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Prologue
Dark was this day in the harbor city of Oscuridad. As Jackline ran towards her home at the edge of town,
she wondered if the weather had anything to do with the strange feeling inside her. Something was amiss and
she knew not what it was.
As she walked up the steps to the small two room shack which she called home, the feeling inside Jackline�s
stomach grew stronger. She rushed inside to find the entry room empty. Maybe her mother wasn�t here after
all?
Jackline walked toward the door on the left had side: The door to the bedroom. If nothing was amiss, this
door would be locked. Jackline reached for the handle, praying that it would move. Her hand touched the
cold round brass of the door handle, and with a slight motion from her wrist, Jackline opened the door.
As the door swung inward, Jackline was suddenly paralyzed with fear. She wanted to run away. Whatever was inside was not good. Jackline lightly stepped inside the room and stretched her head around the partially opened door.
In this room there was nothing more than a wardrobe her mother had brought from England, and the large, musty bed that stood in the center of the opposite wall from Jackline under the window draped with moth-eaten cloths. The bed had sheets of deep chocolate brown that were unmade. On top of the bed was a figure, of what, Jackline did not know.
Jackline took a step forward, afraid of what she may find. Slowly, her eyes began to focus to the darkness of the room. She took another step forward. Suddenly the figure on the bed took shape. Jackline screamed. Not knowing what to do, she ran.
Time ceased to pass to Jackline. She had calmed, but was delirious to what had happened. Her mind was refusing to accept the gruesome picture that kept showing itself inside of Jackline�s mind. She could not run away forever. Why would someone do something like this? The cruelties of society were being learned by fire.
She found herself outside a small pub in the run-down district of town. From the grease and dirt frosted windows came a warm orange glow of candles and fires. As she stood there, the cold silent breath of the night swept across her face. Jackline closed her eyes as a single tear fell from her eye.
Chapter 1
The sudden rock of the ship awoke Jackline from her dream. She cringed at the thought of the memory in which her dream regrettably dredged up. Jackline focused on pushing the memory back down into the depths of her subconscious. Why couldn�t the past just die?
�Captain, there is a situation on deck�
�I�ll be right there.�
Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Jackline rolled out bed, reached for her coat, and walked through the threshold of her cabin.
She stepped into the bright sunlight of mid- July. The Mediterranean was crystal blue with beautiful white sun glares placed sporadically across the ocean. The sea breeze came up and pushed her long black hair from her face.
�Now, Livingston, what is the problem?�
�An unmarked ship seems to be shadowing us.�
�Well, that�ll never do.� At this Jackline stepped around her quartermaster and nimbly climbed the ladder to the upper deck. She walked to the edge of the platform and grabbed the spy glass on the rail.
As Jackline peered through the spy glass, Livingston positioned himself along side her. Livingston had been one of Jackline�s few allies in her youth, and now the only person Jackline trusted with her true identity.
�What do you conclude, Captain?�
�It appears to be a merchant ship, but yet, there are far too many gun ports for it to be a mere merchant ship.�
�Privateers! What is your course of action?�
�Raise the Spanish flag. We shall reel them in, and then take them.�
�You heard the Captain, raise the Spanish flag you mangy dogs you!�
�What a wonderful way to start the morning.�
Chapter 2
Will Turner was enjoying the quite years that had followed after his escapades in his you with Elizabeth. Now they were happily married raising their son William. He, however, was the only Turner who went by his full name. Will had made it a point of avoiding mentioning who his own father truly was, the ruthless pirate Bootstrap Bill, who had come back from the dead just a few years before William was born.
Will wanted William to have a normal life. After William had refused to enter the Queen�s Navy, Will began teaching him the art of blacksmith. William would have been better off in the Navy though. His only desire was to sail the seven seas, see the world, and search for treasure. He didn�t care what treasure he found, but William was certain that no treasure could be found here.
*
William sat in the corner with his head leaned as far back as his neck would allow. He despised these �political� functions in which he was forced to attend. Two conversations arose; the fact that he had not enter into the British Navy, or the fact that his father was teaching him the family trade, blacksmith. William wished to be neither.
�Ah, William, where is your mother?�
William lifted his head as he was addressed by an elderly man. His grandfather, on his mother�s side.
�She�s fanning herself by the wall.�
�She�s not wearing a corset, is she?�
�Why do you ask?�
�No reason� said William�s grandfather as he turned and saw his daughter, and William�s mother, Elizabeth.
William assumed that he was not meant to know the adventurous courtship of his mother and father. His father was a pirate, as was his grandfather on his father�s side. One of William�s father�s best allies was Jack Sparrow, the captain of the Black Pearl. They all pretended that it had never happened though. His parents were afraid William had inherited the same fascination with pirates his mother had. William would admit to anyone that he would prefer to follow in his family line and become a pirate, but not a huge amount of pirate ships docked in Port Royal.
�William, stop being anti-social.�
William�s dear old father, William Turner. William was a family name, but William�s grandfather went by Bill or Bootstrap Bill, his father went by Will. William was the only one of the three who went by his full name.
�Father, if I wanted to socialize with stiffed shirted old men, I would become governor like Grandfather.�
�You are a blacksmith.�
�Then why am I here?�
William was typically this difficult when it came to anything his parents desired him to do. William wanted to make his own decisions, decide his own fate. William longed to be granted freedom from Port Royal. William wanted to sail the seven seas, but not as a British Marine.
�You may go home�
�Thank you, Father�
Springing from the chair, William quickly walked to the stairs of the fort. When clear from the prying eyes of his elders, William swiftly removed his jacket and unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt.
Chapter 3
Her plan had failed. For the first time in her life, her plan had failed. Now she was without a ship, crew, and means of getting new. Jackline sailed into Port Royal�s harbor with a sharp eye. If she kept a low profile, then no one would question her presence here. As her boat reached the dock, Jackline jumped out of it and tied it down. As she stood, she looked over her shoulder to see what she had feared. Exhaling, Jackline mulled over her options; she could run.
But what of the towns people? This was not their fight, nor should they suffer because of her. Time was had run out, but she had made her decision. Jackline turned to face the town, and yelled, �Run, that ship is going to attack! Run!� as the ship behind her fired upon the town.
*
Finally free from the torture that was political functions. William swiftly walked down the dirt path that led between the Governors�s palace and the village. As William�s wander to the harbor, he saw a strange ship preparing to dock in the harbor. Upon a second glance, William�s heart began to beat faster. A booming echo escaped the harbor.
William watched as the dock which the girl had once been standing collapsed as a cannon ball powered through it. He had to get there; she had tried to warn them. I wasn�t going to let her die.
*
Jackline didn�t have a chance to take a breath before she was submerged in the water. Now, fighting against debris, Jackline attempted to swim towards the surface. The sudden drop had disoriented Jackline. She needed air. She pushed harder, kicking of a large piece of wood that was once her boat.
She prayed that she hadn�t waited to long. She prayed that they hadn�t killed anyone.
*
William ran against the sea of people. Splashing into the water, William dove under and began searching for the girl. There was so much debris, how would he ever find her? William surfaced and took a deeper breath. Diving back under, he saw her, swimming towards him.
*
Someone was up there. Jackline swam harder. She wasn�t going to drown. She prayed that she would reach the surface before she went unconscious.
William could tell she couldn�t hold on for much longer. He kicked will all his might reached down, and grasped her around the waist. She grabbed onto him, and he brought her to the surface.
Jackline surfaced with great effort, gasping for breath. She new there was no time to catch her breath; she had to get to shore. They would go to shore.
�We have to get to shore.�
�Wh-?�
�Because they are.�
Jackline pointed at the ship that was preparing to lower the life boats and to fire again. Suddenly comprehending, William and Jackline swam towards shore.
*
Will and the others were now running towards the harbor. This was the second time in his life someone had attacked Port Royal, and he did not want that to recur. He new not where William was, and feared for his well-being was overpowering Will�s senses. He did not notice his son�s jacket by the side of the path as he ran by.
*
William and Jackline had reached the shore, exhausted from the grueling swim dodging cannon balls, gun fire, and debris. Not until now did William notice Jackline�s attire, mainly the two swords that hung on either side of her hips.
�Can you fight?�
�Yes, I can fight.�
�Then take this.� Jackline drew one of her swords and tossed it to William. They we�re going to have to make a stand; she wasn�t giving up without a fight.
William surveyed the woman before him. She had nearly drowned, then swam to shore, and now had drawn a sword and was preparing to fight. That was inconceivable. No one should be able to do that.
�What are you looking for?� said William commenting on the fact that Jackline had been surveying the surrounding parts of the harbor.
�They�ll land there� said Jackline pointing to an open space a quarter of a mile from them.
�What? How do you know that?�
�They just will. Let�s go.�
There was a subtle understanding between them as they turned and ran towards the spot Jackline had pointed out.
As they reached it, they saw a mob of townspeople moving towards the stretch of beach which they now stood upon.
*
The invaders jumped the sides of their boats. They had come to kill Jack Sparrow, and they would succeed.
*
Will ran towards where the pirates were approaching. He feared that William would fight. William was not old enough to fight. He pushed the thoughts of the last siege on Port Royal. As Will reached the beach, as did the pirates.
*
William had never seen a woman like this. She wielded duel swords and fought better with more passion than William thought anyone could possess. Her anger seemed endless, like this was a personal attack. As soon as the enemy would see her they would desert their current battle to attack her. They were here for her. Yet she would fight them each off with a strangely graceful intensity.
*
This was revenge. Kill her crew, take her ship, this is what you get. The more Jack fought, the more she released her anger at them. A lonely crew member would not get the glory of killing Captain Jack Sparrow. No, if she were to die, their treacherous captain would do it.
As she finished off yet another, Jack was suddenly grabbed from behind. Before she could attempt an escape, she felt a heavy pain on her temple. From there darkness came.
Chapter 4
The siege on Port Royal had ended just as abruptly as it had begun. Will had managed to take the captain and a few crew members, but they were still unconscious, save one.
�We cannot let the survivors go free.�
Currently, the Governor, Commodore Norrington, William, himself and the dear old captain of the ship, were all holding a meeting of sorts.
�But where would begin?�
�I think you should ask her that.�
�What does she have to do with it?� William broke his long silence as he watched his grandfather gesture to the woman he had saved last night.
�Because she�s their captain, William�
�That ship no longer belongs to me.� Her voice was very monotonic as though she was tiring of repeating herself.
�You fell behind.�
�No, in an attack earlier yesterday I lost my ship.�
�And why should we believe you, pirate?� Norrington had a bad habit of patronizing whomever he was interrogating.
�Because she is telling the truth.� William couldn�t stand for his father, grandfather, and godfather to be treating this woman this way. She had fought for them, not against them.
�William!�
�As I approached the harbor yesterday, she yelled for everyone to run before the ship fired. She was not on that ship.�
A moment passed as they all looked at each other in shock.
�Don�t you hate it when you�re wrong?� said the woman with a newfound confidence.
�Don�t rub it in.�
Without realizing it Will found himself starring at the woman. Something about her was familiar.
�What is your name?�
After a hesitation she answered him, �Jack, Jack Sparrow.�
�You�re not Jack Sparrow! He�s retired.�
�Then it�s the perfect time to adopt a new name.�
�Do you know where they make bluff.�
�They are probably sailing towards Sitio de Solo S�.�
�And where, pray tell, is Sitio de Solo S�?�
�Haven�t you heard the stories? The Spanish found it, but the crew who did died. There were natives, who were not pleased when the Spanish intruded on their land. So, their witch doctor put a spell on the land. The angry native souls still rest there, waiting for the Spanish to return, so they may massacre them. There is rumored to be a great treasure there, but there is but one who make take it.�
�And who would that be?�
�No one knows. It is a woman chosen by the heathen gods, to liberate the natives from their own spell. If any other attempts to take it, they will go mad with evil, and rot into nothingness.�
�Do you know where this is?�
�Indeed, I do.�
�Get the men ready . . .�
�Marines will do no good, Commodore Norrington.�
�And why is that?�
�They cannot conquer the spirits of the natives, therefore would go mad upon landing there.�
�So what man can go there and not go mad?�
�No man can go there and not go mad.�
�What woman can go there and not go mad, then?�
�She must be of aristocratic blood, yet the daughter of a pirate.�
�No woman of such description exists.�
�No, she does.�
�You know where to find her, don�t you?�
At this Jackline fell silent. She had allowed herself to be backed into a corner. She could not give them more information than necessary, but now she needed a reason to not know as much as she did.
�No, but I know where to look.�
�Fine, where do we go?�
�You can�t go without me.�
�We had to intention of leaving you here.�
�Good, then what is your fastest ship?�
�The Imminent.�
�You all have a thing with �i�s� don�t you? No matter, that ship should be fast enough. We need to get Jack Sparrow out of retirement though.�
�Why? You�re a pirate; you know where we�re going . . .�
�Trust me, we need Jack�
�I don�t know where he is. I haven�s seen him sense . . .�
�I know where he is.�
All looked at Jackline in shock. She had given them an unexpected twist. She had to keep them on their toes if they we�re going to catch them.
�And? Where is he?�
�Tortuga.�