"Welcome aboard the Black Pearl, Miss Turner, Miss Elizabeth." Elizabeth stared at him in speechless terror while Roxanne groaned inwardly. So that's what she had forgotten . Damn… Nonetheless, feeling a little more than resigned, she turned to the ocean once more, letting the breeze soothe her frenzied mind.

This most certainly would be an adventure.

~-Pre-Dawn, The town, Port Royal-~

Victoria ran, she wasn't an idiot.

When Elizabeth had screamed, she knew it was folly to try and rescue them without some form of help. She pushed her way through the jungle, her heart racing. When made her way down to the square, the fighting had stopped, and it was silent. She took in the devastation of Port Royal, the destruction that had been brought to her home... The harbor was dotted with burning and half sunken ships; buildings were razed and still smoldering. The aftermath of what looked almost like hell on earth. She ran as fast as she could to the Fort, praying that someone could help her.

When she arrived, the doors were smashed in by canons she guessed. She carefully picked her way into the ruined courtyard where rubble still smoked from the forts damaged walls.

"Commodore Norrington! Uncle Weatherby!" She called, only to be received by a terrible silence. "Hello?! Anyone alive in this blasted fort?!" She shouted. When finally someone answered her.

"Victoria?!" Uncle Weatherby, she breathed a sigh of relief. It was muffled, but she could tell who it was, and Victoria rushed towards the direction it had come from, and arrived at the doors of Commodore Norrington's office. She tried opening them, but she wasn't strong enough, so she resolved on banging on it till it opened.

"Victoria!" Her uncle opened the door, and embraced her tightly. "Are you alright? Has the fighting stopped? Where are Elizabeth and Roxanne?" He asked, and she bit her lip nervously.

"Yes and Yes… But, from last I saw them…" She looked up at him. "Uncle… They were captured by the pirates…"

"W-What?" A voice said behind her. They turned to the ruffled Commodore Norrington. His brown hair was a mess; his wig was gone, as was his hat. He had blood on him in some places and his shirt was slashed.

"Elizabeth and Roxanne were captured by the pirates that raided the manor." She said, his face lost color and she proceeded to tell them the details of what happened, though she was almost sure he would go hysterical any moment now.

When the sun rose, they (Swann, Victoria, Norrington, and Gillette among others) had gathered around a map in the Commodore's office. The map was so large it draped over the Commodore's desk, and the far end had to be supported by a chair. They had been arguing over where they should start looking for what felt like hours, when Murtogg reminded them of something.

"That Jack Sparrow... he talked about the Black Pearl."

"Mentioned it, is more what he did." Mullroy mumbled.

"Still–"

"We can ask him where it is, maybe he can lead us to it!" Victoria said, straightening.

"That pirate tried to kill Roxanne, as I'm sure you remember Victoria. We could never trust a word he said!" Uncle Weatherby scowled.

"I don't think he was going to kill her. He just wanted his stuff back probably." She huffed. "Besides, we could always strike a deal with him."

"No. The pirates who invaded this fort left Sparrow locked in his cell. Ergo, he is not their ally, and therefore of no value." Commodore Norrington said, frowning. "We will determine their most likely course, and launch a search mission that sails with the tide." Victoria clenched her fists, but reasoned that was their best option at the moment.

"Victoria, I know you're angry, but there's nothing more we can do at the moment." Uncle Weatherby said, gently guiding her out of the room. "Go home, rest; you've had a long day." He said, and she glared at him, but left. Uncle Weatherby closed the door as he watched her round the corner. Victoria slowly stuck her head out when she heard the door closer, and hurriedly went the other way, towards the cells of Fort Charles.

- Day, Jail cells, Fort Charles -

Jack strained against the heavy iron bars, trying to budge one enough for him to escape. Even with the damage from the cannon ball that previous night, it wouldn't move, much to his frustration. He froze when he heard the sound of the door latch.

Victoria slipped in, and spotted Jack lounging on the floor of his cell, seemingly relaxed and unconcerned. She marched straight up to the bars, and he flashed her a grin that made her want to punch him.

"Are you familiar with that ship? The Black Pearl?" She asked, not wasting any time with formalities, crossing her arms.

"Somewhat." Jack said, giving the thought a dismissive wave.

"Then where does it make berth?" He snorted.

"Surely you've heard the stories love!"

"Don't call me love." Victoria growled, but Jack ignored her.

"The Black Pearl sails from the dreaded Isla de Muerta., an island that cannot be found… except by those who already know where it is." He said, and she rolled her eyes at his response.

"The ship's real enough." Victoria shrugged. "So its anchorage must be a real place. So where is it?"

"Why ask me? How could I possibly know that?" Jack said, watching her warily.

"Because you're a pirate."

"And you want to turn pirate yourself?" Jack mused, and she hesitated, he smirked.

"As adventurous as it seems. No, they took Elizabeth and Roxanne. I'm sure you remember her. Seeing as you've held a gun to her head." She said, and he frowned. As charming as Roxanne had been, was she really worth it to him? Not really… Especially considering what the girl was, no, he'd rather not have another run in with her. He hadn't even met this Elizabeth woman.

"Well, if you're intending to brave all and hasten to rescue them, you'll have to do it alone. I see no profit in it for me."

"Look you bastard of a pirate, I'm here to make a deal with you." Jack looked up at her, curious. "I can get you out of here." She said, and he raised an eyebrow.

"How? The key's run off." Jack smirked. Victoria examined the cell, and then peered at the hinges. She looked at the familiarity of them, and smiled.

"Those are hook-and-ring hinges. The proper application of strength, the door'll lift free. Just calls for the right lever and fulcrum. . ." Jack watched Victoria as she spoke, and it dawned on him, Victoria was almost the spitting image of someone he'd known in the past.

"Your name is Turner." He said, and Victoria frowned at him.

"Yes. Victoria Turner, and how the hell did you know that." Jack grinned at this.

"Victoria Turner..." He stood. "I'll tell you what, Miss Turner. I've changed my mind. You spring me from this cell, and on pain of death, I'll you to the Black Pearl." He stuck out his hand. "Do we have an accord?" Victoria gave him a suspicious look, but Jack kept his hand out, still grinning. She shook it with a feeling that she'll regret it.

"Agreed."

"Agreed!" Jack beamed at her, and Victoria looked around, trying to find something to help her lift the bars. She made a chair her fulcrum, and levered the long bench under the door. Pushing down, it was hard work, but the cell door rose, and then fell forward, crashing down on the bench and chair before she can catch it. Jack stepped out of the cell, looking out of the cell.

"Someone will have heard that. Hurry." She said, about to leave when Jack started searching the desk and cupboards.

"Not without my effects." He said, frowning.

"We need to go!" She said urgently, feeling confused as to why Jack would need his things when he could just get new things. Jack found his pistol, sword belt, and compass. He strapped on the belt, checks the shot in his pistol.

"Why are you bothering with that?"

"My business, Victoria. As for your business, one question, or there's no use going." He joined her at the door. "These girls. what do they mean to you? How far are you willing to go to save them?

"I'd die for her. Them…" She said, hastily adding the end, and he raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

"Good."

- Day, The Jolly Mon, The Royal Docks -

The Jolly Mon, with four inches of water in the bottom, squatted low in the water, heeled to one side, creaking on its lines.

"Ah, now there's a lovely sight!" Jack grinned, and hopped down into the boat. "I knew the Harbormaster wouldn't report her. Honest men are slaves to their conscience, and there's no predicting 'em. But you can always trust a dishonest man to stay that way..." Jack noticed that Victoria was standing frozen on the dock, staring at the boat in dismay.

"Well? Come aboard." He said, gesturing to the tiny vessel.

"I haven't set foot off dry land since I was twelve, and the last time I did, well, the ship I was on exploded." She gripped the skirt of her dress. "It's been a sound policy so far…"

"No worries there. She's far more likely to rot out from under us." He said, waving her off dismissively. Victoria steeled herself, and stepped into the boat as if it was going to capsize with the slightest movement. Watching as Jack hoisted the sail.

"Besides, we are about to better our prospects considerably." He nodded toward the H.M.S. Dauntless, and Victoria frowned.

"Sounds a good enough idea. We're about to steal a navy ship that's probably heavily guarded. Sounds fantastic."

"Commandeer. We're going to commandeer a ship. Nautical term love."

"Don't call me love." She huffed, and he laughed.

"Face it, Victoria: you may say you'll never be a pirate, but you're off to a rip-roaring start." He smiled "My advice? Smile and enjoy it." And the Jolly Mon bobbed its way across the bay, dwarfed against the H.M.S. Dauntless. Victoria held a stay line with iron fists, watching it carefully.

"This is going to require nothing short of a miracle." Victoria muttered, and Jack nodded in agreement.

"Don't worry love, we'll be fine. It's remarkable how often I am yet no one listens to me. Shame really." The Jolly Mon neared the rudder of the much larger ship.

- Day, Main Deck, HMS Dauntless -

About a dozen Navy sailors were gathered together on the main deck, playing dice. Murtogg and Mullroy among them. That's when Jack and Victoria jumped out, brandishing pistols.

"Everybody stay calm. We're taking over the ship!" Jack shouted, and the sailors look at each other, clearly amused.

"Aye! Avast!" Victoria said, and Jack leaned over.

"We don't actually say that…" That's when the sailors all burst out laughing. They grin, shaking their heads in amusement. Jack stood there, grinning with them, but his gun was still level. Then Lieutenant Gillette, stepped forward, smile fading.

"You're serious about this…" He said, and Jack moved his pistol across, points it at Gillette.

"Dead serious." He said, still grinning.

"You understand this ship cannot be crewed by only two men. You'll never make it out of the bay." Gillette said, looking to Victoria. "I hope you know the Governor will hear about this."

"Yeah, send him my love." She smiled, and that sent more guffaws from the crew. A couple sailors move forward, hands on their swords, but Gillette held up a hand, sighing.

"Sir, I'll not see any of my men killed or wounded in this foolish enterprise."

"Fine by me." Jack, shrugged, and gestured to the edge of the ship. "We brought you a nice little boat, so you can all get back to shore, safe and sound." Gillette nodded, and sighed.

"Agreed. You have the momentary advantage, sir. But I will see you smile from the yardarm sir."

"As likely as not." Jack mused. "Victoria, short up the anchor, we've got ourselves a ship!" Sailors make their way down a rope ladder, crowd onto the Jolly Mon. Victoria pushed hard against the windlass, and to no avail... The anchor is just too heavy for one person. Jack sighed in annoyance.

"A little help?" He asked, and Gillette shrugged, and gestured to Murtogg and Mullroy. Victoria backed away, and the three men throw their weight into the windlass, and it turned, with Jack's pistol is on them the whole time.

"I can't believe he's doing this." Murtogg muttered. The windlass turned, bringing Mullroy into view.

"You didn't believe he was telling the truth, either." He sighed. The windless turned some more, and there's Gillette.

"Will the both of you shut up already?" He snapped, and they went silent.

- Day, The docks, Port Royal -

Norrington moved along, focused on a manifest. Alongside him, Governor Swann, who glanced over at the bay and saw the tiny Jolly Mon headed toward them, riding low in the water and overloaded with sailors. Beyond that, the Dauntless sailed, albeit slowly, for open waters.

"Commodore-" Swann started.

"A moment." Norrington said, still focused on the manifest.

"But–"

"Please." Norrington cut him off once more, with more annoyance this time.

"Dammit, man, it appears someone is stealing your ship!" Governor Swann snapped, and Commodore Norrington head snapped up, and he looked out to the bay. Sure enough, the HMS Dauntless was on the move. Commodore Norrington hastily took a brass telescope from his belt, opening it, he trained it on the main deck. He picked out Victoria, and frowned.

"Sir, I do believe your ward is stealing my ship." Commodore Norrington said, and Swann whirled on him, looking stunned.

"What?!" Commodore Norrington continued looking through the telescope, and sighed when he spotted Jack at the wheel. Norrington lowered the telescope, grimacing.

"He is, without doubt, the worst pirate I have ever seen." The Governor snatched the telescope, and swore loudly while Norrington barked orders to get the Interceptor ready.

-Day, Main Deck, HMS Interceptor-

Commodore Norrington's smaller ship quickly came alongside the slowly moving Dauntless. Its deck appeared empty, but he didn't trust that for a moment. Norrington's men quickly boarded the ship, and begin searching for the pair.

"Search every cabin, every hold, down to the bilges!" Norrington barked, and his men rushed to carry out his orders. Away from the Dauntless, and on the Interceptor, a single sentry stood watch, and here we find a soaked Jack and Victoria as they climbed up over the side of the smaller ship, unseen. Jack tackled the Sentry from behind, and covered his mouth, muffling any kind of sound.

"Can you swim?" Jack asked the struggling man while Victoria wrung out her skirt, looking around carefully for any other guards. "Can. You. Swim?" He growled when the man didn't answer, and the man stopped. Jack hesitantly removed his hand.

"Of course! Like a fish. I grew up summers living in Dover, with my uncle-" He started.

"Good." Jack interrupted, and lifted the man up, throwing him overboard. He quickly went to untie the ropes to the grappling hooks, and Victoria cranked the capstan bars, raising the foresail.

-Day, Main Deck, HMS Dauntless-

Commodore Norrington emerged from a gangway, and froze as he watched the Interceptor moving away from the Dauntless.

"Sailors! Back to the Interceptor!" He ordered, but unfortunately the distance was already too great. One brave sailor tried to swing across on a rope, Errol-Flynn style, but fell short with a splash. Jack laughed as he waved mockingly.

"Thank you Commodore for getting our ship ready to make way! We'd've had a hard time of it by ourselves!" He laughed, Victoria joined him. Commodore Norrington seethed, clenching his fists.

"Raise the sails." He growled.

"The wind is quarter from astern... By the time we're underway, we'll never catch them." Gillette said to him, and Norrington looked at him, glowering.

"We need only to come about, to put them in range of the long nines." Gillette was surprised at the order, but relayed it nonetheless.

"Hands! Come about! Jackets off the cannons!" He turned to Norrington. "We are to fire on our own ship? Might I remind you that the Governor's charge is on there." The Commodore hesitated, but gave the lieutenant a resolved look, with a mild feeling of regret.

"Better to see it at the bottom of the sea than in the hands of a pirate." The Steersman turned the wheel, but the Dauntless' course didn't change.

"Captain, there's a problem." He called out, making Commodore Norrington and Gillette turn. The Steersman spun the wheel. It went round and round, with no signs of slowing. "He's disabled the rudder chain, sir."

"So it would seem." Norrington growled as the Interceptor shrunk in the distance. Gillette watched it go, with a small degree of admiration.

"He's got to be the best pirate I've ever seen." He commented as Norrington reached out, stopping the spinning ship's wheel.

"So it would seem." The Commodore replied. "So it would seem…."