Chapter 15
Silver strode up the gangway aboard the RLS Legacy, followed by his somewhat scruffy-looking crewmates.
"Good morning there!" Kitty yelled upon catching sight of the cyborg, waving his way in greeting.
Silver's eyes went wide in most obvious surprise. "Just how in blazes did that girl get here afore us all? He thought quickly to himself. That train of thought was cut short when he fell under the disapproving gaze of the felinid who stood upon the ship's bridge. Silver was a bit unnerved at just how much like the first lass this one was. She looked nearly Kitty's twin, but for three things: her hair was a rich auburn instead of Kitty's blonde, her uniform was of a ship's Captain instead of Kitty's creamy white apparel, and her facial expression was a storm of disapproval instead of the one of polite greeting that Kitty wore.
Amelia nodded---as politely as she could manage---and said---in a most commanding voice, "Welcome, gentlemen, aboard the RLS Legacy. I am Captain Amelia, the owner of this fine ship." She paused, her laser-like green eyes scrutinizing the uncivilized group with near surgical precision. She continued, "Now, before we begin our acquaintance, I'm rather afraid I need to review all your papers and credential, so that I can ascertain your histories and particular skill sets. You know, it just won't do for me to take on a bunch of greenhorns, when I'm in need of seasoned spacers. I'm sure you understand..." Amelia's smile was polite, but pointed.
Silver frowned a moment, but then withdrew from his striped trousers a tired, dog-eared envelope and handed it over to Amelia. "Here yeh are, Ma'am. Papers for me spacers, as well as meself. There all in order, o' course..." Silver tried to give Amelia his most charming smile.
Amelia flicked her glance his way a moment. "Yes, I'm sure. Oh, thank you, Mister...?" Amelia looked back to Silver's face, searching for his name.
Silver bowed his head in respect and smiled again. "I be John Silver, Ma'am...at your service, so I am," Silver informed her. "Seasoned spacer and cyborg extraordinaire." Silver grinned broadly at his boast, then added, "As yer cook, yeh see, on this fine adventure o' yours, Cap'n."
Amelia raised an eyebrow at that, and simply nodded. She moved back to her position on the bridge, with Kitty and Arrow standing beside her. She looked over the ursinid's papers in detail... but, much to her disappointment, everything seemed in order. "Very well then. As I've already told you, I'm Captain Amelia, commander of this ship. This fine gentleman is my First Officer, Mr. Arrow," she said and Arrow nodded to Silver's spacers. "Rounding out this ship's complement of officers, will be Ms. Petro here," Amelia continued, nodding toward Kitty, who nodded, then waited until Amelia's gaze was elsewhere and then added a friendly wave at the would-be pirates. Amelia turned her eye back toward Kitty. "Ms. Petro here will serve in the capacity of my Second Officer, deferring to only Arrow and myself," Amelia explained. "So... to make this quite simple, if one of we three should tell you to do something, do consider it an order. Not following one of our orders will be seen as insubordination or even mutiny... and will result in your enjoying the remainder of our voyage in our ship's fine brig. Do I make myself abundantly clear, gentlemen and lady?"
"Yes, Ma'am" or "Yes, Cap'n", the spacers said.
"Very good then, you are all dismissed. Arrow will be about to assign you your duties. Clear skies to you all," Amelia said, then turned about began walking towards her stateroom.
"Ah, beggin' yer pardon an' all, Ma'am," Silver said, as he sidled up beside Kitty. Much to his surprise, the girl's normally friendly face was as serious as the dour Captain's. "If'n it isn't too much bother, Ma'am... do yeh think yeh could so kind as to be pointin' meself in the direction o' the galley?"
"Of course," Kitty replied, gestured to Silver to follow, and they both made their way toward the galley, which was aft and below deck.
Once down in the galley, Silver looked around what was to be his new surroundings. "Aye, this is mighty cozy, so it is," he observed with a grin. He turned back to where Kitty still stood, watching him. "Er, I've a question of yeh, Miss," Silver ventured, rubbing his real hand along his lantern jaw. "How might a fine bonny lass such as yerself manage to arrive aboard afore the rest o' us? If'n yeh don't mind me askin', that is, Ma'am?" He asked.
Kitty smiled at his question. "Well, let's just say that I know a few tricks, Mr. Silver," Kitty said mysteriously, then turned toward the purp barrel, raising her hand, her palm upward.
Silver's eyes---both of them---widened in awe as one purp began floating just a few centimeters in the air above the lip of the barrel. Kitty then began moving her fingers in a beckoning gesture, like she was enticing the purple fruit to her palm. When it was right in front of her, she snatched it quickly from the air, and took a bite of it. "You know, old boy, lunch isn't all that far off. The Captain gets cranky if her lunch is late. So, you shoud probably start your preparations... and soon," Silver she said to the cyborg. "We´ll be launching at 1700 hours today."
Silver, shaking his head in wonder, saluted the young woman. "Yes, Ma'am. Right away, Ma'am," Silver said quietly as Kitty started walking towards the stairs leading up on deck. He continued to shake his head, even as he began preparations for making his famous bonzabeast stew.