Disclaimer: Do not own Treasure Planet or its characters.
Jim turned over for what felt like the umpteenth time in as many hours. It took some convincing on his part, but he managed to get Tobi to stay the night in one of the guest rooms. While Jim would have liked to have stayed up and watched over Silver he just couldn't do anything until the cyborg woke up. Plus he was truly worn out both physically and mentally and sleep seemed like a good idea. BEN had volunteered to stay up and watch the patient with Morph, since the little shape shifter seemed utterly determined to stay by the cyborg's side.
So Jim had left it in their hands. But going to bed had proved a futile effort as well. If he wasn't worrying about Silver, he was trying to find some hidden motivation behind Tobi's offer.
He'd agreed to this "adventure" a veritable stranger had offered him and for what? So she was one of his classmates, that didn't make them automatic friends. Was it really worth his life and his career to follow some story that she could have cooked up to trick him? There was something he knew he was missing but he couldn't seem to place it.
But what point was there in tricking him? To make a fool out of him. But they barely knew each other. What did she have to gain from any of it? Other than the fact that she knew he was a rising star in the world of space captains, she didn't know him. Maybe she had more information on him that even he didn't know about.
Still, it just didn't add up. There really wasn't anything in it for her to gain except maybe some closure and notoriety of being able to go to the Anglican planet and return with riches and glory. Jim had to role his eyes at that one. What were they, conquistadors?
Groaning, he rolled over and could see the slits of sunlight on the back of his eyelids. Well all that thinking's gotten me nowhere. And I'm still so exhausted, he thought. Deciding that rather than attempt to fain sleep, he'd get up and start work in the kitchen. He also wanted to check on Silver before the regular customers began to arrive for breakfast. He quickly dressed and was at the top of the stairs when BEN popped his head out of the guest room.
"Hey, Jim," he whispered. The young man turned to see the robot casting a rather amused grin and motioning him over. "A certain someone's awake and I know he'd be glad to see you."
It only took Jim a second to realize who he was talking about before rushing back to the guest room and letting himself in. While the blinds had almost blacked out the room, there was a little light coming from a few candles that had been lit. Morph was curled up fast asleep on the old man's shoulder. The old cyborg still looked the worst-for-the-ware being ridiculously bloody and bruised but he was awake and smiled when he recognized Jim in the doorway.
"'Ey Jimbo," he said. The young man was stunned for a few moments before going over to the bed and taking the stool next to the pirate. BEN gently murmured something about sentimental moments before finally leaving.
"Silver," he replied and was glad that the room was dark so that Silver couldn't see the slight misting in his eyes. "Seems you got yourself into a bit of trouble there. Care to explain what happened?" The old cyborg laughed but erupted into a coughing fit. His whole body seemed to shake and convulse which greatly worried Jim. But the fit eventually subsided and the cyborg buried back into the pillows to make himself comfortable.
"Eh, you've never been one to beat around the bush, have ya Jimbo? Eh, I did indeed get myself into a sticky situation, though I'm not quite sure 'ow I ended up in this charming little inn. Take it this be your humble abode?" he said, looking around the room. Jim nodded.
"You had a savior looking out for you."
"Oh? Well that be mighty thoughtful. I'd like to meet this savior."
"I don't think she's up yet-"
"I am," a voice called from the door. Jim turned to see that Tobi didn't seem too awake herself and that her night might not have been any better than his. Her hair was mussed and he could see from the lights of the candles that she had bags under her eyes. Her clothes were wrinkled to within an inch of their life, as if she hadn't bothered to remove them before hitting the mattress. Even her wings seemed to be drooping. She shuffled into the room, yawning and stretching. "I came to check on my patient. Or rather, the patient. Whatever. Anyway, how do you feel this morning?"
"Oh, I've been better," Silver said, looking for all the world like a puppy that had been beaten. He was even attempting puppy-dog eyes. The key word being "attempt" as Silver did not have the face to pull off cute and sympathetic. Jim covered up his laughter by coughing and Tobi raised her eyebrow. She was not amused.
"I hope so because you look like hell," she said. Jim couldn't cover up his laughing as well this time and Silver looked as if his ego had taken a hit. "Hey, I calls it like I sees it. We had a doctor to look at you, and he did the best he could, but to be perfectly honest you need a proper medical facility."
"I tink you can guess that that's out of the question."
"Yeeeaaah," she signed, plopping down across Silver's covered legs. They both winced when they heard her back hit metal and she grimaced but shifted around until she found a reasonably comfortable position. "Geez, you're lumpy. Well, back to business. I have a proposition for you," she said, a smile blossoming on her face. Jim recognized that grin and he only wished that Silver had more backbone than he did. "Since you're going to be something of a burden for at least a couple of months, then I'd like you to accompany us on a little voyage. Think of it as a means of repayment. Jim here has already agreed and I feel that even if you aren't completely healed you still may be of some use to us. What say you?"
Silver studied her face through her speech. The young woman had casually seated herself between his legs and seemed perfectly at ease. But there was something in her eyes, hidden behind that smile that he could see was fake and forced. He had a feeling that this young woman wouldn't take no for an answer.
"And, what if I say no?" he asked. Her smile drooped a fraction but a particularly vicious glint began to glimmer in her eyes.
"Well, I could turn you into the authorities, but somehow I don't think you're very afraid of them," she said. Silver was right. This girl was smart. Her fingers pulled back the cover over his artificial leg and while he could feel her slightly pull and tug at it, he couldn't see exactly what she was doing. Even Jim didn't have a good view of whatever she was doing.
"That being said, I would threaten you with your freedom," Tobi said, showing him a handful of screws and bolts. It took a moment, but then Silver was frantically pulling his leg up, ignoring the shots of pain that threatened him. Sure enough, she'd disconnected the peg from the rest of the leg. Jim would have stopped her, but she was already up and moving towards the door. She turned before exiting.
"Believe me, I wouldn't need to hand you over to the authorities to make your life miserable after completely disabling you. I could just put you in a dark room with only one working leg, arm and eye. You'd go stark raving mad. You'd probably prefer the police to the miserable fate I would give you," she said. Her eyes were no longer a mild green but much darker and deeper, almost black. The bits in her hand clinked as they rolled together. "So I ask again. What say you?"
Silver couldn't believe it. Few people got the upper hand of old Long John Silver and this little girl, in the span of about five minutes had not only gained the upper hand but had him trapped in a corner. He slumped back against the head board, wincing as he realized just how much pain he was in.
"It seems, lil' lady, that I ain't got much choice. Ya got yerself a deal," he said. She beamed him a happy bright smile and went back to Jim to hand him the parts. Before either could reprimand her, she was out the door and they could hear her footsteps as she made her way down the stairs. They both stared at the doorway for a minute before Jim went to work reattaching the peg.
"Ya best watch yerself lad. She's a doozy," Silver said.
"You got that right," Jim muttered, feeling dread settle like a lead weight on his stomach.
AN: Oh my gosh! I actually got another chapter done. I'm sorry to those of you who have been enjoying the story and I haven't been updating. I'm such a hypocrite. Oh, well. I'll try to be better. So what do you think of Tobi? She went all nasty on them and really threatened Silver. I didn't want her to be some goody two-shoes. She has some skeletons in her closet. She isn't afraid to get her hands dirty to get what she wants. Let me know what you think. Again, sorry for taking so long to update.