Chapter 1: The Story Begins
Captain Wilsa walked onto the deck of the Silvana, Lt. Hannighan behind her.
"Captain?" Lt. Hannighan's voice questioned.
"Yes?"
"What do you hope to accomplish today, as you talk with him?"
"..." A few silent moments when by, as Captain Wisla stopped on the deck. "I'm--- I'm going to talk to him about her."
"Oh. Captain... What do you think he'll say about it?"
"I'm not sure. He'll probably tell me to let her know about everything.-- let's just go." Captain Wisla said, starting to walk to where Lt. Forrester was waiting for the two.
"Good afternoon, Captain Wisla," Sophia smiled, friendly. "Lt. Hannighan."
"Lt. Forrester." Lt. Hannighan nodded.
"It's been a while, Lt." Captain Wisla said.
After about 5 seconds of silence, Sophia, Alison and Madeline slightly giggled, unprofessionally. "It's wonderful to see you both. Alex is waiting for you, Madeline." Sophia told her, as they started to file into the ship.
Madeline looked at Alison, and before they knew it, they were stopped in front of the bridge's door. "Would you rather talk to Tatiana first? Or Alex?"
"Well... I do wonder how Tatiana will react." Madeline flipped her long, light brown hair behind her shoulder on the right side.
"Maybe she'll be optimistic in seeing her sister." Sophia smiled.
"Yes. Maybe she'll be happy to see you for a changed." Alison added.
"I think I'll talk to Alex first." Madeline said, calmly.
"We'll be in my quarters." Sophia and Alison then disappeared.
Madeline swallowed and then stood up straight, fixing her dark red and white uniform. She knocked on the steel door with her white gloved fist. She heard a half mumbled, "yes?" and then walked in.
Alex was in his captain's chair, staring at nothing until he saw Madeline's figure enter the room. Being a gentleman, Alex stood up and slightly bowed before her. "Captain Madeline Catrina Wisla..." He talked after he had stood up straight. "My, my... you're a captain now. It only too you, what? About four months, five tops?"
Madeline nodded slightly and quietly giggled. "Five and a half months. Thanks."
"Oh. Excuse me. Five and a half months." He kept a straight face and bland tone.
"Alex," Madeline started. "You haven't changed one bit."
Alex's eyes scanned her body, from head to toe, and then they came back up to her head and face. "You have. I can see."
Madeline's cheeks turned slightly pink. "Alex..."
Alex sat back down in his chair as Madeline walked to stand in place in front of him. "So... Sophia tells me that you want to talk about the one thing in your life that you keep putting off on your parents; every time you must leave on your ship again.."
"Alex..." Madeline began, softly. "I know that I shouldn't leave her at my parents' house every time I have to do something. I know.- I wish I could take her with me so I can teach her what it's like to have a real mother; a loving mother.- I know I haven't been there in the past. But, neither has her father." She kept her eye contact with Alex for a moment then broke it with a blink.
The room stayed silent for about five minutes and then Alex stood up from his chair. "We're going to get her so you and your daughter can be together. Be prepared. Tomorrow morning I am taking you to your parents'."
Madeline's eyes got wider. "Alex?"
But he didn't answer. He sat back down. Madeline on the other hand walked out.
"How rude of him! Ordering me around!" She muttered quietly as she walked down the hallway and then started to descend to the next, lower, level. On the new hallway, she could hear the giggling of two girls and the laughter of a boy. The door was open the their room, and as Madeline came to it, she was able to see the three kids.
"Lavi! You're so funny!" The youngest girl said, through a fit of giggles.
"No! I'm not as funny as sleepy head over here!" Lavi ruffled Claus's hair.
"HEY!" Claus moved away from Lavi's hands.
Madeline smiled to herself from outside the door and then continued down the hallway.
Claus, Lavi and Al briefly saw Madeline's figure and they knew instantly, from the different color of the uniform, she was someone they'd never met before.
"Claus?... Lavi?... Who was that?" Al asked them both.
"I dunno, Al.- Lavi? Do you know who that was?"
"I think she's from the ship that's been allowed on board." Lavi said, standing up and looking outside the door and Madeline's retreating figure.
"Oh yeah.- I wonder what they want anyway." Claus stood up also.
"I think.." Lavi began as she closed the door. "That that lady knows the Captain more than we think."
"How did you come to that conclusion, Lavi?" Claus inquired.
"It's just a feeling I have." Lavi sat down on the bottom bunk bed.
Al got up and joined Lavi as Claus continued to stand, looking at Lavi. "I dunno. We can't really tell until we find out for ourselves. Can we?"
Lavi smiled at him. "No. We really can't."
Now arriving at Sophia's room Madeline knocked on the wall that surrounded the door frame.
"Come in." Sophia answered to the sound.
"Hey." Madeline smiled as she slowly walked in.
"So," Alison began. "How'd it go?"
"Well..." Madeline took a deep breath. "It was better, and shorter than I expected it to be.- We talked about it. He--he--he told me tomorrow we're setting course to my parents' location so we can get."
"What?- Are you serious?" Sohpia stood up straight; her eyes wider.
"Yes." Madeline nodded.
"Wow." Alison was definitely surprised also. "That's -well- that's a quite different tune Alex seems to be singing lately."
"He's only thinking to how he's feeling. He must be falling in love all over again." Sophia eyed Madeline.
"Again?" She voiced as Sohpia's eyes watched her still.
No more words were said until a new comer to the room showed her young face. "Lieutenant Forrestor... I-" Tatiana had started, but saw her sister. It was like her voice just left her.
"Tatiana?" Sophia questioned her momentary silence.
Tatiana shook the thought. "Sorry. I'll return later."
"Don't leave." Sophia 'ordered'.
"Yes Tatiana. PLEASE. Don't leave." Madeline voiced.
"Why? So you can question me of my life, what's been going on, then leave for four or five months again?" Tatiana asked, straight faced.
"Tatiana!" Madeline began. "Watch who you're talking to!"
"You're not MY captain-"
"No. But I am." Alex's voice came from behind Tatiana.
Tatiana's eyes were wide was she turned around, stood up straight and stayed quiet.
"You will respect her and act just as you do me.- You will report to her as though she is your other captain. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, Captain." Tatiana said, and only those came form her mouth.
"You're dismissed."
Tatiana left in a hurry.
Madeline looked to Alex. "Thank you." But he simply left the room.
"Well, Alex isn't ever one to bare his emotions, but I will admit," Sophia had started. "He has been slightly showing some emotions in the past hour."
Madeline giggled. "It can't be because I'm here. Believe me."
"Well, just don't worry." Sophia assured her. "Come on. I'll show you to Tatiana's room. You'll be staying there, I presume?"
"Yes. That way my sister will have to talk to me." Madeline joked.
Then, after another smile from Sophia, Madeline was lead to Tatiana's room, where Tatiana was sitting on her bed reading. She looked up upon hearing people enter her territory and stood up, at attention to Sophia and Madeline. She saluted them.
"At ease." Sophia said softly. Tatiana went back to what she was doing. "Tatiana. Madeline and yourself will be sharing your room until she leaves. That's not a huge problem is it?"
"No. It's not." Tatiana answered, straight forward.
"Alright. I'll bring your dinner by later. Until then!" Sophia exited, leaving the two Wisla offspring to talk, or just sit in silence.
Please bare with me people! I know I probably suck at LE FFs, but this is my first one! Please R&R.
