Comets, Stars, and Black Holes
Jim moved swiftly around the longboat launching area as he helped Silver prepare for his trip to a nearby comet. He was still a little embarrassed and wary after Silver had practically walked in on him and Carina kissing three days ago; but mostly the cabin boy admired and loved learning from the man who was becoming more and more like the father he'd always wanted—not that he would ever admit it.
Just as he finished loosing the last rope, Jim heard footsteps and turned to see Carina enter the launch platform. "I should have known you two would be down here" she smirked while walking to stand by Jim's side. He returned her smile, but it slide off of his face as they watched Silver leave in his longboat; Jim's memories of his father's abandonment flooding over him. His grief was interrupted by a gentle squeeze on his shoulder from Carina, who had correctly guessed the reason for his change of mood. Before he could reassure her, a flutter of movement caught Jim's eye and the teen's face lit up suddenly as Silver came into view, gesturing for them to join him.
The tension in his heart vanished, and grinning wildly, Jim leaped into the boat then beckoned for Carina to jump. "Aren't you coming Lucas?" She's afraid, he realized guiltily as he watched her peer over the edge. "Don't worry, I'll catch you!" Jim winced when he recognized that Silver might find that communication suspect. Cabin boys were supposed to be tough and take care of themselves. Sighing, he held out his arms and a moment later Carina landed in them, her eyes shut tight. Jim almost pulled her into a reassuring embrace, but stopped himself just in time. Separating awkwardly, they sat on either side of Silver, who started to instruct Jim in flying a longboat—only to grab his hat as Jim suddenly took off into the Etherium. Jim smirked slightly at the cyborg's look of surprise; he sped towards the comet and showed off his skills via fancy turns and barrel rolls that covered them all with ice crystals. He felt free out here, just like when he went solar surfing. He glanced over at Carina, her fear of leaping into the boat was gone, now she glowed with joy and the lingering ice crystals on her clothes and hair, making it difficult for Jim to breathe. From the smile on her face he gathered that she had missed their days of flying too.
They returned to the Legacy in high spirits, and Carina grinned as Jim hauled up his side of the longboat much faster than Silver. "Having a little trouble there?" the boy teased, as Silver swatted at him good-naturedly. "Oh, get away from me!" The cyborg plopped down after he secured his line. "Ah Jimbo, if I could maneuver a skip like that when I was yer age—they'd be bowing in the streets when I walked by today!" Turning into a miniature Silver, Morph gestured dramatically and echoed, "Bowing in the streets!"
Jim was grinning as he finished tying off the longboat and sat down next to Carina. "I dunno, they weren't exactly singing my praises when I left home." He leaned forward, looking at the cyborg intently. "But I'm gonna change all that." Silver glanced up from petting Morph. "Oh? How so?" Carina watched Jim lean back against the boat with a satisfied smirk on his face. "I've got some plans…to make people see me a little differently." Her smile disappeared as Silver's demeanor darkened. "Sometimes, plans go astray." Carina started to get a bad feeling as the oblivious Jim engaged Silver in conversation about his mechanical body parts; Silver claiming they were the price he paid for chasing a dream, to which Jim asked if it was worth it. Chuckling, Silver moved to sit on Jim's other side, and put an arm around the boy. "I'm hopin' it is Jimbo, I most surely am." Feeling cold inside, Carina was positive something was amiss, but she had no time to dwell on it.
Not a minute after Silver finished talking, their peaceful night was shattered as the ship lurched wildly; Jim instantly grabbing Carina's waist to keep her from tumbling. The cabin boy ran up to the deck, Carina and Silver right on his heels. Fear momentarily paralyzed Jim as he tried to comprehend the sight of a violently exploding star, but he forced himself to move as Captain Amelia and Mr. Arrow shouted for everyone to help them retreat. Jim looked around frantically until he spotted curly hair, whose owner was attaching her lifeline and yelling for him to do the same.
Chaos ensued as the crew, including Jim and Carina, raced around the ship breaking down the solar sails and detonating oncoming molten rocks with the laser cannons as the Legacy sped away from the star; the explosion right behind them. Jim tried to stay near Carina as they tied up sails, but he lost track of her when a flying rock broke Silver's lifeline and he had to scramble to keep the cyborg on the ship. No sooner was the lifeline reasonably secured then Jim heard Silver gasp; the boy looked up in horror at a chunk of rock bigger than the Legacy hurtling towards them. It was just about to crash into their ship when suddenly, it reversed course. Jim's fear changed to confusion and relief—until he saw the spiral in the distance with a dark center. Forcing himself to think and appear calm, the terrified cabin boy stumbled back to the main deck as quickly as he could on a ship that was being tossed and pulled towards a black hole. As he scanned the Legacy for Carina a surge of heat blasted over everyone, throwing Jim to the floor as he heard a muffled cry.
He struggled to his feet to find the girl on the deck a few paces away. Her gray eyes were huge as he helped her up, and they clung to each other until Captain Amelia ordered Jim to check the crew's lifelines. Dr. Doppler—who had been monitoring the navigational instruments—shouted something about the "last wave", followed by the captain urging everyone to buckle down and hold their lifelines while she continued to woman the helm. Jim grabbed Carina, pushing her against the mainmast and pinning himself over her protectively as Silver came over to shield the teens with his large body. The cabin boy felt the girl turn, and he tried to smile reassuringly as he met her gaze. Abandoning secrecy and common sense, Jim closed his eyes and pressed his lips to Carina's cheek; resting his head on her shoulder when she turned back towards the mast. He loved her so much, and as he held her Jim thought that at least they would get to die together.
A bright light surrounded the ship as an enormous burst of fiery energy came shooting up from the depths of the black hole. Carina clung to the mast, wood splintering beneath her nails as Jim nearly crushed her against the pillar. The solar sails billowed in the heat and light, making the newly fueled ship shoot away from the black hole and into the safety of the Etherium. Carina slowly opened her eyes when she heard the crew cheering, and moved away from the mast as Silver and Jim loosened their grips. She let out the breath she didn't know she was holding and shakily turned to hug the exhausted Jim, who trembled against her.