Chapter One:
Lost in Translation

"Do you really think it's wise to send him out ta do this, Cap'n?" Gibbs watched skeptically as the newest member of their crew began rowing towards the shore. It wasn't smart for a ship like the Black Pearl to be docking at most ports; so they would just be waiting for their crewman to return, hopefully with someone that would be able to help them out with the blasted parchment they were looking to translate.

Jack gave a mischievous grin and spun to face his first mate. "Got a better suggestion, mate?"

Gibbs just looked back out at the small boat that was nearly out of sight now. No, as risky as it was, this was the best plan they had. They were at a standstill until they found someone that could translate Spanish fluently. A few of the men on board could speak bits of broken Spanish but they were lucky to even read English, let alone a second language.

"Guess your right bout this, Cap'n. As long as he can get in there and back out without getting 'imself caught."

"Lad can pass as a merchant or fishermen easy enough. I would scurry up there meself but…" Jack gave another cocky grin. "I believe my reputation may very well preceed me, eh?"

Gibbs smirked and looked back to the water. The last thing he needed was to hear more about Jack's infamous reputation right now, he didn't have enough rum in his system yet.

"Aye, don't need to be savin' ya from the noose again." Gibbs couldn't help chuckle inwardly as Jack's arrogant smirk quickly changed to a look of annoyance.

"I could have saved myself, mate, I was just waitin' for an opportune moment." Jack gave another smirk and sauntered off to check the ship over. Damn Gibbs for remembering that one little incident. The man spent half of his life in a rum induced stupor yet he could remember one teensy, tiny, insignificant incident?

True, it wasn't one of Jack's finest moments. He learned a valuable lesson that night, so he did. If you plan on stealing money from a drink server when they're not looking, don't wander to another pub and drink so much rum that you accidentally make your way right back into the pub you were stealing from.

That little gem not only landed him in jail but left him with a nice scar across the side of his neck. Of course, that really had more to do with the inappropriate comments he was making to the bartender's sister, than the fact he had been caught robbing him. The navy had been delighted to throw Jack in the cell then send him to be hanged. Why wouldn't they be? He was Captain Jack Sparrow after all.

'Bloody Gibbs,' he muttered inwardly. 'He wouldn't have bothered showin' his face at all if I hadn't owed him money.' He could always count on his first mate as long as there was rum or money involved.

He'd been sailing with Gibbs off and on for the past year and a half, ever since he'd gotten the Pearl back. They plundered and pillaged here and there, spent some time in Tortuga, but mostly just enjoyed having his ship back and the freedom it brought him. His men were growing restless though. They wanted more money, more plunder, more women and Jack knew it was time to do something about it. The last thing he needed was another mutiny. He had always enjoyed making a game out of his plundering. He wasn't quite as blood thirsty as most pirates, he'd rather people live to spread stories about him.

As it were, he'd made the decision to go looking for a bit of treasure, a statue really. He'd only learned a bit about it, the parchment he was given was in a foreign language, Spanish presumably. Some poor, drunk bastard had bet it in a card game and Jack did not lose at card games. At least not when the other guy was drunk enough to miss his cheating. Now he just needed someone to translate the bloody thing.

Finding someone in Tortuga that could read English was quite a feat, let alone finding someone capable of translating other languages. Now his ship sat waiting just off the shore of Port William, waiting for his newest crew member to return. Port William had fewer Navy men than most ports did and hopefully, someone capable of speaking Spanish.

Jack made his way back up to stand at the helm. He had to be prepared, should Dallin get caught and alert the Navy to them. He didn't particularly like the thought of leaving the lad behind, should something happen, but couldn't risk the entire crew. The boy was no more than seventeen years old, and had been working with a fisherman when Jack met him. He could tell the kid didn't have a home of his own and didn't much like his job so he had ended up bringing him aboard and teaching him a few things about working on a pirate ship. It wasn't a bad idea to have someone that could pass as "respectable" on the crew, it was certainly coming in handy today.

Nearly two and a half hours later Jack was waiting impatiently while the crew hauled Dallin back onto the ship.

"This is the translator?" Jack grinned a little at Dallin. Had expected to need to try a few ports, though, wasn't fully sure that it was a translator Dallin had brought back with him.

"Aye, Cap'n. She said she can speak Spanish," Dallin said while helping the young woman onto the deck.

Jack grinned while watching the girl. She couldn't be much older than Dallin, himself, and didn't look like the type of person that would associate with pirates if her life depended on it. She had her blonde hair pulled up and her clothes probably cost more than the statue they were looking for.

"Welcome to the Black Pearl, Lass...you did come here willingly?" He couldn't help but grin more at the looks she gave him. He might just need to remember not to taunt her while there were sharp objects wihtin reach.

"You're Captain Sparrow, I assume," she answered and stepped towards him.

"Aye, love, don't think I caught your name," he saw the look Gibbs was giving him and then smirked.

'I just might let him start his rant about women being bad luck. Lass looks like she'd make him regret it,' Jack mused inwardly, it would certainly teach Gibbs to bring up petty incidents that should be forgotten.

"It's probably not a good idea for a ship full of pirates to be so near the port. Perhaps, introductions should wait," she said. "He told me that you have something you need translated?" Jack pulled out the parchment and held it out to her.

"Aye, love, just need someone that can read Spanish," he answered. The girl simply nodded and took the parchment from him.

"A Spanish translator will do you no good, Mr. Sparrow, this is written in Portuguese," she said simply.

"It's Captain Sparrow, love. Portuguese you say? Don't suppose you speak that?" He asked her then looked down at the parchment again. Bloody thing was becoming more trouble than it was worth.

"That depends, Captain Sparrow," she replied with a slight smirk, which drew one from Jack as well.

"Ah... you want something in exchange for your assistance? That's why you came out to my ship, eh?" He watched her closely, having no idea what a rich lass like her would want with pirates.

"You're very perceptive, Captain, I want you to take me with you," Jack couldn't help but chuckle a bit.

"You want to play pirate for a bit, eh?" His eyes widened and laughter stopped when she held the parchment up and starting ripping it slowly.

She stopped tearing it when he went silent and then straightened the paper after she saw that she had his attention. "Now you can send me home and go looking for someone else to translate Portuguese, or you can take me where I want to go and I'll take care of it right now."

"Is there any particular reason you want to sail with pirates, love?"

"I have plenty of reasons, all of which are my reasons. I simply want to be left safely at Port Summers and I'll translate your parchment in return." Jack looked over at Gibbs and then nodded before any of his complaints could begin.

"Then we have an accord," he said and reached out his hand to shake on it as he normally did. She looked at it as if it were the most offensive thing she had ever seen, which made Jack look down at his hand as well. It was quite possible that it was the most offensive thing a rich lass like her had ever contemplated touching before. He smirked and retracted his hand before taking a look towards the port.

"Still waiting for a name, love. Seems fair since your on my ship." Jack at least liked to know who he was dealing with, though could tell she had little intention to tell him much about herself. The girl hesitated for a moment and then nodded.

"Kaitlyn Harris." Jack furrowed his brow for a moment. The name was familiar and after he again noting the port they were anchored at, he looked at her in surprise.

"You're William Harris's daughter?" Harris was a rich old politician and could easily have the Navy after him.

"Unfortunately," she said before turning and looking over the parchment, clearly not intending to spend any more time talking to him at the moment.

'Good thing I like a challenge,' he thought as he headed back up to the helm.