Chapter Seven

For several days, the Interceptor and her crew were favored with good winds and sunny skies. Jack manned the wheel, only letting Jessie take it so he could catch up on a few hours' sleep and grab a quick bite to eat before he pushed her off again. Jessie spent most of her time in the crow's nest, watching the horizon intently for any sign of the Isla de Muerta or the sails of an enemy ship.

Everything would've been perfect had she not had a nagging feeling that Will was avoiding her. Their paths could not help but cross, yet she felt he was distancing himself from her. It made her heart ache, though she refused to think about why. Instead, she stayed in the crow's nest or by Jack and pretended to by impervious to emotion.

Four days after they set off from Tortuga, the wind ran out and the Interceptor stopped moving. There were no oars below deck to propel the ship onward, and not enough men to do so anyway.

The men became restless. Jessie understood the feeling. She hated being becalmed as much as they did, and her impatience was heightened with the knowledge that Barbosa and his crew might have reached the island already.

"Ahoy there, lads!"

Gibbs stood in the middle of the deck, one arm raised over his head. The rest of the crew gathered around him.

"Since the wind ain't pickin' up any time soon, I say we amuse ourselves with a competition," Gibbs proposed. The men's' faces brightened considerably, and they voiced their consent.

"What kind of competition?" one yelled out.

"A fencin' competition, to see which among us is the best swordsman."

Jessie chuckled to herself. From her place in the rigging, she saw a few sailors run below deck to get their weapons. Gibbs marked off the ring for the fencers by pointing. The men crowded around the outside of the ring, forming a human barrier.

"Someone get the captain!" a voice suggested. Gibbs knocked on the door of the captain's quarters, where Jack had stayed when he saw they were unable to move. Jessie suspected he had been pacing in the little room, waiting for the winds to return.

"Captain!" Gibbs said loudly. Jack threw open the door.

"Aye, I heard you lot," he grumbled. "Made enough noise for the Kraken to hear ye. Mr. Gibbs, as the worst swordfighter in the whole Caribbean, ye'll be the first contestant. And Mr. Turner, as the newest to this whole piratin' business, shall challenge ye. Whoever wins moves on to the next round. If any of you disarms every man an' woman here, he'll have to honor of dueling me." Jack smiled thinly.

Jessie dropped out of the rigging onto the deck. "And," she continued, "if that person is lucky enough to defeat Captain Jack will then try me."

A murmur ran through the crew. Only Will seemed unimpressed, and Jessie fancied she caught a hint of concern in his face.

"Are you satisfied?" she asked gruffly.

"Aye!" shouted the crew, raising their swords above their heads.

"Then Gibbs, William, step forward."

Jack gave the signal, and the two men began. Jessie stood by Jack and watched Will carefully. On Port Royal, she had spent numerous stolen moments with him, showing Will tricks she had learned and keeping herself in fighting condition. But she hadn't seen him use a blade for quite some time, and she wondered what he had taught himself.

The duel was a short one. Gibbs was a hearty fighter, but Will was younger and faster and soon sent Gibbs' sword clattering across the deck. The crowd cheered. Will grinned and handed Gibbs his sword.

"Alright, who's next?" Jack asked.

One by one, each crew member stepped forward, and one by one, Will disarmed them all. Jessie felt a surge of pride as her friend proved to be a very capable swordsman. Jack leaned over.

"Young Mister Turner here has more skill than I credited him for," he whispered. "How much of that did you teach him?"

"Only a few things here and there," she replied. "He taught himself the rest."

Will flicked his wrist and flipped his opponent's sword into the air. It landed in his hand.

"Well done, William!" Jack praised. "Take a breather. You'll need it."

Will shook his head. "I'm quite alright."

Jack shrugged. "Very well."

In a flash he had drawn his sword and brought it down over his head. Will parried and retaliated with a thrust of his own. Jack twirled around, his coattails flying. For a long time, the two men circled the perimeter of the ring, testing each other's skill and looking for a weakness. Jessie held her breath.

At last, Jack cut Will across his hand, forcing him to drop his sword. Jack stepped on it.

"Second time I've beat you, William," he said smugly. Will held his hand close to his face.

"You cheated last time," he said with a touch of irony.

Jack shrugged. "I'm a pirate."

Jessie gently took Will's hand and examined it. "All that means is he'll do whatever it takes to win," she said into his ear. "Tis naught more than a slight cut on your hand, Will. Here…"

She drew a knife and slit one of her sleeves, tearing off a thin piece long enough to wrap around Will's hand several times. She knotted it securely.

"So I guess I am your challenger, Jack," Jessie said, crossing her arms. "Unless you'd rather forfeit now and save yourself the trouble of being humiliated by losing to Jessie Swiftblade."

Jack smirked. "I believe ye'd be dreamin' when that happens, love."

Jessie stepped forward, but Jack held up a hand.

"I knows ye carries a fine amount of knives, darlin'. Ye aren't allowed to use them here, only yer sword.

Jessie raised an eyebrow. "Fine. But I'll still win."

Gibbs gave the signal, and the two pirates circled each other. Jessie watched Jack carefully. They had spent a great deal of their time on Jack's father's ship sparring each other, but ten years had since passed. Jessie knew Jack had likely learned new tricks he would have no qualms about using.

She was right. Jack stepped in to lunge, but at the last instant twirled around and swung at her back. Jessie parried over she shoulder and whipped herself around, returning with several quick blows aimed at his head, middle, and sides. Jack blocked her sword, and for some time they edged their way around the deck, neither able to touch the other and both refusing to let up. The crowd parted and let them through as they made their way up the steps and on to the upper deck.

Jessie lunged at Jack. He dodged nimbly out of the way. Jessie's momentum carried her forward and buried her sword into the wheel. She rattled it, but it didn't move. Jack stabbed at her back and fell forward as he went through empty space. Jessie had propelled herself over the wheel and flipped in the air, landing on the lower deck. She grunted as pain shot up her legs.

"You have no sword!" Jack protested as he came down the steps..

Jessie turned and threw one of her hidden knives at his middle. The knife buried itself in the ship's side. Jack rose from his ducking position, eyes wide, and barely managed to swipe away another one of her knives. Before he could recover, she had rushed over to him and slammed his body against the side of the ship, a deadly-looking dagger at his throat. Jack grimaced as he caught sight of the green and gold hilt.

"So, darling, ye'd use a poisoned knife against yer own brother?"

"Shut up, Jack!" she hissed. "I told you I'd beat you. First time in my life, but I did it." She couldn't help chuckling a little. Jack jerked.

"Don't move!" she cried, alarmed. "One cut from this blade and the entire Caribbean will be telling of how Captain Jack Sparrow died at the hands of Jessie Swiftblade."

"Then let me up, Jess."

Jessie stepped back and gave Jack her hand, which he took to straighten up. His eyes flickered between her and his crew, who stood in silence.

"I call for a rematch," he stated. "This time, I want Mister Turner to aid me."

Will shook his head. "That's not fair—"

The crew laughed. "Fair?" Gibbs guffawed. "Boy, there ain't no such thing as a fair fight here on the Caribbean."

"Come on, Will," Jessie prodded. "Even with you and Jack both comin at me you won't hurt me."

Jack walked to Will and whispered something to him. Jessie waited impatiently.

"Well?" she asked.

Will sprang forward, sword flashing. Jessie blocked it over her head and held his sword hand, bringing their arms down to her face. Then, she shoved him away and kicked at Jack, who had crept behind her. Her foot met with his knuckles. She swiped at his arm and used a dagger to deflect Will's blow on her other side. With a quick movement, she dropped to the deck and flipped Will over her back. He landed with a thump. Then Jessie came at Jack. Their swords met in a furry of clashes. Jessie felt Will behind her, and, in one motion, flung a heavier knife in his direction and disarmed Jack with a slight flick of her wrist. She glanced behind and saw Will's weapon on the deck. He was holding his arm tightly, blood seeping through his fingers. Jessie had to grip the hilt of her sword as she realized it was about to fall from her hands.

"Well done, Jess!" Jack said, running a hand through her hair. "Ye've lived up to the name of Swiftblade very nicely. Wouldn't you say, lads?"

The crew murmured its agreement as they stared at her with mixed respect, awe, and fear. Jessie had heard it whispered amongst them and other pirates that she had unnatural powers and wasn't really human.

"Those knives she 'as," one said, "They's no ordinary knives. They was a gift from the sea goddess. Swiftblade can bring 'em outta thin air, she can."

"She can move faster than you can blink," another insisted. "I once saw 'er steal a man's coat while 'e were puttin' it on!"

Jessie ignored the looks from the crew and went back to Will, attempting to keep anyone from seeing how horrified she was.

"How bad is it?" she asked quietly.

He removed his hand, revealing a deep cut across his skin.

"I'd better patch you up, William," she said louder. "Can't have you dying a mere flesh wound, can we?"

She led him to the captain's quarters, hardly hearing Jack call out orders to the crew to prepare for the storm he saw brewing on the horizon. They scurried into action, relieved to have something to do besides stand.

Once she had shut the door behind them, Jessie hurried to a row of cabinets and opened each one until she found the tools for the ship's doctor. Will sat at the table, still holding his arm and propping it on the table.

"I'm so sorry, Will," she mumbled as she helped him take off the ripped shirt. "I didn't mean to…"

She couldn't finish her thought and fell silent. Will tried to smile.

"It's alright, Jessie," he said through clenched teeth. "It wasn't a fair fight anyway."

Jessie set aside his shirt and filled a small bowl with water from a barrel in a corner. Then she dabbed at the cut with a piece of cloth.

"Where did you learn to fight like that?" Will asked, watching her hands.

"On Jack's father's ship, the Queen Anne, there was a sailor with us for a while. He was the strangest looking man I'd ever seen, and he never used a cutlass or a firing arm. Only knives. He could pin a fly to the mast without looking, and he could flip over an entire crowd of enemies."

Jessie sat on the table and threaded a needle. Then she placed his arm in her lap.

"I had learned from Jack how to use a cutlass, but I was amazed at this man's skill and wanted to know how he did it. So I cornered him one day and demanded that he teach me. He asked me what I would give him in return, and I told him that I would let him live by not poisoning his food when he wasn't paying attention. It was a bluff, of course, but he believed it and taught me how to use his knives. I learned very quickly, and soon I was beating him in sparring matches."

"Is that why they call you Swiftblade?"

She nodded. "Your father gave me that name."

Will said nothing for a moment, then, "How well did you know my father?"

Jessie glanced at him briefly. "He was the father I never had. I met him when I was eight, and for some reason he liked me enough to watch out for me when Jack wasn't around, and he taught me everything he knew about medicines and doctoring people. He talked about you all the time, Will, always speculating about what you were doing at that particular moment and how you would look."

She drew a small vial from a pocket in her shirt and poured a little of its contents on his arm. The greenish liquid gave off a pleasant scent. Jessie rubbed it gently over the stiches.

"He used to tell me," she continued, "that he hoped you would look like your mother. When he left, he said you had your mother's smile."

She wrapped a strip of clean cloth around his arm and tied it. Then she took his injured hand and put a little of the mysterious liquid on the cut before retying the bandage. Then she stood and picked up his shirt.

"I guess you still have your mother's smile. But you did end up looking just like him. You two have the same sense of humor, too, and the same laugh." She looked up from her sewing. "He would've been very proud of you, Will."

Will touched the cloth on his arm and hand. "You learned all of this from him?"

She nodded. "The stuff I put on your arm and hand will make your skin heal faster. You should be able to take out the stiches tomorrow. Here's your shirt."

Jessie handed it to him and turned to put away the doctor's kit.

"Jessie."

Will stood close to her, an expression she hadn't seen before on his face.

"Thank you."

She nodded. "I didn't think Jack told you any of that."

Jack burst into the room and raised his eyebrows. "Jess, if I'm not interrupting anything, you are needed on deck."

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The storm hit two hours later. First, the wind picked up, stirring the waves into a frenzy. They rose high above the ship and crashed onto the deck, drenching the crew to their bones. Then, the rain fell. Large, heavy balls of water that dropped unrelentingly from the black clouds, making the deck slippery. All night, the pirates scrambled as best they could to keep the Interceptor above the water while Jack fought to keep the ship on course. The few times Jessie glanced in his direction, he was grinning maniacally. She knew why. Though the storm raged throughout the night, the strong winds pushed them faster than before, making up for lost time.

The morning dawned with the sun barely pushing through the clouds. The crew made repairs to the sails and put the deck back in order.

Jessie climbed the steps and leaned on Jack's arm. A thought had been bothering her for some time now, though she had given no indication to anyone. She thought she could figure it out herself, but as the Isla de Muerta loomed closer, she realized she was no nearer to finding the answer than before.

"Jack," she said quietly. Jack continued to stare straight ahead. "Jack, what are you doing?"

"What are do you mean, love?"

"Barbosa needs mine and Will's blood to break the curse. How do you plan on regaining the Pearl and keeping Barbosa from killing us?"

Jack motioned to Anamaria, who took hold of the tiller, then walked down the deck to the captain's quarters. Jessie followed, still speaking softly.

"I know you, Jack. I know you have a plan for everything, even when you act like you're improvising. And you can't just think that I'm going to sit back and watch you hand Will over to that man without doing something about it. He's not only a matter of leverage, he's my friend!"

Jack pulled her inside the room and shut the door. Then he turned to face her, regarding her with suspicion.

"You're not the same girl you used to be. You used to follow me around and do whatever I said without question."

"You're not the same Jack I used to know. We've both changed, and I'm not sure I trust you anymore."

He sneered. "Wise of you, darling. But you're going to have to believe me when I say I know what I'm doing."

Jessie chewed on her lip. "What are you going to do on Isla de Muerta?"

"Will and I are going to go ashore and see how things look."

"What about me?"

"Darling, you are much too valuable to me at the moment. You will stay here and wait for our return."

He started to brush her hair fondly out of her face, but Jessie smacked his hand away.

"So I'm also your leverage," she said angrily. Jack opened his mouth.

"Don't speak!" She took a step towards the door. "Do what you want, Jack, but don't expect me to follow you blindly. And bring Will back. Alive."

As she opened the door, he held her arm. "Don't do anything… stupid," he said urgently.

Jessie shook him off. Jack came out behind her and walked to where Will and Gibbs held a whispered conversation. Jessie leaned against the side of the ship and stared ahead at the dark island, fiddling with the chain around her neck.

"Lower the boat! Mister Turner and I be goin' ashore."

She watched the small boat hit the water and her brother climb down.

"And what if the worst should happen?" Gibbs asked Jack.

"Keep to the code."

Gibbs exhaled. "Ah, yes, the code."

Jessie suddenly stepped forward.

"Will."

He paused, both feet on the ladder. She leaned in close.

"Watch your back."

He frowned, not understanding. Jack cleared his throat, and Will's mouth twitched into a small smile.

"Don't worry, Jessie. I'll be back."

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For what seemed like forever, Jessie and the crew waited. While the rest of the men lounged, Jessie returned to the captain's quarters and paced the room for a few minutes, then sat in the desk chair and ran her fingers across her chin. She stayed still until the gentle rocking of the ship lulled her into a troubled doze, and her head fell forward on her arm.

"Swiftblade!"

Jessie jerked awake. Gibbs was pounding on the door.

"Swiftblade, the boat be returnin'"

She threw open the door. "Who's in it?"

"Young Turner and Miss Elizabeth."

Jessie watched the men haul Will, Elizabeth, and the little boat up. Elizabeth wore a wet underdress and her hair stuck to her face.

"Not more pirates," she groaned at the sight of the crew.

"Welcome aboard, Miss Elizabeth."

She peered at the speaker. "Mr. Gibbs?"

He nodded, then looked at Will. "'Ey, boy, where be Jack?"

Will had stood with his lips pressed into a tight line. Now he led Elizabeth away and glanced at Gibbs and Jessie.

"He fell behind," he mumbled.

Jessie nearly stopped moving. She pushed through her shock and forced herself to appear merely resigned. Gibbs and the rest of the crew, however, remained motionless.

"You have your orders," Jessie said loudly. "Jack survived on a deserted island; I'm sure he'll have no difficulties on his own ship."

She looked around. No one had moved. Annoyed, she turned to Anamaria.

"Get this ship moving! I don't want to be anywhere near here when Barbosa discovers his bird has flown and he's left with the rooster."

"Whey anchor!" the dark girl yelled. "Hoist the sails!"

Jessie was relieved to see the other woman's hard voice galvanized the men into action. She came up to Anamaria and leaned close.

"There is an island not far from here," she whispered. "Do you know where it is?"

"Of course I do, Swiftblade."

"Good. I want you to make for it. Barbosa will come after us, but we may be able to lose him in shallow waters. Do you understand?"

Anamaria nodded and spun the wheel. "I'll get us there," she promised.

Jessie gave her a small smile, then made her way below decks where Will had taken Elizabeth.

She found them sitting around a small table where the men played cards. Will had tied a dirty cloth around Elizabeth's hand where Barbosa's knife had cut her. Now, however, he was holding her necklace in his hand, fingering the piece of Aztec gold. Elizabeth jumped when she saw Jessie.

"I'm sorry, Will," she mumbled, then she pushed past Jessie and went returned to the top deck.

Jessie sat down. Will stared at her with a terrible expression on his face.

"Elizabeth told me about the curse," he said quietly. "She said she's had this coin since the day you found me."

"She thought you were a pirate and didn't want Norrington to have you hung," Jessie said carefully. "She thought it was a pirate medallion; she didn't realize what it was."

Will shook his head. "So it wasn't her blood Barbosa needed. It was my father's blood. My blood. The blood of a pirate." He balled the medallion into his fist.

"Will, there's something…"

Jessie's words were cut off by Will slamming his hand on the table. She choked back her words, rose, and backed away.

"Jess," Will murmured.

She paused on the steps. "I'll let you be." Then she hurried to the top deck.

Jessie found herself in the middle of a flurry of activity. All the men ran in all directions, following Anamaria's shouted instructions.

"What's going on?" Jessie called to Anamaria.

"It's the Pearl!" she yelled hoarsely. "She's gainin' on us."

Jessie looked at the horizon. The black sails and dirty hull of Jack's favorite ship loomed against a wall of fog.

Elizabeth clung to Jessie's arm. "This is the fastest ship on the Caribbean!" she protested. "Surely those pirates won't be able to catch up."

"You can tell them that once they've caught us." Anamaria glared at the distraught girl.

Jessie thought quickly. "Anamaria, how close are we to the shoals?"

"We should see them soon, Swiftblade, but I doubt—"

"Hang your doubts! Tell the men to toss everything unnecessary overboard."

Anamaria stared incredulously at Jessie, but she did as she said. The men paused for a brief second until they saw Jessie already tossing whatever she could hold into the Caribbean ocean. Soon the decks were looking bare and empty, while a long line of objects floated behind the Interceptor. Ahead, the waves began to break over the sand dunes of an island in sight.

Jessie glanced once more at the Pearl. She smiled thinly as she saw it had come much closer.

"It was a good plan," Anamaria consoled. "Until now."

Elizabeth gripped Jessie's arm tightly. Jessie momentarily broke her intense thinking and patted her hand.

"Fear not, little mouse, I have more up my sleeve than that.

"Anamaria!" she said louder. "Drop anchor to starboard."
This time, Anamaria didn't move. "Are ye daft, Swiftblade?"

"Do ye have a better notion?" she demanded angrily.

Anamaria glared at her.

"If ye don't tell them to, I'll do it myself." Jessie jumped down and ran to the wheel controlling the anchor.

"Drop starboard anchor!" she heard Anamaria call. Jessie found herself joined by Gibbs and the rest of the crew. The ship began to slow and lean to the right as Anamaria struggled to keep it straight.

"Let go!" Jessie shouted. Immediately, Anamaria jumped away, and the wheel spun in the opposite direction. The ship lurched and turned sharply, sending everyone to the deck.

Jessie was on her feet in an instant. "Load the cannons!" she commanded, forgetting she was not captain.

"With what?" Anamaria asked.

"Anything and everything we have left."

Jessie felt a slight surge of pride as no one protested against her taking charge. She went and stood at the side of the Interceptor, watching the Pearl as it drew alongside. Will came next to her, Elizabeth clinging to his arm.

"Prepare to fire," she told Gibbs, who relayed the order down the steps to the men by the cannons.

Jessie saw the familiar figure of Barbosa with his monkey on his shoulder. The pirate's ridiculous hat sat lopsided on his head. Jessie waited until she could hear the men on both ships jeering at each other, then she turned.

"Fire!"

A tremor ran through the ship's deck as the cannons blasted. The guns of the Pearl fired as well, rocking the Interceptor as the shots hit the hull. Elizabeth whimpered as Will ducked her down behind the barrier of the ship's side. He fired several shots with his pistol. Jessie did the same, and for several minutes the two ships blasted away at each other with their cannons and guns.

Anamaria suddenly dropped next to Jessie as she was reloading her firearm.

"Got any more bright ideas?" she asked sardonically.

Jessie bit back her reply.

Anamaria grabbed Elizabeth's wrist and pointed her pistol in her face. "I say we give 'em her!"

Will gently took Anamaria's hand off Elizabeth. "She's not what they're after."

Elizabeth instinctively reached for her throat and looked horrified when she realized she no longer had the medallion. Will started to rise, but Jessie moved quicker. She disappeared below deck where she had left Will with the Aztec gold.

"Jessie!" Will caught hold of her sleeve.

"Stay with Elizabeth! I'll be back."

She brushed him off without waiting for his response and shut the hatch so he couldn't follow.

Jessie rushed over to the table where Will had been sitting. There was the medallion, lying on a stool where it had fallen from the ship's rocking. Jessie reached for it.

Without warning, there was splintering crack. Jessie looked up the instant the main mast fell, crushing the deck under its weight. Jessie was thrown to the floor and lay there unconscious while the hull of the ship filled with water.

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Slowly, Jessie regained consciousness. She shook her head, trying to lose the grogginess. She rose, only to be met with a spray of saltwater in her eyes. She cried out and covered her face, groaning as her eyes burned. The water had filled this deck to her hips by this time, and she struggled to make it to the hatch.

The mast lay across the opening. One look told her she would never move it. Quickly, she swam to the other hatch, only to find it blocked as well.

Jessie heard a chattering noise and whirled around. There, on the beam above her, scampered Barbosa's monkey, Jack. In his little hands was the necklace she had come to retrieve. Jessie pulled herself up and grabbed at the little creature, who sat just beyond her reach. It smiled at her before darting through a tiny opening.

A thought struck her. She stood still and listened. Above the sound of the sea pouring into the Interceptor, she no longer heard the sounds of fighting above her, nor did she hear any voices.

She dove beneath the rising water, now to her chest, looking for the escape hole in the bottom of the ship. She knew from past experiences that Barbosa would blow up the Interceptor with its own powder, dragging her down to the bottom of the sea.

Jessie found the little door and pulled it open. Then she slipped through and kicked hard, propelling herself forward.

The explosion jolted and temporarily dazed her. She kicked harder until her head broke the surface. Jessie spluttered and coughed as she floated.

A shadow fell across the water. The Pearl loomed over Jessie, threatening to send her beneath the waves. With a quick kick she sent herself in the direction of the side of the ship. Then she reached for one of her weapons. Up she climbed, using the rope inside her special knife, till her fingers grasped the wood of the ship and she could peek over the side.

Around the mast, Barbosa had tied the crew, with Jack and Will standing a little farther away surrounded by his men. Elizabeth was standing near the side of the ship, a horrified look on her face as the burning wreckage of the Interceptor sank beneath the waters. Then the girl ran at Barbosa, shouting something Jessie couldn't understand. Strong hands caught her, and Barbosa sneered in her face. Elizabeth screamed as he sent her flying back into the waiting hands of the crew.

Anger flared inside Jessie, and she leapt up onto a rope ladder.

"Barbosa! Let her go!" she commanded.

Every head turned in her direction. Barbosa peered at her, slightly blinded by the bright sun.

"Who are you?" he asked in his thin voice.

Jack stepped forward and came in front of Barbosa.

"No one! She's no one," he insisted. "Just some girl from Tortuga I picked up. Insisted on coming with us."

"Shut up, Jack!"

He looked at Jessie with such surprise that she felt a slight twinge of guilt.

"We have met before, Barbosa," she continued, "but it was nearly ten years ago. I wouldn't expect your aging mind to remember someone so insignificant as me."

Barbosa's eyes narrowed, and he strode closer to her. Jack blocked his way.

"Complete drunkard, Barbosa, I assure you. Emptied out all the rum we had on that ship."

Barbosa shoved him away. "Tell me, lass, what be yer name?"

"My name is Jessie Swiftblade."

Jessie pulled her medallion out from under she drenched shirt. The gold glinted, reflecting on Barbosa's face.

"I have a proposal for you, Barbosa. But I'd like to speak with you in private." She glanced in Jack's direction. Barbosa took the hint.

"Lads, take these prisoners to the brig!" he called.

Jessie waited until Jack had disappeared from sight before she stepped off the ladder. Barbosa smiled and gestured to the state room.

Suddenly, one of his men grabbed a fistful of her hair and reached for the gold around her neck. Jessie twisted out of his grasp, jumped to the side of the ship, and pressed the man's pistol against her temple.

"I have information for you that would benefit you greatly," she told Barbosa calmly. "But one more stunt like that and I'll blow my head to smithereens, and you'll be stuck forever as the living dead." She smiled bitterly. "As much as I'd love to see that happen, I think we would both prefer it if you returned to your former state."

Barbosa chuckled. "Leave this one be, lads. She's a dangerous snake."

Jessie's lips curved into a wicked grin. She stepped down once more and followed Barbosa to the state room, keeping the stolen gun in her hand.

The pirate shut the door. Jessie leaned her forearms against one of the high-backed chairs, still holding the coin in between her fingers.

"Alright, Miss Swiftblade," Barbosa purred, coming close to her face. She resisted the urge to pull away. "Tell me your proposal."

"I told you we've met before, Barbosa, but you knew me by another name at the time. Two names, actually. However, it's the second one you would be interested in. My real name is Delacruz. My father, Rufio Delacruz, was one of your crew members until his… untimely demise by sharks."

"And how do I know this ain't all just a farce, eh?" Barbosa asked quietly.

"You don't."

Barbosa pursed his lips. "Jack mentioned a second coin and a second person who's blood I needed."

"And I know you only have 880 pieces accounted for. With Mister Turner and I here, you now have all the gold to break the curse."

"So what's yer proposal?"

"I am the last person standing between you and your return to life. I am willing to go to the Isla de Muerta with you and let you do whatever you want with me."

"And what are the conditions?"

"There are only two, Barbosa. I know you hate bargaining when you feel you get the raw end of the deal. The first is that Jack, Elizabeth, and the crew goes free. The second is that you do not kill Will Turner."

Barbosa nodded thoughtfully. "So, ye expect me to let Jack, his crew, and the pretty Miss Elizabeth go free, not kill Mister Turner, AND believe that you are the person whose blood I need to break the curse, all because ye be willin to surrender yeself to me and my men?"

Jessie laughed. "When you put it that way, Barbosa, tis obvious you forget who I am. I am Jessie Swiftblade. No man has ever tamed me, and I belong to no one. If you took my offer, you would have the great pride of knowing that you were the first and only man to have any hold on me, not to mention you'll have the makings of your very own fleet."

Barbosa raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, yes, Barbosa, I have a ship. No nearly as grand as the Pearl, of course, but the Sea Serpent is quite magnificent in its own way." She walked over to the window. "Commodore Barbosa!" she said grandly, sweeping her arm. "That's what they would call you."

"And what," he asked, studying her suspiciously, "what's in it for you?"

It was Jessie's turn to look surprised. Barbosa smirked.

"Yer a pirate, Swiftblade, though a fair one. Ye never do anythin' risky unless ye get somethin' outta it. What's in it for you?"

She shrugged. "The people I want to live stay alive, and the ones I want to kill are well enough to die. But that doesn't concern you, Barbosa, and I need an answer from you before I lose my patience." She waved the pistol under his nose.

There was silence as Barbosa thought carefully. His gaze had flickered eagerly when Jessie called him 'Commodore', though he was now wise enough to mask his emotions while he watched her face.

"I can do whatever I want wit' ye?"

"Make me cabin boy, kill me over the chest of gold, or keep me for your own. Whatever you like."

"Yer crew will swear loyalty to me?"

"If they don't, I'll kill them myself."

"Then I accept yer offer. However, I cannot let Jack's crew free. Too many good men in that group to lose, ye understand."

"Then do not harm them."

"That can I do."

This time when he reached for her, Jessie did not move back. He took her pistol and opened the door to the room, beckoning to Pintel and Ragetti, two of the more ridiculous of his crew.

"Take Miss Swiftblade down with the others!" he ordered. "And make sure ye take alla her knives off her. In fact, take them off now."

Jessie unbuckled the belts around her waist and shoulder and put them in his waiting hands. Then she removed the rest of her arsenal from their various hiding spots. By the time she was through, Barbosa held a considerable amount, including her favorite green-and-gold knives. Then she let Pintel shackle her hands cruelly behind her back and lead her down to the brig.

Jack, Elizabeth, and Will had been placed in their own cell apart from the rest of the crew. All three sprang up from their spots on the floor as Jessie was shoved into the cage.

"Jessie! Oh, Jessie, you're alright!" Elizabeth exclaimed, trying to brush the hair from her adopted sister's face. "I was so upset when they blew up the Interceptor, and you weren't anywhere onboard this wretched thing and you're alright! What did you say to Barbosa?"

Will straightened Jessie up as best he could between Elizabeth's fawning all over her, not saying a word. Jessie smiled gratefully at him.

"You have a medallion?" he asked.

"I was going to tell you, but at the time you were a bit preoccupied."

Jack stayed back until Elizabeth had run out of air to speak, then he pushed the girl aside.

"Glad to see you in one piece," he remarked. He forced Jessie to hold his gaze. "Tell me, Jess darlin', what are ye doin'?"

She jerked her head out of his hand.

"I told you, Jack," she said with slight contempt, "I'm not going to obey you blindly. You'll figure out how to work around me."