In the deep recesses of space a floating debris field slowly moves around a vacant moon.

(Squelch)

"Have you found anything boys?" came the voice over the radio

Two aliens looked at each other then at the field of junk that lay before them, "Negative sir the field is vast are you sure it's even here?"

(Squelch)

"There isn't too many other places it could be!" The voice sounded angry

A third member of the crew aboard the skiff looked out into the field and let out a toothy grin as he switched off the radio. The other two whimpered as the ropes that held them fast were yanked even tighter and the business end of a blunderbuss was shoved into their faces.

"Now ya see boys that weren't so hard now was it?" the man said getting close to his captives faces. They cowered away as much as they could.

"What are you going to do to us?" one of them asked

"Well, now there's a question worth askin'! I suppose the smart ting to do would be to kill the lot of ya but then, pray that I'm not so smart." The man said with a grin, "I'll tell ya what boy's you help me get what I'm lookin' for and I'll send ya home in time to cook a warm meal."

"What are you looking for!?" One of the captive's asked in a near-shout

The man stopped and looked over his immense shoulder as the sound of clicks and whirrs filled the air and the gold light from one of his eyes rested on the one who just gulped in response. The man put his bulldog face just inches from the captive.

"Oh I believe you know exactly... what old Silver wants..."

(Squelch)

"Attention all search crews return to base... we've found it, I repeat the package has been found return to base!"

"Exactly..."

….

"Jim will you get down here?" Jim's mother Sarah yelled

"Coming..." Came the voice of a young Jim preparing to head out for his final farewell to his friends and family before he headed off to the Academy.

He walked down the stairs and stood before everyone with his white Cadet suit all ready and his boots shining.

His mother sighed as did Dr. Doppler and Amelia who were rocking their children to sleep. Everyone clapped which immediately woke the small ones who began to make a racket all their own. The tables in the Montressor Inn were packed with food and fools each making their way to Jim who felt all the more crowded by the tight uniform.

Soon the immediate histeria died down and he was able to force himself out of the crowd while the music started and everyone paired up to dance. Jim sat on the outskirts looking into the frivolity of the scene and smiling as his mother danced with a few pudgy guests.

His mind wandered a little and he thought on John Silver and all that they'd been through and deep down he felt the desire to see him here before he left for the Academy in the morning. He knew it was impossible though so he just waited for the night to go on.

The music slowly died and everyone lifted their glasses as Dr. Doppler raised a glass for a toast,

"Ahem, well I'll be happy to be the first one to say it, though I may not actually be the first person to say it, well actually I may not be..." At that moment Amelia shot a glance to her absent minded husband who stood up straight and turned to Jim, "What I mean to say is that we are proud of you Jim and if ever there is something that you need you can always count on us!"

"Here! Here!" came the shout from the crowd as they all started to drink from their glass. Jim put his cup to his lips when suddenly he saw an outline in the window as a glimmer of gold from one side of the glass caught his attention.

"Silver!" Jim said and almost choked on his drink

Dr. Doppler started patting him on the back, "Jim, Jim are you okay!? Come on Jim Speak to me!" He said frantically as Amelia came and shoved her husband to the side and hit Jim hard on the back.

Jim stopped coughing and stood straight, "Oh, thank goodness!" Delbert said in the background.

"James I thought I heard you say something before you guzzeled down that drink..." Amelia said in an inquisitive tone.

"Oh it was..." Jim looked towards the window to see nothing, "it was nothing." He said quietly as Amelia gave him a look and looked towards the window.

That night Jim's mom entered his room as he was sitting on his bed shoving clothes into his sack. She sat down quietly next to him.

"You know you can talk to me about it." She said noticing his silence after his choking incident.

"What's there to talk about?" He responded shoving another handful of laundry into his sack.

"Jim I heard you mention his name." Sarah said touching him on the shoulder

Jim stopped and stared at the ground, "I thought I saw him... I thought... maybe he was coming to see me off or something. It's stupid I know but..."

"No, no, it's not stupid," She said hugging her son, "He was as good as a father to you it's not stupid at all to want to have him near."

"No," Jim said slightly pushing his mother away, "It's stupid to believe that he actually would."

"Oh, James." She said and stepped out the door and lingered there wanting to tell her son so much as he continued to fill his sack. In the end she just wandered down the stairs offing the lights as she went.

Jim sat there for a while looking out the window as Morph chirped and cooed in the night and the sound of B.E.N. Clanging in the kitchen was the only thing to break the silence. He walked over to the window staring at the dim light of the spaceport.

"WHAT'S HAPPENIN'?" Suddenly Jim was on the floor as the head of John Silver sat there staring in his window. As Jim got up he saw that Silver was on a skiff looking into his room.

"Silver!?" Jim said not believing his eyes

"Well who'd ya tink it was Jimbo? I couldn't help but come on your big day now could I?" Silver said lumbering over the window sill and stepping down into the room.

Morph immediately floated up to him and rubbed himself along Silver's chin, "Silver, Silver, Silver," He repeated in increasing pitch

"Morphy I was wonderin' how's ya were gettin' along." Silver said tickling what could only be described as Morph's chin, "Look at you you've been growin bigger!"

"Bigger, bigger, bigger!" Morph repeated in a near-shout

"SHHH!" Jim said and listened but it seemed like Ben had dropped something in the kitchen and was making quite the racket.

"Silver you can't be here!" Jim said as his heart secretly jumped with joy

"And why not if it weren't for my quick tinkin' boy this'd still be a small business. Is this the tanks I get?" Silver said smiling and opening his arms wide.

Jim bit his lip and glowered at Silver for a second before giving him a hug. Silver then held him out and looked over the outfit.

"I see ya'r all primmed and propped to become a spacer right and proper. I'm proud of you Jim I am!" Silver said and it meant more to Jim than the entire world at that moment.

"Well I best be off, this old hardware is a magnet for attention ya know." Silver said turning towards the window. As he did a small blackened object fell to the ground and right to Jim's feet.

Jim bent down and lifted it up as Silver stopped in his tracks.

"What is this?" Jim asked as he picked it up and rubbed the soot off of the orb. A familiar golden gleam shone off the surface that was laced with lines and circles. A flood of memories hit Jim all at once of Treasure Planet and his adventures there, "Why do you have flint's key? And where did you get it?"

Silver put his head up and smiled before turning around, "What? This old ting? I've had it fer a while never you mind." He said opening his hand to receive the orb

Jim held it and looked angrily towards Silver, he knew Silver was lying. Silver slowly put his hand behind his neck and yawned a little.

"Fine if you must know I went lookin for this ting shortly after we returned from Flints accursed planet and after... acquirin some help I found it. That's all it'tis I assure you Jim."

"Why would you want it?" Jim said turning it over in his hands

Silver grabbed it quickly and put it in his deep pockets, "Nottin' much just a treasure that'd put Flint's trove to shame..." He said nearly under his breath

"Wait! Put the 'loot of a tousand worlds' to shame. I don't believe you." Jim said turning away

"Have you ever heard of the Grove of Life?" Silver said stopping Jim in his tracks

"The planet where all life began?" Jim inquired

"That's the one. Flint was lookin for it to the day he died. It's said there's a spring there that can give a man eternal life."

"The fountain of life." Jim said slowly turning around

"Exactly! Near his deat Flint was said to have found a clue to where it was hidden and..."

"I KNEW IT!" Jim shouted, "You didn't come here to see me you wanted me to open this thing and see if the clue was there!"

"Well I..." Silver started

"No! You're just like my Dad alright you care nothing for me you just want to get what you can and get out." Jim stated and Silver grabbed him and shook him

"JIM!" He said angrily, "Now hear me I have traveled across the galaxy for the soul purpose of showing you this ball, Look at Me! I wouldn't have done dat to get you to open it and leave..." Silver said backing off a ways and pulled out the orb,

"What'd'ya say Jimbo? Would ya like to go on another adventure?"

Thanks for reading everyone I know it's been a while since last I wrote and I appologize I am in a different state now and am working long hours every day so the time I have to write is limited but I felt that my writing ability was getting lost so I decided to start up another story. I hope you all like it as it goes on and remember feedback is vital to me so don't shy away from telling me what you think. Next, Meet the Crew First Mate Hawkins!