Pirate, Extraordinaire // Sequel to Take Off Your Dress, Pick Up A Sword

a choice

The kraken had about a million sage-colored tentacles, thick and brawny, and they were embracing the Pearl like a lover.

Joanna gripped her dao like a lifeline, struggling to breathe in the face of her fear. At her side, Elizabeth quivered, holding a spear aloft. The scattered crew trembled in a similar state. Blades, thrust high in the air, tremored.

Captain Jack Sparrow weaved among them, spouting ridiculous things like "More than you signed up for, eh?" and "You'll all get a raise after this, how 'bout that" and "It's just a stupid squid." He left baffled grins in his wake.

Below their feet, Will was a steady stream of assurances. "Steady, boys," he ordered the men on the cannons. Joanna allowed herself a small smile, feeling fiercely proud of his sangfroid.

When Elizabeth's tense, insistent voice arose ("Will!") he repeated calmly: "Hold."

A moment later, Pintel snapped, "I think we've held fire long enough!"

"Will!" Elizabeth urged.

A breath -- and then Will agreed. He bellowed, "FIRE!"

The deck reverberated beneath Joanna's feet as thirty-two cannons shot off. Sparks flew from belowdecks. Smoke billowed from open hatches. The kraken roared, tentacles flinching away from the Pearl, bloody and flaming.

The resulting spray of seawater dampened the deck. Joanna slowly lowered her sword, eyes tracking the weak flap of the kraken's arms to the ocean. Her dozens of piratical companions hesitated, doubtful their task could be this simple.

"That's it?" Elizabeth said breathlessly.

Will manifested between her and Joanna, eyes grim. "It'll be back," he prophesied. "We have to get off the ship."

Elizabeth's expression fell. "There're no boats."

Joanna's eyes raked the deck. "No, there's one," she corrected, chest lightening with hope. She glanced back to Will and Elizabeth, biting her lip. "The crew's thirty men, right now. That boat won't fit thirty men."

"That's not fair," Elizabeth whispered. She looked despairing at Will. "It's unfair. Will, there has to be another way."

"Brilliant work, dear William," came Jack's voice. He swayed to a stop at Will's back, clapping his shoulder affably. "Now what?"

"Same thing again?" Joanna suggested timidly, trading her sword from hand-to-hand.

"We aren't that lucky." Jack shook his head; beads clinked. His hands were unusually still at his sides. "Way I see it, we must either kill it or scare it off."

Something heavy rolled into Joanna's ankle. She cast it a perfunctory glance, prepared to kick the distraction away, but she paused. The annoyance was barrel-shaped and, if Joanna wasn't mistaken, full of gunpowder. An idea struck.

"Can we blow it up?" She questioned, indicating the barrel meaningfully. "I'm sure we didn't use up all the powder."

Will's eyes glimmered with a new scheme. He turned to face the uneasy deck, calling fresh orders -- "Pull the grates! Get all the gunpowder onto the net in the cargo hold." The nearest gun-bearing pirate was Lejon; Will snatched the rifle from his hands and pivoted to face Elizabeth, shoving the long weapon into her arms. "Whatever you do, don't miss," he commanded before sweeping away.

Elizabeth nodded sharply, looking overwhelmed but determined. A second later, she looked abashed. "I've never fired a gun," she admitted.

Joanna indicated Jack. "He's a good shot. I'd know."