The RLS Legacy drifted through the murky Etherium, surrounded by stars. Off the port side, Dr. Delbert Doppler could see the silver arc of the Crescentia Space Port. He sighed with content. Within twenty-four hours, he and Jim would be home. He sighed again. Home. Such a wonderful word. Even more wonderful than he expected, considering that only two days ago he wasn't sure if he would ever see it again…
A realization hit him like a magilla. It was over. Treasure Planet had been found. Granted, it had gotten blown up in the process, but for all intents and purposes, the voyage was a success. Complete. Finished. Soon he would disembark this remarkable vessel, his home for the past eleven months, and return to the monotony of normal life.
Doppler looked around the deck. The things he saw here! A pod of Orcus galacticus, a supernova, pirate mutinees, all the sorts of things one would find in an adventure serial played out in front of his very eyes! How could he go back to his life on Montressor?
How could he go back to being an obscure astrophysicist living in solitude? Sure, he had Jim and Sarah. But at the end of the day, he would still return to an empty mansion, not to a crowded room below deck. The camaraderie that fostered in close quarters would be gone in a matter of hours, the moment he left the ship.
"Hey Doc!" a voice called from the wheel.
Doppler looked back. "Yes, Jim?"
"Captain wants to talk to us in her stateroom! Pronto!"
Doppler's ear twitched at the mention of the Felinid captain. What could she want?
He play-saluted Jim. "Aye Aye sir."
Jim laughed and walked toward the quarters.
"Wait for me!" Doppler yelled. He ran up the stairs and after Jim.
By the time he caught up, Jim was already at the Captain's door. He smirked at Doppler and placed his hand to the metal.
"Permission to enter," Captain Amelia answered before Jim could knock. Doppler smirked back at Jim.
The door creaked as Jim pushed it open. Captain Amelia was sitting at her desk, perusing paperwork. She looked up at them.
"Mr. Hawkins. Doctor."
"Captain," both replied.
"I have just received confirmation from Crescentia. We'll be off this ship and home before tea time."
Jim smiled.
"When we reach port, those ruffians below deck will be apprehended, and the Legacy will be taken in for extensive repairs," Captain Amelia said, referring to the broken sails and other damage from their escape off of the exploding planet.
"Are you going to get medical attention?" asked Doppler, referring to her injured side.
"Of course. The Navy will insist." Captain Amelia stood. "That being said, I owe the two of you a great deal of thanks."
"Thanks, Captain?" Jim asked, confused.
"Without the Doctor's knowledge of magillas, we would have never survived. And without your help Mr. Hawkins, we would have lost more people than we did." Before Jim could protest, she added, "The loss of Mr. Arrow was tragic, but not your fault."
Jim nodded.
"And without the both of you on board, it is unlikely that I would be standing here."
"Captain…,"Doppler began. That's not true. You're honestly the most capable of all of us.
"No, Doctor, without you and Mr. Hawkins, I may have been able to escape the pirates, but I would not have survived that cannon blast, much less Treasure Planet's destruction. It is because of the two of you I am making this voyage's homecoming, and for that I am eternally indebted to you both."
Doppler blushed, "Th..Thank you Captain."
Jim smiled and his grim face from the mention of Mr. Arrow's death melted away.
"I sincerely cannot thank you enough. It is a pleasure knowing the both of you. If there is ever anything either of you need, just ask. Dismissed. We will see land within the afternoon."
"Aye Captain." Jim took off back to the wheel.
Doppler turned to leave as well, but before he could he looked back at the captain. She was now standing back turned to him, staring out the window.
"Captain…"
"Doctor, I believe I dismissed you."
"But Captain, I…"
"That means I want you out."
"I know, Captain, but before I leave I…"
"Enough Doctor. We may be near Crescentia, but I am still Captain of this voyage and when I give an order, it is an order. Dismissed."
Doppler nodded. "Yes Captain." He took a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to her. She snatched it from his hands, but before she could draw back, he grabbed her and pulled her into a tight embrace. He squeezed her as hard as he could without doing any more damage, then released her.
"Goodbye Captain."
He took one last furvitive gaze at her, then left her with his note in the stateroom.
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*This is not connected to An Unexpected Twist. Forgot to mention that earlier.