"So, Missus-" Pintel began as he rowed past the breaker.

"Call me Peter."

"Well, that's a big change now, isn't it?" his lip curled.

"Adaptation is the key to survival," she smiled. "Or so I've been taught."

"As I were saying, Peter, what's in this for us aside from a good show when the Cap'n catches you with yer pants down, so to speak?" He grinned.

Elizabeth stared out at the inky water. "You want to serve under Jack again."

Pintel halted his rowing to lean forward. "Come again?"

"Let's see." Elizabeth counted on her fingers, "You're not serving under Barbossa, which means that there's some sort of bad blood there. You don't speak rather fondly of our current dear captain, and," she played with the finger from which her ring was absent, "you miss… working for Jack."

The boat was silent for a moment as the water lapped at the sides.

"I wouldn't go that far," Ragetti chuckled. "Jack called him scary," he thumbed at his friend.

"Oh, shut it, you!" Pintel slapped Ragetti on the back of the head, causing the man to grasp at his wooden eye. "Why would I miss working for him?"

"Forgive me if I'm wrong," Elizabeth leaned forward, "but times were rather good under him, weren't they? Maybe not quite as lucrative as they could be, but at least there was always an element of fun." She looked them over, noting the bruises and bags under their eyes. And those were only surface wounds. "Sounds like you've seen no leniency in years. Or," she leaned back, "perhaps you prefer it that way?"

The silence dragged on as Ragetti swallowed.

"You think," Pintel spoke slowly, "Jack would take us on?"

In his eyes shown a glimmer of hope which Elizabeth grasped readily. "He's going to have to. I'm taking you with me."

Ragetti broke into a smile as he searched his solemn friend. Pintel spoke, "And why you think he'd want the little lady who shackled him to the mast of his ship?"

Elizabeth should have been ready for the question, but the memory caused the fingers to turn into a fist for a moment. "I traveled to world's end to save him from Davy Jones' locker. I'd say we're even." She eyed them suspiciously, "wouldn't you?"

Ragetti and Pintel looked at each other, then back to Elizabeth. "Ye got anything else?"

Elizabeth sighed and placed her temples in her fingers. "I suppose I shall have to think of something." She looked up at the men, "Do you even know where he is? I was going to use his ship to find Will. I know Jack wouldn't be opposed to charting a course…"

"His ship?" Pintel snorted a laugh, "I reckon you mean the Black Pearl?"

"Yes?" Elizabeth squinted, unsure of the joke.

"Blackbeard's got it in a bottle!" Ragetti gave somewhat of a sorrowful laugh. "I reckon Jack's been ashore, drinking himself into a pit since that happened. He hasn't had much luck finding a replacement."

"Not that he would want one," Pintel nodded, "a replacement, that is."

"In a bottle?" Elizabeth sat up straight, "How on Earth? Never mind, I won't waste my time by asking. BUT, dear boys," she placed her hands on both of their shoulders, "I do believe we have found the perfect gift for our estranged captain." The joy in her revelation was lost on them. "What's wrong? Aren't you pirates? Don't you have a knack," she gestured with her hands, "for pillaging?"

Ragetti bit his lip, "Not from Blackbeard. He knows the dark arts, you get on his bad side and who knows what he could do to ye?"

"All the more reason to get away," Elizabeth assured. "Boys, this is the only shot we've got to secure a boat and ensure that Jack Sparrow will want to board it. With us." She pointed between them.

The two men remained silent.

"Oh, I see how it is," she huffed, "you want me to do the dirty work, then? All right, I'll take it upon myself. But you both will have to have my back every step of the way. Or- or I'm leaving you behind when I get my hands on that ship," she finished with indignation.

"All right, Peter Poppet," Pintel held out his calloused hand with a smile, "Ye've got yourself a deal."

She shook his hand with equal encouragement, turning to the meeker of the duo.

"Good luck," Ragetti piped up as he shook her delicate fist. He looked to Pintel in worry.

"Yes, I know, she's got soft hands." Pintel shook his head, "So help me, we're going to have to do a lot of covering."

Their rowing renewed as the Queen Anne's Revenge loomed on the horizon.