Chapter 23: Smoke and Mirrors.
-
Jack Sparrow spun around with his hands half way raised seeing that Feng and his men had indeed surrendered he went up to the man who had his sword and took it back. He knew he didn’t exactly need it for what he was about to do. He just wanted it back.
“Thank you, love,” he smiled at the woman who lead the charge. Under any other circumstance he would have let his eyes linger on her. She was beautiful after all, business first. He turned to Sao and pointed his sword at him. “The situation has been turned around for you. Seems that we repeat this old dance.”
Sao glared at him. “What do you want to do, Sparrow, besides gloat?”
“There is the matter of your dear sister.” He nodded towards the direction of Lady Phoenix.
“This wasn’t part of the deal.”
“Considering your situation you shouldn’t be talking about deals,” the woman in the brown jacket said.
“No,” Jack held up his hand and lowered his sword. “We have a deal. We free his men and we go on our merry ways.”
“After you show us where Serenity is,” Jayne said. The strong man kneeled in a way where he kept one knee pinned on Yan Hui’s chest.
“All in good time,” Jack told him. “We have a lot of other matters to settle and once we get it sorted out of the way we will find your dear ship.”
“Now,” Jayne demanded.
“Jayne,” the female captain said.
“Don’t tell me to stand down, Zoe.” Jayne glanced at her before he stared at Jack. “I’m sick of being stuck here. I want to get the ship get the others, get Vera and get back to our time.”
“Jayne, watch what you say.”
“I don’t care if they know where we are from. Doesn’t matter any way.”
Jack cocked his head to the side as he listened to their conversation. They want to get back to their time. Zoe doesn’t want everyone to know where they are from and Jayne said they were from the twenty-sixth century.
“Excuse me miss,” Turner had taken upon himself to break the tension. “Your jacket wouldn’t be considered a brown coat would it?”
Jack closed his eyes when Turner had said it. He almost couldn’t believe Turner would just be that direct and ask her. But then this was William Turner.
Zoe just stared at the whelp for a few minutes. “It can be considered that.”
“How did he know you are a Browncoat?” Jayne asked.
“I don’t think that is important.”
“They are the people Jack talked about,” Ragetti said from his place behind a Chinese pirate.
“I did not talk about them,” Jack said. “Lizzie dreamed that I said Brown Coat and it we had no idea if this person wearing a brown coat was going to help us or attack us.”
“Well she helped you didn’t she?” Jayne asked. “So now it’s our turn.”
“Jayne,” Zoe turned to face him. “Let me handle this.”
“Not until I have the answers I have been seeking,” Jack said. “I’m not the only one who wants to know all about-“ he waved an arm around. “This.”
“That was not part of the deal,” Jayne stood up but kept one foot on Yan Hui’s chest.
“Silence,” Lady Phoenix’s voice cried out. She was no longer tethered. Jack could see where the metal had rubbed her ankle raw. “One at a time.”
Sao sat up, or tried to sit up when Jack pointed his blade at him. “How did you get loose?”
“I have my ways,” Lady Phoenix said as she walked over to Jack. “I believe we want to know who the new comers really are.” She gingerly touched where she had injured Jack. “I am sorry about this.”
He shrugged. “Don’t be sorry. It was a good strike.” He turned to his first mate. “Mr. Gibbs care to explain?”
The older man nodded. “We all met at the docks. Mrs. Washburn here is only acting captain while her real captain is holed up somewhere. A man named Malcolm Reynolds.”
“Malcolm Reynolds?” Jack wondered if he had heard that name before. “Malcolm Reynolds.”
“Do you know him?” Turner asked.
“Not unless he can see into the future,” Jayne grumbled and earned another reprimand from Zoe.
“Nope,” Jack shook his head. “Can’t say I have.” He turned to face Zoe. “Care to help?”
“You are aware we are looking for you,” Zoe said. “We sailed east, like we were instructed to and made a turn for South Africa. We were joined by several more ships along the way.” She nodded to several men who either nodded along or raised their hands. “Pirates like you and innocent merchants who do not want to be under the heel of this East India Company.”
Jack nodded. “Decided to start your own fleet have you?”
“It’s what I have feared,” Gibbs said. “The Kraken has destroyed many a ship both pirate and those who do not wish to be a part of Beckett’s company. Several sailors at the docks have mentioned they hear Beckett has left Port Royal and is on his way.”
“Beckett has the heart,” Turner said. His face darkened into a glower that was fiercer than the one in Sri Lanka. “Norrington. He is alive.”
“Yes he is,” Zoe nodded. “If it wasn’t for him we would still be in that grungy prison in Port Royal.”
“He helped you escape,” Elizabeth had a pleased tone in her voice. She still viewed Norrington as a friend. Jack gave her a look. Whatever smile she had faded away. If it weren’t for her Norrington would have probably remained where he was tossed n Tortuga.
“As you know by now we met up in the ports,” Gibbs said. “Once they heard about what happened they insisted on a plan.” He pointed at Zoe and Jayne.
“And everyone joined up to organize this little rescue mission,” Jack summed it up.
“Now that we rescued you, you help us find our ship,” Jayne demanded. That man had a one-track mind, almost like Turner.
“You really love your ship,” Jack said. “I can understand. I know how you are feeling, but I don’t know where it is.”
“The voodoo gal said you did.”
“Voodoo gal?” Jack blinked
“Lives in a swamp,” Jayne explained. “I haven’t met her, but they said she’s got these jars hanging all around.”
“Tia Dalma?” That may have explained a few things, but did not explain why Tia had told them to look for him. “What did she say about me?”
“That you know where to find Serenity,” Zoe said.
“But I don’t know where it is,” Jack shook his hands in frustration.
“The compass, Jack.” Elizabeth made her way over to him and pointed at his belt. “Give them the compass.”
Jayne raised an eyebrow. “What good will that does?”
“You’ll see,” Jack removed the compass from his belt and handed it to Zoe. “Which direction is it pointing?”
“It should point north,” Zoe flipped back the lid and stared at the needle. Jack watched along with her. At first it pointed in a north west direction before it turned to the west and then spin around, the needle almost seemed to try to point straight up and even came close to tapping the glass.
“It seems you don’t know what you really want,” Jack said, only to be answered by a cold and confused glare from Zoe. “That’s how it works. It points to what you really want.”
“If I give it to Jayne it would just point to Vera,” Zoe said in a disappointed tone. “It would point to Serenity if it was in Malcolm’s hands.” She sighed. “I’m not used to flying her myself, just her shuttles every now and then. It should be the captain, or River who is at the helm.”
Did he hear right? “Fly?” He shook his head. “Never mind. That is not the important part as of this moment. Where is your captain holed up?”
“He’s on Norrington’s ship as we speak,” Zoe explained. “He and the rest of our crew are disguised as soldiers.”
“Bugger,” Jack frowned. “We can’t just hand it to him then.”
“Actually we can,” Lady Phoenix hadn’t left his side. “My dear brother and I will explain.”
Sao stared at her. “Why should I help any of them?”
“You are forgetting the part where you are surrounded?” Jack nudged him with the toe of his boot until he stood up. “There are also several reasons you will want to help us.” He turned to Gibbs. “We are going back to the ports.”
“Everyone is going back?” Gibbs asked.
Jack nodded. “Everyone.”
-
Simon Tam felt his wrist was about to go numb from the amount of scrubbing he had to do. It wasn’t just him. He and several other marines, those wearing the red coats, also had the duty of cleaning the dining area. Simon found himself underneath one of the tables, scrubbing away at the grime that had accumulated there. Part of him was thankful he wasn’t back in his own time. There were no wads of gum stuck under the tables.
“I hope we don’t have inspection after this,” Mullroy said. He and his friend, Murtogg had started grown closer with the doctor, ever since Simon had saved Murtogg from choking.
“They may give us some time,” Simon said as he scrubbed the last part and slid out from underneath. “At least we remembered to remove our jackets.’
“Smart of you to think that,” Murtogg nodded at him. He was scrubbing several of the seats. “Don ‘t have many of those, a few extra shirts and waistcoats sure, but not enough jackets.”
“Good enough common sense,” Simon said. He had to be extra careful. He had the only one jacket. He was able to borrow a few other waist coats and shirts and trousers, but just had the one jacket. He hoped Kaylee had better luck than he did.
“Not having a good and clean uniform on inspection can be frightening,” Mullroy said.
“Not as frightening as Davy Jones and that crew,” Simon said. The mere mental images of those folk sent a chill down his spine. He remembered how they stared at him and Kaylee and he had wondered if they knew who they truly are.
“Nothing is scarier than that lot,” Murtogg nodded. “Can’t wait until we finished with the pirates and then we won’t have to deal with them.’
“Just good ole fashion Navy and Marine work?” Simon asked.
“Of course.”
“Almost wish we could do that now,” Mullroy chimed in. “Have it like it used to be. We in Port Royal with Governor Swann and Commodore Norrington in charge.”
“Isn’t that the way it is now?” Murtogg asked him.
His best friend shook his head. “Beckett is in charge and we didn’t have fish people appearing all the time.”
“Hopefully we will get rid of the fish people soon.” Simon said as he stood up. They had finished the assignment.
“Right,” Murtogg dropped the scrub brush into the bucket. “Best we get to cleaning up ourselves in case we do have an inspection.”
Simon ignored them. His eyes were on one of the serving women as she entered the galley he was sure it was Inara.
“Mr. Eavesdown?” Mullroy touched his shoulder. “You are coming with us?”
“I’ll be with you in a minute gentlemen,” Simon.
Murtogg turned to the direction he was staring at and smiled. “I see. It best not to get involved with them.”
“Not to mention the new lieutenant has taken a fancy to that one,” Mullroy said.
“Lieutenant?” Simon asked.
“Michael Core. He is always making eyes at her.”
Simon forced himself to keep from laughing. If only these two knew about Mal and Inara and how the tension between the two was so thick it would have taken an actual cutlass to slice through it.
“She was a bit careless with the pepper,” He thought up a quick and good excuse. “I need to remind her not to put in too much next time.” He parted away from the two of them and headed straight for the disguised companion.
She had sensed him before he got close to him. “Monsieur?”
“Inara,” he whispered her real name. “It’s me, Simon.”
“Simon,” she whispered back. “What are you doing down here?”
He glanced over his shoulder to see Murtogg and Mullroy still were waiting for him. “Had an assignment, going back to our berths to clean up in case of surprise inspection. Have you seen River recently?”
Inara nodded. “She is the same as last time. Norrington gave her paper to draw on and she mapped out our system for him.”
“I know I have heard of the name James Norrington before we came here. I’m just trying to remember where.”
“I think there was a song or it may have been a poem. It was about a brave naval officer who went out to fight pirates and disappeared mysteriously.”
The facts returned to his head. “Of course. There was a James Norrington who did disappear before the American Revolution.” He blinked. “This could be when that event happened.”
“That is why River doesn’t want to leave his side,” Inara said.
“She can’t change history though.” He knew his sister was going to try. Norrington was her friend and although he wasn’t pleased with the fact he had her arrested, Simon did appreciate the way the commodore was protective of her.
“I don’t have the heart to break it to her,” Inara said. “I think she may have a crush on him.”
Crush? “No,” Simon shook his head. River did not develop crushes on anyone.
“It is a step up from having a crush on Mal.”
“No she didn’t,” Simon held up his hands. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear the last part of this conversation.” He turned away from her.
“Do you think she got the message?” Murtogg asked once Simon had caught up with them.
“I am most certain she had,” Simon said.
-
Elizabeth wasn’t sure if she liked the situation they were in. She only knew some of the members from the other ships that had joined their fleet and that was just barely. She did not know Zoe or her crew well enough, and what little she did know of Sao Feng she did not like. She had glanced back at her fiancé and saw Will, keeping an even pace along with Gibbs and Jayne.
“Jack,” she grabbed the arm of her captain. ”What are your doing?”
“Thinking of a way to get the heart,” Jack answered. “And help these people get their ship back.”
“We don’t even know them,” she stared at Zoe in the eyes. “No offense.”
“None taken,” Zoe answered.
“I have been betrayed twice by my sister,” Sao Feng had been quite the whole time as they walked.
“I have learned so much from you,” Lady Phoenix said. “I appreciate how you try to look out for me.”
“Look out for you?” Elizabeth asked. She saw the raw skin from the shackle. “That is a fine way of looking out for you.”
Lady Phoenix stared at her as if she were an insect. “Do not question our family ways.”
Elizabeth bit down on her tongue. “What are your plan’s Jack?”
“I’m still working on that part.” Jack said.
“What about helping Mrs. Washburn and Mr. Cobb find their ship?”
“I am working on that,” Lady Phoenix said. “My brother and I are in fact.”
“No,” Sao Feng froze in his tracks. “We are not giving them one of our boats.” He was about to raise his claw, but paused when he heard Jack remove his sword from his sheath.
“Don’t make me have threaten you,” Jack said. “I am going to need you. I’m going to need everyone.”
“You want us to work together?” Sao asked.
“Beckett has the heart of Davy Jones and Jones controls the sea,” Jack explained. “Once Beckett has finished removing anyone who refuses to be under his heel in the Caribbean-“ Jack didn’t have to finish.
“No one will be free,” Feng nodded.
“How is a boat going to help us?” Elizabeth asked. They had been sailing along with a whole fleet of different ships.
“Have you wondered how we were able to surprise you all near Singapore?” Sao smiled. “Jack did you notice some of the panels on The Empress as you climbed it?”
Jack shook his head. “I was to busy trying to get inside.”
“You will see when we arrive at the ports.”
Elizabeth had less of an idea than Jack did about what Sao was talking about. One look at Zoe and the older woman was as confused as she was.
When they had reached the ports Elizabeth still couldn’t see what Sao and his sister were talking about. The sides of The Empress were not at all that impressive except the wooden boards were more vertical than horizontal.
“Yan Hui,” Sao called out to his second in command. “Climb aboard the Empress and tell them to prepare a long boat.”
Yan Hui nodded before he walked as fast as he could with the leg brace.
“Mr. Gibbs I have a mission for you,” Jack said and motioned Gibbs to come forward with his fingers.
“What it be?” Gibbs asked when he caught up with his captain.
“I need you to have word sent out through the ports. That all who crave to sail freely, whether they be an honest sailor or not to meet here.”
“I think I know what ye be talking about,” Gibbs winked before he ran off.
Elizabeth stared at the Empress as what she assumed to be a long boat was lowered into the water. It looked more like a dinghy with it’s own small mast and sail. She still didn’t see how it was going to help deliver the compass to Zoë’s captain.
“I would hope to see how this is going to work,” Zoe said.
“I agree with Mrs. Washburn,” Elizabeth said.
Lady Phoenix looked at her with distain. “Come here and I shall show you.” She stepped into the boat. “You can either paddle yourself or rely on the wind, but this is how you will get by undetected.” She grabbed onto a wooden lever and shifted it. Several pieces of panel swung around, the opposite sides were covered with metal and glass and when the wooden side pressed against the ship it covered the wood in the mirrors.
“Mirrors,” Elizabeth said. The mirrors reflected the water around, making the boat appear invisible. “You can’t see it, except for the sail and you.”
“That is where this comes in,” Lady Phoenix pointed to a small pot near the back. “It contains special ash. When you light it there is a smoke that looks like a mist covers the mast and spreads out, almost like a fog.”
“You will be able to find your captain in this,” Jack smiled. “Well done, Sao. I feel a bit sullied in the brain that I wasn’t unable to think of something like this myself.”
Sao rolled his eyes. “Your brain is always sullied, Sparrow.”
“If only,” Zoe tried to smile. “If only I knew where to find them and how to navigate it.”
“You don’t know how to sail?” Elizabeth asked in disbelief.
“Not exactly.”
Elizabeth held out her hand. “Give me the compass. I’ll take it to him.”
To her surprise Jack removed it from his belt. “Try not to get yourself hurt, or killed. Your beloved fiancé would take it out on me.”
“You are just going to give it to me?”
“I know you will give it back.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her close. “I need you to do a little something for me. Bring me back a little gifty from Norrington’s ship.”
She raised her eyebrows in uncertainty. “What do you need?”
“According to Gibbs there are rumors floating about that Beckett is either on Norrington’s ship or on his way. I need to get that heart and give it to your fiancé so he can keep the promise he had made.” He raised a finger. “Try to bring me back one of those fancy uniforms.”
She couldn’t believe what he asked of her. “You are not going to slip aboard undetected.”
“Please darling.” He pressed his hands together and brought them under his mouth. “Please?”
“I’ll try.” Elizabeth placed the compass in her pocket as she climbed aboard the dinghy and Lady Phoenix stepped out. She stared up at Jack and Zoe as Sao handed her a lantern. She will not fail them.
“James Norrington,” She said the name of her friend and former fiancé before she flipped back the lid of the compass. He was a man she wanted to see more than anything. She was glad he was alive, but also annoyed with what he had done. “I want a word with you.” She watched as the arrow pointed towards the northwest before she grabbed the paddles.