From: Kim (kimtoussaint_at_yahoo.com)
Date: Sun Mar 04 2007 - 23:19:44 PST
"Awards, a promotion...a possible retirement....and Tomas...."
A Novella continuing from Jamie's post "Harsh words, tender moments"
________________________________________________
Location: outter edge of ANDALUSIAN system
Scene: Shuttle craft
Stardate: 2.70304.2256
_________________________________________________
Daisy's six year old daughter sat on the floor with
a couple of her favorite dolls as her Dad worked on
the comm system. Finally, the screen came to life
and she saw the face she'd been looking forward
to seeing.
Her older adopted brother appeared. He beamed.
{{ Hey, snotface }}
Erika bounced with glee. "Hey, butt-for-brains~!"
{{ I heard you're coming to get me. }}
She laughed. "Yup. Zuri said you're too be
my new buttler. I get to boss you around and you
have to do whatever I say."
Gavi threw back his head and laughed. {{ Bite
me, you twerp." }}
Off to the side, Wangel Erek groaned.
"The two of you have been spending way too much
time around Cade Foster."
_________________________________
Location: ATS AVISFORD
Scene: Corridor->Turbolift-> Corridor
__________________________________
Kate walked calmly towards a turbo lift carrying a cup of hot
tea and a favorite personalized comm pad. There were two
reports waiting for her to review.
She walked easily along, her long auburn ponytail swaying
back and forth as she read the update on Daisy's pregnancy
from Dr. Foster. After the recent attrocities that everyone
had suffered, it was refreshing to read something as medically
'boring' as prelabor signs dictating that a woman less than
two weeks away from her due date needed to go on bed
rest.
Stepping into the turbo lift, she made a mental note to
herself that, as a precaution, they should make sure
a Cesarean transport unit was found.
Just as a precaution, though.
The image of Matthew and Peter gleefully doting on
their newborn twin sons brought a smile to her face. That
smile. She paused for a moment and took off her uniform
jacket. Then, she tied it around her waist - getting ready
for yet another hard day at work forwarding survivors to
various Starfleet and Borg Rehab facilities and taking care
of those native to ANDALUSIA who just hoped, once the
storm was fully contained - they'd be able to go home.
Accustomed to multi-tasking, she'd settled her jacket
and forwarded to the second report without spilling a
drop of her tea. Strangely enough, though - the
report from Daisy was embedded with a security
code. She had to juggle her tea cup in order to tap
in her clearance with her pinky finger.
When the tiny screen lit up with scans of Admiral
Harper Ranta and details of his accidental Xyrillian
insemination with Maddie Zander's DNA, the normally
graceful and agile hybrid physician's cup of morning
tea dropped to the carpet of the turbo lift and broke
in two places.
She began hopping awkwardly from the splash of
hot liquid onto her foot and muttering under her
breath. Mercifully, the doors whooshed open and
Kate, flustered - paused the lift.
The Admiral himself was standing a few yards down
the corridor talking to Captain Lorn. The gravity of
their situation left very few motivated to fuss over
proper uniforms. Kate herself had her jacket tied
around her waist. The Admiral was in civilian clothes
all together - an option his rank afforded him easily.
Given what she now knew, she understood his choice
of vest. Lined with a flexible metalic alloy, it blocked
the anomaly of his pregnancy from the enhanced
vision of the many borg working around him.
The image of Kate doing an awkward little dance
as she took the shoe off her scalded foot and reached
to pick up the broken pieces of tea cup from the
floor caught the Admiral's eye. Lorn walked back
into the medical area as Harper headed towards
Kate.
"Are you alright, Dr. MacNeil?"
She blushed deeply and smiled. "I'm fine, sir."
Harper's deltan heritage normally gave him a certain
amount of mental discipline. His vow of chastity and
daily meditations usually left him comfortably oblivious
to the charms of the opposite sex. The hormonal imbalance
of his pregnancy, though - took away from his normally
even keel.
With Kate's jacket off and a stray lock of hair falling
adorably loose from her ponytail, he couldn't help
but notice the curves of her figure and the way her
eyes danced as she smiled. Blushing himself, he
stammered as he asked,
"Are you sure you don't need some help?"
As he held out his arm, she gently took it - but
lightly teased him. "Actually, you've done enough
already sir."
He blinked awkwardly, "I beg your pardon?"
She blushed and admitted, since they were alone
in the corridor, "I was just reading a report from
Commander Davidson about your...ahem...your
situation, sir."
Harper stiffened. "I see. I don't recall authorizing
the Commander to share that information...."
Kate quickly gushed. "Oh, sir....normally, she
wouldn't. However - she's very near the end of
her pregnancy and had to take to her bed...."
They walked together slowly, Kate limping
just slightly.
The Admiral frowned. "She's ok, though?"
"HER pregnancy....." Kate assured him, "....is
quite ordinary...and I'll be happy to handle your
check-up this morning."
"To be honest, I'll be much more comfortable
with you instead of Dr. Jos, I think..." Harper
sighed awkwardly. "He was having a bit of fun
at my expense...."
Kate blinked awkwardly, "That's really not like Aerdan....
though I do think most men would handle this
situation awkwardly...."
Harper smiled patiently. "I'm aware of that. I do
realize nerves are very fried around here."
Noticing she was limping, he asked, "Are you
in pain?"
She grinned. "Two seconds with a dermal regenerator
and I'll be fine. I'm more concerned about you.
Are you comfortable with my handling your situation
for a bit?"
He nodded. "Actually, I'd planned on coming to
see you after my appointment with Commander
Davidson anyway..."
Confused, Kate blinked. "Sir?"
He pulled a small medal from his vest pocket.
"Could I see your jacket, please?"
She stared at him, awkwardly - but obliged.
He clipped a nova pin onto the front of her uniform.
"I'd normall present this with a pretty red velvet
box. But, I only replicated the ribbon itself to
save on replicator rations."
Her face softened. "Sir...I don't know what to
say."
"The ribbon itself, though..." he smiled "I consider
it justified. Morale is sometimes everything in a
situation like what we're going through right now.
People need to know when they are appreciated. "
Kate sighed, touched by his gesture. He smiled
and continued. "Given how quickly you came back
from the trauma of your assimilation to jump towards
helping others, you did everything the Nova Pin
embodies. You set an example I hope others
will follow."
As pleased as she was by his gesture - her thoughts
went quickly back to Aerdan.
"I'm deeply moved that you thought of me for this,
sir. And, I hope you'll believe me when I tell you
that Aerdan is exhausted and normally would never
have ...."
He raised his hand and smiled good-naturedly,
"Dr. Jos is a friend of your's?"
The lovely Dr. MacNeil blushed once more and
smiled.
"Yes, he is."
"Starfleet command has ordered two awards for
him as well - given the nature of what he and
Lt. Commander Aspinall accomplished recently...."
Harper sighed and tilted his head awkwardly.
Kate's face softened sympathetically.
"You're uncomfortable around him now? Because
he knows that you're...."
"Yes...." the Admiral admitted awkwardly. "I cringe
when I imagine anyone else of my own gender
learning about what's happened to me as well. So,
if Commander Davidson had to refer me to another
doctor...I'm glad it was you."
"Sir...I promise I will protect your privacy and I will
take care of anything you need delivered to Aerdan
for you...."
Blushing again, the Admiral smiled. "Affective
immediately - the good Dr. Jos is to be promoted
to Lieutenant and given the Soong Ribbon."
Kate sighed as the older man gently placed the
medals into her hand. She tucked them into her
pocket and nodded.
"I'll take care of it, sir."
He nodded. "I appreciate it. Thank you. " Then,
he chided her.
"Can you take care of your poor foot before we
start on my check-up?"
Blushing slightly, she carried the broken pieces
of her tea cup inside of her damp shoe and wrestled
with her comm padd underneath the same arm
while leaning onto the Admiral with the other as
they walked into her make-shift office onboard the
AVISFORD.
_____________________________________________
Location: Aspinall family suite
Scene: Masterbedroom -> Bathroom
_____________________________________________
Grateful for the queen-sized bed offered by Peter's
parents - the very pregnant woman groaned softly as she
navigated her massive stomach from her right side
to her left. Her eyes opened and she saw that Cade
was sleeping in a chair next to her bed.
She lifted her head and stared at him, a hint of a smile
on her face.
"You're still here?"
He opened his eyes with a frown - his neck and back
aching from the awkward position from the chair.
When in pain, or emotionally troubled - Cade reacted
the same way - with an obnoxious remark.
"No, you're just fantasizing about me again. Stop it.
You're embarrassing yourself."
He groaned softly, dismayed by having to make
a sudden defensive move as Daisy scoffed and
threw her pillow at him.
"Don't be such a jerk so early in the morning."
The older man sighed and twisted his neck slowly.
It popped multiple times, loudly - and he muttered.
"God, I'm getting too old for this."
Daisy's face softened when she heard the sounds
of his wrenched vertebrate and she sighed....
"Come here."
He frowned and looked at her questioningly. She
was padding the other side of the bed.
"On your stomach....I'm still a doctor. I can give you
a basic chiropractic adjustment...."
His shoulders sagged ...but his tired eyes lit up
with gratitude.
"Thank you."
Cade moved stiffly and awkwardly and Daisy
positioned herself next to him with genuine
sympathy so she could reach his upper spine.
The tension began to ease a she worked her
hands down his vertebrate and he admitted
with a long, weary exhale.
"I'm thinking it's time for me to retire...."
Her hand froze and he picked up on a change in
the tone of her voice.
"Well, ok...it's a pretty cushy gig doing the civilian
consultant detail....." she replied, her voice
sounding nervous as she resumed her efforts to realign
his vertebrate.
"Yeah...." he admitted, grunting softly as the blood
flow in his back began to correct itself. "Back at Starfleet
Headquarters, they offer pretty lush facilities to their
civilian instructors..."
She sounded remarkably peevish as she replied,
"Well, you ...ahem...you wouldn't have to go anywhere
just because you retired...I mean...."
He completely changed the subject for a few
seconds... enjoying the improved blood flow in his lower
back.
"Oh....wow...that's so much better...."
She smiled weakly. "As I was saying, I can't really stop
you from retiring....the beating your body has taken over
the past few months...your age....but...."
Not making eye contact with her, still looking towards
the wall as she touched her fingers along the rest
of his vertebrate - the older man started to laugh.
"Damn, woman - you're still going to try and keep me
with this crew?! I'm starting to think you're hot for
me or something..."
Daisy lifted her hand and scoffed, a hurt and
disgusted look on her face. Embarrassed, she roughly
shoved Foster entirely off the side of the bed. He
made a yelping sound as he landed on the floor with
a thud.
"Owww.....bitch."
"Just get out." she hissed.
Sighing, he slowly picked himself up off the floor
and he sighed.
"Daisy, I was teasing...."
Pressing her lips together tightly, she sulked.
"Just go away. I hate you."
Rolling his eyes, he groaned. "Yeah, real
mature - you hormonal cow."
Yet another pillow flew towards his head.
"I don't have to be mature. I'm pregnant."
He started laughing until he saw her tears. Sniffling,
she snapped at him.
"You're still a member of this crew, you sorry bastard
and I won't hear anymore talk of you leaving. "
Holding his hands up in a gesture of surrender
as he stood next to her bed, he sighed. " As hormonal
as you are, you're still a doctor and I think you know
the chances I'll ever pass a fitness exam again are
slim...."
She looked up at him with big sad eyes and gushed,
"I don't give a rats ass if you ever pass a fitness exam
again, old man. I just don't want you to leave."
He stared at her, surprised. Then, he chuckled softly
and shook his head.
"Wow."
Stunned, he didn't know what to say. He just sort of
stood there a little too long for her comfort.
Embarrassed she'd gotten so emotional, she took a
deep breath and pulled herself to her feet. Brushing
away her tears, she stammered awkwardly,
"Look, I'm just going to go take a shower....why don't
you go back to work? Kate could probably use you
today and I'm fine..."
Embarrassed that he hadn't managed a snappy comeback
for once in his life, he muttered, "You shouldn't be
alone right now..."
Looking hurt and uncomfortable, she rolled her eyes and
sighed, "You can send a nurse - preferably one who
hasn't seen me make an idiot of myself today...."
Her eyes lowered pitifully, feeling humiliated...the
nightgown clad pregnant woman waddled quietly towards
the bathroom. His face contorted awkwardly. Her tears
left a knot in his stomach - something he wasn't accustomed
to. He squirmed and spoke softly...
"You didn't make an idiot of yourself....I mean...."
The door to the bathroom had already closed, though ....
and she was nolonger listening.
*Dammit*
Looking at the closed bathroom door, that same knot
in his stomach seemed to grow teeth and gnaw at his
insides. For all his shameless flirting and sexually
crude remarks, feeling the urge to do something actually
romantic like to go demand she open the bathroom door and
then pull her into a hug and promise something along the
lines of "I won't leave you." was terrifying.
Suddenly out of his element, he tapped his comm badge
"Nurse Glebben, report to the Aspinall suite immediately
please."
[[ Acknowledged ]]
That done, he quietly left with his proverbial tale between
his legs. A few minutes after that, Daisy came out
and looked sadly around an empty room.
The doorchime rang and she greeted the ferengi nurse
with a pitiful, half-hearted smile - before waddling back
to bed.
Glebben smiled awkwardly as Daisy just rolled over
and looked away - obviously very upset.
"Is everything ok, Daisy?"
Not looking at her, Daisy muttered,
"Everything's fine."
____________________________________________________
Location: Medical area
Scene: Kate's make-shift office
____________________________________________________
"You are in excellent condition, sir." Kate smiled as the
Admiral buttoned his shirt.
"And, the embryo?" he asked nervously.
"As unexpected as it might be that you are carrying it...."
Kate began patiently, "It's thriving. "
"Do you think I can do this, really?" Harper asked with
an awkward grin. " I wouldn't have asked for it, but now
that it's here - I want to pull it off. I mean...."
Kate interrupted him, smiling broadly.
"You are in excellent health and I'm optimistic that
we can get you through this just fine, sir."
He blushed. "Thank you...and...ahem...I'm glad your
foot's ok..."
She shrugged it off and asked casually, "Do you have
any other promotions you'd like me to pass along for
you?
"Actually...." he admitted. "I do need to find Lt.
Commander Aspinall....I have a Soong Ribbon
for him as well...."
Kate nodded. "He's either with the engineering team
that was heading to the surface or with his family, sir."
Harper nodded. "You've done more than enough,
thank you. I'll take care of Peter..."
Kate's face softened with sympathy. "You're more
eager to chat with Peter since he doesn't know
you're pregnant, sir?"
Harper sighed awkwardly and Kate put her hand
on his shoulder, "I'm confident Aerdan would be
very sorry to realize how uncomfortable his teasing
made you..."
He blushed once again and turned away. Then,
he managed a weak, polite smile.
"Thank you again for your help, Kate..."
___________________________________________
Location: Borg Cube
Scene: Medical deck
Time index: Half an hour later
___________________________________________
Peter found Captain Lorn near the isolation area where
Tomas Vukovich had been moved to.
"Captain?"
Lorn greeted him calmly.
"Lt. Commander."
He smiled warmly "Thank you for the use of the Borg
shuttles. We've arranged many transports of survivors to
facilities you designated in Borg federation territories.....I
wanted to ask you about Mr. Vukovich. Some of our crew that
are stable are being moved to GATEWAY and that
is his home...."
Lorn replied. "Obviously, Mr Vukovich is still to be isolated."
"For his safety, right? I know there were a couple of
attempts on the life of Lt. Zanders....and you were right to
be concerned about Tomas as well. He's Borg and I'm sure
a lot of people back on the AVISFORD would be upset if
they saw him..."
Lorn made a slight movement with her arm to interrupt
Peter and informed him flatly.
"The orders to isolate Mr. Vukovich were not mine and
I am not optimistic the Borg Senate will allow him to
return to GATEWAY Station anytime soon..."
Peter blinked, uncomfortable. "He's not a threat, Captain."
"You can't be certain of that. Lt. Commander Aspinall."
Lorn informed him calmly. "The changes that Lt. Zanders
made to his physiology have to be studied. It is premature
to be certain his mental faculties can be trusted...."
Peter looked away awkwardly. Then, he asked,
"How long do you think the Borg will keep him in custody?"
"He is a living specimen of Borg technology not native
to our dimension - technology that is obviously capable
of threatening my people." Lorn replied flatly. Her eyes
remained unemotional and unreadable as she told Peter,
"I will be surprised if Mr. Vukovich is *EVER* freed from
isolation and study..."
Peter's face contorted as if he'd just taken a knife to
the gutt. "Ever?" the Brit stammered. "As in they may
keep him for the rest of his life?!"
"The kind of devestation that was created by this
disaster can never be allowed to happen again." Lorn
replied, her voice softening slightly. There was a faint
change in her expression and Peter knew her well
enough from their time together on the CENTURY to
realize she didn't like the decision anymore than he did.
His shoulders fell and he sighed. "Thank you, Captain."
With a grim expression, he turned and muttered
under his breath that he would have to talk to Admiral
Ranta and Ambassador Bonviva about this....
_________________________________________________
Location: ATS AVISFORD
Scene: Patient area
_________________________________________________
Castor lay in bed, still brooding. The handsome young man
still wallowed in shame and self-loathing.
Feeling naked and ugly without his technology, he prefered
to lay in bed with the covers over his head. Still overwhelmed
with their load of patients, most of the medical professionals
were content to just scan him and leave him to his brooding.
Peter's mother, though...had heard about what the Borg
soldier had done for her son. Irene had decided it was
her turn to attempt to lure the Borg survivor out of his funk and
she brought along her best weapon to assist with the job.
The irritable young man felt a tiny finger poking him
in the head and threw back the covers with a snarl.
"What!!?!"
Jackie Aspinall jumped back and hid behind her Grandmother.
Then, she peaked out from behind Irene's hip and asked....
looking at him with big, innocent eyes.
"Are you the guy that saved my Daddy?"
Surprised to have a small child speaking to him, Castor
blinked for a second. Then, he only softened his voice slightly
as he lied,
"No, kid...I'm not..."
Irene tightened her lips together in a thin little line as the
young man burried himself back under his covers. Then,
with a sigh, she gently stepped around Jackie and
approached the dark-haired man not much older than her
beloved Peter.
Castor was shocked as the elderly little woman yanked
back his covers and grabbed him by his ear....
"Do not lie to my granddaughter. We came here to
thank you and you are going to stand up and let us do
that...."
Watching from a distance, Arjan turned away and covered
his face - struggling to keep himself from laughing.
____________________________________________
Location: Corridor
Scene: Near a Turbo lift
____________________________________________
Peter stepped out just as the Admiral began to approach....
Harper's face lit up.
"I was just looking for you...."
Peter blinked, then...he smiled. "I was just looking for
you as well, sir...."
Harper put his hand in his pocket and fingered the one
ribbon he had left to distribute....before he could say
anything....Peter asked,
"Are you aware of what's going on with Tomas?"
Harper blinked. Carrying Maddie's child, he had a bit of
"Zanders family on the brain" and he asked nervously.
"You've heard from Maddie? Is something wrong with
her son?!"
Peter's shoulders fell and he sighed, frustrated.....
"No, not Tomas Zanders....Tomas Vukovich..."
________________________________________________
NRPG:
Phillip, I haven't forgotten about you. We only got to speak
briefly and you said things had been hectic. So - I went easy
on you and didn't toss anything at Lynette. I hope you're ok.
Stefan - I hope I handled Lorn ok.
Ken - of course, Gateway comes first. You're their XO. But, I hope
to see you write what's going to happen to Tomas soon. :)
Ran and Jamie - I hope you like what you read here. And, surprise, Rannie! :)
You have had a lot on your plate with relocating to Germany and you
still managed to keep posting like a trooper. I felt that was worth a
decoration for Kate. I'm looking forward to reading how the two of you
handle Kate giving the award and promotion to Aerdan.
Peter - I hope you get a kick out of this - and congradulations on another medal.
Margie - we miss you.
Kim Toussaint - AKA Commander Daisy Byrne Davidson, M.D.
USS PROPHECY FRPG website archivist http://www.youth.net/frpg/
"If there's one thing the history of evolution has taught us, it's that life will not be contained. Life breaks free. It expands to new territories. It crashes through barriers. Painfully, maybe even..
dangerously, but and...well, there it is." Dr. Ian Malcolm
---------------------------------
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