Woot woot! Can we say update? Okay, so I lied about putting up two chapters and I apologize. See there was this demolition derby in town and I'm a redneck so I ditched you guys and went to the Derby/Fair with friends. Anyways, I feel bad for you guys. Cliff hangers and all.

Then when I tried to update for you it wouldn't work:(

I tried to take a unique spin on Jack's past and so that's the reason why I didn't do the stereotypical Jack was a Captain of a ship under Beckett. Made him a foot soldier! Also when I wrote this I didn't really like where it ended up so bear with me. Anyways, without further ado I give you chapter 4. God Bless and REVIEW!!!!

Disclaimer: Must I say this? Not mine. Mouse, no suing, no money, Johnny Depp in a hot tub...sorry.

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18 years ago

"Lieutenant Sparrow, I'd like for you to gather a shore party and go and retrieve the cargo. It's about an hours walk to St. Peters but there is a clear path. Men will be waiting for you so all you have to do is follow this map, get the cargo and bring it back to the ship, understood?" Beckett briefed his newest officer.

"Aye, Captain." Jack responded and turned away.

"Oh, and Lieutenant...you're doing fine work. Keep it up," Beckett called out.

Jack nodded his head in acknowledgment and left the cabin to gather some men. So, far he was enjoying his new position with the Company. Mostly because he had authority over almost everyone and was allowed to carry his pistols. He did not wear the wig once as he vowed and currently it was probably heading for the Locker or becoming a handsome birds nest.

His latest travels with the Company had lead him to the shores of Madagascar, a beautiful yet undeveloped island. It had beaches and forests and ocean but no ports so they were anchored out on the beach.

Jack led about twenty men on this excursion through the jungle. St. Peters was not an easy town to get to. It was a straight shot yes and had a little bit of a path but it was more like an obstacle course than anything. Jack had to cut down overgrown vines and brush, they had to cross a small river on a rickety bridge that looked as if it might snap at any moment and avoid the wild life that watched curiously from afar. When they reached town they would retrieve whatever cargo and then they would be on their way to deliver the cargo else where.

The group finally made it into town after the long and hot hike through the woods to find themselves unwelcome by the townspeople. They stared and glared and snickered at the uniformed men with contempt and fear. Jack ignored it all and led the men to the building Beckett said he would find the men in charge of the cargo. Jack entered by himself and was surprised to see what a mess it was inside. He peeked his head around a couple corners before he spied an older man looking out the window.

Jack cleared his throat to get the mans attention.

The older gentleman turned his head to Jack and sized him up. "Who the hell are you?"

"Sir, I'm Lt. Jack Sparrow with the East India Trading Company. My men and I have come to retrieve some cargo to be delivered to Elizabethtown," he stated properly.

"Ye don't look like any officer I ever saw...Jack Sparrow ye say? I've heard the name. Okay, now we mustn't dilly. This shipment is already several days late. Have your men meet us in the back," he said and took off out of the building.

Jack raised his eyebrows and mumbled, "Okay, then."

Jack and his men went around back in time to see the older gentleman coming out of the basement of the building. He yelled something but Jack didn't understand the language he used. After a minute more people started coming out from the basement, squinting in the afternoon sunlight. They were dirty and beaten looking and Jack noticed the extreme fear in their eyes when they saw his uniform. It was then Jack realized what his cargo was.

"There you go, Lieutenant," the older man said as if presenting a prize.

Jack already knew the answer but he asked his question anyways. "Are they going to help load the cargo?"

"Are ye a bloomin' idiot? This is yer cargo. Now look, they are already late so make it back to yer little boat quickly, eh? Oh and if any of them starts to get out of line just give them a few lashings with this," the man said handing Jack a well used leather whip. "Now, I'm a very busy man so I think ye can take it from here. Have fun," the man said and was off..

Jack looked at his retreating figure and then turned his gaze back upon the "cargo." Their hands were bound together and they all had ropes around their wastes connecting them to the next person. The group of fifteen was half women and children. Jack shook his head as a wave of nausea rose in his body. He passed the whip that was in his hands to one of the other men.

"Let║'s go," he said in a low voice. He instructed his men not to hurt the people as they began walking and the young men easily complied.

As Jack entered the forest all he could think about was that his cargo had been people. Innocent people. They were going to be sold into slavery and all along the way they would be beaten and broken by men who were prejudice by the color of a mans skin. He would be condemning these people to a lifetime of heartache and brutality. Condemning women. Condemning children. Taking from them the thing that he himself held most sacred. Freedom. Going against everything that he ever believed in. Everyone deserved freedom; their own chance to make a life of their choosing. Who was he to take it away? He was just a man. A man, with a uniform and a big hat. Nothing more. Nausea rose through his body again but he forced it back and suddenly he wished that his mother was here to talk him through this. She would know the answer.

He sighed grimly. What was going to happen? Would he go against his own beliefs and be made into a hypocrite as he found out that the Company was?

Jack looked up into the sky peeking out over the canopy tree tops. "Help me mum. Who do I betray?" Jack whispered to his mother.

They continued walking for awhile until they came to a section where the path broke two ways meaning they were halfway back to the ship when Jack suddenly stopped.

"Lieutenant?" One of the young men questioned.

Jack said nothing but turned and drew his sword causing the slaves to shrink back. He walked to the nearest person and cut the rope that bound his hands. He repeated this all down the line of men and women while his own men looked at him as if he were crazy.

"Get out of here!" Jack yelled at them and pointed them in the opposite direction of the ship. They all still stood looking at him in shock not believing entirely what he was doing. ║"Go!!! Get out of here!!!" This time the people looked at him graciously and took off.

"Sir? Lieutenant?" the young man asked again.

Jack looked at the ground. "Every man deserves his freedom," he offered in explanation. " I acted alone here today so don't any of you worry about a punishment. I'll take it all," he said in a low voice and then continued the long walk back o the ship with his bewildered men following close behind.

To say that Beckett was mad when Jack and the others returned without the "cargo" was the understatement of the century and Jack was immediately drug into Beckett's office.

"Where is the cargo Mr. Sparrow?!" Beckett cried out but Jack was silent as he looked at the ground. Beckett moved out from around his desk and stood directly in front of Jack doing his best to come across as intimidating and Jack almost wanted to laugh as he stood a good several inches over Beckett. "Where is the cargo?!" he asked again menacingly.

"People aren't cargo, mate," he spoke somberly.

"Do you have any idea what you have done? What you have cost the Company and the King?" Jack stayed silent. "We were under direct orders from the King himself to deliver the cargo to Elizabethtown as soon as possible and here you have just let them go?! What is the matter with you?! Why would you ruin yourself over those things?!"

"Damn it they are people!!! People like you and I!!!" Jack countered feeling his anger begin to resurface.

"They will never be people," Beckett spoke coldly. "Of all people Sparrow I didn't expect this from you," he said moving away from Jack.

"Oh you mean the atrocity of giving men back their freedom?"

Beckett just shook his head. "I really thought that this promotion would have gotten it out of you."

"What?" Jack asked.

"The pirate," Beckett simply stated. "Son of Captain Teague Sparrow making an honest living? Ha! I should've known better, like father like son right?"

"I am not my father."

"Really? Well, Jack a crime such as this one merits yourself to earn a pirate brand and even possibly a hanging. Guards!" Beckett called and two men entered the room and grabbed a hold of Jack's arms. He didn't struggle against them but merely stared Beckett down. "Jack Sparrow, you are hereby stripped of your title and employment with the East India Trading Company."

"I would rather die as a pirate that sail another day under this Company," Jack spat out.

"That can be arranged," Beckett said and walked over to where the pirate brand was. He heated it and waited until it turned orange. When it was orange he grinned maliciously and nodded to the guards.

The guards in response shoved Jack down into a chair and ripped the sleeves of his Company uniform. Jack did nothing because he didn't care anymore. They had already taken his sword and pistols away so he was unarmed. Even if he got away from these guards he would just get taken down by more.

"I thought you would be a little more uncooperative about this Sparrow. I'm very surprised."

"Yeah well, unlike you I am not afraid of my consequences," Jack smiled.

Beckett took one look at his mocking face and immediately punched him hard in the stomach. Jack let out a small groan of surprise and then looked back to Beckett and grinned again.

"Is that all you got, Captain?" he provoked him even more.

Beckett then proceeded to hit Jack repeatedly. Several fists to the face caused blood to trickle from his nose and a cut above his brow but Jack never wavered. Beckett hit him many times in the abdomen until he heard the satisfying crunch of a rib breaking. Jack did not make a noise after the first hit. He closed his eyes and grit his teeth. He would not give this man that kind of satisfaction.

"Hold him tight," Beckett said out of breath from hitting Jack. He picked the brand back up from where he had laid it and raised it up to show Jack what was coming before bringing the burning hot metal down upon Jack's flesh.

Jack jumped involuntarily pain and the guards barely kept hold of him. He grit his teeth even harder to the point where he thought they would break off as he prevented himself from yelling. Beckett held the metal at his arm longer than supposed to and pushed it deep into the skin drawing blood. He kept waiting for Jack's cries but didn't hear a sound from him. He watched Jack's face scrunch up but no words came out. He shook his head and tossed the brand aside and Jack sighed in relief.

"Lock this dirty pirate up in the brig," Beckett said and spit on Jack as they brought him out of the room. When he was gone Beckett looked to his first mate Jonathan Mercer with a grin. "Put word out as soon as you can of Mr. Sparrow's hanging. I promise you, daddy will come running."

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I hear your groans already. That's it?! I know I'm sorry. Blame it on my psycho grandmother who thinks I spend way too much time on the computer and is kicking me off !!!! I know some Jack torture in this sorry! Okay please REVIEW and I'll try to get a new chapter out quicker than I did with this one. REVIEW