Disclaimer: I do not own POTC, any of the characters created by 1)Disney, 2)Ted Elliott, 3) Terry Rossio for said film. Original characters are mine to the best of my knowledge. All other POTC references belong to Disney and Buena Vista, not me. I do not pretend to be a historical expert, but will endeavor to remain true to the past in this story, all other diversions should be attributed to either 1)author's creative license or 2) It's Captain Jack Sparrow, anything's possible!

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Stowing aboard a strange ship in the dark of night probably hadn't been the smartest thing that Netanya Wilkes had done in her lifetime; but it had seemed the best option at the time. That was two days ago. Now, as the boat tossed from side to side in the midst of a sudden storm, her stomach ached with hunger. She had managed to find a tiny corner of the hold where she could hide successfully, but hadn't been able to gather a meal for herself without running the risk of being caught by one of the crewman. "Just as well," she thought to herself. The way the boat was rocking in the stormy waters, she wasn't completely sure that a full stomach would have made the experience any more tolerable.

Leaning back against a stack of crates that were lashed to the wall, she closed her eyes, listening, as the crew on deck above her battled Mother Nature for control over the ship. Suddenly, the ship gave a great lurch to the side, tearing loose one of the ropes holding the cargo secure. Netanya steadied her balance and pushed down the strong urge to panic, then fell forward, crumpled in a heap, onto the deck as a heavy crate flew from it's mooring and struck the back of her skull. Her mind barely registered the impact as her forehead struck the hard, wet, wooden boards of the hold. Darkness came over her and the fierce howling of the storm was drowned out by eerie silence.

* * * * *

Captain Jack Sparrow stood at the helm of his ship, the Black Pearl. Looking to his right, he addressed his first mate, "All hands accounted for Mr. Gibbs?"

"Aye sir," came the reply. "A bit wetter than t'were when we began, but none the worse for wear."

"And the Pearl?"

"We'll be havin' a bit o' picking up to do, without a doubt, Cap'n, but no major damage."

Jack grunted his approval at this report, and was about to comment further on the storm, when a startled, urgent cry came up from below.

"Gibbs..." Jack nodded in the direction of the commotion.

With barely a glance back in reply, Gibbs made his way across the deck to see what the clamor was about. "Right you scabbarous dogs; what be the problem?"

"The men found someone trapped in the hold, sir," one of the men said as Gibbs climbed into the belly of the ship. "They're digging 'im out now."

"S'e alive?" Gibbs queried as he reached the floor, turning and leaning forward as three crew members hastily moved the last of the fallen cargo away from the frighteningly still figure before him on the floor of the hold. One of the men, Cooley, felt along the figure's neck as the other two rolled the body face up.

"Aye sir," he began, surprise seeping into his voice as he continued, "she is." Leaning back, he allowed his superior to see the figure of a woman lying on the hold floor before them.

Turning to the crewman nearest him, Gibbs ordered, "Get the Captain."

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