Chapter 2: Something to Trade (AKA Giving Norrie a bigger part)

Davey Jones watched through his telescope as his pet took down the Black Pearl, unaware that Jack was actually several dozen feet away in a little rowboat.

"Jack Sparrow, our debt is settled." Jones said to himself as he closed the telescope with a self-satisfied grin.

"The Captain goes down with his ship" one of the crewmembers added, making the same assumption that Davey Jones had made.

"Turns out not even Jack Sparrow can best the devil." another crew member said smugly. Davey Jones was suddenly unsure about this. He knew Jack, and he knew that if anyone could best the devil, it would be him.

He turned to the crewmembers. "Open the chest." he siad with a hint of worry. The crewmembers looked at each other, confused. "Open the chest!" He repeated. "I need to see it!"

The crewmembers scurried towards the chest, and one of them turned the key. It unlocked ominously and Davey Jones pushed the crowd aside and stood before it. He lifted the lid quickly, and shook with rage at what he saw. The chest was empty!

"Damn you Jack SPARROW!!!!!"

- - - - -

"The last of our ships has returned" Mr Mercer told Beckett, who sat daintily at his desk
"Is there any news on the chest?"

"None. But one of the ships did pick up a man adrift at sea"

'Jack?' Beckett thought hopefully.

Mercer produced the letters of marque that Beckett had given Miss Swann "He had these"
Beckett picked up the letters and opened them, hoping to see Jack Sparrow's name. His heart sank when he saw 'James Norrington' printed on them.

"I took the liberty of filling in my name" A voice gloated.

Beckett looked up to see a very scruffy Norrington, covered in mud and smelling faintly of BO and rum. The scent reminded Beckett of Jack, and he tried to hide his smile. He replaced the letters on the table and beckoned James, who snatched his arm away from the guard and waltzed towards Beckett's desk.

"If you intend to claim these, then you must have something to trade" Beckett countered, regarding this filthy looking man and pondering the likelihood that he had come into contact with his own filthy pirate, and acquired the item that he had sent Miss Swann and Mr Turner to obtain. "Do you have the compass?"

James shook his head "Better."

'Jack?' Beckett once again wondered, picturing the man he had once called his beloved in shackles waiting on the other side of the door.

James held out a sack, and dropped it on Beckett's desk. The sack began beating. Beckett's eyes grew wide, as he contemplated the power that lay before him. "The heart of Davey Jones" James confirmed.

Beckett reached out to take the sack, but James snatched it away. Beckett's brow furrowed.

"Oh, I'm not proposing a trade, Lord Beckett." James explained. "And if I was, I'd hardly be careless enough to trade something this valuable for a career as a privateer."

"Privateer?" Beckett slithered. "I think we can do better than that, Admiral Norrington"

James considered this, but then shook his head.

"Very well, Mr Norrington, what is it that you want?"

James thought for a moment, and then looked at the heart "I want to hang on to this for the time being, and I want to have a warm bath while I consider exactly how much this heart is worth to you. Tell me, Cutler," James took a seat, making himself right at home, "What is it you plan to do with that power?"