In the deep, dark recesses of Shipwreck Cove, a cannon had sat for nearly a century. Now, however, it was no longer idle.

"Cannonball?" Pintel roared from his position at the mouth of the cannon.

"Cannonball!" Ragetti yelled. He handed Ragetti the heavy iron ball and stepped back.

BOOM! Several soldiers were blasted out of the way; the cannonball left a huge hole in the wall as it barreled through.

Barbossa's face was placed in front of the jagged hole, and he roared, "D'you mind not beheading me with the bloody cannon?"

()O0o o0O()

"The king and his men stole the queen from her bed," sung Marie in a quiet, though clear voice. "And bound her in her bones."

"Miss!" a soldier yelled. "Miss! Are you alright?"

"A bit confused," she answered. Her eyes were widened as though in fear, and her fingers tapped a tattoo on the hilt of her concealed sword.

"Don't worry, miss," he said, brimming with self confidence. "I'll take you to safety."

"Are you a captain?" she asked, trying to infuse her voice with admiration.

"Why, yes, I am," he bragged.

"Do you have the power to call off the troops?" she asked.

He looked slightly suspicious, but answered, "Only Lord Beckett has that power."

"Too bad," she smirked. His look of confusion was replaced by a blank stare when a piece of cold metal slid through his torso.

"Sorry about that," she apologized. Turning on her heel, she headed back towards her cabin. In a low voice, she mumbled bitterly, "Bloody Beckett."

()O0o o0O()

"Cutler." she greeted.

"Marie," he replied curtly.

"Jack," Jack said with an extravagant hand gesture. He turned back to her drawer and rifled through the contents.

A bullet whistled through the air, coming dangerously close to his head. "I'm in a horrid mood," she explained. Her tone then turned deadly. "Now sit."

"As you wish," he bowed and then sat down, rather quickly.

"Cutler," she said in a flat tone. "Call off your troops."

"Now why would I do that?" he asked pretentiously. "The show is just getting good."

"I'm sure your life is just getting good, also," she said coldly, cocking her pistol again. "I don't want to kill you, but I will."

"Now, Marie," he protested softly, "Why would you want to kill me? Your fiancé?"

"Let me think," she snarled, her pink lips curled back from her white, even teeth. "You've threatened me with death, you've called attack on Shipwreck Cove, and you branded me." She pulled back one of her sleeves, and exposed her wrist. On it was a raised burn mark in the shape of a 'p'. The p was for pirate. Surrounding it were five red roses, all completely unfurled.

"One for each of your relatives that are now dead?" he asked innocently, tracing the brim of a teacup with a long finger.

"One for each of my relatives that you've killed," she corrected him.

Jack looked uncomfortable. He had closed the drawer, and was slowly inching towards the door. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up. In the suddenly silent room, he turned around to see Marie, her eyebrows raised, the muzzle of her pistol pointed at him.

He sat back down.

Marie was silent for a moment, thinking, than said calmly, "If I were to surrender to the East India Trading Company, would you remove the troops from Shipwreck Cove?"

"Now, why would we want you?" Beckett asked cruelly. "You're the youngest Lord. The least important."

"You want me because I hold your life in my young little hand," she said, her smile back upon her face. She held out her hand to shake. To the surprise of everyone in the room, Beckett included, he grabbed it and shook, holding on rather harder than necessary.

Ooh, what will happen next? I have no idea yet :D Review?