Pirates of the Caribbean 6: Hoist the Colours

Rendezvous

Jack stood next to me, the tension and hostility palpable. We both looked out towards the Sea, past our ship, as the pastel colors cracked and beamed through the horizon, dancing against the water like paintbrushes. It was daybreak.

"Why did you do it?" My Captain's voice was just as confused and alarmed as it was angry.

"How else could we have gotten in without being killed? It is the Matador del Mar, Captain. He would kill us in a second."

"That's a bluff, love." He turned on his heels towards me. "We vanished under the eyes of seven agents of the East India Trading Company." Moving closer towards me, he grabbed my hand tightly and cut his knowing eyes into me.

"I know you're not afraid of a little challenge. There's another reason that you took him."

I was moved with pity and sorrow. I couldn't let Jack think I'd betrayed him, yet I couldn't let him think I was better than I was. I'm a bloody pirate, a scallywag. I'm conniving. I do what I have to.

"Oh, Jack," I touched his face, and his eyes stayed stone cold, it not even phasing him.

"I'm trying to change our fate."

His brow furrowed. "I have no idea what you're talking about, love."

My voice cracked. "I don't either. Ask your father."

I turned, heading towards the gangplank, but Jack didn't give away my hand. I whipped around to face him.

"Not so fast, Miss Stafford."

This was the first time he'd called me that since I'd become my persona again, putting on my blue pirating frock.

Twisting around, he found Gibbs shouting orders and making his way towards the ship to meet the others, bustling and preparing to depart.

"Mr. Gibbs! Would you be so kind as to lend the fair maiden your hat?"

Gibbs's cautious hand felt for the brim, taking it off slowly and asking why he was doing this with the look in his eye.

"Don't look so confused, man. She's simply been getting a bit too much sun for her... frecklish complection, savvy?"

Gibbs shot us a smile, handing me the hat generously. "Ah, I see! Certainly, Captain. It would be my pleasure." Giving a cheerful bob of his head, he set off to scream orders at the other crewmen.

Jack watched for a moment, waiting for the crewmembers to continue their work and mind their own business. With that, he moved to the edge of the dock and sat on his knees.

"Are you carrying a dagger?" His eyes stayed down, focused, as his hand stretched out towards me and waited for me to give him one. Reluctantly, I pulled mine from my boot and placed the grip in his palm.

"Jack, what are you doing?"

He bent under the pier and used the tip of the knife to cut out a small, metal box which was stuck to the bottom of the wooden dock. It was covered in mollusks and grime, indicating it had been there for a while. Swiping slimy mold from the clasp and flicking it back into the water, he stood.

"I put this here on my way out of this bloody place, after I left you. After I wanted to forget you." He pushed it towards me and my shaky hands took it.

"W-what's in it, Jack?"

"You. Everything I had that was yours. Everything I couldn't look at again."

His eyes darted down, avoiding sentimentalities and taking the hat from my hands and shaking his head as if he could shake away the intensity of his words.

"How different and emotional I used to be. What a coward I was."

He cleared his throat and looked into me again.

"How far are you willing to go to break this Curse of the Land, love?"

I thought for a moment. As much as I wanted to fix it for the Turners, I wanted to break the curse for Jack more. I wanted him to be able to be the pirate he'd always wanted to be, without constantly having to worry about these supernatural forces that held him back and tried to take his life.

"As far as I need to."

"Alright, then." He took the hat from my fingers and placed the metal box inside, putting it on my head and adjusting it.

"I'm going to have to do anything I need to, in that case. Don't let anyone see that box, and more importantly don't open it until you have to."

"And when is that?" I cocked my head.

"When you think I've betrayed you and left you. When you think I'm no longer your mate, and when I no longer have your trust, open that box. Have faith in me, love, and more importantly, remember that Ol' Jackie always has a plan."

Winking, he headed up the gangplank.

"Jackie never has a plan!" I shouted after him, following him.

"That's the common misconception, dearest." He shouted over his shoulder.

"Men, prepare to make way!"

Making my way across the deck now, an image caught my eye.

It was the Pearl, breaking the horizon and sailing towards us.

The Black Pearl.

"Jack!" I grabbed his arm and yanked him to look at the image.

Anger washed over his face and he squinted, shielding the light from his eyes with his hand and trying to make out the Captain, who was waving frantically.

As they finally sailed past the light and I could see them, I made them out immediately. Henry and Carina stood on the helm triumphantly. Across the deck stood each of the regal Pirate Lords of the Brethren Court, submitting to this boy as their Captain and coming to help the renegade and black sheep of their establishment and his reckless old flame.

Pride swelled in me. Through everything, the loyalty of this group which I associated myself trumped all. They would always be there for us.

"We thought you might need some fortification!" Henry shouted, loud enough for us to hear.

"So we thought we'd help you make a fleet, at least for now."

Jack let out a proud chuckle. "Oi, that's my boy-o! Come on, scallywags! We have a rendezvous with the Devil!"