Chapter 25: The Loot of a Thousand Worlds

The longboat flew across the planet following the glowing beam, that flashed yellow, carrying the passengers. Delbert and Amelia were at the back of the boat, tied up together, but without their mouth gags. Turnbuckle stood by and guarded them.

In front of them, the pirates were all grinning, eager to discover Flint's Trove. Silver was at the front of the boat with Jim and Rose next to him. The auburn-redhead held her head up high, and showed no fear from her expression.

The longboat came to a stop in a heavily wooded area.

Silver, Jim, Rose, B.E.N., and the pirates dismounted and landed on the ground. Meltdown stayed behind to guard Delbert and Amelia.

Rose looked back at the captain and doctor, praying that she and Jim will get back to them soon and find a way to escape. The only thing that was on Rose's mind was to be by her adopted mother, receive a hug, and be told that everything will be okay.

Jim took Rose's hand and clasped it firmly in his own.

The auburn-redhead jumped and whipped her head back in alarm. But, she slowly grew less tense and breathed.

The teenagers heard chattering, and looked down to see Morph poking out of Jim's pocket and glancing around fearfully.

"It's okay, Morph," Jim said, gently petting the shapeshifter's head. "It's okay."

Artemis poked her head out from Rose's pocket. The girl scooped the lizard out, and held her in the palm of her hand.

"Don't worry, Artemis. We're gonna make it out," she assured her pet. "I hope."

"Jimmy, Rose Budders, I… I don't know about you, but I'm starting to see my life pass in front of my eyes. At least, I think it's my life," B.E.N. said, before yelling. "Was I ever dancing with an android named Lupe?!"

"B.E.N., shh," Jim said, before glancing at Silver. "This isn't over yet."

Silver stopped and his grin grew bigger. The yellow flash grew stronger and faster.

"We're gettin' close, lads!" Silver announced, switching his cyborg arm to a sword. "I smell treasure a-waitin'!"

The crew cheered, and Silver laughed. He grabbed Jim by the shirt, and dragged him across.

Rose, still gripping onto the boy's hand, nearly tripped over by the cyborg's strong force, and attempted to keep up with them.

Silver's sword sliced through the vegetation in the thicket, clearing out a path for the others. After making a clearing, the group gasped in shock. They found the glowing beam halting at the end of an empty cliff.

"Where is it?" Silver demanded.

"I see nothing! One great, big stinking hunk of nothing!" Onus yelled.

The map immediately closed and locked itself up.

"What's going on, Jimbo?" the cyborg asked.

"I don't know," the boy said. He pressed the buttons, and tried to twist it. "I can't get it open."

"We should've never followed those kids!" Bird Brain Mary yelled. She kicked Jim, knocking him over.

"Hey!"

Rose gasped and hurried over to the boy's side to check up on him. She looked back at Silver and the crew, and gave them a glare.

"I'd suggest you get that gizmo going again, and fast!" Silver warned.

Suddenly, Jim noticed a hole in the ground, and brushed away the moss. The hole had indents that looked similar to the map.

Rose's irises widened in surprise.

"Let's rip their gizzards right out, right now!" Turnbuckle said.

"Throw them off the cliff!" added Onus.

Jim slammed the map into the hole. Then, the ground glowed a bright green, stopping the crew from getting mad. A green hologram of the map appeared and floated up. In the distance, long glowing lines zoomed towards the cliff, joining together, and went up forming a large glowing line. Then, a giant triangular portal opened up in front of them, revealing the galaxy.

"Oh, have mercy," Silver mumbled, bewildered.

"What is this?" Rose asked.

"The Lagoon Nebula?" Jim asked.

"But that's halfway across the galaxy," Silver said.

Jim remembered what B.E.N. said earlier. "A big door," Jim said. He touched a planet, and the portal switched to another area. "Opening and closing." He pressed another button to reveal another planet and each one, showing new worlds.

"Let's see," he said, and pointed to a button. "Kinapis."

Rose looked for herself, and noticed a familiar planet. "Gandorona," she whispered, realizing it was her home planet.

Then, Jim saw a familiar crescent moon button, and smiled. "Montressor Spaceport." After pressing the moon, the portal revealed the crescent moon in the sky. It was the very same place where their journey started, and where Jim and Rose first met. If they went through this portal, they'd be able to get there in seconds. The crew stared at it in awe.

"So that's how Flint did it," Jim said amazed, and pressed another button. "He used this portal to roam the universe stealing treasure."

"This must be why and how he was able to escape and vanish without a trace," Rose added.

"But where'd he stash it all?" Silver asked, impatiently. He shoved Jim to the side. The cyborg immediately pressed each button, showing more random locations. "Where's that blasted treasure?!"

"Treasure! Treasure!" B.E.N. grasped his head and pulled his wires, as if he was having a splitting headache. "It's buried in the…"

"Buried in the centroid of the mechanism," Rose finished.

"What if the whole planet is the mechanism, and the treasure is buried in the center of this planet?" Jim asked with a grin.

The crew immediately began to dig in the ground with their hands and tools frantically. But the solid and hard ground of the planet destroyed their tools and stopped them in their tracks.

"And how in blue blazes are we supposed to get there?" Silver yelled, pressing more buttons.

"Just open the right door," the boy answered. He saw a tiny version of Treasure Planet at the center of the hologram map. He touched it, and the portal switched, revealing the core of the planet. Instead of the forest, the core was a big room with spires slowly moving around.

Jim held his right arm up, and placed it through the portal. He walked through and emerges to the other side.

Silver grabbed Rose by her arm, and followed after Jim, placing his robotic arm on his shoulder and moved ahead of them.

Rose looked down and noticed a red line at the entrance, which triggered a silent alarm.

What's that alarm doing here? She thought, until she was forced to keep going in by Silver. The crew followed after them with Bird Brain Mary running and calling, "Wait for me! Wait for me!"

Everyone halted on the platform, gasped, and looked at the sight in awe. The crew cheered with excitement and ran ahead, while Jim, Rose, Silver, B.E.N., Morph, and Artemis stood still.

"The loot of a thousand worlds," Silver whispered with amazement.

In front of them, the core was filled to the brim with treasure! Millions of treasures, full of gold, gems, and knick-knacks. The crew began to help themselves to the treasure, to fill up their pockets and hats. The spires were shooting purple beams towards the holes at the core.

"We are going to need a bigger boat!" Mr. Onus yelled.