The RLS Endeavor

Two men sat in the gloom facing each other, both men's faces were hidden in the blackness but both knew who and where the other was by their looking for the other person's silhouettes. The window was tightly shut; a voice began to speak in the darkness with a sanguine tone,

"Master, Jim Hawkins's name has been registered into the roster."

"You have done well Athinel, you shall be rewarded," said the Master's deep voice as it reverberated across the room.

"My only reward is having revenge on Jim Hawkins," said Athinel.

"Of course my most trusted servant, the prophecy shall end, no one shall stand against us once James is dead, and he has proven himself to be a threat against us,"

"Yes Master, soon the Etherium would be ours, not even the Adamast spacers of Mondernor can stop us,"

"Quiet right my friend, the Darsuns have agreed to support us and have pledge us a fleet of ships, Aronmatis are massing enough weapons to aid us, the time of the Omniscient one has come,"

"Yes Master and I will be at you side."

"We fight all who stand against us; we shall end the prophecy that for so long have threatened our dominion, IT SHALL FALTER this very month!"

He said this with such determination that Athinel shook slightly as the Master pounded his fist into the desk between them,

"Master if I may ask, where did you find out about the prophecy?" The Master's silhouette twitched slightly, the Master took a deep breath and said, "I found out it by kidnapping someone who once owned the casket that held the prophecy, he acted stubbornly when I threaten to kill him but I didn't risked losing the password to the casket,"

"Who was this person you kidnapped?" asked Athinel as he leaned forward on his chair. The Master took another deep breath and said, "The man's name was Silver,"

------- O --------

Jim lay on his bed staring at the twinkling stars of the Etherium, occasionally a streak of light would travel across the stars. Memories of the battle fought against Athinel raced across his mind. Jim's eyes began to feel heavy as he drifted of to sleep when suddenly a knock came on the door.

"Come in," said Jim with his gaze still fixed at the sky. B.E.N's metallic head peered through the crack on the door, "Uh Jim," said B.E.N. hesitantly, "The Admiral has requested you to see him in his office immediately," Jim pulled back his head until the room turned up side down and could see B.E.N's head popping through the entrance.

"What for?"

"He wants to talk to you about your mission tomorrow," said B.E.N. Jim jumped out of his bed and reached the door. When he stepped out into the hallway B.E.N. asked tentatively to Jim,

"Jim mm- may I come on this mission with you," Jim ignored what B.E.N had said and went straight to the door at the end of the long hallway.

Jim stopped in front of the huge oak doors lie those of the Auditorium; the bronze plank that hung on top of the Doors read, 'Admiral's office." Jim stood upright and straightened out his cloths and opened the doors of the office and entered.

The office was large rotunda room, it walls were lined with shelves that reach to the domed ceiling. On the shelves were mostly old tattered books, old navigation equipment and ancient artifacts of the Etherium. In the middle of the room was a large wooden desk with a golden chair sitting behind the desk. The wall behind the desk hung a portrait that depicted the battle of the Orodon Nebula. Right next to the portrait was a spiral stair case.

Jim heard footsteps coming down the stair case. Appearing on the bottom of the stairs was Admiral Parker still wearing his blue admiral suit. Jim stood still as stone as he stood at attention. The Admiral motioned behind the desk and sat on the chair behind it. He fixed gaze upon Jim,

"At ease, Cadet." Jim followed the order. There was a long pause when finally the Admiral said, "I understood you didn't register your name into roster by yourself,"

"Yes sir" answered Jim. The admiral began to study Jim with his left hand on his chin,

"Why do you not desire to go on this mission?" questioned the Admiral, Jim opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by another question, "What are you afraid of Jim? Are you afraid to face Athinel once again? Or are you scared of not returning? Imagine what you mother would feel if you died knowing that her only son died for a great cause to stop a war that has been raging for centuries. Why waste the opportunity to become yet again another hero?" The admiral seem to look right through Jim, Jim knew he was trying to persuade him to go. The admiral stood up and walked towards Jim and both hands on his shoulders, "Jim we need you to help stop this war, you have the ability, the strength and the determination to help ended this useless rivalry, think of what might happen to every one you love die because of a quarrel for just a mere cubic meter of space. Think about it Jim," Jim began to contemplate on the words the Admiral had said. He stared at the ground for a moment and looking up at the admiral,

"Admiral, why do you need me for when you have the most experienced captains to go on this mission for you?" said Jim skeptically,

"Because of your skill with a solar surfer, and you knowledge of complex machinery Jim you got the strength and knowledge of three captains combined, you will rattle the cosmos Jim take the opportunity,"

Jim stood there still thinking of what might happen if he went,

"Jim you have to fight you fears once again and only then you will be free of it,"

The admiral released Jim from his strong grip and stood their towering over Jim with his hands behind his back; "dismissed" said the admiral.

Jim turned away and walked to the door. He stopped at the doorway and turned around to the Admiral, "Sir when will the ship leave because I need to get ready," A smile appeared on the Admiral as he answered, "fourteen hundred hours. Be there at the space port before the departure," Jim walked down the hallway and headed to his quarters to pack his things.

----- O -----

Jim stepped out of the passenger vehicle into the stony surface of the docking port. The streets were busy, people walked here and there to their business. Houses and shops filled the dock, Smoke from chimney floated towards the sky as ships sore through the air above them. The surface of the dock sloped upward on side of Jim creating a concave shape.

This was the third time Jim had set foot in Montressor space port and it still astonished him. Behind Jim strolled Captain Amelia, She headed down the allay ahead of Jim and called behind her, "Follow me if you please,"

"Aye Captain" said Jim happily while lifting his knapsack which has a little bit heavy for him, He wore his white cadet uniform and pony tail, He kept his earring in the knapsack in order to look more presentable. They navigated their way through the tightly spaced alleys making their way to docking bay four.

When they reached the docking bay a huge clipper ship floated a meter above from the ground. Its magnificent golden sails shone in the sun light. Crewmen ran back and forth to prepare the ship for launching. Jim gazed at the ship with wonder.

"James, this is the RLS endeavor one of the finest clipper ship in the Etherium, not even a Mondernorian battleship can rival against its thick hulls."

Captain Amelia led Jim up the gangway to the deck of the ship. Captain Amelia called on a crewman that was fixing the rigging of the ship. The crewman dropped the ropes he held and motioned to the captain, The captain turned her attention to Jim who was still gazing a the tall masses that seem to glitter,

"James this Henry Agofferd the cabin boy, he will lead you to your quarters," said Amelia referring to a skinny teenager next to her that was fixing the rigging. Jim turned towards the cabin boy who held out his hand, "It's a pleasure to meet the famous Jim Hawkins," Jim took his hand a shock it slightly,

"This way to your quarters," said Henry his palmed raised forward pointing to a door below the poop deck. Jim followed the cabin boy to the doors.