One Eighty
by Coneflower Adams
Writer's notes: This is my first Treasure Planet fic! I been trying to come up with a good story for a while and I think I have a winner! *does happy dance* I think part of this fic is something that hasn't been done before, so, I'm proud of that. It takes place six years after Treasure Planet. The only character that -sort of- belongs to me is Benjamin. You'll see what I mean when you read. ENJOY!!! :0)
***
Chapter 1: A New Adventure
The *splot* of the mop on the hardwood floor was not a welcoming sound. Jim pushed it back and forth, letting go of a deep sigh. He had only arrived home an hour before from a strenuous voyage capturing pirates who were after merchant ships sailing between Montressor and Capatella. He barely had time to sit for a rest when his mother called him down to help clean up after customers. That was all right…until one irritating frog kid dumped his drink on the floor. On purpose too! That called for the mop from the utility closet, and filling the bucket with water then hauling it to the dining room. He had, had enough of hauling and just work in general for now.
*I need to move out* Jim thought, swiping the last of the red fruit juice off the floor. He nodded at his work before
heading to the back once more.
That was another thing: he still lived at the Benbow Inn where he had always lived with his mother! Twenty-one years old and still at home. *It's starting to get badly embarrassing.* He wasn't home very often, being set off on voyages by the Montressor Space Force. The most he would be home was two months straight before being shipped off again. But, still, he lived at home! *Oh well, can't help that for the moment.*
Jim squeezed the mop dry then poured the water in the drainage sink, all the time listening to B.E.N. hum away at the stove. He set the mop and bucket where it belonged, and headed back to the dining room. He looked around. Nothing else for him to do for the moment, why not take a seat? Just as he sat on a bench by the kitchen, the front door swung open swiftly - the clatter of a heeled boot making solid contact with the wood floor. Jim snapped his head up to see just who would make such an entrance. He should of known: Captain Amelia Doppler. She was known for her exquisite air of respectability following her everywhere she graced her presence. She stood tall, searching around the room until her eyes fell on Jim. She nimbly made her way to his bench.
No one really noticed the small figure behind her, not even Amelia. The door had closed right in his face, making the poor little boy have open it again to get inside. He walked right through the dining room to the kitchen without being seen.
"Good evening, Mr. Hawkins" Amelia greeted, delicately seating herself across from Jim. "I acquire your mission went well?"
"Yes, ma'am" Jim replied, nodding. He was use to Amelia arriving not long after any of his voyages with the Force. She was the one who helped him be excepted into the Academy. She raised high hopes for him after their flight to Treasure Planet. She knew he was capable of a lot, and knew he could work his way up to being captain of his own ship one day. Jim smiled. "We caught up with Barnacles' ship seventy leagues off Capatella raiding a merchant ship. We startled them, making good time, but they put up fight after recovering. In the end, though, we caught all of them or they were killed in battle."
Amelia's stern fix switched to a slight smile. "I'm proud of you, Mr. Hawkins. You have become a fine young man."
"Thank you, Amelia." Jim smiled.
"That's why I'd like you to be apart of my crew on our upcoming exploration."
Jim's eyes widened, and he leaned back. He hadn't accompanied Amelia on a serious voyage since they had traveled to Treasure Planet. She had slacked on her captain's work after the quads were born, but the itch for adventurous was always coursing through her veins. "Of course!" Jim replied momentarily, noticing Amelia's eyebrow arch into a thin line during his silence. "Where exactly are we going?"
"Five months ago, Delbert discovered a wide mass in the Triway Galaxy. He is led to believe there is a planet there uncharted. He has bothered me terribly to sail out there to see just what the mass is."
"What made you give it?"
"Those blasted puppy eyes." Amelia rolled her eyes at the image in her mind. "I have become too soft by having a family."
Jim laughed. "You never know though, this might be a great adventure. There might be something worthwhile out there. And, we haven't been on a good adventure in a long time."
"You're right. I do feel the need to cut loose" Amelia said, as if to herself. She looked up from her gaze on the table, and cleared her thoughts. "Well, we leave a week from tomorrow. I'll give you detail in the next few days when I receive them."
***
The clang and clatter of dishes on the stove drowned out the sound of the kitchen door opening a crack, the little boy meekly stepping inside. B.E.N still hummed, sometimes singing out loud a merry tune, as he cooked the ordered food. He didn't take a care to Benjamin Doppler until the boy plopped himself onto an empty part of the counter. He watched B.E.N slid the cheesy-looking contraption on a plate, turning to head out the door.
"BENNY!" the robot shrieked at the sight of the boy sitting there. "How long you been there?"
"Only a minute" Benjamin said, a small frown planted on his snout.
B.E.N cocked his round head, setting down the forgotten dish. "What's wrong, little buddy?"
"You'd probably get bored."
"NO, no, I won't!" B.E.N. hopped up on counter next to the boy. "Now, what's eaten atcha?"
"Well," Benjamin began with a sigh. He keep his gaze to the floor and his hands in his lap. "No one likes me."
"That's not true! What makes you say that?"
"Because," Benjamin deeply sighed, then whimpered. "Nobody does! I have no friends at school. My sisters like to claw and hiss at me. Even my mom forgets I'm around!"
"Naw, I don't think the Capt'n would forget her own son!" B.E.N cried reassurance.
Benjamin sniffled. "When we got here a few minutes ago, she walked right in and closed the door on me!"
"Oh, well, that's uh…" B.E.N was at a lose for words…for once. The little boy had always had, what they call, low-self-esteem but now he was crying about it. B.E.N. had no clue what to do! So, he did what he did best. He threw his metal arms around Benjamin, squeezing the stuffing out of him. "It's all right, Benny! You'll always have me for a friend! I'll never let you get lonely! You'll always be my BEST BUDDY! We even share the same name!"
That much was true; the robot and the Dopplers' son were both named 'Ben'. Of course, Benjamin always being B.E.N.'s best buddy was probably true too, if the boy wanted it to be. B.E.N. had been around the Doppler children since before they were born. He even babysat them sometimes, mostly played with them other times. He had taken a special shine to little Benny though. The three feline girls were rather aggressive and stubborn and devious, not wanting to have much to do with B.E.N. once they reached five years old. They were too 'mature' to be friends with the wacky robot.
Benjamin sniffled, pulling away and wiping his nose on his sleeve. "Thanks B.E.N. I know you'll always be my friend. But, I still can't do anything right. There isn't anything I'm good at."
"That's okay!" B.E.N. cheerfully hopped down from the counter, remembering the dishes that needed to be served. "I'm not really good at anything either, but that never stopped me! Here, why don't you help me bring out these dishes. I bet the customers are starving by now!" The robot handed Benjamin an oval-shaped plate with some kind of meat on it. "Be careful with it."
"I will." A small smile crossed Benjamin's face as he balanced the plate in his child hands. "Thanks B.E.N."
"Your welcome, little buddy!"
The robot and the boy pushed out the revolving kitchen door, but it's well-oiled hinges made it swung back hitting Benjamin from behind. The boy was pushed to the floor. The plate he had held crashed to the floor also in a bone-chilling crack. Benjamin looked up, hoping his mother had left by then. He wasn't that lucky.
A tall, slender, and intimidating figure in high boots stood before him, hands behind her back. Benjamin blinked back tears after seeing the malicious glare pinning him. "Benjamin Delbert Doppler."
"I'm sorry, Mom. I'll clean it up." He slid to a kneeling position, grabbing the broken pieces of the ceramic plate and the bits of food scattered in a lined pattern in front of him.
"That's all right, Benjamin." Jim came up to his side, and knelt down. "I'll clean it up. You might cut yourself on the broken plate."
"Thank you, Mr. Hawkins." Amelia turned her glare back to her unfortunate son. "Come along, Benjamin" she commanded with much authority, making the boy flinch.
"Yes, ma'am." Benjamin started to walk out, casting a sad look over his shoulder at B.E.N. The robot was looked very sympathetic for his friend.
"Good day" Amelia said before disappear out the Inn's door.
***
Now you know who Benjamin is! So he's sort of my character and sort of not since he was in the movie even if for a few seconds and he didn't have a name either. What will this adventure hold for our heroes? Well, you won't find out next time but hey, it's still just the beginning of the fic :D
by Coneflower Adams
Writer's notes: This is my first Treasure Planet fic! I been trying to come up with a good story for a while and I think I have a winner! *does happy dance* I think part of this fic is something that hasn't been done before, so, I'm proud of that. It takes place six years after Treasure Planet. The only character that -sort of- belongs to me is Benjamin. You'll see what I mean when you read. ENJOY!!! :0)
***
Chapter 1: A New Adventure
The *splot* of the mop on the hardwood floor was not a welcoming sound. Jim pushed it back and forth, letting go of a deep sigh. He had only arrived home an hour before from a strenuous voyage capturing pirates who were after merchant ships sailing between Montressor and Capatella. He barely had time to sit for a rest when his mother called him down to help clean up after customers. That was all right…until one irritating frog kid dumped his drink on the floor. On purpose too! That called for the mop from the utility closet, and filling the bucket with water then hauling it to the dining room. He had, had enough of hauling and just work in general for now.
*I need to move out* Jim thought, swiping the last of the red fruit juice off the floor. He nodded at his work before
heading to the back once more.
That was another thing: he still lived at the Benbow Inn where he had always lived with his mother! Twenty-one years old and still at home. *It's starting to get badly embarrassing.* He wasn't home very often, being set off on voyages by the Montressor Space Force. The most he would be home was two months straight before being shipped off again. But, still, he lived at home! *Oh well, can't help that for the moment.*
Jim squeezed the mop dry then poured the water in the drainage sink, all the time listening to B.E.N. hum away at the stove. He set the mop and bucket where it belonged, and headed back to the dining room. He looked around. Nothing else for him to do for the moment, why not take a seat? Just as he sat on a bench by the kitchen, the front door swung open swiftly - the clatter of a heeled boot making solid contact with the wood floor. Jim snapped his head up to see just who would make such an entrance. He should of known: Captain Amelia Doppler. She was known for her exquisite air of respectability following her everywhere she graced her presence. She stood tall, searching around the room until her eyes fell on Jim. She nimbly made her way to his bench.
No one really noticed the small figure behind her, not even Amelia. The door had closed right in his face, making the poor little boy have open it again to get inside. He walked right through the dining room to the kitchen without being seen.
"Good evening, Mr. Hawkins" Amelia greeted, delicately seating herself across from Jim. "I acquire your mission went well?"
"Yes, ma'am" Jim replied, nodding. He was use to Amelia arriving not long after any of his voyages with the Force. She was the one who helped him be excepted into the Academy. She raised high hopes for him after their flight to Treasure Planet. She knew he was capable of a lot, and knew he could work his way up to being captain of his own ship one day. Jim smiled. "We caught up with Barnacles' ship seventy leagues off Capatella raiding a merchant ship. We startled them, making good time, but they put up fight after recovering. In the end, though, we caught all of them or they were killed in battle."
Amelia's stern fix switched to a slight smile. "I'm proud of you, Mr. Hawkins. You have become a fine young man."
"Thank you, Amelia." Jim smiled.
"That's why I'd like you to be apart of my crew on our upcoming exploration."
Jim's eyes widened, and he leaned back. He hadn't accompanied Amelia on a serious voyage since they had traveled to Treasure Planet. She had slacked on her captain's work after the quads were born, but the itch for adventurous was always coursing through her veins. "Of course!" Jim replied momentarily, noticing Amelia's eyebrow arch into a thin line during his silence. "Where exactly are we going?"
"Five months ago, Delbert discovered a wide mass in the Triway Galaxy. He is led to believe there is a planet there uncharted. He has bothered me terribly to sail out there to see just what the mass is."
"What made you give it?"
"Those blasted puppy eyes." Amelia rolled her eyes at the image in her mind. "I have become too soft by having a family."
Jim laughed. "You never know though, this might be a great adventure. There might be something worthwhile out there. And, we haven't been on a good adventure in a long time."
"You're right. I do feel the need to cut loose" Amelia said, as if to herself. She looked up from her gaze on the table, and cleared her thoughts. "Well, we leave a week from tomorrow. I'll give you detail in the next few days when I receive them."
***
The clang and clatter of dishes on the stove drowned out the sound of the kitchen door opening a crack, the little boy meekly stepping inside. B.E.N still hummed, sometimes singing out loud a merry tune, as he cooked the ordered food. He didn't take a care to Benjamin Doppler until the boy plopped himself onto an empty part of the counter. He watched B.E.N slid the cheesy-looking contraption on a plate, turning to head out the door.
"BENNY!" the robot shrieked at the sight of the boy sitting there. "How long you been there?"
"Only a minute" Benjamin said, a small frown planted on his snout.
B.E.N cocked his round head, setting down the forgotten dish. "What's wrong, little buddy?"
"You'd probably get bored."
"NO, no, I won't!" B.E.N. hopped up on counter next to the boy. "Now, what's eaten atcha?"
"Well," Benjamin began with a sigh. He keep his gaze to the floor and his hands in his lap. "No one likes me."
"That's not true! What makes you say that?"
"Because," Benjamin deeply sighed, then whimpered. "Nobody does! I have no friends at school. My sisters like to claw and hiss at me. Even my mom forgets I'm around!"
"Naw, I don't think the Capt'n would forget her own son!" B.E.N cried reassurance.
Benjamin sniffled. "When we got here a few minutes ago, she walked right in and closed the door on me!"
"Oh, well, that's uh…" B.E.N was at a lose for words…for once. The little boy had always had, what they call, low-self-esteem but now he was crying about it. B.E.N. had no clue what to do! So, he did what he did best. He threw his metal arms around Benjamin, squeezing the stuffing out of him. "It's all right, Benny! You'll always have me for a friend! I'll never let you get lonely! You'll always be my BEST BUDDY! We even share the same name!"
That much was true; the robot and the Dopplers' son were both named 'Ben'. Of course, Benjamin always being B.E.N.'s best buddy was probably true too, if the boy wanted it to be. B.E.N. had been around the Doppler children since before they were born. He even babysat them sometimes, mostly played with them other times. He had taken a special shine to little Benny though. The three feline girls were rather aggressive and stubborn and devious, not wanting to have much to do with B.E.N. once they reached five years old. They were too 'mature' to be friends with the wacky robot.
Benjamin sniffled, pulling away and wiping his nose on his sleeve. "Thanks B.E.N. I know you'll always be my friend. But, I still can't do anything right. There isn't anything I'm good at."
"That's okay!" B.E.N. cheerfully hopped down from the counter, remembering the dishes that needed to be served. "I'm not really good at anything either, but that never stopped me! Here, why don't you help me bring out these dishes. I bet the customers are starving by now!" The robot handed Benjamin an oval-shaped plate with some kind of meat on it. "Be careful with it."
"I will." A small smile crossed Benjamin's face as he balanced the plate in his child hands. "Thanks B.E.N."
"Your welcome, little buddy!"
The robot and the boy pushed out the revolving kitchen door, but it's well-oiled hinges made it swung back hitting Benjamin from behind. The boy was pushed to the floor. The plate he had held crashed to the floor also in a bone-chilling crack. Benjamin looked up, hoping his mother had left by then. He wasn't that lucky.
A tall, slender, and intimidating figure in high boots stood before him, hands behind her back. Benjamin blinked back tears after seeing the malicious glare pinning him. "Benjamin Delbert Doppler."
"I'm sorry, Mom. I'll clean it up." He slid to a kneeling position, grabbing the broken pieces of the ceramic plate and the bits of food scattered in a lined pattern in front of him.
"That's all right, Benjamin." Jim came up to his side, and knelt down. "I'll clean it up. You might cut yourself on the broken plate."
"Thank you, Mr. Hawkins." Amelia turned her glare back to her unfortunate son. "Come along, Benjamin" she commanded with much authority, making the boy flinch.
"Yes, ma'am." Benjamin started to walk out, casting a sad look over his shoulder at B.E.N. The robot was looked very sympathetic for his friend.
"Good day" Amelia said before disappear out the Inn's door.
***
Now you know who Benjamin is! So he's sort of my character and sort of not since he was in the movie even if for a few seconds and he didn't have a name either. What will this adventure hold for our heroes? Well, you won't find out next time but hey, it's still just the beginning of the fic :D