Wow-o-wow! Man, the last few weeks have been busy! Between college and, well, more college, and chores...and a few other things like...oh I don't know...well I've been busy! And on top of that I've been really tired. Oh, and I got my driver's license! So stay off the roads for anyone in the Chicago-land area! Bwahaha. Ah well. Anyway, here's an update. I know Lala (you don't mind if I shorten it to just that do you, dear?) has been ever so patient and I am very grateful. So to award her excellent fortitude, as well as everyone else's, here is chapter ten! Enjoy! (falls asleep)

Silver was rudely jolted awake by the harsh thumping of a cane against his shin. Looking up while trying to wipe away what he hoped was an inconspicuous trace of drool on his chin, Silver found a grinning Jim Hawkins staring down at him. The sly smirk had returned to his scarred features he realized, as well as the invigorating light of youth newly stimulated in his eyes at the thought of finally heading home.

"Hey," Jim said with a wide smile and rather robust laugh. "You ready?"

Against his yawn all Silver could do was nod his head as he ushered Jim out the door. One of the nurses bid them goodbye as they left, and neither Jim or Silver hesitated to show their excitement of being rid of the place forever. As one they stepped outside into the polluted streets of Bedua and started immediately toward the ship docks.

"How much did it cost you to get these tickets?" Jim asked as he looked down at his own tentatively once Silver had handed it to him.

"Don't worry about it," Silver stated with a smile. "It wasn't nothing I couldn't afford."

"Yeah, but..." Jim looked skeptical. "I'll pay you back when we get home."

"I'll have none of it!" Silver guffawed, resting a hand upon the young boy's shoulders. "I told you, Jimbo, not to worry about it."

"But..."

The cyborg raised a finger at the boy's face and eyed him dangerously, or at least attempted to. "I told you I'll have none of it!"

Although he saw directly through the faux pas, Jim could only grin in the face of such a useless thread. He boarded the ship with Silver in his shadow while tacitly forming a plan in which he could get Silver back for his seemingly endless favors. He knew better than to believe that Silver had as much money as he boasted when Jim protested any of his help, and knew also that the cyborg was too proud to admit that he'd most definitely be in a financial rut at the end of all of this. (His friend's unsubstantiated threats were proof of this theory as far as Jim was concerned.)

"No luggage?" asked one of the crew members with a skeptical up-and-down inspection of the odd pair as they came aboard.

"Nothing," came Silver before Jim could even fully register the sentence. "We'll be making our way to our room now if you don't mind. When's lunch?"

"At thirteen hundred hours, sir."

Silver nodded his thanks and together they made their way into the corridors of the ship.

All Jim could think of as they navigated their way down the long, decorative corridors was how impressive everything was compared to the last ship he was on. That thought, however, did not last long as painful memories of old friends and respected professors began to pour over his mind. People that were no doubt lost forever. Wincing, Jim sighed and allowed his gaze to hang slightly lower in hopes of drowning out the images, and not attracting his large companion's attention.

He was awoken from his dark day dreaming, however, by Silver's thunderous cry of triumph after having finally found their cabin.

"Here it is!" he grumbled as he toggled the lock and key together. "Finally!"

Jim grinned and shook his head. There was no end to the amusement Silver could provide for the young man. Even now in a moment of heightened frustration ("The key isn't working! I swear, ships these days don't run like they used to!") Jim found himself desperately fighting a wave of laughter that grew from the pit of his stomach and had to be silenced behind clenched teeth and a strained tongue.

"Let me," said Jim after a few more minutes of Silver cursing and grunting against the door.

"No need, Jimbo, I'll get it."

"Yeah but you're drawing attention."

At these words Silver frowned and peered down both sides of the corridor. He had indeed drawn a great deal of attention to the duo. People were peering hesitantly from behind their opened cabin doors, while waiters and crewman glanced questioningly over their shoulders at the upheaval this strange, large man was creating.

Grumbling, Silver handed Jim the key. Not a second later they were inside their cabin: Silver looking crestfallen, and Jim looking amused. Morph, now flying freely around the room, chirped happily at their new surroundings.

"Well, seems he likes it," Jim said with a chuckle as Morph nestled upon his extended forefinger.

"Yeah..." the cyborg grumbled. "Bit too fancy if you ask me."

"Don't worry. I'm paying you back."

The cyborg cast his gleaming red mechanical eye in Jim's direction. "I told you..."

"I know what you told me," Jim said with a wave of his hand. "But since when have I ever really listened?"

Silver stopped to consider these words with a broad grin. While rubbing the back of his neck, he stood silently and considered his friend while Jim in turn played with Morph. 'Suren that boy can get himself in some trouble at times,' Silver thought to himself with a fond gaze settled upon his companion. 'Blast me, though, if he'll be gettin' into anymore with me around.'

Jim, noting his friend's expression, frowned.

"Hey, you okay?"

Silver, now pulled from his thoughts, looked up and laughed heartily. "Yep. Everything's just fine Jimbo." He turned to head into the joining room, his smile never fading. "Everything's just fine."

Okay...so yes, this is very short. But from the need to do homework, the broken air conditioner, the need to sleep, and the incessant burning feeling I have going through the back of my left hand (I've got to be getting carpel tunnel there's no other explanation for it) I really need to cut this short. But don't fear! Tuesday's and Thursday's I have three hour waits between my two classes. I'll be writing on paper and transferring it to the computer on weekends. If this works out I'll have at least one chapter a week up for you guys, okay? (hugs to you all) Take care everyone! And please, give a new and disgruntled college student some reviews? Pweese!