Christopher Hook jotted down notes in his book, noting the gorgeous planet on which he stood. It was beyond beautiful…the term didn’t even do it justice. Lush green fields of grass swaying like rippling waters, and the soft smell of honey that graced his nose. Trees filled with strange and juicy fruits scattered the area, and the sky, a gentle purple hue, graced the land with a vibrant color scheme the likes of which he could only dream of. Beyond him was a lagoon where from rising rocks poured sweet water that tasted of delicate delights. Even now, he could see his companion, Peter kneeling down by the water, drinking and drinking with glee.

Like him, Peter was in his late 60’s and showed it. He had wrinkles upon his face and long grey hair that was once blonde in color. He had deep blue eyes and a kind smile that was open to friends, but deceptive to enemies. One might think Peter a kind and friendly old fool from the innocent way he smiled and spoke, but it makes a devious intelligence that made him both shrewd and clever in all his actions. Christopher had been with Peter on enough adventures to know that, without his help, they might not be alive today. He trusted no one more than the old man by the water.

“This land is beyond imagination.” Christopher whispered as he noted the smell of the air. Peter laughed as he glanced back at his comrade.

“Your so old fashion, it hurts.” He chuckled. “You should try using a HNP, like the rest of the galaxy.” Christopher snorted at the thought. HNP’s were Holographic Note Pads which were handy and easy to carry, but also were unreliable and often glitched.

“I prefer pen and paper, Peter.”

“Then write a novel…and make it about this planet, Hook…because we’ve stumbled upon the Garden of Eden!”

“I thought you weren’t a believer in such things.” Christopher teased.

“I’m not, but after seeing this? I’m having difficulty denying anything.” Peter laughed as he picked a fruit from a tree, balancing it in his hand and observing its long shape, and red delicious glow. He took a bite and practically swooned from the sensation. “How have we only NOW discovered this planet?”

“I feel I could retire here and be satisfied.” Christopher agreed. Peter frowned a bit and looked back at Christopher.

“Yeah, this would be an ideal place to settle down for you, wouldn’t it?”

“We don’t stay young forever, my friend. You and I have lived through a lot…we’ve seen it all. I think that we’ve earned a rest. Truthfully, we couldn’t have had a better final voyage than this one.” Christopher smiled, walking to Peter and placing a hand on his shoulder. Peter grinned and looked to Christopher encouragingly.

“So what’s your plan, old friend? You want to bring your wife here? Build a little cottage on that hill over there?” Peter teased.

“Of course! With a nice little bedroom in the back and a playhouse for the grandkids.” Christopher laughed heartily and Peter joined in. The two strolled closer to the water and, with a long sigh and a grunt, the two sat down again. Age was their enemy…and it stared them in the face. Peter and Christopher both felt it upon them. They didn’t have to say it or express it in words to one another, but the look in their eyes was a gaze of fatigue. This would be their final voyage together. After this, rest and retirement awaited.

“What will you do, Peter?” Christopher asked. “What’s your plan?”

“I don’t have one yet.” Peter replied. “I…frankly haven’t thought about it much.” Christopher smiled and leaned forward slightly.

“Peter, you’ve been like a brother to me since the day we started training. You’ve pulled my ass out of the fire on at least 5 occasions.”

“Six actually, if you count that incident with the Kakurit raiders on-”

“YOU were the one who insulted them by not bowing your head low enough to their leader!”

“Yeah, but you’re the one who drove us into the-”

“OKAY OKAY, point made.” Christopher laughed, blushing as Peter snickered. “The point I’m making is…you’re welcome in my home, Peter.” Peter paused a moment, ceasing his laugh and turned to look Christopher in the eyes.

“Really?”

“Our door is always open. I know you haven’t thought much of settling down, but you shouldn’t have to face retirement alone.” Christopher offered. Peter smiled sadly and shook his head.

“Hook, you’re too kind a person sometimes…putting all that pressure on your poor wife.”

“Emily won’t mind.” Christopher assured him. “We talked it over last week. She’s more than willing to let you stay with us.”

“She’s a good woman…and you’re a good friend, Christopher…and a better man.” Peter grumbled. “But I’m not sure I can accept your offer.”

“Why not?” Christopher asked.

“Christopher, it’s not my family…not my home. I can’t reap off the love of another man’s fortune. It’s not right.”

“You never considered settling down yourself? Finding a wife and having a family?”

“Never time…not with all the adventures to be had out there….god I’m gonna miss it…” Peter mumbled. The two sat in silence for a long period just taking in the elaborate smells and sights of the planet while, in the back of their minds, considering the fearful and, not so distant reality, that these adventures were coming to an end.

Peter suddenly perked up and glanced at the water in front of them, in surprise. Christopher looked as well and, to his amazement, there were ripples. He followed their course to the epicenter where, kneeling next to the water, as a creature. Almost human in shape, but with small thin limbs, it cupped it’s hands in the water and brought the water to itself to drink. It had white silvery hair. It had dark red eyes and pointed elf like ears. The creature appeared almost like a child and yet with an agelessness to it. It was impossible to explain, but it looked both young and old in the same way.

“What in God’s name is that?” Christopher asked.

“A local? Or perhaps some humanoid creature yet to be discovered?” Peter asked. “Either way, it’s our duty to investigate.”

“Easy, Peter…let’s not frighten the creature….let’s take it slow.” The two stood up very carefully and approached the creature. After looking at it carefully, Christopher realized that, whatever it was, it was a female. The two drew ever closer. They were almost close enough to touch her, as the creature was too caught up in the water. Suddenly the girl looked up, finally noticing Peter and Christopher. With a shriek of shock, the creature lept up to run.

“OH NO YOU DON’T!” Peter cried. With a furious leap, he sprung upon the girl and tackled her to the ground.

“PETER STOP!” Christopher cried. “You’re being too rough!” Peter and the girl thrashed on the ground, and she bit and kicked wildly.

“Help me control this little pixie! She’s wiggling like an eel!”

“You’re scaring the girl. Here, ju….what the….PETER LET GO!” The child was holding out her hands as if to push Peter and Christopher backwards, but there was a large glowing light appearing between the childs hands…glowing brighter and brighter as she became more and more afraid. Peter finally released her, afraid of the light. But it was too late. The light expanded like an erupting bomb and both Christopher and Peter were launched backwards.

When the light faded, Christopher sat up fast and blinked several times to regain focus. He shook his head angrily and in frustration as shapes and colors began to reform in his eyes. He looked to Peter, who was also laying on his back, rubbing his eyes furiously.

“Damn it all, what on earth was that!? Where’d she go!?” Peter cried.

“I told you to wait!” Christopher laughed. Peter shook his head and sat up, smiling despite himself. “That must’ve been some kind of defensive ability…releasing a blinding flash of light to confuse predators and then fleeing while they’re disoriented.”

“Well it sure as hell worked…I’d love to find her again though.” Peter noted.

“Let’s save it for tomorrow morning. I’d like to get some shut eye before dawn.” Christopher offered. Peter nodded his agreement and followed after his friend, occasionally looking back to see if the girl had returned. “I don’t think she’ll be back there any time soon.”

“Still, doesn’t hurt to try, right? That’s what adventuring is all about right? Hoping for the incredible and seeking thrills and risks wherever you can?” Peter asked.

“That’s a young man’s game now…” Christopher sighed.

“…Does it have to be?” Peter asked. Christopher groaned and looked back at Peter, frustration etched across his face.

“Don’t start this again, Peter. We just talked about it.”

“What if we COULD continue adventuring, Hook!?” He demanded. “Don’t tell me you wish you couldn't. Wouldn’t you like to keep exploring the stars!?”

“I’m not saying I’m not intrigued, but I’m just tired, Peter. I’m ready to live out my later years in peace.” Christopher argued.

“Well I’m not satisfied yet! I gotta know more about the universe. How can something as trivial age stop me from traveling the universe!?” Peter lamented angrily.

“Peter, there’s a whole academy of new Captains waiting to take over and make those discoveries now. You and I are old dogs…memories of a bygone age. These youngsters are full of opportunity and life. They’ll make discoveries of their own that will benefit the next generation and we’ll-”

“Grow old and rot as these snot nosed rookies steal our old thunder? Don’t tell me you’re OKAY with that, Hook.” Peter demanded. “You know as well as I do that these new brats don’t have an ounce of respect for the stars and the galaxies. They sit around in their little academy and discuss theories of planetary exploration and discovery…THEORIES, Christopher.” It was true, and Christopher knew it. The academies standards had fallen greatly due to a government mandate for better inclusiveness of extraterrestrial races and disabilities. Courses in planetary life and exploration in the field had been replaced with theory classes, debating the correct way to approach a new life form and what kind of lifeforms were out there. Theory had no place in the starship. You had to have respect and experience….things you can’t get from just a theory class.

“I dare those runts to last just ONE WEEK on the Planet of Zukarma or the ride safely through the Vedgo Nebula! They’d piss themselves and run back to their classroom to discuss NEW theories about why they got spanked by the power of the galaxy!” Peter snarled. “It’s a disgrace, Christopher. You and me? We’re not just old dogs…we were successful warriors and discoverers. We don’t need theory or classrooms to tell us about the universes. We’ve SEEN them!”

“You’re right, Peter. It’s a different time, and certainly not for the better…and I agree that we had a great run. But, it’s just the nature of things, Peter.” Chritopher said sadly, placing a hand on his friends shoulder. “Time marches on, and nature affects us all. Age has caught us”

“…Such a dastardly enemy is time. Though you might delay it’s affects, in the end, it strikes through your very soul.” Peter grumbled.

“Peter…please reconsider my offer. Stay with my family! We’ll be more than willing to open our home to you. And while it certainly is not a family you can say is your own, we shall treat you like nothing less. I guarantee it.” Peter sighed in frustration and defeat and brushed his longer hair back.

“…I’ll consider it, Christopher. And thank you for at the very least hearing me lament.”

“I understand how you feel, Peter. I too feel like we could’ve contributed more…and I do sometimes long for youth again. But our time is done, Peter. There’s great dignity and honor in knowing when to pass the torch.”

“Maybe so…but it certainly is painful.” Peter chuckled.

“Come, let’s get the crew settled and rest before our final hunt tomorrow.”

“I think we can say, without a doubt, that this planet is prime for exploration and settlement.” Peter grinned. Christopher nodded back.

“A great expedition to close our careers on.” Christopher laughed. The two returned to their ship where their crew were already unloading cargo for settlement and camp. It was an arduous process of setting up radio transmitters, tents, food crates, and fresh water generators. Even after Christopher Hook and Peter Panaeolus would leave this planet, the settlement teams would remain long after to help begin a colony. This was how exploration worked. The captains job was to brave the dangers and determine the safety and stability of a planet. To lead a crew. To be heroes of the stars. Christopher, like Peter, had fallen in love with the voyaging life and the discoveries he had made and could have made…but Peter simply couldn’t let go of the joys of exploration and his youth. Christopher worried for him, but knew that, in time, he’d come to appreciate a quiet life of peace and bliss.

But neither Hook nor Panaeolus could have anticipated the sudden alteration that fate had in store for them. The dream of a quiet life would be whisked away to the wind like leaves in a gale.