XI
A few days later.
Jim stood in front of the mirror. His head was tilted down a bit as he was tying his bandana behind his head. He pulled the tails then shook his head, allowing his hair to flip how it wanted to. The glowing smile on his face had been plastered on his face for three hours, ever since he woke up with a cake at his bedside reading Welcome Home Jimbo! He knew exactly what that meant. Livesey put him through the tests on his mechanical arm the previous day. They were all right, not as good as he should have been, but Livesey was letting him go since Silver was going to be right there and he had to check on him every week anyway not to mention he was only a few minutes away. The cake was his favorite, marble sponge and a strawberry cream cheese icing. Silver made it for him and he knew it.
Thinking of his cake got him to turn around and walk back to the table where he knew it was sitting. He took his fork and ate a few more bites. Only small slivers were sacrificed for everyone else. They weren't complaining though; he was eating something high in calories and fat, both of which he needed.
"You're going to get sick if you don't stop."
Jim choked as he attempted to laugh. He set his fork down and shrugged at his mother.
"Ye got a little shmutz," Silver said, tapping the corner of his mouth.
"Sorry," Jim laughed, wiping his face with his finger and licking the frosting from his finger. "Mmm." He couldn't resist and ate a few more bites.
"He's going to get himself sick," Sarah muttered.
"He's been starving fer so long. Let him eat. I think he'll know when ta stop," Silver told her.
"I don't want him getting sick. That's the last thing he needs right now," said Sarah.
Morph floated between them then over to Jim. He looked at the teenager with huge eyes and stuck his lower lip out. He made whining noises.
"My cake," Jim told him, shooing him away. "If you want cake then you get your own mechanical arm."
Taking that literally, Morph's left arm shifted into what looked like Jim's left arm. There was even a little silver sliver above his left eye.
Jim rolled his eyes and laughed softly. "All right, I admit that was stupid." He set a small piece in the palm of his right hand. "Here."
Morph giggled and settled himself in Jim's palm as he ate his piece quickly. He licked the teenager's fingers clean then went up to his face and licked his cheeks clean.
Laughing, Jim pulled the blob off of his face and rubbed his belly. He looked up glowing and laughing. The laughter died. Sarah, Silver, and both Livesey brothers were looking at him with sad smiles and teary eyes. "What?"
"You're up and you're laughing and you're going home," replied Sarah.
"It's been like a month hasn't it?" wondered Jim. All four of them nodded. "I'm sorry for putting all of you through this. Tell me how to set it right."
"Just live," Sarah told him.
"I guess that's good enough," said Jim.
"It is," replied Silver.
"You're one to talk. You should be dead by now," noted Jim.
"An' those be good words yer mother spoke," said Silver.
Jim nodded. He slipped his arms through his coat with only a small expression of pain and grabbed his cake. "Are we leaving or not?"
Sarah rapidly nodded her head as she stepped forward. She kissed her son's forehead and set her palm against his face. She gave a nod and led her son out of the room by his hand.
Jim stood in the middle of Sarah and Silver as they walked across the streets. He felt a little cold and awkward. It was the first time in a month he really left. When he went to save Silver's life he really didn't pay attention to the people. He was more concerned with what they must have looked like. It was obvious he was her son, but beside Silver they must have suspected something. Funny enough, both of them had mechanical arms and looked like spacers. When people took a look at the three of them he felt he knew what they were thinking. They must have thought the three of them were a family.
Family. That sounded more and more wonderful every day. Home sounded even better though. Although it wasn't exactly his home, he was still going back to his home planet. Being home after being so far away for so long really made him miss it. He never thought he would miss Montressor. He hated the planet dearly, but it was home. Being in town often and listening to the other spacers that wandered, he never understood how any of them missed it. Montressor rained all the time and if it wasn't raining, it was snowing, and if it wasn't doing either, the sun was nonexistent. He enjoyed riding above the clouds just to get the sun on his face and feel the warmth. More than often, when it was raining, he would surf above the clouds to the Peak, the highest point on the planet and sit there relishing in the sun.
The joy faded quickly when they passed through the clouds of Montressor's atmosphere. Jim was greeted back home with snow in the air and sticking to his hair. It was snowing and it must have been snowing for a while because there was a white cover already over everything. He hated the snow more than rain. Rain rained and went away. Snow snowed and stayed and when it decided to melt, everything was slippery and wet and damp. He heard the other two sigh in disgust as well.
Inside, he felt his bones shaking and teeth chattering. He wrapped his coat tighter around him and kept his arms close. After a moment, his breaths were quivering in the cold air. He clenched his teeth together to keep them from chattering. Since he was sitting behind both of them, they were unaware of his dilemma. He knew he was practically skin and bone. His coat was thick, but he still found himself shivering. Since his teeth were clenched, his body quivered even more.
Morph was looking at him oddly with concerned eyes. He hadn't seen Jim do this before.
Jim shook his head and reached out for the pink blob before he could go and tattle on him to his mother and Silver. The last thing he needed was for them to worry about him even more. He was just a little cold. That was an easily solved problem; he merely needed a blanket or two and a warm drink to warm his bones. He was grateful when they landed in front of Delbert's mansion. He could care less about being home. All he wanted was a little warmth now.
He made his best effort not to shiver like he was when they helped him out of the boat, but Silver must have seen it because he looked at him with a narrow eye. With his cake in hand, he walked through the doors and stood in the foyer immediately noticing it was warmer.
"JIMMY!"
"Oh no," Jim whispered to himself.
B.E.N. came running down the hall hooting and hollering.
"B.E.N., touching," Jim reminded.
"Not even a little hug?" B.E.N. wondered motioning to the small amount with his hands.
Jim shook his head. "No."
"Please?" pleaded B.E.N., slumping down to his knees and raising his folded palms toward the teenager.
"Fine, but don't ruin my cake," Jim agreed.
"Huzzah!" B.E.N. cried as he jumped to his feet and wrapped his arms around Jim's neck, completely avoiding the cake.
However, there was a clank when their heads came in contact and both of them rubbed their heads.
"You have a hard head," noted B.E.N..
"Mm hm," muttered Jim.
"Come on, let's get you some real food," said Sarah, reaching forward to put an arm around him.
"I'm fine," Jim told her, quickly walking forward.
"Oh no ya don't!" Silver said, reaching forward and grabbing his shivering body.
"I'm just a little cold," Jim said.
Silver removed his coat and set it over Jim's shoulders. He rubbed the teenager's arms rapidly to get some warmth in his bones. Knowing that wasn't helping, he led him away and into the kitchen where it was warm and smelled delightful.
Jim, who was supposed to stay seated by the hearth, got up only to smell several steaming pots. The spices smelled exotic and warm. His stomach was growling and pleading with him to eat. The cake that was sitting on the table was completely forgotten about. He reached his left hand around the top of the pot and lifted up. With the steam came the scent.
"Mmm," he groaned, sticking his head into the steam.
"See, those gears are coming in handy aren't they?" asked Silver.
The teenager ignored his words and lifted every lid to every pot. His mouth was watering and he recognized a few of the delectables inside. One whole pot was filled with pasta and he loved pasta more than any other food in the universe. The largest pot of all was filled with pasta. Another pot had meats searing inside, one of which he knew was Bonzabeast, but it was just the meat and he loved the meat. Purp juice was boiling in another pot.
He was distracted from his thoughts as Silver pulled out fresh bread from the oven. Walking over him, he followed the steaming bread's trail with his nose.
"Are ye hungry or something lad?" wondered Silver.
"I'm a teenager. I'm always hungry and I can eat real food now," said Jim.
"Sit down, I'll let ye cheat," said Silver.
In a few moments, Jim was sitting at the table eating a warm noodle sandwich smothered with Bonzabeast marinated in purps and some sort of seasoning on top.
Silver couldn't help but to watch him eat. Sadness pinged his heart. The teenager wasn't savoring the taste. He was devouring every bite as if he hadn't eaten for days. All too many times he had seen Jim eat like that. More than not, he only noticed the boy eating purps on the go. Only a few times had he seen him eat a full meal and it was only because he sat Jim down to have him eat it. He had a feeling it was his own doing that Jim didn't eat. Perhaps he ran the boy too ragged.
"Heya, Jimbo," he began quietly.
"Hm?" wondered Jim.
"Did I, uh, run ye too ragged?" wondered Silver. "Meaning on th' ship when I gave ye yer chores."
"A bit," admitted Jim. "But I never told you to back off a little so it's my fault too really."
"But I saw th' signs tha' ye were getting tired and worn. I shoulda eased off ya," said Silver.
"Yeah, but you had your motives to keep me tired I'm sure. You knew I knew too much about Bones and that night. I know you did," said Jim.
"Yeah, an' tha's why I kept ye ragged," said Silver.
"Well, that was a few months ago so don't worry about it anymore," Jim said.
"Warmer?" wondered Silver.
Jim nodded. He did pull Silver's coat off of him and set it on the chair behind him. In just his indigo coat, he was content. Thinking about nothing really, he spun the gold ring around his finger with his thumb, watching the fire shimmer in the light.
"Hey, Morph!" he hollered, noticing his cake was disappearing.
Morph shifted into a miniature of him with the mechanics and all and kept eating.
Jim grabbed him between both hands. "Except I can't just morph them off of me. Nice try though."
Giggling, Morph curled into his neck and purred.
"He's yer's lad," Silver told him.
"What?" Jim asked, not sure if he heard correctly.
"Morph is yer's now. He's taken to ya. He hangs around ye more. Ye can keep him," said Silver.
"But," began Jim, looking between Silver and Morph. "You found him and rescued him. You've been together for a while I'm sure. I can't just take him away from you."
"Where am I going?" wondered Silver, setting his hands on his hips.
Jim smiled. "Yeah, you've got a point."
"'Sides, he does you good," added Silver. "An' Morph cares fer ya a lot."
"I know," said Jim, rubbing the pink back and smiling more when Morph arched his back.
"Ye still have a long road of healing ahead of ye, so I feel better knowing if anything happens ta ya, Morphy'll be right there ta come get me," added Silver.
"Ohh," said Jim overdramatically as he nodded his head. He pointed a finger at him. "So, that's why you're giving him to me. You're keeping me on a short leash."
"'Cept I can't just look ye up whenever I want," Silver snapped. He shuddered. "I hate needles."
"It's just a needle," said Jim. "So what do you do when you need to stitch your clothes?"
"Are ye making fun of me?" wondered Silver.
"Of course I am. I'm a teenager," said Jim.
"What are ye afraid of? Ye didn't seem ta be afraid of anything on th' ship," noted Silver.
Jim looked at him with small eyes and spoke with a quiet voice. "I told you already. I'm afraid of being alone."
"I knew tha'," Silver said, smacking flat of the knife gently against his forehead.
"How long have you been cooking?" wondered Jim.
"I've been up fer a while say like a few hours before sunrise this morning getting all this started fer ya," said Silver. "It's a welcome home feast. Do ye want anything warm ta drink?" He paused and waited for an answer. Getting nothing, he called out again. "Jimbo, do ye want something warm? Jim?"
He turned around and saw Jim locked up tightly in the chair, legs hugged against his chest and arms wrapped around them. His eyes were huge and frightened. He saw the vein pulsing in his neck. The teenager was shaking. He was breathing in gasps and not blinking. He curled tighter against himself. His eyes were locked on the floor. He whimpered and tears came to his eyes.
"Jim, wha' is it?" Silver asked, immediately rushing to his side.
His eyes not leaving the floor, Jim's quivering hand pointed.
Silver followed his gaze and point to a small black object crawling on the floor. He sighed and slumped his shoulders. "It's a spider Jim. Ye got me all worked up over nothing. It's jus' a spider. Ye squished him all th' time on th' ship."
As the words finished rolling off his tongue, Silver suddenly understood. Spider. Scroop was a spider. Scroop did all that to him. He looked at the teenager seeing the tears rolling down his cheeks and his face ghastly white. Quickly, he knelt down and squished the arachnid. It was perhaps the width of Jim's pinky in size. He wiped it off on a napkin and threw the napkin out the window and into the cold air.
He returned to the trembling teenager's side and sat on the table beside him. His left hand was caressing the back of his head as the teenager buried his face between his knees, silently sobbing. There was something more than met the eye he felt. He recalled Jim explaining the time Morph transformed into an image of Scroop and now a tiny little spider. Something else was happening to him that he was unaware of.
"I'm sorry," Jim said, suddenly raising his head and wiping his eyes. He brushed his coat sleeve across his cheeks and slowly glanced around the room in fear and tucking into himself. His eyes got huge again and he softly screamed. He simply ran out of the room as quickly as his legs took him.
Silver sighed sadly as he walked across the room to squish another spider crawling down the wall from the ceiling. He had to give Jim credit for running out of the room. The arachnid was the size of his thumb, a huge black fellow and he felt its shell squish under the napkin.
Squishing arachnids. His eye began glowing red. What he would give to get his hands on Scroop and squish him. It was almost worth hunting him down just to get his hands on him to hear that shell crack and watch his insides burst from the shell.
Something far worse than Jim's injuries was causing him this fear. From personal experience, Silver knew something had gotten into the boy's head.
After a half hour of searching for him, Silver found Jim shivering on the back patio. Saying nothing, he simply scooped the teenager into his arms and carried him up two flights of stairs to the room he and Sarah made up for him. He set the boy on the bed and wrapped him in his blue blanket. The edge of the blanket was wiped across the teenager's eyes and cheeks.
Silver sat beside him and held him close, giving him warmth from one body to another. He wrapped another blanket around his body. The teenager was shivering uncontrollably. His pink lips were blue and his face had a blue tint to it as well. He looked a bit tired. Silver knew exactly what was setting in. Hypothermia.
"Stay awake Jimbo. Don't fall asleep," Silver told him.
Jim nodded his head weakly. He leaned into him.
"What were ye doing out there?" Silver asked.
"N-no. S-s-spid-ers. Out-si-side," replied Jim softly.
"Okay, ye just stay close. I'll keep ye warm lad," said Silver.
"I know," Jim said weakly.
Silver shook him to get him to open his eyes again. He had to keep the teenager awake. Recalling something they had for him, he reached behind him and took hold of the small chest that was sitting on his pillow. "Open it."
"T-too c-c-c-," began Jim then simply shivered.
Understanding, Silver opened the little chest. He happily watched as Jim's eyes widened and a smile creep onto the blue lips.
Jim reached out with his right hand to brush his fingers across the top of the small chest containing some of the treasure. He was more than happy with his gold ring, but this was—words could not describe what it was. Incredible, wondrous, unimaginable, beautiful, striking, dream come true were only a few words that came to mind. A huge diamond the size of his palm was on the top. He took the diamond in his palm and pressed it against his forehead. It was real.
"Now imagine this goin' as far as th' eye can see. Tha', lad, tha' was Treasure Planet," said Silver.
"W-wish…could re-r-remem-ber," said Jim.
"Well, I know th' heading so maybe ye an' I might be goin' back sometime ta get a little more an' so it's finder can see it an' remember it," said Silver.
Jim nodded his head.
There was a knock on the door. They looked over as Sarah was curiously walking in. "Happy to be back?"
"Y-yeah," Jim replied.
"Are you still cold?" wondered Sarah, noticing his shivering body and blue color.
"L-long stor-y," said Jim.
"Here, how about ye get some shut eye an' warm those bones," suggested Silver and not giving him an alternative option because he was pulling the blankets to the bed back and set the teenager under them. "I'll wake ye before yer feast tonight."
Jim nodded. "C-can I c-cl-close m-my eyes now?"
"Get some sleep. I'll be checking on ye ta make sure yer still wit' th' living," said Silver.
The teenager was tucked in his blankets and pillows. It all smelled clean. There was no alcohol, over clean scent. There was a soft lavender touch to everything and soothed his mind. He was feeling warmer finally. With one last thought in mind, he looked at Silver.
"M-make sure th-the-th-there are n-"
"I've already looked. No spiders in here lad," said Silver.
"Okay," whispered Jim, relaxing and curling his body into the blankets.
Morph, who was in Jim's pocket the whole time like he always was, emerged and sat himself on the teenager's metallic shoulder on top of the blankets. He saluted Silver and changed into huge eyes, keeping them both on a sleeping Jim.
Sarah looked at Silver oddly then at her son. She was taken by the hand and led out of the bedroom.
Silver took her into the main parlor where Delbert, Amelia, and B.E.N. were sitting around talking and enjoying tea. He sat her down then coughed to signify he had something important to say.
"We have a bit of an issue," he began. "Jim has arachnophobia."
"Since when? He was one of those moody teenagers who took a magnifying glass and burned spiders and bugs to the ground to get his anger out," noted Sarah.
"Yes, and he always delighted on squishing them on the ship," added Delbert.
"I think it had something to do with Scroop and Jim's new opinion of spiders. Personally, I myself found killing those pests satisfying," said Amelia.
Silver nodded his head. "Scroop was a spider. Scroop did tha' ta Jim. Jimbo has been having nightmares. It's th' only explanation. We were in th' kitchen warming up an' he froze when he saw a tiny little spider. Th' poor lad started crying. Th' spider was th' size of his little finger. He ran out when he saw another spider crawling down th' wall. He's been sitting outside in th' cold fer th' past half hour 'cause there are 'no spiders outside' as he told me. He's gotta bit of hypothermia."
"That explains why he was so cold," said Sarah.
"Nightmares then?" wondered Amelia.
"We gotta be there fer him fer th' first few times. If these nightmares don' disappear then we just gotta let him scream through it," said Silver.
"I can't stand it when he has nightmares," Sarah told him. "I'm going to wake him up. I won't mean to, but I hate hearing him scream like he does. He's known for nightmares. Ever since his father left he constantly has nightmares."
"Hm, that's odd. No one ever heard about his nightmares at night on the ship," said Delbert.
"Tha's because I ran th' lad ragged more tha' I should've," admitted Silver, rubbing the back of his head nonchalantly. "I knew he knew too much about Bones an' th' map so I didn't give him time ta think. I have ta say, th' lad did have a good layer of muscle on his bones towards th' end."
"He always has," said Sarah with a smile. "He has good lungs too. If it isn't raining in the morning, he'll go for a run and workout."
"That's good because physical bodies are needed in the Academy," said Amelia, sipping her tea. "Did you tell him about that yet?"
"I'm not pushing anything right now. He's outta th' hospital an' back in th' real world. Let's take his life one day at a time," said Silver, the tone in his voice proving he wasn't going to accept another answer.
Fortunately, three heads nodded.
After a couple hours and several visits from his mother and Silver, the sleeping teenager awoke. He immediately recognized the small, heavy breaths near his ear. Turning his head carefully so he didn't wake Morph, he saw the little shapeshifter sleeping on his shoulder. Every breath Morph took his little body expanded and deflated with every little exhale. He reached out his right arm and rubbed Morph's back.
Yawning and chirping, Morph opened his eyes. He squealed in delight to see Jim's face a normal color and a smile on his pink lips. Happily, he nuzzled into the teenager's neck.
"Hi Morph," Jim greeted.
Morph shifted into an image of Silver and peered over him.
"I'm sure he was in here more than once," said Jim, pushing himself to a sitting position.
He rubbed the back of his neck and itched his shoulder while looking around the room. The room was perfect, more comfortable than his former bedroom. The bed was much softer and huge compared to his old bed, considering he had that same bed from when he was three years old.
Curiosity taking him since he saw the closet doors opened, he pushed the blankets back away from his person and slipped his feet on the floor. Immediately, he found his mind had taken another curious route. Someone, most likely Silver, had taken it upon himself to change his clothes. The teenager was now wearing long, comfortable thick trousers and a long tunic. Slippers were on the floor by his bed and a robe was lying across the edge of the bed. He shook his head and slipped both items on before making his way over to the closet.
When he opened the doors, his eyes widened and he couldn't help the gasp. Three different coats were hung up. They were different from the blue coat he was wearing. One of them was like his old jacket, looking nearly the exact same, just cleaner and a bit longer for his growing body. Another was longer and much thicker with just a simple earthen green tone, most likely meant for winter months. And there was just a simple jacket, light material for the summer.
Excited, he pulled open every drawer. A huge grin widened on his face. He had only two tunics before, the black one meant for school and work and his tan one for everyday uses. Now, he had three of every color, black, blue, white, and light tan. Another drawer was filled with different trousers of different colors: black, brown, green, tan and different lengths: short, long, knee length.
Morph presented a black boot before his eyes.
Jim squealed a little when he grabbed it from him. He could finally get rid of his old boots of two years now. Immediately, he began whipping out his new clothes and deciding what he wanted to wear. Although he was a teenage male, he couldn't help but to get excited over clothes. He couldn't remember any time in his life when he had to choose his clothes. Even though the clothes were nice, the best part was the drawer filled with new stockings.
As happy as can be, Jim sat on the edge of his bed in just a pair of brown trousers and stockings. He was wiggling his toes through the stockings and was delighted that he didn't see any of his toes poking out through the material. Enthralled by this, he laughed aloud.
"What are you doing?" Sarah's voice asked.
Jim pointed to his toes. "No toes," he told her laughing.
"Okay," said Sarah, not understanding, but walking in anyway. She looked around at the floor and shook her head. "And I see you've already made a mess of your room."
"You mean I can make a mess of my room," said Jim. "I've never had enough clothes to throw on the floor in piles until now. Usually it was old toys. Eventually all those books sitting there—they're all pirate books!"
Taken by that now, he rushed over to the table, scanning every title. Some of them he recognized and others he didn't.
"Will you get some clothes on? You were freezing a couple hours ago," said Sarah.
"What color? I don't know what color I want to wear. I have to pick a color," said Jim, glowing.
"Blue," said Sarah.
"Okay," said Jim. He knelt down and took his blue tunic from the floor. Both arms were slipped through then he pulled it over his head. A bit of discomfort was caused to his shoulder and he rubbed the bandaged area. His glow faded and joy became shut eyes and a pained expression. "I should know not to move my arm so quick, but it's been hurting for a while. I feel like I have a knot I my shoulder actually."
"Come here," said Sarah, scooting to the center of the bed and patting the edge.
Jim sat while continuing to rub his shoulder.
Sarah pushed his hand gently from his shoulder. She set her left hand around his upper left arm. For a moment, she had to shut her eyes and blink away the tears. This was the first time she touched his left arm since it was attached to him. Part of her had forgotten that his entire arm was mechanical; it looked so very real, which thankfully, was the idea. Her other hand gently felt his shoulder and she felt where skin and metal met. One finger felt flesh and the other felt metal.
Pushing all that aside, she pressed her first two fingers into the flesh of his left shoulder. She felt her son tense in her grasp, but soon understood why. There was a nasty knot in his shoulder. The tightness even caused her to feel a bit of pain. Massaging it out, she pressed her fingers into the knot.
"Ow!" Jim screamed. "Ow, ow! Mom, stop!"
"No, Sweetheart. You need this," said Sarah, holding him down tighter.
Jim felt his fingernails dig into the blankets and he bit his tongue to keep the scream in his throat. "Ow," he breathed.
"I know, I know. David said you would get knots in your shoulder because of the growing muscle. It's building up against the metal and needs to be massaged out and loosened. It's all part of healing," said Sarah softly.
"Yeah, but it hurts a lot," Jim said through clenched teeth.
"We knew this whole process was going to hurt you. John did say it's tough getting used to," admitted Sarah.
Gradually, she felt him ease under her touch. His fingers were lying flat against the bed now. Her mother sense told her he was feeling better and more relaxed. The aura in the room was comfortable again.
"Better?" she asked.
"Yeah, actually. That feels good now," said Jim.
"Good," said Sarah, removing her massaging hand and wrapping her arms around his torso and pulling him against her chest. She kissed his cheek. "I'm sorry."
"For what?" wondered Jim.
"Not being able to provide you with anything," replied Sarah.
"Mom, I had food and clothes and somewhere to sleep. That was providing," said Jim.
"Jim, no it's not," said Sarah with a sigh. "I provided you with nothing. I couldn't give you money to buy new clothes or boots or coats. You've been living with the same things for most of your life. I only got you new clothes when you outgrew your old ones and you've not grown lately so it's been years since you got new clothes. Your own home became an Inn. I couldn't even find work so you could stay in your own home. It was a house where other people came to stay. You had to work in your own home. That shouldn't be. I didn't even provide you with your school supplies. I didn't have the money to do that. Delbert bought them for me. You couldn't even have your own solar surfer. Everyone else had one. I remember you telling me that when you rode to school one day. You were so happy that you finally had one and then you went to high school and they made fun of you for it. They make fun of you for being poor; I know they do. I hear you in your room at night crying because of it. You hated school because of it. I know that's why you never went.
"I wasn't able to provide you with a life so you didn't care about your future. I know you knew you had no future so you didn't care. You did whatever you felt like, whatever made you happy. This is all my fault. I'm a failure of a mother."
"Mom," said Jim, turning his body so he was looking at her. He smiled and raised her bowed head with his hand. He bunched his sleeve in his hand and wiped the tears on her face. "You're not a failure. You think you are and that's why you're not. We did what we could. It's not like I could get a job anywhere; I was too young. I still am pretty young for a job around here. Besides, I only need to wait a few more months until I'm sixteen."
"What happens when you are sixteen?" wondered Sarah.
A smirk widened at the corners of Jim's lips as his eyes moved past his mother and upward. He looked at her then motioned past her.
Sarah turned her head and followed his gaze to the flag hanging from the window. Wonder pursed at her lips. Could it really be that easy? They wanted him to go into the Academy. Did he really want to do it? Was his life getting that much better just like that?
"You have to be sixteen to apply," said Jim.
"What about school?" wondered Sarah. "Don't you have to finish your formal schooling?"
"Well," began Jim, lingering on the word and looking all around the room. "You don't have to finish school. They have their own one year program that completes the last few years of school and it is recommended that new students take it. They introduce life at the Academy and integrate Academy classes with formal studies. However, the classes are from nine in the morning to seven at night with an hour off for lunch and dinner and they are everyday but Sunday. The astrological class is on Saturday after class since it's a night class. Rather than having a month off every three months, it's only a month off for eleven months. It's a trying course, but it's more beneficial than finishing school because high school and the first six months of the Academy are shoved into one year so you're actually ahead of the other students. So, I could graduate when I'm nineteen and have the four year course done in three and a half or three."
Sarah was looking at him dumbfounded. Her mouth formed into several words, yet no sounds came out. Repeatedly, she inhaled then exhaled the breath that was supposed to be used for speaking. Not sure of what to say, she tapped her lips with her forefinger. A smile finally widened on them. "You know something Jim, you're going to turn out all right."
"What makes you say that?" wondered Jim.
"Because the judges and authorities who are going to be dealing with you recommend that you join the Navy," said Sarah.
"Oh, well, that works," said Jim.
"Can I ask why you want to join the Navy?" asked Sarah.
"When I was younger I dreamed of going out into the Etherium. Now that I have, I want more of it," Jim told her. His eyes turned to the approaching night and the darkening sky. "I belong out there. When I was out there, at night, just lying on deck under the stars, everything was perfect. When I finished my chores we would lay on deck and talk. I would point out constellations and tell their stories and then he would share stories of his own. There were a few times I was looking into the Etherium and then I was looking at the crew's quarters the next morning. I didn't feel so alone when I was surrounded by the stars. The Etherium may seem empty, but there is so much of everything. Everywhere you turn there is something else to look at. It's quiet and calm. It's the definition of perfect."
"We?" wondered Sarah.
Jim's eyes narrowed at his mother for a moment. Thinking through his previous words in his head and recalling that he did say "we" and "he", a sheepish smile widened across his face. He shrugged his right shoulder and raised both palms.
A knock came on the door drawing their attention away from each other. Silver stood there with his metallic knuckled against the wood. "Feeling better?"
"Much better," said Jim. "And thanks for the clothes. I've never had so many."
"Ye needed some new ones," said Silver. He motioned both of them. "Your guests have arrived."
"I have guests?" wondered Jim.
"Five of them," nodded Silver. "An' two of them want ye te read Treasure Planet ta them again."
Jim's eyes shut. He raised his head toward the ceiling and mockingly laughed. Groaning he looked out in front of him, but a smile widened across his face. He got up on his own two feet and grabbed his green coat before walked out of the room. As he was walking down the hall, Morph was fluttering about him happily then finally settled on his left shoulder, like he always did.
Distantly, he heard two three year olds screaming over something and B.E.N.'s voice loudly saying something about "there being two of them". Harry and Benji were an odd sort of beings. They were mature for only being three years old, and he liked them a lot. He felt comfortable around them and knew because they were children, said whatever was on their mind. He needed to thank them for bringing him out of his melancholy and he had an idea how.
The moment he was walking down the stairs to the foyer, he saw Harry and Benji being chased by B.E.N. They were running around the foyer gleefully until one of the twins looked up and began jumping up and down while pointing.
Jim smiled at them as they were now both jumping up and down and pointing at him.
"Jimmy, you're up!" B.E.N. cried.
"Yeah," said Jim taking his time going down the stairs.
"Daddy!"
"Mommy!"
Both B.E.N. and Jim cringed as the twins hollered. That was not necessary at all in their opinion. Morph, however, giggled and went down ahead of Jim to inspect them. They looked more fun than Jim was right now.
Livesey and Claire walked into the room. Both of their expressions appeared annoyed.
"Yes?" wondered Livesey.
The twins pointed towards the stairs.
"You no telled us," said Benji.
"Surprise!" Livesey cried, leaning back and his arms out.
"I had a five minute warning," said Jim, finally on the main floor.
Two three year olds ran to him and attacked his legs, each grabbing one. They were looking up at him with huge hazel eyes, pleading for some reason.
Jim shooed them off of his leg and knelt to their level. "Do you want something?"
"Treasure Planet!" they cried.
"After dinner," promised Jim, with a firm nod of his head.
Overjoyed, they clapped their hands together and threw their arms around his neck. Benji of course, began pushing up the cloth covering his left arm.
"Hey, stop it," said Jim, grabbing his arm. "It's still the same as it was before." He held out his left hand and moved it. "See."
"Better," noted Benji. "You better."
"Uh huh," agreed Harry.
"I'm getting used to it," agreed Jim.
B.E.N. leaned over to get a closer look. His eyes widened. "Hey, you look like Mr. Silver does. You have a metal hand and metal in your head."
"Actually, it's my entire arm," said Jim, softly.
"Oh, is that why your arm hurt on Treasure Planet?" asked B.E.N.
Jim nodded his head.
"How is your arm?" Claire asked.
"It has a few knots in it, but it's my arm. It's not like I can put it back," said Jim then muttered to himself. "Although I wish."
His sorrow filled expression said his thoughts as he turned away from all eyes. Morph cheered him up by nuzzling against him.
Two more people entered the room, one of which got him to raised his eyebrows and open his eyes. Captain Amelia hardly looked like a captain at all. The uniform was gone. She was dressed in just simple trousers, ballet flats, and a flowing pink tinted tunic. A belt at her waist added shape to her feline figure. There was actually a tail behind her, and he found himself leaning over to look more. He didn't think she had a tail because it was never there. The sleeves flowed from her hands. She seemed more comfortable and completely odd.
"Captain, didn't expect to see you here," said Jim.
"Well, now that we aren't on a ship I am not your captain so you don't have to announce me as so," said Amelia.
"Ma'am?" wondered Jim.
"Just call her Amelia," said Delbert.
Jim looked between them. His eyes narrowed and mouth opened agape until an eyebrow eventually raised. "You two? You two are hooking up?"
"Why not? Your mother and Silver are getting cozy together," said Amelia.
"I know but she's human and he's a whatever," said Jim, but the smile on his face hinted toward something much more amusing. "You're a cat and he's a dog. Cats and dogs don't get along."
Both Amelia and Delbert sighed and rolled their eyes.
Hearty laughter explained why. Silver clapped his hand against Jim's shoulder. "Tha's wha' I said."
A perfect pair, the two of them walked towards the dining room laughing and Jim stumbling over his own feet. The teenager was sat in the chair at the head of the table and the laughter in his voice immediately died.
"I'm not sitting here," Jim told him, making to stand up.
"Yes ye are lad. This be yer dinner an' yer the honored one so ye sit at th' head," said Silver, setting his hands on his shoulders to keep him down.
Jim shook his head rapidly. "No, I—"
"Jimbo, yer fine. Everyone knows about yer arm an' no one's gonna stare. Th' Cap'n has seen much worse tha' this," Silver said.
Slumping, Jim looked as though he was trying to hide himself. Everything felt uncomfortable again. He was fine just a second ago and now he wanted to run up to his room and hide. Everyone could stare at him with ease. He was too wrapped up in his worried thoughts to notice everyone else was entering the room and the food was being presented. Sarah sat at his right followed by Delbert, Amelia and B.E.N. Silver sat at his left followed by, Livesey, Tom, Claire, and the twins. He was not looking at any of them. Instead, his head was down low to his chest and he was twiddling his thumbs, watching it go from flesh to metal and back to flesh then to metal. He always hated being the center of attention; it made him feel trapped and unable to do anything he wanted.
Everything worsened when Silver stood and coughed with a glass of wine in his hand to propose a toast. Jim felt himself slumping lower. His night could not get any worse.
"Now, ye all know this slumping bag of bones here," began Silver, hinting at Jim to sit up, which he did not. "He's been through a lot an' still kicking. Literally, kicking me leg."
Jim's face went red as he lowered his head as a smirk widened across his lips. "Sorry."
"Well, anyway," continued Silver, giving Jim a narrow eye. "He's a good lad an' tough as nails. We've all had some ups an' downs in th' past month because of him an' new arrivals, but here we are a month later sitting all together. Once enemies an' now acquaintances an' hopeful friends in th' future fer his sake, we all share one common thought. Welcome back ta life Jimbo."
The teenager raised his head so far as his eyes peered across him. Everyone had their glasses raised, including the twins and their juice and B.E.N. and his grease. All of them were happy and proud of him, like he had done something great in the world. What exactly did he do? He did nothing.
Anger swelled up in him and the anger went directly to his eyes. He felt his twiddling thumbs and saw a glint of the metal every time it flashed up. Was that what he did? His burning, angered eyes looked at them all.
"I've done nothing to deserve this," Jim told him. "I lost my arm and part of my skull. That's no reason to be honoring me."
He pushed his chair back and immediately left the room. Once out of sight, he ran as fast as he could so Morph couldn't follow and give away his position. He ran not outside, but to the astronomy tower and up all the stairs and finally collapsed in the chair under the massive telescope. His knees were hugged against his body and his arms wrapped around them. Once again, he couldn't force himself to hold back the tears. His back shook and he breathed through his teeth.
The night did get worse. Why were they honoring him? He lost his arm. That was nothing to be honored for. He wanted to die and tried killing himself. What, did they find his suicidal thoughts amusing? He put them all through pain, misery, sleepless nights, unneeded and unwanted stress, tears, suffering, heartache, anguish—literally, he put them through a month of hell and they were honoring him for it.
Setting his chin in the gap between his knees, he felt the tears rolling across his cheeks. For some reason, one person came to mind, a person he hadn't thought about in quite a while, not since Silver came into his life. What would his father think? He wanted to know what his father would think of what happened to him. Sure he left when he was eleven, but he still wondered. He knew his father cared for him; his mother confirmed it. With the adoption possibly going through, he questioned if he wanted Silver for a father.
Inside, he felt he still couldn't trust John Silver. There was something about the way he looked out into the darkness of the night and overprotected him that seemed unreal. He was too protective and too good of a father. Ever since he met Silver, he was the only man who saw something in him and believed in him. No one else ever said there was potential in him or helped him get out of trouble. The man literally sacrificed himself. Why was he still hanging around? Jim knew he ruined Silver's life. The man was practically living in a prison. All of his freedoms were taken away for his sake. He didn't even know how Silver got his mechanics. He knew nothing about Silver other than that he was a pirate who was going after Treasure Planet and he somehow fell in love with a fifteen year old.
Sitting there alone in the darkness, Jim looked up and out the opening. The snowy sky was clearing away. In the distance, Crescentia glowed as brightly as it always did, like a constant moon. The shifting gasses in the sky shifted the blues across the horizon. Clouds covered and revealed the stars. Was his father on one of those planets? Was his father closer than he thought? There was a thought to consider. Leland Hawkins always having been on Montressor. Or did Leland know Silver and send him to look after him?
Unknown to anyone, when he did stare out into the sky on the ship, his mind was always on his father. His father up and left and headed out. The Etherium was huge, yet smaller than one thought. Fate and chance did determine a person's life and he knew it. He went from poor and someone with no future to richer than he ever dreamed and plans of going into the Interstellar Academy. He could care less about the ranking or the schooling. The only reason he wanted to succeed in the Navy was to get his name out there. He wanted to do great things in the world so his father would come back. Part of him still believed his father left because of him. If his father wanted him, he would have turned and scooped him in his arms and left with him. He wanted to make his father proud and have him back in his life. Silver was still untrustworthy; he was trying too hard.
The teenager sniffled and wiped his nose on his knees. He continued to sit curled tightly with his jaw between his knees and the tears, not quite so much of them anymore, fell from his blue eyes. A shiver passed over him as he felt another person's presence in the room. It was not Silver; he knew that. The footsteps did not belong to a Cyborg. By the small footfall, it was female. He didn't need his mother seeing him crying again. She had seen too much of his tears lately.
A gentle hand cupped his shoulder. His eyes moved to the right corners and he saw not pink flesh, but claws and fur. Confused, he turned his head wholly. "What are you doing here?"
Amelia sighed softly as she looked at him. "I thought we could talk."
"About what? How much of a failure I am?" wondered Jim, turning his head away.
"No," said Amelia. "I was the one who arranged Silver's pardon."
Now interested, Jim looked at her curiously. "Why? He's a pirate and he mutinied you. Remember? He will be hanged. You said it yourself."
"I know I did," said Amelia. "Do you believe in doing what's right rather than smart?"
"Of course. Obviously," said Jim.
"I didn't always have it in mind to be a captain of a ship. In fact it was the last thing I wanted when I was a child. My father forced me into the Academy with my five brothers. I exceeded all of them and forgot how to live. I had forgotten how to be a woman with dreams," explained Amelia. Her ears drooped and eyes saddened. "I wanted to be a dancer when I was younger. I took every course in dance. My father wouldn't have it so I forced myself away. By forcing myself away from what I knew to be right, I fell into the state of the law. Whatever was told of me, I obeyed. And yes, I returned here with every intention of killing Silver."
"Why didn't you?" wondered Jim.
"Because your mother and I had a conversation. In a roundabout way, which I must say was quite clever of her, she told me to do what was right rather than smart for once in my life. I knew Silver switched sides when he brought you back to the ship and demanded his men to leave you alone and that no one was going to get one droubloon of the treasure until you were up on your own two feet again. He took you from a sniveling little brat I personally wanted to give a good whooping to into a fine teenager with potential. Don't think I didn't see you and Silver take that little boat ride, and I must say, impressive how well you handled it."
"It's always something I've been good at. I'm good at fixing things and powering anything with a sail. Give it to me and I'll fix it or command it. That's another reason I want to join the Navy beginning autumn term. I'll be sixteen in spring. Forget high school. I just want to get into that eleven month course, but now I'm not sure if I can."
"You already have a signed recommendation letter and will be receiving a package containing information and an application to apply. It was I who suggested to the authorities that you become part of the Navy. There is something about you. Silver was right about that. You are a headstrong, determined young man who is smart and wise beyond his years. You're not stupid like most fifteen year olds, although you have an attitude that will get you into trouble at the Academy."
"Why is it everyone sees something about me that I don't? I don't know what is so great about me. They probably won't want me because of my arm and my head. It'll only have been a few months. I don't want to be given special courses just because they think I can't handle the real courses because of my arm. I don't want everyone think I'm weak and not want to be with me because of it."
"Having a mechanical arm means nothing. It's what you do with that arm that they will look at. I must say, you are a self-conscious young man. Here I was thinking you didn't care and here you are complaining about something simple."
"Simple? SIMPLE!" Jim screamed. "I'm fifteen years old and I have a mechanical arm. I lost my arm and part of my skull. That isn't simple. This is anything but simple. My shoulder hurts every day. I'm on probation. I have social workers that are going to dictate my life for me. I don't even know if I can join next year because I'm apparently to finish school. You think what happened to me is simple. How about I cut off your arm right now just so you can see how 'simple' it is to get used to and live with."
"As an example right there," Amelia told him calmly. "You're headstrong and determined. I see it in your eyes Mr. Hawkins. It is that determination that will get you somewhere. You're determined to fight against everything and all that's taking you down. That is what the world needs. Most people don't have the courage to stand up to his or her beliefs and do what is right. I myself do not follow into that category. I'll admit it, each day I find myself wondering if my career is going to end because I helped a man sentenced to hang escape his fate. You have a burning fire in you that is willing to fight for what you truly believe in. You are a person who can get whatever it is that he wants with ease. I never thought I would say this and especially to a fifteen year old, I am jealous of the person you are."
"What if the one thing I want is my father? I only want to join the Navy to get my name out there so my father will come back to me, proud of me and who I am."
"Your father left you. I don't think you have to look very far for a father. He's right here. I've seen the manner Silver looks at you. He cares for you. He's a bit perfect and overprotective in my opinion and I'm sure that has something to do with his own past experiences, but that's none of my concern."
Jim sighed and set his jaw between his knees again. "Why were you honoring me anyway?"
"Because it's an honor to be alive," said Amelia and with that she turned on her heels and left him alone.
"Hey!" Jim called, turning his head and half his body.
"Yes?" wondered Amelia, turning her head and looking at him with an open face.
"You wanted to dance?" Jim asked.
"Silly I know," said Amelia.
"Not really," said Jim with a laugh. "This coming from the boy who dreamed of finding Treasure Planet as a child, I think you can dance. Finding Treasure Planet must be a gazillion times more unlikely than a captain in the Navy dancing again. So, I really think you can dance."
"Agreed," said Amelia.
"Thanks," said Jim. "For coming here and talking to me."
"You're very welcome young man," said Amelia turning. She took a step down the stairs. With one more thought in mind, she turned around again. "Oh, and I apologize and you are forgiven."
"For what?" asked Jim.
"The fault and blame I put on you for Mr. Arrow," said Amelia.
Jim gave silent thanks with a few nods of his head. He wiped all sadness away and knew he had to apologize for his behavior. Once again, he must have ruined the night and Silver began preparing him a feast hours and hours ago. He did feel his stomach gurgling and making a point to announce he was hungry. Sitting there, he was beginning to feel chilled.
Slowly, he uncurled his body and breathed deeply. He took time getting down the stairs, time to allow the redness of his eyes to clear away. Shaking his head to himself, he still could not fathom who of all people decided to look for him and talk to him. Captain Amelia was the last person he ever expected to have a descent conversation with about life. She did make more sense to him though. He always thought of her as too stuffy and militaristic with no life and now he knew why. It seems everyone around him was misunderstood by everyone.
He was surrounded by a pirate, two fugitives, a captain in the Navy dreaming of becoming a dancer, and his mother. No one in his life seemed normal anymore. His life was messed up more than he ever thought it was going to be and it was all because of that old Billy Bones, yet he would like to thank that man. Had he not crash landed then none of this would have happened and he would probably be sitting in juvenile hall being held in the detention center for a few days or having been sent to Planet X-185.
Fate had an odd way of treating him and he hoped it continued to treat him, but for now, he knew he promised two twins a reading of Treasure Planet. Since he had two copies again, he was probably going to give them the one Silver bought for him. He loved his copy more than anything in the world, especially the photo of him and his father on the inside cover and the note his father wrote to him twelve years ago.