DISCLAIMER: I do not own any parts of Treasure Planet; Jim Hawkins; Captain Amelia, Long John Silver; Interstellar Academy etc.

Oooh what a cliffhanger! I know an update took a while, but what can I say ... exams! Bleurgh. But I decided to take a break and add this chapter.

As always please review and constructive criticism is welcomed, after all it's for your enjoyment as much as mine. And of course most importantly,

Enjoy!

The helm shook violently under Jim's hands. The energy surrounding the asteroids was causing most of the vibrations that shook through the ship, as Jim attempted to sail through the belt. The revolving nature of the belt meant the ship was sailing in the opposite direction to the asteroid belt, creating more friction against them. The asteroids that collided with the vessel did nothing to decrease the shaking of the ship either, throwing the crew to the ground every time one bashed against the ship.

The engines propelled the ship forwards, breaking through the energy field. Jim's hands worked constantly as he dodged the large segments of rock. The situation had already begun to deteriorate rapidly, the ship having had some dangerous collisions. The top sail had broken off and now lay splintered across the deck, the solar sail with a large gash down the middle. However, pushing through was the only option.

"Come on!" Jim forcefully muttered the words. He could see the end of the belt as it zoomed ever closer. He pulled the helm violently to the right, avoiding an asteroid that was flying from above. As soon as he had another slammed into the side of the ship. Jim, along with the others were thrown sideways and he lost grip of the helm, sending it spinning. Cries erupted around him but Jim's attention was focused on regaining control of the wheel. The ship had begun turning with the energy field. Without him to counter it, they were at its mercy.

Grabbing the handles Jim pulled with all his strength to stop the helm from turning. He could feel his arms burning with the strain but he continued until the ship was once again heading in the correct direction. Looking down at the deck Jim saw something that made his stomach lurch. Someone's life line was hanging over the side of the ship. Images of Mr. Arrow's empty life line flashed through his mind, the memory bearing too much of a resemblance to the current situation. Several crew members were pulling on the rope trying to haul it back over, but it was difficult. There was debris of rock continuously raining down on the deck and they had to try to protect there heads. But, they were trying to pull the rope up which had to mean the person was still attached to the end of it.

Driven on by determination and fear Jim gripped the wheel and forcefully navigated them through the asteroid belt. The ship encountered some more hits but Jim's concentration wasn't deterred at any point. The end was so close, he wasn't losing it now.

"Come on, come on, come on …"

Jim's mutterings echoed in his head. The end was coming closer, closer,

"Three, two … one!"

The ship shot through the belt and back into open space. A cheer erupted from the crew followed by a unanimous sigh of relief. Suddenly the ship jolted as the thrusters were enforced, slowing the ship down considerably. The movement jarred Jim into action and he jumped down from the steering balcony. Landing on his feet he ran over to help pull the person back over board. More people had arrived to help. Making his way to the front Jim pulled on the rope a few times before grabbing onto an arm. Heaving he and a few others pulled the lad back onto the deck. It was a lad Jim had spoken to properly only twice. His arm was bloodied and at an odd angle.

"Broken. Come on we had better get him below," Emma said. Her and a few others helped the lad down under the ship. Jim watched them go before his legs crumbled underneath him. Slumping down he rested back against the wooden side. Legs bent he rested his elbows on his knees and eyes on his palms. All his energy felt spent. As before Ralph appeared next to him, along with Bill. The two boys sat down either side of Jim.

"Who's driving?" Ralph asked.

Looking up Jim saw the examiner at the helm. He was the only person who didn't look dishevelled. Jim pointed a thumb at him and Ralph looked up. The examiner had his eyes focused ahead of him, seemingly oblivious to the wreck that surrounded him. Jim closed his eyes and rested his head back against the wood.

"Well that was really something," Jim said.

Ralph and Bill nodded in agreement but remained silent. The three of them sat there in silence for a couple of minutes looking at the destruction that was their ship. The question of how they were going to get back hung in the air but no one was prepared to ask it. The likelihood that there was little chance of making it back in time had dawned on nearly everyone.

After a time Emma emerged on deck. She too looked at the broken sail with disappointment. Noticing the three lads out of the corner of her eye she began to make her way over to them. Not one of them looked up at her as she did. It was only when she crouched down directly in front of Jim that he raised his eyes to her face. A smile appeared on her face reassuringly and she placed a hand on his arm.

"Henry's fine, we put his arm right," Jim let out a breath he wasn't aware had been caught in his chest at hearing those words. So he hadn't screwed up completely. "He's asleep. Admittedly we had to force him. Wasn't too happy being told he wasn't allowed to help us land at port." Emma's words brought back to the forefront the predicament no one really wanted to acknowledge. But they had to, and Jim knew it. Sighing he pushed himself up, Emma backing away to give him room as he did.

He looked at his three companians. Ideas began circulating in his head as to what to do but each one would take far to long. Time was not something they had right now.

"Look!" Ralph's voice broke the silence and Jim, Bill and Emma looked up to where Ralph's hand was pointing. Above the ship large bird like creatures were flying in the opposite direction. "Hugoh Craneiums." Ralph looked at Jim, a wide smile on his face as information from all the rainy day lessons came flooding back into his mind. "Hugoh Craneiums are nomadic creatures, constantly flying in a specific route all year to be in the best places during the different courses of the year." Excitement began to flow through him and Ralph was soon walking across the deck as he explained, the others stood watching him as he unravelled his thought process. "And part of their route happens to course through our test route," Jim's eyes lit up as he realised where his friend was heading. "If they're travelling in that direction that means it must be towards port-."

"Because in the Bedlamic Galaxy section of their route the opposite direction holds uncharted black holes. Ralph that's it." Jim interrupted Ralph's speech, the cogs in his head spinning quickly. "Bill how much energy is left in the engines?"

Jim turned to Bill but Bill's expression was not the one Jim had wanted to see.

"Not a lot. Passing through the asteroid belt took up a lot of energy and the solar sails are, well," He waved a hand at the torn sails above them. "We'll have half our usual projectory if we're lucky.."

Jim placed his hands in his pockets and looked down in thought. That was just their luck. They find one solution but then it's counteracted by another problem. Jim and the others would be able to make it back knowing the direction to take but they would be at least a day late. They had so failed the test. Such a worry did not seem to hang around Emma as she looked out of the Starboard side and broke into a smile.

"Well we could still obtain some points. There's a shooting star," Emma said.

"Wait, a what?" Jim asked, pulling out of his reverie. He spun quickly at looked at the star. Immediately his face broke into a grin and he took wide strides towards the steps leading to the steering balcony. "That's it! We're getting out of this system and back to that port. Today."

Jim ran up the steps two at a time telling Bill to call everyone back up on deck, besides Henry. Glancing curiously at the other two Bill did as he was told and called down the hatch. Soon everyone had assembled on deck and Jim gave orders to let down all sails and tighten the ropes to make the ship sturdy for sailing again. Ralph and Emma followed Jim up the steps, wondering what he was thinking. Jim moved the examiner aside and began changing the course of the ship, turning it round to follow the shooting star. The examiner stepped back but his eyes held sharp question. This Jim ignored, concentrating on what he was doing.

"Jim what are you doing?" Emma asked.

"I'm heading towards that star," He responded.

"Yeah that I can see, and it will get us points, but how exactly are we going to get back today?"

"If we sail back simply on the solar sails we'll never get back in time. And a shooting star is on the criteria list right?" Jim looked over at the examiner who simply nodded. He was waiting to hear where the young lads point was going. Seeing the nod Jim looked back at Emma, who's brows were becoming increasingly furrowed.

"But sailing alongside a shooting star isn't going to get us back in time. You heard Bill, the energy is depleated and the sails are nackered," Ralph interjected.

A sly grin graced Jim's features and he turned to look at the two. His hands turned the helm, making progress towards the star.

"No, but hitching a ride on it will," Jim said.