From: Kim Toussaint (kimtoussaint_at_yahoo.com)
Date: Tue Dec 18 2007 - 21:14:51 PST
"Approximately 14 months ago"
( Continued from Kat's "An Engineer's Thesis..." )
_____________________________________________
Location: USS PROPHECY
Scene: Shuttlebay one ( Aft )
Stardate: 2.61025.129
______________________________________________
Chief Petty Officer Hank Hall gulped awkwardly when he found himself talking directly with the XO on the Comm system. He and Daisy had only met a few 'times and they weren't particularly close - certainly not "friends".
Oh, she was nice enough. He had no particular grievance against her. They exchanged
smiles and polite greetings if they crossed paths coming in and out of the same turbo lift. There was enough of a distance between them in terms of rank and social circles, though - that he was uncomfortable when she contacted him.
The lovely Theda Withel, Petty officer third class, sat next to him at her own station and stared at him. He was embarrassed, hoping he didn't seem too 'intimidated' by XO's voice coming over the comm system directed specifically at him. He had a soft spot for the much older El-Aurian female.
Such unusual orders, though - he felt had to be atleast questioned.
"Could you repeat that order, Commander? I'm not sure I heard you correctly."
[[ I want everything with fully functioning shields, phasers and tractor beams ready to be
launched on my mark. ]]
"Everything?" he scoffed.
Her voice cracked with frustration and she replied. [[ "Yes, Chief Petty Officer. Everything. ]] Shetook a deep breath and then continued. [[ The Warhammer designated for the personal use of the Captain, Drake's ships, every personal shuttle, the cargo shuttle, absolutely everything that can be endowed with fully functional shields, tractor beams and phasers is to be confiscated and prepared for launch. ]]
His eyes widened and he shuddered, thinking how massive an undertaking that was going to be. Then, he wishedfor the floor to just rise up and swallow him as Daisy added.
[[Ask me to repeat myself one more time and I'll have you relieved of duty. " ]] She was nearly snarling by then, annoyed by the number of people who seemed to be 'second-guessing' her today.
The color drained from his face and the young man glanced awkwardly at Theda before quickly covering with a polite smile.
"My apologies, Commander." he muttered weakly.
__________________________________________________________
Location: USS PROPHECY
Scene: Ready room -> Bridge
__________________________________________________________
Acting XO and Chief Engineer, Peter heard the tone in Daisy's voice as she came to take the Captain's chair and glanced up from his work.
"Upload the areas to be targeted to the shuttles." Daisy muttered grimly.
"Already done." Peter replied flatly. "Programming the necessary self-modulating of the beam weapons. "
Daisy nodded. "Good job."
He smiled weakly. "Thanks for what you did for Jackie."
Daisy's expression softened, appreciating his thanks. "You're welcome, honey - that was the easiest part of my day."
"We're going to find her, Daisy." Peter reminded her encouragingly.
"We have to do more than that, Peter." Daisy replied grimly - not looking directly at him.
Pressing a few more buttons, her long-time friend looked at her questioningly and asked, trying to lighten her mood a little, "What do you mean, specifically? Besides the outrageous mess when we're done with destroying the asteroid belt? "
"I mean this ends today, Peter." Daisy declared grimly.
Finally, she turned and looked at him directly. Her eyes were cold with determination. "It's
unacceptable. The worry and the despair in Ty's face, the anguish I see when I look at Tomas and Xandy. " she shook her head. "I can't let it continue. Little Rosie is too young to understand just what's going on - she only knows that she misses her Mommy."
Peter sighed and lowered his eyes. "I'm grateful that all I have to do is press a button and call down to sickbay and I know exactly what's happening with Matthew. I *know* where he is and what he's going through. Even as horrible as it is..." his brown eyes glistened slightly, "I'm grateful that the "not knowing" is over."
"And, that's exactly what has to end for Maddie's fiance and her children today, Peter." Daisy nodded. "One way or the other, they have to know where she is by the end of the day."
The reality of what she was saying sank in for him and his shoulders sagged with the full weight of it. Around them, he felt the stares of junior bridge officers as they over heard the conversation. Eyes widened and then quickly looked away - trying to be descreet.
Peter choked back his emotions, focusing on the work to be done. For just a second or two, he touched his handto Daisy's rounded stomach - comforted by the presence of his and Matthew's children alive and healthy. Then, he leaned forward and kissed Daisy's forehead.
She smiled weakly as he said, "I'll be in the shuttlebay. There are some things I want to tweek a little."
Daisy exhaled deeply. Then, she smiled. "Go do your thing, you big stud."
______________________________________________________________
Scene: Corridor -> Shuttlebay
________________________________________________________________
The voice of Chief Petty officer Hall could be heard over the comm system as Peter paused at the shuttlebay entrance.
[[ "Beta and Gamma shift teams report to Shuttlebay one immediately." ]]
The undertaking was massive and everyone had to work together so it would be done quickly. Personal access codes wereover-ridden to everything from Drake's beloved FEREDHIR DHINEN to Maddie's beloved USS CLIODHNA. Exocomps floated about
almost nervously as the Brit made his way through the sea of engineers and pilots coming through all around him and opened the hatch to the ULYSSES.
[[ "Hello, Peter." ]] Arcus greeted him. [[ "I'm ready." ]]
"Glad one of us is," Peter quipped softly, a knot of dread forming in his stomach.
The shuttlebay doors opened and the ULYSSES was the first ship to launch - leading the strike force.
__________________________________________________________________
Location: Rixx's vessel
Scene: Maddie's temporary quarters
NRPG: Continuing from Margie's post
___________________________________________________________________
**No...** Her mental voice echoed in the emptiness of her mind.... She stared at her reflection ignoring the tears slowly tracking down her face. **I will come home no matter what it takes....**
A flash of light surprised her.
First one - then another.
The wheels began turning for the exhausted Ship's Captain as she watched through the window. She recognized familiar ship's outlines through the rapidly growing field of debris heading both towards the ship she was on and towards Dagosin IV.
** The Ulysses!?! **
______________________________________________________________________
Location: Rixx's bridge
Scene: Tactical station
______________________________________________________________________
"Sir, I'm detecting an alarming amount of radioactive dust heading towards us and several ships approaching."
"Set a coarse for deeper into Ferengi space, Warp seven." the Bolian replied calmly.
An impact tremor suddenly rippled through the floor beneath their feet.
"Are we under attack?" The bolian asked, surprised.
"Unsure, sir." replied the female ferengi tactical officer. "It's a tractor beam, sir."
"Tractor beams don't cause impact tremors, darling." he corrected her with his sickeningly sweet charm.
"When you're locked on by three, four...no five of them, sir....makeit seven...now, ten" the
young woman replied calmly, "Apparently, they do..."
_______________________________________________________________________
Location: USS PROPHECY
Scene: Zanders quarters
NRPG: Continuing from Margie's post
_______________________________________________________________________
His hand reached out and touched the window, "If we...." He whispered into the silence, like a vow and a prayer.
Flashes of light startled him and he gasped, the fear for Maddie gnawing at him inside. His mind reached out for Sahriv - who had just left the surface of the planet to join in the fight.
The Tara'saighian hybrid dropped to his knees, the wind knocked out of him as he felt the voice of his beloved ship ( a living being ) softly whispering.
[[ "We found her." ]]
_________________________________________________________________
Location: USS PROPHECY
Scene: Bridge
_________________________________________________________________
"I want weapons control redirected to my console." Daisy ordered calmly.
"Done." came the reply from tactical.
The pregnant woman almost stroked the small console that was mounted into the arm of the Captain's chair like she was carressing a lover. Then, she smiled.
"Their shields are holding?"
"Affirmative, Commander."
"Hail them."
______________________________________________________
Scene: Sickbay
_____________________________________________________
Two security guards shadowed Tek as he stood near Kel's bed.
Watching the Andorian, they were aware of the necessity of their presence was two fold. They were there to make sure Tek continued to be cooperative - and to keep Dr, Jos from wringing the Ferengi's neck.
Being confronted by a medic and scientist actively involved in the creation of the drug Aerdan loathed tested his patience far beyond his doubts regarding Daisy's command decisions.
The little Ferengi was genuinely moved by the sight of Jackie. The little girl had finally
drifted off to sleep.
She took her responsibility as "honorary assistant medicalofficer" and her 'mission" to watch over Cade so seriously, though - that she was laying in the same biobed with him.
Careful not to hurt his chest, she draped herself over his lower body, her red braids resting on his stomach. He hadto sleep with his right leg bent to make room for the little girl's body to be supported by the biobed beneath him.
As she'd been promised, she got Dr, Kagiso's lab coat. It was ridiculously too big for her and flowed over the edge of the biobed. She was frankly, painfully adorable.
Tek gulped.
"Would it make any difference if I said I'd never intended my work to harm children?"
"Not really." Aerdan muttered coldly.
"I'm glad the child still has her father." Tek lowered his eyes - before making yet another
adjustment to the tricorder the Andorian had given him. "You need this amino acid rather than the peptide."
"Dr. Foster isn't her father." Aerdan informed him flatly. "Her father was the young man your
Orion friend tortured."
"That animal was never my friend." Tek replied softly.
Aerdan's glanced away from him and saw Kate walking out of the operating theater.
Unmoved by Tek's remorse, the Andorian simply said, "Excuse me" and walked away.
______________________________________________________
Location: Zanders family quarters
Scene: Window
_____________________________________________________
Xandy felt something was wrong. The intuition woke her from her sleep. She gently lifted her younger foster sister and carried Rosie - thinking to put her in her crib before going to check on Tomas and her Dad.
The girl paused when she saw Ty sitting on the floor and the flashes of light outside the window.
"Dad?"
She could see the tears streaming down Ty's faceas he reached out to her.
"It won't be long now, Xandy."
He was comforted when she handed him Rosie. The infant remained blissfully unaware of the gravity of their situation. She snoozed comfortably, trustingly against Ty's chest as he pulled Xandyclose.
The little girl's eyes welled up with worry and fear as her adoptive father promised.
"It won't be long now, I can feel it."
"I'm scared." Xandy whispered, starting to cry. "I want Mom."
Ty hugged her close and softly replied, "Me, too."
__________________________________________________________________
Location: Rixx's vessel
Scene: Bridge
__________________________________________________________________
"Put it on the view screen."
Daisy's face appeared and the Bolian tried to play the injured party. "Why have you detained me so brutally?! Call of your fleet."
[[ "Shut up." ]] the pregnant woman snarled, her right hand once again carressing the console at her side. [[ "Be quiet while I inform you what the terms of your surrender
will be." ]]
" I beg your pardon?" the Bolian replied politely. "I am the Captain of a private civilian
vessel and I was passing through this area on my way to do some business in Ferengi space."
Daisy's eyes widened a little, surprised he thought she might believe she actually had the wrong ship. He was confident, though - that no one on the surface would dare betray anything about him.
The Bolian found himself blushing slightly as Daisy pressed the button, firing on his ship. His shields held - but once again - he felt the disconcerting sensation of an impact tremor fluttering through the deck plating below his feet.
"Return fire."
[[ "Think twice about that." ]] Daisy warned him calmly.
[[ "I've done a little studying up on this" ]] She paused and glanced at her fingernails as if
admiring her manicure. Then, she continued.
[[ " Between the remodulating tractor beams I've already managed to lock into you through your shields...the level nine radioactive dust cloud that's surrounding all of us and the number of phasers I have locked on to you...this is not a fight you can win. So, stop pretending you don't know what I want from you, you nasty little worm." ]]
The Bolian lowered his eyes, then looked back up at the view screen - his eyes blazing with fury. This woman looked at him as if he were nothing more than a bug that needed to be squashed. He dropped his charming facade.
"I won't let you take me alive."
Daisy laughed coldly. [[ "What makes you think I have any interest in 'taking you' anywhere at all?!" ]]
He blinked, surprised - and studied the face of the pregnant woman. Her left hand rested on her stomach and her right hand dangled teasingly over what was obviously a weapon's console on her right.
"Don't you know who I am?"
She snickered, mocking him with a hint of baby talk to her voice. [[ "Have I hurt your wittle
feelings? Poor baby. Yes, I know who you are." ]]
"Then, you are aware that I'm wanted by Starfleet..."
[[ "But you aren't wanted by *ME*. ]] Daisy interrupted him flatly.
"This is about Maddie, then." he smiled weakly.
Daisy spoke again, punctuating her every word with a short burst of weapon's fire from the
PROPHECY. Because of the radioactive debris from what had been an asteroid belt around them, each time she pressed that button, she risked all their lives.
[[ "I" (Fires) "want" (Fires) "my"(Fires) "Captain". ]]
The multiple discharges and impact tremors ruffled the Bolian enough that he replied angrily.
"Sir, we have hull breaches on decks six through eight"
"You won't get her back by destroying my ship while she's on it - you mad cow!"
[[ "Agreed." ]] Daisy replied coldly. [[ "But, I'll see her dead before I'll see her left alive
in your hands. So, lower your shields and give me back my Captain. Or, frankly....you horrible little man. " ]] She glared at him. "I'll give the word for Peter and the rest of
my fleet to begin ripping your ship apart." ]]
"You're insane." he scoffed.
[[ "Yes, there have been rumors to that affect." ]] she grinned. [[ "Right now, though - I
just prefer to think of myself as a woman with a promise to keep." ]]
___________________________________________________________
Location: Rixx's vessel
Scene: Maddie's room
Stardate: 2.61026.730
_________________________________________________________________
The once cloaked vessel sat quietly. Maddie was aware enough about ships to feel the change in the deckplating beneath her feet.
They were at a full stop.
Not just "paused" in space. The Engines were completely offline.
Her heart was in her throat as she thought both of her and Xana's history with Rixx and about her family.
The door opened and the mastermind of a criminal network that stretched to multiple star systems, four quadrants, and amongst an array of Federation and non-Federation species walked in with a particularly smug grin on his face.
"You're quite an actor right up to the end aren't you?" Maddie gloated. "My crew found me and we're taking you down. Are you going to keep that arrogant smile on your face the whole time I'm taking you back to GATEWAY?"
The Bolian looked up at her as two more guards followed him into the room. Rixx boasted.
"You're not taking me anywhere, darling."
She toyed with the small bladed weapons in her pocket and considered whether or not she could reach a major artery on his body before his guards took her down. Physically, she had the strength of her half-vulcan heritage to do a lot of damage against three Bolians. She was calm enough and smart enough, though - to know she couldn't be sure how many other guards would be waiting for her in the corridor or on the decks between where she was and where she needed to go.
"The agreement I've made with your crew is that you are to be returned to them unharmed." he continued flatly.
She scoffed at him "Starfleet does not negotiate with terrorists."
Rixx stepped closer and leaned forward freely breathing in deeply, taking in her scent. "I will miss you, darling."
Her stomach lurched and then she gloated, "You'll have plenty of time to continue 'missing me' from a Starfleet penal colony."
"Not today, my sweet little Chocolate Eclair...not today"
Her annoyance growing, the half-Vulcan Captain demanded. "Why do you keep talking like that? I can tell we're at a dead stop. I've seen the ships going by the window. They have you. My crew has you, don't they?"
He flashed her an obnoxious, smug grin and boasted. "Yes, they do - and they don't care."
Maddie narrowed her eyes at him. "That's not possible."
"Isn't it, though?" he bragged coldly. "I think it's lovely, really. I'll be free to remember
this...well...." he paused. "this wonderful time we've had together...."
Maddie's fingers tightened around the weapon in her pocket, the same weapon Sharika had used against her. Her rage grewas she saw his eyes drift from her face down to her bossom and back up again. The lecherous smile on his chubby blue face made her want him dead.
She drew her arm back - but wasn't fast enough. The younger and stronger Bolian guard grabbed her. His partner helping him, they pulled her to a far wall of the room.
"How odd." he mused. "You're actually going to resist going home?"
She flinched as the reality of his words sank in.
*Going home*
Then, she covered quickly with a grim look of determination and hissed.
"What I'm resisting is you going free."
"Well, then - you'd be the only one." he bragged. "Nobody else seems to care about seeing me 'punished' or 'brought to justice' as you would put it."
The Bolian clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth and gave her a smug little grin.
"Apparently - I 'don't matter' to the rest of your crew. And, yes - that was a blow to my ego. I'll admit it. "
Finally picking up the medical kit and doing the simple 'first aid' to repair the flesh wound on
her arm with onehand, she studied his face. "I don't believe this." she finally muttered under her breath.
"You're going home, Maddie. And, I'm going free." he repliedflatly. "But, I can promise you that your crew will have a greater respect for me and my skills the next time we see each other."
"So, what happens now, then?" she asked flatly.
"We're going to my shuttlebay. Someone named Peter is waiting with a ship called the Ulysses to scan you, confirm that you are his beloved Captain and take you home. "
_________________________________________________________________
Location: Rixx Shuttlebay
Scene: deck just outside ULYSSES
_________________________________________________________________
The young female ferengi stood calmly, holding her weapon on Peter.
"You don't have to do that." He sighed patiently. "I have no intention of hurting you."
"He trusts you." she whispered nervously. "That doesn't mean I have to."
"And you actually trust him?" Peter spoke calmly, softly even.
"He takes care of me." she stuck out her chin, defiantly.
"Yes..." Peter replied, almost sadly. "While you're of use to him, I'm sure he does."
"You don't know what you're talking about." she sulked, defending Rixx passionately.
"I know you could come with us." Peter offered. "We'd protect you from him."
There was a flicker in her eyes. He saw it and it left him aching inside.
They both turned when they heard the doors open.
Rixx stood there calmly. Then, he walked in slowly as Maddie ran
forward.
Peter barely had time to open his arms before they were filled with her. She threw her
arms around him and melted into the familiar comfort of a hug from one of her oldest friends.
The Brit sighed deeply with relief, his mind filling with the familiar and comfortable
presence he knew instinctively was his friend, his 'sister' and his Captain....his "Mads".
"Oh! Hello, luv." he choked softly.
Her whole body shuddered and he pulled her back so he could look into her eyes. "Are you
injured?"
"Yeah. Ahem, no." She stammered. "I was - a little. They gave me a medical kit. I'm ok."
Peter put his hands on either side of her face and studied her closely.
"You're sure you're ok?"
Maddie sighed and changed the subject. "Peter, it can't be true what he says. You're not
letting him go."
Peter calmly ignored the question and replied. "Board the ULYSSES, Maddie."
The color drained from her face. " Peter, no."
Patiently, he chided her. "Maddie. We've always been lucky to somehow 'know' before hand what missions are going to be dangerous or scary - too scary - and make arrangements for our children to be elsewhere. We weren't that lucky this time. Xandy and Tomas are frightened and they need you."
Maddie sighed and nodded. Then, she stood up straight and tall and walked calmly onto the ULYSSES. Peter waited and walked backwards, eyeing the young ferengi woman questioningly - giving her a last chance to leave Rixx.
She just stood her ground, remaining loyal. He sighed and finally turned to board the ship and take Maddie home.
_____________________________________________________________________
Location: USS PROPHECY
Scene: Bridge
______________________________________________________________________
[[ "Aspinall to the PROPHECY" ]]
"Give me good news, Peter" Daisy groaned, looking tired.
[[ "I have Maddie." ]]
Daisy's hand went to her stomach, the babies kicking. She spoke calmly - hesitant to let herself believe that maybe it was really over.
"Is she injured?"
___________________________________________________________________
Location: Ulysses
Scene: helm
__________________________________________________________________
"I'm here, Daisy." Maddie replied calmly.
Over the comm system, Maddie heard spotaneous bursts of cheers and applause coming from the rest of the bridge and she couldn't help a smile.
The noise of everyone behaving so unprofessionally, bursting into the comm system with cheers and relieved voices calling out,
[[ "It's good to hear your voice, Captain Zanders" ]] weren't enough to shake her dismay over Rixx going free.
She patiently replied, "It's good to hear all of you as well. " Then, she changed the subject. "Daisy, we need to talk."
[[ "I'll be in the ready room." ]]
_______________________________________________________________
Location: USS PROPHECY
Scene: Ready room
_______________________________________________________________
Daisy's bravado held right up until the point when she saw Rixx's ship go to warp and knew the threat was gone. Then, she muttered,
"Pol-Gra - you have the bridge."
Alone in the bathroom just off the Captain's ready room, she splashed cold water on her face and found herself shaking uncontrolably.
"Calm down, boys." she stroked her rounded stomach...trying to comfort the twins and the
fight they seemed to be having inside of her. It felt like a contest over who was
going to use her stomach for a punching bag and who got to go tapdancing on her kidneys.
Exhausted, she managed to hold into the sink and lower herself to the floor. Her leg stretched out to one side, keeping the door open and there, she sat.
Beads of perspiration on her forehead, she kept rubbing her pregnant tummy and pace her breathing- the stress of the day catching up to her.
[[ "Dr. MacNeil to Commander Davidson." ]]
Her shoulders sagged and she tapped her comm badge. "What....is....it?"
From sickbay and over the comm system, Kate didn't need Andorian hearing to alert her to the fact that Daisy didn't sound right at all. She put aside the update she was going to give her about Cade and Matthew and replied,
[[ "I'll be right there." ]]
___________________________________________________
Location: USS PROPHECY
Scene: Shuttlebay
___________________________________________________
There was still a huge sea of activity. It was surreal to the half-Vulcan as she opened the door of the Ulysses.
"So many people...." she glanced at Peter.
"We launched everything, Maddie." Peter grinned.
Her eyes widened. She laughed weakly.
"The whole time I've been here, I don't think I've ever literally launched ....everything...."
He flashed her a boyish grin. "It was really cool."
Heads turned and poeple saw her standing there.
It was like a ripple affect. Tools clattered to the floor as hands began coming together
clapping.
The cheers echo'ed through the shuttlebay. Maddie smiled and waved, politely saying "thank you." while scanning their faces and looking for Ty - looking for her kids.
The element of the story that was missing for her, the part where she would have some 'vengence' against the man who had run this drug network, caused such damage to her crew and taken her captive, it was quickly fading from her thoughts for atleast the moment. She knew she was only a moment or two away from seeing her family again...
___________________________________________________
Scene: PROPHECY READY ROOM
___________________________________________________
Kate burst onto the bridge and rang the doorchime three times. Then, finally.....Daisy croaked out the word "enter."
The hybrid ran into the room and dropped to her knees next to her.
"Don't be silly, I'm fine." she choked back tears.
"You're hyperventilating." she chided her
"Nothing wrong with that once in a while." Daisy joked weakly. "It's been kind of a long day."
Kate smiled patiently. Then, he replied apologetically, "I'm sorry if Aerdan's hostility
and his doubts made it worse."
Daisy sighed and shook her head. "If anyone had cause to doubt me, it's you and Aerdan. You saw me lose control back on the Dy'Len moon - when I thought Peter was dead."
"But you didn't lose control this time." Kate acknowledge gently.
Daisy laughed and cried at the same time and asked, "Then, why can't I stop shaking?"
The auburn-haired woman put down the tricorder and scooped Daisy into a hug. The pregnant XO laughed weakly as Kate consoled her.
"It's ok...it's ok, now. You did good, Daisy...you did well."
Daisy's whole body shuddered against her and Kate sighed patiently.
"Come on...let's get you off the floor, ok?"
___________________________________________________
NRPG:
You could argue that the former crew of the PROPHECY - now the crew of the STONEHENGE and Daisy herself is to blame for the trouble Rixx has caused on GATEWAY over the past six months because Daisy had him over a year ago and traded the chance to take him down in orderto get Maddie Zanders back safely.
And this also gives you an idea the kind of memories Rixx would have of Daisy and why he
would hate her just as much as she hates him incase anyone wants to have Rixx and his followers back in play.
Drake and Kate MacNeil also went on to endure more hell during the mission that followed this when Rixx was partly responsible for the ANDALUSIAN incident - that was when Ronnie Zanders ended up the "Queen" of a Rogue Borg collective that escaped from those corrupted Holosuites and destroyed a large city. When the Borg came to stop the collective, Rixx escaped and, again - there was no proof of his guilt.
Anyway this is what it was like the last time Daisy and Rixx saw each other. And yeah...Maddie was NOT happy that Daisy let Rixx go in return for her life. LOL I figured it was safe to post this - no way it would interfere with anything since it all takes place in the past. LOL
Kim Toussaint AKA Commander Daisy Byrne Davidson, M.D.
Commanding officer of GATEWAY STATION
"I'll stand by you"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xstLRWHgD2Q
---------------------------------
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Sun Feb 17 2008 - 03:10:49 PST