We Both Lose

Discovery

The alarm buzzed throughout the halls. Awaking everyone. It was time to start another day. I stared at the ceiling above me, I was already up long before the alarm. My mind racing with anticipation of what today might bring, and contemplating life as I knew it. What was the meaning of this? Was my job pointless? Would everything I've worked for be forgotten? Will I be forgotten?
That's when a loud knock at my door abruptly broke my spiral of thoughts. Still in my evening wear, I shouted to the door, "identify yourself and your business."
"Vice Admiral, it's Captain Price, we need you on deck there's a message from HQ."
"Thank you, Price." I replied shortly. To be where I was, and what for? To command a bunch of wanna-be admirals? If they knew half of what this job actually was, not even a third of them would still want it. I rolled off my bunk and quickly changed into my uniform. I tossed a purple button up on, with dark denium jeans that I fastened with a leather and gold belt. I fixed my pendants onto my neck and covered them with the scarf that complimented my uniform jacket. I hated the thing, I had to have it tailored to my height since I was annoyingly short. The text that read "justice" on the back barely even fit. Lastly I tied my hair back. It was messy but there's no sense in wasting time on looks when work would ultimately mess it up by days end. I left my evening wear draped over my bunk and my personal bath in somewhat of a clutter. I heaved one breath before entering the storm awaiting me outside. Captain Price was still waiting at the door. He was a taller much more muscular person in comparison to me. His dirty blonde hair was well-groomed and of shorter length that kept out of his face. Price was a swordsmen, specializing in knives. He kept multiple around his waist and two longer blades hitched to his back giving him a roguish aesthetic and intimidating air. However his personality was highly contrasting to his physique. He was awfully kind and very reserved. Some believe him to be a completely different person to that of what he's capable off.
"I hope I wasn't too long, Captain." I greeted.

"Not at all Ma'am.!" He said stiffly.

"No need to be so uptight Price we've worked together for 3 years now, I think you've earned to lose such formalities." I tried to comfort.

"Sorry, you are a Vice Admiral though, the name itself is enough to have the whole crew shaking."

I rolled my eyes, "Price, I'll give you some good advice, no rhyme intended, titles mean nothing. I'm no different than you nor you, I. We treat everyone here humanely because we're all human."

"You're so wise. No wonder you're Vice Admiral." He gawked

The urge to hit him grew daily.

"Now that message from headquarters?" I asked.

"Oh yes! A transponder snail read off to one of the crew mates that you are needed at headquarters immediately for a high-value criminal to be transferred to a classified location." He reported to the t.

"Did they say who this high value criminal was?" I followed up.

"No just that he was high value."

"Strange, and a classified location? Wouldn't a high value criminal need to be detained in the lower levels of impel down?"

"With all due respect you're asking the wrong man."

"Well it wouldn't hurt to maybe drum up some ideas." I retorted.

"You're right, but I do stand by what I said, if you don't have an idea, I am completely clueless!"

"That's a fair response. How far are we to HQ?"

"We can be there by mid afternoon."

"I look forward to being there then." I stated before turning to go into the study of the ship. There were two desks, mine and Price's. It mostly became my study, as I spent a majority of the time there planning out various transfers and other duties of mine and the crews. As much as I desperately "wanted" to plan the day out, I couldn't get my mind off of this criminal. Who could it possibly be that needed to transferred to another location that wasn't impel down? I sighed. I really didn't get paid enough to ask questions nor even deal with this. I stood from my desk and wandered over to the windows our study had. The ocean seemed so endless and the horizon stretched on forever. I folded my arms, holding myself as I gazed out. All these years of venturing on the sea, and I'm still not yet satisfied. Something was missing. As the waves bounced to and from, my mind soon became lost in them. Until a pair of dolphins sprang out of it, following our ship. It took me by surprise for a moment. I frowned. Even the ocean had to point out the lack of romance in my life.
I had a few flings here and there but nothing beyond a physical attraction. Rumor on the ship was the crew mates placed bets on me the Captain being involved. I cringed at the thought. Price was a nice man but too naive for me, I also refused to be involved with someone I shared ranks with. Others at HQ thought I was already engaged to a civilian since I showed no interest in my peers. All of them were wrong of course, I was just straight up lonely.
I scratched the back of my neck, already irritated from the scarf that was decoratively around my neck. I heard the door open to the study, it was Price.
"We're approximately an hour out from shore, ma'am."