The meeting of an old enemy
Arrow began to talk again, once everyone was quiet once more. "Ah, now where was I? Ah yes! On Felinesia, we went everywhere we wanted to. We went to the restaurants, the shops, and even a tavern. In the tavern, I had just sit down for a spot of tea, when I heard a familiar voice begin to speak. 'And then the Cabin boy jumped and I wassssss headed out in the etherium.' I turned around just to see my old enemy, Mr. Scroop."
Everyone gasped and looked at each other in amazement. Scroop was alive? Well, that was the biggest news since Amelia's pregnancy.
"I knew that Scroop was a bad lot," Amelia said. "He was nearly as bad, if not worse, than his Captain! Pestilential scum!" Amelia's green eyes burned dangerously.
Jim looked over Silver cautiously, to see how he reacted, without letting on just who he was to the furious Amelia.
But Amelia's quick eyes and sharp mind, caught him in the act.
"What exactly are you up to, Mr. Hawkins?" Amelia asked archly.
"Me? Nothing at all, ma'am," Jim said quickly, giving her what he hoped was a easy going smile.
"I've been lied to by better than you, Mr. Hawkins," Amelia told him, scowling slightly. "Now, I'll ask you again. What are you playing at?"
Jim sighed, swallowed, then replied carefully. "Uh, I was just checking how our guest was feeling was all, Captain."
Amelia looked back Jim and asked slowly, "And, is there any reason he shouldn't be feeling all right, Mr. Hawkins?"
Jim swallowed with difficulty, and tried to figure how he could answer her question without giving away Silver. Before he could answere, they heard the man speak.
"Ah, now. It's OK, Jimbo. I can tell her meself, thanks." The man got slowly to his feet and moved into the light so that Amelia could see him.
Amelia stiffened, her eyes narrowing dangerously. Delbert, who was sitting beside his Amelia, saw the reflection of Silver in her eyes, and gulped.
Amelia stood up so quickly that she knocked over her chair. She looked at Silver, her lips thinning. Jim also to his feet, and moved between the irate Captain and his old friend.
Amelia glared at Silver, "You are either very brave, or very stupid, to dare to come to this place after what you did,"
she said in a low, dangerous voice that made the hair on Silver neck stand up.
Amelia's nostrils flared, and then she began to walk slowly toward Silver. The look in her green eyes was one that would have even the bravest of men screaming and running in fear for their life.
The enraged felinid Captain moved so close to him, that Silver could feel her body heat. Why, he coud even see---oh, my word!---why, the old Cap'n, she had fleas! If he hadn't been afraid for his very life, he would have smiled.
"Mr. Silver…I suggest you begin writing your will, because it's the gallows for you, you old pirate," Amelia growled at Silver. Then she clenched her hands into fists, and moved toward the door. She scowled as she noticed that Jim now barred her way.
"Move away from the door, Mr. Hawkins," she commanded, her voice crackling with anger.
"No, ma'am. Afraid I can't do that," he replied resolutely.
She glowered at him. "Oh, and why not, pray tell?"
"I owe him my life, Captain," Jim told her, his blue eyes meeting her irate green ones.
"Really? Fascinating! And why would you owe this old traitor your life, Mr. Hawkins?"
Jim swallowed and said slowly, "On Treasure Planet, he saved my life. Now it's my turn to save his. I'm not goint to let you kill my best friend, Amelia. Not now, not ever. Please, can't you just be nice to him."
"YOU ARE ASKING ME TO BE NICE TO A PIRATE AND A TRAITOR?" Amelia yelled so loud that Silver could see the fleas jump on her body.
"YOU KNOW THAT IF IT WASN'T FOR SILVER YOU WOULDN'T EVEN BE HERE NOW!" Jim was beginning to become angry with the Captain, and now he could stop pretending like he was liked by Amelia´s behavior.
Amelia looked angrily at him, yelling angrily in reply, "AND WHAT EXACTLY IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?"
Jim yelled his answer back, right into her face, "IF SLIVER AND HIS PIRATES HADN'T HURT YOU, YOU WOULD OF NEVER ALLOWED THE DOCTOR TO TAKE CARE OF YOU, AND YOU WOULD OF NEVER MARRIED HIM, OR EVEN BECOME A MOTHER!"
Amelia reacted like Jim had slapped her in the face. She felt stunned, and just looked at Jim, finally realizing that he was quite right. She would most likely be on another adventure by now, if she hadn't gotten hurt. Even Delbert realised this. Amelia looked over at Silver, who seemed to be just as surprised as all the others.
She said in a low, much subdued voice, "Very well. I will not contact the authorities."
Silver began to breathe again, much relieved. Amelia then continued, "But, only this time, mind you."
"Aye, Cap´n," Silver said. "And, thanks…"
"Is there anything you might want to say before Arrow continues with his story?" Amelia asked, flatly yet politely.
"Only two things," Silver said, sitting down next to Jim. "Scroop wasn't followin' any order from me, when he cut Arrow´s lifeline. And that's a fact," he said. "The other thing…well, this doesn't have anything to do with the story, mind, but I'm goin' to tell you anyway," he said.
"I´m listening, Mr. Silver," Amelia said.
"Sorry to say this, Cap'n…but, wel, you've got fleas," he said and nimbly grabbed one from the root of Amelia's nose, holding it up in his Cyborg arm so all could see.
Amelia's teennage girls looked horrified, and said, "Eugh!"
Amelia´s eyes where at the size of a basketballs, when she saw the proof squirming in Silver's metallic fingers. Suddenly, she felt a nasty itching behind her left ear, she reflexively began to scratch it.
"I told yeh, so I did," Silver said knowingly, and tossed the flea away, all the while smiling at the scratching Captain.
"Are the both of you quite finished now?" Arrow asked, looking first at Amelia, who then looked over at Silver, who nodded, and, then finally Jim, who said to himself, the Captain has fleas! Just wait until I tell my professors back at the Academy…