Disclaimer: I do not own Treasure Planet

The Kindness of Strangers

For kttopwriter

They had been carrying on like this for hours now. Dragging their feet through the forest throughout the night. He was wearing thick cotton uniform and strong boots but he was beginning to feel the sting of nettles and sharp thorns scratching against his lips. Jim was beginning to wonder whether she was actually leading her to where she thought Cassandra may be, whether she was wrong or lost or perhaps this was all just a ruse and she really was working for the Duke. On some occasions she would glance over her shoulder as if to check he was still following them. He didn't understand how it turned out he was the one not to be trusted rather than the other way round but he knew better than the make a comment. Murat would copy her but instead of a cool, neutral expression there was a resentful, angered look on his face. He looked at Jim and just saw an annoying bug he wished to squish. Jim would look down but would only think if he hadn't been stupid enough to knock him off the transporter he wouldn't here and none of them would be in the situation they were reluctant to be in.

"So...Do you want to tell me where we're actually heading?" Jim huffed before tripping over a root or something.

'Marianne' rolled her eyes and offered him a hand. "The least you know the better." Was her curt answer.

Jim held onto her hand tightly and stared into her eyes. "This isn't a game." He warned.

He had enough of her being all secretive and mysterious about all this. It was a game most female pirates liked to play. Or most loose women anyway. It was usually a technique to seduce the target they had been hired to take down or bring to their clients but this woman was using it to be annoying. Although Jim was sure it was most likely to be the other most common reason, she had something to hide. Everyone in those circles had a dark past and he knew Marianne wasn't going to be an exception. He knew enough now it was something to do with Cassandra. It was obvious enough that she had a connection with her. A connection not even Jim could work out to be possible or even fathom. She was the daughter of a Space Captain for goodness sake. From a respectable family. What would they have to do with pirates?

She narrowed her eyes at him. "I know."

"So stop acting like it." He snapped.

Murat walked over to them and looked as if he was about to crush Jim's skull before Marianne signalled him not to. Murat turned away dismissively and huffed under his breath in annoyance.

Marianne raised an eyebrow. "You are really going to have to stop pushing it with him unless you want to keep your head."

"Well its not like you're not pushing my buttons either. I mean-"

Marianne observed him with a critical eye. "You really care about this girl don't you? More than you probably should considering what your job is."

Jim blushed and was hoping that the trees shadows were hiding this otherwise it would be more than obvious for her that she was right. He didn't want to give her the satisfaction of being right and knowing more about the whole picture of this situation on top of disclosing some information from him which he had every right to know about. For months, years in fact he had been hiding the fact that he was loving with a girl six years his junior without really having a good reason as to why he should be doing that. That he had been in love with her since she was a fifteen year old girl, the idea made him look at himself with disdain at first, considering it was somewhat illegal for him to even have 'innocently romantic' relations with her at the time. He had never even told his mother about her beyond the extent of mentioning in fleeting that she was the daughter of the Space Captain which helped him on his way in his career. He was sick of hiding his feelings for her. Even now, he didn't understand why Cassandra was being so difficult about all of this. Why did he had to care about what society thought about her feelings for her? He was even annoyed that he was forcing himself to hide them from a pirate. Of all people. Why should she stand there and judge him when he could be shouting out various crimes she had most likely already committed against the law.

Jim straightened up his back and stared down at her even if she was a few inches shorter than him.

"Yes." He admitted. "But what is that to you?"

"I just think you need to be reminded of what your job is that's all I'm saying. From what I've experiences caring a little bit too much about others can affect how you react in a situation. It make you irrational...Sometimes lead you to making the wrong decisions." For a moment she looked like she was speaking from experience but then she looked up with lightening in her eyes. "Perhaps this wouldn't have happened if you remembered what your job was."

He had to resist punching this woman in the face. Even if it was totally against his principles to punch a woman in the face (and this had nothing to do with the fact that his job entailed him being a defender of the peace, it had more to do with the fact he was raised by a single mother probably). And even if it earned him a quickly executed death sentence from her bodyguard. He wasn't exactly in his right mind at the moment. She had no right to say that. She had no idea, she had no understanding of the situation they were in. She didn't know what they had been thrown into. None of them could've anticipated for this to happen. She had no idea, he expected, of what Cassandra was like and her reasons for doing this. Even though Jim could easily admit to possibly being wrong about these assumptions he was sure as Hell that he was able to make a better one than Marianne.

"I know what my job is." He replied through gritted teeth. "And I certainly know what you are. So can I take this opportunity to say that the way you're behaving is completely out of character with regards to what other pirates are like."

"Meaning?"

"From my experience not many pirates seem to care about the welfare of others." In that moment Silver's face appeared in Jim's mind making him falter for a moment and licked his lips. "Save one."

He started to walk again until she stopped him with a hand pressed against his chest. There was a moment where they held one another's gaze intensely.

"You're going the wrong way." She said finally turning him in the right direction which made him smirk.

He chuckled. "You're a strange pirate, Marianne."

She threw back her head and laughed heartily. "Thanks."

"So I know there are a lot of things you can't tell me but is there something you can tell me."

She glanced over her shoulder. "Why so interested?"

Jim shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. Just curious I guess. I mean- Whenever there's been someone in your...Occupation." He began, being mindful of his words. "There's always been a reason for you being otherwise."

"What? Being a scornful, selfish, greedy pirate?"

He nodded wordlessly. She shrugged her shoulders. "Let's just say I kind of owe her that."

They continued down the path in silence with Jim knowing that she wasn't going to specify who she was meant by 'her'.

~ (***) ~

Selina and Diana leaned over the side as they swept through space into the night. They had been up there for hours now watching their departure as they slowly moved further and further away from the place they never wanted to see again but also from their dearest friend. It was well past midnight and they shivered in their ball dresses against the cold, space wind but they knew that none of them could sleep. Not without knowing whether their friend was going to be alright or not. She could be dead for all they knew. None of them wanted to imagine the worse and they jested that with concerns to Cassandra they knew she would be able to get out of a situation such as this alive. But they couldn't help but have the images of the worse scenario possible hanging over their heads like the stars in the night sky. Unreachable and unknowable. Selina glanced upwards thinking back on the conversation she and Cassandra had about them. They were so happy then it was hard to imagine that she was in any danger. Although she couldn't help thinking about the possibility that she was already up there with them...

"Do you think they're alright?" Diana suddenly asked.

Selina raised her eyebrow. "I don't know about Captain Hawkins but I'm sure you're more than aware of Cassandra's capabilities." This made Diana giggle however there was still the worried expression hanging off her face. "She'll be fine." Selina assured her. "I promise."

Diana looked over at her and turned away from her friend and sighed. "I hope you're right." She murmured.

Selina was sure what was on Diana's mind right now. She had known both her friends, no all her friends enough that from any expression, any slight change, a look in the eye or a raise of the eyebrow and what it reflected from within the inner workings of their mind. For this whole time when something bad happened to Cassandra she blamed herself for it. Then again Cassandra had almost died last time she got in trouble. Although this still wasn't a good enough excuse for her to blame herself for what happened to Cassandra. She was now possibly under the imprisonment under a power crazy Duke who wanted to declare another war. If anyone should be blamed it should be this shady Duke. Selina didn't know or care much for politics but she knew it wasn't going to do anyone any good. No one would benefit from a war but then again she couldn't imagine how anyone could benefit from a war other than trying to protect their own homeland.

"Um, excuse me." Said a voice. They both glanced over their shoulders to see B.E.N glancing up at them with a hesitant expression on his face. "You know I just can't help but wonder...WHY WE AREN'T GOING BACK TO RESCUE THEM?"

Selina was about to answer but George who seemed to appear out of nowhere answered for them. "Captain's orders."

"Who cares? We can't just leave them!"

"Have you ever tried reasoning with Captain Hawkins?" George asked with a slight grin on his face.

The memory of Treasure Planet almost exploding and Jim's expression on his face while trying to connect the wires of some broken down ship flashed in B.E.N's mind and gave a weak laugh.

"I guess I can, um, see why you chose to follow the Captain's orders. Hehe." He answered before hurrying away.

George turned back to the young ladies. "How are you doing?"

"Well, all things considered." Selina muttered. She glanced at Diana knowing that she needed someone to talk to and she knew she wasn't that person. She walked up to George and before walking away whispered into her ear, "Talk to her."

George stared after her before turning back to Diana. "Are you alright, Diana?"

George could see from the pained, sorrowful expression on her face that he was wasting his breath. He was sure she was once again blaming herself from what may have happened to his sister. He hated seeing her like this again. After all the effort he put into trying to convince her the other time round that his sisters near death experience wasn't her fault either. She didn't even know whether his sister was alright not, so she didn't know whether she really needed to blame herself for anything that could've happened or not. If they were agonising over whether she was alive or not they truly didn't know his sister. He knew more than anything that it would take more than the circumstances they were under to kill his sister. They should've learnt that from the attack on the ship a few days ago. He was sure she would be able to get herself out of anything and considering the devotion the Captain felt towards his sister he was sure that he was going to do everything in his power to make sure she was alright.

She finally shook her head. "No George. I'm not alright."

He tilted his head sympathetically. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

She gave him a hopeless smile and turned away chuckling. "I don't think anyone can help me with this. I've told you before that I can't help but feel responsible for all this. Now I don't know whether one of my closest friends is still alive or not. If she isn't...Alive I mean you can't stop me from feeling guilty."

"No I can't. But you can't stop me from telling you otherwise. Cassandra told me everything. About how your Grandmother blackmailed you into marrying this man. Why did you tell me? Why didn't you tell anyone?"

"Well surely if Cassandra told you, you can understand why I couldn't tell anyone." She snapped. "Anyway, you are one to talk, Mr Richardson."

He frowned. "What are you talking about?"

She smiled cynically. "I think you know what I'm talking about."

He shook his head. "I assure you I haven't slightest clue as to what you are talking about."

"Do you not remember that conversation I had with you. About your sister. The one your father adopted?" Remembrance flashed in his eyes and nodded. "Did you honestly not see anything strange in me questioning you about her?"

"Cassandra noted there was something strange in you questioning her about Helen."

Diana nodded. "That is because...Sir, she is my cousin."

George blinked wondering whether she heard her right. Helen was her cousin? His first thought was he couldn't imagine two people more different than Diana and Helen. Then he began to consider how quiet they both were. They were both incredibly quiet as well and they were both rather modest as well. He could imagine the two getting along between than Diana got along with his sister.

"What?" He whispered. "What do you mea- I don't-"

"You mentioned that Helen's mother was a woman from a wealthy family who married to a doctor named Arkwright. I wasn't sure until Cassandra told me the name of her mother and that certainly confirmed it. Which is also another reason for me to feel guilty, Mr Richardson. As I could have called off the wedding knowing my cousin was already being supported financially despite my father was still sending her money. My only question is why he didn't take her under his wing. We would've certainly accepted her."

"What about your Grandmother?" He asked solemnly.

She almost burst out laughing with tears in her eyes. "Of course! That was why. My father could only help her silently. God I ha- No I can't say that word but I don't think I shall ever see her again."

"It's not her fault that this happened Diana. Nor is it your fault." He asserted. "So there is no need for either of you to be punished."

"Are you defending my Grandmother? If it wasn't for her none of us would be in this mess. My cousin, your sister would not have been forced to be rejected by her family. Your sister would be safe and sound and-"

George stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder gently. "You can't-"

"I CAN DO AS I WISH!" She cried out suddenly making him step back and hold his hands in mock surrender.

"I- I'm sorry for my misconduct. I bid you goodnight sir."

George gaped at her as she walked away, unsure of how to call her back or what reply he could make to that. B.E.N however popped out of nowhere to render this.

"Gee all the guys around here seem to have lady problems."

~ (***) ~

Cassandra lay on the dungeon floor thinking about things she shouldn't be thinking about. Or that was what her common sense was telling her anyway. She began to wonder whether there was more to her parents than she had been led to believe. She had led a rather sheltered life after all. Her father tried his best to tell her about the ways of the world but even she was aware during these few years of private tuition that there was a level of censorship in what he taught her. But he was just doing what every father did with his daughter. He was protecting her, making sure she was innocent for as long as possible. She began to wonder whether anyone was going to save her. She had told them to set off without her but she was beginning to think that this was a bit of a mistake she glanced around in the darkness making the fair conclusion that a little assistance may be in order if she wanted to get out of here. The more she thought about this the more she realised that her old belief that she had to do everything on her own was beginning to fade away. Perhaps James had been right all along. Perhaps she did need his help, more than she realised. She was almost on the verge of tears when someone broke down the door.

She looked up to see a familiar figure standing in the door way but it was only until he walked forward and was up close to her face when she realised who it was.

"Jim." She breathed. She blinked at herself, having not called him by his nickname before but she was so relieved to see him that all sensibilities seemed to fly out the window.

"We've got to go." He said hurriedly as he unlocked the chains. She rubbed her wrists after she was released and didn't protest when he helped her to her feet.

"Are you alright?"

She nodded. "I'm fine. I'm glad you came."

He raised an eyebrow. "I would've thought you would say that 'I thought I told you to stay on the ship' would be your first reply."

She smiled. "Yeah but you have to have a certain level of realistic assumptions of your chances of getting out of somewhere by yourself." She admitted.

He chuckled. "Well I have to admit I wasn't on my own."

Before she could ask what he meant as they walked out the cell she saw two pirates, one a huge, bald headed man and a youthful, middle-aged woman walking down the corridor.

"Come we've got to go." The woman said, for a moment she glanced at Cassandra like she was ghost as Cassandra did the same. What startled her the most was that Cassandra felt like she was looking into the mirror in twenty years time.

"Hi." She greeted quietly.

The woman simply nodded at her and pulled her down the corridor. Cassandra recognised the attire she was wearing and began to wonder how Jim was able to get the help of pirates and how he could've accepted such help. Although she knew now wasn't the time for her to ask these kind of questions and they were helping her so now wouldn't be the best of times to show any level of ungratefulness. As the daughter of a Space Captain she was expected to be against such people but then again she never really had a great agenda against them. After all, they were the ones who murdered her father or were the cause of her mothers death so she didn't have that excuse. She only thought of that considering that seemed to be the excuse for most people to have a real special hatred towards them. Other than the fact that they made it their official occupation to make a living out of crossing the law.

They ran into a transport bay where they jumped onto the first vehicle they could find. Cassandra jumped in without seeing the offered hand of the woman who instead of being offended smirked to herself.

"Like mother like daughter." The woman muttered to herself.

Cassandra frowned. "Pardon?"

The woman, still smirking, shook her head as she fired up the engine. "Nothing."