The Final Battle and Goodbyes
The map was once again activated, and the entire crew, along with their prisoners, followed the green hologram. Jim and Kim, both tied around the waist with ropes, sat up front with Silver. Doppler and Amelia were tied together and sat in the middle of the skiff.
Seeing how much they needed to be free, Jim asked Kim to promise that she would not try to escape. Kim agreed, and Silver allowed the teens to be tied up at a minimum.
The wind whipped Kim's hair back, cooling her after the brief struggle, but her mind was on other things. She was not looking forward to what she had to do. In a way, she was almost frightened, but her confidence in herself and Jim soon drove away that particular bug.
The green line led into some bamboo-like plants, and the crew was forced to continue on foot. Jim hopped out and turned around to help Kim. She was balanced carefully on the edge until a pirate shoved her off for fun. Jim leaped forward, and caught her in his arms. Kim blushed furiously, not only from the embarrassment of being caught off guard, but also from the way she was being held (bridal style) by Jim. "Um, thanks."
"No problem." He carried her a few steps away then set her down gently. As he did, he couldn't help but feel the hard muscle in her arms, the result of hard training at the Jedi Academy. As soon as she got her strength back, she would indeed be a formidable foe for Silver.
"Ok. Y' two, that bucket o' bolts over there, and the rest of the crew will follow me. You," he barked to a rather obese pirate, "will stay an' guard the prisoners."
Amelia and Doppler looked sadly at Jim and Kim. Even despite their situation, they wanted to find the treasure just as badly as Jim. Morph, the only member not tied up, slipped into Jim's pocket and whimpered slightly. Being the type of creature he was, could tell that this would not end well.
"It's okay, Morph, it's okay." Jim patted him, trying to reassure him. But right now, even he wasn't very optimistic. Ahead of them, Silver was already slashing through the plants in his eagerness to get there. Kim, being pulled forcefully along by the rope around her waist (and silently fighting the pain that was being introduced to her wound) marveled at this being's madness. Silver was completely obsessed with the treasure. She had already figured out that somehow, one way or another, he had become a cyborg trying to get here.
Silver shouted with excitement. The flashes of light on the line were growing faster and faster. "We're almost there, lads!" He yanked Jim and Kim along behind him, almost feverishly trying to get "there".
They slashed through the brush and finally stumbled out. Silver looked up with a huge grin on his face…and then it slipped off like honey. The green line that was the only hint to the treasure ended on the edge of a cliff. The line was cut off in the air right above the edge.
"What in blue blazes…?" Silver couldn't even finish the question. Behind him, the pirates were building up their anger. Things didn't get any better when the map dissolved back into the golden sphere with a click.
"Jimbo? What's goin' on?" Silver demanded as Jim started wrestling with the map.
"I…I don't know!" He frantically tried the combination again. "I can't get it open."
"We never shoulda trusted this boy!" A small pirate with no legs leapt up to shove Jim to the ground. Kim, being tied to him, almost fell on top of him but by sheer effort remained standing.
"Jim, look around you, and try to get the map where it belongs," Kim murmured, trying to give him a hint. "I'll buy us some time." Kim turned around to face the pirates.
Silver, too, sensed the urgency. These pirates were madder than a nest full of wet hornets, and out for blood to boot. "Jimbo, I'd get that thing workin' if I were you, an' fast!"
Kim assumed a fighting stance as the pirates closed in, muttering various threats. Suddenly, there was another faint click, and the patch of ground in front of Jim started glowing.
Kim looked behind her with a smile. Jim had found the small indentation where the map fit. Lights were racing across the canyon and up the wall towards them. Jim yanked Kim back and away just in time.
A laser beam rose up about fifty feet from the ground, and slowly, majestically opened to form an isosceles triangle-shaped opening in the air. The map projected one more hologram to about the height of Jim's chest. A small sphere, a model of the entire galaxy, rotated there slowly. Through the triangle, a lovely, blue nebula was visible.
"The Coral Nebula?" Silver was in awe. "But that's 'alfway 'cross the galaxy.
"It's the portal," Kim murmured. "The one Ben told us about."
Jim examined the floating map. "Hmm…lets see…Cyrapus, ah, Montressor Space Port." He lightly touched the small model of the spaceport, and the portal closed briefly. Then, it opened back up to show a familiar-looking spaceport.
"So this is how Flint did it!" Jim exclaimed. "He used this…portal…to jump from place to place stealing treasure!" Silver, however, wasn't interested in the technical aspects.
"So where'd he stash it all?"
Behind them, B.E.N. was halfway to an epiphany. "Treasure…in the centroid…"
Jim finished it for him. "In the centroid of the mechanism…hmm. What if," he looked up triumphantly, "this planet is the mechanism. That means the treasure is buried in the center of this planet!"
The pirates exchanged glances, then threw themselves to the ground, clawing away at the moss until one pirate tried to use his pickaxe. With a clang, the blade was crushed on solid metal.
"So how the heck do we get there?" Silver shoved Jim out of the way and started randomly jabbing at planets. Jim smiled and moved back up.
"Just…open the right door." He touched Treasure Planet. The portal opened to reveal an enormous cavern.
Jim cautiously pushed one hand through the door, and, taking Kim's hand, led her through. It was almost like going through one of the Gungan entrances on Naboo.
Silver's hand reached through to clamp down on Kim's shoulder. He pulled himself through, and stalked forward. He failed to notice the small, red beam that he stepped into. The rest of the crew followed him, and they all stood, enemies briefly united, in awe.
"The loot of a Thousand Worlds," Silver whispered in awe. The entire center of the planet was covered with gold coins, jewels, and other treasures. Silver and the crew launched themselves into the treasure. They made a mistake in leaving Jim and Kim unattended.
Kim tugged Jim's sleeve. "Look!" An old boat rested to the right of them, with gold coins littered on the deck.
"C'mon," Jim whispered to Kim and B.E.N. "We're getting out of here, and we're not leaving empty-handed."
The three friends climbed on board the ship. Kim was helping B.E.N. up when she noticed something, almost dropping the droid in her shock. "Captain Flint?"
B.E.N. and Jim clambered up, Jim a bit more gracefully than his friend. "In the flesh!" B.E.N. gasped from the floor. "Well, except for skin or muscle or anything resembling flesh."
A skeleton wearing nothing more than a hat and old rags sat atop a chair in the center of the deck. Kim shivered. Even dead, she could feel remnants of the evil Force that had surrounded Flint in life.
Jim was walking over to the skeleton as B.E.N. once again started lamenting his bad memory, trying to remember something that had to do with Flint.
Kim untied the rope on her waist as she watched Jim pry something out of Flint's closed fist. Bones scattered, but whatever it was, Jim now had it. He looked at it closely, and B.E.N. wailed on. "Oh, a mind is a terrible thing to lose!"
"Ben," Jim said excitedly, "I think I've found your mind! Hold still!" He held the droid by the head and let the loose wires in B.E.N.'s head touch the chip he'd found.
"Jimmy, your hands are very cold---HELLO!" The chip zipped into B.E.N.'s head. "Whoa!" His eyes flashed, and the readout screen turned from green to blue. "You know, Jimmy, I was just thinking…I…was just…THINKING! Oh, my memory's back! I remember now! Captain Flint ripped it out so I couldn't tell anyone about his big booby trap!"
A ceiling rod chose that moment to crack loose and set off a chain reaction. "Speaking of which…"
Jim and Kim threw themselves backwards to avoid a falling piece of metal. "Captain Flint didn't want anyone to ever steal his treasure, so he rigged this place to blow higher than a Neludian rocket!"
Morph woke up in Jim's pocket when Jim landed and flew out to join the three. Jim, on the other hand, was racking his mind for a means of escape. His eyes landed on the control panel of the old ship. "Ben! Go back and free the others! If I'm not there in five minutes," he slid under the panel, "leave without me."
B.E.N. started tugging Jim's boots, which were all that was visible from under the panel. "I'm not leaving my bestest buddy Jim," he caught sight of Jim's death glare, "unless, of course, he looks at me like that. Bye, guys!" The droid took off for the exit.
"Kim, you'd better…" He caught sight of her repairing the steering wheel. Would this girl ever cease to amaze him? He knew there was no talking her out of it, so they both continued their work.
Finally, it was ready. Jim took the wheel, with Kim regulating the power control. "Kim, Morph, we are so out of here!"
A thud on the deck changed his mind. Both kids spun around.
"Well, Jimbo," Silver swaggered up, "if you ain't the seventh wonder of the universe."
Jim looked around for a weapon, knowing Kim's only one was on Silver's belt. He seized a sword sticking up and pointed it at Silver's open, exposed belly.
"Stay…back."
Silver looked down at the sword, and Kim chose that moment to use the Force to call her lightsaber back to her. Silver noticed. When he looked up, his eyes were filled with pain and anger. "I like y' lad. Y' too, lass. But I ain't about to let you stand in the way of my treasure."
He started forward again, cold, evil purpose in his eyes. Jim was scared. Kim was ready to fight. If she had to hurt Silver to get them all out alive, then she would.
But it wasn't necessary. The ship had been launched, and as a ray of almost pure energy hit it, the three passengers were flung off. Silver landed on a ledge, but Jim and Kim hurled down into the abyss.
Jim managed to latch onto a small, protruding ledge, and somehow caught Kim. "I…I can't hold on! Grab my legs!" Kim did so, but now both of their lives hung in Jim's hands. And, perhaps, someone else's.
Morph zipped over to where Silver was hanging onto the ship to keep the treasure from being vaporized. He frantically squeaked in Silver's ear. "What?" Silver grunted. Morph pointed. Silver looked, and felt a clamp identical to the one on his arm squeeze his heart. "Jimbo! Kim!"
He switched his hand out for his clamp to keep the treasure safe. Then, he leaned down. "Reach fer me!" Jim did his best, he really did, but it was just too far away.
"I…I can't!" He lost his grip on the first ledge and dropped down to a second one. Kim now dangled by one hand as well. And this particular ledge was sliding back into the wall.
It was time for Silver to choose, just as Anakin and Kim, although she didn't know it, would have to eventually do. He could keep the treasure he had been searching his whole life for, or he could keep the kids that he'd come to think of as his own. Silver made his decision.
"Oh, blast me fer a…!" He let go of the ship, swung down, and grabbed Jim's hand just as he lost his grip. But another tremble shook the ground, and now Silver was the one who lost his grip as the rock he was holding onto broke. With a scream, the three tumbled into the abyss.
Kim closed her eyes as they fell, both Silver and Jim screaming on either side of her. She knew what she had to do, and she reached for the light that lived inside her.
A blue light erupted, and a glowing figure shot back up with two other figures in tow. Silver and Jim were set gently down on the ledge, and stared at the thing of light incarnate that lightly touched down in front of them. The figure solidified, and the glow faded a bit.
Kim stood there, radiant. The light seemed to come from inside her. An unseen breeze lifted her hair and robe, and she excluded an aura of peace and quiet courage.
"K…Kim?" Jim could hardly speak. One minute he was plunging to his death and the next he was looking at the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. It was a bit of an emotional overload. Kim turned and, grasping Silver and Jim each by the hand, started towards the exit.
"It's all right, Jim." Her voice was calm and soothing. "I am one of the Jedi Powers, where the Force chooses to grant me a special gift. Each Power has a certain element. I am the Jedi of Light."
The three continued running towards the exit during this speech. Well, two of them ran. Kim floated over the ground. "Jim, Silver, you must leave quickly! It has become too dangerous for all of us."
"How?" Jim didn't understand. What was different now? What danger could there be?
"When I revealed my powers, I gave away my position. It is dangerous for me now, and even more so for you two, should you get in the way."
A smaller, whitish portal opened near them. A figure in black launched out of it, hurtling itself at Kim. It held a blood-red lightsaber. Kim dodged it, and explained hurriedly, "I have to fight him now. Run! I can try to hold the planet together and give you more time." The black-robed figure started back for a second try. "Jim, GO!" Blue light shoved them out. And then, Kim had no more time.
The red lightsaber came down hard, Kim barely managing to block it. She fought, half her mind on the life-or-death battle, and the other half casting out her power, holding the centroid steady. This was a larger use of power than she had ever used before. The result? She grew tired, and could not spare any more power to help her fight. All she did, she would do with her own energy.
The Sith had really outdone themselves on this one. It was a boy, a human boy. A very well trained human boy, Kim thought as she blocked his attack. Not Anakin, but some other youth. His eyes were already the trademark red of the Sith. There was no turning back for him now. She hated to do so, but she would have to kill him.
The boy didn't speak a word, only fought. He used the Force to throw obstacles at her. She deflected them. He tried flipping and slicing. She blocked that, too. She was, after all, the only student who could hold her own against Yoda in a battle. The wise old master had been quite surprised during that practice.
The battle continued, light against dark, red against blue, good against evil. Kim spun, ducked, even flipped up in the air and bounced back off of a coin that had been falling down. Each time she moved, the wound in her side was lit on fire with pain, but Kim clenched her teeth and ignored it. She would not cry. To cry while in this battle would mean death.
They were nearing the edge of the abyss. The distinct buzz and crackle of lightsabers meeting filled the air as the two skilled warriors fought desperately. Then came Kim's one mistake. She slipped on a stray coin and went down. The boy raised his lightsaber to bring it down hard. Kim rolled to the side, saving her head but feeling the lightsaber slice through her left shoulder. It was, however, the opening she needed.
Twisting into a position that made her back scream, she brought her leg back for a powerful kick. The boy didn't have the experience to deal with it. He could have jumped, but her speed in her wounded state surprised him. Without a word, he tumbled into the abyss, his body disappearing as he fell.
Kim struggled painfully to her feet, and, losing her hold on the planet, zoomed out of the portal with a trail of blue light. She could only hold back nature for so long. She zoomed over the surface, looking for Jim, and saw them headed right back towards the portal. She took up a place at the rear and flew behind them, no more than a light blue streak of light.
Jim reached down from his solar surfer to touch the spaceport in the map.
The cool, calm, restful night by the spaceport was shattered when a triangle appeared in the sky. A boy, ship, and light flew out of it and ran from the raging inferno half a galaxy away.
Jim whooped and swept down to give Silver a high five. Then, he saw Kim. Her light had faded, and her tired, injured form was visible. But she was smiling proudly.
Silver saw Kim too, and, in spite of himself, Silver's eyes welled up with tears. If Kim had died in there, Silver would never have forgiven himself for getting these kids involved. Silver also, for the first time, acknowledged that he loved these two kids as he would have loved any of his own.
Jim made a beeline for her, swept her up in his arms, and landed on the deck.
Setting her down, he noticed her arm. "You're hurt!"
She shook her head. "Not badly." That's rich, Jim thought, when your muscle's been sliced clean through.
Silver rushed over to give her a hug. "I'm sorry, lass." He mumbled over her shoulder. "I'm sorry for everything." Kim winced as her wounds were pressed upon, but she ignored it, caught up in the moment.
"It's okay, Silver." Kim smiled happily. "Everything worked out just fine."
Doppler and Amelia were on their way down from the bridge when a shining white circle of light appeared on the railing. It looked like a small star had decided to come and perch on the railing.
"What is that?" Doctor Doppler gasped.
Kim turned towards it, hiding her face. "It's my ride home."
Jim felt his heart tighten. Amelia asked, on a more businesslike note, "Did you accomplish your mission?"
Kim nodded, and pulled a slightly charred globe out of her pocket. "The map? That was your mission?" Silver was incredulous.
Kim smiled. When she had gone through the portal after Jim, she had almost skidded across and then grabbed the map from where it lay. The portal had closed immediately, letting whatever debris from Treasure Planet stay in its corner of the galaxy.
"Yes. Now, we know what lies in this particular dimension. My mission was also a scientific expedition. I was the only one who could not influence this story and still get the map. And stay alive in the process."
"You risked your life for that?" Jim couldn't believe it.
Kim smiled again. "Yep. But I also needed to get some field experience. I got it on this trip."
Her smile faded. "And now, I have to say goodbye."
She walked over to Amelia and Doppler and gave them both a big hug. "Thank you for letting me tag along."
Amelia gave her a watery smile. In spite of herself, she had grown fond of this independent young woman. "Oh, tosh. You more than earned the right."
"You did indeed," Doppler agreed solemnly, shaking her hand.
She moved on to Silver, giving him one last, careful hug. "You're a right good lass," he said when they separated. "Don't let anyone ever tell y' otherwise."
She moved to face Jim. They held eye contact for a moment, and then suddenly, Kim spun away, shoulders convulsing.
A tear ran down her cheek and splashed onto the deck.
Jim was dumbstruck. After all the injuries she had suffered, and after all the emotional pain, she was crying because she had to say goodbye…to him.
He moved up next to her, turned her around, and held her.
Kim couldn't remember ever feeling so happy and sad at the same time. She had bottled up her pain for so long, and this one gesture cracked the dam.
She actually sobbed once, and then just held onto Jim, tears streaming now, but not making any other sound. She ignored the pain from her injuries. Her tears now came from the internal pain of knowing that she might never see her friend again. Jim tightened his hold, fighting tears of his own.
They stood that way for a little longer, releasing and gaining emotional pain at the same time, but then a slender tendril of white light slipped around Kim's waist. It was time for her to go home.
She released Jim, but he kept a hold on her hands.
"Kim…I love you."
"I know. But I can't say 'I love you', too. Jedi aren't supposed to fall in love. We live in two different worlds, with different dreams. But…Jim," she said, leaning close, "here's something to remember me by."
She gently, carefully kissed him, and then floated towards the portal, one last tear running down her cheek. "Goodbye, my friends."
She stepped backward. The white light flared once, and she was gone. The only reminder of her was the slight warmth that remained on Jim's lips. That, and a memory that could not be erased.