ANother chapter that not only inserted itself into my narrative then quadrooubple. and now then i couldn't bear to split. Rude. also say bye to fellas for a while. after this its time for some girl talk (finally!)

Twenty-six hours ago, Mackrell (Travis, the slightly younger) was being sent on an errand like a school boy. Mostly to get him out of the Commander's hair. And more importantly so he wasn't privy to the real reason Stingray had returned early from routine under a 'bright star' alert. Mackrell left without argument, but with an unguarded smug sneer at the stood-at-ease captain. The feeling was mutual.

"Well. What really happened out there, Tempest?" Commander Shore demanded. "Is Marina okay?"

Troy hummed, trying to think of the right description. "She's -"

"Hold on". Fisher interrupted with the diver's sign and a wave, pointing at the door. (It was a really good impression of the currently absent mergirl.)

The commander stared at him as if he'd gone mad. Troy however nodded, tossing his cap on the desk. Then carried on talking as commanded but started repeating off the mission debrief he'd already just given. While quietly walking to the door.

And suddenly opened it with a loud, "Hey!"

Mackrell was on the other side, his ear to where the door had been and looking like a startled lobster in the headlights.

"Beat it Travis!"

"No one likes a spy." Fisher added.

"Mackrell, I gave you an order! Now get the heck out of here before I bump you all the way back down to a cadet!" The commander growled. The corporal did indeed beat it.

"Lousy punk. Alright, alright good call, Fisher." He admitted then turned back to the captain, "Okay Troy let's try that again. Where's Marina and what actually happened out there?"

Troy explained as best as he could.

"then We got her into a bunk on board Stingray and called in." He finished. "She came too real quickly thank goodness. But even still Marina wasn't looking too well. Again. In hindsight sir, we shouldn't have sailed."

Shore gave a grunt of agreement but didn't interrupt.

"In fact, Phone's called me last night saying she'd skipped out on their plans to go swimming. Not long after you called me."

"No, that's definitely out of character. But she still came into work today. And didn't say she wasn't well." The Commander grumbled.

"We asked her if she was okay and Marina said she was." Troy said. "And then-."

"And then later she crashed out on you. Yeah, I got the picture. Where's she now?"

"last time I saw Marina she was laying up in the dock med bay. Phones' is heading back to check on her." Troy replied. "Or check she's still there. The nurse wouldn't let us stay with her but they said they'd call the doctor if need be. Marina didn't want to go to the hospital."

"which is understandable." the commander sympathised. "But if something like this happens again I'll make it an order she does."

"I appreciate that sir." Troy replied. "I mean I don't think Marina will. But I do. So does Phones."

"Travis Ay Mackrell, what the heck are you doing there?!"

"Speak of the devil." The commander snorted at the shout outside swinging his chair around. The other door into the control room opened. And a hurried hoof of feet went the other way, as a rather cross lieutenant came in.

"Well Phones?"

"Commander, did you know that guy's just been lurking outside?" Phones said appalled still holding the door open, probably checking Mackrell had gone. "Kid had his ear to the door and everything!"

Fisher, two years Mackrell's junior, gave a noise that made it very clear his thoughts on Travis the jumped-up weasel. And groaned "He'll tell his brother everything-!"

The captain and commander both ignored them.

"Well?" Troy prompted Phones. It showed their teamwork phones didn't need to ask 'well what.'

"Oh, yeah Marina. Mostly good news. Nurse checked her over. Nothing broken from her fall. No concussion far as the human nurse can see or the AUTO-NURSE can pick up. But They're making her stay there another half hour to be certain. I told marina she might as well take a nap then get something proper to eat. And I'm gonna make sure Marina eats it then takes it easy," he said firmly. Then added. "Well I mean If that's alright with you captain? Commander?"

"yeah yeah permission granted. But do You think that's what it is? Just low blood sugar?" Shore asked.

"Well err no." Phones replied. "I don't sir. But now get this? Marina told me she's fine, and she just forgot to have breakfast this morning." Phones continued in a most disbelieving tone, repeating Marina's signed answers then folded his arms.

"That's why she went, in her words, 'a little dizzy'."

"Yeah and I'm Neptune." The Commander scoffed.

"I don't believe a word of it," Troy agreed. "I mean they gave her a sweet tea, and that helped?"

"and a biscuit." Phones agreed. "And she managed one of them peanut butter protein ration pouches while we were on the way home. But I don't think it was 'just' that."

"I guess that's all She's had to eat today though." Troy sighed. "Possibly even since last night."

"Yep I reckon so."

"Has she been 'forgetting' lunch and dinner too?" Shore asked.

"I guess so commander. I mean, we've had skints before of being too busy to catch a break or to eat. And Marina's managed those before. To keel over while we're on an even keel? She's not well sir." Troy said. "I thought she was going to pass out again when we came back on the home stretch."

"And she nearly did as we got her up out the airlock." Phones agreed, Looking at the floor. And his voice was real quiet and sombre. "She just went down like a puppet with its strings cut the first time, sir. No warning. We didn't catch her in time."

"We Should have caught her. And We shouldn't have sailed." Troy repeated.

"Maybe but beating yourselves up over it isn't going to help any one!" The commander told them firmly.

"Marina's responsible for looking after herself too. Not to be harsh on the girl when she's in the sick bay; but It's every member of the wasp's duty to keep one another safe. And that includes deeming themselves fit or unfit for work. Do I make myself clear?"

There were three rounds of yes sir.

"Marina doesn't eat when she's nervous either." Fisher added throwing his oar in. "That could factor into it?"

"You mean, Marina ain't eating 'cos something's eating her?" Phones asked.

The commander scowled harder at him for that.

"That's not funny Phones-!"

"I wasn't trying to be-!"

"And Oink has been really quiet all week," Fisher carried on, "so I don't think she's leaving the house much? Save for work."

"She's not socialising." Troy agreed and declared. "with respect sir, Marina's not coming on the next patrol until I'm satisfied she's better and fit for action."

"Understood. If you hadn't made that call Captain, I would have. I agree with Phones. If she ain't suitably recovered to go back out, Marina's to take the rest of shift off. Either you escort her home or she can wait in the standby lounge for you two to finish, whichever she'll agree too. Personally, I'm inclined to let her stay in the sick bay where we know she'll have no choice but to look after herself for a bit if she wants to avoid a full hospital visit." The Commander said.

Then his face softened. Not in a good way mind.

"Guess That makes two of them then." He grumbled, somewhat enigmatical. "Again."

"two?" Troy asked. The others were just as puzzled, Fisher included. "What do you mean commander?"

"Well … you might as well hear it from me." The commander sighed. "You might have gathered with that corporal chatterbox being in the tower that Lieutenants Shore's elsewhere today?" They nodded. And the Shore dropped the real surprise on them. "But, Atlanta isn't just late again or with the tracking department today. I've signed her off sick for the day."

Troy baulked. "Off sick?!"

"She that bad?" Phones asked wincing.

"I haven't ever known her willingly use a sick day before." Fisher agreed.

"It wasn't exactly willing. And no, not a whole one." Her father confirmed. "Not if she can help it."

Troy pulled himself together at least.

"Is this about last night sir? You said she had a headache."

"Yeah well she did? I came home when she should have been out with you. 'Stead she was home and she wasn't alright. I called you. Then me and Atlantla, we had words." Shore huffed defensively, folding his arms and leaning back in his seat.

" Atlanta Finally admitted she's not feeling a hundred percent. That's as good as I got." He explained. "and it's down to something making her so stressed she's been in a funk and can't sleep. So, then Atlanta's getting sick and more stressed and then sleeping worse? She's been stuck in a vicious circle and it's gotten out of control. That's why I made her take the day off…." then grumbled. "Wish I'd done the same for Marina if we're playing a game of 'who should have had the most hindsight' !"

"Did Atlanta say what's up?" Troy pressed, getting really worried now. "What was making her so tired?"

"Nah she didn't." the commander lied. Then hinted. "Only Said it Ain't her problem to share."

"So it is between the two of them girls!" Troy concluded.

"You reckon?" Phones said. "How'd you figure that?"

"Well if not, it's a really big coincidence? For Marina to be not taking care of herself? And Atlanta to be sick. For them both to be so out of sorts at the same time. Wait. Wait a second." Troy replied then realised. " Ain't her problem. That's what she told me-! Why didn't I think of that before?!"

"What are you talking about Troy?" Shore complained.

"That's what Atlanta said, sir! To me in the car when I drove her home. She said that same thing to me the night after Captain Tides' retirement bash." Troy explained. "We went out. She seemed a little quiet. And when I asked her what was up she said she couldn't tell me. She said word for word 'that it wasn't her problem to share'."

"Why in thunder didn't you mention that sooner?!" The commander snapped, almost taking out Phones shin as he swung his chair around. "We could have had this whole farce resolved nipped in the bud and sorted by now!"

"I didn't realise it was linked." Troy sulked.

"After Tides' party? But- but Captain, that was ages ago?" Fisher asked.

Phones nodded puzzled.

"Two weeks, nearly three." He said. " What goes on?"

"I don't know." Troy replied a tad dramatically. "But it's worse than we thought!"

"Alright let's not panic over a piece of new information." The commander instructed.

"Now Listen up. No one is to tell Atlanta about Marina's fainting. Or the second near passing out. And no one is to mention to Marina that Atlanta's off sick today. That includes you Fisher."

"Is that wise sir?" Fisher asked.

"I don't want any more worries on either of them, you smart Alec! That's an order!"

"You saw Atlanta the card game the other night after Marina bailed." Phones said sadly.

"And how when Atlanta didn't turn in to work on time Tuesday and was a bit off with everyone, Marina was on edge." Troy concluded in agreement. "It was the same this morning when you were manning Stingrays launch rather than Atlanta."

"Exactly." The commander said. "And I want everyone to keep the Mackrell brothers away from Marina and Atlanta! And keep the girls from hearing any rumours."

"I just mean-" Fisher tried. "We're gonna have a hard time with that, sir. You know what this place is like for gossip?"

"He's right." Phones agreed reluctantly. "I've already heard three different versions of what went on downstairs when we got back to the pen! And I was the one who helped her out the hatch." He had a real frowning head on.

"But come to think of it, both of the girls are now avoiding us? And each other, aren't they? Will that make it easier or harder?"

"Hm. Now you mention it I don't think either of them have spoken properly since the party…well bar tidying up after it. They were fine at the party itself. Nothing happened then as far as I know. And in the morning." Troy nodded.

"Did something happen then Captain?" Fisher asked.

"You'd have known if you hadn't been so hungover." Troy cut, kind of unfairly. Fisher blushed.

"What happened in that conference room anyway?" the commander asked. "There was a heck of a racket and I don't think I ever got a straight answer out of anyone, least of all Atlanta."

"The girls knocked the ladder over between them and both got a fright."

"That's it?" Shore said disbelievingly. "Did anything else happen? Before that?"

"Well I wasn't actually there." Troy shrugged and explained he'd been out with the car plus a coffee order at the time. And turned to Phones.

"Nothing much." The lieutenant said. "We'd packed up most the more important decs like the ones we'd borrowed. Atlanta was sorting the others, Marina was getting the paper flowers down, I was hoovering up and that was when Atlanta spotted Marina had a streamer caught about her ankle and skirts; but I think Marina jumped when Atlanta helped her? Then the thing with the ladder. Marina had a bit of- I don't know what to call it. Not a panic attack as such but she froze up. But she was just spooked I think, she calmed down quick."

"Did she now? Hmm." The commander was for a moment lost in thought looking out the window. T
hen he turned back to the meeting.

"Alright gentlemen; As discussed, Operation Uncover. I'm officially putting it in motion. Either we resolve whatever this issue is ourselves," (he swept his hand vaguely),
"or work out a way for Atlanta and Marina to resolve their differences without it seeming like we're interfering. I'm more inclined to follow that path personally."

There was a murmur of both agreement and disagreement. The commander was not happy to say the next bit however.

"If it can't be fixed for whatever reason…well then, for the good of the WASPs and our work, a department reshuffle or crew change may be in order."

The credible threat hung in the air; but bar a gulp and a knitting of eyebrows, the aquanauts stood resolute.

Shore continued. "I'm aware no one wants that… But as a commander I'm afraid I must put the running of Marnieville first. We cannot have personal issues making for unreliable personal. Regardless of relation. I want the crew and this team back to functioning units as soon possible. That's an order. That and this stress not sleeping or eating can't be healthy for either of them. understood?"

"Yes sir."

"Yes sir."

"Yeah but sir how?"

"I've no idea. You boys can work that out. You're normally good at thinking of things on the fly." The commander dismissed. Then offered them a helpline at least. "I'm going to alter the rota for tomorrow. Atlanta's already on a split, so I plan to extend her off duty. Providing they both fit for work, I'll adjust it so it's the same for Marina. Albeit on the grounds she has breakfast. But it might be the chance we need. then somehow you've got to get them in the same place at the same time and keep them there."

"Then what sir?" Troy Asked.

"then We give them an hour. Then check in to make sure they are talking." He said, as if it was his best idea; And then, like it might instead be his worst added. "Or check to make sure that they haven't had a real fall out and gone for each other…"

holiday season means my updates are worse then normal, as per. if i don't see you's befor then happy whatever in you celebrations and lot of love an light you way

but also next chapters...? banten down the hatches it could get ugly.