Um...Did I offend anyone last week? Since I posted the last chapter I've had nagging feeling I did.
Hmm.
Okay, I'll think about that later.
In the meantime, here's the latest chapter. Just tying up the loose ends, and setting the scene for LoAS,hence the title.
LOOSE ENDS
Gregorio slammed his fist down angrily on table, startling the other Admirals.
"HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO HIM?" he roared, "HE'S ONE OF THE MOST DISTINGISHED OFFICERS IN THE NAVY! YOU SHOULD BE PROMOTING HIM NOT KICKING HIM ONTO THE SIDEWALK!"
Galcian did not look impressed at Gregorio's outburst.
"While it is true Commander Meridian has done outstanding work while in the service of the Empire. With the loss of his right arm he is of no use to us."
"THE MAN ALMOST DIES IN THE NAME OF THE EMPIRE AND YOU'RE THROWING HIM BACK INTO LOWER CITY?" Gregorio was outraged, "WHY NOT JUST GIVE HIM AN ARTIFICAL ONE?"
"His arm has been severed just below the elbow," Deloco smirked, "So far we haven't been able to create an arm that small."
"There must be something we can do?" Gregorio looked distraught, "Can't we give him another job, a house in Upper City. He doesn't deserve to go back down into that Cess Pit."
"Perhaps he won't have too,"
The five Admiral's looked up at the doorway to see their new guest.
"You're late Admiral Rodriguez," Galcian growled, "Not a good thing to do for you're first meeting as head of the Sixth Fleet."
Belleza bowed, "Forgive me my Lord, but I was talking with Prince Enrique and the Empress about Commander Meridian,"
A flurry of murmurs flew around the table as Galcian raised an eyebrow, "Go on,"
"Well sir, I was recently informed that Jeffery Pang, the current Personal Servant to the Royal Family, has requested retirement. I suggested that Carlos could take the job. He's more then capable, and He'll make sure his lose of limb won't hinder him. The Empress took him up on it immediately.
"WHAT!" Alfonso stood up in alarm, "HE'S THE NEW PERSONAL SERVENT? BUT…BUT THAT MEANS HE'S…HE'S…"
"He is now the Fourth most powerful man in Valua," Belleza said with a smirk, casting a knowing glance at Gregorio, "superseded by the Empress, Prince Enrique and Lord Admiral Galcian of course."
"HEY!" Alfonso looked indignant, "What about me?"
Belleza flashed a small smile, "You're an Admiral, Alfonso. Until and unless you rise to the throne, Carlos now has power over you."
Alfonso looked as though he had swallowed a bottle of vinegar as he held his neck, wishing he hadn't done all those things in the Academy.
Belleza smiled as she took her place among the stunned Admiral's she looked at each of them in turn, before her eyes fell on Admiral Mackenzie.
He smiled at her, a warm and compassionate smile, before looking down the table at Galcian as he began to speak.
Belleza continued to stare at him for a little while after that, not being able to shake off the feeling, that he was going to play a major role in her life from now on.
Three hours later Daniel sat in his office in the Grand Fortress, going over a letter he had found on his desk, a letter from Piastol.
It had been ordered to be delivered to him in the event of her death. It wasn't very long, but it did stress one thing:
I don't want you to revert to as you were ten years ago. Start life anew. Settle down, find someone who makes you happy, like you made me happy.
Daniel sighed as he read the letter again, only to be pulled out of his thoughts by a knock at the door.
"Come,"
The door opened wide, revealing the newest Admiral of the Fleet.
He smiled warmly as she entered, "Ah, Admiral, come in." He stood up as she entered, "What do I owe the pleasure?"
Belleza smirked, "For starters you can call me Belleza. We're alone, there're no other officers or crew around. I assume I can call you Daniel?"
Daniel held his hands up, "I don't mind, as long as we're not in public," he said with a grin as he sat down again, "Now, as I said before, what do I owe the pleasure?"
"It's about…Captain Desoto," Belleza started to look uncomfortable as his grin faded, "I just came to give you my condolences. She was a fine officer,"
Daniel smiled as though he was far off, "Yes she was, and a good…friend," he pulled himself out of his thoughts, "I believe congratulations are in order for you though Belleza? Not only were you promoted to Admiral, you're the first to command the Sixth Fleet. Not only that, you managed to swindle the Admiralty out of kicking a good officer onto the street. I'm impressed."
"He was a good officer," Belleza smirked, "And still is, deep down,"
Daniel returned the gesture, "Well, that I will agree with you on. He is a fine officer. A little mouthy and can have a wit sharp enough to cut the Andromeda in two but a good officer all the same."
A silence passed between the two as they looked at each other.
Daniel suddenly glanced up at the clock on the wall behind him, before turning back to Belleza, the smile back on his face, "Can I interest you in Dinner?" He offered, "I'd like to hear more about you and Carlos if that's alright?"
Belleza smiled as he came round the desk, before slipping her arm through his.
"I'd like that," she said as she noticed with great satisfaction that he didn't resist, "Dinner sound good."
And so they left together, arm in arm, talking happily about anything and everything, leaving the letter abandoned on the desk, it's request partly completed.
"Lord Meridian?"
Carlos winced slightly at the title. A month had gone by since the end of the war. He now lived comfortably in the old house of Jeffery Pang, who had sadly died only a few days after his retirement. In his will, he had left everything to Prince Enrique, who in turn gave it to Carlos.
So now Carlos lived in this large house, with his one arm, his cushy and high ranking job, his title, James, his butler, and his staff.
James was a middle aged gentleman with a large heart, and Carlos treated him with far more respect then Pang had.
He now had a title, despite disliking it when his own staff called him "Lord Meridian," it was a major step up from calling him "Master Carlos," which had made him feel worse.
"Yes James what is it?" he asked with a smile as the Butler came in,"
"I beg your pardon my lord (another wince) but this was found on the doorstep, it's addressed to you,"
Carlos raised an eyebrow in surprise. It was a large parcel, wrapped in silver cloth, with his name apparently stitched into the material.
Gently taking it from James, Carlos carefully unwrapped it and let the content fall onto his lap.
The butler and master gasped.
It was an arm.
Or to be more precise, half a arm, for it ended at roughly where the bottom of the elbow would be.
It looked like his other arm, it had the same shape and structure, but it was iron grey in colour. Running along the strange object were four burning white lines; one on the top, one on the bottom, and two on either side.
The line on the top and bottom of the arm seemed to stretch right to the centre of the hand, before segmenting and flowing up the three middle fingers, while the two lines on the right and left went up over the top of his thumb and little finger, before going over and meeting the lower line in the middle of his palm.
"Quite extraordinary," James whispered in awe, before noticing something else, "Oh look sir a note."
Carlos blinked in surprise as he picked up the note from the floor. It was written on silvery paper and went like this:
Dear Carlos (It began)
We heard you lost your arm in a recent battle and decided to present you with this. It will work exactly like the old one, but we suggest you hide it under a glove as it will raise suspicions.
May the Silver Moon Light your way.
Carlos frowned at the letter, before slowly unpinning his right sleeve.
With James help, he slowly rolled up his sleeve, before gently moving the arm towards his own.
The moment they touched, everything happened.
The arm and Carlos seemed to fuse together, the four lines shooting up his sleeve and stopping at his heart before disappearing.
Carlos looked at the joint with amazement. It was as though his arm seamlessly blended with the replacement, and it felt as though he could move his fingers again.
"Who do you think sent it Sir?" James asked as Carlos flexed his fingers.
"I don't know James," Carlos looked out of the window at the stormy sky, "But whoever sent, Boy, am I thankful."
There we go.
Nearly done.
I'd just like to take a moment to thank everyone who reviewed this story (or stories if you know what I mean.) Especially Desert Lynx, who reviewed from day one, and fightingcomet, who started soon after. thanks to you, this has become one of my greatest fics I've ever written, and without getting mushy, I am very gratful for your "help."
The next chapter is a sort of like a pirate and a servent. It's another extract from LoAS. Speaking of which, I've decided to start posting that on the 30th of November. This will give me time to add a few more chapters (It's still not finished, I haven'yt even got to Yahfutoma yet.) As well as work on some other fics.
Anyway, Thanks again, and see ya soon.