Chapter 11

Jim Hears The Truth

Starla woke up early the next morning, needing to be ready for the crew's meeting. She was half-asleep as she rose from her hammock, reaching over to shake out her jacket and slip it on. Yawning, she pulled on her boots as she sat at the edge of her insignificant bed, eyes half closed before she realized she could hear someone was awake. She looked up to see Jim, sitting on the ground and reaching for his boot as it moved away.

"Morph?" Starla heard Jim say as he rubbed his face. She smiled as Jim got up, tucking in his shirt and falling over in front of the pile of packs. "Morph, knock it off, it's too early for this," Jim mumbled as Morph -in the shape of Jim's boot- slipped around a trunk and hopped passed Jim. Suddenly Morph jumped upwards, kicking Jim in the bum.

"Ow! Hey - Morph!" He called, turning around as Morph stuck out a tongue and laughed, turning himself back into his normal form and laughing. Morph picked up Jim's real boot from where it was hidden behind a trunk. Jim jumped up, smiling, as he chased Morph around the room. "Hey, come back here!" Morph promptly mimicked him, before flying out of the room and up on deck, Jim running right behind him.

Starla rolled her eyes and stretched, making a light fist with her left hand and turning the joint around. It was still sore, but better. She could almost use it properly, at least. Walking to the door of the sleeping quarters, she climbed the stairs and made her way up into the light of early morning, the fresh air waking her up. She sighed happily and pulled her hair into a ponytail, before walking to the entrance of the galley. She paused there, and looked about the deck, wondering where Jim had gotten himself to. Hearing voices coming from below her, she shook her head and made her way down the steps.

Walking into the galley, Starla saw some of the crew were already there, including Silver. After the meeting was over, she intended to talk to Silver about ending the mutiny. She knew he cared for Jim too; he might just go for it. She'd stayed awake the past few nights, thinking about what she could say. She finally decided on going with the truth; she cares for Jim and doesn't want to do this anymore. She'll hold her tongue and won't tell Jim or anyone about the mutiny if Silver stops it. And if he gets too angry with her, well … She'll tell the captain and everyone would be captured and tried for piracy. If he tried to kill her -which she wouldn't put past him- she'll do the same.

Starla took a breath, walking up to a table, sitting herself down and listening in. A couple of the crew were saying that they were sick of waiting, wanting to move in. Silver was aggravated, the young woman could tell by the red shade of his mechanical eye and the expression on his face.

"We don't move 'till we got the treasure in hand!" He said, making gestures with his mechanical arm. Scroop walked up from his spot in the corner.

"I say we kill 'em all now," he hissed, clicking his claw angrily. Wrong move. Silver reached up, grasping Scroop's jaw in his fist and pulling him down.

"I say what's to say!" He yelled, shaking Scroop. He let go of his jaw and instead held his throat, holding him up above the ground. "Disobey my orders again, like that stunt you pulled with Mister Arrow, and so help me, you'll be joinin' him!" Silver shouted, making most of the crew, including Starla, jump and throwing Scroop at the barrel of purps.

Scroop breathed heavily, angrily, as he pulled himself into a standing position. "Strong talk, but I know otherwise," he began, reaching behind him to grab a purp from within the barrel.

She shot a look at Silver's back, trying not to display any emotion, in case someone happened to be watching.

"Ya got something' to say, Scroop?" Silver asked, crossing his arms across his chest. Scroop pulled up a purp from the barrel, gesturing with it and smiling at Silver and Starla.

"It's that boy," he whispered, still smiling. Starla saw Silver's shoulders droop, and could feel her own heart rate begin to rise. Meanwhile, Scroop went on. "The girl," he gestured at the woman in question, still with the purp, "I know has a little heart in her. But you… Methinks you have a soft spot for him," Scroop added, looking back at Silver and stabbing a hole into the purp with his claw, emphasizing his words.

Starla's heart rate quickened even more and she stood, glaring at every pirate who dared look at her. She heard them all muttering their agreement with Scroop, and Starla looked to Silver, in hopes he had something clever to say and cover for them. Thank the Gods she was right.

"Now, mark me, the lot 'a ya!" He said sharply, making sure the crew were paying attention. "I care about one thing and one thing only. Flint's trove!" Silver said, making a fist and looking at all the pirates in turn, landing lastly on Starla. She stood, back to the wall beside the door, unsure of what to do. Silver gestured at her. "And do ya think I'd have kept this one around if she was nothin' but trouble?" He asked, and many of them looked at Starla before dropping their eyes, muttering that he was right. She let out a breath of relief, still watching Silver. He rubbed his neck, before gathering himself and looking angry. "That boy… Ya think I'd risk it all for the sake of some nose-wiping little whelp?" But Scroop only grinned, walking towards Silver.

"Oh, what was it now ? 'Oh, ya got the makings of greatness is ya,'" Scroop said, mimicking Silver and ending with a smile in Starla's direction, chuckling at her. Silver turned to him, anger written on his face.

"Shut your yap! I cozied up to that kid to keep him off our scent," Silver said with a flick of his hand, before pointing at Starla. "She was followin' orders. I aint gone soft," he said, pointing a finger angrily at Scroop. Starla stared him down along with Silver, rage emanating off of her.

Just then, a call of "Planet ho!" could be heard from above, and everyone in the room gasped with excitement, moving towards the door. Starla felt the grin grow on her face, and couldn't help but laugh along with them. She waited for the rest to pass ahead of them, intending to go last and not get caught in the rush.

As the last pirate made his way onto the deck, Starla heard a noise from behind her, stopping her from climbing the stairs. Turning around, she saw Morph fly past the tables, and out through the door. Raising an eyebrow, she headed towards the kitchenette, where she could've sworn she'd heard something else. Suddenly, the barrel of purps shook, and out came Jim, a look of hurt on his face. Starla gasped, and he looked up at her - hurt, anger, mistrust, all flashing through his eyes.

"Jim, I know how this sounds…" Starla began, walking towards him. He flinched, moving away.

"How - How it sounds? I just heard. This whole time… There's a mutiny, and you were part of it. You and Silver - I should have known," he looked disgusted, but looked up at her suddenly, pointing an accusatory finger. "That's why you were on Montressor, wasn't it? Looking for the map? And then you just happened to be on the Doc's crew, and your uncle just happened to be here too." He scoffed, leaning against a table and glaring at her.

Starla felt tears swim in her eyes, and once again reached towards him. "Jim - Jim please, listen to me. You're right, you're completely right - But everything is different now. Silver cares about you, and I - I care about you too, Jim. Please, please believe me when I say that." A hot tear slipped down her face and she reached up to wipe it away impatiently. She sniffed and grabbed for Jim's arm, and he didn't pull away.

"Jim, listen to me. We don't have much time. I know this is cliché, but I've changed. Yes, I was meant to befriend you at the beginning, but now… It's different. I was intending to talk to Silver about stopping the mutiny somehow. Even if he was against it, I was going to alert the captain. Please, Jim," Starla said the last part louder, as he had looked away. He looked into her eyes now, and she felt another tear make its way down my face.

"So… All the other stuff," Jim began, a blush rising up his neck, "- that we did. The… Kissing," he finished, refusing to look at Starla.

"Look into my eyes," she said quietly, moving her hand down from his arm to his hand, holding it tightly. "- look into my eyes, and tell me I'm lying. Tell me I don't care. Look into my eyes, and say that what we did meant nothing to me," she said, staring into his eyes. They were bright, but no longer hard. Starla paused a moment before continuing.

"You don't have to trust me; just believe me. I'm not part of their crew - I'm part of yours. Please," she whispered as more tears fell, and she stood closer to him, her free hand reaching up to cup his face. He looked at her; stared right into her heart. She felt his hand come up to hold her waist, pulling her closer.

"Please, Jim," she whispered once more as he closed the distance between them. Her face had sticky tracks down it from her tears, and she knew her nose was red and that she had blotches about her face; but she didn't care. All she cared about was the fact that Jim's mouth was on hers once again; he was holding her as he had before. He didn't despise her, as she thought he would.

Jim pulled away from her, and Starla opened her eyes to look up at him. He dropped her hand and brought his up to wipe a stray tear, and she closed her eyes at his touch. He reached that hand around, placing it at the back of her neck and pulling her harshly against him, holding her tight. Starla's arms wound around his back, and she let herself take a breath.

"I must be a complete idiot," she heard him mumble, and she let a small chuckle escape.

"Yeah, you probably are," Starla said, lifting her face to smile lightly at him. Jim moved away then, but held one of her hands firmly with his. He looked down at her, starting towards the door.

"Come on," he began, "- we have to tell the captain." Starla began to protest, but stopped myself. He was right, of course he was. She felt herself nod and Jim began to pull her along behind him.