Chapter Four:

Call me evil or conniving but I've decided to use the new cabin boy Jim Hawkins in order to gain easier access to John Silver. How I plan on doing this can only be set in motion and then viewed from the outside. The results I wish for can only be hypothesized. But it will all start with getting close and personal to Jim. Jim…how do I feel about this? Can I really get close to him in such a way that we may seem as if we're romantically involved with the other?!

Well…he's not bad looking if it's any positive relief. Can I pull this off; even if my results are purely speculation? This is all for the mission and the mission is always first.

But I should plan out what must occur and what I hope to achieve from my future actions. If I get to Jim Hawkins the way I intend to I can use him to find out if Silver and his renegades are actually pirates. Even though I already believe them to be so one needs proof for every opinion. Once I have said proof Amelia and I shall apprehend the hooligans, bring them to the judges, and see to it personally that they all hang.

Moving along in my records I interrogated Silver, the results were quite un-beneficiary. Afterwards I went solar-surfing and on my trip I didn't see anything that could damage our voyage too terribly. Yeah, because space-whales are a total threat—not.

Today I intend on making my first move with my new pawn, the cabin boy. Anyone fancy a wager that he's going to get close to John Silver real fast real soon?

-K.A. xx-xx-xxxx

I snap the notebook shut and I begin to think over my recent decisions. Could I actually do this? Abuse a boy younger than I only to capture a few rogue pirates. Have I really sunken that low?!

Apparently. I look in my cabin's mirror. Can it be noticed? Are there any abrupt looking changes to my face? No, of course not. I just need to calm down. Find an outlet and use it before I become too stressed. I pull out a pill or three and swallow them; all the while thinking of how to halt a panic attack in progress.

I could go toy with Jim...no...I must wait for the most opportunistic moments. Amelia or even Arrow is suitable enough for mild entertainment. But I like Amelia more than the blockhead and all he likes to do is lecture me.

I know for a fact the crew is composed of pirates. Having said that Amelia, Arrow, and I must remain in tip-top shape if we want to overcome the enemies around us successfully. 'So why not have a round of free sword play?' I told Amelia. I know she prefers guns as her main weapon but she is still remarkable with a sword, after all, any one weapon can be defeated, it is far better to be versatile. She agrees to "play" with me but swears she's a little rusty. Knowing her she only doubts herself but when it comes to swords I am her better.

We start gently, a few thrusts that are easily blocked. Our movements are slow, cautious, and calculated. As we increase our speed our footwork becomes a changing dance. First a gently waltzing circle, then a quickened samba, a flurry of a tango until we finally hit the fast-paced grind. Swords sparking as we feint and dodge, twirl, leap, and block our way across the ship.

Onlookers quickly move and retreat to safe hiding places until we are left without an audience. We pause long enough for Amelia to smooth her sleek hair back into place and I to choke down a pill. She then backs me into a corner going for the kill until I split Rosalind into two swords revealing her twin brother Aeron. "That's new." She gasps out as I begin to drive her into a corner.

'I know.' She shrinks back as if in defeat and I fall for it. Leaping after her she attempts to slide under me while trying to knock me off my feet, I jump and land on the ship's railing. I climb one of the shrouds and am about to jump off when my right hand freezes up. I drop Aeron causing an awful clatter and try to maintain my grip as the paralysis spreads like a wildfire in my body. Rosalind follows her brother to the deck as I attempt to stabilize myself. Just when I think it's safe to move my hand the tiniest bit I feel my eyelids becoming increasingly heavy.

With my remaining strength I toss my head in Amelia's direction trying to mouth the word 'moderate' until the blackness overtakes me.

Jim POV:

Wow, Kalena and the Captain sure know how to work with those swords! It looked like they were actually fighting until you spot the giant grins on their faces. The Captain tried to corner Kalena but then she splits her sword in two! Talk about a trick up one's sleeve. They're moving so fast I can see sparks coming off of their swords. Kalena wasn't kidding when she said she's a weapons specialist.

Everyone is either hiding or working somewhere. I think I'm pretty safe on these shrouds. Silver had me up here to fix a few broken ones so I have an excellent view of what's going on. The Captain's moves look almost fluid but not quite, either because she's a cat or because she is a mite out of practice perhaps. Kalena on the other hand looks as if...she's...like she's dancing. That's how graceful her footwork is. Who knew someone could move that fast?!

She looks like she's having trouble though, as if the gravity has caught up with her... Is she trying to tangle herself in the ropes? I glance at the Captain, she's running towards her but she's tired. I try to climb down and help her. She looks at the Captain and...lets go!

I plunge myself off of the ropes just in time to grab one of her hands and with the other I try to catch a rope. That is going to burn in a little while. We are hanging off of the Legacy, nothing but endless space beneath us. What's the matter with her? Is she sleeping or something?!

I feel someone trying to pull me up and I tighten my grip on Kalena's hand. We're pulled to the deck where I find Mr. Arrow and the Captain looking frantic. "Mr. Hawkins, I'll take her." The Captain attempts to hold Kalena although she looks liable to collapse as well. Mr. Arrow convinces her to let me carry her while he supports the Captain. She stops and grabs Kalena's swords.

I follow them to Kalena's stateroom carrying her bridal style. Knowing her she'd probably kill me for doing this if she ever found out. I sigh as I comprehend how I'll never be this close to her again. Mr. Arrow instructs me to set her on her bed. I do and he leaves while the Captain and I remain to put her weapons away. I put them up as she removes Kalena's sash-thing, her belt, and boots. Kalena doesn't even stir; I guess she really is sleeping... Her breathing is quiet and even. She's so wild and untamed when awake like a supernova but in her sleep it's as if she's a black hole. Hushed but still powerful and still drawing things to her. Even in her sleep she's the center of attention.

At least that's what it seems like with the Captain fussing over her so. "Mr. Hawkins I want you stay here until she wakes up. When she does make sure she doesn't move or leave this room. She won't have recovered by then. If she tries to resist tell her I said so. Understand?"

'Yes ma'am.' She takes her leave, and I spend my night watching her and (occasionally) look at her stuff. She has a lot of notebooks...