Sky. Sky, sky, and more sky. That was all he ever saw. Sky and clouds. Which was why, as Claus Valca stared out the window, he was surprised at seeing something – he was not sure what – becoming larger and larger on the horizon. He tilted his head and focused, and it looked to be in the shape of a star. A Guild starfish? Maybe.
"Claus? What are you looking at?" The shy, gentle voice put a small smile on his face as he turned around and said to Al,
"Nothing. I thought I saw something, but I'm not sure," he said, and she blinked.
"Oh. Okay." She turned around and said,
"I was just seeing what you were doing. See you later, Claus."
"Bye, Al."
"Captain."
"Mm."
"There seems to be an enemy Guild ship approaching."
Alex Rowe's eyes snapped open at the word "Guild." He looked at his vice captain quickly, then looked away.
"Shoot it down."
"Yes—" she started, then paused. "It seems to be giving a cease-fire signal, sir." Alex lapsed into silence for a moment, then he said,
"All right, then. Send someone to go see what it wants."
"Yes, sir. I'll have Tatiana go look." Alex rested his head on his forehead, turning his attention away from Sophia.
The Guilder won several stares as he was led through the hangar and into the upper parts of the Silvana. He ignored them and kept his gaze on the girl leading him. There was a message tube clenched tightly in his hand.
Sophia walked up to Tatiana.
"He says he wishes to speak to the captain, ma'am," Tatiana told her. She nodded and said,
"The captain said that he'd like to talk with him anyway, so…" Tatiana nodded and gestured to the Guilder. He nodded and followed Sophia. She stopped and knocked on a door.
"Captain, the Guilder wishes to speak with you."
"Let him in." Sophia opened the door and he walked in. He stood before Alex and said slowly,
"I have a message for you from the Maestro."
"Mm." He handed it to him, and Alex opened the message tube and scanned it quickly. He gave a sort of half-gasp, his eyes widening a bit, and went back and read it more closely.
"She wishes for her reply as soon as possible." Alex lapsed into silence, then he looked up at the Guilder and said slowly,
"What is your name?"
"Adonis."
"Adonis, tell the Maestro to give me a while to think about it."
"All right." Without further conversation, Adonis strode out and past Sophia. She watched him leave, then tentatively knocked on the closed door again and said,
"Captain?"
"What?" She paused. He sounded stressed.
"Are you all right?"
"Yes." He said it hurriedly, as if he didn't want to talk to her. She sighed and replied softly,
"All right, then." With that, she turned around and left.
Things were about to get more complicated, she was sure of it…