Dreams

Pumping my arms as I jog around the base, I couldn't help but look at what was left of the port city of Nadi, this place had gotten hit hard during the war. Then again, most island nations took it on the chin during the Siren War; still, Nadi had been hit harder than most since the Royal Navy had, had such a strong presence here at the start. The upside was, with a lack of civilians here now, I could let the girls outside of the fence freely, and the manjuu had done a wonderful job restoring the city and automating the shops, restaurants, bars, theaters, and nightclubs. Coming to a stop to catch my breath, I'm reminded that this place, while still an active duty base that requires patrols being dispatched, it is more or less a place of limbo for the girls while the lords figure out what to do with the weapons they financed to fight a war for our survival as a species.

Standing upright again and I go over to the fence, turn and place my back against it, it'd been about a month since the Illustrious sisters had arrived, and they had fit themselves in well enough, though what they did in their off time, I still didn't know, well, aside from Indomitable, if she could lazy about, she would.

Running my hands down my face to wipe away sweat, I continue on my jog and my mind started drifting back to Implacable and how things just kind of ended. It wasn't great but it wasn't an awful end, we both kind of understood that we wanted different things in the end. Rounding near the north beach access point, I picked up the sound of a beautiful singing voice, hitting different notes to match the beat of some pop song that I honestly didn't know.

I'm not a pop music kind of person, I like my classic rock and roll, but even I had to admit this kansen that was singing had a great voice for it and now I wanted to see who was doing the singing. Changing my direction I jog towards the singing and music.

Crossing onto the beach, I heard a squeak of surprise just before the singing stopped, looking to where the music was coming from, I saw one of the more mature kansen on her hands and knees facing away from me. She was dressed in what looked like dark blue workout pants with an oversized white tee shirt, I could see white or silver hair, so that narrowed it down a bit, anyway. It meant it could be Hermione, Rodney, or Illustrious.

She sat up on her rear, lifting her hands to slap her cheeks and the musical voice told me who it was as she gave herself a pep talk, "You can do this, Illustrious, just try to avoid bending over."

Illustrious got up and restarted the song before she started to sing along to it, her body going through the motions required, the hips rolling, leg kicks, arm movements, and just as she started to spin around, my eyes met her blue ones. Her blue eyes went wide, just as she sang the words, "…love you."

Her cheeks went bright pink and mine got red hot.

She blinked, her right leg out at a right angle from her body, hands making a heart over her bust, clearing my throat I broke eye contact with her, "Sorry to interrupt."

There was a moment of awkward silence just before the music shut off and she responded, "It is all right, Captain Fox, but please do not misunderstand me, it was all part of the song."

Rubbing the back of my neck and still avoiding eye contact I nod, "No, I get that, Illustrious." I pause and look up to see her holding the music box with both hands, her arms pushing her cleavage together as I add, "You have a beautiful voice, by the way."

Her cheeks flushed while she looked away, but there was the faintest of smiles on her lips while she mumbled, "Thank you, but what brings you out here this early morning?"

"I'm just getting in a bit of exercise and taking a chance to clear my head before I deal with whatever insane thing is going to be on my desk later when I get into the office, what about you?" I ask and start to walk back to the main roadway.

Illustrious falls in beside me, walking and talking with me, "Being a little silly and indulging in a dream for a little while, something I know my sisters would rib me about endlessly."

With a shrug, "Nothing wrong with indulging in a dream once in a while, it's good to have them; I know I've got several."

She looks at me, leaning a little forward, only to stumble a little and correct her posture, "And what sorts of dreams are those, Captain Fox?"

"Honestly, a family." I laugh and shrug, "I know it's simple, and I thought I had things lined up for that, but, well, we wanted different things in the end."

"I am sorry to hear that, Captain, but I am sure that you will find someone that wishes the same at some point." Illustrious says to me, placing a hand on my arm before asking in a hushed tone, "I have heard that you were in a relationship of some kind with a kansen before my arrival here, was she the one you were just speaking of?"

With a nod and looking towards the horizon, I sigh, "Yeah, she wanted something purely physical and I wanted the whole deal, emotional and physical. But what's done is done, no use whining about it now." Though now desperate to change the subject I asked, "Though I got to ask, why is it that you seem so clumsy when you lean forward?"

Her cheeks turned bright red and she laughed nervously as she squeezed her bust together, "Really, Captain, I thought it would be obvious, I am a little top heavy."

"I don't recall them being heavy, though very soft." I wink and tease as I start to jog backward.

Illustrious blinks a couple of times before covering her mouth with one hand and giggling so very ladylike, "I guess I did give you a soft landing."

I wink at her before turning to continue on my way as I say, "It sure was, have a good day, Illustrious."

"And you as well, Captain Fox!" she calls after me.

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Dragging a couple of chips through the vinegar on the plate I keep thinking back to what I saw this morning with Illustrious and our quick conversation about dreams. But my attention is drawn to my computer screen, ending my lunchtime as I read the new e-mail that came in and I feel my insides drop, we are to expect a visitation by the First Sea Lord in a couple of months.

Grabbing my napkin, I wipe my face before sprinting to my office door just as it opened and clocked me square in the face, grunting in pain I place my hands on either side of my nose, just as Javelin states, "Captain! Did you see it?!"

Walking around in a circle, my eyes shut tightly before I look up to stop any possible tears I ask, "Did you mean the e-mail about the First Sea Lord?"

"Aye, why do you think he's coming here?" she asks then quickly adds, "Are you okay, Captain?"

Blinking back the tears and taking away my hands to see if there is any blood, with nothing red showing I sigh, "I will be. No idea, maybe he wants to check out our collection of large… flight decks?"

"Captain!" she protests with a stamp of her foot.

Turning around I place a hand on her head and tease, "I'm sure you'll have nothing to worry about, Javelin."

"Oi! Is that a crack at my size?" she spouts and covers her bust with her hands.

With a hearty chuckle, "No, Javelin, just me saying that if the First Sea Lord is coming, it means I might be the one in hot water."

"Why would you be in hot water?" she asks with a head tilt.

Shrugging, "I don't know, maybe Implacable got mad that I wasn't angry that we broke up and reported me for something I didn't do?"

Javelin takes a step back, narrowing her eyes at me as she smirks, "I think you'd have to have been dating and not just doggin' in jeeps."

You cheeky little….

I shrug and decide to mess with her, "Never did it in the jeeps, your desk, however…"

Her jaw drops open then she falls to her knees, "I eat my lunch on that!"

With a hearty laugh, I return to my desk and add, "Then you may want to avoid sitting in the chairs and couches in here too."

She got off the carpet so fast and made a cry of disgust, "Is there anywhere that's safe?"

I open my mouth to say something more just to bug her and she puts up her hands and states, "I dunna wanna know!"

"I was going to ask you to try and figure out why the First Sea Lord is coming, but I guess I can ask someone else." I say as I turn back to what is left of my fish and chips.

Javelin lets out a heavy sigh and leaves my office while moaning, "I'll look into it."

"Thanks, Javelin." I call back just as the door shuts and I hear her give another cry of disgust, making me laugh harder. I never actually did anything with Implacable on her desk, the kitchenette, however…

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Stretching way up till I hear a pop in my back and let out a sigh, the day was done and now I needed to find something to eat for dinner, my first thought was to make some chili dogs, but well, I never really liked chili that much, that was always Implacable's thing… I'll take a pass on fish and chips I had that for lunch.

Hanging my head with no idea of what to have I made my way to the mess, I rarely took a meal in there, but well with no idea, might as well grab base-supplied food… just avoid the glowing blue bubbly drink and the oxi-cola.

Standing in the lineup with my tray in front of me, I'm looking at the various options as I move along the buffet-style setup, looking for something, anything that I wanted to eat. Looking to my right as I moved along, I spotted some bangers, a little further past them, some mash and a pot of gravy! I know what I'm having now.

Once I'm in the position to use the tongs to grab some bangers, I reach out, grabbing a couple, just as another set of tongs from the other side does the same to mine! Following the tongs, I see a slender arm, following that up my eyes get sucked into a valley between two very soft-looking snowcapped peaks. "Oh my, it looks like we had the same idea, Captain." Spoke a feminine voice that snaps me out of my daze while the valley leans a little closer, resting on the ledge and she adds with a whisper and a soft giggle, "Though my eyes are up a bit higher."

Looking a little higher up, I'm greeted with gentle blue eyes that had a small beauty mark just under her left eye. My cheeks got red hot and I let go of the bangers while mumbling, "Sorry, Illustrious."

She places the bangers on her plate and smiles warmly, "It is alright, as they are somewhat obvious."

Looking off to the side, I grab another couple of bangers onto my plate as I move down the line to the mash, putting a scoop on my plate, Illustrious matching me movement for movement, right to finishing with some brown gravy, as soon as we both exited the line, she stood beside me and suggested, "Since seating seems to be limited, shall we share a table?"

Looking to my left, I debate accepting, I mean I'm not seeing anyone even unofficially and seating is rather limited in here today. With a shrug as I step forward, "Sure, why not."

"Wonderful." She almost chirps before leading me through the maze of seating spaces.

Sitting at a table, across from Illustrious, I watch as she takes one napkin and places it in her lap while placing a second on her bust, when I tilt my head to the side at that she flushes pink while speaking with a sheepish tone, "I dislike spilling things down there."

Sitting back in my chair and laughing while cutting into my bangers, "No judgment, just surprised."

Letting my eyes drift down to her hands, I can't help but notice how she places the fork in her left hand, facing the back of it away from her, while the knife effortlessly glides through the banger. Following it with my eyes she lifts it to her lips, again the back side of the fork facing up and it slips between her lips. She slowly draws the fork out from between her lips, the space between the tongs of the fork filling with her soft pink lips. The fork returns to the banger and she asks me with a soft giggle in a hushed tone, "Why Captain Fox, what is going on in that head of yours?"

Clearing my throat and looking off to the side, "Ah…. I'd… ah… rather not say."

She laughs lightly, "Oh Captain Fox, do remember the time and place."

"Yes, Illustrious." I mumble and dig into my dinner.

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After a quiet dinner, we were leaving the mess and came to the crossroads that would take us in our respective directions and she spoke up, "Captain, are you free this Saturday?"

Turning my attention to her, I see that she's facing me, again using her arms to press her bust together and I ask, "In theory, anyway, why do you ask?"

"Unicorn is hosting a tea party this Saturday and I am sure she would like as many guests as possible." She smiles so warmly, it's hard to say no to that smile.

With a sigh and hanging of my head, "I'll see what I can do. My time off is hardly my own it seems."

She winks at me before turning to walk away, "I am sure it will be worth your while to attend, Captain Fox."

Looking up to follow the way her hips sway from side to side as she walks I mumble to myself, "I wonder what she means by that?"

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