"We're all clear, Capteen!" Fung heard the lookout call, Amelia nodding to Mr. Arrow for the signal

"All hands to stations!" He bellowed, causing the crew to rush to their positions, while Fung and Jim walked around the deck together.

"Loose all solar sails!"

Fung gazed upward in awe as the sails came down, glinting in the sunlight, charging up solar energy for the engines.

Hmm, not bad, cool ship, the croc thought, knocking against the wood near the walls of the ship. It felt sturdy enough. But he had a question.

"Jim, buddy, if we're going into space with no spacesuits, how are we able to breath?" He asked in concern. But Jim put a assuring hand on his shoulder.

"It's fine, the ship has a protective shield that provides its crew members with oxygen," he explained, and the croc sighed a little in relief. That was comforting.

They got too close to a crew member who bumped into the two of them.

"Come on!" He growled, and Fung bared his teeth. "Yeah, same to you too!" He snapped back, moving back out of the way with Jim.

Then the ship began to rise, and Fung gasped as the gravity wore off, finding himself and everybody else floating, until Amelia ordered the artificial gravity turned back on. In just two seconds, Jim landed on all fours, but Fung collapsed in a heap.

"Ugh, darn it my back," he grunted, wincing as his back was strained, and cracked. Jim chuckled, helping his friend to his feet.

"Thanks," he muttered, his friend nodding. The Legacy took to the air, Fung nearly falling on his back again, but managed to steady himself this time, eyes rounding at the miles and miles of space to explore in front of them. He was totally ready for this!

"Hey, Fung! Up here!" Jim called down, and the croc turned to see Jim up in the shrouds, the wind blowing in his hair. Grinning, Fung climbed up after him, and the two of them just gazed out into the stars together. Fung shut his eyes, happiness soaring through him. He felt free up here, free from his struggles, family drama, etc. It was like he could stay up here forever.

Jim nudged his arm, and opening his eyes, Fung's mouth fell open at the sight of space whales soaring past them.

B-but, how can it be possible? He gaped, as one whale came close to them, giving a mournful cry.

Delbert was just as excited, pulling out a camera. "Upon my word, an Orcus Galacticus! Smile!"

One whale rolled its eyes, as Amelia called out a warning, but too late as the whale squirted Delbert with a gooey liquid from its blowhole. But he was able to snap the photo. Fung chuckled at the sight.

Jim and Fung continued to enjoy themselves, Jim showing Fung the different constellations, until they heard Silver.

"Jimbo! Fungy!"

Now what? The croc thought, turning around to face Silver, holding something behind his back.

"I got some friends I'd like yeh two ter meet," Sulver called, smiling. The two looked around for them, until a bucket hit Fung in the face, falling to the floor, making him growl. It was Silver who threw it.

"Say hello to Mr. Mop and Mrs. Bucket! And croc, climb down from there, yeh dropped Mrs. Bucket!" Silver said, chortling again. Fung grumbled under his breath, climbing down and picking up the bucket and mop.

Yippee, mopping, he thought miserably, staring down at the mop in his hands, as they began working.

Fung and Jim both did their best to enjoy their work, but deep down, they really didn't enjoy it. Jim grumbled under his breath. "Yeah, got your 'Mr. Mop'," he grumbled, slapping the mop down in frustration. Fung leaned on his.

"I'm sure this won't last long, pretty sure we will soon get better jobs—hey!" He snapped, as the big armed crew member shoved him.

"Watch it, reptile twerp!" He growled, going on his way as Fung glared hard back up at him, while Jim helped him up.

"Jerk," muttered Fung, rubbing his arm, before he and Jim noticed some other crew members muttering under their breaths, but the duo could hear them.

The members spotted Jim and Fung watching and stopped talking, putting on an not doing anything act.

"What are you two looking at, weirdos?" Asked one alien, and to the friend's disgust, the head of the alien walked off it's shoulders, revealing a face in his chest.

"Yeah, weirdos," the face said, talking like it spoke through its nose.

Fung shuddered a little before turning away, not wanting to see anymore, until a strange hissing noise came from above.

This shouldn't be good... Fung thought fearfully, glancing upward, to see the ugliest character in his life: a red and black spider alien crawling down to them.

The spider alien hissed at the duo. "Cabin boysss and reptilesss should learn how to mind their own buisnessss..."

Jim smirked. "Why, got something to hide, Bright Eyes?" He mocked. Fung flinched. "Uh, Jim—." He started as the spider picked Jim up by his collar.

"Maybe your ears don't work ssso welll..." snarled the spider, and Jim grimaced. Judging the bad smell, Fung figured it was the spider's breath.

"Yeah, uh, too bad my nose works just fine!" He snapped, ticking off the spider.

"Why, you impudent little—!" Snarled the spider, thrusting Jim up against the mast. A rush of anger flooded Fung, starting to dislike this bug enormously, hands balling into fists.

"Hey, creepy insect guy! Let my friend go!" He growled, stomping his foot. But he ignored Fung, pressing Jim against the mast.

Fung wouldn't stand for this bullying, as he let out a dangerous growl, swiping his tail, and knocking the spider away from his friend, and dropping him.

The spider struggled to his feet, eyes flashing dangerously, while Fung stood near Jim protectively, ready to defend him.

"You sshouldn't have got in the way," hissed the spider.

"Nobody hurts my friend without getting through me, creep!" Fung spat back in retaliation. Snarling, the spider charged, swiping his claws. Fung tried to get out of the way, but yelped as pain on his cheek came from the spider's claws. He held his hand to his face, to try and stop the bleeding.

This was enough for the spider to make his move, grabbing Fung by his throat, and pressing him hard against the mast, while two other pirates held Jim away, while he squirmed in their grip. The rest of the crew cheered it on, obviously looking for a good brawl.

"Stop it! Don't hurt Fung!" Jim yelled, kicking, while Fung grunted painfully as the spider gripped his throat in a choking hold, smiling sinisterly. The croc struggled fitfully in his tight grip, unable to bite his arm or anything, letting out small pain filled squeaks, air supply running low.

A talon began to dig into his chin. "Any lasst wordss, reptile?" Sneered the spider, squeezing even harder so that the croc was unable to make any kind of words whatsoever.

Fung slowly felt his vision darkening. He continued to whimper from pain, thoughts of never seeing his family or Jim again flooding his mind, until the spider cried out, for somebody took hold of the spider's claw. It was Silver.

"Mr. Scroop, yeh ever see what happens to a fresh purp when yeh squeeze em real tight?" He asked, twisting Scroop's right claw tight in his metal hand. He cried out in pain, dropping Fung, who trembled, taking in the much needed air and rubbing his tender throat.

Jim broke away from the alien, running up to his hurt friend, and stared at the gash on Fung's cheek, that could become a scar. Fung touched his hand to the scar, pulling it back after wincing.

"H-how bad is it?" He croaked, struggling to get up, Jim supporting him.

"You need first aid," Jim truthfully said, after Mr. Arrow took care of the crew. Scroop turned his head towards Fung, smirking at the scar he made. But Fung just ignored his new rival, as Silver approached the two.

"Jimbo, Fung, I gave yeh two a job!" He snapped, holding up the mop. Jim glared, still supporting Fung. "Hey, we were doing it until that bug thing—!"

"Belay— oh, that don't look too good, Fung," Silver said, noticing his scars. Fung tried hiding it.

"It ain't - gah - nothin'," he mumbled, wincing again as he accidentally touched it. Silver grabbed his arm, pulling it away, and saw the bleeding gash there. Morph whimpered in concern.

"No lying to me, lad, you need to get that cleaned up before you keep working," Silver said, dragging Fung along with him down to the restrooms where the first aid was. He cleaned Fung up as best he could, covered up the scratch with bandages, and brought him back out, where Jim was waiting, and he left the two to keep working, Morph watching over them with over large eyes.

Fung couldn't talk for a while, silently mopping the deck, face still a little sore after the spider skirmish. Jim cleared his throat. "So, how's your face?" He asked awkwardly in concern. The croc turned around, putting on a brave smile.

"Like I said, bud, this is nothing like other scars and bruises I received in my early bandit years, should stop stinging after a day or two," he stated confidently.

Jim nodded before speaking again. "Uh, guess I should say thank you, nobody really stood up for me like that ever since my dad left," he said.

"Well, I couldn't let him hurt you, we're still friends, right?" Fung asked, holding out his hand. Jim took it, smiling back.

Meanwhile... below deck...

The other crew members were sitting in what looked like a meeting, Silver walking toward them.

"So, we all here then?" He asked, before Onus joined them at the last minute.

"Fine, now pardon my plain speakin', but are yeh all stark ravin totally blinking daft?!" Silver bellowed, swinging his sword, scaring everyone.

"After all my fanglin' by getting us hired as an upstanding crew, yeh want to blow the whole mutiny before it is time?" He snarled at Scroop.

The spider bared his fangs. "The boy was snooping about, and his no good reptile friend stepped in the way!"

Silver glared. "Yeh just stick to the plan, ya bug brained twit! And as for those two, I'll be running them so ragged they won't have time teh think..."

Scroop left after the meeting, his devil yellow eyes watching Fung from afar, hissing silently at him. Sooner or later, he will have his revenge on that croc, mark his words...

....

It was round nighttime and the two friends were still at it, but Morph was nice enough to pitch in as a little mop. He turned back into his normal form, and coughed out bubbles, making them chuckle.

Jim leaned on his mop. "Well, this had been a fun day, huh? Making new friends, like that spider psycho." He said, making motions with his fingers, as Fung nodded. "Yeah, he was courteous enough to try and choke me," he said in a mocking manner. Morph turned into a miniature version of Scroop.

"Spider psycho! Spider psycho!" He squeaked, copying Jim's words, and Fung chuckled, smirking. "Little uglier, buddy!"

Morph thought for a minute, then let loose a funny maniacal laugh, making Scroop's eyes pop out. "Pretty close," Jim complimented, while Morph smiled as a comically evil Scroop.

Silver came up, dumping out the trash over the side. "Thank heaven for little miracles. Up here for an hour and the deck's still in one piece!"

Fung gripped his mop tight, realizing he never thanked the cyborg. "Uh, guy, just wanna say thank you for saving my skin, thought I was done for," he mumbled awkwardly. Silver shrugged in his direction before joining them.

"Didn't yer papas ever teach you to pick your fights a bit more carefully?" He asked, and Fung felt his heart burn, eyes shutting as he saw a memory of his father, too busy on his stupid clay warriors to notice a small little child tugging on the sleeve of his shirt, to spend time with his only son...

Jim had also looked away, and Silver then knew. "Ohh, yer fathers not the teachin sort?" Jim shook his head. "No, he's more of the taking off and never coming back sort," he grumbled.

"And mine's the too busy with his failing plans to conquer China to spend time with me sort," said Fung in a soft voice, leaning over the side of the ship, small tears threatening to come again.

Silver felt his heart going out for the two, not being able to have a proper family could be a burden. "Sorry, lads," he murmured.

The two shrugged. "Hey," said Jim. "No big deal, we're doing alright."

"Is that so? Well, since the Cap's put you two in my charge, I shall have to pound a few skills into those thick heads of yers to keep you two out of trouble!" He said, tapping Jim on the forehead, while Fung ducked.

He was astounded. Was he serious?!

"From now on, I'm not letting yeh two out of me sight!" Silver announced, smirking. Fung and Jim both glowered back.

"You can't—!" Jim started before being interrupted.

"Yeh two won't so much as eat, sleep, or scratch yer bums without my say so!"

Fung growled. "Well then, don't do us any favors, guy!"

Silver laid a hand on their shoulders. "Oh, you can be sure of that, Jimbo and Fung! You can be sure of that!"

The croc now dreaded what kind of tasks Silver had in mind for them.