CHAPTER SEVEN
While Jack spun up tale on the spot for Murtogg and Mullroy, an incredibly bored Jessie spread out on the dock on her stomach with her face cupped in her hands.
"Mother of all that's holy." Murtogg breathed at something Jack had just said. "What did you do next?"
Jessie blew through her lips and rolled her eyes. These two dimwitted dummies were buying every word Jack said. She shook her head sadly. They were pathetic.
Jessie tuned out the three men, and let her mind wander. She remembered her conversation with Jack, regarding the 'our' he let slip.
No matter what Jack said, Jessie wouldn't let him wiggle out of letting her come…
: Flashback:
"Now, Jessie," Jack tried to reason. "You're not coming with me. Never once did I say-"
"'Our'?" Jessie supplied. She smiled mischievously. "You're stuck with me, Jack. Unless of course you didn't mean-"
"Do not impugn me honor, girl!" Jack interrupted. He rubbed the back of his neck and released a sigh. Finally he muttered, "I don't see why you can't tag along, seeing as ye don't leave me nary a choice."
Jessie had squealed happily and Jack had visibly grimaced.
: End Flashback:
"And then they made me their chief."
Jack's voice brought Jessie out of her daydream. Recognizing the line, Jessie sighed in relief. She knew that that line signaled the end of his long and boring tale. Finally. Jessie sat up cross-legged with a goofy smile on her lips. Silently, she waited for it…
Splash!
The sound of Elizabeth hitting the water had both redcoats and Jack looking out over the water. Jessie, however, didn't look. Instead, she just stood up from the cross-legged position she'd been in and waited for Jack to say something.
"Will you be saving her, then?" Jack asked, just like Jessie knew he would. He looked from Murtogg to Mullroy and back again with a question on his face.
"I can't swim." Mullroy confessed, his voice slightly panicky.
Jack sighed and turned to Murtogg, silently asking him the same thing. Murtogg shook his head, causing the fat on his chin to jiggle. Jessie stifled a giggle as Jack rolled his eyes.
"Pride of the King's Navy you are." Jack laced his voice with sarcasm as he removed his hat, pistol, and other "effects." "Do not lose these." He threatened, shoving his things into the redcoats' arms.
Shooting Jessie a glance that told her not to follow him, he jumped off the ship's side and arched himself into a perfect dive.
All the swimming and diving lessons in the world and I might be able to dive a fraction of that good. Jessie though enviously. Turning, she faced the two men Jack had left her with.
"You can't swim?" Jessie demanded. "Either of you?" With an overly dramatic sigh, she turned back around and muttered, "Pathetic."
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"Elizabeth!"
Norrington stared over the battlement in horror as the woman fell. Amber watched as he began to remove his coat and prepared to jump after her. Fortunately for him, Gillette stopped him.
"Sir, the rocks! It's a miracle she missed them."
Pity. Amber mused; I would've let him jump.
As if he could read her mind, Commodore Norrington shot Amber a furious look, almost as if she were to blame for Elizabeth's fainting.
Don't look at me, Amber told him silently, though she knew he couldn't hear. It's not my fault you couldn't pay attention to the woman you want to marry long enough to see her discomfort, you wig-headed dimwit.
While Amber silently continued to call Norrington some far worse names than just "dimwit", Norrington–and a number of others- started making their way to the docks. Gathering the extra cloth of her dress in one hand, -Blast these corsets! - Amber followed.
Halfway there, and Amber started to feel the change in the weather. It was the medallion's signal, and she had known it was coming. She didn't, however, known just how strong it was coming.
In the water, the silent shock wave would be sent out, but on shore, only the wind could be felt. It blew heavily and almost knocked Amber sideways. The bonnet on her head was torn off, and blown away in the wind.
Can't say I'll miss that. Amber thought as she watched it fly up, come down, fly up, come down. The winds died down then, and she raced for the docks.
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"What was that?" Murtogg asked his friend, one hand on his head to keep his hat from blowing off.
Mullroy shrugged as the wind continued blowing and a silent shock wave rocked the boat.
And that was when it happened to Jessie.
She felt tingling from head to toe, as if her whole body had suddenly fell asleep. And felt a sharp stab of pain around her neck. Something was burning her.
Frightened, she jerked a necklace she hadn't even known she was wearing off and staring down at it, her eyes grew wide.
It was the medallion. Her replica medallion had still been around her neck! Jessie hadn't thought about since she'd been on the boat…
It was so much heavier than she remembered, but maybe it just been awhile since she held it. But it felt so heavy…Like solid gold. Jessie looked her medallion over. The mouth of the skull –which had never bothered Jessie before – now sent shivers up her spine. It seemed to be laughing at her, in its own creepy way. Suddenly, Jessie noticed the eyes of the skull. It appeared, for only a moment, as if the eyes were glowing.
To shocked to make a noise louder than a gasp, she stumbled back a step. To get away from the eerie gaze of the medallion's skull, Jessie flipped it over. This time, she could make a sound, and a strangled cry escaped her throat.
Instead of the "Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean" engraved on the back, as Jessie remembered it, the back of her medallion bore the spiral and maze symbols of the cursed Aztec Gold. It had changed. Was such a thing possible?
"Oh my God…" Jessie breathed. The medallion was almost an exact replica of Elizabeth's. She knew that a replica was supposed to be similar…But the two being this much alike was unnerving. Could he be connected, somehow?
"Here he comes!" Mullroy shouted, startling Jessie and making her look up. He had spotted Jack swimming over to the docks with an unconscious Elizabeth.
Linking the necklace back around her neck, Jessie momentarily forgot the strange things happening to her medallion and went to help Jack.
"I got her!" Mullroy took Elizabeth from Jack and placed her gently down on the docks. Brushing the wet hair off her face, he called out, "Not breathing!"
Jack sighed. He really did have to do everything himself, didn't he? "Move!" The dreadlocked pirate shoved the redcoat out of his way and knelt beside the girl. Snagging a knife from Murtogg's belt, he cut the corset in half with one swift and well-practiced move. He tossed the corset carelessly over his shoulder and Murtogg caught it.
Now free of the pain the corset caused, Elizabeth regained consciousness. Her eyes opened wide and she coughed and sputtered up seawater.
"Never would've thought of that." Mullroy told Jack thoughtfully, gazing down at Elizabeth.
"Clearly you've never been to Singapore." Jack replied, still breathing deeply and trying to get his own breath back.
"And you have?" Jessie asked, cocking an eyebrow and looking at him questionably.
Before Jack could answer and explain, his attention was caught by the medallion around Elizabeth's neck.
"Where did you get that?" Jack asked, holding the medallion in his hand. He looked up and met Elizabeth's gaze. Her eyes held fear as she remained silent.
Remembering her own medallion, Jessie's hand went to her neck at she gave an involuntary shudder. But before she could think about it any farther, she heard the rise and fall of footsteps behind her.
Norrington and his men had arrived.
Drawing his sword, he pointed it Jack –who was still kneeling by Elizabeth-. "On your feet." He snarled menacingly.
Silently, Jack stood up and Jessie darted behind him. Using the pirate as her shield against the scary men in wigs, she peered past him to watch was happening.
A very flustered Governor Swann had just reached Elizabeth and was helping her to her feet. "Elizabeth! Are you alright?" He placed his coat over her shivering –and, to him at least, uncovered- body.
"Yes. Yes, I'm fine." She assured her father, her eyes never leaving Jack. Apparently, his curiosity about the medallion had her unnerved.
Satisfied his daughter was uninjured; the Governor glanced around him. His gaze landed on Murtogg –who was still holding Elizabeth's torn corset.
Noticing the Governor's questioning stare, Murtogg immediately dropped the corset and pointed a hesitant fore- finger at Jack.
"The situation doesn't look to good for you, Jack." Jessie whispered from her spot behind her.
Jack sighed heavily. "Decidedly not."
Following Murtogg's pointing finger, Governor Swann took in Jack's unkempt clothes and beard. His gaze landed on all the trinkets braided into his black, tangled hair. It told him all he needed to know.
"Shoot him!" He demanded.
"Father!" Elizabeth's protest was immediate. She placed a hand on his chest, as if that would stop him. Then she turned her attention to the other man. "Commodore, do really intend to kill my rescuer?"
Appearing as if he was doing it only because it was Elizabeth who asked it of him, Norrington grudgingly lowered his weapon. The other men did the same.
Seeing this, Jack clasped his hands together and gave a slight bow in thanks in Elizabeth's direction.
"I believe thanks are in order." Norrington held one hand, offering it for Jack to shake.
Jack hesitated a moment, unsure if he should trust the guy. He probably shouldn't –But then, he was just a guy in a wig. What did Jack –an experienced pirate- have to fear from this guy? Slowly –as if he still believed it was a mistake- he clasped Norrington's hand.
Jack's first instinct had been correct. And he had underestimated Norrington. Tightening his grasp around Jack's hand, the Commodore pulled Jack closer and pushed up Jack's sleeve.
"Had a brush with the East India Trading Company, did we –pirate?" Norrington's voice was cold and full of hate.
Jack made a face, and cringed slightly. He should've known better.
"Hang him." Governor Swann declared, his voice delighted and victorious.
Jack shot a look at the Governor, though he really wasn't surprised.
"Keep your guns on him, men." Norrington commanded. "Gillette, fetch me some irons." Pushing the sleeve of Jack's shirt up higher, he noticed the tattoo Jack bore on his arm –A bird, flying high over the watery horizon. The tattoo announced to the world he was. "Well, well. Jack Sparrow, isn't it?"
"Captain Jack Sparrow, if you please, sir." Jack corrected as Norrington released his arm with a jerk.
"Well, I don't see your ship, Captain." Norrington glanced around the dock mockingly, before turning to look at the pirate in front of him.
"I'm in the market, as it were." Jack explained, appearing to be unbothered by the Commodore's mockery.
"He said he'd come to commandeer one," Murtogg offered.
"I knew he was telling the truth," Mullroy congratulated himself as he bent over to collect Jack's things. "These are his, sir." With one arm Mullroy reached out and handed the "effects" to Norrington, while he placed the other around Jessie's shoulders to pull her out from her hiding spot behind Jack –including her in his line of "these are his, sir."
As Jessie was pushed forward to stand before Norrington, she scowled at the thought of being Jack's property; she couldn't, however, resist a moment's satisfaction of being "Jack's girl."
"Well, well, well." Norrington looked amused at the sight of the young girl in front of him. She was wearing the strangest of clothing, and her hair looked worse than "Captain" Sparrow's. He wondered what business this girl had hanging around a pirate. Shrugging, he smirked down at Jessie. "We have a little pirate, don't we?"
He meant it as an insult, but Jessie couldn't keep the smile from spreading across her face when he called her a "pirate."
"Gillette, fetch another pair of irons!" Norrington ordered his right hand man. Then he turned his attention back to the girl standing before him. He sounded almost regretful as he told her, "It's shame you had to adopt the pirating ways. You could've been raised to be a fine young lady." He signaled for two guards to stand on either side of the Jessie, so she couldn't try to escape before she was shackled.
With Jessie and Jack safely surrounded –waiting for their chains to arrive- Norrington turned to examine the "effects" Mullroy had given him. Curious despite himself at what he might find, Norrington inspected the gun first.
"No additional shots nor powder." Shaking his head at how pitiful it was, he picked up the compass. Opening it, he watched as the needled spun around a few times before settling right. A direction in which the Commodore knew to be West. "A compass that doesn't point north."
Norrington couldn't risk a smirk in Jack's direction before moving on to his sword. Unsheathing it, he smiled. "And I have expected it to be made of wood."
All Jack could offer was a weak smile, but Jessie glared daggers through Norrington. How dare he mock Jack so!
Apparently not noticing the look Jessie was giving him, Norrington went on. "You are without doubt the worst pirate I've ever heard of."
Seeing his moment to take back some of his wounded pride, Jack raised each hand, as it making a point. "But you have heard of me."
Jessie laughed out loud. "Burn."
Jack gave her a quizzical glance, probably because "burn" wasn't used as a slang word back in the 1700's. Jessie laughed again.
Norrington didn't find the remark as funny. Enraged, he jerked Jack by the arm and pulled him off to be put in chains. Jessie was being dragged along after them when Elizabeth intervened.
Allowing the coat on her shoulders to slip down her arms, she stepped in front of Jessie and followed after Jack. "Commodore, I really must protest."
Ignoring Elizabeth, Norrington addressed Gillette, the man putting Jack in his chains. "Carefully, Lieutenant."
Stepping between Norrington and the chained pirate, Elizabeth made her protests louder. "Pirate or not, this man saved my life."
"She has a point." Jessie agreed from her spot between the guards. She didn't think about what she was doing, she just figured she'd give Elizabeth a hand. "He saved her life, were as you guards could not."
"In this situation, your opinion isn't of relevance or importance." Norrington told Jessie, speaking clearly and coldly. But Jessie noticed he did throw a questionable glance over his shoulder and Murtogg and Mullroy.
As four you, Miss Elizabeth, one good deed his not enough to redeem a man of a lifetime of wickedness." Norrington informed her, after making sure Jessie was being shackled as well.
"Though it seems enough to condemn him," Jack pointed out, just as Gillette was finishing with his irons.
The Commodore glared at Jack. "Indeed."
There was a moment of silence, in which both Jessie's and Jack's shackles were finished being put on.
"Finally." Jack –never without a plan- exclaimed as he threw his irons over Elizabeth's head, before neither she, nor the Commodore and his men, knew what was happening.
As Elizabeth gasped in surprise, Jack drew her closer and the men drew their weapons. Their intentions to fire, however, were immediately spoiled by the governor's outburst of, "No! Don't shoot!"
"I knew you'd warm up to me." Jack said, as he began backing up and Jessie –still in irons- moved to stand behind Jack. Once again, she used the pirate as her shield, so none of the men could get to her.
"Commodore Norrington, my effects please." Jack said over Elizabeth's head. Then, remembering something else he added, "And my hat."
Having too much pride to obey the pirate, Norrington didn't make a move until Jack showed him he was serious. "Commodore!" Jack warned in such a way that told Norrington he better obey, and at the same time he tightened his irons around Elizabeth's neck.
As Norrington grudgingly handed over Jack's things, the pirate whispered in Elizabeth's ear. "Elizabeth. It is Elizabeth, isn't it?"
"It's Miss Swann," Elizabeth snarled between clenched teeth as she jerked tried to jerk away from Jack.
"Miss Swann, if you'd be so kind." Jack nodded towards his effects, signaling he wanted Elizabeth to reach out and get them. He wasn't a fool – He knew well enough the consequences of letting Elizabeth go to grab his things.
When she hesitated, he pushed her a little further. "Come, come, dear. We haven't got all day." When she'd taken the effects from Norrington he took the pistol from the pile and put it to her temple. Turning her around slowly he said, "Now, if you'd be very kind."
Elizabeth knew Jack wanted her to put his items in place. But she didn't have to like it. Reluctantly, she placed his hat upon his head and halfway strapped the sword around his body. For the other half to be put on correctly, she'd have to reach over his shoulder. Clenching her jaw, she did so.
Jessie stomped a foot and huffed. Elizabeth was closer to Jack than her liking, but Jessie kill to be that close. Honestly, some girls get all the luck.
Meeting Norrington's gaze over Elizabeth's shoulder, Jack rubbed it in the Commodore's face that he was so close to Elizabeth and Norrington was not.
With a look over disgust, Norrington closed his eyes and looked away.
As Elizabeth was giving the sword strap a final pull and tug, Jack told her, "Easy on the goods, darling."
Defiantly, Elizabeth yanked again on the strap and snarled, "You're despicable."
"Sticks and stone, luv." Jack informed her, unbothered by her hateful glare. "I saved your life, you saved mine. We're square."
Spinning Elizabeth back around, the pirate captain again faced the crowd of men. "Gentlemen," He addressed them, "M'lady," He said in Elizabeth's ear. "You will always remember this as the day you almost caught, Captain…Jack…Sparrow." With each word he had taken a step backward and now, far out of the men's reach, he shoved Elizabeth back into the crowd where her father caught her.
Jack turned and grabbed a rope behind him. Kicking the lever to the spinning beam the rope was attached to, he shot up in the air as the rope began swinging, round and round.
"Pirate." Jessie muttered angrily. Leave it to Jack to escape and save himself. It would all be fine and dandy, except that left Jessie here, shackled and alone. Glaring at the screaming and swinging Jack, she muttered more, inaudible insults under her breath.
Jessie momentarily forgotten by the British army, the Governor screamed at Norrington, "Now will you shoot him?"
"Open fire!" As the men did as they were told, Jessie decided to take advantage of the moment. She took one long sidestep backward, and when Norrington didn't notice, she turned and pushed her way through the crowd.
"On his heels!" Norrington commanded the men, after noticing Jack had begun sliding down the second rope. He was still more concerned about Jack than Jessie.
As the men raced to follow directions, Jessie was already away from the men; moving swiftly, as not to be noticed until she was far enough away, she raced in the direction Jack had gone.
As she fell into place behind Jack –who had just begun running along the bridge- Jessie whispered to herself, "He runs like a girl."