"You did drink something."

Wren wrinkled her nose lying in Jim's lap, "Did not."

"You did, and I can tell." Jim held her still.

Wren squirmed, "So. What's the big deal?"

"The big deal?" Jim was incredulous, "Do you remember last time?"

"No."

"You destroyed a ship."

"I did?" Wren asked genuinely confused.

"And an Amazon."

"There's no way." Wren grinned, "I'm so tiny."

"That didn't stop you." Jim sighed and let her play with his hands, "You must be feeling really bad if you drank."

Wren shook her head, "I've never been happier. I'm so happy I don't know what to do with it!" She laughed.

Jim frowned, "I don't know how to tell you this, but I think you're doing drinking wrong." He took away the stick she had somehow found.

"Nah," Wren sat up, "I was making a toast!" She leaned on him grinning.

"A toast to who?"

"To us." She grinned and turned, "To everybody!"

Jim caught her as she almost toppled off the wall. "Yeah? And how many toasts did you make?"

Wren grinned and held up fingers, "Three!"

Jim's eyes widened, "Can you drink that much?" He looked panicked, "Do you feel okay?"

"I'm fiiiine." Wren slapped him on the back, "You big worry wart." She hiccupped, "I'm fine!"

"But you said so yourself." Jim was worried, "You're so tiny. That's a lot."

"Is it?" Wren kicked her feet out in front of her, "Silver drinks three times that much no problem!"

Jim stood, "Yeah, well Silver beats you by about a hundred and fifty pounds."

"Does not!"

Jim got her to her feet, "Come on let's get you some water."

Wren frowned in disappointment, "I don't want water."

Jim grabbed a glass and filled it with water from a pump, he sipped it to make sure it was clean and then handed it to Wren. "Here drink."

"Don't want it." Turned her nose up at it.

Jim frowned and lowered the glass, "Then what do you want?"

"Dessert!" Wren answered.

Jim lifted the glass, "Finish this glass of water and then we'll get you desert."

"Okay!" Wren took the glass and gulped it down.

Jim smiled, she's very drunk. He looked at her trying to drink, and kinda cute.

Wren finally let out a breath, "Done!" She held out the glass, "More please!"

Jim refilled the water glass and handed it back to her.

She drank half it in one go and looked off down the street, "I wanna see Silver."

Jim paused and took the glass, "You do? Uh… I don't know where he is."

"We'll find him." Wren started walking off.

Jim hastily put the glass down and ran after her, "Wren!"

A crowd of people suddenly separated them, singing something loud and bawdy. Jim screeched to a halt and tried to look over their heads searching for Wren.

Wren kept going and Jim had a spike of panic. He pushed through the people saying apologies and ran after her.

"Wren!" He had a moment of dejavu, of him chasing after Wren and shouting for her to stop, and this time he was more panicked. Last time they were fighting for the town, this time Wren was drunk, obviously he'd be more panicked. "Wren!" He raced around the corner and found Wren nearly at the top of a giant pile of goods looted from one of Jones's mansions. "Wren! Get down from there!"

Wren didn't seem to hear him and she stood at the top of a precariously balanced couch. Raising her hands to cup her mouth she took a deep breath and yelled across the town. "SILVER! WHERE ARE YOU?"

Jim cursed and started climbing up after her carefully so he wouldn't knock the pile over.

Some of the people walking below looked up in curiosity, half of them seeming to recognize the girl who had taken down Jones earlier that night.

"SILVER! COME OUT!" Wren shouted. "SIIIIIILVERRRRRR!"

Jim slipped on a table and cursed banging his shin on a chair. "Damn it Wren!"

Wren turned and kept shouting, "SILVER! SILVER!"

Jim finally got to the top and reached out to grab Wren. "Wren!"

"SILVER! SILVER! SILV-"

"WHAT?"

Jim and Wren both looked down and there was Silver standing at the bottom of the pile. He looked up at them in irritation, "Stop shouting! I'm right here."

Wren grinned, "Silver!"

Jim found himself standing next to no one, "Wren?" he looked around. "Damn it."

Wren slid down the pile of furniture and leapt at Silver, " Silver!" Silver caught her and she laughed, "Did ya miss me?"

"Be careful lass. That was dangerous." He said as Wren clung to his neck. "What were you doing?"

"Looking for you!" She said, "You missed the party."

"Well, you know, I don't want to stand out too much." He tried to put her down but she stubbornly hung on. "Come on lass. Let go."

Jim clattered down and went up to them. "I swear, you'll make me break something someday."

Wren let go of Silver, "Puppy eyes!" She flung herself at him.

Jim managed to keep his feet, "Woah!""

Silver frowned and looked at Jim, "How much did she drink?"

Jim tried to unstick the girl from his face, "Three shots. Wren!" He avoided her hands.

"Three?"

"Apparently-" he put her an arm's reach away, "She was making a toast."

"Yep!" Wren agreed.

"What to?" Silver asked.

Wren laughed, "It's a secret." She looked at him and frowned, "You doing okay Silver? You don't look so great."

Silver grinned, "I'm fine Wren. Don't ya worry about me."

Wren gave him a look, even in her drunken stupor she knew better than to ask stupid questions. "Jim!"

Jim jumped. "Yeah?"

"Do you want some cake?" She asked.

"Uh…"

"If you don't it's okay." Wren smiled.

Jim shook his head, "No cake is good! It's great!"

Wren took his hand, "Alright then." She looked at Silver, "Bye Silver."

"Be safe ya hear me?" Silver called.

Jim gave him a thumbs up before he was dragged away.

Silver sighed and limped his way to the nearest bench. He groaned and sat down rubbing his leg where the metal met the rest of him. He had run all around the city to gather people like Wren asked and now he was paying for it. Rolling up his pants he inspected the joint and found it a bit bruised. His hip and back hurt too from all the extra walking.

Silver got up and started walking to the nearest public building, which happened to be the Triple Crown Inn. He went inside dodging the throngs of celebrating people. There was a large gathering in the lobby, so he took a table in the corner. Silver collapsed onto a chair and propped his leg up.

"Murp?"

Morph slid out of his pocket and looked at him curiously.

Silver smiled, "It's nothing Morph." He rubbed his leg. "I'm just getting old."

"I wouldn't say that Mr. Silver."

Silver looked up to see the Captain and the Doctor looking at him.

"To what do I owe this honor?" Silver asked turning around in his seat.

The doctor sat down at Silver's table. "We just finished up negotiations with the navy." He stretched out holding his back, "Hooooo, I'm tired."

The Captain nodded. "Yes, I think it went well. Things will get much better around here." She brushed some invisible dust off her uniform, "I think that big Kamui, Konohoma, is going to be the next mayor." She informed him, "But I think the young Lupus, Jonathan-"

The doctor nodded. "Caorithe."

"Jonathan Caorithe, is going to be changing things up around here." She smiled, "These things rarely go so smoothly."

The doctor nodded taking a slice of pie for himself, "It's easy to break things, not so easy to fix them." He took a bite and smiled in pleasure, "I doubt this smooth transition took place without some advanced planning." The doctor looked at them, "I wonder who planned this all out."

Both the captain and Silver froze.

Dr. Doppler took another bite and scrunched his face delighted, "How delicious!"

"Dr. Doppler…" Amanda started, "What do you mean by planning?"

The doctor stuck another fork full in his mouth, "Well." He swallowed and put down his utensils, "From what I understand Jones was deeply embedded in the town. He owned the enforcement, the police, the politics, he was mayor, the society, the church and upper class, and all the money, via trade and his own business. Not only that but he had a pretty big network that would be hard to break because it was more a cult than a gang." He listed, "So to break it at all is impressive. But they found the source of his money and cut it off, they severed his connection to the society, and then they scattered his forces by destroying parts of his infrastructure, like the prisons where he kept his enemies and his various bases. Then they brought him down by calling in forces bigger than his own after they successfully distracted him and made him think he had an upper hand. They basically used his own size against him, he couldn't look after everything so they found his weakest point and struck there. Then they brought him down with the law which was an elegant touch." Dr. Doppler rubbed his snout, "It's some of the best guerilla tactics I've seen in a while."

Captain Amelia stared, "Was that… it seemed a little more chaotic than that."

"Really? Most of everything seemed pretty deliberate at least until the end." Dr. Doppler shrugged, "But you know more about this stuff than I do." He looked up, "But to get to my point, it's clear that there was already a plan for the aftermath, a structure ready to take over in response to the vacuum. I wouldn't be surprised if they revealed some plans for building new infrastructure soon."

Silver and Amelia both pondered that comment.

Amelia looked at Silver, "What do you think Mr. Silver?"

Silver broke off his thought, "It may be as the doctor says. But what I find more interesting is how he recognizes guerilla tactics so well."

Dr. Doppler paused mid chew, "Well, I was brought up in a house full of military equipment, so it's only natural to pick up something here and there." He smiled, "Captain Amelia was the one who caught most of Jones's gang that tried to run away. Guessing at strategy does less good than actually getting stuff done." He looked at the Captain, "How did you catch them Captaaaiiin-" He jumped as a moth flew into his face and swatted it away.

Amelia quickly snatched the moth out of the air and threw it over her shoulder without a second thought, "Both have their merits doctor."

"Oh my goodness me! I dropped the pie!"

Silver gave him a look.

The doctor frowned and straightened his lapels, "I know it's silly to be scared of moths but they fly so frantically and I get so startled! What am I supposed to do?" he pressed his hand to his head, "Well, there's no point in crying over spilled milk."

The Captain sighed tired. The doctor was incredibly intelligent as he'd shown time and time again, but it caught her off guard every time because of how easily he got flustered and panicked. He was the dumbest smart person she knew and a bit of a spazz. The captain tapped a claw on the table, the only sign of frustration she would allow herself as the doctor went for another pie.

Silver carefully avoided eye contact with the captain, and played with his hat.

"Does your leg hurt Mr. Silver?"

Silver looked over, he never remembered the captain being this chatty.

"Just a bit, this hunk of junk ain't meant for the stress I've been putting it under." Walking around for days on end.

Amelia nodded, "It's the T-87 model isn't it?"

Silver raised an eyebrow, "Aye, that it be. With a few minor adjustments."

Amelia nodded, "I have a friend in the force who uses it. But he swapped it out for a NS-39B with carbon fiber a year ago."

"That's some fancy equipment." Silver put his hat back on, "I ain't got the funds for that." He pat his leg, "This one works just fine."

Amelia had managed to piece together that Silver had lost most of his right side to what was most likely an explosion. He'd definitely lost them all at the same time, his eye, arm, and leg; the equipment was all dated and worn the same. She didn't want to know, but her brain had automatically pieced together the clues. She didn't like him, she didn't trust him, the less she knew about him the better. He was rude, shameless, and had no sense of urgency. Everything she hated in one place, with the added bonus of being a sailing veteran, that he didn't hide nearly as well as he thought. He and Wren had that same barely hidden sharpness to them that she didn't like and she didn't trust. Unfortunately, recent events have humanized him, it was easier to dislike people if they weren't so human.

"And what caused all the stress Mr. Silver?" The captain asked.

"Well the past few days have been hectic wouldn't you agree captain?"

"Yes, yes I see your point. Well, should you need assistance I'll be happy to give it to you. Excuse me for a moment."

The captain got up and walked over to the bar where Doctor Doppler was searching. She easily pulled out the pie from where it was hiding on the top shelf and with a flick of her wrist cut a slice and plopped it onto a plate.

"Here you go doctor, right as rain." She handed him the plate, "Now please sit down." She gave him the whole pie after a second thought.

"Oh! Yes, Thank you!" He went to go sit down and then paused jogging back, "Would you like some?"

Amelia smiled, "It's quite alright doctor. I'm not much one for pie anyhow. Too sweet for me." She waved him away. A flash of light coming off a bottle distracted her momentarily.

"Do you think Mr. Silver knows what we're talking about?" Dr. Doppler whispered frenetically.

The captain glanced at the old cook talking to his blob, "Oh, I have no doubt he does." She looked amused and waltzed pass the doctor who tried to catch up. "Come now doctor."

They sat back down and Silver took his leg off the chair. "Are we leaving tomorrow Captain?"

Amelia nodded, "Yes. early."

Silver didn't know if he expected otherwise. "Sounds like a plan." He got up, "I'll go tell everyone."

A kid weaved through the crowd and found their table. "Captain Amelia?"

Amelia looked over, "Yes?"

Silver paused.

"I've got a message from Jonathan Caorithe." He held out a note.

Silver frowned, "You're working pretty hard there kid."

The kid grinned, "Lots of work to do."

Doctor Doppler handed the kid the pie and a fork. "Here you go."

The kid raised an eyebrow but took a few quick bites.

"Thank you um…"

"Finch." The kid grinned.

"Finch. What is Mr. Caorithe doing now?" She asked.

Finch scrunched his nose, "Mister? Jonathan ain't old enough to be a mister yet." He shrugged, "He's at the square living it up."

"I see." Amelia held her chin, "Thank you Finch. Send my regards to Jonathan, I hope to see great things from him in the future."

Finch nodded, "Alright, anything else?"

"No, thank you." Captain Amelia waved him away.

The kid ran away.

Amelia stood as well straightening her jacket, "Well gentlemen, if you'll excuse me." She slicked back her hair, "I have some business to attend to."

"What did the note say?" Silver asked.

The captain looked at Silver, "I'll show you mine if you show me yours."

Silver managed not to startle, How does she know about Wren's plans?

The captain smiled, sharp as a knife. She held the small note open, "It's a thank you note from young Jonathan Caorithe. And now I'm going to go discuss a few things with him."

The doctor jumped, "Oh! Would you like me to come?"

The captain smiled, "No thank you doctor, you enjoy your pie and get some rest before we depart tomorrow." She walked around the table, "Mr. Silver."

Silver tilted his hat. "Captain."

The doctor looked a bit confused but he shrugged and took the rest of the pie up to their room.

Silver narrowed his eye and wondered how much the captain had figured out. It would be better if Wren didn't catch the attention of a Navy captain.

Wren sneezed.

"Bless you." Jim whispered sleepily.

The little girl on his lap reached over and rubbed Wren's nose with a napkin.

Wren scrunched her nose and smiled. "Thank you." She said to the little girl.

The girl giggled and turned to Jim who was nodding off. "Wake up Puppy eyes."

Jim startled awake to the joy of the children surrounding them. They all burst into giggles.

"Wha- what's happening?" Jim sat up.

Wren smiled, "Our fans are helping us."

"Do what?" Jim asked rubbing his face, "Oh excuse me." He apologized to the kid sitting in his lap.

Wren smiled, "Nothing." She handed a thick folder to one of the kids who took it and ran off with a buddy. "Sleepy?"

Jim smiled tiredly, "How'd you guess?"

"Oh!"

Wren looked over and saw Racqui's mother. "Oh! You're here! Hi." She waved and moved one of the kids to the side so she could stand.

"Thank goodness you two are okay." The mother smiled, "You did it!" She took Wren's hands. "Well done."

"Thanks to you." Wren smiled.

Jim waved, "Hello."

The mother smiled, "I must thank you too Jim."

Jim shrugged, "don't mention it."

The mother gave Jim a weird look. "What will you two do now?"

"We're leaving in the morning." Jim notified her.

"So soon?" The mother asked, "You must have a lot of things to do."

"Yes." Wren smiled, "You could say that."

The mother kissed both of their cheeks, "Thank you both for what you did here. Words will never be enough." She held their hands, "Thanks to you Racqui will grow up in a better place." She smiled, for the first time, "May your journey be blessed with fair winds."

"And to you too." Wren hugged the woman.

Jim hugged her next, "Good luck."

She pulled away with a final nod and left.

Jim grinned, "I thought you didn't want adoration."

Wren smiled, "That much is fine. And the alcohol has addled my brain."

"Right." He nudged her with his shoulder, "I'm seeing all new sides of you today."

Wren shot him a look, "And what do you mean by that?"

"You're nice."

Wren looked offended, "How dare you."

Jim chuckled, "And scary." He poked her cheek, "You should've seen your face when you broke into the mayor's building."

Wren looked at him strangely, "It was an act."

"Yeah, part of it was." Jim looked at her from the side of his eye. "The rest of it not so much."

Wren didn't like how perceptive he was being.

He looked away, "Thanks for coming for me by the way."

"I thought you didn't need rescuing." Wren grinned.

"yeah well. Even I would have a tough time getting out of that." Jim rubbed his head, "For a while I didn't think you were going to show."

Wren paused, "You didn't think I'd come for you?"

"Well… just for a bit." Jim admitted, "But then I was even more worried that you'd storm the place without a plan. So clearly I wasn't in my right mind."

Wren stopped, "Jim, I was always going to rescue you." She stopped him, "You know that right?"

Jim sighed, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up."

"No, you should. I caught you the first day we met." Wren smiled, "And I'm going to keep catching you until you don't need me to anymore."

Jim smiled, "Who knew you'd turn out to be such a softy." He rubbed her head.

"Who knew I would get so attached." Wren muttered.

"Aw, you do like me!" Jim grinned.

"Shut up." Wren smacked his hand away.

Jim laughed, "Alright," He looked at the kids who were barely keeping from nodding off, "I think it's time to go to sleep."

The kids instantly woke up and gathered around them, "Don't leave!"

Wren and Jim laughed, "It's alright. Jonathan's in charge now. You like him."

One of the kid's pouted, "But we like you too."

Wren rubbed the girl's head, "That's sweet, but now you guys can do what you want, no more pickpocketing, no more stealing. Things will get better."

Jim put an arm around Wren's shoulders, "We'll see you before we leave at the docks."

The kids all hugged Wren and Jim's legs and ran away.

Wren and Jim walked in the opposite direction and the moment they were out of sight Wren sagged against a wall, "Thank you."

Jim kept her from falling over, "Wren why didn't you say something sooner?"

"The kids were too cute I couldn't just leave." Wren said and groaned, "Oooh, I don't feel good."

Jim carefully balanced her, "Okay. Careful. Careful." He sighed, "This is why three shots was a bad idea." He muttered to himself. He had been doing a lot of carrying the past couple of hours.

Wren gripped his sleeve, "I want one."

"Want what?" Jim asked.

"A kid." Wren looked up at him big eyes sparkling, "A whole bunch of them! They're so cute!"

Jim imagined a small version of Wren and thought to himself, that would be cute. Then he shook his head. "A kid? Your own kid? Now?" He asked, incredulous.

"Hmmm. Maybe a little tiny Jim. Yes!" She touched his hair, "With a cute haircut." She gazed at his face with a smile of pure bliss, "Mhm. Very cute."

Jim's face was steaming by now, she's very close. He licked his lips, "I'm not changing my haircut."

"What? Why not?" Wren furrowed her brow confused. She shook her head and stepped away nearly losing her balance.

Jim stopped himself from helping her, clearly she wanted to say something.

Wren pointed at Jim fiercely, "I've been meaning to say something to you Jim!"

Jim stood with his hands up, ready for anything. "What?"

"I don't like the rat tail!" She shouted.

Jim was floored, "What?"

"I don't like it. I've been meaning to say it for a long time!"

Jim put his hands on his hips. "Why ever not?"

"Everyone I've met with a rat tail has tried to kill me." Wren said resolutely.

Jim pointed, "Everyone's tried to kill you Wren."

Wren paused, "Yes, that's true. Still! It's a bad trend!" She pointed once more, "Choose Jim! It's me or the rat tail."

Jim gaped like a fish and floundered for a bit.

"I knew it! The rat tail is more important than I am."

"I've had it for longer!"

Wren put an offended hand to her chest.

"I didn't know you cared so much!"

"Well I do." She frowned, "It looks terrible."

Jim touched the back of his head with his hand and blushed bright red. "It does?"

Even in her drunken state Wren could hear the hurt in his voice. "No! You look great!" She quickly amended, "It just…" She sighed, "It's in the way when I touch your neck. And I'm worried it's going to snag on something." She said reaching over and gently holding his neck. "See?"

Jim had to hold in his urge to jump and swallowed trying to control his hammering heart. "You've got the same problem don't you?" He managed to choke out.

"Well, I've always wanted long hair. I had to keep it short until a little while ago." She brushed her fingers through it, "It hasn't been a problem yet." She sighed, "But a lot of it got singed so I'll have to cut most of it off." She shrugged, "But I think you'd look really nice with maybe a little trim." She paused hand hovering over his head waiting for his okay.

Jim sighed and leaned down.

Wren quickly messed up his part and finger combed it to one side, fluffing it up so that it had more volume.

She pulled away and stood back. "OoOoh…" Wren could feel her face flush and she turned her face away and screamed internally to herself.

"What?" Jim asked, "Is it that bad?" He grinned, "Guess that serves you right."

Several girls walking by suddenly slowed and stared unable to peel their eyes away.

Wren quickly came over and put his hair back to sorts, "Sweet Hisun…" She whispered to herself nearly screaming. She bit her fist and resumed patting his hair down. "Jork me."

"You feeling okay Wren?"

"I changed my mind." Wren squeaked out. "Keep your hair as it is. Don't change it." I don't need the competition.

"You sure?" Jim raised an eyebrow in good fun.

"Don't change it!" Wren blurted.

Jim was confused but he shrugged. Wouldn't be the first thing she's said that he hasn't understood. "Alright. Whatever you say."

Wren sighed putting two hands on his shoulders, He's so hot. She wanted to go dunk her head in some water. Is it legal for someone to be so hot? It shouldn't be. Wren drooped a little, "I can't take this."

The boy smiled patiently, "We're going to sleep okay?"

Wren nodded against his chest, "Yeah, you're safe now… So it's okay."

Jim blinked in surprise and then realized Wren had fallen asleep draped on him. He sighed and carefully picked her up, wrapping her legs around his waist and resting her head on his shoulder he carried her home.

Silver walked into the dark bar, it was empty save for a table full of shady characters.

"You lot ain't joining the party outside?"

Scroop growled, "Silver. Where have you been?"

"Around." Silver shot the arachnid a look that told him to stop asking questions.

"What the jork is happening anyways?" Kevin asked blinking his one eye. "This festival is crazy."

Nekwee wheezed through his beer, "I heard some kid deposed a tyrant."

"Yeah right. That's just hogwash." Miles growled, "You've been smoking something."

"Shut your trap." Nekwee said, "It's true."

Scroop shrugged, "Does it matter? It's not like it has anything to do with us." He drank from his mug, "They're so jorking loud."

Silver got everyone's attention, "We leave at first light tomorrow, we're close."

"Are we Silver?" Kevin asked, "What makes you so sure?"

Silver raised an eyebrow, "You lot have something to say?"

"You promised treasure beyond our wildest dreams, but all I see is black holes, pirates, and ship wrecks." Nekwee squeaked. "We better get this treasure soon."

Silver drummed his metal fingers against the table, "I don't see how that's my fault. Stay or don't I don't give a jork. Shit happens."

The crew grumbled but shut up.

"If there's no more complaining I'm getting my gear together. You lot do what you want." Silver got up.

Scroop sneered, "You seeing those kids again?"

"Someone has to keep an eye on those brats so they don't stick their nose into our business." Silver snapped back, "Does anyone want to switch?"

The crew all avoided eye contact.

"That's what I thought. So while you lot are all here drinking all the beer you want, I'm stuck with baby sitting detail, So count you're lucky stars." Silver grinned. "Anyone got any milk to bring to them?"

The crew laughed and Silver got up and left grinning. Scroop narrowed his eye at the retreating pirate.

Silver walked to the inn and knocked on the door to the room.

No answer.

He opened the door and was unsurprised to see Wren and Jim sleeping. He was even more unsurprised that Wren was curled up on Jim's chest and Jim had one hand on her back as they both snoozed. At least they looked like they had showered but it seems both of them had fallen asleep the second they hit the bed. They were just laying on top of the comforter exhausted.

Silver smiled, he supposed they deserved a rest. It wasn't every day you deposed a tyrant and saved a planet.

Silver rubbed his neck and taking the blanket off the adjoining bed he laid it down over the both of them. He smoothed the blanket over Wren's back looking at the face of the child he once knew. Doing things he couldn't imagine. He sighed and grabbing his things he walked out on the two of them.

Jim was starting to get used to waking up with Wren on top of him. Her weight and warmth resting on his chest made him want to go back to sleep. I shouldn't get used to this. He absentmindedly stroked her back waiting for her to wake up. He felt refreshed, despite really only having taken a nap. Three hours?

He turned to look out the window. It was a bright morning. A new morning.

Wren woke up and slowly pushed herself up to a sitting position, "Morning."

Jim looked up at her, "Morning." He rested comfortably, "How you feeling?"

"Fine. No hang over." Wren moved her hair to one side.

Jim chuckled putting an arm under his head, "That's because I made you drink water."

Wren smiled genuinely, "Yeah, Thanks." She said appreciatively, "You sleep okay?"

"Mhm." Jim intoned.

Wren smiled and then looked out the window, "We should get going." She didn't follow up her statement by moving.

"Yeah we should." Jim didn't move either.

They both looked out the window in silence.

Eventually Jim nudged her leg, "Come on, or else the Captain is going to be mad."

Wren nodded and climbed off of the boy. All legs, shirt coming down to her thighs.

Jim averted his eyes. The soft morning light looked a little too good on her.

Wren loosely tied back her hair and frowned when she found the crunchy bits where it had been burned. With a shrug and an impulse decision she wandered into the bathroom and found her belt with her knives. Taking one out of its sheath she felt where the burned ends were. Holding her hair in one hand and the knife in the other Wren didn't even pause to look in the mirror before she sliced off a generous six inches. She looked at the clump of hair in her hands, tied in a neat bundle with a ribbon and put it to the side. With a razor she quickly straightened out her remaining hair. With that done Wren shoved her shortened hair out of her face and walked out of the bathroom.

Jim wrapped in a sheet raised an eyebrow but made no comment. He got off the bed and walked over, taking two opposite strands of hair pulled them straight and compared their length with an expert eye. Nodding he released them, apparently, they were even. Running a quick eye over the rest of it he was satisfied that everything was set.

Wren smirked at Jim's seriousness inspecting her hair, "Come on Jim. Let's go."

Jim stepped away and nodded. "okay."

"I want to stop by someplace before we go to the ship." Wren turned to the bathroom once more.

Jim shrugged, "Alright." He glanced at the mug sitting on the table, the one Wren couldn't break before. Another time. "We better hurry then."

The pair of them walked down the street. It was quiet, exceptionally quiet after the revelry last night. Evidence of the party was nowhere to be seen, none of the streamers or alcohol that had flooded the street in a midnight frenzy. But they weren't there for the clean-up. It was a familiar street, one of the first ones Jim had walked down when he came to this planet. He remembered kicking a rock down it, that felt likes years ago.

Wren looked around memorizing this place. In all the years she'd been gone, the street was still the same from her childhood, maybe now things could change. She faced the dark alley way leading to nowhere.

Jim stuck his hands in his pockets and peeked around Wren.

Wren adjusted the bag on her shoulder, knowing they didn't have much time and walked into the darkness.

The alley way was darker this time, maybe because everything else was so bright. Pipes dripped around their ears. Their footsteps echoed, the sound bouncing around them. Cold air caressed their faces and they breathed it in. The darkness did eventually end. They walked through the alley and finally emerged in the clearing.

Jim blinked eyes watering, the sunlight was bright and it stung, his eyes weren't used to it. Eventually the spots cleared and he could see again. The sunlight streamed down on the clearing that looked the same, same grass same tree. Same quiet trembling aura that held them in thrall.

Wren stepped into it and carefully floated to the tree in the center. She pulled two sticks of incense out of her pocket and carefully lit one. She stuck it into the dirt at the base of the tree next too one of the two stones and lit the other kneeling placing it over the other stone, the smoke rose white from the tops and they smoldered with a warm scent. Wren slid a hand over the stones clearing away invisible dust as the incense slowly filled the morning air with the smell of spices and sunlight.

Jim watched and waited staying outside the clearing, refusing to interrupt.

"Jim."

Jim jumped, "Yes?" His voice cracked and he cleared his throat, "What is it?"

Wren smiled, dazzling him he felt like on purpose. "Can you help me?" She slid a red ribbon out of her pocket.

Jim nodded and quickly but carefully came over. "Yeah, sure." He said nervously, "What do you want me to do?"

The red ribbon was long and fluttery, draping softly over her hand in long lazy loops. She put some of the loops in his hand. It was nearly weightless, softer than a butterfly's wing, almost as soft as Wren's smile. Jim frowned, vaguely remembering Wren describing something like the ribbon in her stories. A red ribbon, where have I… oOh. Jim jerked his head up, his heart leaping into his mouth and stuttered, "W-wren! What? Uhhhh." He was so red he covered his face.

Wren looked at him, "Can you get it over the branch?" She pointed to a branch above their heads, too far out of reach for her.

Jim choked on his own heartbeat and nodded, "Y-Yeah. Mhm." He sighed. I think I'm having a heart attack. He reached up on his tiptoes and wrapped the ribbon around the branch. It fluttered down and he straightened it out. "Good?" Can I faint now?

Wren nodded and grasped the ribbon. "Thanks."

Jim let go and stepped back a little, he didn't want to step back too far so it didn't seem like he was running away.

Wren gently tied the two ends so that it knotted up by the branch. She tied another for a double knot and let the rest slide through her hands, the long tails fluttering in the slightest breeze.

Jim looked at it, the ribbon and the incense. Wren seemed to be going through some kind of ritual, one he wasn't familiar with but still intimately knew what it meant. She was saying goodbye and honoring the place she came from.

Wren stepped away from the ribbon and placed her hand on the tree trunk.

"Goodbye." Wren smiled, for real this time. She felt eons older than she did mere days ago, but so much lighter. Wren turned and smiled, "Finch, were you waiting for us?"

Jim turned around and saw the little kid standing on the edge of the clearing.

Finch wiped his nose, "What're you doing?"

Wren smiled, "Saying my goodbye's." She tapped the tree, "This was where my house was."

"Here?" Finch looked frightened, "Really?"

Wren smiled and held out her hand. "What are you afraid of?"

"Everyone said it's haunted."

Wren laughed, "Guess that's why no one built a house on it."

The boy held onto Jim's pant leg only brave enough to come halfway in. "Someone did try but bad things kept happening."

Jim raised an eyebrow but kept silent. He wasn't a superstitious person but he wondered if there was something to the aura of protection about this place.

"A lot of the kids come and sleep here though. There's nothing bad about it."

Wren grinned, "Do you sleep here?"

Jim carefully took the kids hand and led him over to Wren.

Finch looked down at his feet, "Sometimes." He glanced up at Wren, "It's nice. I didn't mean to!"

Wren kneeled down in front of him amused, "Finch, this place is open to anyone who needs it. I don't own it." She smiled, "I'm glad someone's been taking care of it."

Finch twisted his fist in his shirt, "You're not coming back are you?" He bit his lip, "What are we supposed to do? I know you said things will be better but… How do you know?"

Wren forced him to look at her, "I don't know. I don't know if I'm never coming back, I don't know if it'll be better for sure." She smiled, "No one knows the future, but that means that you can make it yours if you want."

Finch looked up at her and nodded, "Okay." His eyes stopped being soft, a little too reminiscent of Wren, a little too sharp for his age. "Don't be sad if you come back and everything's different."

Wren laughed, "I'm counting on it!" She took the kid's hand, "Come on, if we're any later Amelia will have our butts."

Jim grinned, "Not my butt. I'm blaming you."

Wren looked aghast, "Betrayal! For shame! Have you no honor sir?"

Laughing Jim stepped up and kissed both of Wren's cheeks. "None at all."

Wren flushed so red her brain fried.

Finch stared at them both in horror.

Jim scooped up Finch easily and ran for his life, his laugh echoing down the alley.

Wren finally took in a gulp of air, "Jim!" She bolted after him.

"What did you do that for?" Finch asked panicked, "Do you want to be turkanded with a mimihur?" He clung to Jim's back.

Jim laughed, "She wouldn't do that."

"Come back here!"

Finch grimaced, "I think she will! You better run fast Puppy eyes."

Captain Amelia tapped her foot, her tail twitching back and forth in impatience. Where are they? The sun had already risen. But she wasn't really irritated for the tardiness, in truth they weren't that late.

However.

Amelia glanced at the throng of people waiting in front of her ship, loud and disruptive. This is too much.

Dr. Doppler stepped up next to her watching the group of people. "Interesting isn't it?"

Captain Rachmaninoff sighed, "This is a first I must say."

Jonathan was standing at the front of the crowd and rubbed his head sheepishly, "I'm sorry about this. I told them they didn't have to."

Rachmaninoff shrugged, he was a nonchalant captain. Much more relaxed and flexible than his other navy counterparts, which was why Amelia called him specifically. No one mistook his sleepily looking eyes for laziness or stupidity. He didn't show it on his face but he was very curious about this young lady, it had become clear she was the mastermind behind a very successful coup.

Amelia clasped her hands behind her. The slight move drew eyes who showed just a spark of fear. These people had a long road ahead of them. A fear of force, traumatized by power, it would be difficult to overcome. Yet, a couple dozen children laughed starting a game of tag, they had no problem running through the soldier's feet.

"We're late! We're so dead!"

"We wouldn't be so late if you didn't yell at me!"

"Who's fault is that?" Wren skid around the corner followed by Jim hot on her heels his backpack flying. "You just had to k-" She screeched to a halt.

Jim crashed into her back, "What-" He was suddenly confronted by a hundred people staring at them. "Uhhhh."

The entire street erupted into applause.

Wren straightened and sighed. "Finch I thought it was only the kids coming to see us off." She whispered to the kid standing behind them.

Finch shrugged, "Sorry Karwi. Word got out."

Jim raised an eyebrow, "And who let the word out?"

Finch looked away, "Wasn't me." He muttered.

"Sure it wasn't."

Wren and Jim walked through the crowd and it parted for them.

"I thought I told them off last time." Wren reached Jonathan clearly more relaxed out of the cheering crowd.

"You did." Jonathan grinned and clasped hands with Wren and then Jim. "But clearly everyone knows you're not actually scary."

Wren sighed and Jim laughed, "I told you. You couldn't scare a flea."

"I'm scary!" Wren insisted.

Jim and Jonathan both nodded. "Sure."

Onitone hugged Wren, "It's okay Wren, you're intimidating enough."

"Thank you." Wren stuck her nose in the air. "Now where are those kids so we can hurry up and go already." She tried to appear cold and didn't fool anyone.

The kids melted out of the crowd.

Jim and Wren both grinned.

"Marauders!" Finch commanded the kids. "Form ranks!" The kids formed crooked ranks.

"Marauders! Ready for action!" They shouted.

Jim laughed.

Wren blushed red, "Don't do that!"

"That's amazing!" Jim high fived the kids. "Well done!"

The kids dispersed hugging Jim's legs and climbing on Wren who waded further in to reach all the kids.

As everyone watched Wren, Jim, Jonathan, and Onitone got sucked in by the crowd. Several of them coming forward to ask questions or express thanks.

Older people flocked to Jonathan asking him questions about the future. The young adults and rebels gathered around Onitone hoping to contribute to the future. Jim was accosted by the weak with admiration, the strong with admiration. Wren was surrounded on all sides by people who needed hope, so everyone.

Rachmaninoff raised his brows in surprise, Wren was not what he was expecting. Though he didn't know what he was expecting. Certainly not someone quite so young, and with a weightless smile brighter than a sun.

Wren took the time to sooth anyone who came up to her. Patient and kind, now that she had told them what they needed to know.

Onitone laughed along with everyone, bigger than their skin.

Jonathan carefully answered questions as best as he could as they came at him.

Jim still a little bewildered how he had become such an integral part of this story but easily able to shoulder people's worries.

Wren turned to Jonathan and said something. His ears perked up and he said something back confused. Leaning closer to his ear she said something else, clearly important enough to say it in the middle of a throng of people.

Jonathan nodded and they clasped hands.

Eventually the four of them extracted themselves.

Jim sighed, exhausted. But he waited for Wren as she said good bye to Jonathan, Onitone and the kids.

Wren turned to the people and waved shyly.

Jim hugged Jonathan and Onitone and then the kids.

Wren turned and stopped in front of Rachmaninoff. "Do you need something?"

Rachmaninoff raised his eyebrow and assessed the girl, "Good work." He held out his hand.

Wren frowned and shook his hand, "I didn't do nothing."

Rachmaninoff glanced at Amelia, "Sure you didn't and I'm just here for the glassware."

With a smirk Wren turned to Amelia, "Your friend is funny."

Amelia nodded, "Yes. He's not my friend."

"That's cold." Rachmaninoff pouted, "We went to school together." He winked, "She's just jealous cause I took her place at the top of class junior year."

"And I took it back by senior year." Amelia's tail swished.

Wren looked between the two of them looking like a dog that had a bone.

Jim slid in, "Is that so?" He looked absolutely pleased with himself. "Captain, you weren't top of your class all four years? For shame."

"For shame." Wren repeated straight faced.

The captain tsked, "Get on board, we're launching." She glared at the other captain, "Mirano."

"Amelia." He nodded.

She walked up the gang plank the doctor followed her after booping Wren on the nose with a finger and a warm smile.

Wren wrinkled her nose and smiled.

Jim waved stepping onto the gangplank himself.

"Bye everyone!" Wren waved and walked onto the ship.

Everyone on the ground waved as the ship pushed off.

"Bye!" They shouted.

"Thank you!"

The kids hopped up and down on the dock waving furiously.

Wren and Jim grinned waving back as they steadily drifted out.

Jim put down his hand and leaned over, "What did you give Jonathan?" He asked smiling.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Wren kept on waving.

"You gave him a packet last night while I was napping." Jim settled in and looked at her expectantly.

Wren sighed, "Just a little something to get them started." She looked at him from the corner of her eye, "What?"

"Money?"

"No!" Wren denied, "A packet of money isn't enough to do anything." She scoffed. She looked at him and sighed, "It was… plans and suggestions for building things up again. Government structures and social programs…. Wha-What?" She glared at him.

Jim wasn't sure what to think, he was both impressed and afraid. "I'm asking you about this later and I want you to explain it. In full, and Dr. Doppler probably wants to hear it too."

"Cabin boy." Kevin smacked Jim on the back of his head, "Back to work. Stop lazing around."

Jim sighed rubbing his head, "I save a planet and I still get treated like trash."

Wren smirked, "You're preaching to the choir."

They looked back nearly out of sight of the crowd.

"Back to work." Jim pushed away from the railing as they broke through the atmosphere. He floated a bit but then got sucked back to the deck.

Wren nodded, "Yes, back to work."