Chapter 7

Three weeks later, the Legacy finally reached the Taneymon system. Again, after completing his duties, Jim left the ship to search for his ex-pirate friend, John Silver.

He searched the port town high and low, but had no luck. Feeling a bit weary and not a little dejected, Jim decided to have a rest and a cool drink at the inn at the end of the street. Jim had to stifle a sneeze and a cough in the smoky atmosphere of the crude spacer's tavern. An alien woman, with tentacles in lieu of hair and light blue skin, approached him, a small smile on her lips. "Welcome, spacer," she said, wiping off a metal tankard with her bar towel. "What's your pleasure?"

"A purp juice, please," Jim replied and sat himself down on a table near the kitchen. "I've got duty later today, you see." The woman quickly returned with his purp juice, and Jim lazily listened to the conversations going on about him as he sipped his drink. Nearly five minutes, and another purp juice later, Jim nearly sputtered on his purp juice when he heard a most familiar voice in the background.

The woman with the tentacle-hair was talking to a big fellow wearing a cloak and a battered tricorne hat. The big man turned at that moment, and Jim smiled as he saw the familiar silouette of his friend and mentor, Silver.

"Ah now, Lucy lass," Silver began, his silver tongue working on the alien woman. "Tis nuthin' 'bout you, darlin'. But a man's got to go ta where the money's at, doncha know."

Jim shook his head, smiling at the old rascal, and then got to his feet and sauntered over just behind Silver. "Well well, you old scalawag… just where are you off to now?" Jim asked just loud enough for Silver's benefit.

Silver frowned, turning to look at who was addressing him so familiarly, and really didn't recognize Jim at first. But that was remedied when an ecstatic Morph flew up out of one of Jim´s pockets, to swirl about Silver's head like a some pink scarf.

"Ah, Morphy," Silver rumbled in pleasure, chuckling as the morph continued to coo and fuss about him. "'ere now, what's this?" he then added, finally looking closer at Jim, who looked rather impressive in his naval uniform. "Jimbo? is it really you, lad?" Silver asked in obvious disbelief.

"Yeah, it's me," Jim replied with a laugh. "Say, I've been looking for this old cyborg friend of mine. Big fella, hard to miss. You, uh, haven't seen him around, by chance?" Jim grinned cleverly, pushing his tricorn hat back to reveal his face.

Silver could only laugh. "Ah, Jimmo… missed yeh, I have!" he told Jim, playfully clapping him on the shoulder.

"Same here, Silver!" Jim responded, giving the big man a most heart-felt hug.

The two reminisced for a while, reliving old times. Then Jim got right to the point. "So… you got any plans, Silver?"

The ursinid cyborg rubbed his lantern jaw thoughtfully. "Umm, some lad. But, nuthin' I couldn't put aside if I chose to. Why do you ask, Jimbo?"

"Well, it would be great if you could, well, come back with me and… well, live on Montressor," Jim suggested, careful to not get his hopes up yet.

"Montressor, is it now?" Silver mused, smiling. "Might not be such a bad idea, Jim lad. I could use meself a sleepy wee planet to settle down for a spell."

"Really?" Jim asked, nearly speechless with his joy. "You mean it? You'd come back with me?"

"Jimmo," Silver said in a low but serious voice. "Just hasn't been the same wit'out yeh, lad. E'er since that wee jaunt we had to… well, you know… I find that me life's become, well, a bit less excitin', so it has."

Jim grinned, and took Silver's hand. "You know what? I think you're right, you old pirate. So… what do you say? Hawkins and Silver again?"

"Ah now, it'd be Silver an' Hawkins, Jimmo," Silver corrected before bursting out laughing. He wiped his eyes a moment later and asked, "So… when do we go a-findin' ourselves a way back to sleepy Montressor, eh me boy?"

"Well," Jim confessed with a wink. "I just so happen to have a ship out waiting for us… right this very minute, Silver."

"Do yeh now?" Silver remarked with a barked laugh. "Right smart o' yeh, Jimbo. So, what say we get crackin', me lad!"

Jim led Silver along the streets to the spaceport, both of them chatting amiably as they went. Finally, Jim drew him to the last berth on this quay, the one that held the proud ship, RLS Legacy.

Silver stopped, and gaped at the all-too-familiar ship before him. "Ah now, Jimmo… yeh didn't tell this old spacer that it be the Legacy yeh be hirin'…" Silver looked worried, and his face was a bit paler now. "Are yeh sure that this is such a good idea, lad?"

"Trust me, Silver," Jim assured him, pulling him toward the extended gangplank that led to the Legacy's main deck. "I've got everything in hand… really."

"I sure be hopin' so, Jimbo," Silver replied, swallowing hard. "Surely I do…"

"Come on," Jim urged, and reluctantly Silver followed until he was where he swore he'd never be again… at least in not in this lifetime.

Jim looked quickly to the bridge, and spotted Amelia in conversation with Delbert and the engineer. However, as if she could sense their very presense, Amelia's green gaze flicked down to spot Jim… and the hulking figure of John Silver.

"Let me do the talking, okay?" Jim murmured to a most unsettled Silver.

"Whatever you say, Jim," Silver replied, pulling his tricorn hat down over his face.

Amelia gracefully descended the stairs to the main deck. With her heels clicking ominously on the holystoned decks of her ship, she approached the pair, finally stopping a mere meter away. "So, who have we here, Mr. Hawkins?" Amelia commanded, knowing full well who it really was.

Before Jim could speak, Silver eased his hat back, and smiled weakly at the now-scowling Captain. "Ah, Captain…" Silver said meekly. "Imagine the chances o' meetin' such a fine lady such as yerself again…"

Amelia merely rolled her eyes. "Silver," she almost accused. "Welcome aboard the RLS Legacy. If you were expecting a warm welcome… well, then think again, sir! It is only for Mr. Hawkins' sake that I'm being this civil. If I had my way, let me assure you…" Amelia let her thought peter out, and regained her composure once more.

"Let us get a few things straight first, shall we?" Amelia said in a voice that allowed only Jim and Silver to hear her. "You are safe aboard my ship, as a passenger. However, should you attempt toat any time, or in any fashionharm myself, my husband, my children, or any member of my crew while aboard ship, I shall have you dangling from the nearest yardarm in a moment's notice. Am I clear, Mr. Silver?"

"Aye, painfully so, Cap'n," Silver replied, gently rubbing his throat subconsciously.

Amelia nodded in satisfaction. "Now, on to the more mundane, then. First off, our cabin boy has found himself employment on this world, and I have granted his request to part ways. That leaves us short handed."

"Uh, Cap'n…" Silver began, only to be cut off by Amelia. He was obviously afraid that he would be cast in the role as cabin boy.

"You needn't worry, Mr. Silver," Amelia continued. "Our present cook, Mr. MacGee, has most helpfully consented to fill that post, which leaves you as our cook… a post you are most likely familiar with… when not plotting mutiny, of course…"

"Captain," Jim warned, not wanting her to get herself worked up on that particular subject.

"Yes, yes," Amelia relented with an irritated wave of her hand. It was then that Amelia's four children and her husband appeared.

"Mr. Silver! Well, bless my soul!" Delbert declared in a soft, surprised voice.

"Hello, Doc," Silver replied, tugging his forelock in respect. "Seems we be havin' ourselves a bit of a reunion of sort, hey!"

"Doctor, what are you doing here?" Amelia exclaimed in exasperation.

"We wanted to see who was with Uncle Jim, Momma," Amanda replied. "Poppa said we could only go if we went with him."

Amelia rolled her eyes, and sighed, closing them a moment. "Children…"

Silver's eyes went wide, and then he grinned. "Mark me! Yeh went and married the Cap'n, Doc? An' those four are yer lasses and lad then?"

Delbertnot catching the venomous look Amelia cast toward Silverblithely responded. "Oh, yes! I do indeed have that privilege, Mr. Silver. Oh, and may I introduce to you our children? This is Benjamin, our son. And these beauties here are my daughters, Amanda, Alice, and Angelina."

"Oh, very nicely done, Doctor," hissed Amelia irately. "Have you completely lost your mind? In case you don't remember, Mr. Silver here tried his level best to kill us all the last time we were all together. You do remember, don't you, Doctor?"

"Well, yes, I suppose I do," Delbert stammered in reply. "But, AmI mean, Captain, I'm sure he's a changed man by now, wouldn't you think?"

"As they say on Felisia, Doctor," Amelia told him with a flinty glance. "A leopard never changes her spots." She then cast a meaningful glare at Jim, and turned to her family. "Come along, Doctor, children," she instructed. She then turned back to Silver. "Remember, Mr. Silver, hurt even one of them, and it's the noose for you. Just remember." Amelia led her family away, as protective as a mother lion toward her cubs.

Silver whistled softly to himself. "Who'd of ever thought? The Captain, a mother," he said in obvious surprise.

"Oh, yeah," Jim told him. "And a most protective one at that. But, then again, you probably figured that out all on your own. Just stay away from them, and everything will be just fine, Silver."

"The Cap'n and the Doc?" Silver then said, shaking his head in wonder. "Hmm, will wonders never cease..."

Jim closed his eyes, and slumped his shoulders. "Look, you should get down to the galley, straightaway. There's a felinid fellow who goes by the name of Jake MacGee. He'll be your cabin boy, this time out. He's good guy, be nice to him."

"As nice as I was to you, Jimbo?" Silver teased, a clever grin coming to his face.

"Nicer," Jim countered with a grin of his own.

"So, if yer not the cabin boy anymore, what is it you do now for the Cap'n?" Silver asked, interested.

"Oh, nothing important, you rogue," Jim answered, grinning. "Just her First Officer, you know," Jim said with a laugh, and went about his duties.