A/N: I went a bit history crazy with this one. So, please humor the listening of my terms. Takes place during CotBP, prior to the Jack's hanging.

Dedicated to TinaMarina for being my first reader/reviewer, ever.


Pairing: Jack Sparrow, Old Smarmy Guy and his confidant
Word Count: 596
Prompt: Truth

Willful Commission

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"Jack Sparrow."

"Captain … Captain Jack Sparrow, if you will," he requested, licking his teeth as he attempted to move his wrists beneath the cold, steel shackles.

"You have been brought here for your willful commission of crime against the crown, numerous and sinister in nature. Jack Sparrow, you have been charged with impersonating an officer of the Royal Navy; impersonating a clergy of the Church of England; arson; kidnapping; perjury; piracy; pilfering; deprivation of a Federal Loyalist…"

"Ah! The Loyalists, scum of the earth they were and like all other scum after a battle, they were categorically mistreated. So, really, I was doing you lot a favor," he persuaded, raising his brow.

"Are you implying that there is any truth to these charges?"

"Nay, I'm implying that because of my perjury, piracy and let us not forget, pilfering - I have in me possession several papers that might be of use to the crown … For a price, of course."

"We do not negotiate with pirates," the man said sternly, dipping his quill within a small, black inkwell to begin signing the pirate's documentation for execution.

"Nor Americans, so I hear," he prompted. "I seemed to have stumbled upon something of theirs that might be of interest."

The man huffed in disbelief, slightly adjusting his wig. "What is it that you have, Mr. Sparrow?"

"If you please, gentlemen. There's no need for hostility," he stated, smiling as he raised his shackled arms.

The older man exhaled, looking up from his work for a moment, adjusting his eye glasses. "Release him, but keep an eye on his movement."

Once released, Jack quickly reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a small scroll of parchment as he cleared his throat.

"I have here, a letter. Not an ordinary letter, mind you. This letter was written by a common soldier of the Concord militia in Massachusetts, Mr. John Parker, detailing how he has assembled a military force composed of ordinary citizens in the efforts of commencing a revolution of sorts against the crown. The letter also goes on to inform its receiver of the day of said revolution and the exact formations of the battle squadrons."

"A revolution?"

"Aye, so it says. Quite an unintelligent lot of men, if you ask me," he observed, sauntering toward the table where the two pale, finely dressed men were seated comfortably upon cushioned chairs. "Such information should not be trusted to any ordinary oaf that just happened to be walking down the streets of Concord or Lexington."

The older man placed his quill down upon the finished document. "What is it that you want in return for such information?"

"The opportunity to not be dangling from me neck in the morning," he began, raising a knowing finger. "Assure me of my freedom and in return, you shall have your letter and beat those Patriots to the finish, so to speak."

The two older men leaned into one another, speaking no louder than a whisper.

"Do you think he's telling the truth?"

"The truth of it is not a matter that we need to debate at this very moment. Send a letter out to the King and Lord Beckett. Threats of a revolution against the crown are not things we can easily ignore and it is not a risk I'll be willing to take."

"And what do we do with Sparrow, sir?"

"Assure him of his freedom, once we've intercepted the letter, we will alert the executioner."

"Executioner, sir?"

"These documents are already stamped with my seal and so is his fate."