It was dank and dark in the cells of the naval fort in Port Royal, the sun had set long ago and the night was still young. It was quiet, save for a group of other criminals in the next cell trying to entice a guard dog to come forward. The scruffy looking creature in question had the keys hanging from a loop in his mouth, looking with old tired eyes to the captives in their cell. It seemed to debate going towards them as they whistled and called. One held out a bone in order to tempt the dog over, while other held their hands to snap their fingers or make a grab when the dog neared. Another held a rope they managed to find, ready to lasso the dog when it got close. No matter the efforts though, the dog would not budge one bit. It wasn't as dim as they thought and made no movement to go towards them.
"If you keep calling like that the dog is never going to come." came a voice as the group looked up and into the cell next to them. They had been joined not long ago by Captain Jack and a supposed witch, both had apparently escaped capture for sometime before being brought down. Both were in the cell next to the group now, with the pirate laying up against one of the walls, his tankard covering his eyes.
"Sorry if we haven't resigned ourselves to the gallows just yet." retorted one of the scruffy looking men as he turned to Jack with a light frown. Jack just rolled his eyes in return as they return to trying to tempt the dog over again. He tipped his tankard up, his eyes wandering over to his cellmate. The blond in question had been quiet for quite some time, ever since Norrington locked them down below and informed them of their 'date' with the noose tomorrow. She had paled a bit at the realization of what the Commodore had meant before fighting tooth and nail with the soldiers as they dragged both them off to the cells. Now she was silent, hunched over in one of the corners. He had decided to give her some space, she looked like she needed it after all but now Jack was concerned.
"Little Dove?" he called gently looking towards the girl. When she didn't respond to the nickname he was so fond of calling her, he stood up from his lounging spot and made his way over. Jack felt her jump when his hand touched her shoulder, imminently frightened blue eyes stared back at him.
"Are you alright?" he asked giving her a curious stare,"You seem a bit...not all there. This wouldn't have anything to do with the gallows would it?"
"A-A little." she stammered with a dry swallow before looking away again from Jack. Her arm surrounding her body tightened a bit as she stared down at the ground once
"B-But it's nothing. I-I'll wake up soon, after this is just a dream. Right? Tomorrow I'll be back with my cousin and chew him out for taking us out on the lake. Th-That speed boat idea was awful." she added slowly with a nervous chuckle.
"I'd hate to break it to you love, but this isn't a dream." he stated watching the girl,"Trust me on that. I have better dreams than this, most filled with rum and women. Not musty sea dogs and bars."
"It is so!" shouted Kia looking back up with a mixed look of fear and anger. This had to be fake, all of it was not seriously happening now. There was no way any of this was real, no possible logical way at all. This was a dream. That's how she got here. That's why she had went along with the little charade earlier, after all it was nothing more than a dream and you often just went along with your dreams. After all no way to control them sometimes. But she wanted to wake up now. Why wasn't she waking up though? This was turning into a nightmare for her now.
Jack backed up slightly at the outburst, giving her a slightly confused look as he held his hands up. Even the dog and the men in the cell next to them seemed to be watching the two, whatever was going on was worth watching. The blonde kept watching Jack for a few moment, the pirate seeming to think of what to say to the girl next. She was defiantly scared. He hesitantly went back over, contemplating reaching a hand out to her before thinking better than to and drawing it back to himself.
"What proof do you need to prove this is real?" Jack asked watching her and noting some scratched and red areas on her arms,"You already have seemed to try to 'wake up' love."
Kia frowned more. She had tried, really hard in fact. The scratched weren't enough to draw blood but they were enough to cause slight pain. The red areas were from the pinching and slight biting she had done too while rocking in the corner. Usually pain was supposed to bring you out of a sleep, logically you shouldn't feel pain in your sleep. The accused witch had felt them all. Which made her worry more and more about the situation.
"I already told you. The date with the gallows will not happen, I'll think of some way to get us out of here before that happens." added Jack trying to offer some comfort to his companion when she looked away even more worried than before.
"I'm going to wake up before it happens." Kia muttered back with a frown,"If only I'd wake up!"
"That girl's lost her bloomin' mind." stated one of the men in the other cell as his companions nodded in agreement. Jack turned to them with a frown. They were not helping the situation much.
"I thought you gents were trying to entice a dog to give you keys to escape?" he asked with a raised brow.
"We're much more interested in the lassie there having a fit." added another with a smirk. It was probably the most entertainment they had for a while in the dank musty cell for a while. After all there wasn't much to do except try to get the keys or wait to meet the gallows. One of course hoped by some miracle to escape before that happened but chances were slim to none.
"Well, you're not helping the situation." stated Jack before making a shooing motion at them,"Now go back to your useless task. This is private."
"Who died and made you king of the cells?" asked another of the men with a frown,"If we wanna watch. Ya can't stop us."
"The girlie doesn't mind." stated another before turning back to the blonde,"Don't seem to mind much right now anyhow."
"My NAME is Kia." she snapped looking to the other prisoners in the other cell with a mini glare,"Stop talking as if I'm not here!"
"Well,according to you, you're not. So, we can talk all we want about ya." grinned one of them at the idea. The others seemed to think about it before nodding in unison. It sounded true enough after all if the blond didn't believe this was happening than she wasn't 'there' so it wasn't considered rude to talk about her. Least in their heads this sounded logical.
"Hey, since this is a 'dream' why don't ya just make the bars disappear or imagine a beach." stated another adding in his own logic to the situation.
"It doesn't work that way." hissed Kia standing and turning to them.
"And why not?"asked the other,"If it is a dream than ya should be able to do what ya want, right?"
"Well obviously it's a nightmare now." she frowned at the men,"You can't control a nightmare. Everyone knows THAT."
"Now, hold on Little Dove, I keep telling ya. Ya ain't dreamin' this." stated Jack going over and placing two gentle hands on her shoulder.
"Don't touch me!" she shouted turning to Jack with a scowl, though her eyes seemed to be going watery. She was keeping herself from crying from what the pirate could tell. This wasn't real. The touch from Jack felt real though. Just like the small amount of pain she inflicted on herself earlier. But it couldn't be than this would be reality and she was going to die. She didn't want to die, she did nothing wrong. The girl was frightened beyond belief. She wanted to be back with her family, back on the lake with her cousin, driving the speed boat around on the water. She didn't want to be in this cell. Or see those damn gallows outside the barred windows. It wasn't long before the tears began to fall and she buried her head in her knees, letting it all go. She couldn't handle if this was real. She quickly covered her ears to drown out the reality, her eyes shutting tightly as she just let tears fall to the ground.
Her companion frowned again as he ventured once more over to the girl. He knelt in front of her before once again cautiously reaching his hands out and taking her hands away from the spots on top of her ears. The girl frowned again, about to struggle and shout at Jack to leave her alone. She didn't want to deal with the reality that was happening. However, the pirate's grip was firm on her wrist as he gave her a stern look. Fresh tears began to flow down her face as she looked back to Jack, finally breaking.
"I-I'm scared Jack. I d-don't want to die." she whimpered as she buried her head against his shoulder and sobbed. Jack released her wrist as her hands went to grip the front of his shirt and hold on as if for dear life. He gently laid a hand on the back of her head as he stroked her hair. This girl was frightened that much was clear to the pirate.
"I know love." he replied gently looking down at the girl,"I promise...I'll make sure nothing happens to you. You have my word, I'll protect you."
They sat there for a few moments before Jack went to move, gently picking her up in his arms and carrying her over to his the spot he had lounged in. He sat down before laying back and letting her rest on his chest. The blond kept her head buried against him as he continued to stroke her head, trying to calm her as best he could for now. He turned to the men in the next cell, all still watching the scene as he frowned.
"Don't you have a dog you were trying to lure over?" he asked with a raised brow,"Hope back to it than. Shows over."
The night was quiet as Governor Swann joined Commodore Norrington on a walk along the walls of the fort of Port Royal. All was calm and quiet. But in a more bleak sense than anything. The silence hung for a while before Governor Swann cleared his throat.
"Has my daughter given you an answer yet?" he asked curiously about the proposal before the ordeal that morning. He was interested if she had said her thoughts on the matter and possibly accepted the commodore's proposal of marriage.
"No, she hasn't." answered Norrington as he and the governor continued to walk along the fort's wall.
"Well, she has had a very trying day." he paused a bit and looked out over the water,"Ghastly weather,don't you think?"
"Bleak. Very bleak." Norrington answered again before stopping a bit. There was a faint noise heard in the distance.
"What's that?" asked the Governor pointing out a bit into the distance. It didn't take long for what that noise had been. Norrington quickly turned.
"Cannon fire!" he shouted before tackling the Governor over just as a shot hit the wall where they had stood previously. As the dust cleared Norrington stood and helped a very shocked Swann back up to his feet. It was clear they were under attack.
"Return Fire!" he commanded to his men as they began to scurry about to prepare to fight back.
Inside the cells below the prisoners could hear the commotion and from the barred windows even see some of the damage being down. Smoke and burst of explosions were often seen. Parts of building and dirt flying up in the fray. It was madness out sat up quickly after the first fire.
"I know those guns." he replied before gently nudging the blonde off him and heading for the little window of the cell,"It's the Pearl."
"The Black Pearl?" asked one looking even more worried than before. Kia gave a confused yet curious look as she went over to join Jack by the cell window.
"The Black Pearl?" she repeated slowly looking out the window at the cannon fight going on between the Navy and the Pearl.
"I've heard stories. She's been preying on ships and settlements for near ten years." the prisoner continued looking more and more grim,"Never leaves any survivors."
"No survivors?" Jack asked looking over to the other prisoners with an amused look,"Then where do the stories come from,I wonder?"
The commotion from fight down at the Fort had reached the Governor's House up on the hill overlooking Port Royal's town. Elizabeth quickly went to her balcony, a worried look etched on her face as she watched. It wasn't long before she caught sight of pirates coming up to the house. Quickly she ran back inside and to the stairs, hearing knocking on the door.
"Don't!" she quickly called coming in just as the butler reached the door and opened it. A gun greeted his sight as a the front of the group smiled.
"Hello, chum." with that he shoot the other in the face as he fell back,dead. Elizabeth gave a startled and scared little cry as they began to swarm into the house. It didn't take long for the intruders to notice her as the one pointed to her.
"Up there!" he instructed as Elizabeth quickly went to run back to her room. Locking the door she went to find a place to hide. Without thinking, she ran into her maid both jumping and giving startled gasps.
"Miss Swann!" exclaimed the maid as both women took to hiding behind a room divider,"They've come to kidnap you."
"What?" Elizabeth gave a confused look to that notion.
"You're the Governor's Daughter." the maid stated. It did make some sense now about why they'd come to the house, besides to plunder whatever riches it held. After all she'd make a nice bargaining device if they needed one. Elizabeth looked back to the door as the pirates continued to bang and holler before turning back to the maid.
"They haven't seen you. Hide, and the first chance you get run to the fort." she replied to the maiden as she heard the door finally open. Elizabeth darted from the hiding spot to distract the two that came in, giving the other woman enough of a chance to run out. Running into her nearby bedroom, she quickly the brunette armed herself and grabbed the bed warmer from between the sheets. As soon as she heard the footsteps of her pursuers, she swung as hard as she could. A sharp clang indicated she had gotten one, a little pride rising up. Course it didn't last long as the second thinner pirate grabbed the handle.
"Gotcha." he chuckled and began tormenting her. Elizabeth frowned before pulling the release on the bed warmer as hot ashes and coal rained down on the other. A startled and pained yelp came from the pirate as he released the handle in favor of trying to get the ash and coal off himself.
"It's hot! It's burning!" he shouted loudly as his companion picked himself up just as Elizabeth darted out of the room. He grabbed the other's shirt roughly.
"Come on!" with that they pursued after Elizabeth. As Elizabeth came to the bottom of the stairs only to be cornered as they jump over the rails and smirk widely. A sound in the distance is heard as all three turn slightly, a cannon ball a few moments later shooting through the house and hitting another pirate. The shock of the blast loosened the chandelier as it comes crashing down between the brunette and her pursuers, giving her a chance to run for the kitchen. Quickly Elizabeth shuts the door, using a candelabra to keep it locked tight. Once again the pirates are at the door, banging hard and shouting as the she begins to look around. She needed something to defend herself with. Her eyes quickly spot the sword display as she climbs up and grabs one of the handles. However,it becomes quickly clear that the swords will not budge from the mount as Elizabeth began to tug more and more. She gives a frustrated grunt and tries in vain to pull one out,looking up as the banging becomes louder and louder. Panic raises knowing the candle stand won't keep it shut forever.
Abandoning the sword, she quickly goes to hide in the diner wear closet. Slowly and quietly shutting the door just as the pirates burst through. They don't seem to notice it as they begin to look slowly around the room for the woman.
"We know you're here,Poppet." hummed the other as he inched more and more into the room. The thinner on was close behind him, smirking.
"Poppet." he chuckled.
"Come out...and we promise we won't hurt you." he looked to the other with a smirk,"We will find you, Poppet. You've got something of ours, and it calls to us. The gold calls to us."
"Gold calls..." the other repeated as they continued making their way closer and closer to where Elizabeth was hidden. She looked down at the medallion, wondering if that is what they meant.
"'Ello, Poppet." came the voice as Elizabeth looks up to see the pirate's eye through the slit. Quickly he opens the doors.
"Parley!" she replies quickly backing up as best she could from the other.
"What?" asked the pirate as if he misheard what she had just said.
"Parley. I invoke the right of parley." she began relief that her knowledge of pirates may help,"According to the code of the brethren, set down by the pirates Morgan and Bartholomew, you have to take me to your captain."
"I know the code." hissed the pirate as he glared at the brunette. It was beyond him how another that wasn't a pirate knew about the codes.
"If an adversary demands parley you can do them no harm until the parley is complete." she added.
"To blazes with the code." the other pirate hisses as his companion stopped him. He gave the other an annoyed look.
"She wants to be taken to the Captain." he replied before looking back at Elizabeth,"And she'll go without a fuss. We must honor the code."
At the fort, the battle was still going on. The prisoners in the cells watching the commotion, positive that the Pearl's occupants were winning from what they can see and hear. Which if the rumors where true about leaving no survivors than the occupants were in a bad position. There was no means of escape for them down in the cells. And with how well trying to get the key worked earlier, they'd be dead before the mangy dog brought it over. All they could do was watch and wait. Or at least they though.
"Move." Jack quickly stated grabbing Kia back as a cannonball hit the cell wall. Looking to see what damage had been done, the other occupants were pleased to find a big enough hole on their side of the bars that allowed them to escape. They quickly began to swarm out of the hole and run off into the night. The last one turned to Jack and Kia, noting their side's hole wasn't even big enough for an arm to fit through.
"My sympathies, friends, you've no manner of luck at all." he replied before climbing through and making a run for it. Kia frowned before turning to Jack, worried.
"What now?" she asked trying not to panic just yet. Now was not the time to break down about their situation for sure. Jack frowned before looking over and picking up the bone that the other prisoners had used to entice the dog. Quickly he went to the bars and held it out, whistling.
"Come on, doggy. It's just you and us now." he tried to sound as sweet as possible as Kia got down next to him to help out,"Just you and ol' us now. Come on."
"Come on. Come on, good boy." Kia added along with Jack as the dog moved out from under the bench,"That's a good boy come on! Just a lil' closer."
"Bit closer, a bit closer. That's it, that's it, doggy." replied Jack wagging the bone more as the dog got closer to them,"Come on you filthy, slimy, mangy cur."
A crash came from upstairs startling the dog. It quickly turned and ran off, taking the keys with it as Jack and Kia reached desperately. All they could do was watch as the dog disappeared down stairs. They both slumped against the bars.
"No, no, no, no, no, I didn't mean it." he groaned out and rested his head against the bars,"Perfect."
"There goes the keys."groaned Kia before jumping slightly when two guards came tumbling down the stairs. She quickly stood and back up in the cell. That was definitely not a good sign at all. Jack followed suite, though staying near the bars and not looking as surprised.
"This ain't the armory." a man huffed in disappointment as he came down the stairs and stepped around the fallen guards. His companion looked towards the cells before smirking widely.
"Well, well, well, look what we have here Twigg," he began and got close to the cell,"Captain Jack Sparrow."
"Last time I saw you," Twigg began spitting off to the side,"you were all alone on a godforsaken island, shrinking into the distance. His fortunes haven't improved much."
Both man gave a chuckle at this before noticing Kia in the corner. The blonde just frowned and tried staying as much as possible out of their reach. She didn't like these two. Sure they were pirates and they seemed to know Jack, but she could tell they weren't his pals. Nor were they anything like him. They seemed just plain horrible.
"Look like he got himself a lil' companion this time, Koehler." he grinned and looking the girl over,"Maybe a bit of fortune. Though not much by the looks of her."
"HEY!" hissed Kia angrily at the two.
"Worry about your own fortune, gentlemen." began Jack seeming unphased still by the men and using a hand to guide the girl behind him as a form of protection,"The deepest circle of Hell is reserved for betrayers and mutineers."
Without warning Koehler grabbed for Jack's throat, causing both his and Kia's eyes to widen in surprise. Before them wasn't flesh but a skeletal arm.
"So there is a curse. That's interesting." mused Jack as Koehler released his throat and glared at the other. He pulled his hand back through the bars and glared more. The hand in question turned back to normal.
"You know nothing of Hell." with that him and Twiggs quickly left as Jack seemed deep in through.
"Very interesting."
"I didn't know we was takin' on captive, Pintel. Ragetti." replied the larger dark skinned male as his two crew mates boarded the Pearl. They brought Elizabeth forward with them as they stood in front of the other pirate.
"She's invoked the right of parley with Captain Barbossa." Pintel replied to the other as Elizabeth removed their grip from her. She stepped forward to the other bigger pirate.
"I am here to negotiate-!" before she could finish her sentence the other back-handed her hard across the face. Quickly her hands flew to the side of her cheek as she held it.
"You will speak when spoken to." he spoke to her. Elizabeth gave a frightful look as the other members of the crew snickered. They were certain a lady such as herself wasn't use to be treated in such a manner. A hand wrapped around the wrist of the pirate that struck her.
"And ye not lay a hand on those under the protection of Parley." he stated giving the other a warning look.
"Aye sir."
"My apologies, Miss." the other bowed his head slightly as he released his fellow pirate's wrist.
"Captain Barbossa," she began looking at the captain of the ship,"I am here to negotiate the cessation of hostilities against Port Royal."
"There are a lot of long words in there, Miss; we're naught but humble pirates." Barbossa chuckled light as the crew joined in,"What is it that you want?"
"I want you to leave and never come back." replied Elizabeth with a serious expression. Once again the pirate crew began to laugh as another chuckle came from Barbossa himself. He sighed and gave Elizabeth an amused look.
"I am disinclined to acquiesce to your request." he stated before adding,"That means 'no'."
"Very well." stated Elizabeth before removing the necklace from around her neck and heading to the side of the vessel. All eyes seemed to settle on the medallion as she hung it over the side.
"I'll drop it." she simply stated. The captain gave another chuckle and looked behind him to the crew.
"Me holds are burstin' with swag. That bit of shine matters to us?" he paused and gave her a serious look,"Why?"
"It's what you've been searching for." began Elizabeth confused at not getting a bigger reaction,"I recognized the ship. I saw it eight years ago on the crossing from england."
"Did ja, now?" replied Barbossa looking not the slightest shocked.
"Fine." Elizabeth narrowed her eyes,"I suppose if it is worthless then there's no point in me keeping it."
With that the brunette let it slip a bit from her grasp. The bluff worked as the crew lurched slightly forward, fearing losing the medallion in the waters below. She couldn't help but smile. It was clear that the medallion was important to them. They couldn't hide that fact.
"Ah." chuckled Barbossa giving Elizabeth a look,"You have a name,Missy?"
"Elizabeth...Turner." she lied before standing straight,"I'm a maid in the Governor's household."
"Miss Turner...?" he seemed interested now before turning to the crew who seemed to recognised the name. Some, including Pintel and Ragetti murmured 'Bootstrap'.
"And how does a maid come to own a trinket such as that." began Barbossa,"Family heirloom,perhaps?"
"I didn't steal it if that is what you meant." frowned Elizabeth at the notion. Sure,she had just lied about her name but she wasn't a thief.
"Very well,you hand it over and we'll put your town to our rudder and ne'er return." the captain replied to the brunette before holding out his hand to accept the medallion,"Do we have a deal?"
Elizabeth hesitated slightly before handing the medallion over to Barbossa. He quickly snatched it up, giving it a look over and turning it in his hands.
"Our bargain?" asked Elizabeth as he gave her a look before turning to his men.
"Still the guns and stow 'em, signal the men, set the flags and make good to clear port." he ordered and began walking off to his cabin. The brunette paused for a bit before following after the captain in a hurry.
"Wait!You have to take me to shore. According to the Code of the Order of the Brethern-" she stopped when Barbossa turned around to face her, getting close to her face.
"First, your return to shore was not part of our negotiation nor our agreement so I must do nothing. Secondly, you must be a pirate for the pirate's code to apply and you're not. And thirdly, the code is more what you'd call 'guidelines' than actual rules." Barbossa smirked as two of his men grabbed Elizabeth's wrist,"Welcome aboard the Black Pearl, Miss Turner."
"They've taken her." came the young blacksmith as he barged into the Fort the next morning after the Black Pearl retreated,"They've taken Elizabeth."
Norrington and Governor Swann as well as several naval officers looked up from going over a map on a table. After the Black Pearl had retreated last night, they were busy setting up to track it as well as clean up the damage from the attack. There was much to fix in Port Royal. Norrington went back to the map to plot a course, waving to one of the soldiers.
"Mr. Murtogg, please remove this man." he stated not bothering to look up. He quickly shrugged off the guard leading him to the door.
"We need to hunt them down." he stated looking up to the Governor,"We must save her."
"And what do you propose we start?"asked Governor Swann looking at the other,"If you have any information concerning my daughter,please share it."
"That Jack Sparrow." began Murtogg slowly,"He talked about the Black Pearl."
"Mentioned it, is more what he did." stated his friend from earlier.
"Ask him where it is. Make a deal with him." stated the blacksmith,"He could lead us to it."
"No." began Norrington looking up at the other,"The Pirates who invaded this Fort left Sparrow locked in his cell ergo they are not his allies. Governor, we will establish the most likely course-"
He stopped when a hatchet lodged into the wood table, thrown by the angered blacksmith.
"That's not food enough!" he shouted.
"Mr. Turner, you are not a military man, you are not a sailor. You are a blacksmith and this is not the moment for rash action." stated Norrington unlodging the hatchet and handing it back to him,"Do not make the mistake of thinking you are the only man here who cares for Elizabeth."
In the cells below the accused witch and the pirate were working hard on the lock to their cell. After the encounter with the cursed pirates known as Twigg and Koehlr, they had spent the night trying to pick the lock. Using the bone from earlier to entice the keys from the dog, they had broken off the tip and sharpened it best they could inside their confinement. Now the pointed end was jammed into the keyhole as Jack worked to unlock it.
"Come on." grunted Kia watching as Jack moved the bone around, trying to pick the lock best he could with the tool at hand. She gripped the bars tightly in anticipation. Suddenly, they heard footsteps on the stair case. Both paused before Jack released the bone and both laid quickly on the floor. There wasn't much else they could do really except pretend that they were either unconscious or something along those lines.
"You. Sparrow." the young man called as he neared the cell after climbing down the stairs.
"Aye." answered Jack slightly raising his head when his name was called. Kia hosted herself on her elbows. She recognised the other outside from the Blacksmith Shop.
"You're the blacksmith that got us caught." she frowned unhappily at the other,"What do you want?"
"You are familiar with that ship," he began ignoring the blonde as he focused on Jack instead,"The Black Pearl?"
"I've heard of it." replied Jack casually laying back down and pretending not to care. The blonde switched to laying on her side and sharing the same disinterested look as the pirate. There was no real reason to make this easy for the guy who had a hand in getting them captured after all.
"Where does it make berth?" he asked again.
"Where does it make berth? Have you not heard the stories?" he sat up again as Will nodded slightly at the question,"Captain Barbossa and his crew of miscreants sail from the dreaded Isla De Muerta. It's an island that cannot be found except by those who already know where it is."
"The ship's real enough. Therefore its anchorage must be a real place." murmured the other before looking back to the two,"Where is it?"
"Why ask me?" hummed Jack pretending to study his nails,"Oh darn, I think I got a hangnail. What ya think Lil' Dove?"
"Possibly." added Kia grabbing Jack's hand and taking a closer look.
"Because you're a pirate." he answered.
"Smart one ain't he?" smirked Kia as Sparrow chuckled slightly. The other narrowed his eyes at the two, deciding to ignore the joke for now.
"And you want to turn pirate yourself, is that it?" asked Sparrow looking at the other.
"Never!" he hissed before lower his gaze,"They took Miss Swann."
"Oh, so it is that you've found a girl. I see." Jack smirked lightly before sitting up,"Well, if you're intending to brave all, hasten to her rescue and so win fair lady's heart you'll have to do it alone mate. I see no profit in it for us."
"I can get you both out of here." he offered. Kia blinked sitting up slightly. Now, she was definitely interested if it meant escape.
"You can?" she asked.
"How's that?" asked Jack looking skeptical about that,"The key's run off."
"I helped build these cells. These are half pin-barrel hinges." he began before picking up a wooden bench nearby and placing it firmly against the bars,"With the right leverage and the proper application of strenght...the door will lift free."
"What's your name?" asked Jack curiously.
"Will Turner." he answered to the pirate.
"That will be short for William, I imagine." stated Jack hopping up to his feet and helping Kia up,"Good, strong name. No doubt, named after your father, eh?"
"Yes." nodded Will. Jack seemed to think this over before going over to the bars.
"Uh-huh. Well, Mr. Turner, I've changed me mind." he began,"If you spring us from this cell I swear on pain of death I shall take you to the Black Pearl and your bonny lass. Do we have an accords?"
"Agreed." stated Will as they shook hands.
"Great. Now get us out of here." stated Kia as she and Jack watch Will lift the door loose. True to what the blacksmith had said earlier, the right leverage from the bench lifted the bars free. It fell with a heavy clang as he tossed the bench aside and motioned for the stairs.
"Hurry. Someone will have heard that." he stated as Jack went ahead of them.
"Not without my effects!" he stated. Kia watched him as she carefully stepped and made her way to the stairs with Will. She paused a bit and smiled to the other. Even with the joking and ignoring earlier, she couldn't really hold a grudge. After all, he just help them out.
"I'm Kia." she introduced and she held out her hand. Will smiled slightly to the young girl, bowing his head a bit and shaking her hand.
"Nice to meet you Miss." before motioning,"We better follow Jack."
"Right." stated Kia quickly climbing the stairs and looking around for the pirate that went ahead. She quickly spotted him, placing his precious tankard back on top of his heads. The blonde rolled her eyes. That man.
"You finished?" she asked with a slight smirk tugging on her lips.
"Yup," the pirate replied before taking the lead,"Come, come. Don't fall behind now love."
It took a while to sneak past the many naval officers stationed around the fort. Though they seemed more busy with results of the recent attack to be paying too much attention to the surrounding. Or in this case escaping prisoners for that matter. All focus was on preparing a ship to rescue the kidnapped Elizabeth and repairing the damage cause by the Pearl last night. Still, they had to be careful. It wasn't long before they were out of the fort and heading for the beach of Port Royal. It was obvious the next course of action would be, find a ship and sail out of here.
They stopped and hunkered down under the docks on the beach,watching the two ships in port. One was out in open water already, out in the bay. The other was stationed and being prepped to go out. Jack's gaze and focus was between the two. The one out in the bay was probably awaiting to use the port after the first was prepped and ready, meaning itself was not ready and likely anchored. He could still use that to his advantage after all. There was likely fewer men on that one, just enough to get her started to sail and nothing more.
"We're going to steal the ship. That ship?" asked Will looking to the one stationed out in the bay. He gave the pirate a crazy look. How were they going to get to that one?
"Commandeer. We're going to commandeer that ship. Nautical term." he replied pointing to the Dauntless before looking to Will with a serious expression,"One question about your business, boy , or there's no use going. This girl - how far are you willing to go to save her?"
"I die for her." Will responded without hesitating.
"Oh, good." smiled Jack and sounding relieved,"No worries, then."
"Quick question." replied Kia looking at the Dauntless out in the bay,"How are we even getting to that one without being seen?"
"Ah, love you underestimate Jack Sparrow." the pirate replied with a smirk to the blonde before motioning them to follow after him down the beach. Kia and Will exchanged looks of concern before following after the other as they came closer to the shores. They soon neared some row boats sitting upside down in the sand. Jack carefully looked around the pillar of wood, noticing a few soldiers around but they all seemed to have their attention else where for now. He turned to his blonde companion.
"Alright ladies first." Jack quickly grabbing the girl's hand. Leading the blonde, they both made a quick pace over as the soldier walked away. Jack quickly knelt in the sand, lifting one side of the row-boat before he motioned her under. Kia laid on her stomach and crawled under as quickly as she could. As soon as she sat up best she could on her knees in the small area and waited for Jack and Will. Outside, Jack ducked down quickly as two soldiers turned in his direction. Waiting for them to leave, he quickly stood back up before turning around and motioning for Will to come over. Like he had done with Kia, Jack lifted one side as Will scooted under. He soon joined them, all three crouching in the sand with Jack in front and Will taking the rear.
"Alright, grab both sides and hold on tight." instructed Jack as both his companion did as he told them,"On the count of three. Three!"
With that they lifted up the small boat and began to scurry to the shoreline. They moved as quick as they could, not wanting to be spotted by one of soldiers before they reached the water. Will had assumed they'd flip it right side up as his feet touched water.
"Jack?" he questioned the other male.
"Just keep holding on and walking." stated the pirate as they went deeper,"Trust me."
Soon they were well underwater. Jack had them use the row-boat, keeping it upside down and gripping both side as they went deeper. This caused a little air bubble to form for the group, allowing them to breath as they made their way along the sea bed to the Dauntless.
"This is either madness or brilliance." replied Will as they continued to the Dauntless, looking so often down at the sea water at his shoulders. He tightened his grip slightly to either side of the row-boat, not wanting to lose his grip and the air bubble they had made.
"It's remarkable how often those two traits coincide." Jack answered as Kia nodded in agreement.
"Madness and brilliant go hand in hand." she added with a smile.
It wasn't long before the trek along the bed before they reached the underbelly of the Dauntless. The small group held their breath as they turned the row-boat right side up and floated to the surface. Once on the surface, they climbed the ropes anchoring the ship down.
"Everyone stay calm!" announced Jack once they were in position as the crew on the Dauntless turned to them,"We are taking over the ship."
"Aye! Avast!" Will added as the crew chuckled slightly at this. The commanding officer stepped forward and smiled slightly.
"This ship cannot be crewed by two men." he informed them smugly,"You'll never make it out of the bay."
"Make that two men and a lady." came the voice from behind the group as they turned to see the blonde standing just behind them. She held up a blade, pointing it to their backs.
"You'll still never manage." huffed the man.
"Son...I'm Captain Jack Sparrow." smirked the pirate as he got close to the other,"Savvy?"
On shore the crew preciously aboard the Dauntless were now in the row-boat, making a mad attempt to get the attention of the ones on shore. It seemed to work as one soldier noticed the small row-boat and the faint shouts off shore.
"Commodore!" called one of the men as Norrington made his way over. He took the spy glass and looked through the lenses. On board the ship, the three looked busy trying to get the ship ready to sail out.
"Rash, Turner, too rash." Commodore replied before putting the spy glass away," That is without a doubt the worst pirate I have ever seen."
The crew of the Interceptor quickly got ready to make sail and reclaim the Dauntless. It would be simple enough. After all a three man crew couldn't get a ship to set sail so quickly. Nor could they resist the Navy taking it back, they were out numbered. It wasn't long before the Interceptor was pulling up along side the Dauntless. Quickly they began to board the other ship, ready to claim the ship.
However, in the hussel to reclaim the ship had, everyone failed to see the three commandeers swing onboard the Interceptor. While they checked over the ship to find the thieves, Kia and Will cut the ropes anchoring the Dauntless to the Interceptor. Jack was quickly at the helm of the ship and began to steer the rudder. It didn't take long before the navy realised they had been tricked.
"Sailors, back to the Interceptor! Now!" instructed Commodore Norrington. Men tried to swing back onboard, only to miss as they hit the water. Jack had the ship, sailing away as he smiled and waved to them.
"Thank you, Commodore, for getting us ready to make way." he replied happily,"We'd have had a hard time of it by ourselves."
"Set top sails and clear up this mess." hissed Norrington, annoyed that they had been tricked by the pirate.
"With the wind at quarter astern, we won't catch them." another soldier informed Norrington. After all the Interceptor was the fastest ship in the navy, the Dauntless would never be able to catch her in time before she was out of sight.
"We don't need to catch them just get them in range of the long nine." stated Norrington.
"Hand, come about. Run out the guns." ordered the other before looking at Norrington,"We open fire on our own ship, sir?"
"I'd rather see her at the bottom of the ocean than in the hands of a pirate." he answered with a scowl.
"Commodore, he's disabled the rudder chain, sir!" called an officer as he tried the move the rudder to change course. Whatever Jack had done to the rudder chain, it was enough to keep the ship from moving into any position to get in range. Least till it was fixed of course.
"That's got to be the best pirate I've ever seen." smirked the officer by Norrington's side. He gave an unamused look at the statement.
"So it would seem."
"When I was a lad living in England, my mother raised me by herself. After she died, I came out here, looking for my father." Will told the others as they sailed. It had been sometime since they had stolen the Interceptor from Commodore Norrington and his men. Jack was now at the front, stirring the ship towards their next destination. Kia had gone to explore the ship, it was her first time on such a ship and she was in the mood to explore. Plus she was hungry to boot, having had nothing to eat since the incident that brought her to this place. Will had stayed on deck with the other man, sharpening his blade as they talked.
"Is that so?" asked Jack as he stirred the ship.
"My father, Will Turner. At the jail, it was only after you learned my name that you agreed to help. Since that's what I wanted, I didn't press the matter." Will added before looking up from sharpening his sword ,"I'm not a simpleton, Jack. You knew my father."
"I knew 'im." sighed Jack looking at Will ,"Probably one the few who knew him as William Turner. Everyone else just called him Bootstrap or Bootstrap Bill."
"Bootstrap?" asked Will giving a curious stare at the nickname for his father.
"Good man. Good Pirate. I swear you look just like him." the other added.
"It's not true. He was a merchant sailor." stated Will looking both confused and upset about the news,"A good , respectable man who obeyed the law."
"He was a bloody pirate, a scallywag." stated Jack looking to the other man from over his shoulders. It obviously was annoying to him that the other was denying a fact that Jack knew was the truth.
"My father was not a pirate." Will replied angrily and took out his sword, pointing it at Jack. Kia had just returned at that moment, having raided the ship and coming back with an apple to munch on. She meeped in surprise upon seeing the drawn blade that the blacksmith had pointed at Jack's back.
"Will!" she exclaimed about to go over to the other and pull him away from Jack.
"Put it away son." Jack simply stated and kept his back to the other,"It's not worth you getting beat again."
"You didn't beat me. You ignored the rules of engagement." he stated to the pirate still keeping the sword pointed at the other ,"In a fair fight , I'd kill you."
"Then that's not much incentive for me to fight , then , is it?" he asked before quickly turning the rudder and ducking. Kia gaped before ducking low on the stairs as she saw the yard coming. unfortunately for her other companion he wasn't as quick as them. The yard quickly caught Will , picking him up and hanging him over the side of the Interceptor.
"Will!" the young blonde shouted again as she watched the beam of wood pick the other up and hang over open water. She quickly went to the rail and gave a worried looked before looking over her shoulder to Jack.
"Jack pull him back in,now!" she frowned to the other.
"Not till he listens to what needs to be said, Lil' Dove." Jack replied as he rested against the rudder before turning to Will. The other was doing his best to hang onto the post, though it was a struggle to say the least. All Kia could do was watch as she kept her attention divide between Jack and Will, hoping Jack would finish before the other fell into the sea.
"Now, as long as you're just hanging there, pay attention. The only rules that really matter are these - what a man can do and what a man can't do. For instance, you can accept that your father was a pirate and a good man or you can't. But pirate is in your blood, boy , so you have to square with that someday. Now, me , for example , I can let you drown but I can't bring this ship into Tortuga all by me onesy nor can I teach Lil' Dove about it and sail at the same time , savvy? So..."
With that Jack moved the rudder again as the yard brought Will back on board the ship. He landed with a hard thud back on deck. Kia quickly went over to check on him, kneeling behind the other and steadying him as he sat up. The pirate approached as he pointed the sharp end at Will.
"Can you sail under the command of a pirate?" he asked before flipping it over to the handle ,"Or can you not?"
Will slowly reached out and took the handle. Jack smiled as he pulled the other male up to his feet. The blonde quickly followed suite.
"Tortuga?" Will asked as Jack smiled.
"Tortuga." he answered with a nod.
"...what's Tortuga?" asked Kia as both Will and Jack turned to her as the question left her lips.