The crew was seated at a table by the window, Captain Amelia tracing the diamonds in the woodwork with her claw. A crank was hanging on the wall next to the window, along with a dial. Milo pointed to it.
"What's this?" he asked, wrapping his fingers around it. The metal was cool against his skin as he gave it a push, the rain outside being washed away for a sunny flowery backdrop. He push fit again, this time getting a tropical jungle, with animated waves at the shoreline of a beach.
"It exchanges your location," Amelia said, then added once she saw his blank stare, "basically you can change the setting so it looks like whatever you want it to." Milo reached for the crank again, his gaze transfixed on the scene as depicted in the diamonds.
He changed it to a grassy field with grazing cows.
He changed it to city streets bustling with animated pedestrians.
The banks of a river with a gurgling stream.
A desert decorated with plateaus of rock formations.
"Wow…" Milo trailed off in wonder. Amelia rolled her eyes.
"It really isn't much, Professor Thatch," she said.
Nevertheless, Milo continued to play with it, the crank giving him a slideshow he thought he would never see in his life. There were so many possibilities it took his heath away- ones with dinosaurs, ones underwater, even with fairies! He went to turn the crank again when Amelia slapped his hand away.
"That's quite enough, Professor Thatch," she sneered, wrinkling her nose at him.
"Sorry," he said sheepishly, tugging at the collar of his shirt. Sweat began to bead on his skin, dampening the underarms of his shirt. Dr. Sweet cleared his throat, catching the feline's attention.
"So, what doesn't Mrs. Hawkins want to happen again?" he asked, "you said you would explain." Amelia nodded.
"And as Captain, I intend to keep my word," she confirmed, "but I feel it isn't really something for you to hear right now."
"But-"
"But nothing, Dr. Sweet," Amelia said, "it is Jim's decision. If he wants to tell you, he will tell you. But only when he is ready." Dr. Sweet nodded, leaning back in his chair.
"Yes, Amelia, of course," he said, transfixing his gaze to the window and its many backdrops.
"You will address me as Captain or Ma'am, is that understood?" she quipped suddenly. There was a few seconds of silence, followed by yelling coming from the kitchen.
"Mom you know I'd be great!" came Jim's voice.
"I know, but-" Sarah was cut off.
"Then why can't I go?!"
Jim was followed by Delbert, who said, "Sarah, really-"
"You were all almost killed on that voyage!" Sarah screeched, and they could hear her voice crack, the wavering that sent it through the wood, muffling it slightly. Milo raised an eyebrow as Amelia slapped a hand to her forehead. Almost killed….? Milo thought, but what exactly happened? Audrey began digging in the wood of the table with her nail, following the intricate swirls and patterns of the grains. She was starting to get bored, just sitting around waiting for an answer.
BANG!
Everyone jumped, averting their attention to the entrance of the inn. Captain Amelia sniffed once, raising an eyebrow. Milo rolled his eyes- this wasn't good at all.
"Mr. Thatch, what's taking so long?" the tall woman demanded, crossing her arms over her chest. As she did so, the hem of the black tank top she wore rode up slightly, exposing a flat stomach. She moved sends of her blond hair out of her face as she sneered at the crew.
"Sorry, Ms. Sinclair," Audrey gave Milo a jab with her elbow, "we were just getting the doctor to try and come with us-"
"Was I talking to you, Ramirez?" Helga snapped. Audrey rolled her eyes, sending a glare her way. Helga ignored it, jutting her chin at Captain Amelia, "What is this, the circus? Who is this?" Captain Amelia straightened her bak, pulling taut the lapels of her captain's uniform. The brass buttons glared under the light of the lamps as she fiddled with them before pushing away from the table, standing to her full height. Dr. Sweet and Audrey immediately died to stifle their laughter- the captain dwarfed Helga in comparison, and both of them were wearing extremely tall high heeled boots as well, which mad sit even more amusing.
"Captain Amelia Doppler of the RLS Legacy, thank you very much," Captain Amelia announced, inkling her head towards Helga.
"Whatever," Helga said, taken aback at the…. woman's appearance.
"I highly suggest you don't use that tone with me, Ms. Sinclair," Captain Amelia said, raising her chin.
"Well, i highly suggest you not butt into our business, Captain," Helga shot back, then to the others, "Now where's Dr Doppler? You said he'd be coming." Amelia widened her eyes. The door to the kitchen slammed open, and Sarah Hawkins was dragging Jim by the arm to the stairs, past the crew who looked on uncomfortably.
"Mom!" Jim pleaded, "just let me go!" They walked straight past Helga, who raised an eyebrow at them.
"No, Jim, and that's final!" Sarah sounded near tears as she turned to face her son, clutching his shoulder so tight she may as well have ripped the fabric with her nails. Tears began to dot the corners of her eyes.
"Mom-" Jim tried, lowering his voice, soft as silk.
"I don't want to lose you," Sarah said, her lower lip quivering, "after your father….." She trailed off, tears flowing freely as she her shoulders began to wrack with sobs. Helga pursed her lips, clearly annoyed at the little pity fest going on at the moment.
She had places to be, and this was not getting her anywhere.
"Alright, well, we'd love to stay and chat," she said, and Sarah looked up, noticing her for the first time.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Ms…?"
"Sinclair," Helga finished for her, "anyway, we're here to pick up Dr. Doppler and his wife. You seen them around?" Milo cleared his throat, going to tap Helga on the shoulder.
"Um, Ms. Sinclair-" he began.
"Don't tell her, Milo," Audrey grinned, "let her figure it out herself, yeah?"
"Don't tell me what?" Helga asked, plantain gear hands on her hips. Milo opened his mouth to answer, but the voice that came out was not his own.
"I'm right here!" Delbert cried, bursting ingot eh room, "ready for travel!"
"What the hell is that?!" Helga demanded, reaching for her gun holster. Audrey slapped a hand to her forehead- she should have known Helga would automatically go for her gun.
"Whoa!" Sarah yelled as she ran at Helga, pushing Helga's arm down, "I don't allow guns in my inn, Ms. Sinclair!" With a grunt, Helga reluctantly replaced her weapon, eyeing Delbert- and Amelia- suspiciously. Whatever they were, they looked freaky.
"What's wrong, what's happening!?" Delbert asked as Amelia pushed him out of the way, reaching for a gun of her own- a golden laser blaster, the end pointed like a pencil. A whirring sounded through the air as she pressed a button, starting the thing up. Sarah snatched it from the cat, shutting it off.
"That also means you, Amelia," she said pointedly.
"I don't know what kind of business you run-" Helga began to fume, looking as if steam was going to poi out of her ears.
"I run a good business and if its shot full of holes then I'll most definitely sue!" Sarah scolded her, "now Dr. Delbert and his wife are valued customers and friends- I don't want them dead. Got it?!"
Helga looked at Sarah, tens tole a glance at the couple, who were looking both confused and slightly angry, then back at Sarah.
"You can't be serious," she scoffed, shaking her head as she smiled in disbelief, "this is the famed Dr. Delbert Doppler?! A… a…." Delbert sniffed the air haughtily.
"Now, Ms. Sinclair…." Sarah warned, but the woman was beyond warning, waving her hands wildly through the air.
"…. He's a MUTT!" she finally screeched, a look of panic etched on her face as she then pointed to Amelia, "and what are you supposed to be, a cat?!"
"As a matter f fact, yes," Captain Amelia said matter-of-factly, tugging at the lapels of her coat, dusting herself off. Milo winced as Helga's breath began to speed up, her chest heaving rapidly. Helga herself couldn't believe it- the man and woman who were accompanying them on the mission were a bunch of animals!
Pull it together, Helga, she told herself as she felt the insane rush of her pulse, the throbbing in her temples. She suddenly felt dizzy, the room beginning to spin.
"Ms. Sinclair?" she heard someone say, and she found herself face to face with a teenage boy- make that three, or was it four?- everything was going blurry. She took a step forward, lurching to grab something, hold herself up.
"Whoa!" Dr. Sweet caught her just before she crashed head first into the table, "I think you need to sit down!" Nodding, she allows herself to be guided into a chair, sweat beading on her face and neck.
"Is she going to be alright?" Amelia asked Milo, watching as Dr. Sweet took her pulse, Sarah running of to assumably retrieve a wet rag. Milo bit his lip, shrugging- he had never seen her like this, all worked up and surprised.
"Hopefully," Milo said, "I mean, Ms Sinclair was always so cool whenever in a situation, you know?"" Amelia nodded, rubbing her chin absentmindedly. B.E.N. was cowering over her, eyes fluting from the doctor to Helga as Sarah came back with the rag, placing it gently on her forehead.
"So, uh, Sarah," Delbert cleared his throat, "about the trip…?" Sarah sighed, slapping a hand to her forehead.
"Fine," she muttered reluctantly, "you can go." Delbert was about to jump for joy when Sarah suddenly snapped, "BUT I do not want to hear any stories of your lives being in danger- and that goes for you too, Jim!" She sent finger at her son, who smiled sheepishly, his face going tomato red.
"Okay, Mom," he agreed, rolling his eyes at her. A sudden thought crossed his mind, "Um, Captain Amelia?" Amelia raised an eyebrow in his direction.
"Yes, Mr. Hawkins?" she asked.
"Should I bring the map?" he asked. Nw it was Milo's turn to be confused.
"You have a map to Atlantis?" he asked nervously. Captain Amelia grinned maliciously, shaking her head.
"No, Mr. Thatch," she said, "somewhere even better."
"Where could be better than Atlantis?" MIlo said, "I mean, there's so much to discover, I'm sure-"
"Treasure Planet," she cut him off bluntly, a lilt in her accent. Milo was taken aback. Out of all his studies, he had never heard o fit- then again, they had never even been on Planet Earth, so it sort of made sense.
"Did I hear that correctly?" Audrey asked, "Treasure Planet? You gotta be bluffing!"
"Oh, you'll wish i was, Ms. Ramirez," Amelia nodded, then to Jim, "get the map, please."
"Aye, aye, Captain," Jim gave her a small salute before racing for the stairs, feet pounding the floorboards as he ran to his room.