As soon as he disappeared, Tori threw herself back down with a frustrated sigh and glared at the ceiling as though she could burn a hole through it. A sudden rocking of the ship threw her off the bench. She jumped to her feet, detangling herself comically from her skirts and scarves and smoothing her hair as if nothing happened. Another blast threatened to throw her from her feet, and she fell to the cell bars for support.
"My ship!" She dropped to her knees and ran her fingers along the floor until she found the loose board in the corner. She pried it up enough for her to remove a rather tarnished silver key from it's hiding place. She jammed it in the lock and the door swung open. Throwing the key back in it's place, she picked up her skirt and ran for the stairs only to run into a uniformed man.
"Well well, what's a lovely lass doing aboard a pirate ship?" He shifted his rifle and grabbed her elbow, dragging her up to the deck.
"Commodore! We've a kidnapping!" he called,
"Mr. Sparrow, we have gone back to our old ways haven't we?" The commodore chuckled unpleasantly. Jack shrugged and grinned beguilingly.
"Actually commodore, it's-"
"Shut up. Actually it's Mr. Turner here you have to thank for your capture. He led us right to you."
Will twisted sharply, trying to break free of his captor but to no avail.
"You set me up!" He accused angrily
"You set yourself up by coming to me to help you find this bloody pirate!" Norrington spat back.
"To save Elizabeth!"
"And where is the antidote?" He demanded, but received no answer. "As I thought. I've heard enough! Shoot them."
"The antidote, Commodore, is with a young lady of my acquaintance." Jack spoke up.
The soldiers froze and stared and Norringotn, who slowly turned around.
"If you release my crew I will take you to her…"
"Is this the girl?" The soldier asked, dragging Tori forward.
Jack cursed and the commodore smirked as another of Captain Sparrow's 'brilliant' plans fell through.
Norrington quickly walked over to her and smiled. "Miss, as soldiers of the British Royal Navy, we come to rescue and return you to friendly shores. I am commodore Norrington and these are my men. Now, do you know where L'Etoile de Vie is?" Tori did not answer, but shrunk back, stalling as she tried to think up a plan.
"Um, Es-que tu connais quois les…" The commodore stumbled over the French translation when Jack broke in.
"She's a mute. Permanent damage from swallowing a toothpick near…"
"Don't think I'm going to defend you Captain Sparrow." Tori snapped. She turned to Norrington, batting her eyes shyly. "I know where I dropped it overboard sir, but I was being chased by these men at the time. I'm not sure I can tell where it is."
Will and Jack's jaw both dropped. Did Tori actually know where the trinket lay, or was she covering for them? The commodore sighed and closed his eyes.
"Which men?"
Tori pointed to Jack and Will. "They're the ones that dragged me aboard and locked me up Commodore. I think they were the ones giving orders."
"Leave the crew alive in the cells, and some men to keep them in line. These two come with us," He smiled at Tori again. "And this young miss here of course. What was your name?"
"Tori, sir." She replied, modestly.
"Tori then. Come along. Help her in the boat."
"Out of professional curiosity Commodore, how did you catch up with us?" Jack asked as his wrists were being bound.
"We also used the current," Norrington replied rather smugly, "but since the last run in with this ship, I learned a little trick of propulsion that gave us a bit of an edge when the winds and current died down. Hurry up pirate. I haven't got all day."