Treasure Planet: The Real Treasure

Chapter 8

The man glanced at us before answering.

"Shipshape it is, sir, but I'm not the captain. The Captain's aloft," he answered, pointing up.

I saw a feline woman making her way down through the shrouds, moving with a grace that no human could ever hope to achieve. After doing a backflip, she landed on deck standing straight up. I was able to get a better look at her.

She was indeed very feline. She had a cat's nose and bright green eyes with cat-like slits for pupils. Her short auburn hair was tucked behind her pointed ears. She wore black pants and a blue captain's waistcoat, and a pair of black thigh-high, high heeled boots.

"Mr. Arrow," she began, prompting the first mate to stand at attention. "I've checked this miserable ship from stem to stern and, as usual, it's... spot on. Can you get nothing wrong?" she finished, her voice changing from stern to soft.

"You flatter me, Captain," Mr. Arrow answered, removing his hat in a gesture of thanks.

The Captain turned and saw Delbert. She stared at him curiously for a moment, then smiled mischievously.

"Ah, Dr. Doppler, I presume?" she inquired. Delbert cleared his throat so that he could answer, but she spoke again before he could. "Hello? Can you hear me," she asked, knocking on the helmet of his suit.

"Yes, I can! Stop that banging," he answered, getting flustered. I giggled quietly to myself. He tried to pull the helmet off, put it seemed to be locked in place.

"If I may, Doctor, this works so much better when it's right-way up and plugged in." The Captain adjusted the suit accordingly. Delbert took off his helmet and unplugged the suit.

"If you don't mind, I can manage my own plugging!" Delbert professed, holding the plug out in front of him. The Captain grabbed his hand and shook it, which sent the plug flying back to its original position at the back of Delbert's suit.

"I'm Captain Amelia, late of a few run-ins with the Procyon Armada. Nasty business, but I won't bore you with my scars. You've met my first officer, Mr. Arrow. Sterling, tough, dependable, honest, brave and true."

"Please, Captain," Mr. Arrow said humbly. I don't think a rock can blush, even if it is alive, but I'm guessing he would be at the moment, for he seemed to be a bit embarrassed by her flattery.

"Oh, shut up, Arrow. You know I don't mean a word of it," she teased.

"Ahem, excuse me," Delbert said. "I hate to interrupt this...lovely banter, but may I introduce you to Jim Hawkins and Raphaelle? Jim, you see, is the boy who found the treasure-"

He was cut short by Amelia grabbing his jaw with her hand.

"Doctor, please," she hissed.

She looked around at the crew members who were turning away as she looked towards them.

"I'd like a word with you in my stateroom," she declared, releasing his face from her iron grip.

She led us to her quarters and secured the door before speaking. She, Arrow, Delbert, Jim and I were the only ones in the room.

"Doctor, to muse and blabber about a treasure map in front of this particular crew demonstrates a level of ineptitude that borders on the imbecilic, and I mean that in a very caring way," Amelia said.

I had to resist the urge to laugh. I turned my head away so that my hair could hide my grin.

"Imbecilic, did you say? Foolishness, I've-" Delbert started, but was interrupted.

"May I see the map, please?" she asked, though she had more of a demanding tone.

Delbert motioned for Jim to hand it over. Jim extracted it from his pocket and tossed it to the Captain.

"Here," he murmured.

Amelia caught the sphere without hesitation and her eyes widened in cat-like curiosity.

"Hmmm... Fascinating!" She glanced back at us sternly before taking the map towards a locked cabinet on the wall. "Mr. Hawkins and Miss...what did you say your name was?" Captain Amelia asked, turning towards me.

I winced at the question.

"Raphaelle," I answered.

"No last name?" she probed.

I shook my head, looking away.

"Hmmm...Mr. Hawkins and Miss Raphaelle, in the future, you will address me as 'Captain' or 'Ma'am'. Is that clear?" As she spoke, she placed the map in the cupboard.

"Yes, Captain," I answered while Jim groaned quietly, rolling his eyes.

"Mr. Hawkins," the captain prompted, her tone indicating that he was walking on thin ice already.

"Yes, ma'am," he answered curtly.

"That'll do. Everyone, this is to be kept under lock and key when not in use," she instructed, tucking the key to the now locked cabinet in her pocket. "And, Doctor, again, with the greatest possible respect, zip your howling screamer."

"Captain, I can assure you, I-" Delbert was cut off once again, much to his annoyance.

"Let me make this as...monosyllabic as possible. I don't much care for the crew you hired. They're... how did I describe them, Arrow? I said something rather good this morning before coffee," Amelia voiced, taking a seat at her large desk.

"A ludicrous parcel of driveling galoots, ma'am," Mr. Arrow answered.

"There you go, poetry," she declared, looking rather proud of herself.

I smiled at her statement and Delbert's reaction.

"Now, see here!" Delbert started, slamming his hands down on her desk.

"Doctor, I'd love to chat –tea, cake, the whole shebang –but I have a ship to launch and you've got your outfit to buff up. Mr. Arrow, please escort these three neophytes down to the galley straightaway. Young Hawkins and Raphaelle will be working for our cook, Mr. Silver," Amelia instructed.

Jim, clearly bored by the interaction between Delbert and the Captain, had been playing with a pendulum, but stopped and let it go upon hearing our assignment.

"Wait, what? The cook?" he asked, looking at the Captain, and then at me. He looked shocked, to say the least.

I replied with a shrug, turning to follow Mr. Arrow out the door.