Chapter CXCII: The Loot Of A Thousand Worlds, The Quest For Treasure Planet Part IV
SHLOOP!
Sighing, it was clear that Nozomi was not exactly excited. For with a mop in her hands, with Cait sith resting on her head, she was now busy cleaning the deck of the RLS Legacy with Riku, Mickey and Jim.
As she continued to hold the mop and saw the path of watery bubbles that she'd left behind on the wooden floor, she had to wonder to herself aloud, "you know when I heard we were supposed to be doing ship's duties... I was expecting something a little epic than this."
Hearing her say this, Jim stopped moving with his own mop and as he looked to her. He said with boredom echoing in his voice, "you're telling me!" Then on a further note he added, "I was expecting the same thing when I first came aboard."
It was then that Riku stopped as well, sighing as he also admitted, "you can count me in on those thoughts."
Mickey stopping himself then, he saw the pessimistic atmosphere that was beginning to build up. He decided though to ease it with some positivity of his own, "oh come on fella's! This duty is important too ya know!"
However there came nothing but silence in response to him, as they all looked at him with dismissive eyes.
Seeing this the King wavered a little bit, however he continued on, "I mean we're helpin' keepin' everthin' clean and hygienic! We're stoppin' any possible bacteria from infectin' people, we're-"
"We're get what ya're sayin' Mickey lad," Cait sith said as he interrupted him and sitting upon the top of Nozomi's head, with folded arms he added, "but it doesn't change the fact that we're still dyin' of boredom here."
As he heard these words Mickey then stopped himself... it was clear his positive outlook wasn't gonna rub off on everyone this time, so he became awkward with silence himself.
...
Then as this bored pessimistic atmosphere drifted over everyone, no-one said anything or did anything at all.
"Heya!"
Suddenly surprising everyone, they looked up and there they saw arriving down from the rigging above, swinging from a rope. It was none other than the long blue haired Raiyana who came to land upon the deck of the ship.
Seeing her amazed for a moment, quickly Nozomi brightened up as she responded to her, "oh hi Raiyana!"
Pleased to see that she got this response from her, the blue haired girl walked forwards and as she did, she asked them all curiously, "how're you all doing here?"
Cait sith hearing her say this, then responded sarcastically not bothering to hide his boredom, "...we're havin' the time of our lives!"
"We're havin' the time of our lives!"
Hearing this high pitched squeaky copy of his voice, Cait sith looked up and there he saw it was none other than the pink transforming bubbling blob, known as Morph.
Looking at him, the crowned black and white cat saw that he'd taken on a mini version of his appearance and was staring at him with a cheeky grin on his face as his gloved hands rested on his cheeks in delight as he lay in mid-air.
Seeing this it was clear that the feline was not amused! Looking at the pink blob he then told him flatly, "and hi to ya too... slobby!"
To which hearing this Morph transformed and laughing aloud it repeated aloud, "slobby! Slobby!" Saying that and rolling around in laughter, floating away in the air. It then drifted in Raiyana's direction and catching him gently in her hands, she nuzzled into him on her shoulder with her cheek making him calm down.
As he did so, she smiled and said to them, "you know it's not often that Morph warms to people that quickly." Looking at everyone she then added, "I guess he can sense a real goodness in you guys!"
Hearing this Nozomi was pleased and so responded happily, "well that's good to know!"
However Jim looking at Raiyana still didn't trust her. So he asked her with narrowed eyes, "so what're you here for exactly?"
Surprised to hear this Raiyana looked up and then seeing the distrustful look that was on Jim's face, it made her wilt slightly inside... however she still answered, though a little more sadly, "I'm just here to see how you're all doing and... if you're coping with the mopping?"
Seeing her look so sad, made Mickey and Nozomi feel bad. Riku though was uncertain about her, but he decided to be a little more softer as he said, "well we're coping... so there's no need to worry about that."
As she heard this Raiyana looked to Riku and as she did, she couldn't help but stare at him with widened eyes. Then as she did this, Nozomi looked at her with concerned eyes. As she did, she remembered with the long blue haired girl had called her fellow keyblader when she'd first met him, 'Alex.'
She wondered who this Alex was? Why had Raiyana cried then? But she didn't get a chance to think anymore about it, for Raiyana then answered smiling sadly, "I'm glad to hear that..."
Seeing her look like that, Nozomi didn't want her to continue to feel bad and so said trying to be more chipper, "yeah! We'll get this deck squeaky clean in no time, so there's no threat there!" Then as Raiyana turned to look at her, the female keyblader decided to ask her, "but, what duties have you been up to Raiyana? Anything interesting?"
As she asked her this, the blue haired girl forgot her depression for a moment and seeing Nozomi smile at her, she brightened a little more as she responded, "Oh? Um... not anything too much, I've just been making sure the Solar sails are all in good order and undamaged." She then added thinking about what had happened the other day, "with those monsters attacking us... it could have really have jeopardised and ruin the voyage for us, if they'd been ruined."
Hearing this, Mickey agreed as he said, "yeah that would have been really bad...but we managed to handle things really well," then he decided to say to her, "I gotta say though, you've got a real good fighting technique haven't you?"
As she heard this, Raiyana then replied looking a little bashful, "I guess so... it something I've trained myself to do from a young age."
Interested to hear this, Nozomi then decided to ask her, "really? Did you have to engage a lot in combat in the past?"
Nodding, Raiyana replied simply with a nod of her head, "yeah..." though it was clear that as she looked down, it was not something to continue talking about.
Seeing this, Nozomi became worried. However before she could say another word, the long blue haired girl then told the group, "I'm sorry everyone, I got to get back to my duties now..." with that she ran up and started climbing up the rigging and as she did, she told them before disappearing,"I'll see you all again later!"
With that seeing her go, with Morph following after her as he bubbled. Nozomi was still worried for her, for with the distrust she was surrounded by as well as that sadness... it couldn't be a good! Looking to Jim who'd spoken in such a negative tone, she asked him firmly, "why did you talk to her like that?"
Hearing her ask this, Jim then replied, "like what?"
"Like that!" She told him, as she saw he was using that same tone again. This made her angered as she looked at Jim.
Seeing her look at him like that, didn't put the brown haired young man in a good mood either. So as the two of them looked at each other with disapproving looks, Nozomi then felt she had to know, "why do you distrust Raiyana so badly? Why do you-?"
"Because she's close to Silver!" Jim told her. Immediately making her become silent, everyone looked to Jim quietly and as that uneasy atmosphere settled around them all, he explained further, "...that's why I can't trust her, no matter how nice she appears to be," then on a bitter note he also added, "for it's probably just an act, especially considering the attitude of the rest of the crew she and him came with."
Quiet as she heard this, Nozomi looking to Jim could understand a little more now about his attitude and why he, along with the captain were acting that way to Raiyana. However there was one thing that she didn't get as she began to ask, "the rest of the crew?"
To which hearing her question, Jim made a single solemn nod.
As he did this, it was then Cait sith's turn to ask a question, "how can they be any worse Jimmy lad? Are they all grouchy or-?"
"Agh!" Then it was suddenly that someone knocked into Riku's shoulder as he asked this question!
"Riku!" Nozomi cried out, for the knock had made the white haired keyblader drop his mop and had caused him to fall to the floor! The King was shocked too as he looked on with alarmed eyes, while Jim though used to this type of attitude looked on with cold eyes.
As both Mickey and Nozomi ran to his side, he said painfully, "ow! That smarts! Just-"
"Watch it twerp!" Shocked immediately Riku, Nozomi along with Mickey by his side then saw the individual who'd unbalanced him. It was a tall heavily muscled alien, with a red angered face holding up his four muscled arms in balled fists. It was clear he was not someone they wanted to mess with!
Helping Riku up, the female keyblader looked at the muscled alien with angered eyes as her comrade did. Even the King was the same as he stared on. However they said nothing as he turned and started to walk away across the deck agitated.
Seeing him do this, it was then finally that Cait sith recovered from his shock as he asked aloud mad, "oi! Just what was that big lummox's problem! Just what-!?"
"It's as I said, " to which quickly that everyone turned to look at Jim again as that gloomy cold expression continued to dwell on his face. Quiet as they all looked to him, he then added, "that's why I can't trust any of the crew aboard this ship."
Silent hearing this, all anyone could do was stare on at Jim. However feeling this gloomy atmosphere that was beginning to overtake everyone, Mickey though tried to lessen it as he said, "aww, look maybe ya shouldn't look at that so negatively! Maybe that fella was not havin' a good day and-"
"What're you weirdo's doin!"
Turning around quickly as they heard this mocking tone, it was then that everyone saw another individual that had an angered face like the other crew member they'd just met. However he appeared to be more human like with long braids coming down his face with a long beard. He also had a rather round chubbier body, however it was clear he was not to be messed with either as his arms were folded as he stared at the lot of them, disapprovingly.
Not understanding what the problem was with these guys and their lousy attitudes. Nozomi stared on with annoyance, however quickly she was shocked again. For suddenly the head on the man's body crawled off like an octopus using his hair for tentacles!
Everyone stared on with perplexed eyes as his head made it onto a nearby barrel, while his 'body' then turned to them revealing a pair of eyes and a mouth. Revealing he was another alien altogether as he then mocked them asking with a sneer, "yeah you weirdo's!"
Hearing this being said, Nozomi then recovering from her shock. Then simply retorted under her breath, "look who's talking!"
It was clear that the others were not in the mood for this either and so quickly, they all tried to concentrate on their duties of cleaning the ship. Keeping themselves quiet as they did so, however as they continued to work on silently together... a small gang of other hostile alien crew members began to gather around them, staring away suspiciously.
Feeling this, as he continued to look down. Riku could sense their angered eyes burrowing into them all, it was clear everyone was uneasy and he could sense from this rising aura of hostility that things at this rate were not gonna end well for them! Quickly he decided to voice his thoughts to the King, turning to him he said,"your majesty! This is-!"
Nodding quickly the mouse keyblader made his reply as he told his white haired comrade, " yeah I know Riku! Thing's are lookin bad, but if we-"
SSSHHHH!
Instantly spooked, everyone turned up and there they saw above them was a taller alien that was dyed a deep angry shade of red. He had sharp teeth with a pair of giant crab like pincers on each of his arms, these were the most terrifying thing's about him! It was clear that he was a real terrible threat as he crawled down the rigging with three pairs of spider like legs, then towering over them as he came upon the deck he said in a menacing tone, "whisperings like that are askin' for trouble!"
Seeing this alien speaking to her friend's in such a manner, made Nozomi mad! Looking at him, she said agitated, "no-one's asking for trouble here! Why don't you all just leave us alone and let us get on with our job!"
Hearing this angered tone, the red alien then turned his bright big yellow eyes were fixed onto Nozomi. Seeing him look at her like this, made her freeze in place in seconds!
"This is bad!" Staring on from above with worried eyes, Raiyana saw the scene that was transpiring and it was clear what was needed to be done! "C'mon Morph!" She called out and with that quickly she moved and started to jump from beam to beam, with her small pink anxious blob changeling friend followed hurriedly after her.
As the alien towered over looking down at Nozomi, it then asked her obviously infuriated at her outburst, "what did you just utter!?"
Gulping now, the black haired keyblader was on edge now! For one wrong word and-!
"You heard us ya big crabby! Now quit bein' a pest and stop buggin' us!" It was then that Cait sith spoke up too, pointing his white gloved hand at the big angry red alien.
The red alien then narrowed his eyes and it was clear he didn't take kindly to these words!
Nozomi sensing immediate danger then cried out mad, "Cait sith! Don't-!"
"So I take it you like jesterin' to those above you do ya?" The alien asked both cat and girl, his voice brimming with simmering rage.
Immediately though Cait sith retorted, not tolerating this attitude, "I don't see no-one who's like that here! All I see is a knit!"
"Cait sith!" However as Nozomi cried out, it was too late!
"Why you little!"
Then turning Nozomi saw a huge red crab claw coming her way! Her eyes widened in shock when-!
"AGH!"
Suddenly then in front of everyone's eyes, they saw Jim had now been grabbed! Watching him being raised up by the monstrous alien and his claws, everyone was horrified as he was then suddenly slammed against one of the ship's tall beams, they all cried out, "Oh no! Jim!" "Jim no!" "Jim!" "Jim lad!"
Then around them, the hostile aliens began jeering! They wanted to see a good fight with some blood spilled as they all cried out for this to happen!
Holding him tightly with his claw, the red alien seeing him jump in wasn't surprised in the slightest as he asked him, "so the cabin boy is a glutton for punishment is he?"
Struggling against the alien's strength, in slight pain all Jim could do was stare at him with angered eyes as he winced.
As he held him like that, Nozomi had to act! She had to do something, smacking her fists against him she cried out, "put him down! Let him go! He's-!"
However before Riku and Mickey could say anything, the alien looking at Nozomi asked her with a chilling smile on his face, "so this distresses you greatly does it?"
Shocked as he said this, Nozomi stared up at him with widened eyes. Seeing this though, the alien took that as confirmation as he said, "well...let this be a lesson then to you," With that the alien took his other free claw and taking the sharp point up to Jim's neck, he said, "never cross yer superiors!"
Shaken as she saw what was about to happen, the others were terrified as Nozomi cried out, "no you can't! You-"
"AGH!"
Suddenly though stopping this brutal act from commencing, John Silver had walked forwards and grabbed the red alien's dangerous claw with his own strong robotic arm. Seeing this happen everyone was amazed, looking on though with a cool but serious gaze he told the red coloured individual, "Mr Scroop..."
Everyone was silent, as the cyborg then told him, "I believe that this ain't a fair exchange of words is it?"
Hearing this, it was clear the red coloured alien was not in the mood for Mr Silver, as he spat at him angrily, "this ain't any of your business! I'm-!"
However quickly losing his smile, it was then Mr Silver twisted Mr Scroop's arm around!
"AAGGHH!"
Immediately in seconds Jim was dropped and he fell to the floor! He coughed loudly as he landed painfully, Nozomi quickly ran over to him as she cried out, "Jim!"
Mr Silver though still restraining Mr Scroop, told him with an annoyed tone, "I'm makin' this my business and you're not deprivin' me of my cabin boy!"
This in turn made the red coloured enraged alien, stare at Mr Silver with bitterly angered eyes and as this continued. No-one knew what to do at all! Watching this herself, Nozomi with her hands on Jim's back was on edge, for thing's at this rate would end badly unless-!
"What's all this ruckus!?"
Turning quickly, it was then that everyone saw arriving on the scene. It was none other than Mr Arrow, dressed still prim and proper in his red uniform. At his appearance quickly all the jeering and cries died with it.
Looking at him, Mickey then cried out, "Mr Arrow!?"
Seeing the distress that was there, the First Mate knew what to do and as he proceeded forwards. It was quickly then that Mr Silver released Mr Scroop's arm, as he did his positive and casual demeanour had returned as he said, "oh don't mind this, little scene here Mr Arrow! T'is only a mere squabble here and-"
"I will be the judge of that!" The stone hard and serious faced man informed the cook. With that he turned and surveyed the scene with a serious gaze, seeing Jim still sitting on the floor uncomfortably with Nozomi trying to comfort him, along with Cait sith. He also saw that Riku and Mickey were clearly a little shaken and seeing this he turned his eyes to the last individual who was there.
Looking to Mr Scroop who had his eyes lowered refusing to meet his serious gaze, he then knew who was the culprit as he asked him, "so? Causing trouble again are we Mr Scroop?"
To which, there came no reply from the red skinned alien. However he turned his bright yellow eyes up to him bitterly, he just wanted to-!
However his angry thoughts were stopped in moments, for he saw a red flash for a brief moment and turning his eyes he saw that it had come from none other than John Silver himself... seeing this light, he knew he had no choice. So he finally made his reply as he said, "...aye, sir."
Almost surprised at hearing this confirmation, Mr Arrow though decided to make the actions that were called for. So he told the red alien, "I see," saying that he turned his back and as he did. He told him, "come with me then...you'll need a disciplinary!"
Hearing this instruction, though obviously angered Mr Scroop followed after Mr Arrow grudgingly and was led away to another location upon the ship. As soon he was gone it was then the rest of the alien's who'd been jibing and jeering, left clearly bored now of this dullness that had drifted down all around them.
Mr Silver then gestured to the First Mate with a bow with his hat as Mr Scroop left with him, saying with a smile, "well done there Mr Arrow! Well done, a true enforcer of the justice ya are sir!"
However the keyblader's themselves were all simply relieved that now the hostile atmosphere had all dispersed. Seeing this, the King was the first to speak as he said, "oh... that's thank goodness! It could have turned out so ugly there!"
Nodding himself as he heard this, Riku sighing said, "yeah it could have! It might have-"
However it was then stopping, he noticed then that Nozomi was now helping Jim back onto his feet. Seeing this he was silent, for this was?
Nozomi herself though, unaware of Riku's thoughts looked to Jim as she asked him, "are you okay now Jim? Are you-?"
Hearing her worried tone, Jim replied making her release him gently, "yeah, I'm fine! I'm fine," then seeing the concerned look on her face, he said trying to ease her slightly, "don't worry okay? I've had worse than this."
However Nozomi still wasn't convinced by his words, Cait sith though then decided to make his apologies as he told him, "I'm sorry there lad... I mouthed off without thinkin', I didn't mean for ya to get caught up like that."
As he heard this, Jim a little unused to this concern didn't know how to react. However it was clear he was slightly flattered as he said, "yeah... well just make sure you don't do that again!"
Hearing these words, Cait sith was more than happy to comply as he told him with a thumbs up, "aye lad! That'll be no probs!"
Jim hearing this then smiled, he was finding these new guys really amusing.
Nozomi though still felt really bad for what had happened, told him, "Jim...I'm sorry," as she said this the brown haired ponytailed young man looked to her as she continued on to say,"you shouldn't have jumped in like that, I was the one that guy was angry with not you...you shouldn't have-"
"I did what I had to," Jim told her interrupting her gently. Hearing this, Nozomi turned to look at him with surprised eyes and as she did, she heard him continue on to say, "after all you saved me, the cap, Arrow and the Doc before... so it's only natural I return the favour."
Hearing this, Nozomi was quiet. She couldn't believe he'd go that far just to repay her, she didn't like that and so began to say, "but-"
"Oi lads!" It was then everyone's attention was drawn straight back to Mr Silver, it was clear he was not happy as he stared at the lot of them. The keyblader's were all quiet as he then asked them with an annoyed tone, "just what here was this ruckus you were all causing!?"
Everyone hearing this all were quickly dismayed and annoyed at being convicted as being the troublemakers, however Mr Silver continued as he told them all, "I told you all to make this ship spotless! And you-!"
"Oi! That wasn't our fault there, Silver! It was that buggy-!" Cait sith spoke up as his annoyance quickly returned.
Mickey though wanting to be calmer though in this interaction spoke up too as he interrupted saying, "Silver, what happened before wasn't the cause of my pals, believe me! We were all workin' hard when-"
"I ain't in the mood for prattling words!" Mr Silver replied looking at them all still with that angered gaze.
Immediately everyone became silent in moments as they stared at the cyborg. As they all did, they heard him continue on as he told them, "I was busy makin' preparations for tonight's grub when I get Rai lass runnin' in sayin' ya were runnin' amuck!"
Hearing this with surprise, Nozomi asked, "Raiyana did-?"
It was then suddenly from on high, the long blue haired girl dropped down from a rope. As she did, she stared at everyone with a saddened yet grim gaze on her face. Everyone was quiet as they all stared at her.
Mr Silver though continued on as he told them, "aye! Rai lass did!" With that he walked up to her and put his hand on her shoulder, doing this he said, "you should show yer utmost gratitude to her! Otherwise who know's what could have occurred here!"
Raiyana hearing this, didn't look pleased as her head was bowed. Looking at her as she did this, Riku had to ask her with suspicion now rapidly growing inside of himself, "so you were watching us?"
Hearing this, Raiyana looked up to Riku for a moment and then she had to turn her gaze away again... the white haired keyblader then couldn't help but stare at her with a serious yet slight angered look.
However seeing Riku doing this, Mr Silver spoke up as he said, "it doesn't matter what Rai lass was up to!" Then looking to them all he was still displeased as he told them, "what does though, is that you lot get on and finish this job!"
With that picking up the mop, he threw it over to Riku. Doing this, he then ordered them, "now I'm gonna get back to me own business and when I'm done, I want you all to have finished!" Then he added to instil how thorough he wanted the end result, "to the point I can even see me own reflection in the wood!"
Hearing this, everyone couldn't believe it. Nozomi aghast thought to herself, 'that clean!?'
Then though seeing the reaction he'd got, Silver seemed to be satisfied. It was then he went on to leave, however before properly doing so he informed his two most trusted companions, "Rai lass! Morph!"
At once turning to look at him, the pink transforming creature and blue haired girl looked to the cyborg. As they did, the surprised female asked, "oh! Yes Silver?"
It was then he gave them his instructions, "I want ya both ta keep an eye on these whelps... I don't want more storm's brewin'!" Then looking back to the keybladers he added, "for heaven help 'em if it does!"
Hearing these words, everyone was immediately on edge again! For maybe he really was-?
"Very well, Silver," Raiyana said and with that she looked back to the others and as she did. Quickly floating away from her shoulder, Morph looked over them all and immediately he babbled something in a serious seeming tone. Then suddenly he transformed and his eyes became wide and huge as he stared down at them all.
Seeing the pink blob doing this, Cait sith then had to utter with a sigh, "ya know I don't think this is exactly what that Silver bloke meant when he said keepin' an eye on us."
No one was going to disagree with this, then knowing there was no other way around this. Riku then said, "well there's no denying the inevitable," then taking the mop that'd been thrown to him. The white haired keyblader immediately started to get back to work.
Then taking this cue themselves, everyone went to do the same. As they all began to swab away again, Nozomi couldn't help but look to where Raiyana was once more. However she quickly saw that she'd vanished!
Quickly looking around, she'd tried to see where she'd gone to. Then looking up above among the rope's and rigging, she saw her. Staring down from on top of one of the sail pole's, looking at her as she stared down at them all.
Seeing her doing this, Nozomi could still see that sad yet serious gaze in her eyes. Looking at her as she thought of all that had been said to her, about her connections to Silver and what he possibly was. It was only natural she should be suspicious of her, however looking at her there was something in her heart that was telling her inside that she could trust her. But why though was she feeling this?
Jim though cleaning away, saw the female keyblader was looking away up above. Seeing this, he asked her, "hey Nozomi?"
"Huh?" She asked turning her gaze back down to look at him.
As she did this, he asked her, "are you okay?"
Hearing this, Nozomi then replied saying, "oh? I'm alright I'm fine, don't worry there Jim."
Looking at her as she said this, Jim was quiet. However it was then Cait sith spoke up as he said, "well if yer fine lass, then get on with the job! C'mon! We don't no-more trouble do we?"
Rolling her eyes as she heard this, she replied, "no obviously..." then with a sigh she went to get on with the job and in turn Jim went to do the same.
Riku though in the meantime seeing this reaction was quiet himself, however inside he felt a pang of pain inside of his heart. Feeling it irritated him, though turning back to the job at hand he knew it wasn't the time to be dwelling on these thoughts...or feelings.
Mickey himself seeing his comrade doing this, then looking to Nozomi and Jim working together. He looked to Morph who was still staring away at them and finally he looked up to Raiyana who continued to gaze down and as he did, he had to wonder... who on this ship could they really truly trust?