Child of the Sea

Chapter Twelve~

The landing party climbs on deck. Chinese pirates too many to fight  have taken over the Pearl. 

They've stripped the crew of their weapons, shackled them together. Elizabeth is held by two gaurds. One of them rubs a swelling eye, the other has a bloody lip. Jack, Siren, and Barbossa spot Sao Feng at the same time. Jack recognizes him, and tries to be inconspicuous behind Barbossa. 

"Sao Feng. You showing up here, 'tis truly a remarkable coincidence." says Barbossa "Fortune smiles upon those prepared to meet its gaze." says Soa Feng he moves toward Jack and Siren "Jack Sparrow. You paid me great insult, once." says Sao Feng.

he slung Jack in the jaw. Jack staggers, his knees buckle but he keeps his feet. Holds up a hand to Sao Feng to wait, searches for his hat. Finds, sets it back on his head. "So now we can call it square." he says "Hardly." says Sao Feng Will strides up.

"Elizabeth and Siren are not part of the bargain. Release them." says Will "And what bargain be that?" ask Barbossa "You heard Captain Turner. Release them." says Sao Feng "Captain Turner?" ask Siren and Jack "Aye, the perfidious rotter led a mutiny against us." says Gibbs "It's always the quiet ones." says Jack. 

Elizabeth, unchained now, eyes Will warily. "I need the pearl to save my father the Pearl. That's the only I need the reason I came on this voyage." says Will, Siren looks hurt at this.

"He needs the Pearl --" says Jack, Siren turns to Elizabeth "-- and you felt guilty --" she ask "-- and you and your Brethren Court ... Didn't anyone come to save us, the both of us not just me but us just because they missed US?" ask Jack. 

Gibbs, Tia Marty and Cotton raise their hands Pintel and Ragetti see, and follow their lead. "We're standing over there with them." says Jack. Sao Feng grabs Jack and Sirens arms. "I'm sorry, Jack, but there's an old friend who wants to see you first." he says "I'm not certain I can survive any more visits from old friends." says Jack he's pushed into a boat as they see Beckett's ship in the distance.

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Sao Feng's men guard Barbossa, Will, Elizabeth, Siren, and the rest of Barbossa's crew. They all wear shackles. Mercer and a crew of sailors fan out on the ship. The sailors begin preparations to sail. One tries to take the wheel from Huang. Sao Feng and Will intercept Mercer.

"My men are crew enough." says Sao Feng "Company ship, company crew." says Mercer "Beckett agreed, the Black Pearl was to be mine." says Sao Feng "And so it was. Lord Beckett wouldn't give up the one ship as might prove a match for the Dutchman, would he?" says Mercer Sao Feng looks around. The sailors outnumber his men, and all are armed, watching for trouble. Sao Feng nods sharply to his man at the wheel, he steps aside for the sailor. Mercer gives Sao Feng a half-salute and ambles away. 

Barbossa sidles up next to Sao Feng. "Shame they're not bound to honor the Code of the Brethren. Isn't it? Of course, honor's a hard thing to come by, nowadays." says Barbossa "There is no honor to remaining with the losing side. Leaving it for the winning side ... that's just good business." says says Sao Feng "The losing side, says you."

"They have the Dutchman. And what do the Brethren have?" he ask Barbossa sees Sao Feng is considering his words. He leans close. "We have ... Calypso." he says

Soa Feng is surprised; unbidden, his eyes cut toward Elizabeth, Barbossa clocks it then Sao Feng adopts a skeptical mein. "Calypso. An old legend." says Sao Feng

"No, the goddess herself, bound in human form ... fury or favor, you not be knowing ... but when the mood strikes her, and it's her favor she bestows upon a lucky sailor ... well, you've heard: legendary." says Barbossa, he and Sao Feng exchange knowing smirks. "There was a time when the seas be untamed, the world a rougher place, and a sailor made his own fate. I aim to bring it back. And for that, I need the Brethren Court." Barbossa taps the knot pendant Sao Feng wears.