have"
"You've seen a ship with black sails that's crewed by the damned and captained by a man so evil that hell itself spat him back up."
"…No."
"No." Mullroy said turning back to them. Jack and Hayley gave a small smile. But Murtogg persisted. "But I have seen a ship with black sails."
"Oh, and no ship that's not crewed by the damned and captained by a man so evil that hell itself spat him back out could possibly have black sails and therefore couldn't possibly be any ship other than the Black Pearl. Is that what you're saying?"
Murtogg nodded his head yes. "No."
"Like I said there's no real ship as can math the Interceptor…" But Jack isn't there, Hayley was about to retort to their logic when they spotted jack aboard the interceptor casually looking at the mechanism.
"Hey you!" Jack looks over in exaggeratedly innocent surprise. "Get away from there. You don't have permission to be aboard there, mate!"
"I'm sorry it's just, it's such a pretty boat. Ship." Hayley walked up beside Murtogg and Mullroy, who with their gilettes pushed her up beside Jack.
"Hey watch where you stick those things!"
"What's your name?" Mullroy asked, Hayley answerd.
"Mr. and Mrs. Smith…or smithy if ya like."
"What's your purpose in Port Royal, Mr. Smith?"
"Yeah and no lies!" Murtogg added. Jack swung around the wheel and hung onto a piece of rigging.
"Alright then I confess. It is my intention to commandeer one of these ships, pick up a crew in Tortuga, raid pillage plunder and otherwise pilfer my weaselly black guts out." There was a moment of silence.
"I said no lies."
"I think he was telling the truth."
"If he were telling the truth he would've told us."
Hayley spoke up. "Unless, of course, he knew you wouldn't believe the truth even if he told it to you."
Murtogg and Mullroy consider that point. Hayley shakes her head.
~*~
Janine and Elizabeth stand in the archway listening to the music and having a small talk.
"So you had a-"
"-Tiger centipede, yes. Nasty little buggers." Elizabeth smiled. For some reason it was really easy to take what this girl had to say into consideration. This girl, Elizabeth pondered silently as she watched her talk animatedly with her hands, had been able to persuade her where stories could not. She had done most of the talking, insisted really, because of Elizabeth's corset. She had told Elizabeth of how she had got there - here. How past her death there were going to be thousands of moving pictures layered out one after the other to be called a film. Which would go on something called a tape and then on a thing called a DVD. It was odd. This girl had the power of persuasion and didn't even know it.
"You should've seen the look on the men's and my father's face when you hiked up you skirt so."
"Well where I come from girls wear skirts dresses and pants."
"Women wear pants?" Elizabeth asked surprised. Just then the new Commodore strode up to them.
"Sorry to interrupt," he said nodding to Janine who did the same in return. "But I believe you owe me." Janine's moth went agape but quickly closed it saying nothing. Norrington turned to Elizabeth.
"May I have a moment?" He extends his arm. She takes it. As she passes Janine she hears a whisper of: "Not to close to the edge, love." She pushes the thought away as Norrington takes her away from the party, toward the parapet. Janine watched from a distance leaning very unladylike against the wall.
"So boring, gonna die" Janine rolled her eyes.
"Falling asleep?" asked a voice right next to her ear, she jumped and whirled around to face stunning bright blue eyes. "Jerk." She said taking out the silver fan again, "is this your idea of a come on? Scare the woman half to death and while she's unconcious take her back to your home?" Rude, yes, but he deserved it. She had expected him to give her a scathing remark but was disappointed when he smiled.
"No. But then again after saving you from that ferocious centipede I do believe you owe me one," Janine flicked off his hat, the short black hair becoming windswept she smiled.
"That's what I think of my dept to you," she smiled, so did he. But then he said almost seriously.
"Pick it up" They stared at eachother for a long while and Janine gave in, fetching in from the ground. He brushed it off and placed t back on his head. He then extended his arm out to her pointing towards the bit of shade near the parapet.
"Shall we?"
"If you're that hungry for my company." She said teasingly and walked with him, all the while keeping her eyes on Elizabeth. Speaking of her…
A rather too long of a silence passes between them as Norrington works up his courage to ask her the question consuming his heart.
"You look lovely, Elizabeth" Elizabeth frowns, unable to focus. Norrington mistakes her expression as disapproval. Norrington looks away for a moment. Elizabeth is fanning herself profusely.
"I apologize if I seem forward but I must speak my mind. This promotion confirms that I have accomplished the goals I set for myself in my career. But it also casts into sharp relief that which I have not achieved. The thing all men most require: a marriage to a fine woman." He turned to her; " You have become a fine woman, Elizabeth."
Janine's ears perked up and she looked over to see him say 'you have become a fine woman Elizabeth.' She looked back at the Lieutenant.
"Sorry, Daniel I must stop my friend from falling off Fort Charles. So If you'll excuse me" Janine ran form the conversation, with Daniel smirking behind her.
"I can't breathe" Elizabeth says holding her stomach, Janine was three feet away. Norrington turned away smiling.
"Yes I'm a bit nervous myself," Elizabeth loses her balance, stumbles away. She reached a hand out to the parapet to steady herself, but it slid off – Janine got there in time and grabbed her hand.
"Ha! Gotcha!" but the weight of Elizabeth and her dress greatly outweighed Janine and Norrington looked over just in time to see Janine get pulled down with her, hearing the girl's one word as she fell. "Shit."
And over they go. Norrington does a double take and by that time both Janine and Elizabeth had hit to the water. Daniel rushes over from his little corner.
"Elizabeth!" the Commodore roared.
~*~
"And then they made me their chief." SPALSH! Jack, Hayley and the two officers look over to see the first woman plummet into the water followed by another. SPLASH!
"God damn it Janine!" Hayley said taking off her boots and belts and ammo.
~*~
Commodore Norrington leaps to the top of the parapet prepared to dive – Lieutenant Daniel Marks catches his arm.
Daniel looks at Norrington "The rocks, sir! It's a miracle they missed them!" Norrington shakes off his arm, looks down – realizes Daniel is right. He jumps down and runs through the crowd.
"To the docks!" he shouts to his platoon, who quickly drop what they're doing, grab their gun from the utility room and jog after him.
~*~
Jack, Murtogg and Mullroy are still in shock from the sight. Jack looks at them. Hayley is already on the rail of the Interceptor. She jumps in and starts towards her friend, thank god for Bronze Star.
"Aren't you going to save her?" Jack asks.
Mullroy looks scared "I can't swim." Jack looks at Murtogg. Murtogg shakes his head neither does he.
"Prides of the King's Navy, you are."
Norrington and the others pick their way down the cliffs. They are too far away to get to Elizabeth in time. Jack scowls. He has no choice and it pisses him off.
"Fine." He strips off his coat, hands his pistol, sword belt and hat to Murtogg. "Do not loose these." And then he dives into the water.
~*~
Janine surfaces and looks down into the ocean, damn her and her big dress. Janine takes a breath and dives down. Elizabeth drifts down, unconscious. The current turns her, and the medallion slips loose from her bodice. The medallion turns slowly, until the skull is faced towards the sky. A shaft of filtered sunlight hits it and it glints – Janine reaches out and grabs it, hoping that the pulse wouldn't come through, but she was wrong. Just as she was about to rip it off Elizabeth's neck, strong arms wrapped around her waist and pull her up towards the surface.
"I hate you." Janine said looking at Hayley, who was pushing hard to get her to shore. After a getting to the docks she gave Janine to Murtogg and Mullroy and says, huffing between words, "Fine! Next time I WON"T save your life."
"I was fine! I just got my hands on the medallion when you-"she stops talking as the air suddenly gets cold. Murtogg and Mullroy, side by side, are unsettled, even a bit scared. They glance around nervously. They see a pulse go through the waves, and even through the air.
Mullroy looked over. "You felt that, too?" Murtogg nods his head quickly, emphatically. A gust of wind comes up. Murtogg and Mullroy grab their hats and look up at the British flag, which has begun to blow in the opposite direction. Mullroy shakes his head the same way, shrugging. Murtogg and Mullroy move closer together.
The British flag atop the mast of the Dauntless, hanging limply, snaps to life. From the village comes the sound of dogs barking, a weather vane twists as the wind picks up, blowing in from the sea. At the Fort, the musicians' music sheets scatter across the parade ground, Norrington rushes down, and intent on the climb. Beyond him, past the rocky point, far out to sea, a fog gathers.
Thank you all for reading. I'm having fun making this a little bit better of a writing style. However I have a drama exam to study for and I shall be working on it until Monday where's I'm FREE for the whole week (aha Sam!)
Until the next chapter. Use your imagination.
Ciao ciao
Janine