"Remember your wife Sanji." said one sailor as the two watched as Tate made her way across the deck. Sanji removed his hand from the screen, snapped out of his trance.

"Shut it." He retorted.

"My sweet fantasy." The other sailor purred, also looking at the screen.

"Ahem, you boys finished fantasizing." Both turned to see Madeline standing at the door, a half amused expression on her face. Jordon Tate wasn't all that bad looking but Madeline was far from jealous. After all, she had the better rack. "If you are I'd like to see both of you at your stations."

"Yes ma'am."

"Yes ma'am."

After they had rushed out, Madeline rolled her eyes and laughed softly to herself. "Men." She chuckled.

...

The party was loud noisy and ever bit as entertaining for the crew as past performances had been though it'd been some time since Missouri had played host to them. Madeline kept herself back in the corner, well hidden from the audience and the band. One might never know who was aware of ship personifications.

Her attention was turned back to the party as it kicked up a notch and she was unable to choke back her laughter as she saw Krill in a lady's dress and wig dancing in front of the stage. "He looks like a complete idiot." She chortled. He danced off the stage, twirling right by her and giving her ass a pat. She was unable to hold her glare because he just looked so unbelievably ridiculous. It sent her into another bout of laughter. He exited upstairs, going to give the captain a good surprise as well. She started to laugh again at the though before she winced. The pain in her heart was sudden, powerful. All personifications were mentally linked with their crew and when one died, they could feel it. But one crewmember wouldn't have given off a prick that powerful, unless...

"No, oh dear god no!" She whispered and rushed upstairs. A gunshot rang out and Madeline nearly shrieked as her third in command, her tactical officer Lt. Greene fell to the ground dead. This wasn't a band of musicians, this was a band of terrorists. It was pandamoniom as people tried frantically to escape but so many people couldn't run that quickly. Madeline saw a few men make it to safety and hide themselves in lockers. Those were people she could go back and help later. Right now, she had to get to the captain's quarters.

She already knew he was dead. The prick in her heart told her as much but seeing him lying there face down... nothing could prepare her for that. Her vision blurred with tears and sniffling, she gently rolled him over, pushing a lock of his silver hair back. He almost looked, peaceful one could say if not for the bullet wound in his chest. A shot to kill.

Madeline rose and whirled around as she felt a shadow over her, facing Krill. Her XO had removed his silly costume and makeup, and faced her now in his khaki uniform. "You did this." Her voice was quiet with anger. "You murdered him. You bastard!"

"I didn't."

"DON'T lie to me." She growled, her hands balled into fists. "You orchestrated this whole thing. You brought men on board to kill people. Don't. Even. Try. It." She hissed as he opened his mouth. "You knew they were terrorists. You wanted this to happen. To have your own command. The last might battleship in the US Fleet."

"Oh it's more than that, as you'll soon find out." He purred, stepping forward and running a hand through her blond locks.

She grabbed his wrist, her grip stronger than an average humans, enough to be painful, and forced his hand back. "Do not, touch me." She hissed.

"I'm your captain now, Missouri." He spoke her true name with disgust. "And you are duty bound to obey me."

She could feel his authority. Each ship was bound to her captain, regardless of who they were but since Krill had deliberately severed her bond with her previous captain to attain the rank, the bond was not valid enough nor strong enough to hold her. She could resist it. Of course she wasn't about to tell him that.

Meeting his gaze, she feigned resignation and said "Permission to scout the ship for stragglers sir?"

"Granted." He replied and it was all Madeline could do not to remove the smugness from him permanently as she left the captain's quarters.

She knew there were some people who escaped the mess hall but she wasn't willing to expose them until she got a better handle on the situation. But she still needed help. Pausing briefly in thought, she broke into a run, heading for the meat locker.