Disclaimer: I do not own Treasure Planet, Treasure Island, any of the characters or other affiliates. All characters and main story plots belong to Robert Louis Stevenson and the Walt Disney Company.
Chapter 1
Jim climbed aboard the RLS Legacy followed closely by Dr. Doppler, a dog-like alien and family friend. Jim had never been on a ship before. He was too busy looking around at everything to realize he had just stepped on something, or someone. The puffy alien covered in tentacles put his fists up and started yelling at Jim, although what he said were not words Jim could understand. According to Dr. Doppler, he was speaking Flatula. The doctor smoothed the situation over with ease and they continued their way onto the ship to introduce themselves to the Captain.
Captain Amelia, the only female on the ship, was a lengthy cat-like alien with short blonde hair. She gave the doctor the once over and instantly decided she was none too fond of him. She turned her eyes on Jim.
"I'd like to introduce you to Jim Hawkins," Dr. Doppler began. "Jim, you see, is the boy who found the treasure-"
The captain slapped her hand over his mouth and scanned the ship. She hoped none of the crew heard him. "Doctor, please, in private."
She led them to the captain's quarters and locked the door.
"Doctor, to blabber about a treasure map in front of this particular crew demonstrates a level of ineptitude that borders on the imbecilic. And I mean that in a very caring way," Amelia said stepping ever closer to Doppler and Jim.
"Imbecilic, did you say?" Doppler started very offended. "Foolishness, I've gotten-"
"May I see the map, please?" Amelia cut him off. She held out her hand.
Jim shrugged at the doctor silently asking if he should hand it over. Doppler nodded reluctant. Jim tossed the metal ball to the captain who caught it with ease.
"Hmm, fascinating," the captain said studying the object. She then became serious. "Mr. Hawkins, in the future you will address me as captain or ma'am, is that clear?" Jim rolled his eyes and sighed. "Mr. Hawkins," Amelia said her tone becoming dangerous.
"Yes, Ma'am," Jim spoke with a slight nod.
The captain locked away the map and turned to Jim and the doctor, "Gentlemen, this must be kept under lock and key when not in use." She stepped close and leaned in toward the doctor. Her tone became dangerous again, "And doctor, again with the greatest possible respect, zip your howling screamer."
"Captain, I assure you," Doppler began to explain himself, but was cut off by Amelia again.
"Let me make this as monosyllabic as possible, I don't much care for this crew you hired. They're-how did I describe them Arrow?" She turned to her first mate.
"A ludicrous parcel of driveling galoots, Ma'am," Arrow answered.
"There you go, poetry," Amelia smirked.
"Now see here," the doctor began, angry again.
"Doctor, I'd love to chat, tea, cake, the whole shebang, but I have a ship to launch and you've got your outfit to buff up," she said scrolling her finger against the metal suit the doctor was wearing. "Mr. Arrow, please escort these two down to the galley straight away. Young Hawkins will be working for our cook, Mr. Silver."
Jim, who was investigating some of the tools in the office did a double take, "Whoa, what? The cook?!"
On their way down to the galley, Dr. Doppler couldn't stop raging about the captain. He was so offended. Mr. Arrow stopped him in his tracks saying he would not hear another bad word about the captain. He introduced Jim and the doctor to the cook, Mr. Silver, a cyborg. He had one red beaming eye and one large blue eye. One leg and arm were made of metal while the others were of his original body. He was a very large man with a haughty disposition. Jim didn't know what he thought of him yet.
When Mr. Arrow pulled the doctor away again, Jim was left alone with the cook. He had his suspicions about Mr. Silver. Billy Bones had told him it was a cyborg that was after the map. Jim was almost positive this was the man that had killed Billy Bones and burned his mother's inn to the ground. He decided to question him.
Jim grabbed a fruit from his home planet out of the barrel, "You know, these perps are kind of like the ones back home, on Montressor. You ever been there?"
"I can't say that I have, Jimbo," Silver answered continuing to cook.
"Come to think of it, just before I left I met this old guy who was, umm, he was kind of looking for a cyborg buddy of his."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah, what was that old salamander's name?" Jim said. "Oh yeah, Bones, Billy Bones."
"Bones? Boooones?" Silver said. "Ain't ringing any bells. Must have been a different cyborg. There's a slew of cyborgs roaming around this port."
There was a whistle followed by Arrow's booming voice, "Prepare to cast off."
"Off with ya, lad," Silver said pushing the boy. "And watch the launch. There'll be plenty of work awaiting for ya afterwards."
Jim hurried his way up the stairs. Once he was on deck he needed to watch out as the rest of the crew got ready to leave the port. Many of the crew climbed the netting toward the masts of the ship. The sails were set, making the RLS Legacy look like the crown jewel of the intergalactic navy. The sails shimmered in the light of the sun, absorbing the energy. Jim watched in amazement as the ship began to take off.
The gravity began leaving the ship, making the crew begin to float off the deck. Mr. Snuff, the Flatula speaking crew member, engaged the artificial gravity. Jim landed on his feet and right hand in a crouched position.
The ship flew off from Montressor Space Port, with a blast of the engines. Jim felt the rush of the wind as the made their way into space. He had never left his home planet before. This was to freeing! He climbed the netting on the starboard side to get a better look. He watched the manta ray-looking animals flying past the ship. As his eyes panned over he saw a pod of intergalactic whales.
"Whoa!" Jim exclaimed. He watched them intrigued.
Dr. Doppler wanted a better look, of course, and suffered getting drenched in the slime that was emitted from one of the whale's blowholes.
As Jim began climbing down, he heard Silver call out to him.
"Jimbo," he called. "I got two new friends I'd like ya to meet."
Jim looked around and failed to see anyone else nearby. It was then that he realized there were no other friends.
"Say hello to Mr. Mop," Silver threw the mop to Jim and then a bucket. "And Mrs. Bucket."
"Yippee," Jim deadpanned. He climbed down and began mopping the deck of the ship. "Yeah, I got your Mr. Mop," Jim grunted. He was pushed aside by a giant alien with a long, thin braided black beard.
"Watch it, twerp," he said in a deep rumbling voice.
Jim stayed leaning against the railing as the alien walked off. He turned his head and saw three other crew members having a hushed conversation. When they noticed, they stopped talking quickly and stared at him.
The one with the tentacle beard said, "What are you looking at weirdo?" Then the head climbed off the body and the body spoke, "Yeah, weirdo."
Jim was clearly disturbed by the different appearances of the aliens. He heard a hissing above him and looked up to see Mr. Scroop descending towards him pincers at the ready.
"Cabin boys should learn to mind their own business," Mr. Scroop said leaning ever closer to Jim face.
"Why?" Jim asked smirking. "You got something to hide, bright eyes?"
Scroop grabbed the front of Jim's shirt and lifted him off the ground. "Maybe your ears don't work so well."
Jim scrunched his nose and turned his face away, "Yeah, too bad my nose works just fine."
"Why you impudent little," Scroop slammed Jim up against one of the masts.
The crew members gathered around shouting excitedly as they hoped to see a decent fight. Jim could hear multiple shouts telling Scroop to gut him or beat him to a pulp.
"Any last words, Cabin Boy?" Scroop asked threateningly as he poised his pincer at Jim's throat.
Just as Scroop was about to slice him, Silver grabbed Scroop's pincer and squeezed.
"Mr. Scroop," Silver said nonchalantly eating a perp. "You ever see what happens to a fresh perp when you squeeze real hard?" Silver tightened his grip and twisted Scroop's arm. Scroop dropped Jim and held his throbbing wrist.
"What's all this then?" Mr. Arrow asked authoritatively descending the stairs. "You know the rules. There'll be no brawling on this ship. Any further offenders will be confined to the brig for the remainder of the voyage." Arrow faced Scroop, "Am I clear, Mr. Scroop?"
"Transparently," Scroop drawled.
"Well don, Mr. Arrow, Sir," Silver said in a light voice. "A quiet ship's a happy ship, Sir." Then he snatched up the mop and turned on Jim, "Jimbo, I gave you a job."
"Hey, I was doing it until that bug thing-"
"Belay that!" Silver cut him off. "Now, I want this deck swabbed spotless and heaven help ya if I come back and it's not done." Silver's pet Morph floated toward the pair, "Morph, keep an eye on this pup. Let me know if there be any more distractions."
Silver walked off and down to the mess hall. Jim was rubbed the wrong the way about the entire situation. Morph kept an eye on him as he was asked. Jim was comforted by the little pet and even talked to him about the "Spider Psycho," AKA Mr. Scroop. Morph changed into an exaggerated copy of Mr. Scroop making Jim laugh.
He stopped laughing as he saw one of the ship's officers coming onto the deck. He hadn't seen this one before. He wore a green coat with brass buttons; the back had tails that covered the tan slacks. He wore black boots that stopped at the knee and a black hat. Jim could see a blue bandana covering his head under that hat. As he came closer, he could tell that the officer was about his height and nearly as young as Jim. The officer stopped five yards from where Jim continued to mop. He was standing with his forearms leaning on the railing looking out into space.
Morph watched the officer and then looked back at Jim and followed him around the deck as he cleaned. As Jim came closer to the officer he noticed his skin had a dark purple tint to it. He had a thin, oval-shaped face with high cheek bones, a thin pointed nose, full lips, and large almond-shaped green eyes. Jim mopped closer and when he was nearly next to the officer he spoke.
"Do you mind?" Jim asked. "I need to mop here."
"I'm sorry," the officer said in a low, raspy tone. He stepped away watched as Jim mopped the rest of the deck.
After a few more minutes Jim couldn't take this guy watching him like a hawk anymore.
"What's your problem?" he snapped. "You're freaking me out!"
"I am just watching," the officer said in a very calm fashion. "I did not mean to make you uncomfortable."
"Well you are," Jim said. "Don't you have something to do? I'm sure you worship the captain the same way Mr. Arrow does."
"Excuse me?" the officer said in a warning tone. "I am doing what is ordered of me, which happens to be watching you and making sure you don't get into trouble again."
"And who ordered that?" Jim growled.
"The captain," the officer's eyes narrowed menacingly as he took one step forward. "For your information, I hold rank over you and can have you charged with verbally assaulting an officer of the navy. But from what I've heard from the good doctor, you can't afford to have one more offense. I would hold your tongue if I were you."
Jim kept quiet for a moment as he weighed his options-not be charged by keeping quiet or blurt out every insult he had for this aggravating man. He was seeing red. That comment about not being able to afford another offense hit him hard.
"You're a high and mighty freak who would kiss any one of your commanding officer's asses if it meant you'd get praise," Jim growled.
The officer moved with a swiftness and a grace that didn't seem possible. Jim found himself on the ground a sharp pain on his face. The officer was standing over him eye's narrow and nostrils flared.
He bent low over Jim, his face inches from Jim's, "I'll have you know, I have worked very hard to get where I'm at. I don't look for the easy ascent and I certainly don't kiss asses."
Jim felt the anger rolling off the man in waves. Without another word, the officer backed off. Jim slowly sat up and rubbed his cheek. It was tender where the officer had punched him. The man was half way up the stairs when he turned to look back at Jim.
"If you ever threaten me again I'll have you arrested before you can say Treasure Planet," he spoke quietly giving Jim chills. Morph rubbed up against Jim's cheek as the officer disappeared into the captain's quarters.