Shadow of the Past

Chapter One

The crystalline shards of glass lay scattered about the room, mixed and mingled with mirror fragments. The petite, curvy girl looked around the room at her work, and finally, with a sign, dropped to her knees. It was then that she saw the glass-framed holo picture, and in an instant she had grasped it and was prepared to grant it the same fate as all the others had met. But in mid throw, she stopped and stared at the picture it contained.

A happy little girl dressed like a tomboy sat on the lap of a tall, slim man who was gazing down at her with all the wonder a fathers eyes could hold. It was then that the tears finally came.

~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hey, MORPH!" Jim Hawkins, a tall, dark haired man of nearly twenty two made a desperate lunge for the little shape shifter. "I want that back NOW!"

Morph chirped and giggled as he zipped around the room clutching the tiny gold piece, fleeing through the door and down the stairs.

"Morph!" Jim sighed and slapped his forehead with his hand. Nothing could stop the little blob when he put his mind to something. Jim tugged on his white Captains jacket and headed down the stairs.

"Good morning, Jim." Dr. Delbert Doppler greeted him as he reached the main dining room. "If you're looking for that blob of pink goo, I believe your search would be more prosperous in the kitchen."

A cat-like toddler sat on the Doctor's lap, tugging on his sleeve and waiting impatiently for her breakfast. Across from Delbert was his wife, Amelia, clutching the other three toddlers. "Good morning, Captain Hawkins." She smiled. "I extend my congratulations on your new position."

"Yeah, thanks." Jim nodded as he slipped into the kitchen, where he was greeted with a hug from his mother.

"Jim," Sarah shook her head. "I really wish you'd keep him out of here." She motioned to Morph, who was pestering B.E.N. by splashing him with the dishwater. "I really think that B.E.N. has enough trouble working without Morph around."

Morph ended his game and in one swift move disappeared into Jim's pocket, dropping his precious cargo.

"Thanks Morph." Jim fished the coin from his pocket and smiled sadly at it. It was the last piece of the treasure Silver had given him, and it brought back memories both good and bad.

"Oh, Jim." Sarah pulled him out into the dining room and to a chair. "You've just got to learn to give him up. He can't come back, and you can't help him anymore. You did what you could and you need to accept that."

Jim looked into her eyes and shook his head. "Mom, I know. It's just.it's just that sometimes.sometimes I wish that I could know what's he's up too, and be a part of it. I wish I could have helped him more.he did so much for me. I.I-"

"Jim," He mother lifted his chin. "You did your best. Look what you've become! I'm sure he'd be proud, I know I am." Sarah stood and gave her son a final pat on the shoulder before disappearing back into the kitchen.

Jim sighed as he rested his chin on his hands and stared out the front window. The rain clouds that had once been small and distant had darkened and were now looming closer.

It had been on a day like this nearly seven years ago that he had been draw into the world of John Silver, a pirate who had grown to fill the spot in Jim's life left empty by a deserting father.

Jim's reverie was soon broken by a firm tug on his pant leg. Looking down, Jim found the Doppler's son, a little pup that was beginning to look just like his father.

"Hey Del," Jim scooped up Delbert Jr. and tickled his tummy, causing the toddler to giggle with pleasure.

Del reached up and tugged at the collar of Jim's jacket just as B.E.N. tottered out of the kitchen carrying a tray heaped with food.

Jim watched as the robot unsteadily made his way across the room to the Doppler's table and began to set out the dishes he'd brought.

Jim suppressed a chuckle as he saw the Dr. realize suddenly that his son was missing, and before he had a chance to panic, Jim stood and made his way to their table.

"Here you go, Doc." Jim handed the flustered father his wayward child and waved to other toddlers.

"Oh Jim, thank goodness you found him. I only turned away from him for a second and the next thing I knew he was gone. But you know how it is with toddlers. They see an opportunity to add stress to their parents' lives, and POOF! They try it! Ah, the challenges of raising children these days."Dr. Doppler settled back into his seat and began helping Amelia feed the toddlers.

Jim turned to head back to his table, but instead ran head first into B.E.N., who had stayed to watch the drama unfold. B.E.N. followed him as he made his way back to the kitchen. "You know, Jimmy, I have to admit that I'm glad I'm a robot. It doesn't bother me a bit that I'll never have to worry about watching dozens of little rascals run around.chasing them through the house as they destroy everything in their path.tucking them in at night and reading bedtime stories.watching them grow up and feeling the pride of a parent.ooooh, blast me for being a machine!"

B.E.N. sobbed into his shoulder as Jim raised n eyebrow at the robot.

"It's.it's okay, B.E.N., really it is. We like you just the way you are."

"Really?" B.E.N. looked up at him, wiping a tear from his eye. "Even though there will never be dozens of little B.E.N.'s running around here?"

Jim stifled a laugh and managed to portray seriousness. "Especially because of that, B.E.N. ."

"Oh, thank you Jimmy!" B.E.N. launched himself at him friend and squeezed him hard. "You don't know how much it means to me that everyone accepts me just the way I am. You know, back when I was with captain Flint, which was like a hundred some years ago, but anyway, they always teased me and said that my worst faults were so obvious that everyone-"

Jim pried B.E.N. off of him and colored slightly at the stares he was getting from the customers. "That's fine, B.E.N., you don't have to tell me."

Morph, who had been trapped in Jim's pocket by the robot's embrace, emerged from his prison, and heaving a sigh of relief, melted onto Jim's shoulder. Jim shooed the robot back into the kitchen and patted Morph encouragingly as he stepped outside.

Standing carefully under the edge of the roof so the rain wouldn't stain his uniform, Jim watched as a ship pulled out, and another smaller one came in for a landing. Ordinarily, he would have ignored the new ship, but something was odd about it.it was a much more sophisticated looking ship than usually stopped at the Benbow - the paint, fresh and spotless, was an odd shade of brown, and the flag flying on the mast was that of the Interstellar Academy - the school Jim had attended.

As he watched, a lone figure descended the ramp carrying a shoulder bag and a small trunk. Through the pouring rain, he saw the being wave to someone on board, and immediately the ship began its launch.

As the figure approached, Jim could make out exactly what it was.most defiantly female, and apparently human. As she approached, Jim glared up and the sky, and glancing sadly down at his spotless uniform, he stepped out into the rain to help her with her things. If he had learned one thing at the Academy - it was courtesy.

"Here," He reached for her trunk. "Let me help you with that."

She drew back slightly. "No, no thank you sir. I can carry it myself."

"No really, I can help." Jim pressed her.

She shook her head again and stepped through the door into the warm cozy interior of the inn, Jim trailing a few steps behind, a quizzical look on his face. But, with a shrug, he headed to the kitchen to get his mother. Maybe the newcomer would be more responsive to her.

Sarah Hawkins, with her arms up to her elbows in soapsuds, started at her sons' entrance. "Jim! What is it?"

"Customer, mom." He snatched a perp and bit into it.

"Can't you take care of it?" Sarah dried her hands on a nearby towel.

Jim tossed the perp into the air and shrugged. "I tried too, didn't help much, though."

Sarah sighed and headed out into the dining room. As she entered, the girl, with the hood of her cloak now pulled back to reveal her frightened expression and mass of curly brown hair.

"Excuse me, ma'am." She stopped Sarah. "But could you please point out Mrs..Hawkins to me?"

Sarah smiled down at the girl. "I'm Sarah Hawkins. Can I do something for you?"

"Yes, yes." The short, youthful looking girl nodded. "I need a room, and I'm not sure for how long. I - I can pay any price. Do you have any?"

"Of course. Jim!" Sarah hollered, and a moment later her son emerged from the kitchen, covered from head to toe in soap suds. "Jim!" his mother exclaimed. "What hap-"

"B.E.N. happened, mom, and I can guarantee you won't need to mop the floor for a while. What do you need?"

"Well, I was going to have you show this young lady to a room -" she motioned to the soaking girl standing beside her. "- but, I think you might give our visitor the wrong.impression."

He scooped a handful of suds off and threw them at B.E.N. as he came out of the kitchen, then turned back to his mother. "I'll do it mom. Then I'll go clean up. Come on." He motioned for the girl to follow him, but avoided picking up her luggage for her.

"I'm Jim Hawkins." He said as they ascended the stairs. "That's my mom you were talking to. This is her inn, I just stay here sometimes."

The girl remained silent as the started up the second flight of stairs.

"Hey, uh, I think we got off to a bad start back there. I uh, didn't mean to offend you or anything."

He stopped in front of the door to one of their nicest rooms, just down the hall from where he and his mother stayed.

"Here, this is the best we've got. Hope it's okay."

She nodded as he held the door open, and as she stepped in, Morph zipped down the hall and into the room before her.

"What.what is it?" She asked him, speaking for the first time since they'd been downstairs.

"Morph!" Jim called, and the little creature quickly made it's way to him, taking just a small detour on the way to nuzzle the girl's face a few times, causing her to draw back even farther.

"He's just a shape shifter, and he's friendly. I think he likes you already."

"How very lucky for me." She set her trunk down and slipped off her cloak, revealing her nicely filled out, petite frame. "How much for the room, Mr. Hawkins?"

"Wait, wait. None of that 'Mr. Hawkins' stuff. I'm Jim, this is Morph, and you are."

Her eyes grew wide, and he noticed for the first time how odd they were. Their size, general shape and watery blue color were normal, but the pupils reminded him of Captain Amelia's. If her eyes had been bigger and almond shaped, he would have called them cat eyes, for lacking of a better word.

Her words broke his reverie. "I'm Nik, and my last name is irrelevant. The price, please."

Jim's forehead creased slightly at her standoffish behavior, then waved his hand. "Ah, I don't know. Depends on how long you're staying. Ask my mom when you come down to eat."

She studied him, and for just a moment, the frightened look on her face faded into one of sadness, but it quickly returned. "Thank you, Mr. Hawkins, I'll do that then. Now if you don't mind I'd like to get some rest."

"Oh sure." He backed out the door with Morph in tow. "Just call if you need anything, and-"

The door closed in his face, and Morph turned to give him a questioning glance as he muttered. "-just call me.Jim."

**** thanks to my fellow authors, Morph and Merrys_girl for catching those mistakes.I think I fixed them!*****