VIII
A cold nudge bumped against his cheek. It happened again and again. Jim's eyes fluttered open. He bit his tongue to keep from screaming and immediately turned his head into his pillow where he did allow his vocal chords to express the pain. Not long ago, a certain medication was pressed into the border of mechanics and flesh. He trembled and bit the pillow.
No, you have to push the pain out of your head. Forget the pain. It comes and it goes. You have something more important to do Jim. You have to get Silver back. You have to convince them he's a good man. They want to talk to you anyway. Let them ask questions. Forget the pain. It'll go away. Get up and get out before she wakes up. NOW!
Listening to his own self, Jim breathed in deeply, settling the dizziness of his head. He felt the nudge against his forehead again.
"Morph, you and I are more alike than I ever thought," he told him.
Morph innocently smiled. He pulled back the blanket from his torso.
Adoring Morph's haste, he turned to the chair his mother usually slept in and was continuing to sleep in. She had a blanket wrapped around her and was less than content. He was delighted to find his mother did not move when Morph flew around her and pulled a piece of her hair from her face.
Apparently, Morph had also found his clothes. On a pile beside his bed was a pair of boots, trousers, a tunic and a full coat. The coat was dark blue, grey and the trousers were brown while the boots were black. His tunic was just a simple white.
"Morph, can you help me? I need an extra hand," said Jim. "Literally," he added laughing.
Together, the two quietly switched out the clothes. Because his shoulder was killing him, he tried to make no movement of his left arm despite what Silver always told him. Little Morph did most of the work, holding out his tunic, slipping it up both arms, pulling it down over his torso. He slipped the boots on Jim's feet for him and held out the coat. Sooner than he thought, Jim was sitting at the foot of his bed ready to go.
"Thanks buddy," he whispered, rubbing Morph's head.
He breathed quickly and deeply before standing again. No stumbling. That was good. He took a few steps. Although he was a little shaky, he knew walking was the best option he had. Across from the room he saw a mirror and stopped at it to take a peek. He looked quite good and normal again. The coat made him look older and reminded him of Silver's coat, only more fitting to his body and longer. He realized something as well.
The coat he was wearing was custom made for him. Not only was it perfectly fitting at both shoulders, but the sleeves came down low over his hands exposing only his fingertips. A smile widened across his face. Silver was already ahead of him in his thinking. He knew he would want to keep his arm close to himself and not tell the world about it until he had to. It was comforting knowing that his arm looked no different from his right arm. Looking at himself in the mirror one would not have expected that the arms were completely different. They looked the same and the long sleeves hid the evidence. He slumped at the sight of the bandages that were exposed across his chest, but he knew it wasn't difficult to see that he was wounded. Scratches were still healing on his face and—
His head! He forgot about his head! Yes, he was more comfortable about the situation with his head, but he wasn't ready to have the world looking—no, staring at his head. Quickly, he searched around the room for something, anything to hide it.
"Jimbo!" Morph softly called as he held a twine wrapped indigo blue cloth in the palms of his pink hands. A note was attached to the twine.
Jim took the note and leaned against the wall as he opened it. He was first of all impressed at the neat calligraphy and was even more shocked to see how it was addressed, revealing the identity of the hand. Jimbo, I know it'll take time to get used to. Until you yourself are personally used to it, showing the world is the last thing you want. I know, I felt the same when I was changed. The coat sleeves are long on purpose and the attached piece of cloth you can wrap around your head. It's a bandana Jimbo. Before you go and have a panic, don't worry lad, I've seen quite a lot of spacers in my time who are not pirates that do wear bandanas around their heads. I guess it does something about preventing motion sickness from a combination of antigravity and feeling the different pressures in the universe. Until you are comfortable, you don't have to show the world. This is something I'm not going to pressure you to do until you are ready.
Oh, and, for the record if you're keeping one lad, I know indigo is your favorite color and I think it's perfect. Ask me about that after you get this.
Jim smiled and sighed. He bit his lower lip as he unwound the cloth. It was just a simple thick, soft fabric dyed indigo blue. He wrapped the cloth around his head, covering his bangs, but took care to push the hair away from his wound before doing so. A knot was tied at the end. The tails were about as long as his finger length from middle finger to wrist. Glancing back in the mirror, his eyes suddenly went from a baby blue to bright.
He saw the color of his eyes every night they were in the Etherium. With the help of a little indigo, his eyes were that blue color of the sky, the blue that consumed all and saw everything.
"I don't suppose you know how we're going to get past the Livesey brothers?" wondered Jim.
Morph smiled and laughed and Jim hated it when he did that.
The teenager and his shoulder companion walked through the streets. After a Morph's "playtime" of knocking everything in Livesey's office on the ground while Jim walked out the door, everything was so much easier. Of course, he was expecting them to go up to his room and complain about Morph and it wouldn't take a genius to figure out where he was going, but at least he was ahead of them.
No one was looking at him oddly or taking any double takes. He was just a normal teenage boy to them. Every time someone walked past him with no worry whatsoever, his confidence boosted. He knew none of them, but they saw nothing different about him. The hardest part about his healing process was just healing it. Once it was healed it would be fine because he assumed both mental and physical healing would be mended at the same time.
And, after asking for directions, Jim stood at the doors to the authorities. He swallowed hard. With no second thought, he walked inside. The building was huge. It was several stories, six or seven high, and doomed. The entrance was not closed in, opening right up to the doom on top. The seven stories were wrapped around in the circle of the building. It was definitely always busy and he assumed all legal activity was done right there, which is why it only made sense that it was in the center of the crescent.
Morph nudged him forward, reminded him he was there for a reason. Jim nodded and walked to the front desk. Not surprising, it was an alien female who looked like some sort of arachnid. Half spider maybe? He wasn't sure and he didn't want to dwell on the thought of a spider anyway.
"Hello," he called.
"And what can I do for you sir?"
"I know the trial was yesterday and I know he was condemned guilty, but my name is Jim Hawkins and I'm here to see John Silver," replied Jim, calmly and confidently, just like he rehearsed.
The receptionist looked at him with question. "Proof you are who you are?"
"I was cabin boy on the RLS Legacy under the command of Captain Amelia Smollet," replied Jim.
"Proof enough," she replied.
Jim was led to the fourth level and sat inside another waiting room. He nervously twisted his hands in his lap, hardly knowing that one of them was metal. His nervous habit was keeping his hands busy while he rocked back and forth subconsciously. He tired his hardest not to think of anything that would happen. No what if's or maybe's. That was not what he was here to do. He was here to help his friend get out of something he shouldn't be in. If anyone could convince the courts he was innocent it would be him and he knew it. He may have only been a teenage boy with a bad memory and a severe injury but, he was smart and he knew he was smart.
"Mr. Hawkins?"
The teenager's head shot up as he immediately stepped to his feet. "Yes."
A man who was dressed in formal blue's and gold's, the color of legal authority, stepped forward. His skin was blue and he had three eyes on the side of his face. Jim figured he was of the Reptilias. He had the appearance of a lizard with the scales and bright blue, not to mention the tail was a dead give away to his race. "My name is Ramieas Dance. If you'll kindly come with me please."
Jim nodded his head and followed him into a different room, one with no windows and only a desk and four chairs. Papers were on the desk and so were three pens. Three chairs were to one side, three comfortable chairs were on one side. The other chair was simple wood. He felt himself being grabbed.
"Hey, what are you doing?" he asked, walking away.
"This is one of my assistant's Jo," replied Dance. "And he is ensuring you have no weapons."
Jo grabbed both of his arms. His eyes narrowed at the left arm. "And what are you hiding?"
"Nothing," replied Jim.
"And why, may I ask, is it hard?" wondered Jo.
"It's my arm," Jim stuttered.
"Remove your coat and roll up your sleeve and take that thing of your head please," demanded Jo.
Jim looked at them. Not moving. He wasn't ready for this. He wasn't ready for them to put on record that he had a silver plate in his forehead and a mechanical arm. Once it was written down there was no going back and it would be listed on his permanent record. If anything happened to him they would post that and use it to find him.
James Pleiades Hawkins. Brown hair blue eyes. Aged 15. Has silver plate on left forehead. Has mechanical arm, left side.
He saw the posters now. Only a few people knew about it. He shook his head as he took a few steps back. The confidence he had shattered as he felt the sting of tears prick his eyes. Morph brought him back by giving him a narrow eye.
With a breath and no thought, he removed his coat, letting the sleeves drape down his arm. It was taken from him and set aside. He opted to remove the bandana before showing his arm. His eyes fell shut as he slowly brought his right hand over to the cuff off his tunic and pulled upward, feeling the cloth bunch in his hand knowing the volume increased as the coverage decreased. Further proof required him to pull his tunic down over his shoulder until the bandages did not cover the metal. The second he was allowed to clothe himself again, he did so immediately and sat down. He paid no need to their expressions, nor did he notice them.
One more Reptilia official entered the room and locked the door behind him. This one was green and his name was Victor. He looked like he was in an unpleasant mood, for he glared at him when he walked past him and slumped in the chair. The other two sat as well.
"To begin, how is it you received your injuries?" asked Dance.
"One of the pirates, Scroop his name was, broke my arm and abused me," began Jim honestly. "I don't remember how I received my head injury, however I was told I fell. My arm was also broken again. It had to be removed because it contained gangrene and blood poisoning."
"Were you aware John Silver was a pirate?"
Jim shook his head. "No I was not until I overheard his plans of mutiny."
"And when was this?"
"A few moments before we arrived at Treasure Planet," replied Jim. "I was in the purp barrel and he spoke about not moving until they got the treasure in hand."
"What was your first action afterward?"
"I rushed to Captain Amelia and told her of the mutiny."
"It is said you and Silver bonded. Describe this to us please."
"My father left when I was eleven years old. I was placed under Silver's charge. He taught me how to sail. I spent every waking our following my chores with him over my shoulder watching me. He ran me ragged more than once and it wasn't uncommon for him to find me asleep on my feet with the mop in hand. I know now that he kept me exhausted and busy so I didn't have time to think. He was the man who burned down the Benbow Inn and I may have hinted that I knew more than I should.
"Over time, I enjoyed his company. I liked being around him and it was comforting. We spent a lot of time together talking and sharing stories. He taught me things about the world and told stories. I knew he cared for me the day we nearly were dragged into a black hole. He kept me close to the mast and put himself around me. That day I knew I cared for him to, for I saved him from a fate of being sucked into the black hole.
"More than once, he saved me from Scroop. I'm sure you know Scroop and I didn't have the best relationship and he delighted in torturing me."
"Did you ever feel you could not trust him?"
"Once that I can remember. It was after he told me his teachings and company was just a placard to keep me from seeing he was a pirate. I thought he was honest in his answer and I felt betrayed, but things changed."
"How so?"
"After Scroop got to me and broke my arm while I was getting the map back on the Legacy, I woke to him watching over me. He bandaged my arm and had taken care of me for a day or two. He told me he had to play his part with the pirates or we would both be dead. He also told me that he planned to take a few chests of gold and leave the rest of the pirates there. He said he was on my side and I didn't doubt him. I trusted him. The look in his eyes when I woke was relieved and I know him seeing the pain on my face hurt him. He was close to me and when he spoke to me he spoke with care and gentility."
"You say you cannot remember how you were injured?"
"That's correct?"
"Then how do you know you were on Treasure Planet."
"I do not remember the treasure, but I clearly remember the planet."
"And how do you know the treasure exists?"
Jim presented his right hand, extending his fingers out. The gold ring gleamed on his middle finger. "This was given to me. And the rest of your proof is healing to my head and shoulder. Three quarters of the treasure was used for my operation and medicines that I'm currently taking."
"Describe Silver's behavior since you awoke."
"Caring. He's been taking care of me. He never leaves my side. When I want to give up, he'll push me forward. When I feel horrible and hopeless, he's right there to tell me everything will be all right. He's helping me heal. He reminds me every day that he went through what I have to. Before he was taken away, he gave me a book of mind puzzles to improve my mind from my concussion and was moving my arm to ensure that it was healing. He tied my right hand to my side so I would use my left arm. I guess he wants to adopt me."
"Excuse me?"
"I think he wants to adopt me as his son."
The three officials exchanged glances causing Jim to think he shouldn't have said that. Unsure and afraid, the teenager played with his fingers and began rocking back and forth. He watched them look through their papers, shifting and piling.
Dance nodded his head at the two of them. "It does say here your mother, Sarah Hawkins, put in a request for the adoption papers four days ago."
A wide smile grew across Jim's lips as he lowered his head. Trying to hide the smile, he bit his lip, but there was no hiding it. Everything was just confirmed. His mother and Silver were planning the adoption. Morph was right. He thought it sounded too good to be true, but it wasn't. Soon he would be a Silver. Adoptions took months, but it would be all worth it in the end.
"And you approve of this?" Dance asked.
"Of course!" Jim cried, beaming. "Silver already acts like my father. He does everything a father should. He takes care of me and teaches me and holds me and comforts me and he's there for me. I already look at him as my father. Since I woke, we've only been getting closer together. I need him to help me heal. Clearly I've only begun to heal my arm. It's only been about a week that I've been awake and a day or two since I started trying to adapt to my arm. He's told me exactly what to do and it's working perfectly."
"Clearly you want to see Silver not face the hangman's noose. Do you have physical proof that he has changed his ways from piracy?"
"What do you mean by physical proof?"
"The opinion of an injured child is not proof enough to change a man's ways."
"You just have to have faith. No one needs physical proof that someone has changed. He has changed though. If he wanted to leave and continue to pirate, he would have done so already. We have two more chests of treasure. He would have taken them and gone if he intended on leaving. He's staying for me. He wants to see me healed. He's not going anywhere as long as I am injured. Pirates don't care about anyone but themselves. If he was a pirate, he would have left me to do this on my own, taken the treasure, and left without a trace. There is your proof. The chests of treasure are on Montressor."
"We will need to see them as proof," Dance said, writing on the paper.
"So that's it then. That's the proof you need to see that he's not a pirate?" wondered Jim, trying to keep all hope and relief in his heart and not come forth. He didn't want to give away too much that he was anticipating Silver to be safe. "And how am I to get the treasure here and how do I know you aren't going to take it and keep it? I'm going to need that treasure when I'm older."
"And what may I ask for?"
"Rebuilding my home and for school and living until I can find a job."
"Is there anyone we can speak with as proof of the treasure?"
"My mother, who doesn't exactly know I'm here. I left before she was awake so don't mind her if she's a bit cranky and panicky."
"I will see to it that someone reaches her immediately. Where can I locate her?"
"The hospital. David Livesey is the doctor."
"Ah, he's a good one him. Treated a few acquaintances of mine. Off the record, he did a job well done to you as well," said Dance.
Jim nodded as his eyes looked down to his hand. He was not going to deny that.
"I will send Mr. Ivin to see to your request immediately," Dance said as he stood.
"Ah, would it be possible for me to see Silver while you get your proof?" Jim suddenly asked.
He didn't think they would let him go, but they did. He was shocked when he was being led down under the main ground into the holding cells. The atmosphere was much lighter than the thought it was going to be. Here he was thinking it was going to be a dark, dank dungeon rotting and smelling foul and it was white with bright lights. He supposed the brightness, near blinding light was to ensure that everyone on guard duty was able to see everything so no one would escape.
As he walked past the cells he saw the prisoners. They were all tattooed, heartless, evil, angry criminals. They were they typical criminal. Their faces revealed expressions that they thought they were the best thing in the world and that they should be released. There was no guilt or sadness, and that was why they deserved to be in there. They thought they did nothing wrong or they were simply used to being behind bars that it was a normal occurrence.
Morph settled himself on his shoulder.
Jim looked at him and patted his head. He saw the little shape shifter's eyes were concerned and frightened and he knew he was most content when he was sitting on his shoulder.
"In here," the rocky guard commanded.
Cautiously, Jim entered the room. It was made of metal and lights ran across the top border. Two chairs and a table were in the center of the room. Only one door was there and it was a barred door. The locks, three of them, had three separate keys. Once in, there was no way out, for a blue force field prevented any access through the room side. He had Morph try it just in case, knowing a zap or two wouldn't hurt him. Funny enough, Morph felt tickled by it and continued to ram himself against the force field.
The teenager sat down in the chair exhausted. He rubbed his eyes and stretched,
"Ahh!" he cried, clasping his left shoulder. "I know I'm getting used to this arm because I just stretched too far. Ow. I can't wait until it's healed."
He took in his surroundings, wondering if there was any possible means to escape other than through the one door that was there. The metal was hard and seamless. No windows or any outside passages were visible. They were under the streets so there was no access out. Sensors were most likely surrounding the area to ensure no one would escape. It was not a good sign.
Suddenly, Morph squealed and went into a big fuss.
"Morphy?"
Jim whipped around with a smile on his face as John Silver was pushed through the door.
The former pirate stood a step into the room and stood there dumbfounded, wide eyed and mouth agape. Was he surprised to see him there or was he surprised to see him walking?
"Wha' are ye doing here?" he asked finally.
"Trying to save your life," replied Jim. "And you need to learn to pick your crimes a bit more carefully."
Hearing how Jim used his own words against him, caused a wide grin to appear on Silver's lips. He walked forward and finally wrapped his arms around the teenager's back lightly.
Jim desperately squeezed him as tightly as his arms could allow.
They felt each other's comforted, yet frightened embrace, further giving way to the feelings they had for each other.
"I may have saved your life," began Jim. "I told them that a pirate would have left with the treasure and not stayed behind and used three quarters of a chest worth of treasure on a teenage boy. I told them that if you intended to continue to pirate you would have chosen to do so already. I think they are buying it. You'll be out of here soon."
"It's not tha' simple Jimbo," Silver said, pulling away. His face went grim, but his eyes smiled as he felt how reluctant Jim was to let him go.
Jim squeezed his eyes shut. A wave of pain shot through his body. For just a second, his world went black and he swayed to the side. He was sat down and being waved.
"Ye shouldn't have come lad. Yer not well enough ta be on yer feet. An', mind my asking, wha' does yer mother think of this?" Silver told him.
"I left before she was awake," admitted Jim with an apologetic shrug.
Silver shook his head as his lips pursed. His once glowing golden eye was now an orange. Releasing a breath, he startled Jim by wrapping his arms around him again.
"Stop doing that," Jim told him.
"Why?" wondered Silver.
"I feel like you're trying to say goodbye to me like you know you're going to die," whispered Jim.
"Lad, one little act of not taking treasure an' leaving does not grant me life back. There's too much of th' past tha's condemned me," said Silver.
"So you're accepting that you're going to die and you don't care?" assumed Jim.
"Wha th' heck I don' care!" Silver roared. "Jimbo, I don' wanna die. I wanna live, finally live. I've been chasing tha' treasure down since I's a little lad, longer than I can remember. Now tha' I have it, do ye think I want ta have ta give it up cuz I don't have the body an' soul ta keep it?"
Jim's head was low and he was playing with his fingers. Something was on his mind and he clearly needed answers. He did not raise his head as he spoke. "Was it your idea? To adopt me that is."
"She told ye about tha' then," assumed Silver.
"Actually, the pink blob did and then the judges confirmed it," said Jim.
"It was supposed ta be a surprise," Silver said through his teeth as he turned to that certain pink blob.
"Can I ask why you want to adopt me?" Jim wondered.
"So ye don' want me ta adopt ye?" Silver asked with a raised eyebrow.
Jim suddenly shot up from his chair and flailed both arms about frantically in front of him. His head was shaking furiously. "No, no, no! It's not like that! I want you to be my father! I didn't mean it like that! I want to be a Silver. I really, really do. You have no idea what this means to me. I just wanted to know. Curiosity."
"Ye need ta calm down lad. Getting yer heart up like this does no good," Silver told him. "I's only joking witcha lad."
"Morph already nearly scared me to death don't you do it too," Jim told him fiercely.
Seeing that Jim clearly needed him, Silver moved his chair to the other side of the table where he sat next to the teenager. He set a hand on his shoulder. "Tell me."
"The stupid thing decided it would be funny to turn into that spider while I was looking at a blood stain he gave me on the ship. It scared me so much because I thought he was right there and he had tracked me down. You don't know how much it scared me. It scared me more seeing that than watching you be taken away from me," Jim said.
"Are ye okay though? Now?" asked Silver.
"No," replied Jim so quietly Silver had a hard time hearing him. "I want to believe that you'll be all right. I keep telling myself that you'll make it out of this alive. But, even with all that, there is something telling me inside me that there is no hope for you to get out of this alive and you'll be dead in a week. Why can't people just see what I do? You're not a pirate anymore. You were but you changed. Something made you change and if only I could prove to them what that physical change was then they would let you go."
"No they won't," replied Silver. "Even if I tell them tha' a fifteen year old teenager changed my ways it's not physical proof enough."
"But there has to be some sort of physical proof. There is always—fifteen year old teenager?"
Silver nodded his head. He grabbed both of Jim's hands.
What they felt was the same. One hand on each of their person's felt cold metal and silver fingers interlock with flesh. Their feelings of false hope and fright matched in their eyes as they looked at each other.
"I already tried telling them tha' I changed for ye," explained Silver. "I told them th' same things ye did. I don't wanna pirate anymores. I want ta stay down ta solid ground an' raise a family. I have wha' I want. They didn't believe a word I said. An' it doesn't help tha' ye have yer own quite long list of felonies an' time in juvenile hall. They seem ta think tha' once yer better ye will join me pirating. I tried telling them tha' ye would do no such thing lad. They didn't listen."
"So if I wouldn't have done," began Jim, but bowed his head, no longer controlling his sobs of pain and misery.
Two warm arms wrapped around him and pulled him close. He didn't think Silver could bring his joy back this time. If he just didn't rebel and go crazy with the legal authorities then Silver probably would have stayed alive. There was no hope now. They had his record and knew he was part criminal. It was perfect really, and he even had to admit that it was sound logic. Two people who saw each other as father and son, both criminals band together to pirate.
"I just want a dad. Why is it so hard for me to have a father? It's simple really. I'm a teenager who wants a dad and a best friend and someone to love and believe in me no matter the squalls. It's so hard," sobbed Jim.
"Life isn't fair lad. I learnt tha' th' hard way when I's twelve years old. I know how ye feel. I lost me father at twelve an' I've been on me own since. I know," said Silver, rubbing his small back.
"I just thought I would finally have a family. Have you ever wished upon a star? I do every night and I wish for a family. You need at least three to be a family. I thought I was finally going to have it. I was wrong. And this is why there is no reason to live anymore."
Silver pushed him away and kept a firm grasp on his arm. "Don't you talk like that."
"Whatever," Jim said. "It doesn't matter. I'll be dead in a week."
A sharp slap echoed off his cheek. It both startled him and frightened him. He pressed his palm to his right cheek and looked on at Silver with teary eyes.
Silver was shaking his head and his eye was bright red. "Don't you talk like this Jim. Yer not gonna give up jus' cuz ye can't have wha' ye want. Yer fifteen years old. Fifteen years old is too young ta take yer own life. I wanted ta kill meself more times than I've wished upon tha' star fer my life back. I do wish upon a star too lad, 'cept I got wha' I wanted. If I hadn't pirated an' become a criminal I never woulda met ye."
He raised Jim's head discovering twice as many tears pouring from the blue eyes, the indigo blue eyes. A finger traced the teenager's jaw line. "Jim, this is why ye have ta live. Yer beautiful lad. Ye have a good soul inside yer body. There be a fire in yer eyes. This indigo I put you I put ye in it fer a reason. When I saw ye against the sky at night doing yer chores I always felt me heart melt. I loved nothing more than watching those eyes stare off inta literal space. I tried ta memorize the color and glow as ye looked out thinking an' dreaming. Ye have th' eyes of a dreamer an' dreamers have good souls. Dreams keep th' soul alive. Yer dream fer a family will come ta ye eventually lad. This whole mess is jus' beginning."
"I want you as my father," Jim told him. "He's not coming back. He would have already."
"I know lad, but ye need ta push past it all," Silver said.
"No, you don't understand," Jim told him shaking his head. "I can't do this without you. I need you to help me heal. I need you to tell me that you believe in me. Somehow I'm not finding that greatness. I don't know if I have it inside me. I can't find it. I thought I had it when I started walking on my own again, but it went out. I have it then I lose it. I can't find it and grasp it. I don't have a path. I'm running around the universe like a wild comet with no heading and no way of stopping. I don't have a ship or a helm to have need to chart a course. Without you, I don't know—I can't go on. I need you Silver. You can't leave me."
"I'm gonna leave ye lad cuz they've already sentenced me ta death," said Silver. "Wha'ever happened ta the boy who was tough as nails an' fought everything tha' stood against him."
"He realized he wasn't so strong after all and doesn't know his place in the universe. He doesn't know if he belongs in the universe," replied Jim.
"Ye do belong lad. Ye'll find yer place without me. Yer strong, stronger than any spacer I've meet in my days," said Silver.
"Can I ask you a question?" Jim wondered softly.
"Of course," replied Silver.
"Do you believe in life after death, where everything is perfect and a fifteen year old boy can have a family?" wondered Jim so softly only the consonants were heard.
"Jim," sighed Silver, pulling the teenager into his arms again.
He wholly lifted his body and set him in his lap. Tucking his face into his chest and keeping that tight grasp around him, he knew he had to make this feeling last in Jim's memory forever. He knew Jim was thinking this was the last time they would be together, but he knew it was the last time. No matter the evidence there was nothing keeping him from the noose. He was a good man yes, but wicked doings were always wicked. Evil was called evil for a reason. The poor teenager sobbing in his arms was a lost puppy. He knew the recent events to Jim drew him away from himself further.
There was nothing more deadly than a person who didn't know his reason for living. Not knowing what life was for other than pain led to suicide. Adrenaline was thundering through him. Jim was a lost boy who lost more than he should have. He lost an entire limb and he was about to lose another father figure. He saw why Jim was thinking there was nothing left in the world for him. That lost little pup he took under his arm was starting to go away on Treasure Planet then all hell broke loose.
"Jim, remember when ye asked me if it was worth it tha' day after our little boat ride?" he asked.
"Mm hm," Jim nodded.
"We musta been wishing on th' same star," Silver said. He was choking on his words. This was his goodbye and he knew it, not to mention he heard feet coming down the hall and this room was the only room in the hall. He picked up the teenager and set him on his own two feet. He had to look at Jim's eyes one more time, tears or not. "James Pleiades Hawkins, ye listen ta me lad. It was worth it. It was all worth it. I thought it was th' loot tha' would make it worth it, but it was treasure. It is a treasure far greater than gold."
Jim's eyes shifted past Silver and to the guards at the door. He shook his head.
"Time to go Silver."
"Jim," Silver said, desperately. "The treasure is—"
"NOW!"
Silver was grabbed and hauled out without having the chance to say his goodbye to the boy, nor did he have time to look at the indigo one last time.
"And you lad, are to return to Dance. He has things to discuss with you."
Wiping the tears from his eyes, Jim nodded. He followed willingly, like a person with no soul or reason for life. The last thing he really cared about was gone from him and he knew it. By the manner they took him away, his attempt at saving Silver's life was no more. Guilty was what it was going to be.
"Mr. Hawkins, we have reviewed the treasure and indeed confirmed that it was legit, however it was stolen and has be confiscated by the proper authorities. Due to your history of crime and involvement in piracy, you are to attend a six month rehabilitation course on the planet X-185. We are to receive notice when your doctor gives written permission that you are released from his care. You are not to return home to Montressor after you have completed this course. Once you have completed this course you are to finish your schooling at a lockdown, boarding school which we will choose. Following your schooling, you will be assigned a social worker who will monitor your behavior for the period of at least one year. Visits by this said social worker will be two hours every Saturday night where your behavior will be explained to you. You will also have a location chip inserted into your person so the authorities have a complete location of you at any given time. We will also choose your occupation for you by means of your excelled courses in schooling and to keep you from crime. This is the path you have chosen and so we ask that you cooperate."
Jim nodded his head. He simply didn't care anymore. He was escorted back to the hospital. The journey back he felt nothing. There was nothing in his mind. It was empty. He walked in the door and knew his mother was yelling at him, but he didn't know why. He didn't care either. No more tears were falling from his eyes. He simply removed his boots and breathed. He felt only his heart beating. He crawled into bed and covered himself with the blanket.
Lying on his side, he curled tightly against himself. He listened to himself breathing, the sole reminder he was alive. Dreaming ended. Warmth was gone. Hope was lost. The end of all things finally passed. Thoughts in his mind were no more. Sounds were muted. Touch was nonexistent. Air was stale. A sickly taste pooled in his mouth. His eyes saw only darkness, but not the darkness of the Etherium. They saw the darkness of hell.
Live in hell for the rest of his life.
Let go of life and hope there was something better.
Choosing between the two, he shut his eyes. There was nothing left to do but wait for the only reminder that he was alive to finish pulsing. A dying heart beats just the same as a living heart until the stillness separates it from life.
A note from TurtleHeart:
all right, i know i must be killing you with all these cliffhangers. and i also know this story is long already and only about halfway done. i have a nasty habit of writing fanfic novels, but i believe a good story is a long story where no detail or emotion is forgotten.
in the meantime, happy readings!