Chapter 1 – Becoming Part of the Crew

Let me first explain what got me here in the first place. I never had a mother. She died while giving birth to me at sea. My Father, who loved her dearly, took on the responsibility of raising me alone. We had a good bond and we travelled around the sea together for 16 years. We both loved it at sea. It was the only place we felt that we could truly be ourselves. It was a good life. I enjoyed it very much and the bond between me and my Father was continually growing stronger. I was Happy

But one day came that took that all away from me. The skies were blue and it looked as if the day would be great. Until, a ship appeared in the distance. I recognised it immediately from the stories that my Father had told me when I was little. I knew that once it had set a course for you, you didn't have long left to live.

Unfortunately for us The Queen Anne's Revenge had set a course right for us. Terror spread across the ship. We all knew by now what was coming our way. My Father however managed to stay calm. "We aren't going down without a fight!" I remember him shouting as he handed out swords to the crew.

When The White Maiden, my Father's beautiful ship, was boarded we were all ready and prepared to fight to our deaths. Maybe it would give future victims a chance if we killed a few. Our cannons were no match for the Queen Anne's Revenge but we continued to fight.

I had learnt quite a few tricks with a sword that turned out to be rather useful. I took down quite a few men. But the only thing on my mind was my father. I could see him at the other end of the deck, sword in hand and in combat with Blackbeard himself. I knew he wouldn't stand much of a chance alone so I ran to help him, taking down several men who were in my way. But I wasn't fast enough. I was only a few metres away when I watched with my own eyes as Blackbeard ran his sword though my father's chest.

My life felt as though it had ended there and then. I fell to the floor next to my father unable to speak. I watched as Blackbeard walked away as if nothing had happened. He didn't even look at me. I still remember is hard face with no emotion showing what so ever. What must it be like to be so cold hearted?

My father grabbed my arm and pulled me closer. Blood was oozing from the stab wound. He looked at me and I could see pain in his eyes but also love and sadness. "My time is up, but you still have much to live for. I love you Clara Adams and could not be more proud to have you as my daughter" His grip on my arm loosened as his body went limp. I felt a huge wave of sadness pass through me. He was the only family I had left. I closed his eyes. At least he was a peace.

I looked around me. Most of the crew were dead or seriously injured. There was nothing more I could do. I gave my father one last look before diving overboard in case there was a slim chance that I would make it to land and be able to live another day.

Once I was sure I was a good distance away from the ship, I turned to give it I final look. But it was gone. It had literally vanished. There was no debris or anything floating in the water and the Queen Anne's Revenge had disappeared too.

Fortunately for me I wasn't too far off the coast of Spain so I was able to swim ashore. I was left with nothing but my mother's amulet and my memories with my Father. On the back of the amulet were the words "Thou Shalt Always Love" engraved onto the back.

XXX

That night I cried, and I did every night for the next 6 months. I had never felt so alone. Images of that day kept flashing back into my mind. I will never be able to forget my father's body lying motionless on the deck and the evil smile that Blackbeard's face carried as he left the sinking ship. It haunts me in so many of my dreams, even now, 10 years later. But one thing has changed. After my months of mourning my father a decided to dedicate my life to the art of sword fighting so that one day I will face Blackbeard and kill him just like he did to my father.

Now at age 26 I was ready. That's the reason I am in Tortuga, so that I can be a crew member of a ship. I don't care where the destination is, but even if there is a slim chance that I will run into Blackbeard at sea, I'm going to take it.

I also missed being at sea. It was where I grew up, it brings back all the good memories I had with my father.

The bar itself was reasonably quiet compared to its usual state. But the room connected was a different story. There were so many men I couldn't count. Down either side of the room were two lines leading to tables with sailors sitting at them. They were both hiring a crew. The man at the left was dressed reasonably smartly and had a glass of water that he kept taking little sips from between interviewing men. To the right there were two men sitting at the desk both with a bottle of some sort of alcohol each. One had greying hair and wore it in a short ponytail. The other, who was defiantly younger, wore a triangular hat and had his hair in many dreadlocks with beads threaded onto some of them along with a variety of other miscellaneous. He was no doubt the captain.

I stood there trying to decide which line to join but I overheard something that made up my mind instantly. "Jack, remind me where we are heddin' when we've got a crew?" I looked over in the direction of the two men. It was the older of the two that had spoken. Jack, I assumed his name was then responded.

"Mr Gibbs, it is not the destination which is important, but the journey. Now that I have the Black Pearl out of that bottle that Blackbeard enclosed it in I wish to be at sea and enjoy not being on land which I have been for far too long." It sounded as though Jack had been a survivor of one of Blackbeard's attacks. He seemed nice as well despite being rather drunk.

I waited no longer than about 10 minutes before I was standing in front of Jack and his, I guessed, first mate Gibbs. "So what makes you a worthy crew member" Jack spoke before even looking at me. I knew I would get asked something like this so I had an answer already planned.

"I grew up at sea and then when my Father's ship was sunk by a heartless soul, I dedicated my life to sword fighting. I am also strong and willing to follow orders" It was the complete truth. The only thing I missed out was my intentions and that I was in fact a woman rather than a man. If they knew who I truly was I wouldn't stand a chance of getting into the crew. It was considered bad luck to have a woman on board a ship. What nonsense. Jack's voice brought me back to my surroundings and away from my thoughts.

"Good man, your in. I'm Captain Jack Sparrow and you address me as Captain. This is my first mate Joshamee Gibbs and you can call him whatever you want" he waved to his left where Gibbs was sitting. "We set sail at dawn. Then you can prove that you are as good as you say." He smiled.

"Aye Captain" I replied and then walked away feeling rather proud of myself.

That night passed very quickly and before I knew it I was onboard the Black Pearl with the few possessions I owned. My mother's amulet and my guitar. Music relaxed me in a way that nothing but the ocean could. It was the only thing I had left that could bring even the tiniest shred of happiness. After leaving my guitar underneath my new hammock, I went straight out on deck to perform my daily duties. I wanted to make a good impression on Captain Jack right from the start.

I did everything that was expected of me to the greatest standard I possibly could which worked on impressing Jack. He was a good Captain and he seemed to like my enthusiasm. Just being at sea made me happier than I have ever been on land and I have been on land for far too long.

By the end of my first of many long days of work I was ready to go straight to sleep in my hammock. My muscles ached in a way that they never had before. I pulled of one of my boots and dropped it down by a barrel next to where I was sitting, then the other. After giving my feet a light rub I went to lie down when another member of the crew approached me. He had a friendly smile that was missing a few teeth and he wore a ragged bandanna with no hat. His shirt looked as though it was supposed to be white but was covered in dirt and it had some rips in the sleeves.

"Have ye served under Captn Jack's command before?" he asked. His voice was friendly.

"No, firs' time for me" I said in the most masculine voice I could manage. He didn't seem to notice my struggle.

"Mine too" His smile widened. "He aint a bad Captn thou is he, I didn't much like the last ship I was on" He reached down and grabbed my hand to pull me from the floor where I was sitting. "I don't know anyone in the crew an' I'm guessin' you don' either" I nodded in agreement. At least I wasn't the only one who knew nobody. "Well then, I'm Joey Luckwall. We can get to know the other people together. Whas your name?"

Oh dear, I had spent so much time planning this and I had gone and forgotten one of the most important things, a name. "Uh, my name is...um" I had to think of something quickly. I thought to myself. Or else he will think I've gone mad. "Sam" I blurted out "Yeh my name is Sam Adams" I tried to sound as though I hadn't just thought it up on the spot. At least the last name was correct.

"Are ye sure?" Joey didn't sound convinced "You don't seem it"

"Yes" I responded with a firm nod. It didn't take much to convince him.

"Alright Sam. Thas my hammock jus' there" He pointed over to one about 6 yards away. "No we both know someone so is not like we are lonely any more"

"Aye" I smiled before lying down to get some rest. There would be an early start to the morning.