Note: This whimsical little tale was sent to me by one of our writers. Her sister had written it and I believe she has managed to capture the essence of the characters quite nicely. Please bear in mind this is a fantasy and some license has been taken with some of the details pertaining to Seaview.

Caitlin and Seamus were playing on the sandy shore. The day was sunny and warm; the sea was a beautiful blue. They had a butterfly net - running to and fro with it, running and chasing after the winged creatures, but could not catch any butterflies or birds. Being silly little elves, they soon collapsed in giggles when they would catch each other in the net. This went on for several hours before Seamus decided he was hungry, and it was time to consider lunch. He managed to find his treasured telescope to scan the water to see if there were any schools of fish in the area, just waiting to be caught and fried for lunch. He didn't need Caitlin to remind him that, if he caught fish like he caught butterflies, the elves would have no fish for lunch ... but she did.

Seamus ignored her and continued to look towards the sea. Suddenly, he gasped, "What's that? It looks like a whale."

Caitlin, seated on the sand and totally immersed in building a sandcastle, replied, "No whales for lunch! They're too tough - besides, we better stick to something our own size."

"Be serious," said Seamus, handing her the telescope. "Look for yourself!"

Caitlin took it from him and looked in the direction he was pointing. "It looks big enough to be a whale, but it's still not quite right." Struggling to see, she spelled out the letters.

"S-E-A-V-I-E-W ... what's that?"

"I don't know," replied Seamus. "Maybe, a boat?" He grinned an elfin grin, "Do you think they would let us on board to look around?"

Caitlin swung at him with the telescope. "Silly," she said. "We're elves ... do you think we need their permission? We can do whatever we want." Looking back through the telescope, she said almost wistfully, "I must admit ... I've never seen a boat like that before, and I'll bet we could have SO MUCH FUN!"

Seamus asked, "Do you think they like elves?"

"Silly," said Caitlin, as she handed him back the telescope. "They don't even believe in elves. Of course, we could change their minds." She smiled at Seamus. "Do you want to?"

vvvvv

Chip and Lee were walking down the corridor. "I don't like it, Chip. What could have caused the lights to flicker like that? You know the Admiral will demand a full report."

"Lee, it was probably nothing - probably just a power surge of some kind."

The two men walked on towards the Admiral's office, still debating over an official explanation.

The two elves were silent until they passed. Seamus said, "I'm power and you're surge."

"No," argued Caitlin. "I'm power - you're surge." They were about to engage in fisticuffs when Admiral Harriman Nelson's voice boomed out over the address system.

"Lee ... Chip ... I need to see you in my office immediately."

Lee picked up the nearest mike and advised the Admiral that they were on the way.

The two little elves were spellbound. Caitlin whispered, "How did he do that?" Both sets of elfin eyes were searching the ceiling for the source of the disembodied voice.

"Do you think he can see us?" asked Seamus.

"No, silly," came the response. "We can't even see ourselves." Both elves giggled.

Suddenly, one of the doors opened. "What in blue blazes?!?" Kowalski stepped out into the hallway. "I could have sworn I heard a bunch of kids laughing. Guess I've been working too hard."

Seeing nothing, he went back into the room, and the door slammed shut.

"Kids?" asked Seamus.

Caitlin, suddenly cross, said, "He called us 'goats.' I'll fix him."

Seamus held her back. "Calm down. We don't want them to know we're here yet. Besides, we've got to find 'the voice's' office."

"Why?" asked Caitlin, suddenly interested.

Seamus looked up and around the ceiling. "I just want to see if he has a body or just floats around up there somewhere." Both elves looked nervously up at the ceiling again.

vvvvv

From the shore, Brendan stared at the Seaview lying placidly in the water. Sensing the presence of the two little ones in the submarine, he smiled and made the mental 'introductions.'

"Modern technology, meet the Sidhe."

He turned, continuing his conversation with himself. "Elves indeed. They're babies - they have no idea of their abilities."

Athena landed beside him, her owl eyes gradually becoming adjusted to the sand and the bright sunlight. "I'm surprised, Brendan, you let them go - naïve little babies that they are."

Brendan looked at the huge snow owl. "They will grow into their roles - they cannot deny their heritage."

"What if they get hurt on that thing?" asked an anxious Athena, who had grown fond of the two little elves.

"The Sidhe cannot be 'hurt,' as you call it," answered Brendan. "Besides," he smiled, "I know EXACTLY what is occurring on that 'boat.' " He smiled to himself.

Athena continued, "I thought that humans had diminished the powers of the Sidhe?"

"And who wrote that history?" retorted Brendan. "We didn't - and, of course, the humans write themselves in the best possible light. I tell you - every time they doubt or look at the stars or feel the power of the night, another of us is born."

"So, you're saying that you have the same power you always had?"

"It's not about power," insisted Brendan. "It's about this place, what surrounds us, flows through us, encircles us ... what we believe about ourselves and our relationship to this place and other creatures."

Athena was quiet for a moment. "So, who do you think will win?"

Brendan smiled. "Maybe we all can. Maybe." As he glanced back out to sea, the pink and gold began to settle on the horizon that separated sea and sky.

"You think they'll be okay?"

"Yes," he said, "but the humans could be in for an interesting evening."

vvvvv

"Okay," said Seamus. "How do we find him?"

Caitlin walked over to the side of the corridor. "I've been watching - and some of these things open so that the humans can go in and out." She knocked on the first door, looking at Seamus.

"That seems to be the signal." No one opened the door.

She was very disappointed. "I guess that one doesn't work." She went on to the next door and knocked.

"Nope. Nope. Nope." She went on down the hallway as Seamus watched in amazement.

Suddenly, a voice shouted out, "Who's there? State your business."

"It's HIM!" the two little elves cried, and giggled gleefully.

Nelson got up from his chair and strode to the door, leaving Lee and Chip standing in front of his desk. "I said, 'Who's there?' "

The two elves giggled and disappeared as the door opened. The Admiral looked up and down the hallway, but saw no one. He would have sworn he heard laughter.

"Oh, this is just great!" he bellowed to the two men before him. "Grown seamen who have nothing better to do than play 'hide-and-seek' "

The two little elves were in the office. "Hide and seek?" whispered Seamus.

"Sounds like fun," responded Caitlin.

Nelson turned his attention back to the two men in his office. "Obviously, the crew doesn't have enough to do, so I've decided you'll have plenty of 'volunteers' to help you investigate the power surge in the morning."

" Admiral, if I may...?" Lee interjected.

"You may not!" intoned the Admiral.

Lee pressed on, "there is no data to support the possibility of a power surge, sir."

Nelson rolled his eyes and sat back down in his chair, leaned forward and said, "No data, Lee? The power went out ... how much data do you require?"

Chip grinned. "You gotta admit it, Lee. He's right!"

Lee leaned over the desk, both hands in front of him. "Admiral," he said quietly, "it probably was a minor fluctuation in electrical current."

The Admiral shot out of his chair, stood straight up and roared, "and I want to make bloody sure it STAYS 'minor.' "

Caitlin whispered, "I LIKE him."

Seamus agreed, "reminds me of Brendan." And both little elves giggled.

The three men froze.

"Did you hear something?" asked Chip.

"Probably just a 'power surge,' " said Lee.

Nelson ignored him. "I definitely want someone on patrol tonight." he pointed at Lee, "and WHOEVER is playing these little games ... " He left the sentence unfinished, but his meaning was very clear.

"Playing games?" asked Seamus, looking in one direction. "Where?"

"I don't know," said Caitlin, looking the other way.

"Meanwhile," said the Admiral, feeling suddenly drained. "I'm tired. I think I'll try to get some sleep. I'll see you two in the morning," he said, effectively dismissing both Chip and Lee. 

vvvvv

 Seamus and Caitlin followed the two men out. "So, who do you think?" asked Lee.

"Kowalski," replied Chip.

"Kowalski, it is." He walked on. "There is something really strange going on here, and I don't think it's a power surge."

"Lee, we'll just check it out in the morning to make sure and put the Admiral's mind at ease. You get some rest. I'll let Kowalski know he's on for tonight before I turn in."

"Okay. Good night, Chip."

"Goodnight, Lee," replied Chip before he ambled on down the hall.

Lee Crane opened the door to his cabin, leaving the two little elves alone in the darkened corridor.

"This is spooky," whispered Caitlin.

Seamus agreed. "At least at home we could build a fire and keep warm."

"We need some wood," said Caitlin, excitedly. She ran down the hallway with Seamus close behind her.

Then they found the chair. "This is wood," proclaimed Seamus, "and it would make a nice fire. We'll be warm all night."

The chair burst into flames. Barely a minute later, the smoke alarm went off.

"What's that?" asked Caitlin. She took the smoke alarm into her hands. "Oh ... it's crying."

"Maybe it's hungry," offered Seamus.

"It's not wet," said Caitlin," so it doesn't need to be changed." She thought a moment. "It's probably hungry ... we have to find it something to eat."

"I'm hungry, too," commiserated Seamus, and the two elves disappeared in search of food.

Lee came racing out of his door. Smoke was billowing down the hallway. Kowalski and Admiral Nelson were already beating at the flames. The Admiral remembered the fire extinguisher and ran to get it, but by the time he returned, the seaman had already put out the fire.

"What on earth happened?" asked Crane.

The Admiral raised one bushy eyebrow as if to say, "You tell me," before heading back to his quarters.

Lee Crane looked at Kowalski. The seaman shrugged his shoulders. "I came around the corner, sir, and it was on fire."

Lee shook his head and went back to bed. "Maybe the Admiral is right," he thought. "This has to be examined more closely."

vvvvv

Caitlin and Seamus entered the control room.

"Look at this," Seamus pointed to the instrument panels. "They spelled it wrong."

'Spelled what wrong?" asked Caitlin as she climbed up in the chair next to Seamus.

"News," replied Seamus, playing with the compass. "I'll change it." And he did.

"What's the little arrow for?"

"I don't know." Seamus pulled it off the compass. "Here. You can have it."

"I'd rather have something to eat." Caitlin's elfin eyes brightened as she spotted a bowl of apples on the nearby plotting table. "Yummy. Acorns."

Seamus was doubtful. "I'm not so sure ... I've never seen acorns that color before," but he joined Caitlin on top of the table next to the apples.

Caitlin picked up an apple and took a bite. She made a face. "Ugh! They let them get all mushy." She threw the apple on the floor. "I hate mushy acorns."

"Actually, they're not too bad in soup," said Seamus, as he bit into, then discarded his apple.

The elves took bites out of all the apples while trying to find a "good acorn" then threw them all on the floor.

"I don't feel so good," moaned Caitlin.

"I don't either," agreed Seamus. "I think I need a nap."

"Me, too," said Caitlin. And the two little elves curled up in tiny little balls to sleep.

vvvvv

Kowalski roamed the darkened halls of the Seaview. He liked to break up his patrol routine, preferring no to set discernible patterns. He had decided that nothing exciting could or would happen during his night patrols, but, after the fire in the chair, he wasn't so sure anymore. The Admiral could insist it was electrical all he wanted, but there was no wiring in that chair.

As he walked into the control room, he was still deep in thought. It was the sight of the two little elves sleeping blissfully in the chair that totally stunned him. "What in the world?" he whispered hoarsely, then turned to close the door, thinking he would trap them in the room.

The ultra-sensitive elfin ears of Caitlin and Seamus alerted them to his presence. They woke very quickly, sensed their predicament, then disappeared.

Kowalski turned back around to find that the elves were gone. "I know I saw something," he said in disbelief. "There was something here,"

Seamus and Caitlin watched and nervously giggled.

Kowalski spun around to where he thought the sound was coming from. Seeing nothing, he slowly backed out of the room.

Seamus looked at Caitlin. "I think we scared him."

Caitlin yawned, then replied, "Well, he scared me. Imagine someone sneaking up on someone like that? What was he thinking?"

Seamus smiled his elfin grin. "He was thinking he could close the door and we would be trapped. It's a good thing that Brendan taught us to sleep with our ears open."

Suddenly, both elves looked at each other - their eyes wide and bright. Brendan! They had forgotten about Brendan.

"Ooh! I just know he's going to be mad," whispered Caitlin.

"Maybe not. Not after we tell him about our grand adventure."

vvvvv

Kowalski raced down the hallway. "What should I do?" he questioned himself. "If I tell anybody, they'll think I've lost my mind ... but I need to talk to someone." He stopped, standing outside of Chip Morton's door. Finally, reluctantly, he knocked.

Chip was dreaming - of sunny beaches and palm trees - when he first heard the noise. "It has to be a woodpecker," he thought, as he looked up into the palms. He saw nothing, but the noise persisted. He finally realized someone was at his door ... not a loud knock, but a persistent one.

"Who is it?" he demanded, as he turned on the light, nearly blinding himself. "Hell!" he muttered. "This better be good." He flung open the door, finding a very flustered Kowalski standing outside.

"Kowalski! What?!?"

"Sir, I need to talk to you. It's kind of important." Kowalski looked back over his shoulder, as if to ensure that no one saw him or was listening. "Can I come in?"

Chip looked at his watch; it wasn't quite 5:30 in the morning. What could have happened that would have spooked Kowalski so. He motioned for Kowalski to enter, then shut the door.

"What's up?" he asked.

"Sir," blurted out the nervous seaman. "You've got to promise not to say anything. I swear to you that I'm not crazy."

"Kowalski," said Chip, "now you know my promise has to be conditional. If it's anything that's illegal or could endanger the men, I have to go to the Skipper and the Admiral."

Kowalski slumped into a chair. He finally looked up. "Sir, I saw something in the control room."

"What did you see?" asked Chip wearily.

"I'm not sure," came the reply.

Chip took a deep breath. "Okay! What do you THINK you saw? Describe it."

"There were two of them."

"Two what?" Chip continued.

Kowalski put his head in his hands. "I don't know what they are."

Chip rolled his eyes. "Out with it! What did 'they' look like?"

"You want me to be honest?"

Chip nodded.

"Two little kids with big ears and no clothes on. Little kids - not even a foot high, I'll bet."

Chip grinned, in spite of himself. Then he chuckled. " 'Ski,' you haven't been drinking or smoking anything unusual, have you?"

Kowalski shot to attention. He saluted Chip. "No, sir! I wouldn't do that while I was on duty."

Chip, thinking of palm trees and woodpeckers, asked, "And you weren't dreaming?"

"No, sir!" came the reply. "I was on duty. Please, sir, you have to believe me."

Chip was quiet a minute, then spoke. "How about us both keeping our eyes and ears open for the next day or so?" He looked at Kowalski. "If we don't see or hear anything unusual, this conversation is forgotten."

"Thank you, sir." Kowalski got up to leave.

"And, Kowalski...."

"Yes, sir?"

Chip continued. "Get some sleep. I'll relieve you. I think you've had enough excitement for one night."

"Thank you, sir."

Chip dressed and headed out into the hallway. He decided to check out the control room first.

As he passed Lee Crane's quarters, the Commander came out.

"Morning, Chip," Lee smiled amiably. "Got some time for a cup of coffee before we go on duty?"

vvvvv

Chip really wanted to get to the control room, but didn't want to alarm Lee. "Sure," he agreed.

Lee nudged him. "Tell you what," he said. "Let's try out the Admiral's new coffeemaker in the control room."

That was fine with Chip, so he played along. "That'll work, Lee," he joked, "just as long as you know that he measures his coffee every evening."

Lee laughed, and both men headed to the control room. Chip was grateful for the company ...just in case, he thought.

Both men noticed the door was wide open. Lee walked in first. "Looks like Kowalski was hungry last night," he picked up an apple with a bite out of it. Almost immediately, he saw another apple and another apple and, yet, another apple - all with little toothmarks.

Uh-oh! thought Chip.

Then he said, "Lee, Kowalski wouldn't have taken one bite out of each apple, then thrown them on the floor." He examined one of the apples more closely. "Besides, it looks like these bite marks are too small." Chip felt a sinking feeling in his stomach.

Lee wandered over to the control panel. "Well, it looks like no other damage was down ... maybe it's just mice."

Chip was still looking at the apples, trying to decide what kind of bite a mouse would have made in an apple.

"Chip! Look at this!"

Looking up, Chip saw Lee in front of the compass. Both men realized the directional indicators had been moved and the instrument's arrow had been removed without the glass being shattered.

They stood there in silence for a few seconds before Lee finally spoke, "Okay, Chip," he looked very serious. "What do you think is going on here?"

Chip was at a loss for words. "Lee, I honestly don't know, but I think we'd better find out."

vvvvv

Brendan woke before the sunrise and knew instantly that Caitlin and Seamus had not returned.

"Fun-time is over, children," he intoned. "It's time for you to return to your lessons." He glanced at the Seaview. "And I believe I'm going to have to pay a visit to that Seaview." He disappeared.

Instantly, he was on the Seaview. The lights flickered off and on, then off again. The Seaview rocked from side to side. Chip and Lee were thrown to the floor.

"What in blue blazes?" shouted Lee. Both men struggled to their feet, just in time to be knocked to the floor again. Just as quickly, it was over. The lights came back on and the rocking motions stopped.

"What was that?" whispered Caitlin.

Seamus lowered his head. "Brendan," he whispered. "I think he's looking for us."

Nelson, in his quarters, was furious. The Seaview's rocking had sent him sprawling. "That does it!" he yelled at no one in particular. "We are going to find the reason for this TODAY!"

From near the doorway came a firm voice, "That won't be necessary, Admiral Nelson."

Nelson turned to see a tiny man in front of his door. He rubbed his eyes in disbelief. "Who are you? And what are you doing in my quarters?"

Brendan smiled. "Allow me to introduce myself - I am Brendan. I came here because you're supposed to be in control and in command." He smiled more broadly and added, "Of course, I could be wrong."

Nelson was stunned. His eyes were playing tricks on him. "Maybe it's the lighting," he thought. He rubbed his eyes again, but opened them to see that Brendan was still there, but now seated on the floor and was studying him closely. Nelson felt his mind being pricked with doubts and questions.

Brendan spoke again. "Admiral, you are a logical man - perhaps, too logical." He gestured around the room before continuing, "and you've created all of this." He smiled, "but you HAVE to realize I am not a figment of your imagination."

"Who are you?" Nelson shook his head; he was befuddled - this did not make sense. "Or, rather, what are you? What do you want?"

"You have two of my 'children' here. I want them back," said Brendan, knowing he did not need the Admiral's help and could recall Seamus and Caitlin easily ... but these humans were just too logical. It was time to shake them up a bit.

"There are no children on the Seaview," roared Nelson.

"Temper, temper, Admiral Nelson," admonished Brendan.

"What are you? How do you know my name?"

Brendan spoke quietly. "I am several of your centuries in age. Names come quite easily to me."

Nelson stared at him. "This is impossible," he thought.

"No, Admiral, not impossible. Have you heard of the Tuatha De Danaan?" Brendan smiled. "Some know us as the Sidhe ... the Faerie-Folk."

"No," said the Admiral, shaking his head. "That's mythology, legends, so forth." Still, he could not deny what he was seeing, what he was hearing. "Am I dreaming this?" he asked himself.

Brendan chuckled. "We are the stuff dreams are made of, but..." he turned suddenly serious, "our culture transcends yours. You could learn much from us. We are of the elements - sky and sea, fire and earth." He repeated, "You could learn much from us."

Nelson regarded his visitor. "Such as?" he asked.

Brendan looked at him. "Humans SHARE this planet with many other creatures - some seen, some unseen - most of which you humans refuse to acknowledge as your EQUALS." He paused. "Don't destroy this planet because of your selfishness."

Nelson sat down on the floor, looking Brendan in the eyes. "I have no intention of destroying this planet, or allowing it to be destroyed."

Brendan regarded him for a moment, then said, "You are an honorable human, Admiral Nelson. May your conscience and concern spread to your fellow humans."

Brendan stood up and snapped his fingers. Caitlin and Seamus appeared in the corner of the Admiral's cabin. They giggled nervously. "Before we leave," said Brendan, "Caitlin, is there something that you forgot?"

Caitlin walked slowly up to the Admiral. She looked up at Nelson; he looked awfully big to her, the smallest of the three. "Here," she said and handed him the arrow from the Seaview's compass. "I have no need for this." She looked back for Brendan's approval, before turning back to the Admiral. She blew him a kiss, then disappeared.

Nelson smiled, then looked up. Brendan and Seamus were also gone. "I couldn't have dreamed this," he thought as put the arrow into his pocket.

Suddenly, there was a loud knock on his door. He opened it and both Lee and Chip almost tumbled in. "Just wanted you to know, sir," volunteered Lee Crane, "we've already got a detail working on the problem."

The Admiral looked puzzled. "What problem?" he asked.

Chip and Lee, surprised, looked at each other. Both men were thinking that the Admiral must have slept through the latest power surge.

"The power surge," Chip blurted out.

Nelson thought for a moment, then dismissed it with a wave of his hand. "Oh, THAT!" he said. "It's nothing to worry about."

Chip and Lee looked confused. Yesterday, he had been adamant about the problem, and, today, it didn't exist.

Seeing their confusion, Nelson said, "I'll join you two in the control room after I've had my coffee."

On leaving, Chip asked Lee. "What do you make of that?"

Lee looked at him as they entered the control room. "He must have slept through it. We still have to explain the compass."

Moments later, the Admiral Harriman Nelson strode into the control room with a book under his arm.

Chip, in an attempt to make conversation, asked, "What are you reading, sir?"

Smiling to himself, Nelson replied, " IRISH FAIRY TALES." Looking at Chip, he said, "You can learn a lot from them." Then he walked over to the compass.

Lee and Chip watched him and prepared themselves for the worst. To their astonishment, the Admiral unscrewed the glass top of the compass, took the arrow out of his pocket and put it back in place before replacing the top of the compass. Seeing the shocked looks on their faces, he said, "It makes a great bookmark."