"That's two of them." Phones had frowned, unbeknown to her as the hallway door closed."I feel like something's mighty wrong. And not just a bug going around."

"With Marina and Atlanta?" Fisher clarified. The others nodded, finally clocking onto the fact something definitely wasn't right.

"I know what you mean. Something's up." Troy agreed. "I just can't put my finger on what. But I don't like it."

"Me neither. It's been 'up' all week now I think about it." Phones said. "Least that's I reckon, maybe longer."

"Girl stuff trouble maybe?" Fisher suggested. Phone hummed in a maybe fashion. Both with a rather accusatory (and slightly unfair nowadays) look at Troy. Troy's terrible poker face was no none existent.

"No! I mean no. no I think it's something bigger. You notice neither of them want to seem to do anything outside of work? Marina's off colour. And Atlanta's not been herself. And now they're both awol." Troy scowled. Then turned to his senior officer.

"Has Atlanta been like this at home too Sir?"

"Yeah…" For a moment the gruff tuff stern head of the Wasps for all his medals and power, was just Samuel Shore. A side they (especially Fisher) didn't see all too often, not even in the down time. A guy named Sam who was currently worried about the best thing that ever happened to him.

"She's pacing about the place. Then staring into space. The other day I caught Atlanta at her piano. But literally just sat there, not playing it at all!"

"But that thing's her baby." Troy frowned.

"Save that cat." Phones agreed. Then suddenly yelped. As if hearing him being referred to, Candy (who'd been chilling under the table chewing Troy's aglets off his shoelaces) had now pounced on one of Phone's loafers with his feet still in them and attacked with vigour. "Hey now! Cut that out!"

"Yeah, that animal's getting spoiled worse than ever, too!" the commander shrugged, unbothered. He opened a compartment in his hover chair, and pulled out a stuffed mouse. He jiggled and jingled it a couple of times to get the cat's attention then tossed it across the room for the beast to savage. "Get out of it, mutt. Blasted thing's been getting carried around like a darn teddy bear."

"I hate seeing her like this." The commander continued as Candy shot off after his prey.

"Either of them for that matter, what with Marina and all. but I'm starting to get real worried about Atlanta. You know Marina's not be over at all either recently?" the fella's Shook their heads surprised. "It ain't right. And Atlanta ain't chatty or her usual self. Pains me to admit it but I don't know what's up with her."

His face was clouded over, until his gaze fell back at the table. Then added. " And Tempest, you're actually winning tonight? What the heck goes on around here?"

"Wow somthings definitely wrong." Phones agreed. Troy sulked, scooping up his new pile of chips.

"We need to fix this." Troy insisted. "I don't care how but we need a plan. And fast.

"But what Troy?"

"Yeah how?" Fisher asked.

"We'll think of something," he said. Meaning he'd make something up on the fly.

"Whatever it is: Count me in." the commander agreed. "She's all I got. Anyway… Got any sevens?"

"Go Mechanical Fish."

But Atlanta didn't hear that bit…

I swear there's the hearts to hearts coming. I just love writing interactions so much.