First Impressions (James Norrington) (Book 1)

Chapter 2: Lasting First Impressions

James was quiet while he stood at the back of the Dauntless and watched as his homeland became more distant.

He half expected his thoughts to be consumed with the memory of his visit. His mind certainly had wanted to dwell on what had taken place while they were preparing the ship. It was rare for him to see his family, and it had brought forth as much happiness as it did hard feelings and disappointment. Howbeit, he found himself mulling over the unusual conversation between him and Miss Lovelace before leaving port.

"That's barbaric! Not all pirates are horrible people! What if the person being accused of piracy has done nothing wrong?! Would you still kill them then?!"

When she initially uttered those words, he'd believed she was being naïve like most children. He hadn't taken her seriously, nor did he give notice to the passion and anger that had swiftly burst forth from her.

Inculpable and innocent were never words he, or anyone else who understood what they were capable of, would use to describe a pirate. They were vile men and women who never hesitated to harm the innocent when it suited their needs and, as such, had rightfully earned their reputation. Each individual deserved nothing short of the hangman's noose. Those were undeniable truths that would always propel him forward in his pursuit to fight against piracy.

"And you think a proper English gentleman is always good? What if the man in question twists the law to suit his own needs in an attempt to punish someone for doing the right thing? Would he still be considered a good person just because he followed the law?"

He wasn't one to be taken off guard ordinarily, but her questions had caused him to pause and reevaluate the girl who had been standing before him. She looked like she was only around nine years of age. Thoughts such as those shouldn't be going through her mind.

It was disconcerting, especially with the expression she had on her face as she interrogated him. He would never forget it or their encounter. Without a doubt, she knew more about the evils of this world than someone her age should. Even he, a man of the age of twenty who had served in the Royal Navy for two years, hadn't encountered what she described, although he acknowledged it was possible.

"Would you still condemn a man who has no other choice but to perform an act of piracy to stay true to himself or regret his actions for the rest of his life?"

He couldn't answer her, and he still didn't have a reply even now. The question had astounded and baffled him even more than her previous ones. What kind of horrifying situation would cause a man to resort to piracy just to keep his conscience clear? Was it truly possible to have circumstances such as that? Miss Lovelace seemed to believe so. She had spoken from her heart with startling confidence as if she witnessed it, and mayhap she had. How could a man with any moral center keep his integrity intact by following through with such an act?

James sighed in vexation as he rested his hands on the railing.

She was the first and only person to make him waver in his convictions. His duty and mind dictated that the end does not justify the means. A man who performs any heinous act of piracy, no matter the reason, was as evil as the rest. There weren't to be any exceptions. If one good deed was not enough to redeem a man of a lifetime of wickedness, wasn't one evil deed enough to condemn a man by principle?

His heart pulled him in another direction. If there was such a moment where a man could do nothing else, then shouldn't he hear his reason? Was it just to convict and execute a man merely by the act alone? What terrible deed did the man Miss Lovelace know, do? Had the end justified the means?

"Rest assured, sir, there are men just as evil as you believe pirates are among the proper English gentlemen. They may be even more so since they can hide behind the guise of justice and their power."