*A few minutes later*
Barnacles is in the library sitting at the table by the window.
He brought some breakfast with him from the kitchen.
Normally he would eat breakfast in the kitchen with everyone else, but he had to meet with Christina.
Barnacles is leaving in two hours so he didn't have much time.
The Polar Bear had to tell Christina a few things before he leaves.
Some very important things.
Christina comes out of the Octochute holding a plastic plate with an omelette on it with one hand and a cup of coffee in the other hand.
"Do you need some help?" Barnacles asked.
"I got it thank you though." Christina replied.
Christina walks over to the table and sits down in the chair across from Barnacles.
"So, what is it that you wanted to talk to me about?" Christina asked.
Christina hoped that she wasn't in trouble.
As far as she known, she hasn't done anything wrong.
Her and Barnacles have never talked one on one before.
It was strange to be alone with the Captain.
"Kwazii told me this morning about you being Lieutenant while he is Captain while I am away. I have decided that I am going to let you be Lieutenant." Barnacles said.
"Really?" Christina said shocked.
She was shocked that he was letting her be Lieutenant.
Because she doesn't have much experience with being Lieutenant.
Also, because her and Kwazii are a couple.
"Yes. I already told Kwazii this and now I am going to tell you." Barnacles said.
"Tell me what?" Christina asked.
Christina sips some of her coffee.
Coffee is her stress reliever.
She is definitely going to need it for the next two weeks.
"You can't get distracted with Kwazii because you two are a couple. You have to be professional with your jobs. You don't want to be hanging all over him all the time while on missions and stuff like that. That can make us look bad. We do not want sea creatures to talk bad about us. Kwazii also needs to focus on being Captain. Kwazii has a massive responsibility that rests on his shoulders. From day one of being an Octonaut, I hoped and prayed he wouldn't ever have to be Captain. Kwazii can be a good leader when he chooses to act like one. He just acts very childish and likes to have fun when sometimes it's not appropriate. He just has to believe in himself. Kwazii has been very upset and stressed ever since I told him my diagnosis. He hasn't been his same old self. You need to be with him every step of the way. He needs you Christina. You need to assist him in anything that he needs. He will need guidance." Barnacles explained.
"I will be with him every step of the way." Christina promised.
"Good. I know I can count on you. When I first met you, I knew you had something in you. Even when I knew you as "Chris." Inkling choose well. You have done an amazing job being an Octonaut for the last six months." Barnacles added.
Christina smiled.
"Thank you very much. It has been an amazing journey so far. I cannot wait to see what adventures lie ahead! Including me being Lieutenant temporarily. It will be different and challenging, but I know I can do this. You need me, Kwazii needs me, the rest of the crew, and the entire ocean does too. You can count on me Captain." Christina said.
"By the way, I am curious about this. When did you tell Kwazii your diagnosis?" Christina asked.
"I told him about a week ago." Barnacles answered.
"But why did you just tell him and not the rest of us until yesterday?"
"Because I knew the news was going to be hard for everyone to take in. I knew everyone was going to be sad. I also knew Kwazii was going to be the one who would suffer the most. Not only because we are close, but since he would have to fill in as Captain for me. Ever since we became Octonauts, we both knew if something were to happen to me, it would be Kwazii who would step in as Captain whether it's temporary or permanent. I knew that I needed to tell Kwazii before everyone else so he could have some time to calm down before I left. Then I would tell everyone else the day before. So that way there would be hardly anytime to be sad." Barnacles explained.
"Ohhhh."
"I hope you are not mad that I didn't tell you until yesterday." Barnacles said.
"No no it's ok I totally get it. Kwazii was going to be very upset about the news so he needed some time to calm down before you left. And you didn't want the rest of us to be sad for a week. I am thankful to have a Captain who cares about his crew." Christina said confidently.
"I am glad that you are not mad. And I could not ask for a better crew. I know each and everyone of you are going to be fine while I am away." Barnacles said full of empowerment.
Christina finishes eating her omelette.
Barnacles looks at his Octo-compass.
"We need to head to the launch bay. I am leaving in thirty minutes." Barnacles said urgently.
Barnacles sounds the Octo-alert.
"Octonauts, to the launch bay!"
Barnacles and Christina dash out of the library.
