Disclaimer: I do not own Treasure Planet. But I do own Katharine Kayser and her story.

Chapter Ten:

To say Jim Hawkins was excited to return to the darkness and beauty of space was an understatement. He was thrilled. Adrenaline was racing through his heart again; pumping energy into every part of his body.

Yes, he thought, this is where I belong. He was the first person to step on the vessel…no his vessel. Being back on a boat made him feel more in his habitat than anything else in the universe. This is why Jim named his vessel the RLS Serenity. He felt sure of himself in space and on a mission more so, than anywhere else. This was his purpose for living.

"She is beautiful," Eddie noted standing beside Jim looking around at the beauty of the boat. Jim could only nod in response. Eddie was absolutely correct. Apparently, Sarah Hawkins had no idea how much a vessel really cost especially if said vessel was to be used for ILE's purposes, so unintentionally, Jim's mother had saved up twice as much as needed. Allowing Jim to pretty much pick any boat he wanted promising to pay back his mother for everything she had done for him and more.

Leaving behind his mother and the Doppler kids were difficult to say the least. Amelia and Delbert were unusually quiet on the way up to the Space Port which caused Kate to look really depressed. When she was about to say something to them, Amelia caught it and before Kate could say anything Amelia gave her a stern look that said, "Don't you try that again." Kate had just sighed and stared absentmindedly at nothing until they had reached the Port. She had remained silent until Silver and she walked onto the RLS Serenity.

"Oh…wow," she breathed obviously stunned.

Amelia came up behind them, "yes Katharine, I am going to have to agree with you. James you certainly know how to pick your ships." Amelia beamed looking up at the sails and the delicately crafted wood carvings that decorated the ships railings.

"Oi! Jimbo, lad! Serenity's a real beauty an' all but I'm more interested in tha' hidey-hole you were tellin' me 'bout," Silver told him.

"That's a good idea, Silver," Amelia said, "James why don't you show the 'hidey-hole' to Silver and Katharine, besides I think Katharine would like to see her bedroom." Kate nodded at her.

The three of them walked downed to the engine room together, silently taking in the elegance of the ship as they walked down a set of stairs that led to a small hallway with two doors that sat across from each other and another door at the end of the hallway.

Jim pointed to the door on their right, "that is the first mate's room," and then he pointed to the left, "this is the crew's bathroom, and through this door," Jim told them as they walked into it, "is the engine room."

Silver and Kate were slacked jaw. Never before had they seen a more pristine engine room. Or even thought the word 'pristine' and 'engine' together in a thought before. But, oh boy, that changed. Kate could immediately tell the engine was brand spanking new and she smiled. The walls surrounding the room were sound proof and so were the two sliding doors that sat opposite each other with the engine in the middle. Jim suddenly turned to the left and walked to the back wall and disappeared.

"Jim…" Kate called out concerned to where he had gone to. She and Silver walked over to the same wall and noticed a crevice hidden in the shadows. Suddenly a hand shot up from the darkness and grabbed Kate's wrist and pulled. Kate shouted out in protest as she was pulled into the crack but settled down when she heard Jim's quiet laughter at her reaction. She slapped his shoulder.

"That was not funny," she exclaimed while he rubbed his shoulder. Kate took that time to take in her surroundings. The crevice was deceiving Kate had decided. It was a small crack she came through and it looked as though she was now in a large closet. She could only see Jim's outline and hear Silver's laughter.

"I guess tha's deh hidey-hole ya were talkin' bout Jim," Silver chuckled, "scared ya a bit Katie?"

Kate scowled in Silver's direction and turned back to Jim, "so this is the 'impressive' hidey-hole, huh?"

"Actually, no," Jim answered as he moved toward the back of small room they were in, "come here."

"Excuse me?" Kate asked, stubbornly staying put and crossing her arms. Jim had to learn that nobody will ever tell her what to do. She heard him sigh and curse under his breath.

"Stop being stubborn, I just want to show you where you go if there is an emergency," he told her. Kate slowly made her way over to Jim. He must have gotten impatient with her because he grabbed her wrist again and pulled. Kate was starting to get sick of being pulled by him. Not only did the action itself shock her but the electricity when he touched her scared her more than anything.

"Will you stop that?!" Kate yelled at him as she pulled her wrist back from his grasp. Jim didn't seem to be irritated by her reaction and he just pointed down at what looked like to be an entrance to a slide. Kate looked at him quizzically.

He sighed. "In emergencies go down this slide and there is a room already prepared for you. There is a bed, a large quantity of supplies, and a monitor that shows you parts of the ship so that way you will know when it's safe to come out of hiding. And if things get too dangerous to stay on the ship there is a tunnel down there that will lead to the longboats. Got all of this?" Jim asked after his long explanation locking eyes with her wide ones.

Kate numbly nodded her head still soaking in the information Jim had provided. No wonder Silver was so excited about this 'hidey-hole'. "That's amazing," Kate stated simply.

"Yeah," Jim said as he started leading Kate out of the crevice and darkness to where Silver was waiting for them patiently.

"Did ya like it, Kate?" Silver asked.

"Yeah it's nice," she said still in shock, "can more than one person stay down there?" She asked looking between the two.

"I suppose," Silver said thoughtfully, "but yer deh only one we were plannin' on usin' it, Kate."

"I know, it's just I feel selfish if it's just me that will be down there."

"Well don't," Silver simply told her as he walked toward the door, "I am gonna go prepare deh galley. I will leave ya two ta settle down." Silver chuckled to himself as he walked out the door.

An awkward silence ensued for a few minutes as Kate collected her thoughts. She could not believe the extent Silver and the rest of them put into making sure she was safe. It was ridiculous; especially now because she also had a bodyguard. Not only it was ridiculous because she is perfectly capable of taking care of herself but also this was Jim's ship. Shouldn't he have a more important job instead of babysitting her?!

"You didn't have to do this you know," Kate told Jim simply.

Jim immediately caught on to what Kate meant and said, "Yeah I did."

"But-," Kate started to argue her point but Jim cut her off.

"I don't want to hear it, Katie," he said sternly and turned his head to look at her and realized that he made a mistake by calling her 'Katie'.

"Don't you ever, ever call me that!" Kate yelled at him for the second time that day.

Jim put his hands up in mock surrender, "sorry," he told sincerely but then added, "So only Silver can call you that?"

She glared at him, "yes," she told him.

"May I ask why?"

"No you may not," she said incredulously her auburn locks framing her face making her dark eyes look dangerous as she glared at him. Okay, Kate had to admit that she really wasn't being fair to Jim but the only other person besides Silver who called her 'Katie' was her father. And it was just too painful for her to hear other people call her by that name. Silver got away with it only because he was practically family to her now and he had saved her life more times than she could count. But anybody else was pushing it.

"Sorry," she told Jim after a few seconds, "just don't call me that."

Jim just shrugged his shoulders.

"So," Kate said, "do you know who Amelia's first mate is?"

"Ernie Cooper," Jim told her, "he and Amelia were apparently friends at the Academy. She trusts him."

Kate nodded. "Well, I think we should go meet him." She started to head out the door but was stopped by Jim who put his hand on her shoulder.

"Before we go back you need to know that even though these spacers come from ILE you cannot trust them," Jim told her darkly.

Kate gave him an expression that said "No shit," before commenting, "Really, now? Expecting another mutiny?" She asked sarcastically. Jim crossed his arms at her. "Look, Jim I don't trust people easily. For a matter of fact I still don't trust you or your little pervert of a friend."

"But you told Silver-," Jim started.

"Yeah, just because Silver and Amelia trust you don't mean I necessary do. I trust them," she told Jim her eyes glaring.

"Then you're an idiot," Jim said leaning up against the wall his arms still crossed. "You agreed to have a bodyguard who you just said you don't trust…why would you do that?" Jim asked rhetorically before answering himself, "Unless on some sort of level you do trust me and you're just being stubborn."

"I am not an idiot." Kate said angrily.

"Then you're just stubborn," Jim replied calmly grabbing her wrist and walking toward Amelia's cabin.

"Will you stop that," Kate told him while taking her wrist back from his grip as a pink blob landed on Kate's shoulder.

"Stop that!" Morph repeated turning into a mini Kate jumping up and down. Kate suppressed a sigh and just smiled at the pink blob as they walked into Amelia's cabin. Gadgets and other various objects were already placed throughout the Captain's office and Doppler was looking over a very large map, marking symbols and calculating distances between planets. Amelia was having a conversation with a very muscular and bald alien behind her desk. He stood up with pride as Kate and Jim entered extending one of his four arms to introduce himself.

"Katharine Kayser and James Hawkins, may I say it is a great pleasure to meet you both," he told them in a booming voice fitting of a first mate while shaking their hands.

"This is Mr. Cooper, he will be my first mate on this voyage and he has my complete trust," Amelia introduced the creature while emphasizing the word 'trust' translating to Kate and Jim that Amelia had told Ernie Cooper everything.

"It's very nice to meet you," Kate told him earnestly.

"And it is a great honor to meet you both," he beamed at both of them, "I have heard so many good things from Captain Amelia, here," he turned his head toward her for a second before turning back to Kate beaming, "and from your father."

Kate gaped. "You knew my fa-father?" She stammered out the question.

"Yes, he was a great teacher and a far greater man. I was very sorry to hear that he was no longer with us," Mr. Cooper said sadly. "He is one of the reasons I have decided to help. He spoke of you often, Katharine, and I do not believe he would have wanted this for you."

Kate had to blink back tears. Mr. Cooper was so sincere and genuinely sad when he spoke of her father that Kate was taken back a bit. She did not except to met another person grieving over her father as she still was…it was refreshing and sad for her. Kate started to realize that her father was a professor at the Academy and probably touched many of his students' lives while he was there. Who knows who else she might meet that her father had known in the past?

"You can call me Ka-Kate," Kate told him absent mindedly still trolling over her thoughts.

"If that's what you wish, my dear," he told her bowing his head slightly before leaving the cabin.

"Katharine," Amelia prodded her gently, "you okay?"

Kate nodded numbly still looking at the same spot of the floor since Cooper told her he had known her father. Kate guessed that the look of shock on her face scared Amelia, so much so, that she had Jim escort her back to the engine room. When they reached the room Kate's face was still a blank and she was staring off focusing on the door that led into her bedroom. Jim waved a hand in front of her face.

"Hey, you okay?" Jim asked concerned waving his hand in front of her. It took a couple seconds but Kate finally snapped back into reality and her eyes focused in on Jim.

"Yeah…I'll be fi-fine," she replied still not moving.

"Uh-huh, sure," Jim replied not certain, "maybe you should stay down here when we launch."

Kate fiercely shook her head, "No way, that's the only time ya'll are going to let me up on deck," Kate whined childishly.

Jim chuckled at her childish behavior. "Fine, but you are coming straight back down here afterwards."

Kate rolled her eyes at him. "Yes Captain Jimbo, sir." She mocked saluted him and walked back out the door.

After she left Jim took his time prepping the machinery for the launch while thinking about how fast Kate recovered from her shock. She went from barely being able to move to making sarcastic comments in under a minute. Jim just shook his head thinking that Kate's ability to adapt had something to do with being chased by pirates for two years.

Kate bounded up the stairs taking two at a time trying to get on deck before the launch started. The launching of a ship was always her favorite part of the voyage. The sensation of being lifted up by gravity and the slight pull of acceleration when they took up was like being up on cloud nine to Kate. Jim's mention of the launch made her realize how close it was for the ship to take off. Jim had effectively taken Kate's mind off of her father's connection to Mr. Cooper to the launching of the ship.

Huh, I should thank him, Kate thought sarcastically as she watched the crew of the RLS Serenity scurrying around the deck getting ready for the launch. The crew ILE had sent to assist them was very professional and well-trained. There was a diversity of different species throwing ropes, climbing sails, and yelling orders while Kate just stood there taking in the view.

"I love watching a ship's launch," Kate turned to her right to see who had spoken to her to find a young woman perhaps a little younger than herself watching the crew. She had tan skin and bright pink hair which only stood out more because of her choice of wearing an all white outfit.

Kate smiled at her. The girl reminded her of herself as a child watching the launch for the first time. "It's my favorite part," Kate told her.

"Mine too!" The girl exclaimed her grey eyes widening in wonder.

Kate's smile broaden even more. The girl was so childish in her reactions that Kate instantly liked her.

"Miss Ferris back to your post!" Amelia commanded to the girl from her station which made the girl startle before she started to reluctantly walk away.

She turned around back toward Kate and shouted, "The name's Zoë by the way, see ya around."

Yeah, if Jimbo doesn't catch me sneaking out, Kate thought hopefully.

Kate did not come back to the room after the launch. Jim expected this and went straight to the galley. And there she was sitting on a counter eating a purp and talking to Silver as he moved around preparing meals.

"Jimbo!" Silver announced as he walked in, "ya hav' not eaten all day. C'mon an' eat somethin'."

"You did not come back down," Jim didn't even acknowledge Silver as he scolded Kate.

Kate just shrugged her shoulders. "I figured as long as I was with Silver I would be fine."

"Yeah, Jimbo, she's safe wit me," Silver added.

"I know but she said she would be back after the launch," Jim told him crossing his arms at Kate.

"Katie," Silver berated her, "you cannot say ya'll do somethin' an' then skip out on it."

Kate shrugged her shoulders again illustrating she didn't care. "Fine it won't happen again." She took another bite of her purp but stopped eating once she realized Silver and Jim were still staring her with their arms crossed. Kate couldn't help but laugh at the sight.

"This is serious, Katie," Silver said in a low gentle voice, "ya can't just shrug off these t'ings."

"Sorry," she said running her hand through her hair, "I'm just not use to having a babysitter, is all."

"I am not your babysitter," Jim said rather loudly.

"Who's not what now?" Asked a high pitched voice from the dish room. Kate narrowed her eyes at Jim smirking.

"Don't cha worry 'bout it lass, get back ta work," Silver told the voice.

"Who's that?" Jim asked.

"Oh, tha's dah cabin girl," Silver told him, "she'll be workin' here so ya got ta learn ta keep your voice down Jimbo."

"Voice down Jimbo!" Morph exclaimed bouncing around the galley. Kate giggled and caught the blob to tickle him. Jim mumbled an apology and started to eat listening to Kate's and Silver's conversation.

"So what's the cabin girl's name?" Kate asked Silver while still tickling Morph.

"Zoë," Silver replied.

"Aw that's all I get. Just a name?" Kate whined. "You usually name off things you've noticed about a person you first meet."

Silver chuckled. "Okay then, you an' her have somethin' in common."

"Really?" Kate asked intrigued.

"Yeah, besides both of ya gettin' on me nerves," Kate playfully smacked Silver on his arm for that comment as he walked passed her, "ya both are childish when ya want somethin'."

"Smart girl," Kate muttered, "I met her, ya know. Right before the launch."

"Did ya now?" Silver asked. "Well then I should be askin' you then. What did ya t'ink o' her?"

"I like her," Kate admitted as Silver dropped the bowl he was holding.

"Ya wha' now?" Silver asked clearly surprised. Kate just nodded at him waiting for him to explain why he was so shocked. "Why ya never like someone ya first meet…I dare say this is a first fer ya, lass."

"Hey! That's not true I liked you," Kate told him jumping down off the counter.

"Sure ya did, ya were a baby ya know," Silver told her chuckling.

"Whatever," Kate was about to say something else when Zoë walked in.

"Okay dishes done now wha-," Zoë stopped talking when she saw a huge pile of dishes next to Silver, "ugh I'm guessing I have to do these now too, huh?"

"Ya guess right, lass," Silver told her.

"Oh! Hey! You're that girl from before," Zoë exclaimed finally noticing Kate. Kate nodded at her giving her a small smile.

"And you're Silver's cabin girl," Kate said, "you are going to need all the luck in the universe."

"For once I actually agree with you," Jim added laughing while Kate glared at him.

"Oi! I wasn't tha' bad. I pounded some skills in tha' thick brain o' yours didn't I?" Silver exclaimed pointing at Jim.

Jim coughed to cover up a laugh. "I know, Silver, I'm just messing with ya."

"Does that a lot, doesn't he?" Eddie asked as her walked down the stairs into the galley, smiling as he came over to Kate. "Hey," he told her, "I'm sorry about before, do ya think we can start over?" He asked her sincerely as he rubbed the back of his neck.

Kate looked at him thoughtfully and shrugged her shoulders. "Okay," she told him as she took another bite of her purp.

"Tha' a girl, Kate," Silver told her. Kate stuck her tongue out at him as Zoë gasp.

"You're Ka-Kate Kayser?" The girl asked Kate.

Everybody in the galley turned to look at the girl as silence filled the room. Zoë had her mouth hanging open as if in shock, her eyes locked on Kate's face. Kate looked back at her and just nodded and then took another bite of her purp.

"Is tha' a shocker ta ya, lass?" Silver asked looking between Zoë and Kate.

Zoë's pink curls bounced as she shook her head. "Well, no we were all told that Kate Kayser would be on this voyage, obviously," Zoë paused to roll her eyes, "but I was just assuming that she would be hidden somewhere on board," she told Silver.

"Speaking of which," Jim said eyeing Kate who returned his glaze with a deadly glare that made her dark eyes flash.

"Go on, Katie," Silver said with a sigh, "he's right, ya know."

Kate rolled her eyes and started walking back with Jim to their room. She quickly turned around suddenly and winked at Zoë giving her a silent plea for help which did not go unnoticed by Eddie.

"Your room is the one on the left," Jim told her as they walked through the door. Kate sighed. She was not looking forward to hiding here with Captain Babysitter. Hopefully Zoë noticed Kate's plea for help and got her out of the room once in a while. Kate smiled at her new opportunity and started to walk toward her room when she noticed a small piece of machinery leaning up against the wall.

"Hey Jimbo!" Kate called smirking.

She heard him bang his head against something at her call and she had to suppress a giggle at his bewildered expression as he walked out of his room.

"Okay, if I can't call you 'Katie' how 'bout you don't call me 'Jimbo', huh?" Jim suggested irritated.

Kate just shrugged her shoulders. "Okay fine," she agreed, "but only if you let me ride that thing sometime," Kate pointed at Jim's solar surfer.

"Fine with me," he told her, "but you probably are going to have to ask Captain Amelia if you're allowed to ride it around the ship. She'll probably tell you 'no'," Jim added smirking.

"We'll see about that," Kate said smiling giving one last look at the solar surfer before heading off to bed.

A/N: Yeah, yeah I know this took a really, really long time to get written. College is hard and the work keeps me busy. Sorry guys!!

Thanks to OMGitsEMILY, penspot, and Springerlight for their reviews!!

Happy Holidays readers!!