[In Previous Chapters: Captain Amelia has a chance run-in with her brother Admiral Alexander Smollett during a court session involving the rogues who captured Jim and Ray. Alexander warns her of an increasing threat: invisible ships attacking Naval vessels. As the Legacy departs for the Broken Territories to save the cadets, Ray surprises the crew by reappearing alive and with information on what happened to Jim. Meanwhile, in another part of the galaxy, Silver comes face-to-face with Amos Morgan who presents him with a choice: gather pirates to aid in the Procyon fleet force, or let Jim Hawkins die.]
Chapter 14
Darker Matters
"The stars take you, Boy!" Amherst fumed. His expression was a mixture of fury, astonishment, and relief.
"I think they already did," Ray gagged as the stars above the ship swirled in a dizzying mass. Doug and Dalia each grabbed an arm and hauled the young cadet to his unsteady legs.
"What happened to you?" Amherst drilled, but Raymond ignored him and swiveled until he spotted Amelia.
"Captain! No time – Jim – he's in trouble!" he panted, still winded from his Olympic vault.
"I gathered that Mr. Peters. All hands to stations, this is not a layabout!" The other cadets – save for Alice, Dalia, Doug, and Josephine – sprang into action. "Commander, I trust you are well affiliated with the launching protocol?"
Amherst narrowed his eyes. It was his job to be by Amelia's side through all of her naval decisions so he might make an accurate report to the Admiralty. But in front of cadets, it would suggest insubordination to argue with the captain, and the ISA wasn't breeding mutineers. Not to mention the ship was currently floating hazardously just above the junction platform where other vessels were docking and taking off. Amherst gave Amelia a small nod as if to say, 'You win, for now', before barking orders at the scattering crew.
Amelia did not wait for Raymond to follow, she stalked toward her stateroom with the young man and her husband keeping pace. When she took up the familiar place behind her officer's desk, she suddenly noticed Alice, Doug, Dalia, and Josephine slipping in behind.
"What is this? An afternoon social?" she snapped.
"Well, considering we're a part of this mess…" Josephine trailed off and crossed her arms.
"I. Am. Not. Moving," Alice growled. It was a primal stand-your-ground threat display. Jim was in danger and Alice would weather a solar storm if it meant saving his life. She felt a comforting hand come down on her shoulder and she broke her intimidation tactic to look up at Delbert who merely gave his wife a stern glance.
"Start from the beginning, Mr. Peters," Amelia commanded.
It took Ray several attempts to speak in full sentences. The panic in his eyes was raw, untamed, wildness. Once he mastered coherency, the report he wove drove dismay into the minds of the others.
"What do you mean Dark Matter?" Amelia asked.
"I don't know," Ray said. "The rock was dark, and extremely flammable. I lost Jim in the tunnel when it collapsed between us. Thankfully when it did, another tunnel that had been sealed opened. I followed it until I broke through an old ventilation tunnel on the western side of the hill. I kept to the path, hoping to meet up with Jim when…"
Here Ray sucked in a sharp breath.
"What?" Dalia demanded. Amelia's emerald eyes slitted at the outburst.
"It was him," Ray said. "Admiral Morgan."
"What?" This time it was Amelia who spoke. Before anyone in the room could blink, she had slammed both palms flat against her desk, her sharp teeth bared.
"I hid, before he could see me. I had no weapons, I-I didn't know what to do! Jim turned, and he had a gun and –"
"No!" Alice shrieked.
"He shot him point blank, but he could have left the body. He hollered for some lackeys to come pick him up. I don't think Jim is dead. Before the morons lit the warehouse on fire, they talked about Jim and I being kept alive for the Admiral. They needed us for something, but I don't know what. I followed them to the ship. It was disguised as a trade vessel and Amos had him brought aboard. All I kept thinking was –"
"Why did Morgan want the two of you in the first place?" Delbert answered for him. The doctor adjusted the spectacles on the bridge of his nose as he calculated the means of such actions.
"So Jim's alive?" Alice sobbed. "He's alive?"
"Indeed," Amelia said. "But in mortal danger. What was the name of the ship?"
"I-I don't know. I couldn't see."
"It's heading?"
"North by Northeast if I wager."
"This is no time for probability, Peters."
"Then North by Northeast, Captain."
"Toward the Broken Territories," Delbert hummed. Amelia strode across the room and yanked open her captain's quarters to see the ship underway. She gave B.E.N. the heading and the robot eagerly calculated the fastest route. As obnoxious as the android could be, when at the helm of a ship B.E.N was an extremely useful asset. Amelia then conversed with the helmsman while Amherst hovered over her shoulder. The group of cadets had followed her out to witness her instructions when Amelia turned back to Ray.
"You are absolutely certain that it was Amos Morgan?"
"I swear by it," Ray said.
"That's absurd!" Amherst scoffed. "To think a Proc managed to disguise his way into an island fishing port infested with the Navy, let alone that Proc being the Amos Morgan himself is –"
"Entirely possible," Amelia said. "First, how many Naval ships are docked here? Two? Three? One being ours, which was the target in the first place, and all located on the eastern side of the island due to problems with the blockade…" Amelia trailed off as her mind began piecing together what she knew. "Peters, did you get a good look at the vessel Morgan was on?"
"Well, like I said, Captain, it was just a ship. A regular cutter. It wasn't up-to-date, but –"
"Was there anything suspicious looking about it? Did it stand out from the other fishing vessels?"
"Yeah, I reckon it had some bigger thrusters like someone installed some better fire power on an old run down hunk-o-junk. And there were burn marks on the underside of the vessel," Ray said.
"What are you thinking, Captain?" Delbert asked. He knew that an idea was knitting itself in Amelia's mind, and most likely she was correct. Instead she shook her head.
"No proof to support my theory yet. We're going after that ship."
"Even if it was Amos Morgan – not that I would suspect an untrained cadet to know what he saw –"
"Hey! I know what I saw, Commander, and let me tell you I would remember a face like that since the last time I interacted with Morgan he set the damn ship adrift!" Ray shouted.
"Watch your tongue, Cadet!"
"I won't have an ISA officer-in-training speaking as such to a superior," Amelia agreed.
"I will have to reduce your grade for this," Amherst said. Ray's face looked like it was about to turn purple with wrath when Doug intervened.
"Is there anything else we can help you with, Captain? Commander?"
"No, but this information remains confidential. Return to your posts," Amelia waved them away. Doug and Dalia reached out to shove Ray toward the steps down from the helm while Alice, still roiling with anger and anxiety, followed beside Josephine.
"Captain," Amherst began.
"Yes?"
"…Thank you."
"You're my second officer, Amherst. No thanks are in order for me doing my job. Besides, I'm sure you are more than capable of dealing with some snarky cadets." Amelia gave him a small smirk.
"Yes, well, ahem, anyway. The Admiral, even if he was on the island, we cannot confront him alone. We'll need an entire fleet."
"I would have to agree with Commander Amherst, My Dear," Delbert piped up. "Remember what your brother was saying about the unseen ships? I have some knowledge of dark matter. It is a mineral, most often found on asteroids or island chunks. It can be generated in nebulas, as the collection of debris or dust gets compacted into a flammable rock. It takes millions of years to form, however. At one point, I believe the Empire attempted to harvest it for fuel, but it was quickly deemed environmentally hazardous, and, of course, not a reliable source of power. I believe that it would take a vessel of unknown magnitude to be fueled by dark matter."
"If I understand you, Doctor, the Procyons are using Dark Matter for a new prototype of juggernaut?" Amherst asked.
"Well, I think that would be the most obvious assumption."
"Then we must report this to the Admiralty."
"I agree, but we do not have time to dock at another major port town," Amelia said. Amherst looked ready to object when she spoke again. "Commander, please prepare an S.O.S.R. with the coordinates of 4-3-6-6."
Amherst nodded before he stopped short with a frown.
"Those do not lead to a port base."
"No." Amelia's lips turned up in a vicious grin. "They lead to my brother."
Doug found Ray in the galley after the ship had been launched. The young man was nursing a mug of hot tea and glaring down at the woodwork.
"Ray?" Doug pressed. Ray looked up, his expression smoothing at the sight of his friend.
"Oh. Hey." Doug didn't like this somber version of his friend. Over the past few weeks he had seen Ray mischievous, angry, jealous, and sassy. But never defeated, and never quiet. Jim's abduction had rattled them all. A snort and snore caught Doug's attention as he spotted Jook asleep in a back corner of the room. The Aviate ignored the ex-pirate and took a seat across from Ray.
"Doug," Ray began, burying his face in his hands. "I'm sorry."
Doug was silent as Ray continued to cover his eyes and speak through his fingers.
"I didn't mean…I was just…I was a jerk. And…I don't know…I just…"
"It's okay," Doug muttered. He was glad Ray felt remorseful, but it still had wounded him deeply, knowing his friend could get so jealous.
"I'm not trying to make excuses. I am better than that, but you know with my brother...and what happened –"
"Yes," Doug said. They were silent for a while as Ray lowered his hands and heaved a sigh.
"You're my best friend. I've always seen you as like my older brother. After he –" Ray cut off and swallowed hard. "You filled that role. It wasn't fair of me to expect that from you, but it just sort of happened. And it just felt like all of a sudden I was losing him all over again."
"I know," Doug said. Again, they were silent. "It wasn't Anne Marie, though, right?"
"No. It was never her. She's lucky to have you, Doug. You two really work together."
"You know, I never wanted to replace you. I got swept up in a new relationship and –"
"Please, don't," Ray said. "Please don't try to explain. This is all my fault." The last sentence spoke volumes, as if Ray were referencing what had happened to Jim as much as what he had done to Doug.
Doug raised his feathered wing, curling it into what looked like a fist. He held it out to Raymond as a sign of truce. Ray gave him a small smile and bumped it. Things were as good as they could get between them, but both of them agonized over what was to come and what might happen to their other best friend.
"So, where is Anne Marie?"
Alice didn't want to talk. She didn't want to speak, or hear false words of comfort. Josephine and Dalia had tried to reach out to her, but Alice could feel herself recoiling with every word. She had waved her friends off and walked numbly down to the cargo hold to check over the liners. She pulled on a few, but everything was battened down and there was no real work for her. Still, she couldn't muster the energy to go up on deck. Instead, she sank against a crate, burying her face in her knees and releasing a weak sob. Their last conversation had been one of indignation and exasperation. How could she ever forgive herself if something happened to him…?
No. She would not think like that.
Instead she focused her thoughts on what Amos Morgan could want with Jim. She wiped away the tears in her eyes, drawing a blank as she tried to understand the Procyon's plan. Was keeping Jim alive the only way to force the Legacy on a wild hunt? Did the Admiral know Amelia would want to come after Jim if the cadet had been kidnapped? It seemed like a strange thought. Why would Amos Morgan think that? He didn't know Amelia that well, did he?
As Alice sat in a cloud of confusion, she failed to hear the door to the cargo hold opening until a sudden set of footsteps approached her. She looked up to see Anne Marie. The Aviate said nothing, just sat down beside Alice.
"Hey," Alice whispered.
"Hi," Anne Marie said. "I know you probably don't want to talk, especially not to me, but –"
"I don't mind," Alice said quickly. "Being alone is worse."
"You and Jim have really faced a lot together, haven't you?"
"Yeah."
"Then, I think this is just another one of those times."
"But," Alice chewed her lip. "We were always together. He's gone, and alone and –" She broke off as another sob escaped her. Anne Marie wrapped a comforting arm around the girl's shoulders. Anne Marie made to console the girl, when the cargo hold door opened once more and Raymond and Doug entered. Anne Marie felt her stomach flutter and tightened at the same time. Pleasure at seeing Doug, and anxiety at seeing Raymond. The shorter cadet was finding it difficult to look at her which made Anne Marie's heart sink.
"Um, Anne Marie?" Ray asked. The female Aviate looked at him, startled. "I'm sorry."
It was certainly not what she had expected to hear, and Anne Marie broke out into a wide grin which was further encouraged by Doug's smile. Ray meant to continue when Anne Marie held up a feathered hand.
"I forgive you."
Ray finally looked at her albeit with shame in his eyes. It was only when Alice patted the spot beside her did Ray ease back into his normal self. He took a seat beside Alice while Doug took a seat beside Anne Marie.
"What are we gonna do about Jim?" Ray sighed, sinking back against the crate in defeat. Alice felt sick to her stomach, so she didn't respond. It was Anne Marie, again, who kept a hopeful stride.
"If there is anything I've learned about all of you, it's that you're fighters."
"Sky sailors," Alice hummed.
"What?" Doug asked.
"Sky sailors. It's just a term Jim made up when we were talking about our future as Naval officers."
"Huh, I like it," Doug said.
"I second that," Ray raised a weak hand.
"I third," Anne Marie agreed. "Sky sailors don't give up on their friends. Jim is strong." She took Alice's hand in her own. "And he is going to come home."
Doug suddenly laughed and shook his head.
"Oh yeah. If anyone can make it, Jim can."
"He's got the heart of a captain," Ray said.
"And the makings of greatness," Alice breathed. She felt her spirits lift. She was going to see him again, and he was going to get out alright. She had faith in Jim, she always would, and she knew his own faith would be his courage. Alice only hoped it would last long enough for the Legacy to reach him.
Jim coughed as the Proc poured the drink down his throat. The water mixing with his bleeding lip and nose causing the taste of iron to come thick in the back of his throat. He heaved when the Proc released him. Jim slid down the wall of the cell, weak, exhausted, miserable while another soldier stood in front of him. They had not been giving him enough to drink and Jim's parched lips had finally, disgracefully, begged a guard for water. The two Procyons had smirked as Jim realized he had only invited more pain.
"It's been a while since we ruffed up a prisoner," the first Proc said.
"He's a wee lad, though. Still not grown. Reminds me of my son," the second replied. Jim glared at them from beneath his bangs and sweaty forehead. The first one snorted.
"Your son would be a worthy opponent. This one's scrawny as they come."
"Get up boy," the second said as he grabbed Jim's arm where a deep cut was still healing. The harsh grip made Jim clench his teeth to prevent himself from crying out as the Proc hauled him to his unsteady legs. "Alright. I'm gonna teach you to fight like a man." The Proc removed his belt with his pistol and saber and shoved it at his friend while he rolled up his sleeves. "No funny business, just a good old fashioned beat down." Jim studied the guard before him and fear tore through his body. The man was huge with muscle mass straining against his uniform that was pulled tight over his breast. "I hope they teach you kids how to fight at that fancy school of yours."
The words were hardly out of his mouth before he swung, his arm cleaving over Jim's head as the young man just barely managed to duck.
"Ha! Good! You got some reflexes. Fists up, that's right. Come at me."
Jim didn't want to play this game, but the pain, the anger, the fear, the sadness had been boiling over inside of him for too long. He thought of Raymond and he saw red as he swung, missing the Proc as the man stepped back and brought up a boot to kick Jim in the stomach sending the cadet back against the bars. Jim tried to catch his breath, the sudden attack having left him struggling for air. The man came at him again, Jim tried to roll and managed only to stumble to the side. By the time he straightened up to go at the man again, a fist connected with the side of his cheek. It wasn't hard enough to knock teeth out, but it was enough to make Jim's world spin as suddenly he was falling back and hitting the hard ground.
The Proc guarding the door started laughing as the second towered over Jim with a satisfied smile.
"Come on, Kid, that all you got?"
Jim lashed out, his feet catching the Proc in the groin causing the coon to swear and stagger back. The one at the door cackled, unable to contain his mirth. His laughter echoed in Jim's ears, grating on his brain, getting stuck like a mantra in his mind. Just when Jim thought his head was going to split and the second guard was going to attack him again, a racket filtered down the steps of the brig. There was the sound of two, no, three, four? guards as well as the rattle of chains and –
"You bilge rat, cowardly, cockers, I'll cut your tongues out and wear them as a prize necklace after I string you over the yardarm you –"
"Oh shut up!" a Procyon soldier roared. Jim sat up. He had heard that voice before. He recognized it. "We're not the one in chains, you miserable wretch!"
"I like 'em when they're bound," the second soldier said and the group of them roared with laughter as they wrestled the person down the stairs. There was a hard thud and one of the guards tumbled down the steps to land on his face. The two guards in Jim's cell quickly retreated, locking him up as they went to help their comrade.
"Next time I'll castrate you!" the woman snarled as she was finally pulled into view. Her hair was wild, but unmistakable. Even with the group of guards holding her, Jim could still make out the familiar sharp figure and high cheekbones. As the soldiers threw her into the cell beside Jim, the woman turned. The black vest, the ripped, blood-stained shirt. The long blonde hair. But it was only when she locked looks with Jim that she finally became real. Icy blue eyes, cold and sharp as cut glass.
It was Leah.
A/N: Hello dear readers! First, an update. I started this story in 2013, crazy how time flies. I was in the process of graduating high school when I first began this next chapter of Jim and Alice's adventures. It feels like yesterday I was churning out chapters for this series left and right. What has been keeping me from getting back to this story? A multitude of things. As I explained in the previous author's note, I did not plan to continue this series. When I left for college some major things happened:
1. I fell in love with the man of my dreams and we are still in a healthy relationship. (*Cheesy will be cheesy*)
2. I read, I wrote papers, and I learned so much more about writing and about historical literature which has greatly improved my writing skills.
3. I decided I wanted to teach English
4. I realized I hated the college I was at as their education program sucked. I also realized that I absolutely love the city I grew up in and it took living somewhere else to appreciate it tenfold.
5. I transferred to a better school and this past week was my first barrage of classes at this new school. I already can tell that it was the best decision I have ever made.
6. I took my fantasy book seriously and have been pursuing it with reckless abandon during my semester off this past winter and summer.
7. And, while this really is more of a current thing that doesn't have a lot to do with my writing but what brings me joy nonetheless, I volunteered as a teaching assistant for English Language Learners (ELL) and immigrants this past summer. Most rewarding experience I have ever had.
So now it all boils down to this: Why did I update again?
I honestly, don't know. This past week of getting back into the groove of school, I had a sudden, insatiable, and delirious urge to give Jim and Alice another chapter. Now, I started free writing the chapter when I realized I couldn't remember anything that had happened. So I had to go back and re-read the whole thing and peak at some of my old notes on the direction of the plot. If there are any plot holes or happenings that do not connect, I apologize for this. I stated before many times that I really don't want to continue this as I want to dedicate my time toward original work. I will not promise to update regularly or to keep in touch, but I also won't vow to quit this story because, as this chapter stands as evidence, I clearly still feel a connection here.
However, this story is really not quality writing. It is fan fiction. When I reread the older chapters, I cannot say I hate it, but it is not great. I really dislike how little I developed my characters. Alice - while she will always have a special place in my heart - is honestly the weakest, flattest, most Mary-Sue character I have ever written and it puts me off from writing this because she's so boring. Again, she's still my first character so I cut myself a little slack, but I wish I had done more to give her some personality. Some of the conflict in these stories seems just...off and if it's not random it's not as deep as I would prefer. And because this is a Disney fan fiction I find myself having to tone it down a bit. This chapter came dangerously close to getting more violent, and I still feel as if it pushes those boundaries. In my original work I love playing around with religion, politics, war, drugs, alcohol, sex, etc. But that's just not something I can do here.
I did not proof-read this chapter. I started it a few days ago and decided to really sit down today and finish it for my readers (well, past readers as I doubt any of you remember me). I do not view this chapter as great writing. It is free writing that I just enjoy doing once in a while and does not involve deep thinking.
So, about the chapter. The part with Ray's brother...totally made that up on the spot. I wanted to give his character some more color while simultaneously leaving a bit of mystery around his history. And why is Leah captured? I'll leave that up to all of you.
Anyway, since I don't know who all favorited or commented on this story in the past several months/years I've been on hiatus, I'll just say thank you so much to all of my readers and followers! I still appreciated the commentary I get and the simple following or favoriting of these stories. It is a pleasure to write for you all as I would be nothing without at least one reader to read my work. Thank you.
- EH6