Chapter Two - A Small Dose of Humility ... The Captain's Best Medicine
Amelia was lost in the swirl of the cosmos, stationed at the helm of her stalwart ship as it plunged into oblivion, when she awoke suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps rousing her from a fitful slumber. Her ears perked up and she listened, silently palming the handle of the blaster strapped to her thigh. Peering through narrowed eyes, she watched as Doppler also turned an ear in the direction of the sound.
"Doctor," she whispered.
"I have my blaster ready," he told her softly. And indeed, he did. Already powered up, the weapon rested in his hand, looking far more comfortable there than it had when she had first given it to him
"Good man."
They hunkered down and peered over the prickly leaves of the bushes they'd deemed shelter until Jim returned, watching the path he had tread only a few hours earlier.
There had been no sign of pirates thus far, but the timing would be about right, Amelia decided. More than enough time had passed for the mutineers to commandeer a small cruiser and make their way to the wreckage. Although the foliage provided some semblance of cover, it certainly wouldn't be enough.
Amelia blew a sharp breath between pressed lips. No, an injured spacer and academic physicist would be no match for a band of pirates, hell bent on retrieving a map they didn't have.
It was moments like these that Amelia could hear her mother's voice asking why she couldn't have done something more feminine like teaching and something less to saddle her only daughter with a peg leg.
She really hated that voice.
"Captain, are you all right?"
Amelia looked to Doppler, who was regarding her with concern.
"Not taking into account the incredible pain which has taken up permanent residence in my left side, I'm fine, Doctor. Why do you ask?"
"You seemed to be somewhere else," he admitted. "Not a good idea when we have no idea what's advancing toward our hiding place, wouldn't you agree?" He peered at her over his glasses.
The man had a point. The fact that his point irritated her could only be attributed to her injuries. Best to stay calm, she reminded herself.
"Quite right, Doctor." She pointed her pistol toward the path.
"Best be ready for a fire fight. If those blast pirates have landed, we're going to be in for a frightful battle, I'm afraid."
"Woof."
Amelia arched an eyebrow. "Excuse me? Did you just 'woof' at me,
Doctor?"
Delbert blushed. "I'm sorry. That was entirely inappropriate. I just feel rather helpless right now."
"For people trying to be stealthy, you guys aren't doing a very good job of it."
"Ahhh!"
Both Amelia and Doppler spun around, blasters aimed, only to find a smug Jim Hawkins standing in front of them. Morph quickly flew behind Jim's shoulder, his pink body hovering back and forth at the sight of the blasters.
"Hey! Watch where you're pointing those things," Jim scowled.
"Blasters kill."
Delbert brought a hand across his face, the shock still evident in his features. "What were you thinking, sneaking up on us like that?" he reprimanded. "You nearly got shot."
"Hey," he threw his hands up. "I heard voices. I didn't know if the pirates had found you guys and were waiting for me. I had to be sure." His eyes narrowed and he gave them a frank look. "Besides, you two don't exactly get high marks for the whole covert-waiting thing. I could hear you as soon as I came over the hill."
Amelia's ears flattened in a silent warning. "We heard footsteps. We were merely trying to discern our next course of action."
"Hmm. Well I'd suggest working on those inside voices," Jim offered with a cheeky grin. "But come on. I've found shelter."
"Shelter!" Doppler exclaimed. "Where?"
"B.E.N.'s," Jim smiled, wiggling a thumb at the robot that emerged from the forest.
"Who's Ben?" Amelia asked warily.
"B.E.N.," Jim stressed, "knows all about Captain Flint." He gave them a pointed glance. "And he's got a great place that we can hide while deciding how we're going to get the map."
"Yes, that's wonderful," Amelia said. "But again, who is he?" The slightly crazed looking machine stepped forward and offered a hand to the skeptical captain.
"Bio-Electronic Navigator at your service, m'am. You can call me
B.E.N." He enthusiastically pumped her uninjured arm up and down.
Delbert, sensing the tension, quickly stepped forward and intervened. "Well, isn't that charming. A talking robot." He turned to
Jim. "How far away is this place? I don't think the Captain is quite ready to be up and about."
"It's just over the hillside and west of here."
Delbert followed to where Jim pointed. "Hmm. Not too awfully far, but still ..."
"I'll be fine, Doctor." Amelia muttered. "I've been through worse before."
Delbert turned to her. "Really?" he questioned. "You're telling me you often sustain injuries inflicted by an errant blast from a laser cannon?"
Amelia scowled. "I don't find your humor amusing, Doctor."
"Nor do I find your stubbornness amusing, Captain." He glanced pointedly at her.
Jim watched the exchange between the two with an increasing sense of confusion. There was something going on between them. He wasn't quite sure what, and to be honest, he wasn't certain he wanted to know.
Best to let them work it out in their own time, he decided. But now, was not the time.
"Uh, hey. Pirates. Treasure map. Hiding place. Any of it ringing a bell?" He moved in the direction of B.E.N.'s cave. "I'm going to scout ahead and make sure nobody's waiting on us. Can you guys work this out? Like really soon? We've got to go."
He turned away and walked determinedly toward the mountainside,
B.E.N. and Morph following obediently behind him.
Amelia and Doppler watched him leave, surprise splashed across their faces.
"Well, that was interesting," Doppler finally noted.
Amelia snorted. "I think our young Mr. Hawkins has the makings of a Captain in him, yet." She adjusted her sling. "He certainly seems comfortable with giving orders."
Delbert sighed. "He's right, you know. We can't stand here arguing about it. The sooner we get to the shelter, the better."
"Quite right, Doctor. If you'll kindly help me to my feet, we can be on our way."
"I think not. Now, if you'll please forgive my forwardness ..." And with that, Doppler reached down and quickly gathered the Captain in his arms, ignoring her protests as he pulled her to him and began following
Jim.
"Doctor, what do you think you're doing!"
"It's called carrying, Captain," Delbert replied.
"I demand you put me down at once!"
"I'll be happy to oblige you as soon as we get to the shelter."
"Doctor, I am perfectly capable of walking by my own device,"
Amelia informed him.
Delbert sighed in frustration and tightened his hold on her.
"Woman! Can you not simply allow someone to do something for you?" He glanced at her. "I know you're strong. Everyone knows that. But you are not, repeat, not invincible. Check your vanity and allow yourself to be taken care of."
Amelia fell silent, his outburst effectively ending her next protest before it even began.
***
The walk to the cave was long ... longer than Doppler or Amelia had expected. Silently, she gave thanks that he had pressed the issue of carrying her. She doubted she would have made it of her own volition.
The robot was still yapping about his time on the planet, as he had been doing since they had abandoned the Legacy's small solar craft.
She had given up listening a long time ago, instead choosing to focus on the landscape surrounding them, committing everything to memory and drawing up various strategic points in her mind.
Doppler still had a firm grasp on her and showed no signs of fatigue. That surprised her. While she wasn't the most heavy of burdens, he had been carrying her for quite some time. It was yet another aspect of the doctor she found she was pleased to discover.
The thought that she was pleased to uncover previously unknown facets of Doppler disturbed her. When had that begun? When had she stopped thinking of the financier in terms of yet another passenger to be dealt with and started looking at him through the eyes of a wom-
"Captain? How are you holding up?" Delbert's voice broke into her thoughts.
"What, Doctor? Oh, I'm, uh, fine," she replied, slightly flustered.
Delbert peered at her closely. "Are you certain? Your side isn't hurting any worse, is it? I realize I'm jostling you a bit," he apologized. "I'm sorry for that. I'm afraid it simply cannot be helped."
Amelia smiled. Ever the gentleman, this one. "I understand that,
Doctor." She reached over and cradled her arm. "My arm is a bit more sore now, but I'm that's to be expected."
Delbert shifted his arms in an effort to make her more comfortable. "It's just that I'm not used to carrying this much--," he stopped, realizing what he was about to say. "That is, I mean, I'm more accustomed to carrying books, and not people," he amended.
"It's quite all right, Doctor," Amelia smiled. "I realize that a grown woman weighs considerably more than an armload of textbooks."
"Actually," Delbert informed her, "you're not heavy at all. And you're much softer than my textbooks." He paused, mortified to realize what he'd just said.
Amelia watched, with concealed delight, as Doppler's face turned several shades, before finally settling on a hue of bright red. His mouth moved, but no words came out. It was comical and perfectly delightful. After a moment of enjoying his obvious embarrassment,
Amelia decided to take pity on him.
"Well, it's a pleasure to know that I'm softer than most textbooks, Doctor," she smiled. "Now, borrowing your words from earlier, if you'll please excuse my forwardness-" she told him, sliding her good arm up his shoulder and around his neck.
Delbert's eyes widened as he felt the soft hand settle at the back of his neck, just barely grazing his dark, brown hair. He looked down at her.
"It's easier to hold on this way," she replied simply.
"Ah, I see," he answered slowly. "Well, um, if it helps you, then
I certainly have no obsession ... objection!"
"Very good, Doctor." Amelia leaned into his chest and closed her eyes, beginning to feel fatigued from the jarring effects of the walk.
Although she would never admit it to anyone, being held in his protective embrace felt good ... felt right. It had been far too long since she'd allowed someone to take care of her and far too long since anyone had offered.
To be continued ...
Yes, originally intended to be only a two-chapter story, it has metamorphosed into a continuing saga. Join our fearless heroes next week for Chapter Three. Will B.E.N.'s interior decorating skills rival Martha Stewart's? Will Amelia and Doppler get those repressed emotions out in the open or merely continue to let them simmer on a slow boil?
Will Dick from Third Rock drop by? Stay tuned. And keep those suggestions/reviews coming.
Amelia was lost in the swirl of the cosmos, stationed at the helm of her stalwart ship as it plunged into oblivion, when she awoke suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps rousing her from a fitful slumber. Her ears perked up and she listened, silently palming the handle of the blaster strapped to her thigh. Peering through narrowed eyes, she watched as Doppler also turned an ear in the direction of the sound.
"Doctor," she whispered.
"I have my blaster ready," he told her softly. And indeed, he did. Already powered up, the weapon rested in his hand, looking far more comfortable there than it had when she had first given it to him
"Good man."
They hunkered down and peered over the prickly leaves of the bushes they'd deemed shelter until Jim returned, watching the path he had tread only a few hours earlier.
There had been no sign of pirates thus far, but the timing would be about right, Amelia decided. More than enough time had passed for the mutineers to commandeer a small cruiser and make their way to the wreckage. Although the foliage provided some semblance of cover, it certainly wouldn't be enough.
Amelia blew a sharp breath between pressed lips. No, an injured spacer and academic physicist would be no match for a band of pirates, hell bent on retrieving a map they didn't have.
It was moments like these that Amelia could hear her mother's voice asking why she couldn't have done something more feminine like teaching and something less to saddle her only daughter with a peg leg.
She really hated that voice.
"Captain, are you all right?"
Amelia looked to Doppler, who was regarding her with concern.
"Not taking into account the incredible pain which has taken up permanent residence in my left side, I'm fine, Doctor. Why do you ask?"
"You seemed to be somewhere else," he admitted. "Not a good idea when we have no idea what's advancing toward our hiding place, wouldn't you agree?" He peered at her over his glasses.
The man had a point. The fact that his point irritated her could only be attributed to her injuries. Best to stay calm, she reminded herself.
"Quite right, Doctor." She pointed her pistol toward the path.
"Best be ready for a fire fight. If those blast pirates have landed, we're going to be in for a frightful battle, I'm afraid."
"Woof."
Amelia arched an eyebrow. "Excuse me? Did you just 'woof' at me,
Doctor?"
Delbert blushed. "I'm sorry. That was entirely inappropriate. I just feel rather helpless right now."
"For people trying to be stealthy, you guys aren't doing a very good job of it."
"Ahhh!"
Both Amelia and Doppler spun around, blasters aimed, only to find a smug Jim Hawkins standing in front of them. Morph quickly flew behind Jim's shoulder, his pink body hovering back and forth at the sight of the blasters.
"Hey! Watch where you're pointing those things," Jim scowled.
"Blasters kill."
Delbert brought a hand across his face, the shock still evident in his features. "What were you thinking, sneaking up on us like that?" he reprimanded. "You nearly got shot."
"Hey," he threw his hands up. "I heard voices. I didn't know if the pirates had found you guys and were waiting for me. I had to be sure." His eyes narrowed and he gave them a frank look. "Besides, you two don't exactly get high marks for the whole covert-waiting thing. I could hear you as soon as I came over the hill."
Amelia's ears flattened in a silent warning. "We heard footsteps. We were merely trying to discern our next course of action."
"Hmm. Well I'd suggest working on those inside voices," Jim offered with a cheeky grin. "But come on. I've found shelter."
"Shelter!" Doppler exclaimed. "Where?"
"B.E.N.'s," Jim smiled, wiggling a thumb at the robot that emerged from the forest.
"Who's Ben?" Amelia asked warily.
"B.E.N.," Jim stressed, "knows all about Captain Flint." He gave them a pointed glance. "And he's got a great place that we can hide while deciding how we're going to get the map."
"Yes, that's wonderful," Amelia said. "But again, who is he?" The slightly crazed looking machine stepped forward and offered a hand to the skeptical captain.
"Bio-Electronic Navigator at your service, m'am. You can call me
B.E.N." He enthusiastically pumped her uninjured arm up and down.
Delbert, sensing the tension, quickly stepped forward and intervened. "Well, isn't that charming. A talking robot." He turned to
Jim. "How far away is this place? I don't think the Captain is quite ready to be up and about."
"It's just over the hillside and west of here."
Delbert followed to where Jim pointed. "Hmm. Not too awfully far, but still ..."
"I'll be fine, Doctor." Amelia muttered. "I've been through worse before."
Delbert turned to her. "Really?" he questioned. "You're telling me you often sustain injuries inflicted by an errant blast from a laser cannon?"
Amelia scowled. "I don't find your humor amusing, Doctor."
"Nor do I find your stubbornness amusing, Captain." He glanced pointedly at her.
Jim watched the exchange between the two with an increasing sense of confusion. There was something going on between them. He wasn't quite sure what, and to be honest, he wasn't certain he wanted to know.
Best to let them work it out in their own time, he decided. But now, was not the time.
"Uh, hey. Pirates. Treasure map. Hiding place. Any of it ringing a bell?" He moved in the direction of B.E.N.'s cave. "I'm going to scout ahead and make sure nobody's waiting on us. Can you guys work this out? Like really soon? We've got to go."
He turned away and walked determinedly toward the mountainside,
B.E.N. and Morph following obediently behind him.
Amelia and Doppler watched him leave, surprise splashed across their faces.
"Well, that was interesting," Doppler finally noted.
Amelia snorted. "I think our young Mr. Hawkins has the makings of a Captain in him, yet." She adjusted her sling. "He certainly seems comfortable with giving orders."
Delbert sighed. "He's right, you know. We can't stand here arguing about it. The sooner we get to the shelter, the better."
"Quite right, Doctor. If you'll kindly help me to my feet, we can be on our way."
"I think not. Now, if you'll please forgive my forwardness ..." And with that, Doppler reached down and quickly gathered the Captain in his arms, ignoring her protests as he pulled her to him and began following
Jim.
"Doctor, what do you think you're doing!"
"It's called carrying, Captain," Delbert replied.
"I demand you put me down at once!"
"I'll be happy to oblige you as soon as we get to the shelter."
"Doctor, I am perfectly capable of walking by my own device,"
Amelia informed him.
Delbert sighed in frustration and tightened his hold on her.
"Woman! Can you not simply allow someone to do something for you?" He glanced at her. "I know you're strong. Everyone knows that. But you are not, repeat, not invincible. Check your vanity and allow yourself to be taken care of."
Amelia fell silent, his outburst effectively ending her next protest before it even began.
***
The walk to the cave was long ... longer than Doppler or Amelia had expected. Silently, she gave thanks that he had pressed the issue of carrying her. She doubted she would have made it of her own volition.
The robot was still yapping about his time on the planet, as he had been doing since they had abandoned the Legacy's small solar craft.
She had given up listening a long time ago, instead choosing to focus on the landscape surrounding them, committing everything to memory and drawing up various strategic points in her mind.
Doppler still had a firm grasp on her and showed no signs of fatigue. That surprised her. While she wasn't the most heavy of burdens, he had been carrying her for quite some time. It was yet another aspect of the doctor she found she was pleased to discover.
The thought that she was pleased to uncover previously unknown facets of Doppler disturbed her. When had that begun? When had she stopped thinking of the financier in terms of yet another passenger to be dealt with and started looking at him through the eyes of a wom-
"Captain? How are you holding up?" Delbert's voice broke into her thoughts.
"What, Doctor? Oh, I'm, uh, fine," she replied, slightly flustered.
Delbert peered at her closely. "Are you certain? Your side isn't hurting any worse, is it? I realize I'm jostling you a bit," he apologized. "I'm sorry for that. I'm afraid it simply cannot be helped."
Amelia smiled. Ever the gentleman, this one. "I understand that,
Doctor." She reached over and cradled her arm. "My arm is a bit more sore now, but I'm that's to be expected."
Delbert shifted his arms in an effort to make her more comfortable. "It's just that I'm not used to carrying this much--," he stopped, realizing what he was about to say. "That is, I mean, I'm more accustomed to carrying books, and not people," he amended.
"It's quite all right, Doctor," Amelia smiled. "I realize that a grown woman weighs considerably more than an armload of textbooks."
"Actually," Delbert informed her, "you're not heavy at all. And you're much softer than my textbooks." He paused, mortified to realize what he'd just said.
Amelia watched, with concealed delight, as Doppler's face turned several shades, before finally settling on a hue of bright red. His mouth moved, but no words came out. It was comical and perfectly delightful. After a moment of enjoying his obvious embarrassment,
Amelia decided to take pity on him.
"Well, it's a pleasure to know that I'm softer than most textbooks, Doctor," she smiled. "Now, borrowing your words from earlier, if you'll please excuse my forwardness-" she told him, sliding her good arm up his shoulder and around his neck.
Delbert's eyes widened as he felt the soft hand settle at the back of his neck, just barely grazing his dark, brown hair. He looked down at her.
"It's easier to hold on this way," she replied simply.
"Ah, I see," he answered slowly. "Well, um, if it helps you, then
I certainly have no obsession ... objection!"
"Very good, Doctor." Amelia leaned into his chest and closed her eyes, beginning to feel fatigued from the jarring effects of the walk.
Although she would never admit it to anyone, being held in his protective embrace felt good ... felt right. It had been far too long since she'd allowed someone to take care of her and far too long since anyone had offered.
To be continued ...
Yes, originally intended to be only a two-chapter story, it has metamorphosed into a continuing saga. Join our fearless heroes next week for Chapter Three. Will B.E.N.'s interior decorating skills rival Martha Stewart's? Will Amelia and Doppler get those repressed emotions out in the open or merely continue to let them simmer on a slow boil?
Will Dick from Third Rock drop by? Stay tuned. And keep those suggestions/reviews coming.