Chapter 11

The following day found Jim descending down to the galley.

"Why, Jimbo! How are yeh this grand day, me lad?" Silver rumbled in a kind voice.

"Just great, Silver," Jim responded. "I just came by to pick up lunch for the Captain and her family."

"Ah and so you did. Well, I won't keep yeh from your rounds, lad," Silver replied and gave him a tray with six covered plates of food on it. Jim turned to leave, then turned back to Silver again. "Oh, by the way, I was supposed to tell you that the Captain has invited you to her stateroom when you have the time," Jim informed him, and then left.

Silver dutifully finished his after lunch tasks, cleaned up, and then made his way up to Amelia's stateroom. He reached the door, and knocked politely.

"Enter," he heard Amelia call through the door. Silver opened the door gently, and then ducked his head inside. "Ah, Jimbo, er, Mr. Hawkins said yeh wanted t'see me, Cap'n," Silver began, removing his tricorne hat.

"Yes, do come in, Mr. Silver," Amelia commanded. "If you do recall, I informed you that if you could prove to me that I could trust you, that I would let bygones be bygones. Do you recall that?"

"Aye, Ma'am, so I do," Silver replied, idly fingering the brim of his battered hat.

"You have rewarded Mr. Hawkins' trust in your character, Mr. Silver. And mine as well. As far as I am concerned, we are back to square one again. Good evening, Mr. Silver. I am Captain Amelia Doppler… how do you do?" Amelia began with a small smile, extending her hand out to shake.

Silver grinned too, his cyborg eye glowing a golden-white. He took Amelia's slender hand in his own, and shook. "Tis a fine pleasure t'make yer acquaintance, Ma'am. Yeh run a fine ship, so yeh do," Silver replied, letting go of her hand.

"Thank you," Amelia responded. "There a fine bunch of spacers, if I do say so myself." She then nodded to her right, and her four children rushed into the stateroom, their faces aglow with excitement. "Welcome aboard the Legacy, Spacer Silver. Now… for your first duty, I have this lot of junior cadets for you to contend with…"

Silver grinned, then pretended to be wary, though the smile on his face gave him away. "Ah now, Cap'n… what would me duties be then with these fine cadets, ma'am?"

Amanda wriggled with excitement, then exclaimed, "Tell us about Treasure Planet, Mr. Silver!"

The other three looked up at him with pleading eyes, and angelic expressions. "Please!" they begged.

Amelia chuckled at her children and their actions. "You see, Mr. Silver… they have already heard my rendition of that tale, as well as that of my husband as well as Mr. Hawkins. Your duty is to give them them your recounting of our adventure. Once you've fulfilled your duty, then you may count yourself officially forgiven."

"Aye, ma'am," Silver replied, giving her a salute and a grin. He dragged a chair around, took his seat, and then beckoned slyly to the Doppler children. "Gather round, me hearties," he told them, laughing as the four children gathered around his knees, eager to listen.

He told them all about the adventure to Treasure Planet from his point of view, and it was clear that even Amelia listened to what he had to say. When Silver brought the tale to its rousing finish, the Doppler children looked up at the big ursinid in awe.

Benjamin was the first to speak. "Wow!" was all he said.

Amelia looked up from her paper work and smiled. "It seems to me, Mr. Silver, that you have earned my children's trust as well as their admiration," she told him matter-of-factly. "And let me tell you that that is no small accomplishment."

"Ah now, Cap'n… I was just tellin' the tykes a story. What child can resist hearin' a tale o' action and adventure, I ask yeh?" Silver replied humbly.

"Nevertheless," Amelia continued. "I shall have a rather pointed discussion with the Admiralty, and see to it that when you come to Montressor… it shall be as a free man."

"God bless yeh, Cap'n!" Silver replied in heart-felt thanks.

"That is all for the moment, Mr. Silver," Amelia then said, Captain once more. "You are dismissed. Oh, if you should see Mr. Hawkins, kindly ask him to stop by when he is available."

"Aye aye, Cap'n," Silver said, getting to his feet. "An' thanks again…"

A half an hour later, Jim ducked his head into Amelia's stateroom door. "You wanted to see me, Captain?" he asked.

"Ah, yes," Amelia said, stowing away the last of her paper work into its appropriate storage area. "Do come in… and kindly shut the door, if you please."

Jim removed his hat, and moved to just before Amelia's desk. Amelia placed her elbows on the desk's surface, and looked up at the expectant Jim.

"Mr. Hawkins," she began in a calm, quiet voice. "I have a question for you."

"Yes, ma'am?" Jim replied.

"Did your mother drop you on your head when you were young, perhaps?" Amelia growled.

"What?" Jim asked, taken aback.

"Let me make this abundantly clear to you, Mr. Hawkins," Amelia said, getting slowly to her feet, and leaning over her desk. "If you capture a pirate, you do NOT let him GO!" Amelia bellowed. She directed her laser-like green eyes into Jim's, and continued. "In the Interstellar Navy, we call that 'aiding and abetting a fugitive', Mr. Hawkins… and that is punishable by a generous visit to the penal colony on Arcturus Prime. Am I making myself clear, sir?"

"Painfully so, Captain," Jim replied, inwardly cringing.

"Very well then," Amelia said, tugging her jacket back down, and retaking her seat once more. "Let usyou and Ithen talk about a suitable punishment, shall we?"

Jim swallowed hard, then replied, "Yes, Captain…"