Chapter Two: Do It!
"What's this-ah?" Jones asked. The chest was placed in front of Davy's cell by Cutler and the talk became serious in an instant.
"You're probably wondering why I have you three here today," Beckett said. Smartly, no one said a word to him.
"Well, I'm requiring your services," he went on. "These tasks are quite simple and if you follow through, you'll get your items back undamaged. Captain Barbossa, I need the location to the Isla De Muerta..."
"Oh come on! I could have told you that," Jack said.
"If you don't, that monkey will die," Beckett said, pointing a pistol at the monkey. Barbossa seemed unconcerned. "Believe me, pirates, you are helping Port Royal and the history of the world, and as much as I hate you, I must confront that only you three can do the tasks I wish to be done. Now Jack, I need information about the Black Pearl, Tortuga and Shipwreck Cove. This includes weak points and places of attack." Jack laid back, knowing today was going to be a long day. "If you fail in this task, I will burn the head." Jack's head perked up. He hated Beckett, but this was too far!
"And Jones," Beckett said. "Perhaps yours is the most simple. You must record how deep the Atlantic is and what is at the bottom. I would also like a map of the ocean floor, if you can manage. If you don't it's simple, you'll die."
The three pirates exchanged looks with each other, and had to maintain all control as of not to laugh. The only one who really had something to lose was Jack.
"Go ahead then," Jones challenged. "Stab the heart and ye can find out fer yerself!"
"I challenge ye to shoot the monkey," Barbossa said next.
"I can't get ta Tortuga and Shipwreck cove without a ship, savvy?" Jack added.
"We'll provide you with that, Sparrow," Beckett said. "Will you do it?"
"Sure," Jack said. "now get me out." Barbossa looked to Jack. He knew Jack wasn't that stupid, especially for a head. Now Barbossa was stuck in the middle. He could sit in jail and rot with nothing to lose or do as Becket was asking him to. Why not, he thought, let them be cursed.
The officer's released Jack and led him away. Jones had eternity and Barbossa had less time than that.
"So, I'll get me monkey back if I tell you where Isla de Muerta is?" he asked to confirm the bargain.
"That's the plan," Beckett said.
"Alright," Barbossa said. "The Isla de Muerta is a place that cannot be found, 'cept by those who already know where 'tis." He sighed. "To get there from here, you may want to write this down." Beckett had paper on hand and Barbossa told him the directions to the Town of Shipwreck.
"There, you will find someone besides me who knows where it is," Barbossa said.
"What good will that do us?" Beckett said.
"Ye don't have another convincing crew, I take it," Hector concluded. "and because I can't take ye to the island meself, you'll need someone who can. Good luck with the bargaining."
"That's out of the question, just tell us!" Beckett said. "You should have a map of this, right?" Beckett found he should have thought this one through a little more.
"That'd be aboard the Pearl, which is both not here and probably no longer under my command. If you really wanted to know, ye should have just caught Jack. He's got that compass of his, could have pointed you right to it. Ye didn't need me," Hector stated.
"He's right," Beckett said. "Let the captain go." Barbossa was proud of himself for this bargain. Now all was on Jack Sparrow, no longer his problem. He was released and let out into the marketplace where he became surprised to see the Black Pearl not too far from Port Royal, which gave a few fisherman quite a scare, but Barbossa didn't care about them. He shot off his pistol, letting his crew know he was still alive and the ship came into port to pick up their captain. A few officers were there to assure people the pirates weren't going to do anything to them... today. Hector boarded his ship, and took off into the Caribbean.
"That was the most pointless thing yer captain's e'er had to do, lads," he announced. "Sat in jail for a few days... oh very threathin'." The men laughed and made way out of port.
"I 'ave an eternity," Jones said. "You can keep me in here and unless you end my misery, you'll die first."
"Than I shall keep you here until you die," Beckett said. "It happens to everyone and everything Jones. That's undeniable."
"Okay, your choice-ah," he said, getting comfortable. He failed to say that he actually liked this atmosphere better than the sea all day and night. Even forty fathoms below sea level was getting a little boring. Although, he would miss the kraken. The Dutchman's captain wouldn't be able to do his job, but he already wasn't doing that so what else could happen to him? Either way, Beckett screwed himself. Why would he want to know what was at the bottom of the ocean anyways? Maybe there are some things that will always be a mystery to man. To man, that is.
"But I'll live-ah," Jones said. "Until this world ends." It was the truth Beckett wouldn't believe. "So unless ye want to take my place, I suggest ye release me for your own sake-ah." He took his pipe and lit a match with a tentacle, smoking it as he leaned back on the cell wall.
"I'll order the guards not to feed you," Beckett said.
"You have my heart in a chest, you think I need food ta live?" he asked. Beckett considered that a few moments later.
"Why won't you do this?" he asked. "It's rather easy and from what you say you've been to the near bottom already. Nothing can stop you so why don't you just do it?"
"I could care less," Jones said. "of what's at the bottom of the ocean, I have nothing else to live for besides maybe a pet which shouldn't even be my pet in the first place. So really, why would I do something for you if I have nothing to gain from it or have anything to live for?"
"I would think that if you've nothing to live for, you've nothing better to do with your time," Beckett responded.
"Time?" Jones scoffed. "I have things to occupy myself with, don't worry about that." Jones laid back, shutting his eyes.
"Throw meh back when yer tired of meh," he said before Beckett left and smoke came out of his mouth.