The Lost Ingots of Tagus

by Aldesina

Chapter 12 Commodore Norrington, may I introduce Diablo

Disclaimer.....As you are probably all very well aware, I do not own anything, if I did I would be rolling in it, since I am not, and I do NOT own the story I am poor, and can only write fanfiction about it. Ah sigh, oh well, on with the story

Aboard the Interceptor

Commodore Norrington stood upon the deck staring off into the general direction of where Tortuga lay. He was vaguely disappointed that the pirates did not show up at dawn as predicted. It would have been the best time to slip away unnoticed; perhaps he was over estimating them. He shook his head, highly doubtful. If anything he was underestimating them, and that could become dangerous. Thoughts that this might have just been a trap sprung once again to his mind. He had vaguely considered just capturing the pirate and going back to Port Royal, but then the subject of the governor's daughter and her fiancé would come to play. He was still expected to bring them back after all. Norrington snorted, since the whole Jack Sparrow incident he had become friends with the two and had come to the conclusion that if anything they would think of the pirate trip as some sort of prelude to their honeymoon. Especially since they were rampaging around with William Turner Sr. Sparrow's claim had sent his mind reeling, he still remembered bringing the young Turner aboard the ship when he had first made his way over to the Caribbean. Norrington shook thoughts of the Turners out of his mind, right now he had other things to think about. If that blasted Sparrow wasn't going to hold up his end of the bargain he would have to make plans to go into Tortuga himself.

"Excuse me sir, I would hate to intrude but I thought they were supposed to show up around dawn?" Norrington turned around to see Gillette approaching him with a quick salute. Indeed they were supposed to. That in addition to the fact that Gillette had asked this just a mere thirty minutes ago was beginning to grate on Norrington's nerves. The plans to go into Tortuga himself became more appealing by the minute.

"A miscalculation on my part" Norrington said absently as he stared out toward Tortuga. He completely missed the look of shock Groves gave when he walked over just in time to hear this claim. Groves and Gillette exchanged looks.

"Dear God, somebody grab some smelling salts I think I'm getting faint! Begging your permission to do so first of course sir" Norrington glanced at a comically saluting Groves as Gillette choked and tried not to grin at Groves, who had a hand to his head in mock distress. Norrington was most grateful that most of the crew was somewhere other then on the bridge now. He eyed his second lieutenant thinking about how easy it would be to shove him over board right about now.

"Lieutenant may I remind you of your manners and what in God's name are you talking about."

"The Iron Clad Hand of Norrington, or mouth of Norrington, sir, if you'd permit me some humor, has actually admitted to a miscalculation, a mistake, an error. Dear Lord!" Groves was in a particularly whimsical mood this morning, especially after practically getting told to shut up by Norrington last night. Gillette choked and looked faintly indignant about the comment but the edges of his mouth were upturned. He knew that Groves was only doing it to lighten the mood, although he was a bit surprised that he was misbehaving out in public. Perhaps he was more apprehensive about meeting that pirate then he showed. After all, Groves did face Diablo in a fight once, and so did Norrington. Gillette had been the only one out of the three that didn't battle Diablo personally. Perhaps he should try and help his comrade lighten the mood?

"Yes I think we might have to re-look over our entire outlook on life, it's just been shattered." Gillette added. Norrington rolled his eyes. He blamed his lack of sleep, he blamed the lack of other people around, and in general, he blamed himself for actually following that blasted pirate around. Diablo to him was another goal, another chase. Norrington had vowed to rid the Caribbean of pirates, and he was merely another one.

"Get your digs while you can gentlemen, but I suggest that you get it out of your systems and out of your minds when that pirate shows up." Norrington glanced at his two smirking first and second officers. "I'm surprised I even had to remind you about correct protocol" This launched both Gillette and Groves into chuckles again. Yes they both knew well that it would be a very trying for the next few weeks. The fact that he was going to come aboard their ship was simply preposterous. The pirates were practically giving them the upper hand.

Suddenly Gillette and Groves stopped chuckling. Norrington turned away from them and turned his view back toward Tortuga.

"Sir?" Gillette was looking over him with concern.

"Yes?" He was already raising his telescope and sighting the waters ahead of him.

"I think that's Sparrow rowing toward us with a girl sitting across from him."

"Are you sure it isn't merely a boy in disguise?" Norrington turned toward where Gillette was looking.

"Well if it is a he that's the smoothest face I've ever seen on a man." Groves remarked. Norrington lowered his telescope to look at Groves who gave him a sheepish look.

"Well it is.......sir!"

"What the hell has Bootstrap been drinking?" Jack was rowing the boat and reeling from Bootstrap's last words to Diablo. Norrington and Diablo dear god, it sounded like a bad romance story that an air headed French woman would come up with. Jack's mind drifted pleasantly over to Nadine; that sexy French whore back on the shores of Tortuga, perhaps he would have time to visit her before they had to ship off.

"Whatever do you mean?" The girl seemed to be staring off into space in the general direction of Gongolan Island. Jack peered at her through the corner of his eye.

"Surrogate son in law?" Please, she couldn't have missed that. She didn't miss much of anything else.

"Ah that" She turned back to Jack. "Bootstrap's got this sick idea in his head that I should get married to some hoity toity British boy, he thinks the Commodore will suit me just fine." She cocked her head to the side. "Well actually I don't think it had to be some British guy, or anyone hoity toity for that matter, he just likes the idea of marriage a lot." Jack shook his head, maybe all that time wandering around the ocean floor really did get to the man. Jack was still weary of Diablo, he figured she wasn't a mutineer, but he didn't figure she would be a fool either.

"Besides why else do you think he crashed Jr's wedding."

Jack chuckled at that comment, Junior, ha.

"You still don't trust me do you?"

"The story lass, is just a bit inconceivable don'tcha think?"

"You mean like dead skeletal pirates and the fastest ship in the world with nothing but raggedy hole ridden sails?" Diablo turned her head away from Gongolan for a moment to stare at Jack. "I swear Jack, from what I've heard, those sails didn't have enough material stretched across them to fashion a loincloth, much less catch the winds."

"It's not the sails missy, it's the construction of her, and she's a real beauty."

"Yes, the poor girl has to resign to second place now won't she?" Jack growled and mumbled something about stupid Will and a lack of a stupid bottle of rum. Diablo made a mental note to thank Will for keeping Jack sober on their trip to The Interceptor. It wouldn't have done either of them any good to have Jack bumbling around deck of the British ship.

"You know, I don't think they've spotted us yet, and I think we should keep it that way." Jack said.

"Is that right?"

"Well I wouldn't have said it if it weren't"

"Oh so you're the master of truth."

"I thought we were over the hatred thing."

"That's why you're not swimming to Gongolan." Jack kinda just looked at the girl sitting across from him and furrowed his brows in confusion.

"Shouldn't I be the one getting prissy? It's my baby that's been insulted."

"You spawned something?"

"The Pearl"

"Your baby?"

"Well isn't The Dragoness yours?"

"No."

Jack looked at her sharply. "Huh?"

"She's Bootstrap Bill's; you and I both know that." Diablo turned her head back towards Gongolan. That startled Jack a bit, the nonchalance of her answer, he was well aware of Bootstrap's plans to hand over the boat to Diablo as soon as they got their big payoff.

"That's not usually how a pirate responds to getting a ship of their very own." Diablo twisted her lips in what might have been a grin minus the sarcastic expression on her face.

"I'm actually more of an assassin, ships take too much effort to maintain, and they aren't exactly easy to conceal."

"Now shut that trap missy, or I'm gonna get real offended here." Jack grabbed his heart in utter horror. Diablo thanked the Gods above that the oars were tied onto the rowboat.

"Do you know what exactly a ship is?"

"Let me guess, it's a couple of dead trees, some rubber and a bunch of stolen canvas from some absentee artist's studio?" Jack blinked at her, how did Bootstrap manage not to throttle the girl? Bootstrap was probably the only person that loved sailing as much as Jack himself did, well, not as much, Jack remedied to himself, nobody loves sailing as much as the Great Captain Jack Sparrow. He shook himself.

"How does a girl with such distaste in sailing end up on a ship?" It was Diablo's turn to look at Jack incredulously.

"What ever gave you the idea that I didn't like the sea?" Jack snorted.

"Here let me remind you" Jack pitched his voice up high and as satirical

"It's a couple of dead trees, some rubber and a bunch of stolen canvas from some absentee artist's studio"

"Well are you saying you actually paid the artist for the canvas?" Diablo raised an eyebrow at Jack. "are you trying to tell me that you actually pay for anything?"

Jack just frowned at her.

"I think they've spotted us." Jack said suddenly.

"You still haven't answered my question."

"That's not the point, Norrington spotted us." Diablo rolled her eyes at Jack

"You might as well keep rowing, Norrington actually spotted us a good 10 minutes ago, his men just started spotting us now."

"Blah missy, that makes no sense, why wouldn't he alert his crew members of our presence?"

"Because that way he can watch us."

"Commodore! Commodore Sir!" All three officers turned to see Private Murtogg come running toward them. "We've sighted the row boat sirs!" Murtogg came to a hasty stop in front of them, "There's two people in it. One of them's that blasted Sparrow, the other one's a woman."

"Calm yourself Mr. Murtogg, we've already spotted them, they'll going rather slowly, even for a rowboat."

"Perhaps it's not whom we've been waiting for." Mullroy suggested as he came up behind Murtogg and saluted the three officers. "I think that Sparrow actually has a woman with him, sir."

"Yes we're well aware of that." Norrington replied rather testily.

"Well then how come...."

"For heaven's sake man don't you have something better to do then question your commanding officer?" Gillette cut in.

"Sorry sirs, just wondering." Mullroy and Murtogg dashed off to prepare for the pirates' arrival.

"Why didn't we alert the crew again sir?" Groves asked.

"So we could watch them."

"Excuse me?"

"That girl that's with him has been watching us longer then we've looked for them." Norrington stared out at the faces that were now less then 50 yards away. They had stopped moving for awhile.

"Gillette, if they don't start moving within the next five minutes send two boats after them." Gillette saluted and went off.

"Well there goes the bloody element of surprise." Jack threw his hands up in the air exasperated.

"We never got it in the first place, now kindly stop fretting like an old maid and start rowing will you, I want to get there before sundown."

"Missy if you..."

"I think they might start launching their own rowboats." Diablo cut in suddenly.

"What?"

"I said they're starting to launch their own rowboats." Jack peered over to the British ship and watched as several of the men started to make their way toward the rowboats. "I don't like the look of this." Jack said, eyes narrowing.

"Apparently you aren't the only one."

"Hmmm, you know it is of my opinion that we start rowing our way back to Tortuga and just rid ourselves of this plan."

"Not your call."

"Bloody hell missy, this is not one of your sick games."

"Just row." Jack harrumphed

"It's your ass on the line girly."

"And what a fun place for it to be."

"They've started moving again sir." Groves looked over from his telescope, "It seems that Sparrow is doing all of the rowing. At that pace they'll be here within the next 15 minutes."

"It's amazing that Sparrow's doing all the work, that girl must have some kinda hold over him." Groves commented.

"She's rather persuasive when she wants to be it seems." Norrington started to make his way down away from the bridge. "Gentlemen ready your positions, we have company, make them feel welcome."

"Sir!"

Diablo sat in the steadily bobbing boat as Jack rowed her over to the ship. They were now only ten yards away. The second they started moving again the navy men moved away from the row boats. Diablo looked toward Jack who was sulkily staring at the approaching navy ship with distaste. She sighted with her telescope upon the shores of Gongolan Island. It seemed that everything was in order. They were now a mere 5 yards away.

"What we have to do right now is plan out how we're gonna stop that blasted Commodore from ignoring us and throwing us straight into the brig"

"They won't throw you in the brig, they'll throw me in." Diablo turned back over to Jack and pulled a pistol on him.

"What the...."

"Shut up and listen, Rubens is waiting for you on Gongolan Island. I'll hit you on the head with my pistol and you'll sink underwater and swim to your left."

Jack stared at her, both hands up, eyes wandering around drunkenly, he was processing what she was saying, if he didn't get out now he would not be able to get back to Pearl today, he wondered if Bootstrap came up with this or if Diablo thought of it.

"Don't speak, because I not sure if one of the navies could read lips, if you're ready to go blink." Jack blinked.

"Good," Diablo smiled, flipped her pistol around and whipped the side of Jack's face knocking his face to one side. Before Jack could snap his head back to her, Diablo grabbed him by his sash and hauled him overboard watching him as he sunk into the water. When she was sure he was completely out of sight she turned her face back toward The Interceptor. Her little stunt had caught their attention and once again soldiers were getting into the rowboats and rowing her way.

Showtime.

Aboard The Interceptor

"Sir!" Norrington turned back to Gillette after he watched the girl shove Sparrow out of the boat.

"Yes I saw what she did." Norrington interrupted before Gillette could say.

"We're sending boats out to capture her now." Gillette said. "Groves went out with them." Norrington turned to watch four boats go out. All his men were on the defensive, two rifles at the head of each and they were all pointed at that girl. Norrington looked down following the line of fire and met the girl's eyes. She was less then five yards away from the ship and even closer to the row boats yet she didn't even seem to notice them. She stared straight up and back at him.

"Madam keep your hands in sight and no one will shoot." Groves had already reached Diablo's boat and was trying to find the most cautious way to approach her without initiating any violence. He had two men at his back with rifles pointed, and he himself had a sword pointed at her. "Madam my name is Lt. Groves of her majesty's royal navy."

"I know who you are...." Diablo's eyes moved away from Norrington's to meet Groves, "You're quite handy with that sword."

"Hands where I can see them madam."

"As you wish." Diablo's hands left her sides she presented them outwards turning her palms upwards.

"Kindly step out of your boat and into ours please, hands where we can see them."

"Then how am I supposed to move my trunk?" Diablo asked him. She accessed the young officer, he seems vaguely intelligent, polite and dull just like every other aspiring naval officer. The way he held himself made her think he was from a simple background. His family probably wasn't overly wealthy and he was probably a second son so he was perfectly comfortable taking orders, but could he give them and actually think on his own? She remembered him from the Turner's wedding day. Perhaps it would be fun to test him. Her eyes roved from left to right, the remaining three rowboats that came out with him had already surrounded her.

"One of the men will bring it on the ship for you." Diablo grinned inwardly at this, the chances of her actually seeing her trunk aboard The Dauntless was very slim right now. If anything they'll ransack it for her weapons and then toss the rest of it overboard.

"Not that I have no confidence in your word or anything but what guarantee do I have that my truck will make it onto your ship safely?"

"And what guarantee do I have that you won't start another killing spree if I don't watch you." Oh good he can think for himself.

"Do you think you can stop me if I wanted to start a killing spree as you so delicately put it?"

"I would like to remind you that unlike the last time we met, you're the one who's surrounded now."

"And your point is?"

"Just kindly step into this boat, and keep your hands in sight." Groves was getting irritated. He did not enjoy making deals with pirates. She didn't even look like one. He wasn't sure what the hell she looked like.

"My trunk Lieutenant," Diablo pressed, "I thought you British men prided yourself on good manners."

"Madam step into this boat now and I will personally guarantee that your trunk will get onto the ship safely."

"A personal guarantee, my, my, my." The right side of Diablo's lips turned up. "Well then, I'll hold you to your pledge." She held out her right hand to him daring him to take it.

"Will you not assist me out of this vessel?"

"I hardly believe that you aren't able to step out yourself madam." Smart move, Diablo's eyes narrowed. She had had a slim blade hidden between the fingers of her right hand. She kept her eyes on him and slowly maneuvered her way into Groves's rowboat.

"Sit down please madam and thread your fingers in front of you, lay them in your lap and keep them in sight." Diablo did as she was told. Things were just about to get interesting.

"Jackson, Demare, grab her truck and haul it into your boat." Groves kept an eye on her as he said this.

"Sir!" Diablo watched as her truck was carefully loaded into one of the other rowboats. His word means something to him, that was rare, it seemed that the commodore knew how to pick his men.

"Are you satisfied?"

"Yes" Diablo said absently, she looked at Groves straight in the eye, "Since you kept your word and got me my truck, I promise to not cause any ruckus until we get to the ship."

Groves merely nodded at her.

"Back to the ship men" Groves motioned to the other boats to move out. He didn't once take his eyes off of the girl. He kept his eyes on her the entire time back to the ship.

Commodore Norrington watched as Groves led Diablo onto the ship with ten men behind them, each with their rifles pointed at the mysterious girl. She was met with ten more men in the same pose. The girl paid them no attention what so ever, instead choosing to look straight at him. He stared straight back at her and her eyes followed his every step over to him.

"So you are the girl that claims to be Diablo."

"And you're Commodore Norrington, I must say this meeting was long time coming."

"Indeed." Norrington stepped back signaling Gillette and Groves to step in. Gillette snapped shackles on her wrists and Groves put shackles on her ankles.

"Welcome aboard The Interceptor assassin. I hope you enjoy your stay because this will be the last ship you will sail on. The second that we make berth at a British harbor I will be more then happy to sign your death warrant." Norrington said coldly.

"Ah well I suppose my story did not convince you after all."

"It wouldn't convince a fool."

"And what of the dear Turners?"

"From what's been revealed the Turners are having a jolly time sailing the high seas with Will's father."

"And you believe that but you don't believe that I might be in distress?"

"Madam, I believe you to be in as much distress as a black widow spider is in when devouring her prey." Norrington scoffed.

"Well I've always been partial to red and black." Diablo replied lazily. Norrington merely motioned with his hand again.

"Lock her in the brig gentlemen."

"Pity," Diablo merely shrugged as she allowed herself to be lead away. "Unlike Elizabeth I can't get myself where I want to be by asking for a wedding gift."

"And where do you want to be, you insufferable harlot." Gillette asked walking behind her and ten other armed soldiers.

"Why in your beloved Commodore's bed of course. Where else would any woman want to be?"

Author's Note: Wow it's been quite a while since I actually had time to update. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and now that Diablo's aboard.........Let the games begin.

Author's Edit: As much as I like Fanfiction's improvemnets I just found out that I have to re-edit quite a few of my stories because the formating changed. Oh well.