Sorry for the delayed update...was off getting married! Updates should be much more frequent now, thank you for the patience! Any good feedback to keep this going would be awesome. Enjoy! :)

-/-

Killian had vastly underestimated Queen Snow and King David's patience.

He stood there, a guard on each arm, with stares of concern bearing down on him. It cut through his chest in a way he didn't think was possible again, glances of utter disappointment. It chilled him, settled down in the depths of his marrow and machinery.

"Captain Killian Jones," Snow said, her voice still a melody through the consternation. "We heard that upon your arrest that you had news pertaining to our daughter. Is this true?"

"It is, your Majesty. I had heard of a young Princess taken by The Black Swan."

Snow looked over at David, a deep sadness in her eyes. Killian was all too familiar with it. David squeezed her hand and returned to Killian. "Do you know where their ship is currently stationed?"

"I have some ideas, there are a couple of planets nearby that pirates are often plundering. I had previously tracked The Black Swan so I have some saved coordinates back on my ship."

"Would you be able to retrieve these to us?"

Killian laughed softly at this. He bit his lip and cocked his eyebrow at David. "Your Majesty, with all due respect, you are much better off if I go in search of the Princess myself."

It was David's turn to laugh. He stood from his throne and walked down to him, his crown shimmering in the sunrise coming in from behind him. He looked down at Killian's bionic hand and Killian made a fist in response as if he could hide the shining digits. "How could we possibly trust you? How can we be assured that you would even come back?"

"You think if I find the princess that I would want that lass hanging around the likes of me and my crew? Certainly not a place for a young lady. That aside, I think a bargain could be made, Your Majesty. A clean slate for me and my crew...and 10,000 silvs."

David's eyes widened. "Who are you to be making these demands, pirate-"

"Done." Killian looked behind David to Snow. She had stood from the throne, an ethereal grace washing over her. She stepped down and placed a hand on David's shoulder. She gave him a comforting smile and he returned it, reigning in the outrage over the request. Ten thousand silvs was a large amount of money but Killian had plans for it. "Captain Jones, should you find our daughter and bring her home, you and your men will be granted clearance of all crimes and 10,000 silvs. She is worth much more." Killian bowed his head in the awkward silence.

"There is one other request. My ship needs repairs. My crew will need supplies to get her into sailing condition again."

"Whatever you need," David replied quickly. "I have two men that will escort you back to port. They'll arrange for the repairs and escort you on your journey."

"Aye, it's a deal then."

"And Jones?"

Killian's eyes perked up in sarcasm, trying to be on his best behavior. "Yes, your Highness?"

"Should you find our daughter and you try anything out of sorts, my men will inform me and I will make you pay. Do you understand?"

"David!" Snow blurted, stepping in front of him. She grabbed Killian's hand and squeezed it gently in hers. With a smile, she simply added, "We'll both make you pay." Killian's pupils widened just slightly at her gentle aggression but he appreciated the threat nonetheless.

-/-

Killian couldn't help but be a tad bit embarrassed as the guards walked him down the port to The Jolly Roger in handcuffs. The mild feeling of ridicule dissipated as soon as he saw his ship. It had not only been repaired but appeared to glisten like new. The mixture of metal and wooden planks was polished to perfection, the barnacles of stardust on the bow completely removed. If the outside was any indication, the engines and boosters in the hull would surely make any other Captain in the universe envious. Killian's smile seemed to light up the entire galaxy with the newfound prospect of further adventures.

The guards walked him onto the ship and released the cuffs with a snap. Two of them left, another two remained, looking rather annoyed. "Well now, since we've gotten those unpleasantries out of the way gentlemen, welcome aboard. I'm sure my men will treat you with the utmost courtesy." He feigned a bow, Smee and his crew snickering behind him. The two guards remained stiff and unwavering. "At ease, boys. If you're going to be on my ship, you could at least loosen up a bit." He waved his fingers in a quick beckon. "Names, if you please."

They both released the tension in their shoulders, their eyes wandering around The Jolly Roger, admiring its new and improved style. The older one spoke first, his eyes finally meeting Killian's. He was used to being in charge, something that was going to be hard to relinquish the next few days. "Robin Hood. This is my second in command, Will Scarlet."

In a very non-military fashion, Will perked his chin up in that casual man-to-man meeting gesture. Robin saw it immediately and smacked his heavy arm across Will's chest. "Oi! I forgot, mate. No need to crush me ribs."

"As you can see, Will is new to the establishment, has yet to learn proper manners."

Will rolled his eyes but regained his military stance to ease his superior officer. "My apologies for my rudeness, Captain." He bit the inside of his cheek, obviously not amused.

Killian smirked, appreciative of the dynamic. "Oh, I'm sure we'll get along just famously, gentlemen." He raised his hand slightly behind him, letting out a loud snap. Smee promptly appeared, awaiting orders. "Smee will kindly show you to your quarters. We'll be departing within the half-hour." They both nodded and Smee let them proceed down the stairwell to the hold below. "Smee, a moment."

"Yes, Captain," he immediately stammered.

"I hope that you have secured the cargo?"

At this, Smee smiled with pride. "Yes, Captain, safe in your quarters as requested."

Killian patted him on the back, the metal of his arm heavy on Smee's shoulders, the folds softly clanging like the whisper of a soft steel drum. "Excellent work, Smee. Ready the men and start up the thrusters." Shouts and calls echoed across the decks, men scuttling around Killian as he made his way to the helm. He rubbed his hand along the polished wood, the curves of the handles still fitting him-smooth on one side from maneuvering with his right hand, splintered and uneven from the left. He looked up at the stars above him, monitoring the slight movements of stars and ships in the distance, plotting out pathways that were memorized in the folds of his brain. He could navigate blindly if had to-he had surrendered to the universe for sometime now and trusted the clouds, the gas, the fire and ice to take him where he was meant to go.

He felt the rumble of thrusters beneath his feet, the yells of his crew a chaotic symphony. He felt it in chest, his cold heart echoing the rhythm. For a brief moment, he recalled Milah-her fearlessness to call out the orders herself, the look of adventure in her eyes as they set sail for a new planet-but he pushed it back down into the pit of his stomach where the acid would ultimately burn the thought away with the help of a little rum.

He pressed a button on the helm causing a holographic map to appear in front of him. He reached inside, moving around the glowing bulbs of destinations, making room for passageways and paths. He found a small, purple bulb in the space of unknown and smiled. "Chart course," he told the map. The hologram illuminated brightly, rewinding back to his current position. The Black Swan would be his soon enough and then his freedom. He laughed at the prospect-he still had hope in that chilled body of his-and spun the helm to loosen the Jolly up. "Let's set sail, boys! We've got quite the journey ahead!"