Norribeth: the KMC fic

Sailor, Kate, everyone. Let's get this party started.

(right after DMC ends)

Will: You're, you're alive! (to Barbossa)

Barbossa: (swallows apple) So are you, me boy. And you (looks over at Liz) MISS Turner, surely you had died by now at some point.

Liz: I was going to..... (looks away in shock and guilt)

Tia: Yes. It's all a-comin' together now. I see. You will find yours boat in Tortuga. Look for a woman.

Gibbs: Got a name to go with so vague a description? (starts to get fresh with her. Tia gives him a stare. He shuts up)

Tia: She will have da brand. Find she boat and Hector will captain it.

Will: I don't know if I like the sound of that.

Liz: Will, let's just go. We outnumber him. He's mortal (stares Barbossa down)

Barbossa: And don't forget you are too, young miss. We'll be castin' off as soon as we find the woman. Let's go.

(everyone exits but Liz. Tia pulls her aside)

Tia: Before ya go, ye wid all da secrets...

Liz: I haven't got any secrets....

Tia: ...You will be warned now. One you tink dead has a heart dat still beats (taps her chest) Beats, but for what?

Continue!

YAY! 🙂 i'm so excited.

im doing some right now, hold on

okay, I'm hitting the hay. I'll see what you geniuses have concocted tomorrow.

Cut to outside Tia's shack, where they are climbing into the longboat.

Tia stands the see them off. Will turns back to her.

Will: Last time you helped us, things didn't exactly go according to plan.

Tia: Dat's a chance ye'll have to take den, eh?

Will: I'll not see Elizabeth die to save Sparrow. His life is not worth hers.

Tia: Who are you ta judge da worth of a life?

Will: (looks down, desperately) I have to be able to protect her.

Tia: Is she still yers to protect?

Will looks up at her, in anger.

Gibbs: Will! We best be getting off.

Will nods and climbs back into the boat. Barbossa stands at the head of the boat- Jack's old spot. They push off...

Cut to Port Royal. Beckett and Norrington are in his office, leaning over a chess board. Norrington is re-outfitted in full Commodore regala, wig and all. His eyes show the effects of drinking.

Beckett: Your ship has arrived, fully outfitted as you directed.

Norrington: Crew and all?

Beckett: Indeed. You know your first mission of course.

Norrington: (looks at him questioningly, taking a sip of brandy) I'm afraid I don't, sir.

Beckett: (smiling enigmatically) You say the Pearl departed Isle Cruces directly after you left them?

Norrington: I assume so.

Beckett: My men have returned with news. The Black Pearl is no more.

Norrington: (who has been puzzling over a chess piece, drops it to the floor) No more?

Beckett: It seems Jones finally took his revenge on Sparrow.

Norrington rushes to the window, and gazes on to the sea, in anguish he tries to mask.

Norrington: (with forced control) and there were no survivors?

Beckett has returned to his desk.

Beckett: That, of course, will be your mission.

Norrington looks at him incredulously.

Beckett: Don't imagine me ignorant of your previous engagement to Miss Swann.

The words pain Norrington. He downs another glass of brandy and leans against the table. Beckett smiles briefly, and the opens a drawer of his desk. He pulls out--- gasp!--- a compass! And slides it in front of Norrington.

Beckett: I hope for her sake your desire has not faded.

Norrington looks at the compass in confusion.

Norrington: Where did you come by that?

Beckett: My new business associate, Davy Jones.

Norrington picks up the compass, and opens it. The needle wavers and points away, in the direction of Tortuga. He runs out the door.

The heroes have arrived in Tortuga. Elizabeth is the first to jump into the water and drag the boat to shore. Tortuga seems strangely dark and quiet. Gibbs looks around.

Gibbs: Uncanny, I call it. Almost as if they knew he was gone.

Pintel: How's we spose to find our way round in the dark?

Will: She said to look for a woman.

Barbossa: And yet there's only one woman in sight. (glances at Elizabeth).

Elizabeth: Unless you have a rudder and a lot of sails hidden in that jacket, Captain Barbossa, you're out of luck.

Barbossa smirks, while Elizabeth holds up a lantern and moves forward. Will pulls out his sword and follows. They sneak into the dank alleys of Tortuga, which appear totally deserted. Broken bottles litter the streets, along with several rodents. Elizabeth suddenly stops and warns the crew back with a look. She peers around a corner.

A lady in a dark cloak stands there, in earnest conversation with someone, who slips away as Elizabeth rounds the corner, sword drawn.

Elizabeth: Are you the woman Tia Dalma instructed us to find?

The woman raises her head: It's Anamaria. Dressed in full out Asian attire and looking smoking hot.

Elizabeth: You!

AnaMaria: (eyes narrowing) You. This is something of a surprise.

Elizabeth: Weren't you told we would come?

AnaMaria: Well, I have a ship waiting for you, if that's what you mean.

The rest of the crew round the corner. AnaMaria takes in the scene with a slight grin.

Barbossa: Ah! AnaMaria. You're a sight for sore eyes.

AnaMaria: Let's not get started on the loot you owe me. We have no time. We have to get out of Tortuga.

Will: What's happened here?

AnaMaria: A pirate lord sent a plague of rats aboard one of his merchant ships and plundered the city days ago. He's waiting off shore for you.

They all begin hurrying back towards the docks, where a small vessel is tied.

Elizabeth: What does he want with us?

AnaMaria: Jack Sparrow of course.

Gibbs: Well, we clearly haven't got him.

AnaMaria stops short and begins herding them into her ship.

AnaMaria: You can tell him that when he's caught us.

Will: This was definately not part of the plan.

AnaMaria: (looks at Elizabeth enigmatically) I hope you've got your persuasion skills polished, miss.

Gibbs: A plagued city or capture by pirates?

The crew look at each other; no one wants to make the decision. Finally Elizabeth looks out to sea.

Elizabeth: Pirates. At least we know what we're up against with them.

They don't get far in the small boat before 4 Asian ships surround them. AnaMaria sighs wryly.

AnaMaria: Then it's a surrender?

Will nods.

Will: Keep your swords handy, though. Once this pirate finds out we don't have Jack, we may have to come up with another plan.

Asian pirates begin to board their ship, weapons drawn. Last to enter is Sao Feng, looking smug.

Sao: Thank you for your help, AnaMaria.

The crew turns to her in disbelief. She shrugs.

Gibbs: (under his breath) bloody pirate.

Sao circles the crew.

Sao: No Jack Sparrow, I see. Left you all to fend for yourselves, did he?

Elizabeth: No! (calms herself) No... (she steps up to Sao Feng, eyes blazing) He died to save us all.

Sao looks at her curiously.

Sao: Did he now? That certainly doesnt sound like Jack Sparrow. (Elizabeth lowers her eyes) Well then... what am I to do with you all?

Ragetti: Let us go? (Pintel pokes him, he mutters) it was just a suggestion.

Will: We were on our way to rescue Jack from his imprisonment in Davy Jones' locker. We need him to help fight Davy Jones.

Gibbs rolls his eyes; there goes the secret plan. Sao turns to Will, suddenly interested.

Sao: Ah, Davy Jones. He's made some new friends of late, or so I hear.

Will: Without Jack and the pearl, we can't hope to defeat him.

Sao considers this a moment.

Sao: In that case, I'm willing to bargain with you. I have information that will lead you to Jack.

Gibbs: I hope you don't deal in souls.

Sao: No... but years of service, maybe.

The crew winces-- that's not what they wanted to hear. Elizabeth steps forward boldly.

Elizabeth: Name your price.

Sao: (Sao looks over her in clear admiration) For you, lady? One year of honest service to me, once you've saved Sparrow.

Elizabeth: Done.

The crew react- Will most of all. He pulls her to the side.

Will: What are you doing?

Elizabeth: (avoiding his gaze) What must be done. He saved our lives, now we're saving his.

Will: By selling yourself to a man like that?

Elizabeth: (fiercly) What makes him different from any other man?

Will steps back, surprised and hurt. Elizabeth's eyes fill with tears, but she lifts her chin.

Elizabeth: Don't make this harder than it already is.

They turn back to Sao, who produces a book and hands it to Will.

Sao: I'll be waiting for you, and Sparrow. (looks at Elizabeth) Remember our bargain.

Elizabeth looks down at the book...

CUT TO...

Cut to right outside Beckett's office. We can hear screaming from inside. Norrington and Beckett and Mercer are overhearing it.

Norrington: Really, Beckett, I must protest to this inhumane of Governor Swann.

Beckett: Former Governor Swann.

Norrington: Be that as it may, he does not know where his daughter has gone, nor who she is with, or....or even if she is still alive. He has no information to give us.

Beckett: Then you are telling me he is of no use to me? (smirks at Mercer)

Norrington: (draws his sword) If you could kill all those who were of no use to you...

Beckett: The world would be an empty, pirate-less paradise for me.

Mercer: Tell him how you acquired the compass, sir.

Beckett: Ah, yes. We took an EITC ship out to survey any signs of jetsom the Pearl left when we heard she'd gone down. We found only this floating along. It seems I have the compass and the heart. But the compass will be left to you.

Mercer: And the book?

Norrington: Book?

Beckett: A log of every pirate executed, and those who still have to be caught. It went missing days ago. I would assume it was the work of Jack Sparrow.

Norrington: Captain Jack Sparrow is dead.

Beckett: A stirring observation. But I still believe pirates are responsible for taking it. What they hope to find in it, I don't know. But the disappearance of the Black Pearl, the recovery of the heart of Davy Jones, Asian pirates sacking Tortuga, and now the Pirate Log vanishing, I can tell they are all connected. Find them, Commodore. Find them and you'll live to see Admiral.

Mercer: And the governor may live to see that day as well.

Norrington: Savages.

Murtogg and Mulray (spelling?) are lounging on the deck of the Dauntless with fellow crew members of the navy, mostly drinking and playing cards etc, more pirate than officer at the moment.

Norrington: Men!

Murtogg: We thought you'd died, sir!

Mulray: Went off his rocker is more like it.

Murtogg: You shouldn't say such things in front of the Commodore.

Mulray: But if he is off his rocker, he wouldn't know it was us that were saying them.

Norrington: But I would imagine two sea slugs trying to imitate intelligent human communication.

(They snap shut)

Norrington: We'll be casting off. Prepare the Dauntless.

Crew: For what, sir?

Murtogg: We're going back after Jack Sparrow?

Mulray: Maybe picking up Will Turner for the fugtive that he is?

Crew: At this point, they're all fugitives. It's an apprehension mission then?

Norrington: No. (looks at to the sea) It's a rescue mission.

Cut to: AnaMaria's small ship, loaded with the crew, is sailing through unsteady waters. Elizabeth has fallen asleep against the mast. Barbossa and Gibbs are moodily sharing a pint. Will is leaning against the gunwhale, the book in his hand. AnaMaria approaches him.

AnaMaria: Tia Dalma didn't tell me who to expect.

Will: She never does.

AnaMaria: How is it Jack died?

Will: (glancing at Elizabeth) He owed a debt to Davy Jones.

AnaMaria: So he got what he deserved, eh?

Will: (laughs tiredly) Perhaps. My world fell apart when the Black Pearl went under.

Will pulls out his father's knife and studies it.

AnaMaria: It's funny what people will do to reverse fate.

Thunder sounds in the distance. The water grows more unsteady as Barbossa approaches them, looking around in relish.

Barbossa: It's time to open the book.

CUT TO...

A bright, sunny morning. Norrington strides the deck of his ship, offshore of Tortuga, which is once again lively. Murtogg and Mulroy emerge on deck from a longboat-- they have been spying out the terrain.

Norrington: Since when do you need permission to come ashore in Tortuga?

Murtogg: Apparantly Tortuga is under new management.

Norrington: There's hardly a chance Beckett beat us here.

Mulroy: No sir... I'm afraid it's a great pirate lord. Hails from Singapore.

Norrington's eyes brighten with interest-- he has a guess who it is.

Norrington: Our colors must have upset him. Let me go ashore in disguise. I've had dealings with this man in the past.

CUT BACK TO: The crew aboard Anamaria's ship, about to open the book. A worn leather clasp is removed, and Barbossa snatches the book out of Will's hand, gingerly opening it to the first page. His eyes scan the page briefly as he mutters to himself.

Barbossa: Captain Buckthorn, Goodfellow, Jeremiah Fowler, aye, aye... Jenkins they got nigh on a year ago. There be Foulkes, Cruikshank, and Dirty Basingstoke gone too? These be dark days.

Barbossa flips the page, where there is a list of "still wanted" pirates. He grins as he sees his own name.

Barbossa: Hector Barbossa- last scene off the coast of Port Royal. (grins) And here be Jack. (Barbossa pulls a piece of charcoal out of his coat pocket and carefully scratches Jack's name off the list, writing in "dead off the coast of Isle Cruses"😉 I've wanted to do that for years.

Elizabeth: Captain Barbossa! This is a rescue mission.

Barbossa: Aye. That's why I wrote it in charcoal and not in ink, missy. (Looks back down at the book) And here be our friend, Sao Feng. And Teague, too, by the looks of it. Too few of us, in my reckoning.

Will: How will this book help us find Jack?

Barbossa: (gives Will a patronizing look) This be a pirate book, Mr. Turner, and being such I'm not certain I trust you to look at it.

Will turns away, exasporated, while Elizabeth gives Barbossa a stealy glance.

Elizabeth: We're all pirates now, Barbossa, equally hated and all with a price on our heads. Now answer the question.

Barbossa: Legend has it the names of the pirate lords spell out directions to the world's end, the only entrance to the locker. At any given time, the living pirates can point the way to the locker, while the dead point the way back. You've found me, and we've met Sao Feng. It's a short list to track down before we find Sparrow.

Elizabeth seizes the book and looks down on the list--- the next name is James Norrington.

^^ Sexy James is a pirate? Hey, does he have a brand?!

I er, having nothing to add at the moment...but soon....soon... 😄

Liz: There's a mistake.

Barbossa: That's impossible. The EITC wouldn't dare be so stupid.

Gibbs: Tis a mistake, all right. Norrington sailed on the Black Pearl only for a brief amount of time.

Will: (peeks at the book) Did he have a brand when he was on there with you, Mr. Gibbs?

Gibbs: Ah, no. Got a good look at both his arms whilst he was tryin' to pick a fight with me in Tortuga.

Pintel: I got an idea, but I don't think anyone's going to like it.

(they all look at him)

Ragetti: You have ideas?

Pintel: What if Beckett's put names in of people's not pirates, but can be captured as pirates later?

Liz: Beckett intends to kill James?

Will: He would bring him Jack if he could. That makes no sense.

Gibbs: Especially since the good Commodore's probably dead, too.

Pintel: I said no one would like my idea.

Ragetti: It's the Commodore none of us likes.

Anamaria: (enters) One of you can take the helm now.

Will and Liz (together): I'll take it. (look at each other. Neither really wants to be alone with the other right now)

Will: I'll take it, Elizabeth. You should probably be getting some rest.

Liz: I still don't understand the bit about how all the pirates' names can find us the entrance to the locker.

Barbossa: There's a great many sea mysteries you don't understand.

Gibbs: Can't ya give the lass a break, Barbossa? She's been slaving away and working as hard as anyone on this mission.

Liz: Thank you.

Barbossa: All right. The last names either give a code or some clue to where the locker is. Through the entrance is where we'll find Jack.

(Liz assembles the last names.)

Liz: Not all of them have last names.

Barbossa: I'd wager me own mother they do, Ms. Swann.

Liz: Then what is Teague's last name? This pirate here. (shows him the book)

Barbossa: That last name be Sparrow.

Wooh.... chills. 🙂 excellent job Willo.

I'll do some later when I get back... Where is Sailor, Surreal, and the other creative Norribethers? 🙂

ha ha ha...creative....psshhh...

Drat...I had a post and lost it. *scowls* I'll try again later. 😄

wow!! this story is amazing so far!! i LOVE it😄😄😄

Aw, no one's continuing! Come on. Inside everyone beats the heart of a storyteller.

Cut to Beckett's office

Beckett: You will be much obliged to know that I've sent Commodore Norrington to recover your daughter and any other survivors.

Gov. Swann: You monster! I know very well what you would do with Elizabeth if you found her! God knows it hurts, but I hope she stays missing. Anything to spare her the noose.

Beckett: Well, it would please you to know she is probably surrounded by pirates right now.

Gov. Swann: It neither pleases nor surprises me.

Beckett: Shall we go pay her a visit?

(Gov Swann looks up)

Beckett: Oh, don't look at me like that. I don't know where she and Mr. Turner are. But I will. Mr. Mercer is not my only extra pair of eyes. It will not be hard to spot a woman among the pirates and it will also not be hard to discover William Turner, the spitting image of his father, who was such a famous, er, infamous pirate.

Gov. Swann: Pirate?

Beckett: If I had my log I would show you, but he was Bootstrap Bill Turner, crew member and 2nd mate of the Black Pearl, until many years ago when he disappeared.

Gov. Swann: The poor boy. To know....(an idea springs to his head. Elizabeth must not marry the son of a pirate)

Beckett: Now, if you'll excuse me.

Gov. Swann: What was it Commodore Norrington set on your desk?

Beckett: (turns, uncharacteristically startled) How do you know he set anything on my desk?

Gov. Swann: I have my own pair of eyes, you know. What was it? Was it Jack Sparrow's compass you sent young Mr. Turner after?

Beckett: It is the heart of Davy Jones, and I intend to use it right now.

Gov. Swann: You intend to use such evil for your own gain? (quite disgusted)

Beckett: Naturally. (pokes a section of the heart with a letter opener. It almost reacts in pain) Now just wait, MR Swann. Give it an hour, maybe two, and you will soon after learn that the entire port of Tortuga has been ravaged by a beast that we all once thought to exist only in imagination....Asian pirates and all.

CUT TO Norrington, in conference with Sao Feng. They appear to be relatively good friends. They walk up and down the bustling streets of Tortuga, which has taken on an Asian flavor.

Sao Feng: James Norrington, there are too few like you left in this part of the world. It's almost time I walled myself back up in Singapore again.

Norrington: Where the devil have you been all these years?

Sao Feng: Here and there. In and out. With her and without her. (laughs jovially)

Norrington: Her?

Sao Feng: Tia Dalma, of course. Remarkable woman.

Norrington: Ah, yes. I hear much of her but have yet to meet her face to face.

Sao Feng: You will soon enough, if I'm not mistaken. But back to the matter at hand. There were indeed survivors.

Norrington: Is Elizabeth...?

Sao Feng: The girl? Yes, she's alive and kicking. And making rash bargains for Sparrow's life.

Norrington: (uneasily) Where have they gone?

Sao: To rescue him, of course.

Norrington: Then the legends of that Dalma woman are true... she can bring people back... from...?

Sao: Among her many talents. I gave your friends the book. If they succeed in fetching Sparrow back, your Elizabeth will have a debt to pay me.

Norrington: I must find them.

Sao smiles mischieviously.

CUT TO the middle of the ocean. A very drunk, very happy pirate is rowing a small long boat over a glassy sea, singing deliriously, "A pirates life for me!" As he sings, he alternately throws large, dead fish directly behind the longboat, where a trailing set of sharks compete for them. The pirate pulls out a pipe and lights it, finally giving us a good view of his face-- its Teague Sparrow. Suddenly there's movement- another person in the bottom of the boat, tied up and struggling. Teague gives him a good natured kick and continues his rowing-- he's coming upon shore in Singapore. Teague has some trouble getting out of the boat in his drunk state, but manages to tie up the boat to a dock.

Teague: (to his prisoner) Mind the boat.

Teague pulls out a heavy chest and lugs it down the dock, until he arrives in front of a particular ship. He smiles and settles the chest in front of the gangplank, then staggers back towards his long boat.

Meanwhile, a cautious figure has snuck down the gangplank and is investigating the chest. Sniffs it, shakes it, finally opens it and surprise! Jack the monkey pops out, giving the man the fright of his life.

Man: Damn You, Teague Sparrow!!!

Back in his longboat, Teague is giggling. Clearly, there is an ongoing joke afoot.

The man peers back into the chest, and finds the monkey was not the only thing inside. Three curious objects--- a heart shaped locket, a silver coin, and a glass eye, are within.

CUT TO...

*Elizabeth is sitting with the open book on her lap, and a scrap of paper as she copies down the last names of the pirates and begins to rearrange the letters*

Elizabeth: Why does this have to be so bloody complicated? Bloody pirates!

Barbossa: *with amusement* What do ye mean, lass?

Elizabeth: *with concentration* I am trying to work, Captain. So I have Sparrow, Norrington, Barbossa, Feng, Smith--Smith?

Barbossa: Ah yes, Bloody Stupid Smith. He's still alive, is he?

*Gibbs perks up, waiting for the right moment to hop in the conversation*

Elizabeth: Is that his real name?

Gibbs: *helpfully chiming in* Well, the "Bloody Crazy"came from the time he sailed with the Spanish armada. He managed to ground the entire fleet on a sand bar, and he sent word back to Spain that he needed a crate of yarn and a loaf of bread, the "Stupid" part --

Elizabeth: *gritted teeth* I meant is his last name really Smith?

Barbossa: Oh of course.

*Elizabeth does not look convinced, and goes back to working with the names*

Elizabeth: Why is he Spanish with an English -- never mind, I don't want to know. Bonny and Laffitte...That's all of them? There have to be more...

Barbossa: Pirate lords, lass. These are the pirate lords that are wanted.

Elizabeth: ...how did Smith become a pirate lord? *sees Gibbs gearing up to begin a new story* Never mind, I don't want to know.

*Gibbs deflates and goes up on deck*

*Elizabeth goes back to the names, writing out the letters carefully.*

CUT TO...

dude, were did everyone go? i dont know what the hell im doing. someone help me.

CUT TO...

Norrington, climbing up the back of Anamaria's ship. He's found them, how on earth did he do that? hehe. He's being sneaky- he's lost the EITC wardrobe and looks scruffy (erm, hot) again. Everyone's asleep, except Elizabeth at the helm. Norrington stands silently for a minute, his heart aching as he stares at her. Hearing his sigh, she turns in shock, hardly believing it's really him. With a gasp, she runs and throws herself into his arms- not quite the response he expected.

Elizabeth: Oh God! I thought you were dead. I... (she is choking back tears)

Norrington: (so desperately glad to hold her and comfort her) It's all right... It's all right Elizabeth.

He's never called her that before. She looks up at him, a million emotions in her eyes.

Elizabeth: I was so afraid for you. I've been so ashamed... felt so... wrong. We thought you were dead, and then Jack died. How did you find us?

Norrington: Sao Feng told me where to look.

Elizabeth: And what happened to the chest?

Norrington: Davy Jones' men took it. I barely escaped with my life.

Well, that's a lie, but he can't bear to betray her trust now. She seems so desperate for something stable.

Elizabeth: (bites her lip) Can I tell you something? it's my fault Jack died. I chained him to the pearl, just before the beast came.

James: (smiles wryly) Always resourceful, I see.

Elizabeth: You aren't shocked?

James: Jack chose his fate years ago, Elizabeth. He made the bargain with Jones. It isn't your fault.

Wow...that kinda jumped ahead. I'll come up with something in a bit. 😄