Author: immortaljedi aka jedipati

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or the setting. I do own some of the plot.

Pairing and Characters: Ensemble cast, through AWE. Mentions of W/E

Rating: PG-13

Warnings: Pirate activity, some violence. Basically at the level of the movies.

Summary: Two plots collide, and the Dutchman and her crew are caught right in the middle. And one question must be asked- was Destiny really averted? Sequel to "The Great Escape Attempts"

Author's Notes: We now start the major plot of the story- much like AWE, but there will be big differences. At times, I will be taking dialogue almost directly from the movie. Sometimes, T&T had the best way to put things. I'll try to always let you know when I do.

Ch 2


Maccus entered the Captain's cabin. "Sorry, Captain. There was a fight in the crew quarters."

"And is it sorted out?" the Captain asked.

"Aye, it is. Penrod and Ratlin are on punishment duty f'r the next week."

Captain Jones nodded once. "Good. Now that all four of you are here, I want ta know what you learned."

"Jimmylegs, you heard the rumors first," Koleniko said.

The boson nodded. "Aye. The rumors are that Lord Beckett's looking for a way to control the very sea itself."

The Captain laughed. "He'd have a hard time of it, without me or the Dutchman."

"Everyone says he wants to control the devil of the seas, too, Captain," Koleniko said.

"Hah."

"Captain, he's searching for the chest."

The Captain scowled at that. "Oh he is…" He stood up abruptly and crossed to the line of small windows.

"There's more, Captain," Maccus said. "Someone- no one knows who- is trying to bring Sparrow back."

Captain Jones turned to look at him. "There can be no way ta bring him back. He will be stuck in the Locker for eternity." He scowled. "Why do they want him?"

Maccus winced. "I don't know."

"Is there any good news? Or perhaps any news that you understand?" The Captain's sardonic questions made all four of them flinch.

"The word is out that you're the one who killed Sparrow. We're not sure how people have figured that out, but it's out there. No one will dare try to renege on a bargain with you again."

The Captain nodded. "Anything else?"

"No other news, sir," Palifico said.

"Fine. And did anything serious happen?"

"No, Captain."

"It was a normal leave, Captain."

"Not a thing."

"No problems."

The Captain nodded at the answers. "Good. Now explain exactly why Turner and Swann decided ta humiliate that man."

"I haven't gotten the whole story yet, Captain," Palifico said. "But apparently, the man was one of Beckett's personal clerks. And Turner's never hidden his hatred of Beckett."

"And Swann likes him even less," Maccus interjected. "I'd say they took the time for some harmless revenge."

Koleniko snickered. "Not harmless to that man's dignity."

Jimmylegs and Palifico started to snigger.

Maccus suppressed his own laughter. The Captain snorted.

"Very well," Captain Jones said. He frowned for a moment. "Since it seems that this was a fairly smooth leave, we're done for now. Tell the crew to keep an ear out for rumors about this Beckett. We don't want him getting too close to the chest."


Captain Hector Barbossa looked at the chaos that was Singapore after an attack by the East India Trading Company. He had come here in an attempt to get Sao Feng to help him get Jack Sparrow back. Barbossa needed Sparrow to fulfill the vow Barbossa had made to Tia Dalma. The meeting with Sao Feng had been going well, until they'd been attacked.

Then all bedlam had occurred, and he had barely escaped with both his life and the lives of his very ragtag crew.

On the other hand, Sao Feng had agreed to let him use a ship and the charts to find Jack Sparrow.

Barbossa scowled. That was a mixed blessing at best. They needed Sparrow, or at least that which he carried, but Barbossa would rather leave the other Pirate Lord in the Locker.

Barbossa sighed. Even if they could find Sparrow and get back to the land of the living from the Locker, there was no guarantee that Sparrow would go along with the plan Barbossa had in mind. And there was no guarantee that the rest of the Pirate Lords would agree either.

"Captain Barbossa."

Barbossa looked over at Joshamee Gibbs, one of the few survivors from the Black Pearl. The survivors had made their way to Tia Dalma's hut and met Barbossa.

"What is it, Master Gibbs?"

"We're ready to go."

"Cast off then," Barbossa said. "We don't want t' wait around for the Company men t' find us."

Gibbs nodded. "Aye, Captain," he said.

Gibbs turned and gave the order as Barbossa smiled slightly. He headed for the prow of the little Chinese Junk- the Hai Peng- to talk to Tia Dalma. "We ha' come to the moment, Captain Barbossa," she said. "An' I ha' not seen any sign that you can bring the Pirate Lords together."

"Beckett is continuing his efforts to control the seas. It may take time, but by the time we return with Jack Sparrow, the Brethren Court will have been summoned. Sao Feng agrees and will summon them, if they aren't summoned within a month."

"An' what will you do?"

"I will not renege on our bargain if that's what ye mean, ye can be sure of that."

The wind caught the sails and they pulled away. Barbossa looked up. "An' you can rest easy. Ye will be freed from this human form."


Beckett watched as the pirates were led up to the gallows he had ordered built. He'd finally gathered enough power to order the deaths of the pirates, without waiting for the Royal Navy.

He nodded. The wanted notices for Turner, Swann, the unnamed pirate captain, and the voodoo priestess had been sent out. One of his agents had just returned from Singapore, claiming that the pirate and the priestess had been there.

There had been no sign of Turner and Swann since Mercer had seen them in Tortuga nearly two months ago.

Beckett frowned. The two of them were his best chance to control the seas. They had obviously found a way to escape from Davy Jones, and were the only two known survivors of Sparrow's ill conceived plan to find the chest.

If Beckett had had been in charge, they would have waited until Jones was nowhere close to that area of the Caribbean before searching for the chest.

As word or that escapade had slowly crept around the globe, Beckett had raged. The situation was all the more aggravating because the Dead Man's Chest had been found before Jones had collected Sparrow's soul. There had to have been survivors of that mess, and they had to have spread the word. Beckett now knew that it had been Turner and Swann who had survived. And yet the information was still too vague to be helpful.

No one knew what had happened to the chest. Some said survivors from the Black Pearl had it. Others said that the son of Bootstrap Bill, whoever that was, had it. Still others said that Jones had managed to reclaim it.

None of them should have it. Beckett needed it. He needed to be able to control Jones, so that he could control the sea and eradicate piracy. The age of pirates was over. It was beyond time for the last of them to die.

Beckett considered for a moment. Perhaps he could bargain with Jones. Offer the man a letter of Marque, and employ him. It was something that bore further thought.

Jones would be more useful as a servant, but as an ally, he might be more willing to aid the crown.

Beckett turned to look at Captain Groves, who was waiting patiently. "Ah, Captain. I believe you have a report for me."

"Yes, sir. According to a spy in the Chinese pirate's organization, the pirate Captain is named Barbossa."

"Ah, very good. We'll have to amend the arrest warrant and posters."

"Sir… Barbossa died two years ago. Sparrow killed him."

Beckett smiled. "Captain Groves, I believe that you will find that there is more to life then what we've all been taught. There is much that cannot be seen. This Barbossa may have been killed. But he is alive now."

Groves looked confused. Beckett smiled. "Do you read Shakespeare?" he asked.

"Some, sir. Are you referring to Hamlet?"

"I am."

Groves nodded. "I take your meaning, sir."

Beckett watched complacently as the last of the pirates scheduled to hang today breathed their last.

Beckett nodded. There were only a few pirates facing the gallows today. That would change, if he could only get more support from the Admiralty.


As my beta said, "scheming bad guys are not good." However, they do make for interesting plots. And thank you arquenniel for the wonderful beta work.