Chapter One - Graduate
It was a night of celebration. Drums and tambourines set a fast paced tempo. A piano, flute and guitar were singing a song to make even the sourest of old men want to have his moment on the dance floor. The Benbow Inn was packed to the walls, dancing room only, the building thudding with the vibrations of the music. The entire inn was booked for this moment of commemoration. Drinks and good cheer were being passed around as often as dance partners and laughter filled every corner of the room. One could look around them and see for themselves that there wasn't a face in the whole building that didn't have a joyous smile. Save for one.
James Hawkins wasn't smiling or laughing. Sure, he was happy. He was thankful to everyone who came to his celebration. But he wasn't thinking about celebrating right now. In fact, he was ignoring most of what was going on around him. He didn't notice the people's smiles. He didn't pay attention to the upbeat dance music. At that particular moment, Jim was lightly pressing his hand against the large window in front of him, staring out at the sky with what most people might say was a wishful look. Anyone else in that room could look out that window and see exactly what Jim was seeing: Just a few feet outside the inn was a huge drop where a cliff started. Beyond the cliff was an endless sea of blue-black, riddled with the bright lights from stars and distant planets. The Spaceport was hidden behind the massive clouds that were slowly invading from opposite sides of the window. In the distance there was a small ship, only recognizable by the light reflecting off of its solar sails. All of these were and weren't what was Jim was paying attention to. He was looking at the clouds in the sky to be certain, but no one else would ever see what he saw. The clouds were rolling, breaking and connecting again in different spots, creating a picture in the sky as clouds often do. The moment Jim had looked out the window these clouds had painted a picture just for him. As the distant ship passed through the clouds, its light became a part of the face Jim was seeing; a smiling face of someone he had come to know and love, the ship's light doubling as a twinkle in one of the eyes of this cloudy persona.
A small smile curled up one side of Jim's face as he rested his forehead against the windowpane. "If only you could see me now," he whispered. "I did it, Silver. I did something right. I just wish you were here with me, catching some of my light that you always talked of. You'd be proud." His thoughts seemed to trail off as a gust of wind dispersed the cloud and the ship moved on towards its destination on Montressor, somewhere fairly near the Benbow.
"Jim, honey, are you alright?"
Still leaning against the window, Jim dropped his hand and turned his head so that he could face his mother. "Yeah, I'm fine." Sarah smiled and moved a lock of Jim's bangs out of his eyes before cupping his cheek in her hand.
"You're thinking of John, aren't you?" A tear formed in Jim's eye as he gave the smallest of nods. Sarah reached forward and embraced her twenty year old son in a strong hug. "I'm sorry he can't be here, but you know he's a pirate. Showing up here to this public event even on peaceable terms might end in his being caught and arrested, especially with Captain Amelia here. And now that you've passed your schooling at the Interstellar Academy it would be your job to arrest him as well." She held him out in front of her, looking into his eyes. "But I can promise you that, were he here, he would be proud. You've done so much since you saw him four years ago. Look at who you've become! Captain Hawkins." When Jim remained quiet, she said, "Jim, if he cares about you like you know he does, I can guarantee that you haven't left his life. Someone like him has probably been keeping up with you. He might be celebrating for you right now, and here you are at your own party ignoring the festivities and hiding in this corner. C'mon," she smiled. "Dream tonight when everyone's gone. Right now you are going to dance with your mother."
"Alright," Jim laughed. And as fast as he had been sidetracked by thoughts of his old friend, he lost himself once again amongst the smiling faces and the music. He danced to his heart's content, stopping only to duck his head in shyness for the congratulations he received. He wasn't quite sure how to react to all the praise he was receiving. Ever since his father left when Jim was young it seemed that Jim could never do anything right. He was always gifted in mechanics, building his first solar surfer when he was eight. But up until four years ago he had been getting in trouble with the law, failing his classes at school and barely helping his mom as she single-handedly tried to run the inn. Sarah was constantly disappointed in him and he never had much of a father figure. But that all started to change four years ago. Four years ago an old salamander named Billy Bones crash landed on their private dock, dying within minutes. Four years ago Jim, Sarah and Dr. Doppler escaped the original Benbow Inn as it was being burned to the ground by pirates. Four years ago Jim discovered that the trinket Billy Bones left behind was a map to hope at a better future. Four short years ago Jim met Captain John Silver.
Four years ago Jim had discovered Treasure Planet.
He had seen with his own eyes the loot of a thousand worlds and felt with his hands the dried bones of Captain Flint himself. He pieced together Flint's secret: How Flint would swoop in upon his victims, taking their gold and jewels, then vanish without a trace. The key was the fist sized, spherical map that Billy Bones had left behind. By luck, Jim had managed to unlock the map that would surely be his chance to make things right once and for all in his life. A chance for him to fix everything he had screwed up in the past and prove himself to his mother and the rest of the world. He and Dr. Doppler had hired Captain Amelia and a crew to get them to Treasure Planet. On board he met John Silver, a cyborg who had eventually learned to look past his greed and realize how he loved Jim like a father would his son. Silver had actually been the pirate captain who burned the original Benbow. He had been chasing Billy Bones in search of the map that Jim had received. On the ship, Silver acted as a lowly cook, using his robotic right arm to prepare the most delicious foods for everyone on board. Jim had been put under Silver's charge as a cabin boy where Silver forced him to mop the entire deck, wash all the dishes, pop all the space barnacles off the hull of the ship; Silver ran him so ragged he barely had time to think or sleep. And yet, in the same way, Silver taught Jim the different kinds of knots to use when tying ropes, took him on joy rides in the longboats and even uplifted and encouraged him after the tragic death of Mr. Arrow. But what Jim hadn't known at the time was that the rest of the crew was in service to Silver, not Amelia. When Jim discovered Silver's plans for mutiny shortly before arriving at Treasure Planet, he escaped the ship with Captain Amelia and Dr. Doppler. Shortly afterwards, Silver found them and forced Jim to open the map and take him to Flint's trove. It was like nothing they'd ever seen. There was a huge triangular portal, opening and closing pathways to everywhere in the Etherium. It was how Flint had always made his escapes. And the very core of Treasure Planet itself was where Flint had stashed his loot and died. The entire core had been blanketed in dunes of gold and jewels. There, Jim had tried to escape with a boatful of Flint's treasure, but had been surprised along with everyone else by the booby trap Flint had created. Flint never wanted anyone to steal his gold, so he had rigged the entire planet to explode, should anyone try and take it. Save for the gold on the boat Jim was trying to rewire, all of the treasure was lost as the core of the planet quickly started to crack and—
"Helloooooo? Jim? Do you always ignore pretty girls when they're trying to get your attention?"
Jim blinked with a start. He had sat down to take a break from dancing and started reminiscing about his adventure. He was so enraptured that he hadn't heard Lany talking to him. Now all his attention was on her. She was a fine figure of a woman, about five inches shorter than Jim with a pretty face that was cropped by shoulder length blonde hair. Her blue eyes questioned him while her small, pink lips grinned mischievously. Usually Lany Randall was wearing a private's uniform. She was two years below Jim at the academy, halfway through the process of becoming a captain. But tonight she had donned a simple, emerald green dress that draped in an upside-down V around her neck and stopped just below her knees. Seeing her in this garb was such a contrast to the privates' uniform that Jim couldn't stop the rush of blood to his cheeks. She looked amazing!
"Sorry, I was thinking about something." He got up and gave her a long hug, burying his nose into her hair. "It's about time you made it. I was starting to think you'd forgotten about me."
Lany frowned into his teasing stare. "Please, like I could ever forget about you." Then she smiled and kissed him softly on the lips. "If I ever forgot about you I think it would break my heart more than yours. I'd feel dreadful!"
"Well, I'm glad to know you care."
Lany grinned and cuffed him lightly on the ear. "Of course I care you oaf!" After a moments pause, she added, "So what were you thinking about? It must have been pretty serious. I was trying to get your attention for almost a full minute."
"Well, I was thinking about Silver and Treasure Planet. I wish he was here."
Lany nodded. "Now, you said Silver saved your life didn't he?"
"Yes. He was going to take the gold and jewels I was trying to fly away with on that boat since the rest had all fallen into the cracked core of the planet. But an energy beam had knocked us off our balance and I fell over into one of the cracks. Silver was on the ledge, holding the boat with one hand to keep it from drifting away and reaching out to me with the other. But he couldn't reach. As my grip was slipping I saw him look at me and then his treasure." He paused. "And he let go of the boat and saved me. The last bit of Flint's trove got destroyed because he cared more about me."
Lany took his hand and said, "Well, if ever I met this John Silver I would have a very large 'thank you' to give him." Jim looked up at her again. As he reached forward to give her another hug, he glanced out the window. Something had moved. He kept staring until he saw a large silhouette step a little closer to the window, not quite into the light, but enough for Jim to look back at the girl in his arms and say, "Lany, you might just get that chance right now. I have to go outside, but I have to be discreet about it. If anyone else from the academy sees who I think is out there, we'll have to arrest him."
"I understand. Go see him. I don't think you'll stop being gloomy until you've seen his face." She kissed him again and moved to tap Sarah on the shoulder and dance with her.
Jim snuck out the backdoor when no one was paying attention. His heart was pounding as he looked around in the black night. Where did he go?
Suddenly, a pink, gelatinous blob with eyes flew at Jim. In a high voice, it said, "Captain Hawkins, Captain Hawkins! Reporting for duty!" and giggled.
"Morph, there you are!" Jim caressed the creature with his finger. "You've been gone all evening. Where have you been?"
"Well, you know how some creatures are. They smell somet'ing that resembles home and they go towards it. And Morphy here's got a pretty good sense o' smell." Jim spun around to face John Silver. He was wearing his usual garb, leaning on one side with his robotic and flesh arms crossed in front of him. There was a tear in the old cyborg's good eye as he smiled at Jim. "And look at ye. Rattlin' the stars like I always knew ye could." Without warning, the gruff looking bear of a man grabbed Jim and squeezed him so hard that Jim felt his back crack. "Jimbo, I'm so proud o' ye."
For the first time since Jim met him, Silver let himself cry a few tears. Jim was already crying openly, not knowing what to say. Silver was the only man who had ever treated him like a son. When they finally stepped back, Jim looked him in the eyes and gave a tearful smile. Silver was looking at him much the same way as when their adventure on Treasure Planet had come to a close. Morph broke the silence by crying himself into a puddle at their feet.
Silver decided to maintain his composure and turned to cough, drying his eyes. When he turned back they started walking through the trees that surround the inn, away from the party. Jim asked him, "So what have you been doing these past four years?"
"Well, to be truthful with ye, I used some of the gold I had managed to pocket, bought me-self a new ship and hired a respectable crew. We've been fighting the Procyons all throughout the Etherium."
Jim's eyes widened. "No way! I had heard that a stranger ship was helping us fight the Procs, but I never thought you were captaining her! All this time I've been hearing news about you and I never realized."
"Aye, twas me and my men. They're a pretty good lot. They earn their share and don't complain o'bout much, 'less it's necessary." They stopped at a fence bordering another side of the cliff and leaned on it together, letting the comforting silence patch up the past four years. "So," Silver started. "I noticed ye got yerself a pretty lass hanging over you." He gave Jim a sly smile, looking at him out of the corner of his eye.
Jim laughed and then sighed happily. "Her name is Lany Randall. I met her when she started two years ago at the academy. After a while we just started to hang out more and just sort of grew into a relationship. We've been together about a year and a half."
"Ah, so she be a private in the academy then?"
"Yep." Another silence fell between them and Silver started to pet Morph, cooing over his longtime partner. Jim bit his lip. He had been wanting to talk to someone about Lany, but he was too shy to bring her up to his mother and Dr. Doppler was constantly helping Amelia take care of their four children. He looked up at Silver and watched him for a few minutes. Feeling the stare, Silver stopped playing with Morph and looked back at Jim.
"Ye gonna be alright there, Jimbo?"
"Yes, I'll be fine." They both looked back out at the stars, each lost in his own thoughts. "Silver, can I—can I ask you something?" John turned to look at Jim, concerned.
"Of course, Jimbo. What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. It's just—you're the closest thing I've ever had to a father and I've been wanting to talk to someone about something for a while, but I'm too shy to bring it up to my mother." When Silver stayed quiet, waiting, Jim continued. "Have you ever been in love?"
Silver turned his whole body to look at Jim. "That serious o'bout her, eh?"
"Maybe. I'm not sure yet. I have never been in a real relationship before. I think I love her. Actually, I know I do. But this is a whole new experience to me. I wanted to talk to someone who has been there before and can tell me what it's like."
"And you're too shy to ask yer mum o'bout this?"
"Well, I'm not sure what she'd say. As far as I know, the only love she ever had was my father. And, well, you already know how that turned out. I want to know what love is, real love. I don't want to do to someone what my father did to my mother. I especially don't want to do that to Lany."
Silver nodded his understanding. And then, after a few moments of quiet: "Aye. I been in love before."
Jim looked at Silver with a start. "You have?"
Silver smiled. "Pretty hard to believe, huh? But then again, ye know as much that I am a softie deep down." He tousled Jim's hair with his robotic arm. After a few laughs, Silver sighed. "Jim, did you ever wonder why it was so easy for me to get over my life long obsession getting the loot of a t'ousand worlds?"
"I have, but I've never gotten the chance to ask you about it."
"Aye. Twas easy for me because o' her. The only reason I was searchin' for the gold in the first place was because she was searchin' for it. I met her when I was your age, on a pirate ship. Actually, on a pirate ship from Flint's fleet."
"Wait, you used to work for Flint?" Jim asked incredulously.
"Bit o' a shocker, that. Yes, I did. Under Billy Bones' command. The same salamander that passed off the map to you when he crash landed here on Montressor.
"Ye see, Jimbo, she didn't really want the treasure. The gold and jewels meant nothing to her. She wanted Flint and she wanted him dead. Remember that Flint had killed a lot of people in his pursuit of gold, including a lot o' the family members of people in his own crew. When Flint came after her family, she was the only one who survived and she spent the rest of her life chasin' after Flint, studyin' the sword and t'ings so that when she got her chance she might rid the world o' him."
Jim studied the new look on Silver's face. He saw passion, sorrow, adventure. Most of all he saw love and longing. He wondered if he looked like that when he was thinking of Lany. Finally he spoke up: "I'm interested in hearing about this girl who seems to have captured your heart."
"Well, Jimbo, it'd be a long story. But it seems that people always have time for long stories, don't they? Alright, I'll tell ye about her. But to tell all of a story, you have to start at the beginnin', and the beginnin' o' this story doesn't start with her. It starts with my best friend from Billy Bones' ship. It was through him that I came to know her, so it is through him I shall begin with my story. His name was Ren."
