Chapter VII

The East India Trading Company

Bree stubbornly refused to leave Tortuga, her mind made up. "I ain't goin' out to sea ever again! Jones'll find me an' have the hide off me back when 'e does!"

Jack and Will tried to coax Bree to leave the isle, saying she could go with them to Port Royal, but once again, Bree refused, "If the Pearl can keep to the shallows, so can the Dutchman!"

Bree sat at her usual place in the tavern's back room, her arms crossed over her chest and her face set. She looked up as Will entered. He smiled at her, then went to her. He took her hand, saying, "Bree…I'm sorry for everything. If I had known that Jones could hear the music box, I wouldn't have even touched it! Please forgive me."

Bree patted Will's hand in a chummy way, "'Tis not yer fault, mate. I should never 'ave stolen it in the first place."

Bree looked to the side. A young woman entered the room.

Bree watched as the young woman approached. She looked like a proper lady. Bree stepped out from her place, and saw the woman halt, her eyes growing wide. Bree realized that her fins were visible. Embarrassed, she flattened them, trying to hide them.

Will spotted the young woman and smiled, going over to her and gently kissing her. Bree felt embarrassed and turned away, not wanting to watch this tender moment, feeling it not her place. When it was over she turned back, saying, "Um…we ain't been introduced yet, mate."

"This is Elizabeth, my fiancée," said Will, and to Elizabeth he said, "This is Bree, one of my latest pirate…acquaintances." He grinned at Bree. She grinned back, but saw Elizabeth gasp at the sight of her fangs. She quickly closed her mouth, mumbling, "Sorry…shoulda warned ye."

Will spoke softly to Elizabeth, "She was a pirate on the Dutchman. She has a few scars from that voyage."

Elizabeth looked at Bree and spoke, "Oh, so you were press ganged as well?"

Bree nodded, "Aye, mate. But I ended up escapin' from Jones."

Will turned to Elizabeth, "I'm glad you came. I think Bree might like to know what you found out."

Elizabeth sat down, speaking in a solemn tone, "I was just back at Port Royal, trying to find out all I could about the East India Trading Company."

At this, Bree winced, pressing her hand to her arm. Will and Elizabeth had both seen this. She must have had a run-in with Beckett as well, like Jack. Obviously she had a pirate brand.

Elizabeth continued, her voice urgent, "Norrington, a former commodore, stole the heart of Davy Jones from us. And he…he brought it to the East India Trading Company!"

Bree looked up at Elizabeth, eyes wide. Davy Jones' heart? In the hands of the East India Trading Company? Only two possible outcomes. Either the entire sea was under the command of the East India Trading Company or…Davy Jones would die.

Bree suddenly felt worried. But about which outcome? Surely about the first one. But…if Davy Jones died…no, she wanted that to happen!

Bree stood, her eyes resolute, "Well, someone should go an' get the heart back! Then we can stab it!" Her heart wrenched when she said this.

Elizabeth rose, nodding, "She's right. We need to go to Port Royal."

Bree stopped, thinking, "I can't go to sea. Ye and Will should go. Jack said somethin' about goin' to see someone…a witch doctor or somethin' else. Shouldn't be too hard for ye to find Beckett, aye?"

Elizabeth and Will nodded. They left the room, planning to hitch a ride on one of the merchant ships that snuck a free docking at the only free port left in these waters. Bree, meanwhile, went to find Jack.

Finding Jack wasn't too hard. All Bree had to do was follow the continuous sound of a flat palm hitting the cheek. Hard.

Bree found Jack ruefully rubbing his left cheek, grumbling something.

"What is this, the…fourth time this week?" Bree asked, amused.

"No, the fifth time today," Jack answered, still rubbing.

Bree bit back a smile, and then said, "Will and Elizabeth told me about the heart."

Jack stopped rubbing, "Elizabeth got back?"

Bree nodded, "Aye, an' she found out about the heart. I told her an' Will to go an' do anythin' they could to get it from the East India Trading Company. An' I'm gonna go with ye to visit that lady ye mentioned."

Jack waved his hand absently, "Ah, Tia Dalma, aye, ye can come. Beckett has the heart then? Well, there's the pirate life down the privy."

Bree growled, "Not if we fight back! I've got to get the heart back to Jon-" She stopped. No…no, they would stab the heart!

But Jack hadn't heard her. He spoke over the normal turmoil of Tortuga, "Would ye help me round up th' rest o' the crew, mate? Probably in the tavern somewhere. Thanks, luv."

He bent down and kissed her, but was soon rubbing his cheek again, Bree storming off in a huff. Jack smiled. Ah, what a pirate!

Bree hugged Will, saying, "Good luck, mate. Don't worry 'bout yer father. Once we get the heart back, we'll set 'im free!"

Will kissed Bree's cheek. Then he smiled, saying, "Best look at your back, mate. The fins are going away!"

Bree swiveled her body around and angled her head back. He was right! The fins were smaller! Her scars were healing. She grinned, and then turned to say goodbye to Elizabeth. The two girls hugged one another, and Elizabeth said, "Don't worry about us, Bree. You just take care of yourself!"

Bree watched from the pier as a ship, the Goldwake, sailed off from Tortuga, with Will and Elizabeth on board. She turned as Jack came up, followed by his crew. Jack was obviously a bit tipsy, bottle in hand and hat on crooked. He sniffed several times and then spoke, "Ah, Miss Bree, time for us to be shovin' off. Headed for Dia Talma's place, we are. O' course, we could always make a little cruise out o' it." He reeled drunkenly, almost falling into the water.

Bree sighed, stifling a smile of fondness. She pulled Jack upright, straightening his hat, supporting him and calling out to the crew, "I think our Cap'n wants us all on board, so 'e does!" She stepped back as Gibbs assisted Jack up to the Pearl.

As Bree boarded, she looked out over Tortuga. Ah, the sweet, proliferous bouquet that is Tortuga! She breathed in the somewhat questionable air one last time and then stepped away from the railing. She had had a chance to clean up at Tortuga. Ah, to not be covered in slime and barnacles! Lovely.

Bree heard Gibbs taking over for Jack, who had gone to his cabin to 'chart a course'. Bree would've wagered anything that he was sleeping.

Bree climbed into her hammock, yawning and rubbing her limbs. Compared to the work on the Dutchman, life on the Pearl was like sailing on a pleasure craft.

Bree pulled a curtain on a makeshift rod across. It had been thoughtfully put up by Gibbs in an attempt to give her some privacy from the all-male crew.

Bree leaned back, sighing contentedly. Ah, this was the life! A free pirate again! On the Black Pearl, no less! If any girl could truly call herself a pirate, it was Bree. And she drifted off to sleep with that knowledge.

Bree woke early again that morning, but so did everyone else. The ship lurched crazily, and all were thrown from their hammocks. Bree rose, nursing a bruised knee. She looked around, bewildered, "What 'appened?"

Gibbs, always the old salt and knowledgeable sailor, said, "Must've hit a reef. Or worse," he added, hurrying up on deck. Bree followed after him. What did he mean, or worse? Gibbs. He was always so superstitious. Bree sometimes laughed at his silly little customs, but he always looked so serious.

Bree looked over the railing with Gibbs. "Aye, it's a reef, alright." She watched as Jack came over to look. He stuck out his tongue, "Well that isn't very nice," he muttered. Then he brightened, saying, "Well, at least we're in the shallows, a bit."

Gibbs nodded, shuddering for some reason. Bree looked from him to Jack, "What is that supposed to mean?"

Jack didn't stay to talk. He began giving out orders, "Hard to port then hard to starboard. Free the rudder. Then we'll see how big a hole she's got. Damaged the hull, it has." He stuck his tongue out again.

Jack was right. Once they broke loose of the reef, they had to sail out to deeper waters, not deep enough to cause Jack to be uncomfortable, but deep enough to take a look at the hole. Bree volunteered to investigate. She was the best swimmer by far and could hold her breath much longer. Now that she wasn't undead anymore, she couldn't stay underwater for as long as she wished, but she could hold her breath long enough.

Bree climbed onto the railing, calling to Jack, "I'll take a look an' ye can haul me up."

Jack nodded, reaching to take her broadsword from her. But Bree stayed his hand, "'Tis all right, mate. I'd rather have it with me." Then she did a fantastic swan dive into the water.

Bree hit the water, cutting it like a knife as she swam gracefully. She swam down to the bottom of the hull, grimacing as she saw a large, jagged hole. It wouldn't be easy to plug it, but it was possible. She felt along the edges, bubbles streaming up from her mouth. It was a large hole, as long as she was tall.

Bree, by pure chance, looked down. A large bubble burst from her mouth as she gave a silent scream. Down below her, almost at the bottom, was a ship. A ship that was moving. And figures were moving with it. The Flying Dutchman!

Flailing around in the water, Bree floundered towards the hole, squeezing herself in as far as she could go, praying that they wouldn't see her. They must know the ship was there!

Peeking out around the edge of the hole, Bree watched the Dutchman. She was going right past them! Bree felt relief flood through her. She waited a bit longer, and then emerged from the hole. Her lungs were bursting. She swam up to the surface, gulping in the air greedily. When she had recovered, she called out frantically, "Pull me up! The Dutchman's underneath us! Hurry!"

Jack heard Bree's words and felt panic rise, which wasn't very common in him. But if Bree was caught…he didn't dare think about it. Searching for a rope, Jack called out encouragingly to Bree, "No worries, mate, we'll have ye out!"

Bree floated there, treading water. She waiting, terror filling her as Jack kept searching for the rope. She called out with a slight sob in her voice, "Please!"

Just as a rope was flung out to her, and just as she reached for it, there was a great whoosh as the Flying Dutchman surfaced. Bree was slammed onto the deck, her breath knocked from her as the ship lurched crazily, water cascading down from the railing. She was almost too stunned to do anything, but she kept her wits about her. Leaping up, Bree screamed out something to the Pearl and then turned her attention back to what was happening. Maccus was closing in on her, grinning wickedly as he unsheathed his sword.

Bree wasted no time. She drew her sword, giving a prayer of thanks for the fact she hadn't taken it off. Holding it before her, she beckoned Maccus forward, snarling, "C'mon, sharky! Try yer luck!"

Maccus lunged forward and swung out at Bree, but she parried and knocked him on the side of the head with her hilt, felling him. As she turned, he grabbed her foot, tripping her. She fell heavily, but flipped over, her sword held up defensively. Leaping up again, Bree slashed at one of the crew, leaving a gash in his side as she smacked another with the flat of her blade.

On the Pearl, Jack was watching Bree fight, but hiding so as not to be seen by Jones. She was amazing, but he knew he could do nothing for her. If he tried to fire at the Dutchman, the Pearl would be blown to splinters. He spotted Davy Jones, standing on the far side, watching Bree fight. Obviously the captain of the cursed ship was enjoying this. Who knew what he would do to Bree!

Bree was fighting fiercely, but she was fighting a losing battle. All her opponents couldn't die, so she couldn't win. But suddenly, they all stopped. Bree backed up, breathing hard. The pack of the crew parted, and Davy Jones himself strode forward. Bree watched in horror as he drew his sword in his good hand. To her surprise, the sword was clean and sharp, but dark like a deadly shadow.

Bree gripped her sword hilt tighter. She had always fought with a broadsword. She knew she was one of the only pirates who even owned one. That had often given her the advantage, but now she was facing another armed with a broadsword. And Jones was a far better fighter, and much stronger than her.

Jones struck first. His first blow hit Bree's blade squarely, and the clang of the blades could be heard all around. Bree was knocked to the side, her hand stinging from the blow. Then Jones slammed the flat of his blade into Bree's shoulder. Bree fell, gritting her teeth and trying to stand. As Jones went down to strike again, Bree dodged around him. She was quicker on her feet, and that was her advantage. She moved around him, still knowing she couldn't beat him, even if she had been a better fighter. She could only parry his attacks, trying to protect herself.

At last, Bree thrust out, but Jones slammed his blade into hers, spinning it out of her hand. Bree took off after it, but gave a sharp yelp as Jones grabbed the back of her neck with his claw, gripping her like a vice. He wrapped his arm around her waist, choking her. Bree couldn't move, her arms pinned to her sides. She could only stare in terror as the Dutchman tilted down, preparing to go back into the depths.

Jack watched from the Pearl as the Dutchman began to descend. He could see Bree, her eyes wide and terrified. She was mouthing something, unable to shout because of the claw wrapped around her throat. Jack could only watch as she slowly descended into the water, her face streaked with tears, blood and grime, and her eyes pleading.

The Dutchman was gone. Bree was gone. Jack had lost many friends before. He always felt the pain at the loss. He felt it now. But Bree hadn't been taken while he fought for her. She had been taken as he stood on the decks of his ship, watching. And she wasn't dead. She was the prisoner of the dread Davy Jones. She was doomed to a living hell, now. She would most likely be forced to crew his ship for an eternity.

Gibbs stood beside Jack. He hadn't said a word. The tough old sailor turned to his captain, saying in an unsteady voice, "Cap'n? What…what are yer orders?"

Jack didn't say anything for a long while. He then turned to Gibbs, saying, "Erm…change o' course…we'll go to Port Royal, meet up wi' Will an' Miss Swann."

Gibbs nodded slowly, knowing as well as Jack that Bree was gone. With the Pearl holed, they had no chance of rescuing Bree.

Jack cleared his throat, then turned, "Well…don't just stand there! Change course! I think it's…that way." Jack pointed absently. Then he disappeared to his cabin.

Will and Elizabeth weren't expecting Jack's arrival. Of course, he couldn't simply sail into Port Royal or he would be arrested, hanged, along with his crew, and the Pearl apprehended. So he anchored just where it was safe and sent one of the crew ashore to bring Will and Elizabeth.

Will sat across from Jack, asking, "Surely you didn't already go to see Tia?"

Jack nodded, "Aye, surely I didn't. But no, I surely did not do so for any real reason."

Elizabeth asked the question Jack was well prepared for, "Where's Bree?"

"Ah, Miss Bree. Well, she decided to stay in Tortuga. Lovely this time of year with the…ah…rum…and she just loves rum so she stayed there!" Jack's eyes were innocent enough to charm birds from trees.

Elizabeth and Will bought it, even though both couldn't see Bree sitting back and doing nothing. But they let the matter drop.

"Now, have ye found anythin' out about the heart?" Jack asked, leaning forward.

"Well, Beckett hasn't done anything with it yet," Will said, and Elizabeth began where he left off, "But he will! I know he will! He's probably already started but we can't tell yet!"

Jack sighed, leaning back, "Bugger."