The cool breeze blew past her as she breathed in the crisp, sea air. It was still dark, yet the faint glow of dawn could just be seen over the horizon. Marlee couldn't help but smile as she continued her walk towards the deserted dock. Her shoes thudded against the hard ground as she wound her way around the dark streets towards the ocean. The further away she was from that wretched tavern the more confident she became. No more nights wishing she hadn't trusted Jack to wait. That was all going to change, and she was sure she would make her older brother pay for what he did.

The walk from the bar was long, but definitely well worth it. The sight meeting her by the shore was indeed a vision to behold. The Interceptor was magnificent. The wood practically shone in the pale, emerging sunlight. The flowing, white sails ballooned out and embraced the morning air, never had she seen anything so massive yet so beautiful at the same time. Marlee's breath stopped in her chest as she beheld the awesome sight. It was the perfect image of majesty. Still staring, Marlee slowly put her canvas bag down and placed her hands on her hips. Not only was it enormous, yet the vast amount of cannons protruding from their open windows, left her wondering why any passing pirate would even want to try, to attack this ship. She couldn't believe she was going to be sailing on that thing.

Her train of thought was suddenly cut short as the pain of something hard ramming into her upper back made her twist around, to face a giant piece of wood. Two older men stood behind her lugging a giant timber beam across the dock.

"Pardon me ma'am" said the sailor's rough voice, "Are you alright miss? We meant no harm, you was in the way that's all."

Marlee just grinned and waved it off unfazed. As the sailors carrying the wooden beam continued on, she turned around to see a busy dock full of men carrying huge crates and barrels towards the Interceptor.

Half of the sun could already be seen across the ocean, casting its sleepy light across the Caribbean. Marlee, as if just woken up, grabbed her canvas bag and ran energetically towards the massive ship.

She hitched up her green skirt as she got nearer and managed to effortlessly climb over a barricade of wooden crates. She finally reached the ramp and grabbing the rail, swung herself around and practically skipped towards the deck.Her wild imagination however, didn't stop there. It spanned out to the never-ending ocean and she saw herself, liberated and doing what she had always wanted to do. She felt free and was now certain Jack would wish he hadn't left her on that blasted island. Her daydream unfortunately, was short lived, cut short by a familiar voice.

"Good Morning Miss Sparrow "said the voice from behind her. Marlee spun around to find a very composed Commodore dressed in clean uniform facing her. Commodore Norrington's hands were behind his back and he didn't look any different from the first time she had met him, only the night before.

"Pardon me Miss Sparrow," he continued "but standing in the middle of the Ships only boarding area whilst the ship is being loaded, is not the wisest of decisions."

Slightly intimidated, but not enough to dampen her spirits, Marlee looked behind her to see an entire line of people waiting to board the Interceptor.

"Well, that's all well and good Commodore, but you're late", answered Marlee ironically, picking up her bag and moving aside. She let herself be led to the helm by the Commodore, and watched in awe as the activity onboard the ship progressed around them. The cabin boys were busy, crew were running orders, the deck was being scrubbed and the sails were being dropped. No one was without a purpose and she noticed, no one else was a woman.

Contrary to the Commodores beliefs, ten days sea voyage is something Marlee handled with considerable ease. As opposed to the boredom Commodore Norrington expected to see from the young woman, Marlee seemed nothing but overwhelmed and content. She would spend hours just standing on the edge, hanging onto the ropes and smiling out to the blue Caribbean waters.

As sunset came on the tenth day, Marlee was more giddy than ever. By nightfall the ship was to be in view of their destination, which not only caused restlessness within her, but also relief among the crew. Marlee sat by the stern, and watched the red sunset with in-suppressible delight. The crew, done with the days work, sat around lazily on the deck, with their eyes closed, waiting for the night to take away the day's insufferable heat.

The sailor nearest to Marlee however, stared determinedly into the sky. His arms were propped up on his bent knees and his blonde head rested against the solid wood of the ships railing. As he raised his arm and wiped the sweat from his brow, his dirty sleeve fell back to reveal a dark tattoo on his wrist. His hazel eyes were slowly scanning the ocean before they came to a stop, and rested on the figure of Marlee. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but then thought better of it and looked away. He then turned his warm eyes again to Marlee's turned head and after a moment's hesitation said:

"The Commodore says we're goin' to a small island on the outskirts of the Caribbean. If you don't mind me askin' Miss, is there any chance you'll tell us its name?"

Without any hesitation, Marlee turned her tanned smiling face towards the sailor, and with a cheeky smile looked right into his hazel eyes.

"Tortuga" she replied.

The ship slept peacefully as the cool night breeze lapped the deep water gently against the hull of the Interceptor. The glowing moon was full, and lit up Tortuga to the entire Caribbean sky.

Marlee however was far from asleep. As the crew drew straws for the night- watch, Marlee sat in her cabin and picked out her clothes. Whilst the crew were dozing off, she sat in her cabin and planned meticulously. She listened to every noise the ship made, in case it led to any instance of her plan being spoiled. Marlee waited the long hours away patiently and waited for the knock to ring out from her door.

As she brushed her long hair, she thought about whether she had made the right decision. So far the sailor was definitely not a pirate and therefore seemed reliable. Marlee after all, had learnt the hard way, that lack of pirate tendencies was always a good place to start when searching for reliable men.

Finally the knock came, and the soft thud of the wood reverberated throughout the corridor. She sprung up from her bed and jumped towards the door. Carefully, she softly unlatched the door and slowly swung it open. There standing urgently in the darkness was Benjamin. Even at this time of night the colour in his hazel eyes was visible. He out a finger to his lips and gestured for Marlee to move quietly to his left. With her shoes in her hands, she tiptoed up the wooden stairs towards deck, as Benjamin slowly closed her door behind her.

Once on deck she ran toward the lifeboat and threw her shoes in. Only when she saw his blonde head emerge from below deck did she jump in and pick up an oar. With quick efficiency Ben got in, untied the ropes and began lowering the small boat into the dark water.

As insanely simple as Marlee's plan was, there he had a niggling feeling that it was impossible. Having a wife of his own, he had a finely tuned appreciation for women's seemingly crazy ideas. There was strictly no real reason for it not to work. Only in the extremely unlikely event that the sailor keeping watch for the latter half of the night expressed a sudden desire to get up early, they could be in trouble. But if all went to plan they would be back and safe before anyone even noticed they were gone.

Out in the open, Marlee realised the air was much colder here than she had expected. She controlled her shivering with the calming thought of Tortuga lingering in her mind. She then turned all her attention to her silent companion.

"You say you've been a sailor for all these years, and you've never been here before?"

"No, Miss Sparrow" replied Ben calmly.

"Well then I better tell you. It is widely regarded, indeed a sad life that has never breathed deep the sweet, proliferous bouquet that is Tortuga" said Marlee, "Unfortunately for you, we're not here to enjoy ourselves, so we find him….find him and leave. Savvy?"

Ben nodded as he rowed, and the realization slowly sunk in, that this night was not going to be as ordinary as he first expected.

With that out of her mind, Marlee's heart leapt at the thought of the look on Jacks face when he saw her. She smiled to herself and looked to shore to see the bright lights of Tortuga coming ever closer and closer.