Chapter 17: Hidden

Genevieve watched the sky as it became a dark rose over the cover of trees. She hoped that Jack had some sort of plan. If not, they were all in trouble. She shuddered as Brigand looked over his shoulder at her, winking demurely.

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Xander followed Jack through a grove of beech trees, the sand thick and white under his bare feet.

"Where are you going Jack? There's nothing here," Xander said, stopping and leaning an arm against the trunk of one of the trees.

"Be patient lad, there's more here than meets the eye."

"Jack, if you've led us on a wild goose chase..." Xander said threateningly.

"What?" Jack challenged as he narrowed his dark eyes.

"You've endangered Gen's life."

"She knowingly endangered her own life," Jack said sourly.

"You know that she didn't have a choice," he said.

"Aye, there's always a choice lad." Jack turned and starting pushing his way through some lush bushes.

"How is this map going to help us find this make-believe treasure?"

"It's encoded," Jack said.

"Marvelous," Xander said, rolling his eyes behind Jack's back.

"What, you don't believe me?" Jack asked.

"I know I joined you when I found out you knew something about this map, but I'm still skeptical as to whether or not it exists," he said.

"Why are you skeptical, you're father was the inheritor of the map," Jack continued.
"Yes, but a treasure that was hidden by the gods," Xander asked. "Sounds a little far-fetched to me."

As he said this, lightning speared through a nearby tree and landed directly at Xander's feet.

"That's a little coincidental, huh?" Jack asked.

Xander swallowed and looked up at the clear sky. "Just a little."

"You were saying?" Jack asked with a smile.

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Brigand pulled Gen by the arm to a grove of trees and gestured for the other men on the crew to leave them.

"Now my dear lady," he said, "I know that you are in possession of the treasure map. What I want to know is why you did not deliver Captain Sparrow to Port Royal as I ordered you to. Those were the conditions of our agreement."

"Captain, it was rather difficult to persuade Sparrow to return to Port Royal after he was captured recently by Commodore Norrington. He reasoned that he did not want to draw attention to himself until some time had passed in Port Royal."

"Commendable Starr, playing along with the pirate," Brigand growled.

"You know very well you'll never be able to capture and contain Captain Sparrow," Gen said.

"And what makes you so sure of that?" Brigand asked, overly interested as he leaned against a palm tree.

"Because he's too smart for you," Gen said.

Brigand grinned at her and then swept an arm out, smacking her across the face and knocking her onto her back in the sand.

"So quick to change your allegiance Ms. Starr?" Brigand spat.

"If he's working against you, then I'm on Jack's side," Gen said, sticking her chin out at him.

"I've had enough of this, where's the map?" Brigand pulled her up so that she was eye-level with him.

"I don't have a map," Gen said.

"Of course you do," said Brigand with a smile. "Funny that I didn't see your father in you until I learned of your deception in regards to your gender. Your father was a liar and a traitor, Gen, just like you. Imagine, consorting with pirates and scoundrels! You even had it in your head to seek out the son of the man who your father had worked alongside, plotting against me."

"What are you talking about? You made me go after Sparrow," Gen said.

"I released you from duty. The minute you stepped off the Ruby, you did as you chose. At least," he held up a finger and chuckled, "that is how it will be perceived."

"Why set me on a wild goose chase? Having me try to apprehend Sparrow?" Gen questioned. "I was never going to bother you again," she said quietly.

"Of course you would," Brigand countered. "Maybe not immediately, but eventually you would seek me out again. You're just as stubborn as he was in that respect. He thought that the treasure would lead to nothing but death and destruction. However, I have been searching for this treasure for more than twenty years. If you had not been on my ship, I never would've been given this opportunity twice in a lifetime. A chance to find the treasure of all time."

"You're crazy," Gen said. "There's nothing here but sand and palm trees."
"You don't have all the facts, my dear girl," Brigand said.
"Allow me to enlighten you."