Prison. That's where Pearl and Passionate had ended up. Right across the harbor from Kingston, a heavily guarded set of piers. They hadn't been the only ones. Drunk, Ranger had tried to take a man o war, and was easily incapacitated and taken here. Pearl staggered upright, her first concern for her daughter. "Passionate?" She nuzzled her, thankful the two shared the same cell. "I'm okay...what about you?" the frigate asked sadly. "I've been better but I'll live." Pearl reassured her. "How are we going to get out of this? They took our guns and ammo stores." "I don't know. We need time to think, not something that's in huge supply. Hmm, unless..." Pearl looked at Ranger slyly. "You're actually joking." Passionate groaned. "I wish." Pearl sighed. "But do you have a better idea?" "No, I suppose I don't." she sighed.

Ranger probably considered himself the most fortunate ship in the world having two lovely ladies to mate with. Pearl went first but as an older ship, the coupling exhausted her. She leaned heavily against her cell wall, standing guard as Passionate had her turn. It wasn't long before both ships began to feel the results. "Thank God we get pregnant much faster than humans." Passionate sighed. "Indeed." Pearl sighed, relieved that their sentencing had been delayed until after their shiplings were born. Ranger himself was not so lucky.

Both ships advanced well at first but age began to take its toll on the older. And the conditions of the prison weren't helping. Pearl had to spend most days lying down, lacking the strength to move. Her swollen sides the only "healthy" part on her. Passionate tried to help her, but being a first time mother herself, it was difficult. Pearl was aware of this and tried to give advice when she could. Until one night, she cried out in terrible pain as her shiplings succumbed to her stresses. Passionate howled her pain ridden grief. She couldn't believe this. They had resorted to this just to figure out how to escape, and so far, they were no closer to escaping than they were the day they arrived. Pearl pressed her muzzle to her shoulder. "Passionate listen to me. We need to find a way to send word to Prince. We aren't getting free ourselves." "Free and do what? We'll never be free! It's useless!" she sobbed. "Passionate we have to try! I am not going to let you die here!" Pearl growled, thinking hard. Then she had it. Her friend could be fickle and the first time she tried when she got in here failed but Pearl had no choice now. "Campe." She whispered. "Campe help us!" "I shall do my best, Black Pearl." Her soft voice was heard even by Passionate. Passionate just shook her head. There was no way...Campe was good but not against an entire prison full of guards. But the next few days would be even more hellish. Passionate was in a hard labor with the guards and prison doctor helping her. "You're so close Passionate, come on." Pearl pleaded with her daughter. Pearl was shoved against a wall as a loud cry was heard. From the glimpse she got, the small boy was a light frigate, but the British were all too eager to keep him. "Come on, we've got this brat. Leave the bitch to the rats, her suspense is over." a brig growled. The white frigate that had been helping Passionate, the prison doctor, sighed. "She's my patient, I have to help her!" "She's a pirate. Let me remind you that Alex doesn't take kindly to helping pirates. Now follow the orders of the King's ships, HMS Solace!" Solace looked at Passionate one more time, "Do no harm" Sounding in her ears. But it wasn't called the hypocritic oath for no reason. "I'm sorry." She left with the others. Pearl was left to tend to her weakened daughter. "Passi, stay with me. I'll get you out of here." She whispered.

"Coming through!" Came a shout as the wall nearby was blasted through. When the smoke cleared, Pearl brightened. "Jackdaw!" She gasped. "Campe came to get me, I was wondering what had happened! Jesus, what's going on with Passionate?!" he gasped, watching as his sister struggled weakly, breathing hard and clutching at her stomach. "We had to buy ourselves time somehow. I never made it to full term but Passionate… It was a hard labor and they, took her child." Pearl explained, trying to lift and carry her daughter. Passionate moaned in pain, "Mom, please stop...it hurts..." she whimpered. "I have to get you out of here. Come on, ah Jackdaw help me here!" The weak mother begged. "I've got her!" he came alongside the free side. Passionate hissed, "It hurts so much...please stop...stop, please!' "I'm sorry sweetie." Pearl hated hurting her but they had to flee. She whimpered in pain, before she suddenly lurched to lean against a wall. "I can't go on anymore!" "Passie please. I can carry you. Just a little further!" Pearl begged her. "I can't, mom! I'm just...it hurts...I need to rest...get my strength back...so I can see those white beaches of the Pacific...paradise..." "We can't stay here, Passie. Jackdaw help me get her across my deck." "I'm on it." he nodded, coming over to gently haul the weak frigate up on Pearl's deck. Pearl strained to hold her daughter's weight but she managed well enough as they got into the harbor and were able to make some headway. Being carried on her mother's deck did nothing to help Passionate though. "Come on, Campe cleared our path! It's a straight shot to open ocean!" Jackdaw gasped.

Pearl tried to help her daughter as best she could. She made as much headway as possible, searching for a cove to rest in. By the time she found one they were both exhausted. Pearl set her daughter down, alarmed at the sight of blood. Even more surprising was how still and silent she was. She looked asleep. But not even her flanks moved. Pearl nudged her repeatedly. "Passie? Passie talk to me!" She begged her for some sign, anything to tell her she was still alive. Jackdaw watched, not quite comprehending the reality of the situation. How could he even try to? She refused to wake up. She was limp and lifeless... "Passionate please! Passionate, oh just breathe for me I'll do anything! Don't leave me, my beautiful daughter. Please Passionate!" Pearl screamed her grief, holding Passionate as tight as her weakened muscles would let her. Jackdaw didn't do anything but just stare in disbelief. His sister... Pearl was consumed by her grief in that moment. It had been her idea to get pregnant. It was her fault her daughter had suffered and died. If it wasn't for Jackdaw's presence and the knowledge that Prince was also out there somewhere waiting for her, she would've ended her own life then and there.

The sail home was slow and silent, and both vessels were weighed down heavily by their sorrow. Pearl pulled into her fleet's hideout, her head down. The first ship she had to face was Prince. The news nearly broke him. And to top it all off, seeing him so distressed upset little Victory and Catcher something fierce. Pearl couldn't bear it. She disappeared into her berth with her shiplings and refused to speak to anyone. She only allowed Jackdaw and Prince near her. Though there was one visitor she always allowed and now was no exception. In fact, she was welcomed it. Right now, the bottle was her best friend. She showed no hesitation with it. Most days she was so drunk she couldn't even keep her keel. She just lay there on her side with her shiplings crawling over her. Completely reliant on Jackdaw or Prince. Neither son minded caring for their mother but it was difficult, seeing the despair in her eyes. Those once vibrant green orbs had dulled. It was like she had given up.

One day the usual ferry arrived, but sighed, "Before I give you any more drink I need to see some colour." She growled at her weakly, the first sign of life she had shown anyone in several weeks. Refusing food had left her starved and dying. Her black hull was filthy, her silver muzzle stained brown. She was skin and bones and rheumatic fever. Her eyes scanned around her for her sons. Her shiplings had been taken from her to keep them protected which, according to Prince was very unpopular with Victory. Instead she was met with the Skull placed down beside her. Black Bart chuckled. "So this is what you've come down to, Pearl? A shame!" She growled. "You!" She hissed. "What are you doing here?" "Testing your mettle." he grinned, moving away and taking that Skull with him. Her prize... She was too weak to give chase but seeing him had awakened something in her. It was because of Black Bart she and Passionate had been captured. Her death traced back to him. She could not die, not until she had her revenge. She looked up as Prince approached. "I am going to kill him." She rasped. "Kill who?" he tilted his head, looking around as Black Bart slipped out to sea. Pearl shifted her weight against the dock, pulling her head up just enough for him to be able to give her some food. "He killed Passie, Prince. He got us captured and he killed her. Now I'm going to kill him."