Chapter 10

            We got to the planet and looked around for any sign of Jim, Amelia or Dr. Doppler. I was of little use, as my vision was still blurred with tears.

 

“Hey, fellas! We’re over here, fellas,” an unfamiliar voice yelled, causing me to look over.

 

I swatted away my tears for a better look. The crew began shooting at a strange robot. I saw Jim pull the robot down and shoot back.

 

“Stop wastin’ your fire,” Dad yelled and everyone stopped shooting.

 

Dad made  a white flag out of a stick and a piece of cloth. He beckoned me to follow, which I did.

 

“Hello up there,” he yelled, waving the flag. “Jimbo? If, uh, it’s alright with the captain, Em and I’d like a word with ay. No tricks. Just a little palaver.”

 

Dad pulled himself over the hill and I followed, still feeling numb. I didn’t have anything with me and tears still brimmed my eyes. Jim came down moments later; I couldn’t look at him. I felt too ashamed. Morph flew forward, but even he couldn’t cheer me up.

 

“Ah, Morphy,” Dad exclaimed. “I wondered where you was off to.”

 

He sat on a nearby rock while I remained standing. Jim drew nearer, only a few feet away.

 

“Oh, this poor old leg’s downright snarky since that game attack we had in the galley,” my dad said with a slight laugh.

 

Jim only glared harder.

 

“Whatever you heard back there, at least the part concerning you, I didn’t mean a word of it. Had that bloodthirsty lot thought we’d gone soft, they’d have gutted us all,” Dad explained, standing again.

 

“Jim, I can’t begin to explain,” I cut myself off, forcing back a lump in my throat.

 

“You heartless,” Jim started, his voice raising.

 

“Now none of that,” my dad interrupted; I shook my head.

 

“No, Dad. Let him speak his peace. I deserve it,” I mumbled.

 

“You’re nothing but a heartless, backstabbing, manipulative shrew! I can’t believe I trusted you! I let you in and this is what it got me,” Jim yelled and a chocked sob escaped me.

 

I took a breath before looking him in the eyes. They had that same look from before, when we were in the galley.

 

“Now that you’ve spoken your peace, can I speak mine,” I asked.

 

“Em,” Dad started, but I held up a hand to silence him.

 

Jim nodded, answering my question.

 

“I’m going to be honest, Jim. Meeting you was completely accidental. I wasn’t supposed to meet anyone when I went down to Montressor. My job was to get the map from Bones and get out. If he hadn’t given you the map, none of this would have happened. But he did, and I can’t change that. Becoming your friend and getting you to trust me, yeah, that was part of the plan. It was my job to keep you from getting any suspicions. What none of us planned on was me falling in love with you. That was beyond my control. And Jim,” I choked back another sob, “Everything that happened between us was real, 100%. I can’t change the past, but I’m so sorry for screwing this, us, up.”

 

Fresh tears overflowed from my eyes and I tried to wipe them away. It was all in vain. That was when my dad decided to take over.

 

“Listen to me,” he whispered to Jim, “If we play our cards right, the three of us can walk away from this rich as kings.”

 

Jim looked like he was thinking it over.

 

“Yeah,” he questioned.

 

My father chuckled.

 

“You get me that map and, uh, and even portion of the treasure is yours.

 

Dad stuck his hand out to shake with Jim. He looked down with a sigh. A look of disgust crossed his face.

 

“Boy, you both are really something. All that talk of greatness, light coming of my sails… what a joke. And you, Ember, with your little story of the stars. Was that all a lie, too?”

 

Another sob escaped me. I couldn’t answer, couldn’t’ tell him that I spoke the truth then.

 

“Now, just see here, Jimbo,” Dad started.

 

“I mean, at least you taught me one thing. Stick to it, right? Well, that’s just what I’m gonna do. I’m gonna make sure you don’t see one drabloon of my treasure,” Jim interrupted.

 

Another tear fell. I didn’t care about the treasure anymore. My heart ached, being torn between my father and Jim. I knew I’d have to choose one side or the other, very soon. It would be the hardest decision I’d ever have to make.

 

“That treasure is owed me, by t’under!”

 

“Well, try to find it without my map, by t’under,” Jim yelled back

 

“Oh, you still don’t know how to pick your fights, do you, boy? Now, mark me. Either I get that map by dawn tomorrow, or so help me, I’ll use the ship’s cannons to blast ya all to kingdom come! Morph, Ember, hop to it,” Dad ordered.

 

No one moved

 

“Now,” he yelled, his mechanical eyes glowing bright red.

 

I jump slightly and Morph hid behind Jim’s neck.

 

“I can’t follow you. Not this time, Dad,” I answered, my voice breaking and more tears flowing down my cheeks.

 

“What?!”

 

I wiped my eyes, standing tall.

 

“Dad, you’ve always told me that one day, I’ll have to break off of your ship and chart my own course. You told me that you’d be the happiest father alive if you got to see me start that course. Well, here’s your chance. I just… can’t follow you anymore. I’m taking the helm, now. I’ve made my choice and I’m staying with it, sink or swim.” I turned to Jim. “I don’t care about the treasure. I was wrong in the galley. That treasure means nothing to me, compared to you.” I turned back to my father. “Here’s my choice, Dad. I’m choosing Jim, following my heart and charting my own course. Here’s your chance to tell me if you’re proud of me.”

 

My father stared between me and Jim for a moment.

 

“Oh, blast it,” he yelled, leaving.

 

I turned to Jim again, wiping my eyes fro the thousandth time that day.

 

“Jim, I know you probably don’t trust me anymore, I wouldn’t either. But I hope you can put your faith in me just this one time. I swear, I won’t let you down,” I whispered.

 

“How do I know it’s not just part of your plan,” he asked.

 

“Remember the night after you saved me in the rigging? Remember how we were talking about how growing up on a ship had made me tough as leather. Well, the only part of me that still feels tough would be my calloused hands. Please, Jim, trust me just this once.”

 

“Only to a point. Come on,” he answered and started walking towards the strange home he was taking shelter in.

 

“Why is she here,” Amelia demanded upon seeing me.

 

“She says she’s on our side,” Jim answered.

 

“I’ll prove it any way possible,” I added.

 

“I don’t trust her,” Amelia said before groaning in pain.

 

The doctor made her lie still.

 

“We’ll see. She left Silver,” Jim mumbled, tossing a wary glance my way.