Chapter 27

Kitty appeared out of the portal, and ran toward the longboat, determined to rescue her two companions. She smiled, shook her head, and came to a halt as she saw that Amelia and Delbert had everything well in hand. The pirate, Meltdown, was already Delbert's prisoner, as well as the others attempting to escape the planet's upcoming destruction, who meekly surrendered to Amelia, eyeing warily both her laser like green eyes... as well as the laser flintlock in her hand.

Kitty, well aware of just what was happening, dashed past her two justifiably proud friends, nodding, saying, "Sorry, no time to talk. This planet is going to blast itself apart!"

Amelia's green eyes went wide a moment, but then she sat, indicating to the Doctor that he should emulate her. Once everyone---including their prisoners---was aboard and secure, Kitty blasted the longboat off and guided them all up to where the Legacy hovered in geosynchronous orbit about the destabilizing planet. Once aboard, Amelia, Delbert, and BEN headed for the bridge, while Kitty---with pistol in hand, led the prisoners down to the ship's brig where, with the snap of her fingers, the failed mutineers found themselves securely bound in coils of sturdy rope. Finishing her task, Kitty lurched as she felt the ship begin to move. She smiled back at the sullen and downhearted pirates. "See yah, fellas!" she quipped, and departed whistling a happy tune.

She headed for her normal position on the bridge, and was treated to a most amusing sight: Amelia sitting down, patiently trying to instruct Delbert just how to manuever the ship. "Excuse me, you two," she said as she made her way toward them. "But, as the planet is scheduled to explode---most likely killing us all in the process--- do you two think you could quit being so stiff with one another, and call one another by their given names and not Captain and Doctor? Hmm?"

Amelia looked back at Kitty, suprised, blinking her big green eyes. Kitty figured that if Delbert hadn't been so involved in trying to get up to speed on how to use a light ship, he would of worn a very similar expression too. Amelia recovered first, and sighed. "Very well, Kitty," Amelia conceded, and then shocked Kitty when she looked shyly over to Delbert and gave him a warm smile. "But I'm doing this only as it's you doing the asking, you realize."

Kitty smiled, replying, "Oh, of course." Delbert gave the both of them a look as if they were both losing their minds, then relented, and chuckled once softly at them both.

BEN then called out, "Jimmy, off the port bow!" The android followed up his statement with action, pointing one of his long copper-sheathed fingers at the speck growing off to the left front of the Legacy on the surface of the planet.

Delbert, his forehead showing beads of nervous perspiration, piloted the Legacy his very, along with constant council from Amelia. "That's it. Now, your doing fine. Ease her over gently, GENTLY."

Kitty had to smile at the two of them. When the Legacy finally heaved to, and allowed both Jim and Silver aboard, Amelia smartly ordered BEN, "Take us away from here, metal man!"

To which the tickled android responded, "Aye, Captain!"

Once they were under way again, Amelia gazed down at the unlikely duo before her. Sensing her observing them, both Silver and Jim looked up. Jim smiled at the Captain, while Silver tried his very best to squirm out from what most likely would be an extended jail term at best, a hanging---his own!---at worst. "Captain," Silver wheedled with a thankful grin, "yeh dropped from heaven in the nick of---"

Kitty shook her head, while Amelia rolled her eyes, saying, "Save your claptrap for the judge, Silver." Kitty knew how things would turn out, but decided to make Silver sweat a little for all he'd done. As both Kitty and Amelia glared at him, Silver could only just chuckly nervously, his eyes becoming a bit wild.

The journey continued, the Doctor piloting the Legacy, until Kitty saw a shard of the exploding planet arc up to rip through the mizzen sail. BEN began making rapid calculations on some instrument in his hands, as the Legacy's speed fell off and the ship began to sputter. BEN reported the status, "Mizzen sail failed to mobilize, Captain. Thrusters at only thirty percent of capacity!"

Delbert, an avid mathematician, began to think aloud. "Thirty percent? But that means..." he began, only to look over to Amelia, and then added sadly, "We´ll never clear the planet's explosion in time..."

Jim wasn't buying that! He looked desperately about the deck, and a wild scheme hatched in his mind. He could see debris aboard ship that he could---with some effort---transform into a conveyance something like a solar surfer. Brash and bold, the young man jumped down to the main deck, scrambled over to the remains of the now defunct laser cannon, proclaiming, "We gotta turn around!"

Amelia, from her place on the bridge, was thinking madly just how to salvage victory from this debacle facingher, couldn't believe her ears. "What?" she cried in surprise, getting quickly to her feet, holding her arm protectively against her wounded ribcage.

Jim began pulling pieces off the laser cannon, and shook his head in determination, looking back at her. "Look, there´s a portal back there that can get us out of here!"

Delbert frowned, a bit perplexed by Jim's observation. "Pardon me, Jim," he began seemingly calmly, "but doesn't that portal open onto..." It was here that his voice broke in obvious frustration, and he quickly bellowed, "... a raging inferno?"

Jim was nonplussed by the Doctor's vehemence. "Well, yes... but I'm gonna change that. I´m gonna open a different door!" he informed the Doctor. Jim finally freed the laser cannon's breech mechanism, but was having difficulty devising a way to affix it to the long jagged slab of metal he intended to use as a board.

Delbert was flabbergasted by Jim's proposition, saying to Amelia, "I can´t see how that would be possible."

However, luckily for Jim, both Kitty and Silver had the foresight and trust in young Jim Hawkins, and said as much. "Listen to the boy!" Silver bellowed before heading over to help Jim, Kitty following him. As Silver welded the cannon breech to the metal board, Kitty hefted the heavy construct up with ease---with some help from her magic, of course.

Jim looked back at the two of them thankfully. He then turned and looked up to the Doctor and Amelia. "No matter what happens... keep heading straight for the the portal!"

BEN chose that most pregnant moment to bellow, "Fifty-eight seconds to planet destruction!"

Jim nodded one last time to Silver and Kitty and took off with a backblast and whoosh of flame. Both Kitty and Silver then turned toward where Amelia and Delbert were piloting the ship. "Well, you heard him," they both said as one. "Get this blasted heap turned around!"

Amelia frowned, then realizing she had no better idea, sighed and conceded to the overly loud duo. "Doctor," she commanded briskly. "Head us back towards the portal."

Delbert---despite his reservations---was determined to not let Amelia down. Without one complaint, he simply heeled the wheel over, replying, "Aye, Captain."

Needless to say, this was firming up into the most exiting trip aboard the Legacy that Kitty had ever been on... and that would be saying a bit. She had to laugh at Delbert and Amelia, though, as their arguing and banter proved immensely humorous to her.

For example, as a huge shard of the exploding planet loomed into their path, Amelia commanded, "To the right! THE RIGHT!"

The normally reserved Doctor then looked back at her irately and bellowed, "I know, I know! Will you just let me drive?"

Amelia was initially shocked by this response, but then grinned helplessly, quickly stifling a bout of the giggles. Kitty too had to laugh at this outburst from the normally congenial Doctor Doppler. "The way you two argue so, you would think you were married," Kitty observed with a clever little grin.

Amelia smiled at that, and replied, "As much as it pains me to admit it, Kitty... you were right. I've never met a fellow as charming as Delbert Doppler. He is someone I would enjoy knowing a bit better, actually..."

BEN then squealed again, his voice squeaking with fright and desperation, "Ten seconds! Five, four, three, two, one...!" As everyone held their collective breath (well, BEN didn't really breathe per se, but...), they watched in wonder as they slipped through the portal just as Treasure Planet ignited in a most spectacular conflagration. Kitty, BEN, and Silver cheered... heck, even the pirates in the brig cheered with gusto. Morph turned himself into a whole fireworks display, and Delbert and Amelia---in a moment of high emotion---hugged each other warmly, simply glad to be alive. The hug went on for more than either had originally anticipated.

Leave it to Kitty to prove the rogue. "Okay, you two. Do I need to get a hose?" Kitty kidded, which caused both Amelia and Delbert to separate in obvious embarrassment, but while they no longer clung to one another, they still held each other's hands. Kitty decided to mercifully change the subject. "Hey, that's Jim down there!"

All three of them quickly descended to the main deck, where Jim was being ecstatically licked by Morph. Amelia, with an overjoyed Delbert beside her, proclaimed, "Unorthodox... but ludicrously effective. I´d be proud to recommend you to the Interstellar Academy. They could use a man like you."

Then Delbert moved over to seize Jim's hand and shake it over and over. "Just wait until your mother hears about this!" he crowed, then composed himself a bit. "Of course, we'll have to downplay the life-threatening parts..." Jim grinned in pride, as Doppler took his place beside Amelia, rather boldly slipping his arm about her in the process.

Kitty chose to ignore this, but her smile said she'd seen. She moved forward to shake Jim's hand as well. "Congratulations, Jim!" she said.

"What? This is all the thanks I get?" Jim argued, pretending to pout, but his chow-eating grin gave away his true feelings.

"Well," Kitty mused out loud. She looked over toward Amelia, her eyes glimting with amusement. Kitty grabbed a most startled Jim, and planted a big kiss on his cheek.

Amelia laughed softly, her green eyes warm with amusement at her rascal of a Second Officer, but stopped soon enough as her damage ribcage tarted to pain her again. Delbert turned to her, his eyes betraying his concern. Amelia eyed him warily at first, not wanting to appear weak, but eventually smiled and leaned against the startled but pleased astrophyscist.

Kitty excused herself as BEN began to rant once more, leaving Jim with the over emotional android, thank you. Kitty decided to head up to Amelia's stateroom and after a while, as she looked out of the expanse of windows at the back of the room, a longboat whisked by in the opposite direction of the Legacy's course.

Kitty bade Silver a silent good-bye and good luck. The pirate might of been a rogue, but all in all, he wasn't a bad fellow at all. That was when Amelia made her appearance, somewhat battered and worse for wear, but elegant and in command of herself despite all that.

"Well, where is Delbert gotten himself to?" Kitty asked. "I thought the two of you were inseperable..." Kity was really enjoying this, much to Amelia's chagrin.

"Very droll again, Kitty dear. But, if you must know, Dr. Doppler headed back to his cabin," Amelia explained. "Packing his belongings and what not, you know."

Kitty nodded, then got to her feet to help Amelia sit down in her chair. Amelia groaned softly as she leaned back. "So... what do you think of this adventure so far, Amelia?" Kitty asked. "Pretty exciting, huh?"

"Exciting, she says. Well, let´s see," Amelia began, just a bit sarcastically. "Arrow died, my whole crew turned out to be nothing but pirates, I was injured, and, in the end, we ended up with not a drop of treasure."

Kitty blushed in embarrassment. Amelia certainly painted the whole thing rather dismally, she thought. "Well... you got to meet Delbert at least," Kitty replied, smiling. "As well as maybe, perhaps falling in love with man, I think." Kitty gave Amelia a look that said, 'prove me wrong'. Amelia had the good grace to blush... rather prettily at that.

Kitty continued, much as to finish her own say as well as save her poor friend from having to blush so. "And to say that we didn't end up with any treasure isn't really all that accurate, really..."

"Oh? Do tell, dear," Amelia said, looked inquiringly over at Kitty.

Kitty smiled and dipped her hands inside all her pockets---one at a time---proceeding to lay golden dubloon after golden dubloon out on Amelia's pristine desk. Amelia eyes grew wide, and her brows arched up... as Kitty continued to reveal the extent of the treasure she had salvaged.

"Now, these I saved especially for you, my dear Amelia," Kitty stated, smiling and mysteriously pulling out of her trouser pocket the exquisite blue sapphire necklace, and presented it to a speechless Amelia. "You may consider his, dear, compensation for not telling you your crew was made up entirely of pirates. I'm sorry I had to do that," she said and laid it in her hands.

"Kitty," Amelia gasped, her eyes gazing with amazement down at the priceless heirloom in her slender hands. "Why... this is far too precious for you to---"

Kitty cut her off with a wave of her hand. "It's mine to give to whomever I want. And, I want to give it to you."

"But, Kitty... dear dear Kitty," Amelia continued to protest.

Kitty moved over before Amelia, and put her hands softly on her shoulders. "Look, Amelia," she began. "You and I have been through so much. You're like the sister I've always wanted, okay? I love you. So... if I want to give you some treasure... you're supposed to say, 'Thank you, Kitty.'"

"Thank you, Kitty," Amelia parroted with a grin, hugging Kitty with her good arm.

Kitty grinned. "But, wait... there's more!" she proclaimed, and then took out the necklace of round platinum links with red rubies. "Now, this is for my not telling about Arrow... well, you know," She smiled at Amelia, who took the second gift from her friend, her glorious green eyes glistening with tears. "Oh, I have a pair of earrings too, but... those I was planning on giving you as gift on the day of your bachelorette party where I´m going to make you so drunk that you won´t even mind getting your ears pierced." She winked roguishly at Amelia.

"Kitty, you are an absolute scoundrel," Amelia proclaimed around a large yawn. "But I love you all the same..."

Kitty smiled at that. "You really shoud get to bed, Captain," Kitty said and all the drubloons abruptly disappeared before Amelia's eyes. "Just in case you're getting a bit greedy... know that these drubloons are mine, and I'll decide what they get used for."

"Of course, dear... I wouldn't expect anything less," Amelia said, grunting as she staggered to her feet, her face a grimace.

Kitty snapped her fingers and a thick book appeared out of nowhere. She flipped to some page, and began reading. She read until she nodded, as if coming to some sort of understanding. Then she then turned toward Amelia. "Do sit down again, Amelia... and sit still," she commanded, helping her off with her jacket and shirt, so that she sat there only in her brassiere. Kitty winced to see the dreadful looking purple, black, and blue bruise covering Amelia's entire left side of her ribcage. Kitty snapped her fingers, and---presto!---suddenly Amelia's ribs were being wrapped in soft sturdy bandages. Kitty then conjured a glass of water out of nowhere as well as two small orange pills. "Here," she said kindly, and gave the pills to Amelia. "These will help deaden the pain... so you can sleep. That shoud do the trick for the while, I think."

Amelia gave Kitty a look of disbelief, but conceded to her commands, and took the pills, drinking all the water. Kitty then helped her back up to her feet and walked Amelia into her chambers. "Time for you to rest and recuperate, Amelia," Kitty declared with purpose, stooping to help pull off Amelia's tall boots. She then lifted her friend's legs up and helped her lie back on the bed, pulling the clean sheets up to her chin. "You have earned it."

And with that, and well... a kiss on Amelia's forehead, Kitty went out to help the others run the good ship, RLS Legacy...