Chapter 2- Ghost Ship
The first few weeks of the trip passed uneventfully. Jim spent most of his time listening to Dr. Doppler gushing over his Terra Star and catering to Captain Amelia's every whim. In his free time he discussed hover boarding with Trest or listened to Johnson's many adventures. Johnson's stories always fascinated him for he had seen most of the galaxy, including places Jim had never heard of. His favorite was of a planet filled with lost technology that Johnson found only once, but could never find again. Johnson swore on his grave that some how the entire planet vanished without a trace.
Today, Jim did none of those things because the radar had picked up the signal of an unregistered ship which usually meant pirates. Captain Amelia had ordered all hands on deck--except Dr. Doppler, B.E.N, and Morph who were ordered to help Botter to keep the ship on track--armed and ready for an attack. What they saw made even Captain Amelia's hair stand on end.
They could only assume that the wreckage was once a ship. The sails were ruined and the main mast broken in two. An enormous hole went through the center of the hull that was much too large to have been caused by a cannon or a laser. Jim and Captain Amelia climbed up to the look out position for a closer look.
"The Marionette…" Captain Amelia read from the ship's side that barely escaped the hole.
"Should we take a look? Maybe there are still clues as to what happened..." Jim asked wanting to explore.
"This ship has been here for quite some time. Mr. Hawkins, your curiosity is contagious though. Right then, carry on with your investigation." Captain Amelia replied.
Jim hurried back down to deck noticing the uneasiness on the crew members faces. Other than Trest and Johnson, he knew there would be no volunteers so he did not ask, and part of him wanted to explore on his own. As the ship approached the deck of the other, Jim made sure his lifeline was secured and long enough, and his gun charged, before jumping aboard.
The ship was even more menacing onboard than Jim could imagine, but something was not right. There were no bones, weapons, or any sign that anyone had ever been aboard. He ran a finger along the rail and noticed there was not even any dust. The only thing out of place was a large chest next to the broken mast. As Jim approached the chest, he noticed that there was one lifeline still attached to the mast. Jim kept his eyes on the lifeline as he tried to pick the lock. It took a few minutes, but just as he suspected it was empty. He slowly stood back up in time to notice that the lifeline was moving. Jim threw caution to the wind and quickly turned around in time to see a cloaked figure climbing aboard with a bag full of loot Jim knew came from the Arrow Legacy.
"Hey stop!" Jim shouted causing whoever to drop the bag.
The person hesitated for a moment, before pulling out a small knife. Jim could not see the person's face, but he knew he was in no danger. For starters, the person held the knife with both hands and had not attacked the moment Jim spoke. In fact, the person seemed more concerned with the bag than Jim. Jim slowly approached with his hands raised away from his gun trying to show he meant no harm, but as soon as he was in reach the person attacked.
Jim was caught by surprise with the first strike that grazed his cheek, but avoided the second entirely. He continued to back away as his attacker relentlessly pursued, trying to buy time as he thought of a non lethal solution to his problem. He waited until the next strike before rolling on the ground, around his attacker, and pulling the attacker's lifeline, causing the other to fall and drop the knife. They both scrambled for the knife, with the attacker reaching first, but Jim easily overpowered the other person. He kept the thief's arms pinned to the ground using one hand as he pulled the hood from the other's face.
The thief turned out to be a young girl, around Jim's age who would have been quite pretty if not for the glare she was giving him. Jim only stared at her as she struggled to free herself. She was human with barely shoulder length raven black hair pulled into a loose braid and green eyes.
"Top notch job Mr. Hawkins! Johnson said he saw someone sneaking from that ship, but we could find neither head nor tails of her. Right then Mr. Hawkins, use that lifeline to secure her and bring her aboard. She may be a thief, but she is still a young girl and my conscious won't allow me to leave her here." Captain Amelia ordered as she opened the bag that the thief dropped.
"On second thought, wait with her in my cabin and send Dr. Doppler over. This ship's design is quite curious…The gravity machine is operating, but the severity of damage this ship received that should be impossible." Captain Amelia muttered so low Jim thought she might have been talking to herself.
Jim did as he ordered, which was difficult seeing as the girl was much stronger than she looked. He kept a tight hold on her especially during the jump although he was sure she was bruising his legs with her kicks. Dr. Doppler couldn't resist a chuckle as he quickly rushed over to the other ship once given the message, leaving Jim alone with the captive. She seemed to forget Jim entirely as she examined the captain's quarters although she was tightly tied to a chair.
"So who are you?" Jim asked drawing her attention back to him.
She stared into his eyes and like before, Jim could not force himself to look away. Their eye contact was only broken by Morph--who must have snuck back in during the struggle--popping out of Jim's pocket to examine the girl. She followed Morph's every move except when he went around her back, but pulled away when he returned to her face. She grimaced at first when Morph rubbed against his first, but after deciding he was harmless, she smiled. Morph took the smile as a sign to continue before changing into a miniature version of her. She stared in awe at Morph before Morph changed back into himself and licked her before retreating back to Jim.
"That's Morph. Don't let his looks fool you…He's a real jokester." Jim commented, hoping for some kind of response.
The girl opened her mouth as if to respond, but before she could say a word, B.E.N. rushed in. B.E.N. began frantically examining Jim head to foot, while Jim tried to get a word. Jim knew this was going to take awhile the moment B.E.N. saw the scratch on his face.
"My buddy Jim attacked by a savage wild man! Did he hurt you? I'll get the ship's doctor! Don't tell me it's already too late?!" B.E.N. screamed in hysterics until Jim finally grabbed him by the shoulders to hold him still.
"B.E.N., I'm fine and your wild man is sitting right there." Jim replied turning Jim to face the girl.
"How do you do? Forgive my manners; I wasn't aware there was a lady in the room." B.E.N. said, completely unaware she was the one that attacked Jim.
"Maria…"
She spoke so quietly that at first Jim wasn't sure she spoke at all. Her voice was slightly raspy as if she had not spoken in a long time. Morph heard though and quickly transformed back into a miniature copy of her.
"Maria, Maria!" Morph chanted causing her to laugh.
"So you'll tell the blob and robot your name, but not me?" Jim asked trying to break the tension between them.
"You snuck on to my ship and tried to steal my treasure…" Maria answered more confident than before.
"I did not! I didn't even know there was chest until I came on board!" Jim replied matching her tone.
"Then why did you come aboard?" Maria shouted obviously upset.
"I just wanted to explore! What's your excuse for sneaking on our ship?" Jim
asked trying to calm down.
"To steal food for her ship. Now Mr. Hawkins conduct yourself as a proper first mate. " Captain Amelia answered walking through the door with Dr. Doppler and surprisingly Johnson.
Captain Amelia cut the rope tying Maria to the chair and sat behind her desk. Jim glanced curiously at the two other men, but did not comment for there was no way for her to escape anyway. Dr. Doppler sat in the nearest chair as well and motioned for B.E.N. to leave. B.E.N. zipped his lips shut after giving Jim one final examination and left but could be heard shouting "Important meeting in the captain quarters, but mum's the word."
"Well then, we heard outside that your name is Maria correct? I am Dr. Doppler. She's my wife, Captain Amelia, and over there is Johnson." Dr. Doppler asked cleaning his glasses on his shirt and using them to point at each individual.
"Your ship is quite interesting…Tell me, how is it you managed to survive such an attack?" Captain Amelia asked intently checking Maria's face for any sign of a lie.
"An attack? There was an attack?" Maria asked confusion evident on her face.
"You don't know?" Jim asked in shock.
"I suppose it is possible that she experienced some trauma that resulted in memory loss, but I am no doctor in that field…" Dr. Doppler explained.
"I suppose that doesn't matter at this point. Your ship is our main concern. The technology it used is unlike any we've ever seen. There were no controls-" Captain Amelia started but was interrupted by Maria.
"I don't know anything about the ship…I don't know anything about me. Everything before a few months ago is a blank…All I know is that my name is Maria and that I have to protect the ship. Please all I asked is that you let me return to it." Maria pleaded.
The captain appeared to be in deep thought for a few minutes before she sighed.
"Mr. Hawkins, order the crew to tie The Marionette to us. Once you left the ship Maria, everything aboard shut down. Therefore it is unwise for you to return, but I can tell you will not leave it behind. If you keep sneaking aboard ships, like I'm sure you have been, someone will eventually have your head or enslave you. You are now a member of this crew and I am placing you under careful watch. Your first order is to accompany Mr. Hawkins's in his task."
Maria did not have a chance to voice her opinion before Jim pulled her from the room.
"Was it really a wise decision bringing her and the ship along?" Captain Amelia asked for the first time in her life unsure of one of her decisions.
"Aye Captain. Something happened to the rest of the people on that ship and that girl is going to remember eventually. Besides ships like those haven't existed in hundreds of years…" Johnson answered speaking for the first time since he entered the cabin.
"I suppose we'll see…" Dr. Doppler answered as he listened to Maria and Jim continue their earlier argument.
