Chapter Fourteen:

Jim POV:

During my brief scouting trip with Kalena I discovered a few things. One, was that in a nutshell B.E.N. was a bit spastic because he was missing his "primary memory circuit" and thus had the attention span of a fish; being friends with him was going to be taxing—mostly because he won't stop touching me!—but it was not without its benefits for B.E.N. had given us a shelter to rest in. Two, Kalena was truly dedicated to her job and her Captain, once more she had left us to ensure our safety. I just hope that it didn't end up turning her into a martyr or soon they would be picking us off like flies. Lastly, was that this whole trip was entirely lost if we couldn't reclaim the map—before the pirates realized we didn't have it—and take back the ship so that we could escape. This chance of a lifetime shot at "the loot of a thousand worlds" was a bust. There probably wouldn't even be a next time to correct our mistakes with.

I sighed and absently honed in to what B.E.N. was saying as he tried to straighten up quickly. "Uh, pardon the mess people. You'd think in a hundred years... I would've dusted a little more often..." He tells us with embarrassment clouding his tone. "...but you know, when you're batchin' it... you tend to, uh, let things go. Aw, isn't that sweet? I find old-fashioned romance so touching, don't you?" He sighs happily as Doppler comes in carrying the Captain. "How about drinks for the happy couple?" He brandishes multiple cups filled with a bubbling tar-like substance to them excitedly.

'"Oh, uh, ooh. Uh, no... Thank you, we don't drink... and we're not a couple."' Doppler looks at the Captain fondly but then blushes and looks away after a few quick seconds. He takes to rambling about the wall markings to cover for his uneasiness.

I watch the whole proceeding with a slight smile but only end up thinking of Kalena. I sigh heavily as I place her surfer in a less-cluttered area of the room and ponder our relationship. Just because we've kissed a couple of times and shared quite a few sleepless nights—mostly sleepless on my part— together does not classify us as an item. Man, I haven't even asked her out on a proper date yet but granted there really hasn't been time for such things especially considering how we've been locked in space travel for months—with no clue when we will return—without the prospect of being able to make it back at all! What if we go through whatever is about to happen and manage to survive and she ends up confessing that she never really liked me? That it was all some game...or worse, part of her "mission". She's so hard to read... she can be so distant, expressionless, hot-tempered, and overbearing but locked away is the girl who isn't constantly trying to compensate for the limitations her illness brings about. That girl is relaxed, more carefree, and definitely happier but to truly love someone, one must fully accept them in entirety. And what is Kalena without her fury and harsh criticism? What is she without her unwavering loyalty and tenacity?

""Mr. Hawkins..."" The Captain's feeble voice broke me out of my reverie. ""...stop anyone who tries to approach. Ohh!"" Her strength cuts off as she aggravates her injury and she collapses in pain.

'"Yes, yes. Now listen to me...stop giving orders for a few milliseconds and lie still."' Doppler tells her firmly despite his usually gentle nature.

""Very forceful, Doctor. Go on. Say something else."" The Captain's compliment leaves Doppler blushing but before he can respond B.E.N. does something that makes me question his worth.

"Hey look! There's some more of your buddies! Hey fellas! We're over here fellas!" He shouts and begins waving spastically at the people who are most definitely not our buddies.

I tackle him before the pirates can blast him to shreds now that they've ascertained our hiding position. They stop suddenly and I hear Silver's voice calling to us.

'""Helloooo up there! Jimbo? If it's all right with the Captain... I'd like a short word with ya. No tricks, just a little palaver.""' His voice sounds friendly enough and when I peek over the railing I spot him waving a makeshift white flag as if in surrender. I'm not sure if I should even respond so I look to the Captain for help.

""Come to bargain for the map, doubtless. Pestilential...Ugh!"" her insult is never finished and Doppler coaxes her back into resting.

'That means...that he thinks we still have it.' I realize and with this information I set off down the hill with Morph at my side.

A little ways into the trek I can see that he isn't alone; there's an additional three figures with him but upon my approach two of them—pirate lackeys—back off and return to where the rest of their party lurks. Upon arrival Morph flies over to Silver and greets him bubbling and mewling with excitement.

"Ah Morphy! I wondered where you was off to." He plays with him briefly before turning and fixing me with a sullen stare. "Jim... I know you probably overheard somethin' ya shouldn't have and I need to say that... whatever you heard back there... at least the part concerning you... I didn't mean a word of it. Had that bloodthirsty lot thought I'd gone soft... they'd have gutted us both." He moves closer and effectively blocks the other person with him before I can really spot any distinguishing features. He throws an arm over me and whispers confidingly. "Listen to me. If we play our cards right... we can both walk away from this as rich as kings."

I pretend to buy it, going as far as to throw in a convincing 'Yeah?' as if I was really considering his proposition. He laughs and lets me go before coming close again thinking he's got me totally sold.

"You get me that map... and, uh... an even portion of the treasure is yours." He chuckles while I pretend to debate the matter.

I feel my face darken as I prepare to shut him down. 'Boy. You are really something. All that talk of greatness... light coming off my sails... what a joke.'

Silver tries to protest and ends up spluttering as his silver-tongue fails him. "Now see here, Jimbo-"

'I mean, at least you taught me one thing. Stick to it, right? Well, that's just what I'm gonna do.' My voice rises in anger as I reject all of his proposals. 'I'm gonna make sure that you never see, one drabloon of my treasure!'

"That treasure is owed to me by thunder!" he shouts.

'Well, try to find it without my map, by thunder!' I yell back.

He turns as if leaving but merely goes the few paces to collect the other person and drags him/her back with him. The majority of their body was covered by a burlap sack and I felt terrible for their hostage. My gut had told me long ago who this was but I wanted to give Silver the benefit of the doubt anyways. Faster than I expected Silver yanked off the covering and held a pistol drawn and pressed against his prisoner's head; ready to fire at a split second's notice.

"I'll make this simple for ya lad. Hand over the map right now, and I'll give you back your officer with no tricks. Hesitate and..." He takes the safety off and presses the gun even harder against my ally's head. "What'll it be Jimbo? Is possession of the map really worth the lovely Miss Aderyn's head?"

She's been forced to her knees and one is exposed due to the numerous altercations she has gotten into this day alone; her top is ripped in several places as well. Over half of her shirt is soaked with blood that had seeped out of the makeshift bandages. Her eyes are unfocused and she sways whenever she begins to lose consciousness. Her hands are pinned behind her and her mouth is covered by a cloth. She looks like hell and my heart aches with the pressure of knowing that I can't help her even if I wanted to. I don't even try to imagine the tortures they might—and probably did—put her through.

At the sound of her name Kalena stirs. Her hair is a mess but does nothing to shield the confusion in her amber eyes or the multiple bruises on her face. It takes her a minute to understand her predicament and when she discovers how there's a weapon held to her she flinches away from it; this forces Silver to grab her shoulder to hold her place but the rough movement causes the gag to slip. She shakes her head and speaks as fast as she possibly can.

'"Jim whatever you do don't give up the map. I'll escape somehow but no matter what don't-'" Her words are cut off as he cracks the back of her head with the handle of the pistol.

"That's enough from the kitten." He says coldly. I watch as Kalena slumps to the ground, face first into the hillside. Silver prods her with his foot until he succeeds in rolling her over. Her eyes are closed despite the tears that leak out from under her eyelids; she's breathing and that's all that matters to Silver.

'Might want to be more careful Silver, you kill her and you lose your bargaining chip.' I sound utterly unaffected by what I just witnessed and guilt tears up my insides.

"That's where you're wrong lad; a smart player always keeps an ace or two up his sleeve in case of emergencies.' He winks before making his face grave once more. He digs around in his coat pocket for a bit before pulling out a tiny golden object. "You have any idea what this is?" He asks me nonchalantly. I shake my head, who knows what he's playing at. He shakes the little object and it chimes loudly despite its tiny frame. "We found this on your friend there and suspect it has something to do with why she spends long periods of time recuperating in her cabin."

Panic blooms in my chest as I realize that Silver has caught wind of Kalena's condition. I prayed that the little bell would have no effect on her but when I looked at her my fears were confirmed. Her eyes were as wide as possible but under the confusion and sleepy blankness fear was overriding everything. She was shaking severely and a very faint '"No..."' came through her teeth. Silver grins viciously and throws the bell onto the ground; before it can move he trains the pistol on it and fires. His aim is true and the harsh ping as the bell explodes is only conquered by Kalena's high-pitched scream.

I look to Kalena and she is jerking violently on the ground; despite the convulsions running through her there is an obvious stiffness in her limbs which tells me that the seizure is fighting with her cataplexy for dominance. Pain against pain and her body is the vessel for every last bit of it. Her hands are twisting and turning in their bindings as she chafes against the rope only able to tear open older wounds with her movements. I rack my brain for any kind of rudimentary knowledge of seizures; as I watch her body contorts in a violent motion only to halt just as abruptly a few seconds later. A voice screams in my head to turn her onto her side if anything else but when I step forward Silver swiftly trains the barrel of his gun onto me.

"Don't move. Ya had yer chance lad, now accept the outcome." None of friendly Silver from the past is here now, not a trace can be found in this hard-hearted villain;it's as if in this moment he's made the total transition to unfeeling machinery.

We turn our eyes back to Kalena and I thank the stars to find that she's managed to roll onto her side. This doesn't lessen her pain at all I'm sure and I take in the whole of her frame section by section, growing ever more guilt-ridden with what I see. Legs and arms bound at the ankles and wrists that are bloody from persistently grinding against course rope, her ripped grey long-sleeved shirt matted with blood and filth rising to expose a far too pale belly despite well-tanned skin, and her eyes... her eyes are the worst. Deep amber voids without the slightest trace of fire, pupils dilated to the point that all I could really see was colour until they rolled up into her skull, exposing nothing but terrifying white.

Ragged gasps are ushered in quick time out of her mouth as she fights for breath. Tears well and overflow but I make no move to correct them; there isn't a need anyways for Silver is too busy staring at Kalena. A strange expression covers his face but I don't even bother with guesswork; Silver changes emotion so rapidly it no longer matters to me anymore.

Finally the convulsions slow to twitches that eventually halt as well. Her breathing is heavy and jagged and there's a long pause between each rise and fall in her chest. The ropes binding her limbs are stained crimson from blood. Her eyes are fully open but still retain that eerie emptiness from before, like she was seeing with her mind's eye or all the way into another dimension with our realm totally forgotten. The most awful part was that I couldn't even determine if there was awareness in those eyes or not.

I faced Silver and brashly said in a voice no more than a half-whisper, 'I'll do it. The map for her, no tricks.' Silver only raised an eyebrow at me, as if he had misheard me. What am I saying? I can't give up something I don't have! Oh man I'm going to land in serious hot water now...

Before I could really regret the foolish move I just made another voice was added to the equation.

'"Don't... Jim... please..."' Kalena murmurs in a tortured breath; a final toss in her head says she's unconscious even with her eyes still frighteningly open. Silver ignores her like she's nothing more than a mouse in the midst of bigger and tastier prey. His cyborg eye flashes at me as he awaits my decision. I'm at a terrible crossroads as Kalena's own mantra comes back to haunt me.

'"The mission is always first."'

What do I choose... my "mission"... or my own comrade?