The galaxy was coloured by the calm, red lights of sunsets. As the enormous ship was heading into the night, Jim Hawkins breathed the fresh air with satisfaction. He stood next to the foremast and looked at the stars which were become more dazzling as it got darker and darker. Embraced by the gentle breeze, feeling the solar galleon moving under his feet... these were the moments when he felt like he's right there where he want to be.
– Thinking? – asked one of his crewmates.
Jim turned to Brandon. The black-haired man's sparkling, blue eyes looked at him questioningly.
– Not really – Jim said. – I just took a little rest.
– You really like staring into nothing... The captain is calling for you.
Jim sighed as he moved to the quarterdeck, where the captain of the ship stood. Nick Ravenson was one of the most praised men of the navy. He had never lost against pirates, always done his best and never had lost any of his crew members. It was an honour to be his first mate.
– Do you need me, captain? – Jim asked.
– Yes, Hawkins. Hold the wheel for the next three hours. I really need to take a nap.
– I can hold it for the night if you require. I slept for some hours in the afternoon.
– Lucky bastard. That would save my old bones from pain, thank you – said the grey-haired man. – Follow the Rigel, and nothing else.
– Understood.
After the darkness covered the whole universe within sight, the crew of the ship went to bed. Jim only saw the shiny stars and sometimes the movements of the first sergeant. He kept the direction to the blue star which showed him the way.
– Beautiful – whispered to himself. He made a dimmed smile.
–––
After two hours of standing in the silence, which was only broken by the clacking of the solar engine of the ship, Jim stretched out his back and arms. He had to stay awake. He wasn't sleepy yet, although he started to feel some tiredness after enduring a long time standing in one place.
That was the moment when he heard that sound. It wasn't the mystical whisper of the galaxy or one of his crewmates steps. It was another engine. It sounded more massive than the Sun Compass's generator.
Jim turned his head toward the direction of the sound... and the scene gave the shock of his lifetime. It was a pirate ship – the biggest he had ever seen. If he wouldn't saw the flying, black flag with the crest on the mainmast, he would be amazed by the solar ship. It was truly beautiful. The keel and the hull burnished and perfect. The colours are awesome and somehow patrician.
– Oh no... – he whispered, as the ship approached them. He yelled outside the night: – Who's on patrol?!
A sluggish snort came from one of the nearby shrouds.
– I am... what now, Mr Hawkins?
– Joe? There's a brigantine after us! Sound an alarm!
– A pirate ship?! – Jim heard Joe's voice turning to totally awake. – Try to outspeed them!
– You don't have to say it – mumbled Jim and he did one of the most dangerous manoeuvres in his life.
He increased the speed, then turned the wheel right and the gallon took a sharp turn. Jim did almost fall on the deck, but he grabs onto the wheel. He heard the crew's irate shouts from the lower deck. Probably they fell out of their hammocks.
– We need to raise the height!
– What's happening, Hawkins?! – yelled Ravenson, after he came out of his cabin. – I slept like two and a half hours.
– Pirates after us, captain – reported Jim.
– Exactly what my old body needs! A bunch of these water thieves – said the captain sarcastically.
The last time Jim met pirates was two years ago when he only was a seventeen-year-old cabin boy. He bit his lip as John Silver's face appeared in his memories. He was one of his few friends, and for a pirate, he was extremely wise. He had the eye that saw Jim's heart. Silver was the first one, who saw the man in him. That's the reason why Jim missed the old scalawag. He hadn't seen him since Silver ran away from the law.
After he applied for the Navy, Ravenson was the first who saw the prodigy in him, what he really was. As his young first mate, Jim finally could prove that he's not a hooligan who breaks into prohibited areas. He finally made his mother happy and proud. He finally had a chance for a normal life.
And he let these pirates took this chance from him over his dead body.
He let his captain take the wheel and rushed to the control panel.
– We need to raise our height.
– Then do your job, Hawkins!
Jim pulled the right swipe in the panel and the ship started rising. For now, he heard the pirates provoked roars. They became faster, but those filthy thieves weren't so slack to give up on them that easy.
The whole crew was on the main deck and they were preparing for the fight. Their voices were full of fear.
– Captain, I can keep them busy while you could take the ship farther. With my solar surfer...
– Are you lost yer damn mind, Hawkins?! I don't let my first mate risk his own life for this goddamn crew and ship. If we must die, we die together!
By this time the enemy caught up with them. When the two ships were in the same high, a man with a red hat on his head leant over the gunwale.
– Good evening, gentlemen! – he waved and smiled, like a normal person. The only difference was the sword in his hand. His crew laughed wickedly behind him. – May I take a stroll on your lovely boat?
– Boat? – Jim blinked in surprise. – Is he just making fun of our ship?
– Oh shit... – Jim never heard Ravenson swear this much. – Sinbad...
Note: Well, I just found this awesome fandom – I mean the Treasure Planet and Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas crossover – maybe a week ago, and I fall in love with it! I love Sinbad and Jim's ship, so when I found out there's hardly any fanfiction about this pairing I decided I'll write mine! Hope you enjoy it! My English is not very good, and I just started practising how this platform works. Sorry about that!