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Love and War: Chapter 10

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Volger, we need to talk," Alek said vehemently as he entered the stateroom of his fencing master with Bovril in tow.

Volger leaned back on the front of his desk visibly agitated, and not wanting to be bothered by adolescent princes and perspicacious fabrications. But Alek stayed regardless. "This is not a good time," Volger said, rubbing his forehead; he appeared quite tired.

"Do you want to explain to me what happened out there?" Alek asked seriously, even though he was well aware of the situation, and was quite pleased with the count's reaction to the Darwinists. Not bad for an encounter with Dylan and the fabricators that hadn't been planned.

"I wish I had handled that better."

"You were upset. Your reaction was perfectly reasonable," Alek stated plainly. "And I will tell you why. I do not like the way Dr. Barlow has been treating you." Alek came closer to the count, bridging the gap between them, "Let me give you a little advice about women."

Volger let out a small half-hearted laugh, "And how many women have you been with, Your Highness?"

"That's beside the point," Alek said quickly. "I just think it's time you put your foot down. Dr. Barlow has been treating you like crap. I mean, have you heard about her and that Dr. Gartner?"

"Things get around."

"Everyone is talking about it, Volger. Honestly, who does she think she is? Flaunting around this other man she is with, when she is supposed to be with you in some way or another. She has been nothing but rude and disrespectful to you. You should remind her that you wear the pants. You don't want a woman who is going to slap you around and treat you like a piece of meat which she clearly does. You deserve better. And that is why you should break it off with her."

Volger remained silent, as if pondering the matter thoroughly. To Alek it was basic math. "I know I should break it off," he said finally.

"Good," Alek smiled, both from relief and satisfaction. "So the next time you see her, tell her that it's over."

"Yes, well, it's slightly more complicated than that," Volger said sounding terribly conflicted and simultaneously ripping Alek's victory away. "Much more complicated than I would have liked, or even expected."

Out of nowhere, Bovril began to giggle madly, and Alek shushed the creature. And after a short delay, it piped down but with a sly smile on its face. Alek hardly found this funny; anger and disappointment reared their ugly heads once more. "'Complicated'?" Alek repeated, frustrated, "I don't understand, how so?"

"It doesn't matter," Volger said superficially before looking away. "Forget I mentioned it."

Alek groaned, it was always like this, Volger keeping him in the dark and feeding him cryptic clues. "What do you mean it doesn't matter? You just told me it was complicated, that has to mean something significant."

"We plan on escaping tomorrow night," Volger stated plainly.

"What?" Alek said slowly, wouldn't that make it simpler? Once they were gone he would no longer have dealings with Dr. Barlow. "Escape," Alek said softly as if just realizing what the word truly meant.

And suddenly a large hole formed in his chest. He supposed he should be happy and willing to leave. He wasn't exactly welcomed here; Alek and his crew were prisoners after all. But escaping would also mean leaving behind his best friend. And that was something he was not thrilled about. "Oh."

"So you see, after tomorrow night it is unlikely that either of us will see Dr. Barlow again."

Alek nodded though the woman was the last person on his mind. "We are leaving so soon," Alek said gloomily. "I'll never see Dyl—" he started but then stopped himself at the last second. But it was already too late.

"Oh, Alek," Volger spat, his voice dripping with indignation. "You cannot want to stay a prisoner on this ship simply for some lowly midshipman."

"He isn't just some midshipman, Volger. He's my friend. The only friend I have. But I don't expect you to understand that."

"Alek," Volger said firmly, but his tone was surprisingly free of sarcasm or spite, "The Darwinists are not your allies, they are the enemy. You cannot get attached to these people, trust me. This is wartime; you do know that there is a war going on, correct?" Alek nodded dejectedly. "You have a duty, and you cannot afford to let anything get in the way of that."

Alek knew that Volger was probably right, nonetheless he couldn't help but feel a little saddened. "But Dylan has proved to be more of a friend than those who are supposed to be our allies."

Before Volger could return with a scathing comment, there was a firm knock on the door. "We are not going to be here much longer," Volger said determinedly before opening the door. "Dr. Barlow?" Volger said, his voice brimming with curiosity.

"You seem surprised to see me," the woman replied casually. Behind her, Alek could see Dylan and that other boffin in the hallway. "Can you give us a moment, Alek? I would like to talk to Volger." Volger said something unpleasant under his breath. "Alone," Dr. Barlow added resolutely.

Alek shot a look at Dylan. "Sure," Alek said slowly as he exited the room. But not before whispering, "Wear the pants," to Volger.

The door then shut behind him, and that was Alek and Dylan's cue to press their ears to the door and listen in on the conversation on the other side.

"Eavesdropping is rude," Dr. Gartner objected, but they both shushed the man. How were they supposed to hear anything if he kept talking?

"What was that all about?" Alek heard Dr. Barlow say heatedly on the other side of the door.

"Pardon me?" He then heard Volger's voice.

"You know very well what I am talking about, your little tantrum."

"I wouldn't call it a tantrum."

"What would you call it then?"

"An incident. It's these flimsy Darwinist doors, they are very delicate. The slightest push or pull sends the doors flying open and closed. You Brits should get something a little sturdier."

Alek dropped down to the keyhole and peered through to see if he could see what was going on inside. He could barely make out Volger's face and lean form; most of his vision was distorted by Dr. Barlow's scarlet colored skirt.

"It wasn't the door," he heard the woman say.

"I am not so sure."

"You cannot be serious."

"I am always serious."

"Is that so? Frankly, your behavior as of late has said otherwise."

"My behavior?" Volger sneered.

"Yes, that's right."

For a moment, Alek could see nothing but red from Dr. Barlow's skirt. But then, with a sudden swoosh of color he was able to make out Volger's form once again.

"Well, allow me to apologize, Your Majesty for not behaving in a way that you see fit," Volger made a mocking show of bowing. Alek's mouth sprang into a slight grin.

"Amusing." Dr. Barlow said briskly. "I am quite serious. You have been nothing but rude, and disrespectful to me and my friend."

"Perhaps you haven't noticed this, but I am not exactly the most pleasant person you will ever meet. At least, that is what people tend to think."

Dr. Barlow let out a scornful laugh, "Oh trust me, I am well aware of your manners. But what happened out there was unfriendly even by your standards."

"How would you have liked me to react; with the same hallowed reverence that all of you Darwinist place on fabricators?"

"That would have been perfectly acceptable. But I know I would never get that from you. So a 'hello' would have sufficed."

"I will keep that in mind next time."

"I will take that as an apology."

"Take that however you like, it doesn't matter anymore really."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Volger sighed, "We plan on escaping tomorrow night; I am sure you will be happy to learn that we are leaving. I will no longer get the opportunity to embarrass you in front of your dear friend."

"You are leaving?" The woman echoed softly.

"That's right."

"And when were you planning on telling me this?"

"I am telling you now."

There was a rather awkward pause that followed, "So, that's it?" Dr. Barlow said.

"That's it." Volger nodded, "What else is there?"

"Nothing," she said coolly.

"Good." Alek squinted as he saw Dr. Barlow walk over to Volger and hold out her hand. Volger fixed his eyes on her small porcelain hand for a moment before shaking it firmly. "It was very nice to meet you," he said naturally. "And I apologize if I came across as rude earlier."

"You did, but it was very nice to meet you as well." Alek couldn't help but notice that this was an unusually long handshake. Hence it sort of surprised him when it finally ended.

"Goodbye," he heard Volger say despite his voice being barely audible all of a sudden. After nodding her head once, Dr. Barlow headed towards the door.

"She's coming," Alek warned, tearing his head away from the door. But it was too late. The door opened, and the two boys fell through the doorway. Bovril chuckled as he skidded across the floor after falling from Alek's shoulder.

Alek guiltily looked up at the count who didn't seem to react to the situation. Volger just seemed a little…lost, something the man was desperately trying to hide.

Meanwhile, Dr. Barlow glared at the pair. "Excuse me, gentlemen," she said stepping over them. Once she was back in the hallway, she snapped her fingers at Dylan. "Come on, Dylan, get up," she said. "It's not likely you broke a bone."

The middy groaned before getting back onto his feet, and Alek could not help but laugh a little. And he enjoyed this moment of laugher at his friend's expense, knowing exceedingly well that their time together was dwindling.

This chapter was pretty fun to write, although I kind of made myself sad towards the end.

But Bovril knows what's up. ;)
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BigGolithFan's avatar
Wear the pants made me laugh!