disclaimer: Well after all these chapters I might as well write one - The Oracle and her crew with the exception of Ana-Maria belong to me, so does Caleb, Arthur Arlington and Anthony Roivas. Sadly the enigmatic Jack Sparrow and the Black Pearl do not, I have a few more chapters till it's finished I am planning a sequel - all reviews are welcome.

Ana Maria's squeezed her hands tightly around the reigns knowing that one more bump to the wagon and the wheels would smash to pieces. Praying hard as the horses hurtled down the hillside, she had to be ready of the right moment to press herself against her seat in case she tumbled off when the cart rattled a little too wildly. But throughout that hazardous journey all she could focus on was the aftermath of a plan gone wrong, oh she had the materials needed but she lost her captain in the process – It annoyed her how the world was full of such cruel compromise. In the distance Ana-Maria could see the towering mast of a ship she exhaled loudly and pulled up the stirrups until the horses slowed down. Calling out over the clatter of hooves she pleaded for The Oracle's Quartermaster to ease the burden of partial failure and overwhelming guilt.

"Laurie, Laurie where are you? I took the supplies set the men to work we've got no time-" The Jamaican bellowed throwing down the reigns she jumped clear from the wagon and immediately retrieved the timber. It was only after dragging the wood a few inches that she had looked up to see the mast of the Black Pearl and not The Oracle that stretched into the sky

"…No time to lose...Jack?" She whispered softly, awestruck by a sight so unexpected and a stroke of luck that she almost thanked the heavens for the name almost stuck in her throat but her euphoria was so strong she soon had a voice again.

"Jack! CAPTAIN JACK SPARROW!" She yelled, running recklessly down the slope and jumping onto the beach: Racing back to the rocks that had given The Oracle the gaping wound in her hull, she smiled gleefully as Jack appeared from Ruby-Rose's cabin and climbed down to meet her.

"Laurie said you left in the early morning where on Earth have you been all day?" Jack scolded

"We have hit a bit of an obstacle, you are not going to like any of it"

"Yes the ship is in a bit of a mess my father is not a happy man he expected better from Ruby...Where is Ruby-Rose?" He slurred mockingly then when he realised the crimson-clothed pirate was nowhere to be seen, fear was starting to gnaw at his stomach.

"That's the obstacle, she's been captured"

Quartermaster Thomas Laurie joined Jack on the beach with Caleb Sparrow not too far behind, both men wanted to assist in whatever problem was at hand. Neither one saw the look of shame and grave concern in Jack's face, as the three men waited for answers Ana Maria took a deep breath and began to paint the picture of her busy morning. When she was done the air of disapproval and despair was profound, they all clambered back up on deck in silence.

"The reason why I released you from my service was to keep an eye on her, which part of that request was difficult to obey?"

"I owe you nothing Jack Sparrow, if I am not mistaken you still owe me a ship" She retorted furiously

Jack regally stepped back and fourth along the poop deck trying to dissuade his temper from making an ill-timed appearance but it was no use: Images of the floating debris lingered in his thoughts. For one dreadful moment he thought he had lost Ruby-Rose for good and even if there was a way out for them the Spanish retribution for their sunken flagship would be brutal.

"Did I teach you anything! Ambition and stupidity are two very different things but I never dreamed Ruby-Rose would fuse them together So, So…" Jack exploded; his braided hair jolting forward with every ferocious word.

"..Stupidly?" The West-Indian mumbled

"YES!"

Caleb Sparrow lifted his hand against his son's chest and gently pushed him away so he could voice his own opinion on the matter.

"Where is she Ana-Maria?"

"Probably in the stocks by now, I am sorry Caleb but she is my Captain as well as my friend and she is capable of being the best in her profession. She is too fond of a challenge reminds me of another captain I used to serve" She explained, making sure her disdain for Jack's behaviour was heard.

"Alright so she's been imprisoned, this is Colon right? Two barracks in a small town like this is nothing to fret about"

There's something else the only way to get the supplies was to steal them or use some contacts" Ana-Maria mumbled quietly

"Like who?"

"Like a certain lieutenant Ruby-Rose used to know, she didn't want to see him but we had little choice"

"For a supposedly legendary pirate Ruby-Rose has quite meagre decisiveness"

"Quiet Jack, so Anthony Roivas became an officer of the King after all, why I am not surprised that he is the one to betray her"

Jack childishly rolled his eyes and gestured Joshamee Gibbs to follow him to the mess hall where they proceeded to raid the place for alcohol, namely rum.

"Foolish girl, using her heart instead of her head and people call her a legend?" Jack scoffed while checking bottle labels and sniffing the neck before throwing them on the floor.

"Jack it's bad luck to waste such refinery, there's no reason to discard the champagne like that" Gibbs' eyes widened as he studied the few bottles that had not been smashed.

"Proof not to take everything at face-value Mister Gibbs; Champagne is an overrated beverage; I want my rum, I need my rum" Jack replied gloomily

"Jealously befalls the best of people Captain, you are no less of a man for feeling it" He said softly, unsure of what his captain's reaction would be but he knew he was in the right regardless of where Jack Sparrow would admit it or not.

"Ah there it is, now I can have some of this and think of the ways I will thrash Poseidon's sacred flower" Jack said through gritted teeth as he walked back outside, slumped on the steps and drank his fill.

"…It gets worse"

"How do you figure that then?" Jack teased patronisingly

"Roivas was not the one that ordered Ruby-Rose's imprisonment, all he did was stand by and watch"

"Then who made the order?" Caleb murmured

Ana-Maria stood motionlessly frozen to the spot; she knew what was coming; the fury, the wrath the rage Hell was about to break loose and there was no stopping it.

"Who made the order Ana-Maria?" Jack interrupted as he stumbled from the steps and fell against his father.

"Arlington, Lord Arthur Arlington he's the British consulate of Panama if you can believe it"

"Oh…Oh I believe it, the man is a master of deception but to make an ambassador – Does he know her true identity yet?"

"I hope not Sir but I, I shamefully left her to her fate…She ordered me to prepare for our getaway but something must have happened" Ana-Maria stammered, her face finally crumpling with emotion as the day's event took their toll on her.

"You are not to blame young miss, go below and have some rest we will think of something don't fret" Caleb reassured the young woman, patting her hand like the considerate old gentleman that he was.

Caleb dashed up the stairs and confidently laid his arm against The Oracle's wheel reclaiming his ship one last time, the crews of the Black Pearl and The Oracle stood to attention.

"Listen up you dogs, this ship is temporarily under new management; whatever my daughter tolerated from you scoundrels will not be tolerated by me. There I work to be done – Timbers welded, damages repaired, decks swabbed. For this is the only time that the code will be ignored JUMP TO IT!"

"And why should we listen to an old croak like you?" The troublesome Beckett taunted, it was obvious Ruby-Rose had selected him for brawn more than anything: Constantly making trouble for everyone, Caleb wondered to himself that if he ever had the time afterward he would force the bully to walk the plank.

Jack Sparrow intervened and confidently sized up to the brute who had insulted his father, he did not brandish his pistol but he made sure that the coxswain knew it was there. Lowering his eyes to Jack's waist the unpopular crew member back on as the pistol's silver barrel glimmered in the late afternoon sun.

"…It's because mate he's Caleb Sparrow, Savvy?"

'Bruiser' Beckett towered over Jack and huffed at the man's poise, but thought it wise to disengage in the confrontation at least for now. For he had absolutely no desire to be lumbered in a town that was probably aware of the crew's presence by now, no thanks to his wayward captain.

Gathering his pistols and banyan coat, Jack Sparrow began selecting the motley crew that would assist in the prison break; his loyal first officer, The Oracle's dutiful Quartermaster, Ana-Maria Varens and Ben Crawley; Jack was a little anxious over his last choice as he seemed young and a little too pure for the ultimate task of law-breaking. After a passionate plea in his own defence young Ben told all about the adventures that he had experienced since he was recruited. Jack Sparrow listened with his usual flux of impatience before waving his arms wildly for the boy to stop.

"You've made your point lad! Good God, you do realise we'll be springing someone out of jail? – Too much talk only tightens the noose Savvy?" Jack chastised, the boy sheepishly nodded Jack patted him on the back to show no hard feelings.

The group headed off with Caleb Sparrow looking on worriedly as crew dashed up and down the two ships: Setting up the welders, hot coals, timber, tools Bruiser Beckett crawled into the corner of The Oracle's bowls and started work.

Meanwhile Ruby-Rose who was now incarcerated in irons within the four walls of a grimy cell preoccupied herself by dwelling in a wildly imaginative fantasy. Spending what seemed like hours on envisioning her late father's looks and manner – Was he a rogue or a fop, a man of the people or ridiculed like the rest of them, the wonderful element of escapism was more than enough to calm her nerves for what would occur in the morning.

'Brogan Fletcher…' She mused to herself before lying back on the bed with her shackled hands resting on her stomach.

She was about to drift off to sleep when the loud crack of a bolt being lifted roused her, the slow creaking of the cell door made her look up to find two sneering guardsmen drag her out of bed, out of the prison and out into the sanded courtyard. She protested a little but realised it was quite pointless as the men had literally carried her under the arms with her legs kicking the air. With a huge grunt they threw her to the floor, the pirate princess landed on her side and a puff of sand and dirt floated around her.

"You are Ruby-Rose Sparrow are you not? SPEAK CHILD!" said a haughty gentleman that seemed to be a Lord Justice.

"The question is rather wasted sir, it has been answered and scrutinised with for a good part of the day…I am Ruby-Rose Sparrow, yes"

"Well if you live as one you will be marked as one…foreman if you please"

For some reason the young captain had been rather complacent and timid in coming to terms with her predicament but that was the statement that woke her up, now that she was awake she would fight with everything she had. Struggling with the guards she punched and kicked furiously before her body was slammed against a platform, once the shackles came off a rope was tied around her arm. Try as she might she could not budge, with her face drenched with panic-stricken sweat she looked around to gain some insight into a terrifying mystery at why she was there. The chief Justice with his pompous wig and regal robes stood there, his face did not betray one ounce of emotion oddly enough Ruby-Rose calmed when she spied a figure standing in a corner and knew instantly it was her uncle. Then suddenly the guards stepped back and the young pirate glimpsed at the foreman who had his back to her, a strong smell of sulphur wafted in the twilight. The penny dropped as to what was about to happen to her, inhaling and exhaling manically as the foreman turned around to reveal the sinister glow of a P-shaped poker. She shirked away from the platform praying that some made surge of strength would pull her free – away from the fire. She watched as if disconnected from reality as the burning rod was forced onto her wrist, the daze disappeared and her spirit sank into her body she began screaming.

A shocked gurgle at first then a long wail before finally screaming a petrified, ear-piercing cry that echoed throughout the district. The rope was loosened and the marked Ruby-Rose fell hard to the ground, panting with physical exhaustion she peered between the cracks of her matted hair, her malevolent uncle staring right back.

"Maybe that will teach you for having too much confidence as a trespasser on my property" He chided, kicking the injured arm before walking away.

"You will get yours my dear uncle, that I promise you" Ruby-Rose spluttered, with the irons clamped back around her wrists the disorientated young woman was dragged back to her cell. Once she was left alone she continued to seek comfort from her father's name and image, only this time it was weaker.

"What was that? Sounded like a macaw" Ben Crawley pondered

"I've never known a parrot's call that strong or enduring" Jack said cautiously, the group stopping dead in their tracks as the faint cry shrilled throughout the landscape. Colon was remarkably quiet which made Jack all the more uneasy but he figured that the capital had the lion's share of excitement.

"What are you thinking Jack? You know more than you're letting on I know it" Ana Maria urged impatiently.

Hush now, it's nothing just too many clouded thoughts I have hopefully I'm worrying for no reason" He said softly, not caring how dismally unconvincing his reply was.

"Can you remember where the naval headquarters were?"

The Jamaican nodded and Jack gently pushed her forward to lead the way, the band of pirates crept into the town and made a nervous jog along the empty streets: Avoiding any sort of contact with unwary citizens. Captain Jack Sparrow soon regretted the decision to run as he collided into a couple, he was about to brandish he sword as a tool for the request of silence when his heart sank as the couple's identity was revealed.

"Turner, Will Turner what in blazes are you doing in Panama?"

"I would ask you the same thing Jack, Ana-Maria told us you were in Havana" Will answered as he picked himself off the ground

Jack went quiet but his face said it all and with furrowed brows and displeased eyes turned his head to a squirming Ana-Maria.

"A tad forgetful are we my dear?" He said politely but the girl knew her captain too well, he was gentle but the sarcasm was clear as day.

"Something told me you would not approve but go easy Jack they helped me to escape"

"Helped you but not Ruby-Rose, do you always do things so cockeyed Turner?"

"Is that any way to treat the man who saved you from dangling at the end of a rope?" Elisabeth Swann retorted, Jack growled in frustration knowing that the aristocrat's defiance was strong and true and there was no getting away from it.

"Ignore him Elisabeth he's just upset, Ruby-Rose means a lot to him…she's means a lot to all of us" Ana-Maria soothingly intervened.

Elisabeth caught sight of the awkward sadness in Jack's eyes; she was astounded to discover it was a forlorn look, a look of guilt and deeply-buried passion. With this revelation she decided there and then to add a touch more consideration for the captain's plight, hoping it was as disarming as the emotion that Jack had never intended for her to see.

"Well then there's no time to lose" She said with a touch more sympathy, Jack noticed and Elisabeth knew he noticed but he said nothing.

Creeping along the dank and eerie avenue the group crouched behind a wall and stared at the majestic building that towered above them: Light could be seen from the windows and Jack grew more uncomfortable as he watched the gatekeepers strutting along the railed perimeter. He spied something that clearly was not in sync with the rest of the night patrol, a young officer with his blazer unbuttoned and his wig slanting to the side.

"Something is not quite right here, he's not a guard he is a man of rank so what is he doing there?" Jack grumbled

"Not what I would expect from the British Royal Navy, don't they get collared for letting their conduct slip?" Gibbs analysed, a man that once sailed the sea in a profession that was far more approved than his present occupation.

"That's what I thought, well this is mighty peculiar" Jack conceded

Ana-Maria leaned further into Jack's space to catch a better look at the man that was obstructing their path, scrunching her eyes trying to focus with whatever light was around. Eyes widening she slumped beside her former captain and cursed the fates under her breath, shaking her head vigorously.

"It's Roivas…I never should have left The Oracle today, I should have stayed in bed and slept the whole thing off"

"Oh what a rotten day for coincidences, this is all I need – I sincerely hope that crimson-clothed wench knows what I do for her"

"Do you know that person Captain?" Ben asked puzzled by the stigma a total stranger was being inflicted with.

"Only by reputation; possibly a huge mistake that may or may not lead to an advantage for myself...Nab the blighter!"