Disclaimer: Arr, mateys, I do love the pirates.

"If I remember rightly," Ana says as she rows, "This isn't the first time Jack's been in a situation like this."

"And it's most likely not going to be the last." Squirrel says darkly. Even though Ana's strokes are smooth and even, the small rowboat seems to be making no progress towards the other pirate ship. Squirrel turns back to her friend.

"You said you knew their captain?"

"Aye." Ana says evenly. "Helped me get out of the plantation. But then, trusting them almost cost me that freedom on that very day."

"So w-we can't trust him." Squirrel nods, then looks out at the light merchant vessel. The only thing which gave away the merchant ship as a pirate-owned vessel was the extra cannon ports… and the black and white flag flying at half-mast. Squirrel frowns. Half-mast? "What do you suppose that means?"

"Don't know." Ana bites out the words. "Don't care."

Squirrel continues to glare at the enemy pirate vessel, but lets her mind wander. This isn't the first time…

Jack continued to grin, despite the sword at his throat and the pistols trained on him. "You're wasting your time, mate. No-one even knows I'm here. Besides." He stretched, as far as his bonds allow. "If you do kill me, you'll never learn the way to Isla de Muerta."

"You're bluffin'." The old slaver scowled. "I seen your crew, Sparrah. One of dem's got the secret asides from you." He grinned a rotten-toothed smile. "And after you're dead, we'll be de most famous in the Caribbean!"

"Ah." Jack nodded. "So it's a power issue, is it? Or is it you'd rather feed your diminutive ego?" His eyes flicked upwards, briefly, and then widened.

"Power?" The old slaver spat on the floor. "Ego?" The slaver shoved his face in Jack's own. "I've 'eard the stories. Endless wealth dat even you weren't able to spend all at once. Even wit that 'uge ship, the Black Pearl, to load it all in'ter."

Jack rolled his eyes and shook his head at the rafters. "Listen, mate. There ain't boundless treasure. Trust me. I spent it all, already. Really, I did." He shook his head, more insistently, his eyes looking past the slaver. "I really think you should let me go, and we'll just forget this whole. Thing. Happened. This isn't the opportune moment."

The slaver narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "What you on about?"

"Captain!"

There was a gunshot, and the old slaver threw himself to the ground, covering his head with his scarred hands. His toady continued to fire shots over the slaver's head. The crowd in the tavern peeled away, giving the slaver and his crew plenty of room. Jack struggled with his bonds, continuing to shake his head and wince up into the roof of the tavern.

"What in the blazes joo do that for!" The slaver stood and whacked the toady across the head. "Joo tryin' ta kill me!"

"Summat's watchin' us." The toady whined in his nasal voice. "Summat in the rafters."

"There's a wraith in the rafters…" A voice whispered, followed by a soft feminine laugh. The toady fired again and again at the roof of the tavern.

"Tis a cursed place!" One of the slaver's crew muttered. "I've 'eard the stories of the Grey Ghost. It is 'aunted this place for more'n ten years, I've 'eard."

"The Grey Lady." Another crew member reaffirms. "And there's been aught but bad business 'ere ever since."

Jack blinks, smiling innocently. "Well, look, this is all fascinating and everything, but I really ought to be on my way, so if you'll excuse me…" He rose to his feet, still bound, still with swords and guns trained on him.

The slaver glowered. "You ain't going anywhere, Sparrah. Not till we get directions to the Isla de Muerta. Give us it now, Sparrah, or you're a dead man!"

"'Ow's that for an 'opportune moment', Sparrow?" The toady snickered.

"Shuddap." The slaver glared. The toady fell silent.

"I say we kill 'im now." One crewmember muttered. "So's we can be outta this accursed place."

Someone cleared their throat, loudly, so as to be heard over the drunken-revelry-noise of the tavern. "Pardon me, good sirs…"

The slaver turned. "Whaddya want…" He blinked. "Missy?"

The woman smiled without showing teeth. "I couldn't help but notice that…" She jerked her thumb in Jack's direction. "That's Captain Jack Sparrow."

The slaver narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Aye. What ye ken?"

The woman continued to smile. "Are you a gambling man, good sir?"

The slaver bared his rotten teeth in a wide grin. "I consider meself one o' the best, wench!"

A faint flicker of irritation crossed the woman's face, but was gone in an instant. "Then how about a little wager between us." She pointed at the trussed-up pirate. "His life, or the location of the treasure of Isla de Muerta."

For a moment, the slaver stared at the woman, then he turned to stare at Jack. The famous Captain Jack Sparrow was staring at the woman, his face an expression of despair.

"I told you not to do anything stupid!" He groaned. The woman smiled triumphantly.

"Do we have a deal, good sir?" She raised an eyebrow at the slaver. The man grinned again, then held out his hand to shake. The woman took it gingerly.

"Deal." The old slaver grinned. The woman continued to smile. Jack hung his head, muttering under his breath. A few moments later, a game was underway.

"What's your reason for wanting to gamble Sparrah away, Missy?" The slaver asked as the dice are prepared. The woman's face is cold now, the smile long gone from it.

"My reasons are my own." She met the slaver's eyes, and the game began.

The rowboat draws alongside the pirate vessel, and two ropes are thrown down. Squirrel uses one to tie the boat to the ship, while Ana climbs the second onto the deck.

"An interesting name for the ship, Captain." Squirrel hears Ana say dryly. "Salted Slaver? Very original. Where, I wonder, did you get the inspiration?" Squirrel clambers up the rope and onto the deck of the Salted Slaver - the ship of the enemy.

There is no reply to Ana's taunt. Squirrel casts her eyes over every one of the men on deck. Which one's the captain? Which one is from Anamaria's past? Squirrel lets her eyes narrow. Which one kidnapped Jack?

A figure paces towards the pair of women, smiling widely. "Bitter as always, Anamaria. It's not good for one's complexion to scowl, you know. Causes wrinkles."

Squirrel cannot help but stare. This pirate's a woman? A female pirate? A female captain?

"To those who may not know me," The woman bows dramatically in Squirrel's direction, "I'm Captain Ella Reid. Captain of the Salted Slaver." Ella straightens up, gold hoop earrings catching the sun and glinting. "How can I be of service?"

"Where the hell is Jack?" Ana barks, drawing her pistol. "What have ye done to him?"

Ella holds up her hands defensively as her crewmen snicker. "Temper, temper, Miss Maria. But don't worry; Sparrow's fine. But you won't be rescuing him today, my dear." The woman's expression sobers slightly. "He's staying here for a few more days. I was sure you'd understand."

Squirrel clenches her fists behind her cloak. She remembers Anamaria's instructions. Don't speak. Don't let their captain see your face. Don't trust them.

"Oh really?" Ana's voice takes on a silky quality. "And why would you think that?"

"I don't believe I've met your friend, Anamaria." Ella says, smiling warmly again. "Who is this, hiding under a cloak in the noonday sun? Hmm?" Ella takes a step towards Squirrel. "What's your name, cloaked one?"

Squirrel takes a slight step back. Ana loads her pistol and holds it in Ella's face. "Jack. Where. Is. He."

"Put it down, Ana." A shaky voice rasps. Squirrel's eyes widen, and she gasps. Jack saunters across the deck. Ana lowers her pistol, clearly relieved.

"There, see?" Ella tucks a braid behind her ear. "He's fine. Happy now, Anamaria?"

Jack forces a brave smile. "Captain Ella and I have an agreement. In two days, I'll be back on the Pearl. I swear." He tries to meet Squirrel's eyes, but her face is shadowed by her hood. "Don't worry about me. Ole Jack's fine."

Squirrel frowns. Something's not right. Jack's not like this. His mouth says one thing and his eyes say another. He's hiding something. Ana frowns as well, clearing thinking the same thoughts.

"With all due respect to this scarlet wench," Ana gestures her pistols towards Ella, who smiles, "We can't let you stay aboard this wreck for another moment, Captain." Ana sets her jaw. "The Pearl can't sail without you." She shrugs, feigning nonchalance. "Who would we take orders from?"

Jack grins, but waves a hand. "You want orders? Here're your orders: go back to Tortuga and wait a day or two. I'll meet you there quick as ye ken. Savvy?"

Squirrel can't help herself. She steps forward until only Jack can see her face, and whispers fiercely at him. "You're hiding something, Jack. I'm a pirate now, and pirates don't like secrets."

Jack blinks, seeing the tears in her eyes. He puts a gentle hand on her shoulder. "It'll only be two days, luv." He whispers back. "Then we can continue on our merry way." He tries to smile, but the look on Squirrel's face stops him.

Ella tilts her head on one side, considering the situation. She matches Ana's fierce gaze, then looks at Jack and the cloaked figure as they whisper to each other. Suddenly, the woman captain claps her hands.

"On deck, you limey dogs!" She yells cheerfully at her crew. "We don't have all day! To yer chores, you lily-livered louts!" Ella's crew amble away, still smiling at a private joke. The woman captain turns to face Jack, her braids swinging and her earrings glinting.

"It seems to me," she says with a curious smile, "That we need to come to an agreement." She bows ironically towards Ana, and then to Squirrel. "As guests aboard my ship, I will extend my hospitality. Come below, and let's discuss your terms… Shall we?"

As Ella straightens up, she smiles slyly at Squirrel. "… Ladies?"

A/N: Ooh, she's a smart one, she is...