Hey there, chapter 5 time! Thanks for all the comments, constructive criticism is always welcome.  Enjoy!!

Oh, and I don't own Treasure Planet, incase you didn't know that already.

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The door swung open quietly, but that didn't stop it from creaking slightly on its rusted hinges. Still half asleep, I assumed I was dreaming the noise and ignored it. Big mistake.

I had almost fallen all the way asleep again, when I heard this soft, squeaky noise. Unwilling to open my eyes, the noise persisted more loudly. With a grunt of frustration, I cracked on eye open.

"GAH!" I tumbled out of the bed into a heap on the floor, the sheets tangled around me. A little pink blob was zooming around the room, and I swatted at it like a fly. It seemed to think I was playing some game with it, and it was squeaking even more loudly. It latched onto a piece of my hair and pulled on it, attempting to drag me from the floor.

Finally, I managed to free myself of the sheets and the pink blob gave up on my hair. That's when I noticed that I wasn't alone. The boy from the night before was standing at the threshold of the room, just staring at me. He was trying to hold back laughter, but wasn't doing a very good job of it.

"Oh man, you should have seen your FACE! It was priceless!" He stopped trying to hold back his laughter and tears of mirth rolled down his face. Mine turned bright red. I scowled up at him and picked myself up with as much dignity as I could muster in the given situation.

I turned my back on him and went to the corner where I had left my boots. I pulled them on quickly, turned and walked back over to the boy, who was still laughing. I stopped in front of him and tapped my foot impatiently. I wanted to smack him.

He finally pulled himself together and noticed I was standing in front of him. "Well?" I said. "What do you want?" I crossed my arms and waited for a reply.

"The captain would like a word with you." I looked at him in surprise.

The captain? How'd the captain even know I was onboard?

Almost as if he had read my mind, he said, "I told Captain Amelia about you this morning. Kinda had to didn't I? You wouldn't want her thinking you're a stowaway. She doesn't take too kindly to those not willing to pay their way on her ship."

Unable to come up with any good comebacks, I grudgingly followed him out the door and down the hallway. Upon reaching the stairs that led to the outside deck, a loud rumble reminded me that I hadn't had anything to eat in at least the past twelve hours. The boy turned at me and cocked an eyebrow.

"You hungry?" I clutched my growling stomach, willing the sounds to stop. I nodded. "Guess you'll have to wait until after you talk to the captain. Tough luck."

I shot him a malevolent look. 'Guess you'll just have to wait?' Who does this guy think he is?!. I rolled my eyes and gave him one of those, whatever-I-don't-care, looks. He just smirked at me. Then I remembered that I was the stranger on this ship, and that he didn't have to be doing any of this for me.

As we walked across the sunlit deck of the ship, the pink blob that had awoken me earlier came zooming up to us. It flitted around the boy's head for a moment and noticing me, came to hover in front of my face.

Before I could swat it away again, it nuzzled up against my cheek, as if to say sorry for waking me up, and changed into a miniature version of me.

"Woah!" I exclaimed. "What is that thing?"

The boy glanced over his shoulder, and rolled his eyes at me as if I were stupid or something. "That's Morph. He's just, a morph I guess," he answered with a shrug of indifference.

"Aw, he's so cute! Where'd you get him?"

The boy looked back at me again, his face clouded over. "I got him… from a friend," he said, his voice and face devoid of emotion. He turned back around and refused to say anything else.

I continued to follow him along the deck and I could feel the scrutinizing stares of the crew on me. I kept my head down and continued to follow the boy until he came to a stop in front of a door near the back of the ship.

"The captain's in here," he muttered. He opened the door and I walked in silently, glancing around the stately room. Everything was in perfect order, from the charts and navigation tools on the desk to the globes and books on the shelves. It was sort of intimidating.

At the desk sat a very feline looking woman, a doggish man standing up next to her. They were quietly arguing over a map. The boy announced our presence by clearing his throat. The two at the desk looked up.

"Ah, Mr. Hawkins. I see you've brought our guest," the feline woman, whom I assumed to be the captain, stated.

What's with the sarcasm? I didn't do anything wrong. HE was the one who brought me on this ship in the first place. I kept my eyes downward.

The captain addressed me. "What is your name young lady?" I looked up.

"Umm… it's Tessor."

"I see. Is there a last name that goes with it?"

"Smithe," I answered, looking the captain in the eye for the first time.

"I see." She looked back down at the map she had been studying. "Care to explain why you are on my ship, Miss Smithe?"

My eyes went wide. How was I supposed to explain what happened last night? Hadn't he already told her?

"Um, well, you see ma'am, I met him," I nodded my head to indicate Mr. Hawkins, "last night you see, and he…"

"Offered her a job on the ship," he interjected, cutting me off. "I heard she had been asking around for one all day, and I thought she could take Mr. Mongle's place," he lied smoothly.

I glanced over at him and sent him a look of thanks. I had had no idea how I was going to explain myself to the captain. She looked up at me again and sized me up.

"Well, seeing as she's already here, and you've already offered her the job, I see no reason to deny her the chance." I let out the breath I had been holding. At least she was letting me stay.

"As for her taking Mr. Mongle's place however, I don't think that would work out quite so well. So I'll place her in your charge, Mr. Hawkins."

"What?!" we both shouted at the same time.

"No arguments Mr. Hawkins, my decision is final. Unless that is, you would like to leave the ship Miss Smithe."

No way was I going back to wander the docks alone. "No, I would like to stay on the ship," I told her.

"Alright then, now that's settled. From now on, Miss Smithe, as long as you are a part of my crew, you will address me as Captain, or ma'am, is that clear?" I rolled my eyes in annoyance.

"Miss Smithe?"

"Yes, ma'am," I answered.

"I suppose that'll have to do for now. Mr. Hawkins, please escort Miss Smithe to the galley and set her to work. Be sure she stays busy." The captain returned her attention to the maps on her desk, and I had no choice but to follow the boy. Needless to say, I was less than pleased with the arrangements. Guess it was out of my hands now.

He led me out of the captain's stateroom and back to the galley. My stomach rumbled loudly again.

"Here," he said, handing me a bowl of stew. "Eat this." It looked pretty nasty, and there were some questionable things floating in it, but what choice did I have? It was that, or starving. He seated himself across from me and looked at me expectantly.

I took a tentative sip of the brew, and deeming it edible, slurped up the rest of it. It tasted okay. I looked up mid-slurp. He was staring at me with a look that seemed to be half disgust, and half admiration. I looked at him questioningly.

"What?" I demanded. "Haven't you ever seen a hungry girl eat before?"

"Not like that. Most girls I know wouldn't have inhaled their stew like that."

"Like what?" I demanded. Is he calling me strange? Psh, I bet he doesn't even know that many girls in the first place.

"Like… nothing. Forget it." He turned away from me.

Geez, this guy doesn't like to finish his conversations does he? I shook my head and returned to my stew, taking care to eat it more slowly.

"So."

"So?"

"So, since I'm going to be in your charge and all now, shouldn't I at least know your name?" He looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Didn't I tell you my name already?" he asked. I shook my head.

"Oh, sorry. I'm Jim," he said, sticking out his hand for me to shake.

"Tessor," I said, returning the gesture.

"But I already know that."

"I know you know that. I'm just trying to be the polite one here. Ever heard of manners?" I asked sarcastically. Jim looked taken aback. Then he got mad.

"Listen here, cabin girl," he spat. "I'm in charge, and I won't let you talk down to me, especially when I out rank you!" He shot up from the table and stalked out of the galley.

"Alright, alright already, geez! Sorry sir. I didn't mean to talk down to you," I called after him.

Good god! Some one needs to go stick his head in an icebox! I thought bitterly. Talk down, indeed. I'll show him talk down.

Barely a day onboard, and this was already shaping up to be one interesting voyage.

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Haha, another long chapter, just for you guys!!! As always, please RXR and I'll update at the next possible moment. Toodles!!!