"Good, Miss..." Captain Brusone realeased the edge of the blade a bit, "Thank you so kindly for being cooperative."

"Not that I was given a choice." Rachel muttered between short gasps of air.

"Of course you were." he smirked, "I gave you the command to shoot or not."

"And if not, die."

"Perhaps.."

"It was better not to take a chance, You wouldn't have brought down the Pearl anyway." she said, laughing through the pain on her adolescent face.

Still holding the girl over the crashing, foaming sea, the captain laughed, "If I'm not mistaken, your life is still literally in my hands."

Rachel blinked more tears away, "Kill me too, then. I'm not afraid. I fear nothing. And you will have been rid of the crew most threatening your kingship of the sea."

"Oh, I have no intention in killing you, my dear."

"Then why do you keep me here?" she asked, head dropping, but her green eyes still taking in the veiw of the Black Pearl.

He laughed, looking back at her crew, "Miss Barbossa 'ere wants to know why she's aboard the Voyage..." Brusone said in an amused tone.

Rachel shook her head, going limp and ready to fall, itching to plummet into the dejected, yet somehow inviting waters below.

Captain Brusone pulled the girl up, tilting her head back and glaring into her eyes, though she still focused on the ship in the distance, "Miss Barbossa.." he pinched her chin, forcing her to look his way, "I will not tolerate this, you will learn to cooperate with my doings aboard this vessel and obey my bidding, do I make myself clear?"

Rachel stood in silence for a moment, frowning, then her eyes brightened, tears still lining them, "Crystal."

"Very well." he tossed her aside, Adrian running to help her up, "Fire, men!" he yelled, and the cannons were lit, a row of artillery shooting off and the Pearl gaining a hole with each blow.

"NO!" Rachel cried, pulling away from Adrian, running back to Brusone, "You-"

"You.. Miss, told me to fire."

"You, you confinding, deluding... DEFRAUDER!"

"Please, just, settle.." Adrian's voice came into the argument.

Rachel turned and glared at him, "Settle?" she cried, "How can you tell me to settle at a time like this? The bloody cannons are still going! The Pearl is in flames and charred near to the bone and you,"she pointed a finger at Captain Brusone, her glare shifting into his direction, "are the one to blame for it all!"

He smirked, "My fault? Now, how do ye figure that?"

"You know how I figure it, Burnt.." her eyes shifted nervously, "Scone."

"Brusone.." Adrian whispered to her loudly, and trying hard not to laugh.

"Knew that.." she said quietly, then looked back at the captain, "Brusone!"

"Rachel, is it?" Brusone stepped closer, pushing her along as they walked over the main deck, Adrian keeping an eye open for as they moved father away.

"Rachel works."

"Good then, Rachel. Rachel, About Jack..."

"This isn't about Jack." she said, cutting him off as he drifted, "It's about you breaking down the one thing I had to call a home."

"The Black Pearl?" an amused tone carried the captain's voice, "That ship could no longer be considered a man's home than could one live upon it."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that the Black Pearl is no place for someone like you."

"Someone like me?" Rachel turned and faced Brusone, "Someone like me? And what kind of someone am I?"

He smiled, "A woman, Miss Barbossa."

"But a pirate, nonetheless." she retorted, "And I have the full able bodied ability that you have! I could kill you now and love every moment for what you just did."

"Is tha' right?"

She nodded, not letting up on her cold stare, "I have nothing left that I care for."

"Do you not?" he asked, tilting his head to the side, "I think I know of one thing..."

Rachel raised an eyebrow, "Really?"

"Jack Sparrow."

"No."

"Oh?"

"No!" Rachel turned away, hiding her face from him.

Captain Brusone glanced at Adrian, "Take 'er below again. She'll 'ave the livin' quarters in the brig."

Adrian looked at Rachel, then back at his captain, "Sir, I-" he stopped for a moment, looking away as well, "I will."

Rachel pulled her arm away as he reached for it, "No. I'm not going, I'm not going to stay here, I'm going back to the Pearl, and you can't stop me, you can't and if you think that you will, I.. I... I will.. I'll kill you."

"Will ya, now?" Captain Brusone laughed, the rest of the crew standing on deck, devoid of Adrian, laughing as well, "Miss Barbossa..." his laughter ceased, "You need to understand something."

She stepped back, "What would that be, Mr Brusone?"

"First of all, that you don't call me "Mr", Captain wil do."

"You are not my captain."

He ignored her, "Secondly, you cannot simply leave, the Pearl is gone, along with all that were on it."

"I can get out of here. I have to, I won't just.. sit here and.. No." she looked down, slightly flustered, "I.. I..."

"It's alright, Rachel." Brusone said softly, putting a hand on her shoulder, "You let him go, that's what you meant to do all along, you told him you would kill him, and apparently now was the correct time."

"But, I..."

He smiled, "I understand, you didn't truley mean for it to go this far..."

"No.. I-" she stopped, "I wanted to.. I hate him, but I just thought..."

"Thought what?"

"Just.. that it would be different."

"Taking a life is never a beautiful thing, Rachel."

She bit her lip, "I know... I didn't mean that.. Oh, I don't know... Just.. I didn't think I would actually..."

The captain walked her carefully down the stairs into the brig, "I knew you would." he smiled, "It was a good act. A mercy killin'."

"I... suppose, but-"

"Rachel, don't worry yerself over it, now. Get some sleep." he said, opening the cell door, Rachel walking in willingly.

"Thank you." Rachel said, smiling slightly at the captain through the bars.

"You may in the end, my dear." he said under his breath, locking the door behind her and walking back up the stairs, "You may in the end..."