Chapter 6

Five days later, the RLS Legacy made planetfall at the port on the planet Teranasuna. Once her ship was secured and reprovisioning had began, Amelia gave Jim leave to begin his search for Silver.

Jim looked about the capital city, T'Suna, all day long. But, finally, with a resigned sigh, he headed back to the port and the Legacy. Once he had made his way back aboard the Legacy, he headed directly for the Captain's stateroom. Outside her door, he knocked politely.

"Enter," Amelia called out through the door, and Jim obediantly entered into her domain.

"So," Amelia asked, looking up from a desk full of paper work. "Any luck, Mr. Hawkins?"

"Regretfully, no, Captain. Though, I did talk with some spacers down at some tavern, and they told me that Silver had gone off to Taneymon only two days ago," Jim recalled.

Amelia looked down at the star chart located just in front of herself on her desk. "Hmm. That's no quick journey, Jim," she told him, mentally figuring the distance to the discussed system. "Even at best speed, it will take us nearly three weeks time to get there." Amelia then looked up at him, and after a moment, added, "Still up to continuing your search, Mr. Hawkins?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Jim replied with determination. "Shall I inform the crew, Captain?"

"Yes, please do so," Amelia answered and looked back down to her star chart a moment. Jim turned for the stateroom door, when Amelia brought him up short.
"One moment, James… I have something I'd care to discuss with you… privately."

"What is it, Captain?" Jim asked, tired yet curious.

"I'm afraid I am going to be brutally honest with you, Mr. Hawkins. I still have not forgiven Mr. Silver his past. He hurt me, attempted to abscond with my ship, and broke at least a dozen other naval rules and regulations in the process," Amelia told him, ticking off points on her slender fingers, one at a time. She paused a moment, observing Jim getting ready to argue. She held up a hand, and said, "Now, do not get me wrong, Mr. Hawkins. I have no intentionat this time, at leastof calling in the authorities. However, I want you to keep in mind that this is only due to my high regard for you personally, James…and in no way reflects my true feelings for that scoundrel Silver…"

Amelia leaned over toward Jim, her green eyes bright and earnest. "Know this… if that rogue should try to hurt me, my husband, or most importantly, my children, I shall be the one pulling the lever to send him to his just rewards at the gallows!" Amelia balled her fists, and gazed purposefully at Jim, putting all her card on the table. "Is that clear, Mr. Hawkins?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Jim said, swallowing hard. He knew that Amelia was telling him the truth. He cringed internally at the thought of Silver at the end of a rope…but, moments later relaxed. Silver was no fool… he most surely knew that threatening Amelia or her own would be akin to playing chicken with a supernova… a true no-win situation.