The disclaimer is still there. I only own Kio, and nothing else.
Jim and Kio froze for about two seconds before bolting down the passageway. Jim knocked over some barrels as he ran, hoping to knock Scroop off track. Fruitless efforts really. Scroop was catching up quickly, and Morph was a first to notice. The shapeshifter shrieked, turning into a pie and thrusting himself into the hideous face of Scroop, whom pulled off Morph and flung him into a pipe exhaust. Morph had no time to react as he was sucked up into the pipe. Scroop went on. Jim threw himself into a space between walls, grabbing Kio in also (her reactions were blocked from fear) and readying the pistol he was armed with. Jim jumped out, face to face with Scroop, the gun pointed right at him when the lights went off.
They flickered back on yet they revealed nothing; Scroop was gone. Jim scanned the area breathing quickly. Obviously Kio wasn't the only one who was quite frightened by the hideous bug-creature. Out of the shallow shadows above, Scroop uncoiled himself and leaned towards Jim. Oh if only Morph hadn't been there to ruin Scroop's efforts. Morph was thrown from a different exhaust pipe and up right close to Scroop's face. He shrieked again, this time changing into a large gloved hand, poking Scroop's eyes. The alien yelled out in pain. Morph was sucked into the pipe again. His cover was blown. Jim turned in time to have Scroop smack him down to the ground. He reached for his gun, but it was too far away, and before he would even have gotten the chance to grab the gun, Scroop jumped upon him, trapping him. Kio inwardly gasped. She couldn't bear it, just standing there, letting Scroop near to take out all of his anger upon her friend – she would have to do something, but what? Kio had an idea. She put herself in front of Scroop, behind Jim, and stuck out her tongue.
"Nyah! Try and catch me, you despicable, wretched, disgusting pile of stupidity!" she taunted. Scroop was left speechless, trying to comprehend what was just spat at him. That blasted girl wouldn't live another second! He was just about to leave Jim when all of them began to rise off the ground. Obviously B.E.N. had pulled out another wrong wire. Jim kicked Scroop off of him, sending the alien crashing through the vent above them. Jim and Kio were also flying up through the vent. Scroop grabbed onto the main mast and saw them both floating by, trying to grab onto the mast as well. Scroop did he best to get to them first, but only smacked Jim into a spinning motion, both continuously rising.
Jim grabbed onto the flag by an inch, Kio grabbing his free hand. He swung her against the flag and she grabbed on, scurrying down as quickly as she could in the weightless atmosphere. Then, she noticed Scroop coming towards Jim up the mast. He stopped and began to cut the rope holding up the flag with his claw. Kio launched herself at Scroop without a second thought. She had begun to float upwards, but had gasped Scroop's claw with her own claws. Scroop winced, then snarled. He smacked Kio's right cheek, where the scars were, resulting in blood trickling upwards from her face. However Kio did not let go of Scroop, her claws digging deeper. Scroop was fed up with this nuisance of a girl. He flexed his other claw and brought it to smash Kio's left hand (the one she was holding Scroop's with), forcing her to let go in a yelp of pain. Her hand maybe broken. She floated upwards again. Jim caught her.
"No, let me go! You can't hold onto me now; Scroop is coming to kill you! Get off the flag!" she wailed to Jim, however he was ignoring her. He thrust Kio down onto the mast, she only held on with her right hand now, slightly dazed. "Do say hello to Mr. Arrow for me..." Scroop began. Suddenly the rope snapped and was beginning to float off, when it stopped. Kio had her legs wrapped about the mast, holding onto the flag's rope with her right hand, the other floating useless at her side. However, inch by inch, she was floating up. Kio was too light to continue there. Scroop scowled and snarled. He rushed up to them at an instant. Jim was outraged. "Tell him yourself!" he climbed from the flag, jumped at the last instant, and kicked Scroop into the flag. Kio let go once the flag was filled with Mr. Scroop. She was pretty much sitting on top of the mast, so she quickly rammed her claws of her right hand into the wood, to keep herself from floating off. Scroop ripped open the flag and looked down to see Kio and Jim hanging onto the mast in almost the same position at different angles, slight fear in their eyes. Scroop's last screams echoed through the etherium for a moment or two, then there was silence. The gravity suddenly came back on. Kio and Jim fell into the crows nest none-too-gently. Morph was suddenly spewn through the exhaust pipe that was resting up in the crow's nest, all covered in soot and coughing. "Morph?" Jim asked quietly, Morph copying a purr of a bird's. Kio groaned something, rubbing her left hand and wiping off the new blood from her face. "Kio, what happened?" Jim asked, noticing how she was straining herself not to whimper of her pounding hand. "I'm not sure – Scroop just hit my hand and now it hurts a lot. But I'm fine," she muttered. "Laser cannons disconnected, Captain Jimmy, sir!" B.E.N. said, out on the deck covered in a mess of wires, "Gee, that wasn't so tough." Jim ignored B.E.N. and studied the map once more, feeling slightly awkward. Now he knew for sure that he was the real cause of a person's death.
They arrived through the door in B.E.N.'s house again. "Doc, doc wake up! I've got the map!" Jim said, reaching out to a sleeping figure in the darkness. The figure turned out to be none other than, Silver. His robotic hand grabbed the map from Jim, whom was taken aback in startle, Kio also. "Fine work, Jimbo. Fine work indeed..." the cyborg taunted him. Jim looked around the room. There were pirates everywhere. Amelia and Doppler were tied up. The pirates began to enclose Jim and Kio in a circle. "Thanks for showin' us the way, boy!" someone unrecognizable said. The pirates swarmed Jim first, grabbing him so he wouldn't get away. Morph latched teeth onto one's tail, then was hit with the same tail. In fear, startle, and confusion Morph flew into Jim's pocket whimpering. Next the pirates grabbed Kio the same way they grabbed Jim, but with much less effort. "What's this sorry stick of metal?" a little pirate woman asked, grabbing B.E.N. and threatened him. "Not the face!" he wailed. Silver walked over to Jim. "You're just like me, lad. You hates t'lose," he mocked Jim. Silver began to try and unlocked the map, but got no where but enraged. He noticed Jim amused by it all and shaking his head in humored pity. "Open it!" Silver shoved it into Jim's hands. He refused silently. Silver loaded a gun. "I'd get busy," he said. Jim looked over to Doppler, Amelia, and Kio for help. Amelia shook her head, Doppler nodded, and Kio simply gave him a look as if to say 'why are you looking at me for? I wouldn't know what to do either!' Jim reluctantly opened up the map. The pirates were amazed as it led them with a blinking light and green trail. "Tie 'em up!" Silver ordered sternly. The path went away. "You want the map? You're taking me too," Jim said angrily. Silver was getting aggravated, then stopped. "We'll take 'em all!"
The skiff flew off, chasing the trail of green that the map showed, everyone loaded onto the skiff. They stopped, leaving Amelia and Doppler behind. "We're getting' close lads! I smell Treasure awaitin'!" Silver cheered, grabbing Jim's shirt and pulling him along, the other aliens were pushing Kio to follow. Silver cut through large, bamboo looking objects uprooting from the ground, but was left speechless as he saw... nothing. The light was blinking at one place only. A cliff. "What's goin' on Jimbo?" Silver asked angrily as the lights went away. "I don't know. I- I can't get it open!" Jim said, struggling to open the map once again. "We shoul'da never followed this /boy/!" the little alien hollered, knocking Jim to the ground. Jim noticed odd markings in the ground, including a hole that looked like an 'inverted' map. He cleared off the vegetation and stuck in the map. A virtual map rose from the ground, green lights flowing from the scene. Jim stood up and was about to touch it, when all from the ground below the cliffs, lights emitted and burst through the ground, creating a big door showing way to the most beautiful sight so far. Kio gazed with wonder. "The Lagoon Nebula?" Jim asked, slightly dazed. "But that's... halfway 'cross the galaxy..." Silver mention thoughtfully, placing his hand on his chin. "A big door... Opening and closing..." Jim mumbled. "Hm.. Cainapus... Montressor Spaceport." Jim pressed a little crescent moon on the map. The door opened to reveal the Spaceport. "So that's how Flint did it," Jim said with amazement. "He would use this portal to go around the galaxy, stealing treasure." But where'd he stash it all!?" Silver asked, grabbing Jim's shirt and tossing him tot he side, infuriated. "Just... Open the right door," he said and clicked a little planet on the map that was shaped like Treasure Planet. It resulted in showing to a place filled with nothing but treasure. They slowly walked in to the portal in silence and awe, gazing at the miles of gold being held together with lasers revolving about the pirates ran to the treasure, cheering and waving their arms in the air, celebrating for their newly found wealth. "We're going to need a bigger boat!" Mr. Onus's shrill voice echoed throughout the inside of the planet. Silver left Jim, Kio, B.E.N., and Morph alone to go take his portion of gold. Jim tapped Kio and B.E.N. as he began to walk off. "C'mon, B.E.N., Kio, we're getting out of here and we're not leaving empty handed," he said, walking down a gold pile and heading towards a ship, Kio and the robot following him. Jim jumped aboard the ship, Kio doing the same, yet they had to help pull B.E.N. up the side and into the ship. He landed with a gasp, Jim and Kio letting go, turning to face a skeleton sitting upon a throne covered of gold. Kio backed up (obviously skeletons were not her favorite thing to stare at) and as she did so she tripped and fell overboard. "Captain Flint! In the flesh! Well, except for skin, organs, or anything that resembles flesh, that's not there..." B.E.N. rambled on, Kio finding her way back onto deck and staying there, this time not so hysterical. Jim approached Flint with caution, examining the bones. Suddenly he spotted something clenched in Flint's hand, which he ripped out, tearing off a few fingers shamelessly. "B.E.N., I think I've just found your mind!" Jim said, placing a hand on the robot's shoulder to keep him still as he tried to find where the object went. "Ah! Jimmy! Your hands, are very cold!" B.E.N. began, but suddenly stopped as the wires in the back of his head nearly grabbed the machinery part that Jim was holding as if it were a magnet. The robot spazzed for a moment. "Woah! Hello!" B.E.N. said, surprised. His eyes had changed from a light green, to a softer blue. He put his hand to his a chin a moment. "Y'know, Jimmy, I was just thinking... I was just-! It's all coming back! All my memories! Right up until Flint pulled my memory circuit so I could never tell anyone about his BOOBY-TRAP!" B.E.N. exclaimed. The planet began to shake. "Speaking of which..." Explosions erupted within the cores of the planet. "Flint wanted to make sure that no one could ever steal his treasure, so he rigged this place to blow, higher than a kalypsian kite!" B.E.N. explained hysterically as the whole place began to come un-done. Lasers were firing everywhere, destroying the treasure. "Jimmy! Kimmy! Run for your lives!" B.E.N. yelled. Jim didn't stray. "You two go back and help the Captain and Doc. If I'm not there in five minutes, leave without me!" Jim said, ducking under controls of the ship. "I am not leaving my buddy, Jimmy!" B.E.N. pulled Jim out from under the space. He glared, holding two electric wires that were sparking. "Unless, he looks at me, like that... Bye Jim!" B.E.N. took off. Kio stood firm. She was not going to leave without Jim. "Kio, what're you doing? Go back with B.E.N. – it's not safe here!" Jim exclaimed to Kio. She didn't move. "Augh, whatever! I don't have time for this!" Jim said and went to finish running the ship. Silver noticed this and took his chance to save his skin. "Yes! Kio, Morph! We are so outta here!" Jim cheered, taking the steering wheel, Kio standing by him looking thoughtfully. She was half-way smiling, but hardly paying attention to what was going on. More, she was noticing how noble Jim's actions were.
"Jimbo! Aren't ye the seventh wonder of the universe?" Silver hopped on deck, grinning in merriment. It was not going to last. Jim grabbed a sword laying on deck and thrust it in front of Silver, ready to strike him. "Get back!" Jim warned yelling at him. Silver looked enraged. "I like ye, lad. But I've come too far to lose all of this..." he said walking closer to Jim, who in return backed up until he was against the steering wheel. Kio was backed up too, not as much scared as she was angry. "Silver! Get away from us! This is all Jim's treasure! He deserves it all and you don't deserve one drubloon!" she cried at him hysterically. "I beg to differ," the cyborg muttered. Suddenly the ship was blasted by a laser, sending them flying from it all. Silver managed to grab onto the ship, however Jim and Kio were slipping down the slanted metal platform. Jim hit against a wall, falling down until he grabbed onto a foothold that was slipping into the construction. Below him lay a raging fiery death. Kio had managed to stay of the slanted platform though, just barely. Morph flew over Silver and warned him of Jim's danger. "Jimbo!" he muttered obviously torn. He let a looser grip on the ship, but pulled it in closer stretching his arm out to Jim. Kio pushed Silver's arm out of the way, her eyes full of hate. Kio leaned over the side and offered her hand to Jim. "I can't reach!" Jim cried out just as he slipped down lower and luckily grabbed onto a smaller foothold, that slipping in quicker. Kio panicked. She couldn't reach him! But she had to try! Kio did so, resulting in herself slipping and falling. She was hanging off the edge of a closing foothold above Jim with only her right hand, the left being broken. She was so upset, but too scared to even cry out. Silver now was diffidently torn. The treasure? Or Kio and Jim? "Oh, blast me for a fool!" Silver yelled at himself, let go of the ship and pulled Jim off of the closing hold. Kio fell quickly after that, but Jim caught her. Silver swung them on the platform. The pirate was going to grab Kio with his other arm, but she had fallen too quickly for him to react. "Kio, don'cha know ye can trust me by now?" Silver asked her sympathetically and somewhat smiling. She shook her head slowly, faced him and smiled. "Thank you," Kio said weakly, feeling awfully guilty. Suddenly they all looked up to the ship, it being blasted by the laser, spewing gold everywhere. The three leaped through the portal. "You gave up?" Jim asked Silver, slightly relieved that he did, yet astounded. "Just a life-long obsession, Jim. I'll get over it," Silver humored himself. The RLS Legacy dropped from the sky with B.E.N. shouting at them. "Hurry people! We've got exactly two minutes and thirty four seconds until planet's destruction!" Jim, Kio, Silver, and Morph clambered on aboard the Legacy right as it was leaving. "Take us out of here, metal man!" Captain Amelia called out to B.E.N. . "Aye aye!" he said. "Cap'in! Ye dropped out of the heavens in the nick of ti-"Silver began. "Save your clap-trap for the judge, Silver," Amelia warned sternly. Silver laughed to himself, but the laugh turned to one of anxiety. A sudden blast of rock went through the main solar sail of the ship, blasting down a hunk of wood smashing a burner. "Mission failed to mobilize, Captain! Burners at only 30 %!" B.E.N. said. "30%? But that means... We'll never clear the planet's explosion in time..." Doppler said, devastated. Kio looked up, devastated as well. No... They had come too far to lose it all! Jim looked back to the portal. "We gotta turn around!" he said. "What!?" Amelia asked him in disbelief. "There's a portal back there!" He explained. "Excuse me Jim, but didn't that portal lead into a raging inferno?" Doppler asked him. "Yes!" Jim grabbed a metal piece that resembled a long triangle, "But I'm gonna change all that! I'm gonna open a different door!" he went on. "Captain, I just really don't see how this would-"Doppler began, but was interrupted by Silver. "Listen to the boy!" the pirate ordered. Jim was trying to attach the metal piece onto a revolving piece that seemed to fit for a machine gun. "What do you need, Jim?" Silver asked. Jim replied. Silver told him to stand back as he lit a burner with his hand and attached them. He helped him lift it up. Kio ran over to them as Jim was getting ready to leave. "No matter what happens, keep this ship heading straight for that portal!" Jim ordered. Kio clasped her hands together and held them by the base of her neck. She stared up at Jim, tears welting up in her blueish eyes. Jim stared back at her a moment, sympathy growing for her – she was really worried about him. Kio knew Jim was a good person, but she could hardly believe that he was risking his life to save them. Maybe it was even a suicidal act of goodness. The second time Kio lost faith. Doubtful although, a smile spread on Kio's face. "58 seconds!" B.E.N. yelled. Jim had to leave now. "Good luck!" She called for him. Jim took off. She was almost sure something would go horribly wrong. Silver also felt pity for her – although he knew Jim would come back. But it was obvious that this girl kept Jim very close to her heart. "Well you heard him! Turn this blasted heap around!" Silver demanded. "Turn on around, Doctor," Captain Amelia took charge of /her/ ship. "Aye, Captain," Delbert did as he was ordered. Jim was off. Dodging the flying machinery, grinding where it was needed, all the sorts. Kio was watching him as much as she could, praying to God that he would live. Suddenly as Jim was flying over long arch of lava, the burner on the board began to die down. He dropped. Yet continuous clicking didn't help at all. Kio didn't see any of this, but the horrid feeling that something was going to go bad was there strong. Jim rammed the back burners of the board to the wall, letting it emit sparks. He kept stepping on the burners, hearing it click, but nothing happening. It was over. The fire came – inside the burners. The last click did it! Jim was off again! He rose and continued riding. "Seven, six, five!" B.E.N. began. Jim was riding the board as fast as he could. Then he saw the map. "Four three two!" He flew into it, and maybe it was dumb luck or maybe something higher, but Jim pressed the little crescent moon shape on the map.
Near the Spaceport it was quiet. The galaxy was at peace and harmonized with nothing else but the calmness of a morning's steady flow. But, what's this? A portal tore its way right up near the port in an array of fiery explosions and a ship flying on by. What a perfect way to start the day. Silver ran across the deck in whatever which way Jim was flying on by. "Didn't I say the lad had greatness in him?" Silver asked enthusiastically with joy. Doppler and Amelia ran and hugged each other. Then they suddenly noticed what they were doing in startle. Oh it didn't matter. Jim landed on deck, his board flying off the side of the ship. As soon as he could regain his balance he was hugged by Kio. So happy to see him. She smiled and cried tears of joy, soon letting go. There were no words left to be said of her. Jim was somewhat startled that Kio had hugged him anyways, but he was no where near disgusted. After that he was attacked by Morph, undergoing many terrorizing licks of the shadeshifter in affection. Amelia and Doppler came over to him. "Unorthodox, but affective. I may recommend you to the interstellar academy. They could use a man like you," Amelia said. "Just wait until your mother hears about this! Of course, we may downplay the life-threatening parts," Delbert said. Jim was listening, but he just noticed that Silver was gone. Apparently Kio had noticed that the cyborg was no where in sight either, as she was scanning the deck also.
"C'mon Morphy, we gotta make tracks!" Silver said, untying a lifeboat. "You never quit, do you?" Jim asked, startling the old cyborg. "Ah, uh, Jimbo! Just makin' sure our last lifeboat was safe and secure," he lied. Jim walked over to him, Kio following him. Jim re-tied the knot. "There. That should hold it," he said. Silver laughed weakly. "Heh, I taught ye all too well..." he said. There was a silence drifting between them. "Y'know, Morph here... He's a free spirit. Put in a cage... It would break his heart," Silver said, really trying to say 'Oh please let me go, I don't want to go to jail!' Jim thought about this for a moment, but hardly thinking at all. Silver was getting away no matter what. He walked off a bit, pulled a lever so the door below the skiff opened. Then Jim walked back and untied the boat. "Hey, why don't ya ship out with us?" Silver asked both of the cabin ranked. Morph repeated him and changed into a hat, landing on Jim's head. "Hawkins, Silver, and... uhm... Kio! Full of ourselves and no ties to anyone!" (He hesitated because he didn't know Kio's last name, supposing that she even has one) "Y'know... When I got on this boat, I would have taken you up on that in a second. But, I met this old cyborg who taught me I could, chart my course, and do my own thing," he said, Morph back into his pink form once again. Silver turned to Kio, knowing that she would say no too, but just to see. Kio smiled sympathetically. "I would, but y'know, Jim made a promise to me," she said, Jim looking up as to say 'no I didn't' Kio laughed quietly to herself. "He promised me a solar surfing lesson, and I just can't back down." She said, half-way joking. They stood in silence, each with a warmed smile and tears in their eyes. "Got a little grease in this cyborg eye of mine," Silver coughed, turning away to wipe away tears. Kio and Jim also did the same. Morph erupted into tears, changing himself into a puddle which Jim caught. "Hey Morph, I'll see ya around..." Jim said. "See ya around," Morph mimicked, licking Jim again and moving to Kio to do the same. Silver sighed, he held Morph close. "Morph. I got a job for ya. I need you to watch, these here pups," he said through tears. Morph flew over to Jim in an instant. Silver hopped aboard the boat. "Oh, and one more thing," Silver said, tossing Jim a few coins. It's for your dear mother. For her to rebuild that Inn of her's," Silver winked. "Stay out of trouble, ya old scallywag," Jim said. "Jimbo, lad! When have I ever done otherwise?" Silver left laughing. It was a bittersweet moment. Kio and Jim returned to deck.
The ship docked and they unloaded. Kio and Jim were walking side by side, looking for Mrs. Hawkins. Soon spotted, Jim ran up to hug his mother. Kio stepped to the side of them, letting them rejoice, Morph coming between them.
The night of the Inn's reopening after it was built way beyond greatness of the last one there was a party thrown. Kio was dressed up in a pale, somewhat fluffy dress of light shades of minty green, her hair slightly longer, she was wearing it up in somewhat of a bun, yet with her hair falling out of it at the top and falling over to the side. She was working at the Benbow now, a waitress and a cook in training. Kio had caught on to cooking right away and also with herb mixtures. The scars on her face were still there, but they were hardly red anymore. Just the slightest tint was red within them. Kio's hair was still blonde, yet she had added a mint green streak going down one of her long bangs off the side to the left of her face. That mint green hued part of her hair was dyed that way and curled slightly. Kio had grown taller since then, but still shorter than Jim. Now she was busily going about the Inn serving drinks and such. B.E.N. had busted out from the kitchen holding several cake slices and passing them onto guests. Morph was flying about to and fro, soon coming upon Amelia and Doppler, whom were blessed with four beautiful children. Three little felinid girls like Amelia, and one adorable little boy of Doppler's species. Suddenly the door to the Inn swung open. Two robotic police were standing at the door. Everyone was silent until they made way for Jim, whom was all fancied up in a graduating uniform of the Interstellar Spacer Academy. Everyone at the Inn cheered for Jim. Mrs. Dunwoody began playing an Irish jig for them all to dance to, the guests hanging a row of flowers above heads. Kio and Jim danced down the row first happily. Second Doppler and Amelia danced, more dramatic with spinning involved. No place was happier in the galaxy than the Benbow that night. Jim slowly turned to the window to admire the outside view. First he saw Kio sitting outside on a pole near the docks, gazing out into the stars and clouds as she had always loved to do. Then Jim turned his gaze a formation in the sky to a cloud shaped like Long John Silver. He couldn't help but smile, reminiscing of the past and wondering if that's what, still best friend, Kio was gazing at happily too, remembering their adventure to Treasure Planet. Jim also remembered what Kio had said that one night, about all of his good qualities. Well, he could certainly see them now, but he still had to wonder if he would be where he was thinking the same thing today without her. Also wondering if he would actually be Captain James Hawkins without Silver's help too. Kio still had something to make of herself though.
(for the fangirls who are wondering – Kio used to love Jim and now they're just good friends. Nothing else, so don't kill me. hides)
Jim and Kio froze for about two seconds before bolting down the passageway. Jim knocked over some barrels as he ran, hoping to knock Scroop off track. Fruitless efforts really. Scroop was catching up quickly, and Morph was a first to notice. The shapeshifter shrieked, turning into a pie and thrusting himself into the hideous face of Scroop, whom pulled off Morph and flung him into a pipe exhaust. Morph had no time to react as he was sucked up into the pipe. Scroop went on. Jim threw himself into a space between walls, grabbing Kio in also (her reactions were blocked from fear) and readying the pistol he was armed with. Jim jumped out, face to face with Scroop, the gun pointed right at him when the lights went off.
They flickered back on yet they revealed nothing; Scroop was gone. Jim scanned the area breathing quickly. Obviously Kio wasn't the only one who was quite frightened by the hideous bug-creature. Out of the shallow shadows above, Scroop uncoiled himself and leaned towards Jim. Oh if only Morph hadn't been there to ruin Scroop's efforts. Morph was thrown from a different exhaust pipe and up right close to Scroop's face. He shrieked again, this time changing into a large gloved hand, poking Scroop's eyes. The alien yelled out in pain. Morph was sucked into the pipe again. His cover was blown. Jim turned in time to have Scroop smack him down to the ground. He reached for his gun, but it was too far away, and before he would even have gotten the chance to grab the gun, Scroop jumped upon him, trapping him. Kio inwardly gasped. She couldn't bear it, just standing there, letting Scroop near to take out all of his anger upon her friend – she would have to do something, but what? Kio had an idea. She put herself in front of Scroop, behind Jim, and stuck out her tongue.
"Nyah! Try and catch me, you despicable, wretched, disgusting pile of stupidity!" she taunted. Scroop was left speechless, trying to comprehend what was just spat at him. That blasted girl wouldn't live another second! He was just about to leave Jim when all of them began to rise off the ground. Obviously B.E.N. had pulled out another wrong wire. Jim kicked Scroop off of him, sending the alien crashing through the vent above them. Jim and Kio were also flying up through the vent. Scroop grabbed onto the main mast and saw them both floating by, trying to grab onto the mast as well. Scroop did he best to get to them first, but only smacked Jim into a spinning motion, both continuously rising.
Jim grabbed onto the flag by an inch, Kio grabbing his free hand. He swung her against the flag and she grabbed on, scurrying down as quickly as she could in the weightless atmosphere. Then, she noticed Scroop coming towards Jim up the mast. He stopped and began to cut the rope holding up the flag with his claw. Kio launched herself at Scroop without a second thought. She had begun to float upwards, but had gasped Scroop's claw with her own claws. Scroop winced, then snarled. He smacked Kio's right cheek, where the scars were, resulting in blood trickling upwards from her face. However Kio did not let go of Scroop, her claws digging deeper. Scroop was fed up with this nuisance of a girl. He flexed his other claw and brought it to smash Kio's left hand (the one she was holding Scroop's with), forcing her to let go in a yelp of pain. Her hand maybe broken. She floated upwards again. Jim caught her.
"No, let me go! You can't hold onto me now; Scroop is coming to kill you! Get off the flag!" she wailed to Jim, however he was ignoring her. He thrust Kio down onto the mast, she only held on with her right hand now, slightly dazed. "Do say hello to Mr. Arrow for me..." Scroop began. Suddenly the rope snapped and was beginning to float off, when it stopped. Kio had her legs wrapped about the mast, holding onto the flag's rope with her right hand, the other floating useless at her side. However, inch by inch, she was floating up. Kio was too light to continue there. Scroop scowled and snarled. He rushed up to them at an instant. Jim was outraged. "Tell him yourself!" he climbed from the flag, jumped at the last instant, and kicked Scroop into the flag. Kio let go once the flag was filled with Mr. Scroop. She was pretty much sitting on top of the mast, so she quickly rammed her claws of her right hand into the wood, to keep herself from floating off. Scroop ripped open the flag and looked down to see Kio and Jim hanging onto the mast in almost the same position at different angles, slight fear in their eyes. Scroop's last screams echoed through the etherium for a moment or two, then there was silence. The gravity suddenly came back on. Kio and Jim fell into the crows nest none-too-gently. Morph was suddenly spewn through the exhaust pipe that was resting up in the crow's nest, all covered in soot and coughing. "Morph?" Jim asked quietly, Morph copying a purr of a bird's. Kio groaned something, rubbing her left hand and wiping off the new blood from her face. "Kio, what happened?" Jim asked, noticing how she was straining herself not to whimper of her pounding hand. "I'm not sure – Scroop just hit my hand and now it hurts a lot. But I'm fine," she muttered. "Laser cannons disconnected, Captain Jimmy, sir!" B.E.N. said, out on the deck covered in a mess of wires, "Gee, that wasn't so tough." Jim ignored B.E.N. and studied the map once more, feeling slightly awkward. Now he knew for sure that he was the real cause of a person's death.
They arrived through the door in B.E.N.'s house again. "Doc, doc wake up! I've got the map!" Jim said, reaching out to a sleeping figure in the darkness. The figure turned out to be none other than, Silver. His robotic hand grabbed the map from Jim, whom was taken aback in startle, Kio also. "Fine work, Jimbo. Fine work indeed..." the cyborg taunted him. Jim looked around the room. There were pirates everywhere. Amelia and Doppler were tied up. The pirates began to enclose Jim and Kio in a circle. "Thanks for showin' us the way, boy!" someone unrecognizable said. The pirates swarmed Jim first, grabbing him so he wouldn't get away. Morph latched teeth onto one's tail, then was hit with the same tail. In fear, startle, and confusion Morph flew into Jim's pocket whimpering. Next the pirates grabbed Kio the same way they grabbed Jim, but with much less effort. "What's this sorry stick of metal?" a little pirate woman asked, grabbing B.E.N. and threatened him. "Not the face!" he wailed. Silver walked over to Jim. "You're just like me, lad. You hates t'lose," he mocked Jim. Silver began to try and unlocked the map, but got no where but enraged. He noticed Jim amused by it all and shaking his head in humored pity. "Open it!" Silver shoved it into Jim's hands. He refused silently. Silver loaded a gun. "I'd get busy," he said. Jim looked over to Doppler, Amelia, and Kio for help. Amelia shook her head, Doppler nodded, and Kio simply gave him a look as if to say 'why are you looking at me for? I wouldn't know what to do either!' Jim reluctantly opened up the map. The pirates were amazed as it led them with a blinking light and green trail. "Tie 'em up!" Silver ordered sternly. The path went away. "You want the map? You're taking me too," Jim said angrily. Silver was getting aggravated, then stopped. "We'll take 'em all!"
The skiff flew off, chasing the trail of green that the map showed, everyone loaded onto the skiff. They stopped, leaving Amelia and Doppler behind. "We're getting' close lads! I smell Treasure awaitin'!" Silver cheered, grabbing Jim's shirt and pulling him along, the other aliens were pushing Kio to follow. Silver cut through large, bamboo looking objects uprooting from the ground, but was left speechless as he saw... nothing. The light was blinking at one place only. A cliff. "What's goin' on Jimbo?" Silver asked angrily as the lights went away. "I don't know. I- I can't get it open!" Jim said, struggling to open the map once again. "We shoul'da never followed this /boy/!" the little alien hollered, knocking Jim to the ground. Jim noticed odd markings in the ground, including a hole that looked like an 'inverted' map. He cleared off the vegetation and stuck in the map. A virtual map rose from the ground, green lights flowing from the scene. Jim stood up and was about to touch it, when all from the ground below the cliffs, lights emitted and burst through the ground, creating a big door showing way to the most beautiful sight so far. Kio gazed with wonder. "The Lagoon Nebula?" Jim asked, slightly dazed. "But that's... halfway 'cross the galaxy..." Silver mention thoughtfully, placing his hand on his chin. "A big door... Opening and closing..." Jim mumbled. "Hm.. Cainapus... Montressor Spaceport." Jim pressed a little crescent moon on the map. The door opened to reveal the Spaceport. "So that's how Flint did it," Jim said with amazement. "He would use this portal to go around the galaxy, stealing treasure." But where'd he stash it all!?" Silver asked, grabbing Jim's shirt and tossing him tot he side, infuriated. "Just... Open the right door," he said and clicked a little planet on the map that was shaped like Treasure Planet. It resulted in showing to a place filled with nothing but treasure. They slowly walked in to the portal in silence and awe, gazing at the miles of gold being held together with lasers revolving about the pirates ran to the treasure, cheering and waving their arms in the air, celebrating for their newly found wealth. "We're going to need a bigger boat!" Mr. Onus's shrill voice echoed throughout the inside of the planet. Silver left Jim, Kio, B.E.N., and Morph alone to go take his portion of gold. Jim tapped Kio and B.E.N. as he began to walk off. "C'mon, B.E.N., Kio, we're getting out of here and we're not leaving empty handed," he said, walking down a gold pile and heading towards a ship, Kio and the robot following him. Jim jumped aboard the ship, Kio doing the same, yet they had to help pull B.E.N. up the side and into the ship. He landed with a gasp, Jim and Kio letting go, turning to face a skeleton sitting upon a throne covered of gold. Kio backed up (obviously skeletons were not her favorite thing to stare at) and as she did so she tripped and fell overboard. "Captain Flint! In the flesh! Well, except for skin, organs, or anything that resembles flesh, that's not there..." B.E.N. rambled on, Kio finding her way back onto deck and staying there, this time not so hysterical. Jim approached Flint with caution, examining the bones. Suddenly he spotted something clenched in Flint's hand, which he ripped out, tearing off a few fingers shamelessly. "B.E.N., I think I've just found your mind!" Jim said, placing a hand on the robot's shoulder to keep him still as he tried to find where the object went. "Ah! Jimmy! Your hands, are very cold!" B.E.N. began, but suddenly stopped as the wires in the back of his head nearly grabbed the machinery part that Jim was holding as if it were a magnet. The robot spazzed for a moment. "Woah! Hello!" B.E.N. said, surprised. His eyes had changed from a light green, to a softer blue. He put his hand to his a chin a moment. "Y'know, Jimmy, I was just thinking... I was just-! It's all coming back! All my memories! Right up until Flint pulled my memory circuit so I could never tell anyone about his BOOBY-TRAP!" B.E.N. exclaimed. The planet began to shake. "Speaking of which..." Explosions erupted within the cores of the planet. "Flint wanted to make sure that no one could ever steal his treasure, so he rigged this place to blow, higher than a kalypsian kite!" B.E.N. explained hysterically as the whole place began to come un-done. Lasers were firing everywhere, destroying the treasure. "Jimmy! Kimmy! Run for your lives!" B.E.N. yelled. Jim didn't stray. "You two go back and help the Captain and Doc. If I'm not there in five minutes, leave without me!" Jim said, ducking under controls of the ship. "I am not leaving my buddy, Jimmy!" B.E.N. pulled Jim out from under the space. He glared, holding two electric wires that were sparking. "Unless, he looks at me, like that... Bye Jim!" B.E.N. took off. Kio stood firm. She was not going to leave without Jim. "Kio, what're you doing? Go back with B.E.N. – it's not safe here!" Jim exclaimed to Kio. She didn't move. "Augh, whatever! I don't have time for this!" Jim said and went to finish running the ship. Silver noticed this and took his chance to save his skin. "Yes! Kio, Morph! We are so outta here!" Jim cheered, taking the steering wheel, Kio standing by him looking thoughtfully. She was half-way smiling, but hardly paying attention to what was going on. More, she was noticing how noble Jim's actions were.
"Jimbo! Aren't ye the seventh wonder of the universe?" Silver hopped on deck, grinning in merriment. It was not going to last. Jim grabbed a sword laying on deck and thrust it in front of Silver, ready to strike him. "Get back!" Jim warned yelling at him. Silver looked enraged. "I like ye, lad. But I've come too far to lose all of this..." he said walking closer to Jim, who in return backed up until he was against the steering wheel. Kio was backed up too, not as much scared as she was angry. "Silver! Get away from us! This is all Jim's treasure! He deserves it all and you don't deserve one drubloon!" she cried at him hysterically. "I beg to differ," the cyborg muttered. Suddenly the ship was blasted by a laser, sending them flying from it all. Silver managed to grab onto the ship, however Jim and Kio were slipping down the slanted metal platform. Jim hit against a wall, falling down until he grabbed onto a foothold that was slipping into the construction. Below him lay a raging fiery death. Kio had managed to stay of the slanted platform though, just barely. Morph flew over Silver and warned him of Jim's danger. "Jimbo!" he muttered obviously torn. He let a looser grip on the ship, but pulled it in closer stretching his arm out to Jim. Kio pushed Silver's arm out of the way, her eyes full of hate. Kio leaned over the side and offered her hand to Jim. "I can't reach!" Jim cried out just as he slipped down lower and luckily grabbed onto a smaller foothold, that slipping in quicker. Kio panicked. She couldn't reach him! But she had to try! Kio did so, resulting in herself slipping and falling. She was hanging off the edge of a closing foothold above Jim with only her right hand, the left being broken. She was so upset, but too scared to even cry out. Silver now was diffidently torn. The treasure? Or Kio and Jim? "Oh, blast me for a fool!" Silver yelled at himself, let go of the ship and pulled Jim off of the closing hold. Kio fell quickly after that, but Jim caught her. Silver swung them on the platform. The pirate was going to grab Kio with his other arm, but she had fallen too quickly for him to react. "Kio, don'cha know ye can trust me by now?" Silver asked her sympathetically and somewhat smiling. She shook her head slowly, faced him and smiled. "Thank you," Kio said weakly, feeling awfully guilty. Suddenly they all looked up to the ship, it being blasted by the laser, spewing gold everywhere. The three leaped through the portal. "You gave up?" Jim asked Silver, slightly relieved that he did, yet astounded. "Just a life-long obsession, Jim. I'll get over it," Silver humored himself. The RLS Legacy dropped from the sky with B.E.N. shouting at them. "Hurry people! We've got exactly two minutes and thirty four seconds until planet's destruction!" Jim, Kio, Silver, and Morph clambered on aboard the Legacy right as it was leaving. "Take us out of here, metal man!" Captain Amelia called out to B.E.N. . "Aye aye!" he said. "Cap'in! Ye dropped out of the heavens in the nick of ti-"Silver began. "Save your clap-trap for the judge, Silver," Amelia warned sternly. Silver laughed to himself, but the laugh turned to one of anxiety. A sudden blast of rock went through the main solar sail of the ship, blasting down a hunk of wood smashing a burner. "Mission failed to mobilize, Captain! Burners at only 30 %!" B.E.N. said. "30%? But that means... We'll never clear the planet's explosion in time..." Doppler said, devastated. Kio looked up, devastated as well. No... They had come too far to lose it all! Jim looked back to the portal. "We gotta turn around!" he said. "What!?" Amelia asked him in disbelief. "There's a portal back there!" He explained. "Excuse me Jim, but didn't that portal lead into a raging inferno?" Doppler asked him. "Yes!" Jim grabbed a metal piece that resembled a long triangle, "But I'm gonna change all that! I'm gonna open a different door!" he went on. "Captain, I just really don't see how this would-"Doppler began, but was interrupted by Silver. "Listen to the boy!" the pirate ordered. Jim was trying to attach the metal piece onto a revolving piece that seemed to fit for a machine gun. "What do you need, Jim?" Silver asked. Jim replied. Silver told him to stand back as he lit a burner with his hand and attached them. He helped him lift it up. Kio ran over to them as Jim was getting ready to leave. "No matter what happens, keep this ship heading straight for that portal!" Jim ordered. Kio clasped her hands together and held them by the base of her neck. She stared up at Jim, tears welting up in her blueish eyes. Jim stared back at her a moment, sympathy growing for her – she was really worried about him. Kio knew Jim was a good person, but she could hardly believe that he was risking his life to save them. Maybe it was even a suicidal act of goodness. The second time Kio lost faith. Doubtful although, a smile spread on Kio's face. "58 seconds!" B.E.N. yelled. Jim had to leave now. "Good luck!" She called for him. Jim took off. She was almost sure something would go horribly wrong. Silver also felt pity for her – although he knew Jim would come back. But it was obvious that this girl kept Jim very close to her heart. "Well you heard him! Turn this blasted heap around!" Silver demanded. "Turn on around, Doctor," Captain Amelia took charge of /her/ ship. "Aye, Captain," Delbert did as he was ordered. Jim was off. Dodging the flying machinery, grinding where it was needed, all the sorts. Kio was watching him as much as she could, praying to God that he would live. Suddenly as Jim was flying over long arch of lava, the burner on the board began to die down. He dropped. Yet continuous clicking didn't help at all. Kio didn't see any of this, but the horrid feeling that something was going to go bad was there strong. Jim rammed the back burners of the board to the wall, letting it emit sparks. He kept stepping on the burners, hearing it click, but nothing happening. It was over. The fire came – inside the burners. The last click did it! Jim was off again! He rose and continued riding. "Seven, six, five!" B.E.N. began. Jim was riding the board as fast as he could. Then he saw the map. "Four three two!" He flew into it, and maybe it was dumb luck or maybe something higher, but Jim pressed the little crescent moon shape on the map.
Near the Spaceport it was quiet. The galaxy was at peace and harmonized with nothing else but the calmness of a morning's steady flow. But, what's this? A portal tore its way right up near the port in an array of fiery explosions and a ship flying on by. What a perfect way to start the day. Silver ran across the deck in whatever which way Jim was flying on by. "Didn't I say the lad had greatness in him?" Silver asked enthusiastically with joy. Doppler and Amelia ran and hugged each other. Then they suddenly noticed what they were doing in startle. Oh it didn't matter. Jim landed on deck, his board flying off the side of the ship. As soon as he could regain his balance he was hugged by Kio. So happy to see him. She smiled and cried tears of joy, soon letting go. There were no words left to be said of her. Jim was somewhat startled that Kio had hugged him anyways, but he was no where near disgusted. After that he was attacked by Morph, undergoing many terrorizing licks of the shadeshifter in affection. Amelia and Doppler came over to him. "Unorthodox, but affective. I may recommend you to the interstellar academy. They could use a man like you," Amelia said. "Just wait until your mother hears about this! Of course, we may downplay the life-threatening parts," Delbert said. Jim was listening, but he just noticed that Silver was gone. Apparently Kio had noticed that the cyborg was no where in sight either, as she was scanning the deck also.
"C'mon Morphy, we gotta make tracks!" Silver said, untying a lifeboat. "You never quit, do you?" Jim asked, startling the old cyborg. "Ah, uh, Jimbo! Just makin' sure our last lifeboat was safe and secure," he lied. Jim walked over to him, Kio following him. Jim re-tied the knot. "There. That should hold it," he said. Silver laughed weakly. "Heh, I taught ye all too well..." he said. There was a silence drifting between them. "Y'know, Morph here... He's a free spirit. Put in a cage... It would break his heart," Silver said, really trying to say 'Oh please let me go, I don't want to go to jail!' Jim thought about this for a moment, but hardly thinking at all. Silver was getting away no matter what. He walked off a bit, pulled a lever so the door below the skiff opened. Then Jim walked back and untied the boat. "Hey, why don't ya ship out with us?" Silver asked both of the cabin ranked. Morph repeated him and changed into a hat, landing on Jim's head. "Hawkins, Silver, and... uhm... Kio! Full of ourselves and no ties to anyone!" (He hesitated because he didn't know Kio's last name, supposing that she even has one) "Y'know... When I got on this boat, I would have taken you up on that in a second. But, I met this old cyborg who taught me I could, chart my course, and do my own thing," he said, Morph back into his pink form once again. Silver turned to Kio, knowing that she would say no too, but just to see. Kio smiled sympathetically. "I would, but y'know, Jim made a promise to me," she said, Jim looking up as to say 'no I didn't' Kio laughed quietly to herself. "He promised me a solar surfing lesson, and I just can't back down." She said, half-way joking. They stood in silence, each with a warmed smile and tears in their eyes. "Got a little grease in this cyborg eye of mine," Silver coughed, turning away to wipe away tears. Kio and Jim also did the same. Morph erupted into tears, changing himself into a puddle which Jim caught. "Hey Morph, I'll see ya around..." Jim said. "See ya around," Morph mimicked, licking Jim again and moving to Kio to do the same. Silver sighed, he held Morph close. "Morph. I got a job for ya. I need you to watch, these here pups," he said through tears. Morph flew over to Jim in an instant. Silver hopped aboard the boat. "Oh, and one more thing," Silver said, tossing Jim a few coins. It's for your dear mother. For her to rebuild that Inn of her's," Silver winked. "Stay out of trouble, ya old scallywag," Jim said. "Jimbo, lad! When have I ever done otherwise?" Silver left laughing. It was a bittersweet moment. Kio and Jim returned to deck.
The ship docked and they unloaded. Kio and Jim were walking side by side, looking for Mrs. Hawkins. Soon spotted, Jim ran up to hug his mother. Kio stepped to the side of them, letting them rejoice, Morph coming between them.
The night of the Inn's reopening after it was built way beyond greatness of the last one there was a party thrown. Kio was dressed up in a pale, somewhat fluffy dress of light shades of minty green, her hair slightly longer, she was wearing it up in somewhat of a bun, yet with her hair falling out of it at the top and falling over to the side. She was working at the Benbow now, a waitress and a cook in training. Kio had caught on to cooking right away and also with herb mixtures. The scars on her face were still there, but they were hardly red anymore. Just the slightest tint was red within them. Kio's hair was still blonde, yet she had added a mint green streak going down one of her long bangs off the side to the left of her face. That mint green hued part of her hair was dyed that way and curled slightly. Kio had grown taller since then, but still shorter than Jim. Now she was busily going about the Inn serving drinks and such. B.E.N. had busted out from the kitchen holding several cake slices and passing them onto guests. Morph was flying about to and fro, soon coming upon Amelia and Doppler, whom were blessed with four beautiful children. Three little felinid girls like Amelia, and one adorable little boy of Doppler's species. Suddenly the door to the Inn swung open. Two robotic police were standing at the door. Everyone was silent until they made way for Jim, whom was all fancied up in a graduating uniform of the Interstellar Spacer Academy. Everyone at the Inn cheered for Jim. Mrs. Dunwoody began playing an Irish jig for them all to dance to, the guests hanging a row of flowers above heads. Kio and Jim danced down the row first happily. Second Doppler and Amelia danced, more dramatic with spinning involved. No place was happier in the galaxy than the Benbow that night. Jim slowly turned to the window to admire the outside view. First he saw Kio sitting outside on a pole near the docks, gazing out into the stars and clouds as she had always loved to do. Then Jim turned his gaze a formation in the sky to a cloud shaped like Long John Silver. He couldn't help but smile, reminiscing of the past and wondering if that's what, still best friend, Kio was gazing at happily too, remembering their adventure to Treasure Planet. Jim also remembered what Kio had said that one night, about all of his good qualities. Well, he could certainly see them now, but he still had to wonder if he would be where he was thinking the same thing today without her. Also wondering if he would actually be Captain James Hawkins without Silver's help too. Kio still had something to make of herself though.
(for the fangirls who are wondering – Kio used to love Jim and now they're just good friends. Nothing else, so don't kill me. hides)