The day at the Benbow Inn started normally, in a similar fashion to what it had done the previous 3 days running. Delbert, Jim and a few regulars who had volunteered to help with the re-build were up in the beams of the 3-floor building with Amelia on the ground giving orders in her own 'special' way whilst helping Sarah with the refreshments. Ben was causing trouble and getting on peoples nerves by picking faults with every joint and nail and pulling somersaults on the roof at the same time, even more so than usual that day which didn't help Delbert concentrate on the job in hand as he was still thinking about what Amelia had said earlier that morning.
"Delbert" said Jim "Delbert!"
"Woa, what, hmm – yes, err Jim, what is it?"
"Your not concentrating, pass the nails " Delbert pushed his glasses up his nose and looked for the nails, they were spotted and he reached over a beam and picked up the half full tin and passed it to Jim.
"Anything else Jim" he said wearily, he got no reply and therefore assumed it was ok to descend to continue thinking, he did so and took up a chair in the shade of the half complete building.
"Is everything ok with Delbert, he seems awfully quiet today Amelia?"
"It must be the heat, he always insists on wearing all of those layers, I have no idea why" Amelia turned her back to Sarah and bit her lip and clenched her fist.
*Surely Delbert understands that I love him more than anything* "aah, what have I done" Still biting her lip and now with her arms crossed she looked back at Sarah.
"What was that Amelia, Amelia, are you ok? You look like Delbert, do you want a drink, look - take a seat and I will get you a drink"
"Oh don't fuss, theres nothing wrong with me, I just have a lot on my mind at present." Sarah knew not to pry into Amelia's private life so she continued making the drinks.
"Actually Sarah, may I ask you for some advice?" Sarah a little surprised at this request put down the jug and looked at Amelia "Certainly, about what, im not quite sure that im the best person to ask though"
"I hope you don't mind me asking but did you and Jims farther…" At this Sarah looked down at the make-shift table, Amelia paused knowing she had hit a sensitive subject but continued knowing she had to get an answer
"Did you and jims farther ever fall out?" Sarah's head lifted "Not exactly fall out but, how can I put it, Feel like you don't really know the person?" She looked at Sarah with wide eyes hoping for some sort of assurance.
"Oh, Always!" she gave a slight laugh, "No, seriously of course we did, when we loved each other." She looked back at Amelia with a smile who then returned it with a slightly confused expression "Sometimes he said something's that made me feel I didn't know him properly, why? What has happened between you two then?"
"That's what Delbert must be thinking then." Confusion now showed itself on Sarah's face "I think he believes that he is not the only love in my life, which of course he is "
"What would make Delbert think that, you two seemed to be getting on great. Look, I have known Delbert for years, more than I can remember and know that he is a scientist and well, he thinks a lot, he needs evidence before he will do or believe anything, your not seeing anyone else are you?" Sarah said jokingly but then stopped talking and looked at Amelia, with a blank expression she looked at what Amelia was starring at. She found herself looking up into the Etherium and then realised what that other 'love' in her life was.
"Excuse me ma'am" came a voice from behind Amelia; she turned around and saw no one, so as she was so used to doing in the past she looked down and sure enough there he was, a man with green scaly skin about 3 feet tall in a blue neatly pressed uniform.
"Ahh, Captain Amelia ma'am" he saluted as quickly as he could and in doing so dropped the letter he was supposedly meant to be holding very carefully.
"At ease Mr. Hibbert, for your information im not a captain anymore, please remember that"
"Certainly captain, err ma'am, sorry" he leant down and picked up the letter and dusted a few specs of dust from the seal.
"Mr. Hibbert is there a reason for you standing in front of me motionless or are you here to serve a purpose" Amelia noticed the letter and looked at it curiously
"Yes, ma'am I have to deliver a letter to a Mr, err…" he fumbled with the letter seeking the name written on it.
"A Mr. Hawkins by any chance?" Hibbert stopped looking for the name and looked at Amelia.
"Yes, a Mr. Hawkins, do you know where he is, ma'am?"
"Well of course I do, you know me better than that Hibbert, he's up in the raft…apparently not"
~~#~~
"Ooh Jimmy, who's that lizard saluting the captain, he looks important"
"What are you talking about Ben, a lizard saluting the captain, has your memory chip come loose, remember what a lizard looks like?"
"Jimmy its true, there is a lizard in front of the captain, he's just dropped a letter"
"WHAT, what does he look like?"
"Well, he's green with big eyes, nice big hands, haven't seen his smile yet…"
"No you idiot what's he wearing?" Jim now was scrambling up into the roof to see for himself
"Ok, Jimmy, he is wearing a blue uniform, and a blue hat, black shoes, and has a brown bag over his shoulder." Jim lifted himself onto a beam and had a look for himself
"I remember those people from the academy, they're like the academy's own private postman. That could only mean one thing"
"He's cheating the tax system and doing a job on the side?"
"No, dumb robot, I don't know where you get your ideas from Ben, my acceptance letter is here" Jim jumped of the beam and made his way down through the building to meet them
"Aww, my little jimmy is all grown up" he wiped away an oily tear before jumping down and following Jim.
"up in the raft…" Jim walked through the door and into Amelia's view "apparently not. Mr. Hawkins this is Mr Hibbert." Jim shook his hand and then straightened his back. Hibbert then saluted Jim fiercely and held out the letter
"By order of the Interstellar Navel Fleet Academy I am here ordered to pass this letter on to the recipient and in return gain the recipients signature as proof of delivery" He held out a clip board with Jims full name in one column and a empty box next to it. "Please sign here," he continued and pointed to the empty box. "If you require a pen I can provide you with one"
"Yes, please Mr. Hibbert" he passed Jim a pen with the academy flag on it and Jim signed and handed back the pen and clip board. Hibbert then saluted Jim, turned and saluted Amelia and lifted his hat to Sarah.
"Good luck kid" he said in a quieter voice before turning around and walking away whistling a tune.
"What was all that 'im ordered to pass this letter on' stuff Amelia?"
"You better get used to that Mr. Hawkins, That's academy protocol for you, everything must be just right and proper."
"What's it say jimmy? Eh?" said an excited Ben from behind Jim.
"You will really have to learn to be patient Ben, you're almost as bad as Jim was" said Sarah.
"Mum, remember what we said, earlier"
"I've stopped tucking you in now if that's what you mean" Sarah laughed as did Amelia and so did everyone else that had now congregated around the four , Delbert still sat in his chair looking into the ground and Sarah noticed this. Jim gave his mum an evil look but then concentrated on studying the envelope.
"Hold on a minute Jim" she said and walked over to get Delbert.
"Delbert, jims got his letter, were all going to watch him open it, coming?"
"Hmm, oh, yes, ok. This is a major point in Jims life, I can't miss this now can I" Delbert got up and walked back with Sarah to the small crowd.
"Were all here now Jim, go on then, open it" said Sarah, anxiously awaiting the answer although she had a pretty good idea already. Jim picked off the red wax seal imprinted with the academy flag and opened the envelope to show what seemed to be a single sheet of paper. Jim unfolded the single letter dropping the envelope. His eyes flickered over the finely gold flashed Academy flag on the top of the page and continued reading. His face fell as he read on.
"When's the start date Jimmy"?
"Never, they don't want me" Jim dropped the letter and pushed his way through the crowd and made his way into the building trying to hide the tears forming.
The crowd mumbled words of regret for Jim and slowly walked away back to the building site. Sarah looking particularly upset didn't know what to do; she was so certain that they would have accepted him, especially after a recommendation from Amelia. She looked at Amelia who had a confused look on her face.
"Why Amelia, after the interview as well, how could they do that to Jim?"
"I don't know. Excuse me Sarah, I do believe I have to see someone rather urgently, tell Delbert I will be home for Dinner and will you give Jim my greatest condolences." Amelia had a fiery look in her eyes as she walked down the road with a straight back and an ere of authority.
~~#~~
It took Amelia half an hour to walk to the nearest port where she was stopped at a low fence by a dockworker. He was about her height, well built and wore a brown flat cap, old shirt, a brown waistcoat and same colour trouser with braces. What you might call a true commoner, compared to the likes of Amelia anyway, and she knew this.
"Sorry miss, no civilians past this point, the ferry to Crescentia is the next docking on the right, this one goes to the academy, and I don't think that's where you want to go now is it" the dockworker explained
"That is where I need to go, the important word being Need."
"Do you have a ticket ma'am? I need a ticket before you can board"
"Mr…?"
"Mr. Selby miss"
"Well Mr. Selby, what would you do if I told you that I don't have a ticket, but in urgent need of getting to the academy"?
"Well then, I wouldn't let you on, I can't have civilians hitching free lifts anywhere now can I, it looks bad on me, no matter how pretty she is" he shook his head as he spoke
"Well what if I told you that my name is Captain Amelia of the Interstellar Navy, what would you do then"
"Sorry miss, you cant fool me, at least next time you could try harder with the outfit and all, very captain like, all you needs is a old hat and it would be perfect" Amelia gritted her teeth and stared at the smiling man now casually leaning on the fence post.
"Anyway miss, the ferry is leaving now, maybe you could get a ticket and catch the next one eh? Perhaps you might want to visit the planet Gerard, I hear it's very nice this time of year"
Amelia looked up to see the ferry warming up its engines.
"I do believe im making that ferry Mr. Selby and you're not going to stop me now, are you?" She now looked at him with such anger that she just barged past him, through the gate, and ran up the gangplank.
"HEY MISS, you can't do that, you're not allowed in there, hey!"
The ferry had started moving away so she had to make a leap from the gangway into the loading hatch that was luckily still open. The oblivious pilot continued with his routine journey, as she knew nothing of her extra passenger. Amelia looked out of the loading hatch down at the dockworker holding his hat and scratching his head
"Sorry, you wont regret it" Amelia called down to him, he acknowledged her by swiping his hat at her making it obvious he didn't believe her and continued with his work.
She walked further in and sat down in one of the many empty seats. There were only about seven or eight people on the ferry, all of them seemed to be between 16 and 18 years old. *All accepted candidates* Amelia thought. *Some of them don't look academy material. What is the reason for Jim not getting accepted, they all know I have excellent judgement on this kind of thing, blast them all, bloody burocrat's*
Amelia sat there, her hands supporting her head and keeping her hair behind her ears. About 15 minutes into the journey a young girl came up to Amelia and lightly coughed to get her attention.
"Are you ok ma'am? I have some travel sickness pills if you need them" Her voice was light and shaky
"So they chose you to ask me then did they, im fine honestly, thank you for asking. I just wish I was coming back here under better circumstances"
The girl walked back to the 3 other girls all sitting in a group. Amelia could just pick up light sounds of 'it really was her, she had the accent and everything'. She smiled and then returned to thinking about the events that currently worried her, Delbert being the most important one.
~~#~~
"Sarah, where's Amelia, I haven't seen her, or heard her voice for that matter for a while now?"
"She had to go somewhere, straight after Jims letter, no idea where. She said she would be back for tea though"
"Oh, ok, well, im going to head back to the house, im not being much use here at the moment and I have plenty of work to do, Amelia has threatened to clean my study, you can imagine what she means."
"Ok Delbert, but remember if you need to talk about anything in always here"
Delbert started the journey home *what did she mean 'im here if you need to talk about anything', talk about what, what does she know that I don't* It took Delbert 15 minutes to walk back to the house, he seemed tired, not sure of anything. As soon as he had close d the door he went upstairs to get his journal then went to the study and sat down. He took the lid off the ink and opened the draw to get the pen out but it wasn't there. *Where is it* he thought but then remembered seeing it being put back in the draw on the other side of the desk by Amelia. Sure enough it was there and he opened his book to the next clear page and started writing.
'A lot of things have happened recently, some things I will never forget and something's I'd rather lock away forever. Last night Katherine and me shared our first sexual experience together, I don't need to go into great detail or any detail because I will never forget it, it is something I will treasure forever, although the next morning's events were a little less than desired. Everything was going well as normal, the usual playful banter that Amelia seems to enjoy was a welcome wake up call, it was only until Amelia returned to the room carrying a paper; which I still have no idea where it came from, that events became uncomfortable. It seems that the procyon armada have been attacking the fleets ports somewhere. When she was speaking about it I could feel that she still felt heavily about the fleet, even though she choose to leave it. I had no idea she felt so strongly about it still until now. I think Katherine wants another voyage, although she is hiding it extremely well I can tell that she yearns to sail the Etherium again, she is not enjoying being 'grounded'. I must say I certainly did enjoy the voyage to treasure planet, well, not the life threatening parts anyway. She seems to be holding something back from me, why; surely she can trust me, what is there about me that's not trustworthy, especially by my future wife. I don't even know where she is at the moment; she just left after Jim received his letter. We haven't spoken since this morning, this is the first time this has happened, im not sure what to do, what does it mean?
Jim didn't get accepted in to the academy, I feel for him, he was so sure that he would have got in, he seemed so sure about it all. I have no idea what he will do now; I just hope he doesn't return to what he used to get up to, that would be a great shame, he seems so mature and sensible now'
There was a click as a letter fell through the letterbox. Delbert wrote for another few minutes before finishing and going for the letter. The letter was placed on the desk and Delbert went into another room and sat down in front of the half dead fire and just thought of what she might be doing.
~~#~~
It took half an hour to get to the academy, on arrival the cadets were gathered together as soon as they got of the ferry, including Amelia. A human officer who got their attention greeted them.
"Welcome cadets to the Interstellar Naval Fleet Academy, today you will be shown around the complex and then shown the dormitory buildings where you will stay the next 4 years, or 5 years for the lucky ones, please stay close to me as this complex spans over 15 square miles." There was light mumble of voices and they started walking. "My name is Corporal Perce and if yo…" the mans voice growing more silent as Amelia broke from the small crowd and started walking down the path she had walked down many time before. She opened a door that led her into a very large reception room, at the opposite end of the room was a large double door and in front of it a reception desk. Amelia walked up to it and asked to see Colonel Roderick.
"Sorry, he is currently in a meeting, do you have an appointment"
"No, I need to see the Colonel urgently"
"The colonel is a very busy man, perhaps you could make an appointment and come back later?"
"Later is not good enough" Amelia walked past the desk and headed for the double door.
"Stop, you cant go in their there having an important meeting" the reception worker exclaimed, seeing that she wasn't going to stop she turned to the intercom to worn the colonel "Colonel, there's a…"
Amelia opened the 2 doors at the same time and by the same amount to see the Colonel leant over the end of the long table with maybe 15 other captains sitting around it, and just in time to hear "Crazy woman" come out of the intercom.
"Thank you Millie"
"Ah, How nice to see you again Katherine, we were expecting you but not this early, please take your seat"
Amelia tried to hide total confusion but just stood there, motionless.
"I will explain all soon enough, please, sit" He beckoned to the last remaining seat. She closed the doors behind her and slowly made her way to the seat, looking at all the other captains, she could recognise some but many were new, they all made themselves easy to identify as all of their faces were concentrated on watching one of the greatest captains ever. She looked over the table and noticed a newspaper, the newspaper.
"Ah, Lets Begin…"
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I have done sommit naughty, instead of dealing with my extra work; I booked the week off, Yey for me! (Maybe my work colleges might actually do some work, bloody slackers). Anyhoo, im after someone to proof read my work as I have decided it's impossible for the writer to do it as shown in this chapter!
I hope you like what I have done so far, if you don't, tell me, if you do, tell me also, just tell me god damn it! (sorry, getting carried away there, wooo, calm down).
Please review (I have only just recovered from my injuries, cheers Mia, u made my day girl!)
Keep Smiling (and reviewing) ~ Robbie.