A/N: Scarlett Bane is of NO relation to the prostitute named Scarlet in the movie, just so you guys know.
Secrets of the Caribbean
Written by: Riley Barton
[Chapter One]
Eleven Years Later…"'Ave ye heard? Captain Jack Sparrow is returning to Port Royal, and right under the nose of Commodore Norrington, too!"
The cloaked figure in the corner glared at the excited, rotund man sitting at a table three feet away. The man was leaning heavily across the roughly carved wooden table, his eyes wide with awe. His two friends didn't look much different; their faces held an expression of reverence for the pirate captain of the Black Pearl, as well.
That's all I've been hearing about for months, the figure thought angrily as the large man told his friends that the Black Pearl was expected to pull in under the cloak of darkness sometime during the next three days. Captain Jack Sparrow this, and Captain Jack Sparrow that. If only Jack knew how well known he is around here, nobody would hear the last of it.
"Would you like some more rum?"
The cloaked figure looked up at the waitress through their long hood. "No, I'm about to leave," the figure replied, gently shaking their head. They removed some coins from inside the cloak and placed them on the table. "That should be enough, I would think." They stood from the chair and brushed past the nervous waitress.
The air was slightly warm outside, and the figure reached up to remove their hood. Long blonde hair cascaded over the figure's shoulders and bright green eyes looked about. Her gaze lingered on the ocean in the distance, staring out to sea. Night had already fallen, and the moon and stars shone down from above. Without really knowing why, she started walking in the direction of the docks, her eyes fixated on the distant ocean. "So, Captain Jack Sparrow is returning to Port Royal, is he?" she whispered to the air, the ghost of a smirk on her full lips. "Well, I'll just have to give him a welcoming home party, won't I?"
A heavy knock sounded on the solid oak door of Commodore Norrington's office. Annoyed at the disturbance, the Commodore looked up from his paperwork and glared at the closed door. "Come in," he called, making an extra effort to keep the annoyance out of his tone. He had a lot of work to do, and not that much time to do it in.
The door swung open and one of his sentries stepped aside, saluting him respectfully. "Someone to speak with you, Commodore."
Commodore Norrington looked at the sentry with a bothered stare. "Tell them to come tomorrow. I would be more than willing to speak with them then."
The sentry cleared his throat, a flicker of nervousness passing through his dark eyes. "He insists that what he has to say would be of utmost importance to you, and that it cannot wait another minute."
Sighing, the Commodore set his quill down and folded his hands on top of his desk. "Then by all means, send him in," he replied, smiling dryly at the sentry. I've got all the time in the world, he thought angrily.
The sentry had just disappeared from the doorway when a cloaked figure stepped inside. The cloak's hood was pulled over the caller's head, obscuring their face. Patiently, the cloaked figure closed the door.
Instinctively, the Commodore retrieved his pistol from a desk drawer and placed it on the desk in plain view. "Remove your hood, sir," he demanded.
The cloaked figure turned around so they were facing the Commodore, and then reached up to pull back the hood. Commodore Norrington started, completely surprised that the caller was a woman. Her thick, long blonde hair draped over her shoulders and her bright green eyes twinkled with a sarcastic gleam. "Commodore," she said, dipping her head in a vague salute. When he returned the nod, she smiled and walked forward, holding out her hand. He grasped it with his own and was surprised by the woman's hidden strength.
"Might I know your name, my lady?" Commodore Norrington asked, setting his weapon aside. She released his hand and took a seat in a straight-backed chair before the Commodore's desk.
"Before I release that information to you, I ask of you to promise me that you will not call for my arrest."
Commodore Norrington raised an eyebrow as he took his own seat. He studied her, trying to place a name to her face. She was familiar, though the reason why completely eluded him. "I vow that I will not, but if you so much as raise a hand toward me, I will call for assistance."
"Granted," she replied smoothly. She paused before continuing. "My name is Scarlett Bane, and I have come to give you word of a certain pirate that I know you would love to get your hands on." The expression on the Commodore's face was priceless.
"Scarlett Bane?" he repeated with a dubious look. "The comrade and lover of Jack Sparrow?"
Scarlett rolled her eyes heavenward and shook her head. "Ex-comrade, and nix the lover," she said sardonically. "And I believe he would prefer if you called him Captain Jack Sparrow. He hates it when people refuse to call him by his proper title."
Commodore Norrington nodded. "Yes, he always did insist on everyone calling him that."
Scarlett leaned forward, causing the Commodore to quickly lean back in his own chair. She smirked. "I'm not here to harm you, Commodore Norrington. Instead, I've come to let you know that Captain Jack Sparrow will be arriving sometime during the next three days on his ship, the Black Pearl. I believe you have wanted his arrest for a few months now, ever since he escaped you the last time you tried to hang him?"
Commodore Norrington was looking at her with a calculating stare, trying to decide whether she was trustworthy or not. "How do you know this?" he finally asked.
Again, she rolled her eyes. "I know this must sound completely unbelievable, especially coming from one of his old comrades, but it's the honest truth. Jack and I parted ways a few years ago, and I've been out to get my revenge on him ever since."
"What did he do to you?"
She shrugged. "Let's just say that I was a bit too slow for his liking," she replied. She almost laughed at the shocked expression on the Commodore's face. "Whatever you are thinking about, forget it, because it's the complete opposite from that. It has nothing to do with a bed."
"Right." Scarlett smiled as the Commodore sat up a little straighter in his seat.
"Anyway, we've no time to waste," she said abruptly, standing to her feet. "Jack will be pulling in within the next half hour, and I'm certain you will want to give him a wonderful welcoming party."
Commodore Norrington followed suit, looking at her quizzically. "I thought you said he would be arriving within the next three nights?"
"I did," Scarlett said over her shoulder as she walked to the door, "but if I know Jack, which I do, then he will be arriving tonight."
"Why?"
Scarlett opened the door, glancing back at him. "Because tonight is the full moon." And as if to prove her point, the clouds parted to reveal the full moon, shining in all its glory.
"There they are."
Commodore Norrington glanced at Scarlett Bane. "Where?" he asked, scanning the horizon for the Black Pearl. "I don't see the ship anywhere."
Scarlett stared at him with a look of indignation. "You honestly expected Jack to bring the Black Pearl right up to the docks, tie her up, and then leave her there until morning?" She shook her head with a wry smile. "And here I thought you were much smarter than that." She pointed to the far right. "No, if you look carefully, you can see two rowboats coming, and if you look even further, you can just barely see the prow of the Black Pearl behind those cliffs."
"Yes, I see them now." The Commodore turned to his men and gave them their orders. The score of men quickly spread out. The Commodore and Scarlett stayed where they were. "I believe a thanks is in order," he said, holding his hand out.
Scarlett gripped it firmly and shook it. "Remember, you are only to catch Jack Sparrow. The crew is to report back to their ship. If I see even one member of Jack's crew harmed, I will personally see to it that-"
"You've no need for threats, my lady," the Commodore cut in. "I understand the terms of our agreement, and my men have been told of them as well. They will not lay a finger on any member of the crew."
"Good," Scarlett replied. Her gaze traveled to the sandy beach beyond where she knew the two rowboats would pull up. "I think I'll stick around to watch." And without another word, she disappeared into the shadows.
The Commodore sighed, questioning himself as to why he was trusting a pirate. He shook his head and watched, as the two boats silently grew closer to the beach. The boat in front ran up onto the beach and three men climbed out. The last was obviously none other than Jack Sparrow; the drunken walk was more than noticeable.
Neither the Commodore nor his men moved as the second boat pulled up and three more men climbed out. The squawk of a parrot met the Commodore's ears, and he was instantly reminded of the colourful parrot that had flown about the day Jack Sparrow had almost hung. The six men made their way up the beach and onto the docks. None spoke a word as they all followed silently behind their Captain, who swung his head back as he took a long drink from a flagon of rum.
Suddenly, the small group was surrounded as Commodore Norrington's men dashed from their hiding places, weapons at the ready. When all looked secure, the Commodore stepped from his hiding place and strode into the small ring. "We meet again, Jack Sparrow," he replied smugly.
The look of displeasure was evident on Jack's face. He rolled his eyes, leaning to the right as he did so. "Captain," he said. "Captain Jack Sparrow."
The Commodore ignored Jack and looked to the five men standing behind him. "You five are to return to your ship, and you have my word that you will not be harmed, but do know that if I see so much as a hair from your heads in Port Royal again, you will be taken into custody."
Jack Sparrow's eyebrows rose high on his forehead as he drunkenly looked over his shoulder to his men. The man directly behind him, Mr. Gibbs, looked at Jack with a furrowed brow. "We will not leave our Captain behind," he said firmly.
The Commodore sighed. "I'm afraid you do not have a choice, Mr. Gibbs," he replied in a bored tone. "My informer gave me explicit orders that Mr. Sparrow's crew was to return to their ship unharmed, and I intend to do so, even if it means forcing you."
"Informer?" Jack echoed, leaning forward toward Norrington. He gave Norrington a charming smile, taking a step closer to the man. "Who might that be?" he asked, cocking his head to the side. He waved the flagon of rum in the air for a quick moment before taking another swig.
The Commodore looked at him in disgust. "That is none of your concern, Mr. Sparrow."
"Captain," Jack reminded him again, jabbing a dirty finger into his chest.
Norrington took a step back and looked to his men. "Five of you take Mr. Sparrow to his new quarters, and the rest of you show these kind gentleman to their boats."
Scarlett watched in silent pleasure as Jack Sparrow was led away amongst five men, Commodore Norrington walking behind them with a hand resting on the pistol at his side. She smiled and looked to the cluster of men surrounding Jack. "I'll be seeing you, Jack," she whispered. "And much sooner than you may think."
A/N: I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. More Captain Jack Sparrow on the way! Review, please!