Chapter 10:

*Ida's POV*

*A tavern*

"Keep a sharp eye," Uncle Jack says to Mr. Will and I before sitting down at a table with the person we now know as Mr. Gibbs.

"Now," Mr. Gibbs speaks up, "what's the nature of this venture of yourn?"

"Ida and I are going after Black Pearl." Mr. Gibbs almost chokes on his drink, hearing this. "I know where it's going to be, and I'm going to take it."

"Jack, it's a fool's errand," Mr. Gibbs reasons with him. "Why, you know better than me the tales of the Black Pearl."

"That's why Uncle Jack know what Barbossa is up to," I add in.

"All I need a crew," Uncle Jack finishes.

"From what I hear tell of Captain Barbossa, he's not a man to suffer fools, nor strike a bargain with one. He will probably use you woman as a toy."

"Well," Uncle Jack speaks, "then I'd say it's a very good thing I'm a fool then, eh?"

"Also no one could use me as a toy," I chuckled a little.

"Prove me wrong. What makes ye think Barbossa will girl up his ship to you?"

"Let's just say it's a matter of leverage, eh?" he nods to both Mr. Will and I.

"The kids?"

"This one is the child of Bootstrap Bill Turner. His only child. And this one is the daughter of Davy Jones, his only child."

I can feel Mr. Will's eyes on me in surprised.

"Are they now? 'Leverage,' says you. 'I think I feel a change in the wind,' says I," Mr. Gibbs continues, "I'll find us a crew. There's bound to become sailors on this rock crazy as you."

"One can only hope," Uncle Jack says, "take what you can."

They make a toast. "Give nothing back," Mr. Gibbs joins in.

The two drink together.

"Why did you keep the fact you are his daughter?" Mr. Will asked me, consciously.

"To keep you and the others safe."

*James's POV*

*Port Royal*

The beautiful ring is in my hands staring back at me. I have never been this long without having Miss Ida with me, other than missions. No one else in my office.

My eyes stare out to the ocean as I sigh. "Please return to me my sweet little Ida," I speak to the ocean, "I'm missing your smiling face terribly."

*Ida's POV*

*With Jack, Gibbs, Will, and Crew on a dock*

"Feast your eyes, Captain," Mr. Gibbs presents the crew, "all of them, faithful hands before the mast, every man worth his salt and crazy to boot."

"So this is your able-bodied crew?" Mr. Will asked.

"You, sailer!" Uncle Jack calls for one of them.

"Cotton, sir."

"Mr. Cotton...do you have the courage and fortitude to follow orders and stay true in the face of danger and almost certain death?" our captain asks the young man, only getting never in return. "Mr. Cotton! Answer, man!"

"I think he's mute Uncle Jack," I commented.

"Indeed sir," Mr. Gibbs agrees. "Poor devil has his tongue cut out, so he trained the parrot to talk for him. No one's yet figured how."

"Amazing," I speak.

"Mr. Cotton's...parrot. Same question."

"Wind in the sails! Wind in the sails!" it answers for it's master.

"Mostly, I believe that means 'yes'," I guessed.

"O'course it does," Uncle Jack says, then turned to Mr. Will. "Satisfied?"

"Well," Mr. Will speaks, "you've proved they're mad."

"That's true," I add.

"And what's the benefit for us?" a voice speaks up from the other side of the line.

Uncle Jack walks over to the owner, removing the person's hat. We followed him. "Anamaria," he speaks her name, but gets slapped hard on the cheek.

"I suppose you didn't deserve that one either?" Mr. Will asked for the both of us.

"No," Uncle Jack groans a little, "that one I deserved."

"You stole my boat!" Anamarie exclaims.

"Typical Uncle Jack," I whispered to Mr. Will with a small giggle.

"Actually," Uncle Jack tries to speak, but she slaps him again, "borrowed. Borrowed without permission, but with every intention of bringing it back to you."

"But you didn't!"

"You'll get another one," he says to her.

Anamaria points at Uncle Jack with her forefinger, "I will."

"A better one," Mr. Will says with a smile.

"A better one!" Uncle Jack smiles as well, agreeing.

"That one," I point to the Interceptor.

"What one?" Uncle Jack asks, then sees me pointing to a ship. "That one?!" He turns back to Anamaria, "Aye that one. What say you?"

"Aye!" the crew agrees.

"Anchors aweigh," Cotton's Parrot joins in.

"No, no, no, no, no, it's frightful bad luck to bring women aboard, sir," Mr. Gibbs argues.

"It'd be far worse not to have them," Uncle Jack argues back. "Besides," he then smiles, "Ida, the goddess of the Sea and the daughter of Davy Jones, is your first Lieutenant." I smiled at the title given.

A storm appears upon us at the ocean.

"How can we sail to an island that nobody can find with a compass that doesn't work?" Mr. Will asked a good question.

"Aye," Mr. Gibbs speaks, "the compass doesn't point north but we're not trying to find north, are we?" Turns to Uncle Jack. "We should drop canvas, sir."

"She can hold a bit longer and Ida can help us get there smoothly."

"What's in your head that's put you in such a fine mood, Captain?"

"We're catching up," Uncle Jacks smiles to me, placing an arm around my shoulders.