Port Royal, it was normally such a beautiful town. There were very few days Jamaica saw even a drop of rain, never mind a downpour such as what flooded the streets on this day. The ocean looked as if it were dancing from the force of the rain hitting its surface, creating a mist. The thick clouds overhead cast a dark gloomy shadow over the entire island and it suddenly seemed as if all of the colour had been washed away. The sky was grey and the fort was a damp stone brown; the sea was no longer blue and inviting but dull and violent.

Not even the flowers covering the numerous tables or the uniquely patterned China table settings caught the light. It was meant to be a true day or celebration and joy but everything, even nature had turned against them.

Elizabeth sat facing the open ocean she had once dreamt of exploring, a bouquet lying limply in her hands as water dropped from her once immaculate hair and made up face, onto the sodden wedding gown.

Ahead of her, a line of ships now littered the bay, all flying the East India Trading Company flag. From them, longboats filled with soldiers rowed towards the shore. Some with men on horse back, other with armed men. They were coming to shore and flocking into town and already Elizabeth knew why. There was only one reason why.

By the time she came to her senses and stood, fleeing into the town, Will was already shackled in irons and held by numerous EITC soldiers. He wasn't struggling but he looked pain, an emotion Elizabeth was able to match as she reached him.

"Will. Why is this happening?"

"I don't know." He almost whispered before pausing and taking a moment to take in the vision of her, the woman who should have been his wife by now. "You look beautiful."

"I think it's bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding." They shared a smile, and though it was forced, it filled its purpose of bringing some small comfort to them both. That was until Elizabeth's father, Governor Swann, pushed through the crowd.

"Make way. Let me through!" His commanding voice forced the crowds to part although as he tried to reach the young couple he was barred by crossed spears. "How dare you! Stand your men down at once! Do you hear me?" The ageing man appeared flustered, eyes moving between the guards, his daughter and the man who had joined them and was currently shedding his soaked through overcoat.

"Governor Weatherby Swann, it's been too long."

Governor Swann frowned, his brow creasing and his eyes squinting, as he focused on the small man. "Cutler Beckett?"

Beckett was a small man with a petite figure. Her was short, slender and in a room of tall, armed soldiers he held very little presence. Though now in this moment, wearing his primed wig and spotless Kings Man attire, he held the gaze of every man present. He commended their attention and their doings and although he didn't seem like much his face spoke of the harm he could do. His eyes were dangerous, his gaze focused in a way that was menacingly calculative.

"It's Lord now. Actually." The man replied straightly.

The spears were then uncrossed, leaving Governor Swan free to approach Beckett.

"Lord or not, you have no reason and no authority to arrest this man." The Governor motioned to Will who was still shackled and held tightly.

"In fact, I do. Mr. Mercer?" Becket turned to look over his shoulder briefly as Mercer brought forward a wooden box, opening the lid for Beckett to take out a folded parchment.

"The warrant for the arrest of one William Turner." Without glancing at the paper, he passed it into the hands of Governor Swann who took it hesitantly. Upon opening the paper and reading the heading, he wished he hadn't, and his brain forced him to do a double take.

"This warrant is for Elizabeth Swann!" He announced, hands now shaking and his voice followed the trend, quivering as he looked quickly at his daughter. She was so beautiful, on this day in particular, how could he be reading our her warrant for arrest.

"Oh, is it? That's annoying, my mistake…" Beckett took the paper back, passing it to Mercer before commanding nonchalantly, "Arrest her."

"On what charges?!" Elizabeth struggled against the two guards who were quick to grasp her arms, pulling her away from Will and securing her.

"No!" Will tried to stop them but his own guards were sure to hold him steady. Beckett did not bat an eye however, too busy sorting through the papers lying in the box. Only when he sought out what he was looking for did he turn back to the small crowd.

"Aha, here's the one for William Turner." He handed it swiftly over to the Governor, who studied the words in disbelief, and then raised a second paper in the air while announcing to the wider crowd. "And I have another one for a Mr. James Norrington. Is he present?"

"What are the charges?"

"Commodore Norrington resigned his commission some months ago." Governor Swann answered Beckett weakly, too distracted by everything to even acknowledge the cries of his daughter.

"I don't believe that was the answer to the question I asked."

"Lord Beckett, in the category of questions not answered-"

"We are under the jurisdiction of the King's governor of Port Royal and you will tell us what we are charged with."

Beckett did not answer, he only smirked as his eyes shifted towards the girl's father who was continuing to painfully read through the warrant, growing more ill which each word.

"The charge…" He started but then faded into silent. The mad looked ill, he could barely face hearing the voice of his little girl. "…is conspiring to set free a person or persons convicted of crimes against the Crown and Empire and condemned to death for which the…" His voice broke again, unable to face the truth or be the one to tell such a thing to his daughter, the girl who as of today, should have turned into a woman and a wife.

Beckett, on the other hand, appeared to have no such difficulties.

"For which the punishment, regrettably, is also death." His eyes narrowed on Governor Swann and then to Elizabeth, before finally settling on Will as he stepped up to the boy. "Perhaps you remember a Miss Nicolette Barker and a certain pirate named Jack Sparrow."

"Captain!" Will and Elizabeth forcefully chorused and then the girl finalised, "Captain Jack Sparrow."

The Lord was almost grinning, looking up at the boy only in amusement.

"Captain Jack Sparrow. Yes, I thought you might."

….

Nicolette groaned as she took a seat at her regular table in the Faithful Bride, something she was grateful to have but also disgusted at. It was nice to be surrounded by somewhat familiar faces she knew would not try to grope her at every opportunity, though she could not shake the feeling of wishing she were somewhere else.

Still, though it had been weeks, she still thought back to Jack's offer to go back to the Pearl. Every night as she lay in bed surrounded by the silence and the Edmonds of her past and present awoke inside her quiet mind, Nic wondered if she should have just said yes to him. At least then she would be out on open waters falling asleep to the sound of waves crashing against the hull instead of spending her nights at a table of ageing drunks who barely entertained the taxidermy animals hanging from the walls with their stories of their past days at sea.

It could have been worse though, she summed, she could have been dead or on the street.

"Wine for the lass. Rum for the blind man…" Nicolette chuckled as Raymond placed the chalice in front of herself and then a tankard of rum in front of Rusty…he wasn't blind but if he was able to read his cards in secret without pressing them to his one good eye it was a good day for him. "And ale for Ray." He finished, taking his seat across from Nicolette and turning to Samuel, a younger man nearer to Nicolette's age who had just returned from Japan.

"You hear George's ship was taken down by the EITC?" Nicolette subconsciously frowned as she overheard Raymond begin talking to the boy, her lips pursing as it was also news to her. Every day there seemed to be new stories on the East Indian Trading Company and with each one came the news of more deaths. "Lad was returning from the Spanish Main, they got caught off the coast of Cuba by the HMS Endeavour, Beckett's ship."

That name. It pricked her ears, like a hot needle being thrust into her head trying to melt the memories before they could reform in her mind. That name burned her from the inside out. Given she hadn't heard it spoken aloud for more years than she could count, she was surprised her body still had such a violent reaction towards it. The mark forever etched into her arm burned at just the thought of his face and her foot bounced against the floor anxiously.

"What of the crew?" Samuel asked once he swallowed his mouthful of rum. "Was Hawthorn that Captained the Devil's Siren was it not?"

"All caught, even Hawthorn. Thought to already been hung by now." Ray explained and Samuel grimaced, thinking of the man who had sat with them, merrily drinking only a month or so ago.

Nicolette joined him, remembering the blonde man not too much older than herself who sported all black attire. He was a character, loud and at time obnoxious but interesting. The man knew a lot of good stories and told the, in such a way which left Nic entranced, inspiring her dreams that night.

It was a great loss, as was each of the crew, each adding to the staggeringly high amount of pirates which had already fallen. And the numbers were growing more by day.

At first the news had crept into the port slowly and it was nothing out of the ordinary, but over the recent months the stories were growing more common and more close to home.

"Beckett?" At it came as a whisper, rough like sanding paper and raspy. Then, Nicolette pursed her lips and raised her eyes to glare at the men. "Cutler Beckett?" Nicolette didn't know how she managed to sound out his name fully. Although soon after she did she became aware of how she had been grinding her teeth together causing her jaw to ache.

Ray met her eyes, narrowing them questionably at her and nodding. "Aye, the very same." Nic scoffed, huffing a laugh and rolling her eyes as her tongue pushed against her bottom row of teeth.

She was so caught up in controlling the voices in her head, ones from memories lived long ago, that she didn't notice the men share a look or how Samuel studied her, eyes sweeping over the way her hands were balled into fists and how her eyes had glazed over.

"Familiar with him lass?" The lad asked, brow raising when she immediately nodded in reply

"Aye, We've crossed paths." Nic came back to life suddenly and reached for her wine, downing several mouthfuls. When she slammed the thick chipped metal chalice onto the table, she waved for the barmaid to bring her another, wincing at the burn now travelling down her throats and into her gut. "What's the Endeavour doing in the Caribbean? Is he not based in Africa anymore?"

"No idea, most likely passing through on his way to a slave trade deal. Just got lucky with the Siren."

"Aye, wrong place at the wrong time." Just like she had been, eleventh years ago. She had thought then that the scars would heal, that they would at least fade but still she kept them wrapped in black cotton for her skin remained melted and ugly. They were nothing compared to they others things his men did however, and she couldn't even hid those vivid memories from her view. She still dreamed of them, still remembered each of their faces.

"To Captain Hawthorn, and his crew." Ray announced, rising and stepping up to stand high about the crowds on the table. "To the Devil's Siren!"

"Aye. To the Devil's Siren!" Samuel, as well as a number of men who had been sat nearby and listening cheered, raising there mugs. However, Nicolette remained sat, barely smiling as she raised her freshly filled cup.

"Aye…to the Siren…"

…..

At the same time, in Port Royal, a man was delicately painting in the newly discovered Worlds on a map covering the wall of Beckett's office. New waters, new towns, new lands which had been hidden from poisonous hands for hundreds of year were now being filled in.

The peace was broken however as Will was led into the large office, still shackled.

"Lord Beckett, the prisoner as ordered, sir." The soldier announced, bringing Will to a stop in front of a large desk covered entirely with ornaments, papers and artefacts. The Lord in question looked up from a document he held in his hands and glanced at the chains restraining Will.

"Those won't be necessary." Beckett gestured to the chains, then as the soldier did as he commanded, he stood and moved to pout himself and his guest a drink. The room was otherwise silent and Beckett I'd t utter another word until Will was comfortable and the soldier had left them. "The East India Trading Company has need of your services." He attempted handing Will a glass but Will refused silently leaving Beckett to place down the second glass and lift his own to his lips "We wish for you to act as our agent in a business transaction with our mutual friend – Captain Sparrow."

"More acquaintance than friend." Will said casually, watching Beckett move around his desk and towards the roaring fire place. "How do you know him?"

"We've had dealings in the past." Beckett reached into the fire, retrieving the red-hot poker twisted into 'P' brand. "And we've each left our mark on the other." Will fought a smile, his gaze moving from the smoking iron to Beckett's smirk.

"What mark did he leave on you?"

Beckett ignored the question and returned the brand to its place, back into the fireplace.

"By your efforts, Jack Sparrow was set free. I would like you to go to him and recover a certain property in his possession."

"At the point of a sword?" Will asked and he was ,et with a quick reply.

"Bargain." Beckett returned to his desk and opened a wooden box similar to that he had taken Will and Elizabeth's warrant from the day before, with the East Indian Trading Company insignia carved into the lid. He removed a leather case from the box and took out several pages of parchment. "Letters of Marque. You will offer what amounts to a full pardon – Jack will be free, a privateer in the employ of England."

Upon hearing the words 'Jack' and 'Employee' in the same sentence, Will fought a laugh and rose his brow in amusement.

"Somehow I doubt Jack will consider employment the same as being free."

"Freedom." Beckett scoffed softly as he returned the papers to the box and walked out onto the balcony overlooking the bay. Will followed, taking into the sight of what was now a clear Caribbean day. It was hard to believe that just yesterday was been so miserable, there was no sign that there had even been rain. "Jack Sparrow is a dying breed. The world is shrinking. The blank edges of the map filled in. Jack must find his place in the New World or perish. Not unlike you, Mr. Turner." Beckett paused to turn and look at Will pointedly. "You and your fiancé face the hangman's noose. Do this and all charges against Elizabeth will be dropped."

Will's heart sank although some part of it tried to keep afloat just of the idea Elizabeth would be safe. However he couldn't help but smile ironically as he linked his hands behind his back. "So you still get me…" He still felt the ghostly presence of iron shackling his wrists to his feet, the looming shadow of death which he hadn't felt since Barbossa held him over that chest.

"Regretfully there is only so much I can do." Beckett was almost pouting, speaking to Will as if he were a child.

"And you get both Jack and the Black Pearl." Will squinted into the sun.

"The Black Pearl?"

"The property you want that he possesses."

"A ship? Hardly." Beckett rolled his eyes and took a sip of his drink. "The item in question is considerably smaller and far more valuable. Something Sparrow keeps on his person at all times: a compass?" Will showed a hint of recognition on his face, just visible through the thin layer of curiosity now etched into his brow. Beckett smiled. "Ah, you know it. Bring back that compass, or there's no deal." And with that Beckett turned to walk away.

He was almost back to his desk, placing his cool drink down upon a marble coaster, when something sparked his memory. How could he be so silly to forget his other request, a one much more personally useful in the grand scheme of things.

As Will began to follow him, in the hopes of being excused, Beckett turned back to the boy. "There is also one other thing…" Will initially frowned but stopped and raised his head to Beckett dutifully. "I hope you remember your once captor turned friend, Nicolette Barker?"

That name…her name, unlike Jack's, caused a taste as bitter as bile to coat Will's mouth. "Now she is just an acquaintance."

There was still an uncertainty in his mind which asked why he had helped her escape along with Jack. Daily he asked himself that very question actually. She had not helped him as Jack had, no matter how secretively or selfishly Jack had done it sometimes. She had not helped them, she had not even helped Jack. Nicolette had only sided with him at the final opportunity once they had won and she was no longer immortal.

To this day he wishes he had let her hang for it was only by luck that she hadn't killed him or Elizabeth.

"Though again, a one you helped free." Beckett smirked and crossed his office to watch the artist work, his eyes following the lines being painted with interest as it they were marks of history being drawn out right there in front of him. "It is by my understanding that she sails alongside Jack?"

"Yes." Will nodded and all of his curiousness for Beckett's bargaining plan was lost until the Lord turned slowly, fixing Will with a dark look. It was a look he had not seen before on the man, not even when he was reading out their death penalty.

"Bring me Miss Barker alive, along with Jack's compass, and I will ensure all charges are dropped against both you and your Fiancé."

There was a pregnant pause and Will's gaze never left Beckett's. The only sound was the brush strokes of the artists tool s against the harsh plastered wall. Quietly, Will took a breath, his lips running over his lips to fix their dryness.

"What business do you have with her?" He finally whispered, breaking the tension which had settling over them. All of a sudden the whether seemed a little less bright and the day was a little less beautiful, almost as if the Cursed Pearl was sailing into the bay all over again with the woman in question commanding its guns.

"Such that is unfinished." Came Beckett's minimal reply, a one Will did not push.

"And you expect her to come with me voluntarily?" Will suddenly scoffed, breaking their shared eye contact and looking around the room in thought. Jack would never allow it. He saw that look in the Captains eye when Will had held the pistol to her head on the Isle De Muerta when he wished for her to join her rancid husband. There was no way Jack was going to let Will walk away with both his compass and Nicolette. "You expect Jack to-" all of a sudden a penny dropped and it became impeccably clear what angle Beckett was taking. "Ah. So it's leverage against Jack. You think he'll agree if you have her held here?"

Will was not even sure if Jack would give up his freedom for that. After all, it wasn't exactly as if they were deeply in love. The girl had been on the Pearl alone and married for ten years and Will had every suspicion that Sparrow would let her live out another ten with Beckett if he could remain a free man.

"I must admit that is one benefit, but as I said…unfinished business." Beckett smiled, walking forward until he met Will face to face. "It is your choice Mr Turner, whether you wish to join your fiancé as a free man or walk to the gallows."