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Browncoats at World’s End
Chapter 22: Rescue
-
Mossel Bay, South Africa
Jack Sparrow stared at the strange man who had just entered the clearing. He didn’t have the slightest idea of who the man is, having had never seen him before. He also had no idea why this man had just walked in like that, of course it was almost the same manner of how Jack entered the clearing, but then that was part of Jack’s almost, but not quite successful plans. This man wasn’t part of his plan; then again the stranger might be part of a different plan.
“Jayne is it?” Sao Feng walked straight up to the new comer. “I have so many questions to ask you.”
“That would make two of us, mate,” Jack said.
Jayne stared at Jack. “Are you Jack Sparrow?”
“He may be,” Sao did not remove his gaze from Jayne.
“Is he or isn’t he?” Jayne asked.
Sao rolled his eyes. “He is.”
“We found him,” Jayne closed his eyes and thrust his fist in the air.
“I have never quite seen anyone be that glad to find you,” Anamaria said.
“Neither have I,” Jack said through clenched teeth. “This might not be a good thing.”
“I am the one asking questions or have you forgotten that you are now my prisoner.” He pointed to the different swords that were pointing at Jayne.
“Now, Sao,” Jack said in a condescending tone. “Why is he a prisoner, he has done you no wrong at all, while I on the other hand have done you plenty.”
“What are you doing?” Turner whispered.
“Conversation, lad. Try not to interrupt.”
“He may have done me no wrong,” Sao said as he paced around Jayne. “But he did enter into my settlement.”
“Your settlement?” Jayne’s smile faded. “I didn’t see your name posted anywhere.”
“Silence,” Sao said before he turned to his men and muttered a string of words, Jack did not recognize.
Jayne’s eyes widened. “You can say that about me, but not my mama you Fei Fei Di Pi Yan.”
It was Sao’s turn for look shocked while the rest of his men gasped. “You can understand and speak my language.”
“Well of course, but I’m thinking it might be best to use something them folk on the ground can understand.”
Sao turned to Jack and nodded. “It would make the most sense. Now why are you here?”
“I’m here for some arm rassling,” Jayne said before he pointed to Jack. “And I need him.”
Jack did not like the sound of that. What did this man need him for?
“Jack?” Elizabeth whispered. “Who is he?”
“I have no idea.” Jack said as he studied the man. He had never seen anyone who looked like that, or dressed like that or even talked like—Of course. This was one of the people who were trying to find him.
“You look like you just recognized him,” Will said.
Jack nodded. “Let’s just listen to what he has to say.”
“Mr. Jayne,” Sao said as he stared at his own claw. “I hate to inform you Sparrow is to be killed soon. He won’t be much use to you.”
“That’s why I am here to arm rassle you,” Jayne explained. “I heard you were ready to gamble. Three rounds like you said. Do I have to say that parley thing?”
“Invoke it,” Elizabeth shouted before one of Sao’s men grabbed her by the hair.
“I invoke Parley?” Jayne said in a questioning tone.
Sao sighed. “You are not the brightest man. Mr. Jayne.”
“Mr. Cobb,” Jayne said. “Jayne is my first name.”
Jack did not give into laughter, only smiled. He just hoped this man was really on his side.
“What do you request?” Sao asked.
“A manly game,” Jayne held out his arm. “Hard to cheat by, just good ole manly arm rassling. Three rounds. If I win then it would be the same deal you gave Jack.”
“What do I get if I win?”
“You win one then you get your men back, win two you keep Jack and win three you get the ladies.”
“What about you? What will you get out of this?”
Jayne glanced over to Jack. “I save Jack’s life then he gets to help me and our crew find our ship.”
“Deal,” Jack shouted. It seemed like a fair and simple task.
“And if you loose, what happens to you?” Sao asked.
The strange man shrugged. “I dunno. I’m pretty much screwed if he’s killed, so whatever you want I guess.”
Sao grinned. “Then it is settled.” He shouted instructions to his men and pointed to the barrel.
“Why are you agreeing?” Turner asked. “You don’t know this man.”
“There are many things in life I tend to learn as I keep living and aging.” Jack raised a finger. “One is that a man who has a girl’s name has to be strong.” He pointed to Jayne. “He looks pretty strong.”
“You don’t even know him,” Anamaria said.
“Turner and I do.”
“We do?” Will asked.
Jack nodded. “Remember what we heard in the bar. What about a crew led by two strange individuals.”
“Who dress and talk strange,” Will blinked as the realization dawned on him. “The man is tall and strong with a beard and a mean looking face. Where is the woman?”
Jack shrugged. “She might be looking for him, or this might be part of her plan. Another thing I learned is that women are quite skilled at thinking and scheming.” He stared at Elizabeth who immediately looked at the ground.
“Yan Hui,” Sao said. “You are first.”
“First?” Jayne asked as he sat one of the large rocks that were rolled to the barrel to serve as a chair. “Whaddaya mean first? I thought it was just going to mean one guy.”
“You didn’t say,” Sao said. “It wasn’t established as part of the rules.”
Tricky and clever as always, Jack had thought. He turned to where the strongest member of Sao’s crew stood. He was the man with the tattooed face. Jack knew what Sao was up to. He would slowly weaken Jayne until he sent in his strongest man and Jayne would probably loose the third round. Jack, Will and the others would live, but Sao would keep Elizabeth and Anamaria.
“Well let’s start,” Jayne places his elbow on the table and held up his hand. “Nice nose ring.”
“Thank you,” Yan Hui said. “I put in there my self.” He grabbed Jayne’s hand.
The first round did not last very long. Maybe it was only a few minutes at first. Yan was a skilled sword’s man, and probably would have a better chance at duel with Jayne. Jack did not know how skilled Jayne was with a sword.
“You won the first round,” Sao said as Yan Hui stood up. “Don’t be too happy. Your luck is about to run out.” He took Yan’s seat.
“You are my next opponent?” Jayne asked as Sao grabbed his hand.
“I am stronger than Yan.” Sao said. “Begin.” The muscles in their arms flexed as each man tried to best each other.
“Good, I was kinda bored.” Jayne was making gradual progress against Sao.
“You intrigue me,” Sweat broke out across Sao’s face. “You wear our words on your clothing and you speak our tongue. Where are you from?”
“The twenty sixth century,” Jayne answered.
The twenty what? Jack blinked when he heard the response and turned to his crew. They were as baffled as he was.
“He’s mad,” Elizabeth said
“Yes he is,” Jack smiled. “Which is what we need.” He turned back to the competition in time to see Jayne best Sao and felt a great weight lifted from his personae. He was going to live; now he hoped Jayne can come through in the last round.
“Who’s next?” Jayne placed his hands behind his head.
“Me,” the man with the tattooed face said as he approached the makeshift barrel.
Jack noticed the way Jayne stared at the large man and all senses of doubt returned. He had hoped that Jayne was as crazy as he had hoped or strong enough to take on the last of Feng’s men, or that Gibbs and the rest of his crew were on their way.
-
Atlantic
James Norrington stared at the map laid out on the table. Both commanders and two of the lieutenants aboard were with him as they studied the charts.
“We are right here,” Lieutenant Hall said as he marked one of the blue squares. “If we keep up at this pace well will have sailed around the southern point of South Africa within a few days.”
“We would have been there sooner if it wasn’t for the necessary stops,” Commander Hamiton said. Norrington knew most of them were at different islands to stock up on supplies and to speak with the other ships who have joined them. They also had to make a few other stops along the African coast; some were to inquire if anyone had seen anyone that matched Elizabeth’s or Turner’s description.
“Many were made for the benefit of this crew,” Norrington said. He thought of them and Reynolds’s crew first and Beckett’s orders second. He had to apologize to River for not letting her be free and she took it in good stride. She did want him to apologize for drinking rum while in one of the ports. “Can’t have them feel like they are trapped. They need to be free.”
“You are making this mission sound like a punishment,” Hamiton said. He was a man who had a few years on Norrington and storm colored eyes. There had been times when Norrington felt those same eyes constantly staring at him and most of it was in disapproval. “Many men would give their right hand to serve under the East India Traitor Company.”
“With all due respect Commander Hamiton,” the Commander Barclay said. “Commodore Norrington felt we should deserve a break now and then. We need to set our feet upon land. That is what he means by freedom.”
“Correct” Norrington said. What could Hamiton think he meant, surely he couldn’t be implying Norrington’s brief career as one of Sparrow’s pirates. That wasn’t freedom it was hell. Even when they were not working, sitting around, drinking and having a good time and when he felt himself laughing along with the crew. No. His place was in the royal navy. Sparrow’s place was at the gallows, Reynolds’s and his crew’s place was back in their time and Turner’s place was with Elizabeth.
“Sir?” Lieutenant Hall.
“I am fine. I need to speak with someone.”
“Is this person a Mr. Core?” Hamiton asked. One of his eyebrows was arched and his mouth curled up into a smug grin.
Norrington stared right back into his eyes. “I was going to have word send out to the other lieutenants and organize a meeting.”
“You do seem to be favoring Mr. Core as well as Mr. Eavesdown and Mr. Winnit.” He stepped closer to Norrington. “And you seem to be speaking with the serving girl, Nandi more than the others.”
“Mr. Eavesdown did save a life,” Lieutenant Hall said. “And as for Mr. Core there has been talk where he is to be promoted.”
“By our commodore’s command?” Hamiton asked.
“By my selection,” Barclay said. “I have run this by Commodore Norrington and he approves.”
“Mr. Hamiton would you step out with me for a moment,” Norrington said. It was time he got to the bottom and find out what Hamiton had been implying. He couldn’t have known that Reynolds and his crew are not who they claim to be.
“As you command,” Hamiton said in a snide tone as he followed Norrington outside the room.
Norrington waited for the door to close behind him before he turned to face the commander. “You seem to have a bit of a problem.”
“Do I now?” Hamiton asked.
“Ever since this mission with Jones began you have been staring at me with annoyance and recently you are trying to undermine my orders.”
“I have only started staring at you in such a manner since I have noticed you have taken a shine to the people I have mentioned.”
“You have a particular problem with them?”
“Only because you speak with them more than the other soldiers, almost as much as you speak with your high ranking officers.”
Norrington nodded. “If you feel I am being unfair to the other soldiers you should have spoken up
sooner.”
Hamiton smirked. “You would have thrown me off.”
Damn it. He had tried not to arouse suspicion, but Hamiton isn’t quite clear. “You are still dancing around the main point. You have not expressed your main distain with me.”
“My disdain?” Hamiton asked.
“Come off it. I know you have been not pleased with me even before Mr. Core had stepped onto the Intrepid.”
“You did keep that girl in your cabin until we had arrived at Port Royal. I know we all have certain desires, but one should learn to restrain their selves.”
Norrington felt his face flush and this time it wasn’t from embarrassment. “She was a traumatized young woman who frightened everyone else and you were glaring at me even before we made port at Tortuga.”
“You shouldn’t be here,” Hamiton said. “You should be in prison, waiting for your turn at the gallows. You were lucky that Beckett could be swain by the gift you gave him.”
“This is because of my redemption?” It was what he had called it and what Sparrow had called the dark side of ambition. Was it really redemption? River had said he listened to the bad voice.
“It takes a lot more for one such as yourself to redeem yourself,” Hamiton said. “The rest of your crew may have a problem with serving under a former pirate but not I.”
“I was not a pirate,” now River was going to call him a liar when she sees him. “I was trying to survive after I resigned.”
“I would have never resigned my commission as a commodore, still be in the navy and go off to Tortuga. I wouldn’t even try to sail through a hurricane or even give a notorious pirate a full day start.”
“Enough,” Norrington growled. “You are to send word to the other lieutenants to meet here. You will be at the meeting. When we meet up with another ship you can be transferred.”
-
Mossel Bay, South Africa
So far and so good. Things seem to be going to plan for Zoe. It was her idea to send Jayne in there and make sure the others kept a fair distance. She was right in assuming several of the mysterious Sao Feng’s men would try to look to see if other people would try to come into their camp. She let Horace and the others know it was safe to come closer.
“Mrs. Washburn,” Jarvis had crept close to where she is hiding. “Mr. Gibbs wants to know when we can attack.”
“Tell him in a minute,” she looked the teenager in the eyes. “I will go in first and when I shout out ‘Wrong” is when we will attack.”
“I shall spread the word out to everyone,” Jarvis gave her a salute before he crawled away.
The past came back to Zoë’s mind. She, Jayne and the rest of their crew had met up with the captains of few merchant vessels and even a few other pirate ships. The squid like monster had gone after every ship that had a pirate flag and they were not flying with anyone’s colors. Zoe and the other captains agreed to travel together, safety in numbers until they had reached South Africa. Upon arrival She and Jayne went to a bar trying to find the location of Jack Sparrow along with four other captains and they went back to the ports, only to find Sparrow’s ship but not the pirate captain himself.
“That’s two down,” Jayne’s voice carried out.
Two and one to go. Zoe crawled closer to the camp, pausing every few feet and trying to make her as well hidden as plausible. She could not risk being seen or heard. She did wish she could see what was going on, but she couldn’t hurry, that would be reckless.
She knew she was getting closer when she could hear other people talking. She could hear Jayne as well as several other people; mostly it was Jayne’s grunts. Finally she was able to see through the brush.
Jayne’s last opponent was a real challenge. The mercenary’s face was bright red and slick with sweat as he tried to pull the other man’s arm down. The other man was also straining, but it was clear he was winning. It was only a matter of time.
“Gorram it,” Jayne grunted when his opponent succeeded.
“Well Mr. Cobb,” the man with the claw, Sao Feng, approached him. “It appears your luck has finally ran out.”
“Well at least I won two of em.”
Feng nodded. “Yes you have. Sparrow and his men can go.” He turned to face the only two female prisoners. “But we keep the women.”
“Nope,” Jayne shook his head as he stood up. “You can have your men back, but the ladies are coming with us.”
“What do you mean us?” One of the male prisoners asked. He was a young man who kept his facial hair nice and neat. He fit Gibbs’s description of a William Turner.
“That was not the deal,” Sao pressed his claw against Jayne’s chest.
“Yes it was,” Jayne said. “If I can remember my own words. If you win once you get your men back, two times and you get to kill Jack Sparrow and three times you get the whole shebang. You only won the one time.”
“He’s right,” the man Zoe believe to be Jack Sparrow stood up. “That was what he said and you did nod and agree to it Sao.”
It was time. Zoe took a deep breath before she entered the clearing. “A man of honor such as yourself should respect the deal that you agreed to it.” She ignored the puzzled looks cast by everyone as she stopped by Jayne’s side. “Jayne where were you?”
“Looking for Jack Sparrow,” Jayne replied, trying act like he didn’t know what the main plan was. “Where were you?”
She sighed. “I can’t let you out of my sight.”
“Who are you?” Sao approached her.
“Zoe Washburne,” she introduced herself. “First mate of Serenity under Captain Malcolm Reynolds.”
“Where is your captain?”
“A bit holed up at the moment. Now I am here to take my man,” she glared at Jayne. “And Jack Sparrow and his crew, and get the hell out of here.”
Sao shook his head. “I don’t believe you are going anywhere.”
“You are wrong.” She shouted. “Jayne won two out of three and you should honor it.” She heard the sounds of several people running through the grass. “Since you won't you will let us go because we have you surrounded.”
“Get them,” Sao was distracted by the approaching men. It was enough for Zoe to deliver a good punch where Sao wasn’t wearing any armor and a good kick in the knees.
Jayne had also defeated another man before the opponent could grab one of their weapons.
Zoe kept her eyes on the fallen Feng as he reached for the hilt of his sword. “Don’t even think about it.” She pointed to the rest of his men. Each one had two or three other pirates pointing their swords at them.
-
Chapter 22: Rescue
-
Mossel Bay, South Africa
Jack Sparrow stared at the strange man who had just entered the clearing. He didn’t have the slightest idea of who the man is, having had never seen him before. He also had no idea why this man had just walked in like that, of course it was almost the same manner of how Jack entered the clearing, but then that was part of Jack’s almost, but not quite successful plans. This man wasn’t part of his plan; then again the stranger might be part of a different plan.
“Jayne is it?” Sao Feng walked straight up to the new comer. “I have so many questions to ask you.”
“That would make two of us, mate,” Jack said.
Jayne stared at Jack. “Are you Jack Sparrow?”
“He may be,” Sao did not remove his gaze from Jayne.
“Is he or isn’t he?” Jayne asked.
Sao rolled his eyes. “He is.”
“We found him,” Jayne closed his eyes and thrust his fist in the air.
“I have never quite seen anyone be that glad to find you,” Anamaria said.
“Neither have I,” Jack said through clenched teeth. “This might not be a good thing.”
“I am the one asking questions or have you forgotten that you are now my prisoner.” He pointed to the different swords that were pointing at Jayne.
“Now, Sao,” Jack said in a condescending tone. “Why is he a prisoner, he has done you no wrong at all, while I on the other hand have done you plenty.”
“What are you doing?” Turner whispered.
“Conversation, lad. Try not to interrupt.”
“He may have done me no wrong,” Sao said as he paced around Jayne. “But he did enter into my settlement.”
“Your settlement?” Jayne’s smile faded. “I didn’t see your name posted anywhere.”
“Silence,” Sao said before he turned to his men and muttered a string of words, Jack did not recognize.
Jayne’s eyes widened. “You can say that about me, but not my mama you Fei Fei Di Pi Yan.”
It was Sao’s turn for look shocked while the rest of his men gasped. “You can understand and speak my language.”
“Well of course, but I’m thinking it might be best to use something them folk on the ground can understand.”
Sao turned to Jack and nodded. “It would make the most sense. Now why are you here?”
“I’m here for some arm rassling,” Jayne said before he pointed to Jack. “And I need him.”
Jack did not like the sound of that. What did this man need him for?
“Jack?” Elizabeth whispered. “Who is he?”
“I have no idea.” Jack said as he studied the man. He had never seen anyone who looked like that, or dressed like that or even talked like—Of course. This was one of the people who were trying to find him.
“You look like you just recognized him,” Will said.
Jack nodded. “Let’s just listen to what he has to say.”
“Mr. Jayne,” Sao said as he stared at his own claw. “I hate to inform you Sparrow is to be killed soon. He won’t be much use to you.”
“That’s why I am here to arm rassle you,” Jayne explained. “I heard you were ready to gamble. Three rounds like you said. Do I have to say that parley thing?”
“Invoke it,” Elizabeth shouted before one of Sao’s men grabbed her by the hair.
“I invoke Parley?” Jayne said in a questioning tone.
Sao sighed. “You are not the brightest man. Mr. Jayne.”
“Mr. Cobb,” Jayne said. “Jayne is my first name.”
Jack did not give into laughter, only smiled. He just hoped this man was really on his side.
“What do you request?” Sao asked.
“A manly game,” Jayne held out his arm. “Hard to cheat by, just good ole manly arm rassling. Three rounds. If I win then it would be the same deal you gave Jack.”
“What do I get if I win?”
“You win one then you get your men back, win two you keep Jack and win three you get the ladies.”
“What about you? What will you get out of this?”
Jayne glanced over to Jack. “I save Jack’s life then he gets to help me and our crew find our ship.”
“Deal,” Jack shouted. It seemed like a fair and simple task.
“And if you loose, what happens to you?” Sao asked.
The strange man shrugged. “I dunno. I’m pretty much screwed if he’s killed, so whatever you want I guess.”
Sao grinned. “Then it is settled.” He shouted instructions to his men and pointed to the barrel.
“Why are you agreeing?” Turner asked. “You don’t know this man.”
“There are many things in life I tend to learn as I keep living and aging.” Jack raised a finger. “One is that a man who has a girl’s name has to be strong.” He pointed to Jayne. “He looks pretty strong.”
“You don’t even know him,” Anamaria said.
“Turner and I do.”
“We do?” Will asked.
Jack nodded. “Remember what we heard in the bar. What about a crew led by two strange individuals.”
“Who dress and talk strange,” Will blinked as the realization dawned on him. “The man is tall and strong with a beard and a mean looking face. Where is the woman?”
Jack shrugged. “She might be looking for him, or this might be part of her plan. Another thing I learned is that women are quite skilled at thinking and scheming.” He stared at Elizabeth who immediately looked at the ground.
“Yan Hui,” Sao said. “You are first.”
“First?” Jayne asked as he sat one of the large rocks that were rolled to the barrel to serve as a chair. “Whaddaya mean first? I thought it was just going to mean one guy.”
“You didn’t say,” Sao said. “It wasn’t established as part of the rules.”
Tricky and clever as always, Jack had thought. He turned to where the strongest member of Sao’s crew stood. He was the man with the tattooed face. Jack knew what Sao was up to. He would slowly weaken Jayne until he sent in his strongest man and Jayne would probably loose the third round. Jack, Will and the others would live, but Sao would keep Elizabeth and Anamaria.
“Well let’s start,” Jayne places his elbow on the table and held up his hand. “Nice nose ring.”
“Thank you,” Yan Hui said. “I put in there my self.” He grabbed Jayne’s hand.
The first round did not last very long. Maybe it was only a few minutes at first. Yan was a skilled sword’s man, and probably would have a better chance at duel with Jayne. Jack did not know how skilled Jayne was with a sword.
“You won the first round,” Sao said as Yan Hui stood up. “Don’t be too happy. Your luck is about to run out.” He took Yan’s seat.
“You are my next opponent?” Jayne asked as Sao grabbed his hand.
“I am stronger than Yan.” Sao said. “Begin.” The muscles in their arms flexed as each man tried to best each other.
“Good, I was kinda bored.” Jayne was making gradual progress against Sao.
“You intrigue me,” Sweat broke out across Sao’s face. “You wear our words on your clothing and you speak our tongue. Where are you from?”
“The twenty sixth century,” Jayne answered.
The twenty what? Jack blinked when he heard the response and turned to his crew. They were as baffled as he was.
“He’s mad,” Elizabeth said
“Yes he is,” Jack smiled. “Which is what we need.” He turned back to the competition in time to see Jayne best Sao and felt a great weight lifted from his personae. He was going to live; now he hoped Jayne can come through in the last round.
“Who’s next?” Jayne placed his hands behind his head.
“Me,” the man with the tattooed face said as he approached the makeshift barrel.
Jack noticed the way Jayne stared at the large man and all senses of doubt returned. He had hoped that Jayne was as crazy as he had hoped or strong enough to take on the last of Feng’s men, or that Gibbs and the rest of his crew were on their way.
-
Atlantic
James Norrington stared at the map laid out on the table. Both commanders and two of the lieutenants aboard were with him as they studied the charts.
“We are right here,” Lieutenant Hall said as he marked one of the blue squares. “If we keep up at this pace well will have sailed around the southern point of South Africa within a few days.”
“We would have been there sooner if it wasn’t for the necessary stops,” Commander Hamiton said. Norrington knew most of them were at different islands to stock up on supplies and to speak with the other ships who have joined them. They also had to make a few other stops along the African coast; some were to inquire if anyone had seen anyone that matched Elizabeth’s or Turner’s description.
“Many were made for the benefit of this crew,” Norrington said. He thought of them and Reynolds’s crew first and Beckett’s orders second. He had to apologize to River for not letting her be free and she took it in good stride. She did want him to apologize for drinking rum while in one of the ports. “Can’t have them feel like they are trapped. They need to be free.”
“You are making this mission sound like a punishment,” Hamiton said. He was a man who had a few years on Norrington and storm colored eyes. There had been times when Norrington felt those same eyes constantly staring at him and most of it was in disapproval. “Many men would give their right hand to serve under the East India Traitor Company.”
“With all due respect Commander Hamiton,” the Commander Barclay said. “Commodore Norrington felt we should deserve a break now and then. We need to set our feet upon land. That is what he means by freedom.”
“Correct” Norrington said. What could Hamiton think he meant, surely he couldn’t be implying Norrington’s brief career as one of Sparrow’s pirates. That wasn’t freedom it was hell. Even when they were not working, sitting around, drinking and having a good time and when he felt himself laughing along with the crew. No. His place was in the royal navy. Sparrow’s place was at the gallows, Reynolds’s and his crew’s place was back in their time and Turner’s place was with Elizabeth.
“Sir?” Lieutenant Hall.
“I am fine. I need to speak with someone.”
“Is this person a Mr. Core?” Hamiton asked. One of his eyebrows was arched and his mouth curled up into a smug grin.
Norrington stared right back into his eyes. “I was going to have word send out to the other lieutenants and organize a meeting.”
“You do seem to be favoring Mr. Core as well as Mr. Eavesdown and Mr. Winnit.” He stepped closer to Norrington. “And you seem to be speaking with the serving girl, Nandi more than the others.”
“Mr. Eavesdown did save a life,” Lieutenant Hall said. “And as for Mr. Core there has been talk where he is to be promoted.”
“By our commodore’s command?” Hamiton asked.
“By my selection,” Barclay said. “I have run this by Commodore Norrington and he approves.”
“Mr. Hamiton would you step out with me for a moment,” Norrington said. It was time he got to the bottom and find out what Hamiton had been implying. He couldn’t have known that Reynolds and his crew are not who they claim to be.
“As you command,” Hamiton said in a snide tone as he followed Norrington outside the room.
Norrington waited for the door to close behind him before he turned to face the commander. “You seem to have a bit of a problem.”
“Do I now?” Hamiton asked.
“Ever since this mission with Jones began you have been staring at me with annoyance and recently you are trying to undermine my orders.”
“I have only started staring at you in such a manner since I have noticed you have taken a shine to the people I have mentioned.”
“You have a particular problem with them?”
“Only because you speak with them more than the other soldiers, almost as much as you speak with your high ranking officers.”
Norrington nodded. “If you feel I am being unfair to the other soldiers you should have spoken up
sooner.”
Hamiton smirked. “You would have thrown me off.”
Damn it. He had tried not to arouse suspicion, but Hamiton isn’t quite clear. “You are still dancing around the main point. You have not expressed your main distain with me.”
“My disdain?” Hamiton asked.
“Come off it. I know you have been not pleased with me even before Mr. Core had stepped onto the Intrepid.”
“You did keep that girl in your cabin until we had arrived at Port Royal. I know we all have certain desires, but one should learn to restrain their selves.”
Norrington felt his face flush and this time it wasn’t from embarrassment. “She was a traumatized young woman who frightened everyone else and you were glaring at me even before we made port at Tortuga.”
“You shouldn’t be here,” Hamiton said. “You should be in prison, waiting for your turn at the gallows. You were lucky that Beckett could be swain by the gift you gave him.”
“This is because of my redemption?” It was what he had called it and what Sparrow had called the dark side of ambition. Was it really redemption? River had said he listened to the bad voice.
“It takes a lot more for one such as yourself to redeem yourself,” Hamiton said. “The rest of your crew may have a problem with serving under a former pirate but not I.”
“I was not a pirate,” now River was going to call him a liar when she sees him. “I was trying to survive after I resigned.”
“I would have never resigned my commission as a commodore, still be in the navy and go off to Tortuga. I wouldn’t even try to sail through a hurricane or even give a notorious pirate a full day start.”
“Enough,” Norrington growled. “You are to send word to the other lieutenants to meet here. You will be at the meeting. When we meet up with another ship you can be transferred.”
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Mossel Bay, South Africa
So far and so good. Things seem to be going to plan for Zoe. It was her idea to send Jayne in there and make sure the others kept a fair distance. She was right in assuming several of the mysterious Sao Feng’s men would try to look to see if other people would try to come into their camp. She let Horace and the others know it was safe to come closer.
“Mrs. Washburn,” Jarvis had crept close to where she is hiding. “Mr. Gibbs wants to know when we can attack.”
“Tell him in a minute,” she looked the teenager in the eyes. “I will go in first and when I shout out ‘Wrong” is when we will attack.”
“I shall spread the word out to everyone,” Jarvis gave her a salute before he crawled away.
The past came back to Zoë’s mind. She, Jayne and the rest of their crew had met up with the captains of few merchant vessels and even a few other pirate ships. The squid like monster had gone after every ship that had a pirate flag and they were not flying with anyone’s colors. Zoe and the other captains agreed to travel together, safety in numbers until they had reached South Africa. Upon arrival She and Jayne went to a bar trying to find the location of Jack Sparrow along with four other captains and they went back to the ports, only to find Sparrow’s ship but not the pirate captain himself.
“That’s two down,” Jayne’s voice carried out.
Two and one to go. Zoe crawled closer to the camp, pausing every few feet and trying to make her as well hidden as plausible. She could not risk being seen or heard. She did wish she could see what was going on, but she couldn’t hurry, that would be reckless.
She knew she was getting closer when she could hear other people talking. She could hear Jayne as well as several other people; mostly it was Jayne’s grunts. Finally she was able to see through the brush.
Jayne’s last opponent was a real challenge. The mercenary’s face was bright red and slick with sweat as he tried to pull the other man’s arm down. The other man was also straining, but it was clear he was winning. It was only a matter of time.
“Gorram it,” Jayne grunted when his opponent succeeded.
“Well Mr. Cobb,” the man with the claw, Sao Feng, approached him. “It appears your luck has finally ran out.”
“Well at least I won two of em.”
Feng nodded. “Yes you have. Sparrow and his men can go.” He turned to face the only two female prisoners. “But we keep the women.”
“Nope,” Jayne shook his head as he stood up. “You can have your men back, but the ladies are coming with us.”
“What do you mean us?” One of the male prisoners asked. He was a young man who kept his facial hair nice and neat. He fit Gibbs’s description of a William Turner.
“That was not the deal,” Sao pressed his claw against Jayne’s chest.
“Yes it was,” Jayne said. “If I can remember my own words. If you win once you get your men back, two times and you get to kill Jack Sparrow and three times you get the whole shebang. You only won the one time.”
“He’s right,” the man Zoe believe to be Jack Sparrow stood up. “That was what he said and you did nod and agree to it Sao.”
It was time. Zoe took a deep breath before she entered the clearing. “A man of honor such as yourself should respect the deal that you agreed to it.” She ignored the puzzled looks cast by everyone as she stopped by Jayne’s side. “Jayne where were you?”
“Looking for Jack Sparrow,” Jayne replied, trying act like he didn’t know what the main plan was. “Where were you?”
She sighed. “I can’t let you out of my sight.”
“Who are you?” Sao approached her.
“Zoe Washburne,” she introduced herself. “First mate of Serenity under Captain Malcolm Reynolds.”
“Where is your captain?”
“A bit holed up at the moment. Now I am here to take my man,” she glared at Jayne. “And Jack Sparrow and his crew, and get the hell out of here.”
Sao shook his head. “I don’t believe you are going anywhere.”
“You are wrong.” She shouted. “Jayne won two out of three and you should honor it.” She heard the sounds of several people running through the grass. “Since you won't you will let us go because we have you surrounded.”
“Get them,” Sao was distracted by the approaching men. It was enough for Zoe to deliver a good punch where Sao wasn’t wearing any armor and a good kick in the knees.
Jayne had also defeated another man before the opponent could grab one of their weapons.
Zoe kept her eyes on the fallen Feng as he reached for the hilt of his sword. “Don’t even think about it.” She pointed to the rest of his men. Each one had two or three other pirates pointing their swords at them.
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