As promised, the 11th chapter, a little late ! :) By now, the rythm goes back to normal for one chapter every sunday ! :)
Forever Courage : Maybe a little bit déjà vu but, believe me, there will be more surprises in the future chapters ! :P I hope you'll like this one ! ;)
FANFICTION
Treasure Planet II : The Quest of Tala
CHAPTER XI : Goodbyes…
[ After Hope and Jim were saved by Long John Silver, he stays with them on the RLS Honesty. While Caliban is trying to understand what's going on, Sarah, Hope and Jim go to the infirmary to heal Jim's wound. Sarah leaves the two teens together who talk and then, Jim and Silver are left alone. The cyborg talks to Jim about his feelings for Hope but the boy only ends up completely lost. Silver explains his whole story and how he became a corsair but at the end of his tale, they learned that Alexander Carter wasn't caught by Caliban's men but worst : he kidnapped Hope and Caliban's grandfather. ]
Hope was leaning over the rails of the RLS Glory, looking out over the endless crowd of Iashtal's spaceport. She had a cover on her shoulders and her shining eyes were sparkling from grey, to blue and silver, reflecting the now clouded sky and her dark emotions.
She had found her family again. She had found her identity and the pirates were arrested. But Alexander Carter had escaped and has kidnapped her grandfather. How should she feel ? She was completely lost, she didn't know what to do or what to think… When she thought that all this madness would end, she realised the book wasn't closed yet : it was just another chapter. But she didn't want of this chapter, not if her grandfather was kidnapped, again.
She jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned and saw Jim with a serious look and an understanding gaze. He handed her a cup of tea and she took it with a thankful little smile :
"How do you feel ?" He asked.
"I don't really know… I'm just tired… Of everything that keeps happening…"
He leaned on the rails next to her, his arm touching hers and they stayed like this for a couple of minutes, looking at the people walking in their noisy habits but only the silence was resonating between Hope and Jim :
"I'm sorry for your grandfather, while you just found him again…" Jim said.
"I'm sorry too…" She whispered.
He turned to her, eyebrows raised, surprise on his face :
"Why ?"
"I.. remember him and the feelings I have near him, I know he is my grandfather but.. I only found him again. I don't know what to think about his kidnapping… I don't feel ashamed or sad the way it was for Sarah…"
Jim looked again at the crowd and they stayed silent for few other minutes.
"And.. I'm also sorry that you have to act this way for me…" She added hesitantly.
"What do you mean ?" He asked, surprise on his face once again.
"When Sarah disappeared, I didn't help you at all but here you are, for me and.. and I don't know how I could be thankful enough for this…"
Jim turned completely to her and she looked at him, her cheeks of a slight pink while her stormy eyes were full of doubts :
"Don't say that !" He exclaimed. "Don't you dare say that ! I am here for you like you were for me ! Since my mother was kidnapped, the only thing you wanted to do was to help me to save her and that.."
He lowered his voice and while staring deeply into her eyes, almost whispered :
"That.. means so much for me…" He breathed.
She opened her mouth but she couldn't say a word… She stared in his eyes and she realised that she wanted him to take her in his arms. Sure she didn't remember her memories about her grandfather, but she did remember the feelings and now, she wanted warmth and comfort. And she knew she wouldn't find it with her brother, she wanted Jim's warmth, and Jim's comforting words…
She remembered few days ago how he tried to tell her farewells and the way they selfishly acted the days after until she ran to him in town and they almost got killed. But the farewells will come at a one time or another and.. and if she kept those feelings in her, if she let them getting stronger, it will only be harder…
She felt her eyes become watery and she looked away. Her grandfather was gone. But all she could think of was the possibility of saying goodbyes to Jim…
"I'm sorry..!" She whispered while walking away and going back in her cabin.
Jim looked after her and tried to catch her arm but he stopped himself. Then he just followed her with his gaze and sighed deeply, he clenched his fists and leaned over the trail, trying to ignore the hole in his chest…
A few meters away, Caliban and Amelia were talking about random Captain's things but the man saw his sister and Jim talking and stared at them. Amelia followed his gaze and they both saw Hope walking away from the boy and Jim, leaning miserably on the trail, both completely torn…
"Captain Doppler," Caliban suddenly said, changing of subject. "Can I ask you how close those two are?"
Amelia seemed surprised and didn't know how to answer :
"They seem to be good friends, Sir. As close as friends can be…"
"Not.. closer than just friends ?" He hesitated.
"Not to my knowledge, Sir," she answered honestly.
Caliban stayed silent and a minute later, he went down into his cabin trying to think of a plan. But his mind kept seeing the two young people, obviously attracted to each other but trying to ignore their mutual feelings, knowing there would be nothing but pain at the end…
He looked at his desk where a picture of a young woman was, he approached his hand of the picture but then, clenched his fist and lifted up, going into his office.
The next morning
The Commodore had called his First Mate, Captain Amelia Doppler, her First Mate Silverstone and Long John Silver. Caliban was up, looking at them seriously while they were all waiting for his orders – only Silver seemed calm :
"I assembled you today to talk to you about my plans. I know I asked you, Captain Doppler, a lot. But I still need you in my plan to arrest this vile pirate, Alexander Carter."
"I will obey you, Commodore," she answered.
He nodded and he continued :
"I know I can trust you and you are more than effective so I will give you a very special mission."
He brought out a letter rolled and sealed with red wax and the symbol of his family : a crescent moon with stars around it. Amelia looked at him without understanding :
"I want you to cross the Universe and deliver this letter into the hands of the Queen. I will give you the papers and authorisations necessary. Can I count on you for this mission ?"
Amelia – who had stayed shocked and mouth wide open – shook herself and took on her Captain mask, acquiescing and taking the rolled document :
"You can be sure, Sir, that I will deliver this letter into the hands of the Queen as soon as I can."
He nodded, satisfied then turned towards Silverstone :
"I guess Mr Silverstone will come as your First Mate."
"It is a great honour, Commodore," Silverstone answered.
Silver flashed an easy smile but didn't say anything and if anyone noticed, no one said anything.
"On my own path, I will track Alexander Carter and arrest him as soon as possible," Caliban said then turned towards Silver, "Mr Silver ? I would like to have you in my crew."
"All plesure is mine, C'ptain !" Silver exclaimed, bowing.
Caliban rolled his eyes and ignored his behaviour and turned again towards the group :
"Our ships will sail today, as soon as we will be ready to leave."
His men all acquiesced and went away, except for Amelia who stayed a little longer to talk about details of her mission.
What they didn't know was that Hope had listened to the entire conversation and was now walking silently to the decks. When she arrived, blinded a moment by the sun, she blinked but looked around her. She found Jim's silhouette easily, high in the ropes and enjoying the bright sun on his skin. She walked to him as if he was enchanting her with some spell. She arrived near him and when he saw her, he jumped down from the ropes and looked at her with a little smile :
"Hope, how-"
"We need to talk," she said suddenly, interrupting him.
He blinked, a little surprised, then his eyebrows lifted curiously :
"About what ?"
"I just overheard a conversation of my brother with Amelia and the others."
"You spied on them ?" Jim hesitated.
"No ! Yes ? No, but.. yes !"
"You're clear as water," he mocked.
"Oh, please, Jim ! Don't make it worst !" She exclaimed, punching him slightly.
He laughed and lifted his hands :
"Ok, ok, what do you want to talk about ?"
"They're going to sail," she said, looking right into his eyes.
He hesitated then swallowed and took a moment to think of it :
"My brother, his First Mate and Silver are going to track Blondie while Amelia, Silverstone and probably everyone else will go for a special mission."
She stared at him and they both knew that by "everyone else" it meant "you". She lowered her eyes with a sigh and Jim bit his lip, not knowing what to say or to do but he only knew he didn't want to see her cry, or tears in her beautiful eyes and not even sadness on her face…
He sighed as well and hesitantly lifted her face by the chin, he posed another hand on her shoulder and forced her to look into his eyes. Hope's blue eyes were shining like crystal, they turned into silver, then a blue so pale, they seemed to be transparent, before getting silver and bluer again… He could have fallen into her eyes without hesitating but what struck his heart was the sadness in her eyes. She was screaming with her desolate watery pupils, she was shouting to him not to go away. She didn't want him to leave and he knew it. They both knew it but what made him the most hesitate is that Jim knew his eyes were reflecting the exact same feelings…
"Hope… Please, don't look at me like that. We knew it would happen someday…"
"But.. I don't want to go…" She whispered.
His fingers lightly pressed under her chin moved to her cheek and touched it delicately… She closed her eyes and laid her own hand over his and they stayed like that a moment before Jim miserably tried an attempt to make her feel better :
"Maybe.. maybe it's for the best ?" He said, not really convincingly.
"Are you lying ?" She breathed painfully.
He opened his mouth and felt a knot in his throat but forced himself to answer properly :
"Yes…" He whispered sadly.
Hope's fingers twisted with Jim's like if they couldn't let go of each other… He felt his heart hurt so much that he couldn't resist anymore. He drew Hope to him and pulled her against his torso, wrapping her in his arms so tight she was barely breathing. She had opened wide eyes and looked in front of her but once the surprise passed, she closed her eyes again, trying not to look in a vaguely attempt to escape the pain but it was only worst… She hung on Jim's shirt and tightened her grip, trying to be as close as possible of Jim. They stayed like that for so long that they forgot how long they had stayed into each other's arms. The only thing they could think of was the warmth of each other's bodies, the heartbeat they could sense in their chest and most of all, their love they've never shared but knew was real…
After what seemed to be hours, Jim stepped away from Hope and after looking quickly at her, he walked away without a word. She opened her mouth, surprised and tried to catch him but he was already down stairs and on the lowest deck. He walked, almost ran to the officers' hall and walked in. She saw him walking away from her and she felt he was just escaping her more and more every single minute…
Jim was, indeed, walking away from Hope but not to escape her. In the contrary, he just wanted a chance to stay a little longer with her. He was getting closer of Caliban's office when the door suddenly opened and Jim came face to face with Amelia who looked as surprised to see him here.
"Jim ?" She hesitated.
"Amelia ! I.. uh.. is the Commodore here ?" He asked.
She was about to answer when the young man raised his voice from his office :
"Let him in, Captain Doppler. And come with us, please !" Caliban exclaimed.
Jim and Amelia shared a gaze and the woman shook her head with a hard glance, telling him silently that he was making a mistake but he decided to ignore her.
They entered and closed the door, facing the Commodore, who sat behind his desk. He had his hands under his chin and had a serious face and a hard gaze.
"Your name is Hawkins, right ?" He asked.
"Yes, Sir," Jim answered a little bit annoyed he hadn't acknowledged his name yet.
"You saved my little sister, correct ?"
"You can say that, Sir."
Caliban stared at him intensely for a long time, frowning and trying to read his face. Jim was staring as intensely and hard as the Commodore was doing but before he could add anything, Caliban turned his eyes towards Amelia :
"I've heard he is a student of the Interstellar Academy, what can you say about his competences, Captain Doppler ?"
"He is a good student, with high results and high hopes. He is a good fighter, as well with a sword as a gun, even if he is better at shooting. I expect a lot from him as a student and as a future spacer of the Queen Armada."
Jim stared blankly at Amelia, stunned that she had said such things. She had never told him anything that sounded so much like a compliment, whenever she talked to him about his studies it was only to tell him that he should work about this or that. She never complimented him until now…
And apparently, Jim's surprise was obvious enough so that Caliban understood the situation and he asked again :
"Seeing his face, I'd say he never heard such things from you. Why ?"
"I don't want him to lose his goal because of some compliments. He must keep working hard."
"Why are you saying all this now ?"
"Because he can hear them now. He fought bravely, more than any young man like him could have. To protect his mother or your sister but he never failed as being a cabin boy or even a student of the Interstellar Academy. He deserves it more now than he ever did before." she answered.
Jim swallowed, uncomfortable about all those things Amelia was saying. He couldn't help himself but be proud. But he was still too stunned to say anything. Caliban looked at them then sighed before lifting up :
"Hawkins, why did you want to see me ?"
"I.. uh.." Jim hesitated.
He mentally slapped himself and looked at the Commodore with a hard look and a confident face :
"I want to join your crew, Commodore."
"Excuse me ?" Amelia exclaimed, eyes wide.
Caliban stared at him while Jim continued, his blue-green eyes shining of rage and passion :
"I want to join your crew to continue to track Alexander Carter. I want to see him convicted and in jail, I want to be sure he is arrested once and for all."
"Is that for your mother ?" Caliban asked.
"No, for me," Jim answered without blinking.
"And what would bring you to do so ?"
"I have things to look after and I wouldn't want to let them slip away from me because I have to go back on Montressor or to my studies. I want to learn the hard way what it is to be a spacer."
"Is Alexander one of those things you can't let slip away from you ?" Caliban asked with a grin.
Jim grinned as well and with an assured look answered :
"No, but my revenge on him has no price and this is what I want."
Caliban looked for a long time at Jim before smiling even more :
"I see you know a lot of things about being a spacer and you have experience which can't be ignored. Well, if your mother gives her authorisation for letting you being under my command, I'll accept you as a cabin boy on my ship, Hawkins. You still have one or two lessons to learn and it will be a pleasure to teach you the hard way, as you said !"
Jim was surprised of course but couldn't help himself but smile of joy and relief :
"Thanks Commodore !" He exclaimed before rushing out.
Amelia stared at the young man then the Commodore before blinking :
"Excuse me, Sir, but why accepting such a thing ?" She asked, completely thunderstruck.
He smiled slightly and looked outside at the endlessly blue sky and answered :
"As I said, he still has one or two lessons to learn. The first is being honest to his commander, and the second to be wise enough not to seek for revenge. And I'm curious about this boy !"
"Curious ?" She hesitated, frowning.
"After all, he must have something very special if my little sister fell in love with such a guy, don't you think ?"
Amelia blinked and was out of word, even if it doesn't happen often to her, she didn't know what to answer at that.
The afternoon, on the decks
Sarah, Amelia, Delbert, Silverstone and BEN were all gathered on the decks, ready to leave and in front of them were Caliban, Silver and Jim. Hope arrived, running who apparently didn't see the hours going.
She stopped when she saw Jim and tried to hide her sadness but couldn't. That's when she realised he wasn't on the right side of the farewells. He exchanged a glance with her and blinked quickly with a little smile. When she understood he was staying, a huge smile suddenly appeared on her face and she could have jumped in his arms if it wasn't for everyone else with them.
"I guess it is time to say goodbye, then," Caliban said, looking at Amelia.
She acquiesced and clapped her feet, saluting him like any members of the Navy :
"You can count on me for the mission, Commodore," she said.
He acquiesced and saluted her as well. BEN was the first to react, he suddenly jumped on Jim, crying while the boy was smiling slightly :
"Oh Jimmy !" BEN exclaimed. "What am I going to do without you ?! What if you fight against this vile pirate ? And what if you're hurt ? Or worst ?!"
"BEN, don't worry for me…" Jim said with a little smile. "Everything's going to be fine, I'll see you soon, in few months when all this story is over…"
"Oh ! Jimmy !" BEN cried one last time.
Jim finally got rid of his invading friend while Sarah went towards Silver and looked at him hesitantly :
"Can I leave my son into yours hands ?" She asked.
"Ya can be sure I'll take care of that lad," Silver answered, raising his hat.
"Can you promise me, Mr Silver, that he'll come back to me safe and sound ?" She asked with worry and sadness on her face.
Silver hesitated but nodded :
"I'll protect him with me life if necessary…" Silver said with a little smile.
Sarah smiled back acceptingly then turned towards Hope. The brunette smiled and let Sarah take her in her arms :
"Thank you for everything, Sarah," she whispered.
"Thank you to you, I haven't seen him that happy for years…" Sarah answered in a very low voice so only Hope would hear.
Hope looked at Sarah, surprised but the mother smiled lovingly and after a last gaze at the young lady.
Jim turned towards his mother and after a little sigh and an exchanged gaze, the woman took him in her arms, holding him as close as possible. She was worried and sad to let him stay away from her, especially after being kidnapped and worried sick for weeks for her son. But she knew it was the best way to look after him, to let him do what he liked and what he wanted even if it meant being away from her for more few weeks…
She passed a hand through his brown hair and put her lips to his ear :
"I love you, sweetie, you know that, right ?" She whispered.
"Of course, mom, I love you too…" He answered, trying to master his voice.
"I am so proud of you, if only you knew…" She said, closing her eyes.
Jim swallowed, trying not to show his pain and sadness but he couldn't and clenched his hands in his mother's dress :
"One last thing, sweetie," Sarah added, "stop fighting your feelings. Just tell her…" She whispered.
"What ?" He asked with wide eyes.
She stepped back and put a hand on his cheek, looking at him in the eyes. She smiled with her sweet, warm and lovely smile and sighed once again :
"I'll miss you, sweetie… Be careful, right ?"
"Mom.. what did you-"
"I count on you," she cut off with a proud smile and her shining blue-green eyes.
Jim stared at his mother, at a loss for words. Sarah joined Amelia and after another moment, they all separated on each ships : Amelia, Delbert, Sarah, Silverstone and BEN who were still crying went on the RLS Honesty while Jim, Caliban, Silver and Hope went back on the RLS Glory.
Jim looked as long as possible during the launch the ship where his mother was. He thought again of what she told him earlier "Stop fighting your feelings. Just tell her…" After what everything that happened between him and Hope, after what Silver told him and now, his mother, Jim couldn't deny his feelings for Hope but.. expressing them was something else.
He suddenly felt a hand touching his, he turned to see Hope. She hesitated, her blue eyes full of shyness. She put away her hand but before Jim understood what he was doing, he grabbed her hand. She opened her mouth hesitantly, Jim bit his lower lip then he took slowly her hand and entwined his fingers with hers in a sweet and intense caress…
He raised his eyes towards hers and they stayed like this for a very long time.
Jim realised slowly, with his heartbeat getting faster, that he didn't have to express his feelings to Hope. She knew, he knew, they both knew but most of anything else : for the first time in his life, he didn't choose his path for his mother, but for someone else. For Hope… Because he loved her…
He tightened his hand around hers then turned away, obeying the First Mate's orders who had been yelling at him.
Hope followed him with her eyes and looked at him while he was working, trying his best not to look annoyed by the First Mate's orders that had pulled Jim away from her.
She thought a moment of what Sarah had told her earlier : "I haven't seen him that happy for years" she had whispered. Hope knew that the only reason Jim would possibly stay on this ship was her but, she never expected him to stay and stay away from his mother he loved so much…
"If ya keep starin' at him this way, yar brother will throw him over the rails !"
Hope turned towards Silver who was smiling at her with a knowing look on his face :
"Ya shouldn' stay here on the deck, it can be dangerous sometimes," he added.
"Danger doesn't bother me anymore…" She whispered.
She looked back at Jim a moment and following his gaze, Silver's eyes shone : his real eye of a glint full of overtones and his cyborg eye of a golden reflect.
"Isn't he shinin' like a solar eruption, a brilliant star ?" He said, obviously trying to contain his laugh.
She stared at him with wide eyes and continued :
"All this time, you wanted me to find Jim, right ?" She said. "When you helped me to run away-"
"I was hopin' ya would fall on him, and I was right !" He said. "But I never thought ya two lads would get that close !"
Hope looked at him and after a glance at Jim, she sighed and shook her head :
"We.. we can't keep going this way…" She whispered.
Silver dropped his smile and raised an eyebrow but before he could say anything else, Hope hurried towards the lower decks where there were the lifeboats. She sat in a corner and thought for hours about what was happening.
On the upper decks, Silver didn't show anything but his brain was boiling. He kept an eye on Jim and thought of what was happening between the two young peoples. Silver wanted Jim to be happy, not to torture himself. As soon as Jim had his duties done, Silver walked towards him and suddenly got overwhelmed by the huge cyborg, Jim looked up at him hesitantly :
"What's going on Silver ?" He asked.
"Yar little lass wants to see ya in the lower decks, Jimbo," Silver said.
"Hope ?" He hesitated.
"Ya should go before dinner time !"
Jim stared at him then shrugged and walked calmly towards the stairs leading to the lifeboats' room. Silver looked at him and smiled to himself :
"They'll thank me later !" He whispered.
Jim went down the stairs and after a quick look around the room, he saw Hope curled in a corner, obviously thinking deeply :
"Hope ?" He called.
She turned to him and lifted up :
"Jim ? What are you doing here ?"
He frowned and hesitated :
"I should ask you that, Silver told me you were here and wanted to see me," he answered.
Hope opened her mouth, closing her eyes, understanding what Silver had tried to do :
"Oh, I see…" She whispered.
"What ?" Jim asked.
"Silver wanted us to talk, I think…" She said hesitantly, looking away from him.
Jim understood at his turn and blinked, realising what Silver was trying to do.
"I'll start to believe that my mother and him have planned everything for us !" He exclaimed.
Hope looked at him with wide eyes and an opened mouth, her blue silvery eyes shining of plenty of emotions : doubts, hesitation, tenderness, fear and most of all, love… Jim felt her intense gaze on him and turned towards her :
"What ?" He asked.
She hesitated then smiled slightly, he felt his heart missing a beat but didn't say anything even if his eyes showed his trouble :
"You said "us"…" She whispered slightly.
Jim opened his mouth, trying to say anything but his voice wouldn't work. He hesitated and after a moment at staring at each other, Hope lowered her gaze, feeling her pink cheeks getting hotter :
"I.. I should go…" She said slowly.
She walked near Jim and their arms delicately brushed each other. The last few days, every single time one would go by the other, this one wouldn't do anything but stare at him walk away…
This time, it was different.
Their arms barely brushed each other and immediately, Jim turned and grabbed Hope's arm. She raised her eyes towards his and they stayed like that for a little moment, Jim swallowed and shook his head, out of words :
"I.. I said "us"…" He whispered.
"What does.. "us" mean to you ?" She asked in a murmur.
Jim's hand hesitantly touched her arm and brushing carefully her skin, like if she was a doll of glass and would break at this simple touch, he went up slowly to her shoulder and with his other hand, he laid it on her cheek. He looked in her eyes and what he saw stunned him : she was confident, she trusted him, she loved him and was waiting for this moment for a long moment…
He leaned slowly towards her and she closed her eyes, he brushed her pink lips slightly and after a moment, he finally pressed his own lips on hers… He picked off the red blossom that was her lips and everything froze. There was nothing else but the two of them, in each other arms, lips against lips…
After a moment, Jim broke the kiss and looked at her :
"It means.. that…" He breathed.
Hope closed her eyes, sighing, enjoying the touch of Jim's skin on hers :
"I like this meaning…" She said back.
Slowly, she smiled and they shared a gaze of love and passion. This time, Jim didn't even have to lean, Hope raised on her tiptoes and put her lips on his, putting her arms around his neck. He took her in his arms, pulling her against him and opened his mouth, turning the sweet kiss into a deeper one…
So, Hope and Jim (finally !) kiss ! :D
What did you think of this chapter ? :)
Next one will arrive sunday and will be titled "DARKNESS" ! ;)
What do you think will happen ?:P
Truly Yours,
May