A/N: Written while listening to Thomas Bergensen. Quite inspiring.
Anony mouse101: Thanks so much! You are too kind and such a faithful reviewer! I appreciate it!
Eimie1: which relationship are you referring to exactly?
Warning: This one's a bit dark. Mention of death.
024. No Time
There's no time to talk.
No time to comfort.
No time for anything but a quick glance, a split second meeting of the eyes, the slightest of nods, and mouth set in a grim line.
Ensign Amelia Smollet launches off the starboard side of the fleet's last remaining ship, catapulting into enemy territory, knife clenched between her teeth. She can hear Arrow roaring, drawing all the attention to himself. They're out of ammo, cannons are down, and their only chance of survival now is infiltrating the enemy's vessel. Maybe they could capture a few weapons from the downed and use those to their advantage.
Amelia lands on all fours, silently. She blinks back a single tear. She can't afford this right now. She can still see Ensign Doyle writhing on the ground, clutching her wound and gasping her last breaths.
She darts behind a small stack of empty crates. She crouches down and peers through the slats.
Doyle had been like a sister. A sister who had actually understood Amelia, who didn't think she was ruining her life and future by pursuing a career in the Royal Navy. A sister that had shared in her fears about her own noble family's take on her enlistment, in scoffing about the stereotypical noblewoman, in having the same dreams of accomplishing something with her life.
No one appears to have noticed her intrusion yet. They're still focused on Arrow. Bless him. He's doing this for her.
And she's doing this for them all.
Tricia Doyle. The first true friend she had ever had.
She took the bullet meant for Amelia.
And she's not about to let her death be in vain. If she has to die, so be it, but it sure better be with some valiant effort.
Arrow can't keep this up much longer. His skin is thick, but it can't withstand hundreds of shots. Amelia needs to end the diversion soon.
She squeezes Doyle's name tag in her uniform pocket before she rushes in for attack.