Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or plotlines of "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl." If I did, I wouldn't be sitting here writing fanfiction; I'd be off making money. Which I am not doing with this work. I do, however, lay claim to the characters of Genesis Wolfe and Rosalyn O'Brien, and would be pleased as punch if you did not use them without my permission. Thank you, darlings.
Author's Note:A rather long chapter, comparatively. A chock full of pretty, pretty pirate captains and British commodores. All right, so perhaps only one of each, but really, the two you'll find here are certainly worth it. One more chapter after this, then I'll upload the next five in a wee bit. It is rather late, and I am rather tired. But I could live with myself without giving you dears a lovely helping of Jack and James. ;)
Chapter Four: In Which Genesis Saves the Dress, Because It Was Such a Waste of Brocade
Genesis Wolfe was currently sitting on the Interceptor, seated between Murtogg and Mullroy, studying her nails as the soldiers listened, enthralled, as Jack told them a tale of adventure.
"…and then, they made me their chief."
Gen looked up from her nails on cue, eyes spotting a plummeting figure as it crashed into the water, making a resounding splash that had the amplitude of a young woman's weight.
Rosalyn O'Brien, on the other hand, watched the fall from a different perspective. She had managed to slip out of formation, weaving her way through the crowd until reaching a balcony where Commodore Norrington and Elizabeth Swann stood. She saw the woman sway slightly, and mutter something before tumbling over the edge of the battlement. Pulling the front corner of her tri-corn hat lower over her freckled face, she rushed to the ledge of the battlement, helping a naval lieutenant hold Commodore Norrington back so that he wouldn't jump in after Elizabeth.
"The rocks!" the other man, Gillette, shouted. "Sir, it's a miracle she missed them!"
"It would've been a much shorter movie, if she hadn't," Roz muttered. Norrington glanced her way with a bemused expression, and she lowered her face as he shrugged quickly back into his jacket. He turned and rushed away, several soldiers in pursuit. Rosalyn sighed.
"Might as well," she murmured as she herself gave chase.
Jack, Genesis, Murtogg and Mullroy gazed over the railing of the ship at the rippling water. Jack looked rather torn.
"Will you be saving her then?" he asked Mullroy.
"I can't swim," the soldier replied, his voice cracking in panic. Jack looked to Murtogg, who shook his head, silently echoing the same lack of ability.
"Pearl of the king's navy you are," Jack muttered, removing his many "effects" and handing them off to Genesis.
"Do not lose these, love," he said, his face very close to hers and his expression serious. She shook her head in agreement, and he climbed onto the railing, performing a fairly impressive dive into the water.
Not a moment after Jack hit the water, there was a strange pulsation, like a small earthquake. The force of it was enough to make Genesis stumble slightly on the deck of the Interceptor, and she nearly dropped all of Jack's effects. Murtogg and Mullroy watched as a curious ripple flowed out over the relatively calm sea, out into the horizon.
"What was that?" Murtogg asked in a perplexed tone. Mullroy looked just as confused, as did Genesis, who shrugged under the weight of all of Jack's things. A sudden wind whipped through, nearly blowing the marines' hats off their heads, and the three looked up to the mast above them, watching the flag atop the naval ship entirely change direction.
"Hurricane?" Mullroy ventured, eyeing the strange weather patterns.
Gen's eyes narrowed. "Worse."
She glanced back at the water, now looking just as irresolute as Jack just had. She glanced down at her dry clothes, and imagined Jack tearing off Elizabeth's dress. Elizabeth's beautiful dress that Genesis honestly liked more than the governor's daughter herself.
"Promise not to lose these?" she asked the soldiers desperately, gesturing to she and Jack's belongings. They nodded vigorously in reply, apparently in shock over the events, and she proceeded to shove off Jack's belongings to one of them, taking off her boots and handing those, her waistcoat, and her bag to the other. She leapt over the edge of the ship, ending up feet-first in the water, far less gracefully than Jack had, and followed the much faster captain.
Gen paused for a moment to get her bearings, then looked back to the water to watch Jack surface with a considerably less clothed Elizabeth in tow. Gen took a huge breath, and dove down into the water, eyes stinging as she followed the vague cream blob that was the dress. She felt her ears pop as she descended, but she finally managed to grab the dress and rather haphazardly bring it to the surface and tread water to the dock.
"I've got her," Murtogg was saying, pulling Elizabeth out of the water and onto the wooden planks. He pressed an ear to her blue-tinged lips. "Not breathing!"
"Don't worry," Gen sputtered from the edge of the dock. "I'm fine. Focus on the pretty lady in her underwear. I can get me and her two-ton dress up myself." Jack, who had pulled himself up hurriedly, turned and grabbed Gen by the wrist, and they jointly managed to get her onto the planks, where she collapsed under the weight of the dress and tossed it aside.
"Move," Jack then said, pushing Murtogg out of the way. He pulled a small knife from his boot and cut the front lacings of Elizabeth's corset. The young woman jerked into consciousness, coughing up salt water. She looked up at Jack with an understandably frightened look; he was quite a sight to wake up to if you hadn't seen him before. Genesis crawled over to Elizabeth's side and smoothed her matted hair out of her face. Elizabeth seemed to relax at the presence of another woman, even a strange one in men's clothing.
"You're all right, love," Gen crooned soothingly. "Ignore the scary man with the scary hair. You're fine now."
"Never would have thought of that," Mullroy murmured behind her, looking at Elizabeth's corset thoughtfully after Jack pushed the offending garment into his hands. He then realized exactly what he was holding, and pushed the racy thing away to Murtogg.
"Clearly, you've never been to Singapore," Jack said simple. Mullroy glanced at Genesis for an explanation, receiving only an equally confused shrug in return.
Jack, meanwhile, was studying the gold medallion hanging from Elizabeth's neck. "Where did you get that?"
Before he could receive an answer, cold steel was at his neck. Gen, having been so enraptured by the events, tried to gasp out a warning, but her cry was interrupted by a shiny friend of her own, pointed straight at her chest.
"On your feet," came a deep, commanding voice. Gen and Jack rose gingerly to see the newly appointed Commodore Norrington, holding both of the swords. Which actually looked pretty damned impressive. Genesis felt a sudden twinge of extra respect for the man.
"'Allo, Commodore," she said cheerfully. Norrington's cold eyes flashed an angry warning, and Gen's smile disappeared as she busied herself by looking around at the surrounding soldiers. Jack smirked a bit.
"Elizabeth!"
Gen watched as Governor Swann rushed to help his daughter to her feet, covering her with his own coat. "Are you all right?"
"Yes," Elizabeth replied breathlessly. Her gaze was foggily transfixed on Gen and Jack. "I'm fine."
Governor Swann followed his daughter's gaze, but his eyes landed on Murtogg, whose hands were full of his daughter's corset. Murtogg realized how suspicious it must have looked, and hid the corset behind his back, pointing an accusing finger at Jack. The governor shook with rage. "Shoot him!"
"Father!" Elizabeth exclaimed as the soldiers took aim. She stepped towards Norrington. "Commodore, do you really intend to kill my rescuer?"
Norrington glanced at Jack, who looked hopeful, and at Genesis, who had a pleading expression on her face. His face remained hard as he considered his options.
"I believe thanks are in order," he said stiffly, sheathing his sword and handing the second off. He offered his hand to Jack, who regarded it thoughtfully and cautiously. Before Gen's mind had processed current events and what was about to happen, Jack had gripped Norrington's hand in a friendly shake, only to have Norrington twist his wrist and wrench his shirt sleeve up, revealing the P-shaped scar on his wrist. Jack and Gen exchanged identical grimaces.
"Had a brush with the East India Trading Company, did we, pirate?" Norrington seemed to spit the last word, and looked awfully pleased with himself. His entire posture changed, a certain careless arrogance taking over his tall frame as he realized he was most certainly in control of this situation.
"Pirate?" Governor Swann was all excited again. "Hang him!"
"Keep your guns on him, men," Norrington ordered. He turned to his right hand man. "Gillette, fetch me some irons."
Norrington's grip remained harsh on Jack's hand, and he pushed the pirate's sleeve up farther, revealing a blue tattoo of a bird flying over an ocean sunset. "Well, well, Jack Sparrow, isn't it?"
"Captain Jack Sparrow," Jack replied without missing a beat. He remembered that he had at least twenty bayonets aimed at him, and quickly added, "If you please, sir."
Norrington glanced around the port theatrically. "Well, I don't see your ship, Captain." Gen nearly snorted; seeing the seemingly proper Commodore dishing out the snark seemed to tickle her funny bone. Norrington raised a brow and glanced in her direction at the suppressed laugh, but chose to mainly ignore her for the moment.
"I'm in the market," Jack said, narrowing his eyes. "As it were."
"He said he'd come to commandeer one," Murtogg piped up.
"Told you he was telling the truth," Mullroy mumbled grumpily. "These are his, sir." Norrington sifted through Jack's belongings, looking relatively bored.
"No additional shots or powder. A compass that doesn't point north." He grabbed the hilt of Jack's sword and pulled it halfway out of its sheath. "And I half-expected it to be made of wood." He slid the sword back into the sheath with a smirk. "You are no doubt the worst pirate I have ever heard of him."
"But you have heard of him."
Norrington glanced at Genesis as she spoke, and suddenly took interest in her. "And you are…" he cast a glance down at her torso, eyes quickly coming back to her face with a slight hint of amusement, "…Miss?"
Genesis glanced down to see what he was looking at, and quickly crossed her arms over her chest; her wet, white blouse was leaving little to the imagination, even with the bra underneath it. Some of the men snickered, and she scowled. "No one you've necessarily heard of, dear commodore," she said flippantly. "But you'll be sure to have recurring nightmares that repeat my name."
All hail Gen's relatively delusional sense of self-competence.
Norrington raised a brow again. Genesis found herself becoming rather used to receiving the detached look of cautious interest from him. "And what name would that be, Miss?"
Well, that would've been a good thing to think of beforehand, Gen thought. She scowled slightly. Pirates…pirate names. What do pirates do? Drink. Liquor.
"Morgan," she said suddenly. "Genesis Morgan."
The whole lot of them turned their gaze to her, most frightened, Norrington rather triumphant, and Jack apparently now very interested in her. Well, apparently that worked. If she hadn't been thankful for her heritage-established alcoholism before, she was now.
Rosalyn, still in soldier garb, pushed her way through the crowd, finding not only a very wet Jack Sparrow and Elizabeth Swann, but an equally drenched, exceedingly cocky Genesis Wolfe speaking with a certain Commodore Norrington. Good Lord, woman, can't you keep yourself out of trouble?
Gen glanced at the marine who had recently pushed his way through the ranks to see what was going on. A very familiar, freckled marine. With breasts, apparently. Gen winked at the "soldier." Norrington glanced at Roz, still oblivious to the small soldier's true identity in his distraction, then at her bayonet. Rosalyn was quick to catch on, raising a shaky, unsure firearm at her friend and the pirate captain.
"These are the girl's, sir," Murtogg piped, holding out Genesis' bag and other items out to Norrington. Norrington gave a curt nod of his head, and Murtogg proceeded to empty the bag onto the docks. Genesis cried out in protest, attempting to lurch forward to stop them, but was held in place by a soldier. Her clothing came tumbling out, and Norrington drew his sword again, using the tip to rifle through it. He gave the jeans and tank an odd look, but said nothing until he looked up at Genesis after finding nothing but clothing.
"I stand corrected," he said self-importantly, that smirk reappearing on his face. "You are the worst pirate I've ever seen."
"And you are a horrible snoop, Commodore," Genesis said indignantly, scowling at the taller man. "I could have had lady things in there."
Norrington narrowed his eyes curiously at her, and stepped forward. Gen found herself wanting to step back away from his imposing frame, but was, of course, thwarted by the body of the solder holding her. One of his hands grasped her by the right wrist and jerked her shirtsleeve up, revealing nothing but the smooth, pale skin of her forearm. He did the same to her other arm, once again finding nothing.
"Morgan, is it?" Norrington inquired, eyeing Genesis up and down, not yet backing away, as Genesis found herself suddenly wishing he would do. He glanced at Jack, who was watching Gen curiously through narrowed eyes. "Do you know this woman?"
Gen gave Jack a pleading look, begging him to play along. Well, she had just lied for him. Better to make it square and not feel like he owed her anything.
"Aye, of course," Jack said, chocolate brown eyes still locked on sea-blue ones. He then turned his attention to Norrington with a dramatic air. "What sea-faring man hasn't heard of her? Men travel far from their routes to avoid the dangerous blood of Captain Henry Morgan."
Norrington stared for a moment at Genesis, who gave him her sweetest smile, then motioned for the men to drag both Gen and Jack towards the gallows. Jack seemed to be expecting it, but Gen, apparently, had not, and gave Elizabeth a desperate look. Elizabeth caught the glance, and leapt into action.
"Commodore!" she cried, double-stepping to match Norrington's long strides. "I really must protest!"
Norrington noticed the roughness with which Gillette was shoving Genesis along. "Careful, Lieutenant." It would be a shame to have her unconscious for her hanging.
"Pirate or not," Elizabeth protested, "This man saved my life."
"I saved your bloody dress," Gen muttered, and was rewarded with a slight poke with a bayonet from Gillette. She glanced at him. "That your bayonet, or are you happy to see me, love?" The officer shoved her along again, but she couldn't help but notice his eyes crinkle slightly at the remark.
Norrington ignored his right-hand man and his captive, save for a small look of disdain, and turned to Elizabeth. "One good deed is not enough to redeem a man…or woman…of a lifetime of wickedness."
"Though it seems enough to condemn him," Jack offered helpfully. Norrington nodded.
"Indeed," Norrington replied.
"I should've let the damned dress drown," Genesis mumbled. She glanced at Jack when Gillette moved away from them for a moment.
"Finally," Jack muttered, stealing Gillette's pistol. He looped his irons around Elizabeth's neck, quick as a cat, and pulled her away from Norrington and his men. In the same instant, Genesis lunged for the dagger she had seen sticking out of Jack's boot and grabbed the nearest soldier in a similar fashion.
Under any other instance, having a cold steel blade against her throat would have made Rosalyn wet herself, but knowing it was Genesis behind her, and that Gen would probably also wet herself at the thought of slitting anyone's throat, she figured she was safe. However, there may be consequences if she let her guard down, so she tried to look as panicked as possible.
"No!" Governor Swann shouted as some of the men aimed their bayonets. "Don't shoot!"
"I knew you'd warm up to me," Jack said with a sneer. "Commodore, my effects, please. And my hat. And Miss Morgan's, as well, if you don't mind."
No one moved.
"Commodore!" Jack barked warningly, bringing the pistol closer to Elizabeth's temple.
"So, Rosalyn, how's things?" Genesis whispered to her "captive."
"Eh, could be better," Roz replied. "Uniform's snazzy, but the rations suck."
Meanwhile, Norrington had decided it was better to comply with the madman who was currently holding his almost-fiancée hostage, and motioned to Gillette. The lieutenant obliged, handing Jack's things to Elizabeth, and Gen's to Roz after having a marine stuff the clothing back into a leather bag.
"Now, Elizabeth," Jack said kindly. "It is Elizabeth, isn't it?"
"It's Miss Swann," the pretty woman snarled back. Jack threw an amused glance at Genesis, who was smiling appreciatively.
"Feisty one for a boring aristocrat, isn't she?" she said. Elizabeth threw eye-daggers at her.
"Miss Swann," Jack continued obligingly, pulling Elizabeth's attention back to himself. "If you'd be so kind." He allowed Elizabeth to turn around and begin to place his effects in their respective positions around his body.
"Come, come, dear, we don't have all day," he prodded. He grinned as she looked down at the belt she held in her white hands. "Now, if you'd be very kind."
Elizabeth grimaced, but wrapped her arms around Jack's waist quickly, buckling the belt. Genesis snickered as Jack threw a suggestive, victorious glance at Norrington, who had to look away. Jack looked back to Elizabeth as she jerked him a bit.
"Easy on the goods, darling," he said gruffly as she apparently cinched the belt too tightly.
"You're despicable," she hissed.
"You'd think otherwise if you saw what he had under those rags," Genesis said as she struggled to maintain her hold on Rosalyn and still put her boots on with her free hand. Elizabeth looked at her in disgust, while Jack managed to bite back a laugh and glance at Genesis approvingly.
"Ew," Rosalyn muttered. Gen shushed her.
"Sticks and stones, love," Jack murmured to Elizabeth. "I saved your life, you saved mine. We're square." His eyes found Gen's for a moment, and she wondered if he was directing his words at her as well.
Jack turned his attention to the men surrounding them. "Gentlemen," he said grandiosely. He glanced at Elizabeth. "My lady. You will always remember the day that you almost caught Captain Jack Sparrow!"
Genesis tensed as Jack pushed Elizabeth into the Norrington's arms and leapt to a rope. She made a rather unintimidating squeak as the men began to advance on her. Rosalyn realized what was happening, and pushed her friend's bag into her hands.
"Go," she hissed. "I'll stay with Elizabeth."
Gen began to protest, but the charging men shut her up effectively.
"Be safe," she said, and leapt off of the dock onto the deck of a small ship. She sprinted as gunshots rose behind her, hitting the wood around her and sending splinters of it everywhere. A shot exploded in front of her, courtesy of Lieutenant Gillette's pistol, sending a shard of wood into her cheek. She yelped, but kept her speed, glancing over to catch Jack's fairly panicky, flamboyantly running form. She followed him, lungs burning from the running, and leapt onto the dock. She continued after him until the echoes of gunfire lessened. He stopped, grabbing her by the arm and pulling her into the smithy's shop.