Chapter 7
"This is crazy" Leni muttered several times. "I'm going back to my hotel and will hole up there until my flight on Monday and get off this crazy island."
"There's a fair chance your hotel room will have been tossed, he knows who you are - he's that good." I tried to explain. "We need to get off this island now, not on Monday."
"Who is he?" Leni crossed her arms across her chest and looked at me stubbornly.
"Doesn't matter." I said, trying to pull her along as we were now standing in the middle of an almost deserted street - if he was still looking for me, he wouldn't have to look very hard.
"Yes, it does! If you're going to drag me down with you, I want to know why and for whom!" Leni's voice carried through the night air.
"Leni!" I hissed. "Let's go, I will tell you everything I know if you get the hell out of the street now." I glanced around but didn't see any unusual shadows lurking about.
Leni seemed to finally catch on to my anxiety and looked panicked for a moment before nodding. "Fine. But we're going to my hotel." And just like that she was off, leaving me to follow her for once. I rolled my eyes but I was just glad she was moving again.
As suspected, her hotel room had been trashed. There was no sign of forced entry so I can only assume he got a key from the front desk some how. Her laptop was smashed on the floor, papers and files were scattered everywhere, some of the papers were charred.
"Gah!" Leni shrieked as she first stepped in and surveyed the damage. "How...why...?" she whirled around on me and grumbled. "What are you involved in?!"
I let out a low guttural growl but otherwise said nothing. This woman was possibly the most irritating person I'd met in recent history. "Why don't you get what you came here for?" I said, stepping around the mess to the window.
Leni looked like she was fuming and not quite done but after a moment she stomped to her laptop to survey the damage. I let her take her time picking through the wreckage while I looked out the window, watching for shadows. What exactly was I involved in?
When I looked back at her after a few minutes, she had changed and was attempting to disassemble her laptop with a pocket knife. "I think it's fairly trashed Leni." I said as I watched her work.
"May yet be something salvageable if I can get to another computer." she muttered, not looking up at me.
I shrugged and looked back out the window. I thought I saw someone lurking in the shadows but when I looked closer there was no one there. The tinkering noise from behind me finally stopped and Leni cleared her throat. She had a small backpack stuffed with whatever she could carry and the laptop looked gutted, laying on the bed. "Are we still leaving?"
"Mmhmm." I said, looking back out the window as errant thoughts and questions tumbled around in my mind. I creased my brow at one particular thought and turned to face her. "How did you find me?"
"What?" Leni asked, confused at the sudden change. "I told you, it's what I do."
"I get that...but how, specifically? No one knew I was here. The only person who ever knew about this place was Felicia" I said.
"I talked to your brother - I saw a picture of you and Felicia here and asked her family about it - your brother just confirmed what they already told me..." she was chewing on her lower lip a bit.
"I don't have a brother." I said thinking about her story, she seemed to be telling the truth as far as she knew it though.
"What?" Leni's eyes were wide. "No, he said he was your brother and the Gianni's said they'd talked to the same person...."
"I don't have a brother Leni!" I said loudly. I turned from her and pinched the bridge of my nose. When I looked back, Leni looked confused and uncomfortable. After another moment and a deep sigh, "Let's go..." I said even as I thought about just leaving her behind in the hotel room.
------
We took the darker, silent side streets to the marina docks where rows of sleek boats were nestled. I scanned the row of boats until I found the one I was looking for. I climbed on board but Leni hung back on the dock, looking uncomfortable and confused again. She was actually a little cute when her brow furrowed like that - or she would be if she weren't so damn irritating. "Are you coming?"
"Why a boat?" she asked.
I smirked and leaned on the railing, "Because you may have noticed that there is only one flight a day to and from this little island back to the mainland and I'd rather not have another run in with our would-be killer."
She considered my words and finally, with a begrudging look, she climbed aboard the sailboat. She sat quietly as I prepared the boat and didn't speak until we were underway. "Nice boat." she said softly. "You really don't have a brother?"
I shook my head. "No."
"Damn!" she said. She lapsed into another silence for awhile. Without word, she got up and walked, a little unsteadily, to the front of the boat.
I watched her for several minutes as she leaned against the railing. Was the guy claiming to be my brother Victor Luna? Or was this a copycat of some sort? Maybe Luna really was dead and some nut job had just read about him on Wikipedia and decided he liked the M.O.
When I came up behind Leni, I didn't say anything to distract her from her thoughts and for a few moments she didn't acknowledge me. But when she turned to look at me, her face was crossed with worry. "This is my fault isn't it?" she said softly.
"What?" I asked surprised by the question.
"I led him here...he's after you and I gave him the answer...I didn't know it but this is all my fault." she said.
"No...well him coming here specifically maybe but he probably would have found me eventually." I said.
"Who is he?" Leni asked.
"I don't know, honestly. I have guesses though." Even though we were both tired, we sat back on the deck and talked about everything we knew - which wasn't much at this point. I told her about Victor Luna and described him to her based on the picture I'd seen in the file but she said that didn't sound like the person she'd talked to. She told me about my so-called brother and the beginnings of her investigation into Felicia's disappearance which had led her to me.
We were both yawning when everything had been said and re-said. "There's a bed down in the cabin. I'll show you." I said leading her down the stairs.
"Um..." she looked awkwardly at the one double bed and then at me.
"Don't worry about it. I'll be up on the deck." I said with a small smile.
"No, we can.." she started to protest.
"There's a small bathroom over there, you can get cleaned up." I said with a a nod in the direction of the bathroom. "We'll probably make port by morning."
"And then?" she asked.
"Well, I'm going home - but you...you can wherever you want from there." I turned back to the stairs. "We'll figure it out when we've both slept a bit."
------
I didn't really sleep that night, I laid out on the padded benches on deck and tried to close my eyes but my thoughts were going to fast to sleep. Staring up at the stars above me, everything that had happened in the last couples days played through my mind. I didn't know what would come of going back but the island no longer seemed like home - it never really had been home I suppose, just a place to avoid reality. I glanced over to the stairs leading down to the cabin and wondered if Leni was sleeping.
Before sunrise, I descended the stairs quietly and cleaned up quickly. Leni had tossed the covers aside and was sprawled across the whole bed. I grinned at her for a second before going back up to the deck. I watched the sunrise from the front of the boat and saw a sliver of land ahead of us. If the guy who'd run us off the road thought we were actually dead, he might be on the morning flight to the larger mainland airport, we'd probably be arriving at the same time...on the other hand, he could be waiting a day or two on the island to see if we surfaced.
I didn't hear her approach until she was right behind me. "That where we're headed?" Leni asked.
I nodded. "Yep, there's a larger airport - lots of flights to just about everywhere."
"Good." she said simply. I heard her walking away but didn't turn to face her, still watching as the land before us grew larger on the horizon.
After awhile, I went below decks to get dressed and was thankful for the clothes I had on the boat. With reluctance, I also shaved the stubble I'd grown accustomed to in the last six months. It felt like I was shedding part of my brief life as an islander.
------
I didn't ask Leni where she was going, I hoped she had enough sense to disappear somewhere for awhile but I wasn't going to suggest it and risk pissing her off. We passed through security together without a word but I noticed we were both looking over our shoulders a lot.
"Keep your head down." I told her as we were standing at the arrivals/departures boards. She had become slightly less irritating over the last few hours - while she was asleep - but mostly I didn't want to see anyone else hurt or killed.
"Right." she said, sticking her hand out. We shook hands and then walked in different directions. I paused and looked back at her but she was gone. Just as well.
End Chapter
Chapter 16: Falling Up
The rest of us knew it was our cue to leave Todd and Mei-Ling to talk so we wondered away. Every so often, I'd glance back at them, curious as to this mystery fiance of Mei-Lings but Erik would turn me back around. When Nai'a's father arrived to drive us home, the good bye between Todd and Mei-Ling was as affectionate as ever. Erik, Nai'a and I exchanged looks in the car, waiting for Todd to say something -anything - but he wasn't talking.
"It's an arranged thing" Todd said without any prompting, as we drove back into town, "between the families but she hasn't agreed to it or anything." he added with conviction. And that was the last of the topic, he went back to not saying anything.
------
In the following weeks, Timothy started missing school a couple times a week. At first he said he was sick, then doctors appointments and then he stopped explaining. The last time Timothy had missed more than a couple days of school in a year he was six and had the chicken pox. Worried about him, I knew there was supposed to be a student council meeting so I headed for it, ready to wait until it was over in order to talk to him. But when I got to the classroom, it was empty.
I checked the date and time against the announcement on the bulletin board and frowned. Maybe it was somewhere else, I started for the gym which was the next most likely location I could figure. I crossed the football field on my way and saw Todd in the stands with Mei-Ling. "Hey guys?" I approached them and cleared my throat a couple times.
"Hmmm?" Todd asked, barely glancing my direction before resuming kissing Mei-Ling. Clearly her having an arranged fiance was not a damper on their relationship.
"Umm, have either of you seen Tim?" I asked, not even sure if I was expecting a response.
In a moment of reprieve they shook their head. "Why?" Todd asked, looking at me for the first time. Mei-Ling started nuzzling against his neck.
"I'm worried about him, I just want to see if he's alright." I explained.
"Try calling him?" he asked, he attention returning to Mei-Ling even as he asked.
"Yeah," they were back to making out and I rolled my eyes. "Thanks for your help." I figured he wasn't at school after all and made why way to the car, hoping I might find him at home.
I knocked on the door and waited. When I didn't get a response, I tried again and called out for him, "Hey Tim? You here?"
I thought I heard some sort of motion inside and on the third knock, the door actually clicked open on it's own. I peeked around the door and didn't see anyone. "Tim?" I said aloud.
Glancing around, I saw piles of clothes everywhere - some appeared to be clean and in various states of folding and others looked to be dirty. In the kitchen there was a small stack of dirty dishes and several bags of groceries needing to be put away. I saw Tim's backpack tossed on the couch as well.
"Tim?" I called out again, still surveying the room. I glanced up the stairs toward his room. "Hey Tim you up there?"
There wasn't an immediate response but a few moments later, Timothy came out of his parents room with a tray of food. He wasn't paying much attention to me as he quietly closed the door behind him and started to navigate the living room chaos - clearly familiar with the terrain.
"Tim." I said again, to get his attention.
"Oh Ginny!" he said in surprise, he almost dropped the tray when he saw me. But soon the surprise was replaced with embarrassment. "Um..." he look away from me and set the tray down on the arm of the couch.
"Tim, are you okay?" I tried hard to not look around the room again.
"What are you doing here Genevieve?" he asked, adopting my full name once again. He so rarely used nicknames that I knew my presence had flustered him.
"I was worried about you. You've been missing school and you never miss school." I explained.
"Well I'm fine thanks." he said, picking up the tray again and heading for the kitchen with it. I followed him and tried to help him put away the groceries but he whipped around toward me, "I'm fine, I've got it!" he snapped.
"I just want to help." I said but stepped back from him, hurt by his out lash.
After a moment of silence, he nodded. "I'm sorry..." he stifled a yawn and shook his head to clear it. "I'm just tired and moody I guess." When I didn't say anything, he seemed to be thinking and then took my hand and led me back to his dad's room. He opened the door very quietly and after we'd stepped inside he closed it again.
Mr. Kline was sitting in a chair in the corner staring straight ahead. He took no notice of us and barely even blinked while we were there. "He's been like this since right after..." he trailed off but I knew what he meant. "He barely eats and barely sleeps, never leaves the house..."
"But who...." I knew, even as I said it, who did everything now. Timothy had taken on every household chore - even the grocery shopping.
"I try but it's just....it's so much." he looked down at his feet for a minute and then back at his dad. He looked like he was ready to cry or pass out, or both.
"Come on." I said, taking his hand. The park was a few blocks away and we walked there in silence.
"We've gone through so much of the savings, he stopped going to work so there's nothing coming in really." Timothy said, leaning against the railing of the bridge.
"I started working nights at the theater and then am up doing homework and I feel like I barely have time to sleep..." he looked at me and I could see how much he'd been aged in the last few months. He has heavy circles under his eyes and just didn't look like a seventeen year old boy anymore.
"Tim...have you called family, or doctors?" I suggested quietly.
"I can't! If I can even get him to a doctor, they'd want to place him in a home and then where do I go? My nearest relative is in Egypt!" he sounded desperate. "If I can just make it until my birthday...then I'll be eighteen at least..."
I placed my hand over his. "You have to tell someone, he needs help - more help than just you can give him."
"Who am I supposed to tell?" he asked in frustration. "I don't even know how to get in touch with my uncle and as far as I know there is no one else."
I considered for a minute and then spoke up, "My dad, you can tell him. He can probably find out the contact information for your uncle too."
"I don't Ginny." he said, staring down at the water. Even as he did so, I could see his eyes drooping because he was so tired. He only protested a little as I dragged him back to my car, he insisted on checking on his dad once more before we drove to my house. My dad wasn't home yet so I was going over notes from the class he missed while we waited. "I don't know about this..." he said as the clocked neared 5PM.
"What if he gets worse Tim? You can't be there twenty-four-seven. What about school? Please tell him, tell someone at least..." I said, pacing the room.
"Tell someone what?" my dad asked, stepping into the room.
Timothy was anxious and I knew he wanted to unburden himself, it was too much for him to deal with alone, but he was terrified of what would happen next. Being adopted, the Klines were the only family he had and he'd already lost his mom this year - losing his dad would probably break him.
"Tim? You alright?" my dad asked when he didn't say anything. "Whatever it is, I'd like to help..." he knelt down in front of Timothy to look him in the eyes.
Timothy was shaking slightly as he looked at my dad, no doubt debating what to say and how much to say. But when Dad placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, he broke down and started telling everything in a rush of words - everything he'd been holding in for months.
"Shh, it's okay." Dad soothed him as the words finally stopped. He had to ask Timothy a few more questions for clarification. "I'll make some calls. I want you to stay here tonight okay."
"I have to go home, I have to check on him." Timothy protested, already trying to stand up.
"I'll take care of it Timothy. I promise." Dad reassured him and after repeating himself a few times, Timothy nodded. "I'm going to go make some calls, see if I can't track down that uncle of yours. Ginny, will you make up the guest room please."
"Of course." I said with a small smile. I touched Timothy's arm and was relieved that he didn't try to pull away from me. My dad nodded and then went down to his office.
I showed Timothy to the guest room after I'd made up the bed. "I can get one of Dad's t-shirts for you to sleep in if you want." I offered.
Timothy nodded. "Thank you Genevieve." he said tiredly.
"No problem." I said with a smile.
"I mean for checking on me...and for suggesting I tell someone. I don't know how....anyway thank you." Timothy gave me a very weak smile.
I nodded. "I'll go get that shirt." I said. "I'll be right back." But when I got back, Timothy had already crawled into bed and fallen asleep, his glasses laid askew on the side table and the lamp was still on.
"Sweet dreams Tim." I said as I reached for the lamp and turned it off. I closed the door quietly behind me and went downstairs. My dad was on the couch, a pile of papers with quickly scribbled notes were in front of him on the coffee table.
"How's Tim?" he asked, looking up from the notes.
"Asleep already." I said, sitting next to him on the couch. "Is he going to be okay Dad?"
"Tim?" he asked.
"Mr. Kline." I corrected him.
"I don't know sweetie, I just don't know." he said and put an arm around my shoulder. "I hope so, now that he can get some help."
I nodded and leaned back against his arm, feeling comforted by its presence. "Thank you Daddy." I whispered. "For helping."
"Anytime kiddo, anytime." he said.
End Chapter.
Chapter 18
"It's a trap Meng! How can you not see that?!" Brandon shouted. "This is a bad idea, you'll show up and they'll arrest you."
"And if they do, everything is already in motion. My arrest will not stop the progress of anything." Meng said calmly. The strike, the boycotts, everything had snowballed very quickly with only a small push now and then from him. Word of mouth and sympathy had done far more than his speeches ever could. "It's worth the risk Brandon."
Brandon growled, he actually growled at Meng, and then stormed out of the room. Lana looked from the door to Meng uncomfortably, "It could be a trap you know." she said quietly.
"Arresting me would only make their situation worse." Meng said. "They know that as well as we do. It would make me some sort of martyr and they don't want that anymore than I do."
------
Freya, Hapsberg and the young engineer were huddled together looking over the computer. They talked quickly and every once in awhile the translator was unable to keep up with the alien's tongue. The three of them would laugh together when this happened before returning their attention to the computer screen.
"We've never encountered this kind of technology." Freya said, with awe in her voice. "It's incredible."
"If it works it will be incredible." Hapsberg said, she looked at the engineer and shrugged. "No offense but this wasn't intended for a human being, I don't know that I'm willing to put Mr. Ice through yet another surgery with such a risk."
"I understand." she nodded. "I just want to help, your crew has been very kind to us, I wish to help." she looked past them toward where her younger sister looked on disapprovingly. "It is not our way but I think it is yours..."
"We could leave it up to Julian." Freya ventured.
Hapsberg mulled the options over. "We'll be at the space port in a few hours; there's no way we can do this before you and your people leave though."
"This research...this information...is for you. You can use it anytime you like." she said. "I would be no good in your operating room anyway. I am engineer."
"Thank you." Freya said. "Thank you for the information, I hope we can put it to use. But even if we can't it was very kind of you."
------
Several people had gathered around the viewports as the ship approached the large sprawling space port. The port spanned over space like an intergalactic thoroughfare and there were dozens of ships; though the Ark was by far one of the largest. "Wow." Freya said as she gazed out the port. She was flanked by a couple of nurses that had stepped out of the ward with her to watch. "Sometimes I forget we're in space..."
"How can you forget we're in space?" one of them asked with a laugh. "We live on a space ship."
"I just mean that our whole lives, our parents lives, grandparents and so on ...it's always been here. None of us have ever lived on a planet so living in space is just natural to us...it's in the back of my mind somewhere, just don't think of it much." Freya shrugged. "And then I see this and it's...it's just wow..."
"I get what you mean doctor." the other nurse said. "I've never been planet side, I've never been off this ship so I get what you mean."
"You think any of the other people on those ships out there have lived their whole lives on a ship?" Freya mused aloud. No one replied but no answer was really necessary.
------
"It's been a pleasure to have you with us." Captain Hunt lied to the Ambassador and the other alien crew.
"Thank you for your assistance Captain." the Ambassador said. They watched as their broken ship was hauled with tractor beams from the Ark's bay by other vessels. They turned and left through an airlock to a waiting shuttle before saying anything else. Hunt waited until the shuttle had departed before breathing a sigh of relief; one he'd been holding in the whole time they were on board.
"Captain!" Andy exclaimed running up to him. She was out of breath, having run almost the whole way from engineering to the bridge and then here. "The aliens...where are they?" she looked around frantically.
"They just left Lieutenant," Captain Hunt said motioning toward the view where they could see their ship still being towed. "Thankfully." he tacked on with a small smile.
"But...damn!" she cursed a few times, a bad habit picked from Dex. "There was never anything wrong with their ship Captain!"
"Then why did they need a ride from us?" he asked, Andy didn't have the answer to that one.
------
"What do you mean without the suit?" Julian asked in shock. "You mean...just on my own?"
"Well there would something inside your body but not outside like the suit." Hapsberg explained. "We've sent the research to Commander Katou and to engineering to get their opinions Mr. Ice. But I wanted to keep you informed of the possibility."
"Wow, I mean I've just gotten used to the suit and having my mobility back..." Julian mused.
"You don't have to do this procedure, it would mean another surgery and it's alien technology - assuming we can even reproduce it based on what she gave us...there could be risks." Hapsberg felt she had to caution him.
"Right right. Well, I guess just let me know what you and the other brains come up with." he smirked at her. "I'm used to the suit but I wouldn't mind getting out of it either..."
Hapsberg nodded. "I'll keep you informed Mr Ice. Thank you for coming by." She watched him leave before returning her attention back to the screen. She barely had a chance to look at it when Freya came in.
"Did I just see Julian? Did you tell him about the procedure?" she looked out the door a bit anxiously.
Hapsberg nodded. "I told him we'd keep him up to date on things. He's considering things." she paused a moment until Freya actually turned her attention back toward her. "And the Captain wanted to see you, as soon as possible."
------
"Captain, you wanted to see me?" Freya asked. She glanced around the room and saw Bonwick, looking surly as ever as well as Julian's aunt. Freya had to resist the urge to frown at both of them and just nodded to Theresa Ice once before returning her attention to Captain Hunt.
"The Council," he motioned to Theresa, "has agreed to talk with the Sons of Liberty, in an effort to end the strike and restore peace." Freya sensed that Captain Hunt was cautious about this meeting as well.
She was about to let it slip that she already knew what he'd told her but realized it might not be entirely public knowledge. Last thing she wanted was everyone, especially those two women, thinking she was a member of the Sons of Liberty. "That's good news sir." she said.
"Yes, it is." Hunt said, though he didn't sound like he truly meant it. "They have requested your presence at the talks."
"They?" Freya asked not sure if he meant the Sons or the Council. Why would either of them need her there? "Sir, I'm a doctor not a..."
"Not a diplomat, I know. Nevertheless, you have been requested Doctor." Captain Hunt said.
"Then I guess I'll be there..." she said lamely. Behind her, Bonwick sneered and rolled her eyes.
"Very good Doctor." Captain Hunt said. "I will be sure you have the details, that's all."
------
Rob Jamison checked the conference room one last time, everything was in place. With a smile, he headed for the bridge. "Captain, everything is ready."
"Thank you Mr. Jamison. The bridge is yours." he said with a solemn nod before heading for the lift to take him to the conference room.
------
"Are you sure about this Meng? I mean really really sure?" Lana asked as she brushed a bit of lint off his shoulder. "If you get arrested...or killed..."
"These are peace talks Lana, I'm not walking to my execution." Meng said. He tugged at his jacket and nodded. "I'm sure, this is the best possible course of action." he paused and looked around the room, a couple other people were there to see him off, a few looked happy and hopeful like he was; others had the same fear in their face that Lana did. "Where's Brandon?" he asked, his brow furrowing. Everyone just shrugged.
------
"Why you Freya?" Julian asked again. "I mean I know you had some contact with them earlier but it's not like you're one of them....are you?"
"No, I'm not. And I don't know why - just know I was asked so..." Freya looked at her self in the mirror and frowned. "How do I look?"
"Beautiful as always." Julian said giving her a kiss. "Send my love to my aunt." he said with a smirk.
"Oh yes, I can picture that now...some how I don't think that would get things off on the right foot." Freya said, but she smiled at him.
------
Freya, Meng and Captain Hunt stood in the conference room not saying a whole lot. It wasn't exactly uncomfortable but they all had their parts to play in this and the two security sentry guards certainly kept them silent as they waited on the Council members to arrive.
Freya distracted herself by pouring a glass of juice and offered some to the others but they declined. Her glass just touched her lips when Bonwick hurried into the room looking more upset than Freya had ever seen her.
"Ah, Commander Bonwick - I hope your presence means the Council members are on their way." Captain Hunt said, not discerning the look on her face.
"They're dead sir!" Bonwick said, she looked toward Freya and Meng, barely taking them in before looking back to Hunt. "They're dead...the Council is dead...."
"Dead?" Meng and Hunt asked in shock at the same time.
"Murdered! All but Lady Ice, she's on her way to the ward now." Freya didn't even wait for Captain Hunt to acknowledge her before dropping her juice glass and heading for the door. There was a flurry of activity as she reached the door and she saw Bonwick grabbed Meng's arm.
He didn't resist her; he looked at Freya and she paused to catch his gaze. It was calm and collected as ever but deep inside his eyes she thought she saw anger....or sadness. And then she ran all the way to the medical ward.
End Chapter
End Season One
Chapter 17
Andy entered the darkened ship and walked toward the engineering bay while fiddling with her comm unit. The tiny tapping and electronic beeps and blurts were all that could be heard in the corridors of the alien vessel. It was like a ghost ship now, completely powered off and devoid of life. If it weren't for the small light from her hand unit, Andy wouldn't be able to see two feet in front of her. Of course she didn't need to see, she knew the layout of the ship after spending a week meandering through it alone. They'd intended to merely tractor the ship with them to a space port before sending the aliens off on their own but the Ambassador had felt it was taking too long and requested that the ship be brought inside the Ark's expansive bay. Captain Hunt had obliged and Andy had taken the opportunity to explore the vessel a bit.
She's always been interested in how things worked, and every chance to see alien technology made her a bit giddy. Plus the ship was obviously damaged and if she could help them out before they got to the space port, all the better right? At least that's how she rationalized it as she ducked out of engineering again, leaving Dex even more short handed. She'd probably catch some of his daily tirade later. As she entered the main bay, she pushed Dex out of her mind and started working.
The sound of light footsteps echoed into the bay and Andy looked up from the console in surprise. She glanced around the bay and out into the corridor; "Hello?" she said. Her voice traveled down the corridor, echoing all around her. There was no response. "Anyone out there?" she said; again, no one replied. She shook her head and let out a breath. Returning to the console she immersed herself in the ship's computer core, the occasional beep and tweet was her only company.
"What are you doing?" the soft, female voice broke startled Andy so much she whirled around and jumped out of her chair. The small, alien female tilted her head curiously. "What are you doing?" she asked again.
"Whoa..." Andy was breathing heavily, she placed her hand over her rapid heart beat and leaned back against the console. "You scared the life out of me!" she said finally. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in the medical ward?"
"What are you doing?" the girl asked again. She was an odd one.
"I'm just trying to figure out what's wrong with your ship." Andy said; the strange prickly sensation on the back of her neck told her not to turn her back to this girl.
------
Freya tucked the girl back into the bed next to her sister. Freya couldn't figure out why the girl had wandered away from the ward considering she'd been unwilling to leave her sister's side the entire time she'd been here. Andy was leaning against the rail, looking out across the main thoroughfare deck, when Freya came out.
"That girl is seriously weird." Andy said, without looking at Freya.
Freya didn't say anything, she'd noticed the girl seemed a little off but had chalked it up to cultural differences. From what she'd seen of their alien visitors, they were a trusting but somewhat quiet group. She'd actually gotten used to the feeling of being watched when she was around them - because one of them always seemed to be watching. It wasn't in a menacing or even calculating way, they simply watched because it was what they did.
Across the deck, a small scuffle broke out between a shop owner and a group of people that had been loitering near the entrance. In the last week, tension on the ship had risen as the strike wore on. Some of the strikers had taken to boycotting and simply making a nuisance of themselves on the thoroughfare. Freya started toward the scuffle but Andy put a hand on her arm and held her back. With her other hand, she pointed toward the security office where Bonwick emerged, flanked by two other security personnel. "The school has closed now," she said as they watched the security team close in and break up the scuffle. "if this strike and everything goes on much longer, we're gonna be dead in space too; can't keep this place going with so few people working for much longer."
"Think the Council realizes that?" Freya asked, she grimaced as one of the security guard dealt an unnecessary blow.
"I hope so." Andy sounded subdued, far too quiet compared to her normal self. "I better get back to Engineering, if Dex hasn't torn it apart already."
Freya didn't have time to consider her friend's mood before she heard someone clearing their throat behind her. She turned and looked around but didn't see anyone nearby. She turned back in time to see the security team disappear with the loiterers in tow and her cheeks flamed in anger. She knew the only reason Bonwick was taking them in was because they were embryotics. "Ryan!" a voice hissed. She snapped around and then saw Meng in the shadows.
"What are you doing here?" Freya hissed, glancing around for Bonwick. The security team had disappeared into the office. She thought for a moment about not following him, even as he waved her over and disappeared further into the darkness, but curiosity overwhelmed her sense of better judgment. Several minutes later they stopped and he turned toward her grinning. It was probably one of the first real smiles she'd ever seen on his face. "What's going on?"
"They've agreed to talk, they want to end the strike and they've agreed to talk." He was still grinning like crazy and Freya realized how hopeful he was; how excited the prospect of peace made him.
"That's good, it's great..." Freya said the words and instantly wondered if it was really great. Sure she wanted change but this all seemed too fast, too easy.
"Oh come on, why aren't you more excited? You remind me of Brandon - all doom and gloom. This is it; we can all be equal..." Meng's smile faded and was replaced by his normal neutral expression she was used to; she knew that this was the face he'd wear during the talks.
"It just seems too easy I guess." Freya said lamely. "Look I have to get back...um, you be careful - on your toes and all." she looked around the tight, dark service corridor and felt a prickly sensation on her neck like they were being watched. She shook it off after a moment and returned the way they'd come.
------
"We'll be arriving at the space port in about sixteen hours Ambassador." Captain Hunt said. On the surface he was completely calm and respectful of their visitors. Inside, though, he was eager to be rid of them. They were disconcerting at times, they barely said anything and just made everyone a little uncomfortable. While the crew of Unity has been very welcoming of their visitors and shared information about their history; the visitors had told them nothing at all since they'd arrived.
The Ambassador merely nodded, gazing at the viewscreen in front of them for several minutes. Captain Hunt watched as several of the bridge crew shifted awkwardly in their seats, some straightening up as they felt the eyes of others on them. Some looked around discreetly until they saw the Ambassador standing there; then they turned their gazes forward quickly.
The captain of the other vessel walked through the bridge doors but only Captain Hunt and the Ambassador turned to look at him. He approached the pair and then began whispering quickly with the Ambassador in their own tongue. They were talking so softly and so quickly that the translator would do him no good even if he was in the mood to ease drop.
Captain Hunt kept his eyes on his bridge crew and tried to ignore them until they left the bridge, saying nothing to him as they left. "Strange people." he said under his breath once they were of the bridge. As soon as they were gone it was as if the whole bridge crew let out a collective sigh of relief and Hunt could see the tension leave them.
------
Julian fidgeted by the bed. He'd come for his follow up appointment but Freya wasn't there and his only company were two of the odd aliens. They watched him with casual expressions and he felt an all too familiar sensation creep up his neck. What was it about these people?
"Sorry I'm late!" Freya said as she hurrying into the ward. "I got called over to the science lab for something." she rolled her eyes at some unspoken thought and then smiled at Julian. "Sit."
At the end of the exam, Julian leaned over to give Freya a quick kiss but stopped as he became all too aware of their silent audience again. "Um..." he glanced over at the sisters and then back at Freya. "I'll see you later." he said and hurried away from them.
Freya nodded to the sisters and started back toward the front desk. "The suit, it helps him walk yes?" the older of the two said.
Freya turned back to them startled. "Yes, he had an accident and is paralyzed from the waist down."
"But the suit, it helps?" she said again. The younger girl looked at her sister, clearly surprised as well. Freya nodded and waited for a few moments while the girl seemed to be contemplating something. Assuming this conversation was over, Freya turned her back on them to walk away once again. "We can help...help him walk without the suit." the woman said to Freya's back. "Can help..."
Freya turned back to her wide-eyed; her expression was mirrored on the girl's face as well. "How?" Freya had a dozen more questions on the tip of her tongue but was cut off by the sister who started talking very fast in their native tongue. The translator was able to pick up every fourth or fifth word but not enough for it to make sense.
End Chapter
Generation 4, Chapter 5
I was bursting with questions for Scotty but with the girls awake, it was impossible to ask him everything I wanted to know. They claimed our attention every minute of the day. For his part, Scotty wanted to make up for lost time and didn't want them too far away from him.
But eventually night fell and it was time for all the little ones to go to sleep. Scotty hovered behind me as I went through their bedtime routine. When they were finally all asleep, we slipped out of the room quietly and I immediately wrapped my arms around his neck. I refused to let go, even after several minutes, so he scooped me up in his arms and carried me into our room. Once we were laying in each others arms, I looked him in the eye and reduced all my earlier questions to one. "How?" I fought back the urge to cry.
"You'd have to ask your dad." Scotty said with a small smile. Then he started kissing me.
I really didn't need to know much more than that but I found out later that my dad had committed enormous resources to rescuing Scotty. He had a number of advisers telling him that one scientist wasn't worth it; but he persisted - back by the military - and they brought Scotty home.
Scotty wasn't ready to go back to work officially, in fact I noticed he tended to steer clear of the base and even the workbench. Instead he spent as much time as possible with the girls. And they had quickly become a unit; where one was, there were usually the other two.
Of course eventually they had to nap and sleep. Then it was all about making up time with me. "You know we still have a wedding to plan." he said one night after we'd put the girls to bed.
"Can we just go down to city hall?" I asked, the thought of some big affair like that seemed exhausting. "Hey maybe Dad can marry us...he's the president after all." I said with a giggle.
Speaking of my dad, even with Scotty home, he was at work a lot. Elections were constantly "just around the corner" so he was always having to campaign for himself or for others it seemed. He'd grown weary in recent years though and his age was slowing him down. I wondered, not for the first time, if he'd considered retiring.
He usually got home after all the girls were asleep. After changing, he'd slip in and wish them all good night. I was sad to think that the only time he seemed to see them they were asleep.
The triplets had been in the hospital for their first Halloween, but for their second we all got dressed up - minus Dad since he was working. Ezri was a pink bunny, Annika was a panda bear and Kira was a teddy bear.
It took Scotty several months to go back to really working on his inventions, even just dabbling at home. Going back to working for the military took him even longer. As the months passed, I'm sure they became impatient to have him back and the calls became more frequent.
I honestly did try to plan a wedding but between the triplets destroying every bridal magazine I brought home and just never having the time to really call or go anywhere for it, it didn't work out that way.
Instead Scotty and I got got married on the beach at sunset with our family and a few friends.
Mom passed away shortly after the wedding and in some bizarre way it seemed to be the kick in pants that Scotty needed to really get back to work. He even returned to the base now and again. Before long he was back at his table at all hours of the night just like he used to be.
After a few weeks of this, he came bursting into our bedroom at about five in the morning and shook me awake. He was grinning from ear to ear and dragged me down the stairs to see something. As we stepped onto the back porch, he covered my eyes with his hands and led me down the stairs to the work area carefully. When he removed his hands, there it was....there "he was...
Data Taffity
"You invented a robot...." I said, staring at the metal being.
Scotty grinned and nodded his head happily. He started giving the bot instructions and aside from the awkward walk and the mechanical voice, he seemed almost human. Still...it was a robot....
Between Scotty's abduction and return, Dad's presidency, Mom's passing and now Data - it was becoming impossible to go around town without people trying to talk, commiserate, whatever. So Scotty and I started considering moving away from Oz. It was a scary prospect, leaving behind family and so much family history. There was another island not too far away that was much quieter than Oz that we started looking at. One day Scotty came to me with two pictures, one of an empty lot near a gorgeous waterfall and one of a house built on the same lot.
"I talked to a builder...this was what she proposed for this lot over on Barnacle Bay...what do you think?" he asked.
"It's gorgeous!" I said looking over the house. "So you're set on this right? Moving?"
"If you are..." he said carefully. I nodded and smiled. We shared a quick kiss and he ran off to make the calls.
It took over a year for the house to be built. My sister Zoey and her family came to live in the old house on Oz with my dad. He couldn't leave since he was still the President but he was getting very old and we didn't want him to be alone.
The first big event we had in Barnacle Bay was the triplet's birthday party. I couldn't believe they were going to be five and going off to school!
We actually hadn't finished furnishing and decorating all the rooms in the house. When I'd originally decorated the downstairs bedroom suite, I'd intended it to be for my dad - I was hoping he'd retire finally and move with us. Since our upstairs suite wasn't even close to being done, Scotty and I took the room.
The girls' room hadn't been completely finished either since we knew they'd be growing up soon and might have their own ideas on decor. When we took them to the store, I expected them to come back with butterflies, princesses and fairies...not three forms of pirate bedding! Still, I'd agreed to let them pick their own decor...so they did...
The schools in Barnacle Bay had uniforms so when the girls all came downstairs dressed alike that first day, the mommy in me went "D'awww" and I lined them up on the porch for pictures.
"Mooooom!" Annika whined.
Just then the bus honked from below and they darted away, relieved to be free from my camera I think.
I spent the rest of the day trying to get my new garden started. I missed some of my old, grown, plants and hoped that Zoey was taking good care of them back home. But I'd brought some of the seeds, harvested from my very own garden, with me when we moved and used them to pick up where I'd left off.
When the girls came home from school, they were chattering excitedly about everything that had happened and ran off toward the house. "Homework!!" I called after them. The excited chatter quieted a bit but when I came inside a bit later they were all working on their homework in the dining room.
And Data...he'd come with us to Barnacle Bay and was turning out to be quite an asset to the family. He didn't wander outside the house much - Bots weren't exactly an every day sighting and the last thing we wanted was another press circus in our new home. He stayed in the house and helped with keeping up the appliances, he read and helped the girls with their homework. Aside from the random talking to the coffee maker or computer now and then, he really was part of our family.
A few months after our move, I woke up feeling ill. "You okay hun?" Scotty asked me sleepily as I fought the urge to throw up.
"Mmmhmm." I muttered, not really trusting myself to speak much. I tried to go back to sleep...I hoped if I fell asleep, the feeling would pass and I would feel better in the morning. But it didn't work.
End Chapter
Outtakes
Potty training
Panda for Halloween
Triplets playin
Digging up the beach
The grim coming for Padme :(
The girls off exploring the new house lol
The rec room
