Chapter 14

            Jim, my father, Morph and I ran through the portal and onto the exterior of the planet. Jim’s hand was tightly around mine.

 

“Silver, you gave up,” he asked.

 

“Just a lifelong obsession, Jim. I’ll get over it,” my father answered.

 

“Aloha, Jimmy and Emmie,” BEN yelled.

 

We looked up to see him on the Legacy.

 

“BEN,” I called happily.

 

“Hurry, people! We got exactly two minutes and thirty-four seconds till planet’s destruction!”

 

The ship hit part of the cliff we were standing on and I could hear yelling from on board. Jim hoisted me onto the ship before climbing in. Both of us helped my dad up. We ran up to the quarter deck and my dad stopped at the stairs.

 

“Captain, you dropped from the heavens in the nick of,” he started.

 

“Save your claptrap for the judge, Silver,” Amelia answered and I cringed slightly at her words.

 

My father chuckled nervously and I cast a worried expression at Jim.

 

“It’ll be fine,” he whispered.

 

He and I went to the bridge, where Amelia and Doppler were, just as a chunk of metal knocked off the top sail of the rear mast. That part of the mast fell and destroyed a laser cannon.

 

“Missile tail demobilized, Captain! Thrusters only at 30% of capacity,” BEN said.

 

“30%,” Doppler asked, “That means we’re … We’ll never clear the planet’s explosion in time.”

 

Jim leaned over the side of the ship and behind us, at the portal. He then looked down at the destroyed laser cannon.

 

“What are you planning,” I asked.

 

“We gotta turn around,” he said.

 

“What,” Amelia demanded as Jim jumped down onto the deck.

 

I followed after him and we ran over to the remains of the cannon.

 

“There’s a portal back there. It can get us out of here,” Jim called.

 

“Pardon me, Jim, but didn’t that portal open onto a raging inferno,” Doppler asked, panic in his voice.

 

“Yes, but I’m gonna change that.”

 

Jim pulled out a flat piece of the destroyed cannon and brought it over to what would soon be a thruster.

 

“He’s gonna open a different door,” I called.

 

“Listen to them,” Dad yelled and hurried over to us.

 

“One minute, twenty-nine seconds till planet’s destruction,” BEN announced.

 

“What do you need, Jim,” my dad and I asked at the same time.

 

“Just some way to attach this,” he answered.

 

“All right,” Dad answered, “Stand back. Stand back, now.”

 

I held the two pieces of metal in place while my dad welded them together.

 

“There you go,” I said as we lifted it onto the edge of the ship.

 

Jim hopped on and turned to us.

 

“Okay. Now, no matter what happens, keep the ship heading straight for that portal,” he ordered.

 

“No matter what hap,” I trailed off in a whisper, my eyes wide in fear. “Jim!”

 

“Fifty-eight seconds,” BEN yelled.

 

Jim looked in the robot’s direction and then back at me.

 

“I love you, Ember,” he said and took off.

 

“Jim,” I screamed and leaned over the edge of the ship.

 

“Well, you heard him! Get this blasted heap turned ‘round,” Dad yelled and I ran to the bow of the ship.

 

I stood right in front of the bowsprit and stared out as the ship turned. I soon caught sight of Jim and watched as he ducked and weaved through all the moving metal. My breath caught in my throat every time I lost sight of him.

 

“Twenty-five seconds,” I heard BEN yell.

 

I then saw the thruster from Jim’s board go out, and stay out. He began falling down into a chasm and I gripped the wood of the ship’s edge even harder, my knuckles turning a ghostly white.

 

“Jim, please,” I whispered, praying to whatever higher power there might be.

 

“Seventeen seconds,” BEN screamed.

 

The panic in his voice was even more evident than before. We passed the chasm Jim had fallen in and BEN started a countdown at seven. I saw something out of the corner of my eye and leaned over to see Jim flying past the ship.

 

“Five… Four,” BEN continued.

 

Jim pressed a location and we passed through the new opening without even a second to spare. We were back at Montressor spaceport.

 

“Wow! Yeah,” Jim crowed as he flew around the ship.

 

“You done it, Jimmy,” Dad yelled. “You don’t it, boy! Didn’t I say the lad had greatness in him?”

 

Jim hopped on board the ship, letting his board fall into space. I stood where I was for a moment, in shock. I then ran from the bow and over to Jim. He came into sight just as he set BEN down.

 

“Hey, you hugged me back! Oh, I promised myself I wouldn’t cry,” the robot exclaimed.

 

I threw my arms around Jim, knocking him backwards in the process, and he landed with a grunt.

 

“Don’t you ever do that to me again, James Hawkins,” I whispered.

 

I began sobbing as we lay on the deck and Jim gently wrapped his arms around me.

 

“Ember,” he started.

 

“You told me you love me and jumped off the edge of the ship. You fell when we were seventeen f*****g seconds from planet destruction.”

 

“It’s okay now.”

 

I nodded and pushed myself off of him, drying my eyes. I briefly thought of the fact that I’d never cried so much in my lifetime as I had in the past few days. Jim and I then noticed someone missing, someone very important to the both of us. Jim took my hand in his and took me down to the longboats. He put his finger to his lips to keep me quiet.

 

“Morphy, we gotta make tracks,” my dad whispered as we rounded the corner. He still hadn’t noticed us.

 

“You never quit, do you,” Jim asked.

 

“Ah, Jimbo, Em! Ha ha! I was merely checking to make sure our last longboat was safe and secure,” Dad said, tying the rope into a loose knot that couldn’t have held a rock still.

 

Jim went over and made a tight knot to replace my father’s faulty one.

 

“That should do that,” he said and my dad chuckled.

 

“I taught you too well. Now, if you don’t mind, we’d just as soon avoid prison. Little Morphy here, he’s a free spirit. Being in a cage, it’d break his heart.”

 

Jim sighed and undid the knots in the rope while I opened the hatch.

 

“What say you ship out with us, lad? Hawkins and Silver’s. Full of ourselves and no ties to anyone,” Dad offered and Morph turned into a hat before plopping on Jim’s head.

 

He took the shape-shifter off his head and tickled him, making him turn back into his normal form.

 

“You know, when I got on this boat, I would’ve taken you up on that offer in a second… But, uh, I met this old cyborg and his daughter and they taught me that I could chart my own course,” Jim answered and I smiled softly. “That’s what I’m gonna do.”

 

“And what do you see off that bow of yours,” Dad asked.

 

“A future.”

 

“Why, look at ya, glowing like a solar fire. You’re something special Jim. And so are you, Em. You’re both gonna rattle the stars, you are.”

 

Jim hugged my father and I swatted away a few tears.

 

“Got a bit of grease in this cyborg eye of mine,” Dad said, rubbing his eye. He then turned to me. “Ember, you’ve picked yourself a fine one. I’m happy for ya and I really was the proudest father alive when you decided to take the helm.”

 

I rubbed my eyes again.

 

“Geez, Dad, why do you make it sound like I’m never gonna see you again,” I asked.

 

“That may be,” my dad answered and I looked up at him.

 

“What?!”

 

“Em, you’ll be happier with Jimbo than if you stuck around with me. It’s time you lived a normal life, living in one place instead of moving all around.”

 

I wrapped my arms around my father and cried. I knew it would probably be the last time I’d ever see him. He held me tight for a few minutes before I finally let go.

 

“I’ll miss you, Dad,” I whispered, my voice breaking from my tears. My father gave me a soft smile.

 

“Did you ever fix that gizmo I gave you, Em,” he asked.

 

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the small metal orb that was about the size of my palm.

 

“I almost had it, but I think there’s a piece missing,” I answered.

 

My dad handed me a small piece of metal that looked like it had some kind of chip on one side.

 

“I think that might be it. Jimbo, do me a favor and help Ember solve this,” he said.

 

Morph then started crying, turning into a puddle of water in Jim’s hands.

 

“Oh, hey, Morphy. It’s okay,” I said.

 

“We’ll see you around,” Jim finished.

 

“See you around,” Morph repeated and licked our faces before floating over to my father.

 

“Morphy, I got a job for ya,” Dad said, “I need you to keep an eye on this here pup and me daughter. Will ya do me that little favor?”

 

Morph saluted him and cuddled against his face before floating over to Jim and me.

 

“Oh, and one more thing,” Dad called as the longboat lowered. He reached into his pocket and threw a handful of gold into Jim’s hands. “This is for your dear mother, to rebuild that inn of hers.”

 

“Stay out of trouble, ya old scalawag,” Jim said.

 

“Why, Jimbo, lad, when have I ever done otherwise?”

 

Dad’s boat started flying off and I cupped my hands around my mouth.

 

“I love you, Dad,” I yelled and I could vaguely hear him chuckling.

 

Jim and I walked over to the stairs and sat there. I held up the metal orb in my hand and Jim helped me put the newly acquired piece in its rightful place. The sphere then opened up to reveal a holographic image of my father.

 

“Well, Em, looks like you’ve charted out your course with Jimbo. He’s a good lad for ya. Why, you get the same look in your eyes for him that your mum gave me. He’s got the same for you. I hope the two of ya are happy. And don’t ya be worrying about prison. I already talked to the captain and you’re free as a bird… I love ya, Em. Don’t forget that.”

 

The holographic image disappeared and the sphere closed. Jim held me close as I cried silently. I didn’t bother to dry my eyes that time. I just let the tears fall as I sat there with my head on his shoulder. Jim gently brushed his fingers through my hair and I cringed when he hit the still-tender spot on the right side of my head.

 

“Are you alright,” he asked.

 

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just a little sore,” I answered with a watery laugh.

 

About an hour later, we were back at Montressor spaceport and Jim led me through the people to find his mother. He hugged her tightly and then Morph flew forward and licked her face.

 

“Mom, this is Ember,” Jim said, introducing me. Sarah immediately recognized me.

 

“I-I was afraid you were lost in the fire,” she said and I scratched the back of my head.

 

“About that,” I mumbled.

 

“Mom, Ember doesn’t have anywhere to live and I want her to stay with us,” Jim said.

 

“Oh, well, I just don’t know. I mean, we still live with Delbert,” she stared.

 

Jim then held up a gold coin.

 

“We found the treasure,” he whispered, “We can rebuild the in.”

 

Sarah wrapped her arms around her son and held him close.

 

“It’s real,” he asked.

 

“As real as the creation of stars,” I answered with a smile.