The crystal gleamed and the light from what was left of the day reflected off of it and into Barlow's eyes. He smiled. "Ah yes, such a fine price." He looked at his men who still held Jim down. "You can let him go. This man is broken. He is no longer a threat to us."
Barlow's men let Jim free and they all watched as he crawled over to Iris. He grabbed Iris' hand and glared up at Barlow.
Barlow gave him a menacing smile. "Poor little Captain. Have you tasted enough, or do you want more of my wrath? You don't know a single thing about pain. You think you do but, this is only the beginning. While you sleep in your warm bed at night, people like me are planning your demise."
"Big talk for someone who thinks so little of the world." Jim told him.
Barlow scarfed. Jim's insult was nothing to him. "Not the world, just people like you."
Their conversation was cut short as a gun was fired, hitting Barlow in his bullet proof vest. He dropped Jim's gun and staggered back. "Damn it! The rest have arrived! Fall back!" He ordered his men.
Leland, Silver and the others from Kate's ship swooped in for help. Their surprise attack broke the focuse on Barlow's side and caused them to retreat. They and a few of the tribe's people fought and killed a few more pirates before fleeing the village.
Admiral Blake and Captain Amelia were there, too, but they had been greatly wounded and needed aid immediately.
Silver rushed to Jim's side. He was ready to comfort the young lad when he thought otherwise and backed his hand away from his shoulder. He watched the young Captain pick up Iris, his sweetheart, and cradle her in his arms. "Jim..." Silver didn't know what to say to him.
Jim stood up and started walking to the chief's tent. "She needs help." Its all he said as he vanished inside the tent.
Everyone was still in shock but Silver's voice whipped them into shape. "You heard him: we need to help the wounded. Get off your asses and let's get to work!" He rushed inside the tent soon after with Iris' mother and Leland close behind.

Jim had Iris laying a fit covered bed. His shirt had been stain with her blood. "I can't get her to wake up." Jim was in shock. "We need to help her." He didn't know what to do. What happened to these people when their crystals were removed?
The chief knelt beside her daughter a and stroked her hair lovingly. "We need fresh, hot water and clean rags. Next we will need herbs to close the wound." The chief might have seemed calm and collected but deep down inside she was crying out in pain. She had already lost her husband, most of her village, and quite possibly her daughter. She looked to Leland and said: "Go, Leland! You know what we need." She looked to Silver now. Stand guard at the door. Leave the three of us be."
Silver and Leland nodded and got up to leave. While everything she said was what needed to be done, she also saw this opportunity to speak with Jim more privately.
He hadn't looked at her once for his gaze was locked on Iris the whole time. He was afraid that if he didn't keep his eyes on her than she would slip from his grasp...forever.
"Mr. Hawkins," she started. "I must speak to you about the inevitable." She paused, wondering if Jim heard her. "Mr. Hawkins..."
"I heard you." He suddenly said.
The chief took a breath calm her nerves. "There is a chance to save Iris but, you need to pay close attention to what I have to say next." She waited to continue until Jim nodded. "We need to get the crystal back from Barlow. My people cannot survive long without it. We and the crystal's go hanf in hand. One cannot survive without the other...understand?"
Again Jim nodded. "How long do we have?" He asked her.
The chief lifted her daughter's hand and examined it closely. "Her end has already begun." She encouraged Jim to look. Iris' finger tips were turning grey. "Soon her body will be grey all over. When that happens she will burst into millions of tiny particles of crystal dust. It happens to us all when we pass away. Our remains return to the land and what is left of us is our crystal." Her Circle of Life talk ended there. "Without her crystal, Iris will surely die. There is no living without it."
Jim held Iris' other and looked at her fingers. It was just as the chief said. How long do we have?"
The chief thought for a moment. "A day, maybe two."
Jim struggled with this knowledge. He closed his eyes and focused on his breathing and the fact that he was close to loosing his mind. "I need to go after Barlow right now."
The chief shook her head. 'No. What you need to do is take a moment to collect yourself. I know you love my daughter very much and would die for her...you nearly did today. I am grateful to you. You saved my daughter and took her in. You showed her kindness and compassion, and above all: your love." She took a moment to gather her thoughts. "We will have our chance to run after Barlow soon enough. When we do our attack on him and his crew must be swift. More people die, I know this. The real question remains though: how much are you willing to sacrifice?"
Jim didn't have time to answer her as Leland returned with the items as hand. He watched the chief and his father clean Iris' wound as best as they could. "Will she wake up?" Jim asked.
There was a moment of silence before the chief answered him honestly. "No, I'm afraid she will not."
"Leave this to us, Jim. Take this time to check on your crew and the others." Leland said.
Even though his father was right Jim didn't want to admit it. Regardless of that though he got up and left the tent but not before giving Iris a kiss on the forhead.

The village was a mess but luckily nothing was set on fire, leaving the number of casualties less than what they could have been.
Lee walked up to Jim. He had cuts and bruises all over him but he seemed fine for the most part. "How is she?" He asked regarding to Iris.
"Not good." Jim answered him.
Lee sighed. "I may not like you, in fact I hate you, but without you and your people's help we would have lost everything. For that you have my gratitude."
"Don't thank me yet." He told Lee.
"Jim!" A voice rang out behind him. It was Kate. "Thank the Gods your alive. The pirates bombed one of the ships. My crew and I arrived a few minutes ago." She looked around trying to spot Iris. Usually she was always near Jim. "Where's Iris?" She regreted asking as soon as she saw the look on his face. "Is she..." Kate couldn't bring herself to finish that sentence.
"Barlow took her crystal. She's alive...for the moment but remains unconscious. Without the crystal she will die." Jim explained to her. Lee on the other hand didn't seem surprised to hear this for he know how it all worked. "We have a day or two to get the crystal back from Barlow."
Kate crossed her arms. "Are you leaving now then?"
Jim shook his head. "Not at this very moment, but soon, yes. I need anyone who is willing and able."
"I am." Lee spoke up. "You have my word."
"I will go, too." Kate did not hesitate to aid her old lover in his time of need. No matter their past, they were still friends.
"Thank you." Said Jim.
"Don't think for a minute I won't help you, Jimbo." Silver came up to the small group.
"Didnt the chief ask you to guard the tent?" Jim asked.
Silver shrugged. "Someone else took over."
"Before we set out," started Lee. "You should see your friends Blake and Amelia."
Kate snapped her fingers. "That's right. We should go see them. I haven't had the chance yet. I heard they nearly died by Barlow's hands."

Jim, Kate, and Silver gathered inside the tent. Lee excused himself for the time being and let them speak in private.
Admiral Blake and Amelia were laying on their backs. They had all been bandaged up and left there to rest.
"Ah, Jim." Admiral Blake forced a smile. "Took you long enough."
The trio knelt down beside their two friends. "Barlow will pay for this." Jim swore to them.
Amelia gave an exasperated sigh. "Barlow is smarter than he looks. Be careful Jim. He nearly took my arm off. That beast doesnt need a weapon to take you down. He'll use his fists to rip you apart."
"How is Iris?" Admiral Blake asked.
Jim relayed the message to them both.
"I see," said Amelia. "Then you best get going. I'm afraid Blake and I will not be able to accompany you."
Jim was okay with this. He wanted them to stay here and heal. "That's fine. Even if you wanted to come I wouldn't allow it, given the state you two are in."
"Take as many men and women with you as you can." Said Amelia. "You will need them." Jim nodded to her. "Go now. Time is short." She urged the trio.
"And John silver," said Admiral Blake before they all left the tent. "The Intersteller Corporation thanks you for your hospitality. After this endeavor I reckon you'll have a full pardon against any all crimes held against you. After this is all said and done, I and the others will welcome you back into society as an upstanding citizen."
Silver nodded and smiled. "Thank you, Admiral."

Once the trio teamed up with Lee again they worked to get a strong group together. They were going to need every able body.
Iris' life was dwindling and the only thing standing in Jim's way was Barlow himself.
What would it take to bring him down? Who would be the unlucky ones to suffer at his hands?
One thing was clear: as long as Barlow lived this planet would surely die without its people. As the the chief said to Jim: the crystal was a part of them just as much as they were a part of it.

Jim looked to his partners-his team, and felt his gut tightening. Not all of them were going to come out of this alive.

Author's note: Sorry the insanely long wait. I've had very little motivation to continue this story. I've been so focused on my other Treasure Planet stories, Inter Mundos and His girl.
I had meant to finish this story a very long time ago but life has gotten in the way. I'm engaged to be married now, and I was in Italy for a while too. Also, work is busy with the holidays.
I encourage you to check out my other Jim Hawkins stories.
And as always, please leave a review. Believe it or not, reviews help encourage me to get the next chapter out faster.
Let me know what you think. I'm very curious.