Prologue BELFAST IRELAND APRIL 2096

The following story is true. I was there, and I remember it. The tale of The Olympian Sisters has been told time and again on the tongues of men. But it's never been told from the sisters themselves, not 'till now.

The Olympian Sisters story is one of betrayal, trust and learning to trust again. I remember everything….

BELFAST IRELAND 2012

The harbor was silent, not an owl hooted or a baby cried. A ship stood alone, anchored in the center of the harbor. She wasn't solid iron and steel but she wasn't a ghost either.

Her form shimmered with starlight and rippled like waves. She had a night black hull and red keel. A golden stripe ran along her side, just below her white superstructure. She had 4 evenly spaced black and buff funnels and 2 masts connected by wireless. Her clean, unbroken elegant lines ended in a lovely 18th century stern. Her crimson eyes were on the little girl beside her, who was eyeing her in wonder.

The calm waters splashed suddenly and the ship raised her head and looked around. "Who's there?" She called. "Relax Titanic, it's only us." Came the reply as Titanic's two sisters, Olympic and Britannic shimmered into view.

"After 100 years." Britannic murmured. "We're back where it all began."

Olympic looked down at the human, who was now gazing at Olympic and Britannic with open mouthed wonder. "So she's the one?" Olympic asked her sister.

Titanic nodded. "I am certain of it." She replied confidently. Olympic still looked uncertain but Britannic looked curious.

"What is your name, human?" She asked gently. The human girl turned her head to stare at Britannic. "Arianna Pax Baxter." She replied. Titanic grunted.

"You aren't related to the actress that sailed on me, are you?" She asked. Arianna shrugged. "I don't know. My parents just said I have a gift that ran in the family although they never said why."

It was Olympic's turn to be curious. "And what is your gift?" She asked. "I can talk to ships." Arianna answered. "Any kind in particular?" Britannic asked.

"All sorts." Arianna breathed. "Sailing ships, they're very polite. Naval ships, they're kind of rough around the edges but they're ok, I guess. Cruise ships are generally pretty busy so they don't stop and talk much. I did speak to Queen Mary. She's really nice once you get to know her." Olympic laughed.

"Yes, she can be at times." She said. Titanic now asked a question. "And do you speak English when you converse or do you talk in another language." She was curious as to whether or not Arianna knew she was talking in another language.

Arianna rolled her eyes. "Well of course I talk in another language. You can't expect ships to talk in English without a human medium now can you?" She snapped.

The three sisters exchanged glances. "Do you doubt me now?" Titanic asked of Olympic. "I never doubted you, sis." Olympic replied.

"You really think she's the one, Titanic?" Britannic asked. Titanic glared at her sister and in a voice dripping with sarcasm, said "No, I think she's a fraud and we should throw her in the drink. OF COURSE I THINK SHE'S THE ONE!" Britannic backed away.

"Ok, ok. I was just asking. There's no need to be rude." She snapped. "Enough." Olympic ordered as Titanic opened her mouth to reply.

Turning to Arianna, she said "Do you think you can keep a secret?" She asked. Arianna nodded and grinned. "Yes." She said eagerly.

Olympic nodded "Then you come back tomorrow night and we'll tell you." Arianna nodded.

"Yes Olympic." She said and rowed off towards the shore.

Olympic watched her go. "Feeling nostalgic, sis?" Titanic teased. "No." Olympic replied. "Why do you ask?"

Titanic just shrugged. "Oh, come on. You've got to admit it." Olympic frowned. "Admit what?" She asked.

"Do you know who she reminds me of?" Titanic asked. "No, who?" Olympic replied. "Us, when we were young." She replied.

"Ha!" Olympic laughed. "You, you mean. I was never that annoying." Titanic glared at Olympic. "You think I was annoying?" She asked. Britannic joined in. "Let's see, you snored louder than a freight train, you very nearly got thrown in the drink on your first day, and you managed to annoy Bruce in 5 minutes." She said.

Titanic's eyes narrowed. "You make it sound worse than it really was, Britannic." She growled. "No, I make it sound better." Britannic replied.

"You think that was funny?" Titanic snapped as Olympic burst out laughing. "Well, uh yeah!" Britannic replied.

"That's it!" Titanic yowled and lunged playfully at Britannic. Britannic dodged nimbly to one side and splashed Titanic with water as she went by.

Titanic landed, turned and leaped again, knocking Britannic down on her side and rising up again with her on her back. "Say uncle!" She said. "Say it!"

Laughing, Britannic replied. "Alright, alright. Uncle." Titanic set Britannic down gently.

Still laughing, Olympic maneuvered in between the two ships before they could start up again. "Ok, ok you two break it up." She said.

Titanic groaned. "Ah, come on Olympic. Don't you get tired of being a wet whale all the time?" She asked.

Olympic narrowed her eyes. "What'd you call me?!" She asked. "Wet whale! Wet whale! Wet whale!" Titanic chanted, beginning to dance in a circle around Olympic. Britannic now joined in.

The 2 sisters chanted and sang around Olympic "Wet whale, wet whale, wet whale!"

"Wet whale this!" Olympic yowled and lunged at Titanic. She yelped as Olympic smashed into her.

Fortunately, Britannic came up from behind and nudged Olympic off Titanic where she landed on her back in the water. She righted herself, popping up gasping, her amber eyes blazing. "Ooh! I'll get you for that!" She yowled and lunged at Britannic.

Britannic dodged aside as Olympic landed beside her, dousing her with water. "Who's the wet whale now?" She teased. Britannic laughed. "I am." She said.

"That's right!" Olympic said and splashed her again. Titanic splashed her own wave at Olympic. Laughing, Olympic ducked as the water sailed over her and onto Britannic, dousing her. "Titanic!" She exclaimed. "Sorry!" Titanic laughed. "I missed."

Splashing and yelling, ducking and rolling the 3 sisters played like only sisters can play.

The next night, Arianna was back. "So what's this big secret?" She asked. "First tell us how you discovered your gift." Olympic replied.

Arianna shrugged. "It was when I was on Queen Mary." She began. "I was in the lunch room or it was lunch time, around noon. And I was looking at my menu, I couldn't decide between a cheese sandwich and a cheese burger. I was all for American delicacies when I was over there. And I just couldn't decide what I wanted when I heard this voice whispering in my ear. 'I'd go for the cheese burger if I were you. They are quite the American delicacy.' I nearly jumped out of my seat. I turned to my mom 'Did you say anything?' I asked. 'No' she replied, looking confused. 'Then, who said that?' I asked. 'You're sitting in one of my chairs and eating in my lunchroom.' The voice replied. I glanced around. 'Queen Mary?' I asked. 'Of course.'

She replied. 'You can talk?' I said, surprised. 'Well, uh duh!' She said. 'How, how can I understand you?' I stammered. 'You have a gift that not many people have. Someone in your family bloodline had learned our language in the past. And it has been in your blood ever since.' My mother looked at me. 'What's Mss. Mary saying?' She asked. 'You knew?' I asked. 'Knew? Of course I knew. You're father and his strange language. I didn't understand it at all until he told me about it.'

"'That's Queen Mary to you, miss.' The ship growled. 'She says she prefers to be called Queen Mary.' My mother rolled her eyes. 'I expected nothing less of a Cunard ship.' She said. 'Now what's that supposed to mean you…' She called my mother something that made me exclaim 'Mary!' My mother frowned. 'What's she saying now?' Beneath us, Queen Mary grumbled. 'I am not going to translate that.' I muttered.

"Mary grumbled again. 'Mary, I'm about to wash your bow out with ambergris if you don't watch your language.' I growled in both Shiptongue and English. 'That bad, huh?' My mother asked. 'With the cussing removed, she's telling you to watch what you say about Cunard around her.' A stewardess came over. 'You ready to order?' She asked kindly. We did order. My mom got a cheese sandwich and I got a cheese burger (much to Queen Mary's delight). Soon it was time for us to go. 'Come back soon!' She called to us. 'I will." I replied. 'And I'll tell the other Cunard ships you said hello.' 'But I didn't say hello.' She complained. 'But they don't know that.' I countered. 'Humans.' Mary muttered behind me." Arianna finished her story.

"So that's how I learned I had the gift. As soon as I could, I began to test it out. Word soon got around that I could talk to ships and they were flocking every waterway just to see me. I was talking so much in Shiptongue that I forgot my English sometimes." She said.

Olympic smiled. "I'd forgotten how rude Queenie could be when she's steamed." She said. "She called my mother a…." Arianna said something that made the 3 sisters wince. "She used to use that word a lot, especially around me." Olympic said. "Then why didn't you shove some ambergris down her bow?" Titanic asked. "Language like that, I'm surprised nobody did!" Britannic added.

Olympic glared at Titanic. "Well, you're one to talk. You were quite the flotsam mouth yourself." Titanic laughed. "Yeah, I guess I was." She admitted.

Turning to Arianna, she said. "So you've told us your story, now let us tell you ours." Arianna grinned. "Can I hear it all?" She asked eagerly. Britannic laughed. "Yes, but not tonight. Oh we'll start it." She added, seeing the look on Arianna's face. "But it's too long to hear in one night." Arianna nodded and settled down to listen.

"You should listen closely young one." Olympic instructed. "For in the swells of the past lie the waves of the future."

BELFAST IRELAND APRIL 2096

So these then, are The Olympian Sisters. Olympic, Strong and Brave. Titanic, Fierce and Loyal. Britannic, Clever and Swift. Three sisters, three ships, three lives. This is their story.