I stared at the compass for near ten minutes when I heard a knock on the door. I walked into the front room and answered it. When I opened it I saw Norrington standing there. "Hello, Commodore, may I help you, sir?"

"I need to ask some questions about your relationship with Mr. Sparrow."

"If there is one."

He glared at me and continued, "Earlier today you said a lot of things to Sparrow that seemed to catch a nerve. You knew him once, I know it. Now tell me how."

"Aye, I knew him. Even before he became a pirate, and that was a long time ago. It was just after I crossed over from England. When I got to Antigua I met Jack there. We were both only fourteen. I've known him since, but once he became a pirate no one could find him. And I'm still unable to catch him."

"You were on his tail the whole time, but you couldn't catch him when a drunken blacksmith could? Are you sure you don't have a soft spot for him? Are you sure you didn't let him escape?"

"I'm positive."

"Are you sure you've never been on agreeable terms with Mr. Sparrow?"

"Why would it matter to you? It was long before he turned pirate."

"Oh, so you have once been friends?"

"Why do you ask these personal questions? I have no intention to answer any of this. If it matters to you, ask him."

"You have once been friends. I see. So are you still friends now?"

"No. I already told you, go interview him."

"Yet you failed to arrest him."

"A mistake I'll never make again."

"No, you won't because there won't be an again. Incompetence is not a trait I can accept in the Port Royal elite guard. Certainly not one guarding the Interceptor. Those two guards told me the whole story."

"Did they now? Fine. See if I care. I'll find another job, perhaps a better waste of my time. Or I'll just leave Port Royal and never come back. It's what I've wanted to do for a long time."

"You're taking this well."

"Good night, Commodore." I shut the door in his face, glad to be finally rid of his orders. Requirement for departure #1 complete.

Through the evening the weather got worse and worse. This wasn't completely strange as the weather can change quite rapidly in the Caribbean, but I felt something else changing. It wasn't necessarily the feeling that something bad would happen. Just change. It could be good or bad depending on which way you look at it. Things like that have happened to me before.

Soon it became unnaturally foggy, the moon was covered by the clouds, and the darkness of night settled upon Port Royal. I began to feel uneasy, but excited, even. It was getting quite late, then I heard a loud, familiar boom. Cannons!! I looked out the window, and there she was in all her glory, though her sails were quite a mess. I smiled at the sight and the pleasant thoughts it brought back with it. Of course, now I was the one being attacked, so the safety precautions had to be taken. I pocketed the compass, gathered my effects and some valued possessions such as money, some small family heirlooms, and some gifts given to me from people that I wished to remember. Prepared now, I ran out of the house to see another familiar view, with the change being my perspective on it. There was an explosion behind me and a wave of shock came over me. When I turned around I saw the wooden ruins of a building that wasn't very impressive to begin with. Then I suddenly remembered something that I would regret leaving behind. One of my few memories of pirating days. I went back into the house to find my bedroom and the kitchen almost undamaged, but the office and entrance completely destroyed. Lucky thing what I wanted was in my bedroom. I retrieved it and put it in a backpack I used for traveling, then decided to go into the kitchen and fetch some extra provisions. Nothing like being prepared. Well, at least the house wasn't worth much. Requirement for departure #2 complete. I can sleep at the stables tonight. It's not like I haven't done it before.

The next morning I woke up at dawn in a pile of hay in a loft. I thought I was fourteen again for a moment, and then realized that I was in Port Royal and my house was destroyed. Well, it was time to visit Jack in jail. The compass still pointed there, so that's where I was going. As I walked down the steps I saw Jack lying down looking disappointed. "Hello, Jack," I said.

He sat up and answered, "You still have my compass."

"That I do. It's right here." I took it out of my pocket and opened it once more. I was standing right next to the bars of his cell, and he came up to them. He was standing very close now and the compass began to spin. With a finger he tipped it just enough so he could see over the lid. "That's what I thought," I said in reaction to its spinning.

"Hmm, can't decide what you want?"

"No," I shook my head, "I'm standing right next to him."

His eyebrows lifted and I thrust the compass through the bars for him to take it. As he did so he brushed my hand and said, "Wouldn't have thought that."

"Of course you wouldn't. You…"

"Ever since you left two years after the mutiny I have still had feelings for you, love. I thought you might still have some feelings for me, too. I just didn't expect them to be quite that…strong."

"Jack, last night…"

"The Black Pearl came here for the final Aztec gold piece that Miss Swann had in her possession. That I know."

"Aye. But before that, just after you were taken here, the commodore visited me to tell me that I was fired for failing to capture you. Then, my house was hit by one of the Pearl's cannons. Jack, I've got nothing left in Port Royal, I can't stay here. I'd like to free you, but I don't see any way to do so."

"Jane, I'm sorry."

My head was rested against the bars and Jack now held my hands in his, and his eyes were locked on mine. I was almost in a trance. I didn't even move when the door to the outside opened and a young man walked down the steps. I recognized his voice when he said, "You. Spar—…What the—?"

The trance was shattered in an instant. I stood up and answered, "I'll be going now."

As I slowly walked up the stone steps I could hear him say, "You two? I thought she…She was the one that…"

"What did you want?" Jack asked him.

"You are familiar with that ship the Black Pearl?" At this I stopped. I had to stay and listen. I was out of sight, but I wanted to make them think I was gone so I opened and closed the door without leaving then continued listening.

"I heard of it."

"Where does it make berth?"

"Where does it make berth? Have you not heard the stories? Captain Barbossa and his crew of miscreants sail from the dreaded Isla de Muerta. It's and island that cannot be found, except by those who already know where it is." Well, that's incredibly flawed. That story is totally incorrect. Of course, so are most stories about Captain Jack Sparrow and the Black Pearl.

"The ship's real enough, therefore its anchorage must be a real place, where is it?"

"Why ask me?"

"Because you're a pirate."

"And you want to turn pirate yourself, is that it?"

"Never. They took Miss Swann."

"So it is that you found a girl! I see, so if you're intending to brave all, hasten to her rescue, and so win fair lady's heart, you'll have to do it alone, mate. I see no profit in it for me."

"I can get you out of here."

"How's that, the key's run off."

"I helped build these cells. These are half-pin barrel hinges. With the right leverage and a proper application of strength, the door will lift free."

"What's your name?"

"Will Turner." Well, that explains the familiar face. He looks just like his father.

"That would be short for William, I imagine. Good, strong name. No doubt named for your father, eh?"

"Yes."

"Uh-huh. Well, Mr. Turner. I've changed me mind. If you spring me from this cell I swear on pain of death I shall take you to the Black Pearl and your bonny lass. Do we have an accord?"

"Agreed."

"Agreed. Get me out!" There was a loud bang as apparently the door had been taken off it's hinges.

"Hurry, someone will have heard that."

"Not without my effects!"

I ran down the steps and almost ran headlong into Jack but stopped just in time. "Hey! I'm coming, too!" Jack gave me a perplexed look and I continued, "What? I've got nothing better to do! I've been fired, for heaven sakes and now I'm free to do whatever I want."

"Were you listening to that whole thing?" Jack asked.

"Aye."

"Then you know what we're doing?"

"Aye. It's daft but what is there to lose?"

"Nothing. I was just making sure you understood the circumstances."

"Great! C'mon, let's go!" It was Will's turn to look perplexed but he just shook his head and followed after Jack.

We ran to the military docks, quite near the Interceptor, which now, thanks to me, had no guard. Will, who didn't easily understand things and who's always asking questions asked, "We're going to steal the ship?" He followed Jack's gaze and looked toward another ship and with a concerned look, asked again, "That ship?"

"Commandeer. We're going to commandeer that ship. Nautical term. One question about your business, boy, or there's no use going. This girl. How far are you willing to go to save her?"

"I'd die for her."

"Oh, good. No worries then."

Will gave another quizzical look and I said, "You get used to it, eventually."

We ran some more and got to a beach where canoes were lined up upside-down. Jack stopped while we where in the trees waiting for some guards to pass, "We have to hide under one of the canoes."

"Why?" Will asked.

"Don't ask questions when you'll figure it out so soon."

When the guards passed, we ran to the closest canoe, picked it up, got under it, and put it down again. I was in the middle, Jack in the front, and Will in the back. Another four guards passed and we lifted it about a foot, just enough to walk into the water, and as we got deeper, we stood up straighter. The canoe served as an air pocket for us to breathe while under water. A clever trick, really.

Will remarked, "This is either madness, or brilliance."

"It's remarkable how often those two traits coincide."

I heard a crack that sounded like several twigs being broken underwater at once and Will did a sort of grunt. Of course, since he was in the back, no one but him knew what happened. "Will?" I asked, "What the hell are you doing?"

"My foot's stuck."

"Oh, God. You two, hold onto the boat." I turned around and looked at Will's foot, which was, indeed, stuck in a small wooden cage-like thing with a rope tied to it that led to something floating on the surface. "Will, hold my hat." I took my hat off and put in on his head, and submerged into the water. I reached down to his foot and pulled the basket off, then came back up into our air pocket. "There. Is that better?" I put my hat back on.

"Much. Thanks." I turned back around and we continued toward our chosen ship. We climbed up it's stern, and I realized it was the Dauntless. Even though he said he was stealing the Interceptor I'm sure he had a complicated plan to fool the navy that involved both ships. As we walked past the wheel Jack got out his gun, Will and I our swords.

Jack then said for the crew to hear, "Everyone stay calm. We are taking over the ship."

"Aye! Avast!" Will shouted. Jack and I both rolled our eyes at him and the crew just laughed.

"This ship cannot be crewed by two men. You'll never make it out of the bay," Lieutenant Gillette said.

"Hey! I'm a faithful hand at the mast, woman or not! There're admittedly still only two useful pairs of hands here, but the boy's a fast learner."

"Jane, don't bother. England doesn't trust women. You'll have to accept that someday," Jack turned back toward Gillette and continued, "Son, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow. Savvy?" He cocked the trigger and pointed his gun strait between Gillette's eyes. The crew left the ship on a rowboat rather quickly, and tried to get away as fast as possible.

Suddenly Gillette shouted "Sir, they've taken the Dauntless! Commodore! They've taken the ship! Sparrow, Turner, and Meurig have taken the Dauntless!"

The commodore and some of his men boarded the Interceptor, which began to follow us. We disabled the rudder chain, then Will ran up to us, standing at the wheel, and said, "Here they come." Jack looked over toward them and the Interceptor and smiled.

The Interceptor came up alongside us and the men started boarding. Jack, Will and I used their ropes to swing onto the Interceptor, we cut their lines so they couldn't get back, and sailed away. The men now on the Dauntless were realizing that we'd taken the other ship and Jack shouted back, "Thank you, Commodore, for getting us ready to make way. We'd have a hard time of it by ourselves."

"I think you sufficiently irritated him. Congratulations. You should get a medal for that," I said. Soldiers started firing at us, but we were soon out of their range. "And your plan worked."

"When hasn't it, love?"

"I know of an instance."

"Then you know too much."

"And I've known you for too long."

"Couldn't have been a better twenty-five years of my life, darling. I never regretted meeting you."

"Is that so? I suppose I've never regretted it, either. Though sometimes other people do."

"Like who?"

"Commodore Norrington."

"Ha, soon he'll regret everything he's ever done."

"Soon, Jack. Very soon."

"Hey, Will?" Jack asked. "How'd you get to the Caribbean? What's your story?"

"You want to know?"

"Aye."

"When I was a lad living in England, my mother raised me by herself. After she died I came out here, looking for my father."

"Is that so?" Jack asked.

"My father, Will Turner. At the jail it was only after you learnt my name you agreed to help. Since that's what I wanted, I didn't press the matter. I'm not a simpleton, Jack. You knew my father."

Jack had been tightening various ropes, and he paused to finish one more before answering Will. Then he stood up and said, "I knew him. Probably one of the few who knew him as William Turner. Everyone else just called him Bootstrap or Bootstrap Bill."

"Bootstrap?"

"Aye," I answered.

"You knew him, too?"

"Of course I did. I knew Jack, I knew Will. The 'inseparable trio' they sometimes called us."

"Good man. Good pirate," Jack added. "I swear you look just like him."

"It's not true. He was a merchant sailor. A good, respectable man who obeyed the law."

"He was a bloody pirate, a scallywag."

"As were we all," I said.

"My father was not a pirate!" Will drew his sword and pointed it at Jack.

"Put it away, son. It's not worth you getting beat again."

"You didn't beat me. You ignored the rules of engagement. In a fair fight I'd kill you," Will said. He probably thought he sounded threatening, but it wasn't really.

"Then that's not much incentive for me to fight fair then, is it?" Jack asked.

"Pirates cheat, son. It's what we do. If you're going to sail with us, you're going to have to live with it," I said.

Jack spun the wheel, making a mast swing over and hit Will. He dropped his sword, which Jack picked up, and hung onto the mast, straining to hold on. If he fell, he fell into deep water and it wasn't likely Jack would be willing to get him out again. Jack started to speak, "Now as long as you're just hanging there, pay attention. The only rules that really matter are these. What a man can do, and what a man can't do. For instance, you can accept that your father was a pirate and a good man or you can't. But pirate is in your blood boy, so you'll have to square with that someday. Now me for example. I can let you drown. But I can't bring this ship into Tortuga all by me onesy, savvy?"

I jumped in, "But you wouldn't be by ye onesy, would ye? I still exist."

"That doesn't mean I can do it, though, does it? I never said that letting Will drown meant that I had to sail into Tortuga all by me onesy. Anyway, can you sail under the command of a pirate? Or can you not?"

Jack held out Will's sword, handle out. Will took it saying, "Tortuga?"

"Tortuga."