Prologue
Mr. Arrow led me and Doppler down a flight of stairs below deck, where we then came to a galley, a warm-looking room that was the mess hall lit by a stove. A variety of alien looking food hung all around. A dark, large figure of a man was working at one of the counters whistling to himself. On the other side of the kitchen was a smaller figure sat on a stool peeling – what looked like – potatoes. He was wearing a hat over his face so I couldn't get a good look at him, when he raised his head; some long strands of blonde hair fell from the hat – and I realised I was mistaken he was a girl!
Chapter 1
A New Adventure
"Lizzie, where did they go?" I turned and saw Silver in the door way – he had managed to climb the stairs, it was very difficult for him to walk up stairs with his mechanic leg; he also had a mechanical arm, eye and ear too. He was a large and rough-looking man, but he always spoke pleasantly – he had sent me and his minions up the stairs of the inn to find the map.
"They jumped out the window." I replied. The others and I were stood crowded round that window the trio had jumped out of; they had somehow managed to land onto a carriage and were riding away as we spoke.
"Right then lads," Silver spoke to the rest of the crew. "Burn down the place and head back to the ship, before the cops arrive."
"What about Bones' body, Captain?" asked Onus. Onus was a very small, slug-like creature with many eyes.
"Leave it – it can go down with the place." Silver grunted.
Hands; who was a huge creature with four arms, did the honour of starting the fire and we all headed back to our ship; empty handed. Once we were all on board we left as quickly as possible – leaving the little inn to burn; I looked out one of the port hole window and saw a little sign that said 'Benbow' – it was quiet a nice looking place before it was set alight.
"Guess what Lads!" Silver shouted when we had all crowded into his tiny room of a very run down inn on the spaceport Crescentia, we were all very tired after we had returned from the map hunt on Montressor. "They're hirin' crew for an expedition," Silver said cheerfully.
"Yeah, and?" hissed Scroop; a red spider-like creature – as always Scroop had to question everything Silver said, did and every mission we went on.
"Because; usually when they're hirin' for crew, they tell you where you're goin' and this one doesn't." Silver holds out a poster that was advertising for crew and, as Silver said, it didn't tell you where it was heading.
"Ssso..." Scroop hissed again.
"Oh if you're not interested then I won't bother to include you then." Silver said he began to fold the poster away and turned to the door.
"Hang on," Oxy spoke up as he walked off Moron's head and onto a set of draws as Silver paused and turned back round to us. "Why are you so interested in THIS expedition, boss?"
Silver smiled "Well, we lose the map that was meant to lead us to Flint's treasure, and then all o' a sudden they're advertising for crew members for the RLS Legacy headin' on some unknown destination. If it's headin' to Treasure Planet we'll apply for the jobs and when we get there we take over the ship, they won't be expectin' pirates to apply for jobs, will they?"
There was silence in the room for a while as Silver's dim crew thought through his plan, Silver looked slightly disappointed that no one liked his idea – until the silence was broken by me as I stepped forward.
"I like it," the rest of the crew turned to me; I continued, "When do we go?"
Silver managed to throw me a quick smile, before Onus spoke as well; "I like it too!"
"Yeah, me too!" Meltdown; a huge cubby monster, shouted, followed by a huge cheer from the rest of the crew as they all hurled their fists' into the air in agreement; everyone except Scroop, who was gritting his teeth and staring at Silver.
"That settles it then lads; go and rest up and we'll head over and sign up in the mornin'." Silver yelled over the crew. Soon the room thinned out until me and Silver were the last ones in the room; Silver turned to me, he opened his mouth to speak but then closed it again he looked like he wanted to say something but choose not to. As I was about to turn and leave Silver decided to speak.
"Lizzie?" I turned back round, again Silver looked like he was going to say something but again, he couldn't bring himself to say it. Silver wasn't really one to say thanks and sorry, I had leant that by now. Instead Silver cleared his throat and asked; "Have you seen Morph anywhere?"
Morph was a small pink blob; he didn't have a particular shape as he was a shape-shifter. Silver had rescued him on a planet called Proteus-one; they had been together ever since. Morph is like a little puppy to me, he's always getting into trouble – whether he's hiding or taken the form of an object and whining up the crew.
"No, I haven't seen him." I replied to Silver, "He's properly hiding somewhere."
Silver looked slightly disappointed but he smiled and I retuned it, I turned and left the room.
The corridor was dimly lit and curling with bugs and spider webs everywhere. However, as I walked towards my room at the end of the corridor, I could see Scroop stood outside my door waiting for me; he was alone.
"What can I do for you, Scroop?" I asked politely, I knew from experience that you should never make Scroop angry, there had been many times where I had said the wrong thing and Silver usually turned up and save me from become Spider droppings.
"Why did you agreeee to thissss expedition?" he hissed.
"It's the only lead we got to the treasure," I answered quietly; I didn't want to wake any of the other crew members in the other rooms, "now if you don't mind I would like to go bed." As I stepped forward towards the door Scroop grabbed hold of my shirt and pulled me back to where I was, only I was hovering off the floor slightly, he then lent in closer to me; a little bit too close for my liking because I could smell his breath, which reeked of died fly's he had had for dinner.
"If we go on thissss expedition and we end up on a wild goossse chasssse, I'll be holdin' you resssponsssible." He dropped me and turned, without another word, and walked away to is room and left me stood on the spot until I came to my senses and went into my room and flopped onto the bed, where I fell into an uneasy sleep.
