Chapter 27: Making a Sacrifice

Outside, Captain Amelia, Delbert, and Meltdown were still sitting in the longboat, unaware that the planet was about to explode.

A faint rumbling was heard.

"All my life, I dreamed of an adventure like this," Delbert said glumly, before sighing. "I'm just sorry I couldn't have been...more helpful to you."

"Oh, don't be daft," Amelia said. "You've been very helpful. Truly."

But Amelia's comfort wasn't enough for the doctor. "I feel like such a useless weakling...," he said, throwing his arms up and burying his eyes into his hands. Then, he realized that his hands were free. "With abnormally thin wrists."

Delbert threw his hands behind his back and looked over to Meltdown, currently scratching his armpit.

"Excuse me, brutish pirate," said Delbert.

Meltdown belched and turned over to the captain and doctor.

"Yes, you," Delbert said. "I have a question. ls it that your body is too massive for your teeny-tiny head, or is it that your head is too teeny-tiny for your big, fat body?"

Amelia grew surprised by the doctor's remark at the pirate.

Meltdown looked down at his body and back at the doctor, growing offended from his insult. He stomped across the boat and grabbed Delbert by the collar.

"I pummel you good!" he said, angrily clenching his hand into a fist.

"Yes, I'm sure you will, but before you do, I have one more question," Delbert grabs Meltdown's pistol and points it at his abdomen, smirking, "Is this yours?"

"Uhh..."


Back in the treasure chamber, the rockets on Flint's ship began to power up and the rockets shot out fire. Jim had finally gotten the ship to work and steered it to fly it towards the portal.

"Jim, we did it!" Rose cheered.

"Yes! Guys, we are so out of here!" Jim said, happily.

Morph cackled excitedly, while Artemis turned to the color yellow and chirped in excitement.

"Ah, Jimbo! Rosie!"

The teenagers spun around to see Silver boarding the ship and making his way towards them. "Aren't you the seventh wonder of the universe?"

Rose moved behind Jim and her hands clutched onto his shoulders in terror.

Jim grabbed a nearby sword and pointed it towards the cyborg.

"Get back!" he threatened, making the cyborg stop with the blade in front of him, by mere inches.

Silver looked down for a moment, and tilted his head to Jim and Rose with a dark expression. "I like yeh, lad and lass, but I've come too far to let you stand between me and me treasure," he said, stepping forward.

The teens stepped back until their backs were pressed against the wheel.

A laser suddenly struck the side of the ship, ripping a hole in it. The ship tilted over, making gold and jewels spill over the side like a waterfall. The impact threw Jim, Rose and Silver off the side to a ledge.

The cyborg managed to catch himself with his robotic hand clutching on the ship.

Jim and Rose flew in the air from the platform and ended up on the wall. They slid down, and the boy grabbed a ledge that stuck out. The auburn-redhead wrapped her arms around his waist, gripping them as tight as she could. Artemis yelped, and crawled down Rose to hide in her pocket.

Back on the platform, Silver had both of his hands gripped on the ship. Then a laser went in, starting to cut the ship.

"Oh, no, you don't!" he said, pulling the ship towards him and away from the laser.

Morph flew over to his master and chattered frantically, making the cyborg notice.

"What?" the blob pointed over and Silver followed his direction, and saw from his mechanical eye of Jim and Rose hanging on the wall and struggling to hold on.

"Jimbo. Rosie." He said, now worried for the teens. He switched his cyborg hand to a claw, to hold onto the ship with an extension, and used his organic hand to reach out for Jim. "Reach for me now!"

Both Jim and Silver attempted to each their hands to each other, but they weren't close enough.

"Reach!"

"I… I can't!" Jim said, struggling.

"It's no use Silver! We can't reach you!" Rose called.

Then, the ledge went in, making Jim lose his grip!

"Aah!" Jim and Rose screamed, and slipped further down the wall. Until Jim managed to grip onto another jutted out ledge. Rose nearly lost her grip and this time she grabbed onto the boy's ankles. She glanced down to see the boiling hot lava, and began to shake with fear.

The girl looked up, not wanting her last moment alive to be looking down at lava. Her palms began to sweat, and her heartbeat raced through her chest.

Silver looked at the treasure in the ship. "What..." he looked over at Jim and Rose, struggling to hold on. The cyborg was unsure of what to do. If he chose the treasure, he wouldn't be able to save the teens and they would die.

"I..." Silver looked back at the treasure. The extension had reached further as it could and it couldn't hold on any longer. The cyborg sighed, and came to his senses.

"Oh, blast me for a fool!" Silver yelled, releasing the ship. The cyborg slid over to the edge; Jim lost his grip, and he and Rose screamed as they began to fall. Then, Silver grabbed Jim by his forearm, breaking the fall. He swung the teens back up to the platform.

Jim crawled on the platform and turned back to pull Rose up. They groaned to catch their breaths. Jim and Rose glanced over at Silver and gave him a brief smile. He saved their lives.

The trio as the jet destroyed the ship and the remaining treasure, with leftovers flying about. Jim, Silver, and Rose covered themselves with their hands and arms to shield themselves. Now that it was over, they had to escape.