Hi, sorry about the complete lack of an update last week, I injured my leg, had an AP World History test on Weds to study for, a sweet 16 to go to, and was running around all of Saturday. I just had no time. This chapter is very short, I apologize. I also have no time for reviews right now, I'm going out, and I'm just gonna say 2 quick things:

Pippin: Yes, that was my tribute to PotC, I couldn't help it. Its one of my favorite lines, but like nobody catches it.

Dekujama: The Mambo Queen was actually supposed to be in the original script but it got cut for time reasons. As I've said, I'm trying to add stuff that was cut out, so as to "fulfill the directors' wishes," if you get what I mean. I don't think that BEN's ship will come back, but if you guys think it's cute I could see what I can do.

Quick note: the new editing chapter format is screwing everything up. Bear with it for now. Enjoy!

Jim hoisted himself up through the hole in the floor, and looked around. The underlighting that streamed from the mechanical shaft below cast murky shadows throughout the room, but all was quiet. Jim lent a hand, then took the map from Skye and rushed over towards where Doctor Doppler was sleeping.

"Doc! Doc, wake up! I got the map!"

To Jim's horror, a metal arm darted from the shadows and clenched tightly around the orb.

"Fine work, Jimbo," Silver sneered, emerging into the light, "Fine work indeed."

Jim's eyes widened, disbelieving. Yet as he turned about, he saw the darkness melting away to reveal Doppler and Amelia bound and gagged, held by brawny grips. Everywhere, he saw the same shining, malicious eyes and that triumphant, evil grin.

The pirates closed in, and Jim felt Skye draw nearer to him. Keeping backs together, they watched, minds racing, as the circle of villains tightened.

With no warning, Jim grabbed Skye's wrist and yanked her towards a gap in the formation. Jim dipped into a nimble slide across the mossy ground, out of reach, but Skye was roughly seized. She kicked and thrashed, but to no avail. They held firm.

"Skye!" Jim started, but was grabbed from behind by numerous arms and tentacles.

Morph darted to the rescue, biting a pirate's tail, but was bopped by the very appendage. Whimpering, he slipped into Jim's pocket.

A female pirate leapt to yank BEN from the shaft, shrieking, "What's this sorry stack of metal?" She pressed a crooked, lethal looking dagger to BEN's neck.

"Watch the face, I just had it deoxidized!" was all he yelped.

Silver approached Jim, grinning dangerously.

"You're just like me, Jimbo," he leaned in wickedly, "ya' hates to lose."

Jim struggled, and met the pirate's gaze with fierce determination.

Silver only chuckled. Turning his attention to the map, he positioned his metal fingers on it and twisted sharply.

Nothing.

A puzzled expression flitted across Silver's face. The hand retracted and tri-pronged, slender claws appeared. They spidered over the surface of the orb, skipping and skittering, looking for a switch or catch.

Still nothing.

Silver's eyes glinted steel, and a thick wedge of a vise now clamped over the map, brute force.

The metal sphere refused to yield.

Silver's frustration peaked- until he saw Jim's knowing smirk, light and easy.

"Open it," Silver commanded, thrust it forward, and released.

Jim caught the map as it fell; the pirates had released him and Skye, who was now standing next to him.

He glared.

Never.

Silver recognized Jim's all too familiar obstinacy, but knew that this time he had the upper hand. His mechanical hand swiveled once more. A pistol emerged.

"I'd get busy," he muttered darkly. Silver's eye glowed red, and looked at Doppler and Amelia, still gagged. Jim's eyes followed. Amelia met this gaze, shaking her head 'no.'

A moment later Doppler noted this as well and changed his nod to match.

The pistol cocked. Silver's sidelong glance took notice that Jim still made no move. He changed track, and lowered the firearm to where Silver knew it would have the most leverage.

Pointed at Skye.

Although she stood firm, Silver's threat hit home.

Jim, without taking his eyes off the gun, pressed the correct buttons effortlessly. He tossed it to Skye, who twisted the right hemispheres, never once averting her stare from the pistol.

A cascade of green points of light spilled from the sphere, swirled up into the air, and formed the image of Treasure Planet. Winking bright beams pulsed gently as the image dissolved and formed a path through the sky of the planet, coiled with strange hieroglyphs and symbols.

The pirates stared in awe. Silver laughed.

"Tie him up, and leave him with the others until we-"

And the path vanished.

Skye had shut it off, causing the hologram to recede into the brass sphere. Jim spoke.

"You want the map? You're taking us too."

Silver grinned. The boy couldn't resist adventure. A downfall they shared.

"Fine. We'll take him, but only him. The girl stays with the Captain and the dog."

Ignoring Doppler's protests, Jim made one of his own.

"She goes where I go. I can't open it without her."

Skye smirked, and spun the map atop her fingertip like a basketball, mocking.

Silver sighed. The loyalty between the two was irritating.

"We'll take 'em all."