Rattle The Stars

Chapter Seventeen: Mission for the Map

The fall through this hole was not nearly as pleasant as the fall through the rabbit hole had been. They landed with a thump on the packed dirt a few feet below, and BEN ushered them forward, down a tunnel and towards a trapdoor. Jim pushed it open, then abruptly retreated back inside, his eyes wide.

“The pirates…they’re sleeping right outside,” he whispered.

“So what’s the plan?” BEN, as oblivious and loud as ever, asked.

Jim clamped both his hands over the robot’s mouth. “Shh. BEN, quiet!”

BEN gave a sheepish smile. “Sorry,” he whispered.

“OK. We gotta sneak back to the Legacy, disable the laser cannons, and come back with the map.”

Alice nodded with wide eyes. “Ah. Right. And how exactly do you propose we meet those objectives?”

“Yeah, Jimmy,” BEN, his voice muffled and quiet, put in. “How are we even going to get to the ship?”

Jim gently pushed the trapdoor open and pointed at the moored longboat in the pirate’s camp. “On that.”

Alice chewed her lip. They’d discussed this possibility earlier…but she’d had no idea they were actually going to have to put that idea to use, right now, in the dead of night after a crash landing that could have killed them all.

Still, she took a deep breath. “I think it’s the only plan we’ve got,” she admitted.

Jim nodded and beckoned her forward. “No time like the present. And BEN.” He glared at the robot. “No. Talking.”

“Got it.” BEN made a zipping motion across his mouth. Alice tucked Morph under her hair and put a finger across her lips to keep him quiet, then followed Jim as they crept through the pirate’s camp, stepping over sleeping aliens and moving as silently as they could.

Miraculously, none of the aliens woke as they reached the longboat. Alice helped BEN clamber aboard while Jim loosed the ropes mooring it to a nearby tree. Then he leapt aboard and quietly loosed the sails, waiting until they had drifted well above the planet to engage a tiny bit of thrust to push them toward the Legacy.

“That went well,” BEN noted cheerily.

“Stay quiet,” Jim whispered. “There could still be pirates on board the ship. We don’t want to wake them.”

“Aye, Cap’n Jimmy.”

As they floated above the planet, Alice used the fires from the camp and the aerial view of the forest to fill in more details on her map. Morph burbled near her face as she worked, giving little oohs and aah in appreciation of her handiwork.

“Thanks, you clever little thing.” Alice scratched under his blobby pink chin.

Jim brought them near the side of the ship and lassoed the wooden ladder with the ship’s mooring rope.

“Okay.” He gathered everyone in. “Alice and I will go on board to find the map. BEN, you and Morph stay here.”

“Roger, Jimmy.” BEN kept his voice low.

Jim beckoned Alice, and together they climbed the ladder up the side of the ship. Alice felt a tugging below her, though, and glanced down.

BEN was following them up, humming cheerily to himself.

“BEN. You’re supposed to stay on the longboat!” Alice whispered down to him. She reached the side of the ship, and Jim pulled her aboard, then glanced down in irritation at BEN, who clambered up after her and touched down on the deck of the ship with a metallic clatter.

“BEN! Shh!” Jim stilled the robot’s frenetic movement. “If you’re gonna come with us, you gotta be quiet.”

“You said you wanted the lasers neutralized, sir!” BEN gave a salute. “I’ll go work on that. Wires and gears are kinda my thing.” He tapped his metallic head, then zoomed off before Jim could protest, singing, “Yo-ho, yo-ho, a pirate’s life for me.”

“Oh, dear.” Alice shook her head. “Perhaps one of us should go with him?”

“I don’t want you to get lost.” Jim took her hand. “I think I know where the map is. Follow me.” He led her down into the galley, then further still toward the bay. Alice recognized the bare pipes and scaffolding from their escape earlier that day.

“There was a pile of rope,” Jim whispered. “Morph took the map and fell into it.” They rounded corner after corner before Alice finally saw it.

“There!”

Jim let out a relieved sigh and sprinted toward the ropes. As he reached down, he grinned in triumph and pulled out the real map, glinting in the faint light.

“Yes!” Alice gave a quiet little clap.

Alarms began to blare all around them, and Alice’s heart leapt into her throat.
“What on earth…”

Jim’s eyes widened. He took off running toward Alice, only pausing to grab her arm and drag her with him.

“That stupid robot is gonna get us all…” They rounded a corner, only to come face to face with a familiar, orange-eyed alien. “Killed.”

“Well. If it isn’t the cabin boy and his little lass.” Scroop, dangling from the ceiling, righted himself and advanced on them.

Jim yanked Alice behind him. “Run!”

“I’m not leaving you!” Alice protested.

Scroop lashed out with one massive claw and sent Jim flying backwards into Alice.

Jim’s weapon flew out of his pocket and clattered against the scaffolding.

Alice scrabbled for it, just as Scroop had a similar idea and lunged for it himself.

“Oh, no you don’t, you insect!” She landed a ferocious kick to Scroop’s chest with both feet, knocking him against the wall with a grunt, and her hand closed over the weapon. “That’s for Mr. Arrow! Jim!” She tossed him the gun.

Jim caught it and whirled to face Scroop—but at the same instant, the ship’s lights cut out, plunging them into darkness.

Silence fell, and Alice could hear Jim’s ragged breathing. But there was no sign of Scroop.

“Where is he?” Alice gasped.

“I don’t know.” A human hand closed around her wrist in the darkness, and she clung to Jim’s arm as he helped her up. “You need to get out of here.”

“How?” Alice demanded. “I can’t see, and besides. I’m not just going to let that spider psycho kill you.”

“Look, I appreciate the sentiment, but there’s not much you can do.”

“Nonsense!” Alice jerked her hand away, but Jim grasped for her. He found her arms, then moved his hands to her face.

“I’m gonna protect you, okay?” He pressed his forehead against hers. “You go find BEN. You help him disable the cannons. I’ll deal with Scroop.”

Alice gulped. Tears welled in her eyes, and she dared to rest her hands against his chest.

“But I can’t just leave you here.”

The lights burst back to life, and Alice found herself staring into Jim’s blue eyes. His brows furrowed, and before Alice could react, he leaned in and kissed her cheek.

“Go. Get out of here!” He pushed her away, his eyes wide and conflicted, and she stumbled back as he took off running away from her.

Alice scrambled up, her limbs trembling with anger and shock. Jim had a weapon, and she didn’t. It made logical sense to turn and run, though everything in her heart urged her not to.

She blinked away her tears and ran back up to the deck, heading for the helm where she knew BEN would be. As she ran, though, a curious, weightless feeling overcame her.

“Wh-what’s happening?” She grasped for a rope near the mast as she began to float off the deck and up towards space. “Oh, no. The artificial gravity! BEN!” She growled in frustration, then yanked the scarf from around her waist and used it to lash herself to the mast.

A crash made her whirl, and she saw Scroop tumbling through the air, up towards the pirate’s flag fluttering in the wind.

Scroop caught sight of her. He growled and lunged for her.

“No!” She screeched, and she heard Scroop’s hissing laughter near her ear as his arms closed around her. She kicked at him, but he caught her ankle between his pincers and clamped down hard. Pain shot up through her leg, and she cried out.

“That’ll teach you not to kick me, little girl,” Scroop hissed. His spidery limbs knocked her into the mast, and he closed in around her like a cage. His pincer slipped under her chin. He laughed a low, menacing laugh.

“Seems I had your little cabin boy in the same humiliating position not so long ago. This time, Silver and your precious captain aren’t around to save you.”

Alice glared back at him. “You’re an absolute monster.” A figure behind him caught her eye, and she gasped as Jim floated past and swung the gun at the back of Scroop’s head, knocking him silly.

“Let her go!”

“Jim!” She scrabbled against Scroop to reach for Jim as he continued his free fall into the sky, using her scarf to extend him a lifeline.

“Alice!” His fingers stretched toward her, but Scroop kicked him away, sending him, the scarf and the plasma gun spinning up toward the pirate flag.

“Grab hold of the flag!” Alice yelled up to him.

Jim caught it, and she sighed in relief, but Scroop gave a low chuckle and landed a blow right to her gut.

Alice gave a shrill cry, the wind knocked out of her, as Scroop scrabbled up the mast toward Jim. She grasped hold of the mast rope to keep herself on the ship, but through her watery eyes, she could see the battle playing out above her head.

*

Jim clung to the pirate’s flag, watching in horror as Scroop slugged Alice in the gut, then climbed up the mast toward him. He heard her cry of pain, and his blood boiled with rage.

But what could he do for her, when he was on the verge of death himself? It was like their very first encounter with Scroop all over again…only this time, Silver wasn’t here to intervene. As a matter of fact… Jim scowled. Silver would probably laugh as Scroop slit both their throats. The traitor.

Jim saw Alice’s scarf and his plasma pistol floating in the air near his head. He grasped for them desperately, and the scarf fell readily into his hand. He looped it through his belt loop, then reached for the pistol. “Come on, come on, come on!” His fingers brushed it, knocking it into a spin—and out of his grasp. “Oh, no!”

Scroop reached the crow’s nest and chuckled darkly. “Oh, yes.” He began to cut at the rope binding the pirate’s flag to the mast. “Do say hello to Mr. Arrow.”

Jim, seized with fear, yanked his way down the fabric of the flag to the mast, using his panic-fueled strength against the gravity trying to pull him out into space. He tied the ends of the scarf in his belt loop around the mast in a tight knot, glaring defiantly down at Scroop.

Scroop turned a nasty orange color and launched himself at Jim.

Jim scrambled down the mast and out of Scroop’s reach, then yanked the fabric of the pirate flag over Scroop’s head.

“Tell him yourself!” Jim yelled hoarsely, lifting his chin.

Scroop burst through the fabric of the flag, then glanced around in sheer terror as he realized he’d broken the rope holding the flag to the ship.

“Aaagh!” Scroop’s defeated cry of terror echoed until his form disappeared into space.

Jim felt his limbs sag with relief. He’d done it.

He’d gotten the map. He and Alice had survived the fight. And he’d defeated Scroop.

*

“Back you go, you naughty plug!” BEN yelled. Artificial gravity re-engaged, and Alice fell shaking to the deck. Scroop had met the same fate as the first mate he’d killed, and Jim was making his way down the mast.

They were safe.

“Alice!” Jim hurried to her side and brushed her hair out of her face. “Are you okay?”
Morph appeared from an exhaust pipe nearby, covered in soot. When he saw Alice, he squeaked in alarm and zoomed over to her.

“I’m alright.” Alice’s voice was barely a whisper, though she smiled as she recalled the captain’s words from earlier. “Some slight bruising, is all. Cup of tea, and I’ll be right as rain.”

Jim rolled his eyes. “Well, let’s hope your ribs aren’t broken like the captain’s.” His amused look faded. “I saw what he did.”

“I highly doubt anything’s broken, except perhaps my dignity.” Alice sniffed. She let Jim haul her to her feet, but she let out a cry of pain as she put weight on her ankle.

“We’ll see about that,” Jim scoffed. He looped his arm under her shoulders just as BEN wheeled by.

“Laser cannons disconnected, Captain Jimmy, sir!” He saluted. “Gee, that wasn’t so tough.”

Alice snorted, while Jim rolled his eyes.

“I think he had the easiest part of the deal,” Alice noted.

“I think you’re right.” Jim patted his pocket, then glanced around. “We’re all here, relatively safe, at least, and we’ve got the map. Oh, and your scarf.” Jim grinned and handed Alice the light blue fabric. “Thanks for that, by the way. It turned out to be a good luck charm.” He winked.

Alice smiled. “Glad I could be of assistance…even if indirectly.”

Jim laughed. “Well. I think it’s time to head out.”

Morph and BEN moved ahead to the longboat, while Jim helped Alice limp along.

“You don’t look too heavy,” Jim noted after a moment. He arched an eyebrow. “You think I could carry you?”

Alice scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t need carrying.”

Jim sighed. “I don’t want to be on this ship any longer than I have to. Not after what just happened.” He lifted her into his arms, and Alice stifled a squeal of surprise.

“There. That’s not so bad, is it?” There was a bit of strain in Jim’s voice as he walked forward, carrying her weight.

“Not as light as I look, hmm?” Alice teased.

“Just not used to carrying people, I guess,” Jim retorted. They reached the longboat, and BEN took one look at them and beamed.

“Aw, finally! I was wondering when you were gonna sweep Al off her feet, Jimmy.”

Alice laughed, cursing the blush on her cheeks.

“Knock it off, BEN.” Jim eased Alice onto the ladder. “Help her get in the boat, will you? Make yourself useful.”

BEN helped get Alice settled, and Jim jumped into the longboat and steered them back towards Treasure Planet.



AlyCatAuthor