"If it isn't my old friend Commodore Norrington," the pirate said, and beamed at him. But his smile didn't reach his eyes, and Norrington was beginning to get a bit nervous. "What a treat. And what might you be here to ask for?" Instead of projecting that same sunny, uncomplicated foolery of their last encounters, this time Jack seemed somehow...cold. As though there were a shrewd and calculating layer somewhere underneath all the fluff. Norrington didn't like it one bit, but he forced himself to ignore Jack's pecularities and press on.

"We have no desire for a gunfight," he said firmly. "This trip we have women and children aboard and not much valuable cargo. We won't fire on you if you let us pass unmolested." He swallowed hard and almost couldn't manage it. "We…we ask you to let us go in peace."

Norrington wasn't arrogant enough to believe that he hid his humiliation very well. He knew it was obvious to everyone just how much this hurt, how positively awful it was to have to beg mercy of a pirate. And of course he knew Jack would capitalize, drawing out the moment as long as was humanly possible.

The pirate captain leaned over the railing, out towards the sea, and made a big show of assessing the enemy vessel. "She doesn't look like much," he called over his shoulder. "We could sink her without much trouble, even if you were to fire on us."

"We have women and children aboard, Jack Sparrow – don't you dare!" snarled Norrington, his authoritative tone spoiled by a note of panic.

Jack still didn't face him. "What good are your women and children to me, mate?" he asked quite seriously. "I don't suppose you'll offer us a few in exchange for safe passage? Children or no, you'll do like every other ship: pay us or sink."

Elbowing through Jack's honor guard to stand right behind him, Norrington hissed, "I always knew there was more to you than that idiocy you're always projecting…and I refuse to believe there's not more than this. I have told you, we have no valuable cargo! I swear it. So what do you-" He broke off, realizing that his pleas were having no effect whatsoever. "What's happened to you?"

"Tell you what, mate," Jack suggested, finally turning around. He sounded more dangerous, but at least a spark of mischief had returned to his eyes. "You may not have much treasure on your ship, but you have got one thing that I really want. If you give it to me, I swear we'll let your ship and the rest of its contents go without a fight. Deal?"

Behind them, Jack's crew shot confused looks at one another. How the devil could Jack know what was on that ship? And did he really intend to let it go on the mere word of this Englishman that it wasn't worth sacking?

"Before I agree I shall need to know what is this thing you're so keen to take with you," Norrington said through clenched teeth.

If looks could kill Jack would have been incinerated on the spot. "What do I want?" he slurred, seeming surprised that it should take the commodore so long to work out the answer. "You."

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TBC

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