Chapter Nineteen:
Jim's POV:
Faster and faster, I'm pushing Kalena's surfer for everything it's got while I hone my focus on a target smaller than my pinky. The map's holographic display is almost in touching distance and the portal is less than a meter ahead of it.
""Three...two...one...!"" My fingers brush the display and for a split second I think I've failed and missed my mark. The portal rapidly shuts and reopens to reveal the target I chose. We sail through and explosions follow until the portal collapses and disappears from the planet's destruction.
I look around and elation hits me. I've done it, we made it safely back to Montressor Space Port! Victory cries issue form crew and the pirate captives alike. I ride out the shock of the final blast before landing on the Legacy.
"You done it, boy! Haha! Didn't I say the lad had greatness in him?!" Silver exclaims, grinning from ear to ear and gleaming with pride. I flush at his praise and for that moment forget his betrayal and see him as the accidental mentor that broke me down only to turn around and build me back up. Once my feet are securely on the deck and the Captain, Doctor, and B.E.N. all rush over to congratulate me.
'"Unorthodox, but ludicrously effective."' Starts the Captain. '"I'd be proud to recommend you to the Interstellar Academy. They could use a man like you. Now, I presume Aderyn will be along shortly?"' The Captain, so full of unusual rapture is now showing unparalleled concern for her missing officer even if she doesn't say it openly.
'I...uh...' I stammer. She nods her head in anticipation as if to say "Go on" while she scans the air space around the deck for her comrade. 'She...she said she was right behind me...' I mumble, unable to maintain eye contact with her. I can't watch the stalwart and impressive woman break again. I can't bear watching as she realizes that once more I'm the reason another one of her officers is dead.
'"Oh..."' is all she says before she speeds past me, rushing to the other side of the ship to look over that side's rail; a desperate attempt to deny painful reality.
Doppler, as usual, is oblivious to the entire exchange and continues along the victory bandwagon proclaiming, '""Just wait until your mother hears about this! Of course, we may downplay the life-threatening parts.""' He pats me confidentially before padding away to converse with the Captain who, by this time has now moved on to the prow of the ship.
Watching her is too painful and I'm actually glad when B.E.N. ambles over to me chatty as ever. ""Jimmy, that was unforgettable! I know you don't like touching, but get ready for a hug big guy, 'cause I gotta hug ya!"" I surprise us both and scoop him into a powerful hug. ""Hahaha! Hey, you hugged me back. Oh, I promised myself I wouldn't cry."" You and me both man...I think as I comfort this bizarre robot that somehow has the ability to cry.
B.E.N.'s sadness encourages my own and I break away slowly while hunting eagerly for another distraction. Morph's chirping echoes out from an open hatch and I descend down the stairs where I find Silver and Morph plotting their great escape. Technically, I should call him out and summon the Captain to prevent Silver from fleeing justice, it's what Kalena would have wanted...but he saved my life...what's one more mistake amongst the rest made on this voyage? The worst one would have to be setting sail on this journey in the first place.
Silver goes to speak but my face and raised hand prevent his words from spilling. I lean down and untie the last longboat and Silver stammers for an explanation I don't want or even care about.
"I know what you're thinking but if you don't mind, we'd just as soon avoid prison. Little Morphy here, he's a free spirit. Being in a cage, it'd break his heart." Morph whines in agreement but I just shake my head.
'I'm not stopping you Silver...if you wanna go...then go.' Flashbacks of her final last words suddenly overtake me. I can feel the heat; see the intensity in her eyes as she orders me to leave. No choice. At least I'm giving Silver one.
He's scrambling again, confused by my behavior. "What say you ship out with us lad? You and me, Hawkins and Silver...full of ourselves and no ties to anyone!" he grins idiotically for a few moments. I stare at him in silence.
'You know when I first got here, on this boat...I would have taken your offer in a second. But things have changed...' I can't go on. I don't realize I'm shaking until Silver's hand is on my shoulder steadying me.
"Lad? What's wrong?" He questions. I don't answer. I stare at the wooden floor, trying to burn my pain into its fibers. "The girl? She's-"
'Gone.' I finish for him.
"How...ohhh..." he exhales on the last word, putting two and two together.
'She was right behind me...' I start. 'S-She wouldn't come with me...we switched boards. She didn't make it...'
"Oh, Jimbo. It's not your fault. You and her both did the right thing. If y'all hadn't a done what ya did you and me wouldn't even be having this conversation right now." He speaks soothingly but I find no comfort in his words. They don't change a thing. Kalena is still gone and it is still my fault. "Jim...I know it won't make up for anything I did but...I stowed the lass' sword in the Captain's room. There wasn't any reason for me to take it and given the circumstances returning it myself isn't exactly an option..."
'I understand...' I only hope that when I go to deliver the sword the Captain doesn't try to run me through with it. Silver chuckles slightly and it breaks me from my awful thoughts. 'What?'
He smiles and says, "Look at ya, glowing like a solar fire. You're something special, Jim. You're gonna rattle the stars, you are." His words make us both tear up and even Morph was moved enough to join in.
Silver then demanded that it might be best for Morph to stay with me; I knew it hurt him to relinquish him since he and Morph had been companions for a very long time. I pressed the button on the control panel to open the hatch thus enabling the longboat to depart. I then exchanged goodbyes with Silver.
"Oh, and one more thing. This is for your dear mother, to rebuild that inn of hers." He tosses me a fistful of jewels and valuable coins, part of the small stash he'd been able to pilfer from Treasure Planet before its trap mechanism went off.
'Stay out of trouble, ya old scalawag.' I mean what I tell him, and the humour there shocks me. He's managed to drive off my bitterness.
He laughs. "Why, Jimbo, lad...when have I ever done otherwise?"
The cables disconnect, he guns the engine, and flies out of sight. I press the button to close the hatch and head up the stairs. I dodge the Captain long enough to collect Rosalind, Kalena's precious sword, and make my way to deliver it. The Captain, may never forgive me for what I've done, but hopefully...one day...she will appreciate what I'm about to give her...
The heart-ripping truth.