For this chapter we rejoin Rosalyn and Stasja aboard the Rusalka, this will be from Stasja's POV. This may end up quite short, but its in effort to visualise their growing friendship.

Blood pounded in my ears, the metal bulkhead dug to my skin as the pressure against me increased, I felt a tug at my shirt, panic flooded through my body. I fought the urge to fight back, knowing if I did my punishment would probably result in my death. They had no time for people who weren't going to obey orders now..

"You won't get away with this Alexei"

A sharp pain across my cheek as his hand connected with it. He snarled, pushing me back harder against the unforgiving metal.

"Who's gonna believe you ehh? Lying little girl. They don't trust you, why the hell dya think your here anyway. It aint cause your worth having aboard. They're hoping they'll shape some manners into you."

He tore at the shirt exposing my skin, his nails dug into my flesh, pain flashed through me, I inhaled sharply. I caught his face, triumph shone as he saw the control he had over me. I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for what was to come next. His hands wandered down my body, I let out a whimper. A sharp metallic click of a pistol being cocked echoed oddly around the corridor. He froze, I opened my eyes to see the triumph washed from his face, his hands slowly removed themselves and went into the air, I saw barrel mere inches from his skull. I glanced a look at my saviour. The only give away was the familiar looking sleeve and slender hands, the gold bands reflecting the dim light in the hallway.

"Well Alexei Solovyov. Maybe if du had succeeded nobody would have believed her. However your increasing arrogance gave du away. Did du really think du wouldn't be caught here dummkoph?"

"Korvettenkapitän. Its not what it looks like, she said she wanted.."

At that she shoved him away from me and backed him up against the wall, pressing the barrel of the gun into his temple.

"Do not mistake me for ein fool. Ich have dealt with Abschaum like you before. Seine easy to tell when they liegen."

He whimpered under her advancing aggression. Korvettenkapitän Richtofen was clearly immensely displeased by his actions. Although I had done nothing wrong even I was petrified by her. The German tongue slipping frequently was a good indicator she was annoyed. Since the first day she had asked me my name she had always made a point of speaking to me when she saw me. But I had witnessed her anger at others. Despite this however in the dim light she looked almost ill. Her usually flawless and pale complexion looked waxy, a slight sheen of sweat also gave away that maybe she wasn't feeling a hundred percent, certainly the ever growing cold wasn't to blame.

"MOVE" She bellowed, her voice ringing down the hallway. "Schnell!"

He almost fell over in his haste to obey. She paused to beckon me along with her, I did so silently. Our footsteps echoed loudly around the silent passageways. She barked orders of which way to turn at him. Taking in the direction of the Nova 6 cells. When they came in sight he stopped dead and turned around, he began to plead with her.

"Please Ma'am, don't.."

She smacked the hilt of the gun against the side of his face, her anger clear again, she hoisted him up by the collar of his shirt and dragged him over to one of the cells. She motioned me to turn the wheel, unlocking the cell. I followed her order, too scared to even consider refusal. She threw him inside the cell. He fell with a thud to the ground, she leant over him, again pushing the barrel into his temple.

"Geben me ein reason not to lock du in und activate es."

He wailed like a child under her power. The tears streaming down his face, his sobs echoing horribly. I watched in horror. Surely she wouldn't? I began to panic a little myself. I watched as she slowly pulled away from, she exited the chamber, she slowly shut the door, turning back the large wheel to lock the door. She looked at me. All anger gone, she winked at me before wandering off to a nearby desk. Her sudden flip of character stunned me, I heard ruffling of papers and he scratch of a pen. She walked back to the door with paper in hand and propped it on the handle.

'Before you let him out. Find me. RR'

"Come. Follow me Frauline."

I followed her, the fading bangs on the glass panels fading as we walked further through the ship. Her pace was quick initially, I was almost at a jog to keep up the pace. She glanced a look over her shoulder, a whisper of a laugh and she slowed.

"I saw everything Stasja, he will be correctly punished when I speak to the captain."

I followed in silence. We made our way back to the corridor where she caught him. It occurred to me why she had appeared, it was right outside the corridor to her quarters. Why she would be out at this time I was unsure. She walked to her door and pulled down on the handle, it swung open silently, she waved for me to go in. I stepped through into the dark room. The door clicked shut. I heard shuffling behind me as she lit the lamp, lighting the room. She indeed didn't look well. Her face was a little more thin, her hair hung limp, even the smile she gave was a little weaker.

"Korvettenkapitän. Are you ok?"

She looked startled for a moment. Then realised what I meant.

"Oh its nothing to worry about mien Frauline. Das Meer must be affecting me for some reason."

I nodded. She stood up, running her right hand across her stomach as she did.

"He won't bother du again. I think I made it clear what he was trying to do was wrong."

I nodded again in agreement. Her hand was rested against her stomach again, he noticed my gaze and her brow furrowed lightly. I quickly looked away not wanting to rekindle that anger. And awkward silence followed, I swallowed my nervousness down to speak.

"Thank you Korvettenkapitän, for stopping him."

Her smile returned at that, she moved towards the foot of the bed before stooping.

"Quite okay mien Frauline. I myself have been on die receiving end of dass kind of attention, I know how du feel"

She pulled a bag out from underneath, I heard a clinking of glass. She lifted it onto the bed and withdrew a bottle containing a clear liquid and two glasses. The paused, giving me a significant look.

"I don't think I need to tell du not to tell anyone about what I'm about to give du. I'm not meant to have any an Bord. But I feel we have earned this tonight"

I nodded my agreement and she filled the two small glasses and handed one to me. I watched as she emptied the glass in a single mouthful. Her face contorted slightly. I did the same, the liquid tasted of nothing first. Then the burn of alcohol began, I held back a cough, my eyes beginning to water. I blinked to clear my vision to find Rosalyn placing the bottle away. She collected the glass from me and placed it on a shelf with her own. She opened the door to her quarters before turning to me.

"Come on, I'll escort you back du your rooms. I'll deal with him in the morning. If you ever have any problems, sie can come du me."

I stood and left, following in the woman wake. Question was, what was wrong with Rosalyn Richtofen, what was ailing her. I doubted her excuse of sea sickness was anything but a farce. Maybe in time the truth would be revealed.

Hope you enjoyed this. Had a mini heart attack half way through writing when I thought I'd lost most of this chapter. Fortunately I was able to recover it. Hope it was worth it.