Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Angel's Gift ❯ Chapter 23

Angel's Gift Part Twenty-two

Sharin strode down the corridor to the bridge, the blonde pausing in the doorway a moment as she took in all of the activity there. Commander Laurel and Allison stood to one side, talking softly. Amara and a technitian were working over the tactical station, the young man pointing out some of the quirks in the weapons system. The navigation station was still open but the various other positions around the bridge were all occupied.

"A Galactic Patrol cruiser on aproach vector," Ensign Kayla Shen reported, the pink haired woman monitoring communications.

"Looks like they got it repaired faster than expected," Amara muttered, running a hand through her short black hair.

In the main viewscreen the slim black vessel smoothly settled into orbit not far from where the cruiser Liberty's Sword waited. "Or else they kept Marilyn from slowing things down too much," a grinning Sharin commented.

"We're being hailed," Kayla said, "I'm putting them through."

The image of the patrol vessel appeared and Milly and Roma gazed out at them, a few engineers still at work behind them. "Reporting for duty," Roma said calmly, "we are hearby putting out vessel under your command, Captain Tennison."

"I accept your assistance," Allison said after a bit of quiet prompting from Lauren, "dock with the Liberty's Sword while we complete repairs."

"Looks like Allison is getting used to command," Sharin noted quietly, completely unaware of the presence coming up behind her.

"Sharin!" Milly happily pounced on her from behind, the redheaded catgirl sending her sprawling to the deck.

"Do you have to do that?!" Sharin roared from underneath her.

"Yes," Milly bounced to her feet.

Sharin got up, brushing her street clothes off. "Stupid question," she muttered, fighting back a smile as Milly looked around curiously.

"Where's the princess?" Milly asked, her tail lashing behind her.

"Setting up the captain's quarters," Allison answered her with a faint blush as she studied a display, "we'll be sharing them." She looked up towards Sharin andf casually said, "According to your file you have a shiphandling certificate and reserve military rank?"

"You want me on navigation?" Sharin raised an eyebrow.

"If you're willing," Allison nodded, "you'd be an asset."

A slight smile tugged on Sharin's lips, "With a compliment like that, how can I say no? Do I get reactivated in the Fleet?"

"Probably for the best," Allison agreed. She looked over at her second in command, "Lauren, do you want to handle it?"

"Right," Lauren nodded, the slim blue haired woman walking over to Sharin's side.

As the Commander was swearing Sharin in Milly looked over at Allison, "I'll go see if the princess needs anything."

"Thanks," Allison grinned, her sandy brown hair falling into her eyes.

'I can see why Jenna likes her,' Milly thought as she slipped away from the bridge. She exchanged nods as she took the short walk to the captain's quarters and rang the chime.

Jenna looked up from where she was frowning at a piece of art hung at the wall and brightened noticably. "Milly," she beamed, "what are we going to do about this place?"

"It's not exactly fitting accomidations for a Royal," Milly agreed, looking around the room with cat-like curiously.

The suite was two large rooms, a large living room that also had a table for meals, couch and a few other pieces of furnature. A few paintings of maritime vessels from ancient days hung up on the walls, the few decorations giving the place a masculine feel. The bedroom beyond was unadorned, only a large bed with a few other fixtures.

Jenna nodded slightly, "Still, we should be able to make it more comfortable with things from the suite." She smiled slightly, "Did you and Sharin run into any problems?"

"Paying the manager in gold helped head off any arguments from the manager about us leaving so quickly," Milly smirked. She hesitated a moment then asked a question she had meant to ask for days, "Are you sure you're ready to face your mother?"

"I'm not sure," Jenna admitted as she sat down on the couch with a sigh. "I know that she's going to be upset with me and I have no idea how she's going to react to Allison." She brightened, "Though I do think her sending this ship out here for us is a good sign."

Milly perched on the arm of the couch, smiling slightly as she said, "The Queen might surprise you, at least as far as Allison goes."

"Oh?" Jenna looked up at her.

Milly cautioned her, "It's just a palace rumor but I heard that Queen Jen'ai has more than a...

friendly relationship with her servant X'tahn."

"X'tahn?" Jenna blinked in surprise, thinking of the white furred catgirl whom was the closest confidant to her Mother. She nodded thoughtfully, thinking of the occassional glances, the intimacy that existed between them. "I'm surprised they could keep it a secret so well," she added softly.

"Most of the servants know," Milly admitted, "they tend to notice when someone doesn't return to their room at night." She flashed a smile, "But most of us are so loyal to her majesty that we'd never reveal such a secret."

Jenna nodded thoughtfully, "Then I'm glad for them."

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Lieutenant Alex Keron stood at attention by the hatch, the black haired young man smiling as

the airlock quickly cycled open. "Welcome aboard, ma'ams," he said to the Patrol officers.

"Thank you," Roma said, the silvery skinned android nodding to him respectfully. She smiled, "Could you please escort Marilyn to the bridge?"

"Please?" Marilym beamed. A bit sheepishly she added, "I don't really know my way around this class of ship yet."

"Sure," Alex felt himself blushing slightly. He looked over at Roma, the android crisp in her uniform and asked, "Do you need assistance?"

"I'll be fine," Roma murmured, watching with a smile as they headed off. She moved from the dock into the corridors of the ship, having already commited the standard layout to her memory. In minutes she found herself at the medical bay, opening the door with a gesture.

Kat was reading a screen on the Medical equipment in the facility, frowning in thought. She looked up and grinned, "Roma!"

"How are you settling in?" Roma asked, hesitantly entering the room.

Kat got up and walked over, the black military uniform fitting her like a glove as her brown braid bumped against her back. "I grabbed a few essentials from my apartment," she said with a little shrug, "and I'm good to go."

"I'm glad that you decided to come along," Roma said quietly.

Kat looked at Roma thoughtfully, a little smile on her face. "There was something I wanted to ask you about," she said, "I have a shy friend who I think likes me."

"Yes?" Roma asked nervously.

"She and I hang out all the time," Kat continued, "and I think she'd like us to be more than friends. Any advice?"

"Maybe she should take a step forward," Roma said, mustering up all her courage, "and tell you about how she feels."

"And?" Kat asked with a little smile.

Roma closed the distance between them, "I think I'm falling in love with you."

To be continued...