Chapter 6
Houston We Have Lift Off!
Jim and I began to walk off and up the small flight of stairs although I waited a bit so that way he was at least two or three steps ahead of me. When I finally reached the deck I smelled the air it was so invigorating it smelled so clean and fresh like the days after it rained overnight. I'm sure Jim was enjoying the air too but probably not as much as me since he was probably used to this leaving in this world and all. Meanwhile everyone aboard the ship was hustling around setting the sails and whatever else it takes to get a ship up and running. I could hear the distinguishing voices of Amelia and Arrow doing their small conversation.
"Well, my friend. Are we ready to raise this creaking tub?" Amelia had a soft, small smile on her face as Arrow responded to his feline like friend.
"My pleasure, Captain. All hands to stations! Smartly now! Loose all solar sails!" the crew members began to race each other to the sails and seeing who can finish what first eventually Jim had bumped into an alien who glared at him while saying 'come on', he reminded me of a goldfish, since Jim was to awe struck to make sure he wasn't in anyone's way. I wanted to say something about that but I thought against it, mainly because with all the hustle and bustle of the crew he probably wouldn't have heard me and probably would have looked at me like I was speaking gibberish cause I'm sure that if he did hear me he would only get a few words to make an awkward sentence. Anyway enough of my rants about everything I'll go ahead with the story and tell you what the heck is going on around here.
Jim and I separated and he had gone to one side of the ship and I went to the other I looked over the side of the ship as we began to rise into the air. Then all of a sudden the gravity was off and I started floating in the air and I gave out a real quiet laugh as the weightlessness made me feel like a bird although I grabbed onto the shrouds and sort of swung myself closer to where the deck was I really didn't want to end up falling into space and possibly hurting myself in the processes of preventing it. Then just as suddenly as the gravity was gone the sudden weight of my body had returned and as I fell I held onto the rope tightly and slid on the wooden deck and I was able to land on the balls of my feet. Then I heard Arrow shout 'Take her away' I held onto the rope and the rail of the ship tightly since I knew what was going to happen next as Amelia spoke to Doppler in calm collected manner and stated.
"Brace yourself, Doctor" I held onto the railing as Doppler ignored Captains orders. Then the ship jetted to life with such force that the Doctor fell backwards and into the wooden wall and somehow ended up on his head. began to take flight and it was amazing I never went on a boat before even in my own world but this was just spectacular I now knew that I would never want to go home ever where there is so much more I could learn here. I finally moved to the side of the ship where Jim was and I began to climb up into the shrouds until I was higher than Jim so I had also gotten a better look at what was flying overhead. Jim was hanging on the shrouds and wide eyed as the Orcus Galacticus began to float everywhere around us. One got a look a Jim then it noticed me and come close to the side of the ship and looked at me and I was able to graze it on the side close to its eye it felt like rubber. 'This has to be what a dolphin and other whales feel like.'
The creature seemed to have a smile in it eyes and lingered near me enjoying the attention it was receiving and it soon took off with its pack…err pod. As it took off I noticed it was a bit smaller than the others so I figured it was an infant and that why it liked the attention so much. I believe that whatever time or world we are in it will always be a dog eat dog world. The infant probably was going through that phase from being an infant to an adult and with any animal sometimes it can be a dramatic change. I then turned after seeing the youngling fly off to its family and I ended up seeing a green goo drenched doctor and smirked at the sight and I began to slide down some rope that was hanging down from the shroud and jumped just as I was about three or four feet from the deck. I then began to walk along the sides of the ship and back so as to hear Silver if he called. And he did call loud and clear.
"Jimbo! Vie!" 'Since when does he think that he can call me Vie?' I thought as I glared slightly at Silver who seemed to not notice. "I've got some new friends I'd like you to meet." I played along and raised an eyebrow while looking in Silvers direction and Jim looked around a bit while he was still in the shrouds with a slight smile. "Say hello to Mr. Mop, Mrs. Bucket and Mr. Mop JR." he chuckled as if the bored and somewhat irritated teenage faces gave him a reason to laugh. Jim just hung on the ropes for a bit and with a bored expression mumbled the one word that summoned up everything both of our feelings about the 'joke.'
"Yippee." I had rolled my eyes and took the bucket from Jim and went to fill it with some soapy warm water, which took me a while to find even after asking a few people, and brought it back and we started to mop the floors and Jim muttered again "Yea I got your Mr. Mop" not 2 seconds after he was pushed back by a four armed red faced alien who turned to him and said in a low almost growling, threatening voice. Seriously I always wanted to say something to him but dude he has for arms no way in hell am I going to pick a fight with something like that. But isn't it funny how people walk into you but they tell you to watch it, thinking they're all that and a bag of chips. Yea I said it doesn't laugh cause I'm sure you have heard that expression before.
"Watch it twerp." Then the alien had proceeded to walk away, I looked up at Jim and we heard whispers and looked to find the 3 aliens talking Jim mopped a little and I kept staring somewhat leaning on the mop, before they noticed us. Then all of a sudden the head tan alien with a bandana and what looked to be dreadlocks said
"What are you looking at weirdoes'?" Then creepy as it looked the dreadlocks moved and climbed onto the barrel and the torso had a face itself and mimicked the head but in a much higher voice 'Must be related somehow.' I thought. All of a sudden there was a soft hissing noise and it had begun to get louder and louder, Jim and I turned to see a crab/spider looking alien who had a loose vest on and a small hat on top of his head and with glowing yellow pray mantis eyes. If you haven't guessed it ye it was none other than Scroop who was climbing down the shrouds toward us.
"Cabin boys should learn to mind their own business." He put a lot of emphasis on the s on the last word. Before Jim could say the comeback that I loved I scoffed and continued mopping while still glaring from the corner of my eyes while turning my head to him slightly so he knew I was talking to him and stated.
"Maybe you should mind your own business you pathetic excuse of a spider." I always wanted to say that but I guess I should have thought of the outcome because Scroop, using his claw turned me around to face him and grabbed the front of my shirt. He lifted me in the air I was thankful my shirt was long enough so as it wouldn't show anything other than my belly button in this situation.
"Maybe your ears don't work so well." his breath smelled horrible, wasn't there a thing called hygiene around here? It could have been a mix of rotten eggs and years of no oral care what so ever. I shook my head trying to get some fresh air from his foul breath and before I could think anything through a low growl emitted from my throat and I swung my leg and kicked him in the jaw and he dropped me in surprise.
"I have two words for you bug boy, ORAL HYGENE!" when he dropped me I landed on the balls of my feet and glared up at Scroop. Scroop looked down and tried grabbing my collar again but I ducked and moved to the side as I kept egging him on. "Is that all you got? My grandmother moves faster than you and she's in her 80's!" I smirked and laughed like I was crazy. I played him like a violin as I slid under him turned on my back and kicked hard against his lower abdomen, he howled and his eyes seemed to burn red in anger as he finally was able to grab my shirt and pinned me against the mast while the air was knocked out of me, since he had ended up somehow hitting the bruise that Meredith had inflicted on me the night before. Scroop had put the sharp end of his claw against my neck piercing it slightly making a small trickle of blood trail down my neck.
"Any last words, girl?" I had just glared at him not entirely sure whether or not I was afraid of death right now. Suddenly there was a familiar voice of a boy; I bet you all can guess on who it was. Since when did I ask for his help? Even though it was appreciated, don't get me wrong but I really didn't want to end up being the damsel in distress in this story. Now I know that things happen and one thing leads to another and in some cases stuff just happen and you can't change it.
"Let her go!" He then hissed as Jim threw the bucket of soap filled water into his eyes which made him drop me immediately but I sat up against the mast and held my side for a bit applying pressure trying to massage the pain of the now throbbing bruise on my side. While holding my side I looked up at the continuing fight that was unfolding before my eyes Jim was doing his best on dodging Scroop. Soon Scroop had had enough of this and ended up tripping Jim with one of his legs, just before Scroop was about to try and hit Jim a familiar mechanical arm grabbed his claw, while Silver looked nonchalantly at a ripe purp.
"Mr. Scroop, you ever see what happens to a fresh purp when you squeeze real hard?" Silver then started squeezing the joint that he had clasped onto and Scroop hissed and Arrow began to walk over to where the crew had circled around the three of us as we had I small fight.
"What's all this then? You know the rules. There'll be no brawling on this ship. Any further offenders will be confined to the brig for the remainder of the voyage. Am I clear Mr. Scroop?" It looked like Scroop was going to say something smart but I noticed a light was gleaming off of Scroop but I know that it was Silver daring Scroop to do something. But when Scroop looked back at Arrow the light faded and Scroop looked somewhat defeated and looked back at Arrow. How can anybody miss the light emitting from Silvers eye?
"Transparently." Then the crew began to disperse and back to their duties as Arrow before he had left he looked at me with the ever knowing look of knowing, but it seemed that he understood that the one who ignited the fire was Scroop, if only the man/bug could take a comment and leave it be. Silver began to talk in a happy tone to Arrow while saluting.
"Well done, Mr. Arrow, sir! A tight ship's a happy ship, sir." The second that the crew and Arrow were far away from the 'scene of the crime' Silver's demeanor became angry as he held the mops in his robotic hand. His facial features showed his anger and his eyes became even redder than its usual red-orange hue.
"Jimbo! Vie! I gave you two a job."
"We were doing it until that bug thing-"Jim shouted trying to have an excuse for the fight with Scroop. But before he could finish his statement Silver shouted while getting into Jims face while I was still leaning against the mast which was a little bit farther than where Jim and Silver stood having their aggressive negotiation.
"Belay that! I want this deck spotless and heaven help ya if I come back and it's not done... Morph?" as Silver called to his pet Morph floated close to Silvers neck and shoulder area with a curious look as Silver gave him an order.
"Watch these two; let me know if there be any more distractions." He walked away with a darkened face dawned with a frown. Morph chattered with a serious look on his face which showed he was determined to do as his owner asked, then he transformed making his eyes as large as dinner plates and started watching Jim and I from a little overhead. Jim was the first to break the dead silence that was there for a few minutes.
"What were you thinking of saying that to spider psycho?" I looked over and shrugged as Jim was motioning to where the poor spider psycho was last seen stalking off to. I could already feel my anger rising, I mean I just don't like being questioned about why I did something. I never have liked explaining myself. "You could've gotten seriously hurt. You're just a teenage girl picking fights with an older stronger guy than you. What's wrong with you?" I shrugged and kept mopping I was seriously getting irritated and I suddenly blew my top off, I glanced over at him.
"Look I wasn't planning on him getting all hysterical and trying to kill me Jim and first: you could've gotten hurt too and second: it's not like this was my first fight, I can take care of myself." He stopped and looked up at me strangely on the last comment I made and I looked away. I wasn't crying or anything I just couldn't take that look of pity that was bound to be on his face. He then asked that old question
"What do you mean?" I sighed and leaned the mop.
"It's none of your business Hawkins." He glared at me and continued to mop while Morph kept his eyes on us making small chirping noises as Jim and I had separated and continued to work, bumping into each other every so often when we had to get new water into the somewhat draw mops. The day was long and so very boring with the silence in the air since the fight was over, the air felt so thick that you could have cut it with a knife. At least that's how I imagined it I mean it couldn't have been more than a few minutes maximum and I was already starting to get stir crazy. I finally couldn't take it anymore I needed to talk to Jim. No I'm not going to blow my cover or something stupid like that but I just want something to kill the deathly silence. If I could at least somewhat be on good terms with him then at least we would both have someone we could 'trust' and talk to when all else fails.
"Okay we both know we need to kill the silence." Jim just glanced at me quickly with no expression at all on his face then turned his face back and continued on with the task at hand.
"So you want to talk now?" his voice was…oh…what's the word…harsh...cruel? or maybe resenting I don't know something along those lines I sighed and leaned my mop against the mast and crossed my arms and stared into his back.
"I admit I deserved that. But seriously Jim the silence is killing me here and I know it has to be bugging you by now." He had finally turned around and looked at me. "Would it help any if I apologized?" He had shrugged and I sighed, I was really starting to get impatient with this boy no wonder his mother is so tired looking. Don't get me wrong she is beautiful but she looks so tired and stressed.
