It was now or never to prove that Skyelar belonged on the crew of the Leviathan. They were to pick up one of the most well-known boffins around, Dr. Nora Barlow. She had dreamed of meeting the infamous granddaughter of Charles Darwin, the one who worked with many of the parrot-like creatures aboard the Leviathan. With all the extra gear she was about to bring aboard, it was clear that almost all the middies aboard the Leviathan at the present moment would soon all disappear.
Skyelar watched as Mr. Sharp descended to help gather the lady boffin`s things. She wished she could be down there to help; however, she needed to figure out what could stay and what could go. Skyelar was making her way down to the cargo bay when a message lizard popped out of one of the tubes.
"Miss West?" the creature said, sounding like the captain, he continued "Would you please make your way to help Mr. Sharp escort our guest aboard?" Skyelar's smile grew with anticipation. Her dream was to come true, to meet Dr. Barlow, not as a Princess for her to bow, but as a true Midshipman of the Leviathan.
"Right away, sir! End message." The lizard scurried off.
"I was promised an airman, and you appear to be in uniform" Skyelar heard the voice from across the zoo say. She heard a surprised response from Dylan.
"Oh, you're the boffin." Skyelar couldn't help but snicker. It was funny how none of the other middies even knew there was such a woman as Dr. Barlow. She hurried over to the two of them and bowed low to the boffin.
"Pardon me, Ma'am. I'm Midshipman Skyelar West and this is Midshipman Dylan Sharp. We are to escort you to the Leviathan along with any other belongings you possess." The lady boffin looked Skyelar up and down, sizing her up. She looked suspicious at her, but turned back to Mr. Sharp. She handed him the valise and excused herself.
"Barking spiders, how was I supposed to know the boffin was a lady?" Dylan said to himself.
"I believe, I'm the only one besides the captain who knew Dr. Barlow is a female." Skyelar replied out of turn. She flinched, realising her mistake. Dylan gave her a confused look, but soon turned back to the door the lady boffin had entered. There she stood again, but this time with a dog-like creature Skyelar recognized as a Thylacine. The dog-like creature had stripes along his back, and his back paws looked similar to that of a kangaroo. Dr. Barlow walked over to Skyelar this time and handed her the leash.
"If you please?" Dr. Barlow asked. Skyelar took the leash and petted the thylacine.
"What's its name?" she asked curiously. Dr. Barlow raised an eyebrow. Amused at how the thylacine hadn't scared her away.
"Tazza," she replied casually, "I would never go anywhere without her. She is my companion after all." We started heading toward the Leviathan. Skyelar wasn't paying too much attention to the lady boffin's conversation with Dylan Sharp. She was admiring the view of London from the streets. Before, she always saw them behind glass, but now she could truly experience them.
Skyelar noticed it first. Many of the men holding the ropes leading to the Leviathan were civilians and not service men. She turned to Mr. Sharp.
"Uhm, Mr. Sharp?" Skyelar said, getting his attention. He looked at her. "See the men on the ropes?" Dylan looked; his eyes grew to the size of dinner plates.
"Fitzroy must be daft." He muttered. Dr. Barlow looked at him.
"What's the trouble Mr. Sharp?"
"Those men on the ropes, ma'am." He then explained the situation. She told him to notify the captain immediately. Skyelar then noticed the birdcage Dr. Barlow had been holding. Carefully, she reached in and pulled out one of the grey birds. She let Mr. Sharp explain what was going on the released the bird.
The problem was soon fixed. Nothing like a bit of ballast to get the men to let go! The lady boffin was now safe aboard with her things and the weight issue was resolved. Like Skyelar had thought, there was only room for three of the top middies on board; Newkirk, Sharp and herself. She laid down on her cot, sleep taking over her like a wave on the beach. Images of that same boy rushed through her head. Green eyes lingering in the dark.