She rubbed her forehead and brushed long silky brown hair out of her face and back behind her ears. Her golden eyes blinked sleepily as she poured over her desk. She needed sleep…needed rest. But she couldn’t rest. Her mind was elsewhere. She bit her lip sharply to keep herself awake. As she yawned for the eighth time, she turned to the full length mirror next to her desk and saw herself. A youthful body of around 28 years old. Long beautiful brown hair fell down her shoulders, with a small braid wrapped around the back of her hair like an ornament. Her golden eyes twinkled like gold coins and her body and a single deep scar could be seen just above her right eye; the only flaw on her lovely face. Though adorned in the black officers uniform of a fleet Captain, she was clearly a beautiful woman. She stared for a long time at the almost alien image and then turned her attention back to her log entry.

“...Feels like only yesterday…” She whispered to herself. She spun her chair around and glanced out the large viewscreen behind her to see the outside void of space.

‘The endless blackness of space.’ This is how many tales and accounts chronicle the universe…and while there certainly is inky blackness that can only be appreciated when seen in person, it would be a lie to simply define the universe as blackness…nothing more. No, in fact, for those who surf her expansive depths and ride her shifting nebulas, you learn very fast that the universe is a work of art in of itself. When science progressed to the era of space trave and interstellar colonization over a century ago, a scientist named Fredrick Welder stated famously; “If there is a God out there, then we have reached His throne, and we are poised to usurp it from Him!” Welder was a famous atheist of course. However, had he actually spent just one week traveling these stars and seeing the brilliant majesty of space…he would weep with the knowledge that, not only is God real…but we could not hope to comprehend such glory, let alone usurp anything of His.

She smiled at the gorgeous hues and cloudy texture of a distant nebula, with reds, yellows, and oranges wrapped in a wispy cloud that seemed to breathe and move like an organism. Around it, distorted by the light, the black void seemed to turn shades of blue and purple in its presence. Stars of various sizes and brightness twinkled like shimmering jewels in the dark. A planet, just close enough to be seen, its 3 rings circling it at speeds to boggle the mind, and its green color stood out like a luminous light. Space was an ocean of wonder; flowing and shifting like the tide or the surf. Each color seemed to drift and sway in step with each other, and because of this, there was never any boredom…never any loss in unique pleasantries to see. This was the life she had chosen for herself. Drifting among the stars to discover and unearth the mysteries of the galaxy…or at least, it once was.

“Captain?”

She turned at the sound that came from her desk. A male voice spoke over the communicator on her desk. The woman sighed, and spun around to press the response button.

“Speak.”

“Sorry ma’am, but the navigator wants to see you.”

“Where is he?”

“On the bridge, ma’am.”

“Alright. I’ll go see what Edgar wants.” She cut off the communicator and climbed out of her seat. She threw on her read overcoat, cut close at the midriff, it was unbecoming of a respected officer; but she was no longer a respected officer…it suited her fine. She marched out of her quarters and to the bridge of the ship to meet with the navigator, Edgar Klaus. As she marched through the halls and decks of the ship, her crew would occasionally stop and look at her, some with respect, some in lustful desire, and others in sympathy…all were understandable.

She walked onto the bridge and everyone stood as she approached. It was a long room with a giant view screen taking up almost all of the wall and ceiling, allowing for full view of the galaxy before them. It was the only light the bridge needed, from the stars and the shifting colors, making them feel like they were inside an aquarium looking out at the unbelievable wonders of the beyond. A large throne of a chair, the captains helm, sat in the center of the bridge, with a single smaller chair beside it where the first mate sat. However, she had no first mate, so the chair remained empty. Where the chair stood, it dipped down into a second level on the bridge where rows of terminals sat that controlled navigation. It required 6 men to operate, but all men took orders directly from the navigator, Edgar Klaus.

Edgar was a portly man, but a decent one. He was the oldest crewmate aboard the ship, and the most intelligent by far. He had a thick beard and dark eyes. His bald head was hidden by a bandana and he was wearing an old tattered military uniform…a relic he couldn’t let go of. When he turned and saw the Captain enter, he saluted and gave an apologetic smile.

“What’s the problem, Klaus?” She asked.

“Captain, we still have no information on where Medio could be hiding, but we did receive word that our ‘friend’ Panaeolus has been deployed to a planet in the Sekiai system. Do you wish to pursue?”

“What’s our current heading?”

“We don’t have one, Captain.” He replied. “We’ve been drifting aimlessly lately.”

“Then we’ll follow our ‘friend’ Panaeolus for the time being. But keep your networks listening for any word on Medio. She is our top priority.”

“Aye, Captain.” Edgar Klaus agreed. While they were talking, the Captain noticed a young recruit sitting at one of the terminals who kept glancing back at her nervously. When he saw that she was onto him, he gulped and turned back to work.

“Who’s this?” She asked. Klaus took a glance at the cadet and smirked.

“Him? That’s Jack Semina…but everyone just calls him “Smee.” Klaus replied.

“He new?” The Captain asked.

“Fresh recruit…picked him up after our last planet landing on Planet Favus…he was the one who Medio cursed when-”

“Ah…yes…I remember.” The captain answered, not wanting Edgar to go into the details. There was no need. She then walked down to the boy and nodded at him.

“Jack?” She asked.

“Y-y-y-yess m-m-ma’am?” He stuttered.

“Relax, son. No reason to look and act so worked up.”

“I-I know just…it’s…”

“Spit it out, kid. What’s got you so scared?” The captain demanded.

“J-j-just…I um…I…well guess it’s all a bit…intimidating being this far from home…considering how weak I am…I…”

“No need to be scared boy. While you’re on my ship, you’re safe. Just do your job, and do it well. You’re gonna be fine. Now enough staring and stammering. Back to work.” She pat his shoulder and turned away, her coat flapping behind her almost dramatically.

“A-a-aye Captain!” He squeaked, turning back to his terminal, happily. She walked by Klaus and shot him a glance.

“What?” She hissed at him.

“Giving kids pep talks now are we?” He growled.

“The boy’s scared, Edgar. He needs to know he’s safe here.”

“We’re pirates, Captain…no one on board is safe. We are in constant risk of-”

“I’m aware of the status placed on this ship and the price on my head, Edgar Klaus, THANK you for reminding me.” She spat, causing Edgar to wince, knowing he’d crossed a line.

“I…didn’t mean…”

“Just say what you want to say.” She snarled.

“Fine," he grumbled, "…You invite kids like him aboard with no naval experience or any discipline. Don’t you think that’s detrimental to the crew and the ship, Captain?” He whispered.

“Medio ruined that boys life…just like she ruined mine. I can’t turn my back on people like him, because they could’ve been me.” She muttered. Klaus bit his lip in frustration, but didn't respond. "Anything else you want to tell me, or are we done here?"

"No...we're done, Captain. I apologize." Klaus agreed. She gave a polite nod and then turned to leave.

“It’s fine…but I’m exhausted, Edgar…I’m going to bed.” She responded.

“Sleep well, Captain. We’ll let you know if anything changes.” As she left and the sliding door slammed shut behind her, she overheard the boy, Smee speak up again.

“N-Navigator Klaus, sir?” He asked.

“What is it?”

“The captain…why does she want to go after Fleet Commander Panaeolus?” He asked. There was a long pause and the Captain’s eyes narrowed in disappointment. She didn’t want to rehear the story…to be reminded of why her once friend had become her enemy. Instead she began marching back to her quarters to sleep.

“Well,” Edgar Klaus muttered, “it’s a long story, son…but everyone on the ship should know it. Some of us…were there the day it happened. I know I was.” He sighed and pulled out a cigarette from his pocket and stuck it in his mouth. Smoking wasn’t allowed on the bridge, but with the Captain away and going to bed, he felt he could risk it. The smoke drifted up lazily and eerily as he began his story. “Listen close, all of ya, cause what I’m about to tell ya is VERY important.” All eyes and ears were on Edgar Klaus now.

“What do you think of ‘truth?’” He asked. “Just a word these days, ain’t it? With the Galactic Congressional Republic and the cutthroats there in, it’s almost a hypocrisy that they call US pirates.” The navigators who were listening hummed a low laughter at his joke. “But the fact is, mates…truth is something definite. It does not falter, no matter what anyone says or tries to do. They say truth is relative…that it is determined by the victors. Maybe it is, in the case of Peter Panaeolus, hero of the Galactic Exploratory Fleet. Their truth is that we are all mongrels…treasonous dogs who turned our back on our homes and our government for piracy, and that Panaeolus hunts us down to this day to punish us for our sins.” He sighed and a small stream of smoke escaped his lips.

“But that’s THEIR truth…not THE truth.” He growled. “The real truth…is what I’m about to tell ya now.” No sound was heard. Even the hum of the engines seemed to quiet down in honor of the speech that Edgar Klaus was giving to the listening crewmen before him.

“It was 2 years go…when this ship was once called the Bannockburn.”

“Bannockburn!?” One of the young men cried. “That’s a battle name! This ship was once a part of the Galactic Exploratory Fleet!?”

“Aye.” He answered. “She was a battle frigate under the command of Captain Christopher Hook. He was 68 years old then…old and tired. 2 years ago, he and this ship set out to explore a new and uncharted planet called Lus Stella Primum…The planet was rumored to be habitable. He and one other captain were sent….a friend of Hooks named Peter Panaeolus. Peter Panaeolus and Christopher Hook had been comrades for years and had been on many adventures together…you couldn’t find a closer pair of friends. Both were set to retire after that mission with full honors and pension to boot. For Hook, who had a wife, children, and two grandchildren…it was the best news in the world.”

“Sounds like he had quite a retirement plan.” Smee whispered.

“Aye, if only life were so kind.” Klaus sighed. “See, kid…life ain’t always as easy as that. Fortune favors the brave, but it can destroy the reckless. It’s amazing how often those two concepts become muddled in each other.”

“What…happened on that planet, sir?” One of the men asked nervously. Edgar closed his eyes and hissed coldly.

“When they landed on the planet…they met her.”

“Her?” Smee asked. Klaus took a puff from his cigarette and his eyes narrowed in nostalgia as he glared out the view screen of the bridge at the stars ahead. A sneer ran across his face as he recalled the events of two years ago.

“In this universe, Smee…there are some creatures that are best left undisturbed. They ain’t natural and they can do thing no man should ever comprehend, let alone meddle with. And yet, these two brave old explorers…decided to meddle in the affairs of a devious and dangerous creature who would change their lives forever.”

“What kinda creature was it?”

“….They called her Medio.”

In her quarters, Captain Hook threw off her coat and rubbed a tear from her eye as she began recollecting how it all ended for her…how a simple last exploration mission to Lus Stella Primum had brought them to the creature Medio, and how it had ruined her life forever. She climbed into her bed without bothering to take off her uniform; only kicking off her boots before giving a long breath of exhaustion and laying her head on the pillow. Across the bed she saw, on a small stand, a picture of an old man with brown, yet greying hair, and a dignified beard on his face. Wrinkles lined under his eyes, showing distinguished knowledge and experience…and a familiar scar above his right eye like hers. He was tall, proud, and bold. She looked at her old self with both contempt for his past foolishness in pursuing the creature Medio, and with longing, as she longed for that face again. As she drifted off to sleep, she dreamed that oh so frequent nightmare of the past….that event two years ago on Lus Stella Primum.