DISCLAIMER: I do not own any part of Treasure Planet: Jim Hawkins, planets that features in the film, characters etc. OC though however are mine: Ralph, Emma. Olivia and Bill.

I bet many thought I had abandoned this story. Never! I love writing this. So I'm very sorry that it's taken me so long to update. I also started university last year and that has given me a ridiculously busy timetable :( For you guys here is a brand spanking new chapter!! Hopefully it's still the same quality as the others.

"Ready to pay up?"

Bill stood watching the street, a satisfied smirk on his face. Next to him Ralph leant against the wood his eyes searching for Jim. He didn't bother looking at Bill.

"Don't get cocky, I've still got … twenty seconds," he muttered the last bit. Twenty seconds wasn't looking very promising and the ship was slowly rising but Ralph wasn't one to give up until absolutely necessary.

"Since when is Jim late?" Bill asked.

Ralph shrugged. "Dunno maybe he got a little pre- there they are! Yes!"

He yelled and pointed down at the street to where Jim and Olivia had just burst out of an alley and were currently sprinting towards the ship.

"Mr Combe what is the meaning of your absurd yellings?" Amelia looked down at the young man from the helm.

Upon arriving at the ship Amelia had been informed that she would be voyaging with the young recruits from the Academy. The President was adamant that there were as many people as possible involved in the war against the Caledonians. Calling it a 'war' had been prevented as long as possible but the growing threat meant that they could no longer deny the serious situation they were in. As a result Amelia was in charge of the 'whelp ship' as it had been affectionately named.

"A Mr Hawkins and Miss Beaufort approaching at speed 'Mam."

"Ten, nine, eight, seven," Bill began to count down even as Jim and Olivia jumped onto the ramp.

"Shut up Bill," A sharp cleft to the back of his head shut Bill up and he sent an evil glare at Emma. She ignored the glare and turned to watch Jim and Olivia as they soared onto the deck, just as the ship lifted up into the air.

Ralph grinned triumphant and held out a hand to his friend who begrudgingly placed several coins in it. Still smirking he held out a hand for Jim who lay on his back staring opened mouthed at his friend.

"Surprised to see me mate?"

A wave of déjà vu swept over Jim, having been asked the very same question by Silver less than half an hour ago. Grasping Ralph's hand the déjà vu increased by his own response,

"Something like that. What are you doing here?"

"We're going to war apparently," Emma said leaning against the rail, her arms folded across her chest.

"Don't worry about it, I'll be here to protect you," Ralph said wrapping an arm around Emma's shoulders. The action earned him a sneer and a quick shove.

Jim watched them all, still unsure how to react with everyone he knew suddenly popping up. A quick glance to his right showed him that Olivia wasn't among them and a strange sensation stirred in his stomach. He hadn't been watching her when they jumped onto the ship, but Jim had just assumed that she had landed next to him. His mind whirred with the possibility that she hadn't reached the ship. The rational part of his mind told him that she was probably more adept at leaping than him, but the annoying sense of panic was winning right now.

"If you guys are quite finished perhaps we could take off sometime soon."

Jim whirled round at the sound of her voice. Olivia walked down the stairs that led to the steering platform. He hid his relief, telling himself his body was acting strange due to stress. Still he had to ask.

"Where did you go?"

"To give uncle Delbert the camera," she spoke as though it was the most obvious thing in the world, and when he thought on it, it was. Around him the crew had taken up their stations and Jim felt the rumbling of the engines beneath his feet. At least it was beneath his feet. Now he was currently floating several feet above the deck.

"Mr Combe engage the artificial gravity if you would," Amelia's voice called out from above. In an instant Jim was back on hard wood but before he properly adjusted he was flung backwards. The ship shot into outer space and Jim saw stars that didn't belong to the solar systems swim in front of his eyes.

Amelia steered the ship along the launch highways, years of practice making it easy for her to avoid any other ships. Delbert stood by her side, his eyes closed to the wind that blew around his ears. She smiled at her husband. A thought strayed to her children and a sharp pang hit her heart. Leaving them was never easy for her and then it was only for stints at the academy but now, now she couldn't even wager a guess as to when she would see them again. Amelia's hardened mentality wouldn't even let her comprehend the possibility that she might not ever see them again.

A moan echoed above drawing Amelia back to the present. Delbert pointed at the creatures flying by.

"Oh look. Orcus Galacticus'. You know I never thought I'd see them again."

Amelia chuckled.

"Do you remember what happened last time doctor?"

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean Captain."

Delbert stood in an affronted manner, haughtily holding his nose in the air but quickly dropped the façade and tapped Amelia affectionately on the nose. In response she briefly rested her head on his shoulder.

"Right, now all the niceties are done with I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to make yourself useful elsewhere. I have many things to do."

Delbert understood Amelia's captain demeanour and promptly left her to take charge. This was her territory, and outside her cabin she was first and foremost the Captain. Their little moment before was allowed as the crew was currently more interested in the creatures which swam by the ship than what the captain was up to.

"Oh and doctor, would you mind clearing my ship of the debris."

Delbert saluted to Amelia and walked towards the 'debris'. Jim, Olivia, Ralph, Emma, Bill and several other young members of the crew lay sprawled in a heap on deck having been thrown across the ship when it launched.

"Captains orders get up off the deck."

"We're trying."

Jim pulled his leg free and stumbled up right. They were now fully clear of the space port and people had assumed their posts. As Jim looked around the deck he realised that he noticed many of the people on deck from his classes.

"Is the whole academy involved in this?"

"You bet. This is the young mans ship!"

"The what?"

Ralph glanced at Emma who had her eyebrow raised reproachfully. He moved over to her and draped an arm over her shoulders.

"I meant the young woman's ship!"

"The what?"

Bill frowned at Ralph, his arms crossed imitating Emma's look. Olivia hid a snicker behind her hand as Ralph glared at Bill.

"Fine it's the young persons' ship …. Oh forget it the moments gone."

"You'll get another one," Jim patted Ralph on the back then shouldered his pack and headed below deck.

"I got top hammock."

"Like hell you do."

Olivia and Emma watched as the boys ran down the stairs, pushing and yelling. The two girls glanced at each other. Emma shrugged her shoulders.

"Side by side?"

"Sounds good to me."

Jim sat at one of the tables, sheets of paper spread out in front of him holding the coordinates given to him by Silver. He had written down all the things his old mentor had told him earlier that day to make sure he didn't forget them and now he was trying to get his head round exactly what it was that Silver wanted of him. To build a machine that would destroy a deadly weapon. Jim threw his pen down. How was he going to do that?

For the first time since he had been pulled into the war Jim felt overwhelmed and very intimidated. And he also felt alone. He was thankful more than he could say that he had his mates with him, but Jim knew he couldn't burden them with even more fear. They were already scared. None of them would admit it but they were. It was a war after all. To tell them that they had to destroy a weapon which, if they didn't, would obliterate them wasn't something he wanted to do. The only person Jim had contemplated telling was Olivia since he believed she was more likely to see the situation with a strategic outlook. But that idea had long since gone out the window,

"Caledonians ... most of them were pirates, and pirates are despicable in themselves ..."

No, Jim knew who he had to confide in, he just didn't want to. Groaning Jim rubbed his face, pocketed the pieces of paper and headed towards the Captains cabin. Standing outside the door he exhaled heavily and hung his head as he knocked on the door.

'Be busy, be busy, be busy …'

"Enter."

"Dammit …"

Jim entered the cabin and quietly closed the door. He didn't move in any further but remained by the door. Amelia was pouring over a map. The projection hung in the middle of the room and a miniature ship was charting an invisible course. The sight made Jim feel even more uncomfortable as he was about to attempt to disrupt the already set course.

"Captain."

Amelia held up a finger to Jim indicating she was still busy. He waited for her to finish, his hands fingering the paper. Finally she closed down the map and settled behind her desk.

"Yes Mr Hawkins?"

"I need to talk to you."

She indicated for him to come forward. Jim took out the notes and placed them down in front of her. He waited while she scanned them and raised an eyebrow at him.

"We need to go where this," Jim picked up one of the coordinates and waved it, "takes us."

Amelia watched the piece of paper Jim shook but when she looked up at him he was met with the same sceptical look as before.

"I know it sounds stupid but just trust me, we have to follow these coordinates. It'll help us in this war."

"Where are these from?"

Jim halted. He had anticipated the question but now he found he didn't really want to answer it. He remained silent, deciding that if he could he would keep Silver's reappearance a secret. He had never found out how Amelia had reacted to Silver getting away, or of his involvement in it and he wasn't sure he wanted to.

"Mr Hawkins," Amelia reprimanded.

"A friend. Someone we can trust."

"I'm afraid I need more information than that to go gallooting off around the galaxy."

Jim closed his eyes but remained quiet, silently battling within himself. At his lack of response Amelia stood up and began to extract Jim from her office. He had no choice but to give in.

"It's from Silver."

If Amelia was surprised or angry Jim couldn't tell. She kept an impassive face as she faced him and he began to wonder if he was going to get into trouble for associating with a pirate when she didn't respond for several moments. Finally she spoke.

"So you want me to act against the orders of the space corporation which commands us to rendevou with other ships to sort out a solution to win this war on the intelligence of a pirate who attempted to kill three people on this ship on a previous voyage?"

Jim avoided her gaze and chose instead to stare at the floor. Her phrasing made him realise how foolish his suggestion sounded and her scrutiny was making him uncomfortable. But he couldn't help thinking that they needed to do as Silver instructed. The old pirate cared about him, he wouldn't send him off into harm, and Jim told the captain so but she wouldn't yield to him.

"I am sorry Mr Hawkins, I have my orders."

With that she opened the door indicating for Jim to leave. Gathering up the papers Jim left, pushing past Amelia without showing her any respect. He was too frustrated at her, at himself and his uselessness, at the whole situation. He headed below deck crumpling the papers in his tight fist, determined to get the captain to listen to him one way or another. A feeling was growing in his gut, an instinct that their course wasn't right and nothing good was coming of it.

Amelia stood watching Jim vanish down below. She had feared that that worthless pirate would come back someday and now she had been proven correct. What struck her as odd though was his apparent intention to help them in. Although he was looking to help Jim, Jim was opposing the pirates and thus to help him was to help the space recruits. She stood pondering this a while until Olivia arrived at her side, looking toward where Jim had gone.

"What was that all about?"

"A difference of opinion is all."

"About what?"

Amelia didn't respond. Instead she briefly squeezed Olivia's shoulder and went back into her office leaving her niece alone glancing between her aunts' door and Jim. She could tell it was something more than that, something that happened before she ever knew of Jim. Olivia had never seen Amelia and Jim interact at the academy, only really having the connection through the Legacy voyage and Delbert. Climbing back up to the crows' nest Olivia pondered the situation but she already knew she was going to figure out what was going on, one way or another ...

I was so happy to bring Ralph back! He's the funnest character to write (barring Ben of course). I have brief profiles of my characters on my page if you guys want to check them out. Reviews too, reviews are yummie!!

Isaac A. Drake - I re-read the story before writing more and I agree that the first four chapters were a little confusing to read. I'm planning on re-writing those at some point to get the story flowing better.