Amelia stared into her drink which was a dark purple, something Fae had ordered. She sighed grateful that Fae hadn't ordered her the bright orange drink which Fae had in her hand as she wandered over to a group of males in the corner. Amelia sat in a booth, silver earrings dangling from her ears and dressed in black pants and blue V-neck top.
"C..c..captain!" Amelia looked up as she saw one of her crewman. He was extremely tall, green skinned, and had long tail flexible tail that whipped around nervously behind him. His four yellow eyes darted to and fro.
"No formalities here, Knil. Why don't you have a seat, Fae has abandoned me." Knil grinned.
"Fae is here?" He slid into the booth across from Amelia.
"How's your wife and daughter, Knil?" Knil smiled, pleased that she had remembered.
"Wonderful. Leah is ten and enjoying school, and Deidre became a principal last year." Amelia nodded and sipped her drink. Her face filled with surprise as she discovered she liked it.
"Knil!" Fae came over and greeted him.
"Fae, long time no see. Come over this way, Bane is here." Fae's face lit up.
"Him too? Excellent!" She followed Knil and left Amelia sitting at the booth. Amelia sighed. She shouldn't have let Fae convince her to come out. She finished her drink and beckoned at the waiter for another one, it was going to be a long night.
"You look good Doc. You really do. Come on. This is one of my favorite places." Jim pushed open the door to the bar and led the way inside. Music was playing and it was full of people and crowded. Jim made his way to the counter and ordered. Delbert walked in after him.
"Just grab a stool, Doc." Delbert ungracefully collapsed onto the stool and sighed.Jim handed him a drink and grinned. "Hey look. I know that girl, I met her at the shuttle station. Fae!" He bellowed. Delbert saw an elf look up from where she as chatting with a group of people, grin and walk over.
"So it's you, the boy from the shuttle station." Jim smiled.
"Did you bring your board? I'd love to see it." Fae grinned.
"As a matter of fact, it was the only mode of transportation my friend and I had, so I did. It's outside, come on."
"Be right back, Doc." As they walked out, Delbert sipped his drink, looking to see if there was anybody to talk to.
"Amelia?" Amelia glanced up, smiled, and hugged the person who had spoken her name.
"Jortem!" The Niftlyr grinned. He was slightly taller than Amelia, with purple skin, and instead of ears, he had two long antenna coming out of the top of his heads. They were flexible and they hung down casually one on either side of his head. They could split into seperate pieces and when he lifted them up and spread them out, they almost looking like antlers on a deer. From that, he had amazing hearing. He had six fingers which were longer and much more flexible than any humans, though he had no fingernails.
"It's been a long time Amelia." Amelia nodded. They had been at school together, outcasts, Amelia being female and Jortem being from an unknown race. "I didn't know you hung out at bars. It doesn't suit you."
"No, my first mate said we should go out and I'm stuck here until she falls down from inebriation." Jortem nodded his head bouncing to the music. Amelia had noticed the dance floor and grinned.
"Do you still dance as beautifully as I remember, Amelia?" Amelia laughed.
"I doubt it, though we could give it a try." Jortem laughed and took her hand leading her towards the floor.
Delbert carefully placed the empty glass on the counter and spun around the stool, leaning against the bar. He stared at the throngs of people and his eyes moved towards the dance floor, and he felt his jaw drop. Amelia was on the dance floor with a species he had never seen. The song was upbeat, a new catchy modern tune that she was gracefully twisting, stepping around and moving her arms to the rhythm as if she had known the song all her life. The alien with her was keeping up with every beat, but she was by far the better dancer. They moved through different types of dance, until others around them formed a half circle and just watched.
"Wow, Doc. Check the captain out." Jim reappeared. " I didn't know she could dance."
"Neither did I." Doppler though not a dancer himself knew many types of dance and grabbed Jim's arm to get his attention. " What style are they doing now? I don't know it." Jim's face as full of awe.
"They're doing street dancing also known as "gang beat," I can't ever see the captain hanging out with those people, how does she know their moves? Doc, she's got them down perfectly." As the other dancers realized what style Amelia and Jortem had chosen, they jumped in adding their own moves. Jim laughed and jumped in, though he was careful to avoid Amelia in case she schooled him.
Amelia maneuvered her way off of the dance floor with Jortem following. She smiled at him.
"I haven't danced in public like that for years." Jortem nodded in agreement.
"'Where did you pick up gang beat, Amelia?"
"They like to dance near the docks. I'd watch from my ship and pick up the moves. Of course I alter them to my taste, but remember the originals just in case. And you?"
"My cabin boy knew I used to dance so challenged me because he wanted a raise. He lost, but I gave him it any ways because he taught me the style."
They collapsed into the booth. Amelia regained composure and straightened herself out. When she had finished she turned to Jortem.
"I haven't seen you in years. Where have you been?" Jortem opened his mouth to reply.
"Captain, that, that, that was amazing!" Delbert had made his way through the crowd and gazed at Amelia.
"Yes, she's quite good, isn't she?" Jortem commented.
"You weren't so bad yourself." Amelia laughed. "Ah, excuse me, Doctor. This is..."
"Captain Jortem Angelo Grashtyn of the Ballistic." Jortem cut in, Amelia nodded in agreement. Delbert noticed she didn't react to him cutting her off.
"I know Captain Grashtyn from the Interstellar Academy. Won't you join us, Doctor?" Delbert nodded and took a seat beside Jortem. "How rude of me, Captain. This is Doctor Delbert Doppler, he financed the voyage to Treasure Planet." Jortem nodded and seemed disinterested.
"Perhaps another round of drinks?" Jortem offered and waved to the waiter, not bothering to wait for an answer. the waiter came over and began talking to Jortem. Amelia turned to Delbert.
"What brings you to this neck of the woods, Doctor?" Delbert smiled.
"I could easily ask the same question of you, Jim insisted we go out. And you?"
"An unexpected visitor." Delbert nodded and an awkward silence descended. The waiter walked away. "Jortem, you didn't answer my question from before, what have you been up to?" Amelia pursued. Jortem paused, and glanced at Delbert, Amelia could see his discomfort.
"Well, tomorrow I am heading out on a voyage, I've spent these years searching and mapping unknown planets." Delbert's ears perked up. Amelia watched Jortem, he wasn't willing to tell them all that was happening.
"Isn't that interesting, captain. Tomorrow we set out on voyage to explore parts of the galaxy, past Treasure Planet." Jortem turned to Delbert.
"Past Treasure Planet? You're not..."
"Drinks!" The waiter set his tray down. "The green for the lady, blue for you sir, and I believe the orange is for you." He handed the orange drink to the doctor, whose eyes widened. Amelia frowned at Jortem for split second, who kept his face straight.
"Perhaps a toast?" Delbert who had been inspecting the drink, looked up in horror.
"Toast?" Fae appeared with a red drink in her hand. "I'm in. Captain Grashtyn." She saluted with her free hand. He nodded and raised his glass.
"Don't forget me!" Jim appeared, saluted, and raised his glass.
"To the voyages ahead!" They clinked glasses and as according to navy custom during a toast, knocked back the drinks. Jortem motioned for the doctor to move, and the doctor got out of the booth and stood beside Jim, looking a little green. Jortem looked to Amelia.
"I'll be seeing you, Captain." Amelia nodded. He walked away and out of the bar. Fae grinned.
"Well, I'm out of here." Fae wandered away. Amelia stood up.
"Hawkins!" Jim winced. "Normally I would reprimand you for such behavior before a voyage, but since it seems half the Navy is here, I will let it go. I shall see you tomorrow at 7 hundred sharp. Doctor, I suggest you head home also." Delbert nodded weakly, he had finished the drink, but was leaning on Jim for support.
Amelia left the bar, leaving Jim and Delbert.
"Well, Doc. Who was the guy Amelia was with?"
"An old Navy comrade of hers." Jim noticed Delbert's downcast face.
"Cheer up, Doc. You're coming on the voyage with us, not him. Plus he's off on his own, probably traveling in the complete opposite direction."
"Quite right Jim. Come on, to the Benbow, where your mother will surely scold us.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Outside, Amelia watched Fae warm her board up, catching rays from the moon.
"Amelia." She spun around, angry at being caught unawares. She relaxed when she saw it was Jortem. "I am sorry for my behavior earlier."
"I am not the one to whom you owe an apology, Captain." Amelia's eyes were silver reflecting the light from the moon making her eyes seem like steel. "The doctor is my friend, I do not appreciate you making a mockery out of him."
"How was I making.." Amelia glared at him.
"The drink, the toast, the complete ignorance?"
"I wondered if he meant something to you."
"Don't play mind games with me, Jortem." He flinched under her cold glare, but stood his ground.
"I didn't wait for you here to tease you. The voyage ahead, the doctor mentioned, I trust you have an excellent skilled crew to support you? And I assume Miss Daxon will be First Mate, that comforts me."
"What do you know of the area?" Jortem sighed.
"You will know soon enough. Look to the skies, captain. I'll never be far off. My ship will take off tonight. Give my regards to that doctor of yours." Amelia seethed and Fae landed beside her. "Miss Daxon, watch your captain for me. Don't let her stray into trouble." Fae nodded. "Any kind of trouble at all, Miss Daxon. Amelia, the sky has no limits." He offered her a famous navy good bye line.
"May the stars burn bright for you." She responded automatically with another line. Jortem walked away, Fae jumped on the board, Amelia jumped on behind her. "Home Fae. I've had enough of this night." Fae nodded and the board slowly rose into the air. As they rose up, Amelia could see Jortem in the street watching. His ears were spread out, listening. "I expect I'll see you soon, Jortem." She whispered, then raised her voice. "Go Fae." As they sped away, she watched Jortem walk down the street towards the docks.