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Browncoats at World’s End
Chapter 19: The Dutchman Returns
-
The Caribbean
Kaylee stood near the railing of the Intrepid on the starboard side, staring out at the endless sea and the sky. The sky was where she, Simon, and the others belonged, not on a ship at sea. She missed Serenity’s engine room and had no idea if Serenity was in pain or not. There was no way for Kaylee to speak with the ship.
She turned back to the deck when she felt someone approach her and smiled when she saw that it was Simon and felt herself relax a bit. She had thought it was another naval officer, looking for a Mr. Winnit. It had been a bit difficult the past week, pretending to be a man. She had thought about taking something to strap down her chest, but thankfully the blouse like shirts were loose and billowy and the vests were tight enough to hide everything. She had made sure her hair was tucked back even when she slept with her fellow officers and only bathed when she was alone.
“You look a bit troubled,” Simon told her. She loved the fake accent he used and wondered if he could do any more. She thought her own sounded forced, not as real as Simon’s or Mal’s.
“Just been away from her for too long,” Kaylee said as she glanced back toward the sea and sky. “I know she misses us.”
“Hopefully Jayne and Zoe will find her soon,” Simon knew exactly what she was talking about.
“How are they going to bring her here?” Kaylee had only recently thought about that part. “Jayne doesn’t know anything about flying and I know Wash let Zoe take the wheel a few times and she is good with a shuttle, but she never flew Serenity by herself and not with the skill’s the Captain and River have.”
“That part hadn’t crossed my mind,” Simon lowered his voice and dropped the accent. “I think our captain will think of something.”
Kaylee nodded. “He usually does.” She tried to think of what Mal would do and couldn’t come up with anything. “Maybe Zoe and Jayne will come back here with the directions.”
“And get captured and thrown into the brig.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think the Commodore would do that. Maybe if Beckett were here he would, but I think he would order the Intrepid to be go where Serenity is.”
“Do you have that much trust in this man?”
“River trusts him.”
“She would know more about him than we would,” he sighed. “I guess I’m still a bit upset with him in the first place.” He stared out at the sea.
She nodded. “I heard you saved a life today during breakfast.”
Her boyfriend nodded. “He was choking. I just couldn’t allow him to die. I know they were looking at me funny when I was performing the maneuver.”
“It sure is pretty out here.” She stared at the clouds. “It’s a shame we got too big for this planet.”
“No one knows that we will suck this place dry till it’s desolate.” He nearly reached for her hand and paused. He didn’t know what people would think if they saw they were holding hands. “Kaylee I need to ask you something.”
“You can ask me anything.”
He sighed. Kaylee knew this was weighing on him and it was going to be a struggle for him to get out. “I was going to wait until we are back in our time.”
“You don’t think we will ever make it back?” Kaylee asked.
He blinked. “No,” he shook his head. “I mean yes. I mean I know we will return. It was just when we get back I would be able to find a ring and…”
He said ring. There was only one thing that could mean, she would hope. “You mean to say what I think you are going to say?”
He exhaled. “I can’t get down on one knee.” He stared into her eyes. “Kaywinnit Lee Frye will you marry me?”
Kaylee felt her heart stop for a second before it’s beat increased. “Yes,” she whispered. She wanted to throw herself into his arms. “If it weren’t for this suit I’d have you already.”
“On the deck?” Simon smiled wryly. His smiled faded when they noticed a dark shape growing, not too far away in the water. “Kaylee stand back.” He pulled her closer to him. “Something is surfacing near starboard.” He called out loud.
Kaylee couldn’t remove her eyes from the image of what rose from the water. It was a ship, but a ship that was no where the beauty and healthy form of both the Intrepid and the Haven. The poor thing appeared neglected. No one to clean it or paint it and allowed it to become covered in barnacles. The sails were as crusty as the rest of the ship. The bowsprit looked like it had teeth, making the ship appear mean. Well of course it looked mean when it’s owners treated it like that. It didn’t dawn on her that such ships could not sink and surface like that until after it had fully risen and was sailing beside them.
“Wo de tian a,” was all she could gasp.
-
Indian Ocean
Will Turner walked down the steps to the berth deck with a mop and a bucket of water in his hands. He didn’t mind that Jack gave him the orders to scrub that deck by himself. Will knew Jack just wanted him out of the way. They had barely spoken more than five words to each other at a time since the Sri Lanka incident and he was glad Elizabeth was still aboard the ship at the time.
Some of the men had decided to stop and find something to drink and Will went along with them and drank. He had drunk too much and punched Jack in the face. It was all that he remembered, that and the fact Jack didn’t fight back. He had forgotten everything else that happened that night. The memory of his attacking Jack and the hangover was enough to remind him not to drink that much again.
Elizabeth also wanted him out of the way. He had tried to apologize to her several times since the argument and she only half listened. He brought her flowers he thought were exotic and beautiful and even bought her a bottle of perfumed oil, but she still hadn’t softened. Before he was sent down below he tried to tie knots with her and after a few minutes she stood back up and walked away from him. He had no idea what to say or do that would be considered an apology to her.
“Ah young Turner,” Gibbs greeted him when Will had just started to mop the deck. “Jack told me ye were down here.”
“You have come to help me?” Will asked, doubting why the pirate decided to come down.
“I have my own work to do,” Gibbs said as he stepped off the bottom step. “I brought ye something I think ye could use.”
“Thank you, but sorry,” Will didn’t even look at him. “It is best if I never touch anything like rum again.”
“It’s not rum,” Gibbs handed him a warm cup of tea. “Something that might make ye feel a bit better.”
“Thank you,” Will accept the cup and took a sip. It was bitter tasting, but it warmed him up on the inside.
“Sorry we don’t have enough sugar and the fact that it’s weak.”
“It is still thoughtful.”
“I used to do the same thing for the Commodore,” Gibbs smiled. “When he was doing a chore by himself, I’d bring him tea, or tea and rum, or even coffee and we would talk about being in the navy.”
“Do you miss the navy?”
Gibbs shook his head. “I may have at first but I’m glad I left it. It was too restricting. I told Norrington I was in the same place he was, broken and wishing for that respected life. I told him how I eventually accepted being a pirate and hoped he too would want to never look back and truly become one of us.”
“You don’t believe he is alive?”
Gibbs shrugged. “There is a possibility he succeeded. He may have outrun them or just tossed them an empty chest and kept running.”
“And returned to Port Royal and got his life back.” Will scowled. How could Elizabeth think what he did was selfish and not Jack or Norrington.
“I wish I did more.”
“You offered friendship to him. That was all you could do and if he wishes to spit on that all for the love of being Commodore again then to hell with him.”
“Best not be talking about people Elizabeth cares about, especially if I send her down here.”
“She doesn’t want to be with me.” He brought the cup back to his mouth. He felt a small yet firm smack in the back of his head, causing the cup to cover his nose and some of the tea to splash out.
“Don’t be saying such daft words when ye know they are not true. She loves ye and she has been weeping when she believes she is alone. Crying about you and what ye are becoming.”
“I thought she liked pirates.”
“She does, but that is not what ye are becoming. Ye are becoming an ass.” He turned to the stairs. “Think hard what ye are about to say.”
Will nodded as he finished his tea. He only hoped Elizabeth would listen.
-
The Caribbean
Malcolm Reynolds ran up to the top deck when the commotion broke out. He tried to remain within his group as the flooded the deck, but no longer cared when he saw the strange ship. By all logical means a ship like that shouldn’t be floating like that. It looked like a sea fairing vessel that had sunk, remained on the bottom of the seafloor for a few centuries and then hauled up.
“What is that?” He gasped, and realized he had forgotten to use the fake accent. “What is that ship?” He repeated using the accent.
“I was on the Intrepid the last time she had left Port Royal,” Lieutenant Hall said. “It’s the Flying Dutchman.”
“The Dutchman?” Malcolm blinked. He remembered reading a few books about a ghost ship that haunted the seas of Earth that Was and seen a few movies as well. He also remembered watching an animated series on the cortex where there was a restaurant named The Frying Dutchman.
“The very same,” Commodore Norrington answered. Mal hadn’t noticed the fearless leader of the Intrepid had left his cabin and joined them. Norrington brought his spyglass to his eye as he watched the other ship. “Jones.”
The temperature suddenly dropped and one of the foulest stenches Malcolm had smelled overcame the vessel. That did not compare with what had suddenly appeared on the deck.
There were a handful of monsters. They were humanoid figures that looked more frightening than any Reaver. Seaweed, coral, and what Mal had guessed to either be clams or scallops clung to their clothes and bodies. One man was completely covered in barnacles, another had a face like a shark, and there was another that looked like a shrimp and another that had a big seashell for a head.
“Wo de ma,” Mal gasped under breath at the sight of it all. His hand instantly went to where he normally kept his gun, but remembered he had a pistol on the other side. He also had a sword with him, but a whole lot of good that would do him. He had only fenced once. He relied on his fists, his gun and a screwdriver when he fought against the Operative. Inara had pestered him about his need to learn how to fence ever since and she even offered, but he had always waved it off.
“Mr. Core you were not here the last time,” Norrington said. “Do not touch your weapons. This is the crew of Davy Jones.”
“Ye should listen to him,” one of the most frightening and imposing monsters strode up to them. What Mal had thought to be a peg leg at first was the hardened leg of a crustacean or an insect. The creature had a lobster claw for a hand and his other hand had an extra long finger, like a tentacle. It fit with the squid faced monstrosity that stood in front of Mal, Hall and Norrington. The creature’s blue eyes met Mal before it looked at Norrington. “Mr. Norrington is it?”
“Commodore,” Norrington said in an annoyed tone. “You will address me as commodore and I will address you as Captain Jones.”
The leader of the monsters brought his rubbery lips together and nodded. “That is fair enough.”
“State your purpose,” Norrington said. Mal had to admire how cool and collected he was considering what they were facing. “Why have you sought us out?”
“My work is nearly done and I wish to speak with Lord Beckett.”
Lord Beckett? The same little jerk that hid behind his assassin? Mal stared at Norrington and then at Jones. One thing he had to say about Beckett, he was an expert at blackmailing people.
“Lord Beckett is at Port Royal, but he wanted me to give you a message.”
Jones’s brow ridges rose. “Did he now?”
“He wants you to sail to the Far East with us. We are to seek out those who are looking for Jack Sparrow’s corpse and to continue destroying every pirate ship we come across on the way.”
Mal turned at the grunting members of Jones crew. Several were staring at Norrington in disbelief and others were shaking their heads.
Jones glared at the commodore. “Ye be bold as t’ demanding such a task of me when Lord Beckett is no where to be around.”
Norrington grasped onto the hilt of his sword. “I am only repeating the orders he gave me.”
“And he is far from here. Ye have no protection. It will only be seconds before I can remove your insides.”
Mal grabbed onto the handle of the pistol. It had a bullet and enough powder. It was ready to be fired. Jones wouldn’t have noticed anything.
“Do not think for a second Beckett would not make good on his threat,” Norrington said. “He even hears so much as a rumor about one of his prized ships being destroyed or myself or any of my crew murdered he will take a knife to your heart.”
Once again Mal was confused. Beckett did not appear to be any type of fighter and even if he could there was no way he could possibly stab Jones in the heart. Apparently the threat was convincing. The tentacles near Jones’s mouth flailed about while his brow ridges twitched.
“So be it,” Jones hissed. “I have news fer ye. Sparrow is no longer in my locker, the same goes for The Pearl.” He turned his back on them before he and the rest of his crew vanished from sight.
Mal just stared at where Jones was standing only seconds before. What the hell did he just see?
-
Indian Ocean
Gibbs had told Elizabeth she was needed on the berth deck, but he did not explain why. She knew it had something to do with Will. Perhaps he was willing to talk instead of just trying to win over her with gifts that had no emotion or weak apologies. She wanted him to talk with her after she had seen him argue with Jack and tell him he didn’t want to save him. He never did, and instead he ended up punching Jack while in Sri Lanka. She tried to avoid him ever since.
“Elizabeth,” Will greeted when she left the stairs.
“Choose your words carefully,” she cautioned. If it’s another weak apology she was going back upstairs.
“If you no longer wish to marry me then tell me so.” He said. “I want to grieve alone and try to get over this heartache. If Norrington can get over you then so can I.”
She was not ready for that. “I do not wish to break off our engagement. I still love you.”
“Then why the silent treatment?” He placed the mop back in the bucket and set it against the wall.
“You don’t know how much it hurts me to not know your feelings or why I am doing what I am doing.”
“Gibbs has told me he had heard and seen you crying.” He sighed. “I wish I was there, so I could take you into my arms and let you sob onto my shoulder. I love you Elizabeth, always have and always will. You are on my mind when I wake up and the last person I think about when I go to sleep. I have been trying the past few days.”
“Trying?” He nearly had her. “Trying like punching Jack and trying to make up with gifts.”
“I did not mean to strike Jack. It was the alcohol. I was very drunk and I brought you the gifts because I thought you would like them. The flowers were so beautiful they remind me of you and the oil was for you when you used the basin. Someone like yourself deserves finer treatment.”
“William,” she just whispered his name. “You should have tried to tell me this sooner.”
He shrugged. “I tried, but you didn’t want to listen.”
“Your apologies did not have any heart.”
He just stared at her. “There was a man on the Dutchman. He was embedded into the ship itself; all he could do was holding a lantern. He told me more about the key and chest. I want to free him from such a prison. There are probably more men who wish to be free from Jones’s curse. I have seen some frightened men as they were taken in. It was either Jones or death. You remember a Captain Bellamy?”
She nodded. It was because of Bellamy’s ship she was able to get to Tortuga. She felt a bit annoyed that he had used the idea of her being naked for his men to search for a woman, but she had gotten along with the crew and grew to respect Bellamy.
“They brought me aboard after I escaped from Jones. Because they brought me aboard Jones sent the Kraken after them. I killed them. They were innocent and I killed them.”
She shook her head. “Your are not at fault.”
“I want to avenge their deaths. I should have said this sooner.”
“What of James?” She remembered the last she saw of her friend and former fiancé. He lured Jones’s crew away from them. She had no idea if he escaped or not. “Do you want to avenge his death?”
“He is probably still alive and brought the heart to Beckett,” he closed his eyes. “If not then yes.”
“Thank you,” she said before she kissed him.
-
Chapter 19: The Dutchman Returns
-
The Caribbean
Kaylee stood near the railing of the Intrepid on the starboard side, staring out at the endless sea and the sky. The sky was where she, Simon, and the others belonged, not on a ship at sea. She missed Serenity’s engine room and had no idea if Serenity was in pain or not. There was no way for Kaylee to speak with the ship.
She turned back to the deck when she felt someone approach her and smiled when she saw that it was Simon and felt herself relax a bit. She had thought it was another naval officer, looking for a Mr. Winnit. It had been a bit difficult the past week, pretending to be a man. She had thought about taking something to strap down her chest, but thankfully the blouse like shirts were loose and billowy and the vests were tight enough to hide everything. She had made sure her hair was tucked back even when she slept with her fellow officers and only bathed when she was alone.
“You look a bit troubled,” Simon told her. She loved the fake accent he used and wondered if he could do any more. She thought her own sounded forced, not as real as Simon’s or Mal’s.
“Just been away from her for too long,” Kaylee said as she glanced back toward the sea and sky. “I know she misses us.”
“Hopefully Jayne and Zoe will find her soon,” Simon knew exactly what she was talking about.
“How are they going to bring her here?” Kaylee had only recently thought about that part. “Jayne doesn’t know anything about flying and I know Wash let Zoe take the wheel a few times and she is good with a shuttle, but she never flew Serenity by herself and not with the skill’s the Captain and River have.”
“That part hadn’t crossed my mind,” Simon lowered his voice and dropped the accent. “I think our captain will think of something.”
Kaylee nodded. “He usually does.” She tried to think of what Mal would do and couldn’t come up with anything. “Maybe Zoe and Jayne will come back here with the directions.”
“And get captured and thrown into the brig.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think the Commodore would do that. Maybe if Beckett were here he would, but I think he would order the Intrepid to be go where Serenity is.”
“Do you have that much trust in this man?”
“River trusts him.”
“She would know more about him than we would,” he sighed. “I guess I’m still a bit upset with him in the first place.” He stared out at the sea.
She nodded. “I heard you saved a life today during breakfast.”
Her boyfriend nodded. “He was choking. I just couldn’t allow him to die. I know they were looking at me funny when I was performing the maneuver.”
“It sure is pretty out here.” She stared at the clouds. “It’s a shame we got too big for this planet.”
“No one knows that we will suck this place dry till it’s desolate.” He nearly reached for her hand and paused. He didn’t know what people would think if they saw they were holding hands. “Kaylee I need to ask you something.”
“You can ask me anything.”
He sighed. Kaylee knew this was weighing on him and it was going to be a struggle for him to get out. “I was going to wait until we are back in our time.”
“You don’t think we will ever make it back?” Kaylee asked.
He blinked. “No,” he shook his head. “I mean yes. I mean I know we will return. It was just when we get back I would be able to find a ring and…”
He said ring. There was only one thing that could mean, she would hope. “You mean to say what I think you are going to say?”
He exhaled. “I can’t get down on one knee.” He stared into her eyes. “Kaywinnit Lee Frye will you marry me?”
Kaylee felt her heart stop for a second before it’s beat increased. “Yes,” she whispered. She wanted to throw herself into his arms. “If it weren’t for this suit I’d have you already.”
“On the deck?” Simon smiled wryly. His smiled faded when they noticed a dark shape growing, not too far away in the water. “Kaylee stand back.” He pulled her closer to him. “Something is surfacing near starboard.” He called out loud.
Kaylee couldn’t remove her eyes from the image of what rose from the water. It was a ship, but a ship that was no where the beauty and healthy form of both the Intrepid and the Haven. The poor thing appeared neglected. No one to clean it or paint it and allowed it to become covered in barnacles. The sails were as crusty as the rest of the ship. The bowsprit looked like it had teeth, making the ship appear mean. Well of course it looked mean when it’s owners treated it like that. It didn’t dawn on her that such ships could not sink and surface like that until after it had fully risen and was sailing beside them.
“Wo de tian a,” was all she could gasp.
-
Indian Ocean
Will Turner walked down the steps to the berth deck with a mop and a bucket of water in his hands. He didn’t mind that Jack gave him the orders to scrub that deck by himself. Will knew Jack just wanted him out of the way. They had barely spoken more than five words to each other at a time since the Sri Lanka incident and he was glad Elizabeth was still aboard the ship at the time.
Some of the men had decided to stop and find something to drink and Will went along with them and drank. He had drunk too much and punched Jack in the face. It was all that he remembered, that and the fact Jack didn’t fight back. He had forgotten everything else that happened that night. The memory of his attacking Jack and the hangover was enough to remind him not to drink that much again.
Elizabeth also wanted him out of the way. He had tried to apologize to her several times since the argument and she only half listened. He brought her flowers he thought were exotic and beautiful and even bought her a bottle of perfumed oil, but she still hadn’t softened. Before he was sent down below he tried to tie knots with her and after a few minutes she stood back up and walked away from him. He had no idea what to say or do that would be considered an apology to her.
“Ah young Turner,” Gibbs greeted him when Will had just started to mop the deck. “Jack told me ye were down here.”
“You have come to help me?” Will asked, doubting why the pirate decided to come down.
“I have my own work to do,” Gibbs said as he stepped off the bottom step. “I brought ye something I think ye could use.”
“Thank you, but sorry,” Will didn’t even look at him. “It is best if I never touch anything like rum again.”
“It’s not rum,” Gibbs handed him a warm cup of tea. “Something that might make ye feel a bit better.”
“Thank you,” Will accept the cup and took a sip. It was bitter tasting, but it warmed him up on the inside.
“Sorry we don’t have enough sugar and the fact that it’s weak.”
“It is still thoughtful.”
“I used to do the same thing for the Commodore,” Gibbs smiled. “When he was doing a chore by himself, I’d bring him tea, or tea and rum, or even coffee and we would talk about being in the navy.”
“Do you miss the navy?”
Gibbs shook his head. “I may have at first but I’m glad I left it. It was too restricting. I told Norrington I was in the same place he was, broken and wishing for that respected life. I told him how I eventually accepted being a pirate and hoped he too would want to never look back and truly become one of us.”
“You don’t believe he is alive?”
Gibbs shrugged. “There is a possibility he succeeded. He may have outrun them or just tossed them an empty chest and kept running.”
“And returned to Port Royal and got his life back.” Will scowled. How could Elizabeth think what he did was selfish and not Jack or Norrington.
“I wish I did more.”
“You offered friendship to him. That was all you could do and if he wishes to spit on that all for the love of being Commodore again then to hell with him.”
“Best not be talking about people Elizabeth cares about, especially if I send her down here.”
“She doesn’t want to be with me.” He brought the cup back to his mouth. He felt a small yet firm smack in the back of his head, causing the cup to cover his nose and some of the tea to splash out.
“Don’t be saying such daft words when ye know they are not true. She loves ye and she has been weeping when she believes she is alone. Crying about you and what ye are becoming.”
“I thought she liked pirates.”
“She does, but that is not what ye are becoming. Ye are becoming an ass.” He turned to the stairs. “Think hard what ye are about to say.”
Will nodded as he finished his tea. He only hoped Elizabeth would listen.
-
The Caribbean
Malcolm Reynolds ran up to the top deck when the commotion broke out. He tried to remain within his group as the flooded the deck, but no longer cared when he saw the strange ship. By all logical means a ship like that shouldn’t be floating like that. It looked like a sea fairing vessel that had sunk, remained on the bottom of the seafloor for a few centuries and then hauled up.
“What is that?” He gasped, and realized he had forgotten to use the fake accent. “What is that ship?” He repeated using the accent.
“I was on the Intrepid the last time she had left Port Royal,” Lieutenant Hall said. “It’s the Flying Dutchman.”
“The Dutchman?” Malcolm blinked. He remembered reading a few books about a ghost ship that haunted the seas of Earth that Was and seen a few movies as well. He also remembered watching an animated series on the cortex where there was a restaurant named The Frying Dutchman.
“The very same,” Commodore Norrington answered. Mal hadn’t noticed the fearless leader of the Intrepid had left his cabin and joined them. Norrington brought his spyglass to his eye as he watched the other ship. “Jones.”
The temperature suddenly dropped and one of the foulest stenches Malcolm had smelled overcame the vessel. That did not compare with what had suddenly appeared on the deck.
There were a handful of monsters. They were humanoid figures that looked more frightening than any Reaver. Seaweed, coral, and what Mal had guessed to either be clams or scallops clung to their clothes and bodies. One man was completely covered in barnacles, another had a face like a shark, and there was another that looked like a shrimp and another that had a big seashell for a head.
“Wo de ma,” Mal gasped under breath at the sight of it all. His hand instantly went to where he normally kept his gun, but remembered he had a pistol on the other side. He also had a sword with him, but a whole lot of good that would do him. He had only fenced once. He relied on his fists, his gun and a screwdriver when he fought against the Operative. Inara had pestered him about his need to learn how to fence ever since and she even offered, but he had always waved it off.
“Mr. Core you were not here the last time,” Norrington said. “Do not touch your weapons. This is the crew of Davy Jones.”
“Ye should listen to him,” one of the most frightening and imposing monsters strode up to them. What Mal had thought to be a peg leg at first was the hardened leg of a crustacean or an insect. The creature had a lobster claw for a hand and his other hand had an extra long finger, like a tentacle. It fit with the squid faced monstrosity that stood in front of Mal, Hall and Norrington. The creature’s blue eyes met Mal before it looked at Norrington. “Mr. Norrington is it?”
“Commodore,” Norrington said in an annoyed tone. “You will address me as commodore and I will address you as Captain Jones.”
The leader of the monsters brought his rubbery lips together and nodded. “That is fair enough.”
“State your purpose,” Norrington said. Mal had to admire how cool and collected he was considering what they were facing. “Why have you sought us out?”
“My work is nearly done and I wish to speak with Lord Beckett.”
Lord Beckett? The same little jerk that hid behind his assassin? Mal stared at Norrington and then at Jones. One thing he had to say about Beckett, he was an expert at blackmailing people.
“Lord Beckett is at Port Royal, but he wanted me to give you a message.”
Jones’s brow ridges rose. “Did he now?”
“He wants you to sail to the Far East with us. We are to seek out those who are looking for Jack Sparrow’s corpse and to continue destroying every pirate ship we come across on the way.”
Mal turned at the grunting members of Jones crew. Several were staring at Norrington in disbelief and others were shaking their heads.
Jones glared at the commodore. “Ye be bold as t’ demanding such a task of me when Lord Beckett is no where to be around.”
Norrington grasped onto the hilt of his sword. “I am only repeating the orders he gave me.”
“And he is far from here. Ye have no protection. It will only be seconds before I can remove your insides.”
Mal grabbed onto the handle of the pistol. It had a bullet and enough powder. It was ready to be fired. Jones wouldn’t have noticed anything.
“Do not think for a second Beckett would not make good on his threat,” Norrington said. “He even hears so much as a rumor about one of his prized ships being destroyed or myself or any of my crew murdered he will take a knife to your heart.”
Once again Mal was confused. Beckett did not appear to be any type of fighter and even if he could there was no way he could possibly stab Jones in the heart. Apparently the threat was convincing. The tentacles near Jones’s mouth flailed about while his brow ridges twitched.
“So be it,” Jones hissed. “I have news fer ye. Sparrow is no longer in my locker, the same goes for The Pearl.” He turned his back on them before he and the rest of his crew vanished from sight.
Mal just stared at where Jones was standing only seconds before. What the hell did he just see?
-
Indian Ocean
Gibbs had told Elizabeth she was needed on the berth deck, but he did not explain why. She knew it had something to do with Will. Perhaps he was willing to talk instead of just trying to win over her with gifts that had no emotion or weak apologies. She wanted him to talk with her after she had seen him argue with Jack and tell him he didn’t want to save him. He never did, and instead he ended up punching Jack while in Sri Lanka. She tried to avoid him ever since.
“Elizabeth,” Will greeted when she left the stairs.
“Choose your words carefully,” she cautioned. If it’s another weak apology she was going back upstairs.
“If you no longer wish to marry me then tell me so.” He said. “I want to grieve alone and try to get over this heartache. If Norrington can get over you then so can I.”
She was not ready for that. “I do not wish to break off our engagement. I still love you.”
“Then why the silent treatment?” He placed the mop back in the bucket and set it against the wall.
“You don’t know how much it hurts me to not know your feelings or why I am doing what I am doing.”
“Gibbs has told me he had heard and seen you crying.” He sighed. “I wish I was there, so I could take you into my arms and let you sob onto my shoulder. I love you Elizabeth, always have and always will. You are on my mind when I wake up and the last person I think about when I go to sleep. I have been trying the past few days.”
“Trying?” He nearly had her. “Trying like punching Jack and trying to make up with gifts.”
“I did not mean to strike Jack. It was the alcohol. I was very drunk and I brought you the gifts because I thought you would like them. The flowers were so beautiful they remind me of you and the oil was for you when you used the basin. Someone like yourself deserves finer treatment.”
“William,” she just whispered his name. “You should have tried to tell me this sooner.”
He shrugged. “I tried, but you didn’t want to listen.”
“Your apologies did not have any heart.”
He just stared at her. “There was a man on the Dutchman. He was embedded into the ship itself; all he could do was holding a lantern. He told me more about the key and chest. I want to free him from such a prison. There are probably more men who wish to be free from Jones’s curse. I have seen some frightened men as they were taken in. It was either Jones or death. You remember a Captain Bellamy?”
She nodded. It was because of Bellamy’s ship she was able to get to Tortuga. She felt a bit annoyed that he had used the idea of her being naked for his men to search for a woman, but she had gotten along with the crew and grew to respect Bellamy.
“They brought me aboard after I escaped from Jones. Because they brought me aboard Jones sent the Kraken after them. I killed them. They were innocent and I killed them.”
She shook her head. “Your are not at fault.”
“I want to avenge their deaths. I should have said this sooner.”
“What of James?” She remembered the last she saw of her friend and former fiancé. He lured Jones’s crew away from them. She had no idea if he escaped or not. “Do you want to avenge his death?”
“He is probably still alive and brought the heart to Beckett,” he closed his eyes. “If not then yes.”
“Thank you,” she said before she kissed him.
-
