Chapter 2

The day came and the cadets excitedly climbed onto the ship and were ready to take off. Jim pretended that he didn't care, but Captain Claude watched him from the upper deck.

"Is he not coming?" He asked a nearby officer.

"No, he didn't make the cut," the officer replied back. Captain Claude nodded, but also sniffed the air in somewhat concern.

"There is a strange feeling in the air today," Claude replied, now sniffing the air more.

"Captain? Is everything alright?" The officer asked.

"I do not know. I am sure we will see as we…,"

But before he could finish his sentence, there was a shout of ambush!

"GET THEM!" A voice screamed. Everyone spun around and saw a group of pirates grab the helm and quickly yank the ship from the loading deck and into the flying port!

"WHAT IS THE MEAING OF THIS?!" Captain Claude thundered, now punching a nearby pirate. He couldn't even get the words out because he knew this was beyond odd! No pirates were desperate enough to attack a ship that hadn't even left the dock yet!

But these pirates were desperate. If anything, this was their only way to get away before being caught once more.

Jim, hearing the commotion, turned around and he gasped as he saw the crew and ship fighting off the nearby pirates.

"No!" He gasped, now grabbing BEN and Morph! "Guys, hurry; the ship's in trouble!"

But as he ran towards the ship, he noticed a figure that looked very familiar. Someone that he used to know!

"No…it can't be!" Jim said, his blue eyes widening.

"What is it, Jimmy?" BEN asked, now trying to keep up with him.

"He's back…," Jim said, now running even faster. BEN was about to ask who until he saw a large cyborg pirate raise a large pirate flag.

"WHAT?! It's…it's…," he gasped.

"Silver." Jim said, now running up the plank right before they snatched it off the dock. He grabbed BEN's mechanical hand to keep him from falling into space and Morph flew next to them. The plan? Figure out what Long John Silver was up to!

As Jim snuck up the deck, his eyes widened as he saw Claude kicking pirates into submission and his sword play was amazing!

"Get the cadets off this ship now!" Claude roared, now pointing to the escape pods below!

"We won't leave you, Sir!" Another sailor said.

"I said GO!" Claude roared out again, now turning with a snarl. The sailors sadly did what they were told and made sure all of the cadets were off the ship and to safety. They knew their captain was preparing to sacrifice himself if need be.

Jim's eyes widened as he saw Claude fighting against the pirates and one was sneaking up behind him with a gun.

"CAPTAIN! DUCK!" Jim yelled, now jumping out of his hiding spot and kicking the pirate into some nearby barrels. Claude looked at him in shock and then threw a nearby pirate into a pole.

"Young one, you need to be off this ship!" Claude demanded.

"Not without you!" Jim said, now getting into a defensive stance. But as he and the captain stood back to back, Jim felt something grab him and pull him into a strong chest! The chest appeared metal as well!

"GET OFF ME!" Jim bellowed, now struggling hard.

"Now, now…just settle down," a reassuring voice said. "Didn't expect to see ye again, that's for sure."

Jim froze and he slowly turned and saw Long John Silver looking at him over his shoulder. He was snapped from his thoughts as he heard a roar in anger! His head whirled back around and he saw Claude being chained by seven pirates; it took seven to keep him down!

"NO! LET HIM GO!" Jim demanded.

"Now stop struggling, Jim! We have plans for that captain!" Silver cooed in his ear.

"No! Silver, please! He's one of the greatest captains!" Jim said. At that moment, Silver put his hand up and that made the pirates pause. Claude angrily squirmed as his arms were chained behind his back and his eyes widened as Silver had Jim stand next to him.

"Men…this be Jim! He's the one who found Flint's treasure," Silver called out. Claude's eyes widened a bit more; even he knew of the young man who found Flint's treasure.

"You? That youth was you?" Claude asked quietly, making Jim look at him. Jim then squared his shoulders.

"Yeah. So I'm not the dumb youth that everyone in the academy thinks I am," Jim said. Claude's eyes narrowed in concern.

"Jim, no one thought that." Claude responded, now trying to make eye contact. Silver laughed and then pulled out a sword; he then handed it to Jim!

"Here, Jimmy. If the captain don't tell us what we want to know then you have the opportunity to kill 'im." Silver smirked. Jim's eyes widened in horror; he didn't want to kill anyone!

"Whoa, whoa…I can't kill anyone!" Jim said.

"Well ye won't have to if the captain tells us what we need to know," Silver said, now approaching the bound cat-like being. Claude let out a snarl that scared everyone but Silver didn't even move.

"Now now Mr. Kitty…just tell me how to pilot your ship and you can leave," Silver said.

"As if I would help a miscreant like you," Claude growled.

"You have three chances! I'm gonna make you pay if you don't tell me soon!" Silver said, now grabbing Claude by the front of his shirt, but the captain only smirked.

"What is the matter pirate? Impatient?" Claude said in confidence.

"Why you!" Silver yelled, now smacking Claude hard against the jaw and sending him into a wall! Jim immediately ran and got in front of Claude!

"Silver, stop! You can't just kill him!" Jim said in shock.

"Now Jim, what's gotten into ye! You have always been on my side! We are on to something big and we need him to cooperate!" Silver argued.

"But I won't help with any killing!" Jim said back. Now feeling even more heated and impatient, Silver grabbed Jim by his arm.

"Now you listen to me. You are going to help me and that's that! Maybe some time in ye dungeon will help! Lock them up!" Silver ordered, now seeing the pirates grab both Claude and Jim and take them down to the dungeon below deck. But once they were gone, he frowned.

"I don't want to hurt th' boy…but I need him to understand why we need to do this," Silver said, now turning away to speak with the other pirates.

Below deck…

"Jim? That is your name, isn't it?" A deep voice cooed from the darkness. Jim was chained to a nearby wall and just looked the other way. "Jim, we need to talk."

"About what? About how much I mess up at the academy?" Jim said angrily.

"Listen Jim…," Claude started.

"No, I can't listen! The only reason you recognize me is because I did something great. You probably wouldn't have even given me a second thought if you didn't find out about my history!" Jim said, now looking at him angrily.

"That is not true!" Claude growled.

"Yes, it is!" Jim said.

"Jim, you stop this unnecessary rambling. I did want to know about you even before I knew you," Claude answered.

"Yeah sure," Jim said, now looking away.

"Jim Hawkins…you turn and face me now; that is an order," Claude said in a low and firm voice, making Jim pause in shock. As he slowly turned, he saw Claude gently get on his knees and approach him. Once his chain wouldn't allow him to go any further, he looked at Jim with compassion. "Jim…,"

"Yes, Sir?" Jim asked.

"You are more than what you've done and what you've accomplished. I am proud of your accomplishments, but you are a young man who deserves a chance." Claude said. "And furthermore, I am willing to give you that chance."

"How?" Jim asked.

"Help me to regain control of this ship; if we regain control, we can make sure the other cadets and the other planets are safe," Claude said. "I want you to prove what you're made of; were you simply the scoundrel that helped find Flint's treasure or are you a real cadet who puts others' safety before himself?"

Jim gave him a soft smile and nodded. "I'm ready, Sir. To prove myself."

"Perfect. Now we just have to get out of these chains," Claude said, now unsheathing a claw. "Once I get free, I will release you."

"And what about getting the entire ship to turn around?" Jim asked.

"I believe your comrades are the answer," Claude said, now motioning to Morph and BEN who were hiding by the potatoes in the corner. "I saw them board with you and ordered them to hide when we were ambushed. And my badge has a homing device so the intergalactic forces will be following us soon."

"You guys were there the whole time?!" Jim said, now embarrassed that they heard his outburst.

"Yeah. And Jimmy, it's alright. We're here for ya, buddy," BEN said, now hugging him around the shoulders and Morph cuddled into his cheek. Claude chuckled and then got a devious smile.

"Alright…we need to plan. You two will be a distraction while Jim and I go after the leader and the others. We must get control before they reach a transport system," Claude said. The others nodded and listened to the captain as he whispered the plan to them. But after a minute, Jim was concerned.

"Claude…Silver won't be destroyed, will he? He is a pirate, but he did save my life before," Jim said lowly.

"Jim….I can't promise what will happen to him. He is still breaking the law. However, I will see what leniency he will receive from the courts," Claude replied, now seeing the sadness in Jim's eyes. But they paused as the ship landed. The pirates were having a blast on a new planet and drinking their favorite drinks and food! But to Jim's horror, they were going to come downstairs!

"We need entertainment! Bring out the boy!" A pirate yelled.

"Yeah let's get him!" Another said. As they stormed downstairs, Jim gave them an angry glare as they reached for him. But Claude immediately roared and wouldn't let them get close to him.

"Back away, you filthy rats," Claude hissed. "If you need entertainment, take me."

"Claude…don't!" Jim whispered in fear, but Claude only looked at him.

"Do not be concerned; focus on the plan," Claude whispered back, now letting them unchain him and drag him up the stairs! As they brought up the captain, Silver used his eye to look into the far distance. He frowned because he knew the intergalactic forces were not far away! The chase was on to stop them! But that could wait; it was time for entertainment.

"Don't worry, Jim; we will keep an eye on him," BEN whispered to Jim, now secretly following them. Jim nodded, but was concerned. He was caught in between two worlds. Helping Silver or helping Claude. The question was…which one?!

guestsurprise's words: Oh dear! What will happen next?! 0.0

To everyone else: Please leave guestsurprise a review, but no flames!

GoldGuardian2418