A/N: I had fun writing this first chapter, because I used it as foreshadowing of characters we'll meet and things that may happen later on in the series. See if you can identify what I'm talking about.

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Chapter 1

The moonlight reflected flawlessly off of the smooth surface of the cool night ocean. A slight wind ruffled the sails of the Black Pearl as it slowly glided along the sea. The main deck was lighted from the yellow-orange light emanating from the lanterns that sat in iron cradles upon the wooden walls.

Captain Jack Sparrow stood at the rail, gazing silently out into the night with a rotund bottle of rum cupped gingerly in his ring-covered fingers. He brought the bottle back up to his lips for the third time in five minutes and swallowed three huge gulps. Next, he pulled the bottle away and wiped his moist mouth with the back of his left hand. Slightly sighing, Jack resumed his moment of peace.

But the moment soon became interrupted, however, as the sound of feet trudging up stairs caused Jack to turn around with an expression of annoyance plastered across his face. Gibbs soon came into view, rum bottle of his own clutched tightly in his meaty hands. Jack sighed.

"Mr. Gibbs, do you understand the meaning of the phrase 'A moment to myself'?"

"Of course, Cap'n," Gibbs replied. "I just thought I'd join ya'."

"Well, then how can I enjoy a moment of solitude if you're here with me, eh?"

Gibbs shrugged. "Just thought ya' could use someone ta' talk to, that's all."

Jack grinned in his usual manner. "Mr. Gibbs, let me reiterate something. Whenever I'm drinking a bottle of rum by myself, I could do without idle chit chat, savvy?"

"Aye." Gibbs paused. "But I'm afraid that I have some things ta' discuss."

"Do you now?" asked Jack. "Well, why don't you go find somebody else to talk to?"

"I think it'd be better if I discussed it with you."

Jack sighed and placed his rum bottle on the wooden rail. "Very well. What is so terribly important that it calls for my immediate attention?"

Gibbs downed a hefty portion of rum before continuing. "It's just...the crew, me included, think that it's high time we try ta' find an opportunity ta' do some good ol' honest piratin' again."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well, you have ta' admit, it's been awhile since we engaged in good, clean piracy. I believe the whole Bermuda Triangle episode was really the last time we put our talents ta' excellent use."

"Ah, I see. You wish to go after something...shiny, eh?"

"Aye, shiny!"

Jack conspiratorially glanced around the deck, even though there was no one else there. He then pulled Gibbs a step or two closer.

"Alright, listen up. The last time we visited Tortuga, I met up with Smith again."

"Ah, our expert on treasure mythology."

"Yes, and he informed me of a certain artifact of considerable power and value." Jack paused for effect.

"So...do we intend ta' go after this, uh, artifact as you call it?"

"Indeed." Jack's eyes narrowed with interest. "Tell me, Mr. Gibbs, what do you know of the lost empire of Atlantis?"

"Enough."

"Good. Now, onto the more important part of the legend. Have you ever heard of something called the Amulet of Atlantis?"

Gibbs contemplated the title before silently shaking his head.

"Oh, you disappoint me," sighed Jack. "Anyway, legend says that the amulet was the source of power for this once-thriving civilization...and ultimately it's doom. The only structure that remained intact of Atlantis after it was destroyed by the amulet was the stone tower that had the artifact in question embedded in its surface. That same tower still stands proudly atop the remains of the magnificent civilization that was, and in it is the sapphire-blue amulet itself. Savvy?"

"So...how do we find this amulet?"

"I don't know, but we happen to know someone who does...unfortunately."

"Tia Dalma?"

Jack nodded his head.

"Then we should make a headin' for her shack."

Jack raised a finger. "Not so fast, mate. It seems we're running low on supplies, so we need to make port with the nearest town."

"Which is?"

"Port Royal," Jack grinned.

"Where our two friends Will and Elizabeth are living happily with their son." Gibbs gave Jack a knowing look. Jack instantly caught it's meaning.

"Now, hold on! Why would I involve them with this? It's been six years since we last saw them. And they themselves said that they were done with swashbuckling."

Gibbs snorted. "Like the rest of us pirates."

Jack glanced at him in confusion. "Beg pardon?"

"Like you haven't noticed? All the port tariffs and East India Trading Company ships patrolling the seas, arresting every pirate who refuses ta' become a privateer in the employ of England?"

"Ah, yes. As if we could be easily persuaded into tarnishing the pirate name. It is bad, though. Bad for every mother's son that calls himself 'pirate'."

"There are even rumors that piracy itself will eventually die out as the East India Company will gradually accomplish their mission."

"I wouldn't believe one word of it, mate. After all, if piracy dies out, what do men like me have left to live for? By the way, is the East India Company hunting down any specific pirates?"

Gibbs nodded. "I saw some posters and talked with some people back in Tortuga. They're especially after you..."

"Big surprise," murmured Jack.

"Oh, and the Company is also trying to track down Jack Rackham, along with his two lady crewmates: Anne Bonney and Mary Read. Word is that the two women have separated for a while, with Read searching for a former crewmate of hers that doublecrossed her and her associates before Read came under Rackham's command. I heard the person Read is hunting is a woman pirate as well, and a very elusive one at that. And apparently this woman Read and her crewmates are chasing is currently searching for a child she abandoned long ago."

"Well, I haven't crossed paths with Read, but knowing her reputation, anyone who tries to impede her progress will suffer harsh consequences. I have met Bonney, though. But over the years, we've sort of developed a mutual distaste for each other."

"Is she a former love of yours, Cap'n?"

"More like a former flame. She was with me only because she wished to find a treasure I was after once. This was before I was mutinied upon by Barbossa; Anne was in her early years of piracy. In fact, her spirit is quite similar to what young Elizabeth displays. Although, Bonney is considerably more...meaner. You do not want to get on her bad side."

"I'll take your word on that. Ya' think the East India Company will catch her or Read or Rackham, for that matter?"

"Rackham, definitely yes. Bonney and Read, I highly doubt it. One of Anne's scarce good qualities is her ability to elude trouble effectively in instances such as these. And I hate to imagine the torment Read will put a person through if they happen to be an East India Company agent or just someone who crosses her for that matter. Read's short temper and harsh treatment of prisoners, man and woman, is well-known all along the Caribbean." Jack paused. "I wonder who'll be the lucky person to be put in charge of this 'piracy war'."

"I'm not sure, but one thing's for certain. If this agent of the East India Trading Company is anythin' like Lord Cutler Beckett, then it'll bode ill for us all. But I'm curious, what methods of torment does Mary Read use?"

"Unconventional methods, it seems. The crew she commands when not sailing with Rackham transports animals and such to an undisclosed island for payment. This is when they're not blowing ships out of the water," Jack added. "Anyway, I've heard rumors of prisoners being dragged through the mud and waste of a pig stye as a form of humiliation and degradation, being tied to the rigging and have rotten fruit, food and even thrown at and poured on them, and in one instance, Read had someone submitted to the torture of keel hauling."

Gibbs winced at the last method.

"But Read really prides herself on methods that will cause feelings of humility. She's rather twisted."

"Aye," said Gibbs. "But keel hauling, that's a torture no one wishes ta' go through. It's immoral."

"And yet pirates invented it and still practice it," Jack said gravely.

For the next few moments, neither Jack nor Gibbs uttered a word; they merely continued their drinking in silence.

All of a sudden, the light from a lantern refracted off of something that was bobbing on the surface of the ocean. This caught Jack's eye, and when he squinted to get a better look, his mouth dropped in shock.

"MAN OVERBOARD!"

Gibbs immediately looked in the direction Jack had been only seconds before and spotted the motionless body of a man floating in the water just under the light. Gibbs rushed over to the Black Pearl's emergency bell and rang it furiously.

"ALL HANDS ON DECK!" Jack screamed.

Every crew member game gushing up from the lower deck and went about their business.

"Fetch a rope and a hook and haul him aboard!" Gibbs barked.

As the crew pulled the floating body onto the ship, Jack and Gibbs quickly scanned the area that was visible around the ship.

"It couldn't have been a ship attack," commented Gibbs. "We would have heard the cannonfire."

Jack nodded in agreement before promptly making his way over to the body, which had just been hauled onto the deck.

"He's still breathing," a crewmate informed Jack.

"Any signs of identification?" Jack asked.

"None." The nearest crewmate shook his head.

"How about wounds of any kind?"

"A few cuts and bruises," piped up Ragetti, the wooden-eyed pirate.

After a moment, Jack nodded. "Take him below."

As his orders were carried out, Jack returned to the railing, Gibbs coming up behind him.

"Curious thing," commented Gibbs, "to come across a wounded man in the middle of the ocean at this time of night."

"Indeed," agreed Jack. "C'mon, we should go below deck just in case he comes to."