Chapter Seven

Up on the main deck, Delbert and Silver were discussing the ship situation with the technician, of whom looked less than thrilled about it. He hardly paid attention to what was being said. Jim listened in on the conversation as he approached them, Morph floating eagerly next to him as always.

"Uh-huh, yeah…" The technician nodded, taking horrible notes while looking over the Legacy's damage.

"And ya see, we're really in a bit of a rush." Silver explained, as nice as a pirate captain could be, "So, if ya could speed things along…"

"Yeah, sure… we can have it ready here in an hour or –" He began.

"Hey! Steve!!" Another technician called over, "Get over here!!"

"Sorry," Steve said, "I need be gettin' back to work."

"So, we'll be here for awhile, then?" Jim chimed in.

"I'm afraid so, Jim." Delbert answered, still watching the technicians closely. They seemed to know what they were doing, although they acted a little strange. Luna came up from her room, looking well-rested. Enthusiastically, Jim's eyes lit up and a huge smile came across his face, "Hey! HEY LUNA!!" He waved her over; he lifted up his head, straining his neck to look at her. Jim met Luna half-way as she walked over to them, smiling back. She sweetly waved at Delbert and Silver, they waved back, astounded at Jim's attitude. Delbert and Silver's faces dropped looking between each other, observing the great mood Jim seemed to be in. They listened to Jim and Luna's conversation as best they could.

"Is this it? Am I home?" Luna asked, looking around.

"No, not yet, but don't worry about it!" Jim replied, "We'll get there."

Luna smiled in an introverted way, Jim watched her curiously as she took off the necklace she'd been wearing all along, she held his hand, placing the necklace into his palm, "Here, I want you to have this." She said, Jim's mouth had unconsciously opened a bit, she explained, "It glows green whenever there is trouble. My… Father gave it to me a long time ago."

"I couldn't take this from you Luna!" Jim said, trying to give it back.

"Please…" She pushed his arms back gently to himself, "I… I want you to have it, Jim."

A lingering stare began between them, Luna broke it off and started walking away.

"Luna," Jim said, she stopped and turned back around.

"Yes?" She said.

"…Thanks…" He finished. As Luna turned back around to walk away he slowly looked from her down to the necklace in his hands, gripping it tightly. Jim smiled deeply.

"Ah saw that…" Silver said, nudging him in the gut.

"What? What? You saw what?" Jim's fingers quickly covered the necklace, holding it closely to him.



Delbert couldn't resist the moment, "That lovely little 'gift' she gave you, your enthusiasm, and the silly grin slapped across your face."

"Pffff…" Jim was irritated with them, "Whatever…" He walked off to be alone for awhile.

"Oh whatever indeed." Delbert said, "I think you're –"

"What's going on?" Victoria asked Silver.

"Don't worry yer pretty 'lil head o'er such things, me sweet." Silver said.

"How long is this little side stop going to take?" She asked further.

"An hour or so they say." Delbert pushed his glasses up, although they weren't sliding down his nose.

"And you trust these guys?" Victoria checked out the two as they laughed like a couple of idiots.

Once the Legacy was fixed, along with Silver's ship, the Marauder, due to Silver's superstition about a repair not holding up overnight, both crews had to stay on that planet a night more before they were able to leave it.

"If it was fixed in vain, the night will show it's fraud." Silver would say.

The technicians handed Delbert the bill.

"So," One of them asked Delbert, raising his eyebrow suspiciously, "Who's the 'lil golden girl with you?"

"Yeah..." The other agreed.

"Luna." Delbert answered.

"Interesting..." One said, "Very interesting..."

However, once on both ships, it was well noted that Jim had been in his own world for quite some time now. He'd stand at the edge of the ship and stare out into space. Soon, he became a spectacle to the crew members, a small group gathered behind him.

"What's his problem?" Victoria asked, followed by many shrugs from the crew members, she added with a light sigh, "If anyone needs me, you can find me in kitchen…"

"AYE!!" Swiftshape shouted, "What be yer problem sonny?!"

There was no answer from Jim, he just stood there, blinking his dazed eyes a couple of slow times. The crew member became angered with him for not responding promptly and let him know about it.

"I SAID… WHAT BE YER PROBLEM??" He shouted all the louder.

Jim only returned with a sigh, Morph looked at him making a cuckoo sign. Even then, Morph became concerned, turning into a hand and waving it in front of Jim's face. With still no response. It was very unlike Jim to get so caught up in his own world.

"YEEEAARRRR!!" Swiftshape finally shouted all of his frustration directly into Jim's ear. Jim jumped and turned a deathly pale shade.

"What the heck was that for?!" Jim said, offended.

"Oh, maybe because yer bein'… SO HORMONALLY CHALLENGED!!" He shouted back, causing the crowd behind Jim to disperse from fear. Short tempered Swiftshape decided to drop it and walk away shortly after.

"Pff, yeah… whatever…" Jim mumbled, "Hormonally challenged…" He turned his attention back outside the Legacy into space. Morph watched his expression closely.



"Jimbo?" Silver came over to talk with him, "There somethin' on yer mind?"

"Um, no, not really." Jim answered, likely he was oblivious to his own thoughts.

"Okay then…" Silver rubbed the back of his neck, "Just… aye…" He was at a loss for words, as often as Jim was.

Luna flitted about, twirling around the ship, perhaps humming to herself in an extra special mood.

"Say, there…" B.E.N. said to her, "You're awfully happy Miss Luna."

"Hm? Oh yes…" Her answer was wispy.

"Jimmy's a nice guy…" He suggested.

"He certainly is." She said back.

"You like Jimmy, don'tcha?" The rusty robot wasn't about to mince words with the girl. She thought for a moment, was that what it was? It seemed so. All of this time, she latched herself onto Jim and was entirely unaware of it. Could I be any more stupid?, she thought. B.E.N. smiled in that crazy way and bid her, "I'll leave you to that thought…" He said with a bow and an exit. Luna sat down, her own mind overwhelming her with the evidence of her attachment that slowly but surely had occurred. Things can happen so, so fast.

Just as the night came swiftly and Jim was determined to find out what the thumping was that went on in the middle of the night. He heard it once, Tiny shivered, holding the blanket up to his face.

"Wait for it…" Jim said. He heard it twice more, "I'm goin' in." He looked over at Morph, who had created an army hat for himself.

"B-b-b-be careful, M-Mr. H-Hawkins…." Tiny advised, pulling the covers over his head.

Jim crept down the hall of the lower level of the Legacy. He kept his pace slow and right along the wall. He heard the floorboards creaking up top. He followed his ears, listening to the creaky floorboards beneath someone's feet. Whoever, or whatever it was, was certainly trying to keep to themselves through their midnight walk. Jim peeked a corner, looking at the very highest point of the ship at the front. Morph laid on his shoulder, peeking with him. The both of them looked at each other and back out, unable to believe what they were seeing.