Authors Note: This is the third and final chapter of this story; Thank-you Janna Hawkins & Etheriums Angel for your reviews—they've been a big encouragement. More Skittles and M&M's to you BACK!!! Heh-heh-heh-heh, just having' a lil fun!

...And then two years later / Autumn leaves all around...

The Fall season had finally come to Montressor's Upper Hemisphere. The air was very cool and crisp with a hint of frost and wonderful smells. Every living tree and bush ( with the exception of the Evergreens) was now adorned with both blazing shades of yellow & orange and dull, darker red & brown colorings. Many had already begun the cycle of shedding their frocks of leaves, branches and fruit. Every fruit and nut tree stood besieged by their estranged offerings of apples, walnuts, acorns and pinecones protecting their coveted cargo of delicious pine nuts. Even maple trees were tapped every morning before the sun arose for their priceless trove of golden sap that, when boiled properly, yielded the hard-earned maple syrup.

It was a wonderful time to be happy, playful and alive in this picture-perfect moment. Village shops and taverns were now swarmed by customers seeking warm baked goods, hot drinks, winter clothing, heavy blankets, firewood, anthracite coal, flour, fruit, vegetables, meats, jarred foods and syrups. Spirits were high and warm with friends and family visiting each other for long spells. The overpowering scents of baked pies, cakes, cookies, donuts and croissants were set free from bakeries, homes and inns to wander and tempt all whose sense of smell was acute.

Even the Benbow Inn was no exception to the holiday festivities. As the days passed, more visitors and guests came to lodge for the harsh winter or pass the night in a warm, comfortable bed. The entire staff was busy from the dark morning hours to late evenings. Amelia and her daughters lent their efforts each day to assist Silver and B.E.N. in the kitchen, serve the diners and clean the rooms. Silver had even hired a local foreman and crew to take several derelict ships and dismantle them to construct a new wing of 15 suites. Yet, even with the addition complete in 3 weeks, the flow of customers only grew.

So many came to stay that Sarah was compelled to give up her room and her son's. It broke her heart greatly for doing so was akin to surrendering all hope of Jim coming home. Almost a year had passed since she'd learned of Jim's capture. No more word had come since and the war raged on. Her son's sacrifice had saved many lives in Jeff Gallagher's regiment and the contested hilltop had become a staging point for the next assault that took back most of the Procryons territory. Many soldiers and released prisoners of war had returned home safely. But this only deepened Sarah's sorrow as more days passed without a word concerning her son. And with every month that passed, she gradually began to lose all hope...she'd never...see...her boy...again.

One afternoon in late November, Sarah was raking maple & mulberry leaves in the now-hibernating garden. With her was Adam and Andrea Doppler. The kitten had her own small rake that she used to pick up the piles that were as large as she was. Adam, however, was on his hands and knees scrounging for acorns and walnuts.

Delbert came hurrying up the walkway with a generous hello to his daughter, son and Sarah. He then continued his pace until he'd entered the Inn's lobby. He hung up his coat and went in search of his feline wife. He found her serving a table of sailors their plates full of good food. "Um, Amelia, may I speak with you for a moment?" he asked in a hushed and nervous tone of voice. "One minute, dear, and I shall be with you," she answered without looking up. Some of the more base diners made insidious remarks and blew kisses; They all hushed the moment they caught the Captain's stern look. Having silenced any flimflammers, she hung her apron in the kitchen and followed her husband to the Great Room off the side of the dining hall. They took their seats at a desk on the far side of the room. "Now, tell me what it is, Delbert that you wish to speak about."

He retrieved a folded piece of telegram paper from his shirt pocket and opened it. "I was just at the fort Fort Bellaeu visiting with Dr. Creswell Simpson when a message arrived by Morse code. It was forwarded by the spaceport from the 14th Interstellar Task Force in the Procryon Territory." He let his wife take the paper and read for herself.

PROCRYON TERRITORY, 14TH TASK FORCE, STOP.

REPORT MINOR ENCOUNTER WITH THREE PROCRYON BLOCKADE RUNNERS, STOP.

FIRST CONTACT: UNKOWN CLASS VESSEL, GIGANTIC DIMENSIONS, ARMAMENT UNKNOWN, EXTREMELY HIGH SPEED, STOP.

SECOND AND THIRD CONTACT: SHEREKAN CLASS BATTLE FRIGATES, STOP.

BATTLE ORDER: FIRST CONTACT APPROACHED FLEET AT 90 KNOTS PER MINUTE, EVADED FLEET BARRAGE, NO RETURN FIRE, PASSED FLEET ON STRAIGHT TRAJECTORY, STOP

SECOND AND THIRD CONTACTS APPROACH FLEET, FOLLOWING TRAJECTORY OF FIRST CONTACT AT 70 KNOTS PER HOUR, STOP.

ENGAGED FLEET, SEVERAL MINOR HITS, STOP.

FLEET RETURNED FIRE, DAMAGED AND DESTROYED, STOP.

NO SURVIVORS, NO FURTHER ACTION OR CONTACT, STOP.

NO FURTHER SIGN OF FIRST CONTACT, STOP.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND FULL ALERT TO ALL POSTS, STOP.

Amelia stared at the paper and didn't speak for a while. Then she asked, "One ship gets past the Interstellar blockade, but.......is it really...heading this way?" Delbert adjusted his spectacles and cleared his throat.

But before he could answer, he paused and turned towards the window with a curious look on his face. He stood up, walked over to it and looked out as if he heard or saw something. Amelia followed his gaze but couldn't see or hear anything. Still, she knew her husband's species possessed the ability to hear and smell ten times better than humans.

"What is it, Delbert?" she asked. "Cannon fire." he replied blankly. "Cannon fire? From the fort?!?", she asked rhetorically knowing that the fort's heavy defenses were only used in defense. "It...sounds like it, but ...for what?"

Then, Amelia looked back at the telegram, reread the last few lines and looked out the window with a look of horror. She got up and ran to get her telescope. She returned with it in hand and lifted it to her right eye. Leaning towards the window, she studied the sky far away. Suddenly, her body stiffened and her open eye widened. "What is it? What do you see?", Delbert asked upon seeing her reaction to something she saw. Amelia turned and held the spyglass for him to see. He took a look and gasped.

Outside, Sarah Hawkins was just finishing the last big leaf pile when she stopped. She turned around until she was facing east. "Andrea, Adam," she called to the brother and sister. They came over to her side and she told them to stay close. "Why?", asked the redheaded kitten. "Shhhh," answered Sarah, "Listen." They stayed still and gradually began to hear a faint noise that sounded far away.

boooooooommmmmm, booooooooooommmmm, boooooooooommmmmm, booooooooooommmmm, booooooooooommmmm, boooooooooooommmmm......

"What is it?" Adam whispered. Sarah swallowed nervously before speaking as softly. "Sounds to me like the big guns at the fort near the town." Then Andrea spoke up, louder than her brother or "aunt". "Aunt Sarah...I think I see something—up in the sky." Sarah followed Andrea's little pointer finger and stared straight into the sky as well. All of a sudden, she realized what it was as her eyes went wide as dinner plates and she gasped.

"Delbert, here's the key to the gun cabin upstairs in the strong room," Amelia spoke rapidly as she tossed him her personal key. "Get all the weapons you can and bring them downstairs, Quickly!" She then ran into the dining room and rang the meal bell to get everyone's attention. "Now hear this everyone: There's an enormous warship flying a Procryon Armada flag bearing down on this very Inn!" Everyone gasped and a few started to ask questions, but she rang the bell again for silence until she got it. "We must construct a defense here and now before the blagards reach us! All men and boys who can shoot remain here! Women, girls and young boys follow Mr. Grump here to the cellar and hide there until it's over! Now Move!!!"

"I think it's coming toward us, Aunt Sarah.", Adam spoke slowly as he did whenever he was nervous. Sarah nodded as if she was still mesmerized by the apparition that was growing and getting closer. Suddenly, she blinked her eyes and looked at Andrea and Adam on her left and right. Looking back from the Inn to the fast-moving object, she realized that Inn was the target and they were out in the open. "Quick, both of you, come with me!" she said as she took their hands in hers and led them to a four-foot high stone wall that bordered a portion of the garden from the road to the grass lawn. "Here, stay down and don't move!" "Aunt Sarah, you're not leaving us, are you?", questioned Andrea nervously. "No, no, I'm staying right here with you," she reassured them. "But what about Mommy and Daddy and Chloe and Olivia?" the scared kitten asked. "They'll be alright. Your mommy and daddy will take care of everything."

"Everyone take a single firearm and cover yourself behind a heavy object!", Amelia ordered as she loaded her own rifle. Several sailors and war veterans, including Silver, had their own weapons and shared what spares and ammunition they had. "Chloe, Olivia, you go with Mrs. Grump and do exactly as she says, understand?" "Yes Mommy," they both replied in unison. When the cellar door was shut and secured, Amelia took a look around the room before she realized something. Sarah and her other children were still outside!!!

Sarah, Adam and Andrea began to hear a noise like a ship's engines approaching. "Aunt Sarah, why are we hiding? Is that a bad pirate's ship?" Adam wanted to know. Sarah could only nod and held her finger to her lips as the noise got closer and louder. She held out her hand flat to indicate that they were to stay down. Then, she lifted her head just enough to get a look. What she saw made her heart begin to beat more rapidly: It was a gigantic ship—nearly the length of three RLS Legacy's from bow to stern with a dark brown color, four rows of 16 gun ports on each side, mainsails the size of the Benbow Inn and giant metal blades protruding from every angle of the hull. She noticed that several large 60-ponder cannons were set into the bow itself which was aimed for the Inn itself !!!

A ship pulled in the driveway / and she fell to the ground...

Amelia watched as the massive hulk reduced it's wind and dropped lower and lower until it was only five feet above the ground. The sails rolled up themselves and the whole monster groaned to a stop not less than ten yards from the front door. By now, every armed soul in the Inn was in position and ready—from the opposite side of the roof apex to the windows in the kitchen. "Pick your targets when they appear but do not fire until I give the word!", she commanded. The word was passed around and up so that the sharpshooters on the roof could hear as well. "How many are there going to be?" asked one nervous patron. "Yeah, and where's the whole fort contingent?" queried another. "That's not important right now," spoke Amelia without taking away her aim. "Just make sure every shot hits our attackers." Then there was silence as the motley band waited behind overturned tables, chairs, desks, walls, doors, stoves and windows. But nothing stirred on the parked ship....until, suddenly—

—there was a clanking noise and a hidden ramp opened and lowered out of the left side of the ship. The top was anchored by chains as it slowly fell and hit the grass with a dull thud. Nothing moved after that and hands shook slightly as less brazen guests tried to steady their aims.

Then...a small, furry, wiggling noise poked out of the opening. A scared, overstrained guest with a pistol let off a shot that missed the creature but made it yelp and pull back in fright. Then there came a chorus of high-pitched cries of "Don't Shoot, Don't Shoot, Please, we're not enemies, We're prisoners, Let us live, We're friends, We're starving and no place to go, Please, Have Mercy!!!" Amelia shouted to hold fire.

All of a sudden, a human shape jumped off the upper deck and landed in a crouch on the grass while a pink shape swooped down to join him. Then, the person stood upright and began to speak in a voice that hadn't been heard in two years.

And out stepped a captain / Where her boy used to stand...

"Mom, Captain, Doc, It's me—Jim!! It's okay, I'm Back, Don't Shoot, It's ME, JIM!!! I've brought friends!!! It's okay, we've got the ship, We're friends, We're not armed, Don't Fire, Please!!!" Amelia, Delbert and Silver couldn't believe what they were hearing.

Neither could Sarah. She stood up so quickly her head began to buzz. The speaker then turned to look her full in the eyes and she went pale. IT WAS JIM... and Morph too!!! "Mom," He said as he slowly walked towards her, "It's me, I'm back." He stepped over the wall and stood before his shock-struck mother. "Uncle Jim, you're back, you're back !!!", squealed Andrea and Adam as they climbed all over him; Jim grinned sheepishly as he gathered them into his arms and gave them a welcome hug. "Hey Adam, Andrea, I've missed you both a lot!". Morph even twirled around their head and zoomed in to lick them on their faces. Sarah still stood dumbfounded as reality struggled to defeat what hopelessness still lingered within. Finally, she blinked her eyes and reached out her hand to touch his face. Likewise, Jim placed his right hand over hers on his cheek. Now there was no more doubt—her son was alive and well !!

...He said "Mom, I'm following orders / From all of you letters / And I've come home again"...

"Jim...", she stammered slowly, "You're...alive." He smiled gently with understanding. "Yeah Mom, I've come home—just as you told me too," and he pulled out a string-tied bundle of her letters that she'd written to him. Sarah couldn't hold herself back anymore; she threw her arms around her only son, wishing she could lift and carry him in her arms. But she could only cling to him while she sobbed for joy and heart relief. Jim's eyes were watering too for having been so long without his mother.

...He ran to hold her / And dropped all his bags on the floor / Holding all of her letters from War...

"Jimbo?", came a deep, brogue-laced voice. Jim looked up and saw Silver come hurrying down the pathway with Amelia and Delbert not far behind but still clutching their weapons. "Silver!!", Jim yelled as he ran to hug his old cyborg friend. They embraced for a long while before Amelia literally pulled Jim away to give him a fantastic bear-hug. Jim was stunned!! The captain had always been so formal, so ...commanding towards Jim and here she was letting her emotions get the best of her.

But the reverie was interrupted by a small, shrill voice. "Captain, may we please come out?" Jim looked up and towards the ship. "Oh yeah, it's alright, they won't hurt you, I promise!" He ran back to the opening and spoke reassuringly. "It's okay, they're my family, they just didn't know who we were. Come on, nothing's gone to happen, I promise."

With that, out of the hold came a raggedly-dressed, poor-looking group of three-foot tall furry lemming families, wounded & bandaged Crikitan soldiers, Mackriki sailors, human servant girls and even some Naval cadets in ripped and bloody uniforms. Sarah, Delbert and Amelia were shocked by the state of the passengers and were moved with deep compassion. Meanwhile, Jim had disappeared back into the ships hold as the last dreary soul disembarked.

Sarah had just stepped forward to speak when Suddenly, there came the sound of a cavalry bugle call. Amelia realized what it was and ran past the crowd until she was between the vessel and the approaching mounted brigade who'd been sent from the fort. She waved her hands over her head and yelled "Halt !!! Stand down, Stand Down!!! There's no attack, You Hear me?!?! It's not an attack!!!" The first ranks with the officers in front slowed and signaled to the main body to halt as well. When the entire column stopped, Amelia began to explain the situation.

No sooner had she finished then something fell off the "Man O'War" behind her followed by Jim and Morph. He picked up the gagged and bound figure and dragged it over to the Colonel whom Amelia was addressing.

"Sir," he began with a little gleam in his eyes, "I'd like to present to you, Emperor and Grand Marshal Zeuvahynika Caan Wesjefar, Commander-In-Chief of the Procryon Naval Armada and supreme ruler of the Procryon Territory! With your permission, I wish to relinquish custody of him to you, Sir. Furthermore, I and those who have accompanied me charge and condemn him as a War Criminal and a Mass Murderer, Sir!" The entire company was dumbstruck by Jim's words; even Amelia looked upon him with amazement at his accomplishment! Capturing the leader of the Procryons was the best and most certain chance of victory for the Interstellar forces!

The human Colonel was the first to snap out of his stare. "Sergeant Griggs, Sergeant Howell," he called with a finger-snap and two officers rode forward. "Assign an escort battalion for the prisoner and see to his safety and delivery." The two officers rode forward, took their new charge by the arms and led him away towards the rear.

But before the colonel could address Jim again, Amelia stepped between the two of them. "Sirs, my best friend's son here has just escaped from a year's length of imprisonment as a prisoner of war. With your permission, I'd like to humbly request that he be allowed to retire to his personal quarters and be attended with sufficient care on his behalf." "Your request is granted, Madam. I'll send our quartermasters and liaison officers with a sufficient number of supplies to assist the prisoners." Amelia thanked them again and led Jim away to the Inn with Morph following.

That evening, there was a extraordinary celebration at the Benbow Inn in honor of Jim and the escaped captives. Nearly the entire population of the nearby towns came to meet the returnees, see the largest warship that had ever landed on Montressor and hear of the courageous escape. There were so many guests that the garden, docks, pathways and grass fields were set up with extra gas lamps, chairs, benches and tables stocked with wine, hot cider, coffee, tea, cakes, hot & cold meats, cheeses, fruits, jams, preserves and fresh baked bread; most of the arrivals brought and contributed hot foods and drinks themselves so that there was no lack of anything.

Nearly everyone wanted to hear the whole story of the incredible breakout. So, when a sizable gathering was milling about, Jim and the other soldiers, male and female, came out refreshed and fed as the overanxious audience gathered around to hear the story.

After each of them introduced themselves, Jim explained in detail how he and Morph had first busted themselves, the other captured Interstellar comrades and nearly two hundred other prisoners out of the Kertexach prison on the home planet Procryocanikan. They then proceeded to take over the Emperor's own private, fine custom-built battleship just a few minutes after the devil himself, his war cabinet and several close bodyguards had entered to depart. The starved, angry sailors, by cunning and complete stealth, jumped the entourage and subdued them without a shot fired. Then, Jim powered up the ships systems and took the helm and set a course straight for his home where he knew they'd all be safe.

Once Jim had completed the narrative, Sarah had him and the other spacers excused for the night so that they could get their much-needed rest. Each of them got an individual (except the husbands, wives and children who shared the biggest) warm, comfy, down-feather mattress bed. Jim and his shipmates got his old room. To accommodate every single refugee, most of the other guests paid up and either continued on their journey's or found other lodgings. This blessed Sarah Hawkins so much that she refused any money reimbursements or extra provisions, no matter how large. "We already have more than enough, thank-you," she'd say to everyone who'd extend their generosity.

And so it was that after nearly 3 years of duty, battle and imprisonment, Jim stood at last in his own room again—washed up, filled, tired and ready for his first warm, comfortable and safe bed.

But just as he was slowly sliding under his bedcovers, there came a soft knock on the door as it creak open and Sarah looked right in. "Jim," she said in a choked up voice, "before you—go to sleep...I, have something that I want to tell you." Jim just lifted and lowered his chin almost imperceptibly as Sarah entered and came over to his bedside.

For a long while, mother and son just stared into each others eyes as love and joy once again over-flooded their hearts.

Finally, Sarah bent down and held Jim in her arms as her tears of happiness and healing flowed between her lovely eyelids. "I love You so Much...Jim...my son." At that, his arms squeezed her body tighter as his closed eyes streamed as well. "I love you too, Mom." She then sweetly kissed his forehead before saying, "...Welcome Home."

Bring Him Home.../

Bring Him Home.../

Bring Him Home...

Author's Note: Well, that's that. I know I really drew out this chapter for a long spell. But Jim's home safe and sound. Thank –you all so much, Etherium's Angel, Janna Hawkins, et. al. I do sincerely hope you've all enjoyed it very well. Drinks for everyone! Drinks all Around!

October 29, 2004: I came back to read the first draft and thought, "You know, this really didn't end in the right way; it needs something more personal, more intimate and...more...family quality." So I revised it to give more time between Jim and his mom.