Hook slouched back in his captain’s chair in victory. Everything was slowly coming to plan, just as expected. But one thing was left that still had yet to be confirmed. If the Krag wanted their payment, they had to fully complete the job. He twirled his mustache with his hook. Impatience was settling in. He felt like a child waiting for Christmas to strike. “Starkey!” he barked, “What’s the status with Pan?”

Starkey hobbled over to Hook with a look of dread in his face. He kept looking at Hook without a spark of joy.

“Well, Starkey? Something happened didn’t it?” Starkey remained silent. “Starkey, I promise I won’t get mad at you, nothing could have been your fault.”

“I understand sir,” Starkey mumbled.

“But I need to know what happened, if I am to use my brilliance to fix it.” Hook was getting uneasy. What could have possibly happened that was so bad that even Starkey wouldn’t explain it.

“You promise you won’t get angry, sir?”

“I already said I promise!” he barked. Hook quickly realized how ironic he was being and recomposed himself. “I won’t hurt you…” he mumbled under his breath.

“Well the thing about Pan,” Starkey started, then left a giant pause. Hook leaned in. “I have confirmation that Pan is in the Grottowia sea! Headed right towards Grottowia’s headquarters!” Starkey belted out as if he was in a theatrical performance.

“Bloody brilliance!” Hook leapt up from his seat with joy. “Oh, Starkey, you little trickster you!” Hook patted him on the back, causing Starkey to yelp out in pain! Hook just realized he patted Starkey on the back with the sharp end of his Hook. “Oh, sorry Starkey.”

“I wasn’t sure how you would handle it Captain, but I thought you could use the laugh.”

“Ah, it was perfect Starkey. To think, if something did go wrong, I was so ready to just wring your neck.” Starkey gave a nervous laugh, not exactly quite sure if Hook was kidding or not. “Seriously, Starkey. I was nearly about to rip out your intestines and feed them to you. But how joyous for you that no problems happened with the plan that you had zero input in.” Hook walked over to the windshield of the ship and stared into the vast openness.

“Yes, quite good for me.” Starkey took out his notebook on his portable monitor and cautiously approached Hook. “Captain? May I ask a few questions about the mission?”

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

“I don’t have time to relay every step of my brilliance, Starkey!”

“Not the steps sir, but how you got there?”

Hook looked back at him annoyed and noticed the tablet. This humored him, thinking Starkey thought that one day he could man his own ship. He was a tad flattered that Starkey thought of him as a mentor.

“I guess I have some time before the next phase,” Hook said hoping Starkey knew how privileged he was.

“How’d you know Pan would come to the aid of the Red Men? Couldn’t he have just left it to the Lost Boys?” Hmmm, Hook thought. Perhaps he was wrong about Starkey. He thought the question would be far more ignorant.

“From the moment Pan arrived here, all he wanted to do was help. Well, help and have fun. Even if it would plunge him into the greatest dangers, just to help. But the crazy thing about that is, he knows he could face death at any moment. And that’s why he enjoys life so much, knowing at any moment he could die. So that’s how I knew. He has fun helping. And Peter is the most loyal dog I know.” Hook took a moment to think about Peter and smirked reminiscing on the memories they had together. “I firmly believe, that if I reached out for help to Pan, and I really needed it, he would help. Even after everything we’ve been through. He would be there for me.”

Starkey tried to jot everything down as fast as he could. “Pan is quite an inspiration, sir,” Starkey replied which produced a quick glare from Hook. “But, not as inspiring as you!” Hook’s look of malice turned into flattery. “That’s why you took so much consideration into this plan? Because of his loyalty?” Hook thought about his response. Starkey was right, but he didn’t want to be so open with him.

“Well Starkey, this is the final match between him and I. As much as I hate the little bugger, these scuffles we have together have been the most exciting times. His constant need to stop my domination has tested both of us and made us both grow. It has to be grand. One we’ll always remember.” Hook stopped explaining and stared off into the distance. “But yes, to answer the question, this is all for Pan. Yes, this whole universe will finally be mine and once we’re done, Pan won’t be able to stop me, for once in his bloody life. But will he even want to stop me? After I’ve given him everything he’s ever wanted. Ever needed? Will he realize I did this all for him? Even after everything he’s known has forever changed? Will I have a reason to rule once I get this universe? Has my whole existence just been about fighting with Pan?” Hook pondered over this existential crisis.

Starkey had no idea how to react to this and decided to let him be. Time passed and Hook still sat there with a wide mad look on his face. Starkey felt uncomfortable in this silence as Hook sat there, pondering.

“Umm, Captain?” he mumbled.

“Don’t disturb my pondering, Starkey!” he barked then returned to his wild-eyed look. After a moment, he blinked a few times. “Starkey, I believe I just had a breakthrough.”

“Should I stall Smee until then?”

“Of course not! My mental state will have to wait to go through a crisis during my master plan!” Hook headed back toward his captain’s chair. “Was Smee successful? Status report?”

“Yes sir! He’s awaiting Pan’s arrival.”

“Perfect!”

“What’s next sir?” Starkey asked already knowing the plan.

“To the second star to the right!” Hook commanded. It was all almost over. It would be his shortly. “Morning can’t come soon enough.”