Chapter 3

Jim watched in horror as they drug the captain downstairs after many hours of entertainment. Jack saw that he had many scratches and scars and he looked exhausted.

"W-What happened?" Jim asked, now trying to ease over as far as his chains would go.

"I am well, Jim; do not be concerned," he said, now aching a bit.

"It was awful, Jim!" BEN said, now stumbling down the stairs, but trying to be careful. "They hit him and they kicked him! It's awful!"

"Those creeps! I hope they pay for this," Jim growled out.

"What do we need to do?" BEN asked as Morph was trying to make sure the captain was okay.

"We need to…," Claude paused as his ears perked up. "Hold…someone is coming."

And he was right. After a few minutes, he paused and Silver came downstairs and he had a serious look on his face.

"Silver? What are…," Jim's mouth dropped open because he realized what Silver was doing. He was unlocking their chains.

"Now look here…ye and ye spies need to get out of here," Silver said, motioning to BEN who was hiding behind a barrel. He then gave Morph a sad, but happy grin. "Missed ya, Morphy."

Morph nodded by flying over and nuzzling against Silver's cheek. The cyborg gave him a gentle nuzzle back but then turned serious.

"Go when it's late and th' crew is sleep," Silver said, now unlocking the last chain.

"Why are you helping us?" Claude asked, not losing eye contact with the pirate captain.

"Because ye have Jim in here! Jim could get hurt with them upstairs! I don't wanna risk it and I found out how to fly this ship so I no longer need ye help," Long John Silver said.

"But what about the police force? They'll be after you and I'm sure they are on their way," Jim said.

"I know, Jimbo, but the treasure that we need is way on the opposite side of the galaxy and we will just have to take that risk," Silver said.

"Listen. If you halt this now, I can guarantee leniency from the courts," Claude said, now standing and massaging his wrists as the chains fell off.

"I can't do that, cap'en. Just take care of Jim. Since he likes ya so much, ye may be the one that helps him through this," Silver said. His ear began to perk up and then he looked into the distance.

"They are coming. You all will need to leave out as soon as possible," he said, now looking into the distance.

"Silver, you could be killed," Jim said, now walking over to the large being. Silver gave him a sad smile.

"Jim…this fortune is important. You know that. Be good boy," Silver said, now looking at Claude. "Take care of Jimbo. He's already lightin' up the stars."

And with that, the large cyborg turned and walked up the stairs and went back to his crew. Jim turned to Claude, who knew what Jim was feeling.

"It will be fine. We will make our escape tonight." Claude replied.

But if only it was that easy.

Two hours later…

Claude and Jim slowly walked upstairs and began to look around. Claude was very alert and ready to protect Jim and his friends at all costs.

"Now what do we do?" Jim asked.

"Head to the escape pods." Claude said, now pointing to a nearby one. "I know that the guards of the city have already begun to chase this ship and it is only a matter of time."

"I don't want Silver to be killed," Jim said in concern.

"I know that, Jim, but we need to make sure we survive this first," Claude said, now leading them towards the escape pods. As they slowly tip-toed across the deck, BEN and Morph followed behind them. But as they continued to walk, BEN tripped over a rusty bucket and mop, thus alerting the pirates.

"ESCAPE!" A pirate shouted, now sleepily shouting to the others and waking them up.

"Run for it," Claude said, now shoving them to run faster. You didn't have to tell BEN or the others that; they took off for their lives. Silver watched them worriedly, but tried to hide his concern from the other pirates. Jim kicked a nearby pirate in the face and managed to shove another from the door of the escape pod. But he froze.

"I don't wanna leave Silver," He thought to himself, now turning and facing the pirate.

"Jim! Stop stalling!" Claude bellowed.

"But…," Jim said, now seeing Silver give him a saddened look.

"Run for it, Jimbo…go!" Silver mouthed to him. Jim then sadly nodded back.

"Alright Silver…I GAH!" Jim shouted as Claude roughly pushed him into the pod and shut it tight with BEN and Morph already inside. Claude quickly pressed the controls and began to get the ship powered up. Jim could see the slight scowl he gave him and then turned to keep the rampaging pirates off the ship.

"Come on…work," Claude hissed as the escape pod began to malfunction.

"WE'RE DEAD!" BEN said in horror.

"Not yet we're not," Claude growled, now quickly steering the ship backwards. After a few seconds, the pod began to fly into space, with the ship in tow!

"We need to hurry…Silver can only keep up the 'chase' act for so long," BEN said. But then he stopped as the tension in the pod began to increase between Jim and Claude. After a few moments, Jim couldn't stand the silence and turned to the large commander.

"Claude, listen…,"

"No, you listen!" Claude demanded, now looking at Jim with angry eyes. "You need to make a decision right now…,"

"What?!" Jim asked.

"You know what I mean!" Claude thundered. "You froze back there!"

"I didn't mean to freeze!" Jim said. "I just….I DUNNO!"

"Listen to me! Silver is a criminal; we are being hunted through space and he is after us. He is going to be brought to trial when all of this is over. Jim, you need to make a decision on who's side you are going to be on," Claude said, now looking at him.

"What do you mean? I'm on your side," Jim said.

"Are you?" Claude asked, now looking at him seriously.

"Yes, I am," Jim said, now getting tensed up and frustrated.

"You said that you did care for Silver and I realize that. He obviously cares for you too. But you still need to decide who you are going to be for. I need to know if you are a cadet or pirate," Claude said seriously.

"I already told you who I am," Jim said angrily, now furrowing his brow.

"Then stop acting like a pirate! Your passion for that crook almost cost us our escape," Claude replied, now looking over his shoulder and his eyes were widening. The pirate ship was chasing them but much further in the distance, the city guards were chasing after them! It was definitely a wild chase!

As he turned back, he could see Jim was pondering what he said. Was he a real pirate or a cadet? Would he really help them over helping Silver? As Jim began to think more, he saw Claude give him a sympathetic look.

"Listen to me…we are almost to the jungle of the southern planet. We will stay there for the night," Claude said. Jim nodded and the others did as well.

A few hours later…

The small ship landed roughly among some gravel and rocks, but they needed to conserve gas and power if they were to escape the pirates. This was the only place to hide and find nourishment for the night.

"I will hunt for some meat; you all can find wood to start a low fire for warmth. Remember, don't make the fire too high or else the pirates can see it," Claude said, not making eye contact with Jim. Jim could tell the captain was now unsure about him and he wanted to make it right. It was true that Claude was wise and he saw straight through Jim; he could tell that Jim's hesitance could have indeed cost them their lives if he hadn't acted quickly.

As the large captain took off his coat and shirt, he unsheathed his claws more and began to move silently through the jungle. There was only one gun on the ship and he wanted to save that for major emergencies. There was wild alien boar in those woods and he was going to get them some for the night. He knew that Jim was watching, but he decided not to say anything yet. As a boar walked out, Claude let out a roar and pounced on it like a feral cat! The boar fought and struggled, but Claude bit into its neck and kept a firm grip. Jim was in awe of the captain's ability, but as he walked a little closer, he was knocked down by other feral boars! They beat him down and began to try and destroy him because they thought he was a predator too!

"JIM!" Claude shouted, now releasing the weak boar and running at the others. They were soon outnumbered, but Claude threw Jim over his shoulder and helped him up a nearby tree as the frustrated boars tried to jump up. The good thing was they decided to get up and leave after a few minutes. Once they were gone, Claude looked over and saw Jim's side was a bit cut up from a boar's tusks. "Come…let us go and clean that."

"Naw, I'm fine. Sorry I messed up your hunt," Jim said, trying to get down. But he gasped as Claude grasped his shoulder.

"Not so fast…," Claude said, now making the teen turn and look at him. "You are coming to the spring over there and we will clean you up."

"But…,"

"No buts!" He said, now leading the way down the tree and leading him towards the spring. Jim sighed and once they were down the tree and in the spring up to their upper thighs, Claude turned to him. "Take off your shirt and let me see."

"I can clean my own wounds," Jim said, now looking away.

"Listen…Jim, I know scolded you earlier, but that doesn't mean I don't care," Claude said in a somewhat soft manner. "Now come."

Jim let out a frustrated sigh and eased further into the water after he took off his shirt. Once he entered into the water, Claude examined the wound and then began to use some nearby leaves and powder from his belt to sanitize the wound. Jim groaned in appreciation and that made Claude smile.

"Now relax, cadet…you're fine," Claude said lowly, now massaging his shoulders.

"I thought you didn't think I was cadet. But honestly…you're right. I was conflicted and I didn't do what I needed to do," Jim said, now looking at the sky and shuddering. The pirate ships were looking for them.

"Be calm; the pirates won't find us in this area right now; we just need to stay hidden until the armed forces come and help us escape," Claude replied.

"Yeah…," Jim said, now letting out a groan as the captain got a knot in his shoulder. He then chuckled as Jim let out a giggle; he hit a tickle spot near his neck.

"It appears the hero of the galaxy has a weak spot," Claude smirked.

"I do not," Jim smirked, now looking at him over his shoulder. Claude was acting more and more like a father to him. Now the question was what was going to happen now? The pirates were gaining and they now had to hide until this galaxy chase was almost over! "But Claude…,"

"Yes, Jim?" Came the deep voice in response.

"You're right. I need to make a decision; a real decision…am I gonna become a captain one day or am I going to be a pirate…?" Jim said in concern. Claude only nodded in understanding.

"Only you can make that decision, Jim…," Claude responded, now helping to clean Jim's wound. He then smirked as he got a weak spot near Jim's neck again. Jim could only laugh and try to get away; maybe a bit of laughter this evening wouldn't be so bad.

guestsurprise's words: What now, guys? The Grand Finale is coming!

To guestsurprise: I think I speak for everyone when I say we can't wait to see. :)

To everyone else: Please leave guestsurprise a review, but no flames!

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