Note: To all of you Die-hard Treasure Planet/ rabid(?)-for-Jim Hawkins fans, I apologize if I've gone waaaay overboard with this idea. I've seen and read how much many(?) seem to take a shine to him and just wanted to have some fun/ whet yer appetite 'n imaginations in a way. So...if you don't like this idea, then I will just make it a very simple 'n short tale. Otherwise, it may be a whole 'nother adventure for Jim.

Jim sighed tiredly as he continued to meander down Lowell Street, the main thoroughfare for traffic passing through the Montressor village of Kentucky. He was returning from an Interstellar Naval Command meeting that had lasted a good two hours in the offices of the Krandall & Stovers Master Shipbuilding Company and was quite worn-out. Still, he knew he'd succeeded in his assignment.

From the earliest beginnings of solar shipping and commerce, merchant and naval ships alike had been at great risk from pirates and renegade privateers anywhere in the galaxy. And the greatest advantage pirates possessed were smaller yet faster and highly-maneuverable sloops or schooners to outrace and evade any retaliatory gunfire.

But, ever since Jim's magnificent exploit above Treasure Planet, the Royal Interstellar Command had begun to see the potential of solar surfers as multi-purpose tactical craft that would serve well in fleet and single ship duties for fast assault, ship defense/counterassault, medical evacuation and scouting.

And so, Jim's superior officer, Vice-Admiral Horatio Valencia, had requested his presence as consultant and spokesperson at a very crucial meeting that would determine the pros and cons of solar surfers in the Interstellar Navy.

And because Jim had done his utmost to explain, demonstrate, persuade and prove the awe-inspiring capabilities of a combative solar surfer, the issue was taken to vote that same night and passed unanimously by the High Admiralty of the Interstellar Command.

In addition, the K&S Master Shipbuilders had signed a freshly-drafted contract with Fleet Tactical Command to mass-construct 450 military-spec/combat-ready surfers; this would also include special modification & outfitting of about a hundred Naval vessels—about 1/5 of the entire Royal Interstellar Naval Fleet.

And so it was that Jim exited once the gathering was adjourned; he had done his job and now was walking home as the last rays of the sun set the evening sky into an orange fury dressed with gray clouds. Jim was anxious to reach the Benbow Inn before dark to share a filling dinner and warm evening with Bethany his 20 year-old wife and their 5 year-old fraternal triplets: Faith, Samantha and Samuel. His dad, Leland, had taken over Inn-keeping duties from Sarah for 5 days so that she could rest and relax at the Montressor Garden & Forest Lodge with its natural hot-water springs, mineral baths, 5,000 private acres of thick, heavily-scented pine, spruce fir and juniper forests and vegetable & fruit gardens. So, with John Silver, B.E.N., the Grump Family and his grandchildren at his command, Leland ruled the roost and kept things well-under control.

As Jim kept walking though Kentucky, he took little notice of his surroundings.

That is until...

...he stopped and listened more intently for a second or two. There, he heard it again: a sound like heavy-sobbing. He lifted his head and looked around trying to determine the source. It seemed to emanate from a very dark & foreboding alleyway. With his military training & survival instincts rising in caution, he reached down into his right boot and withdrew his silver 50-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver. He checked the chamber, thumbed back the hammer and advanced slowly with his sense on full alert.

But all that was visible when he entered were several empty wine and ale barrels along with broken crates and glass on the cobblestones. Then...there came the crying again...and it seemed to be coming from...a metallic box not more than three yards further in the alley. Jim covered the distance and leaned over to look inside.

He immediately had to turn away his eyes: it was a half-naked, sorely-bruised very young girl who had the appearance of a "lady-of-the-night"—except that the girl looked way too young and small to...to...well, whatever. Her upper body was completely exposed with only the shredded, ragged remains of a once-white skirt to cover her lower extremities. Her brownish-blonde hair was very stringy, filthy and infested with lice. On top of that, she was very cold and shaking from heat loss.

Taking another breath, Jim looked back with deep compassion in his Prussian-blue eyes. Thinking for a few moments, he slowly removed his old black jacket and held it out over the box. "Here," he said over the girl's weeping. Only then did she stop and notice someone was nearby. She instinctively covered her upper body and sank down into a fetal position. But Jim just reached out further and dropped his jacket into the box. "Take it," he said, "I'll be right back with something." With that he disappeared out of the alley.

About ten minutes later, Jim came back with a hot-steaming platter of four roasted Cornish hens, one 16-oz. beef loin, mashed potatoes and a giant mug of apple cider. He looked into the box but the girl wasn't there!

"That for me?", came a hesitant yet soft voice. Jim looked up and saw the girl was sitting on a wooden crate with his black jacket wrapped around her drawn-up knees and upper body.

Jim sighed with relief and walked over to her. "Yeah," he said starting to feel a little warm inside. "Here." And he held out the platter for her to take...which she did very slowly.

Then, once it was in her hands, she hastily dug in her hands and began to desperately wolf down the potatoes, the beef and then pick apart the hens with a few slugs of the cider. "Too hot?" Jim asked. She nodded slightly as Jim pulled a full canteen of cool water from his waist and passed it to her as well. The poor thing emptied it in three long pulls of water. "Thanks," she whispered before belching loudly and handing it back to Jim. "Sure," he answered and watched her finish of the rest of her food.

The lass then used a thin strip of her skirt to wipe her mouth while keeping a straight gaze upon Jim. "Um...,"Jim began with his hand at his chin, "...You...don't...have—"and the girl shook her clumpy, sodden honey-colored tresses. "Twas me first bite of rations since I was sent sprawling out here with no change of clothing nor shilling...only 'bout a two-night ago."

Jim's face looked on her with deep pity and he wondered what could be done for her. "You...don't...have anyone to help you?" he asked. She shivered strongly before acquiescing to a shake of her head once more. Jim was beginning to sense that his questions were very painful for her to answer so he thought of something else.

But the girl slowly and stiffly stretched her arms and yawned. "...haven't had me a good nights rest in two days either," she spoke through her long breaths. She then rubbed her eyes and began to slowly let herself lean over and rest her head on the ground. In a few moments, her now-filled body was fully-unconscious as her worn-out brain followed suit.

But still Jim just stood there. He genuinely felt very sad that this poor girl was out here with no family, friend, shelter, warm drink, food or even decent clothing.

Just then, his mind halted: an idea had just occurred to him! He pondered it with his hand still stroking his chin and then looked down at the sleeping-but-still-shivering destitute young lady.

Leland straightened up and stretched out his arms over his head; his back was beginning to feel strained from all the bending over he'd done most of the day: stowing and removing hot pans and platters of steaming honey-onion glazed duck legs, beef cutlets, pepper & thyme-laced grouse, roasted potatoes and purp & blueberry pies. Silver had taken a well-earned rest period to catch some sleep in his quarters while B.E.N. continued to literally juggle dual roles of waiter and busboy. Fortunately, the last customers were served their dinners while Bethany, Faith, Samantha and Samuel had their portions at a smaller corner table.

"Say, Bethany?" Leland called over to his daughter-in-law as he passed through the swinging kitchen door. "Do you believe Jim should be home anytime?" Bethany's brown eyes grew a little concerned as she thought while chewing a piece of grouse in her mouth. She swallowed and then replied, "I believe that he should have returned..." and she looked at her pocket-timepiece, "...not more than half-an hour ago." He voice betrayed a little anxiety as she knew her husband wouldn't be late...unless...

Jus then, the main front door opened and there was Jim—restrained between two middle-aged female military officers. One was a tall, gray-haired human in an ocean-blue overcoat with the markings of an Interstellar Naval Commodore. The other was a Zorroanion (a red-furred fox race with the humanoid body structure) attired in the dark, forest green overcoat and insignia of an Army Colonel.

Leland, Beth and the children all looked up and gaped with wide eyes at their son, husband and father with surprise and shock.

But the fox-like female spoke up. "Are you this boy's father?" she asked with her gaze fixed upon Leland. He stared ahead until his eyes blinked a few times and he asked the officer what she said. "Is This YOUR Son, Sir?" she asked with more urgency as Jim rolled his eyes with extreme disinterest. "Yes, he is," Leland answered as he put down the platter he was holding and set his hands on his hips.

"Look it's—", Jim began before the fox-officer interrupted him. "We shall decide what is important or not, is that understood, Young Man?" Jim sighed and slowly bobbed his head. "Yes Ma'am," he mumbled tiredly.

The Commodore and Colonel led Jim in by the arms and closed the front door. "Your son, Sir, was discovered making his way down a public avenue dressed most highly-inappropriate for an extremely-well trained & disciplined young soldier that he is." "What do you speak of?", Leland asked further before looking at Jim. "Or should I say: How were you dressed Jim?" "Go on," prompted the human Commodore to Jim, "You chose reveal it so publicly, you may as well exhibit so now."

Jim sighed and then began to unbutton the long, black raincoat that he had on. When he undid the last button, he pulled away the flaps to show.......

Author's Note: Doesn't everybody just Love Cliffhangers??? Well, I haven't done ones with enough suspense or anticipation but I do like to have some fun in my style of writing.

Another thing, this tale is only meant to be a completely made-up, "wild-imagination", "good-deed-taken-too-far" sort of story; it does NOT reflect my actual thoughts, feelings AND DEFINITELY IS N-O-T Slash or "homo-hooey"; it is only meant to be a "don't-do-this-in-real-life" sort off funny-yet-Good Samaritan style of doing something that blesses someone.