There are 2 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. USS Calypso: making time
From: Josh Turnof <josh@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
2. FW: [DL-D] Fighting the Wyverns
From: "Arlene" <wondermom@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 1
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2004 15:59:06 -0400
From: Josh Turnof <josh@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: USS Calypso: making time
Time: back at the Academy
Louie walked into the studio. It was his 6th straight day on the air,
but
he didnıt care. He and Shiri had just spent the best day together.
Sheıd
introduced him to a few of her friends. It was a big day for the both
of
them.
He thought most had liked him, but who could really tell? Her friends
were
so finicky. One of them, Emily, was a perfectionist. Not
surprisingly, she
was a doctor with a degree in microsurgery and had written pages upon
pages
for the Starfleet Medical Journal on removing micro-implants. The
other
two, Chaya and Ahava, were sisters, posted at the Mars One space
station, as
engineers.
For the first hour or so, they were just making small talk. ³Oh you
saw
that movie too? What did you think?² or ³really? You think that
method is
better for fixing a small microdrive? I didnıt think so.² After
about that
hour though, Shiri needed to the bathroom, excusing herself, her
friends got
down to business. ³So, Louie, before we go any further, we just have
one
thing to say.² Emily started.
³Yes?²
³she likes you a lot. We donıt know you, but she likes you.² Ahava
took her
turn.
³Well, thanks, I think...² Louie was touched, little did he know he
had no
reason to be.
³Weıre not finished.² Chava interrupted. ³She likes you, but before
she
gets back, know this. If you hurt her, weıll kill you.² She said,
but as
she leaned back, he saw Shiri making her way back. ³Hey, Shir! Did
you
know that Louie is interested in martial arts?²
Sitting down, Shiri looked at Chava. ³Yes, and I think I told you
that too,
like last night.²
³Oh, right. I thought Iıd heard it somewhere before.² Chava said,
laughing, removing almost all memory of what sheıd just said to Louie.
He,
on the other hand, looked at the other two, and saw their steely eyes
boring
into him. They werenıt serious about removing his life...were they?
³Yeah. Plus, Chava and I were just talking about how much he reminded
us of
Avi. Did we tell you what heıs doing now?² Ahava said, changing the
topic
quickly.
As Louie sat down in his chair for the show to begin, he thought back.
It
was a good day. They seemed like great people, and loved Shiri as
much as
friends can. Its important to have friends like that.
****
Time: MD 3:1300
Location: Holodeck 4
Louie sat on a mat in front of a fireplace. Playing in the background
were
the sounds of water lapping the shores and birds flying by every so
often.
It was the most relaxing and serene moment heıd ever experienced. A
feeling
of calm washed over him as opened his eyes to complete this most
recent,
hour-long session of yoga.
Heıd spent 3 hours beforehand playing 9 holes at Augusta National
Country
Club, or rather, a Holodeck recreation. He was right. There really
was
nothing better than a crisp 8 iron at Augustaıs 17th hole. The ball,
as it
lifted off the club head and piqued right through the ³window² at just
the
right moment. What a feeling! What pleased him most was the slight
draw
and soft landing that it generated as the ball dropped. Bouncing
twice, it
stopped mere inches away from the pin. Sadly, he reflected, no one
was
around to see it...and, oh yeah, it wasnıt real.
He rolled up his mat with the same intensity that he performed his
yoga. It
was a quiet intensity that allowed him to enjoy these individual
opportunities even more. As he returned to his quarters, he decided
he was
definitely in need of some food. So, he showered and walked down to
the
Cave. After a few moments of talking to the bartender, he looked
around to
see who was there. Sitting at the bar, he recognized her long hair.
Casey,
he realized, should have been getting off shift now. He walked over
to her.
³Mind if I sit down?²
As she flipped around to see him, her hair whipped around her face and
her
long locks only showed her eyes. ³No, of course not, Ensign.² She
said,
quickly standing up.
³Oh, please, stay seated. No reason to stand for me.² He said,
picking the
stool right next to her. In the background, he could see the FO and
Chief
Science Officers at neighboring tables, as well as a few other staff
members
he recognized, but didnıt remember the names of. It was only his
first
week, so he didnıt feel terrible not knowing everyoneıs name yet.
³And call
me, Louie.²
³Thank you,² she said, slowly adding, ³Louie.² She readjusted
herself in
her seat. ³So, what brings you down here for some food?² He could
see
behind her eyes that she wanted to add Owhat meal is it now anyways?ı
but
didnıt. She looked exhausted.
³Well, I just finished a yoga session, and realized that I hadnıt
eaten in
over 5 hours, so I decided to get some food.²
³A good thought.² She said, as a drink arrived for her. ³Um...whoıs
this
from?² She asked the bartender.
³A guy over there.² he said waving his head out from the bar, and
walked
away.
³Does this happen often?² Louie asked, surprisingly interested all of
a
sudden in her social life.
³Nah. Usually, its either one of my team fooling with me or its
someone
from engineering.²
³Which do you think it is today?² Louie asked, knowing that she hadnıt
turned to see where the bartender was pointing.
³Today? Today, I think its the engineering guys in the corner.² She
said,
not looking at them or even turning her head even an inch. ³Thereıs
three
of them. One of whom I helped late last night with a problem he was
having
with the gasket in the lower engineering section. And, by the way,
just for
future reference, definitely bring a light when you go down there.²
She
said, still looking at her drink. This was the most heıd heard her
say
since heıd been on board, so he was not going to interrupt now.
³Although,
it could be Myq from team 2. He and I just finished a shift, and I
showed
him how to reroute the main computer core without taking it off line
or
missing any data. Not everyone can do it, I just have a talent for
it.²
³Modest?² Louie asked.
³Always.² She said, still not moving her head. ³But, to be honest, I
think
it was neither of those two.²
³Really?² He asked, with a slight curl of his mouth.
³No.² She said, finally looking up at him.
³I heard you liked smoothies.² He said, nodding, before he spoke.
³I do, sir.² She said. ³But whatıs it for?²
³No particular reason. Iım trying to get one on one sessions with all
the
department, and youıre the first one I came across.²
³Well, thank you,² she said, taking a sip and ³mmm²-ing. ³Its quite
good.²
³So, why repair?²
³Do you want the honest answer?²
³Well, Iıll give you 1 fake answer for every 3 honest answers you give
me.²
She smiled. Louie thought it was because she was she wasnıt quite
sure what
to make of him. Later, heıd find out that he was right on that
assumption.
She wasnıt sure what to make of him, but for right now, he had the
appropriate amounts of cuteness, managerial interest, and weirdness
that she
could take.
³Deal.² She said, rotating her entire body towards him. ³so, why
repair?²
³Yup.²
³It was where my boyfriend was at the Academy. He was a gear-head,
not that
I knew what that was at the time.² She said, as her food arrived.
Louie
had ordered his meal back when heıd spoken with the bartender. It
would be
up shortly, he was told. While, he was talking to the bartender for a
moment, Casey, he noticed was seemingly playing with her food. ³I
didnıt
really get much past the first few years, but that didnıt really
matter. I
worked for a little while elsewhere, and then, I showed up here.²
At first, he thought, while she was talking, she was playing with her
food
as sort of a nervous reaction to having her boss there. After a
moment
though -- and her continually moving things around her plate -- he
noticed
that she was not playing, but, in fact, separating her food. Peas in
one of
the 4 corners of the plate, carrots in another with space separating
them,
mystery meat in the center at the bottom, again with space in between
all
three.
³So, you never finished the academy?² Louie asked. It was common
practice,
if you didnıt think youıd be able to graduate, to leave early and
simply
take a post on board a ship or as a repairman. It was, however, quite
uncommon to see a woman do it. He needed to know more.
³No.² She said, as she started eating her peas. One at a time. ³He
graduated, and left me with a choice, get married and move with him
across
the universe or stay at the Academy and lose him forever.²
³What did you do?² He asked, though he suspected he already knew.
³Well, you have to understand, he was such a great guy at the time,
that I
would have done anything for him. I came from a family that was very
supportive of doing anything you wanted and traveling anywhere you
wanted.
They would have supported I go all the way into Borg space if it would
have
been safe!² she said, looking for a specific pea. Upon finding it,
she
continued. ³So, they werenıt going to be a good help. I asked my
friends,
but they were not helpful either. They loved him, so they werenıt
objective
at all. What I really needed was someone to slap me, and tell me I
was
being dumb and should have stayed in school.²
³Who else were you close with?²
³Besides him?²
³Yup.²
³Nobody.²
³You werenıt friendly with a professor? Not a single senior officer?²
³Nope. There was my cat, Sir Meows-A-Lot, but that was it.² She
said,
finishing the peas, seemingly leaving the smallest one for last before
moving onto the carrots.
³That was your fake answer, wasnıt it?² Louie said, after having been
shocked into looking up.
³Yes,² she said, picking the largest baby carrot and putting it in her
mouth. ³His name was really, Sir Smells-A-Lot, also known as OSmelly
Kittyı.²
³So, you decided to follow him?² Louie asked, trying to get her back
on
target. His food arrived, and while she was preparing to answer, he
started
pushing it all together, and eating. Much to her dismay.
³Well, sort of.² She started, and placed another carrot on her fork
and
then another. ³He left, and left me at the dock when his ship left an
hour
early.² She said plainly. Later, when heıd be writing in his
personal
journal, Louie reflected that as she said that, it was almost matter
of
factly, like someone saying, Oyes, the sun was out today.ı
³What did you do then?² Louie asked. He thought he knew the answer
before,
but he really wasnıt sure of what came next.
³I asked Starfleet to be let out of the remainder of my time at the
academy,
since Iıd never really put the papers in, and asked to be transferred
to
Space Station Vulcan One. Iıd heard they were doing some interesting
work
with transformers, and wanted to go be a part of it. I didnıt know
the
researcher in charge, but was sure that once I met him, heıd let me
work on
the project.²
³And did he?²
³I never got there.² She said, having finally finished the carrots,
and now
moving onto the mystery meat. ³I got waylaid on my way out of the
Academy,
back on Earth, and Admiral Sullivan had me transferred to the
soon-to-be
commissioned USS Olympic. Sadly, after having worked on the
construction of
the vessel for more than 2 years, it was ready for its initial
tests...²
Louie knew of the Olympic project. It was going to replace the aging
Galaxy
class, and act as the first true flagship, since it was supposed to be
Admiral Sullivanıs personal vessel. ³...and since I donıt know how
much you
remember after that, but it was a mess.² She was talking about the
most
dreaded subject possible, and she had no idea. He let her go on, and
while
she was picking at her meat and talking about the Mars shipyards, he
waived
and said hi to a few other senior officers, including the Doctor,
Science
and Security officers. Once he finally heard her finish the story
about
being transferred over to the Calypso, he felt he could listen
intently
again.
³Yeah.² He said, just trying to break the small bit of silence. ³So,
whatıs with the eating?²
³Excuse me,² she asked, again in a plain way.
³First the peas, then the carrots, then the meal?²
³Ah, well, if you thought that was cute, you should see me eat
sprinkles on
ice cream.² She smiled, as she stood up. ³thank you for listening,
Ensign.²
³Louie.²
³Louie, then.² She stood at attention before leaving. Turning to his
meal,
he realized it was cold, and he wasnıt all that hungry any more
either.
Then he heard a voice behind him...
³Are you finished, Ensign?² The First officer asked.
³Uh, yes sir!² Louie said, snapping around to attention.
³Walk with me, if you would.² the FO said, walking out of the Cave.
<Tag Chris!>
Respectfully Submitted,
Ensign Lou Coltraine
Operations Manager
USS Calypso
MD 3:1300 < Louie has an interesting and enlightening lunch with one
of his
staff members, and is then walked out of the Cave by the FO.
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Message: 2
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 2004 02:38:31 -0400
From: "Arlene" <wondermom@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: FW: [DL-D] Fighting the Wyverns
Day 67
"Way Too Early" Morning (After midnight)
Lexi and Puss had not returned, so thinking that there might be
trouble
and that she might have to leave Angel if the wing were called up, she
had left the girl at the sitter's.
She had tried to sleep, but she kept thinking about the terrible
things
that wyverns had already done and what they could do to two dragons
and
their riders. Why had Lexi had gone looking for them. Was it to
prove
something to himself?
She had vowed that she was not going to fret and worry about Lexi
anymore. After all, hadn't Lexi made his decision? He didn't trust
her
and he obviously thought the worst of her, even accusing her of
sleeping
with T'rell in order to be named Wing Second. That hurt more than she
wanted to admit. Did others think that way about her? Did they
really
think that she only merited that position because she had offered
herself to T'rell? If Lexi had stayed by her side, then everyone
would
have known that...
"Damn him!" Here she had vowed not to think about him, and what was
she
doing? "Damn Lexi!"
Sharees knew that pacing the floor of her apartment was not getting
her
anywhere. She slowly dressed into her riding leathers, and just as
she
thought of going to the offices to see if T'rell was still there, the
alert came in form the night watch.
In moments she had thrown on Chamelle's saddle, thankful of the clever
fasteners that Lexi had fashioned for the BCS. The squad was already
assembling as Sharees and Chamelle arrived. They didn't wait for the
rest of the wing, but did as they had trained. While Lexi was no
longer
a member, they still thought of him as one of their members, and Puss
certainly was, so it was with even more urgency that the squad took to
the air.
In a moment they were over the town of Triylar.
<*This town certainly has had its share of tragedies,*> Sharees
thought
to her soul mate. <*Osran's riders stealing and raping their women,
bandits taking over the town and disposing Lord Gossimore, and now...
being attacked by wyverns!*>
As they fought off the wyverns Chamelle casually commented, <Samson
and
Bootsie were here.>
<*Were?*>
<Yes, looks like they found the wyverns... or the wyverns found them.
Thankfully they got away.>
<*Was... Lexi.. all right?*>
<He's injured, but he'll live.>
<*Good, because I want to kill Lexi myself!*>
The battle turned in their favor, with the arrival of the rest of the
wing. But the dragons didn't destroy all of the wyverns they had been
battling. One moment the sky was full of dark shapes and the next it
was empty, as if the wyverns vanished, as if they had suddenly been
called away.
Chamelle had been heading toward one wyvern that was off on its own
when
they all vanished. Chamelle had been concentrating on that wyvern and
saw it flying off quickly toward the former estate of Lord Gossimore,
and she could have sworn it had a ... human on its back. Chamelle
would
have continued after the wyvern, but Sharees had noticed the other
wyverns vanish and told Chamelle to call the other dragons together
and
to transport home.
When Sharees and Chamelle arrived back at the warren, they landed on
the
green near the medical center. Sharees waved off the healers. "We're
fine! Lexi came in injured. Do you know where he is?"
The healer nodded, "He's going to be fine. He was brought into the
medical center."
"Good, because when I'm done with him, he's really going to need a
healer!"
---
Day 69
Sharees turned from the vegetables she was cutting up as Angel ran in.
The little girl looked a bit sad and Sharees wished again that she
would
open up and talk to her about what ever it was that was bothering her.
For the most part Angel was content, if not ever truly happy, but
there
were moments like these where she just seemed so sad.
Angel came up to Sharees and they hugged each other in a quick
embrace.
Angel hopped up on a stool next to the counter and propped her chin in
the palms of her hands. Her dark eyes regarded Sharees thoughtfully.
"Did you see S'than is home?" Sharees commented before she went back
to
her cutting.
She saw Angel nod and the sad look that she'd had deepened slightly.
Sharees didn't know why but she suddenly knew that Angel's sad look
was
due to S'than. "You were thinking about him, weren't you? Did you go
and see him?"
Angel again nodded and sighed.
"He'll be okay, Angel," Sharees said reassuringly.
Angel nodded emphatically and snuck a sliced carrot off the cutting
board and munched on it thoughtfully.
Sharees smiled, "It was a terrible thing that happened to him and
S'laze, but I know that Rayne and the other healers will do all they
can
to make S'laze well again."
Angel shook her head sadly.
Sharees frowned, "You don't think S'laze will be all right?"
Angel's eyes confirmed Sharees's own concerns and Sharees didn't
wonder
if Angel knew but how Angel knew. Angel knew more than a little girl
should know.
Sharees looked deeply into Angel's eyes. "Sweetie, can you talk to the
dragons?"
Angel frowned and shrugged.
<*Chamelle? Can you... talk to Angel?*>
<No> Chamelle answered.
<*Oh*> Sharees sighed, a bit disappointed. <*That would have
explained
so much.*>
<It isn't like talking, really. It's more like a nice feeling.>
Chamelle continued.
Sharees blinked, <*You can ... feel Angel?*>
<Yes, she's like a nice warm spot in the sun.>
Sharees saw Angel watching her and she quickly smiled at the girl,
reassuringly. "Want to wash those potatoes for us?"
Angel hopped off of her stool and taking the potatoes from the
counter,
went to the sink to scrub them.
Sharees watched her for a moment before she went back to pondering
what
it al meant. Those wyverns could easily have gulped the little girl
down in one bite, yet, they had left her. Why? And why was it that
whenever Angel was around Sharees felt so much happier? Was it only
that Angel made her feel needed? No, Sharees felt that it was more
than
that. There was something about Angel, something special. Like
Chamelle had said, like a warm spot in the sun.
This was something that she'd have to mention to T'rell to see if this
was important enough to mention to Thea.
[TAG: John -- Morning debriefing?]
***
SUMMARY:
Day 67
After Midnight
The BCS is called out when a night patrol sees wyverns over Triylar.
When the rest of the wing shows up, the wyverns appear to be called
away
and Chamelle witnesses what appears to be one wyvern returning to the
former estate of Lord Gossimore with a human on it's back.
Day 69
While making dinner, Sharees is interrupted by Angel. Sharees wonders
about how Angel survived the wyvern attacks. Sharees and Chamelle
discuss the way Angel makes dragons... and humans feel.
---
Respectfully submitted by
Arlene Jacobs
AKA
Sharees and Chamelle.
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