“Captain Hook?”

Hook didn’t look up from her desk. She brushed long strands of hair out of her eyes and stared at the star charts on her desk, gazing back at her as if in a mock staring contest. She kept glancing at the mark for Earth…where her wife was…her family. Everything that she’d left behind. Her fingers gently touched that spot, stroking it, as if she could send her affections to her family through that slight stroking sensation. She smiled stupidly to herself, imagining what Emily would say if she knew how he felt. He could hear her words in his head now...

“You old fool. Love is the only thing vaster than space. No matter where you are, or what you do…”

“…my love will always find you.” Hook finished the thought out loud, fighting back the urge to cry. She then glanced to the closet near her bed, where a hologram stared back at him…a colorful image of Hook’s own face staring back at her, smiling…and under it was a bounty posting. “Captain Christina (formerly Christopher) Hook,” it read, “Wanted for Treason and Mutiny. Considered armed and dangerous. A bounty of 100,000,000 dolma for her capture, dead or alive.”

“No doubt Emily’s seen that…does she even recognize me?” Hook whispered, glaring at her own face in the image.

“Captain!” The call came again.

“What is it?”

“…May I enter?”

“…Granted. Make it quick please.” The sliding door opened with a hiss and in walked Edgar Klaus, the navigator. He looked concerned and stood at attention. Despite them being officially labeled as pirates and traitors, Hook had insisted the ship remain like it had before. The Bannockburn would continue to function as a military style ship. “Speak.”

“The crew is restless, Captain. We’re heading into Fleet controlled space to go after Peter and we’re worried that we don’t have the necessary resources or capability for a confrontation.”

“Is that right?” Hook asked.

“Yes ma’am.” Hook winced. She hated being called ‘ma’am,’ but it had been the habit picked up by the crew…no point in stopping them now.

“Are we near any uninhabited planets or planets where we might could resupply and outfit ourselves?”

“…Well no uninhabited planets but…there is Felynnus .” This caused Hook’s gaze to shift up again, intrigue in her eyes.

“Felynnus?” Hook smirked. “Haven’t heard that planet’s name in a while. Is Rajan still there?”

“He is. Still ruling as king, if I recall.” Edgar replied. “What do you want to do?”

“…I think we should pay that old cat a visit.” Hook replied.

“Are you sure you want to do that, Captain?” Edgar asked, nervously.

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“After we helped Rajan take the throne years ago, Felynnus has been officially recognized as a Fleet allied world. They will be warned of your new status as a pirate…they might turn on us.” Edgar warned. Hook sighed and nodded, recognizing the threat that this proposed. Would King Rajan still be welcoming to her and her crew knowing that she was a pirate?

“…What other options do we have, Edgar?”

“…None that wouldn’t put us at more risk, sadly.” He replied. “If I may make a suggestion, let’s just go to Fleet controlled space now and engage Peter directly, while we still have nerve to fight!"

“You think we’re ready?” Hook asked, curiously.

“I think the men are overly nervous about fighting a Fleet appointed Admiral, but even if he IS an Admiral, I think we can knock him down a peg if we just muscle up and take the fight to him!”

“…No one wants to shove their foot up Peter’s ass more than I do,” Hook answered, “but stop thinking with your gun and more with your head, Edgar.”

“Ma’am?”

“Do you REALLY think that Peter can be beaten by a show of force? The Bannockburn hasn’t docked since his betrayal two months ago! The men are tired…we need rest…we need supplies. If we engage Peter now it’ll mean nothing. He has professional soldiers and advisers under his command, as well as the rank of Admiral to wear on his sleeve. We can’t beat him just by fighting…we need to land.” There was a long silence between the two and finally a long sigh.

“Are you saying that because you want to plan a strategy…or because you’re afraid of actually facing him?”

“….What did you say to me?” Hook hissed dangerously, his eyes flashing.

“He was your best friend, Hook…closer than a brother.” Edgar pointed out. “You two went through hell together. Graduated the academy at the same time…were often put on assignments together…he was your best man at your wedding.”

“Get to the goddamn point.” Hook growled.

“Do I have to spell it out, Captain?”

“You’d better.”

“FINE! YOU’RE SCARED TO KILL YOUR BEST FRIEND!” Edgar finally bellowed. The silence that filled the room like a dense fog, making it hard for them both to breathe. Hook clenched her teeth and her firsts with such force you could hear the creaking of her jaw as rage filled her very being.

“So I’m a coward to you, am I?”

“No, just sentimental…”

“DON’T YOU DARE QUESTION MY RESOLVE!” Hook screamed. “That bastard ruined my life! He took everything from me! I’M A PIRATE BECAUSE OF THAT TRAITOR! YOU REALLY THINK I DON’T WANT HIS HEAD TO ROLL!?”

“Then why didn’t you kill him back on the planet?” Edgar challenged.

“He shot my saber out of my hand!”

“A fine excuse.”

“WHAT?!”

“You’re unequaled with a sword, Hook. Even when confronted with a firearm, your sword skills were usually more than enough to win. And this ONE TIME you slip up and get your hand burned by a gunshot!?”

“….Get out of my quarters.” Hook snarled.

“NOT UNTIL I KNOW YOU’RE COMMITTED TO GETTING BACK AT PETER!” Edgar challenged. “We need to know our Captain is ready to go to war with that traitor!” Hook didn’t answer…she just faced away from Edgar, trying hard to hide the tears filling her eyes.

“You’re not the only one Hook betrayed, Captain. Every one of us are pirates now…none of us can go home because we serve under you. We all want back at him…we all want revenge. I just want to make sure your past friendship isn’t going to slow us down.” Hook just looked out her viewing wall…the giant wall that allowed her to view the cosmos and space. It was so empty…so vast. Usually when she looked at it, she felt joy and hope fill her like a glass. But now it was all so dreary. So lonely. It had seemed that way for the past five months.

“I’m sorry, Klaus.” Hook answered. “I can tell you and the crew have been questioning my dedication to the task at hand. I promise…I want revenge as much as you do. I want Peter to pay. But it has to be the right time…the right way. We’ll restock first so I can come up with a plan. Contact King Rajan and inform him we’re coming…we’ll see how he responds.” Edgar gave a dutiful nod and turned to leave.

“…Sorry for what I said, Captain…I was…out of line.”

“No, you spoke your mind…and I need to sometimes be reminded it’s not just my life that Peter effectively ruined.” Hook answered. “Carry on, Klaus.”

“Aye Captain.” Klaus exited out of the door, leaving Hook alone with the cosmos again…alone to her thoughts.

“…Peter…” She whispered, as if he might hear her. “…Do you sleep at night, knowing what you’ve done?”

The planet itself, from a distance, looked like a great ball of green and brown paint, smeared together unharmoniously and sloppily. Felynnus was a planet of jungles, marshes, and deserts. The inhabitants were a fierce and staunch race that had learned to deal with the mixed climate and habitat conditions for generations. They were more primitive than most peoples that the Galactic Exploration Fleet had met with or worked alongside, but they were no less capable. As the Bannockburn drew closer to the planet’s surface, Hook kept her eyes on the horizon, her thoughts drifting to the king, Rajan.

It had been so long ago. The kingdom of Felynnus was in the control of Rajan’s uncle, Volten. He was a bastard if ever there was one. He was a jealous man, filled with envy for his older brothers birthright to the throne, and had killed him to obtain power, causing Rajan to flee for his life. In the 12 years of his reign, Volten had pushed Felynnus to the brink of destruction. He dismantled the former economic structure in favor of a nigh communist rule. At the time, The Galactic Fleet had no presence on Felynnus, but Rajan desperately contacted the Fleet for help. They sent Peter and Christopher to help liberate the planet. They had rallied together a band of resistance fighters calling themselves the Predatoriat. Peter and Christopher lent technology, soldiers, and equipment, as well as battle strategy and raw power. With the Bannockburn’s heavy duty fusion cannons, they rained hellfire down on the city of Felandria, the capital of Felynnus. The battle was swift and decisive. After a fierce duel, Rajan was victorious and took the throne. He’d been ever grateful to Christopher and Peter for their help, and swore his planet’s alligence to them and their needs. They joined the Fleet’s growing alliance of systems, and a new ally was forged.

But would they be welcoming to a pirate?

“Captain, we’ve received a message from Felandria…they’ve given us clearance to dock our ship.”

“…How hospitable. Then let’s dock. Take us down.”

“Aye, Captain.” Thus, their decent to the exotic city of Felandria was underway.

Felandria’s city looked like a jungle city, resurrected from the bowls of the dense forests. It was surrounded by massive trees, the size of buildings. Birds litered the air with their bodies and their cries. Monkeys chittered and screeched, bouncing from limb to limb. The buildings of the actual city climbed high into the sky, and their tan clay structure made them meld so flawlessly into the forest aesthetic, one would almost assume it to be one of the lost treasures of an earth civilization. There was a massive docking port near the city that didn’t seem to match with its rustic and antique like design. It had been built by the Galactic Fleet for ships to dock, and it had only been built sometime after Peter and Christopher had left it. But now it waited, open for them…and there were figures on the bridge, awaiting their docking.

“Do you see them?” Hook asked, sitting on the bridge of his ship and sighing sadly. “Likely they will take us into custody.”

“Will we fight?” One soldier spoke up, standing from his terminal and grabbing for his pistol. “They won’t take us down without one!”

“Calm down, Lenny.” Hook answered. “We are not savages…we will not attack unless provoked. Do nothing unless I order you otherwise.” Hook used that command as his que to rise and walk away from the bridge. “Klaus, Williams, Fornell, you’re with me!” The three officers all stood and hurried after Hook, walking close to him and their bodies loose, ready to leap into action at the slightest order. They approached the exit hatch of the ship and waited for the green light over the sliding hatch to flash, signaling that the ship was successfully docked into port and they could leave. The silence was cruel and unforgiving as they waited for the inevitable encounter with the escorts outside.

“…Captain, about what I said in your quarters earlier…” Klaus whispered. “I…I’m sorry.”

“I already told you, you have nothing to apologize for, Klaus.”

“But if this is to be our last venture together, I want you to know-”

“Edgar,” Hook replied, saying his first name to silence him. He shot Edgar a smile and nodded, “it’s been an honor serving with you. Let’s meet our hosts and pray that God is kind to us this day.”

The doors finally slid open and the hot dry wind blew through them. It felt so refreshing to smell fresh air again, that Klaus and Williams actually started to cough a bit in lack of recognition of the sensation. They stepped out of the ship and approached the soldiers waiting.

They were large, bipedal cat people. Their fur was mostly cream colored with occasional markings and patterns found within them. Their armor was of a primitive make, mostly leather and with steel plating etched in. They carried arc-spears and bone shields; deceptively lethal weapons. They glared at Hook and her allies as they stepped off and growled. These were the Felynes…the native peoples of this world. The only other race on the planet were the Saurus race of lizard folk. The two were bitter rivals, but the Felynes had adapted to the changing times much faster than their neighbors. These were lion Felynes, all female…in fact the female to male ratio of Felynes was demonstrably in favor of the female sex. They were lovely to look at, but clearly ferocious. To trifle with them would be to toy with death.

“Captain…they don’t look happy to see us.”

“No, they’re just not happy to see YOU.” Klaus chuckled back.

“At ease, all of you.” Hook ordered.

“STAND DOWN!”

The lionesses all lowered their spears and stepped aside, forming two parallel lines. They turned to face each other and bowed as another figure walked towards them, down the platform. Adorned in royal robes and golden colored plate armor on his chest and shoulders, walked a lion who walked upright. His glorious mane ran down his back and shoulders, and his razor sharp teeth flashed from his sneer. His fists were clenched and his tail swung behind him angrily. Hook took a tentative step towards this lion, knowing that there was little more that he could do but embrace his fate.

“King Rajan…” Hook whispered, giving a polite bow. “It’s an honor as alw-”

“SILENCE!” Rajan snapped. “You’ve got a lot of nerve, Hook…showing up like this…after what you did.”

“I was framed, Rajan. It wasn’t me that turned traitor!” Hook quickly tried to argue.

“I DON’T WANT TO HEAR IT!” Rajan roared, his feral eyes flashing. “I joined this Fleet of yours because of you and Peter…I swore an oath to you…and this is how you repay me?”

“…My king I…”

“Not even a letter from you after all these years?”

Hook paused and looked up in surprise to see Rajan’s snarl had turned to a wide smile.

“Rajan?”

“In this technological day and age, you couldn’t even afford to write me a letter once in a while, old friend?” Hook suddenly let out a very uncharacteristically girly squeal as Rajan pulled him into a mighty bear hug. “HOOK YOU OLD RASCAL!”

“GAH! R-RAJAN!” Hook cried. The lionesses behind him all snickered at Hook’s pain. Rajan set down Hook, smiling broadly.

“By the sun, it’s been so long…my how you’ve changed. I had heard the rumors and we were sent your new wanted poster but…I still couldn’t believe your new appearance until now.” Rajan cried.

“I swear it was not intentional.” Hook muttered, rubbing his aching ribs.

“Few changes in life are, friend.” Rajan smiled. “But you are safe now, and that’s what counts, yes?”

“Yes…indeed. So you…won’t turn us over to the Fleet?” Hook asked. Rajan snorted and brushed aside the fear.

“I did not swear loyalty to your Fleet. I swore loyalty to you, my friend…my brother.” He placed a large paw on Hook’s shoulder and Hook felt an overwhelming urge to tear up. At least he still had one friend left in this cursed galaxy. “I will never betray that oath. You and your crew are safe as long as you are here! COME! LET US THROW A BANQUET FOR THE RETURNING HEROES OF FELYNNUS!”