Chapter 12
It was a great stand-off, one that would be spoken of for years to come. The six pirates looked to one another for a change of movement. To see when they should be shot.
Then, starting with Barbossa, they started to laugh.
It was a bit funny though. They had just returned to the land of the living and already were threatening each other, while they were sopping wet and looking like drowned rats. As they laughed, the pistols they were holding were lowered. The rest of the crew were unsure of what to do, so they watched to see what would happen.
"All right, then!" Barbossa said, raising his pistols, his tone serious. The laughing stopped in an instant, the pistols raised and primed for firing. Whatever amusement that had shone on their faces was gone.
"The Brethren Court's a'gatherin' at Shipwreck Cove. And Jack, you and I are a'goin', and there'll be no arguin' that point." Barbossa said, looking straight at Jack.
"I is arguin' the point. If there's pirates gatherin', I'm pointing my ship the other way." Jack said
"You are not getting out of this dad, all of the lords need to be there." Jewel said, both of her pistols aimed at her father, "Or perhaps you'd like to give me your bloody piece of eight to go in your stead, you bloody coward."
"Threaten me all you want luv, my piece of eight is staying with me, and I will not be going to the Court." Jack said. Jewel growled and cocked her pistols.
"The pirates are gathering to fight Beckett, and you're a pirate." Elizabeth said, aiming both of her pistols at Jack. The Captain, in return, then aimed both of his pistols at her. Gibbs aimed one of his pistols at Elizabeth.
"Fight or not, you're not running, Jack." Will said, aiming both of his pistols at Jack. Gibbs moved both of his pistols to aim at Will. Once Barbossa started to speak though, he moved on of his pistols to be aimed to him.
"If we don't stand together, they'll hunt us down one by one, till there be none left, but you." Barbossa explained
"I quite like the sound of that. Captain Jack Sparrow, the last pirate." Jack said with a smile.
"Aye," Barbossa said. He took a step forward toward Jack. Gibbs started to follow before Barbossa aimed one of his pistols behind him at Gibbs.
"And you'll be fightin' Jones alone. And how does that figure into your plan?" Barbossa continued
"I'm still working on that." Jack said, nodding his head. "But I'll not be going back to the locker, mate, count on that." Jack pulled back the trigger on the pistol that was aimed at Barbossa. It made a springing sound. One by one the pirates fired their pistols, all ending in the same result.
"Wet powder." Gibbs said. There were expressions of disappointment and relief amongst them.
"Wait! We can still use them as clubs." Pintel said loudly, holding up his own pistol. Ragetti smacked him in the head with his own pistol. "Ow!"
"Sorry. Effective, though." Ragetti said. Jack put a hand on Jewel's shoulder. She groaned before he said anything.
"You weren't really going to shoot me, luv. Were you?" he asked, his voice hushed so as not to draw attention. Jewel looked back at him, her eyes piercing.
"You are not risking our lives, dad," she said, shaking her head, "You are going to the Court even if we have to lock you in the brig. Even if I have to take your piece of eight from your cold dead fingers." Jewel put a hand on her cutlass, not looking away from her father. Jack lifted his hand from her shoulder and stepped back, shaking his head.
"You've been with Barbossa too long. You're acting just like him." he said
"And what if I am?" Jewel asked
"I forbid you from being friends with him." Jack said, pointing at Jewel.
"You're not going to stop me dad." Jewel said, walking away. "Don't you recall our conversation in the Locker?" She smirked a little, enjoying her father's pain. But she thought back to what he said.
Was she really becoming like Barbossa?
She shrugged off the thought and went over to where everybody was gathering, even her father was going there. The charts were unrolled on a table. Will pointed to one spot. It was a small island.
"There's a freshwater spring on this island. We can resupply there, and get back to shooting each other later." he explained
"Brilliant." Jack said, looking over Will's right shoulder before looking to Barbossa. "You can lead the shore party, and I'll stay with my ship."
"I'll stay with the ship." Jewel suggested, but she was not heard amongst the captains.
"I'll not be leaving my ship in your command." Barbossa said to Jack
"Leave the ship to me, I'll take care of it while you're gone." Jewel put in once more, but was ignored again.
"Why don't you both go ashore and leave the ship in my command," Will said, earning stares from the captains and Jewel,"... Temporarily."
"I think I like that idea." Jack said
"Aye, it'll work." Barbossa agreed
"But it was mine!" Jewel complained
"You're not a leader, Sparrow." Barbossa said
"You're not old enough, luv." Jack said
"You're not experienced, Jewel." Will said
"But, bu-ARGH!" Jewel yelled, pulling at her hair. She stomped away, closing her eyes to appear in the crow's nest.
"I could be a captain if they gave me the chance." She grumbled to herself.