Chapter 2

An Story, A Captain, A Mission

"...and so the last thing I remember was the Skiff breaking up and me falling unconscious, then the next thing I know I woke up in my bed and found you and Moegi looking down at me."

By this time Enrique, Moegi, and Fina were now sitting in the large Palace throne room in New Valua.

Although it was extremely beautiful, it was not as extravagant as it had been in Empress Teodora's days.

Enrique sat in his throne, his fingers steepled in thought.

"All the same Fina, in my opinion, just because you saw Vyse and Aika kissing each other doesn't give you a incentive to run away."

"But I loved him! ME! Why couldn't he love me the way he loves Aika?"

"Fina, it is his choice, you can't choose who he falls in love with," Moegi pointed out.

Fina sighed and her shoulders slumped in defeat.

"I know," she said with a sigh.

"Now I suggest that you stay with us tonight, and we send you home so you can ask Vyse about his relationship with Aika," Enrique said firmly "I imagine he's worried sick about you. If you still would rather return to Valua after that, then just inform the Captain and he will bring you back, or take you wherever you want to go."

Fina nodded, before looking up and Enrique.

"I understand. Just out of curiosity, who was the captain who saved me?"

Enrique smiled warmly.

"I'll introduce you if you like."

He reached down for the arm of his throne and pressed a small button, revealing a radio.

"Send in the Captain will you?"

Almost immediately The large doors behind Fina were opened by two burly guards, she gasped at the man who walked through the door.

He was a tall man, around a few centimetres tall then than Enrique.

His uniform was new, it could be plainly seen.

He wore a long sleeved, tight fitting, white collared, along with a simple black tie, Over which he wore a dark blue tunic.

The tunic was again, tight fitting,and looked similiar to Vyse's tunic on first appearence.once you looked at it properly however you could see it was more decorated.Onthe arm cuffs were four gold stripes,alonf with two small gold pads on either shoulder, signifying that he was of high stature, but not an Admiral, who would have tassels hanging from the pads.

The tunic was fastened by six gold buttons, and roughly went halfway down his thigh, held at the waist by a single-holed black belt with a silver buckle.

Poking out of the bottom of his tunic was a pair of tight black captains trousers, which finished in a pair of black leather boots that went to just below his knees.

Underneath his arm was a white hat, with a black strip running around the bottom of it, a small peak with gold feathers embroidered onto it was at the front.

Directly above the peak was the new symbol of the Valuan Empire, the six moons, with the planet Arcadia in the centre.

His features looked stern, and his hair was dark brown, although Fina noticed it was going a dark grey slightly.

Despite this fact however, he didn't look a day older than she was.

He looked like he had been happy once, but he looked like he hadn't smiled in years.

His eyes were a dark brown, yet looked as cold as steel.

"Fina," Enrique said, casting a hand towards the new arrival "This, is Captain DanielMarcus Mackenzie, the currant commander of the Delphinus, and the finest officer in the New Valuan Armada to date."

Mackenzie bowed humbly.

"You are two kind your Majesty. If I may ask, why was I called"

"Well, for two reasons, one, to introduce you properly to Fina."

Captain Mackenzie, this Fina Silvairian, the last Silvite of the Silver Civilisation."

Fina turned and bowed low to the captain. When she stood up again, she saw Mackenzie nod curtly at her before turning back Enrique.

"Secondly, your orders. Your are ordered directly from me to escort Fina back to Crescent Isle. And don't take a shortcut over Valua, go round by the South Dannel Strait, clear?"

The Captain paused, before saluting his Emperor.

"As you wish, your excellency."

Enrique nodded and clapped his hands happily.

"Excellent, well, I believe it would be prudent for you to head off to your chambers for tonight Fina, Moegi, would you please show Fina the way?"

Moegi nodded and quickly pulled Fina out of the door.

Fina looked over her shoulder at Daniel Mackenzie, and caught him staring at her.

Realising he had been caught, the captain, suddenly blushed and bowed low to her.

She smiled at him shyly, wondering of his past, perhaps she would ask Moegi of it when they got to the bedroom.

Daniel gazed after the Silvite, his eyes full of something Enrique had never seen before.

Finally the Captain turned back to the Emperor.

"With all due respect sir, why do I have to take Miss Silvairian home by the South Dannel Strait? It would be much easier and a lot less cost in fuel consumption if I just took her over Valua. And why am I taking her in the first place? There are much faster vessels in the fleet that could do the same job in half the time. Captain Tanaka and the Interceptor could do the same trip in just three days. And..."

But he cut off when Enrique held up a hand for silence.

"While it is true that the Interceptor could do the job faster, I believe that you and the Delphinus would be a better choice."

"But the Delphinus is the most powerful ship in the known world! It should be here, protecting New Valua from the threat of Black Pirates and other such evil."

"Maybe five years ago, but now we have a fleet, even better than the original armada. The Delphinus doesn't need to constantly guard Valua, we have a half decent Armada now. Tell me Daniel,when was the last time the Delphinuswent beyond the borders of the New Valuan Empire since you commanded it?"

The Captain stiffened slightly.

"She has not been out of the boundaries since the end of the Crystalline War five years ago."

"Exactly," Enrique said smiling as he stood up from his throne, "The Delphinus has always been within Valuan territory since the end of the war. I think it's time you went out into the world again Daniel, it's time for you to put the past behind you."

The Captain scowled at Enrique, before bowing and heading out of the room.

"Daniel," Enrique called out, making him stop, "You might not realise it, but you and Fina have a lot in common. You cannot blame her for Ramirez's insanity. She lost loved ones too you know. She is the last of her people, and right now, she is alone. She could use a friend to comfort her."

Daniel paused, before turning back to Enrique.

"Are you suggesting I...befriend...Miss Silvairian?" he asked.

"I am suggesting that you talk to her, get to know her. She was broken when she woke up, torn apart because of what she saw between Vyse and Aika. She could use someone...someone like you Astrong presence, someone to help her through this time."

"With all due respect sir, I am sure Captain Tanaka could do a much better job in that department as well."

"Of that I have no doubt," Enrique agreed, smirking slightly, "But she doesn't know Captain Tanaka, She knows you. You are the only other person she knows in Valua apart from me and Moegi."

"What of my Helmsmen, Mr. Marco?" The captain asked "From what I can tell from his record, he served with Captain Vyse Dyne during the war, I'm sure he would be..."

"Although Marco does know her," Enrique interjected, "he does not know of Fina's...predicament. Besides, I've seen the way you look at her, I believe you like her Captain."

Daniel smirked.

"With respect, I don't even know her Your Majesty. How could I even like her?"

"Which is precisely why you are going to march of up to her room and talk with her Captain."

Daniel raised an eyebrow.

"Is that an order? Sir?"

"No it is a request. Because you know, that if you don't see her, you may regret it."