A.N. I don't own, nor will I ever own any rights to Pirates of the Caribbean or the characters therein.
A Pirate's Life: New Adventures
Chapter 4: Meeting at Pelegosto Island
Two wooden row boats disembarked from where the 'Black Pearl' and the 'Troubadour' were moored, bound for the idyllic shore of the Pelegosto island. Jack was frowning deeply, he'd hoped he wouldn't have to return to this particular island. Of all the islands in all the oceans in all the world something just kept dumping him on this one.
Behind him Gibbs and Anamaria rowed the boat to shore and at the back Elizabeth sat up straight. She'd been reluctant to leave her son, and the son had been even more reluctant to tbe left behind, but she decided that it was for the best to go and see what was happening. And Will would be safe own the 'Pearl,' the crew would make sure of it.
In the second boat his father sat with Tom and Scottie rowing and Barty at the back. And at the opposite end of the coast line the two navy ships had moored away from the pirate ships and were also rowing to shore.
From here Jack was able to view Captain Atkinson and the three men he had chosen to accompany him. You could tell a lot about a man...or a woman by the company they kept. The three men were clearly sea men, two had longish hair tied back and the other wore his short, and all wore the partially formal clothes of the navy for the lower class.
The captain was about his age, certainly not younger so evidently he excelled at his job, and he was clearly not as stupid as many navy men Jack had manipulated and outsmarted. In the boat beside him the other captain was older than Atkinson by at least 10 years. His men were similar in age and appearance as Atkinson's, all lower class white men with little individuality when it came to appearance.
It was one thing, out of many, that Jack loved about pirating; it was non discriminative. Anyone could be a good sailor...or a good pirate. Men, women, children, European, Malaysian, Chinese, white, black...even a missing limb or two...nothing made any difference to pirates. But to the navy...to the navy colonials were inferior...to the navy women were not good enough to be sailors...and it had never made any sense to Jack.
So he was looking forward to seeing these navy men's reactions to the fact that he had two women accompanying him. One of whom would be considered inferior because of her skin colour. But if any comments were made...or even insinuated Anamaria would make sure that they learnt that women could be just as strong as men. And they would never forget it.
The navy rowboats reached the shore after being tossed violently by the roaring waves. It took Jack and his father longer as Jack had taken the time to change his clothes and was now wearing his usual hat, long coat, many belts holding the pistols, his bandana was tied neatly round his hair and his kohl had been reapplied. After all, when meeting possible new players in the great game that was survival, it was necessary to project an image that would last far longer than the person themselves.
As soon as they reaches the shallows Jack leapt out of the boat and swaggered his way over to the six waiting sailors already waiting on the pristine sands. He was soon followed by his two first mates and Elizabeth with his father and crew men not far behind.
"Ahoy, captain Atkinson!" Jack smirked as he came to stand a few feet away from said captain. "Wo' can 'umble pira'es such as we are do fer some fine, law abidin', men o' th' crown such as yerselves?" he barely continued a giggle as he watched Atkinson's men frown in disapproval at the two women beside him. If nothing else he'd get a laugh out of this...that was always good to know.
"I'm acting independent of the crown so to speak," Atkinson answered.
"Oh, do tell," Jack smirked.
"Captain, I believe I have a proposition that may interest you," he replied with a smile. "And your crew. But first I believe propriety dictates that introductions precede matters of business," he finished.
"Know yer enemy. That it?" Jack asked but the man seemed to ignore him.
"These are my men, Rogers, Daniels, and Taylor. Captain Herron sails under my banner," here said man stepped forwards, "And this is Oliver, Baines and Parker." the men nodded when named.
"Well, nice ter meet yer, chaps, " Jack replied giving a drunken bow and topped his hat. "Me first mates, Gibbs an' Anamaria, an' Elizabeth...she's no' importan' really...just a friend o' a friend," He said, not wanting to highlight the fact that she was the pirate king, it was not necessary for them to know that. And a surreptitious glance at her told him that she clearly understood that. "An' tha' ol' fossil's Cap'n Teague, and messrs Tom, Scottie and Barty," Jack finished ignoring the cold stare from his father at calling him a 'fossil.'
"Teague..." Atkinson repeated the name. "Surely I know that name," he said quietly. "Yes, I remember, you captained the 'Misty Lady' did you not?"
"Aye," the captain replied simply.
"This business yer mentioned...did i' involve something businessy..." Jack questioned.
Atkinson raised an eyebrow at him but didn't press the matter further as he spoke, "It does, I believe you know of the existence of a particular artefact called the Trident of Poseidon," he said, "Yes?"
"I 'eard of it," Jack replied.
"My superior officer and employer, Lord Nicholas wishes me to locate the Isla Sirena and the Trident."
"Wo's that' got to do with me?" Jack asked.
"Come, come, Sparrow, like everyone I too have heard the stories...but I looked closer than most, and do you know what I found. No? I'll tell you...I found stories of a young boy who was unaffected by the call of the sirens, a young boy who regaled his crew with stories of the mermaids and the sirens..."
"Sounds fascinating, cap'n," Jack said walking unevenly across to the sailor.
"I even found a name...and what's most...fascinating, captain Sparrow, is that this boy had a name like yours, exactly like yours, in fact," the captain replied.
"So you came lookin' fer me on the basis of a story?"
"No," Atkinson answered.
"No?" Jack repeated.
"I searched every bar, tavern and establishment of ill repute from Port Royal to Tortuga looking for someone who could lead me to the Isla Sirena. Your name, however, appeared almost every time." Atkinson said.
"I 'ave tha' effect on people," Jack said.
"And you are going to lead me to this island so that I can see this trident for myself."
"Why would I do tha', mate?" he asked.
"Because if you refuse, then every navy ship in England will hunt down you and every other pirate from here to China. No great loss to the world I'm sure, Sparrow, you already know your time is limited. I may not have served under Beckett at his death, but the man knew the way of the world. The way of the future," he said.
"If, as you say me times limited, then there's no' much inventive fer me to 'elp you, is there?"
"I have considerable influence, Sparrow, it is only because of me that you were not persued in your last venture, do you recall the instance?" Atkinson said.
And Jack did indeed recall the instance. He had been forced to call of his quest for the Fountain of Youth because of the swarm of navy ships that had been following him 3 years before. But suddenly, about a year ago it had all stopped and it had allowed him and his crew to do some 'honest pirating' as Gibbs called it. Although to play it safe, Jack had hid the map deep in the 'Pearl,' where only he could find it if the opportunity to locate the fountain ever arose again.
"Our worlds are not as different as they appear," Atkinson continued, "And there is one other very good reason for your cooperation."
Jack listened expectantly as the man continued, "As we speak, a French fleet is being lead by a man named René Grenouille, who claims to know the location of the Isla Sirena. They plan to destroy it and use the Trident to rule the oceans, and of course remove the English navy; their long standing rival."
"Wars 'tween empires don' concern me, ma'e," Sparrow smirked.
"You are English, are you not? And I believe that piracy is also a threat to the French therefore you are in danger, they have a price on your head as does everyone it seems. And I don't believe that you will abandon the island and it's inhabitants to the French," the navy captain replied.
"They can take care 'o themselves," Jack replied.
"No doubt...but against the might of a French fleet? Are you willing to take that risk?"
"An' if I lead you ter 'em who's ter say you won' do't same?"
"You have only my word, but I do not wish the Trident for myself...but I long to see its power, I wish to know...is it real...are the stories true?"
Jack was a little tried of people asking him these kinds of questions, it was like Elizabeth all over again. He couldn't endanger the mer-folk by leading armed civilisation straight to them. "If they are, wha' will you tell his lordship?"
"What I report to my employer will depend entirely on my findings, on whether it is prudent for him to have such knowledgeable not," he replied, "But the French are drawing ever near, and time is of the essence, I suggest you make a decision, captain."
Jack turned his back on the men of the navy, expecting his crew to warn him if they decided to shot him in the back, either literally or metaphorically, as he considered the proposal.
If he lead these men to the Isle then no doubt swarms of others would soon follow and the mer-folk would be in danger. But they could fit well and they were far from helpless...but against a whole fleet...did they stand a chance? A sirens song could only do so much and that was their main defence. Against a few ships it would suffice...but a few dozen?
He needed to stay in control of the situation. But a French fleet was a factor that would mess his plans up a great deal. He could lead them, and set course for the Isle, and then dispose of the fleet and the navy ships, or at least anyone who posed a threat. But he'd have to wait for the opportune moment.
Jack turned his eyes to the stormy heavens above and only hoped that Calypso would be of assistance. Maybe she could sink both the fleet and the navy...but that was a long shot.
Mermaids did the bidding of the sirens and if he returned again they would no doubt attempt to steal his freedom that he had fought so hard to keep. But with Davy Jones no longer in charge perhaps they would've show more lenient towards him.
King Tonra at least would be pleased to see him...he hoped. He wasn't fond of mermaids, or mermen in bad moods. It made them murderous.
And it would be an interesting adventure, he couldn't deny. His crew at least would be safe from death, and perhaps his fathers once he negotiated with the 'king'. He could only hope that he was still in their favour.
"You will provide us with a bearing to Isla Sirena on my ship, yours will follow," Atkinson said, "Are we agreed?"
"Aye," Jack said after a minute with a nod, he sincerly hoped he wasn't walking...or sailing to his death.
A.N. I got the idea for using the mermaids from a title I saw under Jack's profile, 'King of the Merfolk', cool huh? Anyway, checkout the the links on my profile if you wanna read more.