OK, OK, sorry I took so long. I've been on computer restriction, so I've been out of action. But now I'm back!
I've already done 3 disclaimers, this is the last.
I do not own Treasure Planet. Reviews are appreciated.
Chapter Four
Footsteps outside the hall got the young boy's attention. His green eyes dilated as the door to his cell opened, blinding him with unexpected light. In the white haze, he heard a dull thud and a metallic click, punctuated by a faint groan. Then the door slammed shut, and the cell returned to its usual level of dimness, the only source of light being the tiny porthole in the wall. It took a minute for his eyes to recover, and when they did, he stared at the newcomer.
A boy about twice his age was shackled by his left wrist to the floor- the same fashion he himself was secured. He was unconscious, and the half-dried blood crusted on the back of his head spoke for itself. The young boy's green eyes narrowed when they lighted on the academy crest on his new cell mate's left shoulder. Where had the Armada gotten a cadet?
He didn't know what the Admiral was up to, but it definitely wasn't good.
***
Agnes Joszing was nothing like her intrepid twin sister Amelia. Since they were twins, the only way you could tell them apart was the way they dressed- Agnes in a typical Hirdan dress, Amelia in her captains' uniform. Agnes preferred the hard, safe, earth under her paws as opposed to a ship. She had been happy to take the inn over while Sarah was gone, and so far, everything had gone smoothly.
A knock at the door got her attention. "Coming!" she shouted. She delivered the perp juice to Mrs. Dunwiddie and answered the door. A formidable cyborg towered over her, with a young girl of about 17 standard years in tow.
"Cap'n Amelia?" Silver asked in disbelief, looking her over. "I didn't t'ink you was one for dresses!"
"No, Amelia is my sister. I'm Agnes, her younger twin."
"Where's Mrs. Hawkins? I need to speak to her."
"She's not here. She left for the spaceport about a chrono ago."
The cyborg didn't seem too happy on receiving this piece of information. "Gone? Why?"
"I think she's going to look for her son. You heard about the attack on the Loyalty?"
"Yes, yes, we know t'at, t'ank you!" The two ran and got back in a beat up old lifeboat. It blasted off at full speed.
Agnes shut the door with a shudder. She'd need a cup of tea to calm her nerves. It wasn't every day a nosy cyborg popped up on your door and asked you for information.
***
Sarah gasped when she saw the Legacy.It was one of the most impressive things she'd ever seen, looking as if it could leap away from the dock and fly away on its own, with no assistance. Amelia sensed her fascination. "Beautiful, isn't she? We've shared many adventures in our long, intimate collaboration. I'll give you a brief tour once we are underway."
They stepped aboard. Sarah was wide-eyed, trying to take it all in, but doubting that she could.
"Prepare for launch! Hop to it!"
The crew unfurled the solar sails, which captured the light that the Diapson crystals transfigured into energy. The ship lifted off from the dock, free from gravity's hold. The crew also found themselves floating. Sarah laughed as all physical weight was stripped from her and she slowly levitated off the ground. She spied Amelia standing upright, having long ago mastered zero gravity, but Doppler and most of the others were having as much trouble as she was.
"Mr. Magerhusan, engage artificial gravity!"
The amphibian Snohid obeyed instantaneously, and they all fell back to the deck. Doppler helped her up. "Are you ready for this, Sarah?"
As the Legacy blasted away into space, she responded, her brown eyes still holding the fire. "Yes, Delbert, I'm ready. I'm ready for anything."
Silver and Goldfire arrived in time to see the Legacy blast away. Allei groaned. "By the Stone of Erech, what do we do now?"
Surprisingly, Silver maintained his cool, though she could see he wasn't very happy either. "The only thing left to do, lass. We go see Nightshade."
