First and foremost, I'm sorry for the delay. I was visiting a friend out of state for the past five days, and actually went through the trouble of sneaking to the computer at three in the morning so I could quickly bang out a chapter and get it up for all of you to read. I do hope you appreciate the mission-impossible-esque measures taken to appease you, the readers. Second of all, it is not in this chapter, but in the next I am bound to do something that will cause at least a few of you to hate my slimy guts. Apologies and no hard feelings to those of you who will inevitably feel that way, it is the only way I see fit to continue the story. That being said, enjoy this chapter and the next will probably be up within the next 24 hours. Thanks for the comments-- Cheers!
...TanzFieber
Kelsea was the first to react, disentangling herself from the pirate captain and scrambling to her feet. The Pearl shook again, sending the nine-year-old to the floor.
"Cap'n Sparrow—!" she squeaked questioningly from her position towards the end of the bed when he had yet to move. However, he dispelled those fears by rocketing upright.
"Bloody hell!" Jack yelled, wiping at his rum-splashed face. "What in th'name o'—?" He was cut off as Gibbs burst through the door.
"Cap'n, we're under attack!" he shouted as the pirate captain tried to regain his feet in all of the confusion.
"I know that, Gibbs!" Another shudder ran through the timbers and this time the cracking of wood could be heard. "I'm not bloody stupid! WHO is attacking us!"
"Don' know, she ain't flyin' any colors! What're yer orders, Cap'n?"
From out on the deck, screams and crashes filled the air as the Black Pearl was raked with gun and cannon fire. Perhaps it was the sounds of his beloved ship taking damage, for suddenly Jack Sparrow straightened up and became every inch the fearsome pirate captain that Kelsea had heard about. Seemingly ignoring his injuries, he purposefully strode out onto the deck and began shouting orders.
"Get yer wits about ye an' jump to, ye gutless rabble! Run out the long guns! Man the cannons an' prepare t'engage! I WANT MOVEMENT!"
And it was movement he got— the previously scattered crew became instantly unified at their captain's call, every man rushing to his station with grim purpose. Also spurred on by Sparrow's words, Kelsea regained her feet and sprinted for the rigging. Just as she grabbed the ratlines however, rough hands grabbed her around the waist and hauled her back.
"Git back t'the crew's quarters!" shouted Mr. Gibbs to his young charge, knocking her flat as another cannonball whistled overhead and connected with the Pearl's far railing.
"Mr. Gibbs, I've got t'get to me post!" the girl struggled in the first mate's grip but he held her fast. Pulling her closer to his face, the man reiterated his previous command.
"This ain't no place fer a lass, Kelsea— back t'the cabin an' that's an order!"
Close enough to see the hard look in the elder man's normally friendly eyes, the dark-haired girl swallowed hard and nodded shakily. He loosened his hold on her and with one more sharp glance, left her to herself while he climbed to the forecastle.
Meanwhile, Captain Jack Sparrow stood at the helm taking in the direness of the situation. He swept his eyes over the nameless crewmen of the attacking ship, which by this time was close enough for him to see their murderous glares. Weapons bristled everywhere, blades glinting in the bright sunlight. Turning to Gibbs, who was by now at his side, Jack spoke in a lower tone.
"Have a distinctly hostile look to 'em, don' they?"
"Aye, don' s'pose they're here for a spot o' tea, Cap'n…"
"I thought not." Jack visibly winced as his beloved Pearl took another direct hit and he scowled at the opposite vessel. "STOP BLOWIN' HOLES IN MY SHIP!" he shouted angrily at no one in particular, waving his good arm around in agitation.
"Wouldn' worry 'bout it s'much, Sparrow… T'will only be your ship fer a few moments longer!"
"Captain— Captain Sparrow!" Jack shouted automatically before locating the owner of that mocking voice. His kohl-lined eyes widened in surprise before immediately narrowing again as they fell upon the speaker. "Tweak—? Yer s'posed t'be dead!"
The familiar scoundrel in question only grinned, revealing a set of very yellow teeth. "That would be Captain Tweak now, as fortune would have it, an' I see that ye remember me. Captured by Norrington, thanks t'you, Jack, jus' outside that blasted cave on th'Ile de Muerta! Captured, aye, but escaped and found meself the Sea Serpent an' a right villainous crew o' miscreants…" he spread his arms wide, indicating the unsavory men to either side who guffawed appreciatively. "Allus hoped I'd run into th'likes o' you again, Sparrow… So I could send you an' that barnacle bucket t'the locker where ye belong!"
Jack glared and ground his teeth as his hand strayed to the sword at his side. "You slimy git! Yer not fit t'scrub th'decks o' me Pearl, ye stupid mangy cad!"
Stung by the insult, the grin immediately disappeared from Tweak's face. "Ye'll pay fer that remark, Captain Jack Sparrow…" He spat before turning to his men. "Prepare t'board an' slaughter 'em like dogs!"
Gibbs put a hand on his captain's shoulder as the pair watched the other crew wave pistols and ready boathooks. "Think maybe ye made 'em mad, Cap'n."
Jack smiled grimly, gold teeth flashing. "Perhaps t'was something I said." He turned from the railing and looked down at his men who gazed back nervously, awaiting commands. "Cheer up, gents," he called calmly. "M'sure they can't smell as bad as they look."
And like magic, at this casual wisecrack the tense mood suddenly lifted and the crew of the Black Pearlstood taller— the captain had never let them down before.
"Oh, an' mates?" Jack Sparrow turned back to face the Serpent with a devilish grin. "Draw yer weapons."
"ATTAAAACK! SEND 'EM ALL T'DAVY JONES!" The cry from the Sea Serpent went up and her crew roared, clambering across planks towards the waiting Pearl.
"GIVE 'EM HELL, BUCKOES! CHAAAARGE!" countered Gibbs, and both he and the captain drew their own swords as the strangled shouts of their men filled the air in response.
The entire ocean seemed to hold its breath for a single moment before a mighty crash heralded the meeting of the adversaries at the railings of the Black Pearl. The air was rent with the sounds of blades clashing and pirates shouting and death veritably boiled across the oaken decks as members of each crew fell transfixed by all manner of gruesome weapons.
Up on the fo'csle, Gibbs was locked in a cutlass duel with a one-eyed pirate and the injured Jack found himself having to fight for his life against Tweak. With a grunt the first mate of the Pearl dispatched his opponent and dropped to one knee, breathing heavily.
"Cap'n, on yer left!" he yelped suddenly, and Jack glanced over just in time to duck a would-be killing blow from another of Tweak's men. He slew the newcomer with an upward stroke, but groaned in dismay as the momentum of the other man wrenched his sword from his grasp.
The captain of the Sea Serpent cackled harshly at the plight of the other and advanced sword-point first. "Harhar, let's see ye try an' weasel yer way outta this one, eh Sparrow? Don' see no helpful dolphins hereabouts!"
Jack swallowed hard and retreated slowly, glaring defiantly at his tormentor nonetheless. Suddenly, however, his attitude seemed to change and he sniffed disdainfully with a roll of his eyes. "Sea turtles, mate, not dolphins. F'yer goin' t'be tellin' me stories I won' have ye getting' 'em wrong!"
The smile left Tweak's features to be replaced by a scowl. By now he had backed the other man into a corner and he pressed the tip of his sword to Jack's throat with an evil laugh. "Those tales don' matter no more, Sparrow—Tell 'em t'the devil I'm sendin' yer to!" And he swung his blade high as Jack squinched his eyes shut, bracing himself for death.
A/N: The newest addition to the story, Tweak, is meant to be recognized as a pirate from the first POTC who had a minor role. For clarity and for those of you who care, he is the pirate who comes crashing down the stairs whilst Jack Sparrow is imprisoned in Port Royal. He very intelligently says something along the lines of: "This ain't the armory!" I think he wears a blue bandanna or something, and he is not the Jamaican pirate with the dreadlocks (who gets killed by Norrington at the end), he's the other one. Hope that cleared things up! Comment if it pleases you!