Now we are almost approaching the end of the exposition faze. I hope my writing hasn't bored you to much so you've continued this far.
I'm not a total history person, so if I deviate from actual events that occurred then I'm sorry. As for any questions you may have such as does Alek know she's a girl? When is that battle scene taking place? Is Bruno single or possibly gay?
All will be answered…eventually or not, depends if I know the answer; I just need to remind myself.
And now, some variation in the opening!
Chapter 3
"All right now middies!We are approaching the ports so look lively now and- Wesley fix your barking tie! Emerson pick up your rucksack, I don't want anyone leaving anything behind. If it stays on the ship, then it belongs to the ship!"
Deryn then saluted her men and turned back to Newkirk who had already begun barking orders to the middies chosen to ascend on huxleys and attach the cables.
Despite Deryn's and Newkirk's experience on these said huxley's, it was only proper that the midshipman complete this duty as opposed to the newly appointed officers. Deryn could feel the ship tilt slightly downward as it slowly approached the ground, she placed a hand on her stomach in an attempt to untie the knot that had decided to form inside her.
"Officer sharp, do you care to watch our final dissent?" Deryn turned her head to the sound of Newkirk's voice which was still apparently on shout mode.
"As long as you don't start shouting orders into my attic, I'm all for it" Deryn shot him a small smirk and strode over to Newkirk. He was now casually leaning against the window sill looking out at the passing scenery.
As she approached he made room for her, lightly patting the window with his fingernails.
"Just think Officer Sharp! That's where we'll be in less then an hour."
Deryn look out at the scene, the smudge glass pane was not able to do any justice to London's fine blue skies or larger then life almost silver buildings. She could just make out the docking area, and the surrounding ships that have already landed before her.
Her eyes felt suddenly glued to the ground, an odd sense of longing suddenly filled her, as she felt her eyes drift down shut.
Once she finished wrapping up her now searing hand, Deryn ran towards the trench wall, and using nothing but the strength of her arms and sore legs, she climbed out. Keeping her head and torso as low as possible, she dodged bullets and people. On her right she could hear Germans talking in rushed voices, but she didn't have time to stop to decipher their meaning.
She couldn't believe the Doctors plan was working; the Germans didn't even waste a second glance on her as she ran through their ranks. She did her best not to stand out to much, although her matted blond hair seems to attract unnecessary yet respectful attention.
Apparently, they have a thing for blonds now, lucky me.
Deryn tried her best not to smirk at this thought; instead she focused on running faster.
She could now see the outpost, set up just outside their bloody war machine; the Germans were in complete disarray while their lieutenants tried to restore order. This was perfect for Deryn, she just might be able to sneak pass and head inside the metal tower.
Without communications, and without a general , theirs no way the Germans could win.
The only problem was that Deryn had less then thirty minutes to kill the general and take out the communication tower before it became operational again. And she had already wasted a good portion of her time ducking from bullets and flying shrapnel.
Suddenly Deryn smelled kerosene and gunpowder, she turned quickly only to be met with a large piece of metal engine hauling itself at her. Out of reflexive instinct she ducked, the piece of metal wizzed passed her and hit an unfortunate German solider who stood in its way.
The minor explosion had sent flares and fires along the German flanks, Deryn stood and momentarily watched them burn. She felt bile rise up in her mouth, but she couldn't stop now, she had to keep going.
She had to stop this, and without even a glance backwards she opened her eyes and rushed at the soon to be destroyed tower.
"Officer Sharp, we've hit the ground. Time to disembark!"
Newkirk shook her shoulder, as he pointed to the now open doors of the ship.
"You alright?" He actually sounded concerned, his face filled with bemused worry.
"Quite alright, just a tad distracted."
He nodded understandingly, taking her distraction as some sort of disembarking nerves or something related to it. To her surprise he picked up her fallen rucksack (most likely it had slipped off while she was pondering past moments) and hoisted it up over his other shoulder.
Without saying another word he walked away from her whistling a merry little tune under his breath.
"Oi, you don't have to do that! I can carry my own luggage, I'm not daft you know!"
"Never said you were!" he yelled back at her as he still kept striding forward.
Without delay Deryn did her best to keep pace with him, and before she knew it, she soon found herself outside the ship looking at Newkirk's back growing even more far away.
She was suddenly jarred to a stop as she took in the scenery of the ground and everything else around her, I'm home.
It had been so long since she found herself once again on English ground, the smell of damp soil, rubber, and hydrogen filled her nostrils, never had she been so pleased to smell this combination of scents before.
"Brilliant sight, is it not Officer Sharp?" The captain was now standing beside her, Deryn had not anticipated his approach, but she did her best to suggest otherwise.
"Aye sir, indeed it is" Deryn's response came out almost breathless, perhaps she had inhaled too much hydrogen and it was affecting the workings inside her brain, or possibly the scenery was really getting to her.
"Well, since this is indeed a much appreciated reunion between us and our beloved England, I daresay it's alright to give our final salutes to one another."
Deryn whipped her head around at the man and raise an arched eyebrow a him "But sir, I thought you were disembarking along with the rest of your men? "
"No, at least not quite yet, there is still work that needs to be done Mr. Sharp."
The captains eyes looked almost distant then, Deryn could see the longing in them and knew the pain it was to be so close to someone or something, yet still be thousands of miles away from it.
"If you want sir, I can stay and help with whatever you—"
The captain waved his hand outward and dismissively said "No need Sharp, I'll be enough to handle the situation. Besides what will you say to your mother when she finds you decided to stay on a bit longer?"
Deryn bit her lip, she hadn't thought about that, but now that she has she realizes that her mother would most likely come and drag her away if she got wind of her staying longer then necessary.
"Right…I had forgotten. Well sir, I guess this is a goodbye then, until I see you again when I'm called back to the air."
Deryn held out her hand and smiled, the captain smiled in return and then imitated her gesture, while they shook hands the Captain puffed out his chest and said "It's been an honor having a soldier like you on my ship Officer Sharp."
Deryn couldn't help but grin wider, "It's been an honor serving this ship Captain."
And with that the two saluted each other, and Deryn turned and continued in the direction Newkirk had gone, with the weight of the Leviathan's Captains comment still on her shoulders.
As it turned out Newkirk had decided to wait for Deryn at the entrance of the base, He stood there leaning casually against an iron archway, with both his and Deryn's rucksack on the floor.
"Just how long were intending to keep me waiting?" An annoyed expression was drawn across his face, Deryn felt nothing but amusement for the poor airman.
"As long as needed, I was busy giving my final farewells to the captain. Who seemed rather impressed with me and my actions over the years
"Deryn let a small smirk grace her features.
Newkirk shook his head "You and your fanciful story telling," he muttered under his breath, clearly to used to Deryn's sometimes hyperbolic comments.
Deryn sighed, with nothing left to do but just go home, she approached Newkirk and picked up her marked rucksack off the ground, she positioned the strap firmly over her shoulder while Newkirk watched.
"So I guess this is it…" His voice trailed off, as if he wanted to say more, Deryn didn't know what to say either, so they just both shrugged and headed out into the busy streets of England.
A few cars and carts were passing buy here and there, but there were several people standing along the sidewalk, waiting for a father, brother, cousin, or son to come out and hug them until their arms get sore. Of course, Deryn's family would still be at home in Scottland, Deryn didn't want them to come and make a huge fuss that could potentialy reveal her secret.
Deryn turned toward Newkirk, knowing that his family wasn't here either, yet she still didn't know what to say to him, what can you say to someone who has watched your back since you met them?
"Look, Newkirk…whatever happens…keep in touch, and don't do anything to stupid, alright? I want to see you again the next time we join the barking service."
Deryn looked at him straight in the eyes, trying to do her best to convey in as manly-ish way as possible just what their friendship meant to her.
Newkirk seemed to understand, so he stepped forward and hugged her like a brother, close and almost warm.
"Don't worry, I'll see you soon enough. Your train doesn't leave for another two days right? So then just meet me at the pub down on Sherry Street on Wednesday at seven. We'll have one last shout before we have to go back home to our mum's."
Deryn pulled away from him and smiled, even though she was a little sad to see him go, "Alright, see you then."
They both then turned and walked away from each other, she knew he was still partially looking at her, but she didn't want to turn around again, it would make the goodbye all the more difficult.
As she walked down the cobbled stoned street while pushing past the awaiting citizens, each one checking her face to make sure she wasn't their relative. When almost by accident she spotted a long black and very posh car, parked along the cub of the sidewalk, a man was standing just outside it holding up a sign with the words Dylan Sharp written in clear black ink.
At first Deryn felt confused, she had absolutely no idea who had sent this car, her mother perhaps? But that wouldn't make any sense, nor could it have been anyone else she was related to. No one had this much money to rent a car for the sole purpose of driving her to the small inn she was planning to stay in.
Deryn could either avoid the car entirely and risk offending whoever it was inside, or she could approach and risk the danger of getting inside an unknown vehicle. She chose the later, if it is someone unknown, at least she'll get a free ride to the inn.
She approached the car with trepidation, still not trusting the vehicle or its occupant if it had one. The man holding the signed, turned and looked at her, he was and old man with round glasses and a fairly large mustache with added white sideburns. He was dressed as if going to a wedding, but really even Deryn could tell he was just a Butler, no real posh person would hold up a sign in public like this.
"Dylan Sharp?" he asked with a kind expression on his face, Deryn gave a swift nod and asked
"Sorry, I don't seem to recognize you, who are you?"
He gives a curt bow, and with a somewhat German or possible Austrian accent he says
"I am Bruno, here to serve Officer sharp for his services to the British crown."
Deryn was completely taken aback, and still partly confused,
"When you say serve…what exactly does that mean?"
He stands up straight again, looking Deryn directly in the eyes;
"My master wishes that I drive you to your destination."
Deryn sighs, apparently she needs to be more specific, while riding in posh cars is fun and all, I really would like to know whose car it is.
"Who is your…master?
"Why the Lord himself officer Sharp." He says this in a completely casual tone that the meaning doesn't hit Deryn until later. The lord! The lord Churchill? Barking spiders! Why would he do this? Has he found out at last?
A million questions buzz through Deryn's head, the main one being why?
She knew then she could not say no to Bruno, or escape the situation. If only she hadn't been daft enough to come running to the first sign she see's with her name on it.
She took a deep breath and fixed her eyes on the door as she nodded to Bruno, he took that as a sign of confirmation to open the passenger door. Deryn raised her head, knowing that whatever was waiting for her in there, she would just have to face it.
Bruno then held out his hand and picked up Deryn's rucksack, which had conveniently fallen to the floor when she heard the news, he quickly put it in the trunk or the car while Deryn slid inside, not bothering to take notice of the equally expensive interior.
Once she felt the engine rumble before her and the car start to move forward, did she then look up and examine her situation. When quite suddenly to her left she heard a voice;
" Well that was easier then expected."
That voice. Deryn knew that voice, she had spent countless hours trying to remember it, and its mellow low hum and slightly tinted accent. A voice that warmed her insides and sent an absurd amount of electricity through her body, making it tingle and fidget all over. It took all the limited will power she had left to not jump out of her seat.
As fast as her neck would allow she turned her head to the direction of the one man that could have caused this reaction from her. Alek.