Chapter 20 BELFAST IRELAND NOVEMBER 16 1911 "OLYMPIC"

The workmen had patched up the hole in my side and were now working on repairing my keel, the ship equivalent of a human's spine.

"No wonder you weren't complaining." Titanic muttered, glancing at my back. "You couldn't feel a thing?" She asked me. I shook my head. "No," I said.

"No I could not." My sister sighed. Lately, she'd been very quiet and secretive.

"You're hiding something sis." I said. She shrugged. "So what if I am?" She asked. "If it's important you'd tell me, right?" I asked. "Yes." She replied, but she didn't meet my eyes.

"Done!" The workmen called. I sighed. Thank Neptune I'd soon be off this dock. "You'll be back at sea soon, Olympic." Titanic said. I grinned. "And what a relief too!" I said. "I'd forgotten what it's like up in dry dock with you right next to me."

Titanic rolled her eyes. "What do you want me to do?" She asked. "Put a bow muffler on for one thing!" I replied. "I could use some opium too!" Titanic suggested eagerly. "That'd put me right to sleep without the snore."

I laughed. "I don't think there's anything strong enough to stop your snoring, Titanic." I said. "I'll have to agree with you on that one." Baltic said from nearby. "Thanks to you Titanic, I'm forced to sleep during the day."

Titanic winced. "Sorry!" She said. Baltic grunted. "I don't mind. It's kind of nice being the owl for a change." I had to laugh at that. Owls were wise and Baltic was as far from wise as one could possibly get. She frowned at me. "What is so funny?" She snapped.

"Nothing," I gasped between giggles. "Just you, an owl? Owls are Athena, goddess of wisdom; are you wise?" Titanic laughed too. "Baltic an owl? Yeah and I'm a muskrat. She's more like a seaworm if you ask me. Small, dumb, and indifferent."

Baltic glared at us. "You think this is funny?" She asked. Feeling smug I replied. "Well uh yeah!" Baltic's eyes narrowed. "THAT'S IT!" She yowled and lunged playfully at me.

She didn't get very far, smashing into the overhead gantry she fell back into the water. She popped up gasping, water streaming off her decks, her eyes flaring murderously.

"Oooh, Olympic!" She growled. "What's ya gonna do, Baltic?" I teased. "Smash into the gantry again?" Titanic added. Grumbling curses, Baltic settled back into her slip her eyes locked on me and Titanic.

"Now that was funny!" Titanic laughed. "I wonder who else we can annoy today." I muttered. Some workmen were talking nearby. I looked at Titanic and caught the gleam in her eye.

"Ok, let's go!" I said. She nodded and using the swells to her advantage, pulled her mooring lines as tight as they could go before using them like slingshots to propel her forward. She created a spray of water that splashed up onto the docks and doused the standing workmen in water.

Titanic settled back easily in her berth. "Ooh, Titanic!" The lead workmen growled. She looked up. "Yes Mr. Arkwright." She said innocently.

"Drop the act missy." Mr. Arkwright snapped. "It took over a month's wages to afford these." He snapped, gesturing to his soaked work outfit. "And now, thanks to you two and your little games, they're ruined." He walked away grumbling dreadfully about "Young ships and their games!"

A few minutes later, Andrews came by looking very cross. "Titanic I know you're still being built and have a lot to learn, but Olympic you know better than to douse workmen in water." He snapped.

"I didn't douse them, Titanic did. It was her idea anyway." I protested. Titanic glared at me. "It was not my idea." She whispered. "Shut up." I whispered back.

"Don't deny it Olympic, water pranks are your trademark. Don't forget I watched you from the moment your first plate was laid, I know how you work." Andrews scolded me. I bowed my head. "Sorry Tom, it won't happen again." Titanic echoed my words. "See that it doesn't." He snapped and walked away. "Phew, that was a close one." Titanic said. I nodded. "Too close."

"I wonder if there's anyone else we can annoy today that won't go running to Tom on the first sign of trouble." I sighed. "Do you ever call it a day?" I asked. Titanic shook her head. "In case you haven't noticed, even when I'm sleeping I'm annoying people."

I laughed. Things were never boring for too long when Titanic was around.

SOUTHAMPTON DOCKS NOVEMBER 18 1911

The strike began not long after I was relaunched. At first it seemed small, a problem that could be quickly sorted out.

But it soon turned into the biggest strike Great Britain had ever seen. All the miners and most of the engineers and ship builders were on strike. It slowly but surely brought production to a standstill.

Docked in Southampton, just before heading back out to New York, I asked a worker, "Why are most of you all out on strike?"

The worker smiled. "Because," He said. "We've got too lon' a' work day an' too short a' rest." I subconsciously glanced to the north, towards Belfast.

"You can thank my sister for the last part." I muttered.

"O' no!" The worker exclaimed. "It's not 'er fault and don' let 'er think so. This strike's been comin' on for a lon', lon' time." I nodded.

I began thinking about yesterday. Oceanic had told me to be in Southampton by noon. Right on time, as usual I hustled in to my berth. Oceanic was alongside. "Right on time." She said to me. "I don't like to keep anybody waiting." I muttered. "If you didn't come here, we'd all have to go to Belfast and a lot of ships would miss their rounds." She said.

"Oceanic, what's going on?" I asked. "Trust me, it'll be worth it." She replied. By now, every ship in White Star's fleet had joined us. I saw Celtic and her three sisters. Majestic was nearby as well. The old ship was looking a little sad but that wasn't surprising. Britannic was her sister after all.

Oceanic began the ceremonies. "Last week, my old deputy Britannic, died." She began. The White Starrers bowed their heads in a moment of silence, and then raised them for Oceanic to speak again.

"I am aware that I must choose a new deputy." Then, raising her head, she said "Olympic, will be the new deputy of White Star."

The fleet turned to stare at me. Oceanic beckoned me forward. "Olympic! Olympic! Olympic!" They chanted. "Now do you understand?" She asked.

"Definitely." I breathed. Oceanic laughed softly. "Good." She murmured.

She looked at the gathered ships who'd now stopped chanting and were gazing at me. I moved forward. "Ships of White Star," I began. "I am honored to be your deputy, there is no other group of ships that I'd rather work with. And I will serve you to the best of my abilities." I said. Oceanic nodded. "Alright, you have your deputy. Now, go to your docks before your passengers miss you. Dismissed." She said, and just like that, the meeting was over.

I was jolted back to the present when EJ bustled up. "Ready to go, Olympic?" He asked. "Hey, you know me. I've been ready long before you have." He'd aged visibly since the last time I saw him. The new 3 week schedule was a killer.

It was in the Belfast building yard when I was still shaking off the worst of the Sand Sickness that I'd last seen him. "You need rest, Olympic." He said. It was late evening and pouring down rain. I shook my head.

"I'm not tired." I grumbled, and then coughed as the canopy, sagging with water, overflowed off the edges splattering water everywhere.

"It's not good for you to stay awake like this. Remember, the sooner you get better the sooner repairs can start and the sooner you'll be back in business. But it won't be sooner if you choose to stay awake all night, it's not healthy."

There was no arguing with EJ once he made up his mind. "All right, fine. But what about Gigantic, Titanic can't keep an eye on her." I protested. "And neither can you, not like this." EJ countered.

"Don't worry; I'll take good care of Gigantic." He said. I looked at him seriously "Promise?" I asked.

"I promise if you'll go to sleep and take care of yourself." He said gently. "It's a deal." I murmured.

I thought I wasn't very tired but I was wrong. I was dead beat and EJ gentle touch added to it. It wasn't long before I was snoring quietly. The snore quickly turned into a soft wheeze at EJ's continuing massage.

The feel of my engines starting woke me from my reflection. "Thought you were always ready, Olympic?" EJ teased. "Oh very funny, EJ. Say, how's Gigantic?"

EJ groaned, then said in a thoughtful voice dripping with sarcasm "Let's see, she caused one workmen to where lint in his ears to block out her constant chattering but he could still hear her, her voice is so loud and all of this while she's still asleep. I'll tell you Olympic, I don't want to be around when she wakes up for real, she'll be a snipers worst nightmare with all her racket."

I laughed. "Really? So I'm a worrywave, Titanic's a supersnorer and Gigantic's a chatterbow. 3 different ships with 3 different talents wow!"

EJ snorted. "Talent might be an exaggeration." He said. "Might be?" I asked skeptically. He shrugged. "Ok, I don't consider these things talents. There, now you know what I was thinking, happy?"

"I always know what you're thinking, EJ." I reminded him. "Ok then, what's the thing I love most in this world?" He asked. I thought for a second.

"Your family, which is exactly how it should be." I added.

"And you love your sisters most." EJ said. I nodded. "You see, this connection comes in handy sometimes doesn't it?" I said. "Indeed it does." EJ replied. "You know if you're out at sea and need help on another ship. All you need to do is ask, and I'll come and help."

EJ nodded. "I know you will, girl." He said gently, stroking my helm wheel. As we left the docks for another trip to New York, I suddenly realized something.

I was still me, and unless I had another accident, which was highly unlikely at this point, Titanic and I would never be switched and it would be Titanic who was resting on the ocean bottom.