Chapter Seven: Before The Voyage

Disclaimer: I OWN NOTHING OF DISNEY!

Authors Note: Hello my noble readers, sorry I have been taking so long but I've had exams to study for and have not been able to post at the moment, but now I've had a chance to write a lot more after spending the holidays with family and getting ready for school once again. I am almost done with chapter thirteen of this story, but it has not yet been typed. I am now working on typing chapter eight. So read and review the story. Thanks.

Ashley

"You're able to come down now, you know." Amelia said right after Mr. Propst had left. "You do not have to continue with your standing at the top of the banister." She continued walking to the stairs and turning her back to them.

"How in the world did you know I was listening? Let alone the exact spot of where I was listening?" Delbert asked looking at his love as he walked down to her.

"Darling. do you even stop to think of how childish it is of you to eavesdrop on others conversations? - I heard every footstep that you took until you stopped at the top of the stairs and heard the creaking of the banister as you leaned on it. I as well very well heard every exact word that you spoke to yourself." Amelia said trying not to let out her laughter.

"Well," Delbert said coming face to face with Amelia, "I do think I'll have to be a bit quieter if I try to listen to a conversation next time." He said finishing with a smile and slowly placing his hand upon her slender waist."

"But honestly Darling. Those tactics of yours, listening in on conversations, well." Amelia said sneaking her hands around the Doctors shoulders. "Well, they are like that of what a child would do." She said giving out a short laugh as they let one kiss towards each other. After a few moments, Delbert was the first to speak.

"And well done on the job offer. It seems you spoke it was slow just in time, didn't you?"

"Yes." She said smiling softly. "Though I've accepted the offer, I am still skeptical about all of this. It does seem rather odd." Amelia said letting go as the walked into the living room.

"Did you get his name? The true employer, I mean."

"No. But as I am sure that you heard, he sent one of his little scouts, if you will, to do his work for him. The man, Dimitri Propst, never did say his employers' name. But on the other hand, I cannot help to think that that Propst character does look incuriously familiar."

"Hmmm." Delbert Replied. "How so?"

"I'm not quite sure at the moment. But I will remember."

"Well, maybe it's just that he has one of those face where he is familiar to anyone."

"True, but not him. I do know this man. I am just not quite sure from where yet. Wait a moment! Are you questioning my memory?"

"No. No of course not. But I am saying don't jump to conclusions." Delbert said finally.

"Propst is no familiar face to anyone or myself. I know that I have met him before."

"An old friend perhaps?"

"Definitely not. Not a friendly face from my past. That much I recall."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

$Inter-Stellar Naval Offices::: Cresentia Spaceport$

As Captain Amelia stepped off the transport from Montressor to the Spaceport Cresentia, she got out and looked around. As to the forthcoming voyage she had accepted to lead, she would need to make sure that she would be able to call upon an old friend, Gabriel Myers, to temporarily assume post as her first officer. She would as well need to begin to arrange preparations for the R.L.S. Legacy.

Amelia begun to walk towards the offices for the Inter-Stellar Navy, as she had been doing so, she began to think of why she had given up her life as a militant.

** It was those blasted bureaucrats, finally having their way with everything, receiving control of all branches of the Inter-Stellar Military.
It was when this happened, with the government for certain planets, with control of the military and much other things came crashing downhill. It was good though that her Majesties Parliament had not yet been controlled by the bureaucrats. And always while the Captain had demanded results on what was going on and what was to happen in the future, the bureaucrats were big on other things, and they were the most close minded bunch of procrastinators anyone had ever met. And as Amelia recalled very well of her saying, "They were always big on protocol, I wanted results."
As Amelia had been lost in thought about her permanent leave as a militant, she found herself across the cobblestone street from the Inter- Stellar Naval Office building.
As she entered the building she saw that it was the same as it had been when she last entered it years ago. Inside the building the floors were highly polished, see your reflection shined up White marble floors.
Amelia walked up to the main desk in the middle of the large circular rooms with its walls of pale blue, and at the desks sat recruiters and new coming cadets from the Academy.

Amelia slightly brushed off her already spotlessly clean royal blue uniform, and with her hat resting softly in her hand, made her way to the desk in the middle of the room to which no one but an alien man in an different Naval uniform, one of crisp white with gold trimming, was working on paperwork. The man looked up and then looked back down almost immediately when Amelia stopped at the desk.

"May I help you?" asked the man, not bothering to look up again. He sounded quite on the irritated side at the moment.

"Artemis Yorkshire. Six years after I leave and after all you talked of commanding your very own vessel like myself, and yet you are still doing deskwork. My, my. Don't keep to our word even now do we Artemis? But. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you actually enjoyed the job you've kept all these years." Amelia said with the tone of slightly mocking someone.

"Amelia Smollet." Said the man named Artemis Yorkshire, as he finally looked up and leaned back in his chair slightly smiling. "Six years and I still only joke about having the same job you have, but why would I want to miss the inter action. Good gawd Smollet. Has it really been that long?"

"It seems so much shorter of a time. Unfortunately." Amelia replied.

"Please Smollet. Don't tell me that you don't miss being back here."

"On the contrary Yorkshire. My ship is docked at docking back 34."

"You know what I meant. You don't miss being one of us anymore?"

Amelia snorted in a disgusted sort of way.

"Tell me Yorkshire. Do you even have the slightest hint of a thought that my attitude for the bureaucrats control over certain governments and the interstellar military has at all changed?"

"Apparently not." Yorkshire said chuckling.

"Anyway, back to why I came here." Amelia said professionally. "I have an appointment with Admiral Goodlow this morning, and I do need to attend to. It is rather important that I meet with him."

"Ah. yes! Here you are!" said Yorkshire looking down at a sheaf of paper which had a list of names for appointments for the day. "You remember where his offices is?"

"Of course!" Amelia said in a know-it-all tone. "Good day to you Yorkshire." And with that Amelia began to walk towards the back of the large circular room and through one gold trimmed mahogany double door and into a long corridor.

Closing the door behind her, Amelia set to walk down the large and bright passageway, passing by more and more singular mahogany doors. At the end of the corridor was another set of gold trimmed mahogany double doors. As she came to them, there sat a black wooden plaque nailed to the right door, that, with silver lettering, read:

FLEET ADMIRAL Jonathon Willis Goodlow

Amelia knocked on the door three times, waited for an answer, and when she heard a very gruff voice come through the doors, saying, "Come in.", Amelia opened the left door and entered the room.

As she shut the door behind her, Amelia spotted a feline man in a stark white uniform, like Yorkshires, but with himself being more decorated. This man was looking up at Amelia from standing behind his desk.

"Captain Amelia Katherine Smollet." He spoke to her as he made his way forward to Amelia and shaking her hand as a very old friend would. "So good to see you! So good to see you my dear friend!"

"And it is good to see you as well Admiral." Amelia said smiling.

"Well have a seat Smollet." Said Goodlow beaming as he retook his seat behind his desk. "Now. What's your business back here? You resign from the Royal Navy, and then we see hardly anything of you for six years! I must tell you. Its' not been the same with you working in the private sector, I can tell you that much."

"Well, Admiral." Amelia began. "As you might have heard, seven months back. There was the tragic loss of one of your former Naval Officers, Lieutenant Robert Arrow, on the voyage to Treasure Planet."

"Ah. Yes.That was in the news out here. It really was a tragic loss. And I am very sorry. "I do remember how close you two were as friends back then. How did it happen? I - If you do not mind my asking so."

Amelia sighed impatiently before she spoke another word.

"He was murdered."

"Murdered?" Goodlow repeated flabbergasted.

"Yes. In short, we came accosted a star that had gone supernova. The star dissolved into a black hole, Arrow slipped only to be saved by his lifeline, which was cut by a pirate called by 'Scoop'. Arrow fell to the black hole and died." Amelia finished the tale with no sign of emotion whatsoever, well then anyways. For now there was only one man she would ever show emotion to.

"Yes. Pirates. Never would have imagined of it happening that way."

"Yes Admiral, well I actually am here because I need a favor. You see I've been without a first officer for the past seven months now. The previous voyages I've commanded, I have been bale to do with out a first officer. But. This morning I accepted a charter mission, or that's all it is said to be. And frankly, this Mr. Propst. I do not trust the man one bit for my life. He's hiding something big and I've quickly learned from the past that the only way to have a good crew is to know their background and where they came from. And the only adequate first officer, comes from the royal military."

Goodlow gave a hearty laugh and spoke,

"You always were one not to trust too easily. So. You would like me to hand over one of my officers to me, right?"

"Of course it will be for this voyage only Admiral. I am still looking for an adequate person for the job."

The Admiral gave Amelia a piercing stare.

"Did you have anyone in mind, Captain?" Goodlow said smiling.

"Actually, Admiral, I did." Amelia said her ears perking up for a moment. "If he is not out on assignment, would it be possible to call upon Ensign Gabrial Myers?"

"Ah. Myers. Good man he is. Well, let us see where I've got him stationed." Said Goodlow turning in his seat to a computer set up on his left. Goodlow typed in a few passwords on the computer and brought up Myers's file.

"Ah. All right here we are." He said looking at the screen, and pulling a new window on the screen with plenty of information on Myers's latest assignment. "His latest assignment in on Cianabus. And as of yesterday, I've been informed that he is finished up and is waiting for re-assignment. So you asked just in time, Captain."

"Thank you, Admiral."

"If I may, is there any particular reason you chose ensign Gabrial Myers?"

"I asked for Myers because of his above satisfactory skills in sailing and his knowledge and years of training as a medical officer."

"Ah! I see. Well, I'll send the order for him to report to you in exactly one week for briefings."

"Yes. Thank you, Sir."

"Is there any particular place I should have him sent for briefings?"

"Yes. Could you possible send him to my home on the eastern side of Montressor? There is a Small city called Benbow, I live in a private house, and is sometimes mistaken for an observatory." Amelia said writing down the address for Admiral Goodlow.

"All right then. I will have Myers sent to you immediately, he will arrive in one week." Said Goodlow as he and Amelia got up from their chairs and shook hands.

And as Amelia was just at the door, ready to open it and leave, Admiral Goodlow said something to her to make her stop dead in her tracks.

"Oh and Captain!" said Goodlow As Amelia turned her head back over her shoulder, but not turning around, said,

"Yes, Sir?"

"Could you please give Dr. Delbert Doppler my regards, please?"

Amelia took her hand off of the mahogany, brass, door handle, and turned around slowly. He knew. He knew, but. she couldn't she how he knew.

"You are dating him, are you not?" Goodlow said grinning slyly.

'HOW DOES HE KNOW!' Amelia thought to herself.

"I beg your pardon?" Amelia asked somewhat, well very shocked. "H - How did you find out, sir?"

"I was at dinner with my wife and two sons a little while back, here on Cresentia, and I noticed you two together, it really did not seem like a business dinner."

"Yes. But that doesn't explain how you -"

"Know Doppler? Well, I would have thought you'd known but for that last three years he had made quite generous donations to the academies aeronautics and astronomy departments. I actually had the pleasure of meeting him last year when I was overseeing how things were going at the academy. My youngest, Victor, at the academy, spoke very highly of him where he was home last."

"Well." Amelia said to herself then the Goodlow. "Well, Admiral, I must be going, have to begin with preparations for the voyage. Good day to you, Sir." Amelia said turning once more and walking out the door again.

X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X

Later that evening, as Amelia made her way home, she'd had a lot of things on her mind. And the thing that most kept bothering her was the familiarity of Dimitri Propst.

I've met the man before I know it! But where. where do I remember him from?'

And just then, as if by lightning, she remembered!

'Of course! How could I have forgotten? I gave the order for it! But why is he hiring me, or claiming to hire me for this? Obviously he cant have forgotten about it. Wait - Yes he could have! But that still leaves his so call 'employer', His real employer.'

Amelia pondered through her thoughts the entire ride home to Montressor, and when she arrived there she had explained all of her returned memories to Delbert, but in all the commotion, the thoughts about who the mysterious employer was forgotten. The thoughts that had been replaced were of why would someone hire a con man to do his or her dirty work? Amelia found all of this highly illogical and was furious to not be able to figure the logic out, because illogical was not a term to be found in her vocabulary, and so decided to sleep on it.