Episode Three

{{Written by Anne}}

“Arturius, I know we’ve had a lot more in common than Basic, but really-“

He cut her off, “Really? Yes.” He snorted. “Really, I think you ought to consider that I do have seniority over you-if not in rank, then in age, and that this is more than a matter of a captain and her crew. This concerns our history together and if you are not willing to accept that-“

This time Arturius was cut off by a high pitched wail coming from the lower decks. Both Arturius and Victoria locked into their military training. They checked their weapons, and, swords drawn, bolted towards where the noise had come from.

As they approached, it happened again, only this time they recognized it as singing. But because they were flying in an enclosed steel ship, the acoustics made something that was normally quite pleasant echo off the walls like torture screams. Victoria signaled Arturius to fall back and he shot her a glance that would have stopped meteors. Sneaking forward and peering down the hallway, she was able to discern that it was coming from the weapons locker-formerly the brig. Arturius separated himself from the shadows like liquid darkness and covered the captain. She peered up at him.

“All crew members are accounted for?”

“Aye. All save Cornelius.” She nodded curtly in response. They still had to pick him up following his last mission and Stella was still on board visiting-so indeed, all were accounted for. All other crew members were sleeping-Arturius and the Captain had the night watch together.

She signaled for him to cover the left side of the door, and at this order, he did not hesitate. Both moved silently to the door, armed and ready for whatever lay within.

Pausing, and holding her breath, Victoria waited. No noises were heard, and the door had an airtight lock, so not even light could pass though. That the two of them had heard sound at all was odd-a fact which only contributed to their caution.
Both heard a loud crash, followed by an inhuman shriek.

Their previous conversation forgotten, the two of them moved together as only siblings can, and moved into formation in front of the door. They locked eyes and kicked the door down.

Arturius held a laser rifle in one hand, and his long sword in the other, Victoria was armed with her pistol in her left and saber in her right. The sight that greeted them was far less fearsome than the sight they presented in the smoking doorway.
Thick fuzzy rugs covered the floor, in shades of pink, purple and maroon. The walls were draped with silks in similar colors, and a chandelier hung from the ceiling. Where laser guns had previously been stored, now a huge canopy bed with a multitude of pillows atop it sat. As they observed the room, the bed seemed to keep producing pillows.

“Oh dear stars, it’s multiplying,” cursed Victoria.

“No, someone’s in there,” replied Arturius. As he moved forward, Violet emerged from the pillows amidst a shower of glitter and bounded forward.

Arturius’s eyes immediately softened. “Violet,” he said. The endearing way he said it could have melted supernovas.

Victoria gripped his arm, “Not so fast. What the hell have you done to my weapons locker?”

Violet grinned. “I needed a room-I’m sure you understand, being a lady of high society. And obviously being an aristocrat, and of higher class,” she giggled at her own redundancy, “means I get a separate room. Or quarters. Or whatever. That’s what you call them, right? Quarters?”

Victoria growled.

Arturius sheathed his weapons, and readjusting the dozen or so others that he wore at all times, jovially replied, “Of course we do. This is lovely Violet. You know, Victoria and I, back on Anubis, used to-“

Victoria, still stunned by what lay before her, just barely managed to stop Arturius before he revealed too much. “Don’t,” she growled again. Arturius quieted.

“Sorry Captain. I was only-I just thought-” he didn’t finish his sentence. He didn’t need to. She knew what he thought, and she knew it was wrong to reveal it in front of Violet.

She snapped into military mode and began barking out orders. “Arturius, you will leave this room immediately and report to my quarters at 1100 hours. Violet, you will clean this up and when you are finished we will have a private conversation about how ALL my crew members are equal. And so long as you are on my ship, you are my crew, which means?”

“Everyone is equal.”

“Very good,” she turned on her heel and left to leave. “And Arturius, you are not to speak to anyone on the ship until we speak again.” He snapped to attention and saluted. She dismissed him and he preceded her as she left the brig-converted-weapons-locker-turned-salon. Which was harder now that the rest of the Feisty Dragon’s crew had gathered following the crash as the door was kicked in and the commotion that followed. Victoria raised her voice, “The rest of you are dismissed as well-there’s nothing to see unless you’ve never seen a pillow in your life.”

The crew dissipated in front of them, except Stella, who hung back to speak to the Captain.

“Victoria, Cap’n,” she said quietly. Still walking, Victoria acknowledged her with a glance. “I heard you and Arturius arguin’ a while ago.”

“And? What’s your point?” Victoria stopped and faced her.

“How far back do the two of you go anyways? I’ve seen the glances Violet and Arturius give each other, and I know you have too. What’s your problem with a shipboard romance? I think it’d be good for the both of them. Help Violet learn how to fight and maybe teach Arturius a thing or two about civilized life.”

Kots dropped from the ceiling. “Evenin’ Captain.”

“Hello Kots. Howsit?” He nodded, took the pistol from her holster and put it in his medical bag. Sitting on the ground, he produced his pipe and began to chew on the end as he contemplated Stella and Victoria. “You be nice to him.”

Stella glared. “And what does that mean?”

“She knows that I know that you don’t know what I know about knowing.”

Victoria looked back at Stella. “Continue,” she said, unfazed.

Stella ran back through the conversation to remind herself what her point was. “Oh, basically, I just think that you’re being way too constricting of the two of them, and not just as a couple either. Arturius is under your thumb being squashed and Violet just needs some lady bonding time. You’re the only other one on this ship that comes from high society, she looks to you because you both have that aristocratic upbringing.”

“Arturius too. On Anubis. His upbringing wasn’t so different from mine. And we are not lovers-“

Kots cut in, “That’s a nasty thought.”

Again, Victoria was not thrown off by his interjections. “So banish any thoughts that you have of that. I’m just protective of him, is all. And Violet comes from something I can never go back to.”

“Yeah, but she can, and you need to help her maintain her hold on reality while she’s on board this ship. This is the life we chose, but not one she chose.”

Victoria held out her hand for her pistol. “I’ll remember that the next time the two of us go shopping.” Kots stared at her for a moment and after briefly rummaging through his bag, presented her with a jeweled purse filled with Isisian money.
“Guess you’re going shopping.”

“Guess I’m giving my-“ Kots looked up at her, “brother in arms, Arturius, a talking to.”

“And then shopping?” Stella helped Kots up off the ground.

“Yes. We’re already on course for Isis, so it’s convenient Kots gave me this bag of money.”

“Yeah, and where’d he get it from?”

“The pillows are one thing, and so is the shag carpet, but WHERE IS MY PURSE?”

Kots grinned and whispered conspiratorially as both Stella and Victoria said all at the same time, “Violet.”