Disclaimer:  I think the only thing I own is a semi-cold and my own imagination.

AN:  Okay.  Once again, this story is almost at a close, but I promise that I have a good idea for a sequel to this story, so I won't leave you in absolute suspense as to what happens in the end.  I would still like all of you to send me ideas for a title for the sequel.  Please help me!

PineAppleLint:  I thank you for agreeing to help me pick out a name for the sequel.  This one is almost over, although it still has a few chapters left, and then the new one will be up. 

P.s. hmm. . . Jack Sparrow's boxers shaped cookies. . . I think they'll be put in the shrine that is put up in his honor!  Never to be eaten!

"Those who gain power must pay a price, something in exchange.  If you seek to be stronger than others you may have to lose what you value above all else."

Giichi

Blade of the Immortal

Sui Generis

Chapter 10: Lies and Truths

            Jack's face scrunched up at the voice.  He plastered a smile on his face and turned around, his beads jingling.  "Ah, Commodore!  Lovely to see you!"

            "I would not be surprised if you were the one behind this attack, Sparrow," Norrington said.  "But I do realize that you would not put people that you consider friends in danger."

            Jack bowed slightly, his palms pressed together.  His eyes darted to his right as a shimmer of gold caught his attention.  He turned his eyes back to Norrington and then gestured behind him.  "I would worry less about me, mate, an' more about the lovely Mrs. Turner."

            Norrington looked over Jack's shoulder and then pushed past him, striding quickly to Will's side.  "Is she . . . ?"

            "Breathing," Will answered, his fingers brushing against the wound on her temple.  "She's just unconscious."

            Jack watched them for a moment and then turned to the small glimmer of gold that he had seen.  The two soldiers that had come with Norrington raised their rifles slightly.  Jack glanced at them and gave a small smile.  "Easy, lads," he said, and then bent down amongst the crumbled wall, his fingers seeking out the small bit of treasure.

            Jack lifted the small piece of jewelry off of the floor and held it up to his eyes.  His eyes widened slightly as he took in the small round piece of gold that hung on the end of a gold chain.  He knew this ring.

            Elizabeth opened her eyes slowly to the light of a single candle.  A warm hand that was enclosed around her fingers caused her to look down.  Will sat next to her bed, his head resting on the smooth sheets.  "Will?" she whispered.

            Will's head snapped up when he heard his name.  "Elizabeth?  Thank God!  I was so worried."

            "Will?  The children?  And Lor?  Oh, God, they attacked without warning!  We weren't prepared!  Will, where are my children?"

            "Gone," Will whispered.

            "Are you plannin' on goin' after 'em?" Jack asked, propping his boots up on Norrington's desk.

            Norrington glared down at Jack's booted feet, and then glared up at him.  Jack just smiled and crossed his arms over his chest.  "I assure you Mr.-"

"Captain."
            Norrington sighed.  "I assure you Captain Sparrow that everything is well in order.  We set sail later this evening."

"Good, then."

"I still do not know why I have not had you arrested," Norrington said stiffly.

"Because you know that I can help you.  What better way to catch a pirate, then to have a pirate chase them?" Jack said, grinning.

Norrington looked down at his desk and then glanced up at Jack, his face a mask of seriousness.  "You are absolutely right, Captain Sparrow."

Jack almost fell out of his chair as he heard Norrington agree with him.  "I'm right?"

"Yes, you are a pirate, and as one, you would know where this other pirate would be going.  Am I correct?"

"Aye, mate.  I know where 'e's goin'."

"Good.  Then you can take us there."

Jack held up his hands to stop him.  "I never said I would take ya, mate.  I said I would 'elp ya catch 'im."

"Yes, and I said that you would take us, Sparrow.  Which would you prefer?  Showing us the way, or staying in the brig, with another appointment with the gallows?"

Jack laughed.  "I work better with me own crew, Commodore."

"Then we shall take the Dauntless, and you will lead the way."

"You'll only slow me down."

"Then I will take some of my own men and we will join you on the Black Pearl."

"British Navy?" Jack said, raising his eyebrows.  "On a pirate ship?  Your men would never be able to follow a pirate captain's orders."

"You forget, Captain Sparrow, that a pirate was not the only person taken."

Jack's eyes narrowed.  "I'm well aware of the fact that Alex an' Emily were taken as well.  But I also know that Lor'll do everythin' in her power ta make sure the kids're not 'armed," he paused.  "But, if you can assure me that yer men'll follow my orders, an' not harass me crew, I'll take ye on board.  Only fer the duration of this rescue, though.  Once it's over an' everyone's safe an' sound at 'ome, you'll leave my ship."

"And what is in it for me?"

"You, my dear Commodore, will never see me in Port Royal again," Jack dropped his feet onto the table and then held out his hand.  "Do we have an accord?"

Norrington looked down at Jack's outstretched hand, and then back up at his face.  Slowly, he took Jack's hand.  "Agreed."

AnaMaria and Gibbs stood behind Jack as Norrington led his group of a dozen men up the plank to stand on the deck of the Pearl.  "You think this wise, Cap'n?" Gibbs asked.  "Bringin' the British Navy on the Pearl?"

Jack grinned.  "We've entered into an accord, the Commodore an' I.  I want you two ta make sure none of my crew starts a fight.  If a fight is started, let them be the ones to initiate it."

"Aye, Cap'n," AnaMaria and Gibbs said in unison.

The last of the soldiers stepped onto the deck, and Jack watched as Will and Elizabeth walked up the plank.  Jack gave them a small smile and then spread his arms out wide, his smile spreading into a wide grin.  "Gentlemen, and lady, welcome aboard the Black Pearl!"

Lor woke once again to find her arms chained to the brig wall of her stolen ship.  She started to wriggle around, but thought better of it when a sharp pain started to explode throughout her body.  She moaned softly, trying to make it where no one would hear her.

A soft sob caught her attention and she attempted to look up at the other cell.  "Alex?" she called softly.  "Emily?"

"We wanna go home," a low voice replied.

"It's all right.  You'll be fine.  I won't let them hurt you."

"I don't think yer in any position ta promise that, lass," a rough voice said.  "I don't think yer in much of a position ta do anythin', save what I tell ya ta do."

"Skinner," Lor said, his name dripping off of her tongue as if it were poison.   "You've sunken to a new low, kidnapping children when all you needed was me."

"Ah, my dear.  The children were needed as well.  I figured I could use them to make sure you do as yer told.  I trust you understand."

"For the love of God, Skinner!  The children don't need to be here!"

"They can either be here, or I can leave them somewhere in the middle of the ocean."

A small whimper sounded in the semi-darkness and Lor's eyes narrowed.  "That's not what I meant.  They don't need to be in the brig.  Do whatever you want with me; just don't let the children see it!  Put them in a cabin somewhere, please."

Skinner stared down at her, a smirk forming on his face.  "This could be a learning experience fer 'em."

Lor attempted to kick him but found her feet to be shackled to the floor as well.  Skinner laughed and then put one booted foot on her leg, pressing down on it slightly.  "I learn quickly, lass.  You won't be kickin' anyone this time," his eyes darted over to the two children that sat huddled together in the next cell.  He turned to two of the men behind him and gestured at the kids.  "Take 'em up top.  Put 'em in the empty cabin next to mine."

"Aye, Cap'n," they said in unison.  Lor attempted to watch as the two men grabbed hold of the shrieking children and took them out of the brig.  She closed her eyes as their cries faded into the distance.  Skinner shook her leg with his foot to draw her attention back to him.  Her eyes opened and she looked up at him, anger radiating out of her eyes.

Skinner laughed.  "Don't look at me like that, lass.  Yer the one who wanted them out of the brig."

"I know what I said.  You see, now that the children are gone, I don't have to worry about watching what I say or do."

"That's very funny love."

Lor's eyes darkened.  "You have no right to call me that, you bastard."

Skinner knelt down next to her, his face hovering over hers.  "Is there someone else then?  How cute.  The cold Captain Lor Adams has found 'erself a man.  Too bad it won't last long."

"Are you plannin' on killin' me just like you did my father?"

Skinner trailed his finger down her cheek.  "No.  Not just like I did your father.  You will go in a much different manner.  Much more painful."

Lor stared up at him, then her eyes darted to her left as three men entered the cell.  In their hands, they held a large pot, out of which she could see steam pouring out of it.  A thin bar was sitting in it.  The men set the pot down and then backed out of the cell.  Skinner reached up and unchained her left arm, pulling it down to rest on the ground in front of him.  

Lor tried to jerk her arm out of his grasp, but he held on tightly, his grip cutting off circulation to her hand.  She strained against him, attempting to get her arm away from him.  Skinner pressed her arm painfully into the wooden floor with one hand, grabbing hold of the thin bar in the steaming pot with the other.  He pulled the bar out slowly, his eyes keeping hold of her own.

She kept her eyes blank as he held the red-hot bar above her.  Skinner smirked.  "Try not to hold back, lass.  It's no fun if you don't scream."

With that, Skinner lowered the heated iron close to her arm.

Jack leaned over his desk slightly, his fingers tracing a line on the map that lay there, his beaded hair hanging around his face.  A sudden knock at his cabin door caused him to look up.  "Come in," he said gruffly.

The door opened slowly to reveal Will and Elizabeth.  Jack waved them in, looking back down at the square piece of paper that he had been looking at before they had interrupted him.  "Jack?" Will called.

"Eh?"

"Jack, where are we going?"

"After the Sui Generis.  Your children do need to be saved after all."

"But, Jack, the other sailors, the ones that we met a few days ago, they told us that the Sui Generis was headed in the other direction."

Jack rolled his eyes.  "Trust me mate.  I know where I'm goin'."

Will's hand slammed against the map.  "But why are we going in the other direction?"

Jack glanced up at the angry eyes of Will.  He pushed his hand off of the map and then stood up straight.  "I said to trust me.  Yer children will be saved an' so will Lor.  Skinner won't win, he won't get the treasure an' he won't kill yer children."

"But why . . .?"

"Just trust me.  I'll explain it all in due time," Jack replied, a small grin on his face.  "I half expected you to come barging in and ask me how I got the old Commodore to agree to one of my crazy ideas."

"He told us of the deal, Jack," Elizabeth said.  "He told us what you promised."

Jack laughed.  "I thought it was a pretty good idea."

"How could you promise something like that?  Did you even think about what you were saying?" Will asked.

"Oh, yes.  I thought about it.  Did he tell you what I promised?"

"He said that you promised to never be seen in Port Royal again."

"Aye.  I promised never to be seen."

A smile spread across Will's face.  "And he did not bother to read between the lines."

"Even if I'm not seen, it doesn't mean that I won't be there."

"It still doesn't explain why. . ."

Jack held up his hand.  "Don't ask where we're goin' lad.  I told you I'd explain it to you later.  Just trust me."

"So you know where they are?"

"No.  But I do know where they'll be goin'."

AN: Chapter 11: The Island Nears.  How is it that Jack knows where Skinner is going?  And what about Lor?  All these answers will be answered in the next chapter!  See you then! 

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