A.N. Nearly done now, just need to proof read the last few chapters! And once again guys, I don't own Pirates of the Caribbean!

A Pirate's Life: New Adventures

Chapter 8: Interfering Pirates

Jack watched closely as the 'Conquerer' sailed across to the fleet with her gun ports open. There was something happening between the English and French crowns that was being hidden from him and he had been thrown right in the middle of it.

Someone was attempting to use him as a chess piece or a puppet and he was not happy about it. So he ran over to the shrouds and swung across to the French flag ship landing unevenly on the deck he started to look for something that would attract the attention of the crown.

He pointed his pistol at the men that tried to stop him. Not bothering to speak in his haste his simply made the universal gesture for 'move or else' and they practically fell over one another in their attempt to move out of his way.

He first searched the captain's cabin but found nothing out of the ordinary, then he went down to the hold and among scattered pieces of ammunition and broken boxes he found a small but heavily reinforced strong box. It was engraved with the insignia of the British crown and he used the sword to force the lock.

Inside the box was not the gold or jewels he had been expecting and he was more than a little confused. Hearing the sound of guns outside Jack pocketed the contents of the box and together they ran back onto the deck. They swung back onto the 'Pearl' and saw that the 'Conquerer' was firing on a French ship that was already dead in the water. Clearly Atkinson wanted to destroy what remained of the fleet and perhaps sink the contents of the strong box.

But now it was safely tucked away in Jack's belts and he once again took the helm of his ship. With the aid of the swords power he manoeuvred the ship so that it was carefully positioned between the French ship and the 'Conquerer'.

"Fire!" Jack shouted to his crew and the powerful cannons of the 'Pearl' unleashed a deadly barrage of cannon fire on the navy ship.

Soon the navy ceased firing then so did the 'Pearl' once she had achieved her aim.

"Sparrow! What are you doing?" Atkinson bellowed back after the firing stopped.

"No poin' killin' 'em know they know they've lost, ma'e," Jack answered.

"It is my duty to the crown to destroy the enemies of his majesty king George. You are protecting the French, that is treason against the crown, you are a traitor!"

"Nofin new there, then," the pirate shrugged.

"I order you to stand aside!" Atkinson shouted.

"I don' think yer in a position ter me speakin' like tha', since you los' an' all," Jack replied.

"What?" the navy captain demanded but on hearing the song of the mermaids and the sirens he glanced around his ship.

There were fish tailed women lounging on the rails calling his men to them, somehow the mermaids had climbed onto his ship and were now bewitching his crew. How could he fight when he had no crew? Sparrow was right...he had lost, too...on both missions. He sighed in acknowledgement and the mermaids stopped singing.

His men were freed from their spell and the mermaids dove back into the water leaving his crew dazed and dizzy. Atkinson was out manned and out matched by the powerful sword that Sparrow had acquired and the mermaids that fought with him. So the navy captain would have to abandon his missions...for now...but there was always next time...

He ordered his crew to leave, and soon followed by captain Herron and the 'Mauritia' they sailed away from the misty rock leaving behind the remains of the French fleet.

Jack watched as the mermaids began aiding the remaining men back to the ships that were still sea worthy. They decided to follow Atkinson's example and sail away...at least for now. The French had lost too many men and ships to risk another fight so they shot loathing looks of hatred towards the pirate ships as they sailed off into the night.

"Ah, thank you," Jack said to Nerissa who was leaning on the rails of the 'Pearl' with his hat and coat in hand. He walked over to her and she gave them to him with a knowing smile.

"This is the third time you have brought trouble to us," king Tonra said with a grin. He floated below in the sea as Jack, his crew and the men of the 'Troubadour' stared down at him.

"Bloody navy lead 'em 'ere no' me!" Jack muttered as he fixed his coat and fixed his hat on his head.

"Yes, and you lead him here, and the fleet followed him! So, once again, you are the cause of everything, Sparrow" the king replied and Jack sighed. "But...once again you put everything right..." he sighed in exasperation.

"Course I do, I'm cap'n Jack Sparrow," Jack replied.

"Well, there is one matter that has yet to be rectified," the merman said and pointed with his trident to the sword of Cortés that hung at Jack's waist.

"No, I can' fink o' anyfin..." Jack muttered as he held the word in his hands.

"Jack..." the merman sighed, "It was given to us by Tia Dalma, if you want to keep it you must give us something in return."

"Like wha'?" Jack asked

"The thing you value most," he replied with a grin

After a moments consideration Jack shook his head sadly and tossed the sword and scabbard back into the water where it was scooped up by the merman's youngest daughter who gave it to her father. "It is safer with us, anyway," the king added.

Jack only muttered and grumbled to himself in disagreement as the mermaids smiled back at him.

"On deck yer dogs, weigh anchor!" the pirate captain shouted to his crew that had been watching this exchange in curiosity.

"Cap'n, d'we 'ave a headin'?" Gibbs asked.

"Tortuga," Jack replied without hesitation.

"Aye, Tortuga!" Gibbs smiled and the crew cheered loudly, some pausing in their work to even throw up their hats in approval.

"Back ter work!" Jack shouted at them and they were soon climbing the rigging and raising the anchor. The mermaids watched as the pirate ships sailed away but eventually they returned to their Isle, all except the kong and his eldest daughter.

"What shall we do now, father?" Nerissa asked.

"They'll be back; men don't sail a fleet for a purpose only to abandon it when things get tough." Tonra answered and submerged himself in the water. Nerissa only nodded and followed her father to their home.

The 'Pearl' and the 'Troubadour' sailed through the night side by side and the pirates from each ship were leaning over to regale each other of their stories from their adventure. They had been sailing for hours and it was still dark out but the men were still excited, arguing bout which side had faced more danger.

"I'm no' a kid anymore, Jackie..." Teague said to his son. He was standing beside Jack at the helm of the 'Pearl' as they both stared across at the open ocean.

"No argumen' 'ere," Jack replied with a grin.

"I'm too old ter be involved in yer little skirmishes wif th' navy," the man finished.

"Still alive ain't yer?" his son asked but Teague only smiled back at him.

After a minute of silence he spoke again, "Wha're you hiddin', Jackie?"

"Hiddin'?" Jack repeated.

"I know yer, boy; yer didn't give up that sword fer nofin', did yer?"

Jack was forced to admit that the man did indeed know him very well, better than anyone in fact. "No," he answered simply handing the small object from his belt to his father.

"Mus' be damn important ter send it wif a fleet," the man said.

"Found 'em in a strong box...wif the kings stamp on i'," Jack added. Teague stared back at his son, handing it back to Jack.

"Ain't yer gonna look at 'em?" the older captain asked.

"Ain't 'ad chance ye', 'ave I?" Jack sighed, as he pocketed the object. He tried valiantly to conceal a tired yawn behind his hand as his exhaustion showed through. He was tired and exhausted...and in need of rum.

Jack nearly jumped when he felt his father take the wheel of the 'Pearl' in his own bejewelled hands. The man shot a glance over to Jack's cabin...which at the moment looked particularly inviting. With a sigh Jack relented and left without a word to his cabin.

He set down his hat on one of many tables in the dark room and shrugged off his coat. Then he took out the small object he had taken from the strong box on the French ship.

It was a simple pile of folded papers wrapped in string, and after closing the door behind him Jack dropped them on his desk, found a bottle of rum and began opening the envelopes to read the contents.