AN: It's been a while since the first chapter of this story as University has had to come first. I still have no real idea where this is going, so if anyone has any ideas or input, I'm open. =)
Enjoy!
"Fancy," Banjo murmured, as they were led along the wharf, and onto the deck of the Hamersley. The war ship loomed ahead "What do you reckon to their fuel consumption?"
"Are you really interested, Anj, or is this one of your tangents?" Roach asked dryly.
"Just making conversation," he chirped, looking no where near as innocent as he intended. "What happened to Hedgehog?"
"Boat," Timber offered. "He was going to update Command and catch up."
"Is he coming ahead of schedule?" Denni asked the trainee, looking around. Dutchy, walking with her, glanced back, too.
"The navy's here, Crash," Banjo said, urgency in his voice. "Cannon should know."
"Anj, we are the navy," Roach said, smirking at the same time Denni rolled her eyes.
"Really?" she asked sarcastically. "Well, hell, you think we'd at least have seen a war ship."
Dutchy turned away and quickened his step, but Denni caught the snicker he tried to smother. She shot Banjo a look that was half amusement, half exasperation. Bomber had stopped just ahead to pull open a heavy door, and she pointed them down the corridor beyond. They filed through, now keeping up with 2dads, as he led them further into the complicated network of halls.
Banjo gave a long, low whistle as they were herded into the Junior Mess; a large room with seating, tables and a small kitchen unit where a kettle sat with a biscuit tin.
"I love what you've done with the place; I must get the name of your decorator." Banjo was on a roll of full on mocking – he didn't like the formal, sterile conditions of the top class navy ships.
Roach smirked as he pushed him into a seat. X and Bomber headed straight back out and the rest of both the teams scattered themselves about the room. Ro tucked himself into a corner, scowling at anyone who jostled him.
They didn't have to wait long before Bomber and X were back, bringing with them two unfamiliar men.
The stocky man with a boyish smile slipped in ahead of the others and clasped his hands behind his back. "Welcome aboard the HMAS Hamersley," he began. "I'm the CO, Mike Flynn. This is Swain. From what I understand you've been planted here to work undercover."
"That's right, Sir," Roach nodded. "I'm Cockroach - Roach, this is Crash, Banjo and Timber. We're a small unit, Sir, but our last numbers are making their way here."
Mike nodded. "Good to hear, Roach. It sounds like you had quite the encounter with my crew."
Denni shot a look at Roach, who she knew was already smirking. He stepped back.
"Yeah…about that, Sir," Denni said, trying to look apologetic and not amused – and the wide smirk on Dutchy's face wasn't helping. "I apologise but still claim all the credit for the…damages…that were sustained."
Mike's eyes widened, and Denni noticed that he looked past her, to his own crew, as though for confirmation. "You?"
She supposed she could be flattered, but being insulted was generally more fun. "Yes, Sir. Why so surprised?"
He shifted awkwardly, hurriedly backing off with his body language. "My apologies…I'm just aware that it's rather a feat to get the drop on any of the members of my crew."
Denni barely managed to keep her face straight and Roach, just behind her right shoulder, coughed hastily.
"To be honest, Sir, 'getting the drop' on…one of them was rather easier than approaching the situation head on."
Mike frowned, again looking past her. "Does anyone want to explain this?" his tone was even, and the fact that everyone was safe and breathing was probably a large factor in his light handling of the situation.
"Yes, Sir," X stepped forward. "We split into pairs to try to cover as much ground as possible. We were hoping to ambush any people that took the bait and were at the site."
Denni lifted her head, staring at X. They laid bait? Was there a reason they hadn't been warned about interference? She swung her head to see Roach's reaction, seeing the same wide-eyed, faintly irritated expression that she was certain she was wearing. He shook his head faintly. Not now.
"We – Dutchy and I – thought we were closing in on a straggler in the bush and separated to pin him down. The next thing I recall, there were sounds of a scuffle and Dutchy called for help."
"Scuffle?" Mike asked, glancing across at Denni, who gave a cheeky salute.
"That would be the credit I was talking about."
"Dutchy?" Mike asked, shaking his head, looking as though a headache was well on the way.
The tall petty officer stepped forward. "Sir."
"Do you have an account?"
He glanced down at Denni, who folded her arms on the table and smiled benignly, keeping her eyes averted.
"Not a great one, Sir," he started, facing the CO. "I was closing in; listening for further noise and next thing I know…well, it was a choke hold. I managed to dislodge her and we both went down. I dropped my gun and there was an altercation. We both-" he shot Denni another look, this one wary, and continued. "-we both sustained minor injuries and when the others arrived, she managed to…disarm Ro before we…subdued her."
Denni scoffed, but otherwise stayed quiet. Mike's eyebrows were moving toward his hairline. He turned his attention back to her.
"Choke hold?"
From the sceptical expression it was clear he wasn't sure what to believe.
"I was tree climbing, Sir," Denni offered, growing bored with the stilted versions of events. "I dropped on him and used my legs. He'll bruise a bit, but he managed to work free before I could do real damage. Your other officer may have a slight strain in his wrist. It didn't break."
Mike rubbed the bridge of his nose, "You sound sure."
At the same time, Ro scoffed behind them as he exploded, "It could be!"
Denni shot him a dark look, but faced the captain as she took a deep breath. "I am sure. I've broken wrists before, and his isn't."
Mike took a moment, finally nodding and standing tall. "Right. Nothing can be done until we receive word from NavCom on how – and who – they want to proceed. Until then, we remain on the island as though we have been given shore leave."
"All due respect, Sir," Denni interrupted. "We haven't been posted with your crew and this altercation has very little hold over our actions. We will not make any overt move on the pirates, but you can be certain that we will not be pulled into your question."
Mike stilled, looking unsure how to proceed. He cleared his throat. "Uh, who am I talking to, exactly?"
Denni and Roach straightened, speaking in unison, "Me."
Mike's eyebrows raised again as the two turned to look at each other, both with intent expressions.
"Excuse us," Roach said, nodding briskly as he moved Denni off of the bench seat and through the doorway. They stopped a few yards down, where the man called Swain could see but not hear them from his position on the threshold of the Mess.
"This is new," Denni deadpanned. "Neither of us has 'encounter the friendlies' training."
"Friendly encounter," Roach muttered, with no real hope. "Toss up?"
At a nod, he extracted a silver coin and flicked it off his thumb. He snatched it out of the air and slammed it on his arm.
"Tails," Denni said, as fast as she could.
He removed his hand. "Tails. Don't wind him up like what happened last time."
"Sure, sure," Denni waved, ushering him back to the bridge.
"Well?" Mike asked, turning away from X and looking faintly exasperated.
"You're talking to me," Denni said, clearly. Roach nodded in agreement.
"Would you care to explain that?" he indicated down the hallway, to where they had tossed a coin to determine the chain of command.
Denni rolled her eyes, "Quite a long story and we'll need the go-ahead before you get all of it. You just need to know that both of us have held the position of XO, so we interchange command as necessary."
Mike looked as though he dearly wanted to question it, but nodded stiffly instead. "Very well. Uh…then can I suggest that – in the event we have to assist one another in this – you remain on board for a short time so we can get to know each other? It could make things easier on everyone."
Denni looked over at Banjo, "Raise Hedgehog – find out where the hold up is, and if Cannon's in the area."
"On it." He nodded respectfully and headed outside.
That dealt with, the brunette woman addressed Mike again. "We're happy to remain with your crew for the time being, but we may need to return to our boat if we can't raise the CO."
Mike nodded, "You can join us for lunch. Can I get you to let Swain check you when he looks at Dutchy and Ro?"
Denni shot Swain a glance, "I'll be fine."
"So will I," Dutchy answered, shooting her a smile that was faintly wicked. "But you're coming with us."
She quirked an eyebrow at him, testing his resolve. Swain cleared his throat as he backed up. "I promise it won't take long," he encouraged.
Denni hesitated.
"If I break it for you, will you let him check it?" Dutchy asked, challenges flickering through his expression.
Denni smiled sweetly. "If you break my leg, I'll remove the fourth finger of your right hand all the way down to your elbow."
Everyone tensed, and Timber – keeping quiet in a corner – sniggered. Roach thumped him. Denni took in Dutchy's faintly wary expression and rolled her eyes again.
"Right…we have got to fix your sense of humour. Lead on, I'm coming," she directed the last at Swain, who nodded and hurried off.
She nodded to Roach and Timber and hurried after the medic, followed by Dutchy and, at a sizeable distance, Ro, who was scowling fixedly at her back.
AN: Probably a little while before the next one, but replies are sure to motivate me! lol