"What is this," Willa demanded as she was forced into shackles alongside James and forced by an escort of soldiers to march to where they had been about to have a wedding, the soldiers were following a gentleman who was a bit on the short side. "James, Willa," Elizabeth cried running towards them, "Why is this happening," she demanded, glaring at the soldiers, "I don't know," James answered, then complimented her, "You look beautiful," Willa sighed, wishing she wasn't in a dress at the moment. "I think its bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding," she whispered to James, then the Governor pushed his way through the crowd of wedding guests and soldiers, "Make way, let me through," he demanded, trying to reach them, but he was barred by crossed spears, "How dare you, stand down your men at once, do you hear me!" A man stepped forward and removed the short man's cloak, "Governor Weatherby Swann it's been to long," he said as he turned to face them, "Cutler Beckett," the Governor said in complete shock, Willa, James, and Elizabeth all exchanged glances, so Jack had been right after all. "Its lord now actually," Beckett corrected the Governor, as the spears were uncrossed, the Governor snorted and walked over to Beckett, "Lord or not," he snapped, angry that his daughter's wedding had been interrupted, "You have no reason and no authority to arrest them," he waved at James and Willa. "In fact I do, Mr. Mercer," Beckett informed them as a man stepped forward with a box and opened it, removing two papers, "The warrants of arrest for one James Norrington and Willa Turner," the Governor took the papers and looked at them.
"This warrant is for Elizabeth Swann," he exclaimed after having looked at the second paper twice to make sure he wasn't seeing things, "Oh is it, that's annoying, my mistake," Beckett said once he had looked at the paper himself, "Arrest her." The soldiers grabbed Elizabeth, "On what charges," she yelled as she struggled, both James and Willa trying to get free to help her, "No," they both cried as they tried to break free, "Aha, here's the one for Willa Turner," Beckett produced another two papers from the box, "And another for one Mr. Matthew Anders, is he present?" "What are the charges," Elizabeth demanded, "They haven't done anything wrong," the Governor protested, "I believe that Lieutenant Anders resigned his commission some months ago," "I don't believe that is the answer to the question I asked," Beckett retorted in kind. "Lord Beckett," Willa snapped loud enough to get everyone's attention as she, James, and Elizabeth exchanged glances, "In the category of questions not answered-," only to be interrupted by James, "We are under the jurisdiction of the King's governor of Port Royal-," exploiting the law, "And you will tell us what we are charged with," Elizabeth all but yelled at Beckett. "The charge is . . . is conspiring to set free a man convicted of crimes against the Crown and Empire and condemned to death for which the . . . ," the Governor told them, his voice faint, before he couldn't continue anymore. "For which the punishment, regrettably, is also death," Beckett stepped up to Willa and James, "Perhaps you remember a certain pirate named Jack Sparrow," "Captain," the three of them chorused forcefully, "Captain Jack Sparrow," Elizabeth said firmly, "Captain Jack Sparrow, yes," Beckett agreed, "I thought you might."
"Elizabeth be wary," Willa murmured to her as she and James were led towards where they guessed Beckett was making his headquarters, Elizabeth nodded and settled down in her cell, glad she wasn't sharing it with anyone at the moment. James glanced around and noticed everyone was watching them as they passed by, Willa had noticed it as well, they both knew they couldn't pass this opportunity up and discreetly made several hand signs at the crowd. Both knew that the network they had ended up creating would see them and take action, those particular signs meant the Governor was their first target, because he would go and do something stupid to free Elizabeth. Once the Governor was on his way to the island safe house Elizabeth would be broken out, Willa blinked as they walked into Beckett's headquarters and saw the massive map covering the wall, it was still being painted in. "Lord Beckett, the prisoners as ordered sir," the soldier said, Beckett got to his feet and poured two glasses of a drink, "Those won't be necessary," he said pointing to the shackles, the soldier nodded and unlocked them, Willa and James rubbed their wrists. "The East India Trading Company has need of your services," Beckett said handing them the drinks, Willa and James both set the drinks back on the table without even sipping them, "We wish for you to act as our agents in a business transaction with our mutual friend – Captain Sparrow."
"He's more an acquaintance than a friend," Willa told Beckett, she didn't have to ask James if they needed to pretend like they didn't know Jack's past with Beckett, "How do you know him," "We've had dealings in the past," Beckett answered removing a red-hot 'P' brand from the fireplace, "And we've each left our mark on each other." "And what mark did he leave on you," James asked, Beckett pretended not to hear that and put the brand back in the fireplace before he turned to face them, "By your efforts Miss. Turner Jack Sparrow was set free," Beckett got down to business, "I would like for you and Mr. Norrington here to go to him and recover a certain property in his possession." "Recover," James questioned, just to be sure, "At the point of the sword," "Bargain," Beckett snapped throwing open a box emblazoned with the symbol of the East India Company, he opened it and removed a sheaf of papers, "Letters of Marque, you will offer what amounts to a full pardon – Jack will be free, a privateer in the employ of England." "Somehow I doubt that Jack will consider employment the same as being free," Willa couldn't help saying, "Freedom," Beckett scoffed as walked out onto a balcony, Willa and James followed him, "Jack Sparrow is a dying breed, the world is shrinking, the blank edges of the map are filling in. Jack must find his place in the New World or perish, not unlike you Miss. Turner, Mr. Norrington, you both, along with Miss. Swann face the hangman's noose," "So you get Jack and the Black Pearl," James stated. "The Black Pearl," Beckett asked surprised, Willa and James exchanged looks, "The property you want that he possesses," James said, wondering what else there was that Jack had that was worth enough to get Beckett's interest like this.
"A ship," Beckett snorted, "Hardly, the item in question is considerably smaller and far more valuable, something Sparrow keeps on his person at all times, a compass," Willa realized what he wanted instantly. "Ah, you know it," Beckett smirked, "Bring back that compass or there's no deal," he walked back inside, "Before we do anything we have to change into something suitable for such a venture," James said, "I know, I am not going walk around Tortuga in a dress," Willa said in agreement. "Lord Beckett," they walked back in from the balcony, "We would like to change into something more appropriate for the search for Jack Sparrow," "I can't exactly go in uniform," James agreed, "That would send anyone with information about Sparrow running before we could even ask them a question." "And I am not wearing a dress to Tortuga, that is just asking for trouble," Willa said firmly, "How so," Beckett asked, "I would think wearing a dress as is proper for a woman wouldn't be any trouble." "Be that as it may, the only women in Tortuga who wear dresses are just about all ladies of the night," Willa shrugged, "If I wear a dress the men would think I was one as well, not to mention fighting in a dress is almost impossible."
Jack sighed as he tried to plot their course, but his compass wouldn't cooperate with him, he grabbed his rum and took a drink only to find that the bottle was empty, "Why is the rum always gone," he complained getting to his feet, only to find he wobbled, "Oh, that's why," he signed. He walked past his sleeping crew to where the rum was stored, he unlocked the door and went into the rum room, he reached out and picked a bottle, the only one remaining he opened it only for sand to run out, "Time's run out Jack," an unearthly voice echoed in the room. Jack whirled around to see a very familiar face, however the last time they had seen each other he didn't remember the man be covered in barnacles, "Commodore John Norrington," he said in disbelief. Commodore John Norrington was one of the few members of the Royal Navy that he not only respected, but actually liked, he fought like a pirate, thought like a pirate, it had been a running joke that if it hadn't been for the fact that the Norrington's had always joined the military he would have been the most feared pirate who ever sailed the seven seas. It was a pity he had died the way he had, he had fought a losing battle and had been captured, the captain decided to take a leaf from Barbossa's book, he had tied John to a cannon and thrown him overboard, that was about five years ago.
"You look good Jack," John said, his voice rough, "Is this a dream," Jack asked, still staring at John, "No," John shook his head, "I thought not," Jack sighed, "If it were there'd be rum," John stretched out his hand to reveal a bottle of rum in his hand. Jack took it from him, though there was a little trouble, "You got the Pearl back I see," John said, "I had some help retrieving the Pearl by the way," Jack grinned, "Your nephew, not that he wanted to do anything that helped me." "James," John said in surprise, "He's still in the Navy then," "A Commodore and about to be married last I heard," Jack nodded, "He's got the same rank as you, now what do I owe the pleasure of your carbuncle," "He sent me," John told him, "Davy Jones." "Ah, so its you then," Jack said uneasily, "He shanghaied you into his service eh," "I chose it," John corrected him, a crab escaped his sleeve, he quickly caught it and ate it, "They strapped me to a cannon. I ended up on the bottom of the ocean, the weight of the water crushing down on me, unable to move, Jack, and I thought that even the tiniest hope of escaping this fate came along, I would take it, I would trade anything for it."
"Its funny what a man will do to forestall his final judgment," Jack agreed, "You made a deal with him to," John reminded Jack, "He raised the Pearl from the depths for ye after Beckett sunk it, thirteen years you've been captain." "Technically I-," "Jack," John cut Jack off before he could run his mouth, "Won't be able to talk yourself out of this, the terms that apply to me, apply to you as well, one soul, bound to crew a hundred years on his ship." "Yes," Jack agreed, "But the Flying Dutchman already has a captain, so there's really-," "Then its the Locker for you," John yelled, "Though this is terrible, the levitation will find you and drag the Pearl back to the depths and you along with it." "Any idea of when Jones might release said terrible beastie," Jack asked after a moment, "I already told you Jack, time is up," John said, placing something on Jack's hand, "It comes now, drawn with ravenous hunger for the man who bears the black spot." Then John vanished, Jack gulped and looked at his hand and watched in horror as a black spot appeared on the palm of his hand, he yelped and grabbed a bandaged and frantically wrapped it around his hand as he rushed about the ship barking out orders for the crew. They all ran around and did as they were told, but they all knew something was up, Jack had been acting funny, even for him, for a while now, they all knew that something was happening, but not what and that scared them.
Willa stood with the Governor as James crouched down in front of the cell that Elizabeth was being kept in, "You're not . . . . . you can't be here," a guard protested, "I think you'll find they can," the Governor snapped, he was not a happy camper. "Mr. Swann," the soldier protested again, "Governor Swann still," the Governor corrected the soldier harshly, "Do you think I wear this wig to keep my head warm," "Let them have this moment to say goodbye," Willa said softly, her voice pleading. "Jack's compass," Elizabeth said to James, "What dose Beckett want with that," "Doesn't matter," James shook his head, "Willa and I are to find Jack and convince him to return to Port Royal and in exchange the charges against us shall be dropped." "No," the Governor interrupted them, "We don't we must find our own avenue to secure your freedom," "Is that a lack of faith in Jack or . . . in me," James asked, slightly hurt that the Governor didn't trust him. "Governor," Willa coughed, pulling him away from them slightly, barely speaking above a whisper, "Arrangements have been made for events such as these, after we leave both you and Elizabeth will be whisked away to safety, while James and I handle this matter with Beckett, we were lucky that we sent the information we had collected about him off to England a week ago."
"You would risk your life for Sparrow," the Governor snapped at Willa, "It does not mean he would do the same for anyone else, now where is that dog with the keys," he looked around and whistled for the prison dog. Willa sighed and shook her head, thankfully he understood that he couldn't act differently, it would tip someone off that something was in the works, placing Elizabeth in more danger, James and Elizabeth grimaced as the Governor walked off. "I have faith in you," Elizabeth told James and looked at Willa, who crouched down by James, "In all three of you, where will you find him," "Tortuga," Willa answered, "We'll start there and we won't stop searching until we find him," "And then I intend to return here to marry you," James told her. "Properly," Elizabeth asked, laughter in his voice, "With your leave, if you'll still have me," James answered, "If it weren't for these bars I'd have you already," Elizabeth smirked, they all looked up when they heard a metallic noise. It was the Governor, he had broken off a wall scone in shock, hearing his baby girl say something like that, he quickly tosses it into a dark corner, "Keep a weather eye on the horizon," Willa told Elizabeth as James kissed her goodbye and they left to begin their search.