A Pirate's Past
A Pirates of the Caribbean prequel by talking2myself
DISCLAIMER: You recognize it, odds are I don't own it.
Chapter. 3 Freedom
Jack Sparrow spent most of his young life hopping from one ship to another. It was frustrating not being able to go where he chose. So he had no choice but to constantly switch crews. Still he had successfully managed to evade his father for the remainder of his childhood. And there were unexpected rewards to be found. One such reward occurred when he accidentally climbed aboard the wrong ship. He soon found himself in a magical place filled with women and rum. It was a place called Singapore.
Jack found himself strolling into one of the taverns with a lovely lady on each arm. One of them pulled her close and whispered something softly into his ear. Jack grinned at her, "I don't know what you said, love, but I sure like the way that you said it!"
The girls giggled and clung tighter to him. One of them was so bold as to press a kiss to his cheek. "I quite like Singapore," Jack said with a golden smile, "Perhaps I'll stay here a little bit longer."
Suddenly, two figures stepped out of the shadows. Both of the girls looked frightened and immediately backed away from Jack. "Oh I see!" Jack scowled, "As soon as I mention commitment you run away? And they say men are the ones who always get cold feet.
Two men stomped towards Jack. They yelled something at the girls and the two hurried over to the strangers's sides. "Oh bugger!" Jack grumbled. One of the men stepped forwards and roared into Jack's face. Jack wiped a trail of spittle off his face. "Beg pardon, my good man?"
"He says that you're an impudent pig," Jack whirled around to see another man standing there. He watched this with an amused smile on his face. He had curly light brown hair and a strange sort of shifty gleam in his eye. "He also asks," the man continued dramatically, "How dare you?! What gall do you have to touch the woman he loves."
"Oh!" Jack cried awkwardly, "Can you tell him that I had no idea she was his wife."
"Err," the man cringed, "When he says "loves." Methinks he means it as a verb. He loves that woman." The girl winked at Jack before edging closer to the huge hulking man.
"Ah!" Jack said nervously, "I see. Well, could you maybe tell him that I didn't me to touch his er... woman."
The man grinned wickedly and then turned to the stranger. He spoke to the man in Mandarin, "He says, if you can't pleasure her, why not let a real man try?"
The man let out a roar of rage. He tossed his girl to one side and threw himself at Jack. Jack spun around to glare accusingly at his translator, "What did you say?!" Jack sidestepped quickly and drew his sword from his scabbard. The man came directly at him wielding a sharp axe. Jack threw his sword up as quickly as he could. He just managed to parry the blow. Jack kicked the man hard in the shin. The man let out a wail of pain. Jack smiled smugly at him. The man gritted his teeth and came at Jack again. Jack's smile fell. He dodged the blow and scrambled away from the man. "Bugger! Bugger! Bugger!" he cried. The man tackled Jack from behind and threw him to the ground. He straddled himself over Jack and raised his axe high over his head. Jack rolled out of the way. The axe swung down and stuck in the ground. While the man struggled to pull his axe free from the dirt. Jack scrambled to his feet. He brought his own sword hilt down the man's head. The man froze. His eyes rolled back before he fell to the ground. Jack let out a sigh of relief, "That was far too close for my liking."
Suddenly, he heard another voice shout. He whirled around to see the man's companion charging at him with two sharp blades in his hands. Jack let out a cry of surprise and braced himself for the worse. Then, all of sudden, the man froze. His eyes rolled backwards and he toppled to the ground. Standing behind him with a heavy looking plank of wood was Jack's translator. He smiled smugly at Jack. "No, I believe, that was too close."
"Thanks," Jack grumbled, "No! Not thanks! You're the one who got me into this bloody mess in the first place!"
"Aye, I did," the man shrugged shamelessly, "I find, that when a man is locked in battle with another man, completely gripped by the throes of mortal combat, his true colors come out for the world to see."
"Ah," Jack snapped, "So that was just a test?!"
"Aye," the man said.
"Well," Jack said indignantly, "Well, what is it you learned?"
"That you are clearly an insane man," the man said stepping over the unconscious man like he were a fallen tree log, "The likes of which I have never seen before."
"Go on," Jack muttered.
"You are also probably the bravest man I've ever met," the man continued thoughtfully, "Madness and brilliance. There's a very fine line between the two. I suspect you walk that line every day."
"Thank you," Jack said. He wasn't entirely sure if he had been complimented or insulted.
"You clearly haven't been here long," the man said.
"No, and I don't plan on staying!" Jack retorted, "I can find wenches in me own country. And I don't have to risk me neck to find 'em!"
"You're leaving?" the man asked, "Just plan on sailing away on your ship?"
"Wrong" Jack sighed, "As it were, I don't have a ship... currently."
"Currently?" the man asked raising an eyebrow, "A freeroaming swashbuckler like you is a common bilgerat hopping from ship to ship? I find that hard to believe."
"Believe it," Jack said, "And I ain't freeroaming. I'm currently at the mercy of whatever captain I choose. I won't truly be free till I own a ship of me own." He sighed happily, "A ship of me own. That's true freedom right there. BUT until which point I have a ship of my own perhaps I'll travel with you on your vessel."
The man let out a heavy sigh, "The sad truth is I don't own a ship either... yet. But that won't be for long."
"Oh won't it?" Jack asked.
The man gave Jack a wily smile, "I have a plan. It's all in here." He slung an arm around Jack, "Tell ya what. I like ya. You stick with me and you'll have a ship of your own before you know it."
Jack eyed the man suspiciously, "You don't strike me as a man of honest nature."
"No, I'm not," the man said, "But I do make concessions when the tide favors me."
"I see," Jack said, "Very well, done." The two men shook on it. "Keep your end of the bargain, and when I'm captain you'll be me first mate. Savvy?"
"I agree," the man said, "Now, what do we do with them?" He glanced over at the two girls. They scurried over to Jack again.
"Hmmph!" Jack scowled, "Oh no you don't! There are plenty of women in Singapore who would sell their soul to spend one night with Jack Sparrow. And I don't have to risk me life to be with them." The girls pouted at Jack. Then, the two of them leaned forwards. They both kissed him on a cheek. Jack froze for a moment, "Then again, it wouldn't be very gentlemanlike to leave these two lovely ladies in the streets. Alright," Jack said, "You take the one on the left, I get the one on the right." The girls giggled wildly. Jack and his newfound companion walked back into the tavern both with a girl on his arm. "By the way, old chap," Jack said, "What's your name?"
"Hector," the man said, "Hector Barbosa at yer service."
-888-
"Now, now, Miss Swann!" A stuffy old governess scolded her young charge, "Try not to get your feet wet. And if you dirty your petticoats I shall have no choice, but to tell your father."
Elizabeth Swann scowled up at the old woman. The lady had a tight grip on her hand as they walked down the streets with her family's butler behind them. Her long dark blonde ringlets flowed down her back decorated with ribbons and barrettes. Her big brown eyes darted across the streets eagerly looking for an opportunity to escape. Her governess was taking her on an outing to buy new ribbons to go with her new dress. Elizabeth couldn't think of a more boring activity for her to suffer through.
The two ladies walked into a busy crowd. "Why, Agatha!" an elderly lady cried, "How are you today?"
"Oh I'm quite well," her governess said with a smile, "That reminds me! I must return your apron! Thank you kindly for letting me borrow it. That young prissy maid borrowed mine and you wouldn't believe how she returned it!"
"I like Lucy!" Elizabeth snapped indignantly as she rushed to the defense of her maid. Her one friend.
"Hush now, child!" her governess ordered, "Children should be seen and not heard." She continued to chat with her lady friend. Elizabeth found her chance. She broke away from her governess's hand and tore down the streets. "No!" her governess wailed, "Elizabeth! Child! Come back here immediately!"
Elizabeth laughed triumphantly as she vanished into the thick crowd. "She'll never find me now!" she smiled. Finally, freedom! Elizabeth wandered aimlessly up and down the busy streets of London. She peered in shop windows that interested her. She found herself in one of the dusty old bookstores that dotted the streets. One book intrigued her more than anything else. She used all of her money for "ribbons" to buy it. After buying the book, she made her way down to the docks. She sat at its edge and read her book contentedly. Every now and again a ship would sail by. She would look up and sigh wistfully. She could only imagine what it would feel like to be on a ship. "Someday," she said to no one in particular, "I'm going to sail away on one of those grand ships!"
"I highly doubt that!" Elizabeth jumped up wildly. A figure gripped her wrist firmly. She looked up at the dark brown eyes of a young naval officer. A captain. He smiled at her. He had a very charming smile, "Ah Miss Swann," he said, "So I finally have the pleasure of meeting the governor's daughter. You nanny has been worried sick!"
Elizabeth pulled her hand away, "I don't need a nanny!" she retorted, "As you can see, good sir..."
"Captain," he said, "Captain Norrington."
"Fine," she snapped, "Captain Norrington, as you can see, I can take care of myself."
"Come along," the captain ordered, "Your father will be worried." Elizabeth pouted as she was forced to take his hand and follow him home like a little lost puppy. "What possessed you to run away anyway?" Captain Norrington asked.
"Well," Elizabeth said, "We'll be leaving soon for the new world, my father and I."
"And what does that have to do with anything?" Norrington asked.
"Well, perhaps I wanted to see the rest of the Old World before we left," Elizabeth said.
Norrington chuckled. She was a headstrong, willful child, but for some reason he found her feisty attitude amusing. He noticed the book that she had clutched in one hand. "And what is this?" he asked swiping it out of her grip.
"Hey!" she cried, "That's mine!"
"The Origins And A Brief History of Modern Pirates and Privateers," he read out loud, "That doesn't seem like an entirely suitable book for a young lady."
"It's quite interesting actually," Elizabeth said, "Pirates are quite fascinating."
"Indeed," Norrington muttered.
"There's one in particular," Elizabeth said, "Jack Sparrow. He's incredible! You won't believe some of the things he can do!" She smiled and added to herself, "Maybe I'll get to meet him someday."
"Hmmph!" Norrington grunted, "I'm sorry, Miss Swann. But the only time you see Mr. Sparrow will be when he's dangling at the end of a noose."
"Why?"
"Because I intend on seeing that him and all of his pirate companions end up hanging in the gallows," Norrington said.
"What, pray tell, is so terrible about pirates?" Elizabeth demanded.
"They're uncontrollable," Norrington said, "They sail wherever they choose, robbing and plundering innocent vessels."
"Wherever they want?" Elizabeth asked eagerly.
"Stop it!" Norrington ordered sternly, "It's not as romantic as you would like to think. And you get your mind off pirates and focus on more important issues. Like finding a proper husband."
Elizabeth pouted, "I'm only ten."
"You can never start too young," he smiled at her, "Something tells me your domestic skills need improving." Elizabeth's face scrunched up in disgust. Norrington smiled at her comical look. The girl was incredibly feisty, but her willful spirit intrigued him. He walked the child back to her governess. The woman was completely distraught. "Miss Swann!" she cried scurrying over to her side, "You had me so frightened!" She gave Norrington a warm smile, "Why thank you for keeping her safe, Captain. You're nothing short of a hero! I'm sure the governor would like to thank you himself in person. Would you like to come over for tea?"
Norrington smiled, "If only I could, but I have more pressing duties to tend to. I'm only glad that the child has been safely retrieved. Good day, Agatha." He gave Elizabeth a warm charming smile, "And a good day to you as well, Miss Elizabeth. I trust you'll make it home this time." He tipped his hat to both of them and walked back down the streets. Elizabeth's governess let out a sigh, "Oh my stars! What a fine man he is! If I were a few years younger..." she fidgeted with her gray curls. "Now then! Come along, child! When your father hears about this..."
"I'm not hurt!" Elizabeth protested.
"No, but you could have easily been swiped away!" her governess snapped, "If it weren't for the Captain's chivalry. Your quite fortunate that he found you."
"Hmmph!" Elizabeth grumbled.
"You should learn to be more grateful," her governess snapped, "A fine man like that. He'd make a fine husband."
"He's far too old for me!" Elizabeth piped.
"Bite your tongue, child!" her governess snapped, "Now then, we'd best make it home immediately. Your father must be worried sick."
Elizabeth dutifully followed her governess home. She could hear her scolding her the entire way, but Elizabeth was only half listening. She was staring at the docks as they walked back to the mansion. Norrington's efforts to curb her interests had failed. In fact, she was more intrigued by pirates than ever. Even as her governess dragged her up the steps of their home, Elizabeth's mind was focused on two things. Freedom and pirates.