The Cry of Liberty

Chapter Twenty Four: Parley

"What do you think?" Jack didn't look up from his compass, adjusting the wheel slightly.

"About what? The boy?" He nodded. Sasha looked down at Will who was talking with Gibbs. "He's got a lot to learn but I think he'll be a pirate yet. I look forward to meeting this lass who's enchanted him into a lifestyle he clearly despises."

"Aye, men are fickle creatures who do strange things for the women in their lives."

"And here I thought you only rescued me to use me to kill Barbossa." Sasha smirked. She watched the wreckage as they sailed past, deeper into the bay. Jack had sailed them true, through storms and calm, and they finally caught up with the Pearl. "If the boy does something stupid, the whole plan could be ruined." Jack turned to her with a cocky grin.

"I'm counting on it." He motioned for her to follow and they descended and waited for Gibb's to finish his story, one Sasha would like to hear the truth later from Jack.

"And on the fourth morning, he roped himself a couple of sea turtles, lashed 'em together and made a raft." Sasha smiled, remembering when Gibbs would tell her wild tales. Will raised an eyebrow at the older man.

"He roped a couple of sea turtles?"

"Aye, sea turtles." Gibbs nodded.

"What did he use for rope?" Will wondered but before Gibbs could open his mouth, Jack answered.

"Human hair, from my back." Both Sasha and Will made disgusted faces. "Let go of the anchor!" He shouted, the crew echoing his order. The brunette leaned over so Jack could hear her over the crews talking and working.

"I'll get the rowboat ready." She squeezed his shoulder and did as she had said. She tossed some supplies into the boat and pulled herself in as well, waiting for the other two going ashore.

"Sasha, young Turner, and I will be going ashore." Jack explained to his first mate.

"And if the worst should happen?" Gibbs questioned. Will joined her in the rowboat and she helped him in.

"Keep to the code."

"Aye, the code." Gibbs nodded, clapping on the back before letting him go so he could set out on their mission. They were lowered into the water and began their journey into the cave. Jack used the oars to move them deeper down the waterway, trusting Sasha to watch their front in case anything should happen before successfully sneaking in. She could tell Will was uneasy, especially when his lantern light illuminated a corpse on the waters edge.

"What Code is Gibbs to keep to if the worst should happen?" He turned around to Sasha.

"Pirate's code. If any man falls behind, they're left behind." She explained.

"No honor amongst thieves, eh?"

"You know, for having such a bleak outlook on pirates you're well on your way to becoming one." Jack chimed in. "Sprung a man from jail, commandeered a ship of the Fleet, sailed with a buccaneer crew out of Tortuga, and you're completely obsessed with treasure." The three looked overboard at the piles of sunken gold glittering at the bottom of the river. Will whipped his head around, defensively.

"That's not true! I am not obsessed with treasure." He reminded Sasha of a little boy who got caught with his hand in his mothers sweets before they were ready. They landed the boat and pulled it onto the rocks, quietly as they could. Jack glanced back at the both of them.

"Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate." His dark eyes lingered on Sasha but she was too focused on the spot ahead that they could watch the gathering from.