Leland eased up on his skiff's power lever as he approached a single soldier standing sentry for the nearby navy encampment. While the guard was eyeing him and the vessel with suspicion, Leland was very calm and confident. He brought the 21' boat to a stop as the Interstellar Marine walked over with his fingers ready on his carbine. "Who comes," queried the Crickitan. "My name is Leland Hawkins. I've come in a peace and with a fellow sailor who performed the skirmishing duty before your assault." The soldier tilted his head in surprise: How could this, civilian, possible know what had taken place here only 2-and-a-half days before?
But before he could express this thought in words, a sound of another engine came from behind and the guard whirled around with his gun aimed. But it was only a somber Jim bringing his surfer to a stop as the sail lowered. "Halt!!" called the now sweating Marine, "State your name and business!" Jim just held up his hands with a somewhat nervous expression himself. "Hey it's okay, I'm Jim, uh, I mean...Cadet James Hawkins of the Interstellar Special Forces; I've got my tags if you want to see." "Show me," answered the guard as he stepped back to keep his eyes on both of these...intruders. Jim meanwhile walked over with his ID necklace in his hand. The guard accepted it and studied the words. After a minute, he looked up at Jim with a slightly skeptical look. "And what is your relation to this man here? Are you both together?" "Yes, he's my son." Leland stated from his sitting position near the skiff controls. The revelation caused the insect-like foot soldier to step back and take view of them both. Having confirmed the visual analysis, he nodded and said, "Just one minute, if you both please."
He then walked up a small mound where a lit lantern sat on the knoll. The soldier bent over, produced a paper packet form his belt pouch and opened it up. He shook out the powdery contents into the top opening of the glass. Immediately, the small flame burst up and grew into a sparkling, large and bright blue miniature inferno that spread light blue iridescence over the lightening morning landscape.
This done, the guard turned back towards Jim and Leland. "You may both proceed. Stay straight in your course and heed any further sentries who come upon you."
"Aye," Jim answered with a smart salute as Leland just gunned his motor and slowly began to move. Jim stepped back upon his board and blasted ahead as his dad began to pick up speed.
After a few seconds of low flight, they arrived at the Navy's bivouac surrounding the now-decimated remains of the Flint castle. Only about ten ships remained hovering above the ground surface; the Galmuthian squadron and a majority of the first-wave vessels had departed the day earlier. The frigates, corvettes and supply barks were arranged in a circle over and surrounding the tent encampments below. Jim and Leland were met by a captain and two platoons who questioned them and inspected their vessels. Only when they'd passed inspection were they permitted admittance—with an escort contingent of eight Marines. "Who's the highest in command here?" Jim asked before setting out on foot with Leland. "Why, Admiral Valmer Creed himself," stated the captain, "Have ye any business with His Lordship himself, sonny?" "Yeah," Jim replied smoothly, "He ordered me here to this planet—far ahead of any of you!" The Marines took this rather noticeably. "Say," began one who stepped forward with a finger pointed at Jim, "...you must be...by George, you're the lad who came zooming out 'o that there door 'fore we arrived." "Yeah," Jim said and nodded, "and I got to go report to the Fleet Admiral himself." "Well then," spoke up the captain, "We shan't detain ye any longer in that case." "Thanks—oh, I mean, Thank-You sir," Jim stumbled over his words before saluting. The officer returned his salute and then Jim turned to walk away with Leland at his side.
That same morning, King Stephen ordered the pages, squires and royal couriers to search the entire castle grounds for a tall, brown-haired & blue-eyed young soldier by the name of Jim Hawkins. But just as the search party began to spread out in their endeavor, a speeding blur of pink with white came whizzing through the air and halted in front of Princess Bethany. "Oh thank goodness, Morph," Beth exulted relieved. "What is it, Daughter?" asked her mother as she and the rest of the family and nobles stared at the protoplasmic alien. "Why," Beth began as Morph nuzzled himself against her cheek, "He's...a little...a little...pink thing. And he's very friendly...and funny too." Her expression changed, however, when Morph produced a roll of parchment that was unseen until now. Beth put out her hand and the excited shape-shifter dropped it in her open palm
Admiral Creed's Lieutenant Aide stepped into the opulently-spacious tent and saluted at attention. The Admiral looked up from where he'd been consulting with the ship captains and troop generals. "Yes Mr. Giffers?" he asked somewhat intrigued at the unexpected intrusion. "Begging your pardon for the interruption, Ad—" "Never mind, just state the business," interrupted the grizzly bear-like high-ranking officer with a wave of his paw. "Sir, there's just arrived a young sailor in the camp. He gives his name as Cadet James Hawkins." Admiral Creed arose suddenly at this with a wide-eyed look. "Send him in," he ordered promptly. The lieutenant saluted and disappeared through the flap-door entrance. "If you'll excuse me, Gentlemen," Creed requested, "I must speak in private with our visitor." He sat down again as the others stood and began to file out. Once the flap door had fallen back in place, Admiral Creed reached for a wooden chest by the canvas wall behind him and pulled it over to his chair.
As he sat back up, the flap opened again as Lieutenant Giffers returned and held open the entrance as Jim Hawkins ducked in and stood at attention in his torn, frayed and somewhat blackened field uniform. The Admiral took in all this and Jim's downcast and unkempt manner. "Thank-you, Mr. Giffers," spoke the Admiral dismissing the aide with a prime salute. Once the officer had exited, Creed stood up once more and beckoned Jim over. The cadet did so and stood behind the chair on the right-hand of the Fleet Admiral.
For a while, nothing was said as the Commander-in-Chief of the Fourth Interstellar Realm clasped his hands behind his back. "When we last spoke at the Interstellar Headquarters," began the ursinid officer blankly, "My specific orders were for you to rendezvous with Admiral Beerson's Squadron once your gathering of intelligence and details was complete." He paused for a few moments to let the weight of his words sink in. Jim already understood his error but didn't reply except to slightly nod his head. "But instead," continued the Admiral, "you chose to disappear without providing us with any knowledge of your course or actions which I find most disappointing." "Yes Sir," Jim answered somewhat dejectedly. The Admiral just shook his head silently as he took a few paces. "Have you anything to say in your defense, Cadet Hawkins?" "Yes Sir." Jim replied looking up and into the Admiral's eyes. "Uh...you remember my last light transmission requesting the attack be accelerated? How I reported I'd "Taken away one of the 'kid's' toys?" Seeing the Admiral's blank nod, Jim went on to give a summary of what he'd heard, seen and done since arriving on the planet including the servant-Princess Bethany, the Evil Maleficent, Scroop, his father and the Flint Brothers. The report took nearly half of an hour as the Admiral requested some clarification on some things.
Once Jim had finished, the Admiral sat back down, folded his hands on the table and just thought for a long while. Then, he looked up at Jim.
"You've done very-well in helping this...as you say, princess, escape from danger and return home. However, taking such tangent measures without informing or seeking permission from your commanding officers is not commendable in any aspect. And with your level of training, there is no excuse for such impulsive and erratic actions."
"Thus, in light of such behavior ...sigh...I am obliged to have you withdrawn from active duty and your promotion to Lieutenant withheld until further notice." "Yes Sir," Jim answered with a downcast look and his hands in his jacket pockets. "Furthermore," Creed continued, "while you shall be able to graduate with your team members, I shall recommend to Admiral Valencia that you continue with higher levels of training until the next class of Special Forces trainees have completed and passed their courses. You shall be required to assist your commanding officer in training them as well and impart your mission and combat experience for their benefit. Once all that has taken place, your efforts and eligibility for promotion shall then be open for consideration. Is that understood, Cadet?" "Yes Sir," Jim answered with a crisper reply. "Very well then," said the bear Admiral getting up.
"Now, to my current knowledge, there happens to be a group of certain people who've accompanied the fleet in a certain vessel that you once served as cabin boy of." Jim's eyes grew wide and his lips parted. "Sir, permission to speak freely?" he asked. "Denied," answered Admiral Creed with a wave of his paw. "I've final plans and preparations to make before our departure tomorrow." He slowly took on a happier countenance before continuing. "And I believe your mother and friends are here waiting for news concerning you, so...dismissed, Cadet." "Yes Sir," Jim replied with a happier salute before exiting through the tent flap.
As the sun was half-risen, Captain Amelia was just striding across the deck of her well-beloved ship when her sharp & ready ears detected the sound of hurried footsteps coming up the gangplank. She swiveled her head to her right just in time to see Jim come running up with an excited look on his face. He slowed to a stop as he reached the top deck and spotted her. Instinctively, he snapped to attention and saluted. "Cadet Jim requesting permission to come aboard, Ma'am." Amelia just lit up and ran over to Jim while calling out "Sarah, Delbert, Mr. Silver, James had returned!" Immediately she almost pounced on Jim and enraptured his body within a tight cat-hug. "Uh," Jim stammered somewhat taken back, "...Glad to see you again Captain." "And you too as well, James!" she answered without letting him go.
"Jim!!!", exclaimed Sarah and Delbert at the same time as they both emerged from Amelia's stateroom and ran down the stairs. Amelia released Jim for Sarah who practically ran into Jim so hard that they both fell to the deck with Sarah on top. She literally smothered her son in kisses and a tremendous hug. "OH JIM," she exclaimed, "I've missed you so Much!!! Oh Thank God you're Back!!!" She began to cry as she just laid on top of her son—much to Delbert's uneasiness and Amelia's delight. Just then, more sounds of heavier boots caught their attention and husband & wife both looked towards the ramp. "Hello again," Leland addressed them with a hand raised in greeting. "Requesting permission to come aboard?" "Permission granted, Mr. Hawkins." Amelia stated with a nod. Leland returned the gesture and let Jim's and his packs & weapons of his aching shoulders. Finally, Sarah stood back up as her son followed her lead. "JIMBO!!!", came Silver's voice as the gigantic semi-human lumbered up from behind. "SILVER!!!!" Jim replied likewise as he turned and ran to hug his old friend laughing. After a short while, Silver leaned back to study his former-charge. "Why look at yeh, Jimbo!! Why yer a sight for this old eye of mine!! See yeh've got yerself a lil ripped up there, eh?" Jim smiled as he took notice of his tattered outfit. "Yeah, I've been through a lot."
Just then, Silver realized something: "Say Jim, where's little Morphy? Thought I asked him t'stay with yeh?" Jim nodded and explained. "I sent him to give a friend of mine...a letter...to tell her—""Her??" Delbert asked in complete surprise. "Yeah, Princess Bethany, the girl I rescued from the Flint brother's and their cohorts after I arrived." Only Leland was not taken back by Jim's news. "It's true," he said with a firm nod and slight smile, "Go ahead and tell them the whole story, Jim."
Bethany hurriedly unrolled the letter with a strong fear that Jim had abandoned her against his word. But as she read, her heart began to beat slower and her complexion waxed calmer. "What does it say," asked Princess Aurora. Bethany just held it so that she, her older sister, mother, father and King Hubert could read it.
Dear Bethany,
I'm sorry that I had to leave without telling you where I was going. But you just seemed so happy and so alive meeting your family for the first time that I didn't want to intrude.
Dad and I had to leave so I could report back to my commanding officers who sent me to this...land. If they'll permit me, I'll try to come back this night. But if I don't, it means that I've not been given permission. Morph should be able to direct you to where we went.. If you cannot find us at all, then it means we had to leave before you could get to me.
Again, I'm sorry I wasn't able to speak with you before leaving. But I'm determined to see you again once I'm permitted by my authorities. When I do, I'll be able to tell you more about myself.
I miss you already and want to tell you so much. But at least you're home and where you've probably only dreamed of being. I can never forget you and promise to never do so. I love you a whole lot Beth, and will always care about you, your heart, your family and your dreams.
Oh and thank-you for helping me grow up and forgive my father. I owe you my life as well and I'll always remember your kindness and patience with me.
As you're loved Forever,
Jim Hawkins
"And I hope that we can at least be here still when or if she tries to come find me," Jim finished his story and looked around at his parents, Silver, Delbert & Amelia. Not one eye remained Sniffing back her joyous tears, Sarah stepped forward to stand fac-to-fcae with her son. "Jim," she began slowly, "...if you really, truly, love this princess, then you shouldn't be afraid to go back to her and ask to still be her friend." Jim smiled slightly before answering: "But, um...I'm just spacer-in-training and she...well, she deserves a lot more than I am or have."
Before anyone could reply, there came a clammering of more steps up the plank and then B.E.N. appeared with Adam, Chloe, Olivia and Andrea Doppler. "Hey B.E.N.," Jim exclaimed. "JIMMY!!!" B.E.N. leapt a few feet into the air before coming down in a tangle of his own long appendages. "Unca Jim, Unca Jim!!!" squealed the 2-and-a-half year-olds as they scampered over and ascended him from all sides. As he began to gather them up, B.E.N. managed to untangle himself and jump onto Jim. "Whoa easy, easy, easy there B.E.N." Jim cautioned as the robot squeezed Andrea and Olivia into him. "Whoops, oh, sorry there, Jimmy," B.E.N. apologized as he backed off. "It's alright, B.E.N., just gotta be careful with the kids." Oh yeah, right on that Jimmy," B.E.N. concurred happily. "Where'd ya go, Unca Jim?" asked Chloe. "Uh...many places actually," Jim answered as he struggled to keep Andrea balanced on his left forearm. "Here, James, allow me," offered Amelia as she took her look-alike daughter. "You must be exhausted from all your journeying Jim," Sarah spoke tenderly as she took him by the arm. "Come below and I'll get you some food and you can rest." "Adam, Olivia, Chloe, let go of Jim so he can get his relief." Yes Mommy," they answered in unison as they relinquished their holds.