Days on the Ship

During the next few days, Kim felt herself being swept up in work. True to his word, Silver monitored their every action. But his one mistake was underestimating his two charges.

When he tried to teach them a knot, they tied both of their knots quicker than he did and made no mistakes. Jim swung down on his rope and Kim lowered herself hand-over-hand. When Silver looked up from his knot, Jim was on the rim of the ship, teaching Kim all about the wonders of space, which she had somehow never learned, and eagerly pointing out certain faraway stars and planets.

The next task was to clean the dishes the rowdy crew ate from. No sooner had the two friends finished the first batch than Silver dumped another huge armful in front of them. Jim looked after Silver in disbelief. "How in the world do they eat so much?"

"C'mon, Jim, we'd best get started before he comes back. I don't want to have to wash that deck more than once."

When Silver did come back, the two were sound asleep, Kim's head leaning on Jim's shoulder. A stew pot lay unfinished on Jim's lap. Silver frowned and almost woke them, but then he caught sight of the sparkling dishes on the counter. He looked at Morph ruefully. Morph returned the glance.

Jim was woken by something warm and heavy being placed on him. He opened his eyes and saw Silver's boots disappearing up the steps. The overcoat Silver always wore was draped over them. Jim then noticed Kim.

He felt an uncharacteristic blush spread over his cheeks. She looked so pretty asleep. Not at all like the sarcastic, brave, strong girl he knew in the daytime. He also knew that he would never let anything happen to her. As he fell back asleep, he wondered what this new feeling of care and protection he was feeling was. It was so unlike him.

The following day was the greatest. Silver was taking them out on a skiff to show them how to maneuver it. As they lowered the small boat, Kim and Jim exchanged glances. "This might actually be fun," Kim remarked quietly.

Silver gave them the okay sign, and they jumped in. Kim took a seat near the front. "Okay, let's let Jimbo 'ave a go first. To start it up, y' have to activ-"

Silver got no further. Jim pressed all the buttons, readied the controls and shot off at top speed in less than three seconds. He aimed right for a comet and carefully steered them into the tail.

It was then that Kim truly let go of her trained composure. She leaned into the air rushing by her cheeks and let out a triumphant whoop. As Jim performed various rolls and wavers, Kim laughed with the sheer exhilaration of it all.

Jim finally slipped the ship out of the comet's tail. They were all covered with a light, silvery powder. Kim turned around, smiling happily from the ride. Jim again noticed how pretty she could look. Powder glistened on her loose hair, her cheeks were pink from a combination of the wind and her laughter, and her eyes sparkled with excitement. And most importantly to him, she was happy. He didn't know why, but that made him happy, too.

"Well, if you don't mind, lass, I'd like to return to the ship. Jimbo's supplied all the excitement I need for the day."

Kim laughed, remembering the distress signals Silver had unconsciously been sending as he held on for dear life. "No problem."

Jim eased them up to the ship, and they started to pull themselves up. As they worked, Kim noticed how close Silver and Jim had become.

"Whoa, need a little help there?"

"Aw, get offa me, you…" Silver chuckled.

Kim stood up. "I think all that surfing made you two a little silly in the noggin. Though, being who you are, I'm not entirely sure I could tell."

"Kim!" Jim cried indignantly, tying a half-hitch knot.

"Hey," she shrugged and grinned. "Truth hurts sometimes."

Silver finished tying the skiff in place and sank down onto the seat. "She's right, lad. About you bein' the one knocked in th' noggin, that is."

"Whose side are you on, anyway?" Jim and Kim sat down too.

"In this case, I'll have t' agree with th' lass. Whew," Silver mopped his brow. "Jimbo, if I could fly a skiff like that at your age, they'd be bowin' in the streets when I walk by today." Morph, of course, imitated him.

"Well," Jim said, "they weren't exactly singing my praises when I left home." He glanced quickly at Kim sitting next to him. "But I'm gonna change all that," he added.

"Really?" Silver asked, petting Morph. "How so?"

"Uh," Jim was at a loss for words momentarily. "I got some plans. Gonna make people see me a little differently." He leaned back, closing his eyes and smiling.

Kim almost thought she imagined it, but some feelings of guilt and remorse flowed from Silver as he replied.

"Oh. Y'know…sometimes, plans go astray."

"Not this time." Jim was still completely happy and carefree. His plans were going perfectly. For the first time, he had a father-like figure to look up to. And he had a new friend in Kim, someone who, for the first time again, didn't care about his looks or schoolwork.

As she looked at Jim, lying back with a smile on his face, Kim had a sudden jolt of emotion that she hadn't felt for anyone quite like this. It was now important to her that Jim was happy. In fact, she'd give everything she had to make him happy. She looked deeper into herself and realized with another jolt what she was feeling.

Love.

There was no mistake about it. Her ability to feel the Force let her know exactly what she was feeling.

She had known, from the first day, that Jim was a friend. Now, she understood that somehow, through the mystic fabric of time, space, and the Force, their souls were linked. They were two parts of the same kind of light.

But this was a most unfortunate turn. When Jedi fell in love, there were precious few who didn't let it get in the way of their duty. And after this mission, Kim was going back to where she belonged, to fulfill her own destiny. Parting would be horribly painful.

But, a rebellious side of her argued, what if he is your destiny? Nothing happens by accident. One of her first lessons from Master Yoda. She shook it off for the moment. She would deal with that when it happened.

"Hey, um, how'd that happen, anyway?" Silver was tightening a bolt on his artificial leg, which had spurred Jim's question.

Silver looked at Jim with pain in his eyes, then transferred his gaze to his mechanical hand, slowly flexing the finger digits.

"You give up a few things…chasin' a dream."

Jim felt pity and curiosity towards his friend. "Was it worth it?"

Silver gave Jim as small, slightly sad smile. "I'm hopin' it was, Jimbo." He put his arm around the two kids. "I most assuredly am."

An explosion rocked the boat, breaking the calm, quiet moment. "What the devil?" Silver took off towards deck, where havoc ensued.

Up on the bridge, Dr. Doppler was panicking. "On my goodness! The star Pelucid…it's gone supernova!"

"Evasive action, Mr. Arrow!" Amelia shouted as she dashed to the wheel.

"Aye, Captain! Crew, remember to secure your lifelines!"

The crew did, each checking his own line.

Another matter was brought to light as small, burning fragments of the former star ripped brutally through the solar sails. Amelia rapped out another order. "Secure all sails!"

The crew immediately started up to the sails, with Silver, Jim, and Kim included. The three friends started out towards the front sail. As Silver bent down to loosen a knot, a flaming ball of rock crashed just in front of him. He jumped, lost his balance, and with a shout started to fall.

"Silver!" Jim roared, and leapt forward to catch Silver's lifeline. Another red-hot rock struck, this time right into Jim. With a cry of pain, he too plummeted downwards.

"NO!"

Silver and Jim jerked to a halt, and both of them looked up at the source of the cry. Kim had one lifeline in each hand, and had hooked her feet around the boom so as not to be dragged up by their weight.

Kim sweated hard as she fought to keep her two friends alive. Jim and Silver would not die. Not with her still around. With the kind of strength only a Jedi in a crunch has, she brought the two lines together and started hauling them up.

When they reached the boom, they pulled themselves up, and Kim unhooked her feet to stand normally, if somewhat shakily. "Thanks, lass," Silver breathed as the two kids helped him up. The two words held heartfelt gratitude, and were all the thanks Kim could ever want.

An enormous ball of fiery rock heading right for the slow-moving ship distracted their attention. Kim knew this wasn't the end. In her home time, this whole adventure was a popular story and she knew it well, but the crew didn't know. And Jim definitely didn't know.

He and Silver were stunned, and fear for their lives and the lives of others rolled off of them. Jim most of all. His arm was around Kim, and Silver stood close to both of them. It was the oddest time to think about it, but she liked the feel of Jim's arm supporting her. She felt safe.

Just when the rock was about to hit, it started moving backwards. Jim and Silver stared at it in confusion.

Dr. Doppler gasped. "It's…devolving into…A BLACK HOLE!"

The RLS Legacy was swept helplessly towards the black pit of certain doom.