It's sunrise and Uma stands on the docks watching the familiar sight of the sun barely peaking through the dark clouds of the overcast sky. She is used to waking up this early for the morning shift but today she has another mission.
She barely got a wink of sleep last night after she and Harry left the ship. Her mind had been racing with anticipation and she ended up staying up late and undoing her braids giving her hair a fresh wash. Her curly hair is now in a messy bun atop her head.
They have a lot of ground to cover so the earlier the start the better their chance of finding the treasure. Sailing the Lost Revenge would be an easy way to tip off other pirates that they were searching for something so today she and Harry were going to steal one of Captain Hook's rowboats.
"Uma, you're up awfully early," Harriet catches Uma off guard. "Perfect hour of the morning for sneaking around, wouldn't you say?"
She's wearing an off-white draped skirt with a chain belt, white ruffled blouse, and black leather jacket with fishnet tights and buckle booties. Beachy waves of dark hair cascade her shoulders. It's easy to see why some of the pirate boys have crushes on her.
"Is that what you're doing?" Uma counters.
"I always sneak around in the mornings. Are you here to meet my brother? Oh, why am I even asking? Of course you are! You two do everything together," Harriet says with a smirk.
"I do some things alone," Uma takes offense. "I don't always need Harry by my side."
"Oh, Uma don't lie to yourself, darling," Harriet told her with a snicker. "You wouldn't know what to do if my brother wasn't by your side. You're the natural born leader and he's your obedient little sidekick."
"He's a little more than just a sidekick," Uma admits. "I don't know how you and your first mate are but Harry is the only one I can truly trust. Around here you need at least one person who has your back completely to stay on top."
But Harriet knew all too well that Uma and Harry's relationship was more than just a captain and first mate. Everyone noticed the way Harry's eyes would light up at the mention of Uma's name. When he got a little too unhinged she was the one to bring him back to some sense of normalcy. Harriet had been watching them play their never-ending game of question and rejection for years now.
"Your little party last week was amusing. It was all anyone could talk about the next day. I don't recall seeing much of you at it though beyond our little chat. Too busy wiping my baby brother's tears?" Harriet taunts.
"Your brother is not as threatened by you as you think. You probably didn't see much of him because he was too busy having a wicked time."
"Sure," Harriet again laughs to herself. "Anyway father and Mr. Smee are feeling a little bit under the weather. That means I have to go open the bait shop today. So while I'd love to continue to chat I don't have the time."
"Aww," Uma pouts. "But I was enjoying our little girl chat so much. Maybe next time we can talk about you and Anthony?" Uma suggests causing the girl to get flustered.
"One dance at a party hardly makes a thing between me and Anthony," Harriet objects.
"No, but one dance and a coffee date lets me know something is going on there. And I'll just have to find out," Uma bluffs.
"Oh, go ahead and try, darling," Harriet replies in a voice that admits no demur.
Uma silently gave Harriet props impressed that the pirate girl wasn't backing down so easily. The two girls hardly spoke outside of Harry and usually had no reason to feud. Uma was curious to find out if Harriet was more bark than bite.
"Well since you don't have a thing with Anthony I guess it's safe to tell Desiree that he's free and up for grabs. Some of the girls at Serpent Prep think he's so handsome."
"He's not interested!" Harriet snaps quickly losing her composure.
"Is that what he told you?" Uma presses.
"He and I hardly talk. But last I heard he had his eye on someone and isn't interested in any other girls but her." Harriet's jealousy was evident in her voice.
"Good to know. I'd love to continue but we both have places to be. We'll have to do this again sometime." Uma waves and leaves Harriet before she can utter another word.
The Hook residence is right by the dock where Hook's fleet was. Walking up to the house Uma could already hear Captain Hook hurling insults at his son; so much for feeling under the weather.
Uma pulls a pin from her hair that was holding back stray curls and uses it to pick the lock. The inside of the house is pretty much how one would expect a house on the isle. Some drab off white color with chipping paint and exposed leaky pipes. Half drunken bottles of rum line a shelf near the cherry wood dining table.
"You'll never be anything but a pitiful first mate," Captain Hook howls in a drunken slur.
Uma can tell from the way the place is a wreck that Hook has been up to his usual drunken antics. Harriet being a girl would never be on the receiving end of his wrath. But Harry was traumatized from instances when his father got angry and locked him in the brig or made him dodge glass bottles. Once the evil pirate had tied his son up and made him walk the plank. Uma shuddered at the memory as she recalled having to dive into crocodile infested waters to save her first mate. It's a miracle both had made it out of that predicament with all limbs intact.
"When I get off this isle you'll be begging me for help, old man," Harry spat at his father swiping a sword in his direction.
He and his father were going sword to sword and hook to hook in a fight. Hook sees Uma out of the corner of his eye and flashes her a devilish grin.
"Well if it isn't my favorite girl. Come to watch a real pirate at work?" Captain Hook says just the right words to further rile Harry up.
"I watch a real pirate at work every day. He's the only pirate who was able to take down the Kraken after all. As I recall you were too busy cowering in fear like a codfish."
"And if I recall the beast got to you," Hook replies. "I saw it drag you under the depths. Had Harry not gotten a lucky shot we probably wouldn't even be having this conversation at the moment."
"20 years and you're still fighting and losing to children. That just screams baddest pirate of them all," Uma's voice is laced is sarcasm. "I guess Blackbeard will continue to hold that title,"
"Don't fight it Uma. You know deep down my son is nothing but a pathetic loser. An unlovable doormat," Hook bellows at Harry knocking him into a chair.
Harry scrambles to grab his sword as his father steps closer.
"Don't listen to him, Harry," Uma pleads watching on as Harry struggles.
"Give up, boy! Nothing will ever stop the great Captain Hook. Not Peter Pan, not some blasted crocodile, and especially not someone unfit to call himself my son"
Harry knew he could never truly do his father in for good. Despite the mental and sometimes physical abuse he put him through Harry could never kill one of his own. He may be slightly insane but he knew Uma would never look at him the same way and she is all that matters. Right now she was staring at him with hope in her eyes willing him to get up and run away with her.
He couldn't hide the impish look on his face as a plan for his escape quickly formulated in his mind. He had to act fast for his father's sword was now at his throat and the old man was leaning down further.
"Never!" he shouted grabbing one of the many scattered rum bottles and connecting with the side of his father's face effectively knocking him out.
Hook fell to the ground with a thud and wound on the side of his head quickly bleeding.
"Harry," Uma embraces him, cradling him in her arms. "Don't scare me like that."
"But that's my specialty," he teases.
Uma presses her lips to his briefly. "Come on, " she pulls him to his feet. "We don't have a lot of time and adventure awaits."
