By: Lizzy Rebel
AN: I don't own Treasure Plant in anyway shape or form. They belong to Disney and such. However, anything unrecognizable from the movie belongs to me as well as the plot.
~This fic is dedicated to my sis. My partner in crime as well as my best friend and avid reader. You rule Kate!~
SUMMARY: Nine years after Treasure Planet, Jim Hawkins is a ship captain during a time when pirates ravage space. Because of this, Jim is also a top officer for the Academy, one of biggest schools in the Galaxy. After losing his pirate-pray for the Academy, Jim finds himself agreeing to take one Doctor Alyson Christopher, a professor for the Academy who is fascinated with ancient cultures and most especially the dead planet, Earth. With a stubborn streak and an unyielding will, Alyson will be more then an equal match for Jim in everything. She will defy his every wish and at the same time touch his heart.
But Doctor Christopher brings more then just anger and love to Jim; she will also bring danger and peril. Because once on Earth, they will discover that Earth is long from dead. It is alive and hungry for flesh.
Jim and Alyson will find love, deceit, murder… and pretty maids all in a row.
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Chapter One- Letters of the DeadThe Academy on the Space Port Montresser was tall and rich. Its walls were made of light gray stones and its doors were made of a thick mahogany wood. Books, flowers, spaceships, and even people were carved into the main entrance of the Academy. On the top of the tall double doors, in bold letters, WE SOAR proclaimed the Academy's success.
Inside light poured in the black marble halls and gray stone walls from big bay windows on the ceiling. Chandlers lined the ceiling as well, while candles connected to the wall. Their reflections shone clearly on the shiny, dark marble floor.
Hallway after hallway lined up next to each, connected to one another and then broke off into different hallways. Big, oak doors lined each side of the hallways. Inside students worked diligently on whatever they had to do. Teachers towered over the student's desk, making sure the work was correct and done neatly.
The hallways were so big and vast, one would get lost in them if one didn't now one's way around. Many did get lost… but many more didn't.
And in the very last hallway, there was a big mahogany double door. It had the same design on it as the entrance door, but without the words.
Behind the double door was a white room, in oval shape. The back room was lined with bay windows, where morning light poured in. All the other walls were covered with books cases. There were five rows of bookcases. The space between the bookcases was large enough to let a rolling ladder move through. Each bookcase was in front of the other and the last bookcase on either side of the walls stopped in front of three dark, wood tables with wood chairs. On either end of every bookcase was a desk covered on its sides so no one could see in expect on the chair side.
In one of the tables in the middle of the library, a young woman shut her eyes and leaned her head against the palm of her hand. She had wild midnight hair placed into a messy bun on top her head. Her eyes were sea-goddess green. Her chest area was very voluptuous with a small waist and long legs. Her skin tone was rosy and she had high cheek bones along with a full, sensual mouth. She wore the gray robe with red lining of an Academy professor though she could be no more then 23 years of age.
Her name was Professor Alyson Christopher, Doctor of Ancient Ruins and Cultures.
Alyson's head dropped off her hand landed on her open book. With a jolt she snapped awake.
Alyson snapped the book shut and touched the gold-lettered title, Ancient Secrets of the Dead Planet, Delpha, with affection. She then took the book and stood up and yawned.
"This is the last time I allow myself to stay up all night reading a book." Alyson muttered to herself, knowing she was probably lying. These books were just too good to put down.
Alyson walked over to the left rows of books and entered the middle row were a light brown ladder leaned against one of the bookcases. Juggling one book in her hand, Alyson climbed the ladder to the top of bookcase. She rubbed her tired eyes and accidentally allowed the book in her one hand to slip free.
With a gasp, Alyson leaned forward and grasped the book once more before it fell onto the ground. Unfortunately, that cased her to lean hard against the bookcase. Panic filled Alyson as the bookcase wiggled with the ladder moving with it, threatening to topple over. Luckily, however, the bookcase leaned forward, dropping all sorts of books and papers, then leaned back, then finally stilled and stood perfectly erect.
Alyson smiled with relief, hardly believing her luck. Imagine if the damn bookcase had fallen!
Alyson replaced her book and slid down the ladder to pick up the books that had crashed the floor. She made a neat pile of the books and then turned her attention to the papers that had scattered to the floor.
"What the…?" Alyson muttered as one of the papers crackled in her hand. From its feel, Alyson guessed it was hundreds of years old at least. Alyson' eyes, now wide awake, scanned the paper. She gasped as she read
To Whom It May Concern:
For years now, my people and I have been aware that our plant was dying; we just never imagined it would die this way. I am constantly asking myself how did Earth become this?
All through our history, greedy men have been our downfall. King John of England, Adolph Hitler, Saddam Hessian to name a few. These men have been the precursors to our downfall. Now greed had taken over the whole world. Everyone is in a world war (The True World War, they call it). Every country is joining in. All the countries that had been neutral or had not taken part in our other World Wars are now. They all want a piece of this forsaken planet. They truly do not care how they achieve their piece.
Ever since the discovery of other living galaxies, a panic has taken over the Earth. Everyone is fearful we will be taken over by these beings. My followers and I laugh at that. How can anyone fear these people now when they had to chance to attack us years ago? They come in peace, that was the first words spoken from them when they stepped their first foot onto our soil, and yet everyone is still afraid of them.
This fear has brought about the True World War. All countries believe that if every hemisphere is united then we will have a better chance at defending ourselves against the alien 'invaders'. I do not believe that was the main reason for this war, everyone just wants to control all places. Everyone hungers for power on this planet. Our greed will destroy us.
All around us is chaos, murder and fear. We MUST get away from it. We WILL get away from it. We shall ask our alien visitors of the Nuctora Galaxy to take us with them into space, so we may forget this damned world.
This is my letter to whoever reads this in the future. I have a strong feeling you would be a descendant of Earth. I want you to know your heritage, greed and deceit. That was all Earth was- is. I will be glad to be gone.
But I cannot forget my roots, nor can you. Everyone that is a humanoid in body type will have some sort of Earthling blood. There is no humanoid living in space, the aliens of Nuctora tell this. Perhaps, when my followers and I have settled with the aliens of Nuctora, we will mate with our new friends. You never know where love will be found.
So dear reader, perhaps now you wonder of your roots? Or maybe you already have. All I know that you must seek out the answer you seek, if they involve Earth then go to Earth. Let nothing stop you. I shall just pray that by the time you get to Earth the people of Earth are long dead. I do not wish you to see the greed of humanity, your humanity.
With all do respect
-an Earthling who shall travel to Nuctora
Alyson pressed a hand to her mouth to stop her gasp. This… this was what she had been looking for all her life! Proof that there had been life on Earth! It was right in her hand, a letter from a dead Earthling!
Alyson could not restrain the giggle that erupted from her throat, "Finally!" She laughed, "Finally!"
She looked over the other papers and her smile widened. These were historical documents that proved there had been life, intelligent life, on 'Dead' Earth. There was this one well written document entitled The Declaration of Independence. It started with the lines: 'we the people'. The other papers were maps of areas on Earth. One map in particular caught her attention.
"Washington D.C." Alyson muttered, touching the star next to the name on the map, "That sounds so familiar…"
Shrugging, Alyson gathered all the papers up into a neat bundle. She would research this Washington D.C. place later. Right now, Seymour had to see this.
Alyson jumped to her seat and run from the library, leaving the pile of fallen books on the floor, forgotten.
The Academy was square shaped. In the middle of the square shaped school was a grass courtyard filled with benches and water fountains. The roof of the lower story of the Academy also extended on the sidewalk running alone the Academy walls, creating a shade-area over the sidewalk against the Academy. During the hot days, many students would sit outside under the shaded sidewalk on one of the benches against the wall.
That was where Alyson knew she would find Seymour.
Alyson pushed open the double doors to the courtyard and glanced around her. It was nippy outside, the chill a cause of the morning. Alyson inhaled the freshness of the dew and new day. The fountains in the plush courtyard made a soothing sound of moving water.
Seymour Blake sat on a wooden bench opposite of where Alyson was standing. The man had dark hair with streaks of silver in it, betraying his age. A thick covered book sat in his lap and Seymour's head was bent down to it so he could read it. He wore a black robe with gold lining, giving away his was a professor of high recognition.
Alyson smiled and hurried across the courtyard, "Professor!" She cried, stepping along one of cement paths that connected the left side of the building to the right. Because this sidewalk was not covered by the shade of the extended roof, the sun beat down hard and Alyson's back and she knew it was going to be a hot day.
Seymour looked up at Alyson as she walked meaningfully towards him. The dark strands that had come loose from her bun flew around her high-cheek bones. She looked like dark goddess. He smiled fondly at her.
"Yes, Alyson? What can I do for you?" Seymour asked, shutting his book.
Alyson stood at the side of Seymour's bench and inhaled deeply for a moment before handing him the papers she had found.
Seymour's eyes scanned the papers and then they widened. With trembling hands he handed them back to her.
"Alyson… Alyson… do you know what this means…?"
Alyson's face broke into a huge smile, "It means that we can finally go to Earth! This is all the proof we need! The Academy has to fund our trip now!"
Seymour stood up with a laugh and brought Alyson into a hug. Alyson hugged him back.
In Seymour's warm embrace Alyson sighed contently. Seymour was the closest thing to a father she had had. He had been their since she could remember. He was mentor, her only family.
"I'll have a meeting formed with the Academy Elders." Seymour said, pulling Alyson out of his embrace. He brushed a strand of dark hair from her face and looked into her tired eyes, "Have you been reading all night again?"
Alyson laughed and twirled away from him, "You know me too well, Professor." Despite their closeness, Alyson had always called Seymour 'professor'. He had always been 'professor' to her, "Anyway, I'm too excited to sleep."
Seymour sighed and held out his hand. Alyson placed the papers in his hand, "I'll get this meeting set up fast." He glanced at his watch, "Don't you have a class to teach in an hour?"
Alyson's face paled, "Oh my God! You're right! My Ancient Ruins class! I gave my students so much homework last night! Imagine if they did all that work and I don't even show up!" With a twirl of her feet, Alyson sped back into the Academy,
Seymour shook his head and hurried into the Academy as well.
Two hours later Alyson wrote feverously on the blackboard with groaning students behind her.
Ignoring her students' groans, Alyson said, "The Ruins of Delpha were a byproduct of an ancient race's climb to power in the Pre-Acnem times. I hope you all the first two chapters in your book about the Acnem Wars or this will seem very confusing to you. Anyway, I will continue. Who can tell me the name of the race that controlled Delpha?"
Alyson turned and almost winced at the glares that her students were giving her. I did it again, Alyson thought. She had gotten that I'm-so-much-more-superior-then-you-are tone, as Seymour called it.
She had been working on trying to get rid of that snobby tone she got some times. She just couldn't help it. When she knew what she was talking about she wanted everyone to know it. She wasn't snobby all the time, just when she was teaching her classes or talking to someone she didn't like. She also talked like that to strangers with her snobby tone, so it wasn't exactly easy for Alyson to make friends.
But these are my students, Alyson told herself, they will have to deal.
Alyson walked around the circular class room. The dark wood tables the students sat in were in rows. Each table, two on each side of the class room, where on a level of the classroom higher then the table in front of them. This was so they all could see the big blackboard located behind Alyson's big wooden desk.
"Anyone? Well, if no one knows the answer then I'll have to assign a full page report on the race of the Delpha." Alyson said and the students groaned once more. Alyson ignored it and continued her lecture.
She knew most of the students didn't respect her. She was only a few years older then most of the students. Normally, someone her age would still be in training to become a professor, but Alyson had grown up on the grounds of the Academy and by the time she was 16 she was visiting dead plants with Seymour. It seemed illogical to make her go through training when she knew everything about being an Academy teacher. That and Seymour had pushed the Academy into allowing her to become a professor without training. Since Seymour was such a respected Professor and Doctor of Ancient Ruins, like herself, the Academy took his word seriously.
Alyson closed her eyes for the briefest second and wished to be on some dead planet, studying ancient ruins with Seymour. That was what she was meant to do, not teach.
"You'll be gone soon." Alyson whispered to herself, "Soon."
There was a knock on her door and Alyson opened it. Seymour stood there with a big smile on his face. Besides him was another professor.
"Professor Christopher," Seymour said, mindful of the other professor behind him, "the Academy Elders wish to see us in the Meeting Room. Professor Beckman will substitute for you."
Alyson nodded and turned back to her class, "Class, Professor Beckman will be with you for the remainder of the time." She ignored the whoops from her students, "Good luck, Professor Beckman."
Professor Beckman offered Alyson a weak smiled and turned to the class. Alyson shook her head, knowing the professor would soon lose control of the class.
But she forgot her students the minute Seymour and she were walking down the marble halls, their boots clicking against the floor.
"Do you think that the Elders will fund us, Professor?" Alyson asked.
"I think so, Alyson. After all the evidence of life on Dead Earth you found, how can they so no?" Seymour asked.
Alyson smiled, "Let's hope it's enough."
They lapsed into silence. Alyson followed Seymour down into the middle of the school. There were no windows in this hallway and it looked very spooky. Seymour and Alyson stopped at a door marked TEACHERS ONLY. Seymour grabbed a gold key on a silver chain from under his robes. Absently, Alyson fingered her own gold key under her gray robes
Seymour unlocked the door and pushed it open. The door creaked as its hinges stretched.
Seymour and Alyson walked down winding steps made of stones. It was very cool here. Alyson could hear water drip from the stone walls and splash onto the cold stone floor.
Alyson leaned closer to Seymour, feeling silly about being afraid of this dank place. Even if it was spooky with no windows and only candles to give light, it was just a room. The Elders lived here. She knew that, but she tried to never come her. Alyson liked the light. She liked the feeling of warm bathing down on her. Even if she was raveled in a book older then herself in the library she could still feel the light and warmth flowing from the windows.
Here she could not.
Finally the stairs ended and Alyson and Seymour stepped into a big oval shaped room. The floor was a dark blue marble color. As they stepped onto the marble floor, the blue swirled and mixed with black. Like an evening sky.
They came and halted in front of a tall judges' table. Taller chairs could be seen behind the table, but the Elders were not here.
Alyson scooted closer to Seymour and whispered between tight lips, "Where are they?"
As if on cue a door behind the judges' table opened and old men entered the room. They were very old. They had long white beards, dull eyes, and were bent with age. They all took a seat in one of the chairs at the table.
The oldest man looked at Alyson and Seymour with hard eyes, measuring them.
"Don't say a word." Seymour whispered to her before stepping forward slightly, "Elder Rockwell."
The old man in the middle of the judges' table nodded, "Professor Blake, it has been brought to my attention that you have come into the possession of evidence that proves there was life on Dead Earth?"
Seymour nodded, "Yes, sir. Some are letters from people who lived on Dead Earth and the others are maps and historical documents. It is all the proof that we need to show the existence of life on Dead Earth. We need to go to Dead Earth and study the ruins there. Dead Earth has always been a mystery to us. If no one has ever lived on it, why does it exist? If people had lived on it, why is there no record of them? Why did they die? What caused it? All these questions could be answered with a trip to Earth. My pupil and I would gladly volunteer for such a journey."
Elder Rockwell stared at Seymour hard, but then his wrinkled face broke into a smile, "Very well. You have convinced me, Professor Blake. Now that we have proof that there was life on the mystery planet Dead Earth, we have no reason to hold back our exploration of it. By this time next week, Professor Blake, you and your pupil will be on your way to Dead Earth."
Seymour sighed with relief, "Thank you, Elder Rockwell. You will not regret this."
Elder Rockwell held up his hand and silenced Seymour, "There is one more thing, the matter of the captain taking you to the dead planet. I will allow you to only have Captain James Hawkins as your captain. I will allow no other."
"James Hawkins?" Alyson gasped, no longer able to keep quite, "The James Hawkins!? The ship captain who has captured the galaxies' must dangerous pirates!? I… I thought he was out in another galaxy hunting pirates…"
Elder Rockwell smiled, "He has just returned and I believe he will be perfect for you. This mission to Dead Earth will be no easy one. You will need the finest captain the Academy can offer. James Hawkins is it."
Seymour nodded, "Thank you, Elder." He grabbed Alyson by the arm and led her away.
Elder Rockwell smiled at their retreating forms, "Good luck, you're going to need to it."
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Yep, there you go. Chapter One all done! I'm finished up typing chapter two (The Return to the Benbow Inn) and should have it edited by next week. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Don't forget to R&R!
Thanks for R&Ring!
-Lizzy Rebel