I cannot believe her! She just stood there while James was being attacked by that matavor! How dare she! She stood there why kind of captain would do that?! I huffed and stormed into my room slamming the door. Hoping she heard me. I hadn't been this upset in a while and I wasn't entirely sure why..
I sighed and knead the bridge of my nose and sat down at my desk..I couldn't shake the static captain from my mind...she was so...different than what i was used to from a woman , witty , sarcastic, outspoken and admittedly quite brilliant beyond her years. Not saying that females are inferior heavens no, only see seems...beyond brilliant . Anyhow enough musing on that subject , I busied myself for quite some time looking at my star charts and books i didn't realize how late in the evening it had gotten until I heard a knock rasp from my door and opened it to see Mister Arrow standing there.
"The captain would like to invite you to join her and myself for dinner Doctor."
"V-Very well sir I'll be right there..." He nodded solemnly and turned on his heels and left... I get the slightest feeling he doesn't like me too well...or perhaps that is just his way . Anyhow I got dressed in my overcoat and re donned my shoes looking over my self once more to make sure I was presentable before walking out to the stateroom doors and knocking.
"Come in." Came a light airy voice I knew had to only be...the captain ? Her mood lighted quickly I murmured a bit to myself as I opened the door. There she stood at her desk , papers neatly placed over in the corner of the room she didn't have on her uniform only her white turtleneck and tan pants with her...personally too tall boots. But...oddly in this way she was beautiful-wait did I just think that?
"Ah good evening Doctor." she said with that still airy voice. "...Good evening Captain..." I said sitting in the place where she pointed.
"How as the expedition been for you thus far? " she asked pouring herself a cup of tea then offering me some to which I thankfully took.
"Very well Captain...Very well indeed." "Splendid!"
Did she really ask me here for small talk ? "Tell us some about your self doctor? "
"Um hmm well As you know I am an Astrophysic on Montressor. I am the youngest of ten siblings , yes ten , and...I...live alone..." the last part still felt hollow for me even though my wife had been passed for five years now.
"Doctor? " the captain broke me from my thoughts.
"ER I uh...s-sorry captain...w-what about your family?"
She looked hesitant and deeply in thought then she stood up and walked out on the deck in a huff.
"W-was it something I said?"
"You could say that doctor..." Mister Arrow stood up shutting the door.
"What did I-" "Captain Amelia doesn't like Talking about her family...they're rather complicated , the only one she has is her sister , but you didn't hear that from me." He mumbled.
I sighed and just looked to the door.
Amelia's POV *****
Bloody Canid. Damn him. He doesn't know a thing but damn him-all of them! Damn them to hell!
I maintained my composure, surprising myself, and climbed the rigging to the crows nest. Onus was looking in all directions with his six eyes while lazily eating a purp.
"Out." I commanded.
He looked over. "But Capteen my sh-"
"Out you bellicose idiot!" I shouted. He jumped and immediately hopped out and made his way down to the deck. I paced to keep myself from screeching into the heavens, resorting myself to growling and scratching at the mast. I lowered to the ground and beat the floor of the crows nest, watching the stars above. They were all I had left of them…my family…all but…
I shoved the thoughts from my head and stood. Taking out my pocket watch, I noticed it to be a good half hour since I'd come up there.
With a sigh I exited the crows nest, jumping down using the cross arms and ropes so I could land gracefully. Once on the ground, I went back inside my office. The Doctor was gone but Samuel remained, playing a game of solitaire on my desk.
"Hello Samuel, how long ago did the Doctor retreat to his room?" I questioned, removing my boots. I didn't have night shift this time, thankfully.
"About twenty minutes ago, Amelia. He also said he apologizes profusely for offending you in any way."
"Did you…say anything to him?" I swallowed at the very thought. Samuel shook his head and I thanked God for it. He was a man of his word and was surely never too speak of my past unless nesscary-I still had to ask, though. He did after all rat me out for a prank I pulled at the Interstellar Academy. I went to my room, which had an entrance hidden off to the side, and dressed down to a nightgown. I came back out and brewed some tea, giving a cup to Samuel. "You don't have watch either tonight. Are you staying up?" I sipped my tea.
He nodded, not looking from the queen in his hand. "Aye. Not tired, and thank you for the tea." He looked up at me. "Though you do need your rest more than I."
I smiled. He was always so thoughtful. I gave him a half hug, wished him a good sleep and went into my room. I secured my oil lamp in a holder built into the ceiling and put it on a low light. It may seem ridiculous, but I'm quite afraid of the dark. It doesn't cripple me in any sort of way-why, I certaintly don't need a nightlight, but I'd rather be able to know what I'm looking at during those long, restless nights all people have instead of guessing with the faint hope it doesn't eat me…
Oh you all shut up there are no windows in my cabin.
I brushed out my hair, set out my uniform on my desk, and lay down in bed. I fretted over whether or not to apologize to the Doctor for my hasty exit, but decided against it. I was the captain, I wasn't supposed to be partial to absolute politeness. It was sometimes encouraged for us to be more cold than most would think proper, actually.
Finally, I drifted off to sleep.
The next day was average at first. I awoke, dressed, drank the lattoid Hawkins brought to my stateroom each morning (never has he been late, may I add). I went out and surveyed the goings-on. The crew was orderly, Samuel was chattering with a few and keeping a sharp eye out, ever the observant socialite. I kept my post on the above deck, checking now and then with Mister Turnbuckle, the multi armed helmsman. Quite the character-he had an unusual fondness for dried pickles and I'll never quite know why.
Then Samuel came up and reported that our supplies were running dreadfully low.
"Little fuel, water is becoming scarce, and all we have left is some spices, a dozen or so purps, and hardtack." Samuel said, sighing. "The men are getting hungry and…irritable."
I pursed my lips and turned to Turnbuckle-tee hee. Oh I'm so childish sometimes.
"Mister Turnbuckle, where is the nearest planet?"
He glanced at some of the navigational devices around the above deck. "Er, about a two hours, going off course, ma'am."
I sighed. "I guess that'll do. Redirect course in direction of this planet so we may restock our supplies. Aim for the quickest path-if needed, ask that bumbling star watcher for advice."
Turnbuckle just nodded and programmed the devices around him before turning the wheel and directing us where I told him too. I soon found that, having taken the Doctor's advice, we arrived at the planet a half hour sooner than what Mister Turnbuckle had expected. I simply thanked the Doctor for his assistance and moved on, heading down the gangplank and too one of the dock tendees. The young man, wearing dirty overalls and a patched cap around his curled horns, saluted me. "Good afternoon. Name and rank, ma'am?" He asked, taking out a clipboard.
"Amelia Smollett, Captain. And the ship is the RLS Legacy."
He nodded and wrote this down. "Buisness?"
"Ship terribly low on supplies. I want to stalk up on drinking water, purps, proper foodstuffs-here let me just write you a list…"
I took from the inside pocket of my uniform a pencil I kept handy and borrowed a scrap of paper from the lad, writing down all I knew we needed and making sure it was a number that would make us overstocked-one can never be too cautious- before handing it back to him. He read it over carefully, several times, nodded, left, then returned once more.
"That'll add up too twenty thousand pounds, ma'am." He informed. I was at a lack for breath for a moment. Twenty thousand pounds was sometimes all I got for a month long voyage, let alone supplies! I glared at the lad-he obviously had to have been mad!
"Have you hit your head? Twenty thousand bloody pounds is not the worth of what I've ordered!"
He shrugged. "It is too the master of the Stores ma'am."
"Well let me see this master of your stores then!" I demanded.
"Um, no can do ma'am. He doesn't speak with much of anyone…"
"Well have you a pot of glue as to why he'd charge such an outrageous amount?!"
He raised an eyebrow at my cockney slang. "I, uh, well the economy is in real dirt right now ma'am, on this planet…he's just trying to make a profit before taxes are due next month."
I growled. "Oh bloody hell you can't just-"
"Oi, Scotty I'll take the tab."
I stopped and stared as a Felinid woman, well built, fed, with blue eyes and a curly mess of short cropped hair with red tips that jumped up in an odd heart monitor pattern stepped forward, dressed in naval uniform. She took from her pocket a wallet, drew a wad of cash from it and handed it to the young man she called Scotty.
I guess I should inform that this woman is in fact my elder sister, Lorraine.
Scotty nodded and shoved the money into his pocket without question.
"Yes Admiral Lorraine!" He said. He then bowed and she nodded. Scotty left after that.
"Lorraine? What the-I thought you were stationed on Grassal?!" I gave her my full attention. Lorraine was an admiral who was moving frequently, bringing her twins Catan and Phoenix along. Though they didn't have normal lives like other children (or names, thanks to Lorraine being whatever the hell Lorraine is) they were social butterflies.
"I was. Then I deci'd twas time for a change." She smiled. "What're you doin' 'ere sis?"
I hesitated before leading her away to a secluded corner, explaining in detail of our voyage to Treasure Planet. By the end of my explanation Lorraine's eyes were the size of yarn balls-don't you dare comment.
"I'm coming wit' you!" She exclaimed immediately.
"Lorraine I-"
"There's nout a choice in this one Amelia! I'm coming with you!"
"Lorraine what of Catan and Phoenix?!"
"Why they'll come as well." She said immediately, adjusting the cuffs of her jacket.
"What-hell no Lori it is far too dangero-"
Lorraine near glared at me and memories of my hair ribbons being ripped out of my hair and all my under things ending up on the flag pole at the Academy because she didn't get her way flashed through my mind.
"Alright, alright." I sighed and she smirked. "Go get Catan and Phoenix, I'll wait by the gangplank
