Chapter 3 - The R.L.S. Legacy and the Captain

After we did all of the prep, which I helped in thanks to my nautical know how and seeing how ships are like those from the 16th century, we made it onto a ferry leading us to Crescentia Spaceport. It landed on a port and we walked out to see so many different aliens in all different shapes and sizes. My brain is practically exploding. I walked next to Jim and we both took in the sight.

"Jim, Charles, wait for me." Delbert called out to us from the ferry since he's having difficulties with this weird suit he bought.

"Where did he get the suit from again?" I asked Jim in annoyance. He chuckled.

"A two headed sales woman." Jim answered. I shrugged my shoulders at this.

"Alright, I'll go see where the ship is while you deal with Delbert, alright?" I told Jim and he nodded. I walked my way through the spaceport to see if I could find the ship on my own but I gave up quickly as I'm new here.

I found myself on the other side of the port and saw this one robot standing by a post that provided directions to places in the port.

"Excuse me, do you know where the ship, the R.L.S. Legacy is docked?" I kindly asked the robot and he pointed to a direction.

"The second berth on your right, you'll see it." He said to me in a breathy voice.

"Thank you, sir." I said to him as I turned around to see Jim and Delbert walk up to me. Delbert was wearing the most absurd thing I've seen so far.

We were walking in the direction of where the robot told me the ship was and Delbert was complaining about his suit. Geez, can he just stop with the complaining? Anyway, we walked for a bit but I stopped when I got to the berth as I laid my eyes on a marvel in naval tech, to me anyway. Jim and Delbert stopped next to me and Delbert spoke up.

"Oh, Jim, Charles this is our ship. The R.L.S. Legacy." He proclaimed as he gestured to the ship. This had to be the most beautiful ship I've ever seen. She looked 70% 16th century and 30% advanced with engines on the rear of the ship and sails looking like they're made for some other purpose aside from the wind.

"Wow…." I said as I walked up to the ship. When I got on board, I looked at the crew and it's definitely colourful, but also suspicious. I'll need to keep my eyes on them. Jim was walking up behind me and looked at the sails but didn't pay attention to where he was walking.

"How cool is this?" He said out loud but then he stepped on this slug like alien. Jim tried to apologise but was interrupted as the alien was letting out sounds of farts and other crude sounds. I was taken aback.

"Allow me to handle this." Delbert said and then he let out some crude noises as well which seems to make the alien laugh. What?

"I'm fluent in Flatula. Took 2 years of it in high school." Delbert told me and Jim. Seriously. This galaxy is really weird.

We follow Delbert and we meet with this tall and buff alien who looks like a rock man. He's wearing a red hat and jacket and the rest of his uniform seems to light grey and white. He doesn't seem to be the captain as he's telling the crew to maintain themselves, he must be the First Officer.

"Excuse me, sir. Do you know where the captain is?" I asked who I assume is the First Officer and he turned to face us.

"Oh not to worry, the captain's aloft." He said to us and pointed upwards on the ship. I looked at the direction and to my surprise, I saw a woman traverse from the yardarm to the mast and then jumped to a rope and somersaulted and landed perfectly on her feet.

I was speechless. The captain was a humanoid feline with shoulder length red hair folded behind her ears. She had beige coloured skin and fur and she had emerald green eyes with cat-like slits in her pupils. She wore a dark blue jacket that reached to her legs in the back and had gold trimmings and pads on her shoulders. Thigh high boots with elbow high gloves and wore a roll up shirt underneath.

She was beautiful, I was so transfixed on her that I snapped out of it when Delbert's helmet shut.

"Mr. Arrow, I've checked this miserable ship from stem to stern and as usual it's spot on. Can you get nothing wrong?" The captain said with so much wit. I found myself smirking at this. She seems to be perfect so far. Mr. Arrow lifts his hat off and smiles at her.

"You flatter me, captain." Arrow said with pure modesty. It seems these two have worked with each other for a long time and have great chemistry. She then turned and was greeted face to face with Delbert in his suit and I can see in her eyes that she's going to poke fun at him.

"Ah, Doctor Doppler I presume?" She said. I didn't even properly hear his response as the visor muffled his voice.

"Hello,can you hear me?" She asked him while knocking on his helmet which made me chuckle. Delbert was annoyed and tried to take the helmet off but the captain took a try since she seems to know what to do.

"If I may Doctor, this works so much better if it's right way up and plugged in." She explained as she did what she's saying and it seemed to have worked as Delbert was able to take the helmet off now.

"If you don't mind, I can manage my own plugging." Delbert rudely said to her wagging the plug in front of her. Seriously? You're disrespecting a captain here. But she didn't seem phased and shook his hand aggressively.

"I'm Captain Amelia. Had a few late run-ins with the Procyon Armada; nasty business but I won't bore you with my scars." Amelia said in a rapid fire manner. To some, this might be boasting, but to me, she's just showing how much of a capable captain she is.

"You've met my First Officer, Mr. Arrow. Sterling, tough, dependable, brave and true." Amelia added. And this made Arrow look as though he was going to blush.

"Captain, please…." Arrow said.

"Oh, shut up Arrow, you know I don't mean a word of it." Amelia playfully jokes. I smirked yet again. Delbert was annoyed and cleared his throat.

"Excuse me, I hate to interrupt this lovely banter, but may I introduce you to Jim Hawkins and Charles Edwards." Delbert rudely said. Jim just nodded to Amelia but I took a step forward and put my hand out for a handshake.

"Hello, Captain, it's a privilege to meet you, ma'am." I said in a kind and respectful manner and she looked surprised by this. I think it's because she didn't expect this from me given the clothes that I'm wearing. She took my hand and shook it firm yet gently with a smile on her face.

"The same to you Mr. Edwards." Amelia said gently.

"Charles here is the man who found the tre-" Delbert butted in and I knew if he mentioned the treasure map in front of this crew, it would cause something so I very quickly covered his mouth up.

"Doctor…." I warned him and then I looked around at the crew and they all looked at me. I glared at them darkly and they resumed their duties. Jim looked confused, so did Delbert but Amelia still had that smile on her face and a raised eyebrow. I took my hand off and cleaned my hand with a handkerchief I was given to by Sarah before we left.

"I do apologize, Captain." I said and she shook her head, smirking.

"No need, Mr. Edwards. Doctor, I'd like to have a word with you in my Stateroom." She said and we all followed her to the Stateroom and it was pristine and proper. Arrow stood by the table with his hands behind his back. Jim, Delbert and I stood by it by the other end and I myself had my hands behind my back. Amelia shut the door and locked it to maintain privacy from the crew.

"Doctor." Amelia addressed blankly.

"To mule and blabber about a treasure map, in front of this particular crew, demonstrates a level of ineptitude that borders on the imbecilic. Mr. Edwards here clearly understood that, and I mean that in a caring way." Amelia said. I blushed a bit at the bit of praise she gave me but Delbert was clearly offended by her comments.

"Imbecilic, did you say?" Delbert asked aghast.

"Foolishness, I've got-" Delbert said but was interrupted by Amelia.

"May I see the map, please?" Amelia said, but it wasn't a question from how she said it. I instantly took the map out of my pocket, stepped forward and handed it to her.

"Here, ma'am." I said in the most pleasant way to try to play her game of wits and she smirked seeing what I'm doing. She then examined the map and her pupils changed from slits to looking human. She looked adorable just from that.

"Hmmm, fascinating." She muttered and then she turned to the cabinet while looking over her shoulder towards Jim who was being unruly.

"Mr Hawkins, in the future you will address me as Captain or ma'am like Mr. Edwards. Is that clear?" Amelia said as she placed the map in a chest in a cabinet. Jim just rolled his eyes at the request. Urgh….

"Mr Hawkins?" Amelia said in a tone that hints at a warning.

"Yes, ma'am." Jim muttered. Amelia looked satisfied.

"That'll do." She muttered as she locked the cabinet with a key.

"Gentlemen, this must be kept under lock and key when not in use." Amelia stated and I nodded in agreement since that thing has caused nothing but trouble since I got involved. She then noticed that Delbert wasn't paying much attention and so Amelia addressed him.

"And Doctor, again with the greatest possible respect. Zip your howling screamer." She said right in front of his face so that he can't ignore her, good move.

"Captain, I assure you I-" Delbert said but got interrupted by Amelia as she sat at her desk.

"Let me make this…. as monosyllabic as possible. I don't much care for this crew you hired. They're…." She said and paused at the end as though she's trying to remember something she said.

"How did I describe them, Arrow? I said something rather good this morning before coffee." She said to Arrow.

"A ludicrous parcel drivelling galoots, ma'am." The First Officer said which made Amelia smile in such a way that I loved. Then I noticed Delbert's face and he didn't look amused.

"There you go, poetry." Amelia told Delbert with sarcasm.

"Now, see here…." Delbert exclaimed as he slammed his hands on the desk, bad move mate. And Amelia decided that she now has enough with him and looked at him with hidden anger.

"Doctor, I'd love to chat, tea, cake, the whole shebang, but I have a ship to run and you've got your outfit to buff up." She said in an ice cold tone that even gave me a chill. She then stood up proper.

"Mr. Arrow, please escort these two neophytes down to the galley straightaway. Young Hawkins will be working for our cook, Mr. Silver." She said. How come I wasn't mentioned. But upon hearing Mr. Silver, I had a chill up my spine since I know he's a pirate and will cause a mutiny eventually.

"What? The cook?" Jim asked as though he was asked to stay on the plank.

"What about me, ma'am?" I asked her and she looked at me up and down truly amazed and I noticed her cheeks were in a darker shade, is she blushing?

"For now, I want you to stick with Mr. Arrow until I find a suitable job for you." Amelia said with very subtle hints of dreaminess in her voice that only I noticed.

"Aye, Captain." I said and then we all left Amelia in her Stateroom and headed to the galley.

Amelia's POV

I can't believe it. Mr. Edwards seems to be perfect for me. He clearly knows the chain of command, he knows his place and he shows respect to me. And he is pretty handsome. Whoa…. Hold on, woman, you can't think like that. Anyway, I think I might know what job he's perfect for.