A/N: This chapter is filled with flashbacks thank God. Please review, it seems like as soon as I post this it gets pushed back a couple pages. God damn it Leroy. Leroy, you're just as stupid as hell.

Chapter 3

Will followed Toby and I down to my ship, the Jade Chalice. I looked at my ship, feeling the pride of commanding such a fine vessel. It had taken forever for me to save up enough money to buy it, but finally I had purchased it from an old merchant and fixed it up a bit. What made the Jade Chalice so unmistakable were its dark green sails. Unlike any other on the sea. It had a relatively small hull, but it was swift in the water and didn't need a very large crew to command.

I had to be very careful with the sailors I hired. For some reason, they always got a little too greedy and ambitious, believing that they could easily overtake the ship and commit mutiny. Unfortunately, not many sailors liked to be commanded by a woman.

Like I said, Toby was the only one I trusted. He had put out quite a lot of rebellions on my ship. But I had saved him a few times too. Particularly, I remember one incident that had happened when we were teenagers. Toby and I were hanging around the pier, not doing much. We would talk to merchants and sailors, Toby was a cabin boy then and I was stuck at home with my five other sisters. Even then, my dream was to own my own ship, but no one would dare hire a girl, so I just sat around the docks most of the day.

Toby had just gotten back from a short voyage to a nearby island and he and I were talking, not taking much notice of our surroundings. One of the sailors let their anchor drop and the rope had suddenly wrapped itself around Toby's ankle. He was dragged into the water before I even knew it.

At first, I just stood there as my mind tried to process what had just happened; then I dove into the water, realizing that he was caught at the bottom. The water was murky and dark, but I grabbed onto the rope and pulled myself down. Panic was entering my mind, making it harder to hold my breath. I knew that the water was deep, and that Toby could easily drown.

I kept pulling myself deeper and deeper until I felt a body. Toby was struggling to free his foot. I pulled out a knife from my pocket and began to saw through the thick rope. Toby was kicking harshly, which made it harder to cut the rope, I could see the air bubbles escaping his nose and mouth. At last, the rope snapped and we both swam desperately to the surface. I could see the bright sunshine glimmering off the water as if nothing had happened. We both took a deep breath as we breached the surface.

Some fishermen helped us back on the deck and the two of us lay there, soaked and panting. There was a deep gash on Toby's foot, where the rope had dug into it, but other than that we were fine. After that incident, Toby swore to me that he would always protect me because I had saved his life.

We boarded the ship and I was met by crew. They weren't the cleanliest bunch, but they did have experience and at least accepted my authority.

"So where's the heading?" A sailor named Ben asked.

"Tortuga, to find Jack Sparrow." I announced, "This is Will, he's gonna be staying with us for a while."

Some of the men grunted, I heard one of them mutter, "He looks like a pansy."

"Follow me, Will." I told him.

I brought him below decks to where the crew stayed, "You can take this bunk." Will looked at the small bed. His feet would probably stick out, but that was the best I could do. There wasn't a lot of living space on a ship. Most of the men slept out on the deck in fair weather.

"I think it's best you tell me how you know Jack Sparrow." I spoke, "We can speak privately in my cabin."

"If you wish." Will responded, we entered my cabin, which was a bit more spacious. Lying on a large table were maps, compasses, oceanic trinkets, and calculations. Most people don't realize that there is a lot of math involved in sailing. It's a business. You have to calculate your knots and leagues from one point to another. Then there is the amount of food the ship can carry and how long you can stay self sustained. Wind direction and weight play a major role in the speed of the ship and it always seemed like Beckett wanted the goods to arrive yesterday.

I really missed the carefree, unscheduled days of just sailing into the blue, not knowing where I would end up. I used to be captain of my own ship, now it was Beckett ordering me to go here and there. That's why I was willing to do anything to get out of this mess.

I offered Will a seat and some rum, which I always had plenty of. I alone knew the quadrants of a nearly untouched island called Acoundi. That was the best island to store rum, so that it could age and grow sweet. The expensive and exotic Acoundi Rum, it had an original flavor and was the reason I knew Jack Sparrow.

"So, how long have you known Captain Jack Sparrow?" I asked.

"Not long, less than two months. He helped me rescue my fiancée, Elizabeth." Will explained.

"Rescue her from who?"

"Barbosa."

The name hung eerily between us, "Ah, I've dealt with him." I spoke, to clear the air, "Gave me some trouble." I pointed to the long scar across my cheek.

"How do you know Jack?" Will asked.

"Haven't you ever wondered how he got off that island?" I questioned, knowing that Jack would have no doubt told him of his harrowing escape from the sand bar Barbosa had marooned him on.

"Oh, yeah, he told me he roped himself a bunch of sea turtles and made a raft." Will said stupidly.

"Well if by rope he means rescued and sea turtles means my ship then I guess he was right."

"Anyways, after that, Jack was my best customer. He kept me in business and bought most of my rum. Guess that's what made him so crazy." I continued.

"Is that why you're called Captain Rummy?" Will began catching on.

"Yep, I transported the best rum on the seven seas. The Acoundi Rum. Only I know where the island is." I bragged a little, "But now Beckett has me doing his errands and I can't return the Acoundi Island without him finding out."

"So if Jack's your best customer, where is he?" Will took a sip from his rum, and grimaced a little from the strength of it.

"I don't trade with Jack anymore." I told him bitterly.

"Why not?"

"Because he got a little too greedy and began shooting cannon balls through my ship when I wouldn't tell him where I got my rum." I explained.

"Oh," Was all Will said.

At that moment, Toby came in and declared that we were at Tortuga. Thus began the search for Jack Sparrow. We split up and began looking in the various wild bars in Tortuga.

We met back at the Jade Chalice with some information. Apparently, he was either dead, in Singapore, gone for a month, or at Cannibal Island. Yay, my favorite place!

"Well, Singapore's kinda far off; our best chance would be to go to Cannibal Island." I explained.

Will rubbed the side of his cheek where he had been recently slapped by two women looking for Jack Sparrow. "Tell me the name has nothing to do with the island."

"Unfortunately, it does." I raised my left hand and Will saw the two missing fingers.

"Should we set sail now or in the morning?" Toby asked.

"It's late. Get some rest all of you. But be ready to set sail at dawn tomorrow." I gave the commands.

The crew disbanded, leaving to go to the bars or their wives. Toby met his wife on the docks and they headed home together. Will left to go stay the night at the inn and I slept in the cabin. As Will left, he seemed immensely lonely and lost. I felt fury at the thought that Beckett could do this to another human being.

Inside my cabin, I sat alone and listened to the quiet night. Occasionally, sounds drifted from the bars and gun shots went off, but other than that, it was quite peaceful. I brushed my blonde brown hair that reached to the middle of my back. I used a small mirror to study my reflection. The long scar was still visible; it slashed closely to my hazel eyes and stretched down to my chin.

It was always a reminder of Barbosa and what had happened to my family. That was a few years after Barbosa gained control of the Black Pearl. He and his crew were terrorizing and plundering the ports that dotted the Caribbean islands and one day, his men crossed paths with my family.

I had returned home from one of my runs transporting rum to learn the sad truth. One of the neighbors had come by and told me that Barbosa and his men had attacked the small town. They had killed dozens of people and my family had been one of them that had been wiped out. His men had first raped and then killed my five other sisters, then they shot my father in the head and left them.

When I had found out, my legs gave out weakly beneath me and I just broke down. When Toby came by to find out why I hadn't returned, I sent him away. I ran into the jungle that surrounded the town and didn't come out for three days. That was where I did my grieving. Finally, I had made up a decision. I would kill Barbosa. I would slit his throat for all that he had done to my family and the other people he had terrorized.

It took months to find the Black Pearl, but at last we caught him at another port, ransacking it. I found him standing over a bloodied bar tender with his sword glinting. He had a grin on his face as he was just about to finish the man off. He was older than I expected. I guess I thought he would be more Jack's age, but he still wore the pirate uniform. Black, pointed hat, overcoat, and dark boots.

"Barbosa!" I yelled at him as I stepped through the door.

He was laughing as he turned around to face me. I had my sword drawn and ready, and a determination to kill. "Who are you woman?" He asked.

"You bastard! You killed my family, and now I'm gonna do the same to you!" I spat, hatred in my eyes.

Barbosa smiled, "Well, that comes with the job. Do you actually believe you can kill me?" He asked maliciously.

"I intend to. And I will."

"Oh, come on! If you leave right now, I'll spare your life." He made it seem like he was doing an act of charity.

"Enough! You will pay for your crimes!" I hurled myself at him. He leaped quickly to the side and parried, I was surprised by the swiftness in him. I was average at swordplay; I had practiced with Toby and some of the men on the ship. But Barbosa was much more experienced than I. He had so much power in his swings that the vibration from the weapons went all the way up to my shoulders. It seemed like he never left himself open.

Barbosa was pushing me back, as I tried to dodge and parry his blows. He was clearly dominating the match. Finally, I collapsed out of exhaustion and Barbosa's razor-sharp sword came down on me. I moved out of the way just in time to save myself from his blade hitting my skull, but the tip cut into my face.

At first, I didn't feel anything, my body was numb, but then the blood began running down my face and into my eyes. Barbosa laughed yet again at me mockingly. He grabbed me by the front of my shirt and slammed me against the wall, "You'd best stay away from me, if you know what's best fer ya."

I was still clutching my sword as he held me against the wall, and in a last, desperate attempt, I jousted the sword into his chest. At first, I thought I had done it, and killed him. His grip loosened and he dropped me. He stepped back and I thought he was about to collapse, but instead his hands went to the hilt of my sword. He slowly pulled it out and then pointed it at my chest.

"I warned ya. You cannot kill me." He rasped grimly. His blood from the sword dripped onto me, I prepared for my death.

"Just kill me then." I raised my head boldly to look at him as I lay on the ground.

"They screamed like cowards before they died. And pleaded to live, you are quite the opposite, girl." Barbosa spoke, "That amuses me." He smiled devilishly as he threw the sword down.

He stalked out of the bar and left. I never saw him again. I managed to crawl out and get to my feet. I felt light headed and about to pass out. One of my crew found me and brought me back to the ship.

"Don't close your eyes, don't pass out." Toby's voice told me.

"I won't." I struggled to remain alert, but felt my strength leaving me. Some alcohol was applied to my face and then I blacked out.

It took weeks for my cut to heal, and I remembered wishing that Barbosa had killed me. It seemed like the weight of all the deaths around me was crushing the air out of my lungs. It wasn't fair, none of this was fair. If only I could have done something, but I had failed miserably and I had never stood a chance against Barbosa.

I put the mirror away as I thought about that traumatizing event, it made my stomach twist and I forced myself to forget about it, but as I closed my eyes to go to sleep, my memories still haunted me.

A/N: Please, please, please review or else if I don't get at least four reviews for this story, I'm not updating anymore. Humph!