Hook did his best to walk through the cabin of the Sea Devil without limping on his bad leg. Pan always seemed to have gotten the best of him in the fight, but he couldn’t let his crew know that. The past few years with them had been quite rocky and he was afraid of a mutiny at any moment. He couldn’t give them any reason to. As far as he was concerned, as long as they saw him powerful and strong, they wouldn’t dare consider the idea. Curse Peter for taking their battle to the sky, he thought. Perhaps he was too pushy on making him take the girl back home. Or perhaps Pan was faking it and he had no scent on Hook’s trail. He couldn’t be too sure until his spy got back to him.

Hook approached a deserted hallway. He double checked to make sure not a single soul was in sight. Thank the heavens, he thought as he let down his guard and limped toward his sleeping quarters. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could last putting on that façade. He just had to make it a few more feet and he would be safe.

“Captain! There you are!” he heard Starkey behind him. That blasphemous fool always knew how to enter at the wrong time. He promptly put weight on his bad leg and turned around.

“Yes, Starkey?” he grumbled.

“Just got a mission report back sir and I thought you would like to hear it.”

“Of course, Starkey!” Hook barked. “Why would you even second guess yourself?”

“Sorry sir, I wasn’t sure if you were in your quiet time as you like to say.” Hook’s blood began boiling. “I know that time is very valuable not just to you, but is very valuable to keeping the ship…” Starkey finally noticed Hook gritting his teeth.

Hook wanted next to zero mention of his ‘quiet time’ as he put it. The more information that got out about it, the more Hook believed it would make him look weak.

“Sorry sir, I can’t tell,” Starkey explained, recomposing himself. “Were you headed to your quiet time, or were you mad that I disturbed it already? Or-” Hook changed his hook to a tiny blaster and stuck it inside Starkey’s nose! Starkey yelped in pain.

“Mission report,” Hook said as calmly as he could, which was not calm at all. He took the gun out of Starkey’s nose, for now.

“Just as you suspected sir. Pan went straight for the Lost Boys. You’re so smart sir, it’s incredible how you called every one of his actions so far. Did you go to a psychic?” Starkey said in an attempt to get back on Hook’s good side, but instead Hook rolled his eyes.

“Of course, I was right. It doesn’t take a genius to know Peter would run to his precious Lost Boys in a panic when he doesn’t know what to do,” Hook explained downplaying his own intelligence. He turned to continue down the corridor without limping, even though it caused him mass amounts of pain. He figured if he got to his cabin he could at least lean against a door or something to alleviate the agony.

“Either way sir, it was incredibly smart.” Hook couldn’t disagree with that.

“Yes, I know how smart I am Starkey. It’s not just smarts you need though. I know my enemy greater than himself. Don’t you think so Starkey?”

“Ummm, yes?” Starkey said, unsure if it was a trick question.

“Of course, yes Starkey! I’m brilliant. Your words not mine. You can’t be too boasting as a captain after all.”

Starkey took out his tablet computer and wrote down word for word what Hook just said under his ‘Captain’s Inspiring Quotes’ note section.

“My wits are sharp Starkey, but I can’t predict every behavior Pan will have. Does the status report state if he took the bait?”

“The log states that it was brought up, but unfortunately they brushed off the topic quickly. Unsure if it even registered to Pan,” Starkey explained.

“Blast those fools! What else did they discuss?”

“Says here they mainly just drank and discussed how the girl could actually be a boy?”

“How much alcohol did Pan drink?” Hook asked bewildered at the comment. Even in their younger years together, Hook never took Pan as a partier.

“Oh, sorry sir, they drank than discussed the girl joining the Lost Boys.”

“That makes even less sense! If the girl felt as if she was a boy I could understand that. We’ve had that talk with a few crew members and supported them in their decision. But the girl joining the Lost Boys? Pan would never allow it.” The finally arrived at his quarters. “Starkey, follow me in here and close the door. Whatever happens in here, stays between us.”

“Not a problem sir, won’t even write it in my journal.”

“You keep a journal? Ah, never mind,” Hook said as he opened the door with Starkey following close behind. Hook reached his four-poster bed and slammed into it. His bed was the only thing he wanted. Hook’s room was awfully bare, just like the rest of the ship. He had his uniform hung on a rack, a shelf with a few trinkets from his past and a mirror to check his appearance to ensure he looked like the cunning captain he was. Other than that, it was completely bare, unlike his past quarters on the Jolly Roger. He could never forgive Pan for taking that from him.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“Is the door shut Starkey?” Hook asked staring at the ceiling.

“Yes sir,” Starkey barked confidently. Hook sighed. He hated asking as he knew the answer, but couldn’t take a risk.

“Can you please push the door to be sure?” he asked.

“Of course, captain!” Starkey gladly pressed the door forward and discovered that it was not fully shut. “Op!” he squealed. God, he hated Starkey. Starkey quickly pulled the door shut and pressed on it a few times and ensured that it was closed. “All closed captain!” Hook let out a massive sigh. Starkey wasn’t sure if he was going to kill him or just let it be.

“Starkey what am I doing?” Hook wailed out, taking Starkey by surprise. “I’ve spent months planning this out and it could all be foiled because I don’t actually know my greatest enemy!” Hook put his hand to cover his eyes and mouth, just in case any tears came out. Starkey rushed over to Hook’s side.

“Not at all captain. You’re brilliant! You said it yourself!”

“Oh, if you tell a lie long enough everyone believes it’s the truth!” Hook sobbed. “All of this planning and that damned kid can’t even check a simple message.”

“I’m sure he’ll check it soon, captain.”

“Oh, rot in hell Starkey!” Hook turned over and pressed his face into one of his pillows. “Months of planning, maybe even a year, and it’s all down the tube!”

“Sir we still have phase two!”

“Phase two will only work if he reads that message which we have no idea if or when he will,” Hook said muffled through a pillow. “Everything was planned so well except for this stupid message.” Starkey put his arm on Hook to comfort him. “Don’t touch me!” Hook barked causing Starkey to immediately withdraw.

“What if there was some other way to get him there?”

“Out of all the planets in this galaxy, how would we ensure Pan would go where we want? At the time that we want! We still need to perform the heist!” Hook just remembered the heist. “Oh, the heist! Another failure! We can’t even do that unless Pan is close by! I’m such a terrible worthless captain!” Hook sobbed into his pillow to hide away any tears that managed to slip out.

“Oh captain, don’t say that. You’re a brilliant captain. I love being a part of this crew.”

“You don’t mean that!”

“Yes, I do captain. You’re the best boss I’ve ever had.”

“You really mean that?” Hook asked lifting his head from his pillow.

“Pirate’s code!” Starkey promised.

“Starkey, pirate’s code is to lie about everything.”

“Oh, sorry captain. Umm who’s honorable in the galaxy?” Hook rolled his eyes and went back into his pillow.

“Hmm the Red Men are pretty loyal,” Starkey wondered aloud. “The Krag are the least loyal group of mercenaries I’ve ever known, so not them. They’ll do anything for money. Even turn on their own employer if someone offered a higher price.” Hook’s head peaked up in curiosity. “Hey, why don’t we hire the Krag to-” Starkey was cut off by Hook leaping from the bed.

“Starkey I just came up with the most brilliant idea. Hire the Krag, no matter what the cost. Let’s wage a war on the Red Men. They are located right by where we need Pan to be. Pan will come crawling toward them and he will answer any call from them. Ugh, I’m so brilliant.”

“Yes captain. Though I think I had a part in helping you come up with this amazing idea.”

“Nope! All me! Captain Hook! Greatest captain to ever fly through Neverland!” Hook’s eyes intensified as he struck a confident pose. Any doubt he had in his mind was gone. Starkey was a tad hurt, but quickly pushed down his feelings as he always did. He joined Hook’s pose right behind him. “Starkey?” Hook asked.

“Yes, captain?” Starkey hoped he would give him just the slightest credit in coming up with the idea.

“Why are you still here? Contact the Krag!” Alas, Starkey’s dreams were crushed.

“Right away Captain.” Starkey headed toward the door.

“And close the door!”

“Always, captain!” Starkey headed out the door and was about to shut it when Hook had one last thought.

“And Starkey!” Starkey’s head popped back in like an excited puppy. “None of this happened.” Starkey nodded and closed the door. Hook sighed and walked over to the door. He pressed on it and it slid wide open. That idiot, Hook thought as he properly shut it.

Hook couldn’t believe the breakdown he just had. Any time he felt one coming on, he just pressed it deep down, avoiding any type of conflict or emotions. Usually it always worked. And of course, it had to happen with Starkey there!

Hook’s optimism was through the roof, however. Everything would go according to plan. Pan would take the bait and come to the Red Men’s aid. They would begin their heist, and then Hook would rule Neverland. Not a single thing could go wrong. He decided he deserved a nap after the battle with Pan and the quick, but brilliant, reconstruction of his master plan.

He began his nightly routine. And sometimes, his afternoon routine if he was able to sneak away from his duties without his crew noticing. Old age and the pirate’s life were taking a toll on Hook. He took out his cybernetic eye and blinked a few times to correct his vision. As useful as the eye was, it became quite uncomfortable over the years. And if he slept with it in, it could get stuck looking the wrong way and it took him forever to fix it in the morning. He took off his jacket and hung it right next to where a crutch was. He removed his shirt and pants, dropping them to the floor, revealing the multitude of scars that engulfed his body.

Now came the most painful part. He loosened the screws on his upper thigh and released his cyborg leg. Steam came out as his body and leg separated. He then placed his arm on a nearby table and unhooked it, causing steam to stream out as well. Hook was now officially completely human. He took his crutch and hobbled over to his bed, but first passed a mirror.

He stared at himself, at least, what was left of himself. He had a mangled body with his whole arm and half a leg missing. There was deep scar tissue around where is arm and leg should be. It looked repulsive and seemed like it would smell. He looked into the deep tunnel where his eye used to lay. This was who Hook really was. And he would do everything to make sure none of his crew would ever see this side of him.

He limped into bed and laid there. Everything would be okay, he thought. Pan will do exactly what he wants. And at the end of it, they will both have what they have always wanted. Each of them a king in their own right. Hook, conqueror of Neverland. Had a great sound to it.