I'm SORRY!!!!!!!!! Internet was down, and year twelve reared its ugly head with tests and assignments and homework…I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!

Remember how I said Dead Man's Chest characters are coming in? Well…here they come!

Not -- dead

'Alright, how do I look?'

Will turned around and took in Tara's new outfit. 'Out-of-place and under-dressed,' he admitted.

Tara glanced down at her attire. 'That'll do, I suppose…' she said with a laugh. 'At least I'm clean.'

Will frowned. 'You haven't smelled Jack yet have you?'

'Oh, is that what it was?'

They both laughed but stopped as someone cleared their throat. Tara looked up as Will turned around. Jack stood silently at the foot of the stairs, eyeing them suspiciously.

'What's so funny?' he asked.

They glanced at each other. 'Nothing.'

Whatever it was, Jack didn't like it. 'Well, when you've finished, would you be so kind as to join myself and Mister Barbossa in my quarters?' He didn't wait for a reply but headed back up the stairs.

Tara looked at the floor guiltily. 'I don't think he likes me.'

Will groaned. 'Jack doesn't like anybody.' He followed the Captain up the stairs.

Tara hung back, thinking. She'd given everything up for a hunch, what if she was wrong to do so?

Live together, die alone, she remembered, if it has to come to that. You're on your own.

She too started up the stairs.

X

Will met her at the doors to the Captain's Quarters. He had a sympathetic look in his eye. Tara couldn't quite understand why, until she realised she was nervous and it must have shown. He opened the door for her in chivalrous fashion and followed her in. As they entered, Tara took in the décor. A large room, with wooden panelling, painted black…or dark grey. All flat surfaces were cluttered with something, candles, hourglasses, chests of all sizes, cloths, parchment, books, and, on the table in the centre, maps and charts. Barbossa sat in a chair, his feet on the table, looking up at the newcomers. Jack stood at the grimy window, looking out at the dark ocean as it reflected the moonless sky above. He ignored them.

Barbossa spoke first. 'Take a seat.' He nodded at the empty chairs around the table, with the exception of one, on which lay Jack's effects. Tara sat down beside Barbossa, as far from Jack's seat as physically possible, Will took a seat in the middle impartially.

'Now, Miss Sparrow…' Barbossa began.

Jack jerked his head around and gave him a look that would melt Antarctica.

Tara fiddled with her hands awkwardly. 'Tara, if you please, sir.'

Barbossa rolled his eyes. 'Tara then. Would you like to know why you're here?'

Tara said nothing, waiting for him to continue, but Jack interrupted.

'Yes, do tell us why she's here!' he snapped and sat down in his chair.

Barbossa frowned at him before continuing airily. 'You're here because you almost died.'

Tara raised a curious eyebrow. 'Oh, yes,' she looked across at Jack, 'because that explains everything.' A smile tugged at Jack's face, one which he fought to subdue.

Barbossa let out a characteristic cackle. 'You'd be surprised. Every soul aboard this ship was doomed t' die'

'You say we're dead?' Will said with a hint of ridicule.

Barbossa shook his head. 'Well what do you think Mister Turner?'

Tara had rested her chin on the heel of her hand. 'I don't think that explains why I'm here.'

He raised an eyebrow. 'I'm not in a position to explain.'

Jack glared at him. 'What are you in a position for then?'

'My job is to take you back to the Bayou.'

Jack raised an eyebrow. 'Up river?'

'Aye.'

'I won't be going that far for no reason, mate,' Jack looked at Tara, 'you'll be getting off at Port Royal.'

X

Meanwhile, many leagues away, in a shack on the Pantano River, a woman smiled into a bowl of black water and looked lovingly at an albino, Burmese python, slung across her shoulders.

'Soon,' she told it, 'soon they'll come, and they'll see…'

Review if you're still reading, I won't blame you if you yell at me, in fact I give you permission to yell at me!