'Tortuga? Tortuga?' The young man asked angrily. 'You didn't tell me, or any of us for that matter where we were going and we end up in this godforsaken place!'

He was what many people would call handsome, with long slightly unkempt brown hair and tanned skin. His body was lean but strong- reminiscent of a bear. His eyes were blazing with anger and he appeared to have a deep loathing towards the person he was talking to.

'Please Will.' The young woman pleaded. 'I'm sure there's some reason we're here.'

The young woman had a fair face and was wearing sailor's clothes. She looked similar to a china doll- painted and easily breakable- yet there was strength in her eyes. A strength which seemed to radiate around her; forming an invisible aura. And these strong eyes were looking right into William's very soul.

He looked at her and sighed.

'I'm…. sorry Elizabeth.' He said finally but there was no sign of remorse in his voice.

Elizabeth looked away. She felt a strange sensation in her stomach. Guilt. But what for? Jack's death? Betraying Will? Or both? All throughout the journey Will had hardly talked and when he did he had been cold and distant. Did he know? Or just suspect something was up? It was coming all too much for her to take. She still loved Will no matter what but his feelings towards here seemed to be decreasing.

Will however was feeling an entirely different set of emotions. He wasn't really that angry they were in Tortuga- he had known they had to get a crew from somewhere. But he had all the anger burning inside of him- like a caged demon- struggling to get free. If he didn't let it out- who knows what might happen? He was angry with Jack, with Barbossa, with Davy Jones and with Elizabeth. Especially Elizabeth, he felt so betrayed, the woman he loved and who he had done all this to save didn't love him. That hurt him more than any of the wounds Davy Jones's crew had put upon him.

'Aye lad' Cut in the other man interrupting both of their trains of thought. 'You should watch your temper.'

A monkey was sat on his shoulder, like an imp or demon of lore. It had a strong attachment to its owner and seemingly understood every word he said. He had a lined, weather-worn face. It was obvious this pirate had been in many battles- over money, ships and women.

'Yes captain.' Snapped Will mockingly.

Barbossa looked at Will thoughtfully. He had been most intrigued to find out about Bootstrap's fate and saw in Will more than a little piece of his father. In his eyes both of them were not pirates- too noble, and always wanting to do the right thing. And they both never accepted Barbossa as captain. Which was more than a little annoying. Most of the crew (Who was left at least.) seemed to accept Barbossa was captain; even Gibbs had grudgingly agreed.

Gibbs looked at the proceedings and shook his head. He looked at William and whispered 'I know you don't like this- and to be frank neither do I. But Barbossa is captain and if you try to mutiny against him you'll probably be keel-hauled. Understand?'

Will nodded but still kept his eye on Barbossa. How could he ever trust the man who had condemned his father to such a terrible fate?

'Anyway you really think we'd set off on such a journey without more of a crew- or a bigger ship!' Barbossa continued indicating the vessel they had come to the island in. 'Come on- Mr. Gibbs, Mr. Turner and Miss. Swann we have a crew to recruit.'

He walked away from the ship, quickly followed by Jack, the monkey, and after a moment's hesitation- the others.

Meanwhile Beckett's assassin sat in one of Tortuga's various taverns. This tavern was called (possibly even more ironically than the one in Port Royal.) 'The Faithful Bride'. It was a run-down place but was full of customers all the same. Mostly pirates, or men who had fallen from respectability and had nothing else to do than drink the pain away. Unfortunately for her this place was full of prostitutes and already she had been asked repeatedly what her price was. It didn't matter to them how pretty the women were- they were too drunk to care. At least in Port Royal the noblemen only wanted beautiful women so even if she hadn't worn her disguise no one would have troubled her. Unlike Fool's paradise the women had no class here and were just as bad as the pirates who loved their services.

She wasn't wearing the same clothes as she did with her meeting with Beckett. Anybody wearing a cloak and a mask in Tortuga would immediately be held up for scrutiny. Secrets didn't go down to well here. She would have most likely have gota sword in her throat. So instead she just wore her normal clothes; black boots, trousers, a shirt, a jacket with hidden pockets and a belt she could attach swords and pistols to. A corset or dress would be impractical especially if she needed to get away quickly.

She was still contemplating what she would do when William and Elizabeth came. If they came. She wouldn't kill them- she knew that. Her oath still stood. Best to just forget about it. People never reacted well to the fact someone wanted them killed. Especially when they found out you were the one sent to kill them. There was plenty of rum here, hardly anyone knew her, and nobody would care how much she drank.

She was aware of the tavern doors opening and shutting. Someone, or some people, had entered. This didn't faze her though. It was probably some drunkard or a crew of pirates looking to spend some newly-found treasure. If you ignored them they'd usually ignore you. She lowered her tri-corn hat slightly and pulled her drink closer to her. People never bothered you if you looked like a depressed drunk. They just let you wallow in your grief. A hand suddenly pressed on her shoulder and her drink almost fell from her grasp.

A monkey leaped off her shoulder and onto her table. It had a devilish look in its eyes.

'Vermin.' She spat and tried to push the demon off the table. It just screamed at her and tried to grab her necklace. It tried to escape but found the woman had grabbed it round the waist.

'Now ye'll get what's comin' to you.' She said angrily. Suddenly her expression changed.

'Jack….' She whispered a look of shock forming on her face leaning in closer. But before she could do anything else she heard the click of a pistol right behind her head.

'That be my creature- hand it over.' Stated an oddly familiar voice.

'Who's asking?' She enquired silently praying that the voice did not belong to who she thought it did.

'Captain Barbossa.' The man answered puzzledly. 'And who be asking?'

She let go of the monkey and it crawled back onto its master's shoulder. Slowly she reached for her pistol and whipped round suddenly aiming it at Barbossa's head.

Both of them looked at each other, neither breaking eye contact. No one in the tavern took much notice- incidents like this were common- usually everyone just let them fight to the death, it was safer that way. A cold blade was suddenly put to her throat.

'Shoot him and you'll go down too.' William Turner threatened.

'There be no point Mr Turner, she'd never shoot me.' Barbossa said cockily, lowering his pistol.

William looked slightly surprised when Barbossa said 'she' but decided not to say anything and took his sword away from her throat. The woman got up; still aiming her pistol at Barbossa's head.

'Really Hector?' She asked 'You really think I'd never shoot you?'

Her breath stunk of alcohol and raw meat; her clothes were loose-fitted and her shirt had a large red stain on the side of it. All of her body was covered up- except from her neck upwards. Her face was gaunt, almost skeletal, as if she weren't living at all. She was not someone you would look twice at in the street- her eyes were plain brown and so was her hair. It was almost impossible to tell her age but Will guessed she was probably in her late thirties or early fifties. You could describe her as plain if it was not for the large diagonal scar that ran from her right cheek to the bottom of her throat.

'Never- not if you want Jack back.' He answered with a smile.

'Jack is dead.'

'And I can get him back- I know where he is. At the end of the world where-'

'Why? Why? You hate Jack.' She questioned her voice filled with contempt.

'I'm sorry to interrupt.' Elizabeth said hesitantly 'But aren't we supposed to be getting a crew? And who is this person?'

The woman turned to look at Elizabeth. She had already deduced the young man was William Turner and although this woman next to her didn't look like a governor's daughter- much too dirty and the clothes were not refined at all- the picture she had been given matched her face perfectly. They both didn't seem to be acting like fiancés but that wasn't her problem. Elizabeth just looked at her with disgust- even the prostitutes had better hygiene and clothing than this woman.

'If I'm right' Gibbs added seemingly out of the blue. 'This woman is Catherine Vane.'

'Gibbs.' Catherine said happily, she relaxed a little and stopped staring at Elizabeth. 'Long time no see. What are you doing with him?' She asked motioning towards Barbossa with the pistol.

'As I said earlier Miss. Vane- we're going to get Jack.' Barbossa smiled while taking a bite out of an apple.

'You're going to sail to purgatory?

'In a way, yes.'

'So you're going to take a crew to what is essentially Hell.?'

'Yes.'

'A world without Jack is a world not Worth livin' in' Gibbs remarked solemnly.

'Well we're all living in it.' Catherine sighed and sat back down. She buried her head in her hands. Barbossa was still alive- how could that be? And why would he want to get Jack back? And why didn't she just shoot him? Too many questions were in her head- she wanted to drink, to forget it all and be in oblivious bliss.

'I need a drink.'

Will had surveyed the situation for a while. Too many questions were going unanswered for his taste.

'You still haven't told us who you are.' He prompted.

'You know me name…'

'That's not enough. How do they know you?'

'I used to crew the pearl.'

With your father. She said in her head. He was so like him, no so much in looks, but the way he talked- heck even the way he stood reminded her of him. Bill was alive in him- she wanted to say so much to him but kept her face expressionless. Even though the room was full of the sounds of fighting, laughing and drinking, there seemed to be a silence in the room. She couldn't help but notice they all were staring at her. William looked confused, Barbossa was smiling and so was Gibbs but for different reasons and Elizabeth was looking at Catherine with an expression of disgust.

'The Pearl?' Elizabeth asked.

'Aye,' She answered.

'So why weren't you cursed by the Aztec gold?'

'I left just before the mutiny.'

'Why?'

'Look Missy.' Catherine narrowed her eyes intensely. 'I didn't ask for a bloody inquisition.'

'We're looking for crew' Gibbs started bravely.

'Is she worth having on the ship?' Will asked Gibbs.

Barbossa decided to answer that question instead. 'Not the best sailor but a good fighter…. When she's not drunk…'

'I'm not a dog Hector. I'm not for sale- I can talk you know.' She hissed angrily.

'So will ye join me crew? Beckett has Davy's heart… We need Jack to get it back.'

'I know about the heart and to answer your question…Of course not you bastard!'

'Don't you want to save Jack?'

'Of course but not if it means fraternising with you- you still owe me.'

'And how did you know about the heart?' Questioned Elizabeth suspiciously.

Catherine ignored her and went back to her drink.

Barbossa looked her with his steely glare and called the others over to him. They talked for several minutes while Catherine helped herself to the rum. Finally they stopped and Barbossa came towards her.

'I'll give you what I owe if ye come with us.' He stated.

She contemplated his offer, she still hated him but if he could settle the debt… And save Jack as well… Her oath meant she was inclined to accept anyway.

'Fine but tell me why you need me?'

'We need all the fighters we can get, Davy's crew be a terrible lot. And….. I need someone I can trust.' He finished and smiled- showing all his rotten teeth.

Will turned to Gibbs. 'Who is she?' He whispered.

'A lost soul' he said simply leaving Will very confused. Why all the riddles? He had noticed when she first saw him; she had for an instant, a look of utter surprise. Had she known his father? He wanted to ask but she looked irritable and that stain on the side of her shirt looked suspicious.

Catherine started to lift a water-logged bag off the floor.

'So if you get your stuff we'll be able to get more crew.' Barbossa said happy he had made a deal.

'This is all me stuff.' She remarked irritably.

'Oh'

A/N This is my second chapter- less description this time round. I feel the first chapter was a lot better but I'll probably edit this soon so it's more towards my liking. Add more description and answer a few more questions. I'm hoping it's not too Mary Sueish and am still working on writing the characters in character. Hope you like it. And this one is longer for some reason. Still no Bootstrap though… I need to add a flashback or scene on the Dutchman in the next chapter for sure. As always please review.